Xi meets U.S. secretary of state Xinhua) 16:23, April 26, 2024 Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday afternoon. Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Xi said over the past 45 years, the relationship has gone through wind and rain, and the two sides can draw a few important lessons. China and the United States should be partners rather than rivals; help each other succeed rather than hurt each other; seek common ground and reserve differences rather than engage in vicious competition; and honor words with actions rather than say one thing but do another. Xi said he proposed mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation as the three overarching principles for the relationship, which are both lessons learned from the past and a guide for the future. Xi emphasized that in his phone call with President Joe Biden three weeks ago, he shared his thoughts on how to stabilize and develop China-U.S. relations in 2024, and underlined that the two sides should value peace, prioritize stability, and uphold credibility. "The finer details will fall into place when they are aligned with the bigger picture," Xi said he once stressed. The world today is undergoing transformation not seen in a century. How to respond to it is a question of the times and of the world. Xi said his answer is to build a community with a shared future for mankind, which has become a flag of China's foreign policy and has been welcomed by many countries. Planet Earth is only this big, and humanity is faced with so many common challenges. As an old Chinese saying goes, "Passengers in the same boat should help each other," he said. "Today, as I see it, dwellers of the same planet should help each other. We live in an interdependent world and rise and fall together. With their interests deeply intertwined, all countries need to build maximum consensus for win-win and all-win outcomes. This is the basic starting point for China to view the world and the China-U.S. relationship," Xi said. Xi underlined his view that major countries should behave in a manner befitting their status and act with broad-mindedness and a sense of responsibility. He said China and the United States should set an example in this regard, undertake responsibilities for world peace, create opportunities for the development of all countries, provide the world with public goods, and play a positive role in promoting global unity. Xi underscored that in his meeting with President Biden in San Francisco, he proposed five pillars for China-U.S. relations, namely, jointly developing a right perception, jointly managing disagreements effectively, jointly advancing mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly shouldering responsibilities as major countries, and jointly promoting people-to-people exchanges. They should serve as the underpinning for the mansion of China-U.S relations. When the overarching principles are established, specific issues will become easier to address, Xi said. "China is willing to cooperate, but cooperation should be a two-way street. China is not afraid of competition, but competition should be about progressing together instead of playing a zero-sum game," Xi said. China is committed to non-alliance, and the United States should not create small blocs. While each side can have its friends and partners, it should not target, oppose or harm the other, he added. "China welcomes a confident, open, prosperous and thriving United States, and hopes the United States will also look at China's development in a positive light," said the Chinese president. Xi stressed that as a Chinese saying goes, "No progress means regress," it also applies to China-U.S. relations. Noting that the stabilizing trend in China-U.S. relations did not come by easily, Xi said it is hoped that the two teams will continue working actively to follow through on the San Francisco vision he and President Biden reached, so as to truly stabilize, improve and move forward the bilateral relations. Secretary Blinken conveyed President Biden's greetings to President Xi. He noted that since President Biden and President Xi met in San Francisco, the United States and China have made good progress in their cooperation in such areas as bilateral interactions, counter-narcotics, artificial intelligence and people-to-people exchanges. Blinken said the multiplicity and complexity of the challenges the world faces require the United States and China working together, adding that the Americans from all walks of life that he met during the visit all expressed the hope to see U.S.-China relations improve. The United States does not seek a new Cold War, does not seek to change China's system, does not seek to suppress China's development, does not seek to revitalize its alliances against China, and has no intention to have a conflict with China, said Blinken. The United States adheres to the one-China policy, Blinken said, adding that the United States hopes to maintain communication with the Chinese side, follow through on what the two presidents agreed in San Francisco, seek more cooperation, avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations, responsibly manage differences, and achieve stable development of U.S.-China relations. President Xi asked Secretary Blinken to convey his regards to President Biden. Wang Yi participated in the meeting. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) China's property sector advances on new fronts Xinhua) 10:23, April 28, 2024 BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Staring at the construction site of an affordable housing project from the balcony of her 10-square-meter rented room, Tian Xue is envisioning her future family life. "The affordable housing made it possible for me to enjoy better living conditions at a lower price, so I will apply to buy my new home there," said Tian, who came to Hangzhou two years ago and hoped to settle down. Building affordable housing that is conducive to meeting the essential housing demands of Chinese people like Tian is one of the measures China has taken to promote the high-quality development of the real estate sector. Efforts have also been made to fulfill the need for better living conditions. This year's government work report called for accelerating the fostering of a new real estate development model, a strategic move based on the major changes in supply-demand dynamics, featuring high quality, new technology, and good services. ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL HOUSING The advancement of affordable housing, an important step in promoting a new development model for the real estate market in China, is quite different from the old one, featuring high debt and high leverage rates. Tian's "dream house" belongs to one of the 12 affordable housing projects Hangzhou plans to start construction this year. Knowing that the project will have supporting facilities for the community's elderly and child care, she feels it would be convenient and reassuring if she started a family there. "From 2024 to 2028, the city will build 50,000 high-quality, affordable houses," said Xie Xiaomin, director of a municipal housing service center. Affordable housing, aimed at people who find buying a house difficult, and talents such as scientific, technical, and medical care personnel, is one of China's important reforms to fine-tune its housing supply system. The prices of affordable houses will be much lower than the market price. Increasing the supply of affordable housing contributes to fulfilling essential housing demands for people with housing problems, empowering them to strive for a better life, said Liu Lin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research. At present, 65 cities nationwide have made the annual plan for affordable housing projects. Xi'an plans to start building 15,000 affordable houses, and Shenzhen has launched 13 affordable housing projects. Besides building affordable housing, China also focuses on advancing the construction of public infrastructure for both normal and emergency use and the renovation of villages in cities. Liu concluded the aforementioned efforts contribute to invigorating investment and consumption. She said, "It can drive investment in the sector and relevant industries and stimulate consumption in decorative materials, furniture, home appliances, and tourism." BETTER HOME TO LIVE IN In this year's government work report, China pledged to scale up the building and supply of affordable housing and improve the basic systems for commodity housing to meet people's essential need for a home and their different demands for better housing. The rise of demand for improved living conditions is an important impetus for the high-quality development of China's property sector in the future, said Sam Xie, head of research at CBRE China. Xie said that the rapid development of China's real estate has greatly improved residents' living conditions and people's demand is gradually turning from "owning a home" to "a better home to live in." Zhao Na, a resident in Ji'nan, east China's Shandong Province, had just sold a house below 90 square meters and bought a new one of 140 square meters with four rooms. "I like the layout and indoor decorations of the house, and the park and school nearby also bring convenience to us as we have two kids," said Zhao, adding that everyone in her family is happy to have their own space in the new home and considers it an improvement of their living conditions. Efforts should be made toward the goal of enabling Chinese people to live in better houses, and then good communities and good cities, said Ni Hong, minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. This year, more than 30 cities have introduced policies offering professional assistance, tax incentives, or subsidies to support residents willing to sell their old homes to purchase better ones. "Basic housing demand and the need for improved housing are still driven strongly by the advancement of urbanization and the improvement of people's living standards," said Sheng Laiyun, deputy head of the National Bureau of Statistics. "There is a solid foundation for the sustained and healthy growth of the property market," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Two people were killed and four were injured early Sunday morning after a shooting at Market Square. Theo Esquivel Two people were killed and four were injured early Sunday morning after an officer-involved shooting broke out during the conclusion of a Fiesta event at Market Square. The incident reportedly had downtown revelers screaming and running for cover and capped an otherwise festive night during the final weekend of Fiesta. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said two men opened fire on each other around midnight in front of Margarita Alley, an outdoor space adjacent to Market Square that's set between the buildings that house Mi Tierra and La Margarita restaurants. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The shooting happened shortly after the Fiesta Flambeau Parade ended and a scheduled musical performance at Market Square was set to conclude, according to various social media posts from those in the downtown area at the time of the shooting. A preliminary police report states that an 18-year-old man fired a weapon at a 20-year-old man, striking him. Officers who were working near the stage at Conch Alley in Market Square heard a gunshot and saw the 18-year-old start running, according to the report. Two officers began chasing the suspect, and one of the officers saw the 18-year-old fire his weapon at the 20-year-old, striking him, police said. The two officers then fired several rounds, striking the 18-year-old, who died at the scene, the report states. The 20-year-old was taken to a local hospital, where he died, according to the report. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Two handguns were recovered at the scene near the suspects, police said. Four bystanders were injured during the incident. Two of them, a 36-year-old woman and a 29-year-old woman, sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to a local hospital with non-life- threatening injuries, police said. The other two injured bystanders, a 24-year-old woman and a 23-year-old woman, were treated and released at the scene with minor injuries, police said. McManus initially said six people were injured during the shooting but later posted on social media that four were injured. The two officers involved in the shooting have 13 years of service and five years of service on the force, police said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Some on social media shared raw video of Market Square when the shooting broke out. In one video, people are shown dancing to live music when gunshots are heard. The music abruptly stops and people begin screaming, running or ducking for cover as police officers rush toward the gunfire. In that video, Market Square looks packed with people. According to multiple social media posts, the downtown area was still busy with Fiesta goers. The televised portion of the Fiesta Flambeau Parade ended around 11:20 p.m. The parade experienced a roughly 15-minute delay when a vintage firetruck that was being used as a parade entry stalled, momentarily halting the parade not long after it began around dusk. The parade had just concluded when the shooting broke out, according to various social media posts from downtown Fiesta goers. Parade organizers have estimated the parade draws about 775,000 spectators annually. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Besides the parade, Fiesta San Fernando was taking place at Main Plaza. It was set to conclude at midnight, according to the official Fiesta San Antonio website. According to the official website for Fiesta de los Reyes, the scheduled event at Market Square on Saturday night, a musical performance was set to conclude at 12:45 a.m. In a few social media posts, people reported seeking shelter at nearby eateries and shops, with some expressing fear that a mass shooting was breaking out. For some, Sunday's shooting evoked memories of another outbreak of gun violence during Fiesta, the 1979 sniper shooting that claimed two lives, left dozens injured and forced the cancellation of the Battle of Flowers Parade. Sunday morning, some also took to social media to express their sadness and disappointment in the shooting, with some even calling for better security measures at Market Square. During last years Fiesta event at Market Square, one man was left critically injured after being shot in the chest during an argument. The shooting sent a crowd of Fiesta goers fleeing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sunday's incident marks the second consecutive weekend with an officer-involved shooting. Last week, a man wanted on an aggravated assault warrant was shot and killed by police after he struck a police officer with his vehicle. He said the Palestinian keffiyeh headscarf is today's equivalent of the Che Guevara T-shirt and asks why protests are not targeting truly repressive regimes Bill Maher tore into college-age protesters as performative publicity seekers, warning that 'no-one likes you', in a withering putdown on his HBO show. The comic and pundit blasted demonstrators, who have brought chaos to 'normies' with sit-down protests on major roads and college campuses, as damaging their own cause. He dubbed the Palestinian keffiyeh headscarf the modern equivalent of the Che Guevara T-shirt and scorned their 'cosplay as revolutionaries' while disrupting the lives of those who have to work for a living. 'Hey, if it makes you feel good to cosplay as revolutionaries. Knock yourself out. Burn yourself out. Just don't drag Gaza into it,' he said on Real Time with Bill Maher. 'Also, throwing stuff on paintings is just stupid. No one sees mashed potatoes on a Monet and thinks he's got a point, I should recycle my cans.' Bill Maher tore into college age protesters as performative publicity seekers, warning that 'no-one likes you', in a withering putdown on his HBO show Demonstrators have repeatedly targeted major bridges and highways bringing chaos to city centers since the protests erupted Maher joked that the Palestinian keffiyeh headscarf, seen here on students at UCLA is today's equivalent of the Che Guevara T-shirt The 68-year-old had already clashed with guest Don Lemon who was appearing alongside NYU professor Scott Galloway, after the former CNN host complained of living 'in uncomfortable spaces all the time'. 'What do you mean uncomfortable spaces?' Maher demanded. Lemon replied: 'I am often the only person of color in the room.' 'There's only three of us,' Maher pointed out. The exchange prompted a clapback from Caitlyn Jenner who tweeted: '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.' But Maher saved his most scathing remarks for those protesting Israel's war in Gaza, denouncing them as ignorant and misguided - dubbing New York's Columbia State University 'Kanye State'. 'You know Passover?' he asked. 'It celebrates the Exodus of the Jews in Biblical times from Egypt. And nowadays it celebrates the Exodus of the Jews from Columbia University. 'I'm not saying there aren't sincere passions about Gaza, especially among people from the region, but Social Justice Warriors, for a lot of them, it seems like it's more about the warrior-ing than about whatever the cause is. Lectures are heading back online at Columbia University in New York after protesters seized the college grounds Columbia is among dozens of colleges that have become swept up in Israel-Hamas protests, with other prestigious universities including Harvard and MIT thrown into chaos There were more road protests in DC on Saturday night ahead of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner 'If you really cared about apartheid so much which Israel does not actually practice. 'Arabs there vote, they serve in Parliament, they sit on the judiciary wouldn't you start with this? With the hundreds of millions of women in the world who live under a true apartheid, a gender apartheid of the most brutal kind? I'll wait. 'Are you really speaking truth to power, or do you just think you look cool in a keffiyeh, which is really just the new Che Guevara t-shirt. 'Another historical figure you never researched and still think is a hero, but was actually a sadistic racist monster fighting for communism, the worst form of government ever. But these are small matters. 'Small matters, when activism merges with narcissism. 'Less about the cause and more about me, look at me, watch me! And if you like the way I'm fighting injustice, remember to like and subscribe!' Among those joining the ranks of unemployed protesters are the 28 Google employees who were fired earlier this month for joining a protest at the company's offices in New York and California. 'Maybe if these Google employees had the slightest idea what kind of fundamentalist, oppressive assholes they're supporting Hamas, the Houthis, Hezbollah, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard they might take it a little easier on the world's greatest monster, Genocide Joe,' he said. 'Genocide, by the way, is when you want to wipe out an entire people. That's the stated goal of Hamas. That's what From the River to the Sea means. Hamas would do that to Israel, but can't. Israel could do that to them, but doesn't. 'You know how you can find that out? Google it!' And he mocked US airman Aaron Bushnell, 25, who burnt himself to death outside the Israeli embassy in DC in February in protest at US involvement in the country's assault on Gaza. 'In his last Facebook post he said, 'many of us like to ask ourselves, what would I do if I was alive during slavery?' Maher remarked. 'Interesting cocktail question, sir. And I guess the right answer is kill myself. 'But it wouldn't have actually fix the problem if General Ulysses S Grant had immolated himself and his last words were, 'Hey, Lincoln, are you using that log? 'And then last week, another sad, confused man set himself on fire at the Trump trial in New York. 'So, you can tell yourself you're a martyr for the Palestinian cause, but it's a lot less special when the next guy does it for Stormy Daniels.' He demanded to know why protesters were not targeting repressive regimes including China, North Korea and Myanmar, rather than America's ally in the Middle East. And he warned that protesters would never win allies among the American public by disrupting their lives. 'Someone needs to tell the people who block traffic in the name of a cause, no one likes you. And you're probably hurting your cause,' he insisted. 'In case you haven't seen what's going on lately, activist for ending the war in Gaza have taken to gathering on roads and bridges and stopping commuters from crossing. 'It happened last week in New York and San Francisco. Chicago, Seattle. They also blocked traffic here on the 405, but no one noticed. Police attempts to remove and arrest demonstrators as here at Northeastern University have been thwarted with the return of protestors to cleared spaces Emory University economics professor Caroline Fohlin was among those seized by police 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 'What they did notice was this: That you have to be pretty dumb to think that the way to bring people around to your point of view is to make them late to pick up their kids from daycare. 'And that's what most normies are thinking. I have a kid, I have a job. And yes, I'm sure there are injustices on both sides in the Middle East as there are injustices all over the world, but I'm going to be late for work. 'Something you protesters on the bridge seem to have the luxury of not having to worry about, which seems kind of privilege-y. 'You can glue your hands to the street because your hands don't have to do any work today.' A committed supporter of Donald Trump's was surprised when told by a CNN correspondent that God is not mentioned in the US Constitution. In a promotional clip ahead of the network's release of 'MissinfoNation: The Trump Faithful,' correspondent Donie O'Sullivan interviews a member of MAGA nation who is unimpressed by the job mainstream reporters have been doing. The woman, who's first name is Julie and is pictured sporting a hot pink 'Trump Save America' hat, opens the clip by saying to O'Sullivan: 'The job of the journalist is to ask the questions, allow the person to speak and just report the facts. What was spoken. 'Would you like for me to pull up the definition of journalists?' O'Sullivan declines, but then the two get into it about the content of the country's founding documents. In the promotional clip, Julie argues that her God-Given Rights, enshrined in the US Constitution, allow her to express her beliefs about the 2020 election She was speaking to correspondent Donie O'Sullivan (pictured) who made the point that God is not referenced in the Constitution Julie argued that 'the facts have shown that the election was stolen. 'Whether you're willing to look at that and accept that and really show that's going on, that's your issue, not ours. 'We want the God-given freedom that our Constitution and our Bill of Rights is based on.' O'Sullivan asserts that God-given rights and those found in the US Constitution are 'two different things,' to which Julie replies: 'No, sir, theyre not! Read. R-E-A-D the Constitution. 'Read it out loud to yourself so that you hear what the words of the Constitution say.' O'Sullivan attempts to drive his point home when he then says: 'God isn't mentioned in the Constitution.' 'Sir!' Julie replies in a huff as she begins to search something on her phone before the clip cuts away. O'Sullivan, who has made a name for himself covering online conspiracy theories that have, in recent years, intersected with the political landscape, is correct that the word 'God' does not appear in the United States Constitution. The Declaration of Independence, however, does reference 'our Creator,' who has endowed all men with 'certain unalienable rights.' Rights which the subsequent Bill of Rights and US Constitution were written to protect. In a promotional clip ahead of the network's release of 'MissinfoNation: The Trump Faithful,' correspondent Donie O'Sullivan interviews a member of MAGA nation who is unimpressed by the job mainstream reporters have been doing Donie O'Sullivan has made a name for himself covering online conspiracy theories that have, in recent years, intersected with the political landscape 'God' is also explicitly referenced in the US Pledge of Allegiance, on US currency, and in most state Constitutions, according to a 2017 Pew Research Center analysis. The full exchange will be available for viewing Sunday evening during The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper, when O'Sullivan's piece will air. Meanwhile, footage of 'everymen' around the country has indicated that despite CNN's journalism, the opinion of the average American has flowed strongly away from Joe Biden and toward Donald Trump in recent years. In a recent video captured outside of Donald Trump's Manhattan hush money trial, a construction worker spoke his mind about the current president. 'What's it like seeing so many Republicans in Manhattan, so many Trump supporters in Manhattan. Does that surprise you?' a Newsmax reporter asked the construction worker. 'No, not at all. It's turning now. It's Trump's turn again,' he said without delay. He was then asked for his message to Joe Biden. Without missing a beat, he quipped: 'F**k you.' The unidentified man was met with praise online that bore out his point. 'This man represents the majority of America. Verbatim,' wrote one user. 'This is pretty much the sentiment of all blue collar hard working Americans. Really any American for that matter. Well said sir,' wrote another. A TV soap actress has revealed how she quit her job as a Welsh councillor because a man threatened her mother and father in their home. Shelley Rees, who has appeared on a number of soaps over the last three decades including Casualty, Emmerdale and Pobol y Cwm, was elected to represent the Pentre ward in Rhondda Cynon Taf in 2012, and was re-elected with an increased majority in 2017. But the former Plaid Cymru councillor told the BBC that she refused to stand at the last local elections, held in May 2022, because a resident of the area she represented threatened her family while she was at work. 'This man knocked on the door - I knew who he was, but I hardly knew him - but for some reason he'd decided to go to mam and dad's house and threaten me. I was so upset.' She did not reveal who the man was, and added that she did not know what the reason for the threat was. Shelley Rees (pictured, right) is a former Plaid Cymru councillor who did not stand for re-election in 2022 Rees has appeared on a number of soaps over the last three decades including Casualty, Emmerdale and Pobol y Cwm (pictured, bottom) Despite this, she was frightened enough to put an end to her political career. 'I always knew that if something like this ever happened which led to either me or my family not feeling safe, I'd have to give it up, but I never thought it would happen in my own village,' she said. 'When someone threatens the safety of you and your family and you have to put a stop to it.... I was sad about it, to be honest.' 'As a councillor you're on the frontline - you've got no staff, no office, you're out there - and that's the point of being a councillor,' said Ms Rees. 'I knew that but I never expected that to happen to me. 'There was a time when [her daughter] Lowri was worried about leaving the house. I was checking to see if this man was around, because he was local. 'The police had told him to keep away, but I was thinking about how my family had supported everything I've ever done. '[My husband] Jon especially... but when Jon says no to something I know he wants me to think carefully about this.' Female officials across the UK have been targeted by increasing threats made against them and their families. Last night, it was revealed that police are investigating death threats that were sent to Scotlands top law officer and her family. 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. 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. The school where two teachers and a pupil were stabbed in a knife rampage is set to reopen to students tomorrow. Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, in the Welsh town of Ammanford, was sent into lockdown on Wednesday after a 13-year-old girl allegedly attacked multiple people at the end of morning break. Students are said to have hidden in classrooms with one pupil reportedly vaulting the school fence to get to safety, while parents were seen tearfully hugging children after they walked out of the gates four hours later. A girl has since been charged with the attempted murder of teachers Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin, and an unnamed pupil, as well as possession of a bladed article on school premises. She will appear in court in Swansea on May 29. The school has been closed since the incident, but will reopen on Monday morning with the authorities saying students would have access to education and child psychology specialists for the next two weeks. Fiona Elias said she had found it difficult to' comprehend' the incident at Amman Valley School on Wednesday Special needs teacher Liz Hopkin, who was also injured in the attack, said she had been 'overwhelmed by the kindness' of locals after the incident An ambulance support unit outside the school on Wednesday after it entered lockdown. Pupils heard a 'code red' alert over the school's PA system Dyfed-Powys Police has said there will be a 'broad range of wellbeing support' for pupils, teachers and staff, the BBC reports. Superintendent Ross Evans said he wanted to 'reassure parents and the public that we are working with the school and other agencies to ensure appropriate support is available'. 'You can expect increased engagement from your school's police officer and neighbourhood policing team during the week commencing Monday,' he said. 'Please stop to speak to our officers if you have any concerns.' Carmarthenshire County Council said the secondary school will re-open on Monday following the police investigations on site. Council leader Cllr Darren Price said: 'As a County Council, we are doing everything that we can to support the community of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman and we have set out a wellbeing support plan to help the pupils and staff. 'This will be a joint support approach, as we are adopting a collaborative approach to ensure that all individuals affected receive the support they require. 'This includes coordinating between internal and external resources to provide holistic assistance.' In the aftermath of the incident a 15-year-old boy was arrested by police in the nearby village of Cross hands on suspicion of making threats online which referenced the stabbings. Dyfed-Powys Police has since confirmed it released the teenager on bail on Friday under the conditions he does not go into Ammanford or have unsupervised access to social media. A spokesperson for the force told the South Wales Guardian: 'The 15-year-old male arrested following reports about threatening messages relating to Ysgol Dyffryn Aman has been released on police bail with conditions that prevent him from entering certain educational establishments, or the Amman and Gwendraeth Valley areas. 'Bail restrictions also include a curfew, and prevent him having unsupervised access to social media. Dyffryn Aman School was put into lockdown following the incident, which saw three people incur 'non-life-threatening injuries' A forensic scene of crime officer at Amman Valley (Dyffryn Aman) School on Wednesday after a 13-year-old girl was arrested Pictured: Police outside the school where the attack occurred on Wednesday. A 13-year-old girl has been charged with three counts of attempted murder 'The investigation into the allegations continues, and Dyfed-Powys Police is now appealing for anyone with information that could assist them, including screenshots from social media, to report it. 'Anyone with information about this incident should contact police on 101 and quote reference number 392 of April 24, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.' MailOnline has contacted Dyfed-Powys Police for comment. The girl accused of committing the attacks themselves cannot be named for legal reasons and showed no emotion as she appeared in the dock at Llanelli Magistrates' Court on Friday. Speaking only to confirm her name and address, the teenager, who wore a grey jumper, looked small next to the courtroom staff who surrounded her. She was charged with three counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article on a school premises, and will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on May 24. District Judge Mark Layton said remanding a 13-year-old into youth justice detention was a 'difficult decision' in a hearing that lasted around 20 minutes. Laura Sherwood, representing the girl, made an application for bail which was refused by the judge. Abigail Jackson appeared for the prosecution. Pupils at Amman Valley School, also known as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, in Carmarthenshire, went into lockdown just after 11.20am on Wednesday after the stabbing at the end of morning break. The school went into lockdown after a 'code red' alarm sounded, during which students and staff are said to have hidden in classrooms - with one pupil reportedly vaulting the school fence to get to safety. The school was sent into lockdown for four hours after the incident began. It ended when a girl was put in an armlock by a teacher Teacher Darrel Campbell (pictured, left) is said to have intervened to bring the incident to a close The lockdown lasted around four hours between 11.20am and 3.20pm, resulting in an anxious wait for parents who tearfully hugged their children after they walked through the gates. One teacher, named as Darrel Campbell, stepped in to disarm the alleged attacker and put her in an armlock while waiting for police to arrive. His brother, Senedd member Cefin Campbell, said Mr Campbell had been 'embarrassed by all the attention' following his quick thinking. He said: 'He just told me he just did what most people would have done. He really wants to play down anything more than just being a normal citizen, albeit a teacher in a school facing a very challenging situation.' Mr Campbell worked at the school for around 40 years and officially retired last year but was brought back on a part-time basis to help provide pastoral care. It is understood he plans to return to school when it reopens on Monday. Both Campbells went to the school as children. In the aftermath of the attack teachers Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin issued statements sharing their difficulty at 'comprehending' what happened and thanking emergency services for their efforts. Ms Elias, an assistant headteacher at the school, said: 'From the bottom of my heart, my family and I would like to say a huge thank you for all the messages we have received from far and wide over the past few days. 'I am deeply indebted to the police, ambulance service, and the NHS staff in Morriston for their excellent care and quick response. 'Many thanks also to the air ambulance for their excellent care of my colleague, Liz. This is another example of how vital this service is to us in Wales. 'Three of us were taken to hospital with injuries, but this incident has had an enormous impact on my colleagues and the wonderful pupils we have at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman. Police officers at the gate of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman on Wednesday after the 13-year-old was arrested Police heading into the school on Wednesday as investigations got underway into the alleged stabbing Police outside Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (Amman Valley School) in Carmarthenshire following an incident on Wednesday that saw two teachers and a pupil taken to hospital 'I cannot comprehend what staff and pupils experienced on Wednesday. 'I would like to thank all members of staff for prioritising the welfare and safety of pupils at the school for four hours, and the pupils for responding so maturely and sensibly in a situation that no one expects to happen. 'One of our school's core values is 'resilience', and there is no doubt that pupils have demonstrated this value in coping with a situation they should never have experienced. 'The last few days have shown that there is no other community quite like the Ysgol Dyffryn Aman community, and we will be working to support each other in the coming days and weeks. 'Many thanks to the parents of the school for their co-operation and understanding at such a difficult time and of course to the wider community and external agencies who have been so willing to support the staff and pupils. 'I understand that there has been great interest in this incident, but for the benefit of my family, colleagues, and pupils, I now ask for privacy.' Ms Hopkin, who is an additional learning needs co-ordinator, added: 'I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the support shown to me and my family since the incident on Wednesday. 'I am deeply indebted to all the emergency services for their quick response and for the care provided to me and others who were admitted to hospital. 'Ysgol Dyffryn Aman is a big part of my life, and it is hard to comprehend that this has happened. 'However, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our school community for all the support and kind messages that I have received. 'I have been overwhelmed by the kindness from the close community that we have here. 'I believe what we need now is time to reflect on what has happened and therefore ask for privacy for the school, myself and my family, so we can take this time to reflect and recover.' Caitlyn Jenner confronted anti-Israel protestors outside the White House Correspondents' dinner on Saturday accusing them of 'vitriolic antisemitism'. The former Olympian approached the group on her way to the dinner in Washington D.C. Recording the interaction on her phone, she stopped to challenge them, saying '100 million Jews' before flipping off the crowd on her way into the venue. Sharing the video on Sunday, she said she was 'mobbed and harassed' and wrote: 'Shame on the hundreds of Terrorist sympathizers and the Hamas lovers outside last nights #WHCD that were far from peaceful.' The protestors are demanding a ceasefire and wanted journalists to boycott the dinner in protest of the government's support of Israel. Caitlyn Jenner approached the group on her way to the dinner in Washington D.C. on Saturday night Recording the interaction on her phone, she stopped to challenge them, saying '100 million Jews' before flipping off the crowd Sharing the video on Sunday, she said she was 'mobbed and harassed' In the video, Jenner walks through the crowd, stopping to talk to one protestor and asking 'what is your name?' The crowd shouts back 'Free Palestine' as she walks away, turning back to film the crowd before police usher her away and into the venue. Police then hold the crowd back as one person shouts after her 'you're so old, just please go home'. Sharing the video and a photo of herself flipping of the crowd, Jenner wrote: 'There is no place for you or your vitriolic antisemitism in this country. 'Get the hell out - we dont tolerate terrorism here.' She then shared a photo of her manager Sophia Hutchins also flipping off the crowd. She added: 'After my manager, Sophia Hutchins, and I were mobbed and harassed by Hamas terrorist sympathizers on our way into #WHCD she had a very similar message for them. 'Surround yourself with a team of fighters - its the only way!' and called for Donald Trump to be re-elected. Shame on the hundreds of Terrorist sympathizers and the Hamas lovers outside last nights #WHCD that were far from peaceful. There is no place for you or your vitriolic antisemitism in this country. Get the hell out - we dont tolerate terrorism here. pic.twitter.com/bMKc2TxLaI Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) April 28, 2024 Her manager Sophia Hutchins (right) also flipped off the crowd Sharing the video and a photo of herself flipping of the crowd, Jenner wrote: 'There is no place for you or your vitriolic antisemitism in this country.' They were attending the annual White House correspondents' dinner. The protests forced Biden's motorcade to take a different route from the White House to the Hilton. At one point, the crowd of over 100 people chanted: 'Western media we see you, and all the horrors that you hide.' President Joe Biden did not mention the war in Gaza in his speech and instead delivered an election year roast making fun of his age and firing barbs at Donald Trump. 'It's been a year since I delivered the speech and my wife, Jill told me she was worried how I'd do,' Biden began. 'I told her, "Don't worry. It's just like riding the bike" She said that's what I'm worried about,' Biden joked, in a reference to him falling off his bike two years ago during a summer vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Biden, 81, wasted no time in getting to this November's election which sees the two oldest candidates running in American history. Trump will be 78 by the time election day rolls around. 'Course the 2024 elections in full swing and yes age is an issue,' Biden said. 'I'm a grown man and I'm running against a six-year-old!' President Joe Biden delivered an election year roast at the White House correspondents' dinner on Saturday making fun of his age and firing barbs at Donald Trump U.S. President Joe Biden reacts as host Colin Jost speaks to him A growing movement against the war in Gaza has dogged Biden this year including at a $250-per-ticket March fundraiser at New York's Radio City Music Hall, where protesters disrupted the event for the U.S. handling of the crisis in Gaza. Demonstrators holding banners chanted about journalist deaths in Gaza outside the Washington Hilton, the site of the annual gathering. Hundreds of protesters encouraged journalists to boycott the event and shouted down administration officials as they entered. Biden avoided the large protests at the front of the hotel by arriving through a back entrance, where he was greeted by smaller groups of protesters calling for a ceasefire. Kelly O'Donnell, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, declined to comment on security measures for the dinner. 'The safety and security of our protectees is the U.S. Secret Service's top priority,' said U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Alexi Worley, who declined to comment further. Israel's six-month old war against Hamas in Gaza, in response to the Oct. 7 attack by the militant group in southern Israel, has killed more than 34,000 people, Palestinian health authorities say, and caused a humanitarian disaster for the enclave's more than 2 million inhabitants. The Hamas attack killed 1,200 people in Israel, and led to 253 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. The White House Correspondents Association was founded in 1914 and has held a dinner nearly every year since 1921 to celebrate the reporters who cover the presidency and raise money for scholarships. Two men, 42 and 68, from Winton, Eccles, were arrested on suspicion of murder Police investigating the discovery of a headless torso in Salford say they believe the victim was a man in his 60s who lived with the two arrested suspects. Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have spoken to the man's family but said formal identification of the victim will not happen until next week. Detectives have been trying to find out who the victim was after his body parts were found wrapped in plastic in Salford's Kersal Dale Wetlands on April 4. Now police have revealed human remains have been found at two other locations in Greater Manchester in the past two days. Officers believe the two men they arrested on suspicion of the murder earlier this week, aged 42 and 68, were housemates of the victim. The men remain in custody for questioning as police said they are 'confident' they have the right suspects. The lead officer in the case Det Supt Lewis Hughes said the police believe the victim was a man in his 60s who lived with the two arrested suspects It comes as the police investigation expanded in recent days with officers spotted at four scenes in the Greater Manchester area. Pictured: A police dog pictured at Blackleach Country Park Reservoir today At a press conference at 6pm on Sunday, the lead officer in the case Detective Supterintendent Lewis Hughes, revealed officers had searched a house in Winton where they believe the victim and the two suspects lived. He said they had found evidence he was killed there and believe he may have died in late March. But the senior officer said there was no evidence of gang activity and ruled out a domestic incident by saying they were not related. However he said it was 'too soon to speculate' on the motive. It comes as the police investigation expanded in recent days with officers spotted at scenes on Blackleach Reservoir, Linneyshaw Colliery Wood in Salford and Mitchell Street in Bury. DSI Hughes has now confirmed a dog walker discovered human remains in a package at Linneyshaw Colliery Wood last night and said he was confident it was the same victim. Forensic tests will be carried out to confirm if it is the same man. He also said more human remains were found at Blackleach Reservoir today by police divers. Formal identification of the victim is expected to be made next week. Forensics officers were spotted working inside an industrial unit off Mitchell Street in Bury today A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service welfare vehicle was pictured at Blackleach Country Park Reservoir today. More human remains were found at the location today A specialist search unit vehicle was pictured at Blackleach Country Park Reservoir today It is understood the North West's Underwater Search and Marine Unit were operating in Blackleach Country Park Reservoir today A heavy police presence was pictured at Blackleach Country Park throughout the day The senior officer, of Greater Manchester Police's serious crime division, said he did not want to specify what remains have been found today due to the victim's family. He said specially trained officers had informed his family and would be supporting them at this difficult time. DSI Hughes said: 'While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation. 'I also recognise the details of this case will have been particularly distressing for the people of Salford and beyond, including our officers who have worked diligently to progress this investigation, and most importantly, to the man's heartbroken family. 'Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas and we will provide updates when we have information.' He also made clear that, regarding the warehouse in Mitchell Street in Bury, there was no suggestion that anyone who worked there was involved in the criminal offences. He said it just appeared items were stored there. Police officers searching the woods at Kersal Dale, near Salford, Greater Manchester, the day after the human remains were found on April 4 Police searching where the dismembered male torso was found earlier this month A forensic officers walks with a plastic bag full of a number of miscellaneous items on Friday, April 5 Police and forensic officers at Kersal Dale, near Salford, Greater Manchester, on April 5 Officers searching for other body parts at the Kersal Dale nature reserve The release of the man's identity comes after more than 100 officers along with search dogs, crime scene investigators and scientists descended on the scene and launched a search of the wetlands and surrounding areas. A man, 20, was arrested on April 6 on suspicion of murder in connection with the case. He has since been released on bail. Police temporarily suspended bin collections during their search for other body parts, amid concerns the killer used one to hide remains. Officers even requested to speak with children who were spotted in the Kersal Dale nature reserve after claiming they may hold 'crucial information'. They said on April 17 that after a vast CCTV trawl had uncovered footage of children playing in the area in the days before, and who could hold the information 'without realising it'. The police is still appealing to local communities to report anything suspicious they may have seen, heard or witnessed in the crime scene areas. Anyone with information should call 101, quoting log number 2695 of 04/04/2024, and information can also be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Harrods has become the latest to cash in on the bizarre fast food inspired fashion trend as the designer brand starts selling a chips bag for an eye-watering amount. The green and black bag measures just seven inches high and five inches wide but despite its tiny size it comes with a hefty price tag of 5,775. The Judith Leiber brass bag has a gold chain strap and is topped with shimmering crystals and is branded with the words 'Exclusively Harrods hot and salty' on one side and 'best fries prize' on the other. The Hungarian-US designer company previously created the sought after Crystal Rainbow French Fries clutch bag which retailed at around the whopping 4,500 mark. But the latest incarnation by the fashion brand has failed to impress shoppers who have been left baffled by its price tag. Harrods has become the latest to cash in on the bizarre fast food inspired fashion trend as the designer brand starts selling a chips bag for an eye-watering amount The Judith Leiber brass bag has a gold chain strap and is topped with shimmering crystals and is branded with the words 'Exclusively Harrods hot and salty' on one side and 'best fries prize' on the other The green and black bag measures just seven inches high and five inches wide but despite its diminutive size it comes with the hefty price tag of 5,775 One shopper at its London store told The Mirror: 'How can a handbag which looks like a box of chips cost almost 6,000?' Harrods advertises the bag on its website as: 'Salt, pepper, vinegar, ketchup, mayonnaise everyone has their own specific tastes when seasoning their French Fries. 'For Judith Leiber, nothing beats a freshly cooked portion topped with shimmering crystals and served in a Harrods box. Dig in to find out what all the fuss is about.' Karen Handley, PR for the designer brand, thinks the chip bag to be a big hit with shoppers as she expects it to sell out. Judith Leiber isn't the first designer brand to jump onto the fast food trend with Balenciaga raising eyebrows in February with its luxury 1,350 handbag which looks like a giant packet of crisps. The bag, made from wipe clean calfskin comes in three different varieties: salt and vinegar (blue), cheese and onion (yellow) and spicy chilli (red). Kim Kardashian is a fan of the Spanish fashion house, which previously released a line of leather bags in partnership with Lays - the European version of Walkers crisps. Meanwhile, Moschino was accused in 2014 by fast food workers of 'mocking' minimum wage earners with its line of McDonald's inspired clothing and bags. Priced at 1,000, Moschino's red quilted leather bag - an ode to McDonalds trademark Happy Meal Box - was presented on a tray on the runway Moschino was accused in 2014 by fast food workers of 'mocking' minimum wage earners with its line of McDonald's inspired clothing and bags The designer's creative director Jeremy Scott presented his fall/winter 2014 collection in Milan which paid homage to 90s American brand iconography Kim Kardashion holds onto a Judith Leiber Crystal Rainbow French Fries clutch bag which retailed for a whopping 4,500 Anya Hindmarch is another designer known for her making bags that look like food products (Pictured: A KP salted peanuts tote bag) Balenciaga raised eyebrows in February with its luxury 1,350 handbag which looks like a giant packet of crisps New Look has also jumped on the bandwagon and is selling a chocolate bar clutch bag for 6 The designer's creative director Jeremy Scott presented his fall/winter 2014 collection in Milan which paid homage to 90s American brand iconography: Cheetos, Hersheys, Froot Loops, SpongeBob SquarePants, and McDonalds - its trademark Golden Arches curved into a heart-shaped 'M for Moschino' motif - were all referenced. Priced at 1,000, Moschino's red quilted leather bag - an ode to McDonalds trademark Happy Meal Box - was presented on a tray on the runway. Anya Hindmarch is another designer known for making bags that look like food products. KP peanuts, Pringles, and well-known cereals Frosties, Coco Pops, and Corn Flakes are among the famous brands that have been turned into tote bags selling for as much as 595. For those with slimmer budget, New Look has also jumped on the bandwagon and is selling a chocolate bar clutch bag for 6. This is the dramatic moment a drone that cost just 21,000 knocked out a 6million Russian radar system. The Podlyot radar complex was struck by a Ukrainian drone earlier this week, and footage showed how the system was devastated. The clip shows a kamikaze drone, a Polish-made Warmate operated by Ukrainians, flying into the spinning radar dish of the system, which supposedly can simultaneously detect up to 200 targets up to a range of 190 miles. A second clip showed another drone flying into the power station feeding the radar system energy. Ukrainian intelligence wrote after the attack: 'Successful fire damage was inflicted on the antenna-feeder installation and the diesel station that fed the complex.' Ukraine's defence ministry said on Telegram that the Geese 9 Unit were responsible for taking out the radar complex, adding that it was a new piece of technology that has only been deployed since 2015. The Podlyot radar complex was struck by a Ukrainian drone earlier this week, and footage showed how the system was devastated. The clip shows a kamikaze drone, a Polish-made Warmate operated by Ukrainians, flying into the spinning radar dish of the system READ MORE: The teen spy who risked his life to save his friends aged just 16 - and only left when he feared being recruited into the Russian army Advertisement The system is used to detect targets and send coordinated to S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft systems. While Ukraine's use of drones in its defence against Russia has been successful, other elements of its military haven't been as efficient. Ukraine has been forced to sideline US-provide Abrams tanks for now in its fight against Russia, in part because Russian drone warfare has made it too difficult for them to operate without detection or coming under attack. The US agreed to send 31 Abrams to Ukraine in January 2023 after an aggressive months-long campaign by Kyiv arguing that the tanks, which cost about $10 million apiece, were vital to its ability to breach Russian lines. But the battlefield has changed substantially since then, notably by the ubiquitous use of Russian surveillance drones and hunter-killer drones - tactics also used to great effect by Ukraine's armed forces. Those weapons have made it more difficult for Ukraine to protect their American made tanks, which are considered high priority targets by Russian units. Russian troops claimed to have destroyed the first Abrams tank in Ukraine in February, with several Russian military bloggers sharing a clip of the armour on fire following a drone strike. Ukrainian intelligence wrote after the attack: 'Successful fire damage was inflicted on the antenna-feeder installation and the diesel station that fed the complex' Ukraine's defence ministry said on Telegram that the Geese 9 Unit were responsible for taking out the radar complex The system is used to detect targets and send coordinated to S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft systems Since then, Moscow's forces have honed their approach to tackling Western armour. Five of the 31 Abrams tanks in Ukraine have been destroyed in the past three months. For now, the tanks have been moved from the front lines, and the US will work with the Ukrainians to reset tactics, said US Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Adm. Christopher Grady and a third defence official who confirmed the move on the condition of anonymity. 'When you think about the way the fight has evolved, massed armour in an environment where unmanned aerial systems are ubiquitous can be at risk,' Grady said this week, adding that tanks are still important. 'Now, there is a way to do it,' he said. 'We'll work with our Ukrainian partners, and other partners on the ground, to help them think through how they might use that, in that kind of changed environment now, where everything is seen immediately.' Prince Harry's Apache helicopter instructor has claimed the Duke was wrong to reveal how many people he killed while in Afghanistan. The Duke of Sussex went to Afghanistan as an infantryman in 2008, before training as a pilot and returning as an Apache gunner in 2012, when he was 27. In his memoir Spare, Harry detailed that he had killed 25 Taliban fighters, writing: 'Every kill was on video. 'The Apache saw all. The camera in its nose recorded all. So, after every mission, there would be a careful review of that video. 'I was part of six missions that ended in the taking of human life, and they were all deemed justified I deemed them the same.' The Prince also wrote that he did not think of those killed 'as people' but instead 'chess pieces' he had taken off the board. Steve Jones, Harry's Apache helicopter instructor, criticised the Duke for revealing his kill count, describing the individuals killed as 'real people' with families. Prince Harry making his early morning pre-flight checks at the British controlled flight-line at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand Province in December 2012 Prince Harry at the British controlled flight-line in Camp Bastion, southern Afghanistan, in 2012 'It's not what we're about,' he told The Telegraph. 'We're not here to say, ''I did this, I did that.'' It's not a game. These are real people. They've got families. 'I wouldn't have made any comment. I get a very uneasy feeling for anybody who says ''I killed 10''. It's not what should be said, at all.' Mr Jones added: 'But [Harry] did have a successful tour. It's a shame he didn't hang around to do more but I guess he ticked that box and scratched that itch and moved on. 'I would say he's stepped backwards in a way, from the way he was to [how he is] now.' Nearly 10 years after leaving the army, Mr Jones is in the commercial industry, flying helicopters out to the oil rigs in the North Sea off the coast of Aberdeen. He also praised Harry for his work in the military, saying: 'I've had people say he only passed because of who he is. 'Nothing could be further from the truth. He definitely played hard, but he would work hard as well.' Prince Harry 's Apache helicopter instructor has claimed the Duke was wrong to reveal how many people he killed while in Afghanistan Prince Harry with his wife Meghan Markle or the Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 Last year the Duke - who was known as 'Captain Wales' in the military - wrote that he did not consider those killed 'as people' but instead 'chess pieces' he had removed from the board. It was the first time Harry had specified the number of insurgents he personally killed during his time in Afghanistan, where he went in both 2007-8 and 2012 and flew an Apache attack helicopter during his second tour. In Spare, the Prince said that he flew on six missions that resulted in the 'taking of human lives' in his leaked autobiography. While many soldiers do not know how many enemies they have killed in combat, the Duke wrote that 'in the era of Apaches and laptops' he was able to say 'with exactness' the number of insurgents he killed. Harry wrote that 'you can't kill people if you see them as people' and said he instead saw them as 'chess pieces removed from the board'... 'bad guys eliminated'. Pope Francis has visited Venice and took part in a canal tour weeks after asking worshippers to 'pray for him' following a health battle. The head of the Catholic Church appeared in good spirits in the Italian city on Sunday as he was welcomed to the city by roaring crowds of people. The 87-year-old was seen smiling as he visited an art exhibition which was being held inside a women's prison and talking to female inmates who had their artworks on display. He also took part in a trip to Saint Mark's Basilica in the centre of the city, before holding mass outside in St Mark's Square where he told the crowds his job was 'not easy. Francis's Sunday morning visit represented an increasingly rare outing for the 87-year-old, who has been endured health and mobility problems that have ruled out any foreign trips so far this year. Pope Francis waves at Gondoliers as he arrives in Venice for a rare public outing on Sunday morning The head of the Catholic Church waves at crowds who lined the water's edge as he leaves the women's prison on Guidecca island. One group of fans hold a sign saying 'Benvenuto Papa Francesco', which means 'Welcome Pope Francis' The Pope smiles as he enters St Mark's Basilica in Venice ahead of Sunday Mass this morning Francis gets on a boat after meeting with artists at the Biennale exhibition in Venice on Sunday In March he had unexpectedly withdrawn from a Good Friday procession to 'preserve his health', after battling respiratory problem all winter which have made it difficult for him to speak. That last-minute decision had raised questions about how long Francis can continue to lead the Catholic Church, although he appeared to be in much better form in Venice on Sunday. Venice, with its 121 islands and 436 bridges, isn't an easy place to negotiate, but Francis pulled it off, arriving by helicopter from Rome, crossing the Giudecca Canal in a water taxi and then arriving in St. Mark's Square in a mini popemobile that traversed the Grand Canal via a pontoon bridge erected for the occasion. During an encounter with young people at the iconic Santa Maria della Salute basilica, Francis acknowledged the miracle that is Venice, admiring its 'enchanting beauty' and tradition as a place of East-West encounter, but warning that it is increasingly vulnerable to climate change and depopulation. 'Venice is at one with the waters upon which it sits,' Francis said. 'Without the care and safeguarding of this natural environment, it might even cease to exist.' However, the trip was also unusual because it came as Venice, sinking under rising sea levels and weighed down by the impact of over-tourism, is in the opening days of an experiment to try to limit the sort of day trips that Francis undertook on Sunday. Venetian authorities last week launched a pilot programme to charge day-trippers 5 euro (4.20) apiece on peak travel days. The aim is to encourage them to stay longer or come at off-peak times to cut down on crowds and make the city more liveable for its dwindling number of residents. For Venice's Catholic patriarch, Archbishop Francesco Moraglia, the new tax programme is a worthwhile experiment, a potential necessary evil to try to preserve Venice as a liveable city for visitors and residents alike. Pope Francis, pictured on a boat after leaving a women's prison on Sunday, crossed the Giudecca Canal in a water taxi Pope Francis waves to the crowds as he leaves Giudecca island in Venice on Sunday morning Francis smiles as he travels to holy mass in St Mark's Square in Venice in a mini popemobile Pope Francis presides over mass at St Mark's Square during a rare visit to the city of Venice this morning The Pope, flanked by bodyguards, arrives in St Mark's Square in Venice in his last event during his half-day trip to the city Speaking to an estimated 10,500 people, Francis echoed those views, adding: 'Venice, which has always been a place of encounter and cultural exchange, is called to be a sign of beauty available to all. 'Starting with the least, a sign of fraternity and care for our common home.' In his first trip outside Rome in seven months, he called for prisoners to view their time behind bars as a chance for 'moral and material rebirth' as he viewed their artworks. Francis travelled to the lagoon city to visit the Holy See's pavilion at the Biennale contemporary art show and meet with the people who created it. Because the Vatican decided to mount its exhibit in the women's prison, and invited inmates to collaborate with the artists, the whole project took on a far more complex meaning - touching on Francis's belief in the power of art to uplift and unify, and of the need to give hope and solidarity to society's most marginalised. Francis hit on both messages during his visit, which began in the courtyard of Giudecca prison where he met with the women inmates one by one. As some of them wept, Francis told them: 'Paradoxically, a stay in prison can mark the beginning of something new, through the rediscovery of the unsuspected beauty in us and in others, as symbolised by the artistic event you are hosting and the project to which you actively contribute.' Francis then met with Biennale artists in the prison chapel, decorated with an installation by Brazilian visual artist Sonia Gomes of objects dangling from the ceiling, meant to draw the viewer's gaze upwards. He urged the artists to embrace the Biennale's theme this year of Strangers Everywhere, to show solidarity with all those on the margins. 'Art has the status of a 'city of refuge', a city that disobeys the regime of violence and discrimination in order to create forms of human belonging capable of recognising, including, protecting and embracing everyone,' Francis said. The Vatican exhibit turned the Giudecca prison, a former convent for reformed prostitutes, into one of the must-see attractions of this year's Biennale, even though to see it visitors must reserve in advance and go through a security check. The Pope's apparent good spirits will be welcome to followers of the Catholic Church after his battle with ill health in recent months, which saw him pull out of the traditional Good Friday procession. Thousands of people gathered in St Mark's Square to watch the Pope give mass on Sunday morning Visitors watch on as they attend mass in St Mark's Square this morning, which was held by Pope Francis Before holding mass, the Pope prayed in front of the relics of Saint Mark in Saint Mark's Basilica Gondoliers gathered on the canals of Venice as they awaited the arrival of Pope Francis on Sunday morning In a brief statement on Friday, March 29, the Vatican had said that 'to preserve his health ahead of tomorrow's vigil and the Easter Sunday mass, Pope Francis will this evening follow the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum from the Santa Marta Residence', where he lives. Days later he held Mass at Saint Peter's Square from a window, during which he told people: 'Please do not forget to pray for me.' He lightheartedly added: 'Have a good lunch, and until next time.' A Vatican source previously said that there was 'no particular concern' about his health and that the decision to pullout had been 'simply a measure of caution'. The Argentinian Jesuit had also cancelled his participation in the 'Via Crucis' in 2023, but that followed a three-day hospital stay for bronchitis, and was announced well ahead of time. Weeks later, he underwent a hernia operation. Francis, who never takes holidays, made his last trip in September, to the southern French city of Marseille. In December, he cancelled a much-anticipated attendance at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. The Vatican has not yet confirmed a planned trip to Asia and Pacific Ocean nations for this summer. Francis has previously left the door open to stepping down if he can no longer do the job. That would follow the example of his immediate predecessor, Benedict XVI, who in 2013 became the first pope since the Middle Ages to voluntarily step aside. But in a memoir published in March, Francis wrote that he did 'not have any cause serious enough to make me think of resigning'. A.B. Quintanilla, brother of Tejano icon Selena, went viral on social media for lashing out at the audience during his set at Fiesta's Tejano Explosion Saturday night. Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images Those who purchased tickets to see A.B. Quintanilla headline at Tejano Explosion, the popular San Antonio Fiesta concert series, got more than they expected. It turned out to be a 2-for-1 deal buy a ticket to the concert and get a free lecture about audience participation. A.B. Quintanilla Y Los Kumbia Kings All Starz performed downtown Saturday night as the final act of the weeklong concert series. But Quintanilla, brother of Tejano icon Selena and the bands frontman, quickly told the audience he wouldn't be returning to San Antonio anytime soon. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a now viral TikTok video posted by Dallas resident Maria Perez, Quintanilla complained about the crowds behavior during his set and said he would take my music elsewhere. Perez said Quintanilla started chastising the audience for not clapping or cheering loud enough for him. In the video, he told the audience they were acting like somebody put a gun to your head and forced you to be here tonight. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I traveled all the way from Las Vegas, received love all the way from over there. I come to my hometown in Texas, San Antonio, and I get no (expletive) love, Quintanilla said, as part of a longer profanity-filled tirade. He told the crowd they needed to support Tejano music the way they support the Dallas Cowboys and do their part if they want to see Tejano music make a comeback. This group you see up here, I promise youre going to see us at the Country Music Awards real soon, he continued. And you guys got to see us. I would love to come back but I cant come back to this kind of stuff. Look around you, this is not acceptable. The crowd can be heard booing Quintanilla throughout his rant, with some holding up their middle fingers in an obscene gesture and others yelling, Dont come back! Advertisement Article continues below this ad Quintanilla made sure the crowd knew by saying it repeatedly that the boos did not bother him. If anything, he said, crowd members should boo themselves for not participating in the show. When I started with Selena, we got booed a lot of times, and you know where we went? he said. To the top. So boo all the (expletive) you want. Its unclear how long Quintanilla aired his grievances, but the tirade extended across at least six TikTok videos, which have attracted thousands of likes and comments, largely poking fun at the musician. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Did he even perform?" asked one viewer. Legend has it, he is still talking, another wrote. A toddler was left screaming in pain after a brush with 'Britain's most dangerous plant' had him covered with blisters so bad that his skin had to be removed. Kayvon Wright developed red spots on his face and hands the morning after walking with his mum near Chard Reservoir in Somerset, England. Initially diagnosed as chickenpox, the spots soon developed into painful blisters, and the two-year-old boy was rushed to a burns unit. It was only two days later that the true culprit was revealed - little Kayvon had touched the dreaded giant hogweed. Mum Samantha Morgan from Ebbw Vale, Wales, said: 'The blisters filled up, and they spread all over his mouth and his face. 'He had a massive blister on his face and it popped on his cheek, and it was oozing. 'When we went to the Bristol burns unit they had to remove some skin. 'I think that was the most horrific thing for me: I will never forget my son's screams as they were taking his skin off him.' Kayvon Wright (pictured) developed red spots on his face and hands the morning after walking with his mum near Chard Reservoir in Somerset, England Initially diagnosed as chickenpox, the spots soon developed into painful blisters, and the two-year-old boy was rushed to a burns unit The injuries were caused by Giant Hogweed (pictured), dubbed Britain's most dangerous plant She continued: 'It was horrendous. It was absolutely horrible. He was really stressed out by that point. 'He was in so much pain that he was just lethargic, he didn't want to do anything, he was just lying in a hospital bed with bandages on his hands and his legs. 'Normally he's really active and outgoing, but he was just lying there not doing anything.' Giant hogweed carries a sap that stops the skin protecting itself against the sun's rays, causing gruesome burns when exposed to natural light. It often causes no immediate pain, meaning its victims can continue to burn in the sun heedless of any problem. And the plant can spread its sap with only a moment's exposure. Miss Morgan, 32, said Kayvon would've 'literally just brushed against it'. She said: 'He was just walking up the pathway that goes up to the reservoir, and obviously he's just grabbing hold of everything that he can, touching plants and flowers. 'We didn't even know hogweed existed. Then, when he got it on his hands, he's touched his face and spread it around his body. It didn't activate until it was really sunny the following morning. 'I think that was the most horrific thing for me: I will never forget my son's screams as they were taking his skin off him', Samantha said Kayvon suffered his ordeal in 2019, and now his mum is speaking out to warn other parents before the giant hogweed makes its annual return 'It started off with just some red spots on his hand, some red patches on his skin. It was almost like he had sunburn on his fingers. 'And then it went from that to having little blister spots. 'At first we thought it could be chickenpox; but they just got bigger from there.' She continued: 'He had to go on antibiotics just in case of infections, he had to have drips for fluids, and pain relief. It was quite a lot. 'I think he was in Bristol burns unit for six or seven days. 'I think it was mostly second-degree burns, nearly third-degree. 'It's almost like he'd had a chip pan poured over him, the burn was that severe.' Kayvon suffered his ordeal in 2019, and now his mum is speaking out to warn other parents before the giant hogweed makes its annual return. The plant flowers in June and July, but burns have been reported earlier. Miss Morgan said: 'Every year I put a post on Facebook about it now and so do my friends, because we like to raise awareness of it as much as we can. Kayvon, now six, had big red blotches on his skin for eight months after he was burned Miss Morgan, who now lives in Somerset, urged parents to be vigilant against the plant She said: 'You don't expect to be walking down the street with your child, your child picks a flower and all of a sudden ends up burnt' 'None of us even knew it existed before my child got burned with it..' Kayvon, now six, had big red blotches on his skin for eight months after he was burned. But the after effects of giant hogweed exposure would last much longer. 'He's only now got his natural protection on his skin back,' said his mum. 'Before now, even if he goes out in a little sunlight, we've had to put suncream on him because he burns really quickly in those areas where he's had hogweed burns. 'But now all of a sudden he seems to have developed his own resilience back again.' Miss Morgan, who now lives in Somerset, urged parents to be vigilant against the plant. She said: 'You don't expect to be walking down the street with your child, your child picks a flower and all of a sudden ends up burnt. 'Children themselves have no awareness of it. I think it's about raising awareness of different plants and how dangerous they can be. 'Don't just let them touch everything.' The giant hogweed is native to the Caucasus, but was introduced to Britain as an ornamental plant in 1817, and its spread has now got out of control. It was called 'without a shadow of a doubt, the most dangerous plant in Britain' by Mike Duddy, of the Mersey Basin Rivers Trust in 2015. The church is one of the biggest in Arkansas and boasts ex-President Bill Clinton among its former worshippers A teacher and children's volunteer at one of Arkansas' biggest churches accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy told police she would not go further than oral sex so he could 'stay pure.' Reagan Gray, 26, sent naked pictures 'on a daily basis' to the boy after beginning the abuse in the fall of 2020 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, once attended by ex-President Bill Clinton. The church sent her for counseling after the boy's parents discovered text messages alluding to the affair on their son's phone but she was welcomed back within weeks and resumed her abuse. The pair had met in her car and in her Monticello apartment until May 2021 but the boy told investigators he could not remember if he responded to her demands for naked images in response to her torrent of nude photos. 'I don't have explicit memory of doing that but, with how often she requested it, it probably did happen,' he admitted. Teacher and church volunteer Reagan Gray, 26, allegedly had a nine-month relationship with a 15-year-old student ministry member from 2020 Officials at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock warned her off the relationship but she allegedly resumed it after returning from counselling, demanding he send her nude images The boy told detectives that the pair went no further than oral sex so he could 'stay pure' Gray who was teaching at Little Rock Christian Academy met her alleged victim at the church where he was also a member of the student ministry. The student told detectives that Gray found out his phone number through the group chat for the church's music program. The boy's parents confronted Gray and informed head pastor Steven Smith after discovering a series of text messages. Smith said he confronted Gray and suspended her from student ministry despite her insistence that her relationship with the boy was not sexual. The police were not informed and the church assigned Gray an 'accountability partner' in the shape of Smith's wife, Ashley. But a police affidavit claims that Gray resumed her abuse after returning from her counselling, switching her communications with the boy to Snapchat. It was not until a counselling session with Smith in September of last year that Gray admitted the relationship had been 'sexual in nature' and had continued after her suspension. Police were called and the boy told FBI investigators that the pair had relations between five and 10 times during the fall of 2020. He said Gray performed oral sex on him but the pair did not have intercourse 'in order for (him) to stay pure,' the affidavit records. By then she had been hired as a teacher at Sylvan Hills Middle School in Sherwood but she was suspended by Pulaski County Special School District in February after it learned of the investigation. Gray was charged with a single felony count of sexual assault teenager between September 2020 and May 2021 and was freed on $20,000 bail after turning herself into Little Rock police on Wednesday. Her attorney John Ogles said she denied the charge and said he expected her to clear her name. Gray has been released on $20,000 bail and has denied one felony count of sexual assault The church in Little Rock is one of the biggest in Arkansas and has boasted former president Bill Clinton among its congregation She is due to appear at Little Rock District Court on June 17 'We trust the judicial system,' he insisted. Smith resigned from his post earlier this month and interim executive pastor Mark Carter said the case had caused distress to worshippers at the 128-year-old church that routinely attracts nearly 1,000 people to its services. He said Gray's arrest had been reported to the church's new 'Caring Well Team', to 'assess the situation and determine what action steps will be taken.' 'We are grieved over this situation, hurting for the young man affected, and praying for all involved,' he wrote. The Augusta Mall in Georgia has been closed after gunshots were fired inside. Police were called at 1:43pm on Sunday following the incident, according to the Richmond County Dispatch. It's unclear if there have been any injuries. The sheriff's office said: '[The] investigation is in its early stages and there is no additional information available at this time.' Dozens of police and ambulance vehicles were seen swooping on the mall. According to people inside speaking to the Augusta Chronicle, employees and shoppers in Dillard's took cover behind counters and inside bathrooms. The Augusta Mall in Georgia has been closed after gunshots were fired inside This is a breaking news story. A guest on the popular show Antiques Roadshow brought with her an amethyst necklace, a family heirloom, that supposedly belonged to a British socialite and the mistress of King Edward VII. If the guest was looking for a nice pay day, her hopes were quickly dashed when jewelry expert Sarah Churgin appraised the piece at just '$3,000 to $4,000' after explaining the history behind it. 'If it had royal provenance, we can double that price,' Churgin said. Before Churgin flexed her precious jewelry expertise, the guest was giddy to retell the story of how she acquired mistress Lillie Langtry's amethyst necklace. She said: 'I have an amethyst necklace that was my husband's great-grandmother's. I inherited it last year from my mother-in-law when she died.' The guest (pictured) posing with the amethyst necklace supposedly once owned by socialite Lillie Langtry Close up of the amethyst necklace expert Sarah Churgin valued at $3,000 to $4,000 The British actress, Lily Langtry (1853-1929), the first society woman in professional theater, as well as a theater manager, racehorse owner, and mistress of the Prince of Wales, Edward VII. The guest explained that her mother-in-law bought the necklace at an auction in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1929, the year Langtry died. She said her mother-in-law 'loved amethyst, because we have an amethyst letter opener, amethyst rings, she was really excited about amethyst which I read Lillie Langtry also was.' Langtry was born in 1853 on Jersey, a small British crown-dependent island off the coast of France. After her first marriage ended, she moved to London where she met the future King Edward VII in 1877 at a dinner party. At that time, he was still the Prince of Wales and wouldn't become king until 1901. According to Churgin, Edward 'maneuvered to sit next to [Langtry] and it began a relationship that lasted many years.' 'They were lovers for three years and then she got pregnant with another man's child. Now interestingly, Edward VII purchased a house for her in Bournemouth and actually paid for her [postpartum] confinement in Paris. She ended up with property in California and she died in Monaco in 1929,' Churgin added. The year 1929, when Langtry died, was the same year the auction happened in Atlantic City where the guest's mother-in-law snagged Langtry's necklace from a man named Harold A Brand. Churgin revealed that in 1949 Brand was 'brought up on multiple conspiracy charges, for conspiracy of fraud.' Churgin cast doubt on the authenticity of the mounting of the amethyst and the case it came in Langtry (pictured) died in Monaco in 1929, the same year the guest's mother-in-law supposedly bought one of her necklaces in Atlantic City, New Jersey Edward VII (1841 - 1910) was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and later became King of Great Britain in 1901 'Oh my goodness!' the guest exclaimed, her shock written all over her face. Churgin, beyond casting doubt on the seller of the amethyst necklace, raised skepticism about the piece's worth on its own. 'What we do have here is a really nice amethyst necklace from the art deco period. King Edward gave jewelry to his lovers and to his wife by famous makers,' Churgin said. 'This piece does not have any maker marks on it.' Churgin added that the amethyst had been remounted and the box the necklace came in was 'fairly commercial quality' for its era. 'So the case is not fancy enough either!' the guest joked. Churgin concluded by saying: 'Had it been given by Edward VII to Lillie Langtry, it would be one thing but nonetheless, a fair auction value would be $3,000 to $4,000.' Were you affected by the travel disruption? Email: edward.holt@mailonline.co.uk Passengers faced delays for three hours after police cordoned off platforms Police have launched an investigation after a person died at Liverpool Lime Street train station. The tragic incident led to travel chaos - with most services out of the busy railway station either cancelled or delayed. Emergency services were called to the station at just after midday today following 'reports of a safety concern' as police announce they are launching an investigation. A spokesperson for the British Transport Police told the Liverpool ECHO: 'British Transport Police were called to Liverpool Lime Street at 12.30pm today (April 28) to reports of a concern for safety. 'Officers and paramedics attended, sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is being investigated.' Liverpool Lime Street train station. British Transport Police have launched an after a person died in the station today (stock image) Larges queues formed in the station as passengers struggled to make their planned journeys The tragic incident led to travel chaos - with most services out of the busy railway station either cancelled or delayed. services to Manchester and as far as London Euston were disrupted Following the incident, trains leaving the station faced delays of up to 74 minutes after police cordoned off most of the stations 11 platforms. Larges queues then formed in the station as passengers struggled to make their planned journeys with services to Manchester and as far as London Euston either cancelled or delayed. Trains due to arrive at Lime Street also faced disruptions as services to the stations were terminated at stations such as Liverpool South Parkway - a station five miles outside Liverpool city centre. The disruption continued for over three hours until services finally resumed at 4.30pm. MailOnline have approached the British Transport Police and Network Rail for a comment. A paedophile was caught ordering a teenage girl to perform vile sex acts in a video call just months after being release from prison for almost identical offences. Ethan Rich was found to have targeted the 14-year-old in 2023, with police finding recordings of him masturbating while encouraging her to perform actions on herself on a phone he was not supposed to have. On the device officers found the sex offender had signed up to multiple social media sites, including WhatsApp, Telegram and Snapchat, using the name of American painter Bob Ross as a pseudonym. The discovery was made just five months after he was released from prison for almost identical offences which saw him target a 15-year-old girl, something for which he was jailed for three years in 2020. Locking him behind bars again last week at Swansea Crown Court, Judge Paul Thomas KC said it was clear Rich had 'learned nothing - or at least nothing positive' from his time in prison. Ethan Rich was found exchanging sexual messages with a 14-year-old girl just months after being released from prison for near identical offences. Pictured: The sex offender in his mugshot While on remand for the most recent offences, Rich's lawyer said he has been learning French in the hopes of joining the French Foreign Legion when he's released. But that will be more than half a decade away, after he was given a 12-year-and-nine-month extended sentence comprising nine years and nine months in custody followed by a three-year extended licence period. READ MORE Childhood friends of 12-year-old boy who was stabbed to death by homeless man say child killer sentences should be longer as 76-year-old faces parole Advertisement Swansea Crown Court was told that Rich was originally sentenced to three years in prison for child sexual offences involving a 15-year-old girl in August 2020, WalesOnline reports. Hannah George, prosecuting, said the offending involved the defendant recording video calls with the child during which he got his victim to perform sex acts on herself with him giving her instructions and telling her to 'moan' while doing it. As part of that 2020 sentence he was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order with conditions including having to register the ownership of phones and a ban on having social media and chat website accounts in names which had not been approved by the police. The court heard the Carmarthenshire man was released from prison on licence in November 2021 but within two months had been recalled back to custody because of concerns about his contact with females on social media and messaging apps 'for sexual purposes'. He was assessed as having 'a high level of sexual preoccupation'. The prosecutor said Rich was released again in May 2023 but when police went to his home in August to carry out a routine visit they found he had an unregistered phone in the caravan he was living in behind his mother's house. Police were also made aware he had been staying at an address in Cellan, Ceredigion, without notifying the authorities. Swansea Crown Court was told that Rich was found using the pseudonym Bob Ross to communicate online. Pictured: A photo of the outside of Swansea Crown Court The court heard at this time Rich was working as a shepherd for a woman he had met in a pub. It later emerged that though he had disclosed his previous conviction for arson to his new employer he had not disclosed his sexual convictions. READ MORE Paedophile couple who wanted to get 14-year-old girl pregnant are jailed after they were caught by online vigilantes when they turned up at railway station to meet their 'victim' Advertisement In October police received intelligence that Rich had been communicating with a 14-year-old girl and officers went to arrest him. The defendant's phone was seized and while officers were arresting him they heard another mobile vibrating. Police asked him if he had another mobile and he said he had not but officers found the unregistered phone under his seat. An examination of the phones found Rich had accounts on a number of platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat in a variety of names including Bob Ross. They also found a number of recordings of video calls with a 14-year-old girl during which Rich encouraged the child to perform sex acts on herself and during which he masturbated in front of her. The prosecutor said the new offending was 'strikingly similar' to that which saw him jailed in 2020. Ethan Rich, of Cwmann, Carmarthenshire, had previously pleaded guilty to a total of 17 offences of failing to comply with sex offender registrations requirements, breaching a sexual harm prevention order, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, sexual communications with a child, and possession of indecent images when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has 12 previous convictions for 18 offences including arson, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and making indecent images of a child. Georgia Donohue, for Rich, said it was accepted a prison sentence was inevitable in the case. Rich's lawyer told the court his client intended to join the French Foreign Legion on his release from prison. Pictured: A file image of French Foreign Legion members marching through Paris on a Bastille Day parade She said in 2021 defendant was diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and said 'his autism has left him struggling to form relationships'. She said in her conference with the defendant he had told her he did not know why he committed the offences and was remorseful for the 'social scrutiny' his family had come under as a result of his offending. READ MORE Transgender butcher who dressed as a woman to kidnap and sexually abuse a schoolgirl is 'living as a man in prison' Advertisement The barrister said Rich hopes to join the Foreign Legion upon his release from prison and to that end had started learning French while being held on remand in prison. Judge Paul Thomas KC said 'almost immediately' upon his release from prison the defendant had returned to sexual offending and deliberately flouting the sexual harm prevention order. He told Rich it was clear that despite the great efforts being put in by the criminal justice system to get him to change his ways 'you have learned nothing - or at least nothing positive'. The judge said he was mindful of the defendant's mental health issues - issues 'no doubt exacerbated by drug use' - but in the light of everything he had read about Rich he was satisfied he posed a substantial risk of serious harm to young girls and should be given a sentence as a dangerous offender. Rich was given a 12-year-and-nine-month extended sentence comprising nine years and nine months in custody followed by a three-year extended licence period. The defendant can apply for release after serving two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence but it will be up to the Parole Board to decide if he is safe to be released. Two men were killed and four women were injured after a gun fight broke out at a crowded San Antonio festival with the shocking aftermath caught on camera. The footage shows crowds enjoying the final day of the Fiesta San Antonio at Market Square with a parade and live music, when gunfire erupts. Police run through the crowd and start firing at the shooters while onlookers run away or duck down and scream. Two gunmen, aged 18 and 20, were killed in the shootout and four female bystanders were wounded, according to San Antonio police. The identities of the suspects and victims and the cause of the fight have not yet been released. Crowds were enjoying the final day of the Fiesta San Antonio at Market Square with a parade and live music when the fight broke out Two men were killed and four women were injured after a gun fight broke out at the crowded San Antonio festival Police were chasing an 18-year-old when one of his shots hit the 20-year-old, knocking him to the floor The fight broke out just as the final day of the 11-day citywide Fiesta celebration of live music, food markets and parades was wrapping up. Just after midnight on Sunday morning, as crowds milled around the historic Market Square, gunshots rang out. Two men, aged 18 and 20, started shooting at each other near the stage on Conch Alley and police ran over and opened fire on the men. Police were chasing the teenager when one of his shots hit the 20-year-old, knocking him to the floor. Officer then opened fire on the teenager, according to police. The 18-year-old died at the scene while the other gunman died at a local hospital later that day. Four women bystanders were injured in the shoot-out. A 36-year-old and a 29-year-old woman were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries while two other young women were checked and released at the scene. It is not clear if they were shot by bullets from the gunmen or the police. The two officers involved have worked for the department for 13 years and five years. Police Chief William McManus said officers working near the stage intervened when they heard the shots ring out in the area of South Santa Rosa and Dolorosa The 18-year-old died at the scene while the other gunman died at a local hospital later that day The fight broke out just as the final day of the 11-day citywide Fiesta celebration of live music, food markets and parades Officers working near the stage intervened and opened fire on the gunmen when they heard the shooting Police found the two handguns used in the incident and are investigating. Police Chief William McManus said officers working near the stage intervened when they heard the shots ring out in the area of South Santa Rosa and Dolorosa. He tweeted at 3am: 'I'm on the scene of an OIS that occurred just before the end of the Market Square Fiesta event. 'The two individuals who were shooting at each other are deceased. Four others received non-life threatening injuries. No officers were injured.' He added: 'We have a very busy crime scene here. We're trying to sort everything out. 'We had two officers return fire, and he was just pronounced dead.' This is the moment a shop keeper turned the tables on a machete welding thug by trapping them inside his store during an attempted robbery. Officers are hunting down two men following the incident in the Smethwick area of Birmingham earlier this month, which saw three people enter a convenience store with a large knife. CCTV footage of the attempted robbery shows one of the thugs demanding money from the till while threatening to knife the shop keeper. Meanwhile, their accomplice can be seen helping themselves to items on the shelves of the Taas Express store. The shop keeper runs from behind the counter, picks up two bottles of wine and smashes them on the floor in order to confuse the robbers. He then manages to run out the shop and close the door behind him, trapping in two suspects, with one still holding the machete. The machete-welding robber tries to escape the shop after being trapped inside by the shop keeper The thug uses the machete to chisel away at the glass in a desperate bid to escape The unarmed person claims to be an innocent party who is under threat from the thug holding the machete, begging the staff member to let them out The robber tries to break the glass with their machete in a bid to get out but is unsuccessful The shop worker pulls on the door handle alongside a passer-by who helps to stop the robbers from opening the door. The machete-welding robber is then seen using the weapon to chisel away at the glass in a desperate bid to escape. The unarmed person claimed to be an innocent party who was under threat from the thug holding the machete, begging the staff member to let them out. The two people outside continue to keep the door shut by pulling on the door handle. The suspects eventually managed to exit the shop and flee by climbing through a bathroom window at the back of the building, prompting a search by West Midlands Police. Rajasingam Tharshiya, the owner of the shop, said one of the suspects escaped before the door was pulled shut. 'These two lads came in with knives and started demanding money from my staff. He had the presence of mind to run from behind the counter and out of the door, one of them just beat him to the door and ran away,' he told The Telegraph. The robber threatens the shop keeper with his machete before the quick-thinking member of staff shuts him inside Officers are still searching for the suspects who eventually escaped from a bathroom window 'The other guy trapped inside started banging on the glass and the third man I believe was also with them, as they both escaped out of the bathroom window together.' He added: 'It is very frightening this can happen, and our worker was very shaken up but luckily unharmed.' A spokesperson for the police said: 'We were called just before 7pm on 18 April to reports of a disorder at a shop on Bearwood Road, Smethwick. A shop worker was threatened with a knife and offenders attempted to take items from the store. 'The shop worker, along with members of the public, attempted to lock the offenders in the store to prevent them from fleeing the scene. During this, the front door of the store was smashed. 'A boy, aged 17, was arrested on suspicion of robbery and has since been bailed pending further enquiries.' He was the avuncular man in sensible specs who, at his peak, was a Scottish household name and the true pioneer of the gritty, murderous genre that is 'tartan noir'. Bill Knox, a journalist from the south side of Glasgow, covered untold crimes, fronted for almost a decade STV's Crime Desk slot appealing for help from the public always signing off the programme with the promise that any calls to the police 'can be in confidence' and had abundant contacts in the constabulary. But he was also, for decades, the author of many police procedurals and thrillers, of which the best remembered series follows the Glasgow homicides that entangled the excitable Chief Inspector Thane and his calmer deputy, Moss. Knox used so many pseudonyms for other adventures it is hard to tally them all Michael Kirk, Noel Webster, Robert MacLeod but he is now thought to have written 65 books between 1957 and his death, a quarter-century ago, on March 24, 1999. And thus founded a Scottish oeuvre that has in recent decades made fortunes for, Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Stuart McBride and Chris Brookmyre, among others. Bill Knox (pictured) was a prolific author while also working professionally as a journalist from the south side of Glasgow Now, thanks to a Highland admirer, Knox's sharply plotted and immersive stories are coming back into print. And not before time. Pilot Error (1977) won him a Crime Writers Association award. Knox would win it again a decade later, for the 'Most Authentic Novel in a Police Setting.' His books sold strongly in America, two of his tales were filmed for German television and, in all, his novels were translated into 12 languages. Knox took us into dark places: The Tallyman (1969), for instance, centred on illegal Glasgow moneylenders. 'Somewhere in the Millside district of Glasgow, a tallyman an unlicensed loan shark is preying on people in desperate financial straits. 'He loans them cash at rates they cannot hope to pay back and then demands various services in kind. These 'services' make the Tallyman a one-man crime wave...' No wonder: he charges interest at 64 per cent, compound. This was ground hardly anyone had previously dared explore. Glasgow, jumpy about its image, loathed its reputation as the haunt of gangs and razor-slashers. The one exception, the 1935 publication of A McArthur and H Kingsley Long's No Mean City, which was slammed by a city father as a 'sensationalist work that left an indelible stain on Glasgow's reputation.' Thane and Moss, in their behatted decency, were classier. Thane is indeed happily married and even has a dog, in contrast to the prevalent tradition that hard-bitten 'tecs Jim Taggart, DCI Morse, John Rebus have anguished personal lives. His best known series followed the Glasgow homicides that entangled the excitable Chief Inspector Thane and his calmer deputy, Moss. Pictured: The cover of his books Draw Batons! (left) and Stormtide (right) But Bill Knox's work is far removed from the drawing-room whodunnits of Agatha Christie. Rounded characters, exquisitely evoked settings. Motives are believable; facts forensic procedure, and so on were checked and rechecked. His output was remarkable when you consider how many plates he was spinning. Born in February 1928, he joined the late Glasgow Evening News as a copyboy at 16, before training as a general news reporter with a particular eye for crime. By 1949 he was living in Troon, entraining daily for Glasgow. A girl called Myra always boarded at Prestwick, and she caught his eye. They married in 1950, settled in Clarkston the final family home was in Newton Mearns and had three children. Bill later, too, became the Glasgow Evening News' motoring correspondent. Then, on its launch in 1957, was hired by Scottish Television as its news editor. He even interviewed Peter Manuel, just before the serial-killer's arrest. He would be the third-last man to be hanged in Scotland. 'He got into a lot of trouble as the police didn't know he was doing it,' says Knox's daughter, Susan Ward. 'For a weekend, myself, my mother and brother had to go to a safe house.' 'He liked to balance a lot of eggs in a lot of different baskets. He never wanted to commit himself solely to writing. He wanted to do other things...' Bill Knox's books were for years among the most borrowed from public libraries in Scotland. Pictured: The French cover for his 1977 book Witchrock, which was translated as The Secret of the Archipelago His books were among the most borrowed from public libraries, and he played in fields beyond the police procedural: the Webb Carrick series, for instance, of unputdownable thrillers about a Fishery Protection vessel. By the Seventies his stature was such that STV begged him back. He wrote and presented the hugely popular 100 Tales of Crime five-minute fillers recounting this or that Scottish villainy. But STV also gave him Crime Desk, and it is for its eight-year run that Knox is perhaps now best remembered. He broadcast a Glasgow colloquialism 'neds' into the wider national vocabulary. He detailed thuggeries and housebreakings and some awful murders. Crime Desk had no gimmicks. It was little more than a talking head. Yet Knox and the thousands of people who phoned in helped, as his obituarist put it, to solve 'an enormous breadth of crimes'. But he kept industrially writing and, from 1984 till 1996, edited the RNLI (Scotland) magazine. In 1989 he was honoured with a Paul Harris Award and Knox took particular interest in the Cystic Fibrosis Association for his youngest child, Ailsa, born in 1963, was a sufferer. Over many years, every penny Bill Knox earned from public speaking and he was widely sought was slipped to the CFA, even after Ailsa's death in 1986. Bill's writing essentially reflects the decency of the man. Author Barry Hutchison (pictured) said Knox is 'one of the grandfathers of tartan noir' and created the template for Scottish crime fiction He was thrilled, late in life, when Boston University asked if they might have his personal papers reflecting his standing in the U.S. The William Knox Collection, with all his letters and original manuscripts, abides today in the city's Mugar Memorial Library. Knox's final novel, The Lazarus Widow, was completed posthumously by Martin Edwards, and quite a few of his books were still in print at his death. Yet, implacably, they slid from view. Puzzled, Susan Ward went in search of her father's literary agent. She was nowhere to be found, and Ward had to conclude she had died. Then, a couple of years ago, Barry Hutchison based in Fort William and who writes his own fiction as J D Kirk came upon a copy of Death Department (a 1959 Thane and Moss tale) while browsing in a second-hand bookshop. 'I was hooked by the characters, hooked by the writing and transported back to 1950s Glasgow,' Hutchison said. 'So I went to find the rest and realised that they were not available.' Appalled, he finally managed to contact Mrs Ward, and Hutchison's publishing concern Zertex Media is now reissuing Bill Knox's novels. Deadline came out in January as an audio book, digital download and paperback. Death Department followed in February; Leave it to the Hangman will appear at the end of March. As Barry Hutchison's research gathered pace, he 'realised how well loved he was. His books were everywhere. We found reviews worldwide, including the New York Times, singing their praises in all these different places. 'I would say he is probably one of the grandfathers of tartan noir. His books created a template for Scottish crime fiction. 'I started my series before I read any of Bill's books, but I can look at my characters DCI Jack Logan and DI Ben Ford now and I can see Thane and Moss in them.' And, in a market so desperate for content, perhaps Bill Knox's tales, enthralling as they are, will finally make it to our own screens, large and small. The University of Wisconsin chancellor, who was previously fired for creating X-rated videos with his wife and an assortment of porn stars, is still making his $90,000 salary from the state-funded institution. Joe Gow, 64, was fired last year from his role as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, but has retained his role as a communications professor. Accordingly, his salary plummeted from more than $250,000 annually, to about $92,000. Despite still technically being employed by the university, Gow is not currently allowed to set foot on campus as he remains on paid leave, according to the New York Post. Later this year, he will be the subject of a hearing, which will determine whether or not he will be permitted to return to the classroom. For now, however, he continues to collect his salary as an educator, and his secondary income as an X-rated content creator, who has reportedly continued pumping out content. UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow, 63, was terminated by the board of regents Wednesday after discovering he posts X-rated videos with his wife online Gow (right) and his wife Carmen Wilson (left) post content under the name Sexy Happy Couple and host a cooking show where they have adult film stars as guests Gow's replacement has so far filed several charges against him for, among other things, failing to cooperate with an investigation into his conduct and using the school's computers to produce pornography. 'They want to fire me as a tenured faculty member. But what I do with my wife, on my own time using my own equipment, is none of their business,' he informed the Post. Gow was terminated by the board of regents last year after it was discovered that he posts X-rated videos with his wife online under the name Sexy Happy Couple. On X, formerly known as Twitter, Gow and his wife, Carmen Wilson, share photos of video clips from their cooking channel, where they frequently have adult video stars as guests. They also link to LoyalFans and OnlyFans for 'fully explicit scenes.' 'In recent days, we learned of specific conduct by Dr. Gow that has subjected the university to significant reputational harm. His actions were abhorrent,' said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman back in December. Rothman filed a complaint to have Gow's tenured status reviewed and he was put on leave. Rothman said the school has hired an outside law firm to investigate the matter. 'Dr. Joe Gow has shown a reckless disregard for the role he was entrusted with at UW-La Crosse to serve students, faculty and staff, and the campus community,' said UW System Regent President Karen Walsh. 'The outrage over his behavior is evidenced by the unanimous vote by the UW Board of Regents to terminate him as chancellor. We are alarmed, and disgusted, by his actions, which were wholly and undeniably inconsistent with his role as chancellor.' In a recent cooking video, the couple had adult film star Lauren Phillips (right) as a guest. Their cooking account tells users to go to their OnlyFans page for 'explicit scenes' Gow, who was La Crosses second-longest serving chancellor, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel his content is protected by free speech and no university property or funds were used to create them - though that claim is now being disputed by the school. 'There's nothing said about the University of Wisconsin; there's nothing said about the chancellor (on the videos). So someone else would have to make those associations. And then someone would have to say those are problematic,' said Gow. In 2018, Gow was denied a pay raise after he paid porn star Nina Hartley $5,000 from his discretionary fund to speak at the La Crosse campus. During the 90-minute address, Hartley told students it's acceptable to enjoy pornography, not enjoy it or be confused by it. She also stressed that pornography is fantasy. Gow later apologized for the 'sensationalist' media attention Hartley's appearance had attracted and said he was naive about the possibility that her profession would overwhelm her message. He also personally reimbursed the school for the $5,000. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Gow and Wilson have six videos on OnlyFans that feature adult film stars, according to descriptions of the videos. The couple had adult film star Tyler Nixon (left) as a recent guest. The board of regents called Gow's actions 'abhorrent' In 2018, Gow was denied a pay raise after he was in hot water for paying porn star Nina Hartley (pictured) $5,000 to speak on campus The couple also appear on at least two other porn websites - PornHub and XHamster - where some of their videos have more than 200,000 views. All videos were posted relatively recently. Gow and Wilson reportedly published two e-books about their adult content under pseudonyms and describe themselves as executives from well-known institutions in the country. The works of literature were respectively titled, 'Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enriches Our Relationship,' and 'Married with Benefits Our Real-Life Adult Industry Adventures.' In one of the texts, the couple say they are, 'fairly certain a scandal would ensue if our peers were to know about what weve been doing.' 'We think our sex is beautiful and have no qualms at all about other people watching us make love. But our establishment colleagues likely would be shocked to watch us complete the full carnal process particularly with professional porn stars and were fairly certain wed be shunned in our community.' Now, Gow says their content is ethical, that 'nobody is cheating on any body,' and that the videos are examples of the pair 'enjoying our sex life openly and honestly.' 'We are in love, and we have fun together. People dont understand it, and it makes them uncomfortable; thats why they want me gone.' "Blue waves made up of Portuguese man o wars, by-the-wind sailors and blue buttons have been washing ashore in Corpus Christi. Maria Luisa Cesar/San Antonio Express-News Heading to the Texas Coast anytime soon? If so, keep your eyes peeled for the thousands of jellyfish that have washed ashore. In an April 26 Facebook post, the Corpus Christi-based Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies showed off the natural and manmade items that have recently washed up on the beach, from snails and crabs to purses and illegal fishing nets. During its beachcombing trip, the institute said it also came across the phenomenon known as the blue wave, which consists of Portuguese man o wars, by-the-wind sailors and blue buttons. This next week should be much of the same with the strong southerly winds staying around, the post read. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thousands of blue buttons, or Porpita Porpita, have washed ashore recently due to weather conditions, the post explained. The species might look and sting like a jellyfish but it is not. Instead, it is a colony of hydroids, according to Smithsonian. Normally if you see these on the beach, they just look like a blue bob but if you can get a bucket and catch them before they get to the sand, they fan out and move their tentacles all around, the Harte Research Institutes Facebook post said. A photo that caught peoples attention was of a man o' war with a purple storm snail attached. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, man o wars float on currents and wash up on Texas beaches from the spring to late summer. It can be difficult to spot a man o war or other jellyfish species while swimming, but if there are jellies washed up along the beach, theres a good chance they are in the water. Beachgoers should refrain from touching dead jellyfish lying on the beach since their stinging cells may still be active, the state agency said. While it isnt part of the blue wave, the strong southeast winds also bring in blue dragons. The institute warned residents earlier this year to be on the lookout for the rare, venomous sea slugs when they hit the beach. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When threatened or touched, it can release stinging cells with more powerful stings than the Portuguese man o war can alone, the institute wrote on Facebook. Thats why we recommend just taking photos and not touching. This is just the first blue wave of these organisms washing in together. They are beloved family members whose deaths are often felt as keenly as those of our human companions. Now a Scots needle artist is easing the pain of losing a pet by crafting woollen lookalikes and requests for her work have been pouring in from all over the world. Fiona Finlayson began making the figurines after realising how heartbreaking the loss of a cat or a dog can be for the owner. The 53-year-old, of Livingston, West Lothian, felt 'something had been missing' until she started making animals using needle felting. Launching her business in 2018, she now creates around eight likenesses each month to ship to her customers, who ask for a depiction of their deceased pets. The lifelike figures even contain the fur of deceased pets. Pictured: A figure of a terrier done by Ms Finlayson Ms Finlayson's handiwork is popular with pet lovers worldwide. Pictured: A pair of dachshunds Fiona Finlayson (pictured) is a needle felt artist from Livingston. She says she had no idea how much her work would mean to pet owners A pair of Corgi needle felt dogs created by Ms Finlayson for one of her customers Ms Finlayson said: 'I didn't really appreciate when I first started how much it would mean to people. 'I've got a dog, I've always loved animals, and for some losing a pet is horrible. 'If there's something you can have that makes it a little bit easier, then it's nice to be able to help create that and give it to somebody.' She said as well as orders from across the UK, she has shipped her woollen animals to Australia, America, Canada, France and Norway. Ms Finlayson said it takes up to 15 hours to make each piece depending on the task, creating woolly sculptures measuring around 8in. She has even incorporated the fur of her customers' pets into the sculptures, as well as collars, to allow them to feel as though a part of their animal is still there. The artist said she had created a Bichon Frise dog for one customer whose pet had died. The owner said they would speak to the doll in the morning and 'it was almost like it was the dog'. Ms Finlayson's creations cost around 130 each, including postage. She said: 'I feel such a responsibility making the pets and want to get it just right. But once I do, it's such a nice sense of satisfaction.' Ms Finlayson said it takes up to 15 hours to make each piece depending on the task, creating woolly sculptures measuring around 8in She has even incorporated the fur of her customers' pets into the sculptures, as well as collars Union bosses have hinted they will accept an end to six-day letter deliveries, paving the way for Royal Mail to make historic cuts to postal services. The Communication Workers Union leaders have suggested they will back reforms to the universal service obligation (USO), which legally guarantees deliveries six days a week. The CWU, which represents 110,000 postal workers, admitted the current service is 'no longer financially viable'. Royal Mail has long argued for changes to rules forcing it to deliver letters UK-wide for six days a week. It has submitted a proposal to Ofcom for first-class deliveries to continue on Saturdays but second-class post to be delivered only every other day. The CWU had previously opposed the 'killing off' of the six-day postal service. Union bosses have hinted they will accept an end to six-day letter deliveries, paving the way for Royal Mail to make historic cuts to postal services (stock image) Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky (pictured) has launched a 3billion takeover bid for Royal Mail and the CWU has expressed concerns that a new owner could impact its members' working terms and conditions But at the union's conference last week, deputy general secretary Martin Walsh said: 'The reality is, the USO as a six-day option is no longer financially viable. The challenges we face are so significant probably the most challenging time in this union's history, whether it's the USO change, sale or possible takeover.' Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky has launched a 3billion takeover bid for Royal Mail and the CWU has expressed concerns that a new owner could impact its members' working terms and conditions. Royal Mail, which reported losses of 419million in 2022/23, says its proposals would cut nearly 1,000 jobs and save around 300million a year. But postal affairs minister Kevin Hollinrake told The Times: 'There is no done deal here and, as far as we are concerned, the USO remains.' An Ofcom spokesman said: 'We believe it's important there's a national debate, so everyone can have their say before we make any recommendations.' Rachel Reeves was last night at the centre of a cronyism row after taking donations and a free holiday from a businessman later selected as a Labour candidate. The Shadow Chancellor accepted a total of 10,000 from Richard Parker in the year before he launched his surprise bid to stand for her party in a crucial mayoral election. She told parliamentary authorities that the cash, which followed a 2,000 donation before the 2019 general election, was to support her office. Ms Reeves enjoyed a week-long stay in Mr Parker's second home in Cornwall last summer, just months after he was chosen to be Labour's candidate for West Midlands mayor. She declared in the register of members' financial interests that the freebie at the end of July was worth 1,400. While she was there she posted a photo of St George's Cove in Padstow, the town now best known for Rick Stein's seafood restaurants, with the caption: 'Cornwall morning sunshine.' Rachel Reeves (pictured) was last night at the centre of a cronyism row after taking donations and a free holiday from a businessman later selected as a Labour candidate The Shadow Chancellor accepted a total of 10,000 from Richard Parker (pictured, at a mayoral debate with Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street on April 15) in the year before he launched his surprise bid to stand for her party in a crucial mayoral election Last night Ms Reeves, who has vowed to 'clean up cronyism' and accused the Conservatives of being 'rife with conflicts of interest', was under pressure to say if she had any role in the selection of Mr Parker. He was largely unknown in the political world when he was chosen ahead of a Birmingham councillor last April. Gary Sambrook, Tory MP for Birmingham Northfield, said: 'These revelations raise some questions about how Richard Parker became Labour's candidate for the West Mids in the first place. 'The Shadow Chancellor promised to clean up politics and crack down on cronyism, but here she is taking multiple donations and a free holiday off one of Labour's own candidates. 'Parker and Reeves should come clean about this arrangement.' Labour declined to say why Mr Parker had made the donations to Ms Reeves but said in a statement: 'Richard Parker is a successful businessman with a proven track record of delivering for the West Midlands, bringing over 1billion of investment to the region. Only a vote for Richard on Thursday can end the Conservative chaos and give the West Midlands a fresh start.' Mr Parker, 60, has been accused by his election rivals of 'cynically' pretending to live in the area he wants to represent at next week's election. Latest polling suggests Mr Parker is narrowly ahead of Tory incumbent Andy Street (pictured, at the debate on April 15) in Thursday's mayoral election Gary Sambrook (pictured), Tory MP for Birmingham Northfield, said: 'These revelations raise some questions about how Richard Parker became Labour's candidate for the West Mids in the first place' Although he has long worked in Birmingham, for the council then for consultancy giant PwC, he has only recently started renting a flat in the city but declared it as his home address on nomination forms. His main property is the family home he has owned since 2005, which is in Worcestershire and outside the boundaries of the West Midlands area he hopes to represent. Latest polling suggests Mr Parker is narrowly ahead of Tory incumbent Andy Street in Thursday's mayoral election. Redfield & Wilton puts him on 43 per cent and Mr Street on 37, with the Tory closing the gap significantly over the past few weeks. Captured British armoured cars have been put on display in Moscow alongside weapons and tanks seized from Ukrainian forces. A Saxon armoured personnel carrier, part of a consignment donated to Ukraine in 2015, was pictured alongside a German Leopard tank in Moscow's Victory Park. The open-air museum, which commemorates Germany's defeat in the Second World War, has been transformed into a glorification of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Described as a celebration of Russia's success 'against Ukrainian militants and their Western supporters', the captured vehicles were displayed beneath red banners reading 'Our victory is inevitable'. The month-long exhibit will also feature an American Bradley tank, a Swedish CV90 and a French-made AMX-10RC armoured fighting vehicle. The open-air museum, which commemorates Germany 's defeat in the Second World War , has been transformed into a glorification of Russia's invasion of Ukraine Armored vehicles said to be 'captured by Russian servicemen' in Ukraine were seen in Moscow Opening to visitors on May 1, the exhibition will run alongside Moscow's Red Square Victory Day Parade on May 9 in commemoration of Russia's victory against the Nazis Weapons and tanks from nine other countries including Turkey, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, South Africa, Finland, Australia and Austria are also set to feature in the show, along with Ukrainian combat documents and 'ideological literature'. Opening to visitors on May 1, the exhibition will run alongside Moscow's Red Square Victory Day Parade on May 9 in commemoration of Russia's victory against the Nazis. Trucks transporting the captured military equipment from NATO nations donated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine were seen arriving at Poklonnaya Hill last week. The exhibition was announced by the Russian Ministry of Defence just days after they disclosed that Russian marines had seized a number of Western-made weapons during their operation to take the village of Novomikhailovka in eastern Ukraine. A similar event was held last year at Patriot Park near Moscow, where Russia also showcased a range of captured Western military equipment - including an American-made M113 armoured personnel carrier and a fully intact French-made Storm Shadow cruise missile. Russian forces have previously crowed about captured weaponry in footage posted to their official channel on the Telegram messaging application. The exhibition was announced by the Russian Ministry of Defence just days after they disclosed that Russian marines had seized a number of Western-made weapons Weapons and tanks from nine other countries including Turkey, Sweden , Czechoslovakia, South Africa , Finland , Australia and Austria are also set to feature in the show Described as a celebration of Russia's success 'against Ukrainian militants and their Western supporters', the captured vehicles were displayed beneath red banners reading 'Our victory is inevitable' In a video posted last year, the Russian MoD called what appeared to be several Leopard tanks 'our trophies', showing soldiers inspecting the equipment. US military officials recently revealed that Ukraine had sidelined their US Abrams M1A1 tanks due to their easy detection by Russian drones. Five of the 31 Abrams sent to Ukraine by the US in January 2023 have already been lost to Russian attacks. Ukraine's army leader admitted on Sunday that Kyiv's position on the battlefield has worsened after Russian forces captured another village in the east, pressing their advantage in manpower and ammunition. Russia's troops are advancing in the eastern Donetsk region as Kyiv awaits the arrival of much-needed US weapons that it hopes will stabilise the fragile front lines. Ukraine's army leader admitted on Sunday that Kyiv's position on the battlefield has worsened after Russian forces captured another village in the east Russia's troops are advancing in the eastern Donetsk region as Kyiv awaits the arrival of much-needed US weapons that it hopes will stabilise the fragile front lines Ukrainian troops had 'retreated' westwards to new defensive lines in a section of the front that runs past the city of Donetsk Russia's defence ministry earlier on Sunday claimed its troops had captured the village of Novobakhmutivka in the Donetsk region 'The situation at the front has worsened,' Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said in a Facebook post Sunday. Ukrainian troops had 'retreated' westwards to new defensive lines in a section of the front that runs past the city of Donetsk, controlled by pro-Russian forces since 2014. Russia has 'a significant advantage in forces and means' and had been able to notch up advances amid 'heavy fighting', Syrsky said. 'In some sectors the enemy had tactical success, and in some areas our troops managed to improve the tactical position,' he added. Russia's defence ministry earlier on Sunday claimed its troops had captured the village of Novobakhmutivka in the Donetsk region - six miles north of Avdiivka, which they seized in February. A former Tory minister sanctioned by Beijing was detained and deported by an African country with close links to China, it has been reported. Tim Loughton MP believes his expulsion from Djibouti earlier this month was directly related to his prior criticism of the Chinese government. Mr Loughton, 61, claims he was detained at the airport in Djibouti City on April 8, after arriving for a 24-hour visit with the British ambassador. After being held for seven hours, the senior member of the Commons' home affairs committee was informed that he had been barred from entry to the country and would be flown out as soon as possible. This is said to be the first time such action has been taken against a British citizen in Djibouti. Mr Loughton believes he was targeted by Dijbouti officials for his open criticism of China a country which has invested billions of dollars into the African nation to gain political influence. Tim Loughton MP (pictured) was detained and deported by an African country with close links to China , it has been reported Mr Loughton believes his expulsion from Djibouti earlier this month was directly related to his prior criticism of the Chinese government. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping The Chinese government has funded a new stadium, hospital and space port in Dijbouti, as well as building a naval base with 2,000 stationed troops. It also currently holds more than $1.4billion (1.1billion) of Dijbouti's debt which makes up 45 per cent of its GDP. Mr Loughton was one of seven parliamentarians sanctioned by the Chinese three years ago for speaking out about human rights abuses against the Uighurs, Tibetans and Hong Kongers. The Foreign Office is understood to be seeking an explanation from the Dijboutis over the treatment of Mr Loughton. Mr Loughton has also spoken with deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell and written to the Dijbouti ambassador himself to protest the 'outrageous' behaviour. Mr Loughton was one of seven parliamentarians sanctioned by the Chinese three years ago for speaking out about human rights abuses against the Uighurs, Tibetans and Hong Kongers He told the Daily Telegraph that the incident was 'just the latest example of intimidation that the seven sanctioned parliamentarians have suffered over the last three years'. Mr Loughton urged the West to 'wake up' to the 'malign and all-encompassing tentacles of the Chinese regime at home and abroad'. His expulsion from Djibouti comes just weeks after Mr Loughton was revealed to be among three MPs and a peer whose parliamentary emails were hacked by the Chinese. A Chinese embassy spokesman called the allegations about China 'purely baseless', branding them 'fabricated and slanderous rhetoric that attempts to smear China and poison China-UK relations'. Former Australian politician John Mildren has died at the age of 91. Mr Mildren was elected to the House of Representatives in 1980 as the Labor MP for Ballarat and was a key figure in Bob Hawke's government. He held the seat until 1990. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2018 'for service to the Parliament of Australia and the community of Ballarat'. Catherine King, the MP for Ballarat, said Medicare was one of Mr Mildren's greatest legacies. 'Personally, John was a mentor to me over many years and his example of how to represent a regional community like Ballarat is one that I will forever cherish,' Ms King told 3BA. 'My thoughts are with his children, grandchildren and all who loved him.' When oligarch ex-wife Tatiana Soroka launched a case to sue her lawyers for allegedly failing to bag his super-yacht she hoped for up to 600million. This was more than the 453million she received in what was Britain's biggest divorce settlement an award won by top solicitor Fiona Shackleton's firm in 2016. Ms Soroka, 51, claimed she was let down when the company, Payne Hicks Beach (PHB), allegedly missed chances to have her former husband Farkhad Akhmedov's ten-deck floating palace Luna seized in Miami. But in documents filed to the High Court in London, PHB says the Ms Soroka's claim 'must fail', stating that her 'entire claim is based on a false factual premise'. Baroness Shackleton is nicknamed 'Steel Magnolia' for her ruthless pursuit of her clients' interests. Tatiana Soroka pictured outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London in February 2018 alongside Baroness Fiona Shackleton Ms Soroka got a 450million payout after divorcing Russian oligarch Farkhad Akhmedov (pictured) Ms Soroka claims her lawyers missed opportunities to have the Luna (pictured), a superyacht belonging to her ex-husband, seized while it was in Miami She represented King Charles and Sir Paul McCartney in their divorces memorably having a jug of water poured over her by Heather Mills after she was awarded just 24million of the 125million she had sought from the former Beatle. In Ms Soroka's case, matters soured after the settlement money failed to materialise despite oil and gas tycoon Mr Akhmedov, 68, being ordered to pay up by a judge. Ms Soroka instructed PHB to chase him for the money. Her legal claim, which was lodged last month, states that she spoke to Baroness Shackleton and another of the firm's solicitors on the phone in January 2017 and told them that her ex-husband was in Miami with his 377ft yacht. Built for former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, it is the world's second largest so-called expedition yacht and has two helipads, a pool and a mini submarine. Ms Soroka claims she asked PHB to 'explore options in Miami' for having the yacht, valued at about 200million, seized. In documents filed to the court, PHB denies acting negligently. It claims Ms Soroka told Baroness Shackleton in a phone call that she was 'not interested in impounding the ship' preferring to pursue Mr Akhmedov's money and valuable artworks instead. PHB said Ms Soroka 'knew that attempting aggressive enforcement action against the Luna would be regarded by Farkhad as wholly unacceptable (especially when his girlfriend Anna was on board and due to give birth very shortly) and would have greatly inflamed the already difficult relationship between her, Farkhad and their two sons'. It said that even if Ms Soroka had instructed PHB to try to have the yacht seized, she would not have been able to afford the likely costs involved in doing so and had 'no realistic means of obtaining significant funding'. Ms Soroka (pictured outside the High Court in December 2020) claims she asked PHB to 'explore options in Miami' for having the yacht, valued at about 200million, seized In 2016 Ms Soroka secured an astounding 453million sum with the help of her lawyer Baroness Shackleton (pictured outside the High Court in August 2017) The ten-deck floating palace is the world's second-largest expedition yacht and has two helipads, a pool and mini submarine The vessel features two helipads, a huge swimming pool, and its own mini submarine, along with nine decks and space for 52 crew PHB claims she was 'invariably late in paying [its] bills, stating that, in March 2017, for instance, she owed a sum in the region of 300,000'. The exact sum that Ms Soroka is seeking has not been specified. But her claim states that if PHB had acted differently, there was a 'very real likelihood' she would have received the 'full sum due' under the divorce settlement or a significant proportion of it. It says Ms Soroka 'now claims from PHB damages representing the value of that lost opportunity'. The Mail has calculated that the maximum value of this 'lost opportunity' is 303million. Added to other costs Ms Sorka is claiming, the total she hopes to recoup appears close to 600million. It is understood that PHB disputes the estimation of the sum being sought, which is described on the court claim form as 'significantly in excess of 10million'. PHB said any potential liability would be limited to the value of its insurance cover. Ms Soroka did not respond to a request for comment. PHB said: 'We have submitted a comprehensive defence which sets out how Ms Soroka's claim is based on a false factual premise and is legally misconceived. 'Payne Hicks Beach remains proud of the result we achieved for Ms Soroka including the very significant award we obtained for her. 'She has not suffered any financial loss that can be recovered from this firm.' Tens of thousands of foreign nationals entering Britain on visas are lodging asylum claims to stay permanently. Leaked documents seen by the Mail show that international students, workers and visitors are exploiting the hidden 'back door to Britain'. Visas grant permission to stay in the UK for a set period usually just a few months. But by claiming asylum applicants are highly likely to remain here indefinitely because the Home Office faces huge obstacles to deporting them, including human rights laws. Previously-unseen official documents covering the year to March 2023 show a record 21,525 asylum claims were made by visa holders, a 154 per cent annual rise. It means one in every 140 people who entered on a visa went on to claim asylum. And over the past decade more than 102,000 applied to stay after being allowed in only temporarily. Tens of thousands of foreign nationals entering Britain on visas are lodging asylum claims to stay permanently (Stock Image) Tory former minister Neil O'Brien (pictured) called the figures 'mind-blowing' and 'incredibly shocking' Pakistan was the largest nationality among claimants, with nearly 17,400 cases, followed by Bangladesh with just under 11,000, India (7,400), Nigeria (6,600) and Afghanistan (6,000). The huge numbers of asylum claims lodged by visa holders are logged on a Home Office database called VAST Visa-Asylum Switching Tables. READ MORE MPs urge Rishi Sunak to Use Brexit freedoms to cap migration at the 'tens of thousands' as they argue annual migration budget should be presented to the House of Commons Advertisement Tory former minister Neil O'Brien said: 'These are mind-blowing, enormous figures and are incredibly shocking. 'It is further evidence of the need to totally re-boot our absurd asylum system. 'But I don't think that can be achieved without a fundamental change in our relationship with the European Convention on Human Rights, which allows the overwhelming majority of such cases to bring 'family life' Article 8 claims. 'We are being treated as absolute mugs. People are coming here with no need to claim asylum but are doing so because they seek a better life than they would have in their relatively poor home countries. It comes at huge cost to the British taxpayer and undermines faith in the rule of law.' Robert Jenrick, who resigned from Rishi Sunak's Government last year demanding tougher immigration measures, said: 'I believe we need to cap net migration in the 10,000s so the opportunity for abuse is massively diminished.' The leaked documents show foreign students made up the largest group of visa holders lodging asylum applications. Robert Jenrick (pictured), who resigned from Rishi Sunak's Government last year demanding tougher immigration measures, called for net migration to be capped Pictured: Border Force check the passports of passengers arriving into Gatwick Airport There were also 5,648 applications in the year to March 2023 from foreigners who arrived on a visitor's visa, up from 2,219 in the previous 12 months. Another 2,240 were made by seasonal workers. Detentions for Rwanda flights to start this week Preparations for the first detentions of migrants to be sent to Rwanda will begin this week. Operational stages of the asylum scheme will start within days after new laws were finally passed last week. They include detaining asylum seekers who are currently living freely in the UK and sending them to immigration removal centres ahead of the first Rwanda flight. The Home Office refused to 'confirm or deny' reports that detentions will begin as early as today. 'Now that the Safety of Rwanda Act has passed and our treaty with Rwanda has been ratified, Government is entering the final phase of operationalising this landmark policy to tackle illegal migration and stop the boats,' a spokesman said. 'At some stage inevitably this will include detaining people in preparation for the first flight, which is set to take off to Rwanda in ten to 12 weeks.' The Home Office confirmed yesterday that there were 359 arrivals by small boat across the Channel on Saturday. It brought the total since the start of the year to 7,167 the first time since the start of the crisis five years ago that the 7,000 mark had been breached before the end of April. In 2022, which went on to see a record annual total, there had been 6,691 arrivals by the same date. Advertisement Data from VAST shows record numbers of asylum claims by visa holders from seven countries Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan and Russia. Crucially, there was a massive surge in the number lodging asylum claims within a year of being handed a visa. The speed of those asylum claims will prompt suspicion that applicants had always intended to try to stay in Britain permanently. There were 15,977 such claims in the year covered by the VAST data, a three-fold annual rise and the highest ever recorded. Bangladeshis were the largest nationality among those claiming asylum within a year with 3,559, a five-fold annual increase, followed by Pakistanis (1,883), Nepalese (1,140), Indians (791) and Afghans (724). The number of foreign students claiming asylum within 12 months of being handed a visa soared almost threefold to 4,965 in the year to March 2023. The 21,525 asylum claims by visa holders was the highest annual total since 2003 when the Home Office introduced visa fingerprinting, which allows identities to be pinpointed even if false names are used. Alp Mehmet of Migration Watch UK, which campaigns for tougher border controls, said: 'Well done to the Daily Mail for drawing attention to this scandal. Our asylum system is weak and too easily gamed. 'The sooner we revert to interviewing all applicants properly before visas are issued the sooner we can begin to get on top of what is a major problem.' A government spokesman said: 'We will not tolerate abuse of our visa system and will continue to bear down on individuals who seek to abuse it in any way including through measures introduced in the Illegal Migration Act. 'We recognise the significant contribution that international students make to our universities, but exploitation of our student visa route is unacceptable which is why we have introduced a package of measures to clamp down on abuse. 'We work continuously to monitor industry compliance and our reforms will include ensuring student visas are used for education rather than immigration. Any individual found to be breaking visa rules will be located by immigration enforcement and removed from the UK.' More than a third of foreign students who went on to claim asylum in Britain were sponsored to come here by just six educational institutions. The leaked figures come amid widespread concern that higher education is being abused as an immigration route. The statistics from a secret Home Office database, covering the 12 months to March 2023, show 6,136 asylum cases were lodged by foreign students, more than a four-fold surge on the previous year. Of those, 2,195 were sponsored by five universities and an education agency. Study Group UK sponsored visas for 804 foreign students who later claimed asylum. The company's total was skewed towards two nationalities: 642 asylum claims from Bangladeshis and 156 from Pakistanis. The statistics from a secret Home Office database, covering the 12 months to March 2023, show 6,136 asylum cases were lodged by foreign students, more than a four-fold surge on the previous year The second-highest number of student visa-holders who claimed asylum in the year were sponsored by Portsmouth University (pictured), with 395 Third was De Montfort University (pictured) with 310 student visa-holders who claimed asylum in the year Study Group's website describes it as a 'leading international education specialist and a trusted strategic partner to more than 50 universities around the world'. The firm along with individual universities is licensed to sponsor foreign visa applicants by a Home Office agency, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). The second-highest number of student visa-holders who claimed asylum in the year were sponsored by Portsmouth University, with 395. Its claims included 252 Bangladeshis, 54 from Afghans, 38 from Cameroonians and 28 from Pakistanis. Third was De Montfort University with 310, followed by the University of Hertfordshire with 275, Coventry University with 217 and the University for the Creative Arts with 194. Former home secretary Suella Braverman is among those who have previously criticised the higher education sector's role in bringing vast numbers of foreign students to Britain. 'Too many universities are selling immigration, not education,' she said in January. In December Home Secretary James Cleverly announced a review of the 'graduate visa' which allows students who have completed their courses to work in Britain for up to two years. Fourth was the University of Hertfordshire (pictured) with 275 student visa-holders who claimed asylum in the year Fifth was Coventry University (pictured) with student visa-holders who claimed asylum in the year In December Home Secretary James Cleverly (pictured on Wednesday) announced a review of the 'graduate visa' which allows students who have completed their courses to work in Britain for up to two years An official review was only launched three months later and its results are awaited. Latest Home Office data shows there were 457,673 sponsored study visas granted to main applicants last year. This is five per cent fewer than in 2022 but 70 per cent up on 2019 prior to the Covid pandemic. However the graduate route allowed 114,409 foreign students to extend their stay in Britain by two years after completing a course, up 57 per cent year-on-year. READ MORE: Immigration chiefs warn universities after THOUSANDS of foreign students claim asylum within months of arriving in Britain Advertisement A University of Portsmouth spokesman said: 'This issue is a result of the Government's asylum policy, which allows visa switching in a way that is outside the direct control of the universities concerned and is not a failing of the higher education sector. 'The visa system and rules should not permit individuals approved to study with a study visa to legally switch to claim asylum.' He added the university has taken steps and worked with UKVI on the issue. A Study Group spokesman said: 'As a UKVI licence-holder with a track record of compliance to sponsor international students, we take our duties extremely seriously. 'We immediately flag immigration concerns regarding any students who may seem non-genuine.' A spokesman for the higher education body Universities UK International said: 'To recruit international students, universities must meet very high standards set by government. 'Adherence to these standards is continuously monitored by UKVI and compliance is exceptionally high. 'Our universities take visa compliance very seriously and, working with the Home Office and UKVI, take all possible steps to minimise the potential for abuse.' A historian who has correctly predicted every presidential election since 1984 has declared that 'a lot would have to go wrong' for Joe Biden to lose to Donald Trump - in November. Allan Lichtman, a professor of history at American University in Washington, DC, devised a system, which he terms '13 Keys', and wrote a 1980s book explaining the idea. He says the technique enables him 'to predict the outcome of the popular vote solely on historical factors and not the use of candidate-preference polls, tactics or campaign events.' Despite polls showing Biden in trouble nationally and behind in several swing states, Lichtman believes its still in the president's favor to retain office, with two of his 13 keys - lack of serious primary challenge and incumbency - already in Biden's favor. 'That's two keys off the top,' he said. 'That means six more keys would have to fall to predict his defeat. A lot would have to go wrong for Biden to lose.' A historian who has correctly predicted every presidential election since 1984 has declared that 'a lot would have to go wrong' for Joe Biden to lose to Donald Trump - in November Despite polls showing Biden in trouble nationally and behind in several swing states , Lichtman believes its still in the president's favor to retain office, with two of his 13 keys - lack of serious primary challenge and incumbency - already in Biden's favor Lichtman correctly predicted Trump to win in 2016 and Biden to win in 2020 Lichtman is not impressed by polls showing Trump either competitive with or beating Biden nationally and in key swing states. 'They're mesmerized by the wrong things, which is the polls,' he said. 'First of all, polls six, seven months before an election have zero predictive value.' It doesn't mean the Biden campaign can act like it's a sure thing they'll repeat victory. 'It's always possible there could be a cataclysmic enough event outside the scope of the keys that could affect the election and here we do have, for the first time, not just a former president but a major party candidate sitting in a trial and who knows if he's convicted and there's a good chance he will be how that might scramble things.' Lichtman claims the COVID-19 pandemic was an historical event that made him predict Biden's victory in 2020. 'The pandemic is what did him in,' he told The Guardian. 'He congratulated me for predicting him but he didn't understand the keys. The message of the keys is it's governance not campaigning that counts and instead of dealing substantively with the pandemic, as we know, he thought he could talk his way out of it and that sank him.' However, there are some of the keys working in Trump's favor. Biden is seen with Lichtman, holding a copy of his book. Lichtman believes the signs show 2024 trending Biden's way Lichtman, a professor of history at American University in Washington, D.C. , devised a system, which he terms '13 Keys' , and wrote a 1980s book explaining the idea One of the keys is a significant third-party challenger, which may be Robert F. Kennedy Jr's role in the race. Two of the keys involve the economy and while some economic numbers have trended in Biden's favor, he has yet to see his approval rating tick up for it. Social unrest is another key that tracks against Biden, with college campuses now a hotbed for anti-Israel protesting, with many of the young people referring to the president as 'Genocide Joe.' Both the incumbent's charisma and the challenger's charisma are also seen as keys and while many feel both candidates are too old, age appears to be more of a factor against Biden than Trump. It should be noted that while Lichtman technically was incorrect in 2000, predicting Al Gore would win, though he believes that to be a stolen election and said that Gore won the popular vote. However, he also takes credit for getting Trump's 2016 victory correct despite Hillary Clinton winning the popular vote. He admits that regardless of result, no system can ever be completely foolproof. 'It's nerve-racking because there are a lot of people who'd love to see me fail.' And if he does? 'I'm human. It doesn't mean my system's wrong. Nothing is perfect in the human world.' We know, like everyone else in San Antonio, you were busy cracking cascarones, trading medals and eating chicken on a stick at any number of Fiesta events this week. With so many festivals, parades and parties, who had time to keep up with the news? Heres what you missed. Two Los Angeles-based small businesses launched a special edition beer in honor of the Tejano stars birthday. Click to read more about how the Quintanilla family responded. Authorities arrested Francisco Frank Javier Alans, 40, assistant city manager and Progreso school board president on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute control substances. Courtesy of Progreso ISD The FBI is scrutinizing payroll records for the border city of Progreso, where a former mayor is under federal indictment on charges of trafficking cocaine. Click to read more about the allegations against former Mayor Gerardo Jerry Alanis and his brother. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Grumpy's Mexican Cafe serves an average of 200 chicken-fried steaks every week. Monte Bach / Staff Everyone at Grumpys Mexican Cafe has a different story, but they all share one thing in common: They came for the food, and they stayed for the people and they keep coming back for both. Click to read more about why we believe Grumpys is San Antonios best country cafe. San Antonio police said eastbound U.S. 90 traffic was being diverted to the Zarzamora exit. TxDOT Authorities say a road rage incident led to a wreck involving a Pre-K 4 SA school bus on Wednesday. The driver of the car that hit the bus, which was not carrying children, later died from his injuries. Click to read more about the incident that closed all eastbound lanes of U.S. 90 near Interstate 35. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Southwest Air Boeing 737 jets are parked near the company's production plant while being stored at Paine Field in 2021 in Everett, Wash. After reporting a quarterly loss Thursday, the Dallas-based airline said it's cutting service to four airports. Elaine Thompson/Associated Press file photo A pedophile agreed to be physically castrated after he raped a 14-year-old girl and got her pregnant. Glen Sullivan Sr., 54, of Springfield, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on April 17 to four counts of second-degree rape and was sentenced to 50 years in prison by Judge William Dykes. The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into Sullivan in July 2022 after the teenager told detectives that he raped her 'multiple times.' It was later discovered the girl got pregnant, and a DNA test proved that Sullivan was the father. In 2008, a Louisiana state law was passed that determined that if a man was convicted of certain rape offenses, he may be sentenced to chemical or physical castration. 'I felt that this case was a strong enough case and warranted such action,' Assistant District Attorney Brad Cascio told WBRZ. Glen Sullivan Sr., 54, of Springfield, Louisiana, agreed to be physically castrated after he raped a 14-year-old girl and got her pregnant In 2008, a Louisiana state law was passed that determined that if a man was convicted of certain rape offenses, he may be sentenced to chemical or physical castration. The Department of Correction is typically responsible for the procedure Physical castration, the surgical removal of testicles, can only be ordered with the defendant's consent. Cascio said Sullivan's decision was part of a plea agreement. The investigation further revealed Sullivan had 'groomed' the young girl and 'used threats of violence against her and her family' to keep them quiet, according to 21st District Attorney Scott Perrilloux. A chemical castration occurs when a male suspect is given a drug called medroxyprogesterone acetate, which reduces sexual urges and suppresses testosterone production. Physical castration also reduces testosterone production in a man, according to the National Library of Medicine. 'I want to say I've had three people ordered to be chemically castrated but, to my knowledge, this is the first physical castration to be ordered,' Cascio said. The Department of Corrections is typically responsible for the procedure, though a spokesperson for the Louisiana DOC told WBRZ thts physical castration is 'very rare.' 'It has to be done no later than one week prior to his release, so they could do it immediately or they could wait,' Cascio added. This means that Sullivan might not be castrated until a week before the end of his sentence, when he will be more than 100-years-old. 'Sex crimes against juveniles are the most malicious crimes we prosecute,' Cascio said. 'I intend on using every tool the legislature is willing to give us, including physical castration, to seek justice for the children in our community.' Sullivan pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree rape on April 17 and was sentenced to 50 years in prison by Judge William Dykes (pictured) Assistant District Attorney Brad Cascio said that physical castration, the surgical removal of testicles, can only be ordered in the state with the defendants consent Sullivan's castration has to be done 'no later than one week prior to his release.' Cascio said the DOC could do it immediately or wait, when Sullivan is more than 100-years-old 'So many of these types of cases go unreported because of fear,' Perrilloux said. 'The strength it must have taken for this young woman to tell the truth in the face of threats and adversity is truly incredible.' Cascio said the girl went on to raise the child who is 'alive and healthy.' On Tuesday, the state proposed a bill to allow convicted sex offenders who committed a crime against a victim under the age of 13 to be surgically castrated. The bill, presented by Baton Rouge Democrat Sen. Regina Barrow, would order surgical castration on offenders who committed an aggravated sexual offense, according to WVUE. Presently, the bill allows for judges to order chemical castrations for some sex offenders. 'It's something that I know the impact it leaves on an individual when this crime is committed,' Barrow said. 'My hope is in the process if individuals that, when theyre giving their testimony, that the judge is able to see through the aspects of the case and maybe not sentence that person to actually having the surgical castration,' she added. The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 29-9 and it has advanced to the House. Nat Barr has grilled Anthony Albanese after he was branded a liar over comments he made at a rally protesting violence against women where he reportedly told the organiser: 'I run this country'. The Prime Minister was booed while delivering a speech at the march in Canberra on Sunday. Organiser and advocate for domestic violence, Sarah Williams, said Mr Albanese demanded to speak at the rally, despite his office telling her he would only be walking in the march. Footage then surfaced of Mr Albanese saying he had asked to speak but was told it was 'not possible'. Ms Williams claimed she was left in tears at the rally after the PM demanded to speak and told her 'I'm the Prime Minister of this country, I run this country'. Nat Barr has grilled Anthony Albanese after he was branded a 'liar' over comments he reportedly made at a rally protesting violence against women Mr Albanese appeared on Sunrise this morning and refused to answer whether or not the words came out of his mouth. 'So, she said, you're on the stage with her and there was confusion about, you know, who was going to speak. And then you said behind her on the stage, words to the effect of ''I'm the Prime Minister and I run the country''. Did you just say that?' Barr asked. Mr Albanese refused to answer and said he wouldn't get into 'that sort of debate'. 'She's saying that on TV, radio around today, that unfortunately is the message being spouted. We know it's unfortunate but you could put it to bed now?' Barr asked again. The Prime Minister repeatedly dodged the question and suggested the media could verify the comment themselves. 'Well, Nat, people, including Channel 7, were there for the recording of everything that went on. So you were all there,' he said. 'So, the media were all around. They heard everything that was said there. The issue here is that every four days on average a woman dies at the hands of their partner.' Co-host Matt Shirvington then asked if Mr Albanese regretted making the comments if he did in fact say them. 'Well, you've got the footage. There were TV cameras and mics all around yesterday. And this should not be a distraction from what is a very serious issue indeed,' Mr Albanese replied. 'I mean, you can put it to bed now and whether it was said,' Shirvington responded. 'Well, I just said, you were there. Channel Seven were there. They were there on the spot, as was every other media organisation,' replied the PM. Anthony Albanese delivered a fiery speech at a rally in Canberra (pictured), on Sunday and said Australia needed to change its culture and attitudes to end violence against women Ms Williams has since taken aim at the PM, saying she was told by his office ahead of the march that he wouldn't speak but that Finance Minister Katy Gallagher would. However, at the rally Mr Albanese suggested he had asked organisers for permission to speak but had been refused. 'We did ask to speak, myself and (Finance minister) Katy (Gallagher), and we were told that's not possible,' he said. 'And that's fine, we respect the organisers' right to do that.' Ms Williams interjected: 'That's a lie. That's a full out lie.' In a post shared to her Instagram story following the rally, Ms Williams clarified Mr Albanese was never stopped from speaking. 'He never asked to speak,' she said. 'For him to not only demand he speak because he was being heckled, but lie was disgraceful. 'He demonstrated today what entitlement looks like. The Prime Minister has been called out after reportedly telling the organiser of the women's rally: 'I run this country' Event organiser Sarah Williams was visibly upset after her interaction with Mr Albanese, and has since branded him a liar 'Just because you are the Prime Minister of the country does not mean you get to use your title to scare a young woman into letting you speak.' Ms Williams, who founded advocacy group for victims of sexual violence What Were You Wearing, told Sunrise the interaction with the PM was 'upsetting'. 'I actually asked his office if he would speak, if he could commit and they said ''Look, it's a bit busy but Katy Gallagher would happily speak'',' she said. 'So him coming out and saying that he was asking to speak and was denied was really, really upsetting.' Mr Albanese was also questioned over the interaction on The Today Show, and similarly declined to give a direct answer. 'I'm focused on the issue,' he told hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo. 'It was an emotional day for people and I get that, on what is an emotional issue. Because women were saying yesterday, enough is enough.' During the rally, Mr Albanese said his government had introduced domestic violence payments. A protester interrupted, saying 'it's not enough'. The prime minister replied, 'I agree it's not enough. I said that. We need to do more.' Mr Albanese said he would convene an emergency meeting of the national cabinet on Wednesday to discuss the issue of domestic and family violence with state and territory ministers. He finished his speech by calling the problem a 'national crisis' and said one or two months of funding would not be enough to solve it. 'It's up to men to change men's behaviour as well,' he said. 'Yes, people do need to be made accountable and I'll be accountable for what my government does.' The father of NSW Premier Chris Minns is in an induced coma after suffering a heart attack yesterday afternoon. John Minns was rushed to St George Hospital in Sydneys south. 'The family are by his side and are thankful for the care he's getting from health workers and doctors,' a statement from the family read. More to come He has launched a private prosecution in the magistrates' court Mr Mohammad, also known as Jamal Khan, was a popular restaurateur He claims former Carlton Crew boss Mick Gatto blackmailed him EXCLUSIVE A former mate has launched an attempt to have underworld identity Mick Gatto charged with a swag of serious offences. Jamal Mohammad, who also goes by the name Jamal Khan, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court earlier this month, acting as a private prosecutor. The former restaurateur and jewellery designer to the rich and famous is trying to have police charge the former Carlton Crew boss with 10 offences, including blackmail. Mr Mohammad brought a private prosecution of the former heavyweight boxer, turned industrial mediator, in the hope Victoria's director of the Office of Public Prosecutions takes over the case. There have reportedly been 39 private prosecutions launched in Victoria since 2011, with the OPP took over 23 of them and discontinued them all. Most of the other 16 had failed to proceed for various reasons, with several still pending. Jamal Mohammad, who also goes by the name Jamal Khan (right) and underworld identity Mick Gatto (left), in happier times Jamal Mohammad made a name for himself running Port Melbourne's Waterfront in the early 2000s In court this month, Magistrate Brett Sonnett warned Mr Mohammad his prosecution already appeared doomed to fail as some of the charges filed needed to be heard at a higher court. Under Victorian law, only minor charges can be prosecuted by private citizens. Mr Mohammad told the court he had been trying to persuade Victoria Police detectives to charge Gatto since June last year. 'This has been started from 1999,' he told the court on Monday. Mr Mohammad claimed police were investigating his claims. 'They are going to get back to me,' he said. 'The [crime investigation unit] hasn't contacted me yet. 'They are saying they are doing an investigation and will contact [me].' Mr Mohammad said he had brought on the private prosecution after becoming frustrated with the legal process. 'Your honour I have been trying to speed up things because I have been [the victim of] attempted extortions,' he said. Mr Mohammad said he had compiled his own brief of evidence spanning 1100 pages against Gatto and Adam Wright, the owner of a Melbourne-based security company. Mr Sonnett adjourned the matter until June in an effort to get a decision from the OPP about whether or not it intended to take over the prosecution. Gatto did not appear in court for the hearing. Bad blood between the former mates began to hit social media last year, The Age reported. In one exchange, Mr Mohammad posted a TikTok video in which he branded Gatto a 'weak dog'. Jamal Mohammad has launched a private prosecution against Mick Gatto Anthony Mundine celebrates with Mick Gatto after a 2014 win. Gatto had been a heavyweight boxer himself Gatto was acquitted of the murder of gangland killer Benji Veniamin (pictured with Roberta Williams) The pair had been good friends in the early 2000s when Mr Mohammad owned Port Melbourne's Waterfront restaurant. A money dispute over 'millions of dollars' is said to be at the heart of the dispute between the pair. In September, Mr Mohammad was interviewed by detectives from the Viper taskforce after two guns and ammunition were found at his Beaumaris home, but no charges have been laid. At court, Gatto's lawyer dismissed all Mr Mohammad's allegations and suggested he would be made to pay Gatto's legal costs when the private prosecution fails. Gatto reportedly branded Mr Mohammad 'king maggot' in a 1000-word message to friends and business associates, The Age reported last July. 'You make all these threats and ultimatums,' Gatto said in an SMS on July 20. 'I, Mick Gatto, in my nearly 70 years on this planet, I have never met a lower human being than you. 'I hate you with a passion for what you are trying to do.' The OPP is expected to make a decision on the prosecution by the end of May. A neighbourhood stoush over access to a ramshackle boatshed enjoyed by media identity Eddie McGuire has been decided by a judge after the TV star gave evidence in the case. Warring neighbours Ann Hyams and Helen Blythe - who live in a spot in Portsea, Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, known as 'Millionaire's Walk' - took their spat to the County Court of Victoria in a costly civil trial that ended this past week, months after it began. The suburb is home to some of Australia's wealthiest people, with transport tycoon Lindsay Fox's palatial mansion positioned a stone's throw away from the feuding neighbours. The dispute centred around a blink-and-you'll-miss it boatshed at the foot of cliffs on Port Phillip Bay that one-time Millionaire Hot Seat host Eddie McGuire was the tenant of. Ms Hyams and, by extension, McGuire were locked out of accessing the shed by Ms Blythe, prompting Ms Hyams to sue. Ms Blythe is the widow of one-time rich lister Brian Blythe who was once the boss and then chair of cleaning-and-catering business, the Spotless Group, and is also the mother of Laura McLachlan - the wife of AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan. A boat shed has caused a neighbourhood spat in one of Australia's wealthiest suburbs - Portsea, on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula Former Millionaire Hot Seat host Eddie McGuire leased the boatshed for a reported $100,000 a year in 2009 and went into bat for Ann Hyams The boat shed is accessed by stairs leading up the cliff In a double blow, Judge Brimer ordered Ms Hyams be granted access to the property and that Ms Blythe pay Ms Hyams' legal costs, which are likely to be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Eddie's intervention The former Millionaire Hot Seat host was among those to go into bat for Ms Hyams, giving evidence at the trial. McGuire took out a long-term lease on the then-$10million Somerset Avenue property for about $100,000 a year back in 2008. He told the court he had enjoyed exclusive use of the boatshed while living in the mansion, named 'Shelley Roc'. 'Mr McGuire stated that it was always possible to walk from the Boatshed through the vegetation to the other boatshed situated on Mileura (Ms Blythe's property),' Judge Brimer stated in her ruling. The court heard the McGuires stay at Shelley Roc throughout the summer and periodically through the winter and on weekends. 'Mr McGuire was friends with members of the broader Blythe family before renting Shelley Roc from the Plaintiffs in 2008,' Judge Brimer said. 'Socialising with them, including in and from the two boatsheds, was part of the McGuires use and enjoyment of the lease of Shelley Roc.' The court heard the McGuires had helped maintain the boatshed and the staircase leading to it, including the installation of a locked gate sporting a 'Private Property' sign. AFL boss Gillon McLachlan and wife Laura McLachlan. Ms McLachlan is the daughter of Helen Blythe Documents and photographs released to Daily Mail Australia show the boat shed nestled between shrubs just off iconic Shelley Beach. Stairs leading to the boatshed were also in hot dispute as was a boat ramp and an old bore well. Boatshed spat In a writ filed with the court, Ms Hyams claimed the shed and everything else attached to it had been exclusively used by her family, their tenants and invitees for decades. Ms Blythe and her now deceased husband were the former owners of what is now transport and real estate billionaire's Paul Little's historic Coonac on Clendon Road home in Toorak, one of the most expansive properties in the exclusive suburb. The home attached to the controversial boatshed had originally been built by Walter Waldemar Pisterman, who died in 1989 leaving the property to Ms Hyams. The writ stated Ms Hyams was entitled to the boatshed through an 'Adverse Possession Claim', which is a property law principle that allows a person to claim ownership of land without paying for it after 15 years of exclusive use of it. Ms Hyams claimed Mr Pisterman constructed the shed around 1958, using it for the storage of beach equipment, swimming accessories, boat accessories, watercraft and for recreational purposes when attending Shelley Beach. 'The boat shed was the primary access point to beach from the Plaintiffs' title land noting that there was no direct access to the beach other than through the boat shed via the cliff stairs from the plaintiffs title land,' the writ stated. 'The boat shed can only be accessed via an enclosed stairway that connects the plaintiffs' title land or from a locked door at the beach end. 'The Estate and Walter prior to his death have controlled the keys and access to the Boat Shed and only provided keys and access to their tenants and invitees.' Trucking billionaire Lindsay Fox lives just down the road from the warring neighbours Portsea is home to some of Australia's most expensive homes Ms Hyams claimed Mr Pisterman and then his estate had exercised 'exclusive occupation and control of the boat shed since its construction in around 1958'. She claimed the original owner of the disputed land made an agreement with Mr Pisterman giving him permission to construct and use the boat shed on his land in exchange for a nominal yearly fee and permission to share the use of the bore water pump. However, the court heard no such fees were ever paid for use of the boatshed. Tension over the boatshed's ownership boiled over in 2021, when Ms Hyams claimed people acting for Ms Blythe had locks installed on its door. Ms Blythe had bought the property in 1997, applying for a new title in 2019 that she claimed scrapped the previous boat shed agreement. In a defence filed with the court, Ms Blythe claimed her family had paid rates and land tax for the disputed land since its purchase and the land had always been theirs'. In handing down her decision, Judge Brimer found Ms Hyams was entitled to the property due to the length of time Mr Pisterman had possession of it. 'Title to the Disputed Land was extinguished on or about 1 November 1974,' she stated. 'Mrs Hyams had always believed that the Disputed Land was part of Shelley Roc. She became aware only in 2019 when preparing Shelley Roc for potential sale that the Disputed Land, including the Boatshed, was not on Shelley Roc but on Mileura.' Nobody outside the Royal Household really knows the luxurious extent of the lifestyle of the Royal Family. Outwardly, they give the impression of being frugal and parsimonious which they are, even though Princess Anne prefers to call it 'Good old-fashioned Hanoverian Housekeeping' but it does not apply to what they eat, drink, wear, drive and ride. Every one of them enjoys the best that money can buy, even if they instruct their staff to negotiate the best deals when ordering on their behalf. The Royal Household is notorious for asking for discounts and for waiting until the last minute before paying the bills. Camilla still loves to smoke, so footmen are instructed to place silver cigarette boxes containing her favourite brand in every room. Matches are half-pulled out, ready to strike The Royals will only read hard back books and expect them free from the bookseller - before the official publication date A routine helicopter flight by Prince Andrew, Duke of York, takes weeks to arrange and means no other aircraft, either fixed wing or helicopter is allowed within three miles on either side of him, above or below his aircraft As a family they take luxury for granted and regard loyalty in others above all other virtues. Servants are expected to obey without question, and to stand and be verbally abused without answering back, even when they are clearly not at fault. As a former senior staff member once remarked, 'The Royal Family may not always be right, but they are never wrong.' The idea of having to accept second best in anything simply does not occur to any of the family. The attention to detail the Royals insist upon is remarkable in this day and age. For instance, Camilla still loves to smoke, so footmen are instructed to place silver cigarette boxes containing her favourite brand in every room, and also to make sure that matchbox holders in solid silver containers, are placed upright near at hand with one match half withdrawn so she does not have to scrabble about looking for a light. When entertainers are summoned to entertain the Royal Family, they are given a seven-page document instructing them in how to behave. For example, they are told they must not, under any circumstances, slouch or lean against bars or tables, bow ties should be of the self-tie variety and performers are not allowed to speak to any member of the Royal Family unless spoken to first. Hatchards are invited to provide copies of the latest books, before publication date always in hard back as they will not handle paperbacks, and unopened, as they love the feel of a brand new book and there must be more than one copy of each book as they like to leave the one they are reading in one room and pick up the identical copy, marked by a footman or housemaid, at the correct page. The same applies to films and videotapes. Television and film companies supply the Palace with the latest release before the general public see them so that the King and Queen can have a preview. A routine helicopter flight by Prince Andrew, Duke of York, takes weeks to arrange and means no other aircraft, either fixed wing or helicopter is allowed within three miles on either side of him, above or below his aircraft. Air traffic controllers are made aware of the flight and what they describe as an invisible Purple Carpet is unrolled before him. The Royal valets are shown how to tie their masters shoelaces. Some have to be cross-stitched and others simply tied straight. And all laces have to be ironed whenever the shoes are taken off. The valets keep a checklist of the outfits worn on a particular day, and where, so they can tell their principals if they have worn something to the same place on more than one occasion. The King also has a fully equipped barbershop immediately above his rooms in Buckingham Palace where his hairdresser comes once a week to touch up the Royal locks. The only time Queen Camilla leaves the Palace for a medical appointment is to go to the dentist in Wimpole Street, because that is where his surgery is fully equipped. Otherwise, doctors and nurses are all summoned to wherever she is at the time. Whenever Queen Camilla is expected at a private home, her police officer rings the hostess on his mobile five minutes before HM arrives so that the door is ready open. The late Queen Elizabeth II never rang a doorbell in her life. The Princess Royal drives a 160,000 Bentley that she leases at 3,000 a month, having obtained a 1,000 discount, and she hates being driven, even by her husband who has never even been allowed to sit behind the wheel. The Kings suits, of which he has sixty, cost upwards of 5,000 each, while his shirts, all hand-made, cost 1,000 and he has more than 200, while his collar stiffeners are solid gold. His collection of ties, regimental, club and personal, runs to over 500. The late Queen Elizabeth II never rang a doorbell in her life, says royal author Brian Hoey Valets keep a checklist of the outfits worn on a particular day so that they are not repeated Prince Charles's Valet, Ken Stronach, pictured in the Uniform Room at Kensington Palace cleaning a ceremonial sword The King also has a fully equipped barbershop immediately above his rooms in Buckingham Palace where his hairdresser comes once a week to tend the royal locks Princess Anne hates being driven, even by her husband who has never even been allowed to sit behind the wheel A serving soldier based at Birdcage Walk, polishes His Majestys boots and shoes every day he has 50 pairs each costing over 2,000 to make by Lobb of St Jamess - and a housemaid hand washes his silk underwear as soon as it is discarded. Nothing Charles or Camilla wears is allowed near a washing machine. Prince Edward was once said (but never proven) to have sacked a butler because the man was not outside the house when he arrived back and Edward had to open the car door himself. His chauffeur is instructed to face the front at all times, even when the car is stationery. Nothing is too much trouble for the most famous family in the world. She's revealed how she thinks British cuisine differs from that across the pond An American who moved to the UK has given her verdict on who has the better food. Olivia Carney is originally from North Carolina but moved to Manchester with her husband Dane last year. Posting under her TikTok handle @oliviacarneyx, where she boasts more than 13,000 followers, the American regularly makes videos documenting the cultural differences she's noticed since making the move. In a recent clip, she responded to a viewer who asked: 'Could you do a video on why you prefer the UK?' The influencer listed all of the reasons why she prefers life here, over her homeland in the US - but added that there are things that she misses and they mostly 'revolve around food'. Olivia Carney is originally from North Carolina in the US but moved to Manchester with her husband Dane last year UK food is better but she misses American takeaways She explained: 'UK food quality is way better. There's just no debate in that. The US has basically zero standards for food. 'They can just do whatever they want and it's disgusting. Coming here and tasting actual ingredients like ketchup is just crazy. 'Here it's literally tomatoes, and in the US it's full of sugar. There's like 20 ingredients in ketchup in America, whereas here, I think there's like three. 'Food quality is just - you just can't match that.' However, she admits that she does miss the food 'options' you get in America, such as the variety of fast food and takeaways. She gushed: 'I'm missing Mexican food, I definitely miss Chick-fil-A, I miss Chipotle. I know there's Chipotle in London, but I'm in Manchester, so it's not feasible for me to get to. 'I miss my Trader Joe's, like snack staples and things like that. I miss Target.' But, despite missing her favourite US eateries, she still wouldn't swap it for the quality and price of grub here in the UK. The influencer listed all of the reasons why she prefers life here, over her homeland in the US - but added that there are things that she misses and they mostly 'revolve around food' She said: 'Overall food quality here is way better. It's also way cheaper. 'In the US I would do a very similar food shop to what I do here. I was paying $200 a month a week on food for the same shop. Here it's $150 to $200, depending on what we needed that week. 'So yeah, food quality, food price, way better here.' And food isn't the only thing Olivia prefers about the UK - in the same video she also commented on the differences in healthcare, gun violence, public transport, and of course, the weather. Healthcare is cheaper in the UK The TikToker told viewers: 'Everyone should know by now that the US healthcare is insane. 'I had a really good job in the US and had health insurance through my job, but that cost me $600 a month for my healthcare. 'That also just didn't cover everything that I went to the doctor for. So I still got healthcare bills even though I was paying $600 a month for that.' She added: 'I will say being here using the NHS, I did pay a healthcare surcharge to be able to get in, and l I do pay taxes. 'I understand. I've not paid into it my whole entire life like all of the other English people or UK citizens, but I'm not using it for free. I have paid for it. But I still don't have a bill every time I go.' The UK is safer Moving on to the topic of gun violence, she claimed that in America, you could 'just be in the wrong place at the wrong time any time'. She added: 'I definitely understand and appreciate that there is violence here in the UK as well - a lot of knife crime and things like that, but it's nowhere near the severity that is in the US with guns. 'The fact that somebody can just decide that they want to buy a gun and use it on a crowd of people, it's just different'. UK has better public transport but driving is tricky When it comes to public transport, Olivia finds that the UK is more convenient in terms of 'being able to get around'. However, she says driving is a different matter. The TikToker admitted: 'Driving over here is so incredibly hard. In the US, the roads, to me personally, just make more sense. 'I know it's because that's where I grew up, so it's what I'm used to and it's where I learned, but for example, highways or motorway systems here, if you miss your exit, it can add another 30 minutes onto your journey. 'Because they don't have exits at every mile the way that we do in America. So if you miss your exit, you're kind of out of luck.' The American added: 'But I will say this country is way older so they had to just put the roads wherever they could fit them. 'They didn't plan the cities and living areas around the roads, where most of America is built that way.' The US weather is better Finally, it couldn't be a UK and US comparison video without a mention of the weather. Although the influencer misses the sunny skies of North Carolina, she admires the determination Britons have for getting things done rain or shine. Olivia said: 'I obviously miss the US weather. This is the longest that I've ever gone without being in the sun and I feel like a ghost. 'I miss the sun. I will say that this winter was really hard for me. I lived in the south so I was in the sun all the time. 'We didn't see the sun for, like, a month straight and it was just dark. Like, no, weather in the US is obviously better.' She added: 'The last thing that I will compare is how much people still do things here despite the weather. 'In the US, if it's raining, if it's snowing, if it's cold, if it's wet, whatever, you're just not leaving. 'If it was gonna rain or something on Saturday, we're just not doing anything. If it's raining, we're not going out. We're just gonna stay in all day and watch TV. 'Here obviously it rains all the time so you can't let the weather affect what you do, otherwise, you'd never do anything. 'So everyone here is still out and about, still doing things, still having a great time and I love that. I think it's just such a difference to what I'm used to.' Both Americans and Britons flocked to the comments to chime in with their own opinions on the cultural quirks Both Americans and Britons flocked to the comments to chime in with their own opinions on the cultural quirks. One US native wrote: 'I'm an American expat living in England! I feel the same as you- been here for nine years now!' Meanwhile, a Brit joked: 'I've never been to America and I miss the US weather too'. Another quipped: 'I'm from UK and I've lived in Washington State for over 10 years. 'Im desperate to move back to the UK for all of your reasons.' A third Briton added: 'I dont think Ive ever come across an American on here whos moved to Manchester over London - you picked the best city. Glad youre enjoying it'. An American chimed in with: 'Moved to Scotland from the U.S. last year and I agree with every word you said. 'Were so glad to be here. Our quality of life has improved tremendously. I really miss Trader Joes though!' A grateful Brit gushed: 'You know as someone who was born here in the UK, I think we often take for granted what we have here, but I love hearing good stories about people loving that they moved here'. A former cruise ship employee has revealed the six things she would never do on board - but how many are you guilty of? Tammy Barr was a crew member for three years but is now happy to be sailing the seas as a passenger. She recently spoke to Business Insider to divulge her go-to tips for travelers who are keen to make the most of their ocean-bound vacation. Her list included everything from steering clear of enticing drinks packages to avoiding busy itineraries. Tammy Barr was a crew member for three years but is now happy to be sailing the seas as a passenger She recently spoke to Business Insider to divulge her go-to tips for travelers who are keen to make the most of their ocean-bound vacation (stock image) All the things a former cruise ship employee would never do on board Pay for upgrades in the dining room Buy the drink package Touch surfaces in communal areas Wear your room key round your neck Misname the ship Plan a packed itinerary Advertisement Tammy's first tip was to avoid paying for upgrades in on board dining rooms. She told the outlet that although 'main dining room meals are included in the cost of a cruise' there are often 'supplementary' charges for upgrades to dishes such as opting for steak or lobster. But the expert explained that the extra fees here and there soon add up and instead she would 'stick with the items without the upcharges.' In a similar mindset, Tammy also urged cruise passengers to avoid purchasing drinks packages. 'It doesn't make sense for me to pay in advance for 12 to 15 cocktails a day. I've done the math on typical unlimited drink packages, and the cost simply isn't worth it for me,' she explained. The keen traveler added that this was particularly true for trips that enjoy frequent stops at ports when guests will likely be off exploring for the most part. Tammy instead advised that prospective passengers check the beverage policy to see if you are allowed to bring your own alcoholic beverages aboard. There should also be plenty of opportunity to snag cheap drinks during happy hours and drink specials that the cruise ship will likely offer. Her list included everything from steering clear of enticing drinks packages to avoiding busy itineraries (stock image) Next up, the former cruise ship worker said in no uncertain terms that she would not touch surfaces in communal areas with her fingers, adding: 'Knuckles and elbows do the trick.' 'Some cruise lines are better than others at wiping down commonly touched surfaces, but I don't take any chances. I avoid touching things others frequently touch, and I wash my hands frequently,' Tammy said. She stated: 'I'd definitely rather be safe than sorry.' But Tammy's top tips did not stop there. She revealed that another thing that she would never do is wear her room key around her neck - and the reasons are two-fold. 'First, I see many passengers using the room keys dangling from their necks to flaunt their cruise loyalty status. It just looks pretentious,' she started. The second was due to safety, explaining: 'In port, that room key bouncing off your chest looks like an invitation to be robbed. It screams, "I have money! Come and take it from me."' She concluded by advising people to allow for more time than you think to make it back without a last-minute rush (stock image) Tammy also had stern words for anyone thinking of misnaming the ship they are on. 'Ships have proper names, and so do not require a definite article. For example, "Tomorrow I am embarking on Discovery Princess," or "I enjoyed scenic cruising on MS Westerdam." 'If you want to look like a savvy sailor, learn to drop the "the!"' And, last but not least, she said it was crucial to avoid planning a tight itinerary. 'Oh, the recurring nightmares I've had about not making it back to the ship on time during a port day,' she dished. 'I've never missed a sail away, but I have cut it too close at times and have had to run down a pier or two.' She concluded by advising people to allow for more time than you think to make it back without a last-minute rush. Dick Van Dyke was in his usual playful mood as he stepped out in Malibu with his wife. DailyMail.com spotted the 98-year-old actor in great spirits as he headed to lunch at Tramonto Bistro with wife Arlene Silver, 52. When asked who he would be supporting in the upcoming presidential election, Van Dyke joked: 'I want Abraham Lincoln!' Unfortunately for Van Dyke, that particular former president won't be on the ballot and he'll likely have to settle for either Donald Trump or Joe Biden for the next four years. DailyMail.com spotted Dick Van Dyke in playful spirits as he stepped out for lunch in Malibu The 98-year-old actor was seen heading to lunch at Tramonto Bistro with wife Arlene Silver, 52 When asked who he would be supporting in the upcoming presidential election, Van Dyke joked: 'I want Abraham Lincoln!' On his way into the restaurant Van Dyke admired a Tesla , marveling: 'Look at that shine. That's pretty!' The Mary Poppins legend was dressed in a cream top, sweat pants, casual slip on shoes and used a cane His former make-up artist wife Arlene wore a bright red top and black pants The Mary Poppins legend was dressed in a cream top, sweat pants, casual slip on shoes and used a cane. His former make-up artist wife, wearing a bright red top and black pants, accompanied him. The couple, who married in 2012, were met by several friends and spent about an hour at the trendy Italian eatery. Van Dyke has lived quite a life. He is only an Oscar away from elite EGOT status and served in the US Army during World War II. Earlier this month, the actor became the oldest Daytime Emmy nominee in history at age 98. He was nominated as Guest Performer in a Daytime Drama Series for his part as amnesiac Timothy Robicheaux on soap opera Days of Our Lives. He has previously won two coveted Daytime Emmy awards and four Primetime Emmys. Producer Norman Lear was 100 when he received his final Primetime Emmy nomination in 2022 and died the next year. Among those Van Dyke is up against include Australian actor Guy Pearce for Neighbours. The actor was nominated as guest performer in a daytime drama series for his part as amnesiac Timothy Robicheaux on Peacock's Days of Our Lives Dick portrayed cockney jack-of-all-trades Bert alongside Julie Andrews in Robert Stevenson's 1964 Disney classic Mary Poppins Aside from Mary Poppin, he is also known for his memorable roles in The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-66), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and, most recently, Mary Poppins Returns (2018) Three of his Primetime Emmy awards came in the 1960s for his classic comedy series The Dick Van Dyke Show. He's also known for his memorable roles in the beloved children's movies Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and most recently Mary Poppins Returns in 2018. He said last year of his role on Days of Our Lives: 'I have played old men before, but comedy old men....This is the first time I ever just played my 97-year-old self.' In a recent interview with CBS, he revealed he lacked ambition during his younger years and considers himself a 'lazy person' while reflecting on his prolific Hollywood career. In a sit-down chat with CBS news correspondent Tracy Smith, the legendary entertainer was asked if he planned his career that has spanned more than seven decades in film, television and stage. 'No. I never did. As a businessman, I'm not much good. I would do a movie or something and come home and just sit down and wait for the phone to ring,' he said. 'I wasn't aggressive. So I was out of work a lot because I didn't go out and look for it.' 'And how did that sit with you?,' Smith asked. 'Well, I didn't mind it. I'm pretty lazy really. When I'm having fun, you know, all right. But I'm a lazy person,' he said with a laugh. A popular Strictly Come Dancing star is reportedly set to appear on Celebrity Gogglebox. Bobby Brazier, 20, is set to appear once again on the beloved Channel 4 show with his younger brother Freddie, 19, and his dad Jeff, 44. 'The trio have great banter and it will be great to treat Bobby's huge fanbase to his rapport with Freddie,' a source told The Sun. 'He has really propelled his family to stardom since coming runner-up on Strictly. 'Jeff adores working with his sons and the brothers are really close, so it could lead to more projects together.' A huge Strictly Come Dancing star has been reportedly announced to join Celebrity Gogglebox Bobby Brazier, 20, is set to appear once again on the beloved Channel 4 show with his younger brother Freddie, 19, and his dad Jeff, 44 (pictured together) MailOnline has contacted Bobby's representatives for a comment. As EastEnders star Bobby and his dad sent fans into frenzy when appearing on Channel 4s Stand Up 2 Cancer one-off earlier in the autumn, the telly source added viewers will be treated on more insights into the 'Brazier boys' homelife'. Meanwhile Freddie has been following his family's footsteps and is set to appear in Celebrity Race Around the World on BBC1, and mirrored his older brother while also taking to the modelling industry. The sibling are the sons of TV presenter Jeff and the late Big Brother star Jade Goody, who tragically passed away in March 2009 aged 27 due to cervical cancer. TV bosses and producers have been lining up for Bobby following his very successful stint - despite not lifting the glitterball - on Strictly Come Dancing, where he was partnered up with dancing pro Dianne Buswell. The actor has been booked and busty and just landed a major new TV role, alongside some acting legends. The rising star has starred in EastEnders as Freddie Slater for two years but he is now pursuing other ventures. Marking his first acting gig away from the BBC One soap, Bobby will star in new British drama Curfew. 'The trio have great banter and it will be great to treat Bobby's huge fanbase to his rapport with Freddie,' a source told The Sun, adding it will give a more insightful look into the 'Brazier boys' homelife' EastEnders star Bobby and his dad sent fans into frenzy when appearing on Channel 4s Stand Up 2 Cancer one-off earlier in the autumn Meanwhile Freddie has been following his family's footsteps and is set to appear in Celebrity Race Around the World on BBC1, and mirrored his older brother while also taking to the modelling industry (Bobby and Freddie pictured) The sibling are the sons of TV presenter Jeff and the late Big Brother star Jade Goody, who tragically passed away in March 2009 aged 27 due to cervical cancer (pictured Jade with Bobby in 2006) Paramount+ has announced that Bobby alongside former EastEnders stars Lucy Benjamin, Larry Lamb and Anita Dobson have joined the cast of the anticipated show. The EastEnders stars join series leads Sarah Parish, Mitchell Robertson, Mandip Gill and Alexandra Burke on the six-part crime thriller which will air on Paramount+ in the UK. An adaptation of Jayne Cowies Novel After Dark, Curfew commenced filming earlier this year with the new cast members expected to shoot scenes in the coming weeks. The series will focus on a society governed by The Womens Safety Act where men are tracked by ankle tag and confined to their homes by a strict curfew from 7pm every night. When a woman is discovered murdered in Curfew hours police officer Pamela Green (Parish) believes a man must be responsible, but if she proves a man committed the brutal crime she could bring The Womens Safety Act crashing down. Bobby will play James, a vocal schoolboy advocating for the abolishment of the curfew. Lucy Benjamin is DCI Sue Ferguson, overseeing Pamelas investigation while Larry Lamb is Rhys Holden, whose family are learning to adjust to the society rules after arriving from America. While he is pursuing new roles, Bobby has reportedly renewed his EastEnders contract following fears he was set to quit the soap. But, after contemplating walking away from the BBC serial, he has decided to continue in his role as Freddie Slater with a source telling The Mirror last week: 'Bobby is seen as one of the Squares brightest young stars, and to lose him would have been a massive blow for the show. 'For his part, he loves playing Freddie, but he was in such demand after Strictly and he felt he needed to give all of the offers open to him proper consideration. 'Thankfully he has now decided to renew his contract and everyone is thrilled. Marking his first acting gig away from the BBC One soap, Bobby will star in new British drama Curfew - following his very successful stint on Strictly Come Dancing The rising star has starred in EastEnders as Freddie Slater for two years but he is now pursuing other ventures (seen in EastEnders in August 2023) EastEnders stars Lucy Benjamin and Larry Lamb have joined the cast of Curfew Anita Dobson has also joined the cast of the adaptation of Jayne Cowies Novel After Dark Sarah Parish plays the lead, police officer Pamela Green. The series will focus on a society governed by The Womens Safety Act where men are tracked by ankle tag and confined to their homes by a strict curfew 'He does still have other projects he is in talks for, but they will run alongside his work on the show - much like Molly Rainfords single last year or Tameka Empsons recent play.' Bobby returned to filming for EastEnders in February this year after finishing as runner-up on 2023's Strictly Come Dancing. He has played Freddie since 2022 but, following his split from his Strictly co-star Ellie Leach, he is now said to be hoping he can emulate the success of global pop icon Harry Styles. Crystal Mason, shown in this 2019 photo, was acquitted of an illegal voting charge last month. Now the Tarrant County DAs office is now asking the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to overturn the ruling that cleared her. Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson/For the Texas Tribune Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells wants Crystal Masons illegal voting conviction reinstated, his office has announced. Mason, a Tarrant County resident, was acquitted of an illegal voting charge last month. Sorrells office now is asking the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to overturn the ruling that cleared her. Mason was convicted of illegal voting in March 2018 and sentenced to five years in prison for casting a provisional ballot in the 2016 election while on supervised release for federal tax evasion. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This office will protect the ballot box from fraudsters who think our laws dont apply to them, Sorrells office said in a statement last week. The office argues the 2nd Court of Appeals did not give proper deference to the trial courts guilty verdict and reweighed the evidence in favor of Mason when it overturned her conviction. Sorrells office adds Mason was fairly convicted based on testimony from election staff that she understood she was not eligible to vote. Mason has maintained she did not know she was ineligible to vote. It is disappointing that the state has chosen to request further review of Ms. Masons case, but we are confident that justice will ultimately prevail, Tommy Buser-Clancy, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Texas, said in a statement. The court of appeals decision was well reasoned and correct. It is time to give Ms. Mason peace with her family. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Though it had initially upheld her conviction, the Tarrant County-based 2nd Court of Appeals overturned it last month after the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals instructed the lower court to evaluate the sufficiency of the evidence against Mason. Initially, the court found that Masons alleged knowledge that she was on supervised release, and therefore ineligible to vote, was sufficient for an illegal voting conviction. But in instructing it to reevaluate the case, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeal ruled the lower court erred by failing to require proof that (Mason) had actual knowledge that it was a crime for her to vote while on supervised release. The yearslong saga began in 2016 when Mason, on advice from a poll worker, submitted a provisional ballot during that years presidential election after she discovered her name was not on the voter roll. Her ballot was rejected because she was not eligible to participate in elections while still on supervised release for a federal tax fraud conviction. She was arrested a few months later. The case against Mason hinged on an affidavit she signed before casting her provisional ballot that required individuals to swear that if a felon, I have completed all my punishment including any term of incarceration, parole, supervision, period of probation, or I have been pardoned. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A trial court judge convicted her of illegally voting, a second-degree state felony at the time, after a poll worker testified he watched Mason read, and run her finger along, each line of an affidavit. Mason, however, said she did not read the entire affidavit. At trial, a supervisor from the probation office overseeing her release testified that no one from that office had informed her she was still ineligible to vote. In its 2022 ruling instructing the lower appellate court to reevaluate the case, the Court of Criminal Appeals held that Texas election law requires individuals to know they are ineligible to vote to be convicted of illegal voting. The law had been clarified by lawmakers in 2021 with additions to the election code stating Texans may not be convicted of voting illegally solely upon the fact that the person signed a provisional ballot, and instead required other evidence to corroborate they knowingly tried to cast an unlawful vote. Fran Drescher made quite the impression while arriving at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, which was held in Washington, D.C., on Saturday evening. The 66-year-old performer flashed a smile as she posed for a few snaps on the red carpet of the annual star-studded event. The National President of SAGAFTRA opted for a patterned white jacket that was paired with a matching pair of pants. Drescher also wore a pair of sparkling silver high-heeled shoes and carried a matching purse. The star of The Nanny accessorized with a single necklace and a sparkling pair of earrings, both of which gave her look for the evening a bit of extra shine. Fran Drescher made quite the impression while arriving at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, which was held in Washington, D.C., on Saturday evening Her voluminous brunette hair remained free-flowing and cascaded onto her shoulders. Drescher's appearance at the event took place just one month after it was revealed that she would be reprising her role as Bobbi Flekman in the upcoming mockumentary feature Spinal Tap II. The performer initially portrayed the character in This Is Spinal Tap, which was released in 1984. The feature was met with widely positive reviews upon its debut, and it was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 2002. Director Rob Reiner, who also portrayed Martin Di Bergi in the original feature, initially revealed that he was working on a sequel to the film in 2022. The filmmaker co-wrote the new movie's screenplay with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer, who will reprise their roles as Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins and Derek Smalls. Performers such as John Michael Higgins, Chris Addison and Jason Acuna will round out the cast of the film. Numerous musicians, including Paul McCartney, Elton John and Lars Ulrich, are set to make cameo appearances in the movie. The National President of SAGAFTRA opted for a patterned white jacket that was paired with a matching pair of pants Drescher also wore a pair of sparkling silver high-heeled shoes and carried a matching purse The star of The Nanny accessorized with a single necklace and a sparkling pair of earrings, both of which gave her look for the evening a bit of extra shine Production on Spinal Tap II kicked off last month, with filming taking place in New Orleans. Reiner spoke about the project during an interview for Today and stated that the film's creative team was initially hesitant to produce a sequel to the original Spinal Tap feature. He recalled: 'We were very nervous about doing a second one because it (has) become a classic...And so sometimes you say, "I don't want to touch that."' The filmmaker added: 'I think we have a way of doing it that will be different and hopefully people will enjoy it.' Scarlett Johansson looked every inch the glamorous movie star while supporting husband Colin Jost at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday. The Black Widow actress, 39 who has been married to the Saturday Night Live comedian since 2020 effortlessly commanded attention upon her arrival at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. Her signature blonde locks cascaded elegantly around her shoulders, adding to her allure as she flashed a radiant smile at tuxedo-clad Colin, the host of the prestigious annual gala. The adorable couple who share 2-year-old son Cosmo held hands on the red carpet, stopping to share a laugh, proving that their romance is still going strong. Scarlett's sweet act of solidarity comes a day after she had her beau's back at the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Kickoff Party for the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Scarlett Johansson looked every inch the glamorous movie star while supporting husband Colin Jost at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday The Black Widow actress, 39 who has been married to the Saturday Night Live comedian since 2020 effortlessly commanded attention upon her arrival at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. The couple were seen posing alongside her agent, Joe Machota, and CAA co-chairman, Bryan Lourd. Colin headlines the WHCD, drawing A-listers, comedians, journalists, and prominent politicians. Among the distinguished guests expected to attend are President Joe Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. '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,' Kelly ODonnell, president of the White House Correspondents Association, previously said in a statement. 'His sharp insights perfectly meet this remarkable time of divided politics, and a presidential campaign careening toward a rematch,' she added. 'His smart brand of comedy and keen observation will turn up the heat on the national news media and across the political spectrum.' Colin continues the tradition of notable comedians who have headlined the dinner in previous years, joining the ranks of Roy Wood Jr., Trevor Noah, Jay Leno, Keegan-Michael Key, and others. Scarlett, who also shares Rose, nine, with her ex-husband Romain Dauriac, opened up about her and Colin's son's unique name in 2022. Her signature blonde locks cascaded elegantly around her shoulders, adding to her allure as she flashed a radiant smile at tuxedo-clad Colin, the host of the prestigious annual gala The couple looked like they had a blast together The adorable couple who share 2-year-old son Cosmo held hands on the red carpet, stopping to share a laugh, proving that their romance is still going strong Scarlett's sweet act of solidarity comes a day after she had her beau's back at the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Kickoff Party for the White House Correspondents' Dinner Scarlett and Colin were first linked five years ago in 2017, and became engaged in 2019 The talented actress told the backstory and reaction to the name during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. Scarlett stated that both herself and her husband, 'threw a bunch of letters together. I just really thought it was charming and our friends liked it.' However, her mother-in-law was not initially fond of the name at first. 'Colins mom had a little bit of a harder time with it.' 'She kept suggesting other versions of it for a while. I was like, Hes already here. Hes out. Like, its past that time,' Scarlett lightheartedly added. The Avengers alum expressed that her daughter, Rose, was a big fan of the name Cosmo, since, like herself, was based off of a flower. 'Cosmo is a really sweet little flower that comes in different shades of orange and yellow and stuff like that,' the talented actress explained during the interview. 'That's why my daughter liked it too.' Scarlett and Colin, who married in 2020, announced the arrival of their son in August 2021. Colin has also told how his mother 'didnt quite understand' their choice for their sons name, when he made a guest appearance on Late Night With Seth Myers. 'After three or four days, she would be like, Cosmo? Is it final? Did you submit the birth certificate? We were like, Oh yeah, we did that at the hospital Scarlett and Colin, who married in 2020, announced the arrival of their son in August 2021 Scarlett, who also shares Rose, nine, with her ex-husband Romain Dauriac, opened up about her and Colin's son's unique name in 2022 'Shes like, OK. Interesting. Because I was reading that theres also a name, Cosimo, with an I. So that could also be an option. Maybe you call him Cosimo, thats his real name, and then you could call him still Cosmo?' the comedian added. Scarlett and Colin were first linked five years ago in 2017, and became engaged in 2019. One year later, the two stars said 'I do' during a romantic, intimate setting. That same year, the Marriage Story actress opened up to Parade about what 'drew' her to Colin. 'Hes very optimistic, easygoing, funny, nice, and those are the qualities that really drew me to him,' she explained. Alison Hammond is flogging her old size 26 clothes following an impressive weight-loss journey. The This Morning favourite, 49, is currently selling plenty of her garments and will be donating all the proceeds to the British Liver Trust. The TV host shared a snap of herself on Instagram donning a glamorous lime jacket with feather-trim embellishments and an elegant silk black dress. The caption read: 'Alison Hammond Has Cleared Out Her Wardrobe. 100% of the proceeds go to the British Liver Trust!' Commemorating her beloved late mother who passed away from liver cancer, Alison has partnered up with renowned vintage and pre-loved clothing website Reliked. Alison Hammond is flogging her old size 26 clothes following an impressive weight-loss journey Alison is pictured on This Morning in 2021 The presenter listed a wide range of items from XXXL to XL size, going from sporty items to chic velvet pumps. She also added some small and medium sized clothes, such as print 8 Koyyee hoodie and 10 grey long-sleeve undershirt. The numbers' prices variate form as little as 3 all the way to 230, which is the current most expensive item listed. Proving her mixed fashion taste, she sold glamorous pieces like a 48 animal print faux fur maxi coat from Asos, which costed originally 48. Another stunning garment from her give-away wardrobe was a 24 bright purple Monsoon collared jumper, and much more. Her latest charity project comes shortly after Alison suffered backlash from fans after enjoying a 2,000 gifted stay at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve in Kent over the weekend. The This Morning star caused a stir when she flaunted her freebie trip on Instagram with her new Russian boyfriend David Putman, 26. Alison Hammond is pictured Friday on this morning following her weight-loss, alongside co-host Dermot O'Leary Her latest charity project comes shortly after Alison suffered backlash from fans after enjoying a 2,000 gifted stay at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve in Kent over the weekend Alison received heaps of backlash when she shared a video, rounding up her luxurious stay at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, on Monday The This Morning presenter caused a stir when she flaunted her freebie trip on Instagram with her new Russian boyfriend David Putman, 26, (pictured) She captioned her post: 'What a lovely stay at @portlympnepark. A superb hotel and reserve! Staying at the lyons lodge was a dream and truely unforgettable. Thanks for the invite and looking after me. #gifted' Alison received heaps of backlash when she shared a video, rounding up her luxurious stay at the charity wildlife park, on Monday. She captioned her post: 'What a lovely stay at @portlympnepark. A superb hotel and reserve! Staying at the lyons lodge was a dream and truely unforgettable. Thanks for the invite and looking after me. #gifted' Furious fans were quick to comment on Alison's profile in outrage, claiming she was 'selfish' for taking a free trip instead of 'giving it to a family in who needs it more'. According to The Mirror the comments, which now appear to have been deleted, read: 'How can they gift you this when it is a charity organisation yet it is 2,000 a night for us normal folk to stay there?' 'Such a shame it was gifted. The 1,6000 a night it costs to stay there would have helped the animals greatly.' 'Show off. Typical gifted how selfish. Why not give to a family in need of a break?' The pair reportedly spent the night together in one of the two luxury Lodges which allow visitors to stay with the lions. MailOnline have contacted Alison's representatives for comment. Alison is said to have a new lease of life after finding love with hunky 6ft 10in model David, who is 23 years her junior and also a masseur. Earlier this week, the surprising way the couple met was revealed with their relationship blossoming from the moment Alison booked David for a 150 massage. According to The Sun, Alison was a client of the professional masseur and it was during a session that the pair first hit it off, with the presenter visiting David in between her busy filming schedule. Their friendship then reportedly turned romantic at the end of last year, despite the 23 year age gap between the pair. Originally from Krasnodar in Russia, David left the country for the UK in December 2022 to escape the front line following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. A friend of David told the publication: 'When the war in Ukraine began David's mother Olga began to worry. She didn't want her boys dragged into it. She wanted them safe like any mother would.' David therefore moved to the UK, where he now lives with his uncle Nigel Putman, 71, in Slough, but he spends a lot of time in London for work. Furious fans were quick to comment on Alison's profile in outrage, claiming she was 'selfish' for taking a free trip instead of 'giving it to a family in who needs it more' According to The Mirror the comments, which now appear to have been deleted, read: 'How can they gift you this when it is a charity organisation yet it is 2,000 a night for us normal folk to stay there?' The friend explained that David was able to avoid being drafted into the Russian army as his father, also called David, is originally from Slough himself, therefore the young masseur already had British citizenship. David's father is reportedly a retired welder and panel beater who moved to Russia in the late 1990s after marrying Russian architect Olga Kovalenko following a divorce from his first wife. David also has two brother, twins Apollo and Sviatoslov, who are three years older than him and were born in England. Olivia Molly Rogers has taken a brutal dig at both her ex-boyfriend Morgan Waterhouse and former husband Justin McKeone in a new interview. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday, the former Miss Universe Australia, 31, shared what she has learned since divorcing Justin in 2022 following just eight months of marriage. 'Post-divorce, I've done a lot of work on myself and I'm in a much better place knowing the traits I like in a partner,' the glamorous influencer began. 'As I've got older, I've learnt to look at the men I consider role models and seek their qualities,' she said, taking a subtle swipe at her former flames. Olivia said her own parents' divorce had a negative impact on her approach to love. Olivia Molly Rogers, 31, (pictured) has taken a brutal dig at both her ex-boyfriend Morgan Waterhouse and former husband Justin McKeone in a new interview. 'Growing up with your father living not in your home, what is modelled to you is different,' she explained. Despite her former heartbreak, the brunette said she is still open to marriage and starting a family, having recently decided to freeze her eggs. It comes just weeks after Molly's exes Morgan and Justin were spotted partying together at a trendy bar. 'As I've got older, I've learnt to look at the men I consider role models and seek their qualities,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday, taking a subtle swipe at her former flames Earlier this month, Morgan, 30, raised eyebrows when he shared a photo to Instagram on capturing him posing up a storm with Justin, 34, at Bar Bambi in Melbourne. Morgan looked to be having the time of his life at the venue and was all smiles as he posed alongside Justin and bar owner Nick Russian. This was the first time the pair have been publicly photographed together and it is not clear how they know each other. It cpmes just weeks after Molly's exes Morgan, 30, (left) and Justin, 34, (right) were spotted partying together at Bar Bambi in Melbourne with owner Nick Russian (centre) Rogers confirmed her split with Justin in October 2022, after eight months of marriage. She began dating model Morgan Waterhouse in May last year, but the pair parted ways in December. Olivia told photographers at the Melbourne Cup that the pair broke off their relationship and they have already gone their separate ways, Daily Mail Australia can reveal. 'We're not together anymore, not many people know that,' she said when asked if he would be joining her at the Penfolds marquee in The Birdcage. Instead, Morgan enjoyed the luxury offerings of the G.H.Mumm marquee just 100metres away from her. Olivia confirmed her split with Justin in October 2022 after eight months of marriage Jasmine Harman says it's still difficult to talk about her A Place in the Sun co-host Jonnie Irwin after he tragically lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. Television presenter Jonnie died aged 50 in early February after being diagnosed with cancer in 2020. Co-presenters Jasmine, 48, and Jonnie were hired together in 2004, meeting during a pilot shoot in South Africa. While broadcaster Jasmine has many happy memories of working on the show over the last two decades, she says she's still not over the death of her friend Jonnie. She told the Mirror: 'I'm so proud to have been part of A Place in the Sun for 20 years. It has been life changing in so many ways. Jasmine Harman says it's still difficult to talk about her A Place in the Sun co-host Jonnie Irwin after he tragically lost his battle with cancer earlier this year Television presenter Jonnie died aged 50 in early February after being diagnosed with cancer in 2020 (Jasmine and Jonnie pictured) 'I met my husband (a cameraman) Jon on the programme, we've got two children, Joy, nine, and Albion, seven, now and I feel proud to be able to show people that anything is possible. 'But [reaching this landmark] has also been very bittersweet. I still find it very hard even talking about Jonnie. It's still very raw.' Following Jonnie's death Jasmine took a break from Instagram, but she returned last month to mark 20 years of A Place in the Sun. Jasmine dedicated her milestone post to her 'very special friend' Jonnie, admitting the thought of celebrating the anniversary had left her 'choked up' . Sharing a variety of pictures of herself and Jonnie, Jasmine wrote: 'I recently passed the 20 year anniversary of my first ever shoot on A Place in the Sun. 'Two decades ago, my career turned onto a different path which has shaped so many factors of my life until now. From meeting my husband, having our children, moving to Spain, to making so many wonderful friends over the years. 'In particular, one very special friend' Jasmine continued: 'Jonnie and I started our Television careers together, which makes the 20 year anniversary especially poignant. A Place in the Sun co-hosts Jasmine, 48, and Jonnie were hired together in 2004 and met during a pilot shoot in South Africa Following Jonnie's death Jasmine took a break from Instagram, but she returned last month to mark two decades since joining the programme 'Without him, I have not really felt like celebrating. I've been pretty choked up about posting anything about it to be honest. 'I miss him. He was always full of fun and mischief, it doesn't seem possible that he is gone. 'In Jonnie's memory, I give you a snippet of the last 20 years. What an honour to work with someone so vibrant and fun. 'Thank you Jonnie for the memories, sending love as always to Jonnie's family and loved ones.' Jonnie's wife Jessica Holmes announced his death on social media on February 2, and described her beloved partner, with whom she shares sons Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac, as a 'truly remarkable husband'. The TV host revealed in November 2022 that his cancer had spread to his brain after first being diagnosed with the disease in 2020 - a week after filming the popular Channel 4 show in Italy. Sharing a montage of pictures of herself and Jonnie, Jasmine wrote: 'I recently passed the 20 year anniversary of my first ever shoot on A Place in the Sun' Shortly after news of his death was announced in February, Jasmine shared some heartfelt words on social media Jasmine and Jonnie presented A Place In The Sun alongside one another from 2004 to 2019 Shortly after news of his death was announced, Jasmine shared some heartfelt words on social media. Sharing a picture of them looking off towards a sunset, she wrote: 'Jonnie Irwin - I will always remember the first time I heard your name. When I was doing a screen test for a new show, they said 'we definitely want Jonnie, but we need to find another presenter'. I wondered who this mysterious Jonnie was. We met in Cape Town, filming the pilot. You we're so charismatic and energetic, so confident and fun. I understood immediately why they had to have you. 'Your cheeky-chappy persona and naughty sense of humour always broke the ice and made people laugh. Everyone warmed to you and you had the incredible ability to connect with people, making them feel like they'd known you for years. 'To begin our TV careers together was a pleasure and a privilege I will be eternally grateful for. Almost twenty years ago, as two nervous new presenters (me perhaps more nervous than you!) little did we know we know about the adventure we were about to embark on, and the friends we would become. 'Professionally, you were well suited to life in front of the lens. But for years, you always talked about wanting to settle down and become a dad. Your wish was granted when you met Jess. Never were you happier than in your role as husband and Dad to the most awesome three boys you are a legend. While Jasmine lost her friend and co-host Jonnie, she has happy memories of A Place in the Sun after meeting her cameraman husband Jon Boast on the show (Jon and Jasmine pictured with their children Joy, nine, and Albion, seven) 'Life is simply not fair. We can't reason with it; there are no answers to the question Why? 'We can, in your memory learn to cherish every hug, every conversation, every moment, for the priceless time we have. Enjoy every breath, every sunrise and sunset, never take anything for granted, because tomorrow is not promised. 'Jonnie, you've taught me so much in our time as work colleagues and as good friends. I have never admired you more than over the last few years as you've faced life with cancer with positivity, determination and bloody mindedness. I've never known anyone as strong as you. You have done yourself, your loved ones and all of us proud. 'The world is a little darker today without you, but I will always smile when I think of you. My partner in crime, my OG co-presenter Jonnie, I will miss you.' Katie Holmes showed off her allegiance to New York, and its hometown heroes the Ramones, when she showed off her unique style during an errand run in Manhattan. The actress and director, 45, was the picture of casual-cool during her leisurely stroll dressed in black trousers with a matching cropped T-shirt with a picture of NY punk icons the Ramones on the front of it, which has been a staple of her for years. The former Dawson's Creek star layered up with a brown cardigan that was a perfect match to her leather purse and belt. Rounding out her overall look, the Toledo, Ohio native donned a pair of off-white Gucci loafers, and had her dark brown tresses styled long and flowing. As the clouds began to give way to the glaring sun, Holmes slipped on a pair of cool dark sunglasses just before taking a phone call. Katie Holmes showed off her allegiance to New York, and its hometown heroes the Ramones, when she showed off her unique style during an errand run in Manhattan The fashionista has been seen out over the last several years wearing that Ramones shirt, which can be seen as a nod of respect to both the city and the band, who are often cited as the first true punk band. They formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens in 1974, and went on to release 14 studio albums between 1976 and 1995. Being that Holmes moved to Manhattan in 2012, The Gift star can be considered a New Yorker with some 12 years living in the Big Apple. The protective mom and daughter Suri, 18, made the move from Los Angeles to NYC after she filed for divorce from ex-husband Tom Cruise, who is estranged from Suri, according to Page Six. The former couple started dating in April 2005, and then shortly after they became an item Holmes, who grew up Catholic, began studying Scientology. The following month, Cruise professed his love for his new girlfriend publicly during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where he famously jumped on the couch while explaining their romance to the host. The actress and director , 45, was the picture of casual-cool during her leisurely stroll dressed in black trousers with a matching cropped T-shirt with a picture of NY punk icons the Ramones on the front of it, which has been a staple of her for years By wearing a Ramones concert tee, Holmes pays homage to both the band, who are widely considered to to be the first true punk band, and New York City, which was their home base for decades; they are pictured in New York in December 1979 Their daughter Suri was born in April 2006, which was followed by Tom and Katie's wedding that November. Ultimately, Holmes filed for divorce from Cruise following her move to New York in June 2012 after five and a half years of marriage. While neither side has spoken in depth publicly about their split, there has long been talk that Holmes's motivation was to free herself and her daughter from the grips of Scientology, as alleged by InStyle. Suri Cruise celebrated her milestone 18th birthday on April 18 while her estranged father, Tom Cruise, was in Europe shooting Mission Impossible 8 in Paris, France Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise in June 2012 after five and a half years of marriage; they former couple are seen in February 2012, about a year before their split The protective mother was granted primary custody of Suri in their divorce. Though Cruise was afforded visitation rights, it's been widely reported that he has rarely seen his daughter in the last 11 years. Just over a week ago, Suri celebrated her 18th birthday in New York City, while her father was in Europe shooting the eighth installment of the Mission Impossible franchise. The longtime Hollywood leading man did find time to attend Victoria Beckham's star-studded 50th birthday bash in London on Saturday April 20, two days after his daughter's milestone birthday. Now that she's officially considered an adult, Cruise is no longer legally obligated to pay child support, which had been $33,000 per month, totaling around $400,000 a year, plus Suri's expenses, such as medical, education and college, among other things. Natalie Roser has potentially jeopardised her high-flying career by joining OnlyFans. The Australian model, 33, is considered one of our top commercial models, having worked for juggernaut brands such as Guess, Ark, ModelCo and Nookie. Natalie announced that she joined the adult content subscription earlier this montha platform where she boasts over 1.5 million followers. She explained this decision as a way to 'further connect' with her audience, but not everyone is convinced it's the right move. According to some of Australia's leading modelling agents, while selling raunchy photos of herself can be a lucrative side hustle, it comes with significant risks. Natalie Roser has potentially jeopardised her high-flying modelling career by joining OnlyFans, according to one agent 'Good modelling work is harder and harder to get these days as the market is competitive,' revealed one modelling agent to The Daily Telegraph. 'There's so many girls to choose from and while there is absolutely nothing wrong with having an OnlyFans account, it does limit which brands will work with you.' The concern is that 'wholesome' brands might shy away from associating with models on OnlyFans due to the platform's reputation for explicit content. According to some of Australia's leading modelling agents, while selling raunchy photos of herself can be a lucrative side hustle, it comes with significant risks 'If you are associated with OnlyFans, you are associated with explicit nudity even if you don't do it yourself,' the agent added. While most OnlyFans creators provide adult photos and videos to their paying subscribers, Roser recently told Confidential the site had changed in recent times. Natalie explained the site has made some changes recently and her page is 'all above board and very classy'. 'Good modelling work is harder and harder to get these days as the market is competitive,' revealed one agent to The Daily Telegraph 'I don't want to catfish people into coming to this platform thinking they are going to pay to see the whole show... it is just the chat, I am really enjoying talking to people,' she said. She further explained it's a great way for her to get to know people who can 'tip and support her'. Natalie is married to former Home and Away actor Harley Bonner. Natalie took the plunge by joining the subscription site and has added a link for the page to her Instagram account In September 2022, she confirmed that she and her husband were no longer living together in their Newcastle home. She said Harley had moved to Thailand shortly after their wedding in February that year to study energy healing and meditation. While Natalie admitted that she 'doesn't understand' that world, she still supports Harley as he 'fulfils his dreams'. Natalie is married to former Home and Away actor Harley Bonner 'He is so happy. It is definitely an unconventional first year of marriage,' she said. 'He is fulfilling his dreams and who would I be to stand in his way of doing something that he has wanted to do for so long?' Natalie said letting Harley travel solo in their first year of marriage was preferable to him doing it later down the track when they have children. Nick Viall has given away his final rose after saying 'I do' with Natalie Joy. The Bachelor star, 43, tied the knot on Saturday with his partner of nearly four years in an 'ethereal' and 'romantic' ceremony on her family's farm in Georgia, according to People. 'It's a place that has always been very special to Natalie,' Viall told the outlet. 'When I first visited, I was struck by its expansive landscape and vibrant colors.' The couple welcomed 170 guests onto the 300-acre farm outside of Savanah, including JoJo Siwa and Bachelor Nation's Jared Haibon, Ashley Iaconetti, Ben Higgins and Victoria Fuller, who was one of Joy's bridesmaids. Guests were shuttled to the nuptials in antique trollies, which served as party buses complete with champagne and cocktails. Nick Viall tied the knot on Saturday with Natalie Joy in an 'ethereal, romantic' ceremony on her family's farm in Georgia The couple welcomed 170 guests onto the 300-acre farm outside of Savanah, including JoJo Siwa and Bachelor Nation's Jared Haibon, Ashley Iaconetti , Ben Higgins and Victoria Fuller , who was one of Joy's bridesmaids 'I feel like the vibe of our ceremony is very ethereal, very romantic, with florals everywhere,' said Joy, 25. 'Lots of white flowers and we've got a touch of light blue as little bit of color,' she added. Sporting a Hugo Boss tuxedo, Viall explained, 'I've always wanted to have a tuxedo black-tie event. 'And even though we're having it on the farm, we're doing both,' he continued. 'So it's kind of like a Vogue on the farm kind of vibe.' They exchanged vows by a natural spring pond, where the bride wore a custom dress by Macye Wysner of Cinq. 'The dress is giving drama in the best possible way,' said Joy of the look, which she complemented with Manolo Blahnik heels and Verstolo jewelry. She also carried their 2-month-old daughter River Rose, who wore a white dress and bonnet. 'River made me fall even more in love with Nick,' said Joy. 'I didn't even think that was possible, but it just makes you close 'You just see this human that's both of us. And Nick is so great about everything with her,' she added. 'It's a place that has always been very special to Natalie,' Viall told the outlet. 'When I first visited, I was struck by its expansive landscape and vibrant colors' Viall began dating the model and surgical technician in July 2020, announcing their engagement in January 2023 The couple announced they were expecting in August, and they welcomed their first child in February, a daughter named River Rose After exchanging traditional vows, the pair released homing pigeons into the sky. 'Natalie and I very much have intertwined our life,' said Viall. 'We're fully diving into us. If nothing else, this solidifies that we do everything together and thankfully enjoy doing it.' They previously commenced the weekend of wedding activities with a 'country-chic' welcome party on Friday, complete with a mechanical bull, cornhole and barbeque. 'I figured since we're on a farm and we're in Georgia, it would be fun to really lean in and have cowboys and cowboy hats and boots and all the animals roaming around,' said Joy. 'It's just very relaxed and fun!' Viall began dating the model and surgical technician in July 2020, announcing their engagement in January 2023. The couple announced they were expecting in August, and they welcomed their first child in February. He once sang about being 2,000 Light Years From Home. But the closest Mick Jagger is likely to get to space, it seems, is inside Houston's Space Centre. The Rolling Stones frontman met a string of astronauts, checked out Nasa's mission control room and was strapped into a spacecraft simulator during his visit on Friday. The band are in the Texan city to kick off their 19-date Hackney Diamonds tour of the US and Canada, which starts tonight. Posting pictures of his day out on Instagram, Jagger, 80, thanked Nasa 'for being so welcoming' and astronauts Josh Cassada, Bob Hines and Jessica Meir for showing him around. The Rolling Stones frontman met a string of astronauts, checked out Nasa 's mission control room and was strapped into a spacecraft simulator during his visit on Friday Posting pictures of his day out on Instagram, Jagger, 80, thanked Nasa 'for being so welcoming' and astronauts Josh Cassada, Bob Hines and Jessica Meir for showing him around In 2019, Nasa named a rock on Mars 'Rolling Stones Rock' after the legendary band While the rocker may not be space-bound any time soon, his group's influence has already reached beyond the Earth. In 2019, Nasa named a rock on Mars 'Rolling Stones Rock' after the legendary band. The Stones said the honour was 'definitely a milestone in our long and eventful history'. Britain's Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli says the pressure to look good on television is as intense for men as it is for women. The Italian dancer, who previously starred on Strictly and turns 69 this year, also believes that social media has made it even more difficult for male stars. He said: I think its as bad for men as it is for women because of all this Instagram stuff, you know what I mean? Especially for young men it actually is as bad as it is for women. Tonioli has vowed to stay in shape with a strict exercise regime to ensure he can enjoy a long career. Britain's Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli has said that men have as much pressure as women to look good on television The Italian dancer, who has had a 40-year career in showbusiness, insists he will never 'retire' The former Strictly Come Dancing judge said that Instagram in particular was putting pressure on young men Im still alive, its fantastic, its never been better, he said. Its just accepting what is. Im not going to let myself go. Of course I do my exercises, I look after myself as much as I can. But obviously Im not 20, its good to keep fit and its good striving to keep fit. You have to find, embrace and make the most of what you have at the time. Look at Clint Eastwood, look at Kevin Costner, hes my age. Tonioli has vowed to continue his strict exercise regime to sustain his long career The 68-year-old described ageing as a 'privilege' and added that you can feel younger than you are in your mind 'Look at Brad Pitt, hes getting better with age. Its about how you feel. In your mind youre still 27, you can keep the spirit alive. 'But ageing is a privilege. It means that you have had a long life, and should treasure it. This year Tonioli celebrates 40 years of being in showbusiness. He got his first dance role at the Teatro Manzoni in Milan, in September 1974, and insists he will never retire. A member of the Jourdanton High School band twirls a flag during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor Members of the Kazamba Dance & Drum Group take part in the Fiesta Flambeau Parade in downtown San Antonio on Saturday. Clint Datchuk/Contributor The U.S. Navy float makes its way along the Fiesta Flambeau Parade route Saturday. Clint Datchuk/Contributor San Antonio Police Department officers take part in Saturday nights Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Clint Datchuk/Contributor The University of Texas Longhorn Band greets the crowd as they march through downtown San Antonio during Saturdays Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Clint Datchuk/Contributor Parade watchers dance in the street Saturday as they wait for the next Fiesta Flambeau entry. Clint Datchuk/Contributor Attendees of the Fiesta Flambeau Parade greet parade participants as they pass by Saturday. Clint Datchuk/Contributor Members of the UTSA marching band dance during Saturdays Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Clint Datchuk/Contributor Members of the Sam Houston High School JROTC greet the crowd during the Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Clint Datchuk/Contributor Parade Grand Marshal Michael Quintanilla celebrates on his float during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor The San Antonio Police Departments motorcycle unit leads the vanguard during Saturday nights Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor Parade Grand Marshal Michael Quintanilla celebrates on his float during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor A young boy salutes during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor Parade Grand Marshal Michael Quintanilla celebrates on his float during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor Showing of shoes is a must during the annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor Parade marchers dance in the street during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor Queen Reina X Linda Stefanie Garcia dances in front of Elvis during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor A float carrying Santa Claus makes the turn onto Brooklyn Avenue during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor A clown poses for a photo during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor Police officers high-five spectators during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor Drill team members make their way along St. Marys Streetduring Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor Parade Grand Marshall Michael Quintanilla celebrates on his float during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor A parade participant high-fives children along the route during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor A UTSA band member cheers during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor Band members take selfies as the parade stalls during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor Fiesta Flambeau Parade President James Fenimore waves to the crowd Saturday night. Robin Jerstad/Contributor The Del Rio float, which resembles a huge train, heads north on St. Marys Street during Saturday nights annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad/Contributor Shriners try to get the crowd excited during Saturday night's annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Robin Jerstad Today is the last day of Fiesta. There are events scheduled for today, but the premier events wrapped up with Fiesta Flambeau, the nations largest illuminated parade, held Saturday night. So weve put together a collection of our Fiesta 2024 photographs. Above is a slideshow of images from the Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Below, click on the headlines to check out photos from other Fiesta happenings, in reverse chronological order. A woman shows off her boots Saturday while riding in the 2024 King William Parade, the kickoff of the King William Fair. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer The King William Neighborhood Association has put on the fair since 1968. Since then, its added a 1.5-mile parade through the historic district. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Crew members shovel trash on Commerce Street following the Battle of Flowers Parade on Friday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News It takes 125 city workers about 14 hours to clean up after Fiesta Flambeau. Thats on top of the six hours for clearing the streets after the Battle of Flowers Parade. Duchess of Fantastical Evolution Peyton Monroe Levy, front, waves from her float as it makes its way down Commerce Street during the Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News The original Fiesta event dates back to 1891. The Battle of Flowers and Fiesta Flambeau have the same 2.6-mile route. Advertisement Article continues below this ad From left, cast members David Garcia, Ian Cruz, Derrick Garcia and Josh Rubio get dressed as different Barbies backstage before a performance of Cornyation 2024: The Court of Peripheral Opulence on Wednesday evening at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News The popular show is an adult-oriented this years Cornyation included skits on Victor Wembanyama, Barbies (and Ken, of course), Swifties, the eclipse and pickleball. Araceli Bermea, from left, Jeanette Lopez and Marisol Lopez enjoy chicken-on-a-stick with their friends at NIOSA at La Villita Historic Arts Village. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News A Night in Old San Antonio, the four-day street party better known as NIOSA, draws thousands to La Villita Historic Arts Village and its 14 cultural areas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad People watch as the Texas Cavaliers and King Antonio CI float passes by the Arneson River Theatre on Monday evening. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The Fiesta parade that features the floats really do float. Its been part of Fiestas annual celebration since 1941. The Samba Vida Drum & Dance Co. prepares for a performance Saturday at the St. Mary University Presidents Reception before Fiesta Oyster Bake. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor St. Marys Alumni Association combines oysters and live music for its two-day Fiesta celebration. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A team of eight Budweiser Clydesdales are lined up in front of the Alamo on Friday. The iconic Clydesdales are set to visit area grocery stores before appearing in both the Battle of Flowers and Fiesta Flambeau parades. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Visitors to the Alamo were treated to an unusual sight as Fiesta got underway this year: a team of eight Budweiser Clydesdales. The Clydesdales were in town for the Battle of Flowers and Fiesta Flambeau parades. People cheer as they participate in the Peoples Parade during Fiesta Fiesta, the official kickoff of Fiesta, on Thursday night. This is the first year that the event was held at the Alamodome. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The Peoples Parade, a profusion of confetti, medals, music, carnival rides and, of course, food it was everything you needed to kick off Fiesta. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sylvia Tamez fills cascarones to be sold at NIOSA by the cascarones committee. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor The NIOSA Egg Ladies met weekly all year to meticulously paint, fill and seal about 60,000 cascarones to sell at NIOSA. Lynda Carter got all glammed up as she graced the red carpet ahead of the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington D.C. on Saturday. The 72-year-old Wonder Woman star posed up a storm in her elegant halter navy dress as it clung to her frame and had dazzling details on the front. She also added a black fuzzy shrug that draped down towards her elbows for a fashionable flare. She threw her dark locks into an up-do as she accessorized with navy toned diamond earrings and a matching bracelet for the high profile event. The dinner helps 'support journalists working to cover the president, events and programs to educate the public about the value of the First Amendment and a free press, and scholarships to help the next generation of journalists,' per the website. Lynda Carter got all glammed up as she graced the red carpet ahead of the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington D.C. on Saturday The 72-year-old Wonder Woman star posed up a storm in her elegant halter navy dress as it clung to her frame and had dazzling details on the front Carter's makeup looked stunning as she donned a full face of glam that made her eyes and full pout pop, displaying her age-defying beauty. She showed off her fresh manicure a she posed with her hands on her hips. Other celebrities were also in attendance including Chris Pine, Rachel Brosnahan, Molly Ringwald, and Sophia Bush. Also at the event, estranged Bravo couple Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright are set to reunite at the star-studded White House Correspondents' Association Dinner as honored guests of DailyMail.com. Marking their first-ever attendance at the WHCA Dinner, the duo both expressed their excitement at joining DailyMail.com, with father-of-one Jax saying: 'Really looking forward to attending the White House Correspondents Dinner. This will definitely be a highlight of my life and an incredible evening.' Brittany added: 'Im honored to have been invited to the White House Correspondents' Dinner! This will be an unforgettable night and Im so excited to be attending alongside so many amazing people.' The event comes two months after the duo stunned fans with the news that they were separating after four years of marriage and nine years total together. At the time, the lovebirds announced the news of their breakup after rumors about marital issues. She also added a black fuzzy shrug that draped down towards her elbows for a fashionable flare She threw her dark locks into an up-do as she accessorized with navy toned diamond earrings and a matching bracelet for the high profile event The dinner helps 'support journalists working to cover the president, events and programs to educate the public about the value of the First Amendment and a free press, and scholarships to help the next generation of journalists,' per the website At the time of their split, Brittany admitted: 'Jax and I are taking time apart and I made the decision to move into another home to take some space for the sake of my mental health.' Just a few weeks ago, Brittany finally revealed the reason behind their split in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, insisting that it had nothing to do with their return to reality TV in The Valley, which sees the duo documenting their new lives as parents of a toddler. Instead, she explained how the birth of their first child Cruz in 2021 made her reevaluate her marriage to the controversial Vanderpump Rules villain. 'Jax is Jax, whether he's on TV or not on TV - that's something everybody needs to understand,' she said. 'So for me, it was just kind of like taking up for myself. Having a child really woke me up and lifted a veil a little bit of what I deserve and what I am going to put up with for the rest of my life,' she continued. 'It's been so good for our relationship to be working again. It got a little weird after we left Vanderpump Rules, but now we're back on track and I think it's good for us to both stay busy.' Carter's makeup looked stunning as she donned a full face of glam that made her eyes and full pout pop, displaying her age-defying beauty She showed off her fresh manicure a she posed with her hands on her hips. Other celebrities were also in attendance including Chris Pine, Rachel Brosnahan, Molly Ringwald, and Sophia Bush The dinner is an annual fundraising event held by the White House Correspondents' Association to raise money for journalism scholarships Jax and Brittany first met in Las Vegas in 2015. Their budding romance was shown on Vanderpump Rules and their spinoff Jax & Brittany Take Kentucky. Their love proved to withstand the tests of Hollywood as it continued to bloom after they stepped away from the cameras in 2020. Afterwards, they welcomed son Cruz and experienced a slew of relationship challenges, which they struggled to overcome, and soon had no choice but to go their separate ways. The ex-lovebirds have also stayed in touch with their former Vanderpump Rules costars. Their second spinoff, The Valley, premiered on Bravo on March 19. But, government officials and celebrities will see them back in the same room together at the WHCA dinner. Last year, DailyMail.com welcomed Lisa Vanderpump and Ariana Madix to jet to D.C. to attend the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner as honored guests. Lisa and Ariana exclusively gushed to DailyMail.com about their excitement. 'I don't know what's more complicated reality television or politics I guess I'll find out on Saturday evening 'I'm delighted to be attending this year's White House Correspondents Association dinner as a guest of DailyMail.com,' said Vanderpump. Lisa was joined by Rules co-star, Ariana Madix, who was in the wake of her recent relationship implosion with Tom Sandoval. A lso at the event, estranged Bravo couple Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright are set to reunite at the star-studded White House Correspondents' Association Dinner as honored guests of DailyMail.com The duo documented the night on their Instagram Story Marking their first-ever attendance at the WHCA Dinner, the duo both expressed their excitement at joining DailyMail.com, with father-of-one Jax saying: 'Really looking forward to attending the White House Correspondents Dinner. This will definitely be a highlight of my life and an incredible evening' In the years prior, domestic goddess, Martha Stewart attended the event as Daily Mail's celebrity guest. A snapshot of Martha with Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson, who were making their first public appearances as a couple at the time, went viral. The dinner is an annual fundraising event held by the White House Correspondents' Association to raise money for journalism scholarships. Last year, the soiree was helmed by former Daily Show host Trevor Noah, the first comedian to headline the event since Michelle Wolf in 2018. It brings together journalists, politicians and celebrities under one roof for a rare night away from politics where the well-heeled can let their hair down. For years, comedians have poked fun at political leaders and journalists alike at the Correspondents' dinner. Previous hosts have included Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers. Every president since Calvin Coolidge had attended the WHCA's annual dinner with the exception of Trump. Caitlyn Jenner, 74, and her longtime live-in gal pal Sophia Hutchins, 26, attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner side by side on Saturday. Thrown at the Washington Hilton, the prestigious event welcomed a dazzling array of showbiz figures as well as top political figures including US President Joe Biden. The event was hosted by Saturday Night Live comedian Colin Jost, who arrived at the glittering soiree on the arm of his movie star wife Scarlett Johansson. Vanderpump Rules stars Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright attended the fete as the Daily Mail's honored guests - two months after announcing their separation. Amid the cavalcade of flashy celebrities, Caitlyn and Sophia, who have spent years batting away romance rumors, opted for simple elegance. Caitlyn Jenner , 74, and her longtime live-in gal pal Sophia Hutchins, 26, attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner side by side on Saturday Caitlyn, who ran for Governor of California as a Republican in 2021 as part of the recall bid against Gavin Newsom, modeled a simple black trouser suit Caitlyn, who ran for Governor of California as a Republican in 2021 as part of the recall bid against Gavin Newsom, modeled a simple black trouser suit. She teamed the slimming suit with a simple white top, wearing her luxurious caramel locks down and giving herself a bit of added stature with black heels. Meanwhile Sophia, who like Caitlyn is transgender, slid into a full-sleeved floor-length black gown that highlighted her petite frame. Although they live together, Sophia has insisted to the New York Times that she and Caitlyn 'were never romantically involved' with each other. Sophia has a business relationship with Caitlyn, working as her manager after the role was vacated by Caitlyn's ex-wife Kris Jenner. The young blonde explained: 'I saw nobody was managing her, and there were all these people taking massive advantage. And I was saying: "Caitlyn, if I dont step in here and start managing you, youre going to go broke."' Caitlyn, who was married three times when she was known as Bruce Jenner before transitioning, described herself to the Sunday Times last year as: 'Very single!' She said: 'Im not even close to looking for a relationship. Ill never have a relationship in the future. I just dont see that in my life. I am not looking for that.' Amid the cavalcade of flashy celebrities, Caitlyn and Sophia, who have spent years batting away romance rumors, opted for simple elegance The former Olympian, who has six children and 23 grandchildren, insisted that she does not suffer from loneliness because of her dogs and her 'very large family. Every night of the week I could go to somebodys house and have dinner.' A few years ago Sophia dished on the Juicy Scoop podcast: 'We had to put a lock on my door because Caitlyn decided to barge into my room while I had a friend over.' She told host Heather McDonald that Caitlyn 'knew he was there' but still walked into the room and 'kind of saw a lot of things happening.' Said Sophia: 'It's kind of like living with your parents and I'm like oh, this might be a turning point where I might need to move out.' Advertisement Nicole Kidman became tearful as she was honored by her peers on Saturday night at the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award gala in Los Angeles. The Big Little Lies star, 56, looked statuesque in a sparkling gold Balenciaga gown as she was presented with the prestigious award by 2004 winner Meryl Streep. Kidman was accompanied by her husband Keith Urban, who also made a speech in her honour, and shared an Instagram post ahead the ceremony, admitting she was 'deeply moved'. She looked sensational at the event in the sequinned gown that hugged her slender figure and boasted a five-foot train that draped behind her on the red carpet. Sharing a photo of the stage, she wrote: 'Deeply moved by all of the support around the world that Ive been seeing and hearing. Nicole Kidman became tearful as she was honored by her peers on Saturday night at the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award gala in Los Angeles The Big Little Lies star, 56, looked statuesque in a sparkling gold Balenciaga gown as she was presented with the prestigious award by 2004 winner Meryl Streep Kidman was accompanied by her husband Keith Urban, who also made a speech in her honour, and shared an Instagram post ahead the ceremony, admitting she was 'deeply moved' 'Thank you to all of you and to the @AmericanFilmInstitute for including me in this illustrious group of honorees - now let's have some fun!' Kidman's The Hours co-star Streep, 74, brought her to tears as she praised the the Moulin Rouge star's talents and explained what she thought motivated her. She said: 'People call it bravery when an actress bares all and leaps off into the unknown and she dives deep into the darker parts of what it is to be a human being. But I dont think its bravery. I think its love. I think she just loves it.' Kidman broke down once again when her husband took to the stage with a moving speech, saying she showed him 'what love in action really looks like' when his drug abuse problems emerged after they tied the knot in 2006. Looking at his wife sat with their two daughters and family, the singer, 56, recalled: 'Four months into our marriage, Im in rehab for three months. 'Nic pushed through every negative voice, Im sure even some of her own, and she chose love. And here we are 18 years later', causing Kidman to wipe a tear away from her face. Urban also took to his Instagram to pay tribute to Nicole before the gala, sharing a photo of her and writing: 'In a career that's still very much in full flight, tonight the @americanfilminstitute will honor my wife as the newest member in this extraordinary fraternity. 'Babygirl I'm so proud of you, and as much as I could come off sounding like the biased husband, I'll let the list of previous honorees do all of the talking for me. What a list!' She looked sensational at the event in the sequinned gown that hugged her slender figure and boasted a five-foot train that draped behind her on the red carpet 'Deeply moved by all of the support around the world that Ive been seeing and hearing,' Kidman wrote on Instagram Her sleeveless dress accentuated her figure, featuring a five-foot train that draped behind her on the red carpet. Kidman completed the look with a matching gold watch and rings, as well as a pair of pointed black heels Kidman broke down once again when her husband took to the stage with a moving speech, saying she showed him 'what love in action really looks like' when his drug abuse problems emerged after they tied the knot in 2006 Accepting the award, Kidman said: 'It is a privilege to make films. And glorious to have made films and television with these storytellers who allowed me to run wild and be free and play all of these unconventional women. Thank you for making me better at my craft and giving me a place, however temporary, in this world' He went on to list the likes of Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, Alfred Hitchcock, Elizabeth Taylor, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep and more. Kidman and Urban tied the knot in 2006, and they share daughters Sunday Rose, 15, and 13-year-old Faith Margaret. She also shares an adopted daughter Isabella, 31, and son Connor, 29, with ex-husband Tom Cruise. Accepting the award, Kidman thanked all the directors she has worked with over her incredible career, including Stanley Kubrick, Jane Campion, Baz Luhrmann, Sofia Coppola, Yorgos Lanthimos, Sydney Pollack and Lars von Trier. She said: 'It is a privilege to make films. And glorious to have made films and television with these storytellers who allowed me to run wild and be free and play all of these unconventional women. 'Thank you for making me better at my craft and giving me a place, however temporary, in this world.' The Australian actress raved the AFI honor was 'beyond my wildest dreams' when she was announced as the recipient last weekend. Urban complemented his wife in a classic black tuxedo with black creeper shoes The Australian actress raved the AFI honor was ' beyond my wildest dreams ' when she was announced as the recipient last weekend Kidman and Urban tied the knot in 2006, and they share daughters Sunday Rose, 15, and 13-year-old Faith Margaret Urban paid tribute to his wife on Instagram. 'In a career that's still very much in full flight, tonight the @americanfilminstitute will honor my wife as the newest member in this extraordinary fraternity,' he wrote 'Babygirl I'm so proud of you, and as much as I could come off sounding like the biased husband, I'll let the list of previous honorees do all of the talking for me,' added Urban, 56. 'What a list!' Kidman wrote of the honor, 'Receiving this award fills me with overwhelming gratitude. To be the first Australian to be honoured in this way leaves me speechless' Kidman added, 'I grew up as a Sydney suburban girl who just wanted to act; to have forged a career by doing what I love is a blessing beyond my dreams. I thank the AFI for this amazing honour' Kidman is in good company with the AFI Life Achievement Award, which has previously gone to Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, Alfred Hitchcock, Elizabeth Taylor, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep and more 'So excited to celebrate with so many friends and peers on Saturday,' wrote Kidman Kidman and Urban were accompanied by their daughters Sunday Rose, 15, and 13-year-old Faith Margaret, as well as Nicole's sister Antonia, her husbamd Craig Marran and their family 'Receiving this award fills me with overwhelming gratitude,' she wrote at the time. 'To be the first Australian to be honoured in this way leaves me speechless. Kidman added, 'I grew up as a Sydney suburban girl who just wanted to act; to have forged a career by doing what I love is a blessing beyond my dreams. I thank the AFI for this amazing honour.' She later shared a throwback photo of herself in one of her first movies, 1983's Bush Christmas. 'This 14 year old girl could have never predicted all the talented people she would get to work with and the many different characters she would get to play,' she captioned the post. 'So excited to celebrate with so many friends and peers on Saturday with the @AmericanFilmInstitue xx,' added Kidman. Kidman was supported by several pals, including Reese Witherspoon, Naomi Watts, Joey King, Morgan Freeman and more. King, 24, who stars as Kidman's daughter in the upcoming Netflix movie A Family Affair, donned a black peekaboo gown on the red carpet. Kidman was supported by several pals, including Reese Witherspoon, Naomi Watts, Joey King, Morgan Freeman and more She and King, 24, star together as mother and daughter in the upcoming Netflix film A Family Affair Kidman appears alongside Freeman, 86, in the Paramount+ series Special Ops: Lioness Kidman was surrounded by love as her friends, fans and former co-stars showed out for the event Kidman got on her hands and knees to pose on the sidewalk with her Hollywood Walk of Fame star Kidman also posed for a photo with AFI president and CEO Bob Gazzale Nicole is seen with her loved ones while on the red carpet shortly before the main ceremony kicked off The Golden Globe nominee teased her cleavage in an off-the-shoulder David Koma dress that featured a criss-cross cutout down the chest. Witherspoon, 48. who is reuniting with Kidman for an upcoming third season of Big Little Lies, dazzled in a plunging black dress. The Academy Award winner showed off some leg with a thigh-high slit that put her strappy black stilettos on display. She accessorized with some gold bangle bracelets, a matching ring and a pair of costume earrings with jade stones and pearl teardrops. Watts, 55, a childhood friend of Kidman and her co-star in 1991's Flirting, hit the carpet in a long-sleeve baby blue dress by Givenchy with long sleeves that left one shoulder exposed. The Academy Award nominee showed off a pair of white strappy stilettos under a short leg slit, carrying a white leather handbag with a silver chain handle. Freeman, 86, who appears with Kidman in the Paramount+ series Special Ops: Lioness, looked dapper in a black-on-black tuxedo with one tan leather glove. King donned a black peekaboo gown on the red carpet The Golden Globe nominee teased her cleavage in an off-the-shoulder David Koma dress that featured a criss-cross cutout down the chest Witherspoon dazzled as she hit the red carpet in a plunging black dress She is reuniting with Kidman for an upcoming third season of Big Little Lies The Academy Award winner showed off some leg with a thigh-high slit that put her strappy black stilettos on display. She accessorized with some gold bangle bracelets, a matching ring and a pair of costume earrings with jade stones and pearl teardrops Watts, 55, hit the carpet in a long-sleeve baby blue dress by Givenchy with long sleeves that left one shoulder exposed She is a childhood friend of Kidman and her co-star in 1991's Flirting The Academy Award nominee showed off a pair of white strappy stilettos under a short leg slit, carrying a white leather handbag with a silver chain handle Freeman looked dapper in a black-on-black tuxedo with one tan leather glove Michelle Pfeiffer looked chic in a black pantsuit with a buttoned-up collarless pea coat, completed with matching black heels. Cynthia Erivo looked stunning in a sleeveless grey floor-length gown with a structured bodice and a turtleneck Lily Rabe channeled old glamour in a white ankle-length dress with black diamond cutouts and a short green satin cape as she arrived with husband Hamish Linklater Jane Seymour sparkled in a strapless pink sequined dress featuring ruffled panels down the side, accessorized with a flower-shaped jeweled necklace, matching bracelet and jeweled strappy stilettos Ava DuVernay donned a stunning sheer off-the-shoulder dress featuring an intricate black and silver beaded design, while carrying a black velvet clutch Zoe turned heads wearing a strapless, black dress that also had silver, chainmail details embroidered throughout the material Saldana slipped into a pair of closed-toed, black heels to coincide with the color scheme of her look for the big night Her brunette locks were slicked back away from her face, revealing a pair of dangly silver earrings A layer of mascara was added to her lashes while a shimmering smoky shadow was added around her eyes Lee Daniels donned a grey suit with a white shirt and no tie, finishing the look with a pair of black shoes and retro gold aviator glasses. Aaron Sorkin kept it simple and classic in a black tuxedo with a bowtie and a crisp white shirt Michelle Pfeiffer looked chic in a black pantsuit with a buttoned-up collarless pea coat, completed with matching black heels. Cynthia Erivo looked stunning in a sleeveless grey floor-length gown with a structured bodice and a turtleneck. Lily Rabe channeled old glamour in a white ankle-length dress with black diamond cutouts and a short green satin cape as she arrived with husband Hamish Linklater. Jane Seymour sparkled in a strapless pink sequined dress featuring ruffled panels down the side, accessorized with a flower-shaped jeweled necklace, matching bracelet and jeweled strappy stilettos. Ava DuVernay donned a stunning sheer off-the-shoulder dress featuring an intricate black and silver beaded design, while carrying a black velvet clutch. Lee Daniels donned a grey suit with a white shirt and no tie, finishing the look with a pair of black shoes and retro gold aviator glasses. Aaron Sorkin kept it simple and classic in a black tuxedo with a bowtie and a crisp white shirt. Miles Teller looked sharp in a blue tuxedo with black patent leather shoes as he stepped out for date night with wife Keleigh Sperry She pulled focus in a strapless blue floral gown with a slight pointed sweetheart neckline, featuring a black satin bow at the center Mike Myers hit the red carpet in a classic black tuxedo with a white shirt and black bowtie Jack Huston was debonair in a tailored black tuxedo and matching cummerbund over a white dress shirt, unbuttoned at the top with no tie. Barry Jenkins served his signature style in a grey suit with a matching necktie and a blazer buttoned at the top, unbuttoned at the bottom Efron was dapper in a classic black suit as well as a white dress shirt and sleek black dress shoes Mike Myers was seen sporting a classic black suit as well as a white dress shirt and black bowtie He took time for a brief photo session on the red carpet ahead of the main event He held a smile on his face while striking a variety of poses Kidman took to the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood to accept the honor She held back tears while accepting the AFI Life Achievement Award Kidman was also joined by her Big Little Lies co-star Meryl Streep The pair shared a sweet embrace during a break in the festivities The Moulin Rouge actress was seen flashing a cheerful smile as she hugged Lee Daniels at the star-studded event in L.A. on Saturday At one point, the beauty was seen blowing a kiss as she sat at one of the tables inside the spacious venue Nicole held a smile on her face as she was seated next to Faith Margaret Kidman-Urban during the special ceremony Kidman and King's A Family Affair co-star Zac Efron was also there to show his support Mike Meyers and Miles Teller paused for a memorable picture together inside the main venue The two actors stood next to each other while pausing for a few pictures inside the main venue At one point, Jane Seymour was seen crossing paths with Reese Witherspoon and the two stars held a lighthearted conversation The Somewhere In Time actress also posed for a snap with Morgan Freeman at the star-studded event Michelle Pfeiffer and David E. Kelley were seen posing for a photo while seated next to each other Naomi Watts also took to the stage and addressed the crowd while standing in front of a podium underneath bright lights The beauty was seen placing her hands to her lips during what appeared to be a heartfelt moment Watts was also spotted flashing a small smile while seated at a crowded table when she wasn't on the stage Morgan Freeman was another celebrity who spoke a few words to the stars in the audience at the ceremony over the weekend Reese Witherspoon held her hands together as she happily spoke on stage at the event Nicole's husband, Keith, was also seen inside the theater and held a smile on his face while standing amidst the celebrity guests Miles Teller looked sharp in a blue tuxedo with black patent leather shoes as he stepped out for date night with wife Keleigh Sperry. She pulled focus in a strapless blue floral gown with a slight pointed sweetheart neckline, featuring a black satin bow at the center. Mike Myers hit the red carpet in a classic black tuxedo with a white shirt and black bowtie. Jack Huston was debonair in a tailored black tuxedo and matching cummerbund over a white dress shirt, unbuttoned at the top with no tie. Barry Jenkins served his signature style in a grey suit with a matching necktie and a blazer buttoned at the top, unbuttoned at the bottom. At one point during the ceremony, Jane Seymour was seen crossing paths with Reese Witherspoon and the two stars held a lighthearted conversation. The Somewhere In Time actress also posed for a snap with Morgan Freeman at the star-studded event. Naomi Watts also took to the stage and addressed the crowd while standing in front of a podium underneath bright lights. The beauty was seen placing her hands to her lips during what appeared to be a heartfelt moment. Morgan Freeman was another celebrity who spoke a few words to the stars in the audience at the ceremony over the weekend. Nicole's husband, Keith, was also seen inside the theater and held a smile on his face while standing amidst the celebrity guests. He also spoke onstage at one point during the big night. Meryl Streep - who wore a floral print dress - also took to the stage to present the honor to Nicole Kidman She was seen speaking at the podium as she paid a tribute and said a few words to the crowd before Kidman took to the stage to accept the award The Devil Wears Prada actress flashed a cheerful smile on the stage Streep appeared to be making a drink gesture while she spoke in front of the star-studded audience Afterwards, Nicole gratefully stepped onto the stage to receive the honor from Meryl The Hollywood stars were seen sharing a friendly embrace before Kidman gave her speech Meryl proudly stood at the side of the stage as she watched the actress accept the award and address the crowd on Saturday At one point, Kidman was seen bowing towards Streep after stepping onto the spacious stage The beauty held a paper in her hand as she gave her acceptance speech, and held a grateful smile on her face Nicole flashed a big smile with the award sitting on the podium in front of her Kidman was seen crossing her fingers while talking to the audience during the special ceremony Meryl Streep - who wore a floral print dress - also took to the stage to present the honor to Nicole Kidman. She was seen speaking at the podium as she paid a tribute and said a few words to the crowd before Kidman took to the stage to accept the award. Afterwards, Nicole gratefully stepped onto the stage to receive the honor from Meryl. The Hollywood stars were seen sharing a friendly embrace before Kidman gave her speech. Meryl proudly stood at the side of the stage as she watched the actress accept the award and address the crowd on Saturday. At one point, Kidman was seen bowing towards Streep after stepping onto the spacious stage. The beauty held a paper in her hand as she gave her acceptance speech, and held a grateful smile on her face. During the emotional moment, the star was seen throwing her hands up into the air. He also spoke onstage at one point during the big night Mike Meyers later jumped to the stage while wearing a disguise comprising of a mask as well as a black cape He later removed the items in front of the crowd before stepping to the podium to say a few words The star spoke into the microphone in front of him as he addressed the audience inside the Dolby Theatre The bright stage lights shone down on the actor during his time speaking on the stage Zoe Saldana was stunning as she also took to the stage in the night and spoke to the celebrity guests Nicole was seen on a screen inside the venue, as well as other various photos of her roles throughout her long-lasting career in the entertainment industry Joey King held a microphone as she also paid a special tribute to the Eyes Wide Shut actress The High School Musical alum stood on the stage as he said a few words for a tribute to Nicole Miles Teller took his turn during the night to also speak on the stage Aaron Sorkin - who worked with Kidman on Being The Ricardos (2021) - also stood up in the crowd to pay a tribute to the actress Kidman also jumped to her Instagram to better show off her glammed up outfit to her fans and followers She stood on a patch of grass with a swimming pool directly behind her underneath the warm sunshine Mike Meyers later jumped to the stage while wearing a disguise comprising of a mask as well as a black cape. He later removed the items in front of the crowd before stepping to the podium to say a few words. Zoe Saldana was stunning as she also took to the stage in the night and spoke to the celebrity guests. Nicole was seen on a screen inside the venue, as well as other various photos of her roles throughout her long-lasting career in the entertainment industry. Kidman also jumped to her Instagram to better show off her glammed up outfit to her fans and followers. She stood on a patch of grass with a swimming pool directly behind her underneath the warm sunshine. After receiving the award, the actress had the chance to celebrate by posing with the statue on the red carpet. After receiving the award, the actress had the chance to celebrate by posing with the statue on the red carpet She was joined by other celebrity guests, such as Cynthia Erivo, who held a smile on her face with Kidman The actress was later seen with the Legally Blonde star after receiving the honor Kidman happily posed with Miles Teller, Reese Witherspoon, Lee Daniels, Meryl Streep and Zac Efron on the red carpet Nicole and Meryl were spotted strolling arm-in-arm as they made their way backstage during the festivities While still backstage, the two stars paused for a few more snaps together The pair - who worked together on the movie The Prom in 2020 - were spotted sharing a laugh At one point during the ceremony, Watts and Erivo were seen mingling and also paused for a snap together Michelle Pfeiffer and Meryl Streep were spotted having a conversation and held small smiles on their faces for a memorable picture Kidman stopped to thank Meryl for her incredible speech and for presenting her with the prestigious award She was joined by her and Urban's two daughters and said the night was the first time she allowed the teenagers to join her on a red carpet Kidman and Urban looked emotional as they listened to the famous faces praising Kidman's incredible talents She was joined by other celebrity guests, such as Cynthia Erivo, who held a smile on her face with Kidman. Kidman was also seen crossing paths with Watts and the pair also stopped for a quick photo. Kidman and Streep were spotted strolling arm-in-arm as they made their way backstage during the festivities. At one point during the ceremony, Watts and Erivo were seen mingling and also paused for a snap together. Michelle Pfeiffer and Streep were spotted having a conversation and held small smiles on their faces for a memorable picture. Sarayu Rao couldn't resist squeezing the woman of the night in a sweet hug as she congratulated her Miles Teller was one of the stars who honoured Kidman at the gala, along with Zac Efron, Zoe Saldana and Mike Myers Efron was so overcome by Nicole's jaw-dropping beauty that he clasped her hands and gave her a kiss, after the pair starred together 12 years ago in The Paperboy Kidman beamed as she towered over Jay Nomura and Edward James Olmos for a group photo together She made sure to catch up with close pals Reese Witherspoon and Cynthia Erivo, with the three actresses excited to see each other Meryl Streep appeared to say something to Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater that caught them by surprise, ahead of her hosting duties Reese Witherspoon posed up a storm in a little black dress while supporting her Big Little Lies co-star Nicole Kidman as she received an AFI Life Achievement Award at the Dolby Theatre on Saturday. The 48-year-old actress - who recently beamed beside her mini-me daughter Ava Phillippe in Beverly Hills - stunned in an elegant black gown with a plunging neckline, putting on a busty display. Her signature blonde locks were straightened as they cascaded over her shoulders as they glistened in the light. She accessorized with green gem earrings and gold necklaces while looking runway ready in sky high black heels. Other celebrities attending the event include Keith Urban, Naomi Watts, Joey King, and Morgan Freeman. Reese Witherspoon posed up a storm in a little black dress while supporting her Big Little Lies co-star Nicole Kidman as she received the AFI Life Achievement Award at the Dolby Theatre on Saturday The 48-year-old actress stunned in an elegant black gown with a plunging neckline, putting on a busty display The Legally Blonde actress opted for a light makeup look that made her blue eyes pop as she showed off her natural beauty. While inside the the theatre, she posed with Scarface actress Michelle Pfeiffer as they oozed showbiz glamour. Witherspoon and Kidman worked alongside each other on the the 2017 drama series Big Little Lies based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty. According to the show's description, the 'narrative explores society's myths regarding perfection and its romanticization of marriage, sex, parenting and friendship.' The HBO limited series ran for two seasons before wrapping in 2019. Now, the Australian actress is being honored for her 40 plus year Hollywood career. The Aquaman star will be the first Australian to receive the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. Nicole told this week's Stellar she is so grateful to be 'honored in this way'. 'Receiving this award fills me with overwhelming gratitude. To be the first Australian to be honored in this way leaves me speechless,' she said. She accessorized with green gem earrings and gold necklaces while looking runway ready in sky high black heels Her signature blonde locks were straighened as they cascaded over her shoulders as they glistened in the light Witherspoon and Kidman worked alongside each other on the the 2017 drama series Big Little Lies based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty Previous recipients of the AFI honor include legendary heavyweights in world cinema like Jane Fonda, George Clooney , Robert de Niro, Al Pacino and Meryl Streep While inside the the theatre, she posed with Scarface actress Michelle Pfeiffer as they oozed showbiz glamour 'I grew up as a Sydney suburban girl who just wanted to act; to have forged a career by doing what I love is a blessing beyond my dreams. I thank the AFI for this amazing honor.' Previous recipients of the AFI honor include legendary heavyweights in world cinema like Jane Fonda, George Clooney , Robert de Niro, Al Pacino and Meryl Streep. Awarded by the AFI Board of Trustees, the Institute's prize, next to an Oscar, is amongst filmdom's highest honors. Nicole will be the 49th recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award, which was first handed in 1973. Nicole is the first Australian to receive the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award Nicole told this week's Stellar she is so grateful to be 'honored in this way'. 'Receiving this award fills me with overwhelming gratitude. To be the first Australian to be honored in this way leaves me speechless,' she said Among Nicole's major films are, To Die For (1995), Lion (2016) and the Baz Luhrmann's Australia (2008) and Moulin Rouge! (2001) - for which she earned a Best Actress Oscar nod. Nicole, who has continued to win praise from fans, peers and critics for her versatility is one of the most honored actresses of her generation. Her accolades include six Golden Globe awards, one BAFTA, two prime time Emmys and an Academy Award for Best Actress for the Hours in 2003. Jane Fonda showed off her ageless beauty at the Homeboy Industries' Lo Maximo 2024 Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday night. The 86-year-old Oscar winner who made a rare appearance with her granddaughter Viva Vadim, 21, at the TIME Earth Awards Gala dazzled on the red carpet as she arrived at the JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE. Clad in a stunning bejeweled jacket adorned with constellations and paired with sleek black pants, the icon radiated Hollywood glamour. The Lo Maximo Awards is a celebration of the individuals who have transformed their lives through Homeboys nationally recognized reentry program. Jane led a cavalcade of luminaries at the event, including Camilla Belle, Lisa Ling, Jay Ellis, Rainn Wilson and more. Jane Fonda showed off her ageless beauty at the Homeboy Industries' Lo Maximo 2024 Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday night The 86-year-old Oscar winner dazzled on the red carpet as she arrived at the JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE As she swanned around the fete, she also posed up with Kim Kardashian, who gave her new ice blonde hairdo its public debut. This year's gala had Kim as one of the awardees, recognizing her years of legal activism to help get convicts released from prison. The aspiring lawyer, whose late father was on OJ Simpson's legal 'dream team,' was the image of old-fashioned showbiz glamour during her latest public appearance. Swathed in a sumptuous black fur coat, the 43-year-old reality star turned this way and that, allowing her outfit to catch the light. She swept her silken locks back into a bun, which she complemented with an elaborate pair of drop earrings and flattering makeup. The 9 to 5 star previously opened up about her feelings of aging in the past, and told InStyle in 2022, 'Turning 85 isn't any different than turning 84 or turning 86 will be. I'm seriously in the middle of "old."' But once you're inside of it, as opposed to looking at it from the outside, it's not all that scary.' Jane has openly shared her battle with osteoarthritis and, in September 2022, disclosed her third bout with cancer, diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. As she swanned around the fete, she also posed up with Kim Kardashian, who gave her new ice blonde hairdo its public debut This year's gala had Kim as one of the awardees, recognizing her years of legal activism to help get convicts released from prison She swept her silken locks back into a bun, which she complemented with an elaborate pair of drop earrings and flattering makeup Swathed in a sumptuous black fur coat, the 43-year-old reality star turned this way and that, allowing her outfit to catch the light This year's gala had Kim as one of the awardees, recognizing her years of legal activism to help get convicts released from prison However, by the end of the year, she provided an uplifting update, announcing that she was in remission, marking a positive turn in her health journey. 'I'm a curious person, and I'm constantly learning, and I think that's important,' Jane also told InStyle. 'My dad died six years younger than me, and sure, I have cancer, but we're getting that dealt with with chemo and I feel lucky.' The activist also spoke to CBS News Sunday Morning during a past interview and explained how growing older doesn't 'bother' the actress. 'I'm super-conscious that I'm closer to death. And it doesn't really bother me that much,' Jane stated. 'You know, you can be really old at 60, and you can be really young at 85.' Clad in a stunning bejeweled jacket adorned with constellations and paired with sleek black pants, the icon radiated Hollywood glamour Jane has openly shared her battle with osteoarthritis and, in September 2022, disclosed her third bout with cancer, diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Jane won two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her roles in Klute (1971) and Coming Home (1978) Camilla Belle looked fabulous in her black sheer ensemble Camila's polka dot print was all the rage at the event as she paired it with stiletto heels Lisa Ling looked fabulous in her taupe dress Rika Tischendorf and Babyface made quite the pair on the red carpet She also discussed why she quit drinking alcohol and explained, 'If I had a martini tonight, I would be at half-mast tomorrow.' 'Now, that wasn't true when I was younger. As you get older, I think alcohol affects you differently.' The daughter of Henry Fonda continued, 'And I only have so many tomorrows left. I don't want to be at half-mast for any of them!' Jane starred in the films 80 For Brady as well as Book Club: The Next Chapter last year in 2023. And at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023, she reflected on the projects, per Vulture, and stated, 'I'm still amazed that people offer me movies. I'm almost 86 years old.' 'I normally would not have wanted to make two movies in one year that have four old women in each of them: 80 For Brady, though I finally got to work with Sally [Field], who's my heroine.' 'And in Italy, we made Book Club again. But I don't want to do that anymore,' Jane admitted. 'I don't know what's coming next, except that I don't want to do any more movies that don't challenge me as an actor. I want to be challenged. And I want to play something really complicated.' Rainn Wilson cut a cool figure in a V-neck sweater and dark jacket Father Greg Boyle, Founder, Homeboy Industries, attends Homeboy Industries' 2024 Lo Maximo Awards And Fundraising Gala Jane was the guest of honor for the evening Troy Garity, Camilla Belle and Jay Ellis attend Homeboy Industries' 2024 Lo Maximo Awards And Fundraising Gala Camilla Belle, Jose Arellano, Rainn Wilson and Lisa Ling attend Homeboy Industries' 2024 Lo Maximo Awards And Fundraising Gala No doubt Jane has left an indelible mark on Hollywood with her illustrious career spanning over six decades. From her breakthrough performances in films like Klute and Coming Home to her iconic role in 9 to 5, Fonda has showcased her versatility as an actress. Her exceptional talent has earned her numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her roles in Klute (1971) and Coming Home (1978). Jane's contributions to cinema extend beyond acting; she has also been recognized for her activism and advocacy work, cementing her status as a Hollywood legend. She spent the weekend celebrating her 44th birthday. But it was business as usual for Pip Edwards on Sunday as she returned to her usual daily workout routine by taking a power walk around Rose Bay. The P.E Nation activewear co-founder cut a chic figure in all-black activewear including a sleek cropped T-shirt and 3/4 workout leggings. She completed her monochromatic look with black socks, sneakers and retro sunglasses. Pip's short, sun-kissed locks were swept back in a fuss-free style, while a series of rings, earrings and silver wrist gave her outfit a touch of sparkle. She spent the weekend celebrating her 44th birthday, but it was business as usual for Pip Edwards (pictured) on Sunday as she returned to her usual daily workout routine by taking a power walk around Rose Bay Pip appeared to be chatting on the phone as she pounded the pavement with wireless headphones in her ears. It comes after Pip and her P.E Nation co-founder Claire Greaves parted ways ahead of unveiling their latest collection at Australian Fashion Week. A company spokesperson confirmed this month that Greaves (previously Tregoning) would keep her share of the business and remain on the board, but that Edwards would take over as the sole 'visionary' creative director. The P.E Nation activewear co-founder cut a chic figure in all-black activewear including a sleek cropped T-shirt and 3/4 workout leggings She completed her monochromatic look with black socks, sneakers and retro sunglasses Pip's short, sun-kissed locks were swept back in a fuss-free style, while a series of rings, earrings and silver wrist gave her outfit a touch of sparkle According to the statement, Greaves left to pursue other creative endeavours. 'Claire Greaves has made the decision to step out of the day-to -day running of the business,' a spokesperson said. 'Claire will remain on the board and will retain her shareholding as the company continues to thrive in the very creative, visionary hands of Pip Edwards at the helm. It comes after Pip and her P.E Nation co-founder Claire Greaves (left) parted ways ahead of unveiling their latest collection at Australian Fashion Week. Both pictured 'Pip and the company are in complete support of Claire's transition to pursue other creative endeavours and wish her the absolute best in her next chapter.' Greaves did not address her split with Edwards after the announcement. Greaves and Edwards worked together as designers at Sass & Bide before they joined forces and launched their activewear brand in 2016. They turned the luxury label into an international brand earning a huge number of celebrity clients. In May 2023, they expanded by opening their first brick-and-mortar store, in The Galeries on Sydney's George Street. The shop is designed by a architect and features bespoke lights, sculptures and furniture by local designers. According to the company website, P.E Nation 'was born from a universal need for multi-faceted activewear, given the global shift towards juggling a fast pace life'. Naomi Watts posed up a storm while supporting film icon Nicole Kidman as she received an AFI Life Achievement Award at the Dolby Theatre on Saturday in Los Angeles. The 55-year-old British actress - who recently showed off her impressive physique while working out with her personal trainer - made jaws drop in a blue form fitting gown that clung to her body. Her signature short blonde locks were parted to the side and were slightly curled at the ends as they glistened in the light. She accessorized with long strand earrings and rings as she carried a simple white purse along the red carpet. Other celebrities attending the event include Keith Urban, Naomi Watts, Joey King, and Morgan Freeman. Naomi Watts posed up a storm while supporting film icon Nicole Kidman as she received an AFI Life Achievement Award at the Dolby Theatre on Saturday in Los Angeles The 55-year-old British actress made jaws drop in a blue form fitting gown that clung to her body The stunning look showed off her collarbones as the dress laid slightly off her shoulder. The Goodnight Mommy star opted for a full glam look as her red lips and bright eyes popped while she looked runway ready. Watts and Kidman previously worked together on the 1991 movie Flirting and have been longtime best friends since. Hoping to star alongside her close pal again, the Feud star told PEOPLE, 'We've been talking about it for too long, we've gotta make it happen, 'Now that we're getting to the age where it's like, we just want to spend more time with each other. Let's just get on a set, so we can have good, lengthy conversations on a daily basis and share meals,' she added. Although nothing is set in stone, the A-listers remain optimistic. 'We're definitely continuing to search for the right piece of material,' Watts finished. Now, the Australian actress is being honored for her 40 plus year Hollywood career. The Aquaman star will be the first Australian to receive the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. Nicole told this week's Stellar she is so grateful to be 'honored in this way'. 'Receiving this award fills me with overwhelming gratitude. To be the first Australian to be honored in this way leaves me speechless,' she said. Her signature short blonde locks were parted to the side and were slightly curled at the ends as they glistened in the spotlight She addressed the crowd during the function honoring Nicole's acting legacy The stunning look showed off her collarbones as the dress laid slightly off her shoulder The Goodnight Mommy star opted for a full glam look as her red lips and bright eyes popped while she looked runway ready Watts and Kidman previously worked together on the 1991 movie Flirting and have been longtime best friends since Hoping to star alongside her close pal again, the Feud star told PEOPLE, 'We've been talking about it for too long, we've gotta make it happen' Although nothing is set in stone, the A-listers remain optimistic. 'We're definitely continuing to search for the right piece of material,' Watts finished 'I grew up as a Sydney suburban girl who just wanted to act; to have forged a career by doing what I love is a blessing beyond my dreams. I thank the AFI for this amazing honor.' Previous recipients of the AFI honor include legendary heavyweights in world cinema like Jane Fonda, George Clooney , Robert de Niro, Al Pacino and Meryl Streep. Awarded by the AFI Board of Trustees, the Institute's prize, next to an Oscar, is amongst filmdom's highest honors. Nicole will be the 49th recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award, which was first handed in 1973. Nicole will be the first Australian to receive the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award Nicole, who has continued to win praise from fans, peers and critics for her versatility is one of the most honored actresses of her generation Among Nicole's major films are, To Die For (1995), Lion (2016) and the Baz Luhrmann's Australia (2008) and Moulin Rouge! (2001) - for which she earned a Best Actress Oscar nod. Nicole, who has continued to win praise from fans, peers and critics for her versatility is one of the most honored actresses of her generation. Her accolades include six Golden Globe awards, one BAFTA, two prime time Emmys and an Academy Award for Best Actress for the Hours in 2003. He's the man who discovered global stars 5 Seconds of Summer. But now, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Adam Wilkinson is making headlines for a different kind of deal-making - as a real estate agent in Sydney's Sutherland Shire. It was thanks to a chance meeting with him back in 2011 that Australian boy band have now risen to the dizzy heights of world pop domination. Visiting the record manager's workplace Studios 301 for a tour, teenage boys Luke Hemmings, Ashton Irwin, Calum Hood and Michael Clifford immediately impressed Wilkinson. Wilkinson finally made contact with the band through Facebook and invited him back into his studio. The man behind the band: Australian boy band 5 Seconds Of Summer know they owe their stardom to Adam Wilkinson (pictured second from right) after a chance meeting back in 2011 Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Adam Wilkinson (pictured) is making headlines for a different kind of deal-making - as a real estate agent in Sydney's Sutherland Shire Helping the Aussie rockers reach worldwide fame, the entrepreneur decided to step away from managing the rising stars in late 2013, handing over the role to Modest Management who also manage One Direction. Once at the helm of sensational music collaborations with artists like Kenny Rogers, Coldplay, Tom Jay Williams and Lana Del Rey, Adam is now orchestrating property sales, with an impressive $500 million already chalked up in his real estate portfolio. This career change might seem like a leap, but for Adam, it's all about the timing and passion for new ventures. Visiting the record manager's workplace Studios 301 for a tour, teenage boys Calum Hood, Michael Clifford and Luke Hemmings immediately impressed Wilkinson In 2013 the musical mastermind joined the band on a trip to London, proving to be a dedicated mentor as the boys juggled studying for their final year of school while attending meetings and writing songs. Adam pictured with Michael and Luke 'I wanted to leave [the music industry] while I was still on top of my game,' he told Daily Mail Australia, underscoring his strategic exit from the music scene to a thriving new chapter closer to home in Cronulla. In his new role, Adam's star-studded charisma hasn't dimmed one bit. He's leveraging his extensive experience in managing top-tier talent to provide a bespoke and thoroughly meticulous approach to real estate. They have since released five albums, and received a slew of American Music Awards, MTV accolades and ARIA gongs. Pictured together at iHeartRadio Music Festival in 2022 Once at the helm of sensational music collaborations with artists like Coldplay, and Lana Del Rey, Adam is now orchestrating property sales, with an impressive $500 million already chalked up in his real estate portfolio. (Adam pictured with Kenny Rogers) His ability to understand his client's needs and deliver beyond expectations makes him a standout in the property market just as much as he was in the music industry. Partnering with Gibson Partners, Adam continues to shine, proving that his ability to captivate an audiencebe it concertgoers or potential homebuyersremains unmatched. His approachable nature, combined with a promise to always deliver the best, ensures that his clients are in for a treat with every property viewing. 'I wanted to leave [the music industry] while I was still on top of my game,' he told Daily Mail Australia, underscoring his strategic exit from the music scene to a thriving new chapter closer to home in Cronulla Abbie Chatfield looked effortlessly stylish as she headed home from a trip to the beach on Sunday. The FBoy Island host, 28, who spent the day prior with Peking Duk's Adam Hyde at a protest for violence against women, looked relaxed and revitalised as she stepped out in a colourful bikini. Going barefoot, the brunette completed her look with a blue-and-pink hat and slung a navy tote bag over one shoulder. She also carried a take-away beverage in one and and balanced her towel, jacket and drink bottle in the other. Abbie allowed her curly hair to fall freely, and went makeup-free for the off duty occasion. Abbie Chatfield, 28, (pictured looked effortlessly stylish as she headed home from a trip to the beach on Sunday The sighting comes after Abbie was left devastated when she discovered her new puppy Daisy had 'destroyed' her sex toys. She took to Instagram Stories earlier this month to reveal the spaniel mix pooch had chewed through two of her 'favourite vibrators'. Sharing pictures and video of the destruction, she showed followers what remained of the adult toys as she asked if any of her fans had experienced something similar. The FBoy Island host who spent the day prior with Peking Duk's Adam Hyde at a protest for violence against women , looked relaxed and revitalised as she stepped out in a colourful bikini Going barefoot, the brunette completed her look with a blue-and-pink hat and slung a navy tote bag over one shoulder She also carried a take-away beverage in one and and balanced her towel, jacket and drink bottle in the other Abbie allowed her curly hair to fall freely, and went makeup-free for the off duty occasion 'So, I love my puppy so much, but I'm just wondering why she felt the need to destroy not one but two of my favourite vibrators,' she said. 'My boyfriend's been away for a few days. I was excited to use these tonight. It's fine. It's so fine. It's so fine.' The podcaster went on to share pictures of Daisy looking content, writing: 'Has your puppy destroyed a vibe of yours? I wish she could get a job and replace it.' The sighting comes after Abbie was left devastated when she discovered her new puppy Daisy had 'destroyed' her sex toys The FBoy Island host took to Instagram Stories earlier this month to reveal the spaniel mix pooch had chewed through two of her 'favourite vibrators' Sharing pictures and video of the destruction, she showed followers what remained of the adult toys as she asked if any of her fans had experienced something similar The podcaster went on to share pictures of Daisy looking content, writing: 'Has your puppy destroyed a vibe of yours? I wish she could get a job and replace it' Fans flocked to Abbie's messages to share their own stories of sex toys falling victim to their silicone-happy pooches. One person said their dog 'stole [my vibrator] and took it right down to the front gate for everyone on the street to see'. Another commented: 'I have had two puppies in my life and each one has destroyed only my favourite vibe each time.' They went on to suggest if Abbie shows 'favouritism' to one or more of her vibrators, then their scent may have a 'lingering magnetism' for her puppy Daisy. Abbie welcomed Daisy, a cocker spaniel cross clumber spaniel, to her family and and her other spaniel dog named Walter earlier this month. Fans flocked to Abbie's messages to share their own stories of sex toys falling victim to their silicone-happy pooches One person said their dog 'stole [my vibrator] and took it right down to the front gate for everyone on the street to see' Another commented: 'I have had two puppies in my life and each one has destroyed only my favourite vibe each time' Kim Kardashian gave her new ice blonde hairdo its public debut at the Homeboy Industries' Lo Maximo Awards in Los Angeles this Thursday. Thrown at the JW Marriott in LA Live, the event was held in honor of the beneficiaries of Homeboy Industries' reentry program to integrate prisoners back into society. This year's gala had Kim as one of the awardees, recognizing her years of legal activism to help get convicts released from prison. The aspiring lawyer, whose late father was on OJ Simpson's legal 'dream team,' was the image of old-fashioned showbiz glamour during her latest public appearance. Swathed in a sumptuous black fur coat, the 43-year-old reality star turned this way and that, allowing her outfit to catch the light. Kim Kardashian gave her new ice blonde hairdo its public debut at the Homeboy Industries' Lo Maximo Awards in Los Angeles this Thursday Thrown at the JW Marriott in LA Live, the event was held in honor of the beneficiaries of Homeboy Industries' reentry program to integrate prisoners back into society This year's gala had Kim as one of the awardees, recognizing her years of legal activism to help get convicts released from prison She swept her silken locks back into a bun, which she complemented with an elaborate pair of drop earrings and flattering makeup. Her new hairdo was the work of hairstylist to the stars Chris Appleton, who has worked with such top-flight names as Ariana Grande and Jennifer Lopez. Kim's advocacy includes visiting the Trump White House to plug the FIRST STEP Act, a prison reform law that resulted in the early release of tens of thousands of criminals. During this Saturday night's festivities, she found herself mingling with none other than Hollywood legend and controversial activist Jane Fonda. She also mingled with Father Greg Boyle, the father of Homeboy Industries, who was in priestly attire including his clerical collar. As she swanned around the fete, Kim sidled up to Babyface, who accessorized with a cross and wore a jacket with a glittering 'B' stitched near one lapel. Jane, clad in a stunning bejeweled jacket adorned with constellations and paired with sleek black pants, radiated Hollywood chic. She led a cavalcade of luminaries at the event, including Camilla Belle, Lisa Ling, Jay Ellis, Rainn Wilson and more. The aspiring lawyer, whose late father was on OJ Simpson 's legal 'dream team,' was the image of old-fashioned showbiz glamour during her latest public appearance Swathed in a sumptuous black fur coat, the 43-year-old reality star turned this way and that, allowing her outfit to catch the light She swept her silken locks back into a bun, which she complemented with an elaborate pair of drop earrings and flattering makeup During this Saturday night's festivities, she found herself mingling with none other than Hollywood legend and controversial activist Jane Fonda She also mingled with Father Greg Boyle, the father of Homeboy Industries, who was in priestly attire including his clerical collar As she swanned around the fete, Kim sidled up to Babyface, who accessorized with a cross and wore a jacket with a glittering 'B' stitched near one lapel The 9 to 5 star previously opened up about her feelings of aging in the past, and told InStyle in 2022, 'Turning 85 isn't any different than turning 84 or turning 86 will be. I'm seriously in the middle of "old."' But once you're inside of it, as opposed to looking at it from the outside, it's not all that scary.' Jane has openly shared her battle with osteoarthritis and, in September 2022, disclosed her third bout with cancer, diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. However, by the end of the year, she provided an uplifting update, announcing that she was in remission, marking a positive turn in her health journey. 'I'm a curious person, and I'm constantly learning, and I think that's important,' Jane also told InStyle. 'My dad died six years younger than me, and sure, I have cancer, but we're getting that dealt with with chemo and I feel lucky.' The activist also spoke to CBS News Sunday Morning during a past interview and explained how growing older doesn't 'bother' the actress. 'I'm super-conscious that I'm closer to death. And it doesn't really bother me that much,' Jane stated. 'You know, you can be really old at 60, and you can be really young at 85.' Clad in a stunning bejeweled jacket adorned with constellations and paired with sleek black pants, the icon radiated Hollywood glamour Jane has openly shared her battle with osteoarthritis and, in September 2022, disclosed her third bout with cancer, diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Jane won two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her roles in Klute (1971) and Coming Home (1978) Camilla Belle looked fabulous in her black sheer ensemble Camila's polka dot print was all the rage at the event as she paired it with stiletto heels Lisa Ling looked fabulous in her taupe dress Rika Tischendorf and Babyface made quite the pair on the red carpet She also discussed why she quit drinking alcohol and explained, 'If I had a martini tonight, I would be at half-mast tomorrow.' 'Now, that wasn't true when I was younger. As you get older, I think alcohol affects you differently.' The daughter of Henry Fonda continued, 'And I only have so many tomorrows left. I don't want to be at half-mast for any of them!' Jane starred in the films 80 For Brady as well as Book Club: The Next Chapter last year in 2023. And at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023, she reflected on the projects, per Vulture, and stated, 'I'm still amazed that people offer me movies. I'm almost 86 years old.' 'I normally would not have wanted to make two movies in one year that have four old women in each of them: 80 For Brady, though I finally got to work with Sally [Field], who's my heroine.' 'And in Italy, we made Book Club again. But I don't want to do that anymore,' Jane admitted. 'I don't know what's coming next, except that I don't want to do any more movies that don't challenge me as an actor. I want to be challenged. And I want to play something really complicated.' Rainn Wilson cut a cool figure in a V-neck sweater and dark jacket Father Greg Boyle, Founder, Homeboy Industries, attends Homeboy Industries' 2024 Lo Maximo Awards And Fundraising Gala Jane was the guest of honor for the evening Troy Garity, Camilla Belle and Jay Ellis attend Homeboy Industries' 2024 Lo Maximo Awards And Fundraising Gala Camilla Belle, Jose Arellano, Rainn Wilson and Lisa Ling attend Homeboy Industries' 2024 Lo Maximo Awards And Fundraising Gala No doubt Jane has left an indelible mark on Hollywood with her illustrious career spanning over six decades. From her breakthrough performances in films like Klute and Coming Home to her iconic role in 9 to 5, Fonda has showcased her versatility as an actress. Her exceptional talent has earned her numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her roles in Klute (1971) and Coming Home (1978). Jane's contributions to cinema extend beyond acting; she has also been recognized for her activism and advocacy work, cementing her status as a Hollywood legend. Santikos Theaters offers free movies for families this summer. Santikos Looking for a way to beat the heat this summer, then go to your local Santikos Theater to watch eight free movies. Santikos announced earlier this week that they are bringing back its Free Summer Movies series, which will occur on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at all San Antonio locations and throughout the southern region of Texas, excluding Fort Bliss. Starting in June, families can watch a free animated family-friendly film like Shrek 2, How to Train Your Dragon, Minions: The Rise of Gru and many more. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Movie lovers can watch these free movies through July 31: June 25 & 26: How to Train Your Dragon July 2 & 3: The Bad Guys July 9 & 10: Migration July 16 & 17: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish July 23 & 24: Shrek 2 July 30 & 31: Sing 2 Movies will start at 10 a.m. and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are only available in person on the day of the show. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Shona McGarty has said she 'feels like she is leaving home' as she opened up about the real reason she is quitting EastEnders. The actress, 32, who joined the soap at the age of 16 in 2008 portraying the iconic Whitney Dean, revealed that she would be quitting in July after portraying the long-running character for 16 years. Shona has now revealed that it was a 'really difficult' decision to leave the soap, but has decided she wants to explore 'other opportunities' before she is 'too old'. She told The Sun: 'It was a really difficult decision, because it's all I've ever known. I pretty much grew up on the Square, so I feel like I'm leaving home. But I had to put on my big girl pants and be quite brave, because life is so short, and you feel that more and more as you get older. 'There are other opportunities and areas of the industry I want to explore before I get too old! All things come to an end and this is the new chapter of my life. Shona McGarty has said she 'feels like she is leaving home' as she opened up about the real reason she is quitting EastEnders on Sunday Shona has now revealed that it was a 'really difficult' decision to leave the soap but has decided she wants to explore 'other opportunities' before she is 'too old' The actress, 32, who joined the soap at the age of 16 in 2008 portraying the iconic Whitney Dean, revealed that she would be quitting in July after portraying the long-running character for 16 years (pictured in 2008) 'So although it was a big decision, once I'd made it, I was quite resolute that this was something I had to do. I mean, 16 years is amazing. I've had a really good run and Whitney needs a break.' The BBC star filmed her final scenes earlier this month and was greeted by fans outside Elstree Studios as she headed home. Shona added: 'I'm not gonna lie, I feel like it's a kind of grief and I didn't think I'd be so emotional. But seeing all the fans who had these messages and cards was just beautiful and, although I tried to keep it together, I actually fell to pieces'. She was seen flashing a smile as she drove home from work and stopped at the gate to pose for selfies with fans who had gathered outside. The soap star took her time to leave video messages as she signed autographs and chatted with the crowd. Shona's car was filled with flowers, cards and presents from her co-stars as she departed the studio for the last time. Shona's character Whitney, arrived back Walford in 2008 as the adopted daughter of Bianca Jackson (played by Patsy Palmer). She has been at the heart of countless hard-hitting story lines, including grooming, sexual abuse, baby loss, kidnap, stalking and illicit affairs. Whitney has been given a dramatic send off which follows a shocking pregnancy storyline. She said: 'It was a really difficult decision, because it's all I've ever known. There are other opportunities and areas of the industry I want to explore before I get too old! All things come to an end and this is the new chapter of my life' (pictured 2022) Shona added: 'I'm not gonna lie, I feel like it's a kind of grief and I didn't think I'd be so emotional' (pictured 2022) Shona's character Whitney, arrived back Walford in 2008 as the adopted daughter of Bianca Jackson (played by Patsy Palmer left) In 2020 she killed deranged Leo King for the soap's 35th anniversary (pictured in 2008) The character and her partner Zack Hudson (played by James Farrar) have been trying to have a baby for a long time. She previously terminated a pregnancy after finding out her little girl suffered from Edwards' Syndrome, which meant her baby would not have survived long after being born. Whitney was left completely devastated by the loss and swore she would never try and have a biological child again and so she and Zack put themselves forward for foster care. The couple ended up looking after a young boy Ashton over the Christmas period however, he soon got adopted leaving the couple more alone than ever. In 2008 Whitney was groomed and abused by her onscreen mum's partner and in 2020 she killed deranged Leo King for the soap's 35th anniversary. It is unknown what the actress is going to do next but she revealed she only had one week off after filming her final episode before starting a new top-secret project. However, it is likely Shona will do something with music as she regularly posts videos of her singing to social media. In 2012, she performed on Children in Need singing Sm Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come. She has also been part of a number of hard hitting story lines including grooming, sexual abuse, baby loss, kidnap, stalking and illicit affairs (pictured with partner Zack Hudson, played by James Farrar) She released a charity song for Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2018 and covered The Beatles' Let It Be in 2021 for the charity Mind. In 2022, Shona sang at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall for BBC1. She added that 'singing is her first love' and revealed she has already 'written lots of songs' and would love to release an album one day. Maisie Williams put on a leggy display in a short tweed dress for a Q&A event in New York on Saturday. The actress, 27, was at a screening of her new series The New Look at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Robin Williams Center in the Big Apple and struck a confident pose as she arrived on the red carpet. Maisie showed off her long legs in the two-piece ensemble as she teetered around in a pair of white stilettos. The former Game of Thrones star wore a white shirt under the number, but freed her arms from the sleeves to place them firmly on her hips. In terms of make up, Maisie kept things natural and curled her dark red locks so they hung tightly around her shoulders. Maisie Williams put on a leggy display in a short tweed dress for a Q&A event in New York on Saturday The former Game of Thrones star wore a white shirt under the number but freed her arms from the sleeves to place them firmly on her hips The New Look is an Apple+ series that follows the life of fashion legend Christian Dior and Maisie plays his sister Catherine, who was a resistance fighter during World War II. The actress was joined at the event by producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, her co-stars Juliette Binoche, Ben Mendelsohn and show creator Todd A. Kessler. The outing comes shortly after Maisie revealed that she lost almost two stone in preparation for the role. She revealed she dropped 26Ibs to realistically portray Dior's emaciated appearance when she returned to Paris after WWII. Catherine was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo in July 1944 after joining the Resistance and becoming a key member of a covert network which gathered intelligence for the Allies. She was imprisoned by the Nazis at Ravensbruck concentration camp and in order for Maisie to accurately portray her emaciated appearance for scenes set after the war, the actress endured a tough transformation. Overseen by medical professionals, Maisie has revealed to Harpers Bazaar how she 'was eating very little'. She managed to lose weight mostly through sweating out fluid just before filming - a technique that boxers and jockeys use before they compete. The New Look is an Apple+ series that follows the life of fashion legend Christian Dior and Maisie plays his sister Catherine, who was a resistance fighter during World War II The actress was joined at the event by producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, her co-stars Juliette Binoche, Ben Mendelsohn and show creator Todd A. Kessler Maisie Williams has revealed she lost nearly two stone in weight in preparation for her latest role as Catherine Dior in Apple TV+ series The New Look She said: 'I had to be up at 4am to start sweating. The night before, at about 7 or 8pm I was allowed to have something salty and dehydrating some smoked salmon and a tiny glass of wine. 'Then I had a boiling-hot bath with lots of salts in it. 'And I sort of levitated to bed and slept for maybe three hours, and woke up and had a handful of nuts. 'I wouldn't be able to sleep through the night at this point. I kept waking up and feeling like a marble inside a bottle, rattling around...' Nicole Kidman was honoured at the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award gala in Los Angeles on Friday. And her good friend Naomi Watts was on hand to congratulate her as Nicole took the stage. Posting to Instagram Stories, Naomi shared a behind the scenes glimpse at the moment Nicole claimed her award. 'What a night, what a woman' the actress captioned the short clip, which showed Nicole giving her speech. The Big Little Lies star, 56, looked statuesque in a sparkling gold Balenciaga gown as she arrived on the red carpet. Nicole Kidman was honoured at the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award gala in Los Angeles on Friday and her good friend Naomi Watts was on hand to congratulate her Her sleeveless dress accentuated her figure, featuring a five-foot train that draped behind her on the red carpet. Nicole completed the look with a matching gold watch and rings, as well as a pair of pointed black heels. 'Deeply moved by all of the support around the world that I've been seeing and hearing,' she wrote on Instagram with a photo of the stage. 'Thank you to all of you and to the @AmericanFilmInstitute for including me in this illustrious group of honorees - now let's have some fun!' added Kidman. Posting to Instagram Stories, Naomi shared a behind the scenes glimpse at the moment Nicole claimed her award 'What a night, what a woman' the actress captioned the short clip, which showed Nicole giving her speech The Academy Award winner was accompanied on the red carpet by husband Keith Urban, who also paid tribute to his wife on Instagram. 'In a career that's still very much in full flight, tonight the @americanfilminstitute will honor my wife as the newest member in this extraordinary fraternity,' he captioned a photo of Kidman. 'Babygirl I'm so proud of you, and as much as I could come off sounding like the biased husband, I'll let the list of previous honorees do all of the talking for me,' added Urban, 56. 'What a list!' The Grammy Award winner complemented his wife in a classic black tuxedo with black creeper shoes. The Big Little Lies star, 56, looked statuesque in a sparkling gold Balenciaga gown as she arrived on the red carpet Naomi, 55, is a childhood friend of Nicole and her co-star in 1991's Flirting The Australian actress raved the AFI honor was 'beyond my wildest dreams' when she was announced as the recipient last weekend. 'Receiving this award fills me with overwhelming gratitude,' she wrote at the time. 'To be the first Australian to be honoured in this way leaves me speechless. Nicole added, 'I grew up as a Sydney suburban girl who just wanted to act; to have forged a career by doing what I love is a blessing beyond my dreams. I thank the AFI for this amazing honour.' She later shared a throwback photo of herself in one of her first movies, 1983's Bush Christmas. She hit the carpet in a long-sleeve baby blue dress by Givenchy with long sleeves that left one shoulder exposed The Australian actress raved the AFI honor was ' beyond my wildest dreams ' when she was announced as the recipient last weekend 'This 14 year old girl could have never predicted all the talented people she would get to work with and the many different characters she would get to play,' she captioned the post. 'So excited to celebrate with so many friends and peers on Saturday with the @AmericanFilmInstitue xx,' added Nicole. Naomi, 55, a childhood friend of Nicole and her co-star in 1991's Flirting, hit the carpet in a long-sleeve baby blue dress by Givenchy with long sleeves that left one shoulder exposed. Nicole was supported by several pals, including Reese Witherspoon, Joey King, Morgan Freeman and more. Charlotte Dawson put on a very leggy display in a leopard print dress whilst on holiday in the Maldives. The reality star, 31, visited the island as part of a getaway with her fiance Matt Sarsfield and their sons Noah, three, and nine-month-old Jude. And the former Ex on the Beach star admitted that she 'loves' the animal print look, but joked that her curly hair always ends up as a 'frizzy mess' in the heat. She wrote on Instagram: 'Not gonna lie Im buzzin leopard print came back in love this look at the start of the night then ended up a sweateh frizzeh mess' Charlotte then revealed in her Instagram post that the family had ended up doing karaoke a total of three times at the resort. Charlotte Dawson put on a leggy display in a leopard print dress whilst on holiday in the Maldives The former Ex on the Beach star - who also works as a makeup artist - admitted that she 'loves' the animal print look but joked that her curly hair always ended up as a 'frizzy mess' in the heat She said: 'Matthew ended up on the stage & the mic for the 3rd time this holiday everyone wanted more hahahah then I ruined it classeh not trasheh we are in Maldives not maga 'Oh we had a laugh crashing everyones honeymoons we were the honeymoon crashers'. In a video clip shared with her one million followers, Matt can be heard singing Take That classic Back For Good out of tune, whilst Charlotte fills in the title line in monotone to fits of laughter and cheers from the audience. Matt commented: 'I'm never singing again!' Hollyoaks star Chelsee Healey was quick to comment as she left a string of heart-eyed emojis after seeing the family enjoying their holiday. But it was Charlotte's hair that drew the most praise from fans, as several of them begged to know the secret behind her tousled locks. One wrote: 'How do you get your hair to look like that ? 'I have naturally curly hair but no dies how to maintain it once washed also that dress is beautiful where is it from? You look amazing' The couple belted out Take That classic Back for Good to their audience whilst on holiday in the Maldives The reality star joked that the holiday was 'classeh not trasheh' as she remembered she was in the Maldives, not Magaluf Fans begged to know exactly how Charlotte had managed to achieve her looks for the holiday Another said: 'This curly hair needs to stay its beautiful!' Another also asked Charlotte - who is the daughter of late TV legend Les Lawson - for advice on tanning. They wrote: 'Please can we have your holiday tan routine???? 'Am going away for 10 days and dont wanna be white or patchy at any point lol' Ruby Tuesday Matthews has revealed her young son has suffered a gory injury. In a post to Instagram Stories, the influencer, 30, shared an image of the poor tot with a gash on his arm, which was tended to in hospital. 'I won't show you guys because it's pretty gross but literally any further down or deeper and it would've been a completely different story,' she wrote. Ruby further explained the painful injury was suffered in a collision with a glass door. 'He's fine now and literally can't slow him down. But seriously going to knock out all our French doors,' she said. Ruby Tuesday Matthews has revealed her young son has suffered a gory injury. Pictured with her children The star shares Rocket, five, Mars, four, and Holiday, one, with ex partner Ryan Heywood and current fiance Shannan Dodd. She recently poked fun at herself for having three children with three different last names. The Byron Bay social media star shared a picture of her Medicare Card which showed each of her children's names. Her eldest son Rocket has his father's last name Heywood, while her second son Mars has her own last name Matthews. In a post to Instagram Stories, the influencer, 30, shared an image of the poor tot with a gash on his arm, which was tended to in hospital 'I won't show you guys because it's pretty gross but literally any further down or deeper and it would've been a completely different story,' she wrote Meanwhile, her youngest child and only daughter Holiday bears the same last name as her father Dodd. 'Looks like I've lived a few lives. Three kids. Three different last names,' Ruby captioned the post alongside a laughing-crying emoji. After welcoming Holiday in September 2022, rumours began to swirl that Ruby and her daughter's father Shannan had split up. However, she quashed the speculation after she shared several photos celebrating his birthday early last year. 'Happy birthday Dadzy. We love you,' Ruby wrote alongside a series of heartwarming snaps. The Byron Bay beauty recently shared a picture of her Medicare Card which showed each of her children's names Larry Emdur has revealed his terrifying encounter with an enormous snake. Taking to Instagram over the weekend, the Channel Seven Morning Show host, 59, shared close up footage of a black python in his backyard. He revealed his wife of 29 years Sylvie drew his attention to the snake after noticing it at their property. 'Sylvie: Hey Bub you know how you always say you're not scared of snakes? Me: Yeh. Sylvie: Well could you pop up to the shed and fix that "situation" please?' Larry wrote. In a second photo, Larry revealed the protective gear he wore before dealing with the reptile intruder. Larry Emdur has shared his terrifying encounter with an enormous snake. Taking to Instagram over the weekend, the Channel Seven Morning Show host, 59, shared close up footage of a black python (pictured) in his back yard According to the caption he posted alongside the images, his wife Sylvie drew his attention to the snake in their backyard. In the next photo, Larry was dressed in makeshift protective gear covering his legs, groin, and stomach made from old boxes. Pictured: Larry Emdur The breakfast show host also carried a kayak paddle and broom. While some fans on Instagram were shocked at his close encounter with the reptile, many insisted he had nothing to worry about since the species was a diamond python. 'It's a gorgeous female diamond python,' wrote one of Larry's followers. Another agreed and said: 'It's beautiful and not dangerous, just a python. You should keep it, it will eat any rodents you might have.' Some fans on Instagram were shocked at Larry's encounter with the reptile, but many insisted he had nothing to worry about because of the species. 'It's a gorgeous female diamond python,' wrote one of Larry's followers. Another agreed: 'It's beautiful and not dangerous' 'It won't hurt you, it's a beautiful python. I doubt you would have a rodent problem!!! Let it be,' wrote another fan. Someone else also told Larry there was no cause for alarm: 'Such a beautiful python just looking for a warm place to snooze. You've got an indoor fireplace right? 'Loving the combat suit Larry, by the way.' The diamond python (scientific name Morelia spilota spilota) is found in coastal areas and adjacent ranges of south-eastern Australia. The diamond python (scientific name Morelia spilota spilota) is found in coastal areas and adjacent ranges of south-eastern Australia, and is also the southernmost python in the world The average size of the animal is 2 metres, but it has been known to reach up to 3 metres. Like all pythons, it is non-venomous. The diamond python is an ambush predator and uses constriction to incapacitate its prey, but is generally reluctant to attack humans. However, if harassed, the diamond python is capable of defending itself with its bite, and can leave fangs in the wound. A Place in the Sun star Laura Hamilton has admitted she would be open to getting married a second time, after previously vowing never to walk down the aisle again. The presenter, 42, separated from her husband Alex Goward in 2022 after 13 years together and welcoming two children. Following the painful split, she vowed that she would not tie the knot again, but has now confessed she's changed her mind. Speaking to The Mirror, Laura said: 'I feel very differently about it now. Not that I necessarily believe that you need to be married to somebody for it to cement a relationship but I would be open to it.' However, she was sure that she would not go on to have another kid, saying: '100% no more children.' A Place in the Sun star Laura Hamilton has admitted she would be open to getting married a second time, after previously vowing never to walk down the aisle again The presenter, 42, separated from her husband Alex Goward in 2022 after 13 years together and welcoming two children (pictured all together in 2019) Following the painful split, she vowed that she would not tie the knot again, but has now confessed she's changed her mind The mother-of-two opened up about her love life, revealing she was dating but insisting she wasn't 'desperate' to find love straight away, and wanted to make sure she met someone that saw her for her. She said: Ive been on a few dates and Im just enjoying myself. Im not desperate to meet somebody. I only want it to happen when its right. 'Im not on any dating apps but if I meet people just through my normal life then so be it. Thats definitely a thing for me, like meeting somebody that doesnt just see you as Laura off A Place in the Sun but that just sees you as Laura.' Laura announced in May 2022 that she and husband Alex had decided to end their relationship. Confirming her split at the time, she said: 'This isn't something I ever thought I'd be saying but, after 13 years of being together Alex and I have separated. 'Our children are and always will be our number one priority and we would respect privacy for our family at this time.' The announcement was posted just weeks after she and Alex enjoyed a trip to Lapland with their two kids, son Rocco, 10, and Tahlia, six. The former couple also owned a coffee shop in Purley called Lord Roberts on The Green but three months after the break-up, it changed ownership to Ghazala Akhtar. The mother-of-two opened up about her love life, revealing she was dating but insisting she wasn't 'desperate' to find love straight away, and wanted to make sure she met someone that saw her for her Laura announced in May 2022 that she and husband Alex had decided to end their relationship, just weeks after they enjoyed a trip to Lapland with their two kids (pictured 2021) Shortly after the split was confirmed, Laura revealed she had moved into a new property in Surrey, close by to their marital home, revealing she was in the midst of a big renovation Shortly after the split was confirmed, Laura revealed she had moved into a new property in Surrey, close by to their marital home, revealing she was in the midst of a big renovation. The pair have seemingly remained on good terms since going their separate ways, with Laura even hinting at a reconciliation in September 2022, after the pair enjoyed a second holiday together in the space of three months. The TV star was joined by the insurance broker in the Greek holiday resort of Kefalonia in August 2023 - a holiday that followed another joint trip to the exclusive Manga Club in Spain during May of that year. Laura's revelation about being open to tying the knot comes after she addressed pregnancy speculation from confused A Place In The Sun viewers. She revealed fans often assume she's 'pregnant again' due to old episodes of the show being repeated regularly. Laura was seen pregnant twice while filming the Channel 4 series, following her debut in 2011. Laura's revelation about being open to tying the knot comes after she addressed pregnancy speculation from confused A Place In The Sun viewers She revealed fans often assume she's 'pregnant again' due to old episodes of the show being repeated regularly (pictured pregnant on the show) Laura was seen pregnant twice with her two children while filming the Channel 4 series, following her debut in 2011 (Laura and two kids pictured) Speaking on Jenni Falconer's Runpod podcast she said: 'It's funny because when people meet me they go "How many children have you got?'" And I'm like "just two" and they're like, "Oh, you seem to be pregnant quite a lot on TV". She cleared up: "'No, I'm not pregnant again, just two children", Because, obviously the show is repeated, so you're pregnant in one, you're not in another, you're pregnant in one'. She added: 'I think the shows that are going out, or about to go out, are more current.' Charlotte Crosby admitted she was moved to tears as she reflected on her life as a mother with her daughter Alba on Sunday. The reality star, 33, took to Instagram this weekend to share a video of herself and Alba, 18 months. In the clip, Geordie Shore cast member Charlotte could be seen exercising while on holiday as Alba played close by. The pair could be seen holding hands and rolling around on the ground as they shared some quality time together. And Charlotte admitted she was moved to tears while editing the clip, adding that she never realised the simple moments in her life with her daughter would be her most treasured. Charlotte Crosby admitted she was moved to tears as she reflected on her life as a mother with her daughter Alba on Sunday The reality star, 33, took to Instagram this weekend to share a video of herself and Alba, 18 months Charlotte admitted she was moved to tears while editing the clip, adding that she never realised the simple moments in her life with her daughter would be her most treasured She captioned her post: 'I cried making this video, watching this video and writing this caption. I really never imagined that the most simple moments in my life would turn out to be the most special and precious. 'I never realised these would be the moments in time I just wanted to pause and stay in forever (especially as the moment was just my morning @blitznburn stretches). 'The moments shes so little she still fits in my lap I will just treasure, they may outgrow our laps mamas but my god they will never outgrow our hearts. 'Her smile is the most beautiful Ive ever seen and Ive truly never in my whole life felt so obsessed and in awe of someone as much as my Alba Jean. 'The best thing that ever happened to me was becoming a mother my god Im so grateful for my girl.' Charlotte welcomed her daughter Alba with her fiance Jake Ankers in October 2022. It comes after Charlotte and Jake pulled out all the stops to celebrate their engagement with a lavish party last month. The former Celebrity Big Brother winner and the businessman got engaged last November. In the clip, Geordie Shore cast member Charlotte could be seen exercising while on holiday as Alba played close by The pair could be seen holding hands and rolling around on the ground as they shared some quality time together Charlotte welcomed her daughter Alba with her fiance Jake Ankers in October 2022 And they finally celebrated the proposal with a spectacular bash with their friends and family last month. The couple rented the luxurious Grantley Hall in Ripon, north Yorkshire, luxury hotel and spa, which also boasted a Michelin restaurant. Among the guests were Charlotte's mother Letitia and her Geordie Shore co-stars, Holly Hagan, Sophie Kasaei and James Tindale. Everyone dressed to the nines for the special occasion, with Charlotte taking the opportunity to don a figure-hugging bridal white gown. She showed off her curves in the off-the-shoulder number and added extra glamour with diamond encrusted high heels. Later on in the night she changed into a second white outfit - a lacy minidress that flashed her tanned legs. Charlotte and her fiance Jake pulled out all the stops to celebrate their engagement with a lavish party last month (Charlotte and fellow Geordie Shore star Sophie Kasaei pictured) They celebrated getting engaged in November last year twith a spectacular bash with their friends and family last month Holly, 31, and Sophie, 34, complemented each other in coordinating black sparkly dresses. TV star Holly opted for a halter neck style, with a sexy backless design, while Sophie chose a one-shoulder number, with cutouts at the side. Holly's husband Jacob Blyth and Sophie's TOWIE star boyfriend Jordan Brook were also in attendance at the fancy shindig. The group took to their Instagram pages to share glimpses into the fun-filled evening, showing them sitting a beautifully decked out marquee. The venue was decorated with strings of fairy lights and huge indoor trees, while the drinks were freely flowing. Holly shared videos of her and Sophie singing along to Dreams by Gabrielle, as they threw back glasses of wine. The couple rented the luxurious Grantley Hall in Ripon, north Yorkshire, luxury hotel and spa, which also boasted a Michelin restaurant Among the guests were Charlotte's mother Letitia and her Geordie Shore co-stars, Holly Hagan, Sophie Kasaei and James Tindale (Letitia and Charlotte pictured) Everyone dressed to the nines for the special occasion, with Holly, 31, and Sophie, 34, complementing each other in coordinating black sparkly dresses Later on in the night Charlotte changed into a second white outfit - this time a lacy minidress that flashed her tanned legs The group took to their Instagrams to share glimpses into the fun-filled evening, showing them sitting a beautifully decked out marquee The venue was decorated with strings of fairy lights and huge indoor trees, while the drinks were freely flowing Holly shared videos of her and Sophie singing along to Dreams by Gabrielle, as they threw back glasses of wine The guests then hit the dance floor to party the night away, Jake seen in one clip chatting away to James and Jordan while the trio indulged in more drinks. Sophie cosied up to her former co-star James and gave him a sweet kiss, before posing for a selfie. She also shared a glamorous group photo, including James' girlfriend Leah, which she captioned: 'Couple goals'. Mother-of-one Holly looked to be enjoying the chance to let her hair down, as Sophie filmed her downing drinks while dancing and singing along to Nicki Minaj's Superbass. Charlotte announced her engagement to Jake last November, taking to Instagram to share a snap of the moment he got down on one knee. Jake popped the question on a rooftop in Dubai, while surrounded by rose petals, candles and a heart shaped backdrop. She also shared a glamorous group photo, including James' girlfriend Leah, which she captioned: 'Couple goals' The snap showed Charlotte holding her hands to her mouth in shock, while in the caption she declared herself the 'happiest woman in the world'. The TV personality, who had been dating Jake for two years, penned: 'Happiest woman in the world'. 'Yes yes yes and yes @jake_ankers you are my best friend you are my life i CANT BELIEVE IM ENGAGED AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh. Best night ever'. While Jake shared his own snap of the proposal and wrote: 'Finally plucked up the courage and did it... I love you with all my heart'. The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards celebrated 75 years of Variety with a star-studded evening of glamour at The Londoner Hotel on Sunday. Leading the celebrity arrivals at the bash, ceremony host Amanda Holden, 53, flashed her cleavage in a daring gown. She was joined at the event by Abbey Clancy, 38, who wowed in a plunging dress and chic Rochelle Humes, 35. Amanda will host the event for the second year in a row as The Children's Charity continues its dedicated support for disabled and disadvantaged children in the UK. The Britain's Got Talent Judge looked incredible in the fitted white gown, complete with a bejewelled trim and fish tail skirt. Leading the celebrity arrivals at The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards on Sunday, ceremony host Amanda Holden flashed her cleavage in a glamorous gown She was joined at the event by Abbey Clancy, who wowed in a plunging dress and chic Rochelle Humes Amanda will host the event for the second year in a row as The Children's Charity continues its dedicated support for disabled and disadvantaged children in the UK She styled her hair straight and opted for a bronzed makeup look to complete her ensemble. Amanda later changed into another busty gown, with a halterneck design and cut-out side panels. The presenter's second look featured a silver sequinned trim and a daring leg slit at the front. Abbey also opted for a plunging number, wearing a black gown with a lace-up style neckline. Embellished with beads her gown clung to her toned figure before falling into a straight skirt. By her side her former footballer husband Peter, 43, looked dapper in a dark suit and roll neck jumper. Elsewhere, Rochelle put on an elegant display in a black off-the-shoulder dress that she teamed with stiletto heels. The singer styled her hair into a sleek low bun and accessorised her look with a pair of statement earrings. The Britain's Got Talent Judge looked incredible in a fitted white gown, with a bejewelled trim and fish tail skirt Amanda later changed into another busty gown, with a halterneck design and cut-out side panels She teamed the coloured blocked number with gold jewellery and glitzy heels Abbey put on a busty display in the plunging number which had a flattering criss-cross design over her cleavage and cut-outs She cosied up to her husband Peter Crouch Her makeup was flawlessly applied and she worked her best poses for the camera Abbey and Peter scooped the Variety Club Silver Heart Award 2024 for Outstanding Achievement in Podcasting, Entertainment and Sport Rochelle put on an elegant display in a black off-the-shoulder dress that she teamed with stiletto heels She was joined at the event by her husband Marvin, 39, who looked smart in a black suit and white shirt Abbey looked like she was having a great time at the event as she posed inside with host Amanda (left) She had a quick catch up with Sheridan Smith and they posed for a snap together Joan Collins, 90, looked typically glamorous in a black dress with puff sleeves The legendary star accessorised with statement jewellery Joan was honoured with the award for Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television and Global, the Media & Entertainment Group She was joined by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber She was joined at the event by her husband Marvin, 39, who looked smart in a black suit and white shirt. Amanda took to the stage at the event to host the glamorous evening to raise money for the children's charity. The Britain's Got Talent judge also presented last years star-studded event which she was held at London Hilton in Park Lane. In a press release she said: 'I am truly honoured to again be hosting the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards, especially as this year celebrates its 75th year milestone. 'Its not just an event, its a celebration of compassion and generosity towards those who need it most. I cannot wait to be surrounded by incredible individuals, for what promises to be an unforgettable night of fun and philanthropy. 'Im hoping lots of people come together, support Variety, and make a difference in the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children.' Amanda Holden was joined by her Heart FM co-host Ashley Roberts Ashley wore an off-the-shoulder dress with mesh panels She piled her hair into a curled updo and elevated her height with strappy heels Sheridan Smith stunned in a sophisticated black gown with a cropped black blazer The star won the Variety Club Silver Heart Award 2024 for Outstanding Contribution as an Actress and Singer Claire Sweeney stunned in an embellished champagne coloured number James Corden was awarded with a gong for Outstanding Global Achievements in Broadcasting, Acting and Comedy He was joined by Gavin and Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones The duo joined Andrew Lloyd Webber for a photo Kate Garraway joined Emily Maitlis for a drink before the ceremony The broadcaster looked stylish in a yellow suit with a glitzy top Emily looked sensational in a glamorous strapless gown with elegant gloves Presenter Ellie Phillips looked stunning in a burgundy gown She cradled her blossoming baby bump as the slinky number fanned into a fishtail Vanessa Feltz put on a colourful display in a green chiffon dress Alfie Boe took home the award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Laura Tobin and Ben Shephard were also in attendance as they smiled for a photo together Ben wore a velvet blazer with a deep purple tie Kelly Brook wowed in a vintage-style floral gown Bradley Walsh scooped an award for his outstanding contribution to television Ronan Keating opted for a double breasted black blazer Johnny Vaughan wore a dapper bow tie and tuxedo He was joined by James O'Brien Kelly Hoppen wore a chic criss-cross gown with long sleeves Jane McDonald wore an eye-catching printed dress and nude heels Emily was all smiled as she prepared to present an award The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards 2024 winners Outstanding Contribution to Television Bradley Walsh Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television and Global, the Media & Entertainment Group Dame Joan Collins Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Alfie Boe Outstanding Achievement in Interior Design Kelly Hoppen Outstanding Contribution to Entertainment Jane McDonald Outstanding Cchievement in Entrepreneurship and Entertainment Rochelle Humes Outstanding Contribution to the Development of UK Radio Global Outstanding Achievement in Global Television and Streaming Michelle Keegan Outstanding Contribution to Philanthropy The Caring Family Foundation Outstanding Global Achievements in Broadcasting, Acting and Comedy James Corden Advertisement It comes after Amanda proved she is committed for her work as she was faced with a nightmare commuting earlier this month after she was locked in at her Spanish villa. The radio star was trying to leave the villa in the early hours to head to a studio to link up with her Heart Breakfast show back in the UK, but ran into problems when she got to the front gate. Sharing a video of the hilarious morning on Instagram, Amanda told her followers: 'I'm trying to do Heart from Spain but I'm locked in the property!' Pointing to an outbuilding she exclaimed 'we've found some ladders' before the video showed the star, coffee in hand, climbing over the high fence. Joking that she was 'fluent in Spanish' Amanda was also attempting to communicate what was happening to the driver who was waiting for her on the other side of the fence. 'So this happened just trying to get to work' Amanda captioned the hilarious video, which was set to the music of The Great Escape theme. Amanda has been jetting between the UK and Spain where she is filming the third series of her property makeover show with Alan Carr. Amanda & Alan's Spanish Job will see the pair take on a rambling, run down property in the province of Andalusia. Mark Wright was pictured arriving to the event He joined Peter for a photo once inside the venue Dhanny Joshi and Andrew Marr put on dapper displays Tania Bryer wowed in a red dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline Johnny posed for a fun photo after taking his seat Kelsey Parker dazzled in a gold sequinned suit Kelly Brook couldn't look any more radiant as she made a stylish appearance at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards 2024 at The Londoner Hotel on Sunday. The former model, 44, beamed as she posed on the red carpet while attending the star-studded event. Kelly, who was without husband Jeremy Parisi, exuded chic in a floral print maxi dress with shoulder pads during her latest public appearance. She finished off with a pair of elegant black pointy heels with dazzling rhinestone embellishments in the front, and went minimal on accessorising with just a dainty necklace and a gold ring. The British star further enhanced her stunning looks with a smoky-eyes and nude lipstick, while her locks were styled in a flawless blow-dry. Kelly Brook couldn't look any more radiant as she made a stylish appearance at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards 2024 at The Londoner Hotel on Sunday The One Big Happy favourite exuded chic in a floral print maxi dress with shoulder pads The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards celebrated 75 years of Variety on Sunday at The Londoner Hotel. Amanda Holden took to the stage to host the glamorous evening to raise money for the children's charity. The Britain's Got Talent judge also presented last years star-studded event which she was held at London Hilton in Park Lane. It comes after Amanda proved she is committed for her work as she was faced with a nightmare commuting earlier this month after she was locked in at her Spanish villa. The radio star was trying to leave the villa in the early hours to head to a studio to link up with her Heart Breakfast show back in the UK, but ran into problems when she got to the front gate. Sharing a video of the hilarious morning on Instagram, Amanda told her followers: 'I'm trying to do Heart from Spain but I'm locked in the property!' Pointing to an outbuilding she exclaimed 'we've found some ladders' before the video showed the star, coffee in hand, climbing over the high fence. Joking that she was 'fluent in Spanish' Amanda was also attempting to communicate what was happening to the driver who was waiting for her on the other side of the fence. She finished off with a pair of elegant black pointy heels with dazzling rhinestone embellishments in the front, and went minimal on accessorising with just a dainty necklace and a gold ring The actress further enhanced her stunning looks with a smokey-eyes and nude lipstick Her locks were styled in a flawless blow-dry 'So this happened just trying to get to work' Amanda captioned the hilarious video, which was set to the music of The Great Escape theme. Amanda has been jetting between the UK and Spain where she is filming the third series of her property makeover show with Alan Carr. Amanda & Alan's Spanish Job will see the pair take on a rambling, run down property in the province of Andalusia. Melissa Manno is a reporter covering education for the San Antonio Express-News. She can be reached at melissa.manno@express-news.net. She graduated from Penn State University in 2022 with a bachelors degree in journalism and minors in geography and digital media trends and analytics. She is also the 2021 Hearst National Journalism Writing Champion. Amanda Holden put on a typically flesh-flashing display as she led the glamorous arrivals at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards on Sunday. The TV and radio personality, 53, who is hosting the ceremony again this year, looked incredible as she arrived at the Londoner hotel in Leicester Square. Amanda wowed in two different plunging looks, including a low-cut black and white gown, which featured gem-encrusted embellishments down the front. The plunging number highlighted Amanda's ample assets as she posed up a storm on the red carpet at the annual event. Amanda wore her blonde locks in a loose, straight style and finished her look with a coat of flawlessly applied make-up. Amanda Holden put on a typically flesh-flashing display as she led the glamorous arrivals at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards on Sunday The TV and radio personality, 53, who is hosting the ceremony again this year, looked incredible as she arrived at the Londoner hotel in Leicester Square Earlier in the evening, Amanda looked incredible in a fitted white gown, with a bejewelled trim and fish tail skirt. She styled her hair straight and opted for a bronzed makeup look to complete her ensemble. Amanda took to the stage at the event to host the glamorous evening to raise money for the children's charity. The Britain's Got Talent judge also presented last years star-studded event which she was held at London Hilton in Park Lane. In a press release she said: 'I am truly honoured to again be hosting the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards, especially as this year celebrates its 75th year milestone. 'Its not just an event, its a celebration of compassion and generosity towards those who need it most. I cannot wait to be surrounded by incredible individuals, for what promises to be an unforgettable night of fun and philanthropy. 'Im hoping lots of people come together, support Variety, and make a difference in the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children.' It comes after Amanda proved she is committed for her work as she was faced with a nightmare commuting earlier this month after she was locked in at her Spanish villa. The radio star was trying to leave the villa in the early hours to head to a studio to link up with her Heart Breakfast show back in the UK, but ran into problems when she got to the front gate. The plunging number highlighted Amanda's ample assets as she posed up a storm on the red carpet at the annual event Earlier in the evening, Amanda looked incredible in a fitted white gown, with a bejewelled trim and fish tail skirt She styled her hair straight and opted for a bronzed makeup look to complete her ensemble (pictured with Abbey Clancy) Amanda took to the stage at the event to host the glamorous evening to raise money for the children's charity Sharing a video of the hilarious morning on Instagram, Amanda told her followers: 'I'm trying to do Heart from Spain but I'm locked in the property!' Pointing to an outbuilding she exclaimed 'we've found some ladders' before the video showed the star, coffee in hand, climbing over the high fence. Joking that she was 'fluent in Spanish' Amanda was also attempting to communicate what was happening to the driver who was waiting for her on the other side of the fence. 'So this happened just trying to get to work' Amanda captioned the hilarious video, which was set to the music of The Great Escape theme. Amanda has been jetting between the UK and Spain where she is filming the third series of her property makeover show with Alan Carr. Amanda & Alan's Spanish Job will see the pair take on a rambling, run down property in the province of Andalusia. Amanda caught up with her Heart co-host Ashley Roberts at the event She was spotted reaching to embrace Abbey at the bash Dame Joan Collins cut a very glamorous figure as she stepped out to the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards with her husband Percy Gibson at The Londoner Hotel in the UK capital on Sunday. The actress, 90, who honoured with the Variety Club Silver Heart Award 2024 for Outstanding Contribution to Global Film and Television at the bash, donned a black dress which reached almost down too the ground and featured semi-sheer puff sleeves. She wore a pair of black heels to add a few inches to her stature and carried a glitzy purse adored with shimmering silver sequins. The star completed her look by opting for a silver beaded statement costume necklace as she posed with her arm around her beloved husband Percy, 59. Producer and actor Percy looked dapper in a black dinner suit which he teamed with a matching bow tie and a white shirt. Dame Joan Collins cut a glamorous figure as she stepped out to the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards with her husband Percy Gibson at The Londoner Hotel in the UK capital on Sunday She donned a black dress which reached almost down too the ground and featured semi-sheer puff sleeves The pair could be seen beaming as they posed alongside one another on the red carpet. Percy, who is 31 years Joan's junior, is Joan's fifth husband, with the pair tying the knot at London's Claridge's in February 2002. The American Horror Story star was previously married to Maxwell Reed, Anthony Newley, Ron Kass and Peter Holm. Originally from Peru, Percy is a noted Hollywood producer, known primarily for producing Who Wants to be a Millionaire. The pair hit it off right away and when a last minute change of plans saved Percy from being near the World Trade Center on 9/11, they decided to marry. Gushing about her husband, Joan previously told Saga magazine: 'He takes care of everything. He takes care of my children and all our finances. He's the love of my life. It's a great marriage, a great relationship.' Joan, who calls Percy 'the best lover I ever had' in her book Behind The Shoulder Pads, recalled how their relationship was platonic at first. She explained: 'Percy and I became really good friends first. So we had this connection. We really knew each other. The actress, 90, was due to be honoured with the Variety Club Silver Heart Award 2024 for Outstanding Contribution to Global Film and Television at the bash Dame Joan wore a pair of black heels to add a few inches to her stature and carried a glitzy purse adored with shimmering silver sequins 'And separate bathrooms is key! Although we are very lucky. I know that's not something everyone can have.' The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards celebrated 75 years of Variety on Sunday at The Londoner Hotel. Amanda Holden took to the stage to host the glamorous evening to raise money for the children's charity. The Britain's Got Talent judge also presented last years star-studded event which she was held at London Hilton in Park Lane. Kate Garraway made her first red carpet appearance since her husband Derek Draper's death as she attended The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards on Sunday. The TV presenter, 56, put on a brave face as she posed with pal and former Good Morning Britain colleague Ben Shephard at the star-studded event. Kate revealed that Derek had died on January 3 aged 56 after suffering long-lasting symptoms from coronavirus. And she made her return to a big red carpet event on Sunday for the awards where she received the Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting gong. The star put on a chic display in a light yellow suit and sparkly halterneck silver top as she posed with Ben, 49. Kate Garraway made her first red carpet appearance since her husband Derek Draper's death as she attended The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards on Sunday with Ben Shephard The TV presenter, 56, put on a brave face as she posed on the red carpet at The Londoner Hotel She completed the look with pointy white leather boots and wore her light tresses in a bouncy blow dry. Derek was amongst the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19, being admitted into an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020. He was one of the country's longest-suffering Covid patients after being in hospital but never fully recovered after the virus left long-lasting damage to his organs and meant he needed round-the-clock care. Derek had attended few public events over the last few years. But he suffered a heart attack before Christmas and never recovered. Derek had flown to Mexico for specialist treatment for long Covid on December 8 but while there suffered a cardiac arrest and was forced to fly home. At his funeral, Sir Tony Blair, Sir Keir Starmer and Sir Elton John were amongst those who gathered the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill - where Kate married her partner in 2005 - to bid farewell to the New Labour giant. Journalist Robert Peston, talent manager Jonathan Shalit, former political editor of GMTV and ex-Labour MP Gloria De Piero and former Sky News political editor Adam Boulton also headed into the church. Kate's past and present Good Morning Britain colleagues were also out in force to support her on a tragic day. The star put on a chic display in a light yellow suit and sparkly halterneck silver top as she posed with journalist Emily Maitlis (right) She made her return to a big red carpet event on Sunday for the awards where she received the Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting gong She completed the look with pointy white leather boots and wore her light tresses in a bouncy blow dry as she posed with Emily and broadcaster Jon Sopel Ben and Susanna Reid were amongst the first to arrive followed by Piers Morgan and Charlotte Hawkins. Derek's daughter Darcey helped carry her father's coffin into the building while Sir Elton played a 'musical tribute'. There was also a speech by friend Sir Tony Blair and the congregation sang Lord of the Dance and The Lord is My Shepherd. His children left notes on wreaths on the coffin, which said: 'I love you with all my heart' and 'I love you dad'. Amanda Holden, Abbey Clancy, Kate Garraway and Ashley Roberts were also at The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards on Sunday night and all put on glamorous displays. Kate revealed that Derek had died on January 3 aged 56 after suffering long-lasting symptoms from coronavirus Derek was amongst the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19, being admitted into an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020 The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards celebrated 75 years of Variety on Sunday at The Londoner Hotel. Amanda took to the stage to host the glamorous evening to raise money for the children's charity. The Britain's Got Talent judge also presented last years star-studded event which she was held at London Hilton in Park Lane. She wore a head-turning white and silver dress with a daring cut-out section over her cleavage. Emily Maitlis made a radiant appearance at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards at the Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square on Sunday evening. The former Newsnight host's attendance comes following the success of Netflix film Scoop, which was based on her now infamous Prince Andrew interview. The journalist, who was played by Gillian Anderson in the drama, grilled the Duke Of York on his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Based on the book Scoops, by booker Sam McAlister, the film captures the tension behind booking the royal and the interview itself. Gillian Anderson's performance as Emily received praise as did Billie Piper, who plays Sam, the producer who secured the interview with Prince Andrew. Emily Maitlis made a radiant appearance at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards at the Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square on Sunday evening The former Newsnight host's attendance comes following the success of Netflix film Scoop, which was based on her infamous Prince Andrew interview The series received praise from viewers as millions streamed the film within the first few days of it landing on the streaming platform. During the awards ceremony, Emily cut a glamorous figure in a strapless ivory top, which featured ruched belt detailing around her waist. She teamed the top with a long black maxi skirt, while completing the outfit with a pair of white gloves and strappy heels. Emily wore her cropped blonde locks loose and opted for soft touches of make-up. Emily is a producer on another adaptation of the Newsnight interview, which is currently in production with Amazon Prime Video. However, bosses are reportedly in 'crisis talks' over their upcoming historical drama A Very Royal Scandal after Netflix's Scoop won praise. The three-part from Amazon MGM Studios is not set for release until October, six months after rival streaming service Netflix's version, which was out on April 5. The Amazon version retells Emily's professional and personal journey in the run-up to the BBC Two interview with Prince Andrew, who is played by actor Michael Sheen. The journalist, who was played by Gillian Anderson in the drama, grilled the Duke Of York on his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein During the awards ceremony, Emily cut a glamorous figure in a strapless ivory top, which featured ruched belt detailing around her waist It was claimed Amazon bosses are desperately trying to think of ideas to promote A Very Royal Scandal, fearing the public would have lost interest in the story. An insider told The Sun: 'Amazon's in crisis talks. 'They spent a lot of money and are really worried that when it comes out, the public will think, 'We've watched this,' and it'll flop.' One idea bosses are said to have come up with is to get journalist Maitlis to grill actress Ruth Wilson who plays her in the mini series. The insider added: 'Getting Scoop out first was the best thing. 'Amazon feels like it's already lost the battle with Netflix.' MailOnline has contacted Amazon for comment. It comes after Emily spoke out about Netflix's dramatisation of her infamous Prince Andrew interview, saying she 'left them very much to do their own thing'. The film, Scoop, looks at the story behind the journalist's Newsnight interview with Andrew who spoke about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She teamed the top with a long black maxi skirt, while completing the outfit with a pair of white gloves and strappy heels (pictured with Kate Garraway) Emily wore her cropped blonde locks loose and opted for soft touches of make-up (pictured with Kate and Jon Sopel) Emily said she was not involved 'because I think the last thing they want is me peeking around the edges' offering her views. Sam has also spoken out about Scoop, and was asked by Hello! on the red carpet whether she had received contact from Buckingham Palace. Laughing, she replied: 'I'm still waiting on my CBE but I'm not sure it's going to happen.' Emily told Deadline that Netflix has said Scoop is 'based on a fictional account, so I think it goes into different places and it does different things' to the Amazon series.' The disclaimer used by Netflix for Scoop says: 'This film is based on real events - however certain elements have been fictionalised for dramatic purposes.' Emily said she had not watched Scoop before its premiere, but would 'get around to it at some stage'. This Morning host Alison Hammond will reunite with Ryan Gosling on Monday as she interviews the Hollywood star about his new film. The TV presenter's first meeting with the Hollywood actor, 43, descended into chaos when she interviewed him and his Blade Runner 2049 co-star, Harrison Ford. The viral interview has since received more than 18million viewers after the trio couldn't hold it together and laughed their way through the segment. At one point, Ryan was forced to walk off set to gather himself after being unable to contain his laughter while chatting to Alison. They meet again this week, as Alison, 49, chats to Ryan and co-star Emily Blunt about their new film, The Fall Guy. This Morning host Alison Hammond will reunite with Ryan Gosling on Monday as she interviews the Hollywood star about his new film The TV presenter's first meeting with the Hollywood actor, 43, descended into chaos when she interviewed him and his Blade Runner 2049 co-star, Harrison Ford They meet again this week, as Alison, 49, chats to Ryan and co-star Emily Blunt about their new film, The Fall Guy Ryan, who insisted he did remember her, was forced to leave the set when he couldn't stop laughing during the interview promoting Blade Runner 2049 While Alison is hoping to quiz Ryan and Emily on their action movie, the actor has other ideas as he takes charge of the interview in a bid to avoid any possible chaos. At the beginning of the interview, Alison asks: 'Do you remember me, Ryan?', referring to their disorderly interview. Ryan, who insisted he did remember her, was forced to leave the set when he couldn't stop laughing during the interview promoting the film. When Ryan asked Alison if he had seen the original Blade Runner, the presenter answered honestly, that she had never watched it. Alison recalled: '[Ryan] asked the question, 'Are you a big fan of the film?', and I was like, 'Well, no I'm not! Do I tell him the truth? Do I lie? What do I do?' 'But I thought, you know what, my mum always says, always tell the truth, so I said, 'I've never seen it, babes', and I think that got things going. 'He started laughing and I started laughing, and it settled the moment. 'After, I thought, 'Was that any good? Have we got anything? I don't think we've got any content about the film whatsoever.' 'I can remember my producer saying, 'Don't worry, we can do something with that, it'll be fine'.' The video, which has now been viewed more than 18 million times, catapulted her career and she received messages from stars such as James Corden about it. It comes after Alison was left doing a double take on Friday's episode of This Morning as she was presented with a waxwork of herself (Alison pictured with co-host Dermot O'Leary) She was presented with the model by Dermot O'Leary , who declared, 'Are you ready for a double dose of the Hammond?' before the grand unveiling Impressed by the waxwork (right) which will feature in Madame Tussauds' Blackpool museum, Alison joked: 'I've always wanted to have a twin!' adding 'It's an honour' It comes after Alison was left doing a double take on Friday's episode of This Morning as she was presented with a waxwork of herself. She was presented with the model by Dermot O'Leary, who declared, 'Are you ready for a double dose of the Hammond?' before the grand unveiling. Impressed by the waxwork, which will feature in Madame Tussauds' Blackpool museum, Alison joked: 'I've always wanted to have a twin!' adding 'It's an honour.' The mother-of-one was filmed during the making of the waxwork where she had various sittings to pose for the sculptors. In a film about the creative process, Alison mused: 'I can't tell you how much of an incredible experience that was, seeing myself. I know it's not got the colour yet, but honestly I cannot wait to see the finished product.' On her first glance at the finished product, a gobsmacked Alison said: 'Oh my gosh! Shall I stand next to her? She was presented with the model by Dermot O'Leary , who declared, 'Are you ready for a double dose of the Hammond?' before the grand unveiling Meanwhile, Alison is said to have a new lease of life after finding love with hunky 6ft 10in model David Putman, who is 23 years her junior and also a masseur 'I can see myself from behind, it's so weird I can't tell you! I think she's more beautiful What's it like having an Alison sandwich?' Dermot replied: 'It's quite overwhelming I've got to be honest with you! I'm not sure I can handle more than one!' Alison later said: 'Can I just say that the team at Madame Tussauds, they have worked so hard and you've done such a good job - I can't believe I'm looking at myself! 'Look at the lashes! Well go and see her, she is going to be in Blackpool, go and have a selfie with her, she's lovely!' Meanwhile, Alison is said to have a new lease of life after finding love with hunky 6ft 10in model David Putman, who is 23 years her junior and also a masseur. Earlier this week, the surprising way the couple met was revealed with their relationship blossoming from the moment Alison booked David for a 150 massage. According to The Sun, Alison was a client of the professional masseur and it was during a session that the pair first hit it off, with the presenter visiting David in between her busy filming schedule. Their friendship then reportedly turned romantic at the end of last year, despite the 23 year age gap between the pair. Originally from Krasnodar in Russia, David left the country for the UK in December 2022 to escape the front line following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. A friend of David told the publication: ' When the war in Ukraine began David's mother Olga began to worry. She didn't want her boys dragged into it. She wanted them safe like any mother would.' David therefore moved to the UK, where he now lives with his uncle Nigel Putman, 71, in Slough, but he spends a lot of time in London for work. The friend explained that David was able to avoid being drafted into the Russian army as his father, also called David, is originally from Slough himself, therefore the young masseur already had British citizenship. The return of Coronation Street's sickest ever villain Nathan Curtis has been confirmed with the evil abuser set to be seen lurking in Weatherfield in upcoming scenes. Groomer Nathan (Chris Harper) will be released from prison in the coming weeks in a dark new plot for his victim Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon), who herself returned to the soap at the beginning of this year. Nasty Nathan groomed then-teenager Bethany by plying her with booze and drugs, before raping her in harrowing scenes that aired in 2017. Despite trying to escape, Nathan came dangerously close to selling Bethany into sex work abroad, but she was able to call the police and escape his clutches. While Nathan, and his gang of attackers, were thrown behind bars, Bethany will be left terrified next month when she learns that he's been released. The return of Coronation Street 's sickest ever villain Nathan Curtis (centre) has been confirmed with the evil abuser set to be seen lurking in Weatherfield in upcoming scenes Groomer Nathan (Chris Harper, pictured) will be released from prison in the coming weeks in a dark new plot for his victim Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon ) Bethany discovers Nathan had actually been freed some time ago and tracks him down to a building site where he's been working. Knowing his chequered history, and his concerning activities around younger girls, Bethany suspects he may have been involved in Lauren Bolton's (Cait Fitton) murder. Determined to bring justice to Lauren's attacker, Bethany forces herself to confront Nathan. On being asked to return to the soap, actor Chris Harper said: 'I was emotional when I was told about Nathan's potential return. 'During the 18 months he was in it before, hundreds of people shared with me how the storyline reflected something they, or someone they loved, had lived through. 'It remains important to keep them in mind as we continue Bethany's story. 'Once again, I am grateful for the ongoing support of Barnardo's, NSPCC, S.H.E.UK, and all the people who trusted me last time. 'We have another chance to raise an issue that affects so many lives, so often shrouded in shame.' Nasty Nathan groomed then-teenager Bethany (right) by plying her with booze and drugs, before raping her in harrowing scenes that aired in 2017 Despite trying to escape, Nathan came dangerously close to selling Bethany into sex work abroad, but she was able to call the police and escape his clutches While Nathan, and his gang of attackers, were thrown behind bars, Bethany will be left terrified next month when she learns that he's been released Knowing his chequered history, and his concerning activities around younger girls, Bethany (left) suspects he may have been involved in Lauren Bolton's (Cait Fitton) murder On the character of Nathan, Chris revealed: 'I do love playing Nathan though. He is funny, deceitful, slippery, manipulative and ruthless. 'Now he is also under a lot of pressure too. This new storyline is absolutely full of twists. 'It's really is good to be back on the hallowed cobbles. So much has happened since we saw Nathan sent to prison, but Coronation Street is a constant. I feel like the cast, crew and the whole team are old friends.' Coronation Street fans were incensed as Roy Cropper was jailed after being charged with the murder of missing teen Lauren during an episode of the ITV soap earlier this month. Cafe owner Roy, played by David Neilson, 75, has spent weeks as Detective Sergeant Lisa Swains (Vicky Myers) prime suspect since he foolishly deep cleaned Laurens (Cait Fitton) flat after she mysteriously disappeared. The situation got more complicated for Roy when a woman pretending to be Lauren's mother visited the cafe and ended up in a tussle with him, before falling and hitting her head. When the hunt for Lauren became a murder inquiry, Roy was taken in for questioning and found himself a victim of internet trolling, and at the centre of much lurid speculation from armchair sleuths. Earlier this month, DS Swain questioned Roy about the incident and delved deep into his history, with solicitor Dee Dee at his side. Coronation Street fans were incensed as Roy Cropper was jailed after being charged with the murder of missing teen Lauren during an episode of the ITV soap earlier this month Roy, played by David Neilson, 75, has spent weeks as Detective Sergeant Lisa Swains prime suspect since he deep cleaned Laurens (Cait Fitton, right) flat after she disappeared Dee Dee then returned to Roy's cafe - Roy's Rolls - where she broke the news that he had been charged with Lauren's murder and was being held in police custody. Back at the police station a terrified and confused Roy sat alone in a dark cell, dreading his pending court hearing. Viewers of the episode were left seething, branding the storyline 'ridiculous' while threatening to abandon the soap altogether. One person wrote on Twitter: 'Catching up with #Corrie, the Roy Cropper storyline is their most ridiculous yet.' Someone else wrote: 'Oh wow Coronation Street are RUINING a show thats been on decades. What is going on with the writers of this show!? Arresting ROY CROPPER for murder!? Why not arrest Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy while youre at it?' While someone else posted: 'This Roy Cropper storyline is ridiculous, how can he be charged with murder without a shred of evidence presented! I am sorry, but it really is a horrid story, out of all the men in the street and you choose the least likely man!' Another viewer commented: 'Gone right off #corrie & stopping watching. Why go down this track ? #RoyCropper didn't do it ...Lauren is probably down in London as that's where most of them go!' 'Free Roy Cropper, he is innocent. Shame on @itvcorrie for thinking that this is a good storyline, its not. #FreeRoyCropper,' demanded another audience member at home. Viewers of the episode were left seething, branding the storyline 'ridiculous' while threatening to abandon the soap altogether While someone else remarked: 'This @itvcorrie storyline with Roy is so weak. Why are the police so dumb and so against Roy in the first place? Its just so unbelievable. #corrie #itv #roycropper.' Another former fan protested: 'My wife and I have decided to cease watching what is probably the worst storyline ever based around Roy Cropper. Proper scraping the barrel, irritating and unrealistic are only two words of many I could choose.' And someone else wrote: 'An all-time low for the show I fear.' With no information on Lauren's whereabouts and no other real suspects for the crime, Roy's family need to get to the bottom of what really happened to Lauren. Actor David, said: 'Roy is innocent in every respect, he is innocent of the crime, but he is also an innocent soul. 'He never thought for one minute it would come to this, he truly felt that if he simply answered everything honestly it would all be okay and he was naive to assume that being innocent meant that he would be seen to be innocent. 'What I like about this storyline is the way it has gone back 29 years to 1995 when Roy first arrived. The situation got more complicated for Roy when a woman pretending to be Lauren's mother visited the cafe and ended up in a tussle with him, before falling and hitting her head 'It is reminiscent of that early Roy Cropper when people were suspicious of his behaviour and thought he was creepy. 'And all this history will be used against him, things that have happened in the past like abducting their foster child. 'All that makes this storyline interesting to play and to watch it unfold.' Coronation Street continues on Monday 29 April on ITV1 and ITVX at 8pm. It turns out, the old adage is true - laughter really is the best medicine. Experts say it works wonders for your mental and physical health, with an ever-expanding body of research pointing to its healing powers. According to doctors, laughter can aid in respiration, maintain heart health and manage stress, among other benefits. Scientists still don't understand why we laugh, but they generally believe laughter is a byproduct of evolution that allowed our primitive ancestors to build trust and socialize with one another with the help of the neurochemical oxytocin. Laughing is most beneficial in social settings and is critical for building social bonds, something humans need, according to Dr Eileen Anderson, a psychologist who studies laughter at Case Western Reserve University. She told DailyMail.com: 'If we were selling laughter as a drug it would sell off the shelves because it both makes you feel better, and it calms you down. And it's accessible to everybody across the lifecycle and from all different backgrounds. And it's free.' According to doctors, laughter can aid in respiration, maintain heart health and manage stress, among other benefits When we laugh, we take a lot of deep breaths, which allows the body to take in more oxygen than it would otherwise, relaxing muscles. The Canadian Lung Association says: When you laugh, your lungs are rid of stale air and more oxygen can enter. This is because laughter helps to expand alveoli in your lungs. These are tiny air sack of which there are about 300 to 500 million! Expanding these means that the area for oxygen exchange is bigger and more oxygen enters your lungs. That boost in oxygenation improves respiratory function by relaxing muscles in the lungs and cardiac function by increasing circulation. It is believed laughing has a positive effect on the inner lining of blood vessels, called the endothelium, by helping it release nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is known to relax the arteries that carry blood away from the heart. Relaxed arteries are less likely to experience spasms and are more likely to stay open, allowing the smooth passage of oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. Dr Lindsay Wilson-Barlow, a clinical psychologist at the University of Utah, said: Studies have shown that simply 20 seconds of laughter has the ability to double heart rate for the following three to five minutes. 'As a result, [laughter advocate Norman Cousins] described laughter as a form of jogging for the innards. Its no surprise that a hearty laugh at a comedic performance or a friend's joke can lift the dark clouds over your head during a time of mental distress, whether it's a bad breakup or a bout of depression. The power of laughter goes neuron-deep. It decreases levels of the stress hormone cortisol and alters the activity of dopamine, the body's reward hormone, and serotonin, the feel-good hormone. These neurotransmitters are instrumental in regulating emotions and motivation to chase goals and fulfill needs. Even forcing yourself to laugh can have benefits, and it's known as laugh therapy by clinicians who use it with patients. The ability to find humor in the world and allow yourself to laugh actually strengthens over time, like a muscle, Dr Anderson told DailyMail.com. She said: 'So people who make some kind of concerted effort to try and laugh will start to attune to funny things, and find themselves kind of laughing more throughout their life.' Laughing lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol as well as adrenaline, modulating the body's natural fight-or-flight response. It's also a crucial component of building social bonds thanks to oxytocin Laughing also makes managing stress easier. It suppresses cortisol, the hormone that fluctuates in response to stress, and adrenaline. These are instrumental in instigating the bodys fight-or-flight response. Dr Wilson-Barlow said: Laughter induction initiates the fight-or-flight stress response. However, approximately 20 minutes after laughter, physiological measures such as heart rate, blood pressure, and muscular tension, drop below baseline levels. A sense of physiological and psychological relaxation and calmness occurs that can last up to 45 minutes following the persons last laugh. Laughing has been shown clinically to decrease levels of cortisol and adrenaline in peoples blood. A 1989 study tested the power of mirthful laughter by dividing 10 men into two groups one in which the men watched an hour-long funny movie, and a control group that did not. The people who laughed saw a statistically significant decrease in cortisol circulating in their blood. They also had significantly decreased levels of a compound that results from dopamine breaking down, which suggests that laughing actually slowed down the metabolism and breakdown of dopamine, allowing them to feel better. While laughing can help us feel better emotionally, it also can help us feel better physically. The act of laughing leads to the release of endorphins in the brain, which helps control pain. A 1995 report in the journal Pain divided people into four groups of 20 and had them watch different movies. One group watched a comedic film, another watched a repulsive film, the third watched a neutral film, and group four watched nothing at all. Both the humor and repulsive groups showed significantly higher pain tolerance when they immersed their hands in ice-cold water to measure how long they could withstand the discomfort compared to the neutral film group and the no-film group. The repulsive group demonstrated the largest increase in pain tolerance, although the difference from the humor group was not statistically significant. Lower cortisol and stress brought on by laughter also relieve muscle tension. A 1999 study in the Lancet reported laughter can trigger muscles in the body to relax. Researchers from the Netherlands attached electrodes to volunteers legs to measure H-reflex, a neurological pathway that causes muscles to contract, and then showed them a series of slides meant to elicit some reaction. Those people who laughed saw their muscle tension dissipate. The researchers found said: When the volunteers laughed out loud, their H-reflex virtually disappeared, whereas it decreased much less when they did not laugh. Laughter itself can act as a sort of muscle. The ability to tap into it as a means of feeling better emotionally or physically can be improved and strengthened. But Americans do not laugh enough, Dr Anderson told this website. But that's why more research is needed into why we laugh, what makes us laugh, and how we can best use that capacity for humor to our advantage. SHE SAID: 'So many other cultures just had humor built in, and joy built in and relaxation built in. But we are like the 24/7 driving culture where you think you're gonna fall behind if you don't ride that wave. 'I think that's why this research seems revolutionary. For us, it's it's in some ways countercultural, and that's why we can't just know this, we have to have something called laugh therapy, we have to prescribe it, we have to have programs for it.' The Arabic words chukran! , flus or even mechwi mean something to you? The first two have the translation thank you and money. As for the third, it designates the roast sheep of holidays which, shortened to chwa figuratively means to bully, mishandle, or even cause severe pain. Thus it is said: Chwa li qalbi, he broke my heart. These different explanations are found in 80 words from Morocco, a work recently published by the journalist and essayist Kenza Sefrioui. Lovers of languages ??and culture will be delighted to find, behind a seemingly modest work, a work of great richness and a true literary invitation to discover Morocco. One of the major difficulties encountered by the author during the development of the book was making the necessary choices at each stage. Firstly that of the language Arabic or Amazigh, the two official languages ??of the country. The overview of Morocco proposed in this book is in Moroccan Arabic that I offer it to you. Not for the sake of excluding or minimizing other languages, in particular Amazigh languages, but because Darija is ultimately the common denominator of the majority of Moroccans (), she decides, after having traced a historical-linguistic inventory of the country. Second difficulty and not the least: the very selection of words. 80 only according to the principle of the collection, which requires sorting which is all the more important since the Arabic language has more than 12,000. A look at the table of contents of the book as well as the other elements of paratext preface by linguist Zakia Iraqui Sinaceur, page dedicated to transcription, pronunciation guide allows you to understand the general principle that guided the author. Namely a clever mix between a scientific approach and the exhilaration of a subjective story. Passion for the Arabic language The erudition of the subject is indeed there. We understand this from the introduction to the book, when Kenza Sefrioui recounts how her passion for the Arabic language pushed her in 2005, when she was a literary critic at the Weekly Journal, to create a section entitled The essence of words dedicated to the darija. This space allowed him to focus on a word each week, often linked to current events or discussions of the day. At this period, in the wake of the Boulevard des Jeunes Musiciens festival, urban music, rap, slam and even cinema, renewed creation in Darija. These lexicon connotations will be found in 80 words from Morocco where each end of the article is embellished with quotes, song titles and other nods to artistic creation. But the essential scientific reference essential? on which the author relies is the monumental Colin Dictionary of Moroccan Dialectal Arabic, a work in eight volumes developed by Georges Seraphin Colin, a French civil servant who arrived in Morocco in 1921. A graduate of Oriental Languages ??from Paris, Colin spoke Arabic and was interested in all lexical areas: music, architecture, plant and animal names, culinary arts, customs, religious practices, medicine, magic. From his informants, people from all walks of life, he gleaned words, proverbs, idiomatic expressions, metaphors, explains Kenza Sefrioui. A cultural and literary walk The 60,000 Bristol cards that he wrote before his death in 1977 provide the content of his dictionary and constitute a photograph of Moroccan civilization in the 20th century. Published in 1993, the work became unobtainable in the early 2000s. Kenza Sefrioui pleads for its reissue and considers his 80 words from Morocco as a true tribute to Colin, a rewriting, with the aim of making him rediscovered, underlines- she modestly. However, it would be insufficient to reduce the authors choices to a tribute. Because beyond this referential foundation, his book can be appreciated for what it is: a cultural and literary walk in Morocco through 80 key words chosen for the plurality of their meanings, their heritage dimension, but also the resonances that they can have in different areas. One example among others: the term nuba, which in French became nouba. It is the central form of al-Ala, Andalusian music, dating back to the 7th century, we learn. In the 18th century there were twenty-four, one for each hour of the day. This was the music played at each changing of the guard. The Moroccan corpus was then reduced to eleven () Nuba, will evolve in turns, then will become the one whose turn it is, lli fih ennuba, to whom it falls to act before passing still thinking about delegation of power Structured in seven thematic chapters, the book moves the reader fluidly between the elements of our terrestrial environment (the sea, the star, the rain, etc.), the beings that we are, crossed by emotions or led to experience relationships social (conversation, politeness), including monetary, commercial, professional issues, which are also discussed, as well as the world of the arts or the much awaited for Morocco of cuisine and culinary flavors. . On each page of this repertoire, which reads like a novel, Kenza Sefrioui brilliantly takes on the challenge of making us discover her country through the musicality and flavor of her words. Morocco on the tip of the tongue. As the job landscape evolves, the focus is now on fostering market-driven skill sets to meet the demands of a changing workforce In todays fast-paced and ever-evolving job market, employers are not just interested in hiring candidates with degrees from prestigious institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) or the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), they now prioritise hiring candidates with specific skill sets. Despite the widespread recognition of IITs for academic excellence and coveted placement opportunities, recent worrisome reports have revealed that they are not delivering as per their ranking and perception. Every year among thousands of students who dreamt to get admission in IITs, only 20-25 per cent of them remain lucky charm to clear the JEE (Joint Entrance Exam) advanced process to get admission while pursuing their academic excellence and coveted placement opportunities every year they look forward to the placement season with an eye on big-ticket jobs. However, The 2024 placement season is described as lacklustre by IIT students. This is a worrying situation in IIT-Bombay, which is ranked third among engineering institutes in India by NIRF. According to the Global IIT Alumni Support Group, nearly 36% of students were unable to secure jobs for the 2024 placements. Although IIT-Bombay contested this report, stating that only 6.1% of students remained unplaced, the situation is still concerning. The Global IIT Alumni Support Group data shows that nearly 30-40% of IIT students are still unplaced in the top-ranked 8 older IITs like Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur and others, while around 50-60% of students are still unplaced in the 15 newer IITs like BHU(Varanasi), Ropar and others. The unemployment crisis in India is particularly acute among educated youth. The cost of an engineering degree remains at Rs 8-10 lakh, yet the placement rate remains around 30%. Furthermore, there is an influx of MBA degree holders entering the market, even though the demand has dropped by 55% this year. This raises the question of the value of a college/university degree. Being highly educated is no guarantee of employment in India, as the International Labor Organisation (ILO) report reveals. Nearly 83% of those unemployed in India are young and among these unemployed young Indians, nearly 66% are educated. According to the ILO report, the youth unemployment rate has increased with the level of education, with the highest rates among those with a graduate degree or higher. On the other hand, those without university degrees or even school dropouts have a higher employment rate. Several highly educated youths set an example by adopting odd entrepreneurship and proudly titled it MBAs Chaiwalas and Chatwalas. Despite the promise of creating 100 million jobs through the flagship Make in India initiative, the expected job creation did not materialise in the last 10 years. Raghuram Rajan, the former governor of the Reserve Bank of India, has emphasised the need to make the workforce more employable and create jobs. Every year, around 7-8 million young Indians enter the workforce, but many remain unemployed. It is a proven fact that our youth with higher education degrees are not well-skilled. One of the main reasons why skills are more important than higher degrees is because they are directly applicable to the job at hand. A candidate with a degree may have a broad understanding of a subject, but without the specific skills needed to perform the job, they may struggle to succeed. On the other hand, a candidate with the right set of skills, even if they dont have a higher degree, may be able to hit the ground running. It is essential to note that having relevant skills is more crucial than having higher degrees since skills are directly applicable to the job at hand. A candidate with a degree may have a broad understanding of a subject, but without the specific skills required to perform the job, they may struggle to succeed. Conversely, a candidate with the right set of skills, even if they dont have a higher degree, can hit the ground running and perform exceptionally well. For example, gig skill courses like digital marketing and beauty-wellness are available for around Rs 30 to 50 thousand and have a placement scope of over 90 per cent. A gig economy offers a shot: The gig economy in India is vibrant, skill-driven and bucking the unemployed youths. According to a report by gig work platform Taskmo(which has over 7,50,000 gig workers registered) youth participation in the gig economy has increased an astounding eightfold between 2019 and 2022, with most of the young people coming from Tier-I and Tier-II cities. In 2022, a projection report by Niti Aayog on the gig economy predicted a higher demand for skilled gig workers in the future. Areas such as digital marketing, social media management, logistics, healthcare and beauty-wellness will be in high demand, reflecting the diverse needs of employers and the evolution of the job market. The gig workforce is expected to expand to 23.5 million by 2029-30, from 7.7 million in 2021-22. Its fascinating to see that a professionally trained gig worker, such as a hairdresser, can earn more than an MBA or IITans. Jawed Habib, a hair stylist expert entrepreneur, is an excellent example of this. With his global exposure, hes inspiring young people to envision beauty wellness as a profession of the future. Its important to note that having a higher degree is no longer the only way to get hired or advance in a career. Employers are increasingly looking for candidates with specific skills that are directly applicable to the job and can help the company succeed. Therefore, its crucial to focus on market-driven gig skill sets. The writer is a co-founder and MD, of Orane International, a Training Partner with the National Skill Development Corporation(NSDC), network member of India International Skill Centres; views expressed are personal. Former President Donald Trump is pushing the limits of the perspective that there's no such thing as bad publicity as he sits glowering in court in his ongoing hush-money trial. Trump in the past has profited from an an exceptional ability to capitalize on negative media since it supports his narrative that he is picked on by the establishment and is the target of a "weaponized" judicial system. Even as he faces 88 felony charges across four different criminal cases and rages about it, Trump also aims to project a presidential image by engaging with international and U.S. leaders. So far he's walking a tightrope, and it remains to be seen where he'll end up. While he's missing out on campaigning, he's grabbing every opportunity during his trial to complain to reporters outside the courtroom and getting widespread media coverage for it. He's also using his social media platform Truth Social to rage about the "witch hunt" against him in the New York trial where he's facing criminal charges for allegedly falsifying business records in an attempt to cover up a hush-money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. "No campaign would want to have their candidate in the courtroom instead of with voters on the campaign trail, but I also think they're smart to maximize their moments of support in front of the camera during the trial," Republican consultant Jeanette Hoffman told Reuters. But the trial is, inevitably, draining time from his campaigning, and the long hours in the courtroom are negatively affecting his mood, notes the Washington Post. "The phrase around here is 'the process is the punishment,'" a source close to Trump told the newspaper. Most Americans 58% believe the charges against Trump are serious, according to a recent New York Times/Siena Poll. A CNN poll found that 64% of those surveyed think Trump is not being treated like other defendants in the legal system with people split between whether he's being treated more harshly or more leniently But fewer than 3 in 10 independents and moderates a key group in the presidential election buy that Trump has been treated more harshly, the poll found. In addition to trial on the charges, details about Trump's alleged media and political schemes and his alleged affairs with Daniels and Karen McDougal while married to Melania, may not play well with his supporters, which include a mass of evangelicals. His frowning comments and other comportant at the trial where he has been scolding by Judge Juan Merchan for his behavior may also be off-putting to his backers. Trump has not held had a campaign rally since the trial started, but two are scheduled for next week in the battleground states of Michigan and Wisconsin. Ambassador Asif Durrani acknowledges the Pak Governments shortcomings in handling the Afghanistan situation and underscores a reality check for Islamabads foreign policy Pakistans Special Representative on Afghanistan, Ambassador Asif Durrani, conceded the grave reality of the Pakistani Governments abject failure in Afghanistan. Speaking at a conference titled, Pakistan in the Emerging Geopolitical Landscape, the diplomat accepted that the ensuing price of the flared tensions along the Durand Line far exceeded the human and financial cost of all the wars with India, put together! Cold and frightening statistics like the loss of over 80,000 lives in the so-called War on Terror which Islamabad joined in 2001 (including 8000 security personnel) and an estimated economic loss of $150 billion-the reality check of what ought to worry Pakistan, i.e., between its traditional enemy across the Line-of-Control, or the one across the Durand Line-couldnt have been clearer. To make matters worse for Islamabad, it isnt even close to the end of its miseries as the deadly attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have shot up by 65% and the accompanying suicide attacks by 500%! In such a scenario to persist with India as the enemy number 1 is not only to suffer from an acute sense of Ostrich syndrome, but also to refuse the hard lessons of Karma i.e., what goes around, comes around. The fixation with India owes itself to the wounds of the partition and the desperate need of various institutions to have an enemy to legitimise themselves in the eyes of the citizenry e.g., clergy, military, politicians etc., as also, as to defend the flawed two-nation theory that ostensibly rationalises Pakistan. The creation of Bangladesh in 1971 exposed the hollowness and amorality of a nation created in the name of religion - the current equation with Afghanistan further exposes the untenability of a relationship based on co-religionism. That religion can never be the basis of nationhood or indeed ensure a brotherly relation (as insincerely claimed) with a neighbour, is further proved. At the end of the day, what matters is, intent or neat. Over time, intent has an inevitable way of revealing itself that cannot be suppressed by homilies of co-religiousity. As the speech by Ambassador Durrani accepted, After the withdrawal of NATO forces, it was hoped that peace in Afghanistan would bring peace to the region. However, such expectations were short-lived. Anyone with a modicum of understanding about history (especially about Afghanistan, the home to many Great Games) ought to have known that to control the narrative in Afghanistan was not just impossible and impractical, but also counterproductive. The worst-kept secret of nurturing a desire to have Strategic Depth in Afghanistan could not be hidden even from its creation, the Afghan Taliban. While the Afghans had accepted the support and infrastructure afforded by Pakistani regimes of all hues and shades since the late 1970s to expect the proud Afghan (even a Pak-created Taliban) to toe Islamabads line blindly was an affront to the cultural-civilisational identity of an Afghan. Not only did the Taliban Government bolt out from the shackles of controls, advisories and condescending platitudes from Islamabad, but it knowingly harboured and supported its ideological offshoot i.e., the Pak-facing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters, who attack Pakistan with impunity and deadly consequences. A grim observation of the situation suggests that the attacks on Pakistan are not just a phenomenon afflicting disaffected Pakistani folks across the Afghan side, but that the worrying aspect is the participation of Afghan nationals in these attacks. Basically, either as genuinely motivated or even as trained mercenaries, Afghan nationals are attacking Pakistan! The project of demonising India by the Pakistanis has failed spectacularly amongst the conservative Afghans, as even they harbour a rather warm perception of the Indians, as opposed to that of the Pakistanis. At the end of the day, the difference in sovereign intent emanating from Islamabad, versus those emanating from Delhi, has surfaced. Beyond certain constraints mandated by their self-invested image, ideology and inert conservativism, the language used by the Taliban Government officials bears a stark contrast, from the one that was imagined when the US/NATO forces abandoned Kabul and the Taliban stormed into Kabul. Today, given the dark investments made by the Pakistani State it finds itself in an awkward and inextricable position. Try hard as it might, the Pakistanis are struggling to undo and trace back the steps that it took to create the prevailing environment, infrastructure and instinct in the region. As Ambassador Durrani lamented, Afghanistan has become a permanent fixture in Pakistans regional paradigm for over four decades. Therefore, all support or otherwise to Pakistan is seen from the lens of Afghanistan. Ironically, Pakistani complaints about the situation with Afghanistan fall on deaf ears as the global community attributes much of what went wrong with the Afghan storyline, to the Pakistanis themselves. In some sense, it is a cry wolf situation for the Pakistanis and there simply arent too many takers or sympathisers of the Pakistani woes. A deeper introspection would reveal the rot in the thinking of the Pakistani system set in 1947 when it thought that religion was to be its trump card. History is instructive, that religion can never be a basis of Statehood for any moral and sustainable nation. Both Bangladesh and Afghanistan discredit the two-nation theory (The writer, a military veteran, is a former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry. The views expressed are personal) Political leadership must prioritise sustainability and combating plastic pollution to safeguard ecosystems and human health Its election time in India and various political parties vie for their space in the hearts of the public. Even when political parties give multiple offers, including providing sustainable living in their manifestos, there is no concrete measure to tackle issues affecting our planet. Even for the few who speak about the environment, the vision is for the future, not immediate. What we want is a manifesto that speaks about protecting our planet the moment it comes to power. Every political party stresses developmental politics. But what is the use of development if our planets status is in a dilemma? The climate is changing; glaciers and the water table are receding and water scarcity is severe in parts of the country. We havent devised a concrete step in managing our garbage, even in our capital city. Is it a lack of scientific knowledge? We have one CSIR lab exclusively working on the environment and many other research institutions working on similar lines. Still, we fail in this? Is it a lack of political will? Nobody knows the actual reason behind this. Every part of the planet suffers from anthropogenic activities during this Anthropocene period. In the electioneering process, political parties also create lots of garbage containing lots of plastic materials. During elections, political parties often use a variety of promotional materials such as banners, posters, flyers and flags, many of which are made of plastic or contain plastic components. Political rallies, public events and gatherings organised by political parties often generate significant amounts of waste, including plastic cups, plates and other disposable items. Improper waste management practices at these events can result in plastic litter ending up in the environment. Why cant the Government ban plastic from its production source? After manufacturing and selling to the vendors, for namesake, the official makes some periodic visits and fines poor vendors. Its like keeping sweets near a diabetic patient and telling him not to touch them. Plastic pollution has significantly threatened ecosystems, wildlife and human health worldwide. Plastic pollution in oceans is a well-documented problem with devastating effects on marine life. Sea turtles, whales, seabirds and fish often mistake plastic debris for food or become entangled in plastic waste, leading to injury or death. Additionally, plastic fragments, known as microplastics, are ingested by smaller organisms and can bioaccumulate up the food chain, posing risks to human health. Coral reefs, often called the rainforests of the sea, are highly sensitive ecosystems that provide habitat for numerous marine species. Plastic pollution can smother coral reefs, blocking sunlight and inhibiting coral growth. Chemicals released by plastic degradation can also harm coral health, contributing to reef degradation and loss. Political parties can influence public opinion and behaviour through messaging and advocacy efforts. Parties that prioritise environmental issues and promote sustainable practices can help raise awareness about the harms of plastic pollution and encourage individuals and communities to take action. They should teach their followers to follow clean environmental practices in their party functions and their daily lives. In India, political parties have the power to shape policies and promote initiatives that influence peoples attitudes and behaviours toward plastics. So, they should take responsibility. We dont have decades to wait for the results. Already, the global temperature has reached its threshold. Any further increase may cause unforeseen consequences on the life on this planet. We need a political mindset to change our attitude towards plastics and the environment immediately. It will be good if we always remember that we dont have a planet B to sustain humanity. (The writer is an adjunct faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, views are personal) Taiwan advocates for global health governance, urging inclusion and collaboration to ensure human rights Despite not being a WHO member State, Taiwan emphasises the importance of contributing insights into pandemic management and learning from international best practices. Taiwans proactive approach to pandemic response underscores its commitment to global health. Advocating for amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) and inclusion in the pandemic agreement, Taiwan seeks to collaborate on monitoring, reporting and exchanging vital health data to enhance global health security. Additionally, Taiwan champions universal health coverage and humanitarian efforts to uphold the fundamental human right to health worldwide. The three years of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a terrible loss of life and exacerbated health inequalities. The global economy slumped and, worldwide, peoples lives were affected. This experience demonstrated that the present global health governance framework is not effective in responding to threats to global health. Although COVID-19 is no longer labelled a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) and trade and economic activity globally have returned to normal, the World Health Organisation (WHO) cautions against the threat of a Disease X pandemic. Therefore, countries across the globe must unite to bolster health governance. WHO and many countries began reviewing response strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weaknesses in the International Health Regulations (2005) as concerns managing this crisis were revealed. As a result, changes are afoot. Proposed revisions include enhanced surveillance, reporting and information sharing; improved response readiness; and revised criteria for declaring PHEICs. At the same time, there is vigorous debate around a new pandemic agreement, which aims to craft a robust global pandemic governance framework grounded in accountability, transparency and equity. It may be approved at the 77th World Health Assembly. As Taiwan is not a WHO member State, it cannot directly influence revisions to the International Health Regulations (2005) or the drafting of the pandemic agreement. Nevertheless, we remain greatly concerned about the content of and developments regarding these central documents. We are eager to contribute our insights into pandemic management and learn from international best practices. Taiwan was the nation that initially identified the epidemic risk and promptly executed adaptive measures. Taiwan also proactively shared vital information with global partners and garnered public trust through a commitment to openness. We strongly endorse the passage and implementation of amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) and the pandemic agreement. We call on WHO to include Taiwan as a signatory to these documents. We urge WHO to support Taiwans inclusion in overseeing global health. Taiwan remains committed to participating based on the principles of professionalism, pragmatism and making contributions. Taiwan seeks to cooperate with WHO to remedy geographic gaps in global health security and to construct a comprehensive global health framework. The WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All has found that at least 140 countries recognise health as a fundamental human right in their constitutions. Despite this, many nations have not passed and implemented laws to ensure that their citizens have access to healthcare services. Taiwan has worked hard to reach universal health coverage and has consistently improved the quality of health care over the past few decades in line with WHO recommendations. Taiwan has effectively integrated and allocated social welfare resources to enhance primary and oral health care for all, implement mental health programs and strengthen the social safety net. Taiwan has put in place an agile and resilient healthcare system able to combat both communicable and non-communicable diseases. We are improving health for all individuals throughout their entire lives. The theme for World Health Day 2024 is My health, my right. This is a way to advocate for every individual, everywhere, to have access to quality health services, education and information, as well as enjoy safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions and freedom from discrimination. Through a public-private partnership, Taiwan has been contributing to global efforts to realise the right to health in collaboration with partner countries and international organisations. Taiwan should be included, as a matter of pragmatism, in the World Health Assembly and all WHO meetings, activities and mechanisms, particularly those concerned with the WHO pandemic agreement. This would better empower Taiwan to collaborate with global partners to uphold the fundamental human right to health stipulated in the WHO Constitution and the vision of leaving no one behind espoused in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. (The author is Minister of Health and Welfare Republic of China (Taiwan); views are personal) In a big jolt to the Congress in Delhi ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Arvinder Singh Lovely resigned from his post citing various issues including, alliance with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and selection of party candidates for North West Delhi and North East Delhi parliamentary seats. The shock resignation of Lovely less than a month before the seven seats of the national Capital go to polls, has put the grand old partys Lok Sabha election campaign in limbo. This was the second resignation by a former Minister to hit the Congress in the Capital in less than a week. Lovely was appointed as the Delhi Congress president on August 31, 2023. In his resignation letter sent to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday, Lovely also said all unanimous decisions taken by the senior Delhi unit leaders have been unilaterally vetoed by AICC Delhi in-charge Deepak Babria. Lovely also claimed the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) was not given any intimation about the decision to field Kanhaiya Kumar from North East Delhi seat and Udit Raj from North West Delhi seat before the official announcement was made by the party high command. Kharge accepted the resignation of Lovely. Later addressing a Press conference, Lovely said he has only resigned as chief of the Congress Delhi unit and is not joining any other political party. His clarification came after Congress former MLA Asif Mohammad Khan claimed that the BJP would field Lovely from the East Delhi constituency, replacing Harsh Malhotra. I have only resigned as Delhi Congress chief and I am not joining any political party, he said. Lovely said his resignation reflected the pain of Congress workers saddened by the fact that the ideals they had been fighting for during the last seven to eight years were being compromised. In his letter, Lovely said several AAP Ministers have been jailed over corruption charges, still the Congress formed an alliance with Arvind Kejriwals party for the Lok Sabha elections amid opposition by party workers. On instructions from AICC General Secretary (Organisation), I even went to the extent of visiting Kejriwals residence on the night of his Arrest along with Subash Chopra and Sandeep Dikshit, despite the same being against my position on the matter, Lovely said. Lovely further said while he respected the partys alliance decision with AAP, he was upset by Congresss North East Delhi seat candidate Kanhaiya Kumar praising AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. The resignation of Lovely, which is also shared on his social media account, brought into public domain the internal rift in the Delhi unit of the party.It also showed the discontent within the grand old partys local unit over its alliance with foe-turned-friend Aam Aadmi Party. The prevailing situation in Delhi Congress and its tie up with the AAP may impact the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi which will go to polls on May 25. Talking to the pioneer, over dozen of Congress leaders said they will not be involve in the election process. Last week, four time MLA and 15 years minister in the Sheila Dikshit regime in the national capital, Rajkumar Chauhan also resigned last week alleging that he was mistreated by a senior functionary when he questioned the basis on which the candidate for North West Delhi constituency was decided. According to party insiders more than dozen of senior leaders and former MLAs are upset with the top leadership and they sidelined himself from the electioneering process. He claimed that since his appointment as the president, the partys Delhi In-charge has not allowed him to make any senior appointments in the DPCC. However, since I cannot protect the interests of the party workers, I see no reason to continue in the said post. Therefore, with great regret and an extremely leaden heart, I, Arvinder Singh Lovely, do hereby tender my resignation from the post of DPCC President, he said. Mentioning about the Congress-AAP alliance, Lovely said, The Delhi Congress unit was against an alliance with a party which was formed on the sole basis of levelling false, fabricated and malafide corruption charges against the Congress and in turn, whose half of the cabinet ministers are presently in jail on corruption charges. Despite that, the party made a decision to ally with the AAP in Delhi. The Congress and AAP have formed alliances in Delhi and other states for the Lok Sabha elections. As per the seat sharing, the Congress is contesting in three and AAP in four out of the seven parliamentary seats in Delhi. On selection of party candidates in Delhi, he said, Out of these 3 seats, while rejecting the views of the PCC, all Observers and the local party workers, the North-West Delhi and North East Delhi seats were given to two candidates who were total strangers to the Delhi Congress and the party policies. It is the prerogative of the High Command to have a final say on the party candidates. However, shockingly, once the decision in regards to the aforesaid two candidates was made by the High Command, the PCC was not even intimated before the formal announcement, Lovely said. Kanhaiya Kumar is Congress candidate from North East Delhi LS seat and Udit Raj is partys North-West Delhi parliamentary constituency. He further said, The candidate from North-East Delhi has also been giving media bytes falsely praising the Delhi CM (Arvind Kejriwal), in direct contravention of the party line and the local party workers beliefs. In direct contradiction to the true factual position and the misery of Delhi Citizens, he endorsed the false propaganda of AAP in regard to the supposed works done by them in the Education, Health, Road and Electricity sector. Lovely accused Udit Raj of making anti-party statements in the press and disrespecting party workers. He claimed Raj had written several letters to him asking him to suspend various generational local party leaders. In such a situation , I cannot protect the interests of the party workers, I see no reason to continue in the said post. Therefore, with great regret and an extremely leaden heart, I, Arvinder Singh Lovely, tender my resignation from the post of DPCC president, he said. In fact, he added, the alliance was a compromise to improve the chances of victory of the Congress in the Lok Sabha polls. Since my appointment as DPCC President, the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge) has not allowed me to make any senior appointments in the DPCC. My request for the appointment of a veteran leader as Media head of DPCC was blatantly rejected. To date, the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge) has not allowed the DPCC to appoint all Block presidents in the city. Resultantly more than 150 blocks in Delhi do not presently have a Block President, he said. Lovely alleged that AICC in-charge Babria forced him to suspend senior party leader Raj Kumar Chauhan.In direct contravention of my public democratic stand, the AICC general secretary (Delhi Incharge), distressingly, asked me to suspend Raj Kumar Chauhan (ex-Delhi Minister), Surender Kumar (ex-MLA) and other party functionaries from the party. He, instead of calming the situation, further also, in public meetings, entered into numerous heated exchanges with Sandeep Dikshit, (ex-MP), Raj Kumar Chauhan (ex- Delhi minister), Bhisham Sharma (ex-MLA) and Surender Kumar (ex-MLA), he wrote in his letter. Meanwhile Lovely is not the only one to have bid adieu to the grand old party. Several prominent leaders including former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan, ex-Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Nirupam, spokesperson Gourav Vallabh, former social media head Rohan Gupta, Acharya Pramod Krishnam, former defense minister AK Antonys son Anil Antony, and Gujarat Patidar leader Hardik Patel have also left the Congress. The seat-sharing agreement for Lok Sabha polls between the INDIA bloc partners in Delhi, AAP and Congress, was finalised in February. The AAP is contesting four seats, while the Congress fielded candidates in three constituencies.The AAP is fighting in New Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi, and East Delhi, while Chandni Chowk, North East Delhi, and North West Delhi went to the Congress. Earlier, the AAP had offered the Congress just one of the seven Lok Sabha seats, bringing the discussions into a deadlock.In the previous two Lok Sabha elections, held in 2014 and 2019, the BJP won all seven seats in Delhi, with a vote share exceeding 50 per cent. The Election Commission (EC) has asked the Aam Aadmi Party to modify the content of its Lok Sabha elections campaign song, Jail ke jawab mein hum vote denge. The poll panel said the partys campaign song should comply with the advertising codes prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, and the Election Commissions guidelines. The EC has asked AAP to resubmit the poll song for certification after making the required certifications. The EC said in its notice that the campaign songs content apparently casts aspersions on the judiciary, which violates the provisions of ECI guidelines and advertising codes. The phrase jail ke jawaab me hum vote denge showing an aggressive mob holding the photo of Arvind Kejriwal showing him behind bars, casts aspersions on the judiciary. Further, the said phrase appears several times in the advertisement which contravenes the provisions of ECI Guidelines and Rule 6(1(g) of Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, it said. Meanwhile, AAP leader Atishi claimed that the Election Commission had banned AAPs campaign song. Addressing a press conference, senior AAP leader Atishi said, This is the first time in the history of the country that the Election Commission of India has banned the campaign song of any party to stop the campaign. According to the EC, she said, the song shows the ruling party and investigation agencies in a bad light.The song does not mention the BJP and does not violate the Model Code of Conduct. It includes factual videos and incidents, she added. Atishi, who is also a Delhi government minister, accused the EC of not acting on poll code violations committed by the BJP. This is the same Election Commission which sees nothing when the BJP is making fun of the Model Code of Conduct on a daily basis. But if the AAP leaders even breathe, they are served another notice. When the BJP misuses the ED and CBI to put the opposition leaders in jail during the Model Code of Conduct, the EC has no objection to it. But if the AAP even writes it in a song, the EC raises various objections, she added. Answering a reporters question, Atishi stated, The campaign song does not mention the BJP and does not violate the Model Code of Conduct. It includes factual videos and incidents, whether it is the picture of Arvind Kejriwals arrest, whether it is the video of polices misbehaviour with Shri Manish Sisodia in the Rouse Avenue Court, whether it is the brutal detention of our volunteers in protests, everything is factual. Does the EC want to suppress the truth? Does the poll agency want to hide the misconduct of the police or the political misuse of the probe agencies by the BJP? she concluded. Reacting to this, Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor has said that the Aam Aadmi Party leaders master the art of playing victim card, they first violate laws and when objected to by any authority or person they start playing victim card. Kapoor has said that as per law content of campaign songs or campaign pamphlets need to be approved by the Chief Electoral Officer Delhi prior to public launch. The AAPs over two-minute campaign song has been penned and sung by AAP MLA Dilip Pandey. The song was released at the party headquarters here on Thursday. Amidst the heavy deployment of security forces for ensuing general elections, several parts of North East India particularly Nagaland, Manipur again, Assam have been hit by violence. People from Nagaland made a beeline to neighbouring Assam to buy essential commodities as the indefinite shutdown of businesses to protest extortion by Naga political groups threw normal life out of gear in the State with the stir entering the third day on Sunday. While in Manipur which continues to be strife torn for more than a year now, one person was killed and three others injured in a gunfight between village volunteers of two warring communities in ethnic strife-torn Manipurs Kangpokpi district on Sunday. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh 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. The Nagaland shutdown was called by the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) on Friday also to protest alleged government inaction to protect businesses in Dimapur, the commercial hub of the state. The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industries supported the call, following which shutdowns were imposed in other districts from Saturday. Markets remained shut across the State, with people from Nagaland, especially those living along the inter-State boundary with Assam, went to the neighbouring State to buy essential commodities. Continued on Page 2 Poll tension escalates in NE No restriction on the movement of people and traffic has been imposed. The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CNCCI) announced that the indefinite state-wide shutdown would continue but would be relaxed only for six hours from noon to 6 pm on Monday to allow the public to procure essential items. CNCCI president Khekugha Muru said the decision was taken in consideration of the fact that the shutdown was imposed in many districts without giving prior notice to the people. CNCCI urged the government to take steps to stop unabated extortion, and intimidation by underground groups. State Home Commissioner Vikeyie Kenya has directed the police to take stringent measures as such activities reflect adversely on the law enforcing agency as well as on the state government. 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 and also continue arresting underground cadres, found extorting, under the National Security Act. On the other hand, the DCCI on Saturday submitted a five-point charter of demands to the state government through the deputy commissioner of Dimapur. DCCI demanded that the state government immediately clarify whether taxation by NPGs was legal or illegal. It also wondered whether the business community should pay GST or the taxation of NPGs. The DCCI asked the government to declare summoning business community members to NPG offices, camps and monitoring cells as illegal and law enforcing agencies be empowered to act against such places. The DCCI also demanded that extortion, kidnapping, and waylaying of transport should be dealt with swiftly with full force and without impunity. Further, dozens of gunmen had attacked Koutruk in Imphal West district on Sunday morning from elevated hilltops of neighbouring Kangpokpi district prompting village volunteers deployed in the fringe village to retaliate, the police said. Exchange of fire gradually spread to adjacent villages of Kadangband and Senjam Chirang, they said. Koutruk village has been witness to intense gunfights between village volunteers of two warring communities since ethnic violence broke out on May 3 last year. It has been identified as one of the most vulnerable areas for gun attacks. More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic strife between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kukis since May 3 last year. Meanwhile, denouncing the killing, the Kangpokpi district-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) has called for a 12-hour shutdown in the district from noon of April 28. 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 Manipur early on Saturday. Claiming that peace is being gradually restored in the state, Biren 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 states people. It is unfortunate that our jawans are being targeted. They are here to protect us, Singh said. Congress chief spokesman Jairam Rameshs alleged pressure was exerted on voters to exercise franchise in favour of an NDA partner. Ramesh had on April 26 shared a video on social media claiming that voters in Ukhrul district in Outer Manipur were being pressured to support the Naga Peoples Front, BJPs 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 ethnic conflict between Meiteis and Kukis, 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. Pioneer News Service n Guwahati/ Imphal / Kohima Amidst the heavy deployment of security forces for ensuing general elections, several parts of North East India particularly Nagaland, Manipur again, Assam have been hit by violence. People from Nagaland made a beeline to neighbouring Assam to buy essential commodities as the indefinite shutdown of businesses to protest extortion by Naga political groups threw normal life out of gear in the State with the stir entering the third day on Sunday. While in Manipur which continues to be strife torn for more than a year now, one person was killed and three others injured in a gunfight between village volunteers of two warring communities in ethnic strife-torn Manipurs Kangpokpi district on Sunday. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh 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. The Nagaland shutdown was called by the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) on Friday also to protest alleged government inaction to protect businesses in Dimapur, the commercial hub of the state. The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industries supported the call, following which shutdowns were imposed in other districts from Saturday. Markets remained shut across the State, with people from Nagaland, especially those living along the inter-State boundary with Assam, went to the neighbouring State to buy essential commodities. No restriction on the movement of people and traffic has been imposed. The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CNCCI) announced that the indefinite state-wide shutdown would continue but would be relaxed only for six hours from noon to 6 pm on Monday to allow the public to procure essential items. CNCCI president Khekugha Muru said the decision was taken in consideration of the fact that the shutdown was imposed in many districts without giving prior notice to the people. CNCCI urged the government to take steps to stop unabated extortion, and intimidation by underground groups. State Home Commissioner Vikeyie Kenya has directed the police to take stringent measures as such activities reflect adversely on the law enforcing agency as well as on the state government. 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 and also continue arresting underground cadres, found extorting, under the National Security Act. On the other hand, the DCCI on Saturday submitted a five-point charter of demands to the state government through the deputy commissioner of Dimapur. DCCI demanded that the state government immediately clarify whether taxation by NPGs was legal or illegal. It also wondered whether the business community should pay GST or the taxation of NPGs. The DCCI asked the government to declare summoning business community members to NPG offices, camps and monitoring cells as illegal and law enforcing agencies be empowered to act against such places. The DCCI also demanded that extortion, kidnapping, and waylaying of transport should be dealt with swiftly with full force and without impunity. Further, dozens of gunmen had attacked Koutruk in Imphal West district on Sunday morning from elevated hilltops of neighbouring Kangpokpi district prompting village volunteers deployed in the fringe village to retaliate, the police said. Exchange of fire gradually spread to adjacent villages of Kadangband and Senjam Chirang, they said. Koutruk village has been witness to intense gunfights between village volunteers of two warring communities since ethnic violence broke out on May 3 last year. It has been identified as one of the most vulnerable areas for gun attacks. More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic strife between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kukis since May 3 last year. Meanwhile, denouncing the killing, the Kangpokpi district-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) has called for a 12-hour shutdown in the district from noon of April 28. 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 Manipur early on Saturday. Claiming that peace is being gradually restored in the state, Biren 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 states people. It is unfortunate that our jawans are being targeted. They are here to protect us, Singh said. Congress chief spokesman Jairam Rameshs alleged pressure was exerted on voters to exercise franchise in favour of an NDA partner. Ramesh had on April 26 shared a video on social media claiming that voters in Ukhrul district in Outer Manipur were being pressured to support the Naga Peoples Front, BJPs 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 ethnic conflict between Meiteis and Kukis, 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. A member of the Village Defence Guard (VDG), part of security forces combing a forest area to track down terrorists, sacrificed his life during a gunfight with the ultras in a remote village of Basantgarh in the Udhampur district on Sunday. This marks the third incident of terrorist-related violence in poll-bound Jammu and Kashmir since last week. This is the first major terrorist strike in the area after 2018. Till the time of filing the report massive cordon and search operations were mounted in the thickly forested belt to track down the footprints of the group of terrorists. A joint team of security forces led by elite Para commandos of the Indian Army were rushed to the spot to flush out the hiding group of terrorists, believed to have infiltrated recently from the border belt of Kathua. Senior Army, police and CRPF officers rushed to the spot to synergise anti-terrorist operations. According to ground reports, aerial surveillance was also mounted to prevent the terrorists from breaching the outer cordon in the area while area domination parties were closing in with utmost care to avoid more collateral damage during the anti-terrorist operation. According to a statement issued by the Jammu and Kashmir police, J&K Police sprang into action after intel on terrorists near Basantgarh Police station of Udhampur district. The clash erupted as police confronted hiding terrorists. One VDG member was injured. The joint operation was still underway with the Army & CRPF. A police spokesman in Jammu added, Today morning, a party of police picket Sang carrying along with them VDG members proceeded towards Chochru Gala heights where a face-off ensued with a group of hiding terrorists. Official sources in Basantgarh told The Pioneer, The VDG member had initially received bullet injuries when a police party came face to face with the terrorists. However, the VDG member later succumbed to his injuries. The deceased VDG member has been identified by the Jammu and Kashmir police as Mohd Sharief S/O Abdul Rahman R/O Khaned. He is survived by his family of five daughters and other loved ones. The mortal remains of the VDG member were shifted to PHC, Basantgarh where a team of doctors conducted the postmortem before handing over the dead body to the family for the final rites. On April 23, the brother of a Territorial army personnel, working in the Social Welfare Department was shot dead in cold blood by unidentified terrorists while he was returning home after offering prayers in the village Kunda Top of Thanamandi area in the Rajouri district. On April 26, two terrorists were neutralised in the North Kashmir district of Baramulla. Data compiled by think tank PRS Legislative Research shows that the State Assemblies of Delhi, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Telangana and Nagaland have been meeting for fewer than 22 days a year, with the number of sittings decreasing over time. Among States, the Maharashtra Assembly met for the highest number of days (41), followed by West Bengal (40), and Karnataka (39). Notably, in 2023, State legislatures passed more than 500 Bills, and scrutinised their State Budgets, cumulatively worth about `53 lakh crore. The data shows state assemblies sat for an average of 22 days in 2023, and the average duration of sittings was five hours. In 2023, seven states continued sessions for more than six months without proroguing it, and with long gaps between sittings, it said. Maharashtra met for the highest number of days(41), followed by West Bengal (40), and Karnataka (39). At least 13 States, including Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Telangana met for less than 20 days. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Uttarakhand met for less than 10 days. Goa doubled its sittings from 13 in 2022 to 26 in 2023. Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana also met for more days in 2023, as compared to 2022. Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab met for fewer days in 2023 as compared to the previous year. Kerala, which met for 61 days in 2021, and 41 days in 2022, only had 29 sitting days in 2023 The Constitution mandates state legislature sessions to be held at least once every six months. Almost 62 per cent of sittings were held during the budget session. This figure was 61 per cent in 2022 and 2021. Gujarat and Punjab held more than 80 per cent of their sittings in the budget session. Tamil Nadu held 72 per cent of its sittings in the budget session, lower than 91 per cent in 2022. In Delhi, the same session continued from March to December 2023, with 14 sittings. Punjab Assembly session held between March and October 2023 had 10 sittings. Punjab had approached the Supreme Court in February 2023, stating that the Governor was not summoning the Budget Session. The court stated that the governor was bound by the advice of the state Cabinet. Meanwhile, in Rajasthan, the assembly session in 2023 continued from January to August. In 2021 and 2022, Rajasthan had only one session, which continued from January to December. In West Bengal, a session that began in July 2023 was not prorogued till March 2024, and the session held in February to pass the Budget did not start with the customary address by the Governor. In Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, sessions continued for more than a year. In Sikkim, the session which began in March 2022 was prorogued only in April 2023. In Telangana, one session continued from September 2021 till August 2023, when the term of the House ended. Despite the low number of sittings, State Assemblies passed more than 500 bills as well as state budgets worth over Rs 53 lakh crore in 2023. In 2023, 44 per cent of all the bills passed in assemblies were passed within a day of introduction. Gujarat, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Puducherry, and Punjab assemblies passed all Bills on the day they were introduced, or the very next day. Kerala and Meghalaya assemblies on the contrary took more than five days to pass more than 90 per cent of their Bills. While 59 per cent of bills received the Governors assent within a month. In seven states, including Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, all bills received assent within a month. The states with the highest percentage of bills (passed in 2023) that did not get assent within two months were Assam (80 per cent ), Nagaland (57 per cent ), Jharkhand (50 per cent ) and West Bengal (50 per cent ). In West Bengal, on average, a bill received assent 92 days after its passing. Other states where it took a comparatively longer time for bills to receive assent are Assam (73 days), Jharkhand (72), Kerala (67), and Himachal Pradesh (55). When Assemblies sit for a few days, and meet for only a few hours on these days, the time spent on transacting business is also low. In 2023, five states met for less than 50 hours. Seven states met between 50 and 100 hours, eight states between 100 and 150 hours, and six States for 150 hours or more. In 2023, 44 per cent of all the Bills passed, were passed on the day they were introduced in the Assembly or the very next day. The trend was also similar in the last two years (56 per cent in 2022, and 44 per cent in 2021). In 2023, five States - Gujarat, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Puducherry, and Punjab passed all Bills on the day they were introduced, or the very next day. These States passed all Bills within a day in 2022 and 2021 as well, the data says. In a tragic accident in Unnao on Sunday afternoon, a speeding truck ripped through one side of a bus after colliding head-on with it, killing six passengers and injuring over two dozen others. The accident took place near Jamaldipur village on Hardoi-Unnao road in Safipur Kotwali police station area. The police took the injured to the community health centre in Safipur from where they were referred to the district hospitals in Unnao and Kanpur after giving them first aid. The condition of many of the injured was said to be critical and the death toll may increase. Circle Officer of Safipur Rishikant Shukla confirmed the death of six passengers in the accident. He said efforts were being made to ascertain the identities of those killed in the mishap. So far, only three passengers have been identified. The bus was carrying 35 passengers, he added. Reports said that the private bus going to Unnao from Bangarmau had reached near Jamaldipur village in Safipur Kotwali police station area when a speeding truck coming from the front collided head-on with it and ripped through its right side. All the passengers in the bus were injured and some of them died on the spot. In another road accident reported from Hardoi, a 65-year-old man and his son were killed and six members of the family were injured when their car rammed into a tree in the Sawaijpur area of the district. The injured were taken to the local community health centre from where they were referred to the district hospital. Additional Superintendent of Police Martand Prakash Singh said the bodies had been sent for post-mortem. In view of the Lok Sabha elections, a meeting of the Palamu Parliamentary core committee of BJP was held on Sunday. In the meeting BJP coordinator Satyendra Nath Tiwari said that this time the Lok Sabha elections are going to be held in a different way. People from different parties are contesting the elections by forming a grand alliance against the BJP. Such a grand alliance was never formed in the country before. All the corrupt parties are contesting the elections by forming a grand alliance. The main leaders of the corrupt parties are in jail on corruption charges. BJP is not going to spare those who are involved in corruption. Satyendranath Tiwari said that BJP is going to easily achieve Narendra Modi's slogan of crossing 400. He said that Palamu MP Vishnu Dayal Ram has worked to bring very big schemes on the ground during his tenure of ten years. He said that he has built one thousand kilometers of road under the Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana. Vishnu Dayal Ram does not believe in foundation stone laying, he believes in work. He said that local public representatives do not believe in their work but in foundation stone laying. He said that this time BJP is going to get the maximum votes in Garhwa- Ranka assembly constituency. BD Ram is going to win the election with more votes than last time. Palamu Lok Sabha Co-convener Alakhnath Pandey said that the BJP candidate is going to get more than 10 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP workers are working with full awareness. He said that BJP talks about Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. He said that if India has to be developed, then Narendra Modi needs to be made the Prime Minister again. He said that JMM is counting the development work done by BJP. JMM has been in power in Jharkhand for four years, there has been only misgovernance in the JMM government. The BJP party is working completely unitedly. He said that Narendra Modi is going to arrive at Chiaki Airport in Medininagar on May 4. Thousands of workers from Garhwa will reach Chiaki Airport to listen to Narendra Modi's speech. Durga Prasad Johri said that in 2024, BJP is contesting elections in the name of development. The people of the country also want Narendra Modi to become the Prime Minister of the country again. He said that the Congress party is also not contesting elections on 273 seats. In the meeting , BJP State Vice President Jawahar Paswan, Bhagat Sahu, Omprakash Kesari, Pramod Choubey, Rupa Singh, Sanjay Thakur, Rajkumar Madheshiya, Rinku Tiwari, Santosh Dubey and many other BJP workers were present. Boston police cleared a protest encampment at Northeastern University on Saturday, and arrested more than 100 people. Officers could be seen placing zip ties around the protesters' wrists in the morning. Later other individuals gathered and linked arms as they chanted, obstructing one of the driveways used by police vehicles, including vans transporting the arrested protesters. The overall number of protesters in the vicinity seemed to increase as the day progressed. Roughly 102 protesters arrested and will be charged by the Northeastern University Police Department with trespassing and disorderly conduct, state police said in a statement obtained by WCVB5. University officials said later in a statement that arrested students were released, but the status of the charges against them was not immediately revealed. The statement claimed campus protests had been "infiltrated" by outsiders. "What began as a student demonstration two days ago was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern," said the statement, which denounced "virulent antisemitic slurs" at the protests. Several human rights organizations, including Jewish Voices for Peace, raised concerns about the actions taken on Saturday morning. "We denounce Northeastern University's discipline of student activists and the Boston Police Department's arrest of peaceful protesters," JVP said in a statement. "We denounce false claims from the Northeastern administration that protests were 'infiltrated by professional organizers' who used 'virulent antisemitic slurs.'" By "using the actions of counter protesters to slander their own students, the Northeastern University administration is acting in incredible bad faith," the group added. BSP Announces its Candidate for Ludhiana Chandigarh: Bahujan Samaj Party on Sunday announced Davinder Singh Ramgarhia as its candidate from Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat. Punjab BSP president Jasvir Singh Garhi said that the selection of Ramgarhia was made in accordance with the directive of BSP national president Mayawati. Garhi said that Ramgarhia belongs to the OBC category and currently holds the position of president at the All India Vishwakarma Foundation, Punjab, and the Ramgarhia Board Punjab. He said that the BSP had already released names of candidates for Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, Sangrur, Patiala, Jalandhar, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Bathinda, and Gurdaspur parliamentary constituencies in the state. BJP diverting peoples attention from real issues: Selja Sirsa: All India Congress Committees general secretary and partys Sirsa candidate Kumari Selja on Sunday alleged that BJP is diverting peoples attention from real issues. But the public knows everything and will hold the BJP accountable, she said, addressing a public meeting in Dabwali. Today, we are fighting against forces that are against the truth. Its not a personal fightits a fight to save democracy, a fight to bring the labourer standing behind forward, a fight for the poor, farmers, and youth, she said. Selja said that the farmer is demanding only MSP, but the Government has created conditions like those on the India-Pakistan border between the farmer agitations in Dabwali, detaining people. Today, we have to ensure justice for all. You are all soldiers of the common people. Congress is the party of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, she added. Selja said that it hurts her a lot when comments are made about women's mangalsutras. But Modi has never spoken about the rights of sisters and daughters. People are being defamed in the name of religion.Now is the time to fight peacefully. With your blessings, we will definitely get the opportunity to serve you and your area, she said. CM flop show in Ferozepur shows AAPs pathetic condition: Bajwa Chandigarh: After Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's roadshow in Ferozepur turned into a flop show, the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa on Sunday said that AAP has all set to face a humiliating defeat in Punjab in this Lok Sabha election. Bajwa, citing a report, said that there were more security guards than AAP workers and general people in the roadshow held by the Chief Minister in the border district in favour of his party candidate Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar. With the deployment of heavy security, shopkeepers and trades suffered a huge inconvenience, he added. CM Mann is the poster boy of the AAP across the country. If he has failed to pull the crowd in his roadshow, one can easily imagine AAPs decreasing popularity in the state. One can easily assess AAP's pathetic condition in the rest of the state. The bubble of the AAP Government's hollow promises has already been burst, he said, adding that people are fully aware of AAPs deceptiveness and its slogan of 13-0 in this election is going to be the other way around, which is 0-13. BJP leaders facing peoples ire due to Centres faulty policies: Chaudhary Panchkula: Congress candidate from Ambala Varun Chaudhary on Sunday alleged that BJP had not raised the demands and concerns of the people of Ambala constituency in the Parliament. No one raised the peoples voice. But I will raise their matters as I have already done as an MLA in the legislative assembly, which brought a number of changes in the interest of people, said Chaudhary, who was in Panchkula. He said that BJP is facing the peoples ire wherever they are going due to the Centres faulty policies. Commenting on the BJP leaders allegations on the partys manifesto over redistribution of assets and others, he said that such allegations were trifling. I do not want to respond to them as one should not stoop down to such low levels of issuing statements. The important matter is to elect the peoples government, which the BJP is running from, he said, adding that the Congress party will open its Panchkula office in a few days, and he will file nomination papers on May 2. Governance in Punjab paralyzed because CM not signing files: Sukhbir Mansa: SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday said that like in the case of Delhi, governance in Punjab had also come to a standstill because Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was not signing any government file for months, resulting in a complete paralysis in government work. Meanwhile, Sukhbir promised that SAD was committed to establishing a Medical College in Mansa once it came into power in the State, while castigating the AAP government for promising to establish 16 medical colleges but not even starting work on one institution. While two lakh school students in Delhi had not got their school uniforms, books and stationary because Arvind Kejriwal has not resigned from the post of Chief Minister of Delhi even after being arrested in a corruption case, education and health services and even various projects had been affected in Punjab because Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was not signing important files since months. NOCs for various projects are also awaiting the Chief Ministers nod for months, he said. Urging the Punjabis to punish these power hungry politicians, Sukhbir said that the situation has become such in Punjab that it was for the first time that salaries of various departments including health department and Punjab Police were not released till around April 25. AAP Government had squandered more than Rs 1000 crores on advertisements and had even spent hundreds of crores on hiring aircraft for the use of AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal as well as election campaigns of AAP across the country, he said. Considering the heat wave, Haryana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anurag Agarwal on Sunday said that all Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Electoral Officers (DEOs) have been given special directions to ensure the provision of additional resources at polling centres in their respective districts, including arrangements for cold water, coolers-fans, and tents. Similarly, arrangements will be made for wheelchairs and shades for the assistance of voters over 85 years of age and persons with disability (PwD) voters, along with volunteers, informed Agrawal. Agarwal said that the voter turnout in the previous Lok Sabha elections was 70 percent, and this time, the target is set to increase it to at least 75 percent. For this, several unique initiatives have been undertaken by the department, including launching the Voter in Queue app, sending polling invitations to voters akin to wedding invitations, and setting up 31 polling booths in the multi-storey societies of Global City Gurugram. CEO further said that the election notification will be issued from April 29 onwards, and the fate of the candidates contesting the election will be decided by 1,99,81,982 voters across the state's 10 Lok Sabha constituencies. He said that in the Ambala assembly constituency, there are 10,51,443 male voters, 9,35,635 female voters, and 76 transgender voters. Similarly, in the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency, there are 9,38,029 male voters, 8,50,439 female voters, and 23 transgender voters, while in the Sirsa Lok Sabha constituency, there are 10,20,510 male voters, 9,11,339 female voters, and 41 transgender voters. Agarwal further informed that in Hisar Lok Sabha constituency, there are 9,52,598 male voters, 8,32,569 female voters, and 11 transgender voters, in Karnal Lok Sabha constituency, there are 11,03,606 male voters, 9,92,721 female voters, and 37 transgender voters, and in the Sonipat Lok Sabha constituency, there are 9,40,969 male voters, 8,20,483 female voters, and 44 transgender voters. Agarwal said that the number of voters in Rohtak Lok Sabha constituency is 18,83,383, out of which 9,96,702 are male, 8,86,660 female and 21 are transgender registered voters. Similarly, there are a total of 17,86,942 registered voters in Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha constituency, out of which 9,42,692 are male, 8,44,237 are female and 13 are transgender voters. He said that the Gurugram Lok Sabha constituency has maximum number of voters of 25,46,916, of which 13,47,521 are male, 11,99,317 are female and 78 are transgender voters, whereas in Faridabad Lok Sabha constituency, the number of voters is 24,14,168, of which 13,10,206 male, 11,03,844 female, and 118 transgender voters. Agarwal further said that in the festival of democracy, every voter must exercise their voting rights and contribute their share. For this, every voter should ensure that their name is listed in the voter list. Only the voter whose name is in the voter list can exercise their voting rights, he said, while clarifying that if a voter's name is in the voter list but they do not have an EPIC, they can still cast their vote by showing one of the alternative documents specified by the Election Commission. Even if a voter has an old EPIC card, they can still vote, provided their name is listed in that area's voter list. If a voter's name is not in the voter list and they show their Aadhar card, Voter ID card, or any other identity document at the polling center to vote, they will not be allowed to vote. Any voter can only vote when their name is registered in the voter list, he said. Agarwal informed that besides EPIC, voters can also cast their votes using alternative photo identity documents specified by the Election Commission. These documents include passport, driving license, Service identity card issued to employees by Central, State governments, Public Sector Undertakings or Public Limited Companies, Passbook issued by bank or post office with photo, PAN card, Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour, MNREGA Job card, Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour, Pension document with photo, Official Identity Card issued to MPs, MLAs, MLCs and Aadhar card. The voters in Haryana can quickly and easily obtain information about their vote on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana https://ceoharyana.gov.in/. In addition, voters can check their vote by calling the Voter Helpline number - 1950. Before voting is to be held in the third and fourth phases of Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh, the political temperature is increasing. Senior BJP leader and minister Prahlad Patel has fiercely targeted the Congress. While talking to media persons, Patel said that the hidden agenda of Congress and INDI Alliance is to snatch the rights of SC, ST and OBC and give them to their favourites. Congress wants to give the share of reservation for Dalits, tribals and backward classes to Muslims. Patel said that Congress's intention of Muslim appeasement and opposition to the majority class has become widely known to the public. This conspiracy of Congress is going to weaken the country and shatter the constitutional values, which cannot be condemned enough. By talking about religion-based reservation which was not accepted by the makers of our Constitution, the Congress Party is ignoring the Constitution of the country in the greed for its electoral gains. Congress says that Muslims have the first right on the country's resources, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that the poor have the first right on the country's resources. Bharatiya Janata Party will never allow this effort of Congress to succeed and the majority society of the country, Dalits, backward classes and tribals will also have to stand against it. He said that Congress conspired to not give constitutional status to the Backward Classes Commission. Patel said that despite the formation of the Backward Classes Commission in 1993, in 2004 the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh made a provision to give 7 to 10 percent reservation to Muslims, whereas the Muslim population there was only 9.5 percent. Congress is calling all Muslim castes as OBC i.e. socially and educationally backward. Congress tried to implement Muslim reservation in Andhra Pradesh four times, but could not do so due to the intervention of the Supreme Court. Congress had promised reservation in education and jobs for Muslims in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Congress wanted that there should be a separate quota for Muslims within the OBC reservation. In 2011, during UPA-II, the Ministry of Minority Affairs proposed an 8.4 per cent sub-quota within the OBC quota, which also included 6 per cent reservation for Muslims. This revolutionary black work of Congress is that they will grab your rights, your money, your property and hand it over to their favorite minority class. A daylong, all-India seminar on 'Control & Optimization of Electric Vehicles (EVs)', sponsored by the Institution of Engineers (India), was organized by the Electrical Engineering Department at MediCaps University, Indore. The event featured three expert lectures and a hands-on session, conducted by industry experts and prominent professors from nationally renowned institutes. The Inauguration program commenced with the rendition of the esteemed guests of honor included the honorable Vice Chancellor of MediCaps University, Prof. (Dr.) D. K. Patnaik, and the distinguished chief guest, Dr. Shailendra Sharma, Professor at SGSITS, Indore. Additionally, Mr. Dinesh Kumar Shukla, Chairman, and Mr. Ramesh Singh Chouhan, Secretary of IE(I), were graciously welcomed with dignitaries . The audience of the seminar was engineering faculties from India and was also attended by the students. Firstly, Dr. M. Murali told the audience about the objective of the seminar. After that Dinesh Kumar Shukla, Chairman, IE(I), Indore local centre spoke about Institution of Engineers (India) and its various activities. Then, Vice Chancellor of the MediCaps University Prof. (Dr.) D. K. Patnaik discussed about the usage of electric vehicles as the future mode of transport. In the inaugural technical session of the All India Seminar on 'Control & Optimization of Electric Vehicles', Dr. Shailendra Sharma delivered an insightful discourse on the various components of electric vehicles, captivating the audience with his expertise in electric vehicle charging technologies. Following this, Sonu Singh, Founder & CEO of Shiksha Jn. Pvt. Ltd., delved into different controller designs employed for diverse operations within electric vehicles during the second technical session. The third session, led by expert Pemendra Pardhi, Senior Design Engineer at Castnex Private Limited, Dewas, provided further depth on the subject matter. In the subsequent hands-on session, Pardhi actively engaged the audience, showcasing and discussing the controller and driver circuit board with fervor. The program garnered patient and enthusiastic participation from both faculty and students alike. Attendees seized the opportunity to interact with the experts, resolving their queries and gaining deeper insights into electric vehicle system operations. Under the esteemed guidance and support of Chancellor RC Mittal, Pro-Chancellor Gopal Agrawal, OSD to Chancellor Palash Garg, Director of Branding and Promotion Saloni Garg, Pro-Vice Chancellor DK Panda, Registrar Panneer selvam Siluvainatha, Dean of Engineering Dr. Pramod S. Nair, Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Shilpa Tripathi, and HOD Dr. M. Murali, the seminar successfully advanced understanding in the field of electric vehicle control and optimization. The shock resignation of Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely less than a month before the seven seats of the national Capital go to polls, has put the grand old partys Lok Sabha election campaign in limbo. The resignation brought the partys factional feud into the open, with a section of leaders on Sunday demanding the removal of AICC in-charge Deepak Babaria. Lovely, in his resignation letter sent to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, and also shared on his social media account, brought into public domain the internal rift in the Delhi unit of the party. It also showed the discontent within the grand old partys local unit over its alliance with foe-turned-friend Aam Aadmi Party. While the Aam Aadmi Party termed it as an internal matter of the Congress. As the news of Lovely resignation spread, some party workers gathered outside Lovelys residence and raised slogans against AICCs Delhi in-charge Babaria who, meanwhile, stressed that all DPCC leaders were taken into confidence on the alliance issue and Lovely should have aired his views before the party panels. Ahead of forming the alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, the DPCC leaders and workers were taken into confidence. He (Lovely) was part of all the committees and panels; he should have raised his objections back then. Anyone who distances themselves from any party or posts tends to find a reason to do so, Babaria told reporters. Reacting to the development former Delhi minister and four time MLA from Mangolpuri, Rajkumar Chauhan, who resigned from the party on Wednesday, in a video, addressed to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, urged him to remove Deepak Babaria, incharge of Delhi affairs post while supporting the decision of Lovely. Lovely has resigned. I have also resigned. The Delhi in-charge told me to get out of a meeting. Remove Delhi in-charge Deepak Babaria from Delhi and save Congress, said Chauhan adding Babaria can not win an election and he is not only dictating but also humiliated senior Congress leaders. It seems Babaria was appointed as Delhi Congress in charge to destroy the party, he said.Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit empathised with Lovely over his resignation from the post and said, Being the Congress President and a Congress worker, he (Arvinder Singh Lovely) has a personal pain. His pain is that we are struggling to bring back our old reputation in Delhi. Becoming the President of Congress is a crown of thorns. Despite this, he worked hard in the last 6-8 months and built the party. Dikshit also went to the residence of Lovely to meet him. Further he said that everyone felt that Congress is slowly gaining its old reputation back. Everyone felt that Congress is slowly awakening and when we get 2 or 3 seats, it seems that if we give seats to people with the consent of all the people of Congress, then the work will go better in the future, Dikshit said. Party leader Subhash Chopra claimed that it is their internal party matter and said, I asked him what was the reason that he resigned (from the post of Delhi Congress chief). He said all the reasons have been sent to the party president. It is our partys internal matter and we will resolve it through discussion. He said he has only resigned from the post, not from the party. Former Congress MLA Neeraj Basoya said, Lovely has resigned after seeing the sentiments of the Congress workers. Babarias style of functioning has created problems everywhere, be it Delhi or Haryana, and all the workers are angry. Congress leader Jai Kishan said this is not good for the party. The party has given tickets to outsiders. How will we convince party workers to campaign for them, he added. Interestingly Udit Raj who is contesting from north west seat from the party ticket, had abused Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in the past, he said. Congress leader Surendra Rajput said Kharge will decide the future course of action after Lovelys resignation. I would only say that our alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party happened with his participation and as per his wish. The general elections are going on and one should keep personal expectations and aspirations aside for now, he said. Earlier, a scuffle broke outside Lovelys residence here as his supporters allegedly pushed ex-Congress MLA Asid Mohammed Khan who had reached there after Lovelys resignation. Khan said, This was an internal matter and Lovely should have reached out to the Congress president. By releasing his resignation letter in the media, he is providing an advantage to the BJP. He alleged that BJP will replace its East Delhi candidate Harsh Malhotra and Lovely will be declared by the party as its candidate from the constituency. At a press conference later, Lovely made it clear that he has only resigned from the party post and is not joining any political party. AAP senior leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said it was an internal matter of their senior ally Congress. It wont be appropriate for me to comment on the matter. AAP is fighting on the four seats it is contesting with full strength and we are hopeful that people will vote for the INDIA bloc candidates on all the seven seats in Delhi, he said. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday asserted that the next government at the Centre cannot be formed without the support of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), emphasizing the crucial role the party is poised to play in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Speaking confidently, Mann declared that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, a pan-India alliance of opposition parties, will assume power in the aftermath of the polls, foreseeing a victory of 120-125 seats out of the 190 contested in the initial phases. AAP will be a partner in the (next) government. The next government cannot be formed without AAP's support, Mann affirmed, underlining the significance of AAP's participation in shaping the political landscape. Despite being a part of the opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc along with the Congress, AAP is contesting the Lok Sabha elections independently in Punjab. Mann, addressing a gathering in Barnala in support of AAP's Sangrur candidate Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, expressed confidence in the party's stronghold in the constituency, asserting that Sangrur remains firmly in AAP's grasp. Sangrur is and will always be AAPs capital, he declared. Highlighting Kejriwal's concern for Sangrur, Mann recounted his recent meeting with the AAP chief in jail, where Kejriwal enquired about the constituency. Today, seeing the enthusiasm of the people here, it is clear that we are winning Sangrur by a huge margin, Mann proclaimed, echoing his optimism for AAP's performance in the polls. Enumerating the achievements of his government, Mann cited initiatives such as providing free electricity to 90 percent of households, abolishing toll plazas, and enhancing road safety measures. He also highlighted efforts to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply for farmers and increase canal water supply to conserve groundwater. With these accomplishments, Mann projected a promising future for Punjab under AAP's governance. AAP Will Win Ludhiana By Huge Margin: Mann Chief Minister Mann on Sunday experienced an overwhelming response while campaigning for AAP candidate Ashok Parashar Pappi in Ludhiana, with thousands of enthusiastic supporters joining the roadshow, echoing chants of 'Aam Aadmi Party zindabad', 'Inquilab Zindabad', and 'Bhagwant Mann zindabad'. Mann, addressing the vibrant gathering, emphasized Ludhiana's pivotal role as the heart of Punjab, stating that winning the seat signifies winning the heart of the state. Reflecting on his connection with Ludhiana, Mann affectionately referred to it as his Karambhoomi, and reminisced about his early career as a comedian in the city. Asserting confidence in AAP's victory, Mann praised the fervent energy of Ludhiana's residents, declaring, We are winning this seat by a huge margin. Punjab CM to Meet Kejriwal in Tihar on April 30 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet AAP supremo and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar jail on April 30. This will be Manns second meeting with Kejriwal in Tihar. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an excise policy-linked money-laundering case. Mann met Kejriwal in jail earlier this month and alleged that the AAP chief was not being given amenities provided even to hardcore criminals. The nomination process for seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi is all set to begin on Monday after the notification of the sixth phase of polls for May 25 . The electoral battle in Delhi is going to be a direct fight between BJP and the alliance of AAP and Congress. Officials said all arrangements have been made at the offices of the returning officers to accept the applications. The nominations can be filed between 11am and 3pm till May 6 (Saturday and Sunday will remain non-working days), the documents will be scrutinised on May 7 and the last date to withdraw the candidature is May 9. While polling will take place on May 25, the votes will be count on June 4. As on April 20, a total of 1.5 crore voters, including 81.6 lakh men, 69.4 lakh women and 1,215 belonging to third gender will be eligible to cast their votes at nearly13,000 polling booths across the city. The 2019 Lok Sabha polls witnessed 347 people filing their nominations but only 164 were left in the fray after scrutiny of documents and withdrawal of candidature. In 2014, 207 filed nominations and 150 eventually contested. Each candidate will also have to deposit a security deposit of Rs 25,000, which is Rs 12,500 for those belonging to the scheduled caste and scheduled tribes. The BJP has fielded Harsh Malhotra from East Delhi, Manoj Tiwari from North East Delhi, Praveen Khandelwal from Chandni Chowk, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri from South Delhi, Yogendra Chandolia from North West Delhi, Bansuri Swaraj from New Delhi and Kamaljeet Sahrawat from West Delhi. AAP has fielded Kuldeep Kumar (East Delhi), SahiramPehalwan (South Delhi), Mahabal Mishra (West Delhi) andSomnath Bharti (New Delhi). The Congress has given ticket to seasoned politician Jai Prakash Agarwal from Chandni Chowk, Udit Raj from North West Seat and Kanhaiya Kumar from North East seat. There is a huge ressntment among the Congress workers and workers for giving tickets to Kanhaiya Kumar and Udit Raj.Even in his resignation letter to Mallikarjun Kharge, Arvinder Singh Lovely has said that tickets were given to two people who are total strangers to the Delhi Congress and party policies while referring to the candidature of Kanhaiya Kumar from Northeast Delhi and Udit Raj from Northwest Delhi constituencies. Lovely also criticised Kanhaiya Kumar for heaping praise on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is behind bars in a money laundering case. When asked about the development, Kumar said, I dont know. I dont have any information. Let me gather the information from the party and then I will tell you. Lovely accused Udit Raj of making anti-party statements in the press and disrespecting party workers. He claimed Raj had written several letters to him asking him to suspend various generational local party leaders. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday that the Samajwadi Party had accepted defeat even before the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections. He remarked: The frequent changes in candidates by the Samajwadi Party indicates that the party has accepted defeat even before the elections are over. Taking a dig at the Congress and SP, Yogi Adityanath said that those who challenged divine power were destined to fall, adding that the SP had turned the Lok Sabha elections into a mockery. Referring to the Congress manifesto while addressing a public meeting in Bilsi, Budaun, the chief minister said, Congress is working on hidden agendas against the nation. Former prime ministers used to hesitate to visit Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the first prime minister who visited Ayodhya and witnessed pran pratishtha of Ram Lalla in his magnificent temple after 500 years. He also urged people to support the BJP candidate and regional president Durvijay Shakya. Taking a jibe at SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, Chief Minister Yogi remarked, It appears that even the chacha has realised that it is time to step back, while the bhatija has stumbled even before the start. This is evident in Shahjahanpur, Rampur and Meerut. However, the public knows their tactics and will not succumb to it. Chief Minister Yogi stated that with the connection of the Ganga Expressway, this region was becoming a part of the industrial development process. Before 2014, terrorist activities used to occur in India, and Pakistan would celebrate, while the Indian government remained silent. Today, even if a firecracker goes off in Pakistan, it starts giving explanations because it knows when and where a surgical strike might occur, Yogi added. Presently, the country is establishing new milestones of security, and prosperity with highways, expressways and development. A long series of welfare schemes for the poor is available to the public, Yogi added. The chief minister stated that previous governments played with faith. People from the Congress used to say that Ram and Krishna never existed. Today, after 500 years, the anticipation has ended, and Ram Lalla is now enshrined in his magnificent temple, he said. We will honour the great personalities and faith in every district. We have started with Kashi and Ayodhya, and after Braj, Budaun is also on the list, he pointed out. Chief Minister Yogi cautioned people against the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, alleging that they had a hidden agenda against India. They are planning to tamper with reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and the Backward Classes and are preparing to impose an inheritance tax on your property after surveying it, he stated. He mentioned, We have tackled the mafia and goons. The SP did not utter a single word of condolence on the death of former chief minister Kalyan Singh but visited the home of a mafia to read the Fatiha upon his death. Yogi emphasised that people must cast their votes for a self-reliant and developed India. On this occasion, Union minister BN Verma, BJP regional president and candidate from Budaun Durvijay Shakya, BJP state vice-president Dinesh Sharma, MP Sanghamitra Maurya, MLA Bilsi Harish Shakya, MLC Vagish Pathak, MLA Mahesh Gupta, Rajiv Kumar Singh, Vimal Krishna were present. Former Union Minister Manish Tewari the candidate of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) from Chandigarh parliamentary seat on Sunday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) what it had done for the city during the past 10 years when it had a four-engine government. Tewari, addressing a series of meetings and speaking during public interactions, pointed out that there was BJPs Home Minister, the Governor as UT Administrator, the MP, and the Mayor all from BJP. Plus, there was another toy-engine in Sanjay Tandon as city BJP chief for eight years tagged along, he added. It is time that they tell what they have done for the city and mention one single achievement if they really have anyDo not tell us what you are going to do, tell us what you have done in the last ten years, Tewari asked the BJP, particularly the party candidate Sanjay Tandon who was the UT BJP president for eight years during this period. Tewari said that the Congress has a proven record of taking welfare measures, which touch the common man and make a difference in their life. Asserting that it is the Congress which has built up massive infrastructure across the country, he pointed out that it was the Congress that built and developed Chandigarh into a modern city known across the globe for its beauty. The institutions set up in Chandigarh like the PGI and the Panjab University are globally knownThe Congress has bequeathed such a great city to the people and promised that it will improve the infrastructure and add further to its beauty, said Tewari, who was accompanied by the Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky, AAP leader Dr SS Ahluwalia, among other senior leaders of the two parties. Tewari also conducted a pad yatra (foot march) in Burail area, addressed a citizens meeting in Sector 38; and addressed a public meeting in Raipur Khurd village. Two Prominent Cong Leaders Join BJP Chandigarh: BJP got another shot in the arm in Chandigarh as two prominent Congress leaders Parveen Narang Bunty the president of District Congress Urban; and Parikshit Rana Youth Congress state vice president joined the BJP along with their scores of supporters at the two different events. In addition, the Sood community also has lent its support to the BJP Chandigarh candidate Tandon. Tandon said: I welcome Narang ji into the BJP parivar. Congressmen are joining our party in hordes as they have become disillusioned with Congress partys leadership and are getting attracted to the growth-oriented policies of the Modi government and want to be with a party that is dedicated to the development of the nation. I will take up the metro project proposal with the Central Government soon after becoming a Member of Parliament and our beloved PM Narendra Modi will be invited for a stone laying function, assured Tandon. Tandon Leads Bikers' Rally Chandigarh: BJP Lok Sabha candidate Sanjay Tandon on Sunday flagged off as well as led the motorbike rally from his residence till Namdhari Gurudwara in Sector 30, which passed through various sectors raising pro-Modi and pro-Tandon slogans. I was reminded of my younger days when I used to accompany my father Balramji Dass Tandon on his bike during the election campaigns, said Tandon. Meanwhile the rally concluded at Sector-30 Gurudwara where members of WTF held placards of Modi to show support for Tandons election campaign. After this, Tandon paid obeisance at the Namdhari Gurudwara, and was presented a siropa as a mark of respect. Suba Gurmukh Singh, head of Namdhari Sangat of Chandigarh and Panchkula, announced support of the Namdhari community to the BJP candidate. Research Cell in collaboration with Multi-disciplinary Research Unit-Department of Health Research (MRU-DHR), AIIMS Bhopal successfully conducted three-day "Thesis Protocol Writing Workshop for Postgraduates DM/MCh, & MSc Nursing Students" from April April 25 to 27, 2024 for nurturing the research capabilities of its postgraduate students. Prof. (Dr,) Ajai Singh, Executive Director and CEO, AIIMS Bhopal expressed his delight at the overwhelming response and emphasized the significance of fostering a research-oriented mindset among future healthcare professionals. He highlighted the significance of commitment, adherence to dress code, fostering interpersonal relationships, and engaging in administrative tasks, all of which contribute to the holistic development of postgraduate students, in addition to laying the groundwork in research methodology. The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation from 89 budding postgraduates who were eager to enhance their research competencies. Chinese foreign minister receives written interview with Al Jazeera Media Network Xinhua) 10:27, April 28, 2024 BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi recently received a written interview with Al Jazeera Media Network. The following is the full text of the written interview: Q1: Foreign Minister Wang Yi, you talked about the conflict in Gaza at your recent press conference held on the margins of the annual session of the National People's Congress. What measures will China possibly take to promote an immediate ceasefire in Gaza? Wang Yi: 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. For nearly six months, the conflict has caused over 100,000 casualties and displaced over one million civilians. The international community must act now. First, what is urgent now is to realize ceasefire as early as possible, and this is the overriding priority. Even one more day of delay would mean further violation of human conscience and more erosion of the cornerstone of justice. Thanks to the concerted efforts of all parties, the United Nations Security Council not long ago adopted its first resolution demanding ceasefire since the start of the conflict. The resolution is legally binding, and should be enforced effectively to achieve an unconditional and lasting ceasefire right away. Second, unimpeded humanitarian assistance must be ensured at all times, and this is the pressing moral obligation. China has firmly opposed forced transfer of Palestinian civilians and collective punishment against people in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict. We have vigorously supported the early establishment of a humanitarian relief mechanism, and have continuously provided humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Going forward, China will continue to work with the international community to channel all our efforts toward the ceasefire resolution enforcement, civilian protection, and rapid, safe, unhindered and sustainable delivery of humanitarian supplies to people in Gaza. Third, further spillover of the conflict must be forestalled, and this is the practical necessity for preventing the situation from spinning out of control. The escalation of Iran-Israel hostilities is the latest spillover of the conflict in Gaza. China calls on all related parties to stay calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalation. With the ongoing sense of justice, China will actively promote peace and stability in the Middle East and help ease the tension. 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. The Gaza calamity shows once again that the perpetual denial of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people is the root cause of the Palestinian question, and it is also the core issue of the Middle East question. The only way to break the vicious cycle of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, eliminate the breeding ground of extremism and hatred, and achieve enduring peace in the region is to truly restore justice to the Palestinians, effectively enforce the two-State solution, and bring about political settlement to the legitimate security concerns of all related parties. China will continue to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Middle East countries and the whole international community to firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights; firmly support internal reconciliation among different factions of Palestine through dialogue; firmly support Palestine's full membership in the United Nations at an early date; and firmly support establishing the independent State of Palestine and realizing "the Palestinians governing Palestine." We call for a more broad-based, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference to set a timetable and a roadmap for the two-State solution, to promote comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, and to ultimately realize peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine as well as harmony between the Arab and Jewish peoples. Q2: The Chinese Ministry of National Defense announced the deployment of several hundred servicemen in an escort fleet for cargo ships. In this connection, how do you see the rising tensions in the Red Sea? Wang Yi: The Red Sea has vital international shipping lanes for goods and energy going through it. Safeguarding its peace and stability helps keep global supply chains unobstructed and ensures the international trade order. That serves the interests of the region and the wider international community. For quite some time, rising tensions in the Red Sea have affected important interests of regional countries, especially the littoral states. They have also heightened the overall security risk of the region and weighed on the global economic recovery. China is deeply concerned about this. China's position on the Red Sea is quite clear, which can be summed up in four points: First, attacks and harassment on civilian vessels in the Red Sea should stop. There is no excuse at all for attacks on civilians. Second, the international community should work together in accordance with law to ensure safe passage in the Red Sea. All parties are expected to play a constructive role toward deescalation. Third, the root cause of the rising tensions in the Red Sea is the Gaza conflict. There should be an early ceasefire in Gaza so as to stem spillovers at source. Fourth, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen and other Red Sea countries should be upheld in earnest. Since the flare-up of the tensions, China has stayed in touch with all parties and strove vigorously for deescalation. We take seriously the legitimate concerns of countries in the region, especially the littoral states of the Red Sea. We stand ready to coordinate more closely with regional countries and work together with the international community to continue with our constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the Red Sea at an early date. It must be noted that the ongoing escort mission by the Chinese navy is not related to the Red Sea situation. It is carried out in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia as authorized by the U.N. Security Council. Since 2008, the Chinese navy has deployed 45 task groups in that region with a total of over 150 vessel sorties to deter pirates and conduct humanitarian operations. They have been a key part in safeguarding security in those waters. China will continue to act on the Global Security Initiative to protect the safety of international shipping lanes and to promote tirelessly a community with a shared future for mankind. Q3: China has called for international peace conferences quite a few times to resolve the Ukraine crisis through negotiations. How will China mediate in these negotiations as the primary strategic partner of Russia? Will China pressure Russia to end the war? Wang Yi: China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent, unequivocal and transparent. China is not a direct party to the conflict, and it did not start the crisis. Yet China is not an indifferent onlooker. In the two-plus years since the full escalation of the crisis, China has made tireless efforts to promote ceasefire and end the fighting. President Xi Jinping had in-depth talks with leaders of Russia, Ukraine and other countries. He stressed that peaceful negotiation is the only viable way out, and expressed China's hope for all parties to build conditions for political settlement of the crisis through dialogue. In addition, China has released a position paper particularly on the Ukraine crisis, and its Special Representative has made many visits to relevant countries to conduct good offices, pass on messages, clarify positions, and urge all sides to seek common ground, put aside differences and build consensus. At present, the danger of further deterioration and escalation of the crisis still exists. The international community must strengthen solidarity, pool all the efforts for peace, and take real actions to lower the temperature. It is imperative to remain committed to political settlement. Conflicts and wars do not end on the battlefield but at the table. China supports an international conference held at a proper time that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and that ensures equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussions of all peace plans so as to achieve early ceasefire and end the fighting. It is imperative to uphold objectivity and impartiality. There is no panacea to defusing crises. All sides should play their due part, and build up mutual trust to create conditions for ending hostility and starting peace talks. Any attempt to exploit the chaos for selfish gains or add fuel to the flames must be firmly rejected. More important, no one should form factions or provoke bloc confrontation. It is imperative to address both symptoms and root causes. To uproot the crisis, we must dive deeper into the question of security. Pursuing unilateral or absolute security by willfully compressing the security space of others will inevitably tip the balance of power in the region and give rise to conflicts. China will, together with the international community, uphold the principle of indivisible security, champion the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, accommodate legitimate security concerns of all sides, and support a balanced, effective and sustainable regional security architecture. We will work with all parties constructively to promote political settlement of the crisis, and contribute more to regional tranquility and security and enduring world peace. Q4: On Taiwan. We have noted that eyes are on the Chinese government to see if it will take military action on China's Taiwan region. Given Taiwan's close ties with the United States and U.S. continued arms sales, how do you see the situation across the Taiwan Strait? Wang Yi: Taiwan has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times. The Cairo Declaration jointly issued by the governments of China, the United States and the United Kingdom in 1943 clearly stated that Taiwan, which Japan had stolen from the Chinese, shall be restored to China. The Potsdam Declaration of 1945 to end World War II reiterated in Article 8 that "the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out." U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 was another unequivocal recognition of the one-China principle. These legally-binding international instruments are constituents of the postwar international order. They have further consolidated the historical and legal basis of Taiwan being an inalienable part of Chinese territory. Therefore, the Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affair, and how to achieve national reunification is a matter for the Chinese people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. 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-Strait 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. The "Taiwan independence" elements are the troublemakers, and do the biggest harm to cross-Strait stability. Maintaining peace across the Strait inherently means resolutely opposing "Taiwan independence." Yet some countries are giving "Taiwan independence" separatist elements more and more weapons behind the scenes, in stark contrast to their calls for peace and stability of the Strait. These moves will only increase the risk of conflict and confrontation, and seriously undermine peace and stability in the Strait and the region as a whole. China will not sit on its hands with external disruptions. No one should underestimate the firm resolve, strong will and great capability of the Chinese people to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity. As President Xi Jinping has stressed, complete reunification of our motherland is the shared aspiration of the people, the trend of the times and a historical inevitability, and no force can stop it. China will ultimately achieve complete reunification, and Taiwan is bound to return to the embrace of the motherland. We also firmly believe that Middle East countries and the international community will stay committed to the one-China principle and support the Chinese people's just cause of opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and striving for national reunification. Q5: On U.S. election and China-U.S. relations. How does China see the election and the prospects of China-U.S. relations? Wang Yi: The China-U.S. relationship bears on the well-being of the Chinese and American peoples and the future of humanity and the world. Last November, President Xi Jinping had a successful meeting with President Joe Biden in San Francisco upon invitation, and the two presidents agreed on a future-oriented San Francisco vision. China is sincere in improving its relations with the United States. A predictable, sustainable, healthy and stable China-U.S. relationship serves the interests of both the Chinese and American peoples as well as the whole world. Meanwhile, the United States still sticks to its misperception of China, and presses ahead with its misguided policy to contain China. It has recently continued to woo its so-called allies in an attempt to provoke tensions at sea in the region and build networks to contain China at a faster pace. It has kept ratcheting up its unilateral sanctions, and gone all out to constrain China's development of science and technology. The United States should not view the world through the lens of Cold War and zero-sum mentality, and it should not say one thing but do another. The people of the world have clear eyes, and even more so for the Middle East people that can see easily who is on the right side of history and justice. What China brings to the world is cooperation, growth, stability and win-win. China's development and rejuvenation enjoys strong internal impetus and conforms with the trend of history. It will not be stopped by any force. The U.S. election is an internal affair of the United States. China never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries. Meddling with others is just not the Chinese way. Whoever is elected, Chinese and American peoples will still need to have exchanges and cooperation, and the two major countries must find the right way to get along with each other. The three principles -- mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation -- put forward by President Xi Jinping are our fundamental guidance and goal when viewing and handling China-U.S. relations. During his recent phone call with President Biden, President Xi pointed out once again that two big countries like China and the United States should not cut off exchanges or turn their back on each other, still less slide into conflict or confrontation. They should instead cherish peace, value stability, and uphold credibility. The China-U.S. relationship cannot go back to its past. But it should, and can fully, have a bright future. China is ready to work with the United States to carry out more win-win cooperation, do more that benefits the whole world, and truly fulfill their respective responsibilities to the international community. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Police have arrested hundreds of additional protesters at college campuses nationwhide as pro-Palestinian demonstrations continue. The protests started with an encampment at Columbia University where students demanded the Ivy League school divest from Israeli companies because of the war in Gaza that has killed 34,000 Palestinians. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein was among those detained at Washington University in St Louis. BREAKING: Jill Stein and her Campaign Manager and Deputy Campaign Manager, Jason Call and Kelly Merrill-Cayer, have been arrested at Washington University in St. Louis while supporting a protest against WashUs ties to the war on Gaza. Video from @KallieECox pic.twitter.com/rkUYC9b5Qx Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) April 28, 2024 "It's shameful that university administrations are condoning the use of force against their own students who are simply calling for peace, human rights, and an end to a genocide that the American people abhor," Stein posted on X. In Massachusetts, approximately 102 protesters at Northeastern University who refused to disperse were arrested Saturday and will be charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct, according to the Massachusetts State Police. The school claimed tn a statement that the demonstration was "infiltrated by professional organizers." "Last night, the use of virulent antisemitic slurs including "Kill the Jews," crossed the line," the school explained for clearing the demonstrators. But some campus groups denied the use of anti-semitic slurs, and denounced the university's crackdown on the protests. California State Polytechnic Humboldt campus became the latest to move to virtual learning due to the protests. It has has also postponed its graduation ceremonies. The protests erupted in the wake of Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza. The Israeli military invaded Gaza after Hamas gunmen stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,000 people and kidnapping hundreds more. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that while PM Narendra Modi runs a government for billionaires from Delhi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik leads a dispensation that works for "select people" in Odisha. Addressing an election rally in Cuttack's Salepur, Gandhi claimed that though the BJD and BJP were fighting the electoral battle against each other, in reality, they were working together. "Call it a partnership or marriage, both BJD and BJP are together," he claimed. Taking a dig at Patnaik, Gandhi said that though he was the chief minister, the BJD government in the state was being run by his aide VK Pandian. In an apparent reference to the PM, Gandhi said, "Uncle-ji and Naveen-babu have given Odisha PAANN, meaning Pandian, Amit Shah, Narendra Modi, Naveen Patnaik. They have looted your wealth." "Rs 9 lakh crore was looted through the mining scam. Rs 20,000 crore was looted through land grabs. The plantation scam was of 15,000 crore. As soon as the Congress government is formed here and in Delhi, we will start giving you back your money," he added. Gandhi claimed that in a similar way, the BRS in Telangana used to work with the BJP, and his party ousted it from power. "While Naveen-babu has given you Pandian, I will tell you what Congress will give you. If we come to power at the Centre, we will do five revolutionary works. We will make a list of all the poor families, and one woman from a family will be selected and we will transfer Rs 1 lakh annually to her bank account. It is Rs 8,500 per month," he said. "We will bring a scheme -- 'pehli naukri pakki'. All the unemployed youths with degrees and diplomas will get apprenticeships, we will give you the guarantee of your first job for a year. It will be in the public sector, private sector, government hospitals and offices," he added. Gandhi said that if Congress formed the government in Odisha, it would provide Rs 2,000 per month to women, Rs 3,000 per month to unemployed youths, 200 units of free electricity and LPG at Rs 500 per cylinder. "While uncle-ji has worked for 22 billionaires, we are going to create crores of lakhpatis," he said. He alleged that BJP refers to tribals as 'banabasi' or forest-dwellers instead of 'adibasi' or indigenous people. "The tribals are not 'banabasi', they are the 'adibasi', meaning they have the first right to the land, forest and water. Modi has taken away tribal rights and given them to industries. Congress will give tribals their rights back," Gandhi said. He said that if Congress returns to power, it will waive off farm loans. "Whenever there is a need, Congress will waive off crop loans," he said, adding that a legal framework for MSP for all crops will also be ensured. "The salary of Anganwadi and ASHA workers will be doubled, while MGNREGA wage will be hiked to Rs 400 per day," he said. Odisha will vote in the Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls simultaneously in four phases, starting on May 13. There are 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state and a 147-member assembly. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that those who turned down the invitation for the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be rejected by the people in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. He was apparently referring to the Congress party for not attending the event. Modi said a decision on building the Ram temple should have been taken the very next day of the country's independence. Targeting the Congress on the issue, he alleged that the "same forces" tried till the last minute to ensure that the Ram temple was not built and had approached the court on the last day as well. "The Congress and its coterie have tried for 70 years that the Ram temple should not be built," the prime minister said addressing a public gathering at this taluka headquarters town in Uttara Kannada district. The trustees of Ram temple ignored all the hurdles put by the Congress and its allies, went to their houses and invited them to attend the consecration ceremony, which was a kind gesture on their part, he said. "They (Congress leaders) rejected the Ram temple inauguration invitation. The country will reject those who turned down the Ram temple invitation," Modi said. Rendering for the shopping/marketplace part of the development at 2800 Fondren that will also include two soundstages. Courtesy Al Kashani UPDATE: The original story mentioning 50 Cent's involvement in the Houston project was premature. Lights, camera ... Houston? That's the goal of area developer Al Kashani, vice-president of Horizon International, who is working to transform a former furniture store and warehouse space at 2800 Fondren into two soundstages for film/TV production and an educational facility for area film students. The stages, measuring 8500 and 7800 square feet respectively, will be part of a larger development that includes design/home-related retail. Advertisement Article continues below this ad TUBI TIME: How Black filmmakers in Houston are finding a wider audience on the streaming service. The space, formerly the home of Suniland and Louis Shanks furniture stores, will be divided into two sections. "We bought it, and we are going to re-purpose that. It is a huge facility, so in the front, we are going to do a home-improvement mall, which is going to be furniture, technology, everything that goes for the home," says Kashani, noting the cost of the renovation will run between $3 million and $4 million. "In the back, we have a 125,000-square-foot warehouse with 35-feet tall ceilings. So it's a perfect fit to put in soundstages." The interior of the warehouse building at 2800 Fondren that developer Al Kashani plans to partially turn into soundstages for film and TV production Courtesy Al Kashani Construction is slated to begin in approximately six months, with completion expected in about a year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While the Houston stages will be open to commercial filmmakers, Kashani says much of the emphasis will be on education through partnerships with area colleges. "It's not just about film but creating top-quality jobs and a workforce," says Kashani. "People don't realize that the film industry is one of the top industries in the nation, right along with construction and oil and gas. With film, you have three or four actors but hundreds of (other) people ... I want to generate money, generate jobs. That's the whole thing here." He compares it to a version of medical school. "It's like we are creating a teaching hospital, basically," he said. "Kind of like the M.D. Anderson." Kashani says that this is a good time to open a studio because, in the last Texas legislative session, the amount of money available from the state for film/TV incentives more than quadrupled from $45 million to $200 million, making Texas somewhat more competitive with such states as Georgia, New Mexico and Louisiana in attracting film, TV, commercials and videogame production. While other states may still offer more money, Kashani says the Lone Star State has built-in advantages beyond incentives. "The cost of living is better, quality of living is better," he continued. "If Texas had the same programs that any of the other states have, they would blow Georgia out of the water. Our municipalities are more friendly in terms of getting things done. Think about it. What does Atlanta have over Houston? We have water (Galveston). We have nice airports, we have stadiums. And we've got talent and friendly people." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Kashani says at least 400 Texans regularly fly to Atlanta to work in the film/TV industry. "My goal is to keep Texas dollars in Texas and Texas jobs in Texas," he said. "People don't realize that when you are watching a show, not all the money goes to the actors but hotels, car rental. It's going to be a net positive." The Turkey Leg Hut warehouse, on 1800 block of Arbor Street, had a fire the night before Sunday, April 28, 2024 in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Turkey Leg Huts warehouse, located at 1830 Arbor next door to the popular Third Ward restaurant, was damaged by a fire on Saturday. The restaurant was unaffected, but social media postings and early reports stoked fears that the Turkey Leg Hut had burned down, which the restaurant quickly denied. Turkey Leg Hut is open and we warmly invite everyone to join us for a meal, the restaurant posted on social media Sunday morning. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The fire occurred around 10:30 p.m. There were no injuries reported and some customers dining at the restaurant were evacuated as the Houston Fire Department arrived, according to the restaurant. We also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our community for your concern and support during this incident. Its your support that uplifts us and reinforces why we do what we do every day. TURKEY LEG HUT HISTORY: 5 things to know about popular Third Ward restaurant Turkey Leg Hut A warehouse space next door to Turkey Leg Hut suffered damage on the night of April 27, 2024 The warehouse fire follows another incident in early March when Turkey Leg Huts offices nearby also caught fire. Its still unclear what started that fire and Houston arson investigators were reviewing evidence to determine if the cause. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This weekends blaze is the latest turn of events facing the embattled Turkey Leg Hut, which started as a pop-up in a parking lot across from the Houston Rodeo nearly a decade ago. The current brick-and-mortar location on Almeda opened in 2017. Nakia Holmes and Lynn Price have been the faces of Turkey Leg Hut from the beginning, but the estranged couple is currently in the middle of combative divorce that became public last year. More recently, Holmes fired Price and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which includes nearly $1 million in disputes with estranged business partner Steve Rogers. Price has also been a source of controversy. After being fired, he started an oyster pop-up on his own with some New Orleans entrepreneurs across the street from the Turkey Leg Hut in March but that business relationship fell apart in less than a month. On April 15, Price was charged with misdemeanor assault stemming from a bar fight back in February, which police said left a man unconscious and with a knee injury at the Tipsy Lounge in Third Ward. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Despite the spate of controversy and ongoing legal battles, the Turkey Leg Hut continues to be a popular restaurant, especially for its weekend brunch service. Its known for serving large plates of grilled turkey legs with sides like mac and cheese and other Southern staples. On Sunday, the restaurant was being set up as usual even though some of the business equipment was damaged in the fire. 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 Students are shown in a classroom at Kashmere High School, 6900 Wileyvale Rd., Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Houston ISD student performance on the ACT and SAT dipped slightly during the 2022-2023 academic year, according to recent reports from the district. The districts lower average scores on the ACT and SAT come amid a national and statewide decrease in performance on the national standardized tests among the class of 2023. However, HISD students did see increased passage rates on Advanced Placement exams in 2023 compared to the previous year, similarly to other districts in Texas and the U.S. While student performance was mixed, participation in all three exams which the state uses to determine college readiness and campus accountability ratings increased. HISD did not respond to a request for comment on the three reports outlining ACT, SAT and AP exam student participation and performance. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Students who earn at least a 3 out of 5 on the AP exam can typically earn college credit in a variety of subjects, such as calculus or biology. Several U.S. universities require students to submit their scores on the nationally administered SAT or ACT for admission, although some colleges have gone test-optional, meaning students do not have to submit scores to attend. Thousands of HISD students are expected to take the Advanced Placement exams this year from May 6 to 10 and May 13 to 17, which will determine eligibility for college credit. Some students will also take the SAT on May 4 and June 1, while the ACT will be held on June 8 and July 13. Heres how students performed on the exams during the 2022-23 academic year: THE REPORT CARD: Subscribe to the Houston Chronicles weekly newsletter recapping HISD news SAT results The district reported that 87% of its seniors in the class of 2023, or 9,760 students, took the SAT, which was offered for free during four class days. The participation rate is an increase from the previous graduating class, when 79% of students, or 8,662 people, took the exam. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The exam is divided up into sections in evidence-based reading and writing and mathematics. The sections are scored on a scale ranging from 200 to 800 and contribute to an overall composite score of up to 1600. In 2023, HISD seniors earned an average composite score of 935, a reading and writing score of 477 and math score of 458, which are all lower than the class of 2022s average scores. Last year, seniors earned an average of a 490 on reading and writing, 476 on math and 966 on the composite score. Students at schools that are now New Education System campuses saw a decrease of 36 average composite points, compared to the districtwide decrease of 31 points from the previous year, although their student participation on the exams increased by four percentage points. HISD implemented the NES program after these students took the exams and graduated. As participation increases back to pre-pandemic levels, the district and campuses need to ensure that each student receives the academic rigor in the classroom that will enable them to achieve success on the SAT, thereby better equipping them for college, the report states. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ACT results The district reported that 673 students opted to take the optional ACT during the 2022-2023 school year, which is an increase from 639 test-takers last year. HISD students saw a very slight drop on their average composite ACT scores compared to the previous years test-takers, going from a 23.9 to 23.8. The district also reported that the percentage of testers who met all four of the ACTs college readiness benchmarks declined from 45.3% to 42.6%. The ACT is split up into four sections English, math, reading and science and students earn scores in each section that contribute to the composite score. Compared to the previous year, average scores dropped on the science section from 23.7 to 23.3 and on the math section from 22.8 to 22.6. However, the average score on the English section stayed the same, while the reading section increased marginally from 25.1 to 25.2. Scores range from 1 to 36. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nearly every campus that is now a NES or NES-aligned school, along with several others, saw fewer than five students take the ACT. Multiple high schools, including Wheatley, Sharpstown and North Forest, reported that zero of their students took the exam last year. STAAR, MAP AND CIRCLE: Here's our guide to the tests HISD students are taking this spring AP exam results HISD reported that the number of students taking at least one AP exam increased in 2023 by 3% to 14,257 students, and the number of AP exams taken districtwide increased by 4% to 25,452 students. The district pays for all AP exams, regardless of a students family income level, at a total cost of $1,122,452. The district had its passing rate or the percentage of students who score 3 or higher improve last year by three percentage points to 44, although its rate still remains lower than the statewide 50% passage rate and the nationwide 60% rate. The statewide passing rate increased from 49% to 50% in 2023, while rates nationwide increased from 55% to 60%. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At NES and NES-aligned schools, the passing rate increased as well but remains significantly lower than average. About 17% of exams taken at NES and NES-A campuses earned a passing score in 2023, compared to the non-NES passage rate of 48%. The previous year, 14% of NES and NES-A test-takers passed their exams compared to 45% at non-NES schools. Multiple NES or NES-A schools reported that in certain subjects, dozens of their students took AP exams in 2023 but none passed. At Furr High School, an NES-A school, 51 students took the human geography AP exam which is typically taken by freshmen but none passed. Dozens of Furr HS students also took exams in calculus AB, English language & composition, microeconomics, physics, studio art, U.S. government, and U.S. history, but none passed those exams either. The Minister for Justice will bring proposals to Cabinet next week over the decision of some migrants to travel from the North into the Republic. Taoiseach Simon Harris has made the request, which would allow the return of inadmissible international protection applicants back to the UK. It comes after British prime minister Rishi Sunak said claims that his government's 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 [to the UK], Mr Sunak said. The British government plans to send asylum seekers coming to the UK on a one-way flight to the east African nation, with the aim of deterring others from crossing the English Channel on small boats. A spokesman for the Taoiseach said he was 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. Ministers earlier this week suggested there had been a rise in the number of migrants crossing the Border between the North and the Republic. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee told an Oireachtas committee the number was now higher than 80 per cent crossing from Northern Ireland. She said that she would be legislating to respond to a High Court decision on returning people to Britain and would meet the UK 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. Mr Sunak's comments about the Rwanda plan came after Tanaiste Micheal Martin said the UKs asylum policy is driving migrants in fear of being deported to Rwanda across the Border 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. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has defended her partys rhetoric on open borders, arguing that it has long been her position on immigration. Ms McDonald claimed that there has been a lot of misinformation around migration and accused the Government of scrambling on the issue. Sinn Fein is not for open borders, we are for a system that is fair, human rights compliant, efficient, she said on Sunday. Sinn Fein opposes open borders and advocates for a fair, efficient, and enforced immigration system that respects the human rights of those fleeing conflict and persecution. This is why we have voted against much of the EU migration pact. @Donnchadhol pic.twitter.com/w8FvIGBrzy Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) April 24, 2024 When it was put to Ms McDonald that Ireland doesnt have open borders, Ms McDonald said: I have used that term for clarification purposes, and Ive been using that language and making that point as far back as 2007. She referenced an Irish Times report from 2007 where Ms McDonald, then an MEP for Dublin, said Sinn Fein is not in favour of an open door or open border policy on migration. I made the point then, and I make the point now, that anyone who says that Sinn Fein is for open borders is wrong. We are for a system that is orderly, that is fair, that is human rights compliant, that is efficient thats an important piece and that is enforced. Asked what had changed since Ms McDonald told RTEs This Week programme in February that there is no such thing as open borders and that Ireland does not have open borders, she said: Nothing has changed. Ive been saying since 2007 go and check the Irish Times that were not for open borders, she added. Let me repeat: we want a system that is that is fair, that is efficient, thats enforced. During the RTE interview, which aired on February 4, she also said: I hear people talk about this business of open borders. This seems to be a line thats peddled by some. Theres no such thing, Ireland doesnt have open borders. We have a system that is rules-based, that is based in law and it has to be efficient, it has to be fair, it has to comply with human rights standards, with international law and it also has to be applied. And I think reasonable people will see that as a fair and a sustainable way to proceed. Ms McDonald was speaking on Sunday as the party launched its campaign for the local, European and Limerick mayoral elections at The Helix on the Dublin City University campus. Walking on stage to address hundreds of delegates, Ms McDonald raised her fists above her head and blew a kiss. Its time for something new, she said. Ms McDonald said that after her partys landslide general election win in 2020, in which they won 25% of first preference votes and 37 Dail seats, people had told her her party didnt run enough candidates. She said people told her this at matches and in shops as well as shouting it to her from car windows. Stretching her arms out wide, she told the gathering: I now present Sinn Feins record number of candidates for the local and European elections. We are standing in every single electoral area. This is a really big team effort. Standing at a podium that said change starts here, Ms McDonald said that change means being able to see a doctor when youre sick; retiring at the age 65 with a pension; fully resourcing An Garda Siochana and ambitiously investing in communities. Ms McDonald also criticised successive governments for their treatment of the Stardust families, children waiting for scoliosis surgeries, and called on the Government to immediately review the reopening of emergency departments in Ennis and Nenagh. Stormont First Minister Michelle ONeill was given a standing ovation as she addressed the delegation of local election and European candidates. Stormont Economy Minister Conor Murphy, Senator Lynn Boylan, and frontbench TDs such as Eoin O Broin and Pearse Doherty were also in attendance at the event. Asked about the phrase open borders on Sunday, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, who is also a Fine Gael TD for Cavan-Monaghan, said: The only open border we have is with Northern Ireland, and we want to keep that in place. We fought hard to keep that open border during Brexit and its important that that stays. I think people need to be careful in the language that they use, because it can cause difficulties. We know what the British said around Brexit, it was: Bring back our borders. Thats wrong. We shouldnt be talking like that, its dangerous language. We need to be careful. UK and Irish ministers are due to meet in London amid an escalating row over migrants travelling from the UK to Ireland. Irelands deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin is to co-chair a meeting of the British Irish Inter-Governmental Conference (BIIGC) in London on Monday with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris. Home Secretary James Cleverly and Justice Minister Helen McEntee had been due to meet on Monday to discuss strengthening the Common Travel Area, but the meeting was postponed late on Sunday night. It comes as Channel crossings continue and Home Office figures show more than 7,000 migrants have arrived in the UK so far this year after making the journey reaching a new record high for the first four months of a calendar year. It was confirmed on Monday that Ms McEntee will not attend the BIIGC and will instead meet senior officials in Dublin. The minister looks forward to her meeting with the Home Secretary being rescheduled soon, a statement said. Ms McEntee has claimed that the number of asylum seekers crossing from Northern Ireland is now higher than 80% due to a shift in migration patterns in recent months. After Mr Martin said the increase could be driven by migrants in fear of being deported to Rwanda, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that shows the UKs Rwanda plans effect. The plan aims to send asylum seekers to the east African nation to deter others from crossing the English Channel. Irish premier Simon Harris said on Sunday that Ireland will not provide a loophole for other countries migration challenges and said Ireland will draft legislation for a new returns policy. Mr Harris also said that close collaboration and co-operation between the British and Irish Governments is not just desirable, but absolutely essential. In response, the UK Government rejected any bid by Ireland to return asylum seekers unless France agrees to do the same with boats crossing the Channel. We wont accept any asylum returns from the EU via Ireland until the EU accepts that we can send them back to France, a Government source said. Mel Stride, the UK Work and Pensions Secretary, said on Monday that the claimed increase in people seeking asylum in Ireland who have crossed the border are early signs of the Rwanda plans effectiveness. Asked whether the UK would accept asylum seekers being sent back across the border into Northern Ireland, Mr Stride told LBC: We are not in the business of having more illegal migrants in the UK. What you are seeing now are the early signs of the deterrent effect works. Thats exactly why we are now having this conversation, because we have now passed that legislation. The Prime Minister has made it very clear in 10-12 weeks time we are going to be seeing people going on to planes, we are geared up for it, its going to happen, and my view is its going to work. Labours David Lammy said it is way too premature to say that the Rwanda plan is working. I suspect, actually, as the weather warms up we will see this scheme, Im afraid, has not deterred many, many people from crossing the Channel, the shadow foreign secretary told LBC. I think its way too premature to say now that weve seen a few people go to Dublin somehow this has been achieved. Thats just not going to be the case. Mr Lammy also called for a co-ordinated agreement with European countries, rather than a whack-a-mole situation where compromises are made with individual states as they raise complaints. On Sunday, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill urged a thought-out and considered response from both the British and Irish Governments. Irish ministers are expected to discuss on Tuesday emergency legislation that would see asylum seekers returned to the UK. The legislation is being drafted in response to an Irish High Court ruling which found that Ireland designating the UK as a safe third country for returning asylum seekers, in the context of the Rwanda plan, is contrary to EU law. Ms McEntee said in a statement: I will seek Government approval for the legislation to be rapidly drafted so that the UK can again be designated as a safe country for returns. My department has been working on this as a priority since last months High Court judgment and I intend that returns to the UK will recommence once the law is enacted. Mr Martin said: I am pleased to be in London for another important meeting of the BIIGC, the first such meeting since the restoration of the Strand I and Strand II institutions. As ever, there are numerous areas of mutual interest for the Governments to discuss and I look forward to another productive conference. Some 500 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK on Friday and Saturday alone, taking the provisional total for 2024 to date to 7,167. This exceeds the previous record high figure of 6,691 for January to April 2022 and has already surpassed the 5,946 arrivals in the first four months of last year. It means arrivals are 24% higher than this time last year and 7% higher than at this point in 2022. No crossings were recorded on Sunday. Hana Ikramuddin is a Hearst Fellow in Connecticut. She spent the first part of her fellowship at the Houston Chronicle. Raised in the Twin Cities, Hana majored in journalism and political science at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She has held internships with the Star Tribune, APM Reports and Sahan Journal. In her free time, she loves to cook, make chai and take care of her houseplants. On Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd May 2024, the RDS, Ballsbridge in Dublin will host Finding Common Ground, a festival on biodiversity and sustainability. As part of the two-day event, the RDS Irish Forest and Woodlands Awards which recognise and reward farmers and woodland owners that have adopted Climate-Smart Agricultural practices on their properties, will take place. John and Aine Woods from Dunleer are among those shortlisted in the production forestry category. John and Aine Woods have a 65 hectare forest which was planted in 1999 in an area now rich in biodiversity and archaeology. It has a new forest road in place which will facilitate local access for people to enjoy the well-being benefits attributed to being in a forest. The award aims to recognise excellence in the management of production forestry. While the focus is on the management of the area for wood production, judges also review the diversity of species. The awards ceremony takes place as part of the Finding Common Ground Festival on Friday 3rd May. The inaugural two-day event is being delivered as one of the RDS Foundation social impact programmes. It will incorporate presentations and panel discussions exploring how Ireland can harness the benefits of our natural resources and the circular economy with a view to creating increased awareness, education and identification of solutions to act on. Alongside this, a number of awards ceremonies will take place to celebrate best practice in these areas. Commenting on the upcoming event, Niamh De Loughry, Deputy Chief Executive, Foundation at RDS said, With social sustainability at its core, the RDS long-term vision for Ireland sees five key areas underpinning the island's culture and economy - Arts, Agriculture, Enterprise and Equestrian, Science and Technology. "Our objective is to harness the energy and ideas of people to identify needs, work to foster momentum and create scale to propel our culture and economy to new heights. There are many barriers to sustainable development in Ireland and the RDS is poised to play a role in addressing them alongside key partners through events and initiatives such as this upcoming festival. Early years settings in Louth donated over 5,000 as part of Early Childhood Irelands 20th National Pyjama Day fundraising event. Over 1,110 children and educators in 21 Early Years and School Age Care settings put on their cosiest pyjamas to raise vital funds in support of children across Ireland in November of last year. A total of 287,611.52 was donated to two child-centred projects: autism charity AsIAms Child and Family Support Programme, which provides group-based support and advocacy for autistic children and their families; and a new Eco-Emotions project for Early Years and School Age Care educators in Louth. Developed by Early Childhood Ireland in response to feedback from educators, the programme will support childrens emotional health and develop a sense of environmental responsibility. Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland said: Since its inception, National Pyjama Day activities have raised over 4.3 million for selected projects and charities. As we mark two decades of Pyjama Day magic, we're delighted to see the ripple effect of kindness reaching children nationwide. We would like to thank our members and all the educators in Louth who put so much time and effort into ensuring the children in their care had the best National Pyjama Day possible and express our gratitude to the generous families who sponsored the young fundraisers in their lives. The much-needed funds will support children in Louth through two worthwhile causes. The Eco-Emotions initiative will foster the development of a future generation which is both caring and environmentally conscious. While AsIAm's Child and Family Support Programme continues to make a tangible difference in the lives of autistic children and their families across the country." Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm Ireland said: Were delighted to once again be supported by Early Childhood Ireland's National Pyjama Day. The incredible funds raised by children, for children, have enabled us to support thousands of autistic children and families across Ireland including in Louth through our free, group-based support delivered by our Child and Family Support Programme." Autistic children very often don't enjoy the same chance to live, work and play in the community but National Pyjama Day enables AsIAm to remove barriers and build capacity so that the children we work with can access neuro-affirmative support and social opportunities. Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland said: Pyjama Day is about turning the generosity of children, parents and members of Early Childhood Ireland into important supports for young people and their families. "The partnership with AsIAm does this in a way which is not only supportive but also pioneering. It breaks down barriers to specialised care and makes it more accessible to all. On behalf of the Community Foundation, I want to congratulate all who participated in Pyjama Day and look forward to hearing about the transformative work by AsIAm which is now getting underway. Across Louth, the housing crisis has forced 15,970 adults to live at home with their parents with a further 3,630 people renting using the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) who are not counted on the social housing waiting list. This amounts to a "shocking" 20,000 people locked out of a home in Louth, according to the Social Democrats Candidate for the Midlands-Northwest, Rory Hearne. As a housing expert and longstanding expert on the housing crisis, as well as Author of the book Gaffs, Rory Hearne believes one of the most frustrating aspects of the housing crisis for the Generation Locked Out is the high number of vacant and derelict properties they can see across our cities, towns, and villages while they struggle to rent and purchase affordable homes. If elected, Mr Hearne says he intends to use his platform in Europe to hold the Government to account for their failed Housing for All Plan, push for a transformative change in housing policy which puts the State back responsible for delivering housing on a major scale, and deliver real solutions to the housing crisis at the EU level. Speaking on these solutions, Hearne said: Renovating vacant and derelict buildings is the most sustainable form of housing delivery, and the quickest. The Census 2022 identified 3,582 vacant homes in Co. Louth, but that doesnt include derelict buildings, particularly commercial buildings. That is why highlighting the scale of vacancy and dereliction, and the solution to this issue is so important. I am putting this issue central to my European election campaign. Drogheda and Dundalk have commercial vacancy rates of 19 percent, with a 15 percent commercial vacancy rate in Ardee. These rates are higher than the national commercial vacancy rate which is already shocking at 14 percent. If you look at the number of vacant commercial buildings across Louth, it is twice the number of vacant homes at 6,746. These buildings, which often lay in the heart of towns, could be rapidly converted into housing. I will be highlighting the solutions to this issue at a public meeting in Drogheda on Thursday and pointing to ways in which all levels of Government, from local authorities to the Irish Government and EU, can play a role in addressing this crisis. Rory Hearne is scheduled to speak about the issue of housing and dereliction in Drogheda alongside the Dereliction Drogheda Action Group at a sold-out event hosted by the Development Perspectives on Thursday 25th April 2024 at 7pm. Speaking ahead of the event, Bobby McCormack, CEO of Development Perspectives, said: "Development Perspectives and Derelict Drogheda are eager to tackle the underlying causes of dereliction in Drogheda. For too long, our community has suffered and crumbled before our eyes. Evidence-based decision making is required and the event on the 25th of April is an important opportunity to involve and engage community stakeholders in this critical process. We are delighted to have Rory speak about his work on housing generally and look forward to taking informed action". 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 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 Houston 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. Houstons 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 Southeast Texas experienced a record or near-record number of days with triple-digit temperatures. Houston experienced 45 days of triple-digit temperatures in 2023, one day shy of the record of 46 set in 2011. A vehicle drives through a neighborhood with dried and burnt grass and plants on Aug. 22, 2023, in Conroe. HeatRisk is arriving just in time to help everyone, including heat-sensitive populations, prepare and plan for the dangers of extreme heat, NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Texas saw a record number of people die due to heat in 2023, and emergency room visits surged in Houston last summer, as heat has become a leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, according to the National Weather Service. Advertisement Article continues below this ad TEXAS STATS: Heres when Houston typically hits 100 degrees and how other Texas cities compare Although its too early to tell whether Houston will be in for another near-record-breaking summer, the National Weather Services three-month seasonal outlook showed the Houston region 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. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A DOCUMENTARY by a Macroom schoolgirl is in the running for an award at an event celebrating the creativity of Irelands young film-makers. Irelands Young Filmmaker of The Year Awards 2024 are being shown on RTE2 on Monday at 7pm. Among the nominees is Nora Twomey, a Leaving Cert student at St Marys Secondary School in Macroom, for her 14-minute short film, called Devil May Care. The factual documentary is about Noras great-grandmother and her covert activities for the Anti-Treaty side during the Civil War. Her secret political life came to light from her military pension application, and the film has been compared to a version of the TV show Who Do You Think You Are. Noras work won Best Documentary at the First Cut Youth Film Festival in Youghal last month, and she is now in contention for a Young Filmmaker of The Year Awards, hosted by actor and comedian Faye Shortt. Now in its 28th year, the awards, part of the esteemed Fresh International Film Festival, continue to be a beacon for aspiring filmmakers worldwide. Notable alumni include Oscar-nominated director Vincent Lambe, acclaimed Irish filmmaker Donal Foreman, and comedian and TV personality Justine Stafford. With the spotlight firmly on young cinematic talent, this years event, broadcast from the Troy Studios in Limerick, promises to be a thrilling blend of creativity, inspiration, and a glimpse into the future of filmmaking. Jayne Foley, Artistic Director of Fresh Film, said: We are thrilled for this years awards with the largest number of entries ever an exciting indicator of Irelands booming film industry. This marks just the start of an exciting journey for these young filmmakers, destined for a future filled with numerous accolades. CORK City Council said it is working with the owners of 705 vacant or derelict properties across the city, following a survey of more than 13,000 properties in the summer of 2023. While the news has been welcomed, calls have been made for the council to begin compulsory purchase order proceedings in relation to a number of properties. A spokesperson for Cork City Council revealed to The Echo that the local authority conducted a survey of over 13,000 properties in the summer of 2023, identifying properties as occupied, vacant, or derelict. The information was correlated with national data and the existing Cork City Council derelict sites database, to assist in decisionmaking around addressing dereliction and vacancy. The spokesperson went on to state that this resulted in Cork City Council increasing the number of properties formally on the derelict sites register by 40% in 2023. The council also increased the number of sites formally under investigation for potential placement on the register by 37%. Cork City Council is actively working with owners of 705 vacant and derelict properties across the city, the spokesperson added. At the time of writing, there were more than 150 properties on Cork City Councils derelict sites register including some that were placed on the register in the 1990s. There were also just eight properties on the councils vacant sites register. 'Better late than never' Cork-based activists and urban designers Dr Frank OConnor and Jude Sherry run Derelict Cork highlighting vacancy and dereliction across Cork and Anois, a design consultancy firm concerned with social justice and sustainability. Frank O'Connor and Jude Sherry of anois.org design for the future pictured on John Redmond Street in front of the old Butter Exchange. Picture Dan Linehan Speaking to The Echo, they welcomed the news that Cork City Council are finally carrying out comprehensive surveys of properties in the city. While this should have happened years ago, it is better late than never, Dr OConnor said. We believe that the numbers of 705 vacant and derelict properties across the city is a more accurate reflection of the scale. In our 2021 study, we found 700 within 2km of the city centre scandalous numbers in a housing emergency. In our 2023 study, we found 78% of these properties were still derelict. Of course, neither study reflects the office vacancy levels of almost 20%, which also needs to be addressed. The key for the council now is to urgently register all the derelict properties on the Derelict Sites Register, the essential first steps for every local authority in enforcing the law that has been in place since 1990, but has not been taken seriously in so many cases. This lack of enforcement of the law has stopped people having homes, traumatised generations, and eroded our beautiful towns and city centres across the country. Ms Sherry added: The Derelict Sites Register enables the local authorities to track the properties and collect the annual 7% levy, and issue a compulsory purchase order where necessary. [This is] something Cork City Council have suggested they will do after a property is empty for two years. From a quick search, we found about 80 properties on the registry for longer than two years, which the council should now be preparing to [issue a compulsory purchase order for]. Given these positive steps forward, we look forward to significant progress towards ending dereliction in the coming years particularly given Limerick City Council have debunked the myth that compulsory purchase order dont work, with a recent surge of acquisitions. There is no reason Cork City Council cant do the same and bring these much-needed properties back into use. Dr OConnor and Ms Sherry added they would be happy to arrange a walking tour for Cork City Council chief executive Ann Doherty and her team, to help them understand the realities of life in the city centre surrounded by decay and dereliction. CATHOLIC priests from the Order of St Camillus in India are to minister to the sick in Cork hospitals, following discussions between their leadership and Bishop Fintan Gavin. Fr Tom Hayes, a West Cork parish priest, told The Echo: Its part of a change thats happened in Ireland in the Catholic church and in general recently. Theres an internationalisation in many of our communities, and theres people from all over the world working in hospitals, including people from India working in medical roles. In our diocese, we now have priests from Poland, India, Africa, and other places too, and at Easter time a number of people from other countries were initiated into the Catholic church for the first time. He added: It can be a big change for people who need a priest and the priest isnt Irish, sometimes they stop and think, but people are getting used to it. The Diocese of Cork and Ross nominates priest chaplains to CUH, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Mercy University Hospital, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital and Marymount University Hospital. Fr Hayes said these priests are coming to Cork from India specifically to take up these roles, explaining: They are coming specifically from India to work in our hospitals. This order of priests specific role, what they devote their lives to, is care for the sick in Ireland we have lots like me who work in parishes, or administration or education, but these priests, their only role is to administer to the sick. This order of priests is inspired by the life of 16th-century Italian St Camillus who devoted his life to care of people suffering from plagues. THE prestigious Art and Soul sculpture event is set to return to the Castlemartyr Resort next month for its 10th edition, alongside an open-air recital, as part of the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival this summer. Described as Irelands biggest art and sculpture event, the installation will feature works by some of the worlds most revered artists including Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, and Damien Hirst. The free event, showcasing 8m worth of works, will be hosted by Gormleys at the five-star resort from May 25 to June 23, and will be open to the public daily from 11am to 7pm. Art and Soul, featuring works by Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst, will be hosted by Gormleys at the five-star Castlemartyr Resort in Cork from May 25 - June 23. The showcase features a major outdoor exhibition of 90 large sculptures and installations set throughout the 220-acre grounds of the 17th-century manor estate, as well as artists talks and daily guided tours. More than 400 artistic works will be on display, both inside and outside the hotel, from international artists and Irish sculptors including Patrick OReilly, Ian Pollock, Eamonn Ceannt, Bob Quinn, Damien Hirst, Giacinto Bosco, Patrick Rubinstein, and Patrick Hughes. Art and Soul will coincide with the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, which takes place from May 27 to June 3 at 11 venues across the Blackwater Valley including an outdoor lunch time recital at Castlemartyr on Sunday, June 2. Art and Soul gives art lovers a unique opportunity to view these incredible works of art in the beautiful surroundings of Castlemartyr, the owner of Gormleys Fine Art and Art Auctions, Oliver Gormley, told The Echo. Adults and children will enjoy the event equally, and our previous events in Russborough and the Culloden Hotel attracted over 10,000 visitors. Castlemartyr Resort is offering special rates for Art and Soul overnight stays, afternoon tea, and dining opportunities in their Michelin-star restaurant Terre. We are looking forward to welcoming guests to celebrate the extensive programme of artwork, talks, tours, and musical performances, the general manager of Castlemartyr Resort, Brendan Comerford, added. More information can be found on www.gormleys.ietarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> and www.castlemartyrresort.ie. Demonstrators against the war in Gaza sing on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Austin. Students walked out of class on Wednesday as protests over Gaza continue to sweep college campuses around the country. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Demonstrators gather on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, Thursday, April 25, 2024, to protest the war in Gaza, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP) Jon Shapley/AP People play music and cheer as the 1:00 p.m. curfew hits on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, Thursday, April 25, 2024. Students walked out of class on Wednesday as protests over Gaza continue to sweep college campuses around the country. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer The demonstration on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday was a relatively modest affair. More than 500 people, mostly students and faculty, gathered on the South Mall in the shadow of the UT Tower to hear speeches, shout slogans and express their support for a ceasefire in the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The affair paled in comparison to demonstrations in decades past on and around the UT campus demonstrations, marches and protests in support of civil rights, against the Vietnam War, against apartheid in South Africa and corporate greed on Wall Street and, more recently, support for womens rights and against police brutality in the wake of George Floyds murder at the hands of Minneapolis police. This week's impassioned assembly, though, was big enough for an edgy university president, at the behest of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, to sic the cops on the demonstrators. There were no reported signs of violence before authorities armed with batons intervened, handcuffing students and pushing protesters back. More than 100 Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, deployed at the direction of the governor, were at the scene, in addition to officers from university and Austin police departments. Some of the DPS troopers were on horseback; those on foot were in riot gear and some carried assault weapons. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Authorities arrested 57 individuals, including a Fox News cameraman who said he stumbled into a DPS trooper while taping the event and found himself taken to the ground by two cops. Most of the criminal charges were dropped on Thursday morning, according to the Travis County attorneys office, but the university has barred those charged from returning to campus. UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell defended his decision to call for outside police intervention as a preventative measure. He said in a statement Wednesday night that the university held firm against organizers who had vowed to "occupy" a university lawn and expressed his gratitude to law enforcement. Breaking our rules and policies and disrupting others ability to learn are not allowed, his statement said. The group that led this protest stated it was going to violate Institutional Rules. Our rules matter, and they will be enforced. Our University will not be occupied. The universitys Faculty Council Executive Committee said it was gravely alarmed by Hartzells decision to call in the state troopers. Across the generations, our University has been home to protests of every shape and size, and to a tradition of meeting those protests with understanding and nuance not with police bonds and shields, the faculty group wrote in a statement Thursday. Needless to say, we dont believe that President Hartzells message to the community Wednesday night comes close to providing a justification for the Universitys conduct. Neither do we. We stand with UT-Austin law professor Stephen Vladeck, responding on X to a question about whether the university should allow an encampment similar to the one that sprang up on the Columbia University campus. He took issue with the premise: Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thats a false dichotomy, Vladeck wrote. There was no encampment planned; the students ended up doing exactly what they had planned once DPS left, which was both peaceful and non-disruptive and which only underscores how much the University overreacted. Palestinian-American student Yara Bitar, a third-year philosophy major from Houston, was on campus on Thursday and told a member of the Chronicle editorial board she wasnt aware she was breaking any rules when she joined the demonstration the day before. We werent that frightened, she said, because we werent doing anything illegal. We were just peacefully protesting. We were just marching, none of us had weapons. We werent even allowed microphones, we didnt bring any sound equipment." To underscore their commitment to peaceful dialogue, Bitar was among several hundred students who met again beneath the Tower on Thursday. UT police stood by, but state troopers stayed away. The UT demonstration was one of more than a dozen that have broken out in the past couple of weeks on university campuses across the country, most prompted by the Columbia camp-in. So far, they have been largely peaceful, but, as at UT-Austin, theyve been big enough for opportunists, most of them elected officials like Abbott, to jump in with provocative language and posturing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Heres the invariably belligerent U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton. The Arkansas Republican demanded that President Joe Biden send in the National Guard to roust out the student demonstrators at Columbia. Cotton described the protests as the nascent pogroms at Columbia. This is the same fellow who posted on X last week, I encourage people who get stuck behind the pro-Hamas mobs blocking traffic: take matters into your own hands. Its time to put an end to this nonsense. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., felt the need to parachute himself onto the Columbia campus (perhaps to reassert his far-right bona fides after joining House Democrats in passage of vital legislation in support of Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as $9 billion in humanitarian aid to Gaza and elsewhere). The House speaker decried antisemitism on campus and called on Columbias president to resign if she could not immediately bring order to this chaos. Abbott, of course, used the relatively modest UT demonstration a few blocks up the street from the Texas Capitol to burnish his tough-guy persona. "These protesters belong in jail," the governor said on social media. "Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period. Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled." Of course antisemitism cant be tolerated. School authorities at UT and everywhere else must investigate anyone making real threats. They should be ever vigilant, making sure that legitimate protest does not devolve into violence or intimidation against Jewish students (some of whom are taking part in campus protests). Every Jewish student has a right to feel safe on every campus. Every Palestinian student has the same right even if our governor refuses to acknowledge that. And, yes, those who violate that basic right should face serious consequences. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That being said, it's dangerous for politicians or anyone else to conflate true antisemitism, which is strictly the prejudice against or hatred of Jewish people, with protests against the Israeli government and its policies. There's certainly some overlap but blurring the distinction doesn't just invalidate the concerns of activists trying to save innocent lives in Gaza but it needlessly exacerbates fears in the Jewish community, still shaken and traumatized by Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack that killed 1,200 and disappeared 250 hostages, many of whom remain missing. In equating these protests with antisemitism, we're in effect telling Jewish students that they should fear not only actual threats, violence and other hate crimes, but also, it seems, just about any impassioned gathering of people calling for Palestinian safety and freedom. The Jewish people joining the pro-Palestinian protests know the difference. Our leaders should, too. Demonstrations are by their nature messy and disruptive. Theyre designed to capture attention, perhaps change minds. Sometimes they achieve their goals; sometimes they merely aggravate tensions. At times, pro-Palestinian protesters have crossed a line, to the detriment, we believe, of those they're trying to help. Even those of us who share their desperation for peace can't condone the chanting of antisemitic slogans, harassing of a Jewish professor at his private home, or acts of violence, such as the one reported by Yale Free Press Editor-in-Chief Zahar Tartak, a Jewish student who said a protester jabbed her in the eye with a flagpole. Protest organizers must do their utmost best to reject anyone embracing violence and to seek dialogue. The point is to build a bigger, stronger, more popular movement. Not a smaller, more radical one. Its easy to argue that todays demonstrators are naive; theyre not going to force universities to divest their holdings in Israel or in weapons manufacturers, in large part because universities are unlikely to have direct ties to companies that are Israeli-based or that manufacture weapons. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And yet, we can only hope that the protesters have some influence on efforts to force the Biden administration to moderate its continued enabling of Israels war on Gaza and to demand a negotiated ceasefire. These student-led protests, when peaceful, are vital and necessary. They are among the few things reminding average Americans that innocent Palestinians are still dying and starving at unconscionable levels: the war has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, around two-thirds women and children, the Associated Press reports, citing the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. If any place was made to confront such brutal realities and agitate for a better world, it's our universities. In the spring of 1968, Columbia University was in crisis, its situation far more dire than what its experiencing these days. Radical students protesting the Vietnam War, and the universitys decision to build a gym in a predominantly Black neighborhood, occupied five buildings (including the presidents office), held administrators hostage for a time and declared a student strike. Classes came to a halt for weeks. On April 30, Columbia called in New York City police, who cleared the buildings and arrested hundreds of students and supporters. A broken university moved its commencement activities that year from its traditional location on campus to the nearby Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Instead of university president Grayson Kirk giving the commencement address, the university called on Pulitzer-winning history professor Richard Hofstadter. The university, Hofstadter reminded his listeners (after some 300 of the graduates had walked out in protest), is the only great organization in modern society that considers itself obliged not just to tolerate but even to give facilities and protection to the very persons who are challenging its own rules, procedures and policies. To subvert such a fragile structure is all too easy, as we now know. That is why it requires, far more than does our political society, a scrupulous and continued dedication to the conditions of orderly and peaceable discussion. May it be so at UT-Austin these days and at Rice and the University of Houston. May reason and good will prevail at every college and university campus across this great state. Lord Mayor of Cork City Councillor Kieran McCarthy took part in an ancient tradition over the weekend, the Throwing of the Dart. The tradition is a collaboration between the city council and the navy, and saw the Lord Mayor and guests travel out to Roches Point with Lt. Cdr. Stuart Donaldson and his crew aboard the George Bernard Shaw. The Lord Mayor was accompanied by the Lady Mayoress, Marcelline Bonneau, along with friends and family on board the LE George Bernard Shaw under the command of Lt. Cdr. Stuart Donaldson. The Lord Mayor, who is an avid historan, told The Echo way back in time, 500 years ago, on one of charters that was granted to Cork, one of the privileges was authority over the waters of Cork harbour. By the 1750s, the Mayor of Cork would throw a large dart into the water down by Roches Point to symbolise this. Throwing the dart is an ancient tradition from the early 1500s and links to the Mayoraltys historical authority over the waters of Cork Harbour. That tradition has ebbed and flowed over the last two and a half centuries, but in the last few decades its been done every year - an ode to the charters which formed the DNA of the city council." He added, It was quite emotional for me, after writing about why the harbour and its history matters for so many years, its different being a part of it. WHY on earth John Moynihans mother bought him a tombstone has been lost in the mists of time - but his decision to then store it in the bedroom of his house in Cork city - bizarrely - saved his life. The odd transaction took place 121 years ago, and John kept the tombstone in the apartment where he was living, on the first floor of a three-storey building on Buckingham Place on the citys southside. Shortly after 7am on Thursday, March 5, 1903, the apartment block collapsed, killing two people. Miraculously, John was not among them. As the masonry collapsed around him and all the floors gave way, John was lying on the tombstone, and that, as well as a bed that fell on him, cushioned him from serious injury. He was trapped in the rubble for two hours before being saved. Sadly, the same could not be said for two of his fellow residents. ****** The Chinese call it the smiling death, a condition that strikes the survivors of disasters who are effectively dead, even as they are thanking their rescuers for saving them. In the west, it is known as rhabdomyolysis - crush syndrome - a complex affliction that causes kidney failure when pressure on damaged muscles is released. After the apartment collapse that morning in 1903, poor 80-year old Ellen Donovan was buried up to her neck in debris; all that could be seen of her above the layers of crushed masonry, brick and timber was her head. After much painstaking cutting, digging and probing by Cork Fire Brigade, 25-year-old fireman Martin Higgins, whose lithe frame was ideal for such a mission, had managed to reach her. She asked him to fetch the priest and, gingerly, Fr Barrett, of the nearby South Chapel, squirmed through the 18-inch-square makeshift tunnel to where she lay. Buckingham Place in the 1950s (centre, across the river). The square building with six windows is where the tenements stood in 1903 He administered the Last Rites and pressed her to take some brandy he had brought. She refused, saying she had taken the pledge from Father Mathew and would not break it. Next to crawl through the catacomb of rubble to the trapped woman was Dr E.V. Cantillon, the house surgeon at the South Infirmary. The brandy might have revived her, he said later, but she would not have recovered. Rescuers spent another hour patiently widening the hole around the distressed woman, acutely conscious that even a slight after-shock might send what remained standing of the groaning structure tumbling down on top of them. Eventually, they managed to set Ellen Donovan free. And then, quietly, she expired. ****** Nos 2 and 3, Buckingham Place, were four-storey tenements in 1903, each with a garret and basement, which stood just around the corner from White Street, on Georges Quay. A stone tablet, found in the ruins, indicated they had been built in either 1736 or 1756 - the Cork Examiner reporter was unable to read the third digit clearly. The Independent said they were probably the oldest houses in Cork The block was owned by an absentee landlady who lived in England. Her affairs were managed by her local agent, Mr Hawkes. The two houses brought in rent of 32 and 36 a year respectively. In 1903, nine families lived between the two houses; a total of more than 60 people. There had been constant complaints to the agent about the state of the houses. Parts of the roofs were missing, and people could see daylight through the walls. One tenant recalled that a car (i.e., a horse and dray), on passing in front of the house, would shake it all over. In early March, 1903, a severe storm hit, which several of the occupants noted shook the place considerably. Notwithstanding that, City Engineer Mr H. A. Cutler said he had never received any report on the condition of the houses. ****** That Thursday morning, the houses collapsed with a thunderous roar, sending a great cloud of debris-dust into the air. The noise was heard in the nearby Central Fire Station on Sullivans Quay and at the Royal Irish Constabulary Headquarters on Union Quay, alerting rescue services immediately. As the three storeys crumbled, concrete and stone snapped like brittle twigs. Age-old roofs, chimney stacks, rafters, joists, flooring, furniture, fireplaces and detritus of every description ended up heaped in a giant stack of rubble. To this instant disaster zone was added another menace: Fire. Some dutiful husbands had, before going out to work, lit fires in their grates, the lighted coals of which now spilled out and set fire to the surrounding timber. As the dust settled on the neighbourhood, a great silence momentarily descended. Then, from within the ruins, screams of terror and pain pierced the air. The fire brigade, under the legendary Captain Hutson, and police from Union Quay, under Head Constable Kirby, arrived almost simultaneously. The fires were at once tackled with chemical fire engines (large fire extinguishers on wheels). Fireman Tim Ring, Captain Hutson, and Fireman Martin Higgins all played a part in the rescue of the casualties at Buckingham Place. For the next three hours, assisted by an army of volunteers, and using the rudimentary tools at their disposal - hammers, crowbars, axes, chisels and such like - the brigade and police managed to extricate some of the trapped. At a time when frontline services received no special training in disaster rescue management and extrication, the teams had to rely entirely on their wits, common sense, and past experience to get them through the morning. Every physical resource, every shred of emotional toughness and human ingenuity, was put to the ultimate challenge. Some residents, on hearing the first rumbling of the impending disaster, had grabbed their children and run into the street in their night attire, but dozens were not so lucky. Many were carried, still in their beds, as the floors collapsed, down to the basement where, terrified, shocked, and coiled in fear, they awaited rescue. A mountain of crushed debris, sprouting shards of flesh-ripping glass and jagged iron, covered them. Miraculously, there were only two fatalities; the elderly Mrs Donovan, whose son had only left the building to go to work seconds before the collapse, and a little boy, John Donovan, who died of shock before the rescuers could get to him. His father, also John Donovan, said the family had only moved there three weeks earlier. He had been in bed on the second floor when the building collapsed, sending him and his two children to the basement. The other child survived. Mr Donovan told the inquest he noticed a crack in the wall the night before with rain coming in, and he had moved the bed away from the water. ****** The landladys agent tried to shift responsibility for the tragedy onto the fire brigade. In his evidence to the inquest, he admitted he had received complaints on the state of the premises from time to time, and some of the roof was not intact, but generally speaking the issues were dealt with. However, on a previous occasion, the brigade had gone to a fire which was in the flue, and broken into the dividing wall, and he blamed that for the fall of the structure. Neither City Engineer nor Coroner gave any weight to his assertion, the Examiner recording there can be no doubt that the accident was the result of old age (of the buildings). The inquest heard the party wall - a dividing partition between the two buildings - collapsed, leading to the whole house of cards tumbling. A number of brigade men were singled out by the Coroner for special mention for their efforts, along with Capt Hutson: Firemen McCarthy, Barry, Higgins, Reardon, Ahern, OLeary, and Ring. Head Constable Kirby, with Constables McBride and OBrien, performed Trojan work, as did civilians Maurice Walsh, Cornelius Kelleher, J. Dunnecliffe, J. OConnell, and Daniel Gloyn, son of Fireman Gloyn. Pat Poland is the author of Cork City Firefighters: A Proud Record. A Visual History From 1950. (Photo: Popetawadros.org)President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi congratulates Pope Tawadros II with the opening of the Cathedral of the Nativity. Photo: Popetawadros.org Houses belonging to Christians were set on fire late on April 23 in Egypt's southern Minya province, the most recent of similar acts of sectarian violence against the country's religious minority. The attacks erupted less than two weeks before the Coptic Orthodox Easter celebrations. "The attacks are believed to have been triggered by an attempt to build a new church in Al-Fawakher village in Minya met by the violent rejection of their Muslim neighbors," a source inside Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church told The New Arab. "When religious fanatics failed to expel Christians from their homes as a form of punishment, the extremists [reportedly] burned down their houses while they were still inside," added the source, who asked to remain anonymous as the subject is highly sensitive. Egypt's Christians have long demanded equal rights with the Muslim majority and to be able to build new worship premises freely. In the early hours of April 24, Archbishop Makarios of Minya, home to at least a third of Egypt's Christian population, posted on his official Facebook page that the authorities had contained the situation and arrested the suspects. He did not elaborate. The New Arab reported that the Egyptian authorities had not yet released an official statement on the incident until the time of publication. "Discrimination against Christians is relatively subtle in main cities like the capital, Cairo, or Alexandria but becomes much more pronounced in the south," the newspaper commented. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights recorded at least 77 attacks on Coptic Christians between 2011 and 2016 in Minya, hosting a majority of the country's Christians. Bishop Makarios himself survived an assassination attempt over a decade ago. The New Araba reported that Copts are banned from holding sovereign ministerial positions or sensitive posts at security agencies and they can also not legally run for presidential elections. Christians are also legally forced to follow Islamic Law Sharia in most matters, except marriage and divorce, according to the publication. Women have fought endlessly for their right to have equal shares of inheritance with men but without success. No accurate percentage of Christians in Muslim-majority Egypt has been officially released. However, they are believed to make up approximately 10 to 15 percent of the nearly 110 million population; most are Coptic Orthodox, among the world's oldest Christian communities, according to The New Arab. The CIA World Factbook website says that in Egypt, Christians include Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Maronite, Orthodox, and Anglicans and makeup 10 percent of the population. (REUTERS/Tony Gentile)Pope Francis poses with Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and his wife Jeannette during a private meeting at the Vatican March 20, 2017. In Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, Pope Francis this past week celebrated masses with almost 1.5 million people in total during his trip to Africa where Pentecostals are surpassing Catholics in some countries. Most of the people at those masses were poor, and in Madagascar, many people spent the night sleeping outside in the field where Mass was celebrated in order to be present, America, the Jesuit Review wrote in an editorial. America noted that throughout this papal visit to Africa, the universal church was invited to see what a "poor church for the poor" looks like. It cited as a strong example, Akamasoa, a cooperative project outside the capital of Madagascar through which the local people have built more than 3,000 brick homes, along with schools and clinics, in what was formerly a garbage dump. In his remarks there, Francis described Akamasoa as "an expression of God's presence in the midst of his people who are poor." The magazine noted that, however, this aspect of the trip was overshadowed by what happened on the plane. On the flight to Africa, Pope Francis described himself as "honored" by some attacks on him during an informal conversation with a French journalist who had written a book about American opposition to Francis. In the press conference on the return flight to Rome, asked about whether these attacks could lead to schism, Francis said, "There is always schismatic action in the church" but that it comes from "an elitist state, from ideology detached from doctrine" and from detachment "from the people of God, from the faith of the people." Joseph Hellweg, associate professor of religion at Florida State University writing for Quartz Africa said that the Pope spoke on peace and ecological sustainability issues that the three countries he visited are facing. Mozambique recently signed a peace accord with persisting rebels, and the country is still recovering from the cyclone earlier this year that killed over 1,000 people. SEVERE DEFORESTATION Madagascar faces severe deforestation, and Mauritius too is at risk from climate change. Africa has the world's third largest Catholic population, after the Americas and Europe. Almost one out of every five Africans 19.2 percent is Catholic. The Pew Research Center expects the number of African Christians south of the Sahara, including Catholics, to double by 2050. From Hellweg's perspective as an African religions' scholar, however, Francis' visit needs to be understood in terms of the church's longer history in Africa and the current challenges Catholicism faces in the continent. Although Catholicism in Africa expanded dramatically under European colonialism in the 19th and 20th centuries, he noted that the church's roots in Africa go back to its earliest days. Christianity began in Africa among first-century Jewish communities in Alexandria, Egypt. Many early, influential church figures were North African. After the Islamic conquest of North Africa -- from 634 AD to 711 AD, however, Islam grew faster than Christianity, making it the region's dominant religion. Muslim traders then took Islam across the Sahara desert to West Africa and over the Indian Ocean to eastern Africa. Later, the Catholic missionaries on the western, central, southern and eastern coasts of Africa spread Christianity across the continent. Then in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Portuguese came to Africa by ship and began winning converts in the Central African kingdom of Kongo. On the other side of the continent, in today's Mozambique, missionaries established Catholic communities that would eventually become the contemporary Mozambican Church. French missionaries arrived in Madagascar in 1640. With the help of early converts, they produced a Catholic catechism, or teaching manual, in Malagash, the island's indigenous language. Hellweg explain that colonization and evangelization occurred in sync as the Portuguese colonized Mozambique; the French, Madagascar; and Britain, after initial French occupation, Mauritius. Catholic missionaries also decried colonialism. He cited the expelling in 1971, by Portuguese authorities in Mozambique of a Catholic order for criticizing the colonial regime for preventing missionaries from properly serving Mozambicans. Elsewhere in Africa in the period of transition to independence, from the late 1950s to 1980, many priests supported emerging ethnic and nationalist movements. But notes Hellweg the lasting outcomes of these Catholic-backed independence movements have been mixed. In Mozambique, Catholics make up 30.3 percent of the population, the country's biggest religious group, exceeding indigenous religious practitioners and Muslims. In Mauritius, at 27.2 percent, Catholics take second place to Hindus but outnumber Muslims. And in Madagascar, they come in third at 21.7 percent But the church faces new challenges, for examples in 1970, Pentecostals accounted for less than 5 percent of all Africans. They now stand at 12 percent and in Mozambique alone, Pentecostals are the second largest Christian community. By Lee Yeon-woo The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) will soon launch regular inspections into the governance of NongHyup Financial Group as its majority stakeholder, the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF), better known as NongHyup, has been accused of impeding proper internal controls within its financial subsidiaries, according to industry officials, Sunday. On April 24, the top regulator announced that it would begin regular inspections of the two institutions starting mid-May. This follows their decision to convert ongoing spot checks, initiated last month, into regular inspections. The FSS plans to delve into the financial group's unique governance system and examine its compliance with its major shareholder, the NACF. Unlike other financial holding groups, NongHyup Financial Group is 100 percent owned by the NACF. Recent financial misconduct has prompted further intervention by the FSS. In February, an embezzlement case involving approximately 10.9 billion won ($7.9 million) occurred at NH NongHyup Bank. Additionally, in a separate incident at another branch, an employee embezzled 200 million won by canceling funds without being authorized to do so, targeting a naturalized Korean of foreign origin who was inexperienced in financial matters. "NH bank branches are likely to have vulnerabilities in their internal control system, as employees from the NACF, (who have not been verified for their financial expertise), are in charge of overseeing these controls while serving as district heads," an FSS official explained. The FSS is also concerned about the NACF exerting undue influence over the management of its financial affiliates. Since the separation of credit and economic activities in 2012, NongHyup Financial Group has been structurally independent of the NACF. Despite the change, there have been criticisms that the financial group still remains significantly influenced by the NACF. In March, tensions resurfaced between the NACF and its financial affiliates when the NACF Chairman Kang Ho-dong aggressively promoted the organization's former vice chairman during the CEO appointment process at NH Investment & Securities. "If managed improperly, it could undermine the principles of separating finance from industry and disrupt the regulatory system established by corporate governance laws. This necessitates vigilant oversight," FSS Governor Lee Bok-hyun said at a press meeting in March. Yet, it appears that the FSS cannot avoid criticism over whether it is interfering excessively in the private sector. "The need for governance reform within NongHyup Financial Group has been a topic of discussion for quite some time. Even amid these calls, the FSS may face further controversy given its history," an industry official said, referring to past leadership changes at Shinhan, KB, and Woori after Lee's verbal intervention in the appointment process. Scottish sheep farmers who have lost livestock to sea-eagles will continue to receive support from the government for this year. The Scottish government has allocated up to 400,000 to the Sea Eagle Management Scheme (SEMS) for 2024. This aims to help sheep producers explore different management techniques and trial new prevention measures. Farmers in receipt of financial support through long-term management agreements as part of the scheme have been assured payments will continue this year. White-tailed sea eagles are a protected species that prey on sheep, particularly in western parts of Scotland. Many farmers have experienced a significant year-on-year losses to the birds, particularly in areas where there is a lack of alternative prey. As part of SEMS, farmers can receive between 500 up to 5,000 to help manage the effects of the species. Scotland's Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said many farmers had experienced 'disruptive attacks' by sea eagles. He said: This funding is vital in balancing our efforts to protect Scotlands natural environment with the needs of rural communities. "They have expressed their frustrations and I fully understand both the mental and financial toll that eagle attacks are having on them and their businesses. I hope this news provides some much needed reassurance for farmers. I know that the support will help them to continue to find ways to mitigate against the effects of sea eagles on flocks. Robbie Kernahan, NatureScots director of green economy, welcomed the scheme's funding for the rest of this year. "We recognise that white-tailed eagles can cause economic impacts to farms and crofts in some locations and are committed to continuing to run SEMS. "We are currently working to get management agreements in place and will be in touch directly with those affected as soon as possible. Harvey Weinstein has been hospitalised after having his 2020 rape conviction overturned. Harvey Weinstein has been hospitalised after having his 2020 rape conviction overturned The fallen Hollywood mogul, 72, was returned to New York City jail Rikers Island on Friday (26.04.24), a day after the New York Court of Appeals ruled he didnt receive a fair trial when he was convicted four years ago. His lawyer Arthur Aidala announced on Saturday (27.04.24) Weinstein had been transferred to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan after his arrival on Friday in New York. He 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 attorney also insisted all Weinsteins illnesses are physical not mental adding his client is sharp as a tack with his feet firmly planted on the ground. He also claimed that Weinstein was not being treated well by prison officials during the transition to Rikers Island, saying: They refused to give him even a sip of water, no food, no bathroom break. Hes a 72-year-old sickly man. Weinstein has reportedly been battling health issues including cardiac and eye problems, as well as diabetes, and sleep apnea. Weinstein has been serving 23 years for two sex attacks against aspiring actress Jessica Mann and production assistant Mimi Haleyi and was handed another 16 years behind bars following his conviction in Los Angeles in 2022. The ruling overturning his conviction concluded 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 Weinstein on charges he forcibly performed a sex act on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and raped an aspiring actor in 2013. Weinstein remained in custody after the appeals ruling as he was convicted in LA in 2022 of another rape and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. By Lee Yeon-woo As giant panda Fu Bao attracted many farewell visitors at Everland before being sent to China, Samsung C&T's resort division saw a record-high first-quarter sales, significantly reducing the division's operating losses during the off-peak season. According to industry officials, Sunday, Samsung C&T, the operator of Everland, reported a preliminary revenue of 126 billion won ($91.3 million) for the first quarter of 2024, marking the highest first-quarter revenue ever recorded. It is known that the theme park contributes approximately 60 percent to the total sales revenue of Samsung's resort division. Typically, the division focuses on its operations for the remainder of the year, as the first quarter sees fewer visitors to the theme park due to the cold weather. However, for this year's first quarter, Everland saw a significant increase in visitors, bidding farewell to Fu Bao, accompanied by a corresponding rise in related merchandise sales. This greatly reduced losses compared to previous years, with losses now accounting for only 8.7 percent, compared to an average 20 percent in the January-March period of previous years. "The number of visitors to Everland during the first quarter increased by 20 percent year-on-year. It is unusual to see such a significant increase," an official from Samsung C&T said. "The surge in visitors coming to see Fu Bao clearly had an impact." Fu Bao was born in Korea in 2020 to Ai Bao and Le Bao, the giant pandas sent by Xi Jinping in 2016 as a symbol of friendship. She was especially adored by Koreans for her cute appearance and for providing joy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Samsung C&T explained that the number of visitors continued to increase even after Fu Bao was removed from public display in March, as the public interest shifted to Fu Bao's sisters, Ruibao and Huibao. Meanwhile, revenue for Samsung C&T's resort division in the first quarter has shown a steady recovery from the significant impact of COVID-19. After falling to 74 billion won in 2020 due to restrictions on outdoor activities, it increased to 77 billion in 2021, 87 billion won in 2022 and 124 billion won in 2023. Paris Hilton believes her lifes real calling is to rescue abused kids from hell hole schools. Paris Hilton believes her lifes real calling is to rescue abused kids from hell hole schools The hotel heiress, 43, was left traumatised by the abuses she suffered at the institutions for troubled teens she was packed off to in her youth, and now travels the world to help children feared to be trapped in similar situations. She told Flaunt magazine she had just returned from a trip to Jamaica to help boys who said they were being abused at the Atlantis Leadership Academy wilderness camp in Jamaica claims denied by its founder Randall Cook through his attorney. Paris said: I wanted to go there because they had their court case and they werent being taken seriously. So I knew I needed to go there and shine a big spotlight on that and really put the pressure on these people. The five employees who were abusing the kids just got arrested yesterday, and people are being held accountable, finally. So that makes me really proud to be the hero that I needed when I was a teenager, and be able to do that for these boys and other children in these types of places these hell holes. I feel this is my real purpose in life and something very dear to my heart. I wont stop fighting until change is made. Paris is now a mum-of-two to 15-month old son Phoenix and five-month-old daughter London, both born via surrogacy, with her 43-year-old entrepreneur husband Carter Reum. She last year said she finds it horrifying children are still sent to schools for troubled youths. The former IT girl used her autobiography Paris: The Memoir to lay bare the abuse she suffered at the institutions when she was sent to them after her family feared she was falling into wild ways. At one of the specialist schools where Paris was sent she endured raps sessions in which kids would verbally abuse one another before being told to cuddle. And at the institution where she was sent in Utah it was regulation for children to get invasive cervical exams as punishment, as well solitary confinement in the nude and to be whipped, sedated and beaten. Paris told The Guardian in a chat to promote the book: Whats horrifying is the fact that its still happening today. Its a multibillion-dollar industry with hundreds of thousands of kids being sent to those places every year. Its heartbreaking to me that people could treat children like this. Now, hearing about so many things, the deaths that have happened, its just heartbreaking: so, even though its hard for me to talk about, I think its so important for people to understand whats happening behind closed doors. (These schools) brainwash the kids and they also do that to the parents. They say, Your daughter is a liar, shes just manipulating you. The moment I got out of there, it was the happiest day in my life. I was so grateful. The Environmental Audit Committee of the British parliament will revisit its landmark inquiry into fast fashion on May 1 in an evidence session exploring the sustainability of the UK fashion industry. In 2019, the Committees predecessor published its report on Fixing fashion: clothing consumption and sustainability. Urging the government to end the era of throwaway fashion by introducing an extended producer responsibility scheme, and by rewarding companies that take positive steps to reduce waste, the report is one of the most read Select Committee reports of all time. Since that report, the Committee has held several evidence sessions following up on its recommendations and tracking the progress made by both industry and the Government. The Environmental Audit Committee of the UK parliament will revisit its landmark inquiry into fast fashion on May 1 in an evidence session exploring the sustainability of the UK fashion industry. Though the Committee has held several evidence sessions, several leading fashion retailers have declined its invitation to give evidence in person on this occasion. Disappointingly, several leading fashion retailers have declined the Committees invitation to give evidence in person on this occasion, a parliament release said. Parliament members are likely to ask witnesses what the environmental impact of UK fashion is likely to look like in years to come, and what progress the industry has made towards sustainability. They are also likely to ask witnesses from retailers like H&M and boohoo what steps they have taken to reduce their environmental impacts. Members may also ask witnesses about the impact reselling platforms have had on the industry, and whether these increase or reduce the likelihood of overconsuming fashion products, the release added. According to research by public interest think tank Hot or Cool Institute, the United Kingdom has the G20s fourth highest carbon footprint from fashion, behind Australia, Japan and the United States. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) TONGXIANG, China, April 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 24, 2024, Puyuan Fashion Week debuted in Puyuan Fashion Resort. Continuing the core concept of "Knitting is Fashion," proposed the theme of "Weaving a Wise Future". Combining the beauty of fashion knitwear with the idyllic charm of Jiangnan water towns, the event capitalizes on the local knitting industry's rich heritage, seamlessly fusing traditional culture with contemporary fashion trends. The aim is to showcase the symbiotic relationship between the fashion industry and resort town tourism, accelerate the internationalization of Puyuan's fashion industry, promote the transformation of the local knitting industry center, and nurture the growth of young designers. On the opening day, the Puyuan Fashion Week attracted numerous celebrity artists, fashion supermodels, and trendsetters, injecting vibrant colors into the ancient charm of Jiangnan. It kicked off with an exclusive VIP trunk show headlined by the iconic Chinese designer Vera Wang. Her prestigious label, VERA WANG HAUTE, unveiled its 2024 Spring/Summer Capsule Collection, showcasing its characteristic avant-garde aesthetic to an enraptured audience. The grand opening continued with a presentation by the luxury brand THE ATELIER, under the creative direction and design guidance of the world-renowned Chinese designer Professor Jimmy Choo. THE ATELIER's design philosophy advocates for the collision and fusion of diverse ideas, cultures, and aesthetics, was a perfect match for the unique atmosphere of the Resort. The showcase brilliantly captured the pulse of global fashion trends. The grand finale of Puyuan Fashion Week will feature an extraordinary presentation by La Mofiel, a luxury fashion brand commemorating ten years of elite craftsmanship. Breaking away from conventional runway formats, the closing show will uniquely position models on sculling boats amidst the charming backdrop of the resort. The avant-garde melding of fashion and the locale's picturesque waterways promises to be a standout, ensuring a spectacular finale to the festivities. Additionally, from April 24th to 28th, Puyuan Fashion Week features four designer brand debuts and six local brand showcases in the guise of scenic music street shows. Capitalizing on the natural allure of Puyuan and partnering with local fashion Brands, the entire area will be converted into an immersive, experiential show arena. Since its founding, Puyuan Fashion Resort has become the backdrop for numerous crossover events, including Puyuan Fashion Week, the Douyin Creator Conference, and the Zhizu GQ Men of the Year Ceremony. These events have been linking fashion trends with the town's lifestyle. By hosting these events, the town has seamlessly blended leisure and stylish living, pioneering a new model that melds "cultural tourism + local industries". View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/puyuan-fashion-resort-2024-a-grand-unveiling-of-global-trends-and-local-heritage-302129333.html ROBAM, the leader of premium kitchen appliances, is revolutionizing the industry with the launch of its groundbreaking sterilizing dishwasher- the first of its kind under the new industry standards. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240427666307/en/ ROBAM Sterilizing Dishwasher S1 Plus (Photo: Business Wire) This innovative appliance marks a significant shift in the global dishwasher sector, where Chinese brands are rapidly outpacing their Western counterparts in both technological advancement and market share. Chinese Innovation Redefining Dishwashers According to a report titled "China Dishwasher Patent Innovation Research Report (2024)" by the Electronic Intellectual Property Center of CICS-CERT, as of February 2024, China boasted 12,364 authorized patents for dishwashers, with nearly a half belonging to leading Chinese brands. In contrast, international dishwasher giants are lagging behind in patent authorization for cleaning, energy efficiency, and related aspects. Moreover, research data from GFK reveal that Chinese brand dishwashers surpassed Western counterparts in market share within China in 2023, steadily taking the retail share from Western dishwasher brands. ROBAM Leading the Charge with "Zero Bacteria" Technology ROBAM exemplifies this dedication to innovation. The company's newly launched sterilizing dishwasher sets a new standard for dishwashers by integrating the functions of dishwasher, sterilizer, and cupboard, distinguishing itself from traditional models. This "new species" in the industry showcases ROBAM's proprietary Guangyan Tech, which is not only integrated into the dishwashing process but also capable of independent sterilization. This technology has been certified by the authoritative industrial institution, to achieve zero bacteria. The sterilizing dishwasher completely addresses the cleanliness issue of tableware, relieving users from the concerns of choosing a dishwasher. According to data from AVC, the sales growth rate of ROBAM sterilizing dishwasher in 2023 reached as high as 51%, far exceeding the overall growth rate of the dishwasher industry (9.6%). A Pioneering Force Shaping the Future of Dishwashing ROBAM's groundbreaking technology represents a significant leap forward, not just in product functionality but also in hygiene standards. This first-of-its-kind appliance has the potential to redefine how consumers around the world interact with their dishwashers, ushering in a new era of cleanliness and convenience, representing the innovation of Chinese technology. About ROBAM ROBAM (stock code: 002508), founded in 1979, the world-class leader of premium kitchen appliances, has maintained its position as the No.1 global bestseller for 9 consecutive years. Leveraging state-of-the-art intelligent manufacturing, ROBAM remains at the forefront of product innovation through scientific advancements. With its range of powerful rangehoods with superior extraction, strong powered cooktops, smart combi steam ovens, and efficient performing dishwashers, ROBAM offers a comprehensive cooking solution. ROBAM, the choice of 50 million families worldwide! View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240427666307/en/ Contacts: Wang Qin wangqin@robam.com Sinopec Achieved Good Performance in 2024 Q1 China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation ("Sinopec Corp." or the "Company") (HKEX:00386)(SSE:600028) today announced its unaudited first quarterly results for the three months ended 31 March 2024. Financial Highlights In accordance with the IFRS, the Company's revenue for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB 789.967 billion; the net profit attributable to shareholders of the Company was RMB 18.721 billion; the basic earnings per share were RMB 0.156. In accordance with the CASs, the net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company for the first quarter was RMB 18.316 billion; the basic earnings per share were RMB 0.153. The Company achieved high quality operating results. In the first quarter, the Company's oil and gas production reached 128.78 million barrels of oil equivalent, up by 3.4% year on year, with natural gas production reaching 350.46 billion cubic feet, up by 6.0% year on year. The Company processed 63.30 million tonnes of crude oil, up by 1.7% year on year, and total sales volume of refined oil products was 59.81 million tonnes, up by 6.5% year on year. The ethylene production was 3.279 million tonnes, and the total chemicals sales volume was 19.51 million tonnes. Operational Review In the first quarter of 2024, China's economy continued to pick up, with gross domestic product (GDP) up by 5.3% year on year. The international crude oil prices fluctuated with upward trend and the spot price of Platt's Brent for the first quarter averaged USD83.2 per barrel, up by 2.4% year on year. The domestic demand for natural gas rapidly increased, and the demand for refined oil products maintained growth. Domestic demand for chemical products increased at a faster pace year on year, and the chemical margin was at a low level due to continual newly-released production capacity and rising raw material prices. The Company closely followed the market demand, further optimised both of the whole business chain and the regions, strengthened the coordination of production and marketing, made great efforts to expand markets and sales, and achieved good performance. In accordance with CASs, net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company was RMB18.316 billion in the first quarter of 2024. In accordance with IFRS, net profit attributable to shareholders of the Company was RMB18.721 billion in the first quarter of 2024. Exploration and Production: The Company intensified efforts in high quality exploration, expanded the scale of profitable production capacity, and made positive progress in increasing reserve, production and profit. In exploration, we strengthened risk exploration, trap pre-exploration and integrated evaluation exploration, and made important breakthroughs in the regions such as Tarim Basin, Sichuan Basin and Jianghan Basin. In development, we accelerated the capacity building of Jiyang and West Junggar oilfields, and sped up capacity building of natural gas in West Sichuan and Shunbei. We further improved integrated gas system covering production, supply, storage and sales, optimised the resources structure of LNG import, and achieved an improvement in the profitability of whole natural gas business chain. In the first quarter, the Company's oil and gas production reached 128.78 million barrels of oil equivalent, up by 3.4% year on year, with natural gas production reaching 350.46 billion cubic feet, up by 6.0% year on year. The exploration and production segment realised earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of RMB14.823 billion. Exploration and Production Unit Three-month period ended 31 March Changes 2024 2023 (%) Oil and gas production million boe 128.78 124.60 3.4 Crude oil production million barrels 70.36 69.49 1.3 China million barrels 63.11 61.86 2.0 Overseas million barrels 7.25 7.63 (5.0) Natural gas production billion cubic feet 350.46 330.47 6.0 Realised crude oil price USD/barrel 75.43 75.21 0.3 Realised natural gas price RMB/cubic meter 1.98 2.10 (5.7) Note: For domestic production of crude oil, 1 tonne = 7.10 barrels. For overseas production of crude oil, 1 tonne = 7.26 barrels. For production of natural gas, 1 cubic meter = 35.31 cubic feet. Refining: The Company followed up closely with the market change, vigorously optimised production operation to maximise the overall profits along the business chain. We flexibly adjusted the product slate, and increased production of market-oriented products such as gasoline and kerosene. We scaled up export volume and optimised arrangement for exports. We controlled the progress of carrying forward the "oil to specialties" and "oil to chemicals" projects, and the structural adjustment projects and the transformation and upgrading projects were proceeded in an orderly manner. In the first quarter, the Company processed 63.30 million tonnes of crude oil, up by 1.7% year on year, yielding 38.83 million tonnes of refined oil products, up by 4.1% year on year. The refining segment realised EBIT of RMB6.887 billion. Refining Unit Three-month period ended 31 March Changes (%) 2024 2023 Refinery throughput million tonnes 63.30 62.24 1.7 Gasoline, diesel and kerosene production million tonnes 38.83 37.30 4.1 Gasoline million tonnes 16.22 15.16 7.0 Diesel million tonnes 14.75 15.58 (5.3) Kerosene million tonnes 7.86 6.56 19.8 Light chemical feedstock production million tonnes 10.18 10.61 (4.1) Light product yield % 74.26 74.82 (0.56) percentage points Refining yield % 94.94 94.88 0.06 percentage points Note: Including 100% production of domestic joint ventures. Marketing and Distribution: The Company brought our advantages of integrated business into full play, strengthened the market judgement and the integration of production and sales, and made full effort to expand the market and improve profit. We carried forward differentiated marketing tactics. The sales volume of gasoline rose by 5.4% and the retail volume of vehicle LNG was up by 119.3%. We actively promoted the development of EV battery charging and swapping business, steadily stepped up efforts in demonstrating application scenarios of hydrogen mobility, and transformed to an integrated energy service provider of fuel, gas, hydrogen, electricity and non-fuel services. We carried out characteristic marketing campaigns to improve the quality and profitability for the non-fuel business. In the first quarter, total sales volume of refined oil products was 59.81 million tonnes, up by 6.5% year on year. The marketing and distribution segment realised EBIT of RMB8.678 billion. Marketing and Distribution Unit Three-month period ended 31 March Changes (%) 2024 2023 Total sales volume of refined oil products million tonnes 59.81 56.16 6.5 Total domestic sales volume of refined oil products million tonnes 45.58 44.57 2.3 Retail million tonnes 29.31 29.36 (0.2) Direct sales & Distribution million tonnes 16.27 15.21 7.0 Note: The total sales volume of refined oil products includes the amount of trading volume. Chemicals: In the face of tough external environment of the continuous newly-released production capacity and weak chemical margin, the Company closely followed the market demand, reinforced cost control, optimised the structure of feedstock, facilities and products with a profit-driven orientation. We maintained high utilisation rate in profitable facilities, and reduced production or shut down units of products with no marginal contribution. Integration of production, marketing, research and application was further cemented to steadily increase the proportion of high value-added products. In the first quarter, the ethylene production was 3.279 million tonnes, and the total chemicals sales volume was 19.51 million tonnes. The chemicals segment realised EBIT of RMB-1.609 billion. Chemicals Unit Three-month period ended 31 March Changes (%) 2024 2023 Ethylene thousand tonnes 3,279 3,347 (2.0) Synthetic resin thousand tonnes 4,837 4,816 0.4 Synthetic rubber thousand tonnes 342 349 (2.0) Monomers and polymers for synthetic fibre thousand tonnes 2,044 2,034 0.5 Synthetic fibre thousand tonnes 306 258 18.6 Note: Including 100% production of domestic joint ventures. Capital expenditure: In the first quarter, the total capital expenditure was RMB20.5 billion. The capital expenditure of the E&P segment was RMB13.5 billion, mainly for the crude production capacity building in Jiyang and Tahe, natural gas production capacity building in West Sichuan, as well as the construction of oil and gas storage and transportation facilities, such as Longkou LNG project. The capital expenditure of the refining segment was RMB4.1 billion, mainly for Zhenhai Expansion, and technical modification of Guangzhou and Maoming refineries, etc. The capital expenditure of the marketing and distribution segment of RMB0.6 billion, mainly for the development of the integrated energy station network, the renovation of the existing marketing network, and the development of non-fuel business and construction of other projects. The capital expenditure of the chemical segment was RMB2.1 billion, mainly for the construction of ethylene projects in the second phase of Zhenhai and Maoming, etc. The capital expenditure of corporate and others was RMB0.2 billion, mainly for R&D and the construction of IT projects, etc. Appendix: Principal financial data and indicators Principal financial data and indicators prepared in accordance with CASs Principal financial data and indicators prepared in accordance with IFRS About Sinopec Corp. Sinopec Corp. is one of the largest integrated energy and chemical companies in China. Its principal operations include the exploration and production, pipeline transportation and sale of petroleum and natural gas; the production, sale, storage and transportation of refinery products, petrochemical products, coal chemical products, synthetic fibre, and other chemical products; the import and export, including an import and export agency business, of petroleum, natural gas, petroleum products, petrochemical and chemical products, and other commodities and technologies; and research, development and application of technologies and information; hydrogen energy business and related services such as hydrogen production, storage, transportation and sales; battery charging and swapping, solar energy, wind energy and other new energy business and related services. Disclaimer This press release includes "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical facts that address activities, events or developments that Sinopec Corp. expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including but not limited to projections, targets, reserve volume, other estimates and business plans) are forward-looking statements. Sinopec Corp.'s actual results or developments may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including but not limited to the price fluctuation, possible changes in actual demand, foreign exchange rate, results of oil exploration, estimates of oil and gas reserves, market shares, competition, environmental risks, possible changes to laws, finance and regulations, conditions of the global economy and financial markets, political risks, possible delay of projects, government approval of projects, cost estimates and other factors beyond Sinopec Corp.'s control. In addition, Sinopec Corp. makes the forward-looking statements referred to herein as of today and undertakes no obligation to update these statements. Investor Inquiries: Beijing Tel:(86 10) 5996 0028 Fax:(86 10) 5996 0386 Email:ir@sinopec.com Media Inquiries: Hong Kong Tel:(852) 2522 1838 Fax:(852) 2521 9955 Email:sinopec@prchina.com.hk File: ?Press Release?Sinopec Corp. Announces 2024 Q1 Results SOURCE: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation View the original press release on accesswire.com BEIJING, April 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 25, 2024, CATL (SZ:300750) and Beijing Hyundai signed a strategic partnership agreement at Auto China 2024 to cooperate on Beijing Hyundai's EV projects and to power future Beijing Hyundai electric models with CATL batteries. As a joint venture with a deep presence in China for 21 years, Beijing Hyundai has sold over 12 million vehicles in China, proving reliable vehicle manufacturing capabilities. Since its cooperation with CATL began in 2017, Beijing Hyundai has launched a series of popular models with cumulative sales exceeding 200,000 units. With the new agreement in place, Beijing Hyundai is expected to unleash a wave of over 10 leading global models equipped with CATL's latest battery technology including CTP and NP. CATL will leverage its technological advantages to work with Beijing Hyundai to create high-quality automotive products and support Beijing Hyundai's business growth in China. A shared focus on product development ensures a win-win for both companies. CATL has established and strengthened partnership with Hyundai over the past years. In October 2021, CATL and Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. (MOBIS) signed a technology licensing and partnership agreement, according to which CATL will introduce and disclose its CTP (cell to pack) technology to MOBIS as well as support MOBIS in the supply of related CTP products not only in South Korea, but also worldwide. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2399221/CATL_and_Beijing_Hyundai_sign_strategic_agreement_on_EV_batteries.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/catl-and-beijing-hyundai-sign-strategic-agreement-on-ev-batteries-302129453.html 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 read more 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. Advertisement 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. Lootere, which is directed by Hansal Mehtas son Jai Mehta has nothing to do with the 1993 film of the same name that starred Sunny Deol and Juhi Chawla. There was a moment when the actress seductively came out of deep waters to tantalize Deol and the audience. And this show too is about everything that can happen in deep waters. Reportedly, its inspired by real-life events that involved aggression, shrewdness, negotiations, and ultimately freedom. Advertisement In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Amruta Khanvilkar, Vivek Gomber, and director Jai Mehta spoke about the show. Edited excerpts from the interview: Jai, after being an AD and a producer for so many years, at what point did you say, Now Im ready to direct? Actually, I always wanted to direct. Producing and being an AD was, that was purely for end. This is for fun. Vivek, without revealing much about your character, what I observed about the show is that hes confident, hes charismatic, and hes very shrewd. So how did you prepare for this role? I think a lot of credit should go to the the script, the text, you know, Vishal and Suparn and, the idea, which was, you know, Shailesh, whos a producer and creator. It was his idea. So, there was already a lot of, stuff available as an actor to kind of, you know, sink your teeth into. Also, the audition process was pretty long. So it started in, like, January, finished in, like, July. So it was a big job. I knew that. So you just automatically, youre in sync with it, and, you know, the more information you get, the more, involved you want to be in it. So I would say the text really helped in an understanding Jais vision and Hansals vision and and how they wanted to mount the show. And then you prepare as much as you want, then you land up in South Africa, and youre like, Ive never been to South Africa before this. I dont know. So then, the environment there plays its own part as well. All of these elements, I think, helped you kind of prepare and but, you know, it all starts with the text, so I would start there. Amruta, how did you prepare for your character? My audition was never long. It was just one audition. People are just so good. You see? Some people have to try really hard. Some are just effortless, natural, you know, like Rajat sir. So, you know, its a privilege. So I had gone to Mukesh Chhabras office for something else and I was sent to Jai for the audition of this show and thats how it all happened. Advertisement Jai, is there a room for improvisation in a show like this? I think everything what happens in when youre shooting in expanses. You have a certain image of what you want to make, but, nothing is going according. We had a script. We knew where we had to go. The script had everything. It was detailed. It had everything. And the characters were defined. They all had their back stories in place. And, they knew where they had to go. Now how do we get there was honestly left to them. Whatever their dialogues were done entirely by them. Because I think, also, that place was very challenging. Advertisement Vivek, as an actor, playing someone similar to you in real life or somebody poles apart? I dont really wanna be defined playing one thing or the other. Whether you would want somebody to be close to you, I dont know how that would matter really. At the end of the day, its still me. You know, its still acting and craft that way. Of course, the further away it is from you, its more challenging. Its more exciting. You get to live in a skin that you wouldnt normally choose to or get away with in real life. I mean, you know, its a fictional show. You cant just go around like how I go around or my character does in the show. You know? So, of course, its a lot of fun. And the little boy in me had a blast, you know, running around, action, and, having such a wonderful wife. You know? Having such a wonderful wife. Such a wonderful wife. It complimented the director before the schedule. Advertisement Amruta, you have so many years of experience in films and television and OTT shows. So what do you have to say about the way the content has evolved over the years? The content content has been evolving. After COVID, there has been a drastic 360 degree change into what people want to see, what they expect out of makers and actors, and I think we are still getting used to it. Before COVID, I did films like Razi, Malang, Satyameva Jayate. I think that is what is, important. Thats it. 367 new projects inked in east China city Xinhua) 10:34, April 28, 2024 NANJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The city of Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, held a global investment promotion conference on Friday, culminating in the signing of 367 projects on-site. The event saw participation from 429 of the world's Fortune 500 companies. Total investment for the signed projects amounting to around 372 billion yuan (about 51.3 billion U.S. dollars), including 30 projects from such companies. These projects span various high-tech industries, including new energy, high-end equipment, advanced materials, and biopharmaceuticals. Cao Guofen, deputy director of Suzhou's commerce bureau, noted that the city has attracted 4 percent of the country's actualized foreign investment, with 175 Fortune 500 companies already investing in 486 projects in the city. Since the beginning of this year, Suzhou has signed a total of 809 projects, with an aggregate investment exceeding 580 billion yuan. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Korea and China are in talks to arrange a visit to Beijing by Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul next month, diplomatic sources said Sunday. The two sides have been discussing possible dates for Cho's visit, which would come before an expected trilateral summit among Korea, China and Japan in Seoul in late May, according to the sources. It would be Cho's first visit to the neighboring country as foreign minister and follow a February phone call he had with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, during which Wang invited Cho to visit Beijing and Cho agreed to discuss the matter via diplomatic channels. The move came as the two countries navigate ways to improve their relationship following tensions over Taiwan and Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Xing Haiming's controversial remarks. In June last year, Xing said that those who "bet on China's loss" in its rivalry with the United States "will definitely regret it." The remarks were seen as a warning to Seoul against aligning itself with Washington. Last week, Cho held talks in Seoul with Hao Peng, Chinese communist party secretary of the province of Liaoning. Strengthening ties with Beijing has been considered a critical diplomatic task for the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, as it has focused on strengthening the Korea-United States alliance, repairing ties with Japan and bolstering trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan in its first two years in office. (Yonhap) Popular celebs like Hina Khan, Kapil Sharma, Huma Qureshi and Shraddha Kapoor were also summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in the month of October 2023 in connection with the Mahadev betting app case read more Actor and social media influencer and entrepreneur Sahil Khan has been arrested by Mumbai Police in the Mahadev Betting App case. His anticipatory bail plea was rejected by Bombay High Court. The Style actor was linked to The Lion Book App that was linked to the Mahadev Betting App. He was earlier questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Popular celebs like Hina Khan, Kapil Sharma, Huma Qureshi and Shraddha Kapoor were also summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in the month of October 2023 in connection with the Mahadev betting app case. Advertisement The development followed a complaint lodged by a social worker from Mumbai, Prakash Bankar, who alleged that people had been cheated of over Rs 15,000-crore through the betting app. The Matunga Police filed the complaint invoking various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Gambling Act, the IT Act and further probe is underway. Police said that Sahil Khan , a fitness master and YouTuber, who has acted in films like Style, Xcuse Me, Alladin and others had reportedly organised celeb parties purportedly to promote the app and lure more people to use it. The case, being simultaneously probed by the Enforcement Directorate, had several other Bollywood actors on the radar after various agencies recent crackdown on several betting and gaming apps, even as some of the apps promoters had been arrested. The actress shared multiple pictures and videos on her social media account where she could be seen with a number of Pakistani artists read more It has been over half a decade since Pakistani actors relocated to their country and were banned in India. Amid this, veteran actress Mumtaz paid a visit to the neighboring country and shared pictures and videos with a number of Pakistani artists including Fawad Khan. Advertisement And in an interview with Zoom, she said, Woh log hum logon se bilkul alag nahin hain (They are no different from us). Everywhere that I went, people came forward to shower me and my sister with love and gifts. Ek kalakaar isse zyada aur kya chahta hai (What more can an artist ask for)? They knew all my films, all my songs. Mumtaz added, They should be allowed to come and work here. They are talented. I agree we have no dearth of talent in the Mumbai film industry. Lekin unhe bhi mauka milna chahiye (But they should also get work opportunities in Bollywood)." Live-in relationships are pretty common in todays times and amid this, veteran actress Zeenat Aman posted on social media about her take on it recently. Advertisement Giving relationship advice , she wrote, On a different note, one of you asked me about relationship advice in the comments section of my last post. Heres a personal opinion I havent previously shared - if youre in a relationship, I strongly recommend that you LIVE TOGETHER before getting married! Mumtaz then reacted to her advice and said in a statement to Zoom, Zeenat should be careful with what she is advising. She has all of a sudden come into this huge social media popularity, and I can understand her excitement about sounding like a cool aunty. But giving advice that is counter to our moral values is not the solution to increasing your following. Student protests have cropped up in universities across the United States. After Columbia University, demonstrations against Israels war in Gaza were reported at several other campuses. All this and more in our weekly roundup of explainers from around the world read more A protester uses a bullhorn as students and others demonstrate at a protest encampment at University Yard in support of Palestinians in Gaza, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at George Washington University in Washington, on 25 April 2024. Reuters File Photo We saw many big developments this week, with the United States grabbing the headlines for the most part. The pro-Palestine protests have spread across American colleges. The demonstrations that began at Columbia University have gripped dozens of other campuses in the US, which is a staunch ally of Israel. After months of delay, the US Senate passed a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The development has brought a much-needed relief for Kyiv. Advertisement Under Chinese president Xi Jinping, the nations spy agency is coming out of the shadows. Heres all this and more in our weekly roundup of explainers from the world. 1. Students across US colleges are staging protests against Israels war in Gaza. Many demonstrators, including those at Columbia University, have set up pro-Palestinian student encampments on their campuses. From Harvard to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), demonstrations have cropped up across universities. The new protests come after over 100 protesters who had erected tents on Columbias upper Manhattan campus were arrested last week. The police action catapulted other students across the US to stage similar protests. Law enforcement was called to disperse protesters in some varsities such as the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of Texas at Austin. Students continue to maintain a protest encampment in support of Palestinians at Columbia University, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in New York City, on 26 April 2024. Reuters Some Jewish students have dubbed the protests antisemitic and expressed concerns for their safety on the campus. But what are these protesters demanding? We explain. 2. US president Joe Biden signed the legislation green-lighting $95 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan into law this week. Of this, a much-needed $61 billion assistance is for Kyiv, which is struggling to stall Russias advances in the war zone. As part of the package, the US has said it will provide additional Patriot missiles to Kyiv. Ukraine had for long been seeking American assistance to help in its protracted conflict with Russia. But why is this US aid so important? Read our story to find out. 3. Lets take a brief break from the happenings in the US. A man in Belgium was recently acquitted of drink-driving after his lawyers proved in a court that his body produced alcohol. No, we are not joking. The 40-year-old man is suffering from auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), a rare medical condition that increases levels of alcohol in the blood and creates the symptoms of alcohol intoxication in patients, even when they have had minimal or no intake of liquor. Advertisement How prevalent is ABS and is there a treatment? We explain in this report. 4. In a setback for the #MeToo movement, former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinsteins 2020 rape conviction has been overturned by a New York appeals court. Ordering a fresh trial, the court said there were errors in the 2020 trial. Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse as jury deliberations continue in his rape trial in New York, on 24 February 2020. AP File Photo However, Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual assault, harassment and misconduct by at least 100 women, including Hollywood stars Ashley Judd, Uma Thurman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie, will remain behind bars as he is serving a 16-year term in another rape case. As the tainted movie mogul grabs headlines again, we list all the sexual assault allegations against him in our story. Advertisement 5. Chinas Ministry of State Security (MSS) is no longer working from behind the curtains. The powerful spy agency has come to the spotlight, warning citizens that foreign spies are everywhere and is seeking their help to stop them. Under Chinese president Xi Jinping, the nations spy agency is coming out of the shadows. Reuters The MSS, which was set up in 1983, first stepped into the public glare in 2015. Last August, it made its most drastic move by launching its account on WeChat. What is this spy agency and why is it gradually coming out of the shadows? Read our report to find out. 6. The worlds first Sikh court has opened in the United Kingdom. As many as 46 Sikh magistrates and judges took oath at a ceremony at the 15th-Century Old Hall in Lincolns Inn in London last weekend. Notably, most of them were women. Advertisement They have vowed to uphold the principles of justice, equality, and integrity as the teachings of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the Sikh faith preach. But why was a Sikh court needed and how will it function? We explain in this story. You are all caught up on world affairs for this week. If you want to read and support more of our work, you can bookmark this page. When asked if there is any truth to his assertion that the Congress wants to redistribute wealth among Muslims, Prime Minister Modi demanded a more thorough examination of his election campaign read more Slamming the Congress over its manifesto for the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the grand old party appears to be promoting the agenda of the Muslim League. In an interview with Network18, PM Modi stated that he had to expose some truths despite having waited ten days for the evils of the Congress manifesto to be exposed objectively. So far as the Congress manifesto is concerned, someone please tell me, are the manifestos of political parties during elections a mere showpiece? It is the work of the media to read the manifestos of every political party. I was waiting for the media to comment on it. I had commented on the manifesto on the first day. After seeing the manifesto, I feel that it has the stamp of the Muslim League. I thought that the media will be shocked. But they just kept saying whatever was presented by the Congress, PM Modi told Network18. Advertisement Then I thought that this seems to be a big scam of the ecosystem and I will have to bring out the truth. I waited for 10 days that the evils in the manifesto would be brought out by someone because if it is brought out in an unbiased manner, it is good. Finally, I was forced to bring out these truths, he added. When asked if there is any truth to his assertion that the Congress wants to redistribute wealth among Muslims, Prime Minister Modi demanded a more thorough examination of his election campaign. I feel that maybe your team has not tracked my entire campaign You must have seen that my entire election campaign is focused on two things. One, we have done work for the welfare of society. The biggest difference in this government [compared to previous ones] is that last-mile delivery is our specialty. See, no government is formed to do bad, it wants to do good. Some people know how to do good for others, some people wait for good things to happen. I am a person who believes in working hard and getting things done, he said. Laying out his plans for the future, Modi said, I am continuously saying in the elections that we have built 4 crore houses for the poor. I tell so many people that when you go for this election campaign, please help me by sending a list of people whose houses have not been built. As soon as my third term starts, I want to take this work forward. I want to build 3 crore more houses. Now, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana is the worlds largest health insurance and health assurance scheme. This is the assurance of treatment to 55 crore people. It is an assurance that Modis government is with you. This time, we have said in the manifesto that no matter which class, society, background a person belongs to, whoever is above 70 years of age both men and women will get free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. This time we have also said in the manifesto that we will give this benefit to ASHA workers. We will give benefits to transgenders, no matter what their age is. Advertisement Talking about the economic performance of the NDA government, PM Modi said, Comparing the performance of his government to the pre-2014 situation, PM Modi said: You see, what was the situation before 2014? Fragile 5 used to be the headline. Today, we have become a vibrant economy. In IMF, there is a group of 150 countries of the world which includes China and India which we can call developing countries or countries with an emerging economy. NATO, especially America, hasnt realised that Vladimir Putin is fighting a grinding war of attrition that will not stop unless Ukraine is defeated read more The excitement of the West and the global media every time NATO, particularly the United States (US), pours more money into the Ukrainian meat grinder is inexplicable. More than two years after Russia launched its special military operation against Ukraine, increasing military assistance to the war-ravaged nation in the hope of a dramatic turnaround is insane. The latest hysteria concerns the $61 billion Ukraine aid Bill signed by President Joe Biden, seen as a sign of the Wests unwavering support for Ukraine. We rose to the moment. We came together and we got it done, he said while immediately approving air defence capabilities, artillery rounds, armoured vehicles and other weapons worth $1 billion. Advertisement The European Union (EU) and the US have provided military and financial assistance worth $117.3 and $46.2 billion, respectively, to Ukraine since the war started in February 2022. The EU has provided Ukraine with Starstreak, Patriots, Javelin, Nlaws, Howitzers, HIMARS, M270 MLRS, Storm Shadows/Scalps, IRIS-T, NASAMS, Gepards, Challenger 2, Leopard 2 and Bayraktar TB2s. The American list of sophisticated weaponry and equipment includes Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, Bradleys, Strykers, a Patriot defence battery, HIMARS, M1 Abrams, NASAMS, Javelins, Hawks, Phoenix Ghost, Howitzers, HARMs, laser-guided rocket systems, grenade launchers, small arms and radars. The US has also approved third-party transfers of American weapons from several NATO and EU members. Denmark and the Netherlands have provided Kyiv with US-made F-16s and Ukrainian pilots are training on them in 11 Western countries. Despite such a vast Western arsenal and the courage and fighting spirit of Ukrainian troops, Kyivs 2023 counteroffensive failed. Russia is in a grinding war of attrition for the long haul and is determined to win it even if it extends beyond 2025. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Russia can sustain its assault on Ukraine for another two or three years and maybe even longer. Advertisement Daily barrages of Russian artillery, missiles and drones pummel Ukrainian troops with Kyiv losing its long-held bastion Avdiivka, eastern Donbas, in February. Now, the slow but steady Russian advance is focused on Chasiv Yar, a town located on high ground. If Russia captures it, Putins troops will be closer to the remaining Ukraine-held cities of Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in Donbas. Russia is also targeting Ukraines second-biggest city, Kharkiv, with artillery and missiles. CIA director Bill Burns had warned before Congress okayed the military assistance Bill that Ukraine could lose the war by year-end with Vladimir Putin dictating the terms of a political settlement. Advertisement However, the massive American package will unlikely change the wars course in Ukraines favour. First, the US package doesnt address Ukraines manpower shortage. Kyiv cant match Moscows number of soldiers despite lowering the draft age from 27 to 25. In the third conscription drive, announced on March 31, Putin intends to mobilise 150,000 men. According to Ukrainian estimates, Russia could add 300,000 soldiers by June. Despite the increasing use of modern technologies in the war, both sides need men to hold captured territories. Ukraine doesnt have them while Russia has five times more men of military age. Second, the new package includes the much-sought MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS)M39A1 Block I or M57 Block IA tactical ballistic missiles (both with a range of 300 km)by Ukraine and is expected to improve Kyivs battlefield position against Moscows marauding forces in the east. Advertisement After Biden signed the Bill, the Pentagon revealed that the US had secretly delivered the M39 Block I (165-km range) ATACMS to Ukraine earlier this month. Subsequently, Ukraine used the missiles to strike a military base in Crimea and Russian forces east of Berdyansk, near the Sea of Azov. Zelensky has been demanding the longer-range ATACMS for long to strike the 19-km-long Kerch Bridge, which connects southern Russia to occupied Crimea and is a crucial supply line for its forces in southern Ukraine. After striking the bridge twice, Ukraine is reportedly plotting to hit it the third time. Meanwhile, Russia has implemented several defensive measures, like smoke generators and underwater barriers against aerial and underwater drones, enhanced its air defence systems and operates electronic warfare to protect the bridge. Advertisement Even if Ukraine destroys the bridge using the ATACMS, Russia can continue to supply its forces via the new 700-km railway line connecting the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don to Donetsk and Mariupol. If the railway line is also targeted, it can always be repaired faster than the bridge. It is doubtful that the new ATACMS (M39AI or M57) will be decisive in turning the wars tide. Ukraine already has British-French air-launched Storm Shadow/Scalp cruise missiles with a range of 550 km and a single warhead of 450 kg. While the M39 has a warhead of 591 kg, it comprises bomblets. The M39A1 has a long range but again has a warhead comprising bomblets and weighs 174 kg. The M57, too, has the same range but a single warhead of 214 kg, almost half that of the Storm Shadow. The ATACMS can reach a speed of Mach 3 during its dive phase, making it difficult for Russian missile interceptors to take it down. The Storm Shadow has a maximum speed of Mach 0.95 and can be intercepted by most air defence systems. On the other hand, the ATACMS is fired from mobile HIMARS and M270 MLRS mobile artillery rocket systems, which can be targeted by Russian cruise and ballistic missiles and warplanes. For example, a 9K720 Iskander SRBM destroyed a Patriot launcher outside of Pokrovsk, eastern Ukraine, in March. While a Storm Shadow is launched from a jet, an Su-24 in Ukraines case, which can manoeuvre if targeted. When the Storm Shadow was delivered to Ukraine, the media was gripped with hope and excitement, similar to those of the ATACMS. Ukraine used Storm Shadows to hit industrial sites in Luhansk, kill the 35th Combined Arms Armys Chief of Staff Major General Sergey Goryachev in Zaporizhzhia, strike the Chonhar road bridge (connecting Crimea with Kherson), damage the Chongar Strait railway bridge (linking Crimea with Kherson), target the Sevastopol Port and hit the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol. However, the missiles have neither significantly impacted nor changed the wars trajectorythey are useful but not decisive. Third, Ukraine cant match the number of long-range missiles in the Russian inventory and the increased production rate. Russia has launched around 8,000 missiles against Ukraine since the war started. According to Ukraines Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) deputy head Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, Russia produces about 115-130 missiles with a range of, at least, 350 km and 100-115 shorter-range missiles every month. Besides, 40 Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles (2,000 km-5,500 km range) and 30 Iskanders are manufactured monthly. Iranian and North Korean missiles have boosted the Russian stock. Iran has provided around 400 Fateh-110 family of surface-to-surface, road-mobile ballistic missiles, which have a 300 km-700 km range, to Russia. North Korea supplied several dozen SRBMs, which could be the road-mobile Hwasong-11A (KN-23) or the Hwasong-11B (KN-24) SRBMs. Fourth, Ukrainian air defence systems, which initially shot down 90 per cent of Russian missiles and drones, have been overwhelmed by the volume of attacks. For example, around 3,000 guided aerial bombs, 600 drones and 400 missiles were fired at Ukraine in March alone. Ukraine has only three to five Patriots, which fail to counter the Russian onslaught despite shooting down 15 Russian air-launched hypersonic ballistic missile Kinzhal, according to the Ukrainian military. Volodymyr Zelensky has requested NATO for 25 Patriot road-mobile SAM/anti-ballistic missile defence systems with 7 urgently as Russia continues to destroy Ukraines cities and their infrastructure. Of the six EU members that operate the Patriot, only Germany is willing to deliver one battery with the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Spain saying no. However, deploying more batteries of the $1 billion Patriot system will not help Ukraine gain the upper hand. Russias changed tactics include a swarm of drones followed by subsonic cruise and hypersonic ballistic missiles that overwhelm Ukraines air defence systems. On December 29 last year, Russia fired 122 cruise and ballistic missiles and 36 drones at Dnipro, Kharkiv, Konotop, Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia in the largest attack since the invasion, killing 58 people. On January 2, Russia targeted Kyiv and Kharkiv with more than 130 missiles and drones. In the second biggest attack of the year, on January 7-8, Russia launched 59 drones and missiles and Ukraine could shoot down less than 50 per cent of them. Seven S-300/400 SAMs, six Iskanders, eight Iranian Shahed-136s/131s, four Kinzhals from Mig-31, two Kh-31Ps, eight Kh-22s from Tu-22 and 6 Kh-101/555/55 from Tu-95 were launched. Using Patriot missiles, each costing millions, to counter such salvos is too costly and unsustainable. Fifth, artillery is playing a vital role in the war, like in other conflicts, causing 80 per cent of casualties on both sides. Russia fires 10 times more artillery rounds than Ukraine, which is conserving the rounds, as Republican hawks in the House of Representatives delayed the aid Bill. Ukraines massive shortage of artillery rounds has helped the Russian infantry advance gradually along the 1,000-km frontline. Moreover, Ukraine has only around 350 artillery pieces while Russia has 4,000. The West cant compete with Russia in producing artillery rounds, especially the 155mm. Russia produces around three million rounds annually compared to the US and Europe, which manufacture only about 1.2 million munitions. Russia has also signed production contracts with Belarus, Iran, North Korea and Syria. Even if the Congress had okayed the $61 billion assistance on time, the West wouldnt have been able to ramp up the production of artillery rounds on the Russian scale. Sixth, the Russia-Ukraine conflict is the first full-scale drone war with increasing use of armed UAVs. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraines commander-in-chief of the armed forces fired by Zelensky in February after the failed counteroffensive, had stressed the importance and utility of drones in the war. It is well known by now that a central driver of this war is the development of unmanned weapons systems, he wrote hours before he was sacked. Crucially, it is these unmanned systemssuch as dronesalong with other types of advanced weapons, that provide the best way for Ukraine to avoid being drawn into a positional war, where we do not possess the advantage. Zaluzhnyis successor, Oleksandr Syrskyi, has also highlighted the importance of UAVs and prioritised drone development to find asymmetric solutions to gain a qualitative advantage over a numerically superior opponent. Zelensky created the Unmanned Systems Force, a separate branch of the Ukrainian Armed Forces devoted to drones, in February. Ukraine has been using drones with great success, like the attacks on the Black Sea Fleet and the destruction of tanks. According to NATO, 66 per cent of Russian tanks destroyed in recent months were hit by cheap but precise first-person-view (FPV) drones. Ukraine aims to produce more than a million drones this year with around 200 companies manufacturing UAVs. Besides, a coalition of 10 Ukrainian allies, including Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Latvia, aim to deliver another one million drones by February 24, 2025. However, Ukraine cant win the war or stop the incessant Russian attacks with drones, which cant compensate for the shortage of artillery rounds, missiles and fighter jets. We produce a lot of drones, but they are not an alternative to any kind of weapon, Zelenskyy said during an interview this month adding that they arent a substitute for air defence, long-range weapons, missiles and long-range artillery. On the other hand, Russia too is using drones and has launched 4,630 UAV attacks since the war began. Besides FPVs, Orion, Eleron-3, Orlan-10 and Lancet, Moscow has used the Iranian kamikaze Shaheds with devastating effects. Russia has also increased drone production and manufactures around 1,000 FPVs a day. Moscow has also purchased, at least, 6,000 Shahed-136s from Tehran, and a joint venture in Tatarstan, 805 km east of Moscow, will produce 6,000 Shahed-136 prototypes (renamed the Geran-2 by Russia) by mid-2025. Russian FPVs, especially the inexpensive $500 Ghoul quadcopters, have destroyed 5 of the 31 Abrams, which cost around $10 million each, forcing Ukraine to withdraw the tanks from the frontline. The new American aid and any future assistance, including by NATO, will not tilt the scales in Ukraines favour. At best, Ukraine can stabilise the frontline by using new weapons supplied by the US. Does the West and Ukraine have a theory of victory or do they expect a sudden Russian collapse? More military assistance for Ukraine will only preserve, not break, the stalemate. Ukraine cannot inflict the kind of casualty caused by Russia, which is taking few risks with its soldiers and instead using more missiles, rockets, drones, and artillery to hit civilian and military infrastructure. The West should realise that it cant sustain Russias war of attrition and strike peace with Putin soon. The writer is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Chinese leaders perceive Bidens policies as a containment strategy, yet Xi Jinping thought it necessary to engage, perhaps because a Trump victory could bring more uncertainties to the relationship read more There were no great anticipations of any breakthrough from US Secretary of State Antony Blinkens recent visit to Shanghai and Beijing, but that does not indicate any insignificance of his five-hour-long conversations with his counterpart Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a brief meeting with Chinese strongman President Xi Jinping. For the last several months, both the Biden administration and the Xi Jinping regime have been carefully struggling to stop further erosion of Sino-US bilateral relations and to manage mounting differences over a host of challenging issues. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan in the face of stark Chinese resistance, continuing US trade conflict despite and since Bidens predecessor imposed a high tariff on Chinese products, and apparent Chinese backup to Russia amidst the Ukraine War that has culminated in a new Russo-American Cold War. Advertisement Bidens disapproval of Beijings demonstration of military muscle over South China Sea disputes and undue claim of sovereignty over numerous islands both in the South China Sea and East China Sea, Washingtons elevation of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue to regular and summit-level meetings, US allegations of Chinese human rights violations in Xinjiang province and undermining democracy in Hong Kong, and several other issues have put the US and China on a trajectory of political hostility and diplomatic confrontation. In a presidential election year, the Biden administration cannot afford to adopt a lenient policy towards China. But at the same time, President Biden is well aware of the importance of keeping the line of communication open with China and staying engaged in convergent areas of cooperation. After all, Nancy Pelosis controversial Taiwan visit and the shooting down of a Chinese balloon suspected of carrying out espionage activities in the American sky had pushed the bilateral ties between the two countries to rock bottom. At a time when unprecedented levels of US military assistance to Ukraine and massive sanctions against Russian aggression failed to bring the Russian economy to its knees, disengaging in bilateral conversations with China would be counterproductive. It could further push China to embrace Russia and, by implication, help Russia withstand US pressure. China had refused to hold military-to-military dialogue and had suspended numerous bilateral dialogues with the US due to a standoff on the Taiwan issue. It did not augur well for both countries, even as chances of accidental conflict due to misunderstanding or miscommunication increased many fold. Many US allies in Europe and Asia also turned apprehensive over the Sino-American schism, and some of them expressed their difficulties in taking sides. The meetings between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping in Bali during the G20 summit in 2022 and in San Francisco during the APEC meeting were mindful efforts to maintain interactions at the highest levels in order to reduce miscommunication and remove misunderstandings. However, these meetings had little encouraging outcomes in terms of normalising the relationship. Advertisement The US-China differences over a number of key issues persisted for too long to further complicate the relationship. Restoration of normal channels of communication became essential, and thus Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had already visited China twice to sort out issues related to trade and investment. And the recent visit to China by Secretary of State Blinken is the second one in ten months. The telephonic conversations between the US Defence Secretary and his Chinese counterpart have also resumed. Yet, these are only signs of thaws; restoration of normal US-China ties is a long way off. The reasons why both Washington and Beijing are willing to hold regular consultations at high levels are voluminous. The US has been consistently monitoring the rising technological power of China, concerned about China maintaining closer ties with Russia, North Korea, and Iran, aware of its inability to dismantle or prevent Chinese militarization of the South China Sea Islands, disturbed about the flood of cheap Chinese goods landing in the US, and anxious about Chinas potential use of force against Taiwan. Advertisement China, on the other hand, has been witnessing a slowdown in its economic growth, a meltdown of its real estate that contributes about one-third of its GDP, upset about US restrictions on exports of critical technology, angry against the Biden administration discouraging American companies to invest in China in sectors that can boost its military capabilities, furious over US arms transfers to Taiwan, and agitated about Washingtons efforts to create triangular and quadrilateral groupings like AUKUS, US-Japan-South Korea, and Japan-Philippines-US strategic collaborations. Since both sides have thoughtful motives to keep holding dialogues, the language used during Secretary Blinkens visit to China was temperate. Blinken asked China to stop exporting goods that can enable the Russian defence industry to run smoothly, repeated the concerns expressed by Treasury Secretary Yellen regarding exports of cheap and subsidised goods that negatively affect US companies and labourers, asked Beijing to provide a level playing field to US companies in China and refrain from using out of market economic pressures, and sought to impress China with the need to restrain Iran in the current tension between Tehran and Tel Aviv. Advertisement Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed satisfaction over the current stabilisation of Sino-US relations but offered a choice between a stable relationship and a downward spiral in ties; asked the Secretary not to step on Chinas Red Lines, especially on the Taiwan issue; defended Chinas economic ties with Russia; and urged the US to understand China and its attitude and not misinterpret Beijings actions. President Xi Jinping, in his meeting with Secretary Blinken, said that China and the US should be partners and not rivals. Both recognised that Sino-US relations are the most consequential in the current global order. Overall, it was a visit that aimed to continue the dialogue at high levels rather than resolve outstanding differences. It is evident that neither Washington nor Beijing would prefer armed confrontation. The US is already confronted with two warsone in Europe and the other in West Asia. The Biden administration does not want China to fully cooperate with Americas adversaries. At the same time, President Biden wants to display his tougher policy towards China to avoid giving his political rival Donald Trump ammunition to fire at him during the crucial electoral campaigns. Advertisement Bidens Treasury Secretary and Secretary of State took strong messages to China, and President Biden signed the law to ban Tik-Tok on the eve of Blinkens China visit, yet the meetings in Beijing were more cordial than they could have been. Chinese leaders perceive Bidens policies as containment strategies, yet Xi Jinping thought it necessary to engage because a Trump victory could bring more uncertainties to the relationship. The writer is founder chairperson of Kalinga Institute Indo-Pacific Studies and former Professor at JNU. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. With the intermediary SSF now having been removed, President Xi Jinping will have more direct control of the information domain read more It is yet another pivotal step in PLA modernisation, what China now calls the four services and four arms. Image: AFP As a part of the most touted major security structure reforms, Chinese President Xi Jinping created the Strategic Support Force (SSF) in December 2015. And now, on April 19, 2024, the SSF met its death knell in yet another restructuring of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). The PLA now has three independent branches: the Information Support Force (ISF), the Cyberspace Force, and the Aerospace Force. China is known for its lack of transparency. Whether this change has been done to enhance military operational capability or to exercise greater political oversight and direct control over various elements is being analysed. Could corruption have played a part in Xis decision, is being speculated. Advertisement The Ukraine conflict has surely highlighted the importance of the logistics and information domains. Space and cyber are other very dominant operational domains. Aerospace force could mean the partial merging of air and space domains. It may be recalled that China created the Near Space Command in November 2023. Erstwhile SSF The 2015 PLA reforms brought in major structural changes, including the formation of theatre commands. The then-newly created SSF was focused on space, counter-space, and information warfare capabilities. It was meant to improve the PLAs ability to fight what China calls informatised conflicts and to simultaneously enhance the PLAs power projection capabilities in space and cyberspace. SSF was designed to ease intelligence sharing and coordination with departments of the different branches. The nearly 250,000 personnel force represented nearly 10 per cent of the military. The SSF was on par with the other military services and the PLAs five operational theatre commands. Later, the overall responsibility for national and joint military communication networks was also shifted to SSF control. The SSF oversaw all units responsible for psychological warfare, information warfare, space warfare, cyberwarfare, and electronic warfare operations. With so many tasks, command and control were spread thin, and individual units were vying for resources. Also, the expertise required to command such a multifaceted force was complex. The SSF consolidated all the PLAs space-based C4ISR systems. The conduct of strategic reconnaissance using the spy balloons flying in near space was also part of the SSF domain. When the Chinese spy balloons shooting down became a public spectacle, Xi was reportedly unhappy with SSF. Splitting SSF will now allow more focus on each sector. Advertisement The SSF used to report directly to the all-powerful Chinas Military Commission (CMC), headed by President Xi Jinping. The SSFs previous mandate encompassed a wide array of responsibilities, potentially hindering operational effectiveness. It was therefore split within just a little more than eight years. Chinas Military Commission and reduced layers The CMC wanted to give independent focus and importance to information, cyber, and space domains as stand-alone forces. It is yet another pivotal step in PLA modernisation, what China now calls the four services and four arms. The four services being the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Rocket Force, and the four arms include the Aerospace Force, the Cyberspace Force, the Information Support Force, and the Joint Logistic Support Force (JLSF). All these, in addition to the theatre commands, now report directly to the CMC, the top political party organ that oversees Chinas armed forces. Advertisement With the intermediary SSF now having been removed, Xi will have more direct control of the information domain. The new structure means the four forces plug into the PLAs joint operations system more easily due to fewer management layers. Operationally, the new structure is good for Chinas military. The SSF was as powerful as the PLAs five theatre commands. The current four support forces are now one level lower. The theatre commanders may have greater access to the support forces assets without hierarchal complications. The four support forces, having become stand-alone, can now concentrate on their own specialised functionality with a reduced management layer. Advertisement The overall reform is much smaller in scale than what happened in 2015. The changeover will thus be smoother and faster. Clearly, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership places high priority on aggregating information and network operations. Information Support Force China emphasises that network information systems are the largest variable for improving the combat effectiveness of the military, as modern warfare is a confrontation between systems. The Information Support Force (ISF) will perhaps be responsible for the entire PLAs integrated computer architecture, including network information systems and communications support. The ISF will be responsible for command and control, information security, and intelligence dissemination. They will also coordinate the defence of their own cyber networks and be responsible for maintenance and repairs. Advertisement The military considers the information domain as important as the four traditional air, land, sea, and space domains. The ISF tasks are crucial for modern competitive warfare in contested domains. The ISF is Chinas answer to the US militarys advanced network capabilities associated with Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2). Cyberspace Force The Cyberspace Force will be responsible for offensive cyber operations such as computer network attacks and active defence. Their mission will be to reinforce national cyber border defence, promptly detect and counter network intrusions, and maintain national cyber sovereignty and information security. The force will concentrate on intelligence collection. The Cyberspace Force could one day resemble the US Cyber Command, thus allowing for a more effective employment of resources and expertise. China has also been imbibing lessons from Russian structures. Russia also has a Cyber Command that reports directly to the Ministry of Defence. They have many dedicated cyber units. Russia has been training for live electronic, cyber, and informational confrontation and undertaking counter-propaganda efforts. Chinas Cyberspace Force bears a certain degree of resemblance to both US and Russian practices. Aerospace Force China has become a very significant space power and is fast catching up to the leader, the US. The Aerospace Force will take over SSFs Space Systems Department. The department managed backend systems for space-related affairs, but had overlaps with the Equipment Development Department and some elements within the Rocket Force and Air Force. Such overlapping organisational structures inevitably impeded operational efficiency. It was so much unlike the US dedicated Space Force, which centralised all matters pertaining to space warfare. Xi Jinping may have possibly drawn inspiration from the US militarys framework. Now the Aerospace Force will supervise space operations and space launches and strengthen the capacity to safely enter, exit, and freely use space, albeit overtly for peaceful purposes. The Pentagon reports state that the PLA views space superiority, the ability to control the space-enabled information sphere, and the ability to deny adversaries their own space-based information gathering and communication capabilities as critical components of conducting modern warfare. Indian defence reforms As China pushes ahead with further military reforms, India too has made incremental changes. India set up the tri-service Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) in 2001 and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) in 2003. The Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD) integrated the Special Forces of the armed forces. In 2019, the Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA) and the Defence Space Agency (DSA) were created at the same time. These could one-day become full-fledged commands. There is an Integrated Defence Staff, and a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The modalities for the formation of theatre commands are being worked out. The concept of Air Defence Command was deliberated and abandoned. The idea of integrated helicopter operations and integrated logistics is evolving. While some are exhibiting a high degree of urgency, it is best to take small but firm steps and hasten slowly. Information warfare and electronic warfare need greater importance. Chinas defence production capability is coming of age. They already have home-grown stealth fighter aircraft and large transport aircraft and are making stealth bombers. India is making strong efforts to increase indigenous defence production. However, the same needs a greater push, even if it is through partnerships for high-end technologies. Conclusions and implications China is busy consolidating and refining its military structures, this time with a special emphasis on battle-space information control in a multi-domain integrated joint operations environment. The structural changes are not cosmetic. The move is clearly a strategic response to evolving security challenges and technological advancements. The reforms reflect the evolving nature of modern warfare and the imperative to enhance capabilities in emerging domains such as space, cyber, and information warfare. Xi is trying to align the PLA with global trends and potential adversaries structures, giving higher importance to information, space, and cyber operations. PLA will have to once again engage in extensive training and exercises to stabilise the new structure. The new structure throws up unforeseen challenges to operational effectiveness. Beijing competes with Washington for military primacy in the Western Pacific. It also wants to keep the Line of Actual Control with India alive to stem Indias unprecedented economic growth. India has witnessed significant Chinese cyberattacks. The frequency of attacks increased manyfold during the Galwan skirmish. China also has dedicated electronic warfare aircraft. Chinas space launches are nearly 89 times more than Indias. Chinese satellite communications, space-based intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and its own global satellite navigation system, the BeiDou satellite navigation system, greatly support military operations. In modern warfare, victory hinges on information. PLA employs a much larger force, with many in civil clothing, for this purpose. Xi has repeatedly asked the PLA to modernise its readiness structure for high-tech combat and structure the military to fight and win future wars. They have made another major structural change within a decade of the last major military reform. The international military competition is undergoing historic changes. New and high-tech military technologies are advancing constantly. Long-range precision, intelligent, stealthy or unmanned weaponry and equipment will change the way we fight wars. The US and India have reasons to study and understand the implications of Chinas military restructuring. New Delhi must also look inward to accelerate Indias own defence structural reforms. The writer is former Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. While nine Nigerian Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members were killed in an IED blast, 14 were killed in an ambush following a raid on a camp of an armed gang read more At least 23 Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members were killed in two separate attacks in Nigeria on Saturday. The CJTF was formed in 2013 to protect communities in northeast Nigeria and assist the military in fighting Islamist armed groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Nigeria is part of the Sahel region in West Africa thats reeling from an Islamist insurgency for more than a decade. Besides Boko Haram and ISWAP, which is considered to be an offshoot of Boko Haram, Al Qaeda is also active in the region. Advertisement In the first attack, suspected ISWAP terrorists blew up a vehicle carrying CJTF team using an improvised explosive device (IED), as per Reuters. The attack took place in Nigerias Borno state, which has been the heartland of an Islamist insurgency, as per the report. The CJTF was first formed in 2013 to protect communities in the northeast and help the military fight Boko Haram and later its offshoot ISWAP. The force has since been extended to other northern states that are grappling with armed kidnapping gangs. Tijjanima Umar, CJTF Chairman for Gamboru Ngala area, was quoted as saying that his team was travelling to Borno states capital Maiduguri when the IED blast struck them. As the mine blew up, nine of them died instantly while two other people had severe injuries and were immediately taken to hospital for treatment, said Umar to the news agency. In the second attack, 14 CJTF members were killed and many were reported to be missing in an ambush by attackers in the countrys northwestern Soko state, said regional commandant Ismail Haruna to the news agency. Haruna said the ambush was carried out by a known armed abduction group leader during a raid to destroy one of their camp. Advertisement Haruna added that the gang quickly regrouped after the assault and ambushed the CJTF personnel when they were travelling back to the state capital of Sokoto. Guangdong is touted as one of the most populous provinces in China which is home to 19 million people read more At least five people died and 33 others were left injured after a massive tornado ripped through the Chinese city of Guangzhou. According to Chinese news agency Xinhua, the tornado struck the Guangdong Province capital at around 3 PM (local time) on Friday. Guangdong is touted as one of the most populous provinces in China which is home to 19 million people. It is also known as the countrys industrial heartland and houses thousands of factories that power the nations export sector. Advertisement 141 factories damaged According to Xinhua, around 141 factories were damaged in the Friday tornados. However, the authorities told the news outlet that no homes were damaged in the incident. Images that were shared by the local media showed darkness engulfing the skies in the middle of the day. Guangdong has been struggling with the wrath of nature for a while. Earlier this week, torrential rains in Guangdong caused serious flooding, leaving four dead. The state media stated that this was the worst flooding the province witnessed since the 1950s. It is pertinent to note that Tornadoes are not unusual in China. In September last year, at least 10 people were killed after a tornado rocked the Suqian, Jiangsu Province, in the countrys east. In the year 2021, two tornadoes hit the country in a single day. The devastation killed 12 people including eight from Wuhan. As per the reports, the Friday tornado was at the level of intensity, which is just two levels lower than the highest intensity of five. The authorities ended the rescue operation in the region at 10 pm (local time). Meanwhile, Chinas Meteorological agency warned that the region might expect heavy rains and strong storms until the end of the month. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. US Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit to Saudi Arabia will coincide with the arrival of a Hamas delegation in Egypt with a response to the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal read more US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is travelling to Saudi Arabia on Monday to revive talks for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the United States and regional partners, were stalled for weeks, but have picked up pace in recent days. Any deal reached between the two sides will include a truce in Gaza and release of hostages in the captivity of Hamas. Blinkens visit to Saudi Arabia will coincide with the arrival of a Hamas delegation in Egypt with a response to the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal. Advertisement During its unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Hamas and fellow terrorist groups abducted more than 250 people and took them to Gaza as hostages. While more than 100 hostages were released in a deal reached late last year, the majority remain in captivity. Following the attack, Israel went on a war with Hamas in Gaza with the twin objectives of the defeat of Hamas and release of hostages. The reports of progress in ceasefire talks come as Israel has expressed readiness for an invasion of Rafah, the southern Gazan town where more than 1 million Palestinians displaced by monthslong war have sheltered and where Israeli government says multiple battalions of Hamas are making their last stand. The international community has warned that any invasion of Rafah could lead to a grave humanitarian crisis. Blinken to discuss ceasefire talks in Riyadh Blinken will discuss ceasefire negotiations with Arab partners on the sidelines of a three-day World Economic Forum (WEF) conference that Saudi Arabia is hosting. In the Saudi Capital Riyadh, Blinken will meet top Arab officials, including Qataris and Egyptians, who are mediating talks between Israel and Hamas. The two sides do not directly engage with each-other. Blinken will underline that it is Hamas thats roadblocking a ceasefire in Gaza as it is not budging on the negotiations, according to Mathew Miller, a Spokesperson at the US Department of State. Advertisement Separately, The New York Times has reported that French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne is also headed to Riyadh from Lebanon where he held talks aimed to ease the tensions between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist group active in southern Lebanon that has clashed with Israel on a nearly-daily basis since October 2023. Is Gaza ceasefire in the offing? There are signs that Israel has softened its position on Gaza ceasefire talks. The mediators are reportedly working on a middle path approach that seeks to strike a compromise between the positions taken by Israel and Hamas. Axios has reported that that the latest ceasefire proposal for the first time includes Israels willingness to discuss the end of the war in Gaza. The proposal is now with Hamas and AFP news agency has separately reported that a delegation of the group will arrive in Egypt on Monday to submit its response to the plan. Advertisement The proposal on the table was drafted jointly by the Israelis and the Egyptians, according to Axios. We hope that what we have proposed is enough to bring Hamas into serious negotiations. We hope Hamas sees we are serious about reaching a deal and we are serious. They should understand that it is possible that if the first stage is implemented, it will be possible to advance to the next stages and reach the end of the war, an Israeli official was quoted as saying in the report. Separately, an Egyptian official told Associated Press that a compromise solution being floated would include a small number of hostages released in exchange for displaced Palestinians to be allowed to return to their homes. Moreover, this plan is intended to set the stage for further talks to bring a permanent end to the war. Advertisement Israel also appears to be using the preparations for an invasion of Rafah to pressure Hamas into making concessions, but it is uncertain if such an approach will work because US President Joe Biden and much of the international community has practically termed an invasion of Rafah as a red line for Israel to not cross. In a conversation on Sunday, Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that there should be no operation without making convincing arrangement for the evacuation and rehabilitation of Palestinians sheltering there. Following their conversation, CNN reported the Biden administration has made clear to its Israeli counterparts that they want to see a clear and actionable plan on how they would protect civilians in Rafah. Separately, White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby said that Israel has conveyed it will not launch any offensive until the Biden administration can share its concerns. Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun has visited Saudi Arabia to attend a non-regular session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) as the Korean government representative, his office said Sunday. Ahn took part in the WEF's Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development in Riyadh, set for Sunday through Monday (local time), Seoul's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said. The forum in Riyadh is a special WEF session that has been organized aside from the two main annual meetings that take place in Switzerland and China. The latest Davos forum was held in January. During the meeting, Ahn participated in panel discussions, including an informal gathering of world economic leaders, known as the IGWEL session, the ministry said. Ahn is expected to have bilateral meetings with some top government officials of the participating countries and discuss economic cooperation in a range of areas, such as energy and investment, his office said. (Yonhap) Hun Manet sent his sympathies to the families of the fallen troops and pledged that the government will cover the cost of their funerals and compensate the injured as well as the dead read more A nearby resident collects fragments falling from the roof of his house after an ammunition explosion at Prey Beng village in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia. AP Twenty troops have died and several more have been injured in an incident involving munitions at a facility in southwest Cambodia, according to the prime minister. In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed his deep shock after learning of the explosion that occurred at the facility in Kampong Speu province on Saturday afternoon. It was unclear at first what the cause was. Photos from the site showed troops receiving medical attention in a hospital alongside a number of severely damaged houses that were still smouldering, at least one of which had had its roof blasted off. Additional images displayed homes with roof gaps. Advertisement In a brief report to army leader Gen Mao Sophan shared on social media, Col Youeng Sokhon, an army official at the scene, stated that numerous military vehicles were damaged and that four buildingsthree for storage and one for workwere demolished. He said there was also damage to the homes of twenty-five villagers. Like many other nations in the area, Cambodia has been experiencing a protracted heatwave; on Saturday, the province where the explosion occurred had a high of 39C (102F). Although high temperatures often do not cause ammunition to explode, they can cause explosives to become less stable over time, increasing the possibility that a single little explosion might start a fire and cause a chain reaction. Pheng Kimneang, a local resident, had been quoted by the online English-language news outlet Kiripost as reporting that a significant explosion happened at 2:30 pm and that there were several minor explosions for an additional hour. Kimneang was cited as stating that residences up to a kilometre away saw minor damage, and that windows of a neighbouring factory were smashed. Images of the base depict it in a wide field, seemingly devoid of any nearby civilian buildings. Hun Manet sent his sympathies to the families of the fallen troops and pledged that the government will cover the cost of their funerals and compensate the injured as well as the dead. Advertisement He graduated from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, and served as army commander until being elected prime minister last year, succeeding his father, Hun Sen, who led Cambodia for 38 years before retiring. Dar, 73, is a veteran politician and chartered accountant who is a member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the political party of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif read more Dar, a close ally of the Sharif family, was the finance minister in two prior administrations Ishaq Dar, the foreign minister of Pakistan, was named the nations deputy prime minister on Sunday, the Cabinet Division announced. Dar, 73, is a veteran politician and chartered accountant who is a member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the political party of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Prime Minister Sharif made the appointment with immediate effect and until further orders, per the notice. Dar, a close ally of the Sharif family, was the finance minister in two prior administrations. As the partys solution to all economic issues, he held the position of finance minister in the previous coalition government led by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) for the fourth and last time. Advertisement He had been the partys go-to financial expert for decades, so it came as a surprise when Prime Minister Sharif appointed him as Foreign Minister in March. The appointment of a Deputy Prime Minister is not unprecedented. From June 25, 2012, to June 29, 2013, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was the Deputy Prime Minister for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). At the time, Asif Ali Zardari, the president, had given him a gift for his support of the PPP government, therefore his role was primarily symbolic. Currently serving as the president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Elahi is imprisoned on charges of corruption. China has increased its military, diplomatic, and cultural clout in the region. It most recently used its influence to help during the COVID-19 pandemic, sending hundreds of millions of vaccine doses, loans, and medical supplies to the countries of Latin America read more China first established connections with the region in the sixteenth century, when the Manila Galleon trade route made it easier for China and Mexico to exchange porcelain, silk, and spices Image Courtesy AP The countries of South and Central America, collectively known as Latin America, has been traditionally considered to be a backyard of the United States. However, China, which has emerged as the principal global rival of the worlds sole superpower, has made significant inroads into this resource-rich and often volatile region in recent times. Since the turn of the century, China has been a significant player in Latin America, which has raised concerns about Beijings influence while also offering economic opportunities. China is now South Americas largest commercial partner, surpassing the United States, and its state-owned enterprises are significant investors in the energy, infrastructure, and space sectors. Advertisement China has increased its military, diplomatic, and cultural clout in the region. It most recently used its influence to help during the COVID-19 pandemic, sending hundreds of millions of vaccine doses, loans, and medical supplies to the countries of Latin America. However, the US and its allies worry that Beijing is leveraging these ties to promote its geopolitical objectives, which include further isolating Taiwan and supporting authoritarian governments like those in Cuba and Venezuela. Although some observers contend that the United States could be doing more, U.S. President Joe Biden has committed to increased economic cooperation with Latin America. Biden views China as a strategic competitor in the region. China first established connections with the region in the sixteenth century, when the Manila Galleon trade route made it easier for China and Mexico to exchange porcelain, silk, and spices. Thousands of Chinese immigrants were being sent to Peru and Cuba as coolies, or indentured slaves, by the 1840s; they were frequently employed on sugar plantations or in silver mines. Chinas relations with the area were mostly based on migration for the course of the following century, as Beijing continued to be focused with internal turmoil. Less than 2 percent of Latin Americas exports went to China in 2000, but the regions subsequent commodities boom was fueled by Chinas rapid growth and consequent demand. Trade increased at an average annual rate of 31% [PDF] for the following eight years, reaching a value of $180 billion in 2010. Trade reached a record $450 billion by 2021; this amount stayed relatively stable in 2022 as well, and some analysts estimate that by 2035, it may surpass $700 billion. China is currently the regions most important trading partner for both South America and all of Latin America, after the United States. Advertisement Soybeans, copper, petroleum, oil, and other raw commodities necessary for Chinas industrial development are the principal exports from Latin America to that nation. As a result, the region imports a majority of manufactured items with higher value added; some analysts argue that this trade has caused local sectors to be undercut by cheaper Chinese goods. By 2023, Beijing will have free trade agreements with Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Costa Rica, and Ecuador in place. Additionally, 21 Latin American nations have already ratified Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). There is still discussion of a free trade deal with Uruguay. Chinese loans and overseas foreign direct investment (OFDI) are significant contributors to the development of relations with the area. Chinas foreign direct investment (FDI) in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2022 was around $12 billion, or almost 9% of all OFDI in the area. A total of $137 billion in loans to Latin American governments was made by the state-owned China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China between 2005 and 2020; the loans were used to finance infrastructure and energy projects, frequently in exchange for oil. These banks are among the top lenders in the region. Loans came to $813 million [PDF] in 2022 alone. Venezuela is the largest borrower by far; at present, it has $60 billion in state loans from China, largely for infrastructure and energy projects. Advertisement That is almost twice as much as Brazil, the second-largest borrower. China also has voting memberships in the Caribbean Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. These connections have, however, sparked some worries, especially from regional governments. Even though Chinese loans frequently come with less restrictions, relying too much on them might force economically fragile nations like Venezuela into what some refer to as debt traps, which can lead to default. In fact, a number of nations in Latin America are attempting to renegotiate the conditions of their debt. In addition, detractors claim that Chinese businesses violate labor and environmental laws and raise concerns about national security due to Chinas expanding influence over vital infrastructure, including ports and energy networks. Concerns have also been raised concerning a rise in economic dependency in nations like Chile, whose exports to China in 2021 amounted to over $36 billion, or about 38% of the total. Advertisement China wants to adopt a development framework called South-South cooperation [PDF], which emphasizes trade, investment, and aid, to broaden its sphere of influence. By emphasizing cultural and educational exchanges, Beijing has been able to cultivate political goodwill with local governments and position itself as a competitive partner to the US and Europe. Numerous high-level political discussions have taken place since the historic thirteen-day tour of Latin America by former Chinese President Jiang Zemin in 2001. Since taking office in 2013, President Xi Jinping has made at least eleven trips to the area. China has signed comprehensive strategic partnershipsthe highest designation it grants to its diplomatic allieswith Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela in addition to a number of bilateral agreements with other nations in the region. Advertisement The drive by China to isolate Taiwan is another significant element. Latin Americas support for Taiwan has decreased recently as a result of Beijings refusal to establish diplomatic ties with nations that acknowledge the islands sovereignty; currently, only seven nations in the area do so. Honduras became the most recent nation to formally ally with Beijing in 2023 following Taipeis denial of the nations request for billions of dollars in aid. Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic are two more recent swaps. Experts claim that pressure is mounting on the last holdouts, like Haiti. The significance of security and defense cooperation has been emphasized in Chinese government policy for Latin America, as outlined in several documents, including its 2016 Defense Strategy White Paper. China is working with its Latin American peers to strengthen military ties through training programs, arms sales, and military exchanges. Venezuela continues to be the regions largest buyer of Chinese military hardware, despite the United States governments 2006 ban on all commercial arms shipments to Venezuela. Beijing is said to have sent $629 million worth of weapons to Venezuela between 2006 and 2022. Additionally, China has supplied Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru with air defense radars, assault rifles, ground vehicles, and military planes worth millions of dollars [PDF]. Cuba has also made an effort to deepen its military ties with China by welcoming the Peoples Liberation Army on many port trips. Concerns have also been expressed by U.S. intelligence authorities regarding evidence that China is stepping up its intelligence sharing with Cuba. China also sent more than a hundred riot police to Haiti as part of its participation in the UN peacekeeping operation, which started in 2004. China left Haiti less than ten years later, but it continues to direct military drills around the area and supplies local police enforcement. For instance, China gave military vehicles and anti-riot gear to Bolivian police departments during the administration of Evo Morales Ayma; it also gave Guyana and Trinidad and Tobagos police forces motorcycles and transportation equipment; and it gave Ecuador tens of thousands of automatic weapons. Chinas COVID-19 diplomacy in Latin America, according to many analysts, was an attempt to boost its standing and win over the governments in the area. This has included lending billions of dollars to nations so they may buy Chinese vaccinations; investing in domestic vaccine production facilities; and sending medical supplies including masks, ventilators, and diagnostic test kits. By June 2022, China had supplied Latin America with over 400 million doses of vaccines. Furthermore, Beijing inked vaccination agreements with at least a dozen nations in the area, some of which included technology transfers and joint research with Sinovac, a Chinese vaccine manufacturer. Almost 70 percent of Chiles COVID-19 vaccination coverage came from Chinese vaccinations, making it one of the top receivers. Tens of millions of doses were also purchased by Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru. Beijings vaccination diplomacy, however, alarmed a few nations. For example, Honduras and Paraguay said they were pressured to give up their recognition of Taiwan in return for dosages. Certain observers had suspicions that China was also leveraging its vaccine power to encourage the growth of Huawei, the controversial Chinese telecom behemoth. A few weeks after China gave Brasilia millions of vaccination doses, Brazilian regulators decided to change their previous ruling prohibiting Huawei from working on the nations 5G networks. Vitality. China made $73 billion in raw material investments in Latin America between 2000 and 2018, including the construction of refineries and processing facilities in nations with substantial reserves of coal, copper, natural gas, oil, and uranium. In recent times, China has directed its investments towards the production of lithium in the countries collectively known as the Lithium Triangle: Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. These three countries collectively have around 50% of the worlds known lithium reserves, a crucial metal required for battery manufacturing. Chinese state-owned companies have a significant role in the development of energy; PowerAs of late 2022, China, for instance, had over fifty active projects across fifteen Latin American nations. However, the size and scope of these initiatives are exacerbating health and environmental concerns. China is also interested in the renewable energy industry in the area. Major solar and wind projects, including the largest solar plant in Latin America in Jujuy, Argentina, and the Punta Sierra wind farm in Coquimbo, Chile, have been supported by the China Development Bank. Infrastructure. As members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay each have a certain amount of voting power. In addition, Beijing has provided funding for regional building initiatives, with an emphasis on railroads, ports, and airports. Nonetheless, the environment and nearby Indigenous communities have suffered as a result of over a dozen large-scale infrastructure projects led by China in the region, according to a 2023 report by the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. China is still focused on creating and developing new infrastructure, which includes 5G technology from telecom companies like Huawei, smart cities, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence (AI). Countries in the region are progressively utilizing Huawei technology in spite of American advisories against doing so, since officials claim that doing so exposes their nations to Chinese cyberthreats: In 2022, Huawei initiated a two-year experimental project dubbed 5G city in Curitiba, Brazil. Beijing has additionally aimed to enhance its space collaboration with Latin America, starting with cooperative China-Brazil satellite development and manufacturing in 1988. With satellite ground stations in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, and the Patagonian Desert in Argentina, Chinas largest non-domestic space complex is situated there. The risk that they might be utilized to spy on US assets has increased due to their close proximity to the US. China has increased its military, diplomatic, and cultural clout in the region. It most recently used its influence to help during the COVID-19 pandemic, sending hundreds of millions of vaccine doses, loans, and medical supplies to the countries of Latin America read more China first established connections with the region in the sixteenth century, when the Manila Galleon trade route made it easier for China and Mexico to exchange porcelain, silk, and spices Image Courtesy AP The countries of South and Central America, collectively known as Latin America, have been traditionally considered to be a backyard of the United States. However, China, which has emerged as the principal global rival of the worlds sole superpower, has made significant inroads into this resource-rich and often volatile region in recent times. Since the turn of the century, China has been a significant player in Latin America, which has raised concerns about Beijings influence while also offering economic opportunities. China is now South Americas largest commercial partner, surpassing the United States, and its state-owned enterprises are significant investors in the energy, infrastructure, and space sectors. Advertisement China has increased its military, diplomatic, and cultural clout in the region. It most recently used its influence to help during the COVID-19 pandemic, sending hundreds of millions of vaccine doses, loans, and medical supplies to the countries of Latin America. However, the US and its allies worry that Beijing is leveraging these ties to promote its geopolitical objectives, which include further isolating Taiwan and supporting authoritarian governments like those in Cuba and Venezuela. Although some observers contend that the United States could be doing more, U.S. President Joe Biden has committed to increased economic cooperation with Latin America. Biden views China as a strategic competitor in the region. China first established connections with the region in the sixteenth century, when the Manila Galleon trade route made it easier for China and Mexico to exchange porcelain, silk, and spices. Thousands of Chinese immigrants were being sent to Peru and Cuba as coolies, or indentured slaves, by the 1840s; they were frequently employed on sugar plantations or in silver mines. Chinas relations with the area were mostly based on migration for the course of the following century, as Beijing continued to be focused with internal turmoil. Less than 2 percent of Latin Americas exports went to China in 2000, but the regions subsequent commodities boom was fueled by Chinas rapid growth and consequent demand. Trade increased at an average annual rate of 31% [PDF] for the following eight years, reaching a value of $180 billion in 2010. Trade reached a record $450 billion by 2021; this amount stayed relatively stable in 2022 as well, and some analysts estimate that by 2035, it may surpass $700 billion. China is currently the regions most important trading partner for both South America and all of Latin America, after the United States. Advertisement Soybeans, copper, petroleum, oil, and other raw commodities necessary for Chinas industrial development are the principal exports from Latin America to that nation. As a result, the region imports a majority of manufactured items with higher value added; some analysts argue that this trade has caused local sectors to be undercut by cheaper Chinese goods. By 2023, Beijing will have free trade agreements with Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Costa Rica, and Ecuador in place. Additionally, 21 Latin American nations have already ratified Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). There is still discussion of a free trade deal with Uruguay. Chinese loans and overseas foreign direct investment (OFDI) are significant contributors to the development of relations with the area. Chinas foreign direct investment (FDI) in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2022 was around $12 billion, or almost 9% of all OFDI in the area. A total of $137 billion in loans to Latin American governments was made by the state-owned China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China between 2005 and 2020; the loans were used to finance infrastructure and energy projects, frequently in exchange for oil. These banks are among the top lenders in the region. Loans came to $813 million [PDF] in 2022 alone. Venezuela is the largest borrower by far; at present, it has $60 billion in state loans from China, largely for infrastructure and energy projects. Advertisement That is almost twice as much as Brazil, the second-largest borrower. China also has voting memberships in the Caribbean Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. These connections have, however, sparked some worries, especially from regional governments. Even though Chinese loans frequently come with less restrictions, relying too much on them might force economically fragile nations like Venezuela into what some refer to as debt traps, which can lead to default. In fact, a number of nations in Latin America are attempting to renegotiate the conditions of their debt. In addition, detractors claim that Chinese businesses violate labor and environmental laws and raise concerns about national security due to Chinas expanding influence over vital infrastructure, including ports and energy networks. Concerns have also been raised concerning a rise in economic dependency in nations like Chile, whose exports to China in 2021 amounted to over $36 billion, or about 38% of the total. Advertisement China wants to adopt a development framework called South-South cooperation [PDF], which emphasizes trade, investment, and aid, to broaden its sphere of influence. By emphasizing cultural and educational exchanges, Beijing has been able to cultivate political goodwill with local governments and position itself as a competitive partner to the US and Europe. Numerous high-level political discussions have taken place since the historic thirteen-day tour of Latin America by former Chinese President Jiang Zemin in 2001. Since taking office in 2013, President Xi Jinping has made at least eleven trips to the area. China has signed comprehensive strategic partnershipsthe highest designation it grants to its diplomatic allieswith Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela in addition to a number of bilateral agreements with other nations in the region. Advertisement The drive by China to isolate Taiwan is another significant element. Latin Americas support for Taiwan has decreased recently as a result of Beijings refusal to establish diplomatic ties with nations that acknowledge the islands sovereignty; currently, only seven nations in the area do so. Honduras became the most recent nation to formally ally with Beijing in 2023 following Taipeis denial of the nations request for billions of dollars in aid. Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic are two more recent swaps. Experts claim that pressure is mounting on the last holdouts, like Haiti. The significance of security and defense cooperation has been emphasized in Chinese government policy for Latin America, as outlined in several documents, including its 2016 Defense Strategy White Paper. China is working with its Latin American peers to strengthen military ties through training programs, arms sales, and military exchanges. Venezuela continues to be the regions largest buyer of Chinese military hardware, despite the United States governments 2006 ban on all commercial arms shipments to Venezuela. Beijing is said to have sent $629 million worth of weapons to Venezuela between 2006 and 2022. Additionally, China has supplied Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru with air defense radars, assault rifles, ground vehicles, and military planes worth millions of dollars [PDF]. Cuba has also made an effort to deepen its military ties with China by welcoming the Peoples Liberation Army on many port trips. Concerns have also been expressed by U.S. intelligence authorities regarding evidence that China is stepping up its intelligence sharing with Cuba. China also sent more than a hundred riot police to Haiti as part of its participation in the UN peacekeeping operation, which started in 2004. China left Haiti less than ten years later, but it continues to direct military drills around the area and supplies local police enforcement. For instance, China gave military vehicles and anti-riot gear to Bolivian police departments during the administration of Evo Morales Ayma; it also gave Guyana and Trinidad and Tobagos police forces motorcycles and transportation equipment; and it gave Ecuador tens of thousands of automatic weapons. Chinas COVID-19 diplomacy in Latin America, according to many analysts, was an attempt to boost its standing and win over the governments in the area. This has included lending billions of dollars to nations so they may buy Chinese vaccinations; investing in domestic vaccine production facilities; and sending medical supplies including masks, ventilators, and diagnostic test kits. By June 2022, China had supplied Latin America with over 400 million doses of vaccines. Furthermore, Beijing inked vaccination agreements with at least a dozen nations in the area, some of which included technology transfers and joint research with Sinovac, a Chinese vaccine manufacturer. Almost 70 percent of Chiles COVID-19 vaccination coverage came from Chinese vaccinations, making it one of the top receivers. Tens of millions of doses were also purchased by Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru. Beijings vaccination diplomacy, however, alarmed a few nations. For example, Honduras and Paraguay said they were pressured to give up their recognition of Taiwan in return for dosages. Certain observers had suspicions that China was also leveraging its vaccine power to encourage the growth of Huawei, the controversial Chinese telecom behemoth. A few weeks after China gave Brasilia millions of vaccination doses, Brazilian regulators decided to change their previous ruling prohibiting Huawei from working on the nations 5G networks. Vitality. China made $73 billion in raw material investments in Latin America between 2000 and 2018, including the construction of refineries and processing facilities in nations with substantial reserves of coal, copper, natural gas, oil, and uranium. In recent times, China has directed its investments towards the production of lithium in the countries collectively known as the Lithium Triangle: Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. These three countries collectively have around 50% of the worlds known lithium reserves, a crucial metal required for battery manufacturing. Chinese state-owned companies have a significant role in the development of energy; PowerAs of late 2022, China, for instance, had over fifty active projects across fifteen Latin American nations. However, the size and scope of these initiatives are exacerbating health and environmental concerns. China is also interested in the renewable energy industry in the area. Major solar and wind projects, including the largest solar plant in Latin America in Jujuy, Argentina, and the Punta Sierra wind farm in Coquimbo, Chile, have been supported by the China Development Bank. Infrastructure. As members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay each have a certain amount of voting power. In addition, Beijing has provided funding for regional building initiatives, with an emphasis on railroads, ports, and airports. Nonetheless, the environment and nearby Indigenous communities have suffered as a result of over a dozen large-scale infrastructure projects led by China in the region, according to a 2023 report by the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. China would provide foreign companies with a better business environment so that firms from all over the world may invest peacefully in China, said Chinese Premier Li Qiang read more Tech billionaire Elon Musk met Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday as Beijing sought to attract investments from foreign funds. This is his second visit to China in less than a year. Musks visit comes shortly after his scheduled visit to India during which he was to have a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was postponed. He had said he postponed the visit because of very heavy Tesla obligations. Following their meeting, Li said that China would provide foreign companies with a better business environment so that firms from all over the world may invest peacefully in China. Advertisement Honored to meet with Premier Li Qiang. We have known each other now for many years, since early Shanghai days. pic.twitter.com/JCnv6MbZ6W Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 28, 2024 On his part, Musk said that Tesla is willing to take the next step in deepening cooperation to achieve mutually beneficial results, according to Chinese state media. China will work hard to expand market access: Premier Li Following his meeting with Musk, Li said that China will work hard to expand market access to foreign firms and will enable foreign investments. Chinas very large-scale market will always be open to foreign-funded firms. China will stick to its word and will continue working hard to expand market access and strengthen service guarantees, said Li, as per state broadcaster CCTV. Li further said that China will also provide foreign companies with a better business environment so that firms from all over the world can have peace of mind while investing in China, according to the Chinese broadcaster. China has long been criticised for being discriminatory in international trade. It has long been argued that while China has benefitted from globalisation and its companies have profited from access to Western markets, the Chinese market has been denied to Western companies. Advertisement Willing to deepen cooperation with China for win-win results: Musk Following his meeting with Li, Musk said that Tesla is willing to take the next step to deepen cooperation with China achieve more win-win results. Musk has extensive business interests in China where he also has a gigafactory for his electric vehicles (EV) Tesla. While EVs are slowly catching up in the rest of the world, EVs have become a mainstay for the countrys middle class. Musk praised the hardworking and intelligent Chinese team at Teslas gigafactory in Shanghai during, as per CCTV. Tesla is willing to take the next step in deepening cooperation with China to achieve more win-win results, Musk was quoted as saying. Advertisement Before meeting Li, Musk also met Ren Hongbin, the head of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, to discuss next steps in cooperation and other topics, according to the report. Musks attention to China and concerns for US While Musk snubbed Chinese EVs, he has lately hailed Chinese EV-makers as the the most competitive car companies in the world. His company Tesla is facing stiff competition from Chinese EV-makers BYD and Xiaomi. Its good to see electric vehicles making progress in China. All cars will be electric in the future, Musk was quoted as saying on Sunday. Musks affinity with Beijing has long been a concern for Washington. In 2022, US President Joe Biden said Musks link with foreign countries were worthy of scrutiny, according to AFP. Advertisement Musk has also echoed Beijing on sensitive topics such as Taiwan. He has suggested that the self-ruling island should become a part of China, which was welcomed in Beijing but deeply angered Taipei. France has historical ties with Lebanon and earlier this year Stephane Sejourne delivered an initiative that proposed Hezbollahs elite unit pull back 10 km (6 miles) from the Israeli border, while Israel would halt strikes in southern Lebanon read more Frances foreign minister will push proposals to prevent further escalation and a potential war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah during a visit to Lebanon on Sunday as Paris seeks to refine a roadmap that both sides could accept to ease tensions. France has historical ties with Lebanon and earlier this year Stephane Sejourne delivered an initiative that proposed Hezbollahs elite unit pull back 10 km (6 miles) from the Israeli border, while Israel would halt strikes in southern Lebanon. Advertisement The two have exchanged tit for tat strikes in recent months, but the exchanges have increased since Iran launched a barrage of missiles on Israel in response to a suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus that killed members of Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps overseas Quds Force. Frances proposal, which has been discussed with partners, notably the United States, has not moved forward, but Paris wants to keep momentum in talks and underscore to Lebanese officials that Israeli threats of a military operation in southern Lebanon should be taken seriously. Hezbollah has maintained it will not enter any concrete discussion until there is a ceasefire in Gaza, where the war between Israel and Islamist militant group Hamas has entered its sixth month. Israel has also said it wants to ensure calm is restored on its northern border so that thousands of displaced Israelis can return to the area without fear of rocket attacks from across the border. The objective is to prevent a regional conflagration and avoid that the situation deteriorates even more on the border between Israel and Lebanon, foreign ministry deputy spokesperson Christophe Lemoine said at a news conference. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Nikati and Lebanese army chief Joseph Aoun met French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this month, where they discussed the French proposal. Advertisement In a letter addressed to the French embassy in Beirut in March, Lebanons foreign ministry said Beirut believed the French initiative would be a significant step towards peace and security in Lebanon and the broader region. Local Lebanese media had reported the government had provided feedback to the French on the proposal. French officials say the responses so far have been general and lack consensus among the Lebanese. While they deem it too early for any form of accord, they believe it is vital to engage now so that when the moment comes both sides are ready. Paris will also underline the urgency of breaking the political deadlock in the country. Lebanon has neither a head of state nor a fully empowered cabinet since Michel Aouns term as president ended in October 2022. Advertisement Israel has remained cautious on the French initiative, although Israeli and French officials say Israel supports efforts to defuse the cross-border tensions. The flames will flicker and tensions will continue, said a Lebanese diplomat. We are in a situation of strategic ambiguity on both sides. France has 700 troops based in southern Lebanon as part of the 10,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping force. Officials say the U.N. troops are unable to carry out their mandate and part of Frances proposals are aimed at beefing up the mission by strengthening the Lebanese army. After Lebanon, Sejourne will head to Saudi Arabia before travelling to Israel. Arab and Western foreign ministers, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will hold informal talks on the sidelines of a World Economic Forum event in Riyadh to discuss the Gaza war with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. After a weekslong impasse in talks between Israel and Hamas being mediated by the United States and regional partners, the negotiations have picked up pace in recent days read more A Hamas official has said the group will submit its response to the ceasefire proposal being discussed tomorrow. (Photo: AFP) Hamas will submit its response to the latest proposal of a deal for ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to a senior official from the group. Hamas is currently studying the proposal floated during Egypt-led ceasefire talks. After a weekslong impasse in talks between Israel and Hamas being mediated by the United States and regional partners, the negotiations have picked up pace in recent days. The talks are aimed at striking a deal that includes a ceasefire in Gaza in lieu for the release of hostages held captive in Gaza. Israel is also expected to release Palestinian prisoners held in its jails as part of the deal along with other concessions in Gaza. Advertisement Hamas delegation to reach Egypt tomorrow to deliver response: Senior official A senior Hamas official told AFP news agency that a delegation of the terrorist group will arrive in Egypt on Monday to submit the response to the ceasefire proposal under consideration. A Hamas delegation headed by Khalil al-Hayya will arrive in Egypt tomorrow and deliver the movements response to the Israeli proposal during a meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials, said the senior Hamas official to AFP on Sunday on the condition of anonymity. A second Hamas source separately told the agency that the group is open to discussing the new proposal positively. End of the war being discussed as part of the proposal: Hamas source The second Hamas source further told AFP that Hamas is keen to reach an agreement that guarantees a permanent ceasefire, the free return of displaced people, an acceptable deal for (prisoner) exchange and ensuring an end to the (Gaza) siege. The source said the delegation would also discuss a proposal floated by Egypt concerning a ceasefire and prisoner exchange as part of the overall deal to stop the fighting in Gaza, according to the report, adding that the Egyptian proposal showed some progress. Describing the content of the proposal, the source said it guarantees the absence of Israeli forces on Al-Rashid road in Gaza, a key artery in the Palestinian enclave, when displaced Palestinians sheltering in the south return northward to their homes. Advertisement The Egyptian plan also proposes that Israeli forces remain 500 metres away from the main Salaheddin highway of Gaza and ensures that displaced civilians are not subjected to shooting, arrest, or detention during their return to their homes, according to the report. Separately, a report Al-Qahera News, which is linked to Egyptian intelligence services, reported that there has been noticeable progress in bringing the views of the Egyptian and Israeli delegations closer. The hospitalisation of the convicted sex offender came days after a New York court of appeals overturned his 2020 rape conviction read more Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced former Hollywood producer whose downfall became the catalyst to the #MeToo movement was hospitalised in New York City. The hospitalisation of the convicted sex offender came days after a New York court of appeals overturned his 2020 rape conviction. Weinsteins lawyers said that he is being taken to the hospital to undergo a series of tests. In the court ruling that came earlier this week, the court believed that the judge who oversaw the watershed case during the peak of the #MeToo era prejudiced Weinstein with egregious improper rulings. The court also condemned the 2020 presiding judge for allowing women whose accusations were not even part of the case to testify against him. Advertisement Weinstein is going through physical issues They examined him and sent him to Bellevue [hospital]. 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, Weinsteins lawyer Arthur Aidala said in a statement on Saturday, the Associated Press reported. Aidala noted that he spoke to Weinstein on Friday afternoon while he was being transported from the upstate jail Mohawk correctional facility to New York Citys Department of Correction following the appeals courts ruling. The lawyer made it clear that Weinsteins issues are physical and the movie mogul is mentally sharp as a tack with feet [that] are firmly planted on the ground. He claimed that Weinstein was treated poorly in jail. The lawyer insisted that there have been instances where the jail staff allegedly refused to offer a sip of water food and bathroom breaks to Weinstein. He was not treated well Hes a 72-year-old sickly man, Aidala told the Associated Press. In the past, Weinsteins defence team has repeatedly argued that he is suffering from several health issues. These issues include cardiac issues, diabetes, sleep apnea, eye problems, etc. In 2021, Weinsteins lawyer claimed that the erstwhile hot-shot movie producer had lost four teeth in prison. Advertisement What happens next? Aidala mentioned that the Bellevue doctors are planning to run a lot of tests on Weinstein before he returns to the Rikers Island jail complex. The lawyer mentioned that he is scheduled to meet Weinstein on Monday. He also stated that he is planning to tell the judge that when Weinstein goes to court on Wednesday in Manhattan, the retrial should be conducted only after Labour Day. Anger among Weinsteins victims Several women who have accused Weinstein of sex crimes or harassment, expressed rage over the New York courts decision. Its a terrible reminder that victims of sexual assault just dont get justice, said Katherine Kendall, an actress who accused Weinstein of luring her to what she believed would be a work discussion in 1993. Im completely let down by the justice system right now, she added. Advertisement Meanwhile, Ashley Judd, the first actress to come forward with the allegations stated that the move is unfair to survivors. We still live in our truth, she said. And we know what happened. Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, a Filipino Italian model, had accused Weinstein of grabbing her breasts back in 2015 during a business meeting at his office in Manhattan. However, the Manhattan district attorneys office decided not to charge him over the matter. After the recent judgement, Gutierrez recalled what happened to her and emphasised how important that case would have been in todays time. If the D.A. had taken my case seriously in 2015, we wouldnt be here, she averred. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. The minister said the PM Modi government is committed to ensuring that defence items, whether missiles and other weapons, bombs or tanks, should be made in India and by Indians read more Singh, who is in Ahmedabad to support BJP candidates running in the Lok Sabha elections, stated that India wishes to keep cordial ties with its neighbors and has grown to be a strong military nation Image Courtesy ANI India will never give up, according to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who stated on Sunday that discussions between China and India are proceeding amicably and in a positive atmosphere. Singh, who is in Ahmedabad to support BJP candidates running in the Lok Sabha elections, stated that India wishes to keep cordial ties with its neighbors and has grown to be a strong military nation. India is no longer a weak India. India has also become a powerful country from a military point of view. We want to maintain good relations with our neighbouring countries, the minister said when asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhis accusation against the Narendra Modi government over Chinese aggression. Advertisement Talks between India and China are going on smoothly and in a good environment over whatever issues there are, he said. I understand that we should wait for the outcome of the talks. But I want to assure the countrymen that India has not bowed down anywhere, nor will it ever bow down, he said. Singh also expressed confidence that Indias defence exports, which crossed the 21,000 crore mark in the financial 2023-24, will increase going forward. In 2014, we exported 600 crore defence items, but now the figure has crossed 21,000 crore, and I can say that it is going to increase, he said. The minister said the PM Modi government is committed to ensuring that defence items, whether missiles and other weapons, bombs or tanks, should be made in India and by Indians. Today, we have achieved defence production worth more than 1 lakh crore, he said. The new legislation was adopted in a parliamentary session on Saturday where 170 out of 329 lawmakers voted in favour read more Iraqs parliament passed a draconian bill on Saturday which would make same-sex relations in the country, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The bill introduced an amendment to the 1988 anti-prostitution law. The legislation will now cover acts including promoting homosexuality. The person will also be punishable if they undergo biological sex changes based on personal desires and inclination. In light of this, transgender individuals and doctors who perform gender reassignment surgery can face up to three years in prison. Advertisement However, the new law does exclude cases of medical intervention to treat birth defects to affirm the sex of the individual, CNN reported. Less severe than the previous proposal The new legislation was adopted in a parliamentary session on Saturday where 170 out of 329 lawmakers voted in favour. The previous draft which was proposed by Raad al-Maliki, the independent Iraqi lawmaker, stated that people involved in same-sex relations should be awarded capital punishment. After the voting on Saturday, Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, the acting parliamentary speaker said that the new legislation is aimed at protecting the moral fabric of society. There is no place for homosexuality in Iraq, the land of prophets, pure imams, and righteous saints, Al-Mandalawi said in a statement on Saturday. The concept of homosexuality in Iraq It is pertinent to note that homosexuality is already a taboo in Iraqs conservative society. However, in the past, there had not been a law that would explicitly punish people involved in same-sex relations. This does not mean that the members of the LGBTQIA+ community did not face any form of atrocities in the country. They have been prosecuted for sodomy under the vague morality and anti-prostitution clauses in Iraqs penal code. Advertisement Iraq has effectively codified in law the discrimination and violence members of the LGBTQ community have been subjected to with absolute impunity for years, said Amnesty Internationals Iraq researcher, Razaw Salihy. The amendments concerning LGBTQ rights are a violation of fundamental human rights and put at risk Iraqis whose lives are already hounded daily," Salihy added. The new legislation also bans organisations that promote homosexuality and punish wife swapping with a prison sentence of 10 to 15 years. Maliki who advanced the bill to the Iraqi parliament told AFP that the law serves as a preventive measure to protect society from such acts. He mentioned that the passing of the new amendment was postponed until and after the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudanis visit to the United States which took place earlier this month. Advertisement In the past, LGBTQ+ Iraqis have been often targeted with kidnappings, rapes, torture and murders that often went unpunished. The condemnation that followed Shortly after the legislation was passed, the US condemned the Iraqi Council of Representatives atrocious decision. The United States is deeply concerned by the Iraqi Council of Representatives passage of an amendment to existing legislation, officially called the Anti-Prostitution and Homosexuality Law, which threatens constitutionally protected human rights and fundamental freedoms, the US State Department said in a statement. The law bans same-sex relations with steep fines and imprisonment and punishes those who promote homosexuality. Limiting the rights of certain individuals in a society undermines the rights of all, the statement furthered. Advertisement Meanwhile, kidnappings, rapes, torture and murders that go unpunished told AFP that 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. With inputs from agencies. By Kevin Grabb As my train pulls into Dongdaegu Station, I ask myself, Why dont more people leave Seoul? Daegu is a major metropolis with a lot to offer. For me specifically, its Koreas premiere home-brewing competition the Daegu Stout Smackdown. Started by homebrewer-turned-pro Jared Hatch, this annual competition gives homebrewers in South Korea a chance to flex their skills on all beers dark: stouts, porters, Russian imperial stouts, vanilla stouts the list is numerous. This competition began in 2015, shortly after Hatch won Best in Show at Seouls first homebrew competition. I wanted something local [to Daegu] and wanted a way to hone my beer judging skills. My friends and I would practice every week to learn the Beer Judge Certification Program guidelines, said the beer enthusiast. And from those humble, guerrilla-style beginnings, where does he see this competition as being currently? Oh, its much bigger and there are many more Koreans participating, Hatch claims. We also have a lot more professional brewers involved and helping out with organizing. As I enter The Key Craft Bar in Suseong District, there is nary a seat to be found. Every year this event seems to draw in capacity crowds wherever it's held. The time to enjoy some black, pitch-tar, roasty beverages has begun. But what exactly is a stout? Many laymen may immediately call to mind Guinness and they would be right. But this is not where it ends. A stout is essentially a beer with a high percentage of roasted grains. This roasting of the grains not only darkens them, but also adds that roasted chocolate/coffee flavor to the beer. And what makes a good stout? In a sea of beer experts, I went and probed further. The word balance became a keyword here. Ryan Blocker of Galmegi Brewing Busan said, A balance of roasted notes but with a creaminess. This was seconded by Patrick Mackay, one of Koreas most prolific and respected homebrewers: A balance is nice. Like, the richness of a chocolate or a coffee, but with the cream of a nice espresso. Andreas Meyndt, German owner of TurmBrau Brewery, acknowldges his country's lager-heavy history before offering his take: Im certainly not an expert on stouts, but not too much roast. It seems the key here is to balance a nice burnt roasted flavor with the body of the beverage. I wade through the crowds for another drink. Seoul Brewery Robust Porter han-jan juseyo. The crowd becomes larger. People get a little louder, in volume and in numbers. Hatch makes it known that it is almost time to announce the winners. There shall be nine lucky winners tonight. This competition boils down to three categories: low alcohol, high alcohol and spiced. There are first-, second- and third-place prizes for each. Hatch brings out his stack of certificates. Spiced will be announced, he yells over the din of merry revelers. I brace. I have a vanilla porter in this category. I submitted two beers last year and walked away with nothing. A saying I have in life is, Expect nothing, be grateful for most things. It helps, but at the end of the day, a loss is a loss. I listen through the third-, second- and first-place winners. Cheers, yells, whoops and hollers fill the room. I have nothing but my applause for others. This is not my year. But not to worry! Having already sampled my vanilla porter, I know its not amazing. However, I, Kevin Grabb, have one more beer up my sleeve and I have much more confidence in it. Its an American stout that clocks in at 6 percent alcohol and is full of Chinook hops. These hops are spicy and pine-like, with a hint of grapefruit. Theres also enough dark U.S. malts in here to paint a red door black. Hatch begins, Third place, ..." not Kevin Grabb. I applaud politely, but it must be said, If you win, you win. Its hard work and they deserve it. I remind myself of my mantra, Expect nothing. Second place, ..." not Kevin Grabb. My heart sinks. I won nothing last year. Vanilla porter down in flames with no ejection seat. I am a novice brewer, I remind myself, with no actual formal training other than making beers at home and attempting to improve. Hatch smiles, And the first place for high-alcohol stout is Kevin Grabb. My internal monologue laughs, Ha! Thats your name. Eyes around the room start to draw their bead on me. Hatch, whom Im behind, turns around slowly with a great, big gape of a grin, Congratulations, man. Youve earned it. Me, rarely at a loss for words, step forward. I go through all the normal processes one would in a situation like this. I shake Hatchs hand as I come up and say thanks. I smile at the crowd and they smile back. But surely, this cant actually be happening. This is a good thing and good things dont happen to people like me! Ive never been so happy to be proven dead wrong. More beer is in order. As I make the rounds, a certain sense of confidence starts to kick in. I wish I could say it was the win, but its just as likely the fifth pint. I contemplate next year. Can I replicate this? How? The daunting aspect of winning again sets in. I need advice. I turn to Zachary Hooker, an organizer of the event, former Stout Smackdown winner and prolific homebrewer in his own right, and he tells me, People think we are born with good taste, but were not. Eat, drink and smell as many things as you can. Truer words have never been spoken. Kevin Grabb is a Canadian homebrewer and YouTuber. His channel "Korea Brewing Adventure" covers Korean alcohol from production to consumption. More than 1 million Palestinians displaced from the fighting in the Gaza Strip have taken refuge in Rafah read more Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has said only the US may stop an invasion of Rafah. (Photo: AP) The Israeli invasion of Rafah in the Gaza Strip should start within days and only the United States may stop it, said Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. Rafah is a city in southern Gaza where more than 1 million Palestinians displaced from the ongoing war have taken refuge. Israelis say multiple battalions of Hamas are also based in the city and a military operation is a must to ensure the defeat of Hamas, which is one of the main objectives of the Israels war in Gaza. Advertisement US President Joe Biden has said Israel should not launch a military operation in Rafah until it has a credible plan in place to evacuate and rehabilitate civilians sheltering there. The international community, including the Biden administration, has warned that an Israeli invasion of Rafah could lead to a severe humanitarian crisis. Rafah invasion will be biggest catastrophe in Palestinian history The invasion of Rafah will lead to the biggest catastrophe in the history of the Palestinians, said Abbas. Speaking at a gathering of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Saudi Arabias capital Riyadh, Abbas further said that even a small strike on Rafah would force the Palestinians to flee Gaza, as per Reuters. What will happen in the coming few days is what Israel will do with attacking Rafah because all the Palestinians from Gaza are gathered thereWe call on the United States of America to ask Israel to not carry on the Rafah attack. America is the only country able to prevent Israel from committing this crime, said Abbas. Abbas further said, The biggest catastrophe in the Palestinian peoples history would then happen. Abbas said he rejects the idea of the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza into neighbouring Egypt. He was further quoted as saying that once Israel completes the war in Gaza, it will then attempt to force the Palestinians out of the West Bank into neighbouring Jordan. Advertisement The West Bank and Gaza are the two constituents of the envisioned State of Palestine. While the PA of Abbas partially governs West Bank, Hamas has controlled and governed Gaza since 2007. Hamas defeated the Fatah, the mainstream Palestinian political party of Abbas, in the elections in 2006 and then, in the intra-Palestinian fighting that ensued, defeated Fatahs forces and drove it out of Gaza. Israel has signaled Rafah invasion is close In recent days, Israel has signaled that an invasion of Rafah is in the offing. Reports have surfaced that Israel has started making a tent city near Khan Younis in Gaza to house the evacuated Palestinian civilians before moving in to battle Hamas battalions stationed in Rafah. Advertisement There have also been reports that Israel has been amassing armoured vehicles and troops for an invasion of Rafah. Netanyahu in his statements has also offered hints of an invasion. In his message ahead of the Passover, he said that Israel will deal Hamas additional painful blows in the coming days. It was understood to be a hint at the invasion of Rafah. Despite this weeks breakthrough in US military cooperation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his requests to partners for additional defence missiles, particularly the Patriot system, and speedier supplies read more On Saturday, Russian missiles bombarded power plants in central and western Ukraine, adding to the strain on the failing energy infrastructure at a time when the nation lacks air defences despite a significant improvement in US military assistance. The air strike was the fourth significant aerial attack on the power grid since March 22. It was conducted using long-range missiles, including cruise missiles fired by Russian strategic bombers stationed in the Arctic Circle. Advertisement Despite this weeks breakthrough in US military cooperation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his requests to partners for additional defence missiles, particularly the Patriot system, and speedier supplies. According to him, Russia is targeting facilities for the transportation of gas and power, particularly those crucial for the gas supply to the European Union. According to the air force commander, 21 of the 34 inbound missiles were intercepted by Ukrainian air defences. Running water supplies were interrupted in Zelenskiys hometown of Kryvyi Rih following strikes on energy facilities in the central Dnipropetrovsk area, according to authorities. Under a transit agreement with Russias Gazprom, which is scheduled to expire in December and which Ukraine says it does not plan to renew, Russia continues to deliver gas to the EU via Ukraine. According to DTEK, Ukraines largest private electricity company, the enemy again massively shelled Ukrainian energy facilities. They also added that that four of its six thermal power plants had suffered damage overnight. According to authorities, firefighters fought to put out flames at a number of energy plants in the western districts of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, which are bordered by Romania and Poland, both NATO members. Advertisement Running water supplies were cut off in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, following raids on energy facilities in the central Dnipropetrovsk area, according to officials. According to a statement from the air force commander, 21 of the 34 incoming missiles were intercepted by Ukrainian air defences. As a security precaution to stop Russia from swiftly determining the extent of its strikes, none of the targets were named. Zelenskyy said that the attacks trajectory and design had been planned to make it as difficult to stop as possible. He also said that each downed rocket was a significant result. Naftogaz, the state-owned oil and gas company of Ukraine, reported that although Russia had targeted its facilities, no one was harmed and shipments to Ukrainian customers and clients continued as usual. Advertisement Although it claims the Ukrainian electricity infrastructure is a valid military target, Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, denies targeting civilians. One energy worker was injured overnight, according to Ukrainian officials. The hospital in Kharkiv, which has been under heavy bombardment in recent weeks, was hit by a missile overnight, wounding a lady and causing damage to the building, adjacent water pipelines and electricity lines, according to the regional governor of the city. Overnight, a Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters that Ukraine, which has been utilising long-range drones to try to retake Russia, targeted the Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries in the Krasnodar area of Russia. Advertisement According to the source, the SBU security services drone attack resulted in flames at the locations. According to the source, there was also an attack on Russias Kushchevsk military airstrip in the southern area. An official in charge of the plant told the Russian state news agency TASS that the attack had damaged the Slavyansk oil refinery, forcing it to halt part of its operations. Rolling blackouts According to authorities, the Russian strikes have caused Ukraine to lose 80% of its thermal power generation and 35% of its hydroelectric capacity. Even while nuclear power provides the majority of the energy system, experts warn that the loss of that capacity, which balances the grid and might become problematic as usage increases later this year, could have serious consequences. Advertisement In various areas, rolling blackouts have been implemented, but the full effect of the assaults has not been felt because of the mild weather, which lowers consumption, which peaks in the winter and the height of the summer. For the time being, there were no scheduled blackouts in the Lviv area; nonetheless, the governor asked people to use less power, particularly in the evening when demand is at its highest. He said that the attack on Saturday had destroyed the two vital pieces of energy infrastructure in the regions of Chervonohrad and Stryi. Zelenskyy demanded that Kyivs partners take strong action, expedite delivery of air defence supplies, and increase their quantity. This week, the United States overcame a six-month legislative impasse that resulted in Kyivs armament stockpiling by approving a substantial assistance package for the country. On Friday, the Pentagon announced that it will purchase $6 billion worth of additional weaponry for Ukraine, including Patriot air defence system interceptors. During his visit to Lviv on Saturday, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles revealed a $100 million military aid package that included drones and short-range air defence, with air-to-ground precision bombs to be sent separately. While announcing the decision, Poulter said that the Conservatives have become a nationalist party of the right that has abandoned compassion and no longer prioritises the National Health Services (NHS) read more In a major setback to UK PM Rishi Sunaks administration, Tory MP and former Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter staged a dramatic defection and joined the Labour Party. While announcing the decision, Poulter said that the Conservatives have become a nationalist party of the right that has abandoned compassion and no longer prioritises the National Health Services (NHS). In an exclusive interview with The Observer, Poulter, who also works as a mental health doctor in an NHS hospital announced his exit and stated that he will be taking a Labour whip until the next general elections. Advertisement The MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich also maintained that he would not be seeking re-election to the House of Commons in the upcoming elections. However, he went on to highlight his role as an advisor to the Labour Party on its policies on mental health while focusing more on his NHS work. What was the reason? In the interview, Poulter emphasised that his experience while overstretching his shifts in the accident and emergency department of NHS had been truly life-changing and the strain eventually persuaded him to defect. He insisted that Labour is the only party that he believes is committed to investing and improving NHS. I could not go on as part of that. I have to be able to look my NHS colleagues in the eye, my patients in the eye and my constituents in the eye. And I know that the Conservative government has been failing on the thing I care about most, which is the NHS and its patients. he told to The Observer. The conversation between Poulter and the Labour Party about the defection was going on for months. However, it was kept a secret and only half a dozen people knew about what was coming. Starmer welcomes him with open arms Meanwhile, Labour leader Keir Starmer hailed Poulters decision. Its fantastic to welcome Dr Dan Poulter MP to todays changed Labour Party, Starmer wrote on X, formally known as Twitter. Advertisement Its fantastic to welcome Dr Dan Poulter MP to todays changed Labour Party. 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. pic.twitter.com/dAD3uAuh2S Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 27, 2024 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, he added. It will be the first time the two have held talks since Yoon took office in May 2022, and it indicates Yoons intention to working more closely with Lees Democratic Party (DP), which won 175 members in the 300-member National Assembly read more President Yoon Suk Yeol and opposition leader Lee Jae-myung are scheduled to meet for the first time this week, with many waiting to see what demands Lee would make following his partys huge victory in the April 10 legislative elections. Yoon and Lee are slated to meet for tea at the presidential office at 2 p.m. on Monday, each accompanied by three advisers. The conversations are planned for an hour, but they might extend longer. Advertisement It will be the first time the two have held talks since Yoon took office in May 2022, and it indicates Yoons intention to working more closely with Lees Democratic Party (DP), which won 175 members in the 300-member National Assembly. Yoon will be the first president to serve the whole five-year term in collaboration with an opposition-controlled legislature since South Koreas democratisation in 1987. The Yoon-Lee meeting would not follow a set agenda since Lee consented on Friday to meet with the president without conditions after attempts to coordinate an agenda at the working level ended in failure. The DP had originally presented a list of demands, which included approving Lees promise made during the general election to distribute 250,000 won (US$182) to every member of the populace in order to aid in the restoration of their standard of living, accepting a special counsel investigation into the death of a Marine the previous year, and accepting Yoons apology for vetoing several DP-led bills. According to DP officials on Sunday, Lee is now choosing which issues to bring up with the president, with an emphasis on initiatives to improve peoples livelihoods and alter the fundamentals of state operations. In addition to calling for the creation of a four-party consultation body made up of the ruling and opposition parties, the government, and the medical community, the opposition leader is anticipated to bring up his cash handout pledge, the special counsel investigation, and the vetoes in an effort to break the impasse over medical reform. Advertisement The question of whether Lee would pursue a special counsel probe into claims of first lady Kim Keon Hees stock price manipulation is also attracting attention. In a cabinet reshuffle announced on Sunday, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin removed Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara from the post of the Deputy Prime Minister read more Thailands Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara has resigned from his post, according to reports. Parnprees resignation comes after Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin apparently snubbed him in a cabinet reshuffle. In a cabinet reshuffle announced on Sunday, Thavisin removed Parnpree from the post of the Deputy Prime Minister and he was only listed as the Foreign Minister in the cabinet list published in the gazette, according to Reuters. In his resignation, Parnpree said he is leaving the office from Sunday itself, according to Bangkok Post. Advertisement Parnpree said in his resignation letter that his removal as the Deputy PM had to nothing with his performance as foreign minister. I believe the reason for my removal from the deputy prime minister post has nothing to do with me having absolutely no achievements. I am dedicated to working in foreign affairs and international economics. and intend to perform my duties with honesty. There are more foreign investors showing interest to invest as the government has already announced its performance, said Parnpree in his resignation letter, as per Bangkok Post. While Parnpree has been removed as the Deputy PM, the new Finance Minister, Pichai Chunhavajira, has been elevated to the post. Pichai is a former energy executive and was previously serving as an advisor to Thai PM Thavisin. Qatar, which hosts Hamas headquarters in Doha, has been a key intermediary throughout the Israel-Hamas war read more People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group in Tel Aviv, Israel. AP A senior Qatari official has urged both Israel and Hamas to show more commitment and more seriousness in cease-fire negotiations in interviews with Israeli media, as pressure builds on both sides to move toward a deal that would set Israeli hostages free and bring potential respite in the nearly 7-month-long war in Gaza. The interviews with the liberal daily Haaretz and the Israeli public broadcaster Kan were published and aired Saturday evening. They came as Israel still promises to invade Gazas southernmost city of Rafah despite global concern for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sheltering there and as the sides are exchanging proposals surrounding a cease-fire deal. Advertisement Qatar, which hosts Hamas headquarters in Doha, has been a key intermediary throughout the Israel-Hamas war. Along with the US and Egypt, Qatar was instrumental in helping negotiate a brief halt to the fighting in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages. The sides have held numerous rounds of negotiations since, none of which produced an additional truce. In a sign of its frustration, Qatar last week said it was reassessing its role as mediator. In the interviews, Qatars Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari expressed disappointment in both Hamas and Israel, saying each side has made its decisions based on political interests and not with the good of civilians in mind. We were hoping to see more commitment and more seriousness on both sides, he told Haaretz. He did not reveal details of the current state of the talks, other than to say they have effectively stopped, with both sides entrenched in their positions. If there is a renewed sense of commitment on both sides, Im sure we can reach a deal, he said. The Israeli journalists conducted the interviews in Qatar, which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel. Relations between Qatar and Israel have been strained throughout the war, as some politicians in Israel, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have criticized Qatar for not putting enough pressure on Hamas. Advertisement Israeli legislators have also cleared the way for the country to expel Al Jazeera, the Qatar-owned broadcaster. Al-Ansaris remarks came after an Egyptian delegation had discussed with Israeli officials 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. Hamas meanwhile said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a cease-fire, which came in response to a Hamas proposal from two weeks ago. Negotiations earlier this month centered on a six-week cease-fire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages held by Hamas in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Advertisement There is growing international pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach a cease-fire deal and avert an Israeli attack on Rafah. A letter penned by US President Joe Biden along with 17 other world leaders urged Hamas to release the hostages immediately. Hamas in recent days has released new videos of three hostages it holds, which appear to be meant to push Israel to make concessions. Israel meanwhile has massed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles ahead of an expected offensive in Rafah, where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million population is seeking shelter. The planned incursion has raised global alarm because of concerns over potential harm to civilians. The troop buildup may also be a pressure tactic on Hamas in the truce talks. Advertisement Israel sees Rafah as Hamas last major stronghold and has vowed to attack the militant group there in its bid to destroy its military and governing capabilities. The war was sparked with Hamas attack on Oct. 7 into southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities, who say another 250 people were taken hostage. Hamas and other groups are holding about 130 people, including the remains of about 30, Israeli authorities say. Israels retaliatory assault on Hamas has killed more than 34,000 people, most of them women and children, according to health authorities in Gaza, who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their tally. The Israeli military says it has killed at least 12,000 militants, without providing evidence to back the claim. Former US President Donald Trump has support of 49% registered voters and 43% voters support incumbent Joe Biden, according to the latest CNN-SRSS survey read more Joe Biden is trailing behind Donald Trump in the latest survey for the US presidential election. (Photo: AFP) The majority of American voters feel that President Joe Bidens tenure has been a failure, according to the latest CNN-SRSS survey. The survey found that 61% of registered voters believe Bidens term has been a failure, with just 39% terming it a success. In the run-up to the US presidential election, the survey found that Trump has continued to maintain lead over Biden. It also found that the support for Trump among the Republicans is much stronger than the support for Biden among his Democrat constituents. Advertisement Trumps support has increased over time Overall, Trump has support of 49% registered voters whereas 43% voters support Biden, according to the survey. While Trumps support has remained steady since the Januarys figures, the support for Biden has since further waned from 45%. As for the Trumps presidency, 55% Americans say it was a success while 44% consider it a failure, as per the survey. This is an improvement from January 2021 when, shortly after the attack on the US Capitol by a pro-Trump mob trying to overturn election result, 55% voters said they considered his term to be a failure. Democrats more divided in support for Biden The survey also found that Republicans are more united in their support for Trump than Democrats in rallying around Biden. Trump is the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party in the US presidential election. He is set to challenge Biden of the Democratic Party in the presidential election in November. The two squared off in 2020 election in which Biden defeated Trump with the largest votes over 80 million cast for him in any presidential election. Advertisement Overall, the CNN-SRSS survey found that 92% of Republicans consider Trumps term a success while just 73% of Democrats find Bidens tenure a success so far. Among Independents, who may be a crucial swing voter base in any election, 51% consider Trumps tenure to be a success and just 37% believe Bidens term as successful. With hundreds of protesters rallying against the war in Gaza outside the event and concerns over the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the perils for journalists covering the conflict, the war hung over this years event read more President Joe Biden, right, and host Colin Jost attend the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton, in Washington. AP The war in Gaza spurred large protests outside a glitzy roast with President Joe Biden, journalists, politicians and celebrities Saturday but went all but unmentioned by participants inside, with Biden instead using the annual White House correspondents dinner to make both jokes and grim warnings about Republican rival Donald Trumps fight to reclaim the US presidency. An evening normally devoted to presidents, journalists and comedians taking outrageous pokes at political scandals and each other often seemed this year to illustrate the difficulty of putting aside the coming presidential election and the troubles in the Middle East and elsewhere. Advertisement Biden opened his roast with a direct but joking focus on Trump, calling him sleepy Don, in reference to a nickname Trump had given the president previously. Despite being similar in age, Biden said, the two presidential hopefuls have little else in common. My vice president actually endorses me, Biden said. Former Trump Vice President Mike Pence has refused to endorse Trumps reelection bid. But the president quickly segued to a grim speech about what he believes is at stake this election, saying that another Trump administration would be even more harmful to America than his first term. We have to take this serious eight years ago we could have written it off as Trump talk but not after January 6, Biden told the audience, referring to the supporters of Trump who stormed the Capitol after Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 election. Trump did not attend Saturdays dinner and never attended the annual banquet as president. In 2011, he sat in the audience, and glowered through a roasting by then-President Barack Obama of Trumps reality-television celebrity status. Obamas sarcasm then was so scalding that many political watchers linked it to Trumps subsequent decision to run for president in 2016. Advertisement Bidens speech, which lasted around 10 minutes, made no mention of the ongoing war or the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. One of the few mentions came from Kelly ODonnell, president of the correspondents association, who briefly noted some 100 journalists killed in Israels 6-month-old war against Hamas in Gaza. In an evening dedicated in large part to journalism, ODonnell cited journalists who have been detained across the world, including Americans Evan Gershkovich in Russia and Austin Tice, who is believed to be held in Syria. Families of both men were in attendance as they have been at previous dinners. To get inside Saturdays dinner, some guests had to hurry through hundreds of protesters outraged over the mounting humanitarian disaster for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. They condemned Biden for his support of Israels military campaign and Western news outlets for what they said was undercoverage and misrepresentation of the conflict. Advertisement Shame on you! protesters draped in the traditional Palestinian keffiyeh cloth shouted, running after men in tuxedos and suits and women in long dresses holding clutch purses as guests hurried inside for the dinner. Western media we see you, and all the horrors that you hide, crowds chanted at one point. Other protesters lay sprawled motionless on the pavement, next to mock-ups of flak vests with press insignia. Ralliers cried Free, free Palestine. They cheered when at one point someone inside the Washington Hilton where the dinner has been held for decades unfurled a Palestinian flag from a top-floor hotel window. Criticism of the Biden administrations support for Israels military offensive in Gaza has spread through American college campuses, with students pitching encampments and withstanding police sweeps in an effort to force their universities to divest from Israel. Counterprotests back Israels offensive and complain of antisemitism. Advertisement Bidens motorcade Saturday took an alternate route from the White House to the Washington Hilton than in previous years, largely avoiding the crowds of demonstrators. Saturdays event drew nearly 3,000 people. Celebrities included Academy Award winner DaVine Joy Randolph, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm and Chris Pine. Both the president and comedian Colin Jost, who spoke after Biden, made jabs at the age of both the candidates for president. Im not saying both candidates are old. But you know Jimmy Carter is out there thinking, maybe I can win this thing, Jost said. Hes only 99. Law enforcement, including the Secret Service, instituted extra street closures and other measures to ensure what Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said would be the highest levels of safety and security for attendees. Advertisement Protest organizers said they aimed to bring attention to the high numbers of Palestinian and other Arab journalists killed by Israels military since the war began in October. More than two dozen journalists in Gaza wrote a letter last week calling on their colleagues in Washington to boycott the dinner altogether. The toll exacted on us for merely fulfilling our journalistic duties is staggering, the letter stated. We are subjected to detentions, interrogations, and torture by the Israeli military, all for the crime of journalistic integrity. One organizer complained that the White House Correspondents Association which represents the hundreds of journalists who cover the president largely has been silent since the first weeks of the war about the killings of Palestinian journalists. WHCA did not respond to a request for comment. According to a preliminary investigation released Friday by the Committee to Protect Journalists, nearly 100 journalists have been killed covering the war in Gaza. Israel has defended its actions, saying it has been targeting militants. Since the Israel-Gaza war began, journalists have been paying the highest price their lives to defend our right to the truth. Each time a journalist dies or is injured, we lose a fragment of that truth, CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna said in a statement. Sandra Tamari, executive director of Adalah Justice Project, a US-based Palestinian advocacy group that helped organize the letter from journalists in Gaza, said it is shameful for the media to dine and laugh with President Biden while he enables the Israeli devastation and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza. In addition, Adalah Justice Project started an email campaign targeting 12 media executives at various news outlets including The Associated Press expected to attend the dinner who previously signed onto a letter calling for the protection of journalists in Gaza. How can you still go when your colleagues in Gaza asked you not to? a demonstrator asked guests heading in. You are complicit. The appeal came just days ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinpings trip to Europe. The request was delivered by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a phone call with the French presidents diplomatic adviser, Emmanuel Bonne. read more French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands during a news conference after a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France. Reuters File As Chinas presence in Europe continues to fade down, reports are emerging that Beijing has appealed to France to sway the European Union towards a positive and pragmatic China policy. The appeal came just days ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinpings trip to Europe. The appeal was delivered by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a phone call with the French presidents diplomatic adviser, Emmanuel Bonne, on Saturday. I hope the French side will push the EU to continue to pursue a positive and pragmatic policy towards China, Wang Yi said in a telephonic conversation, according to Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Advertisement What was Chinas appeal? In the call, Wang insisted that Beijing and Paris pursued independence and autonomy and opposed the division of the world and confrontation between camps. He also emphasised that the international community expected both countries to have a common voice. At a time when the international situation is complex and volatile, with numerous challenges and hotspots, the international community expects China and France to form a unanimous stance on major issues concerning world peace and stability and the future and destiny of mankind, and to make a common voice, the Chinese Foreign Minister averred. China is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with the French side [and] promote cooperation between the two countries in various fields to a new level, he added. Meanwhile, the ministry quoted Bonne saying that the two sides should join hands to promote the de-escalation of hotspot issues, address global challenges such as climate change and make positive contributions to narrowing the gap between the North and the South and avoiding confrontation between camps." Chinas fading sway in Europe The Chinese president is reportedly scheduled to visit France as early as next Saturday to celebrate the 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations. Meanwhile, Hungary has confirmed that the Chinese leader will be visiting the country from May 8-10 after a stopover in Serbia. China is yet to confirm all these trips. Advertisement One of the main reasons the Chinese president is planning to visit these countries is the fact that in recent years ties between the European Union and China have deteriorated to a great extent. A major factor behind this strain is the unprecedented trade imbalances and growing discontent in the bloc about the lack of access to Chinas market. Last week, the EU Commission launched an investigation into alleged preferences given to Chinese companies in the procurement of medical devices. In addition to this, Chinese-made electric vehicles are also under the radar of scrutiny amid concerns that the support is translating into Chinese companies gaining a price advantage in the EU market. Advertisement European nations like Italy have also distanced themselves from the Belt and Road initiative and Chinas growing ties with Russia have displeased several nations amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. In light of this, Beijing is currently hoping that none of these investigations will lead to economic decoupling since it is already navigating through the trade restriction imposed by the United States. China cosying up with France in the Modi-Macron era Chinas decision to knock on Frances doors is coming in a day and age when India-France ties have reached an all-time high. In July 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Bastille Day Parade as a Guest of Honour at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. Advertisement During his visit, PM Modi became the first India Prime Minister to have been conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. Macron reciprocated the gesture after visiting India as the chief guest of the 2024 Republic Day parade. When it comes to the economic front, both these countries signed several MoUs during the course of these visits. Some of the economic initiatives included Paris decision to allow UPI payments at the Eiffel Tower. In the defence sector, both India and France agreed to work together on the joint production of defence equipment including helicopters and submarines for the Indian armed forces and production for friendly countries. The deal was sealed during Macrons visit to the country in January. Advertisement It is pertinent to note that after Russia, France has been the largest arms supplier to India, which has relied on its fighter jets for decades. Frances decision to deliver 26 Rafale jets and 3 Scorpene submarines also indicated the deep defence ties between the two nations. Hence, China can be seen inching closer towards France in an era when the Modi-Macron dynamic is bolstering ties between India and France. France also provides China with a gateway to Europe. In April 2023, Macron made a controversial visit to China. After his visit, the French President said that the European bloc should adopt strategic autonomy and not be a vassal in a US-China clash. Hence, with this visit, Beijing is planning to capitalise on this very sentiment of the French leader. With inputs from agencies. By Lee Hae-rin The Seoul Metropolitan Council abolished the Seoul Student Human Rights Ordinance 12 years after its enactment Friday, but the debate on whether it was the right decision continues. The ordinance was introduced to promote student welfare by prohibiting corporal punishment and discrimination by teachers based on a student's gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, or academic performance First enacted in 2010 by a progressive superintendent of education for Gyeonggi Province, the ordinace was then approved by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in 2012. Despite its good intentions, the ordinance has been criticized for neglecting the well-being of teachers at their place of work. Opposition to the ordinance was first raised in August 2022 by a coalition of religious groups and parents who opposed its clause on granting freedom regarding sexual orientation. The student rights ordinance justifies unethical sexual conduct such as homosexuality, sexual transition, early sexual conduct and abolition, the coalition said, submitting a request to abolish the ordinance to the city council. The city council, dominated by ruling conservative People Power Party (PPP) council members, accepted the request and started pushing for its abolition. The criticism intensified after a 24-year-old elementary school teacher ended her life inside her classroom in Seouls Seocho District last July after constant harassment from parents. Hence a number of her colleagues and teachers groups have called for the abolition of the ordinance. Teaming up with PPP politicians, they argue that the ordinance infringes on teachers and other students rights to education, as some parents take advantage of the ordinance by abusing it to limit teachers educational activities and wrongly accuse teachers of child abuse. As South Chungcheong and Seoul education offices have abolished the ordinance, there are six remaining regional education offices Gyeonggi, Gwangju, North Jeolla Province, South Chungcheong Province, Incheon and Jeju that still enforce the ordinance. The education circle believes the ordinance helped improve the welfare of students progress against Korea's authoritative school culture. The ordinance led to an end of authoritative school culture such as corporal punishment, forced inspection of students personal belongings, school uniforms and hairstyle regulations, said a Gyeonggi-based teacher on condition of anonymity. The ordinance needs to be upgraded to highlight students responsibilities to respect others human rights and include teachers rights as well, but an abolition of the ordinance altogether will bring a regression to human rights in the education sector, she added. The debate is expected to expand to the National Assembly as the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, which holds a parliamentary majority, plans to legislate an act on student rights, regardless of regional offices respective regulations. Meanwhile, Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) has begun a sit-in protest to oppose the councils decision to remove the ordinance. Amid criticism of the ordinance, the Seoul education office had planned to legislate an amendment to the previous ordinance, in which both responsibilities and rights of students are highlighted, while also respecting teachers rights. President Yoon Suk Yeol and opposition leader Lee Jae-myung are set to hold their first-ever meeting this week amid interest in what demands Lee will make in the wake of his party's landslide victory in the April 10 parliamentary elections. Yoon and Lee are scheduled to hold a tea meeting at the presidential office at 2 p.m. Monday, both accompanied by three aides each. The talks have been scheduled for an hour but could last beyond that. It will be the first time the two have held talks since Yoon came into office in May 2022 and demonstrates Yoon's commitment to working closer with Lee's Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) following its win of 175 seats in the 300-member National Assembly. Yoon will be the first president since Korea's democratization in 1987 to work with an opposition-controlled parliament for all five years of his term. The Yoon-Lee meeting will have no fixed agenda, as Lee agreed Friday to meet unconditionally with the president after working-level talks to coordinate an agenda produced no result. The DPK had initially delivered a list of requests, which included accepting Lee's general election pledge to hand out 250,000 won ($181) each to the entire population to help restore their livelihoods, accepting a special counsel investigation into the death of a Marine last year and an apology from Yoon for vetoing a number of DPK-led bills. Lee is in the process of selecting items to raise with the president with a focus on measures to revive people's livelihoods and change the principle of state affairs, DPK officials said Sunday. The opposition leader is expected to bring up his cash handout pledge, the special counsel investigation and the vetoes, while also calling for the formation of a four-party consultation body involving the ruling and opposition parties, the government and the medical community to seek a breakthrough in the ongoing standoff over medical reform. Also drawing attention is whether Lee will raise the issue of pursuing a special counsel investigation into allegations of stock price manipulation involving first lady Kim Keon Hee. (Yonhap) President, opposition leader to meet Monday By Lee Hyo-jin A high-stakes meeting between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), is set for Monday, but the likelihood of any significant breakthroughs appears slim. Yoon and Lee are slated to hold talks at the presidential office in the afternoon without a prearranged agenda. This marks their first official meeting since Yoon assumed office in May 2022 after narrowly defeating Lee in the presidential race. According to political analysts, expectations are low for a meaningful outcome, such as the two sides agreeing on contentious issues like DPK-proposed special counsel probe bills. "This meeting is more about symbolism than delivering tangible outcomes. I don't anticipate any concrete agreements emerging because the two have very different goals for the meeting," political commentator Park Sang-byeong said. The meeting comes 10 days after Yoon proposed it to Lee during a phone conversation shortly after the ruling People Power Party's (PPP) crushing defeat in the April 10 general elections. The two sides encountered difficulties in arranging the meeting's details, but eventually agreed to proceed without a fixed agenda. Given the timing of the meeting, the president appears to see it as an opportunity to tackle the challenges stemming from the governing party's electoral defeat. Yoon now faces an opposition-dominated National Assembly for the remainder of his term, which may pose obstacles to his reform drives. Plus, his approval ratings have dipped below 30 percent in the past couple of weeks, according to surveys conducted by Gallup Korea. "The president's unpopularity largely stems from perceived stubbornness in implementing controversial policies such as medical and labor reforms, as well as falling short in improving people's livelihoods. From his perspective, the rare meeting with the opposition leader could potentially serve as a breakthrough and help soften his image of being tone-deaf to opposition voices," Park said. The opposition leader, for his part, aims to assert his leadership and advance his party's agenda by challenging Yoon directly in a face-to-face discussion. "It will be extremely challenging for the two sides to find common ground on any key issues. However, even if they fail to reach a formal agreement, the fact that Lee made direct demands to the president may assist the DPK in gaining the upper hand in future negotiations with the PPP," Park said. Although there is no prearranged agenda for the discussions, it is widely anticipated that Lee will urge the president to support the DPK's election pledge of providing a 250,000 won ($180) subsidy for every citizen as an urgent remedy to improve the people's livelihoods. While the presidential office has not directly opposed the proposal, Yoon stated in a recent Cabinet meeting that he would not pursue "indiscriminate cash support or populist policies that would ultimately harm the nation." The DPK leader may also ask the president to accept a special prosecutor bill to investigate allegations surrounding the death of a young Marine surnamed Chae. The bill, pushed by the DPK, alleges that the presidential office was involved in interfering with a military probe into Chae's death. Political commentator Rhee Jong-hoon said that the success of Monday's meeting depends on how much Yoon is willing to concede on these issues that are uncomfortable for him. "Of course, the public wants a 'big deal' that could help patch up the polarized political landscape, but the president may not be able to respond to Lee's demands right away," he said. "But considering that the session is taking place following the ruling party's electoral setback, Yoon could make some gesture of concession. It could be beneficial for the president to reach an agreement on the 250,000 won subsidy plan in broader terms, such as adjusting the amount or compromising in terms of eligible recipients, before the DPK begins to mount pressure with legislative power." Prior to the meeting, the DPK stated that the upcoming encounter will be a chance to demand a fundamental shift in Yoon's approach to state affairs. "The public is demanding a fundamental shift in national policy direction, and Chairman Lee will convey such sentiments to President Yoon on Monday," the party's spokesperson Rep. Park Sung-joon said in a statement, Sunday. The PPP warned that the DPK leader should not utilize the meeting to bolster his party's political maneuvers. "In the lead-up to the general elections, Chairman Lee requested a meeting with the president eight times, under the pretext of addressing the people's livelihoods," PPP spokesperson Kim Min-soo said, also on Sunday. "The public will closely watch whether these appeals for livelihood issues were genuine or were simply part of a political maneuver driven by extreme self-interest." Traditionally, meetings between the president and the opposition party leader have, at times though not always helped break gridlocks on contentious issues, as these meetings signify the president's willingness to communicate with the opposition bloc. The previous such meeting took place in April 2018 in the early days of the Moon Jae-in government when he met with then-opposition Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo. During this meeting, Moon sought the opposition's cooperation in an inter-Korean summit that had been under preparation, but the talks ended without fruitful results. bohlah at 28-04-2024 03:22 PM (5 months ago) (m) In a stirring speech delivered at the prestigious World Economic Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, President Tinubu of Nigeria captivated the audience with his insights into the nation's economic policies and achievements. In a stirring speech delivered at the prestigious World Economic Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, President Tinubu of Nigeria captivated the audience with his insights into the nation's economic policies and achievements. Addressing global leaders and business luminaries, President Tinubu heralded a significant shift in Nigeria's economic landscape, emphasizing the removal of artificial constraints in the foreign exchange market. He declared that this bold move has allowed the local currency to find its natural equilibrium, enabling it to compete robustly on the international stage. Highlighting the pivotal role of economic sovereignty, President Tinubu underscored Nigeria's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for economic growth and prosperity. He articulated a vision of a resilient and dynamic economy, driven by innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic partnerships. In his address, President Tinubu articulated key policy measures aimed at bolstering Nigeria's economic resilience and competitiveness. These include initiatives to enhance infrastructure development, promote technological innovation, and foster a conducive business environment for local and foreign investors. President Tinubu's speech resonated with attendees, who praised Nigeria's progress and its renewed focus on economic empowerment and inclusivity. His impassioned call to action inspired confidence in Nigeria's economic trajectory and reaffirmed its status as a promising investment destination in Africa. As the World Economic Forum continues to facilitate dialogue and collaboration on global economic challenges, President Tinubu's address stands as a testament to Nigeria's resolve to chart a path of sustainable development and prosperity for its citizens. The speech by President Tinubu has sparked discussions among policymakers, economists, and industry leaders, underscoring the significance of Nigeria's economic reforms and its potential to emerge as a leading player in the global economy. In conclusion, President Tinubu's presence at the World Economic Forum in Riyadh symbolizes Nigeria's commitment to engaging with the international community and charting a course of shared prosperity and progress. His visionary leadership and strategic insights have positioned Nigeria as a dynamic and resilient economic powerhouse on the world stage. Addressing global leaders and business luminaries, President Tinubu heralded a significant shift in Nigeria's economic landscape, emphasizing the removal of artificial constraints in the foreign exchange market. He declared that this bold move has allowed the local currency to find its natural equilibrium, enabling it to compete robustly on the international stage.Highlighting the pivotal role of economic sovereignty, President Tinubu underscored Nigeria's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for economic growth and prosperity. He articulated a vision of a resilient and dynamic economy, driven by innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic partnerships.In his address, President Tinubu articulated key policy measures aimed at bolstering Nigeria's economic resilience and competitiveness. These include initiatives to enhance infrastructure development, promote technological innovation, and foster a conducive business environment for local and foreign investors.President Tinubu's speech resonated with attendees, who praised Nigeria's progress and its renewed focus on economic empowerment and inclusivity. His impassioned call to action inspired confidence in Nigeria's economic trajectory and reaffirmed its status as a promising investment destination in Africa.As the World Economic Forum continues to facilitate dialogue and collaboration on global economic challenges, President Tinubu's address stands as a testament to Nigeria's resolve to chart a path of sustainable development and prosperity for its citizens.The speech by President Tinubu has sparked discussions among policymakers, economists, and industry leaders, underscoring the significance of Nigeria's economic reforms and its potential to emerge as a leading player in the global economy.In conclusion, President Tinubu's presence at the World Economic Forum in Riyadh symbolizes Nigeria's commitment to engaging with the international community and charting a course of shared prosperity and progress. His visionary leadership and strategic insights have positioned Nigeria as a dynamic and resilient economic powerhouse on the world stage. Watch video below... President Tinubu with other heads of countries, dialoguing at the panel discussion of the opening plenary of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh.#PBATInSaudi pic.twitter.com/SgLZNBuPEx Daddy D.O (@DOlusegun) April 28, 2024 Post Reply I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist Posted: at 28-04-2024 03:22 PM (5 months ago) | Addicted Hero The Garage, the first retail marijuana store in downtown Grand Junction, celebrates its soft opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 18. Craton Edwards, one of the four co-owners of The Garage 545 Colorado Ave. was concerned other business owners on Colorado Avenue would look down upon a dispensary, but he said the opposite has proven to be true with other business owners being accepting of the new business. Larry Robinson/The Daily Sentinel Ramblebine Brewing Company on Colorado Avenue has become one of the the go-to spots for patrons of all ages in the Grand Valley bar scene. Some of the other businesses on Colorado Avenue hope the success of Ramblebine will lead to an increase in traffic and patrons for their businesses. By Kwak Yeon-soo Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has received a YouTube Gold Play Button after his online channel passed the 1 million subscribers mark, making him the first Korean politician to reach the milestone on the video-sharing platform. The Gold Play Button is given to YouTube accounts that reach 1 million subscribers. Lee Jae-myung TV, Lee's channel, had about 1.01 million subscribers as of Sunday, making him eligible for the much-sought-after plaque made of gold-plated brass. Since he started his YouTube channel on May 14, 2014, he has uploaded a total of 2,711 videos so far. The total views on his channel have surpassed 230 million. Lawmaker-elect Choo Mi-ae of the DPK congratulated Lee for achieving the feat. Given that U.S. President Joe Biden has about 840,000 subscribers and former U.S. President Barack Obama has about 590,000 subscribers, a Korean politicians YouTube channel surpassing 1 million subscribers is extremely rare and significant, she wrote on Facebook. Lee is reportedly preparing an event to thank his subscribers and supporters. Deputy Defence Minister Igor Melicher welcomes U.S. delegation for U.S.-Slovakia High Level Defense Group (HLDG) meeting in Bratislava Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic 24.04.2024 Deputy Defence Minister Igor Melicher welcomed a United States Department of Defense (DOD) delegation led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for European and NATO Policy Lisa Sawyer to the Slovak Ministry of Defence in Bratislava today (23 April 2024). The U.S.-Slovakia High Level Defense Group (HLDG) held a meeting to address issues related to the present developments in the global security environment, including the war in Ukraine, the ongoing instability in the Middle East region, the evolving security situation in the Indo-Pacific, as well as exchanging information on the avenues of cooperation being pursued by the North Atlantic Alliance ahead of the 75th Anniversary NATO Summit on 9-11 July in Washington, D.C. DASD Lisa Sawyer applauded Slovakia's 20th anniversary as a NATO Ally, its contributions to the NATO Alliance and commitment to deliver the declared goals of defence spending and enhanced security for NATO's Eastern Flank. DEPDEFMIN Igor Melicher underscored the high level of the U.S.-SVK bilateral relationship in the field of Security and Defence and reaffirmed Slovakia's interest in seeking opportunities to take U.S.-SVK Security and Defence cooperation forward - with benefits to both Nations. To support this aim, the meeting looked at areas of cooperation where our interests converge such as military modernisation programmes, education, training and exercises, military-to-military engagements, and technical cooperation. Reflecting on the 30th anniversary of the Indiana-Slovakia National Guard Partnership, the delegations expressed appreciation for the benefits of the State Partnership Program (SPP) and their shared interest in developing close defence ties between the Indiana National Guard and the Slovak Armed Forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ouster of parliament chief bares Vietnam corruption, power struggle The removal of Vuong Dinh Hue takes out a second of the "four pillars" of Vietnam's collective leadership. A commentary by Zachary Abuza 2024.04.26 -- The ouster this week of Vietnam's National Assembly chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the latest in a series of high-level officials to be removed in a wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign, sets the stage for more infighting at the top of the communist nation. The Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) voted to remove Hue in an emergency session on April 25; and the Central Committee voted to accept his resignation the following day. Hue is the fifth Politburo member to be ousted this term, falling to the "Blazing Furnace" anti-corruption campaign that has already claimed Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, economic commission chief Tran Tuan Anh, and President Vo Van Thuong. The Politburo is currently down to 13 members in what has become a nasty battle of attrition, 19 months out from the 14th Party Congress in January 2026. Hue's removal clearly shakes things up in the race to be the next CPV General Secretary. Hue was one of four eligible candidates under existing party rules to succeed the three-term Nguyen Phu Trong. The simple answer to the question what brought Hue down is power politics and ambition. Hue was a leading candidate to be general secretary. He had been groomed for the position, having held leadership positions in the State Audit Office and the National Assembly, Hanoi party, and the Ministry of Finance. But To Lam, the minister of public security, wants the job and has the immense investigative powers at his disposal to build a far reaching case into his rivals' extended business dealings and personal lives. Over the past few weeks, Lam presented evidence about Hue's transgressions. This is what he did with Vo Van Thuong, where he laid out details regarding a VND16 billion (US$630,000) bribe. Lam expected Hue to behave like Thuong, who acknowledged his misdeeds and bowed out quietly; the soft landing was his reward. By several accounts, Hue not only didn't accept the soft landing, but denied all allegations, before threatening to spill the tea on his Politburo colleagues' own business dealings. Lam then moved with alacrity, and as always, the action began with the aide. Airport arrest Upon his return from a five-day official trip to China, police arrested Pham Thai Ha, 48, the deputy head of the National Assembly Office. Ha, who has a PhD in finance, had been Hue's assistant for 20 years. At every stage of Hue's career, beginning in the State Audit Office, and the at the Ministry of Finance, the Central Economic Commission, and lastly the National Assembly, Ha had served as Hue's deputy. Ha was arrested at the airport, apparently in front of his boss just for added psychological effect. His arrest was part of an investigation into Thuan An Joint Stock Company, a relatively small developer that had a fortuitous run, securing 38 of 47 government tenders for major infrastructure projects. The firm's leadership was detained on April 15. Its general director has been charged with bribery, while its deputy director general is being held and investigated for bribery and bid-rigging. In all, six people have been arrested, including three officials in Bac Giang province. On April 19, the Central Inspection Commission, the party body charged with investigating corruption amongst senior level officials, opened its formal investigation into Hue. Its chairman, Politburo member Tram Cam Tu, established a nine-member panel to lead the investigation. On April 21, the Ministry of Public Security announced that Ha would be prosecuted for "abusing his position and powers to influence others for profit," a violation of Clause 4, Article 358 of the Criminal Code. The following day, the Supreme People's Procuracy authorized the search of Ha's home and office. Hue's personal life - including multiple allegations of mistresses, which have long been a staple on social media - destroyed any hope of him surviving. On April 26, the Central Committee accepted the resignation of Hue, once seen as the man most likely to lead the party from 2026-2031. Hue's removal forced a major reshuffle of senior-level positions during an April 26 meeting of the Central Committee. Vietnam has already been without a president since February. The removal of Hue, leaves a second of the "four pillars" of Vietnam's collective leadership empty. But the National Assembly chief matters much more. Vietnam's National Assembly is an outlier amongst legislatures in communist regimes, in that it is not a rubber stamp. It is one of the most trusted political institutions in the country, relatively transparent, and one that tries to hold leaders to account. More importantly, there are a host of laws and pieces of implementing legislation that need to be passed. Shaky party 'pillars' The Central Committee has reportedly appointed Truong Thi Mai, who is currently the head of the CPV Secretariat, to be the new National Assembly chair. That decision, along with the formal resignation of Hue, will be taken up when the National Assembly convenes in May. Mai has considerable experience in the legislature. From 2016-2021, she served on the National Assembly's Standing Committee, which both leads the legislature and acts in its name when it is not in session. But there are a number of other senior-level vacancies that the Central Committee must take up. Mai will have to be replaced at the CPV Secretariat, which is responsible for the party's day-to-day affairs. The name being floated about is General Luong Cuong, who is currently the head of the general political department of the People's Army of Vietnam, making him the military's top political commissar. As in China, the People's Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party and legally bound to defend the party and socialist system ahead of the state. Party control of the military is paramount. It is not clear at this time whether Cuong would retire from the military, or stay in uniform. Vietnam has different norms of civil-military relations. The chairmanship of the Central Committee's Organization Commission (the CPV's HR department) has been empty since March 2023, which is inexplicable given that planning for the 14th Congress in January 2026 is underway. The presidency has been vacant since February. There are two candidates to succeed Vo Van Thuong: Tran Thanh Man and Nguyen Van Nen. This will be finalized at the May National Assembly session. It appears that Hue will get a soft landing, as have all the other senior officials who have been ousted in the past 17 months. He was photographed at the tomb of Ho Chi Minh with other senior leaders ahead of the Central Committee meeting. While Lam may want a final nail in the coffin of a political rival, it seems that Nguyen Phu Trong has protected his former protege from any further attacks. Hue's removal makes Lam's promotion to the post of CPV general secretary, more likely. There are now only two other eligible candidates, Mai and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. But to be sure, Vietnamese politics have never been this nasty nor institutionally destructive. What has been done under the Blazing Furnace banner - ostensibly to legitimize the graft-tainted ruling party - has led to greater delegitimization in the eyes of the Vietnamese people, who see just how endemic corruption is amongst the senior leadership. Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or Radio Free Asia. 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 UN warns of fighting around major Darfur city By Lisa Schlein April 26, 2024 The United Nations says Sudan's warring parties appear headed toward major clashes in the northern Darfur city of El Fasher, home to 2 million people and about a half-million internally displaced. The office of the spokesperson for the U.N. secretary-general said in a statement Friday that "The Rapid Support Forces [RSF] are reportedly encircling El Fasher, suggesting a coordinated move to attack the city may be imminent. Simultaneously, the Sudanese Armed Forces [SAF] appear to be positioning themselves." The statement said the secretary-general's personal envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, is working with the parties to de-escalate tensions in El Fasher. At least 43 people, including women and children, reportedly have been killed in fighting in the northern Darfur city since April 14 when the RSF, backed by its allied militia, began a push to gain control of the city, the SAF's last remaining stronghold in Sudan's Darfur region. Earlier, a spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged the parties to immediately halt violence in and around El Fasher. Speaking from the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, Seif Magango warned that the fight for El Fasher, already raging outside the city for several weeks, may be taking a turn for the worse. "Reports indicate that both parties have launched indiscriminate attacks using explosive weapons with wide-area effects, such as mortar shells and rockets fired from fighter jets, in residential districts," the spokesperson said. "Since early April, the RSF has conducted several large-scale attacks on the villages in western El Fasher mostly inhabited by the African Zaghawa ethnic community," he said, noting that several Zaghawa villages have been burned down. "Such attacks raise the specter of further ethnically motivated violence in Darfur, including mass killings," he said. Last year, fighting and attacks between the Rizeigat and the African Masalit communities in West Darfur left hundreds of civilians dead or injured, and thousands displaced from their homes. The earlier Darfur conflict that erupted in 2003 between Arab and non-Arab communities killed at least 200,000 people and left a deadly legacy of mines and explosive remnants of war, which continue to wreak havoc on communities long after that war ended. The new war between rival factions of Sudan's military that broke out last year has left more than 18 million people facing acute food insecurity and uprooted nearly 9 million from their homes. OHCHR spokesperson Magango said civilians trapped in El Fasher are afraid they will be killed if they try to flee the city. "This dire situation is compounded by a severe shortage of essential supplies as deliveries of commercial goods and humanitarian aid have been heavily constrained by the fighting, and delivery trucks are unable to freely transit through RSF-controlled territory," he said. High Commissioner Turk is urging both parties to the conflict and their allies to grant civilians safe passage to other areas and allow safe and unhindered humanitarian aid to reach civilians in dire need. For his part, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reiterated his call on all warring parties "to refrain from fighting in the El Fasher area," warning of devastating consequences for the civilian population that is "in an area already on the brink of famine." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah's combined drone and missile attack hits Israeli military command HQ IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 27, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, says it has conducted a combined drone and missile attack on a military target in the northern Israeli-occupied territories. In a statement on Saturday, Hezbollah said it attacked the military command headquarters of the 51st battalion belonging to the Golani Brigade in Al-Manara settlement earlier in the day. The movement said it directly hit the target, using assault drones and guided missiles. Hezbollah said the operation was in response to the Israeli regime's strikes on civilian areas in southern Lebanon as well as the regime's continuous attacks on the Gaza Strip. The Lebanese movement and Israel have been engaged in clashes on Lebanon's southern border ever since the Gaza war broke out in early October. Hezbollah has time and again said that it will continue its attacks on positions in the northern Israeli-occupied territories until the regime stops its genocide in Gaza. The movement has also warned the Israeli regime against targeting civilians in Lebanon, saying that they are a red line. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen shoots American MQ9 drone down in Sa'adah IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 27, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Yemen's Armed Forces have shot down a US MQ9 drone which was reportedly carrying out hostile missions over Sa'adah. Yemen's Al-Masirah TV network reported on Saturday that footage had been released of the downing of an American MQ9 drone by Yemen's armed forces. The aircraft was reportedly carrying out hostile missions in the skies of Sa'adah when it was captured by a Yemeni army surface-to-air missile. Over the past few months, the US and Britain have aggressively attacked various regions of Yemen, particularly the province of Al Hudaydah. The US and Britain have carried out a number of joint strikes on Yemen under the pretext of protecting maritime trade in the Red Sea which has sparked criticism, with some countries calling it the violation of Yemen's sovereignty. Washington and London are angry at Yemen for its operations against Israeli or Israeli-bound vessels in the Red Sea. Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine's struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian Resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity. The Yemeni Armed Forces have said that they won't stop their attacks until unrelenting Israeli ground and aerial offensives in Gaza come to an end. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni official warns US to stop its hostile tendencies IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 27, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Yemen Hussein Al-Ezzi has said that the US should stop its hostile approach because its interests will be the main target of all freedom seekers and will not see peace in the region. We are aware of the hostile actions that Washington is planning, and from now on we hold it responsible for the repercussions of its possible folly against Yemen, because it may not find a single (safe) path in the region, and its interests will be a target for all free people, Al-Ezzi said in a post in his X account on Saturday. As a man of peace, I advise the US to stop its hostile approach because its interests will be the main target of all freedom seekers and will not see peace in the region, he added. 6125**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN says rubble removal in Gaza may take 14 yrs IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 27, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- A United Nations (UN) official has announced that it might take 14 years to clear debris in the Gaza Strip which has been mass bombarded and widely destroyed by the Israeli regime. It is estimated that 37 million metric tons of debris has been left in Gaza, the RT Arabic quoted Pehr Lodhammar, the senior officer at the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), as saying on Friday. "We're talking about 14 years of work with 100 trucks," the foreign media reported from the UN officer. At least, 10% of the ordnance found in Gaza is unexploded which is a permanent threat to the people, to the rescue teams, and to the laborers who are removing debris, the officer added. Since October 2023, the Israeli army have been bombarding the Gaza Strip. The war in the enclave has killed over 34,000 mostly women and children. In a related development, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees has said 75% of displaced Gazans, that is about 1.7 million people, have had to flee several times in search of relative safety amid incessant Israeli airstrikes and shelling across the besieged Palestinian Strip. 1483**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen confirms downing of US-made aircraft: Report IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 27, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Yemen has confirmed that its Armed Forces successfully downed US-made MQ-9 aircraft in the Arab country. Al Masirah TV, the main television news outlet run by Yemen's Ansrarullah resistance movement, reported early on Saturday that the country's "Air Defense successfully downed US-made MQ-9 aircraft in Sa'adah province." In a related development, Ansrarullah said on Saturday that their missiles hit the Andromeda Star oil tanker in the Red Sea, Reuters reported. Yahya Saree, the spokesman of the Yemeni Armed Forces, said in a statement that this series of operations was carried out in support of the the oppressed Palestinian nation. The Zionist regime waged a brutal war on besieged Gaza on October 7 last year after Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out an unprecedented operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. The Israeli regime has imposed a complete siege on the densely-populated territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there. The regime has not only failed to bring the Palestinian resistance to its knees in the battleground, but it is also suffering a strategic defeat amid international outrage over its war of genocide in Gaza. 7129**4354 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister of National Defence attended distance Ramstein format meeting Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2024-04-27 International cooperation | Security and defense policy Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasciunas took part in the 21st Ukraine Defense Contact Group Ramstein format meeting which was held via video teleconference. The meeting donors discussed the assistance to Ukraine organized via the Capability Coalitions and activity of the Demining Coalition led by Lithuania and Iceland. Vilnius hosted the third coordination meeting of the Demining Coalition on April 25 to update Ukraine's urgent humanitarian and military demining aid requests and to take stock of the rendered and planned demining assistance from the donors. Minister L. Kasciunas briefed the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on the matter. "Currently, 22 countries are engaged in the Demining Coalition activity and a few more consider joining. The third Coalition meeting agreed on further assistance priorities and steps of support to Ukraine through training and equipment aid. Ukraine is dire need of such assistance, it is a meaningful expression of our commitment to stand by Ukraine in the face of the Russian aggression," said Minister L. Kasciunas. The central aim of the Demining Coalition is to meet Ukraine's urgent needs in the area of mine countermeasures, to train and equip demining units of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine as soon as possible so that they can be put to use immediately in their area of expertise. The Demining Coalition has set a goal to provide training for approx. 2800 Ukrainian troops for military demining tasks this year. Another 550 troops will undergo humanitarian demining training. Plans for training and equipment supply next year are also already in the making. Members of the Coalition have a consensus about the top priority: transfer of demining equipment for contribution to the Demining Coalition Fund for prompt acquisition of the needed equipment to be handed over to Ukraine. This week, Lithuania transferred to Ukraine additional M113 armored personnel carriers and committed EUR 1.7 million additionally to the Deming Coalition Fund. In total, Lithuania has already contributed nearly 17 million euros to the Fund. Yet another contribution to the Coalition aims is an order placed for humanitarian demining equipment, EOD suites and logistical support vehicles. Lithuania's current assistance to Ukraine is centered on four critical areas: air defence, ammunition, UAV and armored personnel carriers. We are committing finance for air surveillance radars and inviting to consider alternative ways of air defence system procurement. Lithuania also pledged to contribute 35 million euros to the Czech initiative for ammunition acquisition. Besides, Lithuania implements the national drone programme with EUR 3 million contribution for FVP acquisition in the Drone Coalition framework, transfer of surveillance drones to Ukraine worth of EUR 0.8 million and a deliver y of additional armored personnel carriers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo becomes Yoon's biggest critic; Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo finds common ground with Yoon By Kwak Yeon-soo Presidential hopefuls face a growing dilemma about if and when to return to President Yoon Suk Yeols side as he currently faces a huge political setback after the ruling party's defeat in the general elections on April 10. Yoon appears as a lonely figure these days as he is on the verge of becoming the first president since Korea's democratization in 1987 to work with an opposition-controlled Assembly for all five years of his term. Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) is looking to distinguish himself from Yoon by expressing his frustration with the presidential office for the partys crushing election defeat. The PPP and its satellite party collectively won 108 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, while the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and its satellite party secured 175 seats. The election defeat was due to government failure. If the government and ruling party reject change and believe we lost, but we fought well, they will face bigger failures, he wrote on Facebook, Sunday. I urge the key officials responsible for the electoral defeat to step down and take time to reflect, innovate and reconstruct rather than looking for scapegoats. Ahn, a former presidential election coalition partner of Yoon, expressed his intent to vote for a special probe bill pushed by the DPK to investigate allegations that the presidential office and the Ministry of National Defense inappropriately interfered in a military investigation into a young Marine's death last year. The bill has been pending in the Assembly since early this month, after the DPK unilaterally designated it as a fast-track bill with expedited deliberations. The doctor-turned-politician also criticized Yoon for failing to compromise on its plan to increase the number of medical school seats by 2,000 next year amid a prolonged walkout by more than 90 percent of the countrys 13,000 trainee doctors. Han Dong-hoon, former interim leader of the PPP who is also known as Yoon's close aide from their days as prosecutors, has been keeping his distance from Yoon after the partys election defeat in an apparent move to step out of Yoons shadow and find a path to a future in politics. Han rejected the beleaguered presidents invitation to a luncheon with PPP emergency committee members citing ill health. The rejection came amid PPP members' ongoing arguments over who is responsible for the election defeat and who will take the helm of the party to restore the public's trust. Meanwhile, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, who has railed against Han, blaming his campaign strategy for the partys defeat, has been showing support for Yoon lately. Hong and Yoon had dinner together on April 16 to discuss post-election political strategies. If a planet deviates from its star without knowing its subject, it becomes a lost child in space, Hong wrote on Facebook, Saturday. Hong also wrote that Han "acted as if he were the heir-apparent of Yoon but was abandoned after arrogantly challenging his master. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, another potential candidate for the next presidential election, has been expanding his scope of leadership. Oh met with both elected lawmakers and unsuccessful candidates of the PPP before Yoon met with them. He plans to meet with successful candidates of the DPK representing constituencies of the capital on Tuesday in an apparent move to showcase his political tolerance. Resistance pro-Palestine strikes will cease once Israeli atrocities in Gaza end: Hezbollah official Iran Press TV Saturday, 27 April 2024 2:49 PM A senior Hezbollah official says fighters from the Lebanese resistance movement and their comrades in other regional states will cease their retaliatory operations against Israeli interests once the occupying regime ends its atrocities against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Sheikh Nabil Qaouk, deputy head of the executive council of Hezbollah, said on Saturday that the fact that combat drones launched by Lebanese, Iraqi and Yemeni resistance groups have managed to penetrate skies over Acre, Beit Hallel, Arab al-Aramshe and other regions in the occupied territories demonstrates that the aircraft can suppress the Israeli regime's ground-based missile systems. "The [Israeli military] strikes on ordinary civilians in southern Lebanon will not alter the existing equations, and will not guarantee repatriation of settlers. The Zionist enemy cannot escape defeat through such assaults. "Resistance forces in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen will stop their operations only after the aggression against Gaza stops," he pointed out. Qaouk further noted that Washington has given Israel carte blanche to go ahead with its plans for a ground offensive in Rafah and widen the circle of aggression in the region through its unconditional military supplies to the regime. The United States has been providing Israel with maximal military and intelligence support since early October when the latter unleashed the Gaza war. Washington has also vetoed several United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire in the brutal military onslaught that has so far killed thousands of Palestinians, most of them women and children. American students have been raging against their universities' connection to the Israeli regime and Washington's all-out support for the genocide. At least 34,388 Palestinians have been killed and another 77,437 individuals wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, 2023. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas says receives Israeli response to new proposal for Gaza ceasefire Iran Press TV Saturday, 27 April 2024 11:30 AM Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says it has received the Israeli regime's response to the Egyptian and Qatari proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. "Hamas has received today the official response of the Zionist occupation to the proposal presented to the Egyptian and the Qatari mediators," Khalil al-Hayya, deputy chief of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, said in a statement published by the group on Saturday. The high-ranking Hamas official said the group will now study the document before submitting a reply. However, he noted that Hamas remains adamant on its central demands which Israel has rejected so far. Last month, Hayya said Hamas had put forward a "realistic" ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip that involved the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the besieged Palestinian territory, the release of Israeli captives, the return of displaced civilians and unhindered access to aid. On Friday, Hayya criticized the Israeli regime's response for not including a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The senior official reiterated that the Palestinian resistance movement was "open to any ideas or proposals that take into account the needs and rights of our people." An Egyptian peace delegation visited the occupied territories to discuss a Gaza truce with Israeli officials. The Egyptian delegation's Friday visit followed Israeli media reports of a visit to Cairo on Thursday by the Israeli army chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, and Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, Israel's domestic intelligence service. Egypt, concerned about a potential influx of Palestinian refugees from Gaza if the war continues with the planned Israeli invasion of the southern city of Rafah, has taken an increasingly active role in the negotiations. An Israeli official said the regime has been trying to cut the Qataris as a main peace broker. "Qatar is still involved but in a lesser capacity," the official said. "It's clear to everyone they failed to deliver, even when it came to expelling Hamas or even shutting down their bank accounts." Hamas officials still consider the Qataris a key peace mediator, alongside the Egyptians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address April 26: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Saturday, 27 April 2024 9:45 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 Friday, April 26, are as follows: Al-Quds Brigades' operations on April 26: (Gaza Strip and West Bank) Targeted the "Shaked" settlement with a barrage of bullets and explosives. Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli soldiers and detonated several explosive devices on their military vehicles in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on April 26: (Gaza Strip) Bombed a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles with mortar shells south of Gaza City. Mujahideen Brigades' operations on April 26: (Gaza Strip) Bombed the settlement of "Sderot" with a rocket barrage. Hezbollah's operations on April 26: (Hezbollah) Eastern sector: At around 18:20 local time, the Ramtha site in Lebanon's Kafr Shuba was targeted with a barrage of missiles. At around 19:00 local time, the Haboushit site and the headquarters of the 810 Hermon Brigade in the Maale Golani Barracks were targeted with dozens of Katyusha rockets. Islamic Resistance in Iraq's operations on April 26: (Iraq) Targeted a vital site belonging to the Israeli military in the occupied Haifa with a barrage of drones. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lebanon's Hezbollah launches drone, missile attacks against Israel Iran Press TV Saturday, 27 April 2024 6:22 PM The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has launched a wave of drone and missile attacks on the Israeli regime hours after two of its fighters were killed in Israeli attacks targeting border areas in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah said in a statement late on Saturday that its explosive drones and guided missiles had hit military targets in the Al Manara settlement as well as a gathering of Israeli forces concentrated in the 51st Battalion of the regime's Golani Brigade. The anti-Israeli operation was large in size compared to similar attacks launched by Hezbollah in recent weeks. It came as an apparent response to Israel's attacks earlier on Saturday on areas in southern Lebanon that killed three people, including two Hezbollah fighters. Hezbollah had issued separate statements saying the fighters, who it said were martyred on the path to liberate the Israeli-occupied al-Quds, had been from the villages of Kafr Kila and Khiam, located in areas near Lebanon's border with the occupied Palestinian territories. Hezbollah has been firing weapons at Israeli positions since early October when the regime launched a large-scale invasion of the Palestinian territory of Gaza. Nearly 34,500 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli aggression on Gaza, most of them women and children. Hezbollah has repeatedly said it will continue attacks on Israel until the regime stops its attacks on Gaza. The attacks are part of a larger pattern of regional resistance against the Israeli regime with groups in Arab countries hitting targets controlled by Israel or its ally the United States to force an end to war in Palestine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Senators Warn Tbilisi That 'Foreign Agents' Law Could Disrupt Relations By RFE/RL's Georgian Service April 27, 2024 TBILISI -- A bipartisan group of 14 U.S. senators warned in a letter to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze that the Caucasus nation's 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 Georgia's 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 Georgia's 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 it's 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 nation's 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-foreign-agents- law-united-states-relations/32923180.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 Sudan: Security Council members call for immediate halt to military escalation in El Fasher 27 April 2024 - UN Security Council members on Saturday called on the warring parties in Sudan to immediately halt the military build-up and take steps to de-escalate the situation in El Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur. The call comes amid reports of an imminent offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militia against the city, which could threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of displaced persons currently sheltering there. At least 43 people, among them women and children, have been killed in fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF - backed by their respective militia - since 14 April, when the RSF began its push into El Fasher, according to the UN human rights office (OHCHR). The office added that civilians trapped in the city - the only one in Darfur still in the hands of the SAF - are afraid of being killed should they attempt to flee. The dire situation is compounded by a severe shortage of essential supplies as deliveries of commercial goods and humanitarian aid have been heavily constrained by the fighting and access challenges through RSF-controlled territory. Plunged into turmoil Sudan has been plunged into turmoil since fighting erupted between SAF and paramilitary RSF, last April. More than 14,000 people have been killed and thousands more wounded, amid reports of abhorrent sexual and gender-based violence. The war has also displaced over six million civilians within Sudan and a further 1.8 million across its borders, against a backdrop of a massive crisis that has left 25 million people in need of humanitarian aid and protection. End military build-up In a statement, Security Council members called on SAF and RSF to end the build-up of military forces and to take steps to de-escalate the situation and comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law. Council members also repeated their call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, leading to a sustainable ceasefire. They urged all Member States to refrain from external interference that seeks to foment conflict and instability and instead to support efforts for a durable peace. They also reminded all parties to the conflict and Member States to adhere to their obligations to comply with the arms embargo measures as stipulated in resolutions 1556 (2004) and 2676 (2023). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen's Houthis vow to hit US interests after targeting British ship By Edward Yeranian April 27, 2024 After the latest attack in the Red Sea on a British oil tanker, a top Houthi official in the Yemeni capital is vowing to attack U.S. interests across the region, including military bases on the east coast of Africa in Djibouti, Eritrea and elsewhere. Some commentators think this is part of an Iranian strategy to increase Tehran's influence in the Middle East. Arab media reports that Yemen's Houthis who control much of the north of the country and part of its Red Sea coast attacked a British oil tanker, the Andromeda Star. U.S. military sources indicated the ship was slightly damaged by three missiles fired by the Houthis. A U.S. drone struck targets in Yemeni territory controlled by the Houthis to retaliate. The Houthis' military spokesperson, Yehya Saree, claimed in a video statement aired by Arab media that Houthi forces "hit the Andromeda Star directly," and that the Houthis' air defenses also shot down a U.S. drone flying over Houthi-controlled territory. He said that [Houthi forces] fired the "appropriate-sized missiles" to target the ship, hitting it directly, adding that Houthi air defense units also shot down a U.S. MQ-9 drone over the Houthi bastion of Saadeh in the far north of Yemen. Official threatens US A top Houthi political official in Sana'a, Hussein al Ezzi, also threatened the U.S. in a tweet Saturday, saying that his group which controls the capital, but is not recognized by most countries as the official government of the country "will attack U.S. interests or targets all across the region." Sky News Arabia, based in the United Arib Emirates, claimed the Houthis "may attack U.S. military forces in Djibouti, Eritrea or Somalia." It is not clear that the Houthis have the technology to undertake such a feat. London-based Iran analyst Mehrdad Khonsari told VOA that he thinks Tehran is agitating its Houthi militia proxies to keep the focus off Iran's most important regional ally, Hezbollah, in Lebanon, which he thinks Israel would like to destroy or severely damage. "Exerting pressure on the Americans and the Europeans - including raising insurance costs - are important to Iran at this time to try to prevent the Israelis or the Americans or Europeans from dealing with issues of much, much greater concerns to [Tehran]: namely the potential Israeli degradation of Hezbollah, which would mean the collapse of Iran's entire regional policy and proxy policy," said Khonsari. Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at the University of Paris, argued that he thinks Iran is using all of its proxy forces, including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Iraq's pro-Iranian Shi'ite militias, to "maintain a strong position in an eventual negotiation with the U.S. after the 2024 elections, if President Joe Biden is re-elected. He said that Iran is pulling the strings and agitating its militia forces across the region to tell Hamas (in Gaza) that we are not letting you down, and to eventually have the upper hand when it comes time to go to the negotiating table after U.S. elections in 2024. Abou Diab went on to assert that Iran has "two main objectives, the first being to continue with its nuclear program and the second is that, with all the ongoing anarchy in the region, everyone had forgotten about Iran's nuclear program as it increases its uranium enrichment capacity. "Finally," he argued, "Iran is waiting to negotiate with the Biden administration, as it did with the Obama administration, a new nuclear agreement." Joshua Landis, who heads the Middle East studies program at the University of Oklahoma, told VOA the conflict in Gaza is causing side effects on multiple fault lines in the Middle East, as well as the rest of the world. Meanwhile, in Cairo, Egypt continued Saturday to try and broker an agreement between Hamas and Israel to bring a cease-fire to the Gaza conflict. Most regional observers, however, are not optimistic about a breakthrough. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blinken heads to the Middle East for talks on Gaza, regional security By Nike Ching April 27, 2024 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Red Cross official seeks staggered return of Afghans from Pakistan By Lisa Schlein April 27, 2024 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At conservative conference, Orban, Trump revive right-wing alliance By Henry Ridgwell April 27, 2024 Former U.S. President Donald Trump said he is ready to renew a right-wing alliance with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban if he wins the presidential election in November. The presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee made the comments in an address to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Europe, which was held in Budapest on Thursday and Friday. The conference has long been a powerful force in right-wing American politics. The first European edition of the conference was held in Budapest in 2022 and has been an annual fixture since. Orban, the host and keynote speaker, received a standing ovation as he told the audience that conservatives had a chance to seize power in a major election year. "These elections coincide with major shifts in world political and geopolitical trends. The order of the world is changing, and we must take our cause to triumph in the midst of these changes. ... Make America great again, make Europe great again! Go Donald Trump, go European sovereigntists!" Orban told a delighted crowd. He claimed that liberal forces were trying to silence the political right. "This is what they are doing with the conservatives in the progressive liberal European capitals. The same thing is happening in the United States when they want to remove [former] President Donald Trump from the ballot with court rulings," he said. 'Battling to preserve our culture' In a recorded address to the conference, Trump said he was ready to renew a conservative alliance with Orban. "Together we're engaged in an epic struggle to liberate our nations from all of the sinister forces who want to destroy them," Trump said. "Every day we're battling to preserve our culture, protect our sovereignty, defend our way of life and uphold the timeless values of freedom, family and faith in Almighty God." "As president I was proud to work with Prime Minister Orban by the way, a great man to advance the values and interests of our two nations," Trump said. Orban's critics, including most of his European Union allies, accuse him of overseeing a backsliding of democracy. The Hungarian prime minister sees an opportunity to hit back, said Zsolt Enyedi, a political analyst at Central European University in Budapest. "Orban has an ambition to change the discourse, so he's not simply someone who is, who cares about staying in office, but he also wants to have an impact on the ideological climate, and he thinks that by sponsoring particular friendly parties, governments and intellectual clubs and initiatives, he will emerge as the leader of this conservative movement and that can counterbalance the fact that the mainstream in Europe and in liberal democracies hates him," Enyedi told VOA. Another of the keynote speakers at the CPAC conference was the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who is facing anti-government protests at home over a controversial proposed foreign agent law, which has been widely compared to similar Russian legislation. The EU has said the law would be incompatible with Georgia's membership in the bloc. "(Kobakhidze) at the moment is turning his country more and more toward Russia, trying to in a way turn his back on the European Union, and interestingly, he is welcome at a club that is supposed to stand for the interest of the West. So, these kinds of strategic alliances are possible, because all speak the language of culture wars," Enyedi said. Orban faces challenges at home While right-wing parties are expected to do well in June's European parliamentary elections, Orban's Fidesz party is battling an economic crisis alongside a series of political scandals. The U.S. presidential election is set for November 5. Polls suggest a tight race between Trump and incumbent Joe Biden. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By Esther Kim "Sakura here, sakura there, sakura everywhere," Kim Bok-in sang when she stepped outside her home for the first time in months. Across the field, one cherry blossom tree waved at us from beyond the hill as soon as we stepped out into the sun. I pointed the flowers out to her with excitement. She rarely leaves her room. But she seemed rather unimpressed. Born in 1934, my grandmother recalls her childhood under the 191045 Japanese occupation but forgets where she puts things. It's a struggle these days to convince her to step outside. Yet she putters inside my aunt and uncle's countryside home with no cane or walker. She continues to embroider daily. I cherish the days we get to spend together. Taiwan observes Tomb Sweeping (Qingming) as a national holiday in April, so I decided to travel to South Korea. It was pure luck also that my visit coincided with Taiwan's worst earthquake in 25 years, with a magnitude of 7.5, about the magnitude of two atomic bombs. Responding to concerned text messages from friends, I boarded the bus to the countryside to visit her, my aunt, uncle and cousin. I felt delighted and taken aback seeing so many cherry blossoms in bloom. Last spring, I'd spotted a man in white in Gwanghwamun Square, holding up a flag against cherry blossoms. This spring, a dazzling display of flowers alongside rivers and roads exploded across the country, sometimes sending a spray of white petals resembling snow. Like that lone Gwanghwamun protester, my grandmother thinks of these trees as sakura, not by their Korean name, "beot-kkot." As I said my goodbyes to her this time, I promised I'd call her, not from the United States but from Taiwan. "Taiwan, isn't that Chinese ground?" she asked. "Oh, I see. It isn't anymore? Why are you in Taiwan?" She raised her eyebrow with interest. Back in the old days, she explained, many Chinese used to own farms in Gwangju, her childhood home. The Chinese lived among the Koreans. We looked alike, she said. Just our clothing and style of dress differed. The Chinese couldn't speak a lick of Korean, but the farmers were diligent she repeated this about 50 times "hardworking," "incredibly hardworking." Koreans didn't know how to farm back then. We knew how to cultivate silkworms for clothing. But the Chinese were excellent farmers, so they lived quite well, she said with clear, lingering admiration. Each time her memory skipped, she repeated what they grew: melons, watermelons, cucumbers, large radishes the length of your arm, spinach and cabbages. The Chinese farmers were hard workers, better than the Koreans at farming. Her father didn't know how to farm, no. He was a classical scholar. He taught classic Chinese characters, to his children and the town children, too. In these few spring days, listening at her feet, I learned about this buried chapter of Chinese Korean history. Like many, I'd known there had been many Chinese communities in Incheon and Busan, port cities after all, and in Manchuria, but I had no idea that immigrants settled as far inland as Gwangju. According to the director of the Gwangju Folk Museum, writing in Gwangju Dream, about 10,000 Chinese people came and lived on the Korean Peninsula in the 1910s, with close to 100 in Gwangju alone. Many came from Shandong province. With no connections or resources, the Chinese took up farming abandoned plots of land around Gwangju. The secret to their success was using manure for fertilizer at scale. "Hardworking," my grandmother repeated, "they grew melons, watermelons, cucumbers, radishes the length of your arm!' "You said the Chinese used to live in Gwangju? Where did they go?" I asked her. "After the Korean War broke out, they all left," she said. The Cold War buried this chapter of Korean-Chinese history in her hometown. Where in the puzzle of Korean ethnonational history and identity, might we fit highly successful Chinese farmers who lived and farmed among us? The funny silver lining of my grandmother's memory loss specifically, her tendency to forget what she'd just said repeating her words simply and consistently coupled with her vivid childhood memories is that I learn more: a new word, "bujireonhae" (diligent). A rich history. For a heritage language learner like me, I could depend on her to repeat herself without her losing patience. "Do call, and don't be afraid. I'll take care of the telephone bill," she promised. "Call when you have the chance." Esther Kim is a freelance writer based in Taiwan. She was a senior manager at the Asian American Writers Workshop in New York and Tilted Axis Press in London and a publicist at Columbia University Press. She writes about culture and the Koreas. Russo-Ukraine War - 27 April 2024 - Day 794 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 on 18 April 2024, the Mediazona website reported that 116 Russian military personnel were convicted of murder in 2023. This is nearly 900% higher than the previous year. This compares to 13 convictions in 2022 and 11 in 2021. On 8 April 2024, the New York Times, citing Olga Romanova, head of Russia Behind Bars, found that 15,000 pardoned prisoners had returned to Russia. Russian media outlet Vertska reported that former convicts were prosecuted against in 190 criminal cases, including 20 murder or attempted murder cases in 2023. On 24 April 2024, it was reported that an ex-Wagner prisoner was sentenced by the Kirov court to 22 years for murdering and raping an elderly woman, following 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. Alcoholism and drug use from low morale and boredom are likely contributing factors. Compounding this is the return into the general population of ex-convicts with a pre-existing propensity for criminality and extreme violence. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 27, there were 71x tactical engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 31x missile and 46x air strikes, 23x MLRS attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the russian areas bordering Ukraine. Russia conducts subversion, continues shelling of Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the concentration of mining operations along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Strilecha, Synel'nykove, Vovchans'ki Khutory (Kharkiv oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Khrinivka, Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Myropil's'ke, Nova Sloboda, Klyusy (Sumy oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x attacks on in the vicinities of Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast), Novojehorivka, Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 12x attacks in the vicinities of Nevs'ke, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Terny (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Terny, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast) and Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Zarichne (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 6x attacks in the vicinities of Spirne, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Novyi (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces attempted to improve its tactical position. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Chasiv Yar, Druzhba (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 24x attacks in the vicinities of Novokalynove, Keramik, Umans'ke, Netailove (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, using air attacks, made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Arkhanhel's'ke, Novozhelanne and Karlivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Arkhanhel's'ke, Sokil and Novopokrovs'ke (Donetsk oblast). Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Vodyane, Paraskoviivka and west of Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian invaders, with air support, made 10x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Paraskoviivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast). Orikhiv axis: Russian forces, using air attacks, launched 2x assaults on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast) and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Malynivka, Bilohir'ya, Robotyne, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Kherson axis: Russia does not abandon its intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River, however conducted no offensive operations during the day of April 27. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Krynky and Ivanivka (Kherson oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 20 settlements, including Ivanivka, Novotyahynka, Veletens'ke, Kizomys (Kherson oblast). During the day of April 27, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 16x concentrations of Russian troops. Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 1x Kh-59 guided air-launched missile. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that from 20 April to 27 April 2024, in response to the Kiev regime's attempts to damage Russia's energy and industrial facilities, the 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. In addition, temporary deployment areas of nationalist formations and foreign mercenaries, clusters of AFU manpower and military hardware were hit at railway loading stations. Over the past week, the Zapad Group of Forces units have taken more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on 13 brigades of the enemy close to Glushkovka, Petropavlovka, Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Novoyegorovka, Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry. Nine counter-attacks launched by the 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade, the 3rd Assault, the 63rd Mechanised brigades of the AFU, as well as the 12th and 18th national guard brigades of Ukraine have been repelled near Chervonaya Dibrova, Novovodyanoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Grigorovka and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 255 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, 21 motor vehicles, 27 field artillery guns, to include five U.S.-made M777 howitzers, as well as two U.S.-made counter-battery warfare stations (AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-50). The Yug Group's units liberated Novomikhailovka and Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and advanced into the depths of the enemy's defence. ? In addition, two AFU air-mobile, four assault, and ten mechanised brigades have been hit near Andreyevka, Belogorovka, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Maksimilyanovka, Minkovka, Paraskoviyevka, Spornoye, and Ostroye (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, 19 counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the 46th Airmobile, 80th Air Assault, 28th, 33rd, 41st, and 93rd mechanised brigades have been repelled close to Bogdanovka, Georgiyevka, Pobeda, Krasnogorovka, Chasov Yar, and west of Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy has lost more than 3,890 Ukrainian troops, four tanks, nine armoured fighting vehicles, 51 motor vehicles, 22 field artillery guns, including one Paladin self-propelled artillery system, and five U.S.-made M777 howitzers in this direction during the week. In addition, 17 electronic warfare stations (Nota, Anklav, Bukovel-AD) and 22 field ammunition depots of the enemy have been wiped out. As a result of successful actions, the Tsentr Group of Forces has improved the situation along the front line, inflicted fire damage on 12 brigades of the AFU and repelled 63 enemy counter-attacks close to Leninskoye, Novgorodskoye, Novokalinovo, Ocheretino, Berdychi, Umanskoye, and Netailovo (Donetsk People's Republic). More than 2,950 Ukrainian troops, 33 armoured fighting vehicles, 33 motor vehicles, 29 field artillery guns, with six of them foreign-made, as well as five electronic warfare stations (Nota and Bukovel-AD) have been eliminated during the week. The Vostok Group of Forces has improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on the formations of the 58th Mechanised Brigade, 102nd, 106th, 128th territorial defence brigades, and 1st Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Ugledar, Urozhaynoye, Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Chervonoye, and Gulyai Pole (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 825 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, seven armoured fighting vehicles, 28 motor vehicles, 11 field artillery guns, including nine U.S.-made howitzers, five electronic warfare stations (Nota, Anklav, Bukovel-AD), and four field ammunition depots. The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the five brigades of the AFU, the Marines Brigade, three territorial defence brigades, as well as on the Ukrainian National Guard brigade close to Malaya Tokmachka, Rabotino, Novoandreyevka, Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region), Mikhailovka, Ivanovka, and Berislav (Kherson region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 360 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, 30 motor vehicles, and 20 field artillery guns, including eight U.S.-made M777 howitzers. The Missile Troops and Artillery and unmanned aerial vehicles of the Russian Groups of Forces have obliterated one MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force on its home airfield; eight HIMARS, Vampire, and Grad MLRS combat vehicles; one S-300PS SAM launcher with a command post and radar; two HAWK and Osa-AKM SAM combat vehicles; and two radar stations (P-18 and Pelikan). Aviation and air defence units shot down Mig-29 and Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, 18 French-made Hammer guided bombs, one Tochka-U tactical missile, 35 projectiles of HIMARS, Olkha, and Uragan, as well as 1,659 unmanned aerial vehicles during the week. Over the past week, 15 Ukrainian servicemen have surrendered. In total, 593 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 23,541 unmanned aerial vehicles, 509 air defence missile systems, 15,864 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,275 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 9,167 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 21,336 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 28 April 2024 - Day 795 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 Russia's Immortal Regiment March, due to take place on 9 May 2024, has been cancelled. During the march, family members would usually display photographs of deceased veterans of the Second World War, associated with Victory Day. Instead, portraits may be displayed in cars and public locations between land 11 May. According to Meduza news, Victory Day parades in five Russian regions have also been cancelled, with security concerns cited. These include Bryansk, Pskov, Ryazan, Kursk and Belgorod. The regions listed are all in western Russia and are therefore likely vulnerable to Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) strikes. In the run up to last year's Victory Day parade, there was a UAV attack on the Kremlin. This is the second year in a row that the Immortal Regiment March has been cancelled and Victory parades curtailed on security grounds. This year, President Putin's inauguration precedes Victory Day, taking place on 7 May. The potential for protests and discontent over the Ukraine war are also likely to have influenced the calculus of the Russian leadership. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that on April 27, 112x tactical engagements were reported. Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile and 49x air strikes, 77x 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. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of settlement of Velyka Pysarivka (Sumy oblast); Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements, including Karpovychi, Prohres (Chernihiv oblast), Iskryskivshchyna, and Basivka (Sumy oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian troops repelled 4x attacks in the vicinities of Berestove (Kharkiv oblast), and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Stepova Novoselivka, and Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 14x attacks in the vicinities of settlements of Kopanky, Novoserhiivka (Kharkiv oblast), Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), and Terny (Donetsk oblast). The Russian adversary launched an air strike in the vicinity of Serebryans'ke forestry. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, and Zarichne (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian troops repelled 24x attacks in the vicinities of Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Vyimka, Hryhorivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Novyi, and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces attempted to improve its tactical position in that area. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast) and Spirne (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar, and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 40x attacks in the vicinities of Novokalynove, Keramik, Arkhanhel's'ke, Umans'ke, Sokil, Ocheretyne, Kalynove, Soloviove, Novopokrovs'ke, Novoselivka Persha, and Semenivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces attempted to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions in that area. Also, Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Oleksandropil' and Ocheretyne (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Arkhanhel's'ke, Sokil, and Novopokrovs'ke (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire. Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Vodyane, Novomykhailivka, and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). With the air support, the Russian invaders made 11x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense in that area. Around 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Paraskoviivka, 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). Around 15x settlements, including Malynivka, Bilohir'ya, Robotyne, and P'yatykhatky (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. With the air support, Russian forces launched 3x attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Krynky (Kherson oblast). Also, the Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kostyrka, Beryslav, Novoberyslav, Prydniprovs'ke, Veletens'ke, and Kizomys (Kherson oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Ivanivka, Novotyahynka, Veletens'ke, and Kizomys (Kherson oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire. On April 27, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 3x concentrations of Russian troops. Missile Forces hit 1x command post of the Russian invaders. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Zapad Group of Forces' units captured more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 12th Azov Special Forces Brigades, 10th mountain assault, 57th, 63rd mechanised brigades near Sinkovka, Petropavlovka (Kharkov region), Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic). Three counter-attacks launched by units of the AFU 77th Airmobile Brigade were repelled close to Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 270 Ukrainian troops, one armoured personnel carrier, eight motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M198 howitzer, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 gun, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one 130-mm M-46 gun. The Yug Group of Forces' units improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 93rd mechanised and 80th air assault brigades near Kleshcheyevka, Andreyevka, and Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Four counter-attacks of the AFU 92nd Assault Brigade were repelled close to Chasov Yar (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 360 servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, and 17 motor vehicles. In the course of the counter-battery warfare, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and one 100-mm MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun were neutralised. Two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations and one ammunition depot were also eliminated. As a result of active operations, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units liberated Novobakhmutovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and defeated units of AFU 142nd infantry, 24th mechanised, 68th jaeger brigades near Leninskoye, Keramik, and Semyonovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Ten counter-attacks launched by assault groups of AFU 23rd, 100th mechanised, 71st jaeger brigades and the 78th Separate Air Assault Regiment were repelled near Novgorodskoye, Ocheretino, Novobakhmutovka, Netaylovo, and Berdychi (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 380 Ukrainian troops, one tank, one armoured fighting vehicle, and five motor vehicles. In the course of the counter-battery warfare, two 155-mm U.S.-made M777 howitzers, one 155-mm U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, two 105-mm U.S.-made M101 towed guns, three 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and one 100-mm MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun were eliminated. The Vostok Group of Forces' units captured more advantageous lines, inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of AFU 58th mechanised infantry, 108th territorial defence brigades close to Pavlovka and Lugovskoye (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 85 Ukrainian troops, four pickups, one 122-mm German-made PzH-2000 self-propelled artillery system, and one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. One Anklav-N electronic warfare station and one ammunition depot were also destroyed. Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on clusters of manpower of AFU 65th mechanised, 128th mountain assault, 126th territorial defence brigades near Kamenskoye, Rabotino (Zaporozhye region), Ivanovka, and Olgovka (Kherson region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one 155-mm U.S.-made M777 howitzer, and one Anklav-N electronic warfare station. Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have eliminated hangars with strike drones at the Kamenka airfield (Dnepropetrovsk region). In addition, hangars with aircraft munitions and aircraft at the Priluki airfield (Chernigov region) and at the Starokonstantinov airfield (Khmelnitsky region), temporary deployment areas for foreign mercenaries, manpower and military hardware of the AFU in 121 areas were engaged. Air defence systems shot down 46 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and five U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles during the day. In total, 593 airplanes, 270 helicopters, 23,587 unmanned aerial vehicles, 509 air-to-air missile systems, 15,869 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,275 MLRS combat vehicles, 9,189 field artillery guns and mortars, and 21,372 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 Remarks by Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson at Banking Roundtable in San Juan, Puerto Rico U.S. Department of the Treasury April 25, 2024 As Prepared for Delivery Thank you all for coming together today for this important discussion. I am Brian Nelson, the U.S. Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, or 'TFI'. The offices I lead, which include the Office of Foreign Assets Control, known as OFAC, the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, or OIA, the Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, TFFC, the Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture, or TEOAF, and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, are tasked with deploying our financial intelligence, expertise, and economic authorities to combat terrorist financing, money laundering, weapons proliferators, corrupt actors, and other national security threats. I am in San Juan to meet with you, as well as my government counterparts, to discuss the full range of our shared priorities to combat illicit financial activities and implementing strong AML/CFT standards to regulate the financial sector. You are on the front lines of combatting financial crimes, so I hope this will be a frank and open discussion and exchange of perspectives on how we can collectively mitigate these threats. In recent years, there has been significant progress enhancing supervision of Puerto Rican Financial Entities (PRFEs), but we assess that significant risks remain so I'd like to hear from you how the regulatory developments and outstanding risks in this sector affect Puerto Rico's commercial banking sector. In response to these risks, FinCEN Director Andrea Gacki was here in February and convened the first ever FinCEN Exchange in Puerto Rico. This FinCEN Exchange was dedicated to enhancing collaboration between federal law enforcement and federally chartered commercial banks in Puerto Rico. FinCEN Exchanges are a critical form of a public-private partnership that bring together our law enforcement, national security agencies, and financial institution partners to engage in candid and open dialogue. I look forward to discussing what insights the FinCEN Exchange has produced into illicit financial activity in Puerto Rico, and where there are opportunities to further advance this work. Before we dive into that discussion, I'd like to highlight a couple priority areas of focus for us. We are focused on countering narcotics trafficking from Puerto Rico to the mainland United States, as well as combatting fraud and public corruption. I'd like to hear from you how you identify suspicious transactions associated with narcotics trafficking, fraud, corruption, and other financial crimes, and where we can enhance our partnership to combat these risks. I recognize the progress achieved enhancing supervision of Puerto Rican Financial Entities (PRFEs) through implementation of the Gap Rule and amendments to Puerto Rico Law 273. However, we also recognize that more needs to be done to bolster Puerto Rico's financial sector from abuse by illicit actors. We assess that supervisory gaps are still being exploited by drug traffickers, corrupt actors, sanctions evaders, and others to launder significant amounts of funds through the U.S. financial system. I welcome your insights into how you as commercial banks are mitigating these threats, and how you are working with International Banking Entities and International Financial Entities to do the same. At the same time, Treasury is working to enhance transparency of our financial sector. This includes implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act to launch FinCEN's beneficial ownership registry, as well as increasing transparency in the U.S. real estate sector and investment advisors. While these reform efforts are underway, we have identified a growing trend of cash transactions for real estate purchases in Puerto Rico which create concerns due to limited transparency and reporting. I look forward to discussing how Puerto Rico's commercial banks assess and mitigate these risks. We have also identified the limited transparency in Puerto Rico's growing cooperitavas sector as a priority to enhance regulation, supervision, and cooperation to mitigate the significant threats this sector poses to the integrity of the U.S. financial system. Combatting these threats requires close partnership with you on the front lines. I am here today to identify how we can enhance our collective efforts to mitigate these risks. I look forward to discussing these priority issues further. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China will launch Chang'e-6 lunar probe in early May to collect samples from far side of the moon Global Times By Fan Anqi Published: Apr 27, 2024 10:47 AM The Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket combination has been vertically transported to the Wenchang Space Launch Site in South China's Hainan Province. The launch is scheduled to take place in early May, the Global Times learned from the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Saturday. After arriving at the launch site in January and March respectively, the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket have successively completed assembly, testing, and other preparatory work, CNSA said in the statement. Subsequently, various functional checks, joint tests, propellant loading, and other tasks will be carried out according to the plan. The mission will be the world's first ever attempt to collect material from the dark side of the moon and return it to Earth for further study. The scale of such samples retrieved from the moon would be around 2,000 grams, Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program, previously revealed. The epic Chang'e-5 mission retrieved 1,731 grams. The US has been desperate to get its hands on these precious samples. Sidestepping the Wolf Amendment, for the first time, NASA has greenlit space agency-funded researchers to apply for access to China's lunar samples returned to Earth via Chang'e-5. It said in a statement that the samples are "expected to provide valuable new scientific insight on the geological history of the moon, which could provide new understanding of the Earth-moon system and potentially inform NASA's future lunar exploration plans." As part of the key constellation supporting the Chang'e series of lunar exploration tasks, China launched the Queqiao-2 relay communication satellite on March 20 for communications between the far side of the moon and the Earth. Some 20 days later, the CNSA announced the complete success of the Queqiao-2 mission after it completed a series of in-orbit communication tests. The Chang'e-6 mission is part of China's Phase-4 lunar exploration program, which will carry out new planetary exploration missions and further upgrade the country's space launch capabilities in the next 15 years. Landing a Chinese national on the moon is expected to happen before 2030. Wu disclosed on this year's China Space Day that the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), co-led by China and Russia, will be built in two phases, consisting of sections on the lunar surface, the lunar orbit and on Earth. The first phase of the ILRS construction project will see a basic station built by 2035 in the lunar south pole region, equipped with comprehensive scientific facilities with complete basic functions and supporting elements to carry out regular scientific experiments. The second phase will see expansion of the station, set for completion by 2045, with a moon-orbiting space station as the hub and facilities featuring complete functions. Three new members - Nicaragua, the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, and the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences - signed up for the ILRS program, as announced by CNSA on Wednesday. So far, nearly 20 countries and organizations have joined the ILRS, including US Hawaii-based International Lunar Observatory Association, Swiss company Nano-SPACE for Cooperation, and France's Thales Group. China will welcome 50 countries, 500 international research institutions and 5,000 overseas researchers who will join the ILRS program, according to the CNSA. Wu also disclosed China's ambitious Mars plan. "China plans to launch the Tianwen-2 mission around 2025 to conduct a flyby exploration and sample return from a small asteroid about 40 million kilometers from Earth. Around 2030, the Tianwen-3 mission is planned to be launched to carry out a Mars sample return mission," said Wu. " China is expected to become the first country to return samples from Mars." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US urged to honor words after Blinken concludes 'candid, substantive and constructive' meetings in China Global Times By GT staff reporters Published: Apr 27, 2024 07:50 PM US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's three-day visit to China, during which he had extensive exchanges with Chinese officials, was deemed by Chinese experts as "generally positive and playing a role in stabilizing relations between China and the US," but observers also believed such a visit by itself cannot fundamentally change the current trend of China-US ties. Experts have noted that the five-point consensus reached by the two countries during Blinken's visit suggested that China has pushed back against US pressure, and helped push both countries to work toward improving relations in line with the consensus made by the top leaders of the two countries in San Francisco. The key challenge in China-US ties lies in the US still holding the wrong perception of viewing China as a rival or enemy, rather than a partner. The US is currently struggling to break free from its preconceived notions about China, leading to difficulties in setting the right tone for Washington's policies toward Beijing and managing the US-China relationship effectively. As a result, Chinese experts urged the US to show the courage to accurately identify and correct its misconceptions about China. 'Candid' talks The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday evening that talks with Blinken during his visit to China were "candid, substantive and constructive." During a courtesy meeting with Blinken on Friday afternoon, Chinese President Xi Jinping elaborated on China's authoritative position on China-US relations and proposed guidance, said Yang Tao, director-general of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the China's Foreign Ministry, while briefing the media on Blinken's visit on Friday evening. Xi met with Blinken on Friday, and stressed China is willing to cooperate with the US, but cooperation should be a two-way street. "China is not afraid of competition, but competition should be about common progress, not a zero-sum game," Xi said. China and the US should be partners rather than rivals; help each other succeed rather than hurt each other; seek common ground and reserve differences rather than engage in vicious competition; and honor words with actions rather than say one thing but do another, said Xi. Xi said China is committed to non-alliance, and the US should not create small blocs, adding that each side can have its friends and partners, it should not target, oppose or harm the other. Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, held talks with Blinken on Friday in Beijing, with the two sides reaching a five-point consensus based on a comprehensive exchange of views. First, both sides agreed to continue to work hard to stabilize and develop China-US relations in accordance with the guidance of the two heads of state. Second, both sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and contacts at all levels. Third, the two sides announced that they would hold the first meeting of the China-US intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence, continue to advance consultations on the principles guiding China-US relations, hold a new round of China-US consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs and China-US maritime affairs, and continue consular consultations. The two countries' anti-drug working group will hold a senior officials meeting. Fourth, the two sides will take measures to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, welcome students from each other's countries and work together for the success of the 14th China-US Tourism Leadership Summit to be held in Xi'an in May. Fifth, the two sides will maintain consultations on international and regional hotspot issues and strengthen communication between the special envoys of the two sides. From the perspective of advancing the implementation of the agreement made by the two leaders in San Francisco, Blinken's visit has achieved some positive results, with the five-point consensus reached by both sides essentially continuing the consensus reached by the two leaders in San Francisco, Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times. Wu noted that judging from the previous agenda of the visit released by the US, Blinken did not achieve his expected goals. This reflected the different approaches of China and the US in handling bilateral relations. The signals sent by the US before Blinken's departure indicated that Washington had wanted to reset the agenda for China-US relations. However, the five-point consensus reached by both sides showed that the US attempt did not succeed and China's efforts helped push the two countries to go back to implementing the consensus made by the two leaders in San Francisco, said Wu. Blinken would also reportedly ask Beijing to avoid taking "provocative" measures during next month's inauguration of Lai Ching-te, who was elected as Taiwan's regional leader in January, AFP quoted a US official as saying last week. The US diplomat also planned to raise its "deep concerns regarding the PRC's support for Russia's defense industrial base, as well as its human rights abuses and unfair economic and trade practices," according to previous media reports. 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 about whether the US can guarantee that it will effectively manage differences and expand cooperation through action, especially when the US is in the election year. "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 Daming, a professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times. Challenges ahead At the close of his three-day visit to China, Blinken told reporters in a news briefing on Friday that he warned China to "stop exporting materials that allow Russia to rebuild its industrial base," and also told CNN that Washington has seen evidence of Chinese attempts to "influence and arguably interfere" with the upcoming US elections. Those remarks are all aimed at the domestic audience in the US, as both issues are often used by the Biden administration as political fodder to hype China-US relations in domestic politics in order to avoid appearing weak on China, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times, noting that as the election approaches, the bilateral relationship will become more fragile. This view was echoed by Wu. "I think the development of China-US relations in the future will continue to be full of ups and downs, and it is unlikely to truly stabilize or significantly improve. Especially in the year of the 2024 election, the Biden administration will need to show toughness toward China and exert pressure on China to cater to its own interests," said Wu. Last week, Biden called on the US Trade Representative to consider tripling the existing Section 301 tariff rate on Chinese steel and aluminum. Earlier this month, he also urged the banning of imports of Chinese-made electric cars to the US. Biden's moves are aimed at appealing to certain groups of voters in the US, said Wu, who predicted that there will be more actions aimed at showing toughness and putting pressure on China. "If Biden feels that his election prospects are not good, he may intensify his efforts to play the 'China card'," Wu noted. In the first half of this year, China-US relations can maintain a fragile and unreliable stability, and there will be greater fluctuations in the second half of the year, said Wu. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's communists once used Hong Kong to subvert a mainland government The communists leveraged the city's freedoms to run arms and supplies to their base in Jiangxi, documents show. A commentary by Ching Cheong for RFA Cantonese 2024.04.27 -- 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. 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. 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." 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 Ping's 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]." 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. 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 Press Statement by Spokesman for DPRK Foreign Ministry Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, April 27 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) released the following press statement on Saturday: The U.S. again malignantly slandered the DPRK through the publication of "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2023". The DPRK Foreign Ministry resolutely denounces and rejects the U.S. Department of State's publication of "reports on human rights", full of lies, fabrications, prejudice and hostility, and strongly warns the U.S. to stop its illegal interference in the sovereignty and internal affairs of the DPRK. The U.S. farce of making "reports on human rights" has nothing to do with ensuring genuine human rights, and it is nothing but basic 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. If the U.S. Department of State regards it as its own business which can never be overlooked to make "reports on human rights", it will be reasonable to write a confession frankly admitting the human rights situation in the U.S. before anything else and then to be judged fairly by other countries. Whenever the U.S. finds fault with other countries with its own "human rights standard", the international community first of all examine the horrible human rights situation of the U.S. widely recognized as the worst in the world. Even at this moment, it is the U.S. which is fostering massacres of innocent civilians through overseas military aid of tens of billions of U.S. dollars and it is also the U.S. where the serious human rights abuses such as institutional suppression of its people, confrontations between nations, races and religions and all kinds of crimes of violence and maltreatment of immigrants are rampant. The assertion about the influx of information into the DPRK, recently made by high-ranking officials of the Biden administration including the "envoy for the human rights issue" of the U.S. State Department whenever an opportunity presents itself, is a manifestation of the extremely sinister political plot and a dangerous political provocation to undermine the social system in the DPRK in the long-run. Now that the U.S. is hell-bent on hostile acts against the DPRK, regarding "human rights" racket as the main means of aggression, together with military threat, the DPRK will have to take into consideration the resolute and decisive option for defending the sovereignty and security of the state in an all-round way. There is no limit to the DPRK's counteraction for defending its social system, sovereignty and national interests. -0- www.kcna.kp (Juche113.4.27.) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pres Raisi: Iran immune to sanctions IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 27, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said that the Iran Expo 2024 shows that Iran is invulnerable to sanctions and that sanctions have never been successful against this country. This exhibition introduces Iran's export capabilities and creates a competitive atmosphere, Raisi said on Saturday, adding that the event is considered a collective move for social and global welfare through the development of trade, exports, and the expansion of economic interactions. This exhibition shows that Iran remains unsanctionable and that sanctions against Iran have never been successful due to the iron will of the people, he said adding tat they will never be successful. The evil plans to isolate Iran have not succeeded and will never succeed, he stressed. This event shows that Iran, with its material and spiritual resources and efficient and determined human resources, with initiatives and creativity, and with the benefit of new technologies, can bring innovations to the world in various fields. Elsewhere in his remarks, President Raisi described sanctions as a symbol of oppression. Sanctions are a kind of war, but not a military one, a war that deprives a nation of what it can achieve, he said. In the battle of wills, the Iranians decided to overcome the sanctions by trusting in God and relying on domestic capabilities, he said, adding that the spokesman of the White House announced that the maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic had shamefully failed. 9376**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran-India defense, military cooperation will promote regional security: Defense chief Iran Press TV Saturday, 27 April 2024 4:21 PM Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani says the promotion of Iran's defense and military cooperation with India can help improve security and stability in the region. In a meeting with Indian Defense Secretary Giridhar Aramane in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Friday, Ashtiani said the two countries are located in a strategic region. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 21st session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers. "Numerous capacities of cooperation between Tehran and New Delhi can be used to establish peace and security in the sensitive West Asia region and the Indian subcontinent," he added. The Iranian defense chief emphasized that Tehran and New Delhi must strengthen cooperation to prevent the resurgence of the Daesh terrorist group, urging both sides to hold more consultations about the developments in Afghanistan. The Indian defense secretary, for his part, voiced his condolences over the killing of Iranian military advisors in Syria and stressed the importance of increasing security and peace in the region. Aramane called for the development of bilateral cooperation in maritime fields, participation in naval exercises, defense research and education as well as exchange of university students. In February, Iran's Navy dispatched its domestically designed and manufactured Dena destroyer to India to participate in the Milan 2024 multilateral naval exercise, which is the Indian Navy's biggest-ever maneuver. Iran, Belarus share stance on key regional, global issues: Ashtiani In a meeting with Belarusian Defense Minister Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin in Astana, Ashtiani said the two countries share the same stance on important regional and international issues and have always supported each other. The Iranian defense minister pointed to the latest developments in Palestine as an important issue in the world and said Israel is committing genocide and war crimes against Palestinians, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. In a terrorist move, Israel also attacked Iran's diplomatic premises in Syria in violation of international conventions, however, Iran gave a response to the regime in accordance with the United Nations Charter, he added. "We expect friendly and independent countries to condemn the blatant violation of international law by the Zionist regime (Israel)," he emphasized. On April 1, the Israeli regime carried out terrorist airstrikes on the consular section of Iran's embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, which killed two 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. Khrenin said Israel's airstrikes on Iran's diplomatic premises in Damascus were a breach of international law and hailed Iran's wise move to give a limited response to the regime which prevented the spread of conflicts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran condemns new sanctions by US, Britain and Canada Iran Press TV Saturday, 27 April 2024 11:34 AM Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman has denounced the latest sanctions the United States, Britain and Canada slapped against a number of Iranian individuals and firms, stressing that such moves could by no means undermine the Iranian government and nation's determination. Nasser Kan'ani, in a statement released on Saturday, condemned the trio's coercive measures against several real and legal entities linked to the Iranian armed forces. He also decried the European Parliament's resolution against Iran, sharply criticizing certain European countries for following the vicious policies of the US administration. "The Islamic Republic of Iran's military capacities are being developed in accordance with its requirements in order to protect national security and interests, safeguard territorial integrity and sovereignty, and create a legitimate and deterrent defense against foreign threats and acts of aggression," Kan'ani said. He underlined that Iran is a major partner of the international community as regards the establishment of regional and international peace and security, and the fight against international terrorism. The Iranian diplomat stressed that sanctions against Iran's defense sector could by no means erode the Iranian government and the nation's determination to enhance national sovereignty for the sake of defending territorial integrity and national interests. Contrary to the will of those imposing them, sanctions will turn into an opportunity for the promotion of self-sufficiency as well as military and defense capabilities, Kan'ani highlighted. He also sternly criticized the European Parliament's double standards toward the Israeli regime's attack on the consular section of the Iranian Embassy in the Syrian capital city of Damascus, arguing that the legislative bodies of the European Union simply expressed regret over the airstrike whilst strongly condemned Iran's legitimate response to the Israeli act of aggression which came within the framework of inherent right of legitimate defense. Kan'ani went on to roundly dismiss Western allegations over Russia's deployment of Iranian-made drones against Ukraine, stating that the US and some European countries insist on going in the wrong direction of history, fueling crises and leveling accusations against others than to help stop the Gaza and Ukraine wars. "If it were not for the sake of the bravery and determination of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and its martyred anti-terror advisors in the region, Daesh terrorists would have overrun the European Parliament with the heart of the United States, and jeopardized regional and international security even more." "How could the European Parliament brazenly call for the inclusion of the world's only real counterterrorism force on the list of designated terrorist groups unless we assume that terrorist groups are acting in line with the illegitimate objectives and interests of the United States, a few European governments and the Zionist regime to fuel instability and insecurity in West Asia," Kan'ani pointed out. The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry underlined that many nations and governments, specifically in West Asia, hold out no hope of the role of the US and its European allies in the establishment of stability and security in the region anymore. Kan'ani's remarks came two days after the US, Britain and Canada announced fresh sanctions on Iran following its large-scale Operation True Promise against Israeli military targets on April 14. The three governments said they were targeting Iran's drone and missile industries by taking measures against individuals and companies "closely involved" in Iran's production of unmanned aerial vehicles. Meanwhile, the European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution condemning Iran's extensive drone and missile strikes against the Israeli regime, in a vote of 357-20, and called for further sanctions to be imposed on Iranian entities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DPK should drop self-serving bill to honor activists People who perished or sacrificed themselves for the sake of the country or fellow citizens facing life-threatening circumstances deserve recognition. And Korea does honor its war heroes, independence fighters who risked their lives both at home and abroad to achieve Koreas independence from Japans brutal colonial rule, and the numerous soldiers who lost their lives in defense of the country. Patriots and their heroic deeds should be remembered, and their legacies should be inherited by the generations that follow them. Certainly, there is a role the government can play to make this happen. Honoring them and chronicling their works to help future generations remember their sacrifices is one such effort. There is one precondition that must be met to be recognized as a national hero: an individual's contributions must be indisputable. Suspicions grow into distrust when those who are proposed to be decorated are controversial or public opinion about them is divided. The initiative to honor certain people will be caught in controversy when the initiators and the beneficiaries are the very same people. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) endeavor to pass a bill designed to glorify pro-democracy activists has caused a stir due to its potential conflict of interest and the lack of consensus built about the role of some potential beneficiaries. The DPKs flip-flopping about the bill has also fueled public distrust. Rep. Woo Won-shik of the DPK initially proposed an identical bill in 2020 when President Moon Jae-in was in office. It drew a lot of criticism at the time. Many viewed the measure as self-serving legislation, partly because the DPK was and still is led by Generation 586 politicians, who took to the streets and led the pro-democracy movement in the 1980s. The potential beneficiaries of the bill are pro-democracy activists of the same generation as those politicians. The DPK scrapped the bill as they became wary of the possible negative fallout on the general elections held earlier this month. The DPK picked up the measure again, after the elections. The main opposition party pushed through the same bill to decorate pro-democracy activists and allow them to enjoy various perks, including medical insurance and financial support. This time, the DPK lawmakers moved quickly and without hesitation despite the worsening public opinion. The DPK, by taking advantage of its majority status, deliberated and passed the bill quickly at the National Assembly's National Policy Committee on April 23 and sent it directly to a plenary session for voting, bypassing the Legislation and Judiciary Committee which is chaired by Rep. Kim Do-eup of the ruling People Power Party (PPP). This is something unusual, if not outright illegal. Once approved in standing committees, bills are sent to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for final review before they are sent to a plenary session for a vote. The DPK justified its move, claiming the bill has been stuck in the judiciary committee for over 80 days and in a case like this, committee members can vote again and once approved, it can be sent directly to a plenary session. The PPP accused the DPK of taking advantage of its tyranny of the majority, declaring that democracy is in peril. Despite the criticism, the DPK vowed to approve the bill in May. Given its majority status in the Assembly, the DPK will be able to pass the bill on its own. However, it remains uncertain whether President Yoon Suk Yeol will eventually sign it into law or not. Yoon has the last call as he can veto passed bills. Problems will occur if the bill is signed into law and takes effect. The bill will allow those who were convicted of having violated the National Security Law to receive the same benefits. Activists who were convicted of arson in 1989, in which seven police officers died after entering the Dong-Eui University in the southeastern port city of Busan to save five kidnapped auxiliary police officers, can be designated as contributors to the democracy movement. And those who were involved in the torture and beating of innocent victims who were falsely accused of having spied on the activists, better known as the "double spy scandal" at Seoul National University in 1984, will also be eligible for such benefits. The passage of the bill will serve only the interests of those who will be designated as contributors to the nation's democracy. It will surely backfire and hurt the DPK. If the president refuses to sign the bill into law, which is highly likely considering his frequent exercising of his veto power, another round of partisan conflicts will be inevitable. The DPK will gain nothing, because criticism against it will be unavoidable if the bill is passed. The best-case scenario will be that the DPK voluntarily scraps the bill to prevent a possible parliamentary deadlock. Doing so will also serve its own interests, as the suspension of the bill will help the party save face. Iran cannot be sanctioned; plots to isolate Tehran failed: President Raeisi Iran Press TV Saturday, 27 April 2024 8:48 AM President Ebrahim Raeisi says Iran cannot be sanctioned and Western plots to isolate the country have failed thanks to the nation's steely resolve. Raeisi made the remarks at the opening of the 6th export potential exhibition of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Expo 2024) in the capital Tehran on Saturday. "This exhibit shows that Iran is unsanctionable and sanctions against the country have never yielded any results thanks to the strong will of the people and will not be successful after this either," the Iranian president said. "Also, the evil plots to isolate the Islamic Republic of Iran have never come to fruition and will never come to fruition." Underlining that sanctions are regarded not just as a method of oppression against one nation but all nations, Raeisi said, "If a nation is deprived of achieving its goals and amenities by creating constraints, this is not an injustice to one region but to all nations and regions." The president termed sanctions as a kind of non-military war and said the Iranian nation managed to overcome the bans by relying on its capabilities as acknowledged by the US administration and the White House, which admitted to the failure of the anti-Iran pressure campaign. Elsewhere in his speech, Raeisi pointed to the Islamic Republic's localization of technology over the past years and said the West's attempts to deter Iran's progress by assassinating its scientists are in vain. "The West is trying to prevent us and the region from achieving new technologies, and if we gain that technology, they make sure that the fulcrum will be at their disposal so that they can continue to dominate," the Iranian chief executive said. "By the grace of God and thanks to our young scientists, many sciences in our country have become localized and it is not possible for them to take indigenous knowledge out of our country even by assassinating scientists," he added. Touching on the country's level of output and export, Raeisi said, "The power of production and export is not less than military power. What can make a country strong in addition to the military power is the power of production and economy and the ability to export." The president also praised Iranian employers, producers, engineers and workers as the "frontline" officers and soldiers in the battle against enemies and US sanctions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thailand closely watches battle for Myanmar border town By Tommy Walker April 27, 2024 Thailand is staying alert as conflict in Myanmar continues, according to Thai government officials who visited Thailand's border with Myanmar this week. The comments come as renewed fighting continues between anti-junta ethnic groups and the military for control over Myawaddy, a crucial trade hub just across the border from Mae Sot. Myanmar has been in turmoil since a military coup in February 2021. The country has devolved into armed conflict with civilian, political and ethnic groups opposing junta rule. The conflict has shifted in the past year. The Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, has suffered a series of defeats to opposition groups. One of Myanmar's oldest ethnic armed groups, the Karen National Union, or KNU, announced in April it had forced the surrender of military soldiers controlling Myawaddy. Thailand shares a 2,414-kilometer (1,500-mile) border with Myanmar and could be at risk of a border spillover should the conflict escalate. On Tuesday, Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara visited Mae Sot. Parnpree first surveyed a Thai immigration crossing before holding a news conference with Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang, at Mae Sot International Airport. "We've been visiting people in the area to give them confidence that things are being handled well and to hear what issues they may have. For Thai sovereignty we are ready to protect," Parnpree told reporters. Thailand's officials appear calm about the situation, but Mae Sot is literally only a few kilometers across the border from Myanmar's war. Armored military vehicles can be seen near the Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, with soldiers on patrol. Last week there were reports of bullets from the conflict entering Thai territory, and Thailand's air force has been monitoring Myanmar's aircraft for any possible incursions. "In the past there have been incidents including bullets and some sort of encroachment. That is the past in a different context. Today, we are following every issue closely," Parnpree said. The reduced control of Myawaddy by Myanmar's military is seen as a humiliating blow to the junta because billions of dollars' worth of cross-border trade passes through the town each year. Footage found online that reportedly was posted by junta soldiers shows a Myanmar infantry battalion raising its flag at a recaptured base Wednesday morning. The KNU says its forces retreated after Myanmar's Karen Border Guard Force a which is aligned with the junta a allowed military soldiers to reoccupy the base. Since then, the fighting has continued with the loud thuds and explosions of outgoing weapons fire heard several miles away in Mae Sot. Even though Myanmar's post-coup conflict has spanned more than three years, Thailand's approach to Myanmar changed only after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin took office in the last year, according to one political analyst. "I think they want to be the broker; they want to promote dialogue, and the Srettha government wants to play a leading role moving forward," Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political expert on Thailand, told VOA. "I think they have a broader foreign policy objective about rebalancing and repositioning Thailand as a leader for ASEAN on Myanmar," he said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "I think they are willing to do what it takes to [be in a] leading role and are open to options. Myanmar is a top priority for Thailand." Thailand has taken on a bigger humanitarian role toward Myanmar in recent months and has agreed to build shelters to receive refugees escaping Myanmar. Parnpree will also lead a new special committee aimed at dealing with the crisis. Since the fight for Myawaddy erupted, thousands of people from Myanmar have fled across the 200-mile Moei River, which acts as a natural border separating Thailand and Myanmar. If Myawaddy remains an active war zone, Thailand could see more people fleeing across its border. At the Mae Tao clinic in Mae Sot, the medical staff are struggling to cope with the influx of injured patients. "Three hundred to 400 patients have come from Myawaddy," Khun Wai, a medical officer at the clinic, told VOA. "Some have got war injuries from the fighting. We currently have 140 beds, so our doctors and medics are very busy right now. In Myanmar, many families have fled to Thailand." Inside the facility, the conditions are grim. Patients are crammed in hallways, waiting for treatment. The sweltering heat adds to the discomfort. In one ward, a handful of young soldiers who fought on both sides of the war have physically succumbed to the brutalities of war. Several have had legs blown off from landmines; others have severe burns to their skin. One man has bandages covering the stitches in his chest after being shot. More than 60% of Myanmar's territory is under the control of ethnic and opposition groups, according to the National Unity Government a the anti-junta shadow government a that has long said it must be involved in any new aid initiatives from Bangkok. Tun Aung Shwe, the NUG representative to Australia, spoke with VOA earlier this year. "To make a substantial impact, the Thai government's involvement should prioritize collaboration with the NUG and its allies. Without this engagement, despite good intentions, the efforts might not yield the desired positive outcome," Shwe said. Thailand's government has been criticized for liaising only with Myanmar's military council in the past, but now Thailand's foreign ministry said initial discussions have taken place to act as a mediator among the opposing groups. This hasn't always been the case. Thailand endured its own military coup in 2014, which was led by then-army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha, who ruled Thailand for nine years. Military relations have changed since then, Thitinan said. "I think Srettha is more open to more stakeholders," he said. "The Thai military [is] on the border now; the Royal Air Force [is] staying vigilant. ... This wasn't happening under Prayuth's time." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Major rebel push in Myanmar closes in on pivotal Chinese megaproject By Zsombor Peter April 27, 2024 While Myanmar's 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 country's 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 Rakhine's 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 they're 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 Myanmar's 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 Rakhine's 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 China's landlocked Yunnan province. A deep-water port and special economic zone are also in the works. The route a part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative a 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 Myanmar's oil and gas industry, the military regime's 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 doesn't 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 regime's current earnings and that Kyaukphyu's loss would be "a huge hit," possibly "worse than Myawaddy." The town of Myawaddy sits on eastern Myanmar's 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 Kyaukphyu's 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 junta's 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 country's ethnic minority rebels, including the Arakan Army. "It's very likely that Chine will not be happy if there's 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 group's 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 VOA's requests for comment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan not to attach importance to US sanctions: FM IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 27, 2024 Islamabad, IRNA -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has pointed to the importance of President Ebrahim Raisi's visit to Pakistan, noting that Islamabad does not care about the United States sanctions and will do whatever is in line with its national interests. Ishaq Dar addressed reporters at Pakistan's parliament, saying that President Raisi's trip to Pakistan is of great importance and that the government in Islamabad will provide leaders of opposition factions with the details and achievements of the visit. Pointing to Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, the minister said that Islamabad does not need to conceal the issue, arguing that the Iranian president's trip to Pakistan proves speculations on misunderstanding between the two governments are unfounded. Despite the fact that the gas pipeline has not been mentioned in the joint statement of the two countries at the end of President Raisi's visit, the main issue is that Islamabad does not give importance to the US sanctions and it will do whatever that is in line with its own national interests. Earlier, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif described President Raisi's trip to Islamabad as very important and successful, underlining that his country is optimistic to find a way to go ahead with the joint gas project with Iran. The Pakistani defense minister also emphasized that his country does not give slightest importance to foreign opposition to the Tehran-Islamabad cooperation. Iran and Pakistan signed eight memoranda of understanding during the recent visit by Iranian delegation headed by President Raisi. 4208**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belgium to Push for EU Ban on New Contracts for Russian Uranium - Minister Sputnik News 20240427 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Belgium will seek an EU-wide ban on new contracts for imports of uranium sourced from Russia, Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten said. "Belgium will argue at the European level that only existing contracts for uranium of Russian origin should be executed to produce nuclear fuel rods and that no new contracts should be reached, unless this compromises energy supply," Van der Straeten wrote on social media. The Belgian government also wants the European Union to gradually ban transshipment of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) through EU ports as part of the next package of sanctions against Russia, but only provided that this does not affect the security of supply or distort competition across the bloc, the minister added. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday that Russia would continue to look for ways around illegal restrictions imposed on it by rivals. He said that the European industry sector would likely pay the price for further curbs on Russian LNG supplies. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Court Arrests 12th Suspect in Crocus City Hall Attack Case Sputnik News 20240427 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Basmanny District Court of Moscow has arrested Dzhumokhon Kurbonov, the twelfth defendant in the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack case, who will remain in custody until May 22, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Saturday. Earlier in the day, the investigators requested the court to arrest Kurbonov. So far, 11 defendants have been charged with committing a terrorist attack resulting in death as part of an organized group under paragraph b of Part 3 of Article 205 of the Russian criminal code. They have been arrested and face life imprisonment. "To satisfy the request of the investigation to choose a measure of restraint against the accused Kurbonov in the form of remand in custody until May 22," the judge said. Kurbonov allegedly provided his accomplices with means of communication and money to pay bills, the Moscow City Court said. Kurbonov himself agreed to his arrest, the defendant's lawyer noted. On March 22, several armed men broke into the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow and started shooting indiscriminately at concert-goers. They also started a fire in one of the auditoriums, which was full of people ahead of a concert. The attack left 145 people dead and many more injured. The main suspects in the case tried to flee the scene in a car but were detained and charged with terrorism. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blinken reiterates importance of cross-strait peace in meeting with Xi ROC Central News Agency 04/27/2024 12:01 PM Washington, April 26 (CNA) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait when he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping (cea) in Beijing this week, a U.S. official said on Friday. According to U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, Blinken traveled to China from April 24-26 to hold constructive discussions on key priorities in the bilateral relationship and on a range of regional and global matters. During the meeting, the secretary of state reiterated that 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, Miller said. Blinken also expressed concerns over China's destabilizing actions at Second Thomas Shoal, and the importance of upholding the rule of law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, Miller said. Blinken told Xi that the U.S. will continue to take necessary actions to defend its interests and values, and those of its allies and partners, Miller said. According to the spokesperson, both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining open lines of communication at all times and agreed to continue high-level diplomacy and interactions in the U.S. and China in the period ahead. (By Chung Yu-chen and Ko Lin) Enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address KMT caucus whip meets with senior Chinese officials in Beijing ROC Central News Agency 04/27/2024 09:54 PM Beijing, April 27 (CNA) Kuomintang (KMT) legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi () met with senior Chinese officials on Saturday during a three-day visit to Beijing at the head of a delegation, which said the goal is to foster peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait. The 17 KMT lawmakers in the delegation were greeted at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing by Wang Huning (), chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Song Tao (), director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO). During the meeting, Wang said the delegation's visit to China during Taiwan's new legislative session was challenging but meaningful, and he expressed hopes for more exchanges between the two sides. "We are all Chinese, from the same family of the Chinese people," Wang said. He also said it was important to uphold the 1992 consensus and the one China principle, underscoring Beijing's stance on resisting external interference and advocating against Taiwan independence. In response, Fu said the delegation's visit signified the new sentiment in Taiwan to resume the extensive exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, which were in place prior to 2016. The visit, which comes ahead of President-elect Lai Ching-te's () inauguration on May 20, is being closely observed in Taiwan. On Saturday, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) warned the KMT delegation "not to tread on the red lines of democracy and national security" and particularly not to breach the provisions of the Anti-Infiltration Act. The delegation, which includes KMT legislators Jessica Chen (), Wang Hung-wei (), Chen Hsueh-sheng () and Lo Ming-tsai (), is scheduled to return to Taiwan on Sunday. Meanwhile, in a press release Saturday, the TAO said it was ready to donate prefabricated buildings to Hualien County in Taiwan in the wake of the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck earlier this month, causing loss of lives and widespread damage in the eastern county. The disaster relief supplies will be donated via the Red Cross organizations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, the TAO said. (By Lu Chia-jung and Lee Hsin-Yin) Enditem/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Apr. 28, 2024 ROC Ministry of National Defense 2024/04/28 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1. Dateis 6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Saturay to Sunday, Apr. 27-28 2. PLA activitiesis 22 PLA aircraft and 4 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 12 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australia continues to stand with Ukraine The Hon Richard Marles MP Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Defence 27 April 2024 The Albanese Government is continuing its unwavering support for Ukraine, with the announcement of a new $100 million assistance package. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, announced the package during a visit to Ukraine today where he met Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, and saw first-hand the tragic costs of Russia's unrelenting attacks. Today's announcement by the Albanese Government includes: A A $50 million package of military assistance with the support of Australian defence industry o This includes $30 million towards uncrewed aerial systems, and $15 million towards other high priority equipment, such as combat helmets, rigid hull inflatable boats, boots, fire masks and generators. A $50 million for short range air defence systems. A The delivery of air-to-ground precision munitions. This takes Australia's military assistance to $880 million since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and brings Australia's overall support for Ukraine to over $1 billion. During his visit, the Deputy Prime Minister met with Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal and Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk. He visited Armed Forces of Ukraine conducting training, and had the opportunity to tour local defence industry which has been integral in Ukraine's defence against Russia. The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated Australia's commitment to the multinational program to train Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel in the United Kingdom, through Operation Kudu. The Deputy Prime Minister has also visited Poland and met his counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, WAadysAaw Kosiniak-Kamysz. They discussed the conflict in Ukraine, and its global implications including Russia's flagrant breach of the UN Charter. Deputy Prime Minister Marles thanked the Polish Government for its support of the recent six-month deployment of Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail, which helped protect a vital gateway of international humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine. Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP: "Australia remains committed to supporting Ukraine to resolve the conflict on its terms. "I am pleased to announce an additional $100 million of military assistance, including world leading drone technology, with the support of local Australian defence industry. "Australia is also providing critical air-to-ground precision munitions and short range air defence systems. "Ukraine and its people have endured more than two years of Russia's full-scale invasion but their spirit remains strong. This was reaffirmed during my meeting with Prime Minister Shmyhal. "Australia is proud to be working with our partners, including Poland, to support Ukraine's self-defence." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Schneider Electric's key production base starts construction in China Xinhua) 10:52, April 28, 2024 XIAMEN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Xiamen Torch Electric Industrial Park (Phase I), also known as the Schneider Electric Xiamen Industrial Park, started construction on Friday in the city of Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province. After its completion, the park will become French multinational company Schneider Electric's biggest manufacturing facility for medium voltage equipment anywhere in the world. Invested and constructed by Xiamen Torch Group, the park mainly consists of a research and development (R&D) office building and a factory building, with a total construction area of about 110,000 square meters and a total investment of about 1.2 billion yuan (about 169 million U.S. dollars). The park is expected to be completed in 2025, and will be rented by Schneider Electric. It will double the size of Schneider Electric's existing factory in Xiamen and is expected to double its production capacity in the next five years. Vincent Bruneau, vice president of Global Supply Chain China of Schneider Electric, said that the park would become a major R&D center, manufacturing center and supply hub for the company to serve the global medium voltage market. Bruneau added that the construction of the new park shows that Schneider Electric is optimistic about the Chinese market and determined to deepen its operations in Xiamen. "After the park is officially put into operation, some of its products will supply overseas markets, including countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative," said Bruneau. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) By Lee Jong-eun On April 20, the U.S. House of Representatives ended months of legislative gridlock and passed four individual legislative bills. These bills respectively provided foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and required TikToks China-based parent company to sell the social media platform to a non-Chinese company. Shortly afterward, the U.S. Senate passed the omnibus legislation combining the four House-passed bills. On April 24, Biden signed the $95.3 billion foreign aid bills into law, declaring, Its a good day for world peace. The passage of the foreign aid bills appeared uncertain for months, entangled by domestic U.S. politics. Congressional Republicans demanded, in particular, that the aid for Ukraines war be tied to the legislation strengthening regulations of the U.S.-Mexico border and the asylum process. Eventually, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson relied on the support from Congressional Democrats to pass a series of stalled foreign aid bills, overcoming the opposition from some members of his party. The passage of the foreign aid package is a relief for the governments of Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, which have lobbied for the aid as critical to their geopolitical security. The political dynamics leading up to the passage of the legislation, however, provide three takeaways that merit prudent considerations for U.S. allies. First, Johnson justified sending military aid to Ukraine by using the analogy that sending bullets to Ukraine is better than sending American boys instead. Such calculations signal foreign policy preferences for U.S. indirect involvement in geopolitical conflicts abroad. Sometimes described as an offshore balancing, the strategic justification behind the latest U.S. foreign aid appears to arm the regional allies to bear the burden of deterring their regional security threats. The U.S. has not always successfully maintained an indirect involvement in foreign conflicts. During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt advocated for providing aid to Great Britain, promising, "We will not send our army, naval or air forces to fight in foreign lands. During the Vietnam War, President Lyndon Johnson promised not to send U.S. troops 10,000 miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves. The two presidents eventually deployed U.S. troops to fight in these wars. Subsequently, contemporary U.S. policymakers could face domestic politics wary of the risks that foreign aid could eventually result in U.S. direct intervention in the conflicts of Europe and the Middle East. For U.S. allies, retaining U.S. support could then require signaling reassurance that the former could sufficiently deter regional security threats even without U.S. direct intervention. Should security situations deteriorate beyond the capacity of the individual allies, the U.S. might intervene directly, but there are risks that contemporary U.S. politics could instead suspend foreign aid for the lost causes. Second, former U.S. President Donald Trumps support provided political cover for Johnson to risk opposition from his party members in passing the foreign aid bills. Previously, Trumps opposition to funding the aid for Ukraine without a complementary border control legislation contributed to months of partisan gridlock in Congress. Trumps reasons for changing his stance are not wholly clear, but there are two indicators. First, Johnson incorporated Trumps demand to designate some amount of aid to Ukraine as a loan. Trump endorsed the change, declaring that the U.S. should provide foreign assistance with expectations for a paycheck. Second, Trump acknowledged on a social media post the importance of Ukraine's survival to U.S. security interests, then chided Europe for not providing sufficient assistance to Ukraine. Trumps motives appear to reaffirm what has sometimes been described as his transactional diplomacy. As Trump campaigns to regain his presidency in the upcoming presidential election, he appears to be concerned with the negative future consequences the international security crisis could have on the United States. Trump, however, also seems to be motivated to use U.S. assistance as explicit leverage to extract substantive concessions from other countries. For U.S. allies, there might be relief that Trumps second-term presidency would not be isolationist, and there could be prospects for cooperation based on mutual interests. On the flipside, U.S. allies should remain wary about the terms of cooperation that a future Trump presidency or Republican Congress could impose. Third, U.S. foreign policys recent trend toward restraint and skepticism toward involvement in foreign conflicts does not apply to its growing assertiveness in confronting China. Among the four bills passed by the House, the foreign aid bill for Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region received the most votes in support. In the increasingly divided U.S. politics, assertive foreign policy toward China remains one of the few issues with bipartisan support. With the U.S. Congress also approving a measure forcing TikTok to sever ties with China, the areas of bilateral conflict will likely expand. It might be a relief for U.S. allies in Asia that U.S. commitment to regional security remains higher than toward world regions. On the other hand, having experienced the economic uncertainties from the U.S.-China trade war, the allies should be attentive toward the impact of the future bilateral legal war over technological regulations. After the passage of the U.S. foreign aid legislation, several media outlets posted the quote often attributed to Winston Churchill, Americans can always be counted on to do the right thingafter they have exhausted all other possibilities. Churchill is also attributed to have said in the fall of 1942, Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. If U.S. foreign policy continues to trend toward direct, assertive confrontation toward China and indirect, transactional assistance elsewhere, U.S. allies should prepare for appropriate strategic responses. Lee Jong-eun is an assistant professor of political science at North Greenville University. US announces $6 billion military aid for Ukraine amid massive strikes Iran Press TV Saturday, 27 April 2024 8:12 AM The United States has announced an additional $6 billion aid package for Ukraine to purchase American military hardware, including new Patriot missiles. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said Washington will provide Ukraine with the long-term military aid package - the largest so far - to purchase new military hardware directly from American defense companies. "This is the largest security assistance package that we've committed to date. It will include critical interceptors for Ukraine's Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems, more counter-drone systems and support equipment, significant amounts of artillery ammunition, and air-to-ground munitions and maintenance and sustainment support," he said. The newly-announced package is the second this week, following another worth up to $1 billion that was announced on Wednesday, which featured items that will be drawn from US stocks. However, the $6 billion aid package will be secured from the defense industry, meaning that it will take longer to arrive on the battlefield. In the past several months, Ukraine has repeatedly asked for more air defenses from its Western allies, particularly the US, as it struggles to hold back Russian advances. The US House of Representatives on April 20 approved legislation authorizing $61 billion for the war-torn ex-Soviet republic. The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday and US President Joe Biden signed it into law on Wednesday, following months of bipartisan division in Congress. Austin's remarks came after he concluded a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a consortium of approximately 50 nations that includes all NATO members, several of the US's major non-NATO allies and other countries that have supplied military and humanitarian aid to Kiev. It was revealed on Wednesday that the US has shipped long-range MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles to Ukraine in recent weeks. These missiles, which have a range of about 300 kilometers, were included in a $300 million military aid package for Kiev that Biden approved on March 12. According to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, some of these missiles were part of a $1 billion weapons package approved on Wednesday. Washington has already provided Kiev with HIMARS launchers, capable of firing ATACMS missiles, which can hit Russian targets way behind the frontline between the two warring neighbors. Russia has warned that the conflict in Ukraine could be prolonged due to the support of Western countries, on top of them the US, for Kiev. On Saturday, reports said Ukrainian drones had hit two Russian oil refineries and a military airfield in a large-scale overnight attack. A Ukrainian defense source, quoted by AFP, said "key technological facilities" were hit at two refineries in the southern Krasnodar region. Russian officials had earlier reported a fire at a refinery in the town of Slavyansk-on-Kuban and state media said the facility had partially halted production. Moscow also said that Ukraine launched one of its largest ever attempted overnight drone attacks on the southern Krasnodar region and the Crimean peninsula. The defense ministry its air defenses "destroyed 66 Ukrainian drones over the territory of the Krasnodar region, and two more drones were destroyed over the Crimean peninsula". In Kiev, officials said Russia launched a "massive" missile strike at Ukraine overnight, hitting energy facilities and damaging power plants in several regions. Moscow has escalated its strikes against Ukraine's power network in recent months, causing blackouts and triggering Ukraine to ask consumers to ration their energy supplies. "Russian armed forces staged another massive missile attack on Ukraine," the army said in its regular morning update. The DTEK power operator said equipment at four of its thermal power plants were "severely damaged" in the overnight strikes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Launches 'Massive' Strikes, Hits Power Stations, Psychiatric Hospital By RFE/RL's Russian Service and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 27, 2024 Ukraine said Russia had launched a massive attack overnight targeting energy installations, while a Russian oil refinery said it had suspended operations following a drone strike. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, said its four thermal power stations had been hit. "The enemy again massively shelled the Ukrainian energy facilities," DTEK said in a statement. "The company's equipment was seriously damaged. At this very moment, energy workers are trying to eliminate the consequences of the attack." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy again appealed for quick delivery of further air defense weapons from Western allies after the attacks on crucial infrastructure. "Terror should always lose, and anyone who helps us stand against Russian terror is a true defender of life," he said. In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said Russia's attack on Ukraine's energy sector had particularly targeted sites that supply gas to EU countries. "The main target was the energy sector, various facilities in the industry, both electricity and gas transit facilities. In particular, gas facilities that are crucial to ensuring safe delivery to the European Union," he said. Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said the Russian strikes targeted the Dnipropetrovsk region in central Ukraine and the western regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk. Halushchenko said one energy worker had been injured. DTEK also said there were casualties but provided no other details. In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, a psychiatric hospital was damaged and one person was wounded in a Russian missile strike, officials said. Oleh Synyehubov, the head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, said a 53-year-old woman was injured in what he described as a strike by a Russian cruise missile. Synyehubov said at the time of the attack about 60 patients and five staff had been in the building. Photos from the scene showed a huge crater on the grounds of the facility and patients taking shelter in corridors. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 21 of 34 Russian missiles fired in an overnight attack, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force said on April 27. Mykola Oleschuk said Ukrainian fighter planes, air defense missile units, mobile fire groups, and means of radio-electronic warfare were involved in repelling the Russian missile strikes. Over the past month, Russia's military has increased its targeting of Ukrainian power infrastructure, attacking thermal and hydropower stations and other energy infrastructure almost daily. Ukrainian officials have said the country has lost about 80 percent of its thermal generation and about 35 percent of its hydropower capacity, prompting the government to introduce scheduled blackouts in several regions. In Russia, meanwhile, an oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region has suspended operations after a suspected drone attack early on April 27, local officials said. "The work of the plant has been partially suspended. Exactly 10 UAVs (drones) flew into the plant. There was a strong fire. There may be hidden damage," Eduard Trudnev, the security director of Slavyansk ECO Group, which operates the plant, was quoted as saying. A post on the Telegram messaging app showed what appeared to be a large explosion at the Slavyansk oil refinery. Ukraine, which rarely comments on its targeting of Russian sites, said nothing publicly on the drone strikes. Ukrainian officials on April 27 reported that Russia had reinforced its troops around the eastern Ukrainian town of Ocheretyne in an effort to take the embattled settlement, but Kyiv insisted that its forces were holding off the Kremlin's offensive there. A spokesman for Ukraine's eastern command said government forces had the situation "under control" and that Ukrainian troops had managed to shell areas taken by Russian forces, blocking their advance ahead of a planned effort to "kick them out." Battlefield claims on both sides cannot immediately be verified. In Chasiv Yar -- another town under direct Russian assault -- Ukrainian officials said the Kremlin's forces had not entered the municipality, which had a prewar population of about 12,500. Zelenskiy said in an interview on April 21 that Russia wants to occupy Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region before May 9, the day that Russia celebrates as Victory Day to mark the defeat of Germany in World War II. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-energy- infrastructure-drones/32922945.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 Forces Conduct 35 Massive Strikes on Ukrainian Infrastructure in a Week Sputnik News 20240427 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. "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 Region Russian 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. "The enemy lost over 3,890 troops, four tanks, nine armored combat vehicles, 51 vehicles, 22 field artillery pieces, including a Paladin self-propelled artillery unit and five US-made M777 howitzers. In addition, 17 electronic warfare stations (Nota, Enclave, Bukovel-AD) and 22 field ammunition depots were destroyed," the ministry said. Ukraine Loses 2,950 Troops in Clashes With Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr The 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 Zapad Ukraine lost up to 255 military personnel in clashes with Russia's Battlegroup Zapad in the past seven days, the MoD reported. "Within a week, Battlegroup Zapad gained a firmer foothold, defeating 13 enemy brigades in the Khrarkov region, Novoyegorovka and Stelmakhovka in the Lugansk People's Republic, Torskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic, and near the Serebryansk forestry," the ministry said, adding that "the enemy lost up to 255 military personnel, three armored combat vehicles, 21 vehicles, 27 artillery guns, including five US-made M777 howitzers, as well as two US-made AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radars." Ukraine Loses 360 Troops in Clashes With Russia's Battlegroup Dnepr Russian 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 Week Russian 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. "Over the past week, [Russian] aircraft and air defense equipment shot down Ukrainian armed forces' MiG-29 and Su-25 aircraft, 18 French-made Hammer guided bombs, a Tochka-U tactical missile system, 35 HIMARS, Vilkha and Uragan MLRS, as well as 1,659 unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Military Chief Complains About 'Difficult' Situation on Battlefield Sputnik News 20240427 The situation for Ukrainian troops on the battlefield is deteriorating, said the Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrsky in a Telegram channel following the meeting of the contact group in the Ramstein format. "I informed the coalition members about the difficult operational-strategic situation, which tends to escalate," the publication said. He added that he outlined Ukraine's current needs for rockets, ammunition, and equipment to the West. Currently, the Ramstein format, in which about 50 countries participate, is led by the United States. At the same time, according to sources in European media, the leadership of the contact group may shift to NATO, as Kiev's allies fear the coming to power of Donald Trump in the United States and changes in policy towards Ukraine. Earlier in Brussels, it was repeatedly emphasized that NATO structures are not directly involved in organizing weapons supplies to Kiev. As Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated earlier this week, Russian troops have the initiative across the entire line of contact and continue to push the enemy from their positions. The settlements of Pervomaiskoye, Bogdanovka, and Novomikhailovka in the Donetsk People's Republic have been liberated, and the zone of control is expanding in Berdychi and Georgievka. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine's Refusal to Continue Negotiations Caused by Pressure From London - Kremlin Sputnik News 20240427 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Kiev's refusal to continue negotiations in Istanbul has been caused by pressure from London, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday. "It is well known that the document was de facto initialed. Everyone is also well aware of what exactly caused the Ukrainians to refuse to continue and finalize the work on the document, according to representatives from the Ukrainian side who participated in the talks. It was due to direct pressure from London," Peskov told a briefing, when asked whether it is true that Moscow put forward new demands to Kiev following the Istanbul summit in 2022, which Ukraine refused. There are no prerequisites for negotiations with Kiev at the moment, including due to Ukraine's position against any talks, therefore, the Russian special military operation continues, Peskov added. Russia Supports Contacts Between Baku and Yerevan Russia supports the continuation of contacts between Baku and Yerevan, which are necessary for the full thaw between the two countries and the settlement of the disputed issues, Peskov noted. "We would not like to comment on this [protests]. You know that we are in favor of continuing contacts between Baku and Yerevan. We believe that they are necessary for general detente and for the final settlement of all the disputed issues that are on the agenda in order to reach the signing of a peace treaty as soon as possible," he said. Azerbaijan has demanded control over a number of formerly Soviet Azerbaijani villages, both adjacent to the border and exclaved inside the Armenian territory in the Tavush region. Last week, the South Caucasus neighbors agreed on the process of border demarcation in Tavush, which will result in the handover of four villages that had been under Armenian control since the early 1990s. The decision has sparked protests in Armenia, with people blocking a highway that runs through Tavush to neighboring Georgia since April 20. Russia to Keep Further Developing Cooperation With China Russia will further develop cooperation with China, which is capable of defending and protecting its own national interests despite Western pressure, the spokesman highlighted. "China is an absolutely sovereign state, a powerful state capable of defending and protecting its own interests. At the same time, it is our close partner. We will further develop our cooperation," he told reporters, when asked to comment on Washington's pressure on Beijing over the latter's support for Moscow. On Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that China "cannot achieve better relations with Europe while supporting the greatest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War [Russia]" and vowed to take steps to ensure transatlantic security if Beijing "does not address this problem." Speculation About Possible EU Sanctions Against Russian LNG Misplaced Speculation about possible EU sanctions against Russia's liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects is hardly appropriate and Russia should wait to see what kind of illegal restrictions European politicians will try to impose next. "Some kind of, you know, such eventual reasoning is hardly appropriate here. We have to wait and see what kind of wording will be worked out in the end and what kind of further restrictions, which we can in no way consider legitimate, they will try to introduce. We have to be patient here," Peskov said. Moscow will continue to seek ways to overcome illegal restrictions and unfair competition, as well as to counter attempts to push the country from energy markets, Peskov noted. "Transition to more expensive markets, first of all, of course, it is beneficial for the US, for a number of other countries. For the end consumers, primarily industrial sectors in Europe, it will mean more expensive gas," he added. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Air Defenses Shot Down 68 Ukrainian Drones at Night - MoD Sputnik News 20240427 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Over the past night, Russian air defenses shot down 66 Ukrainian drones over the Krasnodar Territory and two more drones over the Crimea, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a statement. "Over the past night, attempts by the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist attacks using aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation were stopped. Sixty-six Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed and intercepted by air defense systems on duty over the Krasnodar Territory, and two more UAVs were destroyed over the Crimean Peninsula," the ministry said. Ukraine has been sending drones and missiles into Russia almost daily since it launched its counteroffensive in early June 2023. The United Nations said in August last year, following a botched drone strike on Moscow, that it did not want to see any targeting of civilian infrastructure. Earlier, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on attacks by Ukrainian drones on Russian territory, emphasized that Kiev continues terrorist activities, but that the Russian military is on alert and doing everything necessary. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Strikes Ukrainian Airfield Intended for Attacks Inside Russia - Reports Sputnik News 20240427 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. 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. "Nikolayev resistance has reported on a strike against the Martynovka airfield in the Voznesensky district [Nikolayev region] that took place at 22:50. Yesterday, [we have received] several reports about aircraft passing Martynovka and Nikolayev towards Pervomaisk and Odessa. Judging by the power of the explosion, which you could feel more than five kilometers away, a military warehouse was hit," he shared. 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. Russian military strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure began on October 10, 2022 - two days after the terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge, which Russian authorities claim was supported by Ukrainian special services. Strikes are being carried out on energy, defense industry, military administration and communications facilities throughout the country. 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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SINGAPORE, April 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKX, a leading Web3 technology company, today announced the integration of LayerBank with the OKX Wallet. LayerBank is a DeFi platform that offers a wide range of financial services, including lending, borrowing, and staking. Layer Bank Finance aims to provide users with a seamless and secure experience, enabling them to maximize their digital asset holdings. For OKX Wallet users, this integration opens up a world of DeFi opportunities. With Layer Bank Finance, users can now access competitive lending and borrowing rates, earn attractive yields through staking, and explore various other financial services, all directly from their OKX Wallet. This integration empowers OKX Wallet users to make the most of their digital assets and participate in the growing DeFi ecosystem. For further information, please contact: Media@okx.com About OKX A leading global technology company driving the future of Web3, OKX provides a comprehensive suite of products to meet the needs of beginners and experts alike, including: OKX Wallet: The world's most powerful, secure and versatile crypto wallet which gives users access to over 80 blockchains while allowing them to take custody of their own funds. The wallet includes MPC technology which allows users to easily recover access to their wallet independently, removing the need for traditional, 'written down' seed phrases. In addition, OKX Wallets account abstraction-powered Smart Account enables users to pay for transactions on multiple blockchains using USDC or USDT, and interact with multiple contracts via a single transaction. DEX: A multi-chain, cross-chain decentralized exchange aggregator of 300+ other DEXs and approximately 15 bridges, with 200,000+ coins and more than 20 blockchains supported. NFT Marketplace: A multi-chain, zero-fee NFT marketplace that gives users access to NFT listings across seven top-tier marketplaces including OpenSea, MagicEden, LooksRare and Blur. Web3 DeFi: A powerful DeFi platform that supports earning and staking on about 70 protocols across more than 10 chains. OKX partners with a number of the world's top brands and athletes, including English Premier League champions Manchester City F.C., McLaren Formula 1, The Tribeca Festival, Olympian Scotty James, and F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo. As a leader building innovative technology products, OKX believes in challenging the status quo. The company recently launched a global brand campaign entitled, The System Needs a Rewrite, which advocates for a new paradigm led by Web3 self-managed technology. To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.com Disclaimer NEW YORK, April 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds those who held the common stock of Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. n/k/a The Lion Electric Company (NYSE: NGA, LEV) as of the record date of March 18, 2021 for the merger with the then-private The Lion Electric Company of the important June 10, 2024 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you held Northern Genesis common stock as of the record date of March 18, 2021 for the merger with the then-private The Lion Electric Company, 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 Northern Genesis class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=23699 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com 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 10, 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. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. 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 firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants: (1) used materially deceptive risk factor statements to withhold the truth about problems facing the then-private The Lion Electric Company (Legacy Lion Electric), including supply chain problems with its suppliers and sub-suppliers; (2) misled Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp.s (NGA) stockholders about Legacy Lion Electrics prospects using grossly unrealistic financial projections; and (3) failed to provide NGA stockholders with the net cash value of their shares the key disclosure about the fundamental purchasing power their NGA shares represented. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Northern Genesis class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=23699 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com 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 investors 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 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Utah transportation officials call the three months between Memorial Day and Labor Day the states 100 Deadliest Days, because of a surge in highway deaths that regularly occur when residents take summer trips. The fatality rate is 35 percent higher during that time than during the rest of the year.Utah officials are also worried because the number of traffic fatalities in the state, which hit the lowest point in half a century in 2012, has been inching up for the last two and a half years.So this summer, Utah will begin a tactic thats increasingly popular among transportation agencies: Using electronic highway signs to display catchy, and sometimes even funny, messages to make motorists focus on highway safety.Every Monday, its a new message. One week signs displayed Steering wheel: not a hands-free device. Another week, they showed Turn signals: the original instant message. To discourage speeding, the agency used Its not a race, leave some space.The lines alone wont get Utah to its goal of zero road deaths, but officials in the state -- like their counterparts elsewhere -- hope the messages will get people talking and thinking about highway safety.I dont know that anybody is going to say that an electronic message board is going to change the world, but it can be part of that plan, said John Gleason, a spokesman for the Utah Department of Transportation. A study commissioned by the Federal Highway Administration shows that drivers in four cities responded positively to more straightforward safety messages, such as "Click it or ticket" and "Slow down, save a life."Survey respondents said the on-road messages would be more likely to change their behavior than messages shared in other media, such as TV commercials. The study did not track drivers' actual behavior in response to the signs. The messages were less effective for younger drivers, those with lower education levels and those who received a ticket or were in a crash in the last five years, according to the survey.Utah launched its effort this spring with That seat belt looks good on you, which is still the message that received the most positive feedback. The state only displays the safety messages on Mondays, but it also shows the year-to-date count of road deaths every Friday.Gleason said Utah got the idea, along with some of the messages, from other states. Massachusetts, for example, got a lot of attention last year for a campaign that played off of the regional dialect, with signs such as "Changing lanes? Use yah blinkah" and "Make yah ma proud, wear yah seatbelt."Iowa began posting safety witticisms nearly two years ago. Its taken inspiration from pop culture (May the 4th be with you. Text I will not on Star Wars Day) and used humor (Get your head out of your apps) to get its points across. One of the most popular messages, though, succeeded on its content and clever formatting (Pass on left; drive on right, with the message divided accordingly).What we found is that the more popular ones are the ones where were pushing the envelope a little bit and not sounding like a government agency, said Andrea Henry, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Transportation.Iowa, like Utah, focuses most of its messages on five driver behaviors: distracted driving, sober driving, drowsy driving, seat belt use and speeding. But the agency will also address seasonal topics, such as work zone safety and awareness of pedestrians and cyclists.Iowa road deaths in the last two years, while the Transportation Department has displayed the signs, are lower than in prior years. At this point it's impossible to say how much of a role the messages played in that decline, but Iowa recorded 365 road deaths in 2012, compared with 317 in 2013 and 321 in 2014.Our more attainable goal is to get recognition in people noticing the boards, talking about the boards, Henry said. The agency hopes the messages will enter [drivers' consciousness as theyre getting behind the wheel.The Illinois Tollway, which operates a number of highways primarily in the Chicago region, asked residents this spring to propose safety messages and then, using an online vote, to choose which ones would end up on electronic message boards. More than 22,000 people participated in the contest.The new safety messages have only been displayed along our roadways for about two and a half months, so its too soon to have any measurable results, said spokesman Dan Rozek. But the contest in and of itself was successful in focusing media and public attention on the public safety challenges. After the 1980 census, when California Democrats needed to redraw their state legislative districts, they turned to their map-making guru, Congressman Phillip Burton, one of the shrewdest political minds of his generation. Burton gave them a map so blatantly partisan that it sank the state's Republicans into a minority status from which they haven't recovered.Needless to say, Republican legislators were livid. "What's the matter?" Burton said. "Can't they take a joke?"Gerrymanders are no joke, as the congressman well knew. But they always look a lot more amusing to the party that draws them than to the party that finds itself frozen out. Shortly after Burton's death in 1983, Democrats in the Legislature drew a congressional district for his widow, Sala, that all but precluded a serious GOP challenge. Democrats gleefully called it a Salamander. Republicans didn't think that was so funny either.We all know that gerrymanders are nothing to laugh about, but we haven't paid enough attention to the enormous political consequences that can follow. Some of them are so grossly unfair, however, that it's impossible to sweep them under the rug.Wisconsin is a good example. It has been living for nearly a decade now with a set of Republican legislative districts so skewed that they have tainted the state's entire political system. In 2019, Republicans won 46 percent of the state House and Senate vote and came away with 63 percent of the seats. That year the state elected a Democratic governor, Tony Evers, and the GOP began using its spurious legislative majorities to thwart him at every turn curtailing his administrative powers, rejecting his cabinet appointees and fighting his efforts to establish strict controls on social activity to slow the spread of the coronavirus. There was very little that Evers, elected fair and square by the state's voters, could do about this.Even political leaders who foster gerrymanders frequently go on to experience a kind of remorse. Martin O'Malley, who as governor of Maryland was the key figure behind that state's egregious Democratic gerrymander in 2011, has become a born-again reformer. John Kasich, the Republican governor of Ohio who signed that state's partisan gerrymander the same year, went on to admit that "partisan gerrymanders are unconstitutional, are harming our republican government and readily can be identified and addressed by courts."that gerrymanders are a bad thing, even the politicians who dirty their hands with them. The question is whether there's anything meaningful we can do to get rid of them.It's easy to argue that the answer is no. The U.S. Supreme Court, after decades of hinting that it might rule against partisan gerrymanders someday if it got the right case, ruled the opposite way in 2019. The justices signaled that they are willing to throw out gerrymanders if they are racially biased or involve population disparities, but not if their sole purpose is political mischief.If the curse of gerrymandering is to end, or even come under some form of reasonable regulation, it will have to happen at the state level. Is it happening? Well, it's very hard to say. Voting in two states this week delivered a decidedly mixed result.Virginia voters cast a clear majority of their ballots on Tuesday in favor of keeping a 2019 reform that takes state legislators out of the direct mapmaking process and gives it to a bipartisan commission, with eight members picked by legislators and eight chosen by a panel of retired judges. The Legislature can't amend the commission's product, although it can reject it. But if a map is rejected twice, it goes to the state Supreme Court for final resolution.Much of the state's Democratic establishment opposed this reform, and for understandable reasons: For the past decade, Democrats have been living with a gerrymander engineered by Republicans when they were in control in 2011. Despite that gerrymander, Democrats managed to take the Legislature back in 2019, and after the new census they would have a chance to get even using the old system. I understand why they feel that way. But the reform is the right thing to do, and the voters thought so decisively.On Tuesday, however, voters in Missouri narrowly threw out the Clean Missouri plan , passed in 2018, that would have turned redistricting over to a nonpartisan demographer. Republicans, who hold a majority in both the state House and Senate, challenged that reform with Amendment 3 , a plan to substitute a commission whose members they and the governor would choose. In 2018, using a politically driven plan from the previous census, the GOP had taken more than 70 percent of the legislative seats with 57 percent of the statewide vote.that turning the redistricting process over to a bipartisan commission is the simplest answer to the problem. It's an answer, but not always a simple one. At the moment, some 21 states use a commission system of one sort or another. But there are commissions, and then there are commissions.Placing the process in the hands of a truly nonpartisan panel or neutral expert, with no incentive or weakness for favoring one party or the other, is about the best you can hope for. But it's not always easy to implement.Simply making the job bipartisan, with each side getting a presumably equal shot at the result it wants, isn't a guarantee of anything. Currently, eight states use a commission system that operates on what's described as a bipartisan basis. In virtually all these states, and in some of the nominally nonpartisan ones as well, it's still the politicians who hold the important cards. Arkansas uses a three-member commission whose members are the governor, the attorney general and the secretary of state. That's not exactly blind justice. In Pennsylvania, two legislative leaders from each party pick a commission member, and then try to agree on a fifth one. If they fail to agree, the tie-breaking member is chosen by the state Supreme Court, which in recent years has been about as apolitical as Tammany Hall in 1920.Still, even the most flawed redistricting commission probably does reduce the prospects of a truly awful one-party gerrymander at least a little. But it is highly vulnerable to another defect: It does not prevent the legislators who select the commission members from conniving to create a system that protects incumbents of both parties by giving them safe districts and making it very difficult for genuine competition to break through. That what Missouri's Amendment 3 may well end up doing. A map drawn up that way may be highly satisfactory to both political parties. That doesn't make it fair.that we have a problem of noncompetitive districts as well as a problem of partisan malfeasance. There's some dispute over just why we have it. Gerrymandering is obviously a culprit, but so too, it would appear, is clustering. That is, Americans more than in past generations live in communities and neighborhoods filled with people who think the way they do. This means many fewer 50-50 two-party constituencies and more 70-30 Democratic or Republican ones. It means more districts in which the general election is a foregone conclusion and the primary, which determines the ultimate result, skews toward the ideological extremes of each party.This phenomenon was documented by the journalist Bill Bishop in his 2008 book,, and by all indications, it has deepened in the years since. The best example may be Pennsylvania, studied recently by the Stanford political scientist Jonathan Rodden. Rodden's research found that between 2012 and 2018, Democrats won 15 of 18 statewide elections in Pennsylvania, but never came close to a majority in the Legislature. This he attributes not so much to gerrymandering as to the fact that Democratic voters are more than ever clustered in the state's cities, where they give their candidates huge majorities that the candidates don't need. Republicans, scattered more evenly in suburban and exurban constituencies, win most of the seats by smaller but still decisive margins. "The Democrats' long-term problem," Rodden wrote in a book published last year, "is with seats, not votes."There's a technical solution to this problem, based on the concept of "efficiency gaps." Under the ultimate logic of this idea, a state electoral system where one party consistently wins 60 percent of the vote but ends up with 40 percent of the legislative seats is unfair by definition, whether the cause is gerrymandering, clustering or anything else.It's an argument that can be made effectively, but so far it has failed to win meaningful judicial endorsement. A federal district court in Wisconsin accepted it in the Gill v. Whitford case in 2016, but in 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court refused to consider it. And if the court had entertained it, myriad questions would have surfaced over how the rebalancing was to be done, who was authorized to do it, and what it would take for a set of electoral districts to be deemed politically fair. The whole process remains, as Justice Felix Frankfurter lamented in 1963, "a political thicket."The bottom line is that tainted districting is a many-headed monster that cannot be slain by any single reform, or package of reforms. It has to be confronted one small step at a time, in a variety of places and situations. That is what we may be starting to do. By Park Jae-hyuk The prospect of a diplomatic feud between Korea and Japan is looming large as Tokyo began trying to exclude Naver from its joint management with SoftBank of Line mobile messenger app, according to industry and government officials, Sunday. Japans Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication said in a press release on March 5 that it asked LY Corp., the messenger apps Tokyo-headquartered operator, to reconsider its financial reliance on Naver. This came after a massive leakage of Line users personal information last November via Navers cloud server in Korea. Following the Japanese governments non-binding administrative guidance, SoftBank reportedly started talks with Naver to acquire part of the Korean IT firms 50 percent stake in A Holdings, their joint venture which owns a 64.5 percent stake in LY Corp. In 2019, Naver and SoftBank announced their joint management of Line and Yahoo! Japan, each of which had been under respective control of the Korean IT firm and the Japanese IT company. Because SoftBanks proposed acquisition may lead Naver to lose its control over Line, Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the ruling People Power Party denounced Japans guidance as an unreasonable and excessive measure. He raised concerns about a diplomatic feud between Korea and Japan, which have improved their ties under the Yoon Suk Yeol and Fumio Kishida administrations. Unless Japan intends to exclude the Korean firm from managing the messenger app used by over 96 million Japanese a month, under the pretext of cybersecurity, it should retract the unfair measure immediately, the lawmaker wrote on social media, Thursday. He urged both countries to communicate through various channels, so that this issue will not develop into a diplomatic feud. Koreas foreign and ICT ministries vowed to talk with Naver regarding this matter. A foreign ministry official told reporters that the Korean government has maintained a firm stance that there should be no discriminative measures against a Korean company. Lawmaker-elect Cho Kuk, head of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, criticized the Yoon administration on Saturday for staying quiet about Japans apparent attempt to strip Naver of its control of Line. Kim Jun-hyeong and Lee Hai-min, lawmakers-elect of the party, also said in a press conference on Friday that the Korean government should take stern measures to prevent the Japanese government from mistreating a Korean company. Naver declined to comment on this issue, as nothing has been decided regarding the sale of its stake in LY Corp. However, LY Corp. said in a statement that it asked Naver to review their relationship. Korea Investment & Securities analyst Jung Ho-yoon said in a report that Naver has remained reluctant to sell its stake, so it will take a significant amount of time to reach a conclusion regarding this matter. If Naver lowers its stake in LY Corp., it will miss benefits from the growth of Japans internet market, the analyst said. Sen. Chris Barnett proposes a $10,000 bonus for police officers every three years to help the Guam Police Department hire and retain its officers. The chairman of the legislative committee with oversight of law enforcement agencies said GPD faces the most significant retention problem mainly because federal agencies both on Guam and the states offer high-paying jobs, and have heavier workloads and more responsibilities. While theres no single best practice for police officer retention policies, Barnett said many retention programs often include bonuses at three-year intervals and bonuses that range between 10% and 15% of base pay, among other things. Barnett therefore introduced Bill 281-37, seeking to authorize GPD to offer triennial retention bonuses to its uniformed police who meet certain requirements. The bonus applies only to uniformed GPD police officers whose job performance is satisfactory and if theyre not involved in police misconduct or not involved in drug or alcohol abuse. The eligible police officers also must have successfully completed the equivalent of not less than three continuing education units of post-secondary or professional education in law enforcement, criminal justice or behavioral science, under Barnetts bill. Under the bill, the start date for accruing service time towards the three-year bonus is effective on the date of enactment of the bill and does not apply retroactively. Oversight hearing on GPD Meanwhile, Barnetts committee on public safety has called for an oversight hearing on GPD, starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30. The oversight hearing will tackle unsolved homicides, and death and suicide investigation protocols. It will also seek an update on the status of body cam procurement and police vehicle fleet. Police retention and recruitment, and deaf and hard-of-hearing engagement protocols will also be covered at the hearing. Anyone interested in providing testimony is asked to contact Barnetts office via email at malafunkshun@guamlegislature.org or by calling (671) 969-3586. Korea's top carmaker Hyundai Motor and its smaller affiliate Kia said Sunday they have inked an agreement with China's tech giant Baidu to develop technologies for connected cars. Under the memorandum of understanding signed in Beijing last week, the two Korean carmakers and Baidu will join hands in a wide array of areas, including connectivity and self-driving technologies. Hyundai and Kia will also utilize Baidu's smart cloud computing technology to address Beijing's enhancing data regulations. The Korean companies will seek to find new business models harnessing artificial intelligence technologies with the Chinese counterpart as well, they added. "Through the strategical collaboration with Baidu, we will make efforts to establish the ecosystem for connected cars in the Chinese market," Hyundai and Kia said in a press release. The agreement came amid the growing market for connected cars in China. The annual sales of connected cars in China are anticipated to reach 17 million units this year, marking a sharp rise from 7.2 million units tallied in 2019, Hyundai said, citing Chinese data. Hyundai and Kia have been working closely with Baidu since 2014, including the development of voice recognition technology. (Yonhap) Nicole Guerrero is a Political Science major in her junior year at the University of Guam, and a teaching assistant for Introduction to Political Science. Haiti - Security : The CARICOM military contingent ready to intervene in Haiti Friday April 26, 2024, approximately 70 members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), mainly belonging to the 1st Battalion of the Royal 22e Regiment in Valcartier (Quebec), completed Operation "Helios" in Jamaica which began on March 29, 2024 https:// https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42019-haiti-mmss-the-canadian-army-will-train-nearly-330-men-of-the-caribbean-joint-task-force.html . This operation consisted of completing the training of 330 military personnel from the Bahamas, Belize and Jamaica, members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in anticipation of their next deployment to Haiti as part of the Mutinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42149-haiti-canada-training-of-the-multinational-force-in-haiti-continues-in-jamaica.html led by Kenya . The FAC Commander for Operation Helios, Colonel Tarik Messousa declared "it is impressive to see what Canada can deliver in terms of expertise and training [...] I can say, on behalf of the forces that have took part in the operation and the Kenyan forces, that we achieved our goal." The Chancellor of Jamaica, Kamina Johnson, also said she was satisfied with the Canadian mission : "We have completed training on operations and special forces, on infrastructure, hostage recovery, etc... This is the work that needs to be done here to ensure that we are ready to provide support whenever we are asked." Jamaican Commander Kevron Henry said he was confident about the level of effectiveness of his troops, which he considered ready to intervene in Haiti "They are, I believe, capable of intervening and carrying out high-intensity operations" to restore order in places like Haiti or elsewhere in the world. According to our assessment, we are capable of confronting the challenges that may arise in any environment, including Port-au-Prince." See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42149-haiti-canada-training-of-the-multinational-force-in-haiti-continues-in-jamaica.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42019-haiti-mmss-the-canadian-army-will-train-nearly-330-men-of-the-caribbean-joint-task-force.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Humanitarian : The US Air Force delivers 10 tons of medicine and medical supplies to Port-au-Prince Saturday April 27, 2024 in the morning, a US Air Force C-130 flight landed at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, with the delivery of humanitarian aid from the Denton program. This is the fourth flight this week. The cargo contained nearly 10 tons (9.979 kg) of vital medicines for the Haitian people which were donated by the non-governmental organizations "MAP International" and "Lift Logistics" and "Hope for Haiti". These medications and medical supplies will be distributed to 14 partners who treat more than 205,000 patients each year. These NGOs work closely with the Ministry of Public Health (MSPP) and organize mobile clinics under their direction and administer vaccines to children. This mission was made possible thanks to the efforts of the Haitian National Police (PNH), the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd'H) and the administrators and stakeholders of the international airport who strive to maintain the airport open and operations continuing. Should be noted that this type of mission is made possible thanks to the Denton Amendment, a program of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development which authorizes the free delivery of humanitarian aid from the private sector using resources of the Air Forces according to the space available. Let's remember that Haiti has already benefited from the Denton program in 2018 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23648-haiti-humanitarian-the-us-air-force-helps-haiti.html and 2011 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3303-haiti-humanitarian-the-315th-airlift-wing-has-delivered-40-tons-of-humanitarian-aid.html HL/ S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : 7 countries from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean will support the PNH Friday April 26, 2024, 7 countries from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean (so far), confirmed to the UN Secretary General their willingness to provide men for the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), which will be deployed to Haiti to help the Haitian police in their fight against armed gangs. These countries are Kenya - which offered to lead the mission months ago - Benin and Chad among the Africans; The Bahamas, Jamaica and Barbados among the Caribbean, as well as Bangladesh, and they informed the Secretary-General. Among the countries mentioned, some such as Chad and Bangladesh have experience of international deployments as peacekeepers in peace missions, although the UN has always made it clear that the mission in the case of Haiti will not be a Peace Mission but a Mission to support the Haitian National Police in the fight against armed gangs. On the 300 million dollars promised by the United States for the Mission https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41867-haiti-politic-antony-blinken-announces-an-additional-$100m-for-the-pnh-support-mission.html , Biden recently released 60 million https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42106-haiti-flash-biden-releases-60-million-usd-for-the-mission-led-by-kenya.html while the promises of international financial contributions are awaited... only a little less than 20 million have already been collected out of 120 million promised https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41729-haiti-security-at-least-$320m-already-promised-by-the-international-for-the-intervention-mission-in-haiti.html this is why the office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, once again urged Member States to be more generous and fill the gap to cover all needs. Let's recall that according to a senior Biden administration official, the latest estimate from the Office of Management and Budget puts the cost of the intervention mission in Haiti between $515 and $600 million over two years https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41724-haiti-flash-high-level-meeting-on-the-crisis-in-haiti-on-the-sidelines-of-the-g-20.html emphasizing that the precise cost will depend on operational plans final results and needs on the ground. SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Humanitarian : Situation report in Port-au-Prince This report is produced by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Haiti in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the humanitarian situation in Port-au-Prince following the violence that broke out on 29 February. The report covers the period from 20 to 24 April 2024. Summary : Acts of armed violence are repeated across the country, particularly in the West department where the capital Port-au-Prince is located. The commune of Arcahaie was notably attacked by armed men on April 23 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42205-haiti-news-zapping.html , the press reported. In the capital, the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy was the subject of looting and vandalism https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42178-haiti-flash-the-faculty-of-medicine-and-pharmacy-vandalized-and-looted.html , an act which was strongly condemned by civil society and the humanitarian community. Not only must health spaces be respected and protected, but these attacks harm key sectors already seriously affected by the crisis. In this context, the number of displaced people in the Metropolitan Zone of Port-au-Prince (ZMPAP) has seen a slight increase (+1.4% since April 4), with 90,254 displaced in 85 active sites recorded as of April 20 by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). New displacements in the capital, but also to the provinces, creates other needs, particularly in terms of health. As of April 11, and since the resurgence of cholera in October 2022, 82,875 suspected cases of cholera have been reported, reports the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). A total of 80,436 people were hospitalized over this period, with 4,836 confirmed cases and 1,270 deaths. Suspected cases of cholera in the departments of Artibonite, Centre, North and West represent more than half of the total cases in the country. Over the past three weeks, more than 100 humanitarian containers have been collected from the Caribbean Port Services (CPS) port, the logistics industry said. The main Varreux terminal, where fuel reserves are stored, has been closed since April 22 due to repeated attacks by armed gangs. This situation could lead to even more severe restrictions in the supply of gasoline. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Digicel : international optical fiber cut "Digicel is currently experiencing an international fiber cut. Technicians are deployed to identify the location where to begin repairs," said Maarten Boute, Director of Operations of the Digicel Group, on Saturday afternoon. "This damage concerns internet services, international calls, Moncash and SMS. Our technicians are deployed to locate the location to try to resolve it as quickly as possible. We will keep ourselves informed," specifies Jean Philippe Brun, General Manager of Digicel. WHO deeply concerned "The World Health Organization (WHO) is deeply concerned about the impact of violence on hospitals and health centers in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, where less than 50% of establishments are operating at capacity normal. And those that remain functional lack supplies. This means people are deprived of access to basic healthcare. There is an urgent need for the international community to increase its support and funding so that vital services can be provided and essential supplies delivered," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. The Police Union relies on the CPT In a statement on its X account, the National Union of Haitian Police Officers (SYNAPOHA) said it hopes that the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) will give priority to security issues. It also calls for providing the Haitian National Police (PNH) with adequate means to combat armed gangs in the country. Taxes : Payment due date postponement The Directorate General of Taxes (DGI), in order to take into account the challenges faced by taxpayers, has decided to extend the tax payment deadline for the 2023-2024 financial year. The new due date for the Land Contribution on Built Properties (CFPB), the rental right and the business license is set for June 30, 2024. Taxpayers are encouraged to settle their tax obligations before the set deadline. Demolition : 66% of owners already received compensation 119 out of more than 180 owners of demolished houses near Toussaint Louverture international airport in Tabarre have already been compensated. Unsanitary conditions in displaced persons camps The "Defenseurs Plus Collective" expresses its deep dismay at the unsanitary conditions prevailing in the displaced persons camps, in particular the one located on the site of the "Ecole Nationale Colbert Lochard". The state of the premises is alarming, with living conditions marked by promiscuity and obvious unsanitary conditions. Basic sanitation facilities are sorely lacking, the absence of adequate toilets and the use of spaces adjacent to sewage channels as kitchens by some occupants, predisposes to the emergence of diseases and favors the spread of epidemics such as cholera and tuberculosis. HL/ HaitiLibre By Lee Min-hyung Renault Korea is moving to reshape its brand identity targeting the younger generation here by launching its long-awaited new hybrid SUV and deepening communication, particularly with those in their 20s and 30s, the automaker said Sunday. Under its group-wide motto of Nouvelle Vague, which is French for "new wave," the company is rebuilding its corporate vision. Firstly, the company decided to apply its symbolic losange emblem for its flagship models such as QM6 as part of its efforts to offer fresh and sophisticated mobility experiences to customers, the company said. The company also introduced its Electro Pop strategy here whose three key themes include its E-Tech electrification technology, cutting-edge connectivity and human-first safety. The company aims to offer a blend of European style and cutting-edge technology tailored to a younger clientele. The local subsidiary of the French automaker is placing its strategic focus on this demographic, as their purchasing power is on the gradual rise here. Targeting them, the automaker also opened its Renault Seongsu flagship store in eastern Seoul, enabling them to test-drive its vehicles and get a better grasp of the brand. Renaults brand is starting anew in Korea, an official from Renault Korea said. We will strengthen details in every corner of our businesses including products and services so we can deliver our brand-new values to customers. Renault Korea will unveil the much-anticipated mid-sized hybrid SUV for the first time in June during the upcoming 2024 Busan International Mobility Show. The vehicle is better known by its project name, the Aurora 1. The automaker also plans to release the Aurora 2, a mid-sized hybrid car sometime next year. The pinnacle of its Electro Pop vision is the Aurora 3 the automakers new electric vehicle (EV) whose launch is scheduled for 2026. Earlier, the company shared its mega investment plan worth 1.5 trillion won ($1.08 billion) by 2027 here to complete the vision for future mobility. Renault Korea is also moving to reshape its brand identity for existing models. The formerly XM3 compact SUV will be sold under the new name of Renault ARKANA, and will be equipped with its new emblem. The firms best-selling QM6 SUV will also be equipped with the company's new emblem. Some smart TVs, set-top boxes and streaming sticks with the Android TV operating system can reveal the content of email inboxes and other services linked to a Google account, such as cloud storage. An attacker needs physical access to the device to do this. Nevertheless, a recent case shows how careless handling of Google accounts can lead to unwanted data leaks, even for products beyond PCs or smartphones that are not primarily designed to process personal information. The security gap could be particularly problematic for Android TVs in companies that are resold, given away or disposed of improperly. Another scenario is devices that are more or less publicly accessible, for example in waiting areas such as a doctor's surgery. Anzeige YouTuber Cameron Gray noticed the possibility of an attack a few months ago when configuring an Android TV. However, Google has only now acknowledged the problem after politicians and the media became involved. Gray warns in the video that "you should never log in with a Google account to an Android TV device that contains sensitive data". Far beyond using typical and desired TV functions such as YouTube, cybercriminals could "essentially access anything through your Google account, and that includes emails through Gmail, files through Google Drive, or even services where you've signed in to an external service through Google". Chrome gets onto Android TV via a detour The exploit relies on the Google account login of Android. In principle, this allows users to automatically log in to their apps without having to enter login data each time. With Android TV, Google has deliberately left out the Chrome browser in order to limit the account functions to streaming and social media activities as far as possible. However, there are workarounds. Gray first installed the "TV Bro" browser on his set-top box with Android TV and then used it to download Chrome from APKPure, a download archive specializing in Android software. When he started Chrome, he noticed that he was not prompted to enter the password for his Google account. Instead, the browser used the existing login of the Android operating system itself, which Gray had initially entered when setting up the device. This opened up all applications linked to Chrome. The demonstration drew the attention of US Senator Ron Wyden of the Democratic Party, among others. "My office is in the midst of a review of the privacy practices of streaming TV technology providers," the politician told the online magazine 404 Media. The team had also become aware of the "alarming video" of unsupervised access to an Android TV device. Google initially told Wyden's employees that the matter was expected behavior. It was only when reporters from 404 Media contacted the company that it became more specific. The company stated that "most Google TV devices running the latest software versions no longer allow this behavior". It is also in the process of "providing a solution for the remaining devices". It is not clear from the report which versions of Android TV are involved and which may no longer be patched. (nie) By Park Jae-hyuk HD Hyundai Vice Chairman and CEO Chung Ki-sun was appointed as one of the 16 co-chairs at a World Economic Forum (WEF) special meeting, held between Sunday and Monday in Saudi Arabias capital of Riyadh, the company said Sunday. He is the only Korean among the global leaders co-chairing the event to discuss global collaboration for sustainable growth. Other co-chairs include International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, ExxonMobil Chairman Darren Woods, SEB Chairman Marcus Wallenberg, Deloitte Global Chair Anna Marks, A.P. Moller-Maersk Chair Robert Maersk Uggla and Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser. In January, Chung attended the annual WEF meeting in Davos, Switzerland, following his previous participation a year earlier, to discuss solutions to global problems with the worlds most renowned entrepreneurs, economists, politicians and journalists. Except for regular events held in Switzerland in winter and in China in summer, the recent special meeting is the largest event hosted by the WEFs organizer. Around 900 participants, including key stakeholders from governments and international organizations, and business leaders from the WEFs partner companies, will discuss ways to boost global cooperation, inclusive growth and equality in the use of energy. The latest meeting is intended to pursue inclusive growth and solve disparity in energy access, Chung said. Since HD Hyundai also aims for a sustainable growth of humanity, we will make efforts to create a better future by strengthening global collaboration. HD Hyundai said that Chung will seek cooperation with global leaders during the event and discover strategies for sustainable growth amid the rapid energy transition. He plans to talk with the A.P. Moller-Maersk chair and the Saudi Aramco CEO about ways to strengthen cooperation in the construction of eco-friendly ships, as well as hydrogen-related businesses. The Korean firm has also maintained close relations with the special meetings host country, Saudi Arabia, through joint shipyard construction, the creation of a hydrogen ecosystem and the supply of electric power devices and construction equipment for NEOM. Indore, The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court is expected to hear on Monday the plea of Archaeological Survey of India seeking 8 more weeks to complete the scientific survey of Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex in the state's Dhar district. Hindus consider Bhojshala, an ASI -protected 11th century monument, to be a temple dedicated to Vagdevi , while the Muslim community calls it Kamal Maula mosque. Under an arrangement made by ASI on April 7, 2003, Hindus perform puja on the premises on Tuesdays and Muslims offer namaz on Fridays. An organization named 'Hindu Front for Justice' challenged this arrangement in the Indore bench of MP HC, which, on March 11 this year, directed the ASI to carry out a "scientific survey" of the disputed complex within six weeks. The Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society had challenged this March 11 order. The scientific survey began on March 22. Meanwhile, a representative of the Muslim side claimed digging was carried out in the complex and asserted that guidelines of the Supreme Court should be adhered to during the scientific study. It should be ensured that the original structure of this monument is not affected or changed, he said. On April 1, the Supreme Court had said "no physical excavation should be taken which will change the character of the premises in question," while refusing to stay the "scientific survey" of Bhojshala. On the other hand, a representative of the Hindu side in the case backed the ASI plea for more time by claiming the veracity of the disputed monument will be established and "incriminating evidence" may come to light. Gopal Sharma, a leader of the Hindu side in the Bhojshala case, told PTI, "During the last six weeks, the foundation has been built for the ASI survey in the Bhojshala complex. If ASI gets additional time for survey, the use of Ground Penetrating Radar and other advanced equipment can throw up important evidence." Sharma is the secretary of Dhar-based 'Shri Maharaja Bhoj Seva Sansthan Samiti' and is among the respondents of the PIL filed by 'Hindu Front for Justice' in HC in the Bhojshala case. Within a radius of 200 metres of Bhojshala, some broken statues and other remains are still visible, which tell the story of the "attack" on this complex in the past, Sharma asserted. Meanwhile, Dhar City Qazi Waqar Sadiq said, "The Supreme Court has already given directions that physical excavation which would change the basic character of the Bhojshala complex should not be done in the ASI survey." "But, recently we saw two to three feet pits dug on the floor located in the southern part of the complex. The ASI should survey this complex with complete impartiality and ensure guidelines of the Supreme Court are followed," Sadiq emphasised. Bhojshala dispute: ASI's plea in MP HC for more time for survey; Muslim side alleges digging The Lok Sabha election's votes will be counted, and the results will be declared on June 4. Lok Sabha election 2024 Highlights: The political parties have intensified their poll campaigns for the remaining constituencies, for the second phase of India's general elections culminated on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to make a whirlwind tour of Karnataka on April 28 and 29, where he will address public meetings in five districts and canvas for the BJP....Read More He reached Belagavi on April 28 morning and addressed a public meeting. He would then fly to Sirsi to attend a public meeting. The PM's next destination would be Davangere, where he is expected to take part in an election rally at 2 pm. Later, Modi would address a public meeting in Ballari at 4 pm. On April 29, the Prime Minister would travel to Bagalkote to attend a public meeting at 11 am. On Saturday, PM Modi called on the people of Goa to defeat what he said were anti-India forces, that the Congress was seeking to strengthen and bring back his government for a third term in a row. On the other hand, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said that while the top leadership of the ruling BJP may deny it now, but they would alter the Constitution if they returned to power, while addressing a poll-bound rally in Gujarat. The second phase of voting for 88 parliamentary constituencies spread over 13 states and Union Territories (UTs) recorded a voter turnout of around 63.50% said the Election Commission of India (ECI). The first phase of polling took place on April 19 in 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories. All eyes are on two major political alliances namely, the INDIA bloc and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA- the major competitors in the Lok Sabha Election 2024. While the INDIA bloc comprises of political parties like the Congress, the AAP, the TMC etc. NDA has the BJP, the PMK, the JDU etc. as its member parties. NDA is eyeing its third consecutive term this general election, with echoes of abki baar 400 paar, while the opposition INDIA bloc is taking an economical approach to their campaign, promising MSP for farmers and cash handouts to women in their manifesto. Here's the phase-wise schedule for the Lok Sabha Election 2024: Phase 1- April 19 (polling completed) Phase 2- April 26 (polling completed) Phase 3- May 7 Phase 4 - May 13 Phase 5 - May 20 Phase 6 - May 25 Phase 7 - June 1 The Lok Sabha election's votes will be counted, and the results will be declared on June 4. The Muslim vote in Kerala will determine whether the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) or the Communist Party-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) bags a majority of the states 20 parliamentary seats where there is a direct contest between the two old-time foes. With the Bharatiya Janata Party focusing mostly on capturing the attention of Hindus in Kerala, the Muslim voter has been whipsawed between the LDF and the UDF, political analysts watching the elections closely say. The communitys vote is crucial because it is known to selectively favour either front, dictating how well a candidate trounces the opponent. The election is to Parliament and I can say that the average Muslim, whether she votes for UDF or LDF has stepped out to vote against the BJP and its divisive politics, said ET Mohammed Basheer, the national organising secretary of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and sitting Member of Parliament (MP) from Ponnani. The Muslim vote is the prize catch in the state because, at 27% of the population, Muslims in Kerala dominate not just what happens in the Malabar region, but in other southern seats such as Thiruvananthapuram where the margin of votes is key to victory. Unlike other states in the country, the communitys allegiance to either bloc is not dependent on the religious identity of the candidate. Voting, instead, is a more emotional decision. It is governed by the perception of sincerity demonstrated by the UDF and LDF during the campaign, an analysis of previous election results reflects. The fawning fronts In the run-up to this years campaign, both blocs have actively positioned themselves as guardians of the minorities, particularly the Muslims, by avowing their allegiance to protecting their rights better than the other. New slogans, monickers, and guarantees in their manifesto reveal the fervent appeal made to the community that is usually known to vote as guided by religious leaders. While the LDF wrestled with the central government (and the Election Commission) opposing the decision to conduct polls on a Friday, a day of prayer for the Muslims, the Congress oiled its way into the communitys good books by promising to address the issue of income inequality in its manifesto. Speaking at a rally in Malappuram exactly a month before the election on March 26, Kerala chief minister (CM) and CPI(M) politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan appealed to voters for support in the district where Muslims and Christians account for 72% of the electorate. According to the 2011 census, Muslims account for 70.24% of the district's population, according to the 2011 Census. He created a stir at the same rally when he attributed the coinage of the popular slogan Bharat Mata ki Jai to Azimullah Khan, supposedly a prime minister under the Maratha ruler Nana Saheb II, and Jai Hind to former Indian diplomat Abid Hasan. To match the star power of the CM, Hibi Eden, the sitting MP of Ernakulam sought the support of Malayalam movie star Mammootty to appeal to the Muslims in the constituency where KJ Shine is contesting on a CPI (M) ticket. Both fronts, however, speak in one voice concerning the Citizen (Amendment) Act, the National Registry of Citizens, and the Uniform Civil Code. None of these shall be implemented, the UDF and LDF have said at multiple public rallies, often assuaging the Muslims who fear unfair treatment if these laws were to be promulgated. It is an even contest in most of the 20 constituencies and this years contest was not a friendly match. The star campaigners from both sides have been acerbic since it is an existential fight for both the UDF and the LDF. If Congress is fighting for a chance to be in power at the centre, the LDFs fight is also existential. By faring poorly in the Lok Sabha election in Kerala, the CPI(M) runs the risk of losing its status as a national party," said NP Chekutty, author and political analyst. The 2019 Lok Sabha elections, on the contrary, were a consolidation of Muslim and Christian votes where both communities voted in favour of the Congress-led front. The UDF won 19 of 20 seats with an absolute banger of performance, with Rahul Gandhi leading the pack with a landslide victory, polling over four lakh votes in Wayanad. The election was an emotional issue for the Hindus who were upset about the LDFs stance on the Sabarimala temple and its shoddy handling of a delicate issue. And so, the LDF clocked about 36%, losing out by 4% from its 2014 share. The CPI (M) and CPI put together secured a 31% vote share. Also read: Lok Sabha election 2024: 88 seats, Kerala highest. 5 facts about phase 2 polling Kerala Muslims: Voting pattern and bargaining power The larger Malabar region houses eight seats, from Kasargod in the north to Palakkad in the centre, and each constituency has a minimum of 30% Muslims giving them a veto over voters from other faiths. They form the key vote bank in 14 districts and can influence the margin of victory significantly. The two main religious influencers are the Samastha Kerala and the Kanthapuram Moulavi. Kanthapuram in Calicut district is where the general secretary of the All India Sunni Jamiyyathil Ulama, or the India Muslim Scholars Association sits. The current general secretary AP Aboobacker Musliyar is known to wield much power over the Sunni sect and influence their voting preferences. Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, on the other hand, is the main Sunni-Shafi'i Muslim scholarly body in Kerala and administers mosques and madrasas. The Left and Congress have, over the years, tried their best to have both groups support them. However, this time around, while the Kanthapuram Maulavi is with the Left, Samastha has pledged support to the IUML and the UDF by extension. Results of the CSDS-Lokniti post-poll survey in 2019 revealed that 65 percent of Muslim votes and 70 percent of Christian votes went to the UDF, while the LDF managed 28 percent of Muslim votes and 24 percent of Christian votes. However, in the 2021 assembly elections, Muslims and Christians threw their weight behind Pinrayi Vijayan and helped him to the CMs chair for the second time. The Muslims, as a community through the Indian Union Muslim League, one of Indias oldest political parties, began gaining favour in the 1950s and 60s. In 1964, after the CPI split and became two units, the ensuing election in 1965 proved how critical support from the Muslims and IUML was, said NP Chekutty. The CPI distanced itself from the CPI(M) for the latter having aligned with a religious party and paid a heavy cost. The CPI(M) was the largest party and had the Leagues support, with the CPI winning just three of the total 133 seats at that time in the Kerala state assembly. The Muslims' ability to be in a commanding position despite being an electoral minority comes from three factors: The demography, their ability to vote as a homogeneous group, and their spreading influence into central and southern Kerala, said Chekutty. Kottyam and Kochi in central Kerala were dominated by the Christians and institutions supported by the Church. However, in the last two decades, with a greater number of Christian youth emigrating to Europe and the US, Muslims flocked back to India from the Middle East. Success through opportunities in the Gulf has led many Muslims to come back to Kerala and establish businesses here. That and distributed power among the Christians and their inability to be influenced by the Church are also factors that allow the other side to consolidate political and economic interests, Sreejith Panicker, a political commentator based in Trivandrum said. Kerala is home to nearly sixteen sects of Christianity with Sunnis and Bohras dominating religious and business interests respectively in the state. With neither the Left nor Congress wanting to antagonise the Muslims and the League, the results would indicate which bloc used the communitys allegiance to their advantage. The minority decides who is going to win the majority. The League and the Muslims have never been in a stronger position, said Panicker. Deepika Amirapu is a freelance journalist based in Hyderabad. Each week, Southern Lights examines the big story from one of the five states of South India. Kannur/Palakkad/Thiruvananthapuram, Two persons a man in his 50s and an elderly woman have succumbed to sunstroke in Kerala as the southern state grapples with severe heat conditions, disrupting daily life, officials said on Sunday. Heat-related fatalities were reported in the north Kerala districts of Kannur and Palakkad. As Kerala battles severe heat, the meteorological department has issued a maximum temperature warning for 12 districts for the upcoming five days. In response to the escalating temperatures affecting everyday life, the Women and Child Development Department has opted to suspend preschool activities in anganwadis in the state for a week. A Palakkad district health official stated that the 90-year-old woman was found dead in a canal in Elappully village on Sunday. The woman, a dementia patient, had suffered a sunstroke after venturing out of her home. Her post-mortem revealed burn injuries on her body which confirmed the sunstroke, the health official said. Last week, a man was found dead with burn injuries in the district, the official added, advising people not to step out of their homes between 11 am and 3 pm. A health official in Kannur district said a 53-year-old man who was being treated at a private hospital for sunstroke died in the early hours of Sunday. The man, originally from nearby Mahe, had suffered from sunstroke while involved in digging a well in the Pallur area near Chokli on April 26, the official said. He had symptoms of breathlessness and was immediately taken to a primary health center and later shifted to another hospital in Kannur. His condition worsened on Sunday morning and he died. Although there were no burn injuries on his body, he had other symptoms of sunstroke. The official confirmed that the case is being treated as a sunstroke-related incident. According to the IMD and the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, there's a possibility of a heatwave in certain areas in Kollam, Palakkad, and Thrissur districts. "Maximum temperatures are very likely to be around 41C in the Palakkad district, around 40C in Kollam & Thrissur districts, around 38C in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kozhikode & Kannur districts, and around 37C in Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Malappuram & Kasaragod districts, and around 36C in Thiruvananthapuram district during April 28th to May 2nd, 2024," the weather agencies said. These districts are expected to experience hot and humid weather conditions, excluding hilly areas, from April 28th to May 2nd, due to elevated temperatures and humidity levels, they added. Additionally, there is a likelihood of heatwave conditions occurring in one or two locations within Kollam, Palakkad, and Thrissur districts specifically on April 28th and 29th, the agencies added. Two succumb to sunstroke as Kerala swelters in severe heat 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. An Arizona doctor and two others are facing felony charges after they allegedly keyed multiple cars belonging to pro-Palestinian activists early this year. Bryan Long, 48, and Matthew and Lisa Karlovsky were booked on felony criminal damage charges on April 25, nearly three months after the original incident. Lisa Karlovsky, 52, previously served as the Arizona Republican Jewish Coalition director, while her husband, Matthew, 51, is a doctor. Cars were keyed when local Jewish and Palestinian community members were picketing outside a synagogue holding an event for the Anti-Defamation League, featuring the organization's CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. "The ADL has come under intense scrutiny lately for its insistence that any criticism of Israel is antisemitic and its justification of the ongoing genocide that Israel is committing in Gaza, killing over 33,000 Palestinians and counting," the Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance said in a statement at the time. The trio is accused of causing nearly $45,000 in damage by using keys to scratch and carve messages into the paint, including "baby killers" and "murderers," as well as symbols, including the star of David. "What really stuck out to me, as a Jewish individual, was the usage of the Star of David a religious symbol for us Jews being used as a hate symbol," Sophie Levitt, the co-founder of the Jewish organization Bafrayung Itst or "Liberation Now" told KTVK. Levitt, who was among those picketing outside the event, said that the protest was peaceful but that the situation escalated when people attending the event began to leave. People outside began "yelling and disrupting and making obscene gestures, saying inappropriate things," Levitt said. Long reportedly admitted to using a screwdriver to scratch one vehicle. He described Lisa as "out of control" and alleged that she keyed 10 of the 16 damaged cars and screamed at pro-Palestinian protestors as they were walking away, according to KTVK. Matthew Karlovsky allegedly acted as a lookout while the vandalism was occurring. The entire incident was reportedly captured on surveillance footage. Comedian Colin Jost repeatedly roasted President Joe Biden during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday before praising him as a "decent man" who had earned the vote of Jost's late grandfather. The "Saturday Night Live" cast member and writer said his beloved grandfather, William Kelly, was a firefighter on New York City's Staten Island for 40 years before dying last year at the age of 95. "I don't know if you know realize, Mr. President, but Staten Island firefighters are not normally your demographic," Jost quipped during the black-tie event at the Washington Hilton hotel. But Jost told Biden that Kelly "voted for you in the last election that he ever voted in." He "voted for you. And the reason that he voted for you is because you're a decent man," Jost said. The tribute came after Jost peppered Biden, 81, with a series of hilarious digs about his age, poor poll numbers and sinking popularity among Black voters ahead of his November re-election bid against former President Donald Trump. "My 'Weekend Update' co-anchor, Michael Che, was going to join me here tonight, but in solidarity with President Biden, I decided to lose all my Black support," he joked. Jost then invoked a recurring "Weekend Update" bit, saying, "Che told me to say that, and I'm just realizing I was set up." Jost also took some comic shots at Trump, including a joke about the presumptive Republican nominee's ongoing "hush money" trial in New York City. "I'll be honest with you, I don't have a lot of time. I need to get back to New York because I'm juror No. 5 on a big trial," said the clean-cut, preppy-looking comedian. "Trump's lawyer took one look at me and he's like, 'He's got to be on our side.'" Local leaders in one Japanese town are erecting barriers to block the view of Mt. Fuji to prevent troubling-making tourists from flocking to the community. Photos of the mountain town of Fujikawaguchiko, located in the foothills of Mt. Fuji, have become popular on social media. Crowds of tourists vye for a shot of the soaring volcano, which is partially concealed behind a small convenience store, which visitor also like to snap. Mt. Fuji is an active volcano and the tallest mountain in Japan. The symmetrical mountain is known for its natural beauty and abundance of hiking trails. The juxtaposition of the Lawson convenience store a ubiquitous national chain and the iconic volcano is viewed by some as a quintessentially Japanese image, one local official explained to Agence France Presse. But foreign tourists have begun blocking the pavement near the convenience store, while also parking illegally and littering. Some tourists have even taken to climbing onto a nearby dentist's office roof, without permission, to get a better camera angle, according to reports Fujikawaguchiko previously put up signs reminding visitors of the rules, to no avail. The town is now planning to erect an eight-foot-high mesh barrier as early as next week that will remain up until the situation imporves. "It's regrettable we have to do this, because of some tourists who can't respect rules," the official told AFP. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Saudi Arabia this week for talks that could be the "last chance" for a truce in Gaza before Israel's looming invasion of the southern city of Rafah. Blinken will hold meetings Monday and Tuesday to "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," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement Saturday. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz also said Saturday that a breakthrough involving the 133 hostages believed to be held by Hamas could forestall a ground offensive against Rafah. "If there is a deal, we will suspend the operation," Katz told Israel's Channel 12, the Jerusalem Post reported. On Friday, Israel told Egypt it was willing to give Hamas "one last chance" at negotiations over the hostages before moving against Rafah, Axios reported, citing two senior Israeli officials. Israel has been threatening for weeks to invade Rafah, where more than a million Gaza residents have fled from the combat that has already reportedly killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. More than 13,000 of the dead were militants killed in battle, according to Israel, which has pledged to destroy Hamas over its surprise Oct. 7 attack that killed about 1,200 peple in Israel. By Lee Min-hyung Samsung Electronics has bolstered its strategic partnership with ZEISS Group in the area of chip production technologies, in a move to achieve better yields and improve its performance in next-generation memory chips, the electronics giant said Sunday. ZEISS obtains thousands of core patents for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technologies used for state-of-the-art chip production. The company is the exclusive supplier of optical systems for ASMLs EUV lithography equipment. More than 30,000 ZEISS components are used for one piece of EUV equipment. EUV is considered the most important tool when it comes to manufacturing semiconductors. Under the partnership, Samsung aims to maximize the production efficiency of its memory chips, thereby improving its yields and leveling up the overall competitiveness of its chip business, the company said. Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong took a business trip to the headquarters of ZEISS in Germany to solidify their technological ties in chip production. Lee met with top executives from ZEISS such as ZEISS Group CEO Karl Lamprecht and ZEISS Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology CEO Andreas Pecher and exchanged their ideas on the latest chip technologies and their roadmap for a mid-to longer-term partnership. The Samsung chief also took a look at the production process of ZEISS equipment by visiting a factory of the German firm there. ZEISS Group is also set to expand its presence in the Korean market with an investment plan to build its research and development center here. The investment, valued at 48 billion won (approximately $34.8 million), is set to continue through 2026 and is anticipated to strengthen their bilateral alliance, according to Samsung. Powered by the EUV tech partnership, Samsung Electronics is set to mass-produce its sixth-generation 10-nanometer-class DRAM no later than the end of this year. Lee will also hold various business meetings with local clients by visiting not just Germany, but France and Italy, during the business trip, an official from Samsung Electronics said. The move is aimed at finding the firms next growth engines, while at the same time, tightening its footing in the artificial intelligence (AI) chip market. Starting last year, Lee has met with a number of overseas tech moguls, such as Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, ASML CEO Peter Wennink and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Samsung Electronics is seeking to expand its presence in not just memory, but non-memory chip areas such as the image sensors and neural processing units (NPU) in a bid to reduce its heavy reliance on the memory chip business. A professional boxer and father of two has died after a brutal knockout during a fight in Miami. Ardi Ndembo, 27, was originally from Brazzaville, Congo. He had been in an induced coma after the fight on April 5, but never recovered. The heavyweight boxer, who was part of the Las Vegas Hustle team in the Team Combat League, sustained significant injuries while competing in Florida. The fight was streamed live on Facebook. Ndembo crumpled to the mat after a powerful blow by opponent Nestor Santana. "My humble condolences For Ardie Endembo's family I join the pain that God keeps him in his kingdom," Santana said in a statement on Instagram. On Friday the ringside bell was rung 10 times before a fight to honor the fallen boxer. "Please take a moment to send your strength, prayers and support to the Ndembo family at this challenging time," the Team Combat League posted on Facebook. Some $14,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe page to help Ndembo's family. The Team Combat League said it was matching donations. Australian activists are calling on their government to declare a national emergency after a spike in homicides left 27 women dead in the first 119 days of the year. "We want alternative reporting options for victim-survivors to let them own their stories and own their healing and reporting journey," activist Martina Ferrara said, the BBC reported. Ferrara organized one of the several rallies that have taken place across Australia. "We want the government to acknowledge this is an emergency action and take immediate action," she added. While violence against women is not a new phenomenon in Australia, the issue has taken on a new intensity after several recent high-profile incidents. Earlier in April, a man stabbed five women and one man to death inside a Sydney shopping mall. New South Wales Police Force commissioner Karen Webb said the suspect appeared to "focus on women and avoided the men." Another man was recently charged in the housefire death of 30-year-old Erica Hay, who was the mother of four children. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday addressed a Canberra rally, attended by thousands of activists, agreeing that the government needs to do more to address the issue. He stopped short, however, of endorsing a national emergency decree. Albanese argued that national emergencies were usually short-term crises like natural disasters "We don't need one month or two months we need to address this in a serious way, week by week, month by month, year by year," he said. He has called an urgent national cabinet meeting on Wednesday to address the problem. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians in Gaza, and said he "has got to be held accountable" for the casualties there. During an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union," Sanders, who is Jewish, declined to say if he thought Israel was committing genocide, saying that's "something that is being determined by the International Court of Justice." But he added: "This is what I will say: I don't think there's any doubt that what Netanyahu is doing now. Displacing 80% of the population in Gaza is ethnic cleansing," he said. "That's what it is, pushing out huge numbers of people." Bernie Sanders: "Our job is to condemn Hamas, a terrorist organization that started this war, condemn in every form antisemitism, islamophobia, and other forms of bigotry. But we do have to pay attention to the unprecedented humanitarian disaster taking place in Gaza right now." pic.twitter.com/Rs27n5M2Tt Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 28, 2024 The Independent senator also emphasized that the situation created by Netanyahu was "in terms of a humanitarian disaster, unprecedented in modern American history." In just over six months "5% of the population has been killed or wounded, two-thirds of whom are women and children," Sanders said. "And Netanyahu has got to be held accountable for those actions." More than 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza have reportedly been killed by Israel since Hamas launched a series of surprise attacks on Oct. 7 killing about 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapping about 250, more than 130 of whom have yet to be released. "If you look at the polling, the vast majority of the American people are disgusted with Netanyahu's war machine in Gaza. And they do not want further U.S. military aid to his government," said Sanders. When host Dana Bash brought up the antisemitism expressed by some pro-Palestinian protesters on American college campuses, Sanders said, "I'm Jewish, all right?" "My father's family was wiped out by Hitler. Antisemitism is a disgusting and vile form of bigotry which has killed millions of people," he said. "I would hope that every American condemns antisemitism. We condemn Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry." Sanders repeated his assertion last week that "what Netanyahu is trying to do, very clearly, is to say, 'Anybody who criticizes what Israel is doing, you are antisemitic.'" He added: "But here is the reality: Right now, what Netanyahu's right-wing, extremist and racist government is doing is unprecedented in the modern history of warfare. They have killed, in the last six and a half months, 33,000 Palestinians, wounded 77,000, two-thirds of whom are women and children." The Israeli military has "destroyed over 60% of the housing. They have destroyed the health care system. They have destroyed the infrastructure. no electricity, very little water. And, right now, we are looking at the possibility of mass starvation and famine in Gaza," he said. "When you make those charges, that is not antisemitic." U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said American university presidents "need to get control" of pro-Palestinian protests on campuses across the country. But he rejected calls from fellow Republicans to bring in the National Guard to lock up all demonstrators. "The First Amendment is important. But it doesn't give you the ability to claim there's a fire going on in a theater, because it threatens everyone else," McConnell said in prerecorded interview that aired Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation." "What needs to happen, at least at the beginning, is these university presidents need to get control of the situation, allow free speech and push back against antisemitism," he added. The Kentucky Republican also said he had believed that antisemitism was "largely gone in this country." But "we've seen a number of young people who are actually antisemitic," he said. "Why don't they all sit down and have a civil conversation rather than trying to dominate the talk? And I think the first line of defense is these university presidents." When pressed by "Face the Nation" host Margaret Brennan, McConnell also expressed disagreement with recent remarks by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. During a visit last week to Columbia University, where more that 100 students were arrested earlier this month during a brief police crackdown on a protest encampment, Johnson told CBS News that "we need to call in the National Guard and law enforcement to take control." Abbott has also said that "all of the protesters belong in jail." "Let's see if these university presidents can get control of the situation. They ought to be able to do that," McConnell said. "Civil discussion is what college education is supposed to be about. I'd be interested in hearing the antisemitic people explain the justification for that kind of talk." A statue of the University of Southern California's mascot Tommy Trojan has been spray-painted with the words "say no to genocide" as on-campus tensions persist in the wake of the college's decision to cancel its main commencement ceremony. On Wednesday, more than 90 people were arrested at a pro-Palestinian event held at Alumni Park a green at the heart of the USC campus. The graffiti incident appears to have occurred during a second protest held after the initial arrests. Much like Columbia University, in New York, members of the public are now barred from campus and the school's gates are locked. "There's a level of frustration for us because it's inconvenient to have the campus closed, and not be able to get to certain places," one student told KABC. "I think a lot of the students are disappointed in their response because the protest was intentionally peaceful." The university condemned the vandalism and criticized the student activists in a statement issued by USC Senior Vice President of Communications Oel Curran. "Earlier Saturday, campus property including the Tommy Trojan statue and a fountain in Alumni Park was vandalized by individuals who are part of the group that has continued to illegally camp on our campus," said Curran, according to KABC. "Despite repeated warnings, this group has also continued to disrupt our campus operations and harass students and others, in violation of numerous university policies. While the university fully supports freedom of expression, these acts of vandalism and harassment are absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated," he added. Even before college students across the country began constructing pro-Palestinian solidarity encampments, the USC campus was already in the midst of a contentious debate about Israel's war in Gaza. Earlier this month, the college announced that the Muslim valedictorian Asna Tabassum would not be allowed to give the traditional commencement speech, citing "safety concerns." Tabassum was selected from more than 200 soon-to-be-graduates with eligible GPAs. She majored in biomedical engineering and earned an interdisciplinary minor in resistance to genocide. The USC student group Trojans for Israel criticized the university's decision to select Tabassum. The students alleged that she "propagates antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric," citing a link on her social media page that leads to a website describing Zionism as a "racist settler-colonial ideology." The university told Tabassum that in the aftermath of the online criticism, they could not guarantee her safety. Tabassum and the Council on Islamic American Relations both criticized the decision. After initially canceling Tabassum's speech, the university canceled the main graduation ceremony altogether though students will still have their degrees conferred in smaller events. "It doesn't feel as if the university is supporting its students, its freedom of speech," a USC alumna told KABC. "I think we've seen that with the valedictorian and I think we're seeing it now with the protests." 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. (Reuters) President Joe Biden said Friday that he is willing to debate his presumptive Republican opponent, Donald Trump, later this fall his most definitive comment yet on the issue. Trump said he was ready, though he questioned Bidens's willingness. Biden's comment came during an interview with the Sirius XM radio host Howard Stern, who asked him whether he would participate in debates against Trump. I am, somewhere. I dont know when, Biden said. But Im happy to debate him. So far, Bidens reelection campaign had declined to commit to participating in the debates , a hallmark of every general election presidential campaign since 1976. Biden himself had also been vague, saying in March that whether he debated Trump depends on his behavior. The two men debated twice during the 2020 general election a campaign year constrained significantly by COVID-19 restrictions and Biden was notably irritated by Trump's antics in the chaotic first debate that year. Will you shut up? Biden told Trump at one point during the first debate. Trump campaign officials have said for some time that the former president is prepared to debate Biden anytime, and Chris LaCivita, Trump campaign senior adviser, quickly responded to Bidens remarks on the social media site X: OK lets set it up! Later Friday, Trump reacted to Biden's new public willingness to debate by saying everyone knows he doesn't really mean it but suggested either next Monday evening, Tuesday evening or Wednesday evening, when Trump will be campaigning in Michigan. The former president is suggesting evenings because he is otherwise attending proceedings for his hush money criminal trial in New York. Trump is required to be in court every day but Wednesdays. In a statement on his own social media platform, Trump also challenged Biden to 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: Sept. 16 in San Marcos, Texas; Oct. 1 in Petersburg, Virginia; and Oct. 9 in Salt Lake City. The lone vice presidential debate is slated for Sept. 25 in Easton, Pennsylvania. A dozen news organizations, including The Associated Press, wrote to the Biden and Trump campaigns earlier this month to urge both candidates to participate in the debates. Biden engages in relatively fewer press interviews than his predecessors, and his aides tend to choose outlets and media avenues outside the traditional press corps that covers the president in Washington. His interview with Stern on Friday, which ran well over an hour, took on an informal and introspective tone and spanned topics that included Bidens upbringing, family, and his favorite president (Thomas Jefferson, Biden said). The interview also occurred the day after the New York Times issued a statement criticizing Biden for shunning formal interviews and conducting fewer news conferences than his predecessors. The newspaper said that its publisher, A.G. Sulzberger, has urged senior Biden officials to agree to presidential 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 hes become known for his conversational interviewing skills. He can turn talks with celebrities into revealing discussions, often by asking things others might be afraid to, but not in confrontational ways. (AP) MassDEP Investing in Air Quality Sensors in Environmental Justice Communities BOSTON To celebrate Earth Week, the Healey-Driscoll Administration will dedicate $775,000 to install new air quality sensors across the state and put advanced monitoring technology into environmental justice communities to track local air quality and protect public health. The funding was announced by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Commissioner Bonnie Heiple during a tour of a MassDEP air monitoring station in Kenmore Square in Boston one of 24 air monitoring stations currently located across the state.? "The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to addressing toxic air emissions impacting residents across Massachusetts especially environmental justice communities that have historically carried this burden of our industrial legacy," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "We look forward to working with communities like Boston, environmental justice advocates, and residents to collect data and develop measurable progress to ensure all families are breathing clean, healthy air."? MassDEP's air monitoring stations test for pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Those data are posted in near real-time on the MassAir Online portal. MassDEP also provides air quality forecasts for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) year-round and for ozone during the summer ozone season.? Two programs funded by this $775,000 investment will support air sensors to expand on the information provided by the air monitoring stations. First, the Particulate Matter Air Sensor Grant Program provides "PurpleAir" air sensors at no cost to community-based and non-profit organizations, tribal communities, and municipalities. These softball-sized sensors monitor air quality by measuring fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The data from the sensors is displayed in real time on the PurpleAir website, as well as on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Fire and Smoke Map.?Sensor recipients can use that information to work with MassDEP, residents, and community groups to assess local air quality and identify areas with higher pollution levels where mitigation efforts can be directed to protect public health.?This round of investment will deploy 202 sensors across the state, supplementing the 248 sensors distributed in 2021. Second, the Multi-Pollutant Sensor Pilot program will allow MassDEP to initially partner with two or three communities to deploy advanced air monitoring technology black carbon and multi-pollutant air sensors in or near environmental justice populations on a pilot basis. Forty black carbon sensors will characterize diesel emissions in areas that experience high levels of truck traffic. Fifty multi-pollutant air sensors will measure fine particulates (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide.?The resulting data will expand awareness of local air quality conditions and inform strategies to reduce exposure to pollutants, as well as inform future placement of the sensors. Hamas said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a planned Israeli ground offensive into the southern city of Rafah. Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya gave no details of Israel's offer, but said it was in response to a Hamas proposal 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. A separate Hamas statement said leaders from the three main militant groups active in Gaza discussed attempts to end the war. It didn't mention the Israeli proposal. The statements came hours after an Egyptian delegation ended 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 wasn't immediately clear whether Israels proposal was directly related to the visit. The discussions between Egyptian and Israeli officials focused on the first stage of a 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. 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 deal to end the war, the official said. Hamas has said it wont back down from demands for a permanent cease-fire and full withdrawal of Israeli troops. Israel has rejected both and said it will continue military operations until Hamas is defeated and that it will retain a security presence in Gaza. There is growing international pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach a cease-fire deal and avert an Israeli attack on Rafah, where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million people have sought refuge. Israel has insisted for months it plans a ground offensive into Rafah, on the border with Egypt, where it says many remaining Hamas militants remain, despite calls for restraint including from Israels staunchest ally, the United States. Egypt has cautioned an offensive into Rafah could have catastrophic consequences on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where famine is feared, and on regional peace and security. The Israeli military has massed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles in southern Israel close to Rafah and hit locations in the city in near-daily airstrikes. Early Saturday, an airstrike hit a house in Rafahs Tel Sultan neighborhood, killing a man, his wife and their sons, ages 12, 10 and 8, according to records of the Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospitals morgue. A neighbors 4-month-old girl was also killed. Ahmed Omar rushed with other neighbors after the 1:30 a.m. strike to look for survivors, but said they only found bodies and body parts. It's a tragedy, he said. An Israeli airstrike later Saturday on a building in Rafah killed seven people, including six members of the Ashour family, according to the morgue. Five people were 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 at a checkpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the military said. It said the men had opened fire at troops stationed at Salem checkpoint near the city of Jenin. Violence in the West Bank has flared since the war. The Ramallah-based Health Ministry says 491 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire. Washington has been critical of Israeli policies in the West Bank. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is expected in Israel on Tuesday, recently determined an army unit committed rights abuses there before the war in Gaza. But Blinken said in an undated letter to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, that he's postponing a decision on blocking aid to the unit to give Israel more time to right the wrongdoing. Blinken stressed that overall U.S. military support for Israels defense wouldn't be affected. The U.S. has also been building a pier to deliver aid to Gaza through a new port. Israel's military confirmed Saturday that it would be operational by early May. The BBC reported the U.K. government was considering deploying troops to drive the trucks to carry the aid to shore, citing unidentified government sources. British officials declined to comment. Another aid effort, a three-ship flotilla coming from Turkey, was prevented from sailing, organizers said. Student protests over the war and its effect on Palestinians are growing on college campuses in the U.S., while demonstrations continue in many countries. Hamas sparked the war by attacking southern Israel on Oct. 7, with militants killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Israel says the militants still hold around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others. Hamas on Saturday released a video showing hostages Keith Siegel and Omri Miran. It wasn't clear when the video was made. Both referred to the Jewish holiday of Passover , which began Monday. They called on Israel's government to reach a deal with Hamas. They almost certainly spoke under duress. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, around two-thirds of them children and women. Its count doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. The ministry said 32 people killed were brought to local hospitals over the past 24 hours. Israel blames Hamas for civilian casualties, accusing it of embedding in residential areas. Israel has reported at least 260 soldiers killed since the start of ground operations. (AP) As part of their broad program to promote digital wellness particularly among the youth, PLDT and Smart recently supported the mental health initiative of the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST). Attended by over 400 youth participants, the uplifting conversations were part of NEUSTs student government-led effort entitled, I Matter: Building Ones Mental Health Across Different Bridges. Longtime PLDT and SMART Better Today program advocate Riyan Portuguez, more popularly known as Your Millennial Psychologist, is one of the resources speakers during the event. In PLDT and Smart, we empower the youth to become advocates of Internet safety by cultivating spaces where they can build authentic relationships and feel a sense of comfort and camaraderie. By enabling the youth to become agents of change, we strengthen our goal of having an inclusive community towards a better today, said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and head of Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart. Riyan Portuguez, more popularly known as Your Millennial Psychologist, was among the speakers during the event. Portuguez shared how it is important to foster high-quality connections and relationships by establishing trust, becoming a safe space, communicating affirmation, practicing gratitude, and being present. As social psychologist Joost Meerloo said, The delight in conversation comes not from making sense, but from making contact.. It is important that we create authentic relationships where we are surrounded by people we trust and where we feel safe, Portuguez shared. According to Tonie Mark Bautista, who serves as the Vice President of the NEUST Student Government, leading initiatives such as the I Matter event is an opportunity for the students to find a safe space to communicate their feelings and emotions. Raising mental health awareness is a crucial step when it comes to nurturing relationships and building a community anchored on empathy and kindness, Bautista shared. PLDT and Smart continue to deploy programs and innovations designed to uplift and improve the overall physical and mental wellness of Filipinos. These initiatives are part of PLDT and Smarts continuing commitment to help the Philippines contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), particularly UN SDG 3 that stands for good health and well-being. Riot Games, the leading developer and publisher of globally renowned esports title League of Legends, is set to double down on the competitive gaming and esports scene in the Philippines with the launch of Liga Republika 2024. Primed to be a league made by Pinoys for Pinoy League of Legends players, Liga Republika 2024 welcomes 384 teams to compete for the million-peso prize pool An evolution of last years Empyrean Cup, the Liga Republika 2024 competitive circuit is set to welcome 384 teams to join the competitionan expansion from 256 teams the year prior. The pilot iteration of Liga Republika welcomes players from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to find the best League of Legends teams in the country, setting the stage for a reinvigorated competitive League in the Philippines. With a new local tournament that Filipino players can call their own, a new format and more chances for teams to join, Riot Games Philippines hopes to show players that League of Legends is here to stay for the long run. Building from last year, Riot is setting the stage for sustainable competition and grassroots opportunities in the county, with their players taking the lead. Liga Republika reinforces our commitment to the Philippine esports and gaming community. Fueled by the success of last years Empyrean Cup in reigniting the League of Legends community in the country, rebranding the league to Liga Republika reinforces and sustains the momentum we gained, and elevate the esports scene in the Philippines through a healthier and more competitive league," said Joel Guzman, Country Manager of Riot Games Philippines. We are committed to create a league that fosters a sense of pride, identity, and belonging for our players. And by evolving last years Empyrean Cup to Liga Republika, our hope is to give our players a league that they can proudly call tatak Pinoy, added Kimi Salazar, Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) Brand Manager of Riot Games Philippines. Liga Republika 2024 Roadmap, Format and Schedules This historic tournament integrates both online and offline stages, ensuring accessibility for League players all over the country. Liga Republika 2024 will begin this May with a Kickoff Invitational featuring the top eight teams from the 2023 Empyrean Cup, where the top four will qualify for the group stage in August. In June, the tournament will open its registration to the public. More than 300 teams will compete in the open qualifiers round slated from July to August, vying for one of the twelve groups slots. From the invitational round and open qualifiers, a total of 16 teams will advance to the group stage scheduled in August, with the playoffs scheduled for the month of September. Liga Republika's grand finale will take place offline at a LAN event where the top eight teams will compete in front of a live audience for the title of champion and the lions share of the million-peso prize pool. Fans are invited to follow League of Legends official Facebook and Instagram to get the most up-to-date information on the upcoming Liga Republika 2024 Tournament. Tiffany Murrays mum Joan, who was the chef at the famous Rockfield recording studios in Wales, cooked for some of the biggest music stars of the 1970s. There were no life-on-Mars bars for David Bowie, though, who was very frugal. David Bowie hardly ate. If you asked him, hed say, a little bit, please. Very polite. He drank milk. Always smoking, Joan recalled. Snapshot memories of other famous musicians who used the studios including Dave Edmunds, Rush, Hawkwind fill Murrays delightful childhood memoir My Family and Other Rock Stars. Its full of anecdotes to make you smile. My favourites were Freddie Mercury and his Queen bandmates playing rounders in the quadrant, Simple Minds (appropriately named) having food fights, and Lemmy, away from his Hells Angels pals, wanting the crusts cut off his bacon sandwiches. The word miserable appears 30 times in The Diaries of Franz Kafka (Penguin Classics) and although its hardly a surprise that the Prague-born author of The Trial was woebegone, it is a comfort that he kept some of his maudlin entries succinct. The diaries cover 1909 to 1923 and the one for Sunday 19 June 1910 simply records: Slept, woke up, slept, woke up, miserable life. Ross Benjamins new translation of the complete, uncensored diaries reveals a deeply idiosyncratic writer who felt forsaken for much of his life. There are lots of quirky details about President Lincoln in Erik Larsons The Demon of Unrest: Abraham Lincoln & Americas Road to Civil War (William Collins), including his ability to walk with a stoop and sport a fur hat to avoid being recognised. He also had a propensity to crack jokes, tell corny anecdotes and then escape unwelcome conversations by using the cover of laughter breaking out. Old Abe was also known for his occasional bluntness, and shocked former Virginia governor William Cabell Rives by telling him you are a smaller man than I supposed. Larsons carefully pieced together story using diaries, war communiques and slave ledgers details the five months before Americas civil war. It is a thoughtful account that also offers a sobering reminder of how humans often dont see a catastrophe coming until its too late. Finally, Willy Vlautins novel The Horse (Faber), about a wandering guitarist called Al Ward who settles in Nevada and is visited by a strange horse, is a beguiling examination of loneliness, alcoholism and anxiety and the beauty of songwriting. Novels by Colm Toibin and Kaliane Bradley, a book of happy poems, memoirs by Graham Caveney and Dr Benji Waterhouse, and Daisy Dunns classical history book are reviewed in full below. 100 Happy Poems, edited by Jane McMorland Hunter open image in gallery A poetry collection that captures various states of bliss ( Batsford Books ) I recently watched a Devon stonemason beaming with contentment as he carefully selected stones with the right face to rebuild a wall. Ah, hes as happy as a pig in s*** when hes working with old stone, remarked his friend. As 100 Happy Poems editor Jane McMorland Hunter notes, many activities bring us happiness, including reading, singing, dancing, gardening and loving our pets. The poems in the collection, selected from over a thousand years, capture various states of bliss. Stevie Smith is full of zest about the power of a beautiful, beautiful kiss. For what its worth, my favourite was the one-stanza First Fig, an ambiguous gem from Edna St Vincent Millay, who died in 1950 and is hopefully remembered by some 21st-century readers, not least for being a feminist writer in the 1920s and only the third woman ever to be awarded the Pulitzer prize. She wrote: My candle burns at both ends; / It will not last the night; / But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends / It gives a lovely light! Unsurprisingly, theres no place for Philip Larkin in the anthology but then again the old curmudgeon did concede that my poems arent very cheerful. These 100 certainly are. 100 Happy Poems, edited by Jane McMorland Hunter is published by Batsford on 9 May, 12.99 The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley open image in gallery Debut novel The Ministry of Time is a mixture of time travel sci-fi thriller, historical fiction and romance ( Sceptre/Robin Christian ) In Kaliane Bradleys debut novel The Ministry of Time, which is a mixture of time travel sci-fi thriller, historical fiction and romance, Commander Graham Gore, an officer on Sir John Franklins doomed Arctic expedition, is one of a number of expats from the past rescued from certain death by the Ministry of Time. They are all allocated a person known as a bridge to assist them with living in the 21st century. The plot revolves around secret projects and conspiracies. For the record, the BBC announced earlier this year that they have commissioned an adaptation of Bradleys book. Ive not seen the successful, long-running Spanish time travel television series El Ministerio del Tiempo (The Ministry of Time) but did read Bradley had issued a statement in response to complaints about alleged similarities saying: My debut novel is an original work of fiction. I have never seen the Spanish television series and the identical titles are an unfortunate coincidence. Time travel is a well-worn subject, of course, but Bradley brings a freshness to her story of the growing love affair between Gore and his biracial British-Cambodian handler. Throughout the book, I particularly enjoyed the flashback sections imagining Gores life on the doomed frozen expedition in the 1840s. They were well executed and full of insightful imagining. In addition, putting time travellers into the present allows Bradley the potential for comic moments such as Commander Gore liking Motown and describing the Beatles as awful caterwaulers. The book attracted extravagant pre-release praise so perhaps its a failing on my part not to have been blown away by the book. The future, in case you wonder, is a pretty bleak one, blighted by crop-destroying chemical weapons and a climate-wrecked Devon. I did have minor quibbles: some of the similes are a bit weak and Im not sure Id ever accept as convincing the description of Guinness as angry Marmite. Nevertheless, The Ministry of Time is a high-energy story with thoughtful things to say about belonging (Bradley, a British-Cambodian writer also has acute observations about racial prejudice, stereotyping and the fine British tradition of finders-keepers). Above all, the novel seems to be a plea for humanity. As Gore says of his Ministry of Truth handler and lover, in the heat of your obsession, did it occur to you to remember that I am a person too? The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley is published by Sceptre on 14 May, 16.99 Long Island by Colm Toibin open image in gallery Long Island is Colm Toibins sequel to bestseller Brooklyn ( Picador/Reynaldo Rivera ) Colm Toibin the present laureate for Irish fiction returns to the story of Eilis Fiorello (Lacey) in Long Island, the sequel to his magnificent 2009 novel Brooklyn. Some 20 years on from the action in that 1950s novel, we first see Eiliss stifled life in New York, as a dutiful mother who is surrounded by her husbands overbearing family. She is thrown into turmoil when a stranger arrives at her door with a shocking, terrible revelation about her plumber husband Tony, one of many morally feeble men in the novel. To escape her crisis, she returns home to Enniscorthy, a small town in County Wexford in the east of Ireland the birthplace of Toibin and the backdrop to Brooklyn and the excellent Nora Webster to stay with her ageing mother and insipid brother. As she begins to really question the life she has built in America, she is forced to examine what she wants and whether the answer is reigniting a love affair with the publican Jim Farrell. Into the mix comes Nancy, another character who first appeared in Brooklyn, who is now widowed and running a chip shop. Nancys decisive scenes are absolutely gripping. Toibin guides everything with a masters hand, in what becomes a tale of denial, secrecy, hidden resentments and disappointments. Eilis is again superbly drawn, as Toibin offers a mesmerising and understated picture of Ireland in the mid-1970s (a chat about the disgrace of Nixon is the only time global affairs are discussed) and how, after her two decades away, Eilis is both an outsider and emblematic of a loss of innocence in Irish women of her era. She remains something of the mysterious, blank protagonist of Brooklyn, yet in Long Island she is more knowing too, full of complex undercurrents. She is a great noticer and reflects on her life without necessarily being able to decide what she wants or whether she is capable of true feeling. Toibin brings the novel to a boil with cool detachment and leaves the finale open to interpretation and to a possible trilogy concluder? Another outing with Eilis would be most welcome, but for now Id urge any fiction fan to relish another Toibin triumph. Long Island by Colm Toibin is published by Picador on 23 May, 20 The Missing Thread: A New History of the Ancient World Through the Women Who Shaped It by Daisy Dunn open image in gallery Daisy Dunns new book is a groundbreaking history of the ancient world ( W&N ) Daisy Dunn opens her groundbreaking history of the ancient world with a sardonic reflection: Women were invented to make mens lives more difficult, she writes, as she dissects the Greek poet (farmer) Hesiods warning to let no woman deceive your mind with her shapely bottom / And wheedling conversation. Its your barn she is seeking. Dunns barnstorming book explores the stories of dozens of women, including the poet Sappho, the fighters Telesilla and Artemisia, the only female commander in the Greco-Persian wars (499-449BC). As well as being a well-researched and elegantly written counterpoint to the way men have dominated the histories of antiquity, she has an eye for the quirky, revealing detail. I admit I knew nothing of Mark Antonys forgotten wife Fulvia (everyone knows about his lover Cleopatra, of course) and Dunn records that the astonishingly accomplished Fulvia fought a war in Antonys name while he was continuing his affair. I had read these passages with suspicion, Dunn writes, until I learned of the excavation of lead bullets referencing Fulvia at the site of a siege. These bullets bore messages of abuse. Im aiming for Fulvias clitoris, reads one. Dunns spirited work not only puts the overlooked women at the core of the narrative, but it also reminds us that the past, particularly with sexism and misogyny, has vital lessons for the 21st-century present. The Missing Thread: A New History of the Ancient World Through the Women Who Shaped It by Daisy Dunn is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on 23 May, 25 The Body in the Library by Graham Caveney open image in gallery Graham Caveneys The Body in the Library is a moving and humorous account of having cancer of the oesophagus ( Peninsula Press Ltd ) Anyone who has had the misfortune to undergo an endoscopy will be struck by Graham Caveneys observation on being told it is a routine procedure. It raises the question: whose routine?, he writes in The Body in the Library. Caveneys latest memoir, a moving and humorous account of having cancer of the oesophagus, made me grimace and laugh. He calls himself an impatient outpatient and even throws in some jokes. Heres one: Guy goes to the doctor. The doctor gives him six months to live. The guy says, I want a second opinion. Doctor says, Second opinion? Sure. That tie doesnt suit you. As he details his diagnosis and treatment (no spoilers but the remission part is good news), the book deals with his anxiety and his anger at the Tory governments destruction of the NHS, something he sums up smartly as incremental vandalism. In his delightful introduction, Jonathan Coe calls the book a small masterpiece and you have to admire Caveneys gift for terrific one-liners. He describes Hattie Jacques in Carry on Nurse as a one-woman nanny state, for example, and his account of drinking with the late Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan (a Turgenev fan) is charming, describing his laugh as a deranged bronchial hiss; like a snake trapped in the bonnet of an overheated car. The mention of Turgenev is enlightening in a book full of literary references. I enjoyed his witty ruminations on why Philip Larkin is out of favour. We no longer swallow him: not exactly cancelled, but shushed. An ironic end for a librarian, writes Caveney. There is much about love and work in a gnarly, sweet book that also deals with sexual abuse (a theme of his earlier work). Anyone who has been close to alcoholism will see the mordant wisdom in his recollection of what an ex-street drunk told him, early in his sobriety quest. Its a good news bad news joke. The good news is you get your emotions back. The bad news is you get your emotions back. Strap in, kid. Buckle up, indeed, because The Body in the Library is a bumpy, brilliant read. The Body in the Library by Graham Caveney is published by Peninsula Press on 30 May, 12.99 You Dont Have to be Mad to Work Here: A Psychiatrists Life by Dr Benji Waterhouse open image in gallery Dr Benji Waterhouses book about being a firefighting psychiatrist mixes humour with immense pain ( Jonathan Cape ) Benji Waterhouse is a firefighting NHS psychiatrist and a stand-up comedian who uses humour as a defence against the messiness of life. One nurse calls him out on this, remarking wearily after another of his quips: Oh, youre one of those funny ones. Arent we lucky. You Dont Have to be Mad to Work Here: A Psychiatrists Life is an account of Waterhouses patients, his family and his own struggles with depression and being avoidant in love. Its certainly funny, mixing humour with intense pain. His parents are spiky characters in their own right. He is forced to confront whether his fathers temper has handed down the trait of behaving with a veneer of gentleness that is just repressed aggression. He has also learned to cope with the drunken idiosyncrasies of his mum, a psychologist who responded to him bringing home a female friend called Nina by whispering in his ear, even before shed had a chance to take off her coat, that shes not the one for you sweetheart. The anecdotes are wild and the reflections interesting. To find real pleasure in a memoir you have to enjoy spending time with that writer, and I did with Benji, not least for documenting the time he was offered ketamine at a party, and admitted he would rather have a cup of tea. Ive been told off before for boiling the kettle at parties, is his droll punchline. For all the anarchy and comedy with patients, Dr Waterhouse is insightful about mental health in an era of overused sad face emojis and a scarcity of NHS psychiatric beds. For example, its instructive to learn that restrictions on over-the-counter sales have significantly reduced fatalities from paracetamol overdoses and important to hear that contrary to popular belief, talking about suicide doesnt increase but decreases the likelihood that people will act on such impulses. Psychiatrists have notoriously high levels of mental illness themselves unsurprising given their working lives are spent around human distress and when Waterhouse tells his therapist that he didnt expect the work to be as chaotic, frustrating and knackering, the therapist replies: Not exactly Frasier, is it? Even so, Benji is worth listening to. You Dont Have to be Mad to Work Here: A Psychiatrists Life by Dr Benji Waterhouse is published by Vintage on 16 May, 18.99 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 Anne Hathaway has spoken out about the immense stress she felt during her rise to fame. The 41-year-old actor reflected on the early days of her career during an appearance on The New York Times podcast, The Interview, released on 27 April. She acknowledged how she could relate to some of the characters shes played since they were often a really stressed out young woman, just like she was in her own life. As she recalled the stress she used to feel, she confessed that the feeling affected how much she appreciated the opportunities she had. And as a formerly chronically stressed young woman, which leads to all manner of things, I just remember thinking one day, You are taking this for granted, you are taking your life for granted. You have no idea. Something could fall through the sky, and that would be lights out, Hathaway explained. The Princess Diaries star also shared how shes gotten herself out of that anxiety, adding: So when I find the old instincts rising, I just tell myself, You are not going to die stressed. When asked what she was so stressed about, she specified that the answer was a bit complex. However, she still expressed it was mainly different responsibilities in her life that contributed to the stress. I didnt know how to breathe yet. That was really complicated, she said. Its actually too big an answer and the simple answer is literally everything. I was very in my head about a lot of things. She then identified her stress as somatic, before briefly pointing out how distant she felt from herself at the time. It feels a little too exposed to discuss the alienation I felt from my body, but there was a lot of somatic stress there, she said. When asked if drinking was a way to deal with her stress, Hathaway who is now five years sober candidly said: Probably. During an interview with Vanity Fair last month, The Devil Wears Prada star opened up about why she quit drinking, explaining that indulging in alcohol never sat right with her. I knew deep down it wasnt for me, she confessed. And it just felt so extreme to have to say, But none? But none. If youre allergic to something or have an anaphylactic reaction to something, you dont argue with it. So I stopped arguing with it. She further specified that for her personally, everything is better when shes not drinking. With that in mind, she detailed how she still allows herself to have fun with her peers when they are having alcohol. For me, it was wallowing fuel. And I dont like to wallow, Hathaway said about drinking. The thing that I have faith in is that everybody else is going to have one or two drinks, and by the time everybody gets to two drinks, youll feel like youve had two drinks but without the hangover. During that interview, she once again reflected on some of the stress she felt during the early days of her career, including her struggles with anxiety. I had a horrible anxiety attack and I was by myself and didnt know what was happening. I certainly couldnt tell anybody, and it was compounded by thinking I was keeping set waiting, she said. However, Hathaway acknowledged that shes now at a point where she can verbally address her anxiety with her peers, and they can be there for her through it. I feel much safer going to someone in charge, pulling them to the side, and explaining, Im going through this right now. Most people will sit there with you for the 10 minutes it takes for you to come back down, The Idea of You star added. 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 Keith Urban has candidly reflected on the very early days of his relationship with his now-wife, Nicole Kidman. The 56-year-old musician took the stage at the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award Gala on Saturday, as the event was in honour of his wife. During his speech, as reported by People, Urban went on to explain why he was scared to give Kidman a call, after meeting her for the first time. I was trying to play it cool, but inside I felt like Id snuck into the royal ball simply because Nic had such a truly otherworldly aura about her, he said, referring to how they met in January 2005 during the GDay USA gala. I felt a bit like I was meeting a real-life princess. Despite his nerves at the time, Urban acknowledged that he did still manage to get her phone number on a tiny piece of paper at the 2005 event. However, he said that he left her phone number in his pocket for a bit, until he finally managed to make use of it. I was scared. I was nervous to call her, he explained. I did, as you probably figured out, pluck up the courage to finally call her. Urban pointed out that after giving Kidman a call, he ultimately realised that she was just a wide-eyed, giddy girl from the Sydney suburbs, whos utterly Aussie through and through. Meanwhile, The Big Little Lies star has previously reflected on giving her now-husband her number for the first time. During an appearance on The Ellen Show in 2017, Kidman first recalled that while she met Urban in 2005, they actually didnt reconnect until months later. I remember thinking I had such a crush on him and he wasnt interested in me, she said during the interview, as reported by Today. He didnt call me for four months. Kidman acknowledged that while she didnt know why Urban waited so long to call her, it didnt necessarily matter. Were here now and its all good, she said at the time. We dont need to hash up all that stuff, right? Kidman and Urban officially started dating in 2005, before getting married the following year. They went on to have two daughters, Sunday, 15, and Faith, 13, who even made their red-carpet debut at the AFI Life Achievement Award Gala on Saturday. Along with her teenage daughters, Kidman shares two adult children Isabella, 31, and Connor, 29, with ex-husband Tom Cruise. open image in gallery ( Getty Images for Warner Bros. Di ) During his speech at the awards ceremony on Saturday, Urban noted that while other famous speakers were going to talk about Nics talent, he wanted to talk about her kindness. He mentioned how the Eyes Wide Shut star has continued to support him over the years, including when he went to rehab for substance abuse in 2006, only a few months into his marriage. I do want to take an opportunity to talk about Nics heart and her spirit. We got married in June, 2006 and barely four months into our marriage, my addictions that Id done really nothing about, blew our marriage to smithereens, he explained. And I went into the Betty Ford Center for three months. Four months into a marriage Im in rehab for three months. I had no idea what was going to happen to us. He continued to applaud Kidman for staying by his side as he got sober, even amid some of the scrutiny they faced at the time. And if you want to see what love in action really looks like, give that a whirl, he said. Nic pushed through every negative voice, Im sure even some of her own. And she chose love. And here we are tonight, 18 years later, he added. China's first Sora-level text-to-video large model Vidu unveiled Chinadaily.com.cn) 11:16, April 28, 2024 China's first Sora-level text-to-video large model Vidu was unveiled at the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing on Saturday, intensifying the artificial intelligence competition globally. Vidu, developed by Chinese AI firm Shengshu Technology and Tsinghua University, told China Daily that the model can create a high-definition video 16 seconds long and 1080p resolution in just one click. The company said that it is China's first inaugural video large model with extended duration, exceptional consistency, and dynamic capabilities and is "very close to" the level of Sora. Sora is a generative AI model developed by the United States' OpenAI earlier this year. With its ability to build realistic and imaginative scenes from text instructions, the model has taken the tech world by storm. Compared with Sora, Vidu is able to understand and generate Chinese elements such as the panda and dragon. The company also added that the core architecture of the large model was initiated in September 2022, which was earlier than Sora's adoption of its architecture. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) 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 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 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. Zelenskyy 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 percent of its thermal power generation and 35 percent 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 economize 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. 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. (Reuters) 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 The Duke of Sussex will return to the UK next week for a ceremony to mark 10 years of the Invictus Games. The Invictus Games first took place in London in 2014 and was founded by Prince Harry as a sporting event for injured and sick military personnel and veterans. Harry will be at the service of thanksgiving at Londons St Pauls Cathedral on Wednesday 8 May, where he is expected to provide a reading. Since 2020, he has lived in the US with his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and their two children Archie and Lilibet. Harrys arrival to the UK will mark his first time in the country since he visited his father in February when King Charles cancer diagnosis was announced. Buckingham Palace announced earlier this week that King Charles is to return to public royal duties next week after responding well to his cancer treatment. It is also the first time he will visit the UK since his sister-in-law Kate went public with her own cancer diagnosis. The Duchess of Cambridge had been out of the spotlight for weeks before the diagnosis was revealed in March. The princes return for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games is also the first major event he has attended in Britain for some time. It is not currently known whether any other members of the Royal Family will be in attendance at the service, nor if the Duchess of Sussex and their children will be travelling over with him. open image in gallery Prince Harry is set to visit the UK for the first time since his sister-in-law Kates cancer diagnosis ( Getty Images ) The service is set to include readings from Harry and the British actor Damian Lewis. Wounded veterans and members of the Invictus community will also attend. According to organisers, the event will mark a decade of changing lives and saving lives through sport. Following on from the event, Harry and Meghan will then head to Nigeria together after being invited by the west African countrys chief of defence staff, who met Harry in Germany last September at Invictus Games Dusseldorf. The couple will meet service members and their families, and participate in traditional cultural activities, Nigerian media reported. Other details about the visit are not yet known. Local newspapers reported that Defence Headquarters was honoured and delighted after Harry and Meghan, who is of Nigerian descent, had accepted the invitation. It will be their first visit to Nigeria as a couple. Earlier this month, Harry formally confirmed his status as a US resident. Travalyst, a travel company he controls, filed paperwork informing British authorities that he has moved and is now usually resident in the United States. This formal acknowledgement comes four years after he and Meghan walked away from royal duties for a life in North America first in Canada, and now in Montecito in Southern California. For some, this move underscores the princes increasing estrangement from Britain. The release of his 2023 memoir, Spare, featured Harry detailing his complicated relationship with his elder brother, the Prince of Wales, among other familial gripes. Harry has only returned to Britain on rare occasions since his departure, mostly for major events such as the 2022 funeral of Queen Elizabeth and his fathers coronation in May 2023. 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 }} Rishi Sunak is facing a plot by desperate right-wing Tory MPs planning to ditch the prime minister and replace him with Penny Mordaunt to avoid an electoral wipeout, it is claimed. After the prime minister was dealt a blow by the defection of former minister Dr Dan Poulter, Tory rebels hatched a 100 days to save Britain plan whereby Ms Mordaunt best known for wielding a ceremonial sword at the Kings coronation would become PM. The extraordinary idea is reportedly in response to fears that the party could suffer massive losses in this weeks local elections, with the MPs planning a series of quick wins to ready Mr Sunaks successor for a general election this autumn. The rebels are said to believe that if Commons leader Ms Mordaunt took power and launched a series of right-wing initiatives on tax, immigration and other issues, it could avert a Labour landslide in the election later this year. One Tory rebel told the Sunday Telegraph: The reality is that we are facing an extinction-level event. Its for colleagues to decide if they want to go down with the ship. However, Ms Mordaunt is understood to have said that speculation about her is codswallop. Mainstream Conservatives say a lurch to the right would make the party even less popular. And Ms Mordaunts Tory critics say that, aside from winning plaudits for her impressive style at the coronation, she lacks political skills. A Tory MP told The Times: My concern is that we dont have a significant response to Reform. We have a leader who is ill-suited to appealing to voters in the red wall. He is seen as an out-of-touch multimillionaire who doesnt share their instincts. If we lose Tees Valley [in the mayoral election] it will be beyond diabolical. The five-point plan includes efforts to end the junior doctors pay dispute, cut net migration, boost defence spending, slash the benefits bill, and bring in tougher sentences for serious offenders. And ahead of what could be a make-or-break week for Mr Sunaks premiership, the prime minister again refused to rule out going to the country this summer, keeping the door open to a July general election. Amid speculation that a disastrous set of local election results for the Tories could force his hand, Mr Sunak would not say anything more than Ive already said on the date of the next election. He has previously said it will take place in the second half of 2024. But some see him keeping the option open as a way to deter potential plotters. Rishi Sunak has declined to rule out a July poll ( PA Wire ) The general election is expected to be held in October or November, although there is mounting speculation a contest could come as early as July. Grant Shapps has warned agitating Tory MPs against ousting Mr Sunak and said the prime minister should be left to get on with the job. The defence secretary said Mr Sunak should be given the space he needs to continue in the role. Hes doing a great job hes doing it under difficult circumstances, said Mr Shapps. But a drubbing in mayoral and council elections on 2 May could either lead to a challenge to Mr Sunaks leadership or persuade him that an earlier polling day could be a better solution than limping on with a divided party. The defection of a Conservative former health minister to Labour could further spook already restive Tory MPs and increase the pressure on the prime minister. Mr Poulter on Saturday announced he was quitting the Tory party, which he accused of no longer prioritising the overstretched NHS. Mr Sunak was asked on Skys Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme recorded before Dr Poulters shock defection whether the latter half of 2024 could mean July. Dr Dan Poulter signing his Labour membership form with Ellie Reeves, the partys deputy national campaign co-ordinator ( PA Media ) The prime minister said: Im not going to say anything more than Ive already said Ive been very clear about that. Pressed repeatedly over whether he was ruling out July, he said: Im not going to do that. Youre going to try and draw whatever conclusion you want from what I say. Im going to always try and say the same thing. You should just listen to what I said, [the] same thing Ive said all year. When presenter Sir Trevor said he wanted to know when to book his summer holidays, Mr Sunak replied: Actually, Trevor, its more important than your holiday or anyones holiday. Ive got a job to do, which is delivering for the country. And as weve been talking about, we are delivering when it comes to tackling illegal migration. Were delivering when it comes to investing in our defence. The full interview will air on Sky News on Sunday morning. In less than a week, the Tories are expected to lose around half of their council seats, while their two most high-profile regional mayors face difficult contests. Some analysts believe defeats for West Midlands mayor Andy Street and Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen could lead to the prime minister facing a no-confidence vote, with 52 Tory MPs needed to trigger the move. There were rumours swirling in Westminster on Friday that Mr Sunak could fire the starting gun on an election campaign as soon as Monday in a bid to thwart a possible challenge, though Downing Street brushed them off. The latest possible date he could hold the election is 28 January 2025. Mr Sunak sought to bolster his premiership this week with a flurry of announcements, including the passing of Rwanda asylum legislation and a pledge to spend 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product on defence by 2030. A BMG survey for the i newspaper suggested voters who backed the Conservatives in 2019, but have since deserted the party, would be more likely to vote Tory under a different leader. Mr Sunak has already been accused of being a chicken and squatting in Downing Street after ruling out holding the election on 2 May. The growing speculation comes as the Conservatives sit 21 points behind in the opinion polls. A series of polls have shown the party is heading for electoral oblivion, with even Mr Sunak at risk of losing his seat. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Cornwall tourism chief has warned holidaymakers that he could certainly envision a tax on tourists being rolled out in the near future. More than four million people visit Cornwall for a holiday every year, while an extra 12 million make day visits, according to a local committee report. open image in gallery Cornwall is one of the most visisted areas in the UK for holidaymakers ( Reuters ) Malcolm Bell, the chief executive of Visit Cornwall, has now voiced his support for a Cornish tax to profit from these visits. It is a time to have the debate, not rush into action, engage with people and look at the art of the possible, he told local outlet Cornwall Live. It comes after Venice, in Italy, became the worlds first city to introduce a levy for tourists to thin the crowds that throng its canals. Simone Venturini, the city councillor responsible for tourism and social cohesion, said the scheme would help Venice find a new balance. But the 5 charge caused hundreds to protest against what they viewed as a move to turn Venice into a theme park. Mr Bell says a Cornwall tax should be applied in tandem with neighbouring Devon to avoid forcing tourists away from Cornwall. There is no point in Devon not having one and us having one, he said. But the tax must be used to directly fund local business, he said, instead of going back to the Treasury as per normal taxes. He noted how the UK is already one of the highest-taxed visitor economies in Europe, second only to France, but that this money does not go back into the local economy. The normal argument would be we need some distribution of the money that already goes to His Majestys Treasury to instead go back into local levels, he said. open image in gallery Padstow is a magnet for tourism in Cornwall ( PA Archive ) He believes that tourists would be happy to pay the tax if they knew that the money would go back into the local economy. We have 85 per cent repeat business in Cornwall holidaymakers who regularly return would want the levy to help Cornwall and its residents, he said. If holidaymakers want to contribute, if they think its going to the right cause, I wouldnt mind. That Cornwall is such a popular destination also suggests a desire for well-maintained local environments, he said, which is a further argument for a tax that helps protect the regions natural beauty and wildlife. People are cynical and want reassurance that their extra payment is going towards something appropriate, he said. But if it is just another levy added onto VAT and taxes? That is probably not what people want to see. Cornwall Council has launched a councillor-led inquiry aimed at improving the year-round benefits of tourism while supporting locals with well-paid employment and community services. Some of the ideas put forward at a council meeting in January included urging the government to stagger school holidays and bringing in a registration scheme for short-term Airbnb-style holiday lets. Another was a tourist tax, with councillor Mike Thomas, a former schoolteacher, calling for the option to be taken more seriously. 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 }} A second man has now died after an unusually strong batch of heroin circulated across north Devon as experts sound the alarm over fatally potent synthetic opioids infiltrating Britains illicit drugs market. One man died after taking heroin on Friday while a second man, who had earlier been admitted to hospital, died late on Saturday. They are both believed to have died after taking the same batch which circulated across Westward Ho!, Bideford and Barnstaple, Devon and Cornwall Police said. The fatal batch circulated across Westward Ho!, Barnstaple and Bideford (pictured) ( Getty Images ) A total of 10 people have been admitted to hospital for treatment, including the man who died on Saturday. Two still remain in hospital. Two men and two women arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of a controlled substance have now been released on police bail pending further inquiries. A major incident had been declared by police, but it was stood down on Saturday morning. Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Ben Davies said: While we believe the substance found on Friday has been contained and there is no threat to the wider community, we continue to investigate the circumstances of the now two deaths as a result of taking this substance. We are continuing to carry out tests in order to ascertain what the substance is, but suspect it is a form of heroin combined with another substance which users will find causes more serious effects than heroin which they might usually use. Drugs sold as diazepam have tested positive for nitazenes ( Wedinos drug-testing service ) It came as drug-testing service The Loop said they had detected nitazenes powerful synthetic opioids which can be up to 500 times stronger than heroin in multiple samples of heroin from different sources in nearby Bristol on Friday. Issuing an urgent drug alert, the charity stressed the importance of carrying the overdose-reversal drug naloxone, and urged people using heroin to avoid doing so alone. Nitazenes have already been linked to more than 100 deaths in the UK since June 2023, according to the National Crime Agency, and have been discovered in not just heroin but also benzodiazepines, cocaine and cannabis products. This includes in prisons, as revealed by this publication last month, shortly before a further four deaths behind bars sparked a fresh police warning in south Wales. With the Talibans crackdown on opium production driving concerns of an influx of the cheaper and more easily transportible drugs across Europe, experts are urging the government to rapidly scale up proven interventions such as drug testing services and heroin-assisted treatment. They are also being urged to follow the likes of America, Canada, France, Australia and Iceland in supporting the creation of overdose prevention centres with plans to open services offering an alternative to street-injecting now under way in Scotland, and potentially in Wales. Following the announcement of a second mans death in Devon in just two days, Det Supt Ben Davies said: Health partners are continuing to work with local drug users in a bid to safeguard them as much as possible, but we would continue to urge any users to exercise extreme caution. Advice remains that if you feel you are suffering an adverse reaction or are in the company of someone in a need of urgent medical attention, call 999 for appropriate care and help. 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 }} The body of an Argentinian barman who fell in love with the Highlands has been discovered in Scotland more than a year after he vanished. Rodrigo Falcon disappeared in freezing conditions after leaving a nightclub in the Cairngorms mountain range at around 2.30am on 11 December 2022. The 33-year-old was never found despite extensive searches by police, private detectives and divers amid heartbreaking pleas from his family for information. But a body was discovered just outside Aviemore at around 2.15pm on Friday, with formal identification yet to take place. Mr Falcon, known as Rod to his family and friends, moved to Scotland in 2016 and was described as a keen photographer - with pictures posted online from Spain, France and Russia. Have you been affected by this incident? Email alexander.butler@independent.co.uk Rod disappeared in freezing conditions after leaving a nightclub in the Cairngorms at around 2.30am in 2022 ( Police Scotland ) He could be seen wearing a T-shirt with the words Scotland, probably the best place in the world alongside the caption: Six years living in this beautiful land this month, woop woop in a social media post just months before he vanished. In others posts, he could be seen enjoying the Scottish soft drink Irn-Bru, Tennents lager and stovies, a type of Scottish potato stew. Snow gently falls at sunrise in Scotland His mother Daniela Falcon issued a heart-breaking plea in December 2023 one year after his disappearance and told the BBC: I wish with all my heart that no-one else has to go through such a situation. We want Rod to come home. Any information - no matter how small - is huge for us. He fell in love with the Highlands. He has lived there since 2016, she said. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: Around 2.15pm on Friday, a body was discovered just outside Aviemore. Formal identification is still to take place, however the family of Rodrigo Falcon, who was reported missing from the area in December 2022, have been informed. 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 }} A gold pocket watch that was recovered from the body of the richest man on the Titanic has sold for a record-breaking 1.175 million. The watch was sold on Saturday to a private collector in the US at Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, for the highest amount ever for Titanic memorabilia, the auctioneers said. The original owner of the watch, businessman John Jacob Astor, 47, went down with the ship in 1912 after seeing new wife Madeleine onto a lifeboat. The previous highest amount paid for Titanic artefacts was 1.1 million for a violin that was played as the ship sank which sold at the same auction house in 2013, according to the auctioneers. A spokesperson for the auctioneers said the 1.175 million was inclusive of fees and taxes paid by the buyer. ( Henry Aldridge & Son/PA Wire ) The case for the violin was sold at the same auction as the pocket watch at Henry Aldridge & Son on Saturday for 360,000 including fees and taxes. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said that the prices fetched by the Titanic memorabilia at the sale were absolutely incredible. John Jacob Astor ( Bettmann Archive ) He said: They reflect not only the importance of the artefacts themselves and their rarity but they also show the enduring appeal and fascination with the Titanic story. 112 years later, we are still talking about the ship and the passengers and the crew. The thing with the Titanic story, its effectively a large ship hits an iceberg with a tragic loss of life, but more importantly is 2,200 stories. 2,200 subplots, every man woman and child had a story to tell and then the memorabilia tells those stories today. Rather than try his luck with another safety vessel, impeccably dressed Astor, who was a prominent member of the wealthy Astor family, was last seen smoking a cigarette and chatting with a fellow passenger. His body was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean seven days later and his exquisite 14-carat gold Waltham pocket watch, engraved JJA, was found. Mr Aldridge said: Astor is well known as the richest passenger aboard the RMS Titanic and was thought to be among the richest people in the world at that time, with a net worth of roughly 87 million US dollars equivalent to several billion dollars today. At 11.40pm on April 14 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg and started to take on water. At first, Astor did not believe the ship was in any serious danger, but later it was apparent she was sinking and the captain had started an evacuation after midnight, so he helped his wife into lifeboat 4. Mrs Astor survived, and her husbands body was recovered on April 22 not far from the sinking. The watch was passed by Mr Astors son Vincent to the son of his fathers executive secretary, William Dobbyn. 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 }} Amy Gallagher is the Social Democrat Party candidate for London mayor. She is an NHS nurse and psychotherapist. She pledges all woke and diversity, equity and inclusion programmes will be stopped in London. I will serve all Londoners equally with a colourblind policy - people will be judged on their character not skin colour. I will protect religious freedoms, womens sex-based rights and gay rights. No more identity politics. Our spaces should be for everyone, she added. Ms Gallagher garnered media attention after bringing legal action against the NHS, accusing it of forcing critical race theory on people. Her manifesto pledges include: Stand Up To Woke - she will fight a woke dogma she says is destroying Londons industries, culture, and atmosphere People should be judged on the content of their character, not the colour of their skin, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and Martin Luther King Jr. Make criminals scared again and end gang violence in London Ending Ulez, low traffic neighbourhoods and the war on cars Increasing housing stock and reduce rents No more racialised divisive politics which drive people apart We will not use the mayoralty as a platform for international causes End two-tier policing of political views and make the Met impartial again Protect womens spaces with more visible policing and more police back on the beat Encourage a vibrant night-time economy which in turn will make our streets more occupied and safer for women alone at night You can read her full manifesto here. Voters can cast their ballot in person on 2 May, by post or by proxy. Find your nearest polling station here. Everyone will need to show photo ID at polling stations before they vote. The results will be announced at City Hall on Saturday 4 May. 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 }} Dr Dan Poulter has defected to the Labour Party, claiming the Conservatives have become a nationalist party of the right. The Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP will sit on the Labour benches until the next general election, expected this autumn, when he has announced he will step down. Mr Poulter said he made the decision in part because of Sir Keir Starmers promised NHS reforms, accusing the Tories of not understanding the health service. Dr Dan Poulter signing his Labour Party membership form with Ellie Reeves, Labours deputy national campaign co-ordinator (Labour Party/PA) ( PA Media ) 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, he added. But critics pointed to Mr Poulters record as a Conservative MP for the past 14 years, a time when the NHS has been placed under huge pressure. Below, The Independent looks at Mr Poulters career as an MP and why he has defected to the Labour Party. Who is he? Mr Poulter is a 45-year-old former Tory councillor who also worked as a doctor at Kings College hospital in London. Dr Dan Poulter said he could no longer look his NHS colleagues in the eye and remain a Tory MP ( BBC ) He was selected as the Conservative Party candidate for Central Suffolk for the 2010 election, when he won more than 50 per cent of the vote. He said he was inspired to enter politics in 2006 after meeting David Cameron and hearing him talk about fixing broken Britain and supporting the victims of state failure. But the ex-health minister has previously criticised the Conservatives, accusing the party under Lord Cameron in 2016 of prioritising middle class tax cuts over helping the working poor, and the socially disadvantaged. He was a minister in the department of health from 2012 to 2015 and currently works part-time as a mental health doctor in an NHS hospital. In 2011, Mr Poulter assessed his Tory MP colleague Guy Opperman after he collapsed in parliaments Central Lobby, spotting symptoms that could have pointed to a potentially fatal brain problem He immediately ordered the MP be taken to hospital, where medics found a brain tumour needing emergency surgery. Why has he defected? Mr Poulter is not standing at the next general election, so suggestions he has joined the Labour Party to save his seat amid what polls suggest will be a Tory wipeout are wide of the mark. He has said he wants a position after the election advising Labour on its mental health policies while focusing more on his NHS work. Announcing his defection, he said working in the NHS had persuaded him that Labour is the only party who could be trusted to invest in the future of the NHS. He told The Observer: I could not go on as part of that. I have to be able to look my NHS colleagues in the eye, my patients in the eye and my constituents in the eye. And I know that the Conservative government has been failing on the thing I care about most, which is the NHS and its patients. The Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP will sit on the Labour benches until the next general election, expected this autumn, when he has announced he will step down ( PA ) Discussions have reportedly been ongoing for months at the top of the Labour Party about the defection. What does Labour think? Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer celebrated the move, posting a letter welcoming Mr Poulter on social media He said: Its fantastic to welcome Dr Dan Poulter MP to todays changed Labour party. 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. Figures on the left of the Labour Party will likely feel uneasy having a Conservative join their ranks, however, especially at a time when long-serving Labour MP Diane Abbott remains suspended. Left-wing campaign group Momentum said: Dan Poulter spent fourteen years voting through and enacting Tory austerity and privatisation. If hes right to say the Tories have broken the NHS and our public services, he fails to mention he helped break them. Sadly, it speaks volumes about Starmers Labour that an active opponent of working-class interests feels comfortable joining the party. With so little between the two main parties, its no wonder voters feel unrepresented. The defection, the first since Christian Wakeford crossed the aisle in 2022, means the Conservatives majority has nearly halved since the 2019 general election. Then it stood at 80, now it has fallen to 41. 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 Tory MP has launched a personal attack on Rishi Sunaks as she claimed she was more Reform than most of Reform UKs parliamentary candidates. Great Grimsby MP Lia Nici said the prime minister lacked the appeal of Boris Johnson, who helped her win as a Tory in the red wall seat in 2019 for the first time in 100 years. And she praised the policy platform of Reform, Nigel Farages right-wing challenger party, saying it has a lot of ideas that people locally do like. It comes as Mr Sunak comes under increasing pressure with a rebel plot reported to replace him with Penny Moundaunt. Im probably more Reform than most Reform candidates to be honest, Ms Nici told Skys Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge. She added: Im constantly called a rebel but thats because most people in Grimsby think in a similar way to me. So I hold our Government to account on that. Reform have got a lot of ideas that people locally do like, but are they are a fully-formed political party, no theyre not. Ms Nici also praised former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson, saying he is a fantastic colleague, but that he will not get the same kind of support in Reform as under the Tories. If people vote for Reform this time around what well get is a Labour government so you need to be careful what you wish for, Ms Nici said. But Reform leader Richard Tice, who took over from Mr Farage, extended an olive branch to Ms Nici, inviting her to give me a ring. He told The Telegraph: Lia is quite right that our Reform policies are very popular and it sounds like she should give me a ring. Lee has my number. Richard Tice invited Lia Nici to speak to him on Reform UK after she expressed a degree of support for the party ( AFP via Getty Images ) Reforms policy platform includes promises to pull the country out of the European Court of Human Rights and freeze non-essential migration. Ms Nicis praise for the party comes as it piles major pressure on Mr Sunak, winning over voters angered by the high tax burden and soaring legal and illegal migration. It is currently the third largest party in the polls, and threatens to deprive the Tories of majorities in tens of seats at the general election. She is the second Tory MP to express a degree of support for Reform in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Nick Fletcher suggested voters back Nigel Farages Reform party at the next election so Mr Anderson is returned to Westminster. The MP for Don Valley, said the former Tory deputy chairman, who defected after being suspended earlier this year, was his seats greatest champion. He added that he hoped locals appreciate what he has done for his hometown and the country at the next election adding we both need to be back in Westminster. Mr Sunak and the Tory whips did not discipline Mr Fletcher over the remarks. A staunch supporter of the former prime minister, Ms Nici also argued Mr Johnson put Grimsby on the political map and was more charming than Mr Sunak. The thing is people do want to have charismatic leaders and the difficulty is that for many, many decades we havent had somebody as charismatic as Boris, she said. And as good a politician, as good a person as Rishi Sunak is, I dont believe he does have that charisma that comes across on TV. Tesla CEO Elon Musk was on a flight heading to Beijing on Sunday to kick off a surprise trip in the electric vehicle maker's second-biggest market, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. Musk is seeking to meet senior Chinese officials in Beijing to discuss the rollout of Full-Self Driving (FSD) software in China and to obtain approval to transfer data collected in the country abroad to train algorithms for its autonomous driving technologies, one of the people said. Tesla has since 2021 stored all data collected by its Chinese fleet in Shanghai as required by Chinese regulators and has not transferred any back to the United States. The U.S. EV maker rolled out FSD, the most autonomous version of its Autopilot software, four years ago but has yet to make it available in China despite customers urging it to do so. Musk said this month Tesla may make FSD available to customers in China "very soon," in response to a query on social media platform X. Rival Chinese automakers such as Xpeng have been seeking to gain an advantage over Tesla by rolling out similar software. Musk's visit to China was not flagged publicly and the people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with media. Tesla did not respond immediately to a request for comment. (Reuters) 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 }} The use of mixed-sex wards has gone through the roof after the number of men and women being put in beds next to each other soared to nearly its highest level in a decade. Official figures from NHS England show the governments strict rules against doing so were broken nearly 5,000 times in February alone. NHS leaders voiced concerns over the high number of breaches and warned that care that was unthinkable a decade ago is at risk of becoming the new normal. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said patients were left feeling humiliated and at risk, adding: The use of mixed-sex wards has gone through the roof under the Tories. The government outlawed mixed wards in the NHS in 2010. Under the guidance, patients should not share wards overnight, share bathroom facilities or have to walk through areas occupied by patients of the opposite sex to get to the toilets. When hospitals breach this they are required to report it to the NHS. Only in very few circumstances is mixed accommodation allowed such as urgent admission to critical care. Despite promises more than a decade ago to eliminate mixed wards, The Independent has found: 4,811 reported breaches in February, up from 3,789 last November Nurses warning sky-high breaches are the tip of the iceberg Evidence that patients are suffering sexual assaults while on mixed mental health wards One woman was sexually assaulted while in the corridor by a male patient ( PA Wire ) Breaches are almost as high as the 4,929 breaches seen in February 2020, when Covid was ravaging the NHS and just weeks before ministers announced a nationwide lockdown to protect the health service, and the 4,938 seen last January. Under the guidance, no mental health units should have mixed wards. However, earlier this year, The Independent revealed the practice is widespread, with more than 500 sexual assaults reported across almost half of the NHS mental health hospitals in England. In one case, patient Alexis Quinn told how she was placed on a male-only ward due to bed shortages at the time. She was later sexually assaulted while in the corridor by a male patient. Another former patient, Rivkah Grant, was sexually assaulted by a male mental health worker while at Barnet Hospital, and then further traumatised after she was moved to a mixed ward just days later. However, NHS England said the breach rate how many times the rules were broken compared to how busy the health service is was the same this February as it had been in February 2020. Mr Streeting said that the use of mixed-sex wards could be directly linked to government cuts: Women were forced to spend the night on wards alongside male patients 44,000 times last year, 20 times as many as a decade ago. Patients often find this humiliating. Thanks to the investigative reporting of The Independent, we know that this is also leaving women particularly vulnerable and putting their safety at risk. The rising number of breaches is a direct result of Conservative cuts to hospital beds and their failure to train enough NHS staff. Earlier this year, following questions by The Independent, the Department for Health and Social Care said it planned to update guidance on mixed-sex accommodation however, it has yet to publish this. Patients are routinely being cared for in corridors and other inappropriate settings, says the RCN ( PA Wire ) Rory Deighton, from the NHS Confederation which represents hospital trusts, said the rise in breaches was a big concern to NHS leaders but also an indication of the immense pressure services have been under for some time. He cited delays in discharging patients to social care and bed occupancy that were too high, with too many patients waiting too long for beds after being admitted from A&E, and this is leading to corridor care. Staff are trying to mitigate safety risks day in and day out, but care that was unthinkable a decade ago is at risk of becoming the new normal, he said. NHS guidance says patients should not share wards overnight with members of the opposite sex except where appropriate. The only exemptions are critical care, end-of-life care, and observation wards where patients are only meant to be admitted for four hours and where treatment is delivered such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The guidance also says that on the rare occasions that mixing does occur, every effort should be made to rectify the situation as soon as possible. Lynn Woolsey, UK deputy chief nurse at the Royal College of Nursing, said: Sky-high mixed-sex ward breaches tell the story of an NHS bursting at the seams, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Patients are routinely being cared for in corridors and other inappropriate settings. Nursing staff describe instances of having to move non-essential equipment such as vending machines in order to place a bed with a patient. Patients deserve respect, privacy and dignity, and this is not it. Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: This is yet another broken promise from this government on the NHS. It shows the Conservative Party simply cant be trusted with our NHS. NHS guidance says patients should not share wards overnight with members of the opposite sex except where appropriate ( PA ) Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive at NHS Providers, said trust leaders do everything they can to avoid mixed-sex accommodation. But, she said, record levels of pressure and demand for beds mean there will unfortunately be times when this is not possible. Last year, the then health secretary Steve Barclay announced a ban on transgender patients being accommodated in female-only and male-only NHS wards, telling the Tory party conference in Manchester: We know what a woman is. However, he did not address the issue of rising mixed-sex wards. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: We have been clear patients should not have to share sleeping accommodation with others of the opposite sex and should have access to segregated bathroom and toilet facilities. We expect NHS trusts to comply with these measures. They added that the government is making huge progress in reducing the overall waiting list while continuing to respect the rights of patients. 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 }} London Mayor Sadiq Khan is the Labour Party candidate and is running for his third term after first being elected in 2016. The Labour incumbent launched his re-election campaign last month and accused the Conservatives of an abject failure on housing. He pledged to build 40,000 new council homes by the end of the decade to unleash the greatest council housebuilding drive in a generation if voted back in. He said the capital would go much further, much faster with Labour running both Downing Street and City Hall, without the Tories holding us back. The mayor vowed to deliver a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make real inroads into solving Londons housing crisis and end the scandal of rough sleeping. The plan to end rough sleeping would come at a cost of 10 million in new Ending Homelessness Hubs and help some 1,700 rough sleepers off the streets. The Labour incumbent launched his re-election campaign last month and accused the Conservatives of an abject failure on housing ( AFP via Getty Images ) He also pledged that London will go further than any other UK city in tackling violence against women if he is re-elected as mayor. The plan will also include a rollout of activity to tackle misogyny in schools, including more funding to organisations that provide outreach and training to children. The Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez), one of Khans flagship policies, has been the centre of controversy in recent years. First introduced in the capital in 2019 to tackle air pollution, Ulez was expanded to every borough in August 2023 despite vocal backlash. Many of the other mayoral candidates vow to scrap the scheme if elected. His main manifesto pledges include: Free school meals and TfL fares frozen Supporting Londoners through the cost-of-living crisis Fixing the housing crisis 40,000 new council homes, rent control homes and an end to rough sleeping by 2030 Tough on crime and the causes of crime 1,300 police officers and PCSOs and more investment in youth clubs A greener future Tackling air pollution and the climate crisis Standing up for London Defending our diversity and uniting our communities You can read Sadiq Khans full manifesto here. Voters can cast their ballot in person on 2 May, by post or by proxy. Find your nearest polling station here . Everyone will need to show photo ID at polling stations before they vote. The results will be announced at City Hall on Saturday 4 May. 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 New laws protecting consumers from hacking and cyber attacks come into effect on Monday, with all smart devices required to meet minimum-security standards. Manufacturers of products including phones, TVs and smart doorbells are now legally required to protect internet-connected devices against access by cyber criminals, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said. Weak default passwords such as admin or 12345 will be banned, with users prompted to change any common passwords. Manufacturers have to publish contact details so bugs and issues can be reported, and be transparent about timings of security updates. From today, consumers will have greater peace of mind that their smart devices are protected from cyber criminals Viscount Camrose The new measures will help give customers confidence in buying and using products, according to the department. Science and technology minister Viscount Camrose said: As everyday life becomes increasingly dependent on connected devices, the threats generated by the internet multiply and become even greater. From today, consumers will have greater peace of mind that their smart devices are protected from cyber criminals, as we introduce world first laws that will make sure their personal privacy, data and finances are safe. We are committed to making the UK the safest place in the world to be online and these new regulations mark a significant leap towards a more secure digital world. The laws are taking effect as part of the product security and telecommunications infrastructure (PSTI) regime, which aims to strengthen the UKs resilience from cyber crime. 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 }} Alex Salmond has warned Scotlands embattled first minister Humza Yousaf that his Alba Party will only back him in a confidence vote if the SNP is open to a renewed push for Scottish independence. The no-confidence motion was lodged by Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross after Mr Yousaf dramatically collapsed the SNPs power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens last week leaving him at the head of a minority government in Holyrood. While there is no obligation for him to resign if he loses that vote, Labour has also called for a second vote of confidence in Mr Yousafs government, which would force all ministers to resign if passed and give MSPs 28 days to agree on a new first minister, or else trigger a Scottish parliamentary election. Humza Yousaf dramatically brought the Bute House Agreement to an end this week ( Reuters ) With the Greens indicating they will remain steadfast in backing the motion against Mr Yousaf accusing him of a spectacular breach of trust in abandoning their 2021 Bute House Agreement the SNP leader has written to other parties in an attempt to build bridges. Fighting to save his political future in the face of tight parliamentary arithmetic ahead of this weeks vote, Mr Yousaf has invited rival parties to meetings at his official residence to establish how they could potentially work with his minority government. Representing Alba the party set up by former SNP leader-turned-rival Mr Salmond in 2021 will be its sole MSP Ash Regan, a former SNP minister who defected in October. While Mr Yousafs spokesperson has dismissed any electoral pact with Alba as fantasy, Mr Salmond noted that the first minister is in a very difficult position and appeared to be open to moving away from the identity agenda which Mr Salmond said has caused so much disruption in Scottish society. The SNP have 63 out of 128 voting MSPs at the Scottish Parliamet, meaning Ms Regans support may be needed to get Mr Yousaf over the line. Ash Regans could hold the key vote in the motion against the First Minister ( PA Wire ) Speaking to Skys Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr Salmond said: What Ash Regan will do in the meetings shes been invited to by Humza Yousaf, the first minister, is make a set of reasonable proposals to help him out of a very tight corner and put Scotland back on a sensible governmental road. Stressing the priority of independence for Scotland, the protection of women and girls in Scottish society and a return of the government to the things that matter to the people education, health, housing and, above all, the economy and jobs. Mr Salmond warned that his partys support would be dependent on the SNPs openness to exploring Albas own plans to push Scottish independence back up the agenda. The specific proposals that Ash Regan has, she has a bill in the Scottish parliament to extend the powers it has to include the legislation for the negotiation for independence, he told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show. Weve got every reason to believe that is within the competence of the parliament and wed like a discussion on that. And secondly theres the idea of an independence convention, something that has been widely canvassed by the independence movement and could put independence back onto the front pages and top of the list of priorities of the Scottish government. Alex Salmond weighs in on whether Humza Yousaf will survive no confidence vote Mr Yousaf wrote his appeal to each of the other major Scottish parties on Friday night in a bid to seek common ground. Mr Ross, the Tory leader said it was a humiliating and embarrassing letter, while Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton also rejected the offer of talks, telling Mr Yousaf: Your actions this past week have eroded entirely any remaining trust that you enjoyed across the chamber. They suggest that rather than being motivated by the national interest, you are presently motivated only by your own self-interest and by political survival. Ms Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, told BBC Scotlands Sunday Show, that she could not imagine anything at this point that could change her partys intention of voting against Mr Yousaf next week. [The Bute House Agreement] was based on mutual trust and respect, said Ms Slater. I do have trust and respect for many of my SNP colleagues. But Humza Yousaf himself has broken that and he needs to face the consequences. A Scottish Labour spokeswoman said: We will respond to this letter in due course. However, it is clear that Humza Yousaf has lost the confidence of Parliament and the public. There is nothing he can do to change Scottish Labour, or the publics, mind about that. Additional reporting by PA 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 been warned that losses in the Tees Valley and West Midlands mayoral elections would set the vultures circling, with restless Tory MPs agitating for a leadership challenge. On the weekend reports emerged of a Tory plot to replace the PM with Penny Mordaunt, Mr Sunak has been warned that the unseating of Ben Houchen and Andy Street in next Thursdays contests could further damage his standing. The pair are the Conservatives most powerful figures outside of Westminster and have built major personal brands. Ben Houchen has remained significantly more popular than the Conservatives nationally ( Ian Forsyth/PA Wire ) When their seats were last up for election in 2021, Mr Houchen won a remarkable 72 per cent of the vote, while Mr Street won with 54 per cent. Amid collapsing poll ratings for the Tories nationally, both have managed to maintain higher levels of personal support than Mr Sunak and the Conservatives. But, in a worrying sign the week before ballots open, pollsters are recording both races close to neck and neck: Mr Houchen is slightly leading in Tees Valley, while Mr Street is slightly behind in the West Midlands race. Adding to the pressure on the PM, who has again refused to rule out calling a July general election, a group of Tory plotters have reportedly hatched a plan to replace him with Ms Mordaunt. They are said to have hatched a 100 Days To Save Britain plan whereby Ms Mordaunt, best known for wielding a ceremonial sword at the Kings coronation, would become PM. Mr Sunaks premiership was also rocked on Saturday by the shock defection of former health minister Dr Dan Poulter to the Labour Party. And Chris Hopkins, director of polling company Savanta, said that if both Tory mayors lose, the vultures really will be circling for Rishi Sunak. Mr Hopkins told The Independent: If Ben Houchen and Andy Street both hold on next Thursday, there will be some comfort for the Conservatives in that. And if one loses but the other wins, that is probably a score draw. But if both lose, the vultures really will start circling for Rishi Sunak. These are two figures who are essentially running campaigns as independently of the Conservative Party as possible, and the fact the races are as close as they are is testament to the strength of their personal brands. If both were to lose, it would show how much of a drag the Conservative brand is nationally. West Midlands mayor Andy Street is facing a tough re-election battle ( PA ) Home secretary James Cleverly warned Tory MPs on Thursday that a leadership challenge against Mr Sunak would be a catastrophically bad idea. Tricky mayoral elections, combined with the loss of hundreds of council seats across the country, could galvanise MPs unhappy with the PM into a bid to replace him before the general election. Mr Cleverly said: If youre going to jump out of an aeroplane, please make sure youve got a parachute before you leave the aeroplane. And dont say, No, well work that out on the way down. I think those people who think that another leadership campaign, as truncated as it might be between now and the election, is anything other than a catastrophically bad idea. A senior Tory MP agreed, telling The Independent they did not see the point of ditching Rishi because his successor would struggle to move the dial and face owning a general election loss. But the MP added that things are febrile enough for that kind of logic to go out the window. Mr Hopkins added: If the Conservatives were to impose another leader before the general election, the cost would be catastrophic. He said the benefit of changing leaders would be outweighed by the chaos of imposing a fourth prime minister since the last general election. Britains top polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice told The Independent that the results of the mayoral contests will have bigger political conclusions than polling conclusions. If the Conservatives hold Tees Valley and the West Midlands, he said they and Mr Sunak would have cover and the nervousness of Tory MPs would be quelled. But he added: If they do badly in the rest of the elections, and they lose Houchen, and they lose Street, there is no defence. It is bad, and it is going to get presented as bad news. Voters will go to the polls on Thursday 2 May ( EPA ) Tory peer and polling expert Lord Hayward said neither Mr Houchen nor Mr Street would be seen as possible winners without their strong personal support. He did not call the races either way but told The Independent Mr Street could be boosted in the West Midlands by the backlash against Labour over its stance on the war in Gaza. Addressing the other seats up for grabs, he said the Tories would have a bad night but it would not be a blowout for Labour. Lord Hayward said the Conservatives would lose more than 400 local council seats, while Labour would gain as many as 250. There are 2,600 council seats up for grabs on 2 May. 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 }} Susan Hall is the Conservative Party candidate for London mayor. The Tory candidate is a former leader of the London Assembly Conservative group. Ms Hall launched her manifesto on 22 April 10 days before the polls open. At the event, Ms Hall said she would scrap the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) expansion from day one in the job. She pledged to end a war on motorists by reviewing 20mph speed limits on main roads and low traffic neighbourhoods where they are said to be unpopular. The Conservatives would also extend Night Tube services, and reinstate travel discounts for over-60s during peak morning hours, her manifesto said. Ms Hall has also committed to recruit 1,500 more police officers, and set up two new police bases in every London borough, while taking action to crack down on knife crime, theft and womens safety issues. Ms Hall said she would scrap the Ulez expansion from day one in the job ( REUTERS ) Elsewhere, she promised to build more affordable homes by prioritising high-density, low-rise developments over new tower blocks, and promote green choices for Londoners, including by providing more electric vehicle charging points. Sadiq Khan wont be able to fund his ridiculous, uncosted billion-pound manifesto unless he brings in pay-per-mile and slashes police funding even further, which would be devastating for every family in London, Ms Hall said. I am listening to Londoners, which is why I will scrap the Ulez expansion and his pay-per-mile plans on day one of my mayoralty. For eight years, weve had a mayor who wont listen. It is time we changed that, and on 2 May we can. Her manifesto pledges include: Make Londons streets safer Recruit extra police Stop the closing of Londons police stations Bring back borough-led policing Cut the cost of travelling Scrap ULEZ expansion on day one Support local councils to remove Low-traffic-neighbourhoods No driving charge for every mile you drive Build more affordable family homes Read her full manifesto here. Voters can cast their ballot in person on 2 May, by post or by proxy. Find your nearest polling station here . Everyone will need to show photo ID at polling stations before they vote. The results will be announced at City Hall on Saturday 4 May. Read the full list of candidates here . Susan Hall did not respond to an interview request by The Independent. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Irish premier Simon Harris has asked his justice minister to bring forward emergency legislation to allow Ireland to send asylum seekers back to the UK. The taoiseach said Rishi Sunaks plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda has caused an uptick in the number of asylum seekers crossing from Northern Ireland into the Republic. In response, a spokesperson for Mr Harris said the Irish PM has asked his justice minister, Helen McEntee, 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. Speaking to RTEs Six One News, Ms McEntee said: There are many reasons why we have seen an increase in migration toward Ireland. Ill have emergency legislation at cabinet this week to make sure that we can effectively return people to the UK and thats why Ill be meeting with the home secretary [James Cleverly] to raise these issues on Monday. Rishi Sunak said claims the UKs Rwanda plan is causing an influx of migrants into Ireland showed the deterrent is working. Michelle ONeill said the Irish government had been disorganised responding to the issue ( AFP via Getty Images ) The PM told Sky News his focus was on the United Kingdom, but added: 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. The Irish government claimed the number of migrants crossing from Northern Ireland was higher than 80 per cent in recent months. Under the Rwanda Bill, asylum seekers coming to the UK face being sent on a one-way flight to the east African nation, with the aim of stopping others from crossing the English Channel on small boats. Northern Irelands first minister, Michelle ONeill, said she had not been contacted about planned legislation on asylum seekers arriving in Ireland from the UK. Rishi Sunak said an increase in asylum seekers arriving in Ireland shows his Rwanda plan is acting as a deterrent ( PA ) I am the first minister in the north and I have yet to hear from the taoiseach or the tanaiste or the justice minister, she said in Dublin on Sunday. To me, that highlights, maybe even underlines, how disorganised they are in dealing with this issue. Policy responsibility for migration and immigration sits with the British government, Im aware that Helen McEntee is to meet James Cleverly over the course of the next 24-36 hours. Ms ONeill was speaking at a launch of the partys local, European and Limerick mayoral election campaign in Dublin. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who was also at the event, argued that cross-border migration means Ireland should reject a newly-revealed overhaul of EU laws on migration and asylum. We need a plan that is resourced and delivered to deal with this issue, Ms McDonald said on Sunday. Mr Harris said that more cooperation will be needed between the police forces in Ireland and Northern Ireland on migration. He said Ireland does not intend to allow Ireland to provide a loophole for anybody elses migration challenges. Every country is entitled to have its own migration policy, but I certainly dont intend to allow anybody elses migration policy to affect the integrity of our own one, he said in Co Monaghan on Sunday. 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 search recently launched on Long Island is not connected to suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann but instead is believed to be linked to another serial killer suspect. Investigators are looking for evidence in the 1993 murder of Sandra Costilla, which they hope to tie to convicted murderer John Bittrolff, 57, police sources with knowledge of the Suffolk County case told The New York Post. Officers descended on an area of Long Islands Manorville on Wednesday, but the extensive search has since shifted to North Sea, a hamlet within Southampton Town, where 28-year-old Sandra Costilla, 28, of Queens, was found by hunters savagely beaten and strangled on 20 November 1993. Its unclear what led them to the location or if they have found anything in their search, but police sources say they are hoping to tie Costillas murder to Bittrolff. Bittrolff was previously named as a suspect in Costillas murder but has never been charged. He is currently in prison after being convicted of killing two other women on Long Island Rita Tangredi, 31, a known sex worker who was found dead on 2 November 1993, in East Patchogue, and Colleen McNamee, 20, who was found dead on 30 January 1994, in a wooded area along William Floyd Parkway. In 2017, jurors found Bittrolff guilty of second-degree murder in both cases. He is now serving 50 years to life. For years after his arrest, Mr Bittrolff was also the lead suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders, sources told The Post and was suspected in at least one of the 10 murders attributed to the Gilgo Beach killer, the Suffolk County prosecutors said at his sentencing. He was found guilty of second-degree murder in both cases and is now serving 50 years to life. Bittrolff was dismissed as Gilgo Beach suspect months before Manhattan architect Rex Heuermann was arrested in July 2023 and charged with murder in the deaths of four women whose bodies were found covered in burlap near the beach on Long Island more than a decade ago. Alleged Gilgo serial killer Rex Heuermann, right, along with his attorney Michael Brown, appears inside Judge Tim Mazzei's courtroom in February 2024 after being charged with the murders of four women ( Getty Images ) Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney later publicly said Bittrolff was not involved in the Gilgo Beach serial murders. The women known as the Gilgo Four have been identified as Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes and Amber Costello. Mr Heuermann, 60, was initially charged with killing Barthelemy, Waterman and Costello. He was charged with killing Brainard-Barnes, in January of this year. He has pleaded not guilty to the four murder charges. Two sets of remains of young women, Valerie Mack and Jessica Taylor were found more than 20 years ago in 2000 and 2003, respectively, in Manorville three miles from Bittrolffs residence. Both women were sex workers at the time of their disappearance. Further remains of both women were also during a parallel search along Gilgo Beachs Ocean Parkway in 2011. Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, whose bodies were found in 2010 are the Gilgo Four ( (Suffolk County Police Department via AP) ) The new investigations come after Mr Heuermanns estranged wife last month said she did not believe he was capable of the crimes he is accused of and she visits him in jail weekly despite pending divorce proceedings. Asa Ellerup filed for divorce in the days after Heuermanns arrest, but told outlet Newsday in a statement issued through her lawyer that she would listen to all of the evidence and withhold judgment until the end of trial. Ms Ellerup added, I have given Rex the benefit of the doubt, as we all deserve. 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 }} Family and friends have honoured the short lives of Tylee Ryan and Joshua JJ Vallow the children of convicted killer Lori Vallow whose remains were found buried on Chad Daybells property nearly a year after they vanished. Mr Daybell, 55, is currently on trial in Boise, Idaho, where many family members and supporters have been filling up the courtroom since the trial started in early April. He faces the death penalty if convicted of murder in their deaths and the 2019 death of his first wife, Tammy Daybell. But dozens of people travelled several hours east to Idaho Falls for the celebration of life service hosted by Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallows grandparents Larry and Kay Woodcock on Saturday. Were not sad today, Mr Woodcock told the attendees. Were honouring those who lost their lives in this. Mr Woodcock, who attended every day of Vallows trial last year and has been a regular at Mr Daybells trial, was one of many who shared his favourite memories of the children at the service. Im gonna start this letter, Mr Woodcock said tearfully. But I want to tell you, Ill never make it through it. I hope you all understand that. Larry Woodcock, grandfather of JJ Vallow, speaks at celebration of life service in Idaho on Saturday 27 April ( EastIdahoNews.com ) The heartbroken grandfather, who often played JJs favourite song, Queens We Will Rock You on breaks at Vallows trial, noted that he could tell how much the children had an effect on people and how they brought people together. We need to let the world know that there is good in the world, Mr Woodcock said. Theres righteousness in the world and that its not all sadness. The grandparents decided to have the service after the childrens remains were returned to the family in 2023 - more than four years after they were killed. The last several years have been filled with pain and grief as we travelled this long arduous road. We have waited and prayed for this day for so long and are immeasurably relieved that JJ will finally be laid to rest, they said at the time. As we reminisce in the joy that JJ filled our life with, our hearts ache for those that love JJ and share in the immense grief and loss of such a beautiful little man. Our greatest wish is for JJ and Tylee to be celebrated for the joy and love they brought to this world and for them to finally rest in peace. Only then, will our hearts begin to heal. Last year, Lori Vallow was convicted of the three murders and sentenced to life in prison ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The children vanished in the fall of 2019. In October of the same year, Mr Daybells wife Tammy died in her sleep. The otherwise healthy 49-year-old was initially believed to have died of a cardiac event but an autopsy later determined that her cause of death was asphyxiation. Just two weeks later, Mr Daybell married Lori Vallow on a beach in Hawaii. Her children were still nowhere to be found. Nine months later, in June 2020, their remains were discovered buried in the backyard of Daybells Rexburg, Idaho home. Last year, 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. 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 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is accusing Amazon executives, including founder Jeff Bezos, of using encrypted messaging apps that automatically delete messages to communicate, even after they were notified they were under investigation. In a motion to compel, filed on Thursday, the FTC is asking a judge to force Amazon to produce documents related to the companys failure to preserve Signal messages the companys document preservation notices and its instructions about using disappearing messaging applications. That includes Signal, an encrypted messaging service with a feature allowing users to make messages disappear automatically when toggled. The FTC alleges that executives did this while discussing sensitive business matters, including antitrust instead of using email to destroy potential evidence. Amazon is currently involved in a massive antitrust lawsuit, brought by the FTC and 17 state attorney general. Theyre accusing Amazon of unlawfully exploiting its monopoly to jack up prices and stifle competition The Washington Post first reported this. The FTC contends that Amazon employees began using Signal in 2019 the federal agency sent a letter to Amazon asking it to preserve all of its documents due to its investigation in June 2019. Companies have a legal obligation to preserve documents and communications that could be used as relevant evidence in cases and trials. In their filing, the FTC says Amazon did not notify Mr Bezos until April 2020 but that several executives continued using Signals disappearing message feature. Signal ( Getty Images ) Amazon spokesperson Tim Doyle said in a statement obtained by The Post, The FTCs contentions are baseless. Amazon voluntarily disclosed employees limited Signal use to the FTC years ago, thoroughly collected Signal conversations from its employees phones, and allowed agency staff to inspect those conversations even when they had nothing to do with the FTCs investigations. He added: The FTC has a complete picture of Amazons decision-making in this case, including 1.7 million documents from sources like email, internal messaging applications, and laptops (among other sources), and over 100 terabytes of data. The FTC is asking a judge to compel the company to provide its preservation notices and instructions to determine Whether, when and how Amazon employees were instructed to preserve Signal messages related to work if they were instructed at all. Plaintiffs need these documents to assess whether Amazon failed to take reasonable steps to preserve documents and to map out what information has been destroyed, the FTC wrote. 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 }} Drivers entering New York Citys central business district will be charged a congestion pricing toll starting on June 30, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials have said. The new congestion pricing plan, which was approved by the New York state Legislature in 2019, will be the first such programme in the United States. It aims to ease some of the worst traffic in the nation, improve air quality, increase mass transit ridership and raise money to modernize the citys subway, bus and commuter rail system. It will charge most cars $15 for entering Manhattan below 60th Street during peak times. Tolls for trucks would be about $24 or $36, depending on their size, the New York Times reported. Taxi fares would increase by $1.25, and Uber and Lyft fares would rise by $2.50. Ninety per cent-plus of the people come to the congestion zone, the central business district, walking, biking and most of all taking mass transit, Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Janno Lieber told WABC. We are a mass transit city and we are going to make it even better to be in New York. The congestion pricing plan is expected to raise $1bn per year to fund public transportation for the citys 4 million daily riders. New York has become the first US city to approve congestion tolls on drivers ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) We cannot drive our way out of the climate crisis, and congestion pricing will provide critical funding to upgrade our mass transit system, benefiting the millions of daily commuters across the region and encouraging countless more to ditch their gas-guzzling cars, said Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. According to a November report by an authority advisory committee, congestion pricing is expected to lower the number of vehicles coming into the zone by about 17 per cent. Its also supposed to divert drivers in an effort to avoid gridlock. However, some critics said this would only divert them to certain neighbourhoods, which would become dirtier from the increase in traffic in those areas. Cities outside of the United States that have adopted congestion-pricing programs including London, Singapore and Stockholm, have reported sharp drops in traffic and congestion. However, not everyone is in favour of the new plan. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and others oppose it and have filed lawsuits seeking to postpone or halt the programme. Those against it have argued the tolling fees will burden commuters who already pay bridge and tunnel tolls. And that prices for the goods transported by trucks will increase. But MTA CEO Janno Lieber said he is pretty optimistic about how the New Jersey lawsuit will be resolved, the Associated Press reported. He said congestion pricing will start at 12.01am on June 30, with the first users only being charged the nighttime fare of $3.75. The $15 toll will take effect at 9am. The MTA also announced on Friday that low-income drivers can apply for a congestion toll discount on the MTA website and that disabled people can apply for exemptions. Congestion pricing will be a win-win-win for all New Yorkers, commuters and visitors and will bring better public transit, cleaner air, and freer moving traffic, according to Danny Pearlstein, a spokesman for the Riders Alliance, an advocacy group, who said in a statement that the start of the program cannot happen soon enough. 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 Bidens administration is delaying the menthol cigarette ban amid widespread opposition. In the announcement made on Friday, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra gave no timeline, only saying only that the administration would take more time to consider feedback. 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, Mr Becerra said. Its clear that there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time. The announcement is another setback for Food and Drug Administration officials, who drafted the ban and predicted it would prevent hundreds of thousands of smoking-related deaths over 40 years, the Associated Press reported. More than 11 per cent of US adults smoke, with rates roughly even between white and Black people. But about 80 per cent of Black smokers smoke menthol, which the FDA says masks the harshness of smoking, making it easier to start and harder to quit. Also, most teenagers who smoke cigarettes prefer menthols. Smoking can cause cancer, strokes and heart attacks and is blamed for 480,000 deaths each year in the US, including 45,000 among Black Americans. Menthol Cigarettes ( Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) This decision prioritizes politics over lives, especially Black lives, said Yolonda Richardson of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, in an emailed statement to the Associated Press. It is especially disturbing to see the administration parrot the false claims of the tobacco industry about support from the civil rights community. Ms Richardson also said that the ban is supported by groups including the NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus. The announcement on Friday comes exactly two years after the FDA initially proposed the regulations, which paved the way for a historic ban on menthol cigarettes that the administration said would be a critical piece of President Bidens Cancer Moonshot initiative, Fox News reported. 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 Mr Becerras announcement. Dozens of meetings were held by the White House with groups in opposition to the ban, including civil rights organizers, law enforcement officials and small business owners, most of whom have financial ties to tobacco companies. For decades, tobacco companies focused on menthol advertising and promotions in Black communities, sponsoring music festivals and neighbourhood events. Industry documents released via litigation also show companies viewed menthol cigarettes as a good starter product because they were more palatable to teens, the Associated Press reported. The FDA released its draft of the proposed ban in 2022. Officials under Biden initially targeted last August to finalize the rule. Late last year, White House officials said they would take until March to review the measure. When that deadline passed last month, several anti-smoking groups filed a lawsuit to force its release. We are disappointed with the action of the Biden administration, which has caved in to the scare tactics of the tobacco industry, said Dr Mark Mitchell of the National Medical Association, an African American physician group that is suing the administration. Separately, Rev Al Sharpton and other civil rights leaders have warned that a menthol ban would create an illegal market for the cigarettes in Black communities and invite more confrontations with police. The FDA and health advocates have long rejected such concerns, noting FDAs enforcement of the rule would only apply to companies that make or sell cigarettes, not to individuals. An FDA spokesperson said Friday the agency is still committed to banning menthol cigarettes. As weve made clear, these product standards remain at the top of our priorities, Jim McKinney said in a statement. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy 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 talked with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday amid a fraying of the two leaders relationship and criticism on a major US cable news network directed at the prime minister by a relative of an American held by Hamas. The White House readout of the call described the two men as having discussed ongoing talks to secure the release of hostages together with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a day after the US president attended the glitzy White House Correspondents Association dinner that was once again targeted by protests of the US support for Israel during the war in Gaza. It was the first conversation between Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu since Hamas militants released a video on Saturday showing a US citizen taken hostage in the bloody Oct 7 attack that killed 1,139 and saw hundreds of Israelis and others, including Americans, taken captive by the militant group. More than 100 are thought to remain prisoners of Hamas in Gaza. The President referred to his statement with 17 other world leaders demanding that Hamas release their citizens without delay to secure a ceasefire and relief for the people of Gaza, read the White Houses description of the call. It went on to say that the two leaders further discussed preparations for new humanitarian aid crossings. Mr Bidens latest conversation with the Israeli PM comes as opposition to the USs role in the conflict is seemingly spiralling into a major protest movement across the country, likely provoked at least in part by violent crackdowns against demonstrators at Columbia university and other schools including Emory University in Georgia. At Saturdays White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington DC, protesters were both inside and outside of the building, though the main event itself was free from interruptions. Outside, many attendees ran a gauntlet of shouted condemnations from demonstrators who noted a call by Palestinian journalists to boycott the event. On Sunday, the niece of one of the hostages seen in a video released by Hamas a day earlier, Keith Siegel, reacted to the news on CBSs Face the Nation and accused Mr Netanyahu of seeing a political reason to avoid reaching a deal for the release of captives with the militant groups leadership. "I do think a deal can be reached. I mean, we know that," Hanna Siegel said, pointing to a previous hostage agreement which resulted in a temporary ceasefire last fall. "[O]ne of the things that really worries my family, and worries me, is that it's arguably not in Prime Minister Netanyahu's political interest to close a deal," she said. I do think that these two videos are a signal from Hamas that they are ready to make a deal and a reminder that there are American citizens being held, including Keith. Mr Biden and US officials continue to insist that the only path to a ceasefire in Gaza remains the immediate release of all hostages by Hamas. Last week, the president signed into law a national security supplemental package providing $26.38bn in military assistance to Israel. The legislation was opposed by progressives in the House of Representatives but passed with overwhelming bipartisan margins. Adding to the pressure on Mr Bidens relationship with the Israeli prime minister: his own partys establishment is home to many outspoken critics of Mr Netanyahu beyond the usual detractors of the Israeli government on the left. In recent weeks, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, one of Mr Bidens closest allies in the upper chamber, gave a floor speech calling for Israel to hold immediate elections ostensively with the goal of replacing the prime minister, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on Mr Netanyahu directly to resign. 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 }} Donald Trump has begun lashing out at independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr amid recent polling indicating the anti-vaxxer is attracting the support of potential Trump voters. Over the weekend, Mr Trump made at least four Truth Social posts attacking Mr Kennedy, falsely asserting he is a Democratic plant installed to help President Joe Biden win, that he is more liberal than any other candidate and that his views on vaccines are fake. A Vote for Junior would essentially be a WASTED PROTEST VOTE, that could swing either way, but would only swing against the Democrats if Republicans knew the true story about him. Mr Trump wrote on Saturday. The sudden ramp-up of attacks arrives after polling from Quinnipiac, Marist and NBC News shows that Mr Kennedys campaign is taking votes away from Mr Trump. An NBC News poll shows that in match-ups between Mr Trump and Mr Biden, the former president has at least a two-point lead. But when Mr Kennedy is thrown into the mix, Mr Biden then takes the lead. Marist polling indicates Mr Kennedy has managed to increase his support among independents from 21 per cent to 27 per cent meanwhile, Mr Trump has gone from 38 per cent to 30 per cent. Mr Trump advised Republican voters not to support Mr Kennedy, claiming he was anti-gun, an extreme environmentalist, an open border advocate and anti-military. Mr Trump also accused Mr Kennedy of contradicting his position on vaccines. Robert F Kennedy, pictured at a campaign event on 13 April, is facing calls from national environmental groups to end his campaign ( AP ) In reality, Mr Kennedy has voiced opposition to gun control legislation, heavily campaigns on sealing the border and supports looser environmental legislation than Mr Biden. He has also maintained extreme scepticism over vaccines and denounced vaccine mandates while disputing the anti-vaccine label that is often bestowed on him. Mr Kennedy responded to Mr Trumps attacks on X, saying the former presidents rant is a barely coherent barrage of wild and inaccurate claims. When frightened men take to social media they risk descending into vitriol, which makes them sound unhinged, Mr Kennedy said. He advised the former president to debate him on stage rather than lobby poisonous bombs from the safety of his bunker. Mr Kennedy launched his presidential campaign last April, much to the chagrin of his famous family. He initially entered the presidential candidate field as a Democrat but switched to an independent. 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 }} Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will vote for the man he holds personally responsible for leading a violent insurrection at his workplace, the US Capitol, Congresss senior Republican declared on Sunday. It was an affirmation of both previous statements the senator has made as well as the modern state of the GOP: utterly loyal to the man who, three years ago, he and others were roundly denouncing after a violent assault on the seat of American democracy left dozens of cops wounded and several dead including members of law enforcement and rioters. The statement was also a fitting end to the career of Mr McConnell, 82, who will be replaced as head of the Senate Republican caucus in the months ahead after he steps down in November. A persistent ideological check to the former president within the Republican Party, the Senate GOP leader has like his colleagues been forced to continue publicly supporting a candidate now facing 88 felony counts and set to be the first nominee of a major party to be under threat of prison time. Mr McConnell explained his upcoming vote during an interview that aired Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press. You have said that you endorse former president Trump. Are you gonna vote for him? asked Kristen Welker. I said three years ago, shortly after the assault on the Capitol, that I would support the nominee of the party, whoever that was, and I do, he replied. The remark showed Mr McConnells unflinching loyalty to party over all, and is particularly revealing given that, as an oft-critic of the former president, Mr McConnell has not minced words or sought to rewrite history surrounding the January 6 attack, as some of his conservative colleagues have done to defend their top ally. In 2021, the GOP leader made clear what had transpired on Jan 6: It was a violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election from one administration to the next. Now, Mr McConnell is confirming that he will vote for the man who sought to prevent the peaceful transfer of power and led a violent insurrection to do so, for one reason: hes not a Democrat. While he may show unwavering loyalty to the former president, it is far from reciprocated. Mr Trump is known to hold a grudge against Mr McConnell especially after the latter whipped votes against efforts to interfere in the certification of the 2020 election on January 6, and in 2022 the former president backed Florida Senator Rick Scott (a first-term senator) for Mr McConnells position over the incumbent GOP Senate leader. His loyalists in the House of Representatives, meanwhile, have already ousted one GOP leader in the past year and seem poised to try it again. Mike Johnson, the speaker of the House, may well end up relying on the support of Democrats to save himself from a rebellion led by Trumps acolytes. Mr McConnells latest interview comes after the Senate, with his support, finally sent a national security funding package to the presidents desk with funding for military assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after months of delay. The Senate had come together in bipartisan fashion around the legislation, and Mr McConnell himself led the GOP pressure campaign against Mr Johnson in the House as his colleagues in the lower chamber pumped the brakes on the bill. 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 }} Wildlife advocates are leading a call for a boycott of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming over laws that give people wide leeway to kill gray wolves with little oversight. The social media accounts of Wyomings tourism agency are being flooded with comments urging people to steer clear of the Cowboy State amid accusations that a man struck a wolf with a snowmobile, taped its mouth shut and showed off the injured animal at a Sublette County bar before killing it. Gray wolves are not commonly seen in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan ( AFP via Getty Images ) While critics contend that Wyoming has enabled such animal cruelty, a leader of the states stock growers association said its an isolated incident and unrelated to the states wolf management laws. The laws that have been in place for more than a decade are designed to prevent the predators from proliferating out of the mountainous Yellowstone region and into other areas where ranchers run cattle and sheep. This was an abusive action. None of us condone it. It never should never have been done, said Jim Magagna, executive vice president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association and a Sublette County rancher who has lost sheep to wolves. Its gotten a lot of media attention but its not exemplary of how we manage wolves to deal with livestock issues or anything. Wolves are federally protected as an endangered or threatened species in most of the U.S. but not the Northern Rockies. Wyoming, Idaho and Montana allow wolves to be hunted and trapped, after their numbers rebounded following their reintroduction to Yellowstone and central Idaho almost 30 years ago. Before their reintroduction, wolves had been annihilated in the lower 48 states through government-sponsored poisoning, trapping and bounty hunting into the mid-1900s. Wyoming has the least restrictive policies for killing wolves. There are limits on hunting and trapping in the northwestern corner of the state and killing them is prohibited in Yellowstone and neighboring Grand Teton National Park, where they are a major attraction for millions of tourists. But outside the Yellowstone region, in the 85% of the state known as the predator zone, they can be freely killed. The wolf allegedly was run down, shown off and killed within the predator zone. Wolves roam hundreds of miles and often kill cattle and sheep. Gray wolves attacked livestock hundreds of times in 2022 across 10 states including Wyoming, according to an Associated Press review of depredation data from state and federal agencies, the most recent data available. Other times livestock succumb to other predators, disease or exposure or simply go missing. Losses to wolves can be devastating to individual ranchers, yet wolves industry-wide impact is negligible: The number of cattle killed or injured in documented cases equals 0.002% of herds in the affected states, according to a comparison of depredation data with state livestock inventories. The predator zone resulted from negotiations between U.S. and Wyoming officials who traded away federal compensation for livestock killed by wolves in exchange for allowing free killing of wolves in that area. Saharai Salazar is among out-of-staters changing their travel plans based on what allegedly happened Feb. 29 near Daniel, a western Wyoming town of about 150 people. The Santa Rosa, California, dog trainer posted on the states tourism Instagram account that she would not get married in Wyoming next year as planned. The post was among hundreds of similar comments, many with a boycottwyoming hashtag on social media in recent weeks.We have to change the legislation, rewrite the laws so we can offer more protection, so they cant be interpreted in ways that will allow for such atrocities, Salazar said in an interview. Wyomings rules have long invited controversy but are unlikely to harm the overall population because most of the animals in the state live in the Yellowstone region, said wolf expert and former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wolf biologist Ed Bangs. Bangs said the incident of the wolf brought into the bar was a sideshow to the species successful recovery. The predator zone is made up largely of open landscapes that generally dont support wolves, he said. Wyomings rules, including the predator zone, have withstood multiple court challenges that have put wolves on and off the endangered species list since they were first delisted in 2008. Wolves havent been on the list in the region since a 2017 court order and their current Wyoming population of more than 300 is similar to their number in 2010. Though state law doesnt specify how wolves in the predator zone can be killed and doesnt specifically prohibit running them over, the Humane Society and others argue the states animal cruelty law applies in this case. Widely circulating photos show the man posing with the wolf with its mouth bound. Video clips show the same animal lying on a floor, alive but barely moving. The Sublette County Sheriffs Office said it has been investigating the anonymous reports of the mans actions but has struggled to get witnesses to come forward.Weve had the tip line open for two weeks hoping for witnesses or something helpful, sheriffs spokesperson Sgt. Travis Bingham said. I know theres some hesitation for people to come forward.The only punishment for the man so far is having to pay a $250 ticket for illegal possession of wildlife. The suspect has not commented publicly and did not answer calls to his business. 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 }} Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has called an urgent national cabinet meeting over violence against women, saying the issue had become a national crisis and an epidemic as protests took place across the country over the weekend. Mr Albanese called for all governments across Australia at both the local and federal levels to make changes and focus more on stopping perpetrators. Thousands gathered in Sydney and other major Australian cities seeking tougher laws on gendered violence after a wave of high-profile incidents against women. The government said the surge in violence has seen a woman killed every four days this year. A mass stabbing attack earlier this month killed six people, including five women. Australian police have said they will be investigating whether the attacker Joel Cauchi intentionally targeted women at the Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction. Demonstrators hold placards at rally in Sydney ( Getty ) Mr Albanese said on social media: Women in Australia deserve better, governments have to do better and as a society we have to do better. Thats why well be convening the national cabinet with one issue on the agenda: immediate, meaningful and practical action to address family violence. He took part in a rally in the capital Canberra on Sunday. Speaking at the No More march organised by advocacy group What Were You Wearing, Mr Albanese said: Society and Australia must do better. We need to change the culture and we need to change attitudes. We need to change the legal system. He added: Its not enough to support victims. We need to focus on the perpetrators, focus on prevention. Protesters in Sydney on Saturday led a march that closed city streets. They were carrying signs that read Respect and No more violence. In Adelaide, around 3,000 people were estimated to have rallied at the citys parliament building. Lawmakers across the political spectrum have called for action to tackle the issue. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said a national emergency response was needed. She said: Women are sick and tired of being told yes its bad but theres not much we can do. Similar protests took place across the weekend in state capitals Perth, Western Australia; Melbourne, Victoria; Hobart, Tasmania; and Brisbane, Queensland. Australia is seeing a surge in gender-based violence, as well as a reckoning over the treatment of women in government. In 2021, tens of thousands rallied over allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct in some of the nations highest political offices. 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 }} French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne arrived in Lebanon Sunday as part of diplomatic attempts to broker a deescalation in the conflict on the Lebanon-Israel border. Sejourne was set to meet with United Nations peacekeeping forces in south Lebanon and with Lebanon's parliament speaker, army chief, foreign minister and caretaker prime minister. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has exchanged strikes near-daily with Israeli forces in the border region and sometimes beyond for almost seven months against the backdrop of Israels war against Hezbollah ally Hamas in Gaza. Israeli strikes have killed more than 350 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters with Hezbollah and allied groups but also including more than 50 civilians. Strikes by Hezbollah have killed 10 civilians and 12 soldiers in Israel. A French diplomatic official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists said the purpose of Sejournes visit was to convey Frances fears of a war on Lebanon and to submit an amendment to a proposal Paris had previously presented to Lebanon for a diplomatic resolution to the border conflict. Western diplomats have brought forward a series of proposals for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Most of those would hinge on Hezbollah moving its forces several kilometers from the border, a beefed-up Lebanese army presence and negotiations for Israeli forces to withdraw from disputed points along the border where Lebanon says Israel has been occupying small patches of Lebanese territory since it withdrew from the rest of south Lebanon in 2000. The previous French proposal would have involved Hezbollah withdrawing its forces 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border. Hezbollah has signaled willingness to entertain the proposals but has said there will be no deal in Lebanon before there is a cease-fire in Gaza. 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 }} The number of Russian soldiers committing murder after returning home from the frontline has soared over the past two years amid chronic mental health issues linked to serving on the battlefield. Data from Moscows judicial department showed that 113 active servicemen were convicted in 2023 representing a nearly 900 per cent increase on just 13 convictions in 2022. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the high number of homicides was in part due to the release of thousands of ex-convicts pardoned for their participation in the war as well as post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from the frontline. Follow live updates here The MoD said: 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, and battlefield desensitisation to violence. Alcoholism and drug use from low morale and boredom are likely contributing factors. Compounding this is the return into the general population of ex-convicts with a pre-existing propensity for criminality and extreme violence. It comes as NGO Russia Behind Bars said 15,000 prisoners pardoned for their participation in the war against Ukraine had returned home from the frontline. Up to 190 criminal cases were opened against former convicts in 2023, including 20 cases of murder or attempted murder in 2023, it said. In one case, an ex-Wagner prisoner was sentenced to 22 years for murdering and raping an elderly woman following his pardon. When the mass recruitment of Russian prisoners started in the summer of 2022 it was led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, once the head of the Wagner private military group. Prisoners who serve in the Storm-Z unit were offered a clean record, full pardon and allowed to go home after six months on the battlefield. Prigozhin said that almost 50,000 Russian prisoners had been dispatched to the front line under this deal just before he died in a plane crash in August. Thousands of convicts died, but others, including dozens convicted of violent crimes, returned to Russia. The Russian military took over the scheme in February 2023 and clamped down on the practice, removing the right to a pardon and ensuring prisoners fought to the end of the war. According to the general staff of the armed forces of Ukraine, Russia has already lost 465,000 soldiers and thousands of pieces of equipment. 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 }} Ukraine's top commander has said Kyiv's outnumbered troops have fallen back to new positions west of three villages on the eastern front where Russia has concentrated significant forces in several locations. The statement by Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi reflected Ukraine's deteriorating position in the east that Kyiv hopes it can stabilise once it takes delivery of U.S. weapons under a $61 billion (48bn) aid package approved this week. "The situation at the front has worsened," he wrote on the Telegram app, describing the "most difficult" areas as west of occupied Maryinka and northwest of Avdiivka, the town captured by Russian forces in February. Kyiv's troops, he said, had taken up new positions west of the villages of Berdychi and Semenivka, both north of Avdiivka, and Novomykhailivka, further south near the town of Maryinka. "In general, the enemy achieved certain tactical successes in these areas, but could not gain operational advantages," Syrskyi said, adding that Russia had committed four brigades to the assault. Freshly rested Ukrainian brigades were being rotated in those areas to replace units that had suffered losses, he said. His statement did not mention the status of Novobakhmutivka, another village near Berdychi, that Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday its forces had captured. Moscow's troops have been slowly advancing since capturing the bastion town of Avdiivka, taking advantage of Ukrainian shortages of artillery shells and manpower. Online battlefield maps produced by open-source intelligence analysts suggest they have advanced more than 15 km (9.5 miles)in the direction of the village of Ocheretyne since capturing Avdiivka. Further up the front, the Kyiv-held town of Chasiv Yar is a key emerging battleground because of its position on elevated ground that could serve as a gateway to the cities of Kostiantynivka, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Col Gen Syrskiy described Chasiv Yar and the village of Ivanivske to its northeast as the "hottest spots" on that part of the front. Russia's defence ministry said it had repelled Ukrainian counter-attacks near Chasiv Yar. In what could prove a worrying development for Ukraine, Col Gen Syrskiy said his forces were closely monitoring an increase in the number of Russian troops in the area of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city. The northeastern city of 1.3 million just 30 km from the Russian border has been hammered by airstrikes in recent months in what Kyiv has said is a deliberate effort by Moscow to make Kharkiv uninhabitable. Col Gen Syrskiy said there were so signs that Russia was directly preparing for an offensive in the north of the country. "In the most threatening directions, our troops have been reinforced by artillery and tank units," he said. Ukraine is currently expecting a long-awaited a shipment of US military aid which officials say is critical to holding off Russia's two-year-old invasion. A Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters this week that Russia was conducting airstrikes on Ukrainian rail lines to disrupt the delivery of US weapons to the front and to complicate military logistics. The battlefield update came as Russian drones early Sunday struck the Black Sea city of Mykolaiv, setting a hotel ablaze and damaging energy infrastructure, Ukrainian officials said. Vitaliy Kim, the governor of Ukraine's southern Mykolaiv province, said that Russian drones "seriously damaged" a hotel in its namesake capital, sparking a fire that was later extinguished. Mr Kim also reported that the strike damaged heat-generating infrastructure in the city. He added that there were no casualties. Russian state agency RIA claimed that the strike on Mykolaiv targeted a shipyard where naval drones are assembled, as well as a hotel housing "English-speaking mercenaries" who have fought for Kyiv. The RIA report cited Sergei Lebedev, described as a coordinator of local pro-Moscow guerrillas. Kyiv has accused Russia of targeting civilians. Reuters with Associated Press 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 }} Iraq has passed a sweeping anti-LGBT+ law that criminalises same-sex relationships and could see gay people sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if convicted. The law, which was passed by Iraqs parliament on Saturday, purports to protect Iraqi society from moral depravity and the calls for homosexuality that have overtaken the world. The Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality, described as a bid to uphold the Islamic nations religious values, stated same-sex relations are now banned in Iraq and punishable by a prison sentence of at least 10 years, up to a maximum of 15. Any individual who promotes homosexuality or prostitution would face at least seven years in prison, the law said. An earlier version of the bill imposed the death penalty for same-sex acts but the clause was removed in an amendment amid strong opposition from the US and European nations. The law also imposes a prison sentence between one to three years for anyone who changes their biological gender or dresses in an effeminate manner. The bill saw staunch support from conservative Shia Muslim parties helming the largest coalition in Iraqs parliament but met with widespread condemnation from the international community and human rights groups. A statement from the US State Department said: This amendment threatens those most at risk in Iraqi society. It can be used to hamper free speech and expression and inhibit the operations of NGOs across Iraq. Rasha Younes, deputy director of the LGBT+ rights programme at Human Rights Watch, said: The Iraqi parliaments passage of the anti-LGBT law rubber-stamps Iraqs appalling record of rights violations against LGBT people and is a serious blow to fundamental human rights. Iraq was until now among the few Islamic nations that did not explicitly criminalise gay sex, but loosely defined morality clauses in its penal code have still been used to target LGBT+ people. Several members of the community have also been killed by armed groups and individuals. More than 60 countries criminalise gay sex, according to Our World in Data. 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 }} Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has pleaded with the US to stop Israel from attacking the Gaza border city of Rafah saying he expects an assault to begin within days on an area where more than a million people have taken refuge. Mr Abbas, who heads the Palestinian Authority (PA), said that the US is the only nation capable of halting Israels plans for an assault on the southern city, which would force much of the Palestinian population to flee. At least half of Gazas 2.3 million residents are believed to be sheltering in Rafah. We call on the United States of America to ask Israel to not carry on the Rafah attack. America is the only country able to prevent Israel from committing this crime, Mr Abbas told a special meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Israel, which has threatened for weeks to launch an all-out assault on the neighbourhood, saying its goal is to destroy Hamass remaining battalions there, stepped up airstrikes on Rafah last week. The UK, the US and several other nations have called on Israel not to go into Rafah, fearing what will happen to those gathered there. Israel has moved from north to south in its near-seven-month war on Hamas, which runs Gaza. And many residents have been forced further south as the Israeli military has advanced. What will happen in the coming few days is what Israel will do with attacking Rafah because all the Palestinians from Gaza are gathered there, Mr Abbas said, adding that it would only take a small strike on Rafah to force the Palestinian population to flee the Gaza Strip. The biggest catastrophe in the Palestinian peoples history would then happen, Mr Abbas said. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas attends the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ( Reuters ) He reiterated that he rejects the displacement of Palestinians into Jordan and Egypt and voiced his concern that once Israel completes its operations in Gaza, it will then attempt to force the Palestinian population out of the occupied West Bank, which the PA controls parts of, and into Jordan. Israel launched its offensive in Gaza after Hamas led a brutal attack on southern Israel on 7 October in which around 1,200 people were killed and another 250 taken hostage. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the aerial bombardment, ground assaults and blockade that has followed, according to the Gaza health ministry. On Saturday, Israels foreign minister said Israel could suspend the incursion if a hostage deal was agreed. The release of the hostages is the top priority for us, Israel Katz said. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said its chief, Herzi Halevi, had approved plans to continue the war, with Israeli media saying this referred to the Rafah operation. In a call with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, US president Joe Biden reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to Israels security but the White House said that he also reiterated his clear position about Israel going into Rafah. That comes after White House national security spokesman John Kirby told ABC News that Israel assured us they wont go into Rafah until weve had a chance to really share our perspectives and concerns with them. So, well see where that goes. Former speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said Mr Netanyahu couldnt have done things worse in the conflict with Hamas. Speaking on the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show, Ms Pelosi said: Israel has the right to defend itself the manner in which they are doing it is really challenging because Netanyahu has never been an agent for peace. Im not a big fan of his, but he couldnt have done things worse than tens of thousands, whatever the figure may be, of people dying, children malnourished, and the uncertainty that is there, and thats what people are speaking out about. A camp for displaced people in Rafah ( AFP/Getty ) Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, is due to travel to Saudi Arabia for talks about efforts to agree a ceasefire in Gaza and getting more humanitarian aid into the besieged strip. It comes as a senior Qatari official urged Israel and Hamas to show more commitment and more seriousness in ceasefire negotiations in interviews with Israeli media, as pressure builds to reach a deal that would free some Israeli hostages. Qatar, which hosts Hamass headquarters in Doha, has been a key intermediary and was instrumental, along with the US and Egypt, in helping negotiate a brief halt to the fighting in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages. But in a sign of frustration, Qatar this month said that it was reassessing its mediator role. An Israeli delegation is expected in Egypt in the coming days to discuss the latest proposals in negotiations, and senior Hamas official Basem Naim said in a message to the Associated Press that a delegation from the militant group will also head to Cairo. Egypts state-owned al-Qahera TV said the delegation would arrive on Monday. The interviews with Qatars Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari by liberal daily Haaretz and Israeli public broadcaster Kan were published and aired on Saturday evening. Mr Ansari expressed disappointment with Hamas and Israel, saying each side has made decisions based on political interests and not with civilians welfare in mind. He didnt reveal details on the talks other than to say they have effectively stopped, with both sides entrenched in their positions. Mr Ansaris remarks came after an Egyptian delegation discussed with Israeli officials a new vision for a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, according to an Egyptian official, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity to freely discuss developments. The Egyptian official said that Israeli officials are open to discussing establishing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza as part of the second phase of a deal. Israel has refused to end the war until it defeats Hamas. The second phase would start after the release of civilian and sick hostages, and would include negotiating the release of soldiers, the official added. Senior Palestinian prisoners would be released and a reconstruction process launched. Negotiations earlier this month centred on a six-week ceasefire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages held by Hamas in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. 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 }} World Central Kitchen, the humanitarian group that saw seven of its aid workers killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier this month, said they resumed operations in Gaza on Sunday. Citing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the group said they were restarting operations with the same energy, dignity, and focus to feed as many people as possible while also mourning the loss of their seven colleagues and friends. We have been forced to make a decision: stop feeding altogether during one of the worst hunger crises ever, ending our operation that accounted for 62% of all International NGO aid, or keep feeding knowing that aid, aid workers, and civilians are being intimidated and killed, Erin Gore the CEO of WCK wrote. She added: These are the hardest conversations and we have considered all perspectives when deliberating. Ultimately, we decided that we must keep feeding, continuing our mission of showing up to provide food to people during the toughest of times. The announcement arrives less than a month after an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) missile struck a three-car convoy the seven people were travelling in while coordinating aid shipment in central Gaza. The seven people, Saifeddin Issam Ayab Abutaha, 25, of Palestine; Lalzawmi Frankcom, 43, of Australia; Damian Sobol, 35, of Poland; Jacob Flickinger, 33, a US-Canadian dual citizen; UK citizens John Chapman, 57, James Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, all died. Following the tragedy, WCK paused operations. Palestinians inspect a vehicle with the logo of the World Central Kitchen wrecked by an Israeli airstrike in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip on April 2, 2024 ( AP ) The IDF apologised for the incident, claiming it was a mistake but WCK is asking for an impartial and international investigation. Now, weeks later, WCK is resuming its work to help get as much food into Gaza, including northern Gaza, as possible. More than half of the population in northern Gaza faces the threat of starvation with little to no access to food or clean water due to the war. WCK said they have 276 trucks carrying the equivalent of almost eight million meals ready to go through the Rafah Crossing. They added that theyre sending trucks from Jordan and exploring a maritime corridor to deliver meals. Israels offensive in Gaza, sparked by Hamas October 7 attack in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 were taken hostage, has caused widespread devastation with more than 33,000 people killed. Among those deaths are journalists and other humanitarian workers. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Airline frequent-flyer schemes can be powerful drivers of behaviour. At Orlando airport, while waiting for a Virgin Atlantic plane to Manchester, I got talking to a couple of business people who were also going to Manchester. But they were not on my flight. Instead, they were booked via Heathrow on British Airways. Their journey would take about four hours longer, burn more fuel, involve more stress and uncertainty and make them wearier. So why were they doing it? Because of the precious points that promise future free flights and the maintenance of elite airline status. Frequent-flyer schemes can distort rational choices and trigger suboptimal behaviour on the part of the traveller, damaging the environment and the business that is paying for the trip. Thats why some airlines love them. A top executive for a budget airline once described the British Airways Executive Club as the crack cocaine of frequent-flyer schemes. Yet this week, the chief executive of Ryanair, Michael OLeary, dismissed the prospect of Europes biggest budget airline joining the loyalty fray. If you want something loyal, buy a dog, he urged me. If you want the lowest air fares in Europe, fly Ryanair. But would you fly more with budget airlines if they rewarded your loyalty with free flights? Britains biggest budget airline, easyJet, offers a subscription scheme with benefits for frequent flyers. I cheerfully pay 170 for my annual membership of easyJet Plus. The perks include a free large cabin bag; the ability to choose the best seats on the aircraft at no additional charge; and, probably the most useful aspect, a fly home early option on routes with multiple daily flights. Next Wednesday, 1 May, for example, easyJet has three evening flights from Belfast International to Gatwick. I will always book the last one of the day (which is usually cheaper than the others). On the day, if I am able to travel back earlier, it is easy to switch with a call to a dedicated number. All other things being equal, these benefits would persuade me to book with easyJet. But in aviation, things are very rarely equal. For example, for my trip from London to Venice this week, Ryanair had by far the best fare. When comparing easyJet and British Airways, the cabin baggage allowance for easyJet Plus members works out the same as BAs offer for all passengers. So price and timing will prevail. I regard easyJet Plus as I do a railcard. Both involve an upfront investment that I expect to pay off, perhaps multiple times, over the course of a year but with perks that are not sufficiently compelling to alter my behaviour and lead to suboptimal choices. Rob Burgess, editor of the frequent-flyer website Head for Points, identifies some flaws in easyJet Plus from the airlines perspective. I reckon most corporate travellers cant buy it, he says speculating that their travel organisers are too inflexible to allow such a one-off purchase, even if it reduces future flight costs and saves hundreds of pounds over the course of the year. I think most buyers are the self-employed or regular leisure travellers possibly people who shuttle between a second home in Europe. In some ways, it lets regular self-paid travellers pay less while not impacting what corporates spend. So what is different about the British Airways Executive Club and the ultra-loyal gentlemen I met in Orlando? Rob Burgess lets us into the secret: The unspoken secret of airline and hotel loyalty schemes is that the person who benefits (the traveller) is not the person who pays the bill (the employer). Frequent-flyer schemes, he says, are actually a transfer of benefits from employer to employee. If your core traveller is paying their own way, the maths doesnt work as well, the loyalty guru says. The huge overheads of running a loyalty programme get added into ticket prices and it becomes inefficient. You end up paying an extra 7 for your ticket to get 5 of future benefits. This does work when its the employer paying the 7, but doesnt work when you pay your own way and Ryanair presumably has a higher percentage of people who pay their own way than the legacy airlines. If Ryanair were to introduce a parallel offer to easyJet Plus, I would snap it up. Which suggests Michael OLeary is rightly disdainful. Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key travel issue and what it means for you. SNL star Colin Jost paid tribute to his late grandfather at last nights White House Correspondents Association dinner, revealing his final election vote went to Joe Biden. My grandfather, a Staten Island firefighter, voted for you, Mr President, Jost told the room. He voted for you and the reason that he voted for you is because youre a decent man. My grandpa voted for decency and decency is why were all here tonight. Decency is how were able to be here tonight. The comedians grandfather passed away in 2023. Tory minister Chris Philp has revealed why he appeared to mix up Rwanda and the Democratic Republic Of Congo on Question Time, sparking backlash online. Rwanda is a different country to Congo, isnt it?, he asked on the show, causing the audience to gasp. However, he insists the reason for the question was far less sinister. I was struggling a little bit to hear the question and when I put that point to him I was asking a clearly rhetorical question rather than a substantive question as I think any fair minded listener would conclude, he said. Israeli hikers have been spotted inspecting what appears to be an intercepted Iranian missile, near the southern city of Arad. The group gather around the huge shell, which couldve been part of one of the 300 missiles fired on 14 April, subsequently brought down by the Israeli military. As more people joined, taking photos of the debris, they were dwarfed by the sheer scale of its structure. Irans attack - its first ever on Israel - was in turn retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. Pro-Palestine protests are continuing in London this weekend, and signs from activists saw Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner given a vampire makeover. One person carried a placard that showed the Labour leader and his deputy with vampire fangs and covered in blood, writing that they were for genocide. Thousands gathered at the march, organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, setting off from Parliament Square, before finishing in Hyde Park, demanding an immediate ceasefire Gaza. Jeremy Corbyn was among those spotted in the crowd. Rishi Sunak has explained why he chose to spend 75 billion on the UKs defence, rather than use it to fund the NHS and schools. The prime minister appeared on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, where he spoke of a more dangerous world and the need to stand up to assertive countries. The right thing for me to do as prime minister, given that the security of our people is my first responsibility, is to ensure that we invest to keep the country safe, he said. The defence industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the UK. Joe Biden didnt appear to acknowledge the Israel-Hamas war at last nights White House Correspondents Dinner (27 April), despite backlash from protesters. Chants of shame on you could be heard outside the Washington Hotel, as many protesters lay in the road, while others held up placards alluding to the situation in Gaza. However, it didnt phase the president, who instead used his speech at the annual event to take jibes at Donald Trumps hush money trial, and respond to criticism about his cognitive health. Your Questions Answered Question: I recently bought a second-hand designer handbag for 110 from an Irish seller on a well-known online marketplace. It was meant to be a gift for my wife. I arranged to meet up with the seller and after taking a look at the bag, I bought it because it seemed fine and looked like it was in great condition. The Communicator When an organisation is concerned, there is no such thing as just a dinner' But what is the CEO going to say at the dinner? Nothing, its just a dinner, the chief people officer initially told me. He was trying to walk me through the team leader dinner that the company was planning to kick off a two-day retreat. When an organisation is concerned, I replied, there is no such thing as just a dinner. If you are gathering your team members together for a reason, your CEO has an opportunity to galvanise the moment. Tell the team what is in store for them during this retreat. Set expectations in an inspirational way. Tell them they are valued and encourage them to use this retreat to reset and refresh their ways of working. But tell them something. Dont presume your team members are in alignment. Your words help bring that about. Folks, we must not get so busy doing work that we forget how to care for the real human beings driving that work forward. As leaders, its easy to overlook the seemingly small actions that can make a monumental difference in the morale, productivity and overall wellbeing of our teams. Here are five subtle yet powerful ways to actively and positively impact your employees. Immediate positive recognition Acknowledge those who promptly respond or acknowledge receiving emails, even if they cannot fully engage with them at the moment. This simple act demonstrates appreciation for their responsiveness and reinforces the value of clear communication. For instance, send a quick follow-up note expressing gratitude for their prompt acknowledgment, like: Thank you, Sarah, for confirming receipt. Looking forward to your insights. Public acknowledgment of contributions Name-check individuals in meetings who may have made small but significant contributions. This not only recognises their efforts but also encourages active participation and fosters a culture of appreciation. For example, you might say: Before we move on, I want to acknowledge John for his insightful suggestion earlier. Its contributions like these that drive our team forward. Personal morning greetings Take a moment each morning to greet employees who may be in the office. Rather than making a beeline for your office, extend a warm hello and inquire about their wellbeing. This simple gesture creates a sense of inclusivity and sets a positive tone for the day. Purposeful meeting openings and closings Instead of diving straight into business, take the time to deliver purposeful opening and closing remarks during meetings. Use these opportunities to articulate the objectives of the meeting, express appreciation for attendees time and summarise key takeaways. This not only adds structure to the meeting but also reinforces the importance of collaboration and engagement. For instance, begin with: Welcome, everyone! Today, lets focus on... and end with: Thank you all for your contributions. Lets carry this momentum forward. Recognition of low-level employees Recognise the contributions of low-level employees in front of their peers to elevate their stature and motivate continued excellence. Highlighting their achievements not only boosts their morale but also inspires others to strive for excellence. Publicly commend a team member for their dedication and hard work during a team meeting, saying something like: I want to recognise Carlos for his outstanding performance on the recent project. His attention to detail and commitment to excellence have truly made a difference. Incorporating these seemingly small gestures into your leadership approach can yield significant benefits, fostering a culture of appreciation, collaboration and engagement within your team. Remember, its the little things that often make the biggest impact. As my chief people officer client later reported back to me, the impact of the CEOs brief but heartfelt speech during the kick-off dinner was profound. In just three minutes, he reminded everyone of the purpose behind the gathering, shared a personal anecdote about why the retreat mattered and lifted spirits about the days ahead. The CEOs authenticity and genuine connection resonated deeply with the leaders present. Following the dinner and throughout the subsequent retreat, the chief people officer received several text messages from the leaders expressing gratitude. They remarked that this dinner, coupled with the CEOs personal touch, made the retreat feel more meaningful and impactful than any before. The simple act of acknowledging the importance of coming together, setting clear expectations and sharing a personal story created a lasting impression that reverberated throughout the entire event. This anecdote serves as a reminder of the impact that small, intentional gestures can have on employee morale, engagement and overall organisational culture. By taking the time to connect on a personal level, recognise contributions and set a positive tone, leaders can cultivate a workplace environment where employees feel valued, inspired and motivated to excel. Please remember that as leaders, our words and actions carry weight. Whether its a brief speech at a dinner or a simple morning greeting, each interaction presents an opportunity to foster connection, build trust and inspire greatness in others. So, lets commit to leading with authenticity, empathy and purpose, knowing that it is through these seemingly small acts that we can make a lasting and meaningful impact on those we lead. You can write to Gina care of SundayBusiness@independent.ie UK-listed company as invested significantly in its Irish business in recent year. Supermarket giant Tesco Ireland has created around 200 roles amid a flurry of new store openings nationwide. The company, which has operated in Ireland since 1997 and employs around 13,500 people, is currently in a growth phase, according to Maurice Kelly, people director for Tesco Ireland. Were growing our store footprint and adding 200 roles to our expanding store estate, he said. These roles provide a great opportunity for retail job seekers to find a route into a brand-new career, or maybe back to the workplace, with fully flexible banded-hour contracts in their local communities up and down the country. UK firm said it had spent 70m (81m) in Ireland on eight new store openings and an extensive store refits This month, Tesco added four new stores to its estate, opening stores in Blanchardstown and Townsend Street, Dublin, Gandon Court, Portlaoise and Kileely Road, Limerick. A new store also opened in Tallaght recently, bringing its total store number to a record 175. Further stores will open in the coming weeks and months, including across Dublin city and county and a second store in Kilkenny. Roles in four of the stores opened in April have been filled. In the coming weeks, additional roles will be made available on a phased basis. Tesco has invested significantly in its Irish business in recent years. During a recent call with investors, the UK-listed supermarket group said it had spent 70m (81m) in Ireland on eight new store openings and an extensive store refit and refurbishment programme during its most recent financial year. Kelly said Tesco had yet to encounter significant difficulties attracting new employees While Kelly wouldnt confirm any figure regarding investment for Tescos current programme of new store openings and upgrades, he said the group was firmly committed to Ireland and looked forward to serving many new communities in the years ahead. With hiring for the future in mind for Tesco, has it been affected by the current tightness in the labour market? The country is close to full employment, which has created conditions where it can be challenging for some employers to find staff. However, according to Kelly, Tesco has yet to encounter significant difficulties attracting new employees. Total Irish sales rose 8.5pc at constant rates across the financial year Tesco reported a jump in profits in the year to February 24 as the grocery giant recorded sales growth across all markets. The retailer reported that its total adjusted operating profit rose 12.8pc to 2.8bn. Total Irish sales rose 8.5pc at constant rates across the financial year, including a 1.7 percentage points contribution from new stores. KBC Bank is one of two banks to leave the Irish market. Photo: Aidan Crawley/Bloomberg KBC Bank Ireland will return its banking licence to the Central Bank of Ireland on April 30th, formalising its long flagged exit from the market here. The licence is being surrendered following approvals obtained from the Central Bank of Ireland and the ECB. The Belgium headquartered banks remaining entity here has been renamed Exicon DAC. The banks Belgian parent remains a fully licenced bank. In a statement the group said KBC Bank NV Dublin Branch staff will continue to be available to support any queries from customers, who retain their legal and regulatory protections. "KBC Bank Ireland wishes to sincerely thank its customers and stakeholders for their trust over the past decades and express its deep gratitude to all KBC Bank Ireland employees who have maintained the highest of standards in their work, providing continued support to customers and to each other while preparing the orderly exit. The vast bulk of KBC Bank Irelands business has been sold or transferred to Bank of Ireland under a deal that was agreed in October 2021 and completed last year. Bank of Ireland gained around 150,000 KBC customers from the deal. Following the deal with Bank of Ireland, In May last year KBC agreed to transfer any remaining accounts and servicing activity of KBC Bank Ireland to KBC Bank NV Dublin Branch which is licenced in Belgium and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. That transfer includes any unidentified and identified residual customer or regulatory claims or liabilities of the former Irish bank. The bank said last year it intended to give its shareholders all of the estimated 1bn to be taken out of Ireland once its operation here is completely would down. The exit of KBC and rival Ulster Bank from the Irish market has hit competition and boosted profits at remaining lenders AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB. Ironically KBC confirmed the date of its bank licence handing back on the same day Spains Bankinter confirmed plans to launch a digital bank here. 25.4m was stolen through investment fraud last year Financial fraudsters have been been around for thousands of years, theyre nothing new. The first case dates back to around 300BC, when a Greek sea merchant called Hegestratos took out an insurance policy on his boat full of corn with the intention of sinking it and collecting the insurance money. Aidan Gillen: How Gene Kerrigan and Paul Williams influenced the character of John Boy It took Aidan Gillen just one look at the script and he was in, up to his neck Aidan Gillen in 2010, with his best pudding-bowl haircut on, in 'Love/Hate' Barry Egan Sun 28 Apr 2024 at 03:30 It doesnt seem like 14 years ago that Irelands main water-cooler moments were provided by a group of ruthless Dublin drug dealers with a murderous twist and names like Nidge (played by Tom Vaughan-Lawlor) and John Boy (Aidan Gillen). Teenager Aoife Johnston, who died in the UHL emergency department in 2022, was in a chaotic and overwhelmed war zone where basic measures might have saved her Over four days of harrowing testimony at Aoife Johnstons inquest, the most wrenching described her final hours on a trolley at University Hospital Limericks (UHL) teeming death-trap emergency department as her life ebbed away before her parents eyes. She did not go gentle into that good night. On Saturday morning, December 17, 2022 in Limerick, Aoife Johnston (16) woke up at home in Shannon, Co Clare, just as the school holidays were beginning, in great form, said her father, James. She had breakfast and then went for a shower. She spent a couple of hours in her bedroom, then came downstairs. She had vomited and felt unwell. Her parents took her to Shannon Doc, the out-of-hours GP service, who noted sepsis and dehydration and urged them to go to the emergency department. She arrived at 5.40pm, alert but weak, witnesses said. She was triaged at 7.15pm by a nurse who noted Query sepsis and left Aoife to wait in a wheelchair in Zone A to be seen by a doctor. 'I never got to say goodbye': Aoife Johnston's sister Meagan speaks outside court after the teenager's inquest Her mother looked at the huge number of the trolleys and said: Look, shes really unwell, youre not leaving us here, are you? Aoife was moved into what appeared to be a storage room full of PPE. Her parents pushed two chairs together to make a bed for her as there was no trolley. Hours passed. Aoife did not get better. She was violently vomiting green liquid. She had a red blotch on the corner of her eye and a continually raised temperature, said her mother, Carol. I was up and down to the nurses all night pleading with them to help my daughter who was screaming in pain in her head and her right leg, she said. Her father heard other patients on trolleys outside the room urging staff to respond. Nurse Ciara McCarthy tried three times to persuade doctors to review Aoifes condition, but they were too busy At one point a man said, Is someone not going to go into that girl? The only nurse in Zone A Ciara McCarthy was looking after 50 patients waiting to be assessed by a doctor who had been deployed to the resuscitation room. Nurse McCarthy checked Aoife at 11.50pm, 1.40pm, 2.30am and 4am, noting her consistently raised temperature and low blood pressure. She tried three times to persuade doctors to review her, but they were too busy and prescribed fluids and pain relief to ease her symptoms. She said she did not know that Aoife was a possible sepsis patient there was no sepsis form on her chart. At 5.45am, Nurse McCarthy asked Dr Leandri Card, a senior house officer, to see Aoife next because her mother was increasingly concerned, and she agreed, even though other patients were ahead of her. Dr Card found Aoife was warm to the touch, complaining of severe body pains. She was fully conversing with me and fully conscious, but seemed very anxious, she said. Aoife said she had had a sore throat earlier in the week, but it had cleared up. The emergency department at UHL. Photo: Don Moloney Her parents stood by her trolley, the doctor prescribed antibiotics to cover the possibility of meningitis and referred Aoife to the medical team to be assessed for admission to hospital. Dr Card said she did not expect Aoife to deteriorate as rapidly as she did. The doctor moved on to other emergency patients and Aoife did not get the antibiotic until 7.15am, still in her cubicle in the crowded ED. Her condition had declined even further. Her father went to the nurses station, where he said he saw 12 nurses. I roared at them to help my daughter, he said. By then, Aoife could no longer communicate. Nurse McCarthy rushed to Aoifes cubicle at 8am. By then, the teenager was at the bottom of the trolley, distressed, tearful and agitated. Aoifes whole body was flailing. Her limbs were moving involuntarily, her mother said The nurse asked Aoifes father to help her reposition back on the trolley. Her parents were distressed, her mother was crying and her dad was very upset and verbalising concerns about Aoife, she said. She took Aoifes vital signs and ran out to get a doctor, and when she returned two minutes later, Aoife had become unresponsive and was not engaging in coherent conversation when asked questions. On her own accord, the nurse said, she immediately moved Aoife to the resuscitation area with the help of two other nurses. At his stage, her whole body was flailing. Her limbs were moving involuntarily, her mother said. Mrs Johnston held down her daughters arms and her father held legs so their child could be treated. Aoifes parents were told she was being put into an induced coma because of the swelling on her brain and that this would allow her body to relax. Aoife was transferred to ICU later that morning. Her parents were told there was nothing that could be done to save her. She died on December 19 at 3.31pm. Aoife Johnston's mother Carol Kilmallock Coroners Court. Photo: Brendan Gleeson On Thursday, Mrs Johnston stood outside the courthouse in Kilmallock, Co Limerick, flanked by her husband and daughters Meagan and Kate and uttered words no mother should have to. Aoife had a horrible death and she suffered all night. People need to know that. Earlier, Limerick coroner John McNamara delivered a verdict of medical misadventure in the death of Aoife Johnston from meningitis after contracting sepsis. The coroner acknowledged the breakdown in communication throughout her care as well as systemic failings and missed opportunities. For four distressing days, the Johnston family relived the loss of Aoife as almost 30 witnesses contributed to the narrative of her final hours in casualty at UHL. Aoifes family may have expected to hear clear and undisputed facts in the chain of events that culminated in her death, but some facts were challenged and some accounts were forgotten or disputed. At one point during the inquest, the family solicitor and senior counsel Damien Tansey told the coroner of the Johnston familys concerns over passing the buck. As well as charting Aoifes avoidable death, the inquest is a window into the chaotic dysfunction at the heart of the most persistently and chronically overcrowded emergency department in the State. Nurse Katherine Skelly described it as a war zone, with trolleys back-to-back lining either side of the corridor The scene was set by Katherine Skelly, the clinical nurse manager in charge of the department on the night of Aoifes attendance. Nurse Skelly came on night duty at 8pm, and while overcrowding was nothing new to her, that night she saw an unfolding crisis. She described it as a war zone, with trolleys back-to-back lining either side of the corridor, blocking the entrance to toilets and cubicles. Every available floor space was taken up with patients lying or sitting in every nook and cranny. The icy weather conditions brought a deluge of patients presenting due to falls and accidents. Fourteen patients crowded into the resuscitation room, reserved for life-threatening or potentially life-threatening cases and designed to accommodate seven. She counted 67 category-two patients who, like Aoife, were seriously ill and ought to have been seen in 10 to 15 minutes. There were 15 nurses on duty that night, down five. Given the number of patients, Nurse Skelly estimated they would have needed 30 nurses. At 9.45pm, she said she phoned the assistant director of nursing on duty that night, Patricia Donovan. She recalled clearly her words: I am dealing with a major emergency, we need help, can you come down? Nurse Donovan advised Nurse Skelly to ask the two consultants on call to come in because of the number of category-two patients waiting to be seen. Nurse Donovan in turn spoke to Fiona Steed, then a general manager who was the executive on call. A file photograph inside University Hospital Limerick. Photo: Don Moloney Ms Steed, who was not on site, said the words major emergency were never used in her phone conversation with the assistant director of nursing. She advised implementing a surge policy, to reopen some units and to transfer admitted patients on trolleys from the emergency department to wards. The measure could have removed up to 40 patients from the overcrowded emergency department that night, Ms Steed said. She wrongly assumed her advice would be followed, but it was only partially followed. Nurse Skelly, at the coalface, said she never received Ms Steeds advice and was still phoning management at 3.45am looking for trolleys to go on wards Two nursing managers testified that the advice was passed on and discussed with a bed manager, but suitable patients could not be found. Nurse Skelly, at the coalface, said she never received Ms Steeds advice and was still phoning management at 3.45am looking for trolleys to go on wards. To add to the pressure, only one of the two on-call consultants responded to the request to attend the emergency department that night. Nurse Skelly recalled a short conversation with consultant Dr Jim Gray, filling him in on the volume and acuity of patients. In his evidence, Dr Gray said he said he could not attend as he had been in the emergency department until 3pm and had to be at work again at 8am. Consultants were required to attend casualty for specific cases or a major emergency, but not for overcrowding, he said. Had I known that there was a 16-year-old child who entered the ED in septic shock, a category-two patient who couldnt get into the resus room... the system failed her... the ED failed her. If I had known there was a patient like that in the department, I would have gone in, he said, questioned by Damien Tansey. The problem was, Mr Tansey, I was not asked to come in about a specific case. Kate, James, Carol and Meagan Johnston outside Kilmallock Courthouse last week. Photo: Brendan Gleeson Even if he had attended, such was the chaos that an extra person like a consultant may not have made the difference you think it would have made. Ms Steed said she escalated Dr Grays decision not to present at the department to the clinical director that night, but he did not reply to her text until the following afternoon. It was notable that several witnesses said UHL management made plans to accommodate staff in the icy weather, but apparently not for the surge of trauma patients it would bring. Ultimately, the only thing that could have saved Aoife Johnston as infection advanced as she lay on a hospital trolley was an antibiotic. Doctor after doctor testified that the risk of death increased with every passing hour, and in all likelihood Aoife would have survived had she received antibiotics earlier. Mr Tansey highlighted the over-concentration in the resuscitation room, where the two most senior registrars tended to fracture patients, while outside, 67 category-two patients waited to be seen. Dr Mohammed Hassan and Dr Muneeb Shahid were the two most senior doctors on the floor on that night shift. Neither could recall nurses asking them to assess Aoife that night. Dr Hassan doubted it ever happened. Dr Muneeb said he found no markers of sepsis when a nurse brought her chart to his attention at 11pm; he mistakenly said he believed Aoife had been re-triaged as a less urgent category-three patient an error the UHL legal team corrected for the record. Aoife Johnston He said he was called to Aoifes cubicle at 8am and checked her vital signs and found them to be normal. Aoifes family and friends in the public gallery were aghast, shaking their heads in disbelief. Mr Tansey pointed out that at 8am, Aoife was incoherent, slumped on the trolley and dying. Throughout the inquest, Mr Tansey highlighted failure after failure in Aoifes care, and poor practices such as prescriptions written like confetti by overwhelmed doctors for patients they had not assessed. He elicited from Dr Jim Gray a damning indictment of UHLs emergency department as a death trap and grossly dangerous to point where Aoife had no chance. The department was a dysfunctional environment and always overcrowded, he said. The inquest closes one chapter in the continuing investigations into Aoifes death. An inquiry is under way by retired Chief Justice Frank Clarke, and following the inquest verdict of medical misadventure there have been calls for a public inquiry. There will be further engagement with Frank Clarke in light of some of the significant developments that happened during the course of the inquest, said Mr Tansey this weekend. We will be furnishing, in support of that, the relevant sections of the transcript of the inquest. Other matters that were not canvassed during the course of the inquest but which have come to light will also be brought to his attention. Patients on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick The forces in UHL at odds over trolleys on wards Aoife Johnstons inquest heard how the practice of placing trolleys on wards to free up space in casualty had recently been discouraged at UHL. A&E consultant Dr Jim Gray said a new emergency department was built in 2017 to accommodate increased demand, but the hospital did not get more beds for the extra patients. For every 100 emergency department patients, 30 are admitted, he said. When there are no extra beds to take those admitted patients, they stay on trolleys in casualty. It used to be the case that those patients were placed on wards, which was not ideal but spread the risk, he Dr Gray added. The practice seemed to stop in 2022 and there has been a struggle to reinstate it. Another witness said the practice was recently discouraged, apparently after a HSE inspection in 2022 that deemed it unsafe. This led solicitor Damien Tansey to question the conflicting forces at play in UHL one supporting the practice of trolleys on wards, and a counter-force that did not. Aoife was a happy, good kid. She was our baby, says heartbroken mother There was so much more to Aoife than the girl who died on the trolley, her mother Carol said after the inquest verdict was delivered last week. That is how Aoife is known. In time, when me and James can talk to people properly, they will get to know the real Aoife and the lovely 16-year-old girl she was. She was our baby who we loved very, very much, she said. Aoife was in her Leaving Cert year at school and was described during the inquest as a beautiful girl who loved fashion and make-up. One nurse recalled how she chatted about visiting her boyfriends house on Christmas Eve, even though she was very ill. Her family described a vivacious, bubbly teenager, the youngest in the family, behind Meagan and Kate. Meagan Johnston speaks to the media outside Kilmallock courthouse. Photo: Brendan Gleeson Her sisters loved her very, very much. She was a happy, easygoing girl happy-go-lucky, went to school, got summer jobs and she was never any hassle to me or her Dad she was a good kid, Carol said. As James would say, a cool kid. Aoife came on holidays with us every year she would say no, no because she was too cool but she loved every minute of it. Her sister Meagan cried as she recalled the best sister ever. She said: It kills me all the time that I never got to say goodbye to her. I never got to see my sister complete her Leaving Cert, I never got to see her do her graduation, I never saw my sister moving on to the next chapter with her boyfriend. He is left heartbroken. She was an amazing person and I will cherish the memories of her forever and ever. I am so sorry Aoife for what happened to you. But my Mum and Dad did everything they possibly could for her. Carol Johnston said they brought Aoife to hospital, thinking that she would be looked after. We told her she was in the best place. We told her to get some rest and that the doctors would be here soon. But the doctors never came. We welcome the verdict and the apology but that is not going to change anything. Aoife is gone now. That is what we have to live with. I dont know what else to say. Mark OMeara, incoming president of the Garda Representative Association, at the group's conference in Westport, Co Mayo. Photo: Conor O Mearain Gardai need clear direction from Commissioner Drew Harris on how to handle far-right protesters outside asylum-seekers accommodation as well as politicians homes, according to the incoming president of the Garda Representative Association (GRA). A new study found most Irish primary school staff have not been trained to operate life-saving adrenaline auto-injectors. Adrenaline available through auto-injectors such as EpiPen or Jext adrenaline pen is the first-line medication for anaphylaxis, which is a sudden, severe and potentially life-threatening reaction. The University of Galways research found 80pc of teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) had not been trained to recognise the signs of a severe allergic reaction and 77pc were not trained to administer an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI). With the prevalence of food allergies estimated at between 1.4pc and 3.8pc in schoolchildren, the researchers noted that international studies show anaphylaxis occurs in a school setting in 10pc to 16pc of cases. Food items are the most common trigger, followed by insect stings, with nuts the most frequent cause of food allergies. In the study, researchers from the University of Galway assessed the ability of 61 teachers and SNAs to deliver the shot correctly in a simulated test with a paediatric mannequin. Just six of the 61 teaching staff 9.8pc performed all four steps in administering an adrenaline auto-injector correctly. I think the study is important as due to the increasing prevalence of food allergies in children, teachers are more likely than ever to be faced with the challenge of managing a pupil with anaphylaxis, said Professor Paul OConnor. Though not a complex task, teachers largely lack the confidence and competence to use an auto-injector to deliver a dose of adrenaline to a pupil experiencing anaphylaxis. The study found the most frequent error among the teachers and SNAs was not holding the device in place for 10 seconds. Almost a third of participants held the device in place for less than three seconds. The study found eight participants (13pc) incorrectly inverted the AAI and would have injected themselves, had a real AAI been used. Another finding was that three participants delivered the AAI successfully by following the instructions on the device, despite receiving no previous training. At least in a simulated setting, there is utility in these instructions if they are noticed and used, said the researchers. The Irish researchers said it is important to address this hesitancy, as a delay in administration of adrenaline has been found to be associated with an increased risk of death. Teachers are often inadequately prepared to use an AAI, resulting in potentially dangerous treatment delays, said the study. The research, led by paediatrician Dr Paul Donovan, was carried out on staff from four primary schools in Cork. Most teaching staff reported little or no confidence in their ability to deliver an adrenaline shot. Our findings agree with other studies that have found that even with training, parents and caregivers have low levels of confidence and high levels of anxiety in correctly using an AAI. This lack of confidence may lead to AAI use hesitancy in which treatment is delayed because caregivers are afraid to use the device. The study, in the European Journal of Paediatrics, said poor ability in AAI use is seen across population groups including healthcare professionals, patients and carers. The study concluded that schools and education authorities must recognise the increased likelihood of teachers encountering anaphylaxis and must develop robust policies, and train teachers how to manage such situations. Former Tanaiste Michael McDowell says extremism can have no place in Irish democracy Former tanaiste Michael McDowell has warned that extremism can have no place in Irish democracy and that it had left some politicians and their families effectively under siege in their own homes. The former Progressive Democrats leader, justice minister and attorney-general said the families of some Irish politicians were living in fear because of the actions of extremists in targeting family homes. He stressed that Ireland needed to remember the harsh lessons of its past that political violence always results in even worse violence. Senator McDowell's comments came after controversial protests by masked groups of agitators outside the homes of some politicians. Extremists have also in recent months targeted properties linked to accommodation of refugees and asylum seekers, leading to violent stand-offs with gardai. His remarks came as he delivered the oration at the unveiling of a plaque to War of Independence hero Commandant Sean O'Donoghue, who led the IRA attack on a convoy of British Auxiliaries in December 1920. The reprisal by crown forces resulted in the burning of Cork city centre, an event that helped turned the tide of global opinion against Britain in the conflict. Cmdt O'Donoghue took the anti-Free State side in the Civil War and was summarily executed after being caught by Free State forces following an ambush in Cork in September 1922. His death, just one month after the fatal shooting of General Michael Collins at Beal na mBlath in west Cork, was described as a tragedy for the fledgling Irish state. "Democratic Irish politics have been described as the art of the possible or the art of the compromise," said Senator McDowell. "For me, and for all democrats, for all of us who aspire to be genuine republicans, the practice of democratic politics is a vocation that is the very antithesis of violence. Compromise with realities and with each other is never a dirty word in the true democrats political dictionary. Violence almost always begets further and worse violence. Nowadays I think we can all agree that the ballot box must decide all matters - never the bullet. "Extremism has no place in our democracy and I say that especially these days where extremism of various kinds actually puts those who participate in the democratic process under siege in their homes and also endangers their family's sense of wellbeing." Senator McDowell warned that politicians today needed to remember the sacrifices made by Irish patriots to win the nation's freedom - and the values for which they fought. "In honouring the memory and the bravery of Sean O'Donoghue today by this memorial, is it not appropriate that our gratitude to him and to young men gave their lives for Ireland, like him, that our gratitude should take the form of a renewed pledge - that, in future, no brave young Irish man or woman should ever again meet such a fate for want of political courage or determination on the part of politicians to uphold the political values of our free democracy. "That should be our grateful pledge to Sean O'Donoghue - the sacrifice that he made deserves no less." Senator McDowell is the grandson of Irish revolutionary Eoin MacNeill, who became a member of the first Free State government cabinet. However, the senator's uncles took different sides in the Civil War - with Brian adopting an anti-Treaty side while both uncles Niall and Torlough were in the Free State army. Brian was second in command of anti-Treaty forces in Sligo but was executed after being captured near Benbulben, despite the fact his father was one of the most senior Free State commanders. Mr McDowell warned political leaders of today to remember the painful lessons of Irish history, in particularly the needless bloodshed of the Civil War. "We are not gathering here today to re-open old controversies or old wounds. With the passage of 100 years since these events my reflection is that the Civil War in which those atrocious acts took place was a disastrous and wholly avoidable tragedy for the newly independent Ireland," he said. "Both sides killed and were killed. The National Army lost many more men to the guns of the Republicans than vice-versa. None of the participants, however genuine their motives, who were willing to kill fellow Irishmen have totally clean hands. "Those who give their lives for Ireland should have never been put in the position of taking the lives of fellow Irishmen. Mr McDowell unveiled a plaque to Cmdt O'Donoghue at the old Ballygiblin national school outside Mitchelstown - a short distance from where the IRA commander was born. The sole remaining nephew of Cmdt O'Donoghue, Fr Sean Condon (90), travelled from California to attend the plaque unveiling. Cmdt O'Donoghue, who had been involved in some of the highest-profile actions of the War of Independence and was promoted to Command of the Cork First Battalion of the IRA for his bravery, was just 24 when he was shot by troops he had previously fought alongside. Homeowners angry they were told to leave base structures in place while their walls were rebuilt Homeowners whose properties are damaged by the defective concrete blocks crisis have accused the Government of withholding vital research showing house foundations were also affected by pyrrhotite a mineral causing homes to crumble. It was previously believed house foundations were not affected by the problem.People who availed of the States redress scheme to repair homes were expected to leave their house foundations in situ when rebuilding. The Mica Action Group (MAG), representing many of these homeowners, said the new research now brought this practice into question. MAG claimed the Department of Housing and the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) should have acted sooner after receiving the findings last November. A memo from Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) revealed there were a number of key findings it deemed of sufficient importance to bring to the NSAIs attention before the conclusion of work by its research partners RSK, Petrolab and an Ulster University-led consortium. While it was previously believed mica was causing concrete to fail, researchers now believe pyrrhotite is behind the issue Each research partner had found an internal sulphate attack (ISA) as a result of excessive pyrrhotite is the primary cause of the most serious damage seen within the affected properties across Donegal, the GSI said. Read more Only 43 mica-damaged homes in Donegal have received full grants from redress scheme Pyrrhotite has been consistently identified within the strip foundations examined from affected buildings, both in coarse aggregate fractions and within the cement paste. While it was previously believed mica was causing concrete to fail, researchers now believe pyrrhotite, a mineral present in the aggregate, is behind the issue. MAG only became aware of the research findings last month after the memo was released under freedom of information laws. Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien The group wrote to Housing Minister Darragh OBrien and the NSAI last week, accusing them of failing to act on the research quickly enough. Mr OBrien had previously told the Dail how legislation underpinning the redress scheme could be revisited if there were issues with the foundations. MAGs letter said: For four months, more than half of the lifetime of the revised scheme, the Department of Housing and the NSAI has sat on the results of the research and continued to push homeowners to a partial remediation of homes with blatant disregard of fiscal, moral, ethical or indeed any responsibility to homeowners. However, a spokesman for the Department of Housing has denied information was being withheld, saying Mr OBrien responded to a parliamentary question on January 17 confirming he received the GSI report. This particular piece of research is part of a broader suite of research into this area and its findings will be taken into account with the others as part of the NSAI process of reviewing the underlying standard in this area, the spokesman said. He said a final report from GSI was due early next year and it would not be appropriate to draw any definitive conclusions regarding the overall implications from any interim findings. An NSAI spokeswoman said the authority had acted with urgency on receipt of the GSI update last November, with the preliminary data circulated promptly to a technical committee and working group reviewing the issue. Since the GSI issued the interim research data in November 2023, the working group evaluating the research has met on seven occasions with further meetings planned to include further consultation with the relevant research groups, she said. A new proposal allowing migrants to be returned to the UK from Ireland will be brought before Cabinet next week. Taoiseach Simon Harris has said a new proposal allowing migrants to be returned to the UK from Ireland will be brought before Cabinet next week. Earlier this week Justice Minister Helen McEntee claimed before the Oireachtas Justice Committee that more than 80pc of migrants entering Ireland are coming from the UK via the Border. Mr Harris was speaking following a service in Co Monaghan to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Fine Gael Senator Billy Fox, who was the only member of the Oireachtas to be murdered during the Troubles. He said other countries policies on migration will not be allowed have an impact on those of Ireland. Every country is entitled to have its own migration policy, but I certainly don't intend to allow anybody else's migration policy affects the integrity of our own one. This country will not in any way, shape or form provide a loophole for anybody elses migration challenges. That's very clear, other countries can decide how they wish to advance migration. Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 28th From an Irish perspective, we intend to have a firm, rules-based system where rules are in place, where rules are enforced and where rules are seen to be enforced." There was an agreement in place between Ireland and the UK for the return of migrants previously which was the subject of a High Court decision in March. It ruled that Irelands designation of the UK as a safe third country for returning asylum seekers, in the context of Britains Rwanda plan, is contrary to EU law. Ms McEntee will bring a proposal before Cabinet on Tuesday for a new agreement on the return of migrants between Ireland and the UK. Meanwhile Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has defended her partys rhetoric on open borders, arguing that it has long been her position on immigration. She was speaking at the launch of the partys local, European and Limerick mayoral election campaign in Dublin. Ms McDonald claimed that there has been a lot of misinformation around migration and accused the Government of scrambling on the issue. Sinn Fein is not for open borders, we are for a system that is fair, human rights compliant, efficient, she said on Sunday. Also speaking in Dublin on Sunday, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill called for a thought-out response to people who seek asylum in Ireland after travelling from the UK. Sinn Fein vice president Ms ONeill said neither Simon Harris, Micheal Martin nor Helen McEntee had yet been in contact with her about planned legislation on asylum seekers arriving in Ireland from the UK. I am the First Minister in the north and I have yet to hear from the Taoiseach or the Tanaiste or the Justice Minister, she said. To me, that highlights, maybe even underlines, how disorganised they are in dealing with this issue. Policy responsibility for migration and immigration sits with the British government, Im aware that Helen McEntee is to meet (Home Secretary) James Cleverly over the course of the next 24-36 hours. Theres also a British-Irish intergovernmental conference this week, this is the forum in which these issues need to be addressed. This is the forum in which there should be a solution coming out the other end, but a thought-out solution, an actually considered solution, a human rights compliant solution, and we look forward to (that) over the next couple of days. Accelerated process will give migrants a three-month deadline Asylum-seekers who arrive in Ireland from Britain through the back door of Northern Ireland risk being returned to their country of origin under a fast-track processing system for international protection applicants introduced by the Government. After admitting there is a spike in migrants arriving via the UK, the Government is now scrambling to address the rising immigration crisis. Last week there were violent protests outside a prospective asylum centre in Co Wicklow. The Sunday Independent can today reveal that central to this plan will be the threat to asylum-seekers that they could be given deportation orders within three months unless they can prove they are entitled to international protection. Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 28th The fast-tracked asylum process is being extended from just applying to arrivals from countries deemed safe to include those from countries designated unsafe but with the highest volume of applicants. The extension of accelerated processing to whatever country has the highest number of applicants will mean that many of those coming from the UK will receive an interview date when they arrive and a first decision within 90 days, a senior government source said. Faster decision-making means those with a right to protection get it faster, but it also means those without a right can be returned more quickly. Protesters march outside Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, yesterday. Photo: Frank McGrath This week, Justice Minister McEntee will seek cabinet approval to urgently draft emergency legislation to allow her to return asylum-seekers to the UK after the High Court ruled it was unlawful to designate our nearest neighbour as a safe country. The State is appealing the ruling, but Attorney General Rossa Fanning is drafting a legislative fix to ensure deportations can resume this summer. However, migrants arriving in Ireland without status in the UK face being returned to their country of origin if they cannot prove they are deserving of international protection. It comes as British prime minister Rishi Sunak claimed the rise in migrants travelling from Britain to Ireland was proof the UKs controversial plan to send illegal immigrants to Rwanda was working. Mr Sunaks comments followed Tanaiste Micheal Martin saying he believed the UKs asylum policy is driving migrants in fear of being deported to Rwanda across the border from Northern Ireland into the Republic. British prime minister Rishi Sunak. Photo: Liesa Johannssen/Reuters At an Oireachtas Justice Committee hearing last week, Ms McEntee said around 80pc of asylum-seekers arriving Ireland were currently coming through the Northern Ireland Border and said most were of Nigerian origin. Ms McEntee will tomorrow meet British home secretary James Cleverly to discuss the increasing numbers of migrants traveling from Britain to Ireland. A government source said there were regular meetings between the Home Office and the Department of Justice on strengthening and preventing abuse of the Common Travel Area between Britain and Ireland. There are also ongoing operations between the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and the PSNI, seeking to clamp down on illegal migration into the State. Last Tuesday, Cabinet signed off on plans to allow the immigration service to fast-track applications of people seeking asylum from countries deemed unsafe. Prior to this, only arrivals from safe countries could be processed this way. Now people coming from designated unsafe countries with the highest volume of asylum-seekers face the same processes as those from safe countries. The Government insists the EU Migration Pact will make it easier to return asylum-seekers A spike in Nigerians claiming international protection since the start of the year means all arrivals from the country face fast-track processing, which could see them ordered back to their country of origin. The Government believes a large volume of Nigerian asylum-seekers are travelling from Britain to Ireland to seek international protection due to fears of being deported by the UK government to Rwanda, following the passing of a controversial agreement between the two countries. The introduction of the accelerated processing system over a year ago has already had a significant impact on reducing the number of asylum-seekers seeking protection from countries designated as safe. Government figures show a 50pc drop in applicants from safe countries since the fast-track scheme was introduced. The Government is also in the middle of a tender process to procure a charter plane to return unsuccessful international protection applicants. The Government is also insisting the EU Migration Pact will make it easier to return asylum-seekers, if they have received status in another. However, Aontu leader Peadar Toibin told the Sunday Independent he believed there should be a referendum on the EU pact. This is an agreement of such significance, in terms of the loss of sovereignty and the potential cost to this country, that I strongly believe the people should have a say on it, he said. I asked Taoiseach Simon Harris how much the deal would cost the Irish taxpayer and he said he didnt know. If I was looking for a grant to put a bench in a public park Id have to get three costings, but were blindly signing up to the Migration Pact. It doesnt make sense. Ten of the incidents are the subject of ongoing criminal investigations Graffiti at the Octagon in the Glen of the Downs, Co Wicklow An information board blasted with a shotgun, an old well severely damaged with stones left strewn around, and land cut up by scrambler bikes were some of the incidents of vandalism in Irish national parks and conservation areas over the past two years. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) said they had logged 34 cases where parks, natural heritage areas, or special protection areas were damaged deliberately by visitors. Details of 10 of the incidents have been withheld by the NPWS, who said they were the subject of ongoing criminal investigations. The Glen of the Downs in Co Wicklow was a hotspot for anti-social activity with multiple incidents of illegal dumping, graffiti, damage to gates, and vandalism of its Octagon building after a 280,000 conservation project. At Mullyvea, Co Donegal, an interpretive board was blasted with lead shot some time last autumn, according to the log of incidents provided by the NPWS. Another interpretive board was stolen from the Duntally Wood Nature Reserve, also in Donegal, a few months earlier. There were five separate incidents at the Coole Park Nature Reserve in Gort, Co Galway, with precise details of one case redacted from the records. On three separate occasions in quick succession, there was deliberate damage to mens toilets on the site. In another incident, the padlock and door on a bird-hide was forced and broken, while two historic structures in the reserve were also vandalised. The NPWS said an old well was damaged with removed stones discarded all around the area while a limekiln was also defaced, with keystones removed from a wall and thrown into nearby woodland. In Letterkeen, in the Wild Nephin National Park in Co Mayo, there were two cases of deliberate damage in February this year. One saw a wooden footbridge damaged, while on the same date land was torn up by off-road vehicles which crossed a river in the park. Other incidents logged by the NPWS included damage to land by scramblers in the Slieve Bloom special area of conservation and damage to fencing at illegal bike jumps in Knocksink Wood, Co Wicklow. There were five separate cases of damage or vandalism reported at Boora, Co Offaly, between March 2023 and February of this year, but no details of these were provided. The NPWS said: These matters are part of a criminal investigation, and it is not in the public interest to disclose this information. Specific details of an incident at Timahoe Esker Nature Reserve in Laois, two cases at Ballyteigue National Nature Reserve in Wexford, and one at Wild Nephin National Park were also withheld by the NPWS. Vast majority of cases concern workplace incidents since January 2022 The HSEs National Investigation Unit (NIU) has opened 90 formal inquiries into workplace bullying, sexual harassment and harassment since January 2022. Most cases relate to bullying, with eight complaints of sexual harassment and eight complaints of harassment currently under investigation. The NIU deals with only the most serious bullying-related complaints after all other attempts at resolution have failed. Investigations were launched under the HSEs Dignity at Work policy, which promises to protect employees from bullying, harassment and sexual harassment by other employees and non-employees. Figures obtained by the Sunday Independent show the investigation unit launched seven investigations into bullying to date this year. It opened 27 investigations last year and 38 in 2022. The figures are believed to represent a fraction of the complaints made across the organisation The number of harassment and sexual harassment investigations launched last year and in 2022 are in low single digits the exact number was not disclosed by the HSE to protect the identities of complainants. Of the 33 complaints notified to the NIU that have been closed since January 2022, fewer than five were upheld and 21 were not progressed. The figures published today are believed to represent a fraction of the complaints made across the organisation, according to industry sources. The Irish Medical Organisation has previously said that 50pc of its members surveyed experienced bullying at some point in their careers. The former head of transformation at the HSE, Professor Martin Curley, claimed after he left the organisation last year that bullying was a recognised problem in the health service. It happens everywhere, but in corporate environments its stamped out immediately, he said. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (Inmo) called last year for the Health and Safety Authority to be drafted in to investigate workplace bullying in the HSE. Staff saidthey were stretched and approaching burnout The union has also called for mandatory training in the HSEs Dignity at Work policy to combat bullying. Complaints of bullying were also highlighted in a cultural survey of staff at one of Irelands biggest hospitals, as reported by the Irish Examiner in March. The survey, confined to one department at Cork University Hospital, reported that staff said they were stretched and approaching burnout and that there was an aggressive and shouting communication style by some staff. The HSE said bullying in the organisation is a priority concern to ensure the dignity, well-being and safety of employees and that it encourages staff to report it. Dignity at Work is designed to prevent bullying from happening by ensuring staff are treated with dignity and respect. This policy aims to prevent bullying and protect employees from bullying, harassment and sexual harassment by other employees and non-employees, the HSE said. We take any allegation regarding bullying and/or harassment very seriously. Where complaints of bullying, harassment or sexual harassment occur, they are managed locally. Our policy is to ensure that all parties are treated with fairness, sensitivity, respect and confidentiality. Early intervention is a feature of the Dignity at Work policy. Not all complaints progress to formal investigation. Local service managers have a role to play in resolving complaints informally and our mediation services are successful in resolving most complaints referred to them. These interventions reduce the number of complaints that are formally investigated. Veteran politician and trade union activist Sam Nolan, who has died at the age of 93, was a prominent and active figure on the Irish left from the 1940s onward, and served for many years as secretary of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions. Born in Dublin in 1930, in the late 1940s he joined the Irish Workers League (as the Communist Party was known at the time in southern Ireland) and in 1952 became a member of its executive committee. He was a leading member of the Unemployed Protest Committee, set up in 1957. In the 1960s he became active on the Dublin Housing Action Committee, which carried out a high-profile campaign on an issue that remains highly relevant. In the 1969 general election, he stood in Dublin Central as a candidate for the Irish Workers Party (IWP), as the Irish Workers League was now called. He got only 242 first preferences, and Labours Frank Cluskey was elected from his constituency. In 1970, the IWP merged with the Communist Party of Northern Ireland (CPNI) to form the Communist Party of Ireland (CPI), and Nolan was elected as deputy general secretary. The CPI initially denounced the August 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the USSR, which resulted in the overthrow of Alexander Dubceks liberal regime. However, the CPI changed its line some years later and in January 1976, Nolan resigned from the party in protest, along with 21 other members who then established the Irish Marxist Society. He later joined the Labour Party where he helped to form an internal group called Labour Left and was also elected to the partys administrative council. On the professional side, he became a full-time organiser for the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) which later merged into Unite. In the 2010 biography titled Sam Nolan: A Long March on the Left, author Brian Kenny of the Irish Labour History Society wrote that Nolans father (also Sam) was a carpenter from Naas, Co Kildare, who joined the British Army at the start of the First World War and survived the horrors of the conflict in France. He moved to Dublin in 1924 where he met and married Annie Kavanagh, a domestic servant from Rathangan, Co Kildare, who shared his left-wing outlook. Their only child Samuel James was born in the Rotunda Hospital on September 23, 1930, and they set up home on Maxwell Street in the south inner city. Sam Sr was a member of the Irish National Union of Woodworkers and hung a large picture of Stalin in the hallway of the family home, as well as being involved with his wife in 1933 in the second attempt at setting up the Communist Party of Ireland. Young Sam attended the Damer School in the basement of the Unitarian Church on St Stephens Green. He later moved to the Christian Brothers School on Donore Avenue, before transferring to CBS Synge Street. He left after the Inter Cert to work as a messenger in Guinnesss brewery. He left that job at age 16 to begin a five-year apprenticeship as a carpenter resulting in a career in the trade that lasted 50 years. In 1947, young Sam and an apprentice plumber, Billy Gannon, joined the Socialist (later Democratic) Youth Movement, whose other members included such figures as Roy Johnston, Justin Keating and Brendan Behans brothers, Dominic and Brian. Sam met Audrey Herrity, his future wife, at one of the organisations social events. When the movement started to fade in 1949, Nolan and some of the other members joined the Irish Workers League. This marked the beginning of several decades on the Marxist wing of Irish politics, where he played a very active role in an effort to build a socialist society. His partner later in life, Helena Sheehan, professor emeritus who taught in Dublin City University (DCU), recalled in a speech at his funeral service in Glasnevin Crematorium that she initially saw him from afar, when he was speaking from various platforms. Through the 1970s, I was often in the crowd listening to this authentic and inspiring voice of the working class, denouncing Irish governments and global capitalism, I also couldnt help noticing that he was quite handsome, she said. She got to know him better when she joined the Communist Party and later as part of the left faction within the Labour Party. They embarked on a relationship that was both highly political and intensely romantic. We lived together for four decades, she said. Once, in Greece, a comrade said that we were the ideal couple for the left a carpenter and a philosopher, a trade union official and a university professor. The Philadelphia-born Sheehan continued: As Marxists, we believed that so many issues boiled down to capitalism as the problem and socialism as the solution. We pursued this by every means in our power. Nolan retired from his job as a full-time trade union official at 65 but he continued to serve as secretary of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, as well as being chair of the Finglas- Cabra Partnership and a member of the Employment Appeals Tribunal, among other roles. We still put on our marching boots against every new US war and against every Irish government ruling against the interests of the working class, Prof Sheehan recalled. As time advanced, Nolan became increasingly frail and he spent his final years at his daughters home in Naas, Co Kildare. One of his last outings was to attend the launch of his partners book Until We Fall: Long Distance Life on the Left, published last year. In the days since he died I have felt overwhelmed with grief and regret, but I want to concentrate on the excellent life he lived and what a mark he left on so many of us, Prof Sheehan said. So, Sam Nolan, thank you for the days. Now youre gone, but we live on and the struggle continues. A luta continua [the struggle continues]. Another speaker at the funeral was trade unionist Mick OReilly who in his 2019 book From Lucifer to Lazarus: A Life on the Left wrote about how he was a member of the Irish Workers Party who also opposed the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. He was one of the members who left the party seven years later with Nolan and he recalled at the funeral how that wasnt difficult for me, but it was very difficult for Sam. The ceremony at Glasnevin was attended by President Michael D Higgins who said in a statement issued previously: Sam Nolan was to the forefront of the most important struggles of his lifetime, be it highlighting the consequences of the unemployment of the 1950s, to winning the 40-hour week in the 1960s, and for trade-union recognition, the anti- apartheid campaign, and for human and democratic rights for women and men all across the world. In the 1950s and in later decades, this was not an easy road and Sam Nolan fought for these vital rights while being at times confronted with great hostility. Samuel James Nolan passed away peacefully on April 14 at Tallaght University Hospital. Deeply regretted by his loving partner Helena (Sheehan), children Brent, Mark, Conor, Paula, Aileen and other relatives. He was predeceased by his wife Audrey (nee Herrity), who died in November 2016. Party leader speaks about abortion, the EUs new Migration Pact, transgenderism and Sinn Feins faults Peadar Toibin this weekend insisted that Aontu was not a catch-all party, and said it did not aim to appeal to every voter. The former Sinn Fein TD acknowledged that many of his policies meant some voters would not even consider giving one of his candidates a preference on a ballot paper. But he said he remained convinced that he was more in touch with the electorate than any of the established political parties be they in government or opposition. European political groups got 112,000 off Irish-based big tech and right-wingers Money went to groupings that include Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, new analysis reveals John McGuirk speaks to the media in 2018. Photo: RollingNews.ie Mark Tighe Sun 28 Apr 2024 at 03:30 American technology giants based in Ireland as well as conservative groups have donated 111,700 to European political groups and their think-tanks since 2018. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris at Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park. Photo: Frank McGrath A purported whistleblower has made four protected disclosures over the quality of the gun holsters previously worn by armed gardai, it has emerged. The first of the disclosures was made to An Garda Siochana in 2019 and the last in 2022. The contents of the disclosures should now compel Justice Minister Helen McEntee to establish a commission of investigation, according to a solicitor representing the whistleblower. Kevin Winters, of KRW Law in Belfast, represents an individual who presents as a whistleblower in connection with the issue. The solicitor also represents this person in a separate criminal matter. Mr Winters wrote to Ms McEntee in recent weeks requesting that she establish a commission of investigation, stating that he does not have full faith in the Garda Siochana Ombudsman (Gsoc) probe into the quality of holsters. He wrote that his client first outlined his concerns over holsters in June 2019, a year before the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. Garda Colm Horkan was shot dead in June 2020 The disclosures outline concerns over the holsters leather, which potentially influenced the circumstances around the Horkan murder and the self-inflicted accidental shooting of another garda. In November, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris confirmed a new safety gun holster was introduced following the capital murder of Det Gda Horkan. He said this was done to make it more difficult to remove a firearm from the previously used thumb-break holster. As first reported in the Sunday Independent in January, the family of Det Gda Horkan wrote to Mr Harris, asking questions about the quality of the holster he was wearing when he was disarmed and shot dead in 2020. Mr Winters claims in his letter to Ms McEntee that it is possible the murder of Det Gda Horkan and the accidental shooting of another officer could have potentially been averted if the whistleblowers concerns had been heeded in 2019. Kevin Winters, solicitor for the purported whistleblower The first protected disclosures were made to gardai, another to the garda watchdog and the third and fourth to the Department of Justice and senior members of government. Mr Winters claimed none of these disclosures was acted upon. Stephen Silver was found guilty of the capital murder of Det Gda Horkan after shooting him with the officers own gun in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, in June 2020. Six days before that, a detective garda on protective duty outside the Israeli embassy in Dublin sustained injuries to his thigh when his Walther pistol discharged accidentally. Both Det Gda Horkan and the embassy officer were carrying their pistols in the same garda-issued leather holsters that have now been taken out of operation. The detective who accidentally shot himself is suing the force after being left seriously injured. This newspaper first reported in 2022 that a whistleblower had made a series of allegations about the procurement and standard of holsters for garda-issued firearms. It is understood Gsoc wrote to Garda HQ outlining a number of concerns after the examination of a Garda technical report. It is also understood the report from the Garda Technical Bureau, which examined the holster that held the firearm of the garda who accidentally shot himself, identified problems with the holsters leather. The report found that because of the degeneration in the material, the officers pistol could be dislodged and accidentally discharged. Billy Keane: The Leinster and Munster rivalry never gets old some of them are us and some of us are them Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris have both said there is no place for violence at protests. Photo: Colin Keegan/Collins Yet again, we are witnessing the issue of migration being weaponised. And it is gardai we see caught up in another violent flashpoint with protesters at a Wicklow site, earmarked to accommodate international protection applicants. Taoiseach Simon Harris has rightly condemned the incident on Thursday. This is a country of laws. Attacks on gardai should be condemned by all, he said. Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she absolutely believes there are people at these protests who are not local. Gardai had to be able to respond, not just to protect themselves but to uphold the law, she added. There was even an attempt to burn a small premises, according to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Gardai were attacked with stones and vehicles were damaged, one with an axe, he added. The scenes showed evidence of escalating stand-offs with gardai, which are worryingly becoming ever more frequent, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said in a statement. Locals have a right to object, but no one can be free to attack, intimidate or threaten. Just as there can be no condoning such illegal behaviour, there can be no concealing failures in providing adequate accommodation centres with appropriate facilities. As a consequence, gardai continually find themselves on the front line to mitigate the effects of collective mismanagement. Tanaiste Micheal Martin has found himself in hot water in Britain for highlighting what he called the Rwanda effect from the UKs plan to deport migrants. Ms McEntee says 80pc of asylum-seekers here had crossed the Border from the North. Such an effect was inevitable, Mr Martin said, because the UK policy was a knee-jerk reaction to failing to control immigration after Brexit. French president Emmanuel Macron denounced prime minister Rishi Sunaks plan as the politics of cynicism and a betrayal of European values. Downing Streets intention to put asylum-seekers on a one-way flight to the African nation has been criticised as inhumane. Yet currently there are 1,600 people seeking protection in our country, left out in the cold. The issue must be managed nationally and internationally compassionately and rationally. Dealing with asylum-seekers effectively and fairly, while protecting borders, has been an EU priority for many years. Too many. Some progress has been made to co-ordinate and accelerate processing of applicants. But each country must do its share. As it would be wrong to attempt to stop people fleeing for their lives such as in Ukraine it is equally unacceptable to turn a blind eye to their needs on arrival. Climate change, war and persecution remain push factors. Generations left here to find a home overseas. We also must take due care of those who come here. Economically and socially, history shows how it was only in opening up that we were able to expand and develop. Yes, there have to be limits, but immigrants enrich and strengthen the fabric of Irish life. Luke ONeill: Everything you need to know about Ozempic and why it could soon be used to treat depression, Parkinsons and addiction The Puffin Rock Wildlife Activity Book is inspired by the artwork and message of the film Puffin Rock and the New Friends by Cartoon Saloon The book was launched at St Aidan's National School, Kilmanagh, Co Kilkenny A wildlife-inspired activity book for children has launched with the aim to help children engage with nature. The Puffin Rock Wildlife Activity Book is a biodiversity-focused publication, produced in partnership with the Heritage Council and the Kilkenny-based animation studio, Cartoon Saloon. The Puffin Rock Wildlife Activity Book is designed to help children engage with nature This book is inspired by the artwork and message of the film Puffin Rock and the New Friends by Cartoon Saloon. The activity book is available for teachers, parents and children to download and is a perfect way to bring the magic of Ireland's wild habitats into your home or school. Through the Heritage Councils heritage and biodiversity officer networks, free hard copies of the activity books are also available in county libraries throughout the country. The book was produced in partnership with the Heritage Council and Kilkenny's Cartoon Saloon Young readers are guided throughout by the characters of Cartoon Saloons much loved Puffin Rock series, where they are invited to learn about the intricate relationships within and between habitats, and to understand what makes these environments such special homes for their inhabitants. Speaking at the launch of the book at St Aidans National School in Kilmanagh, Co Kilkenny, author of the book, Juanita Browne said she hopes the book will spark an interest in nature for the children that read it. It was such a pleasure to work with the Heritage Council and Cartoon Saloon on this project which aims to help everyone, from beginners to experts, to engage with nature. "Children care deeply about the environment and it is up to us to harness their interest in accessible and entertaining ways. Books like this are important because they can act as a gateway for children who are searching for ways to contribute to our habitats, and who just need a little bit of guidance. Free hard copies of the books are available in county libraries across the country Cartoon Saloon illustrator, Enora Le Luherne, added: By allowing the characters of Puffin Rock guide the young readers, we hope this book enables them to share in the beauty and wonder of wildlife and our fragile habitats. "The combination of activities and artwork will not only entertain but also bring important lessons about conservation and the natural world. The Puffin Rock Wildlife Activity Book is part of the wider Puffin Rock Habitats project, an interactive biodiversity exhibition currently touring the country, and which opens at the Mayfair Library in Kilkenny on May 11, 2024. Follow Independent Kilkenny on Facebook Marine biologist Tasneem Khan devised workshops to accompany the exhibition and support the touring venues to activate the exhibition as a learning tool for their communities. These innovative hands-on workshops will now be available to primary schools across the country, through the Heritage Councils Heritage in Schools Scheme. Betty Connors, John Roche, Grace Murphy, Corra ODonovan and Scott OReilly pictured at the launch of this year's Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. Picture Andres Poveda Phil Murphy, Anne Mercipill, George OConnor, Betty Connors, John Roche, Grace Murphy, Scott OReilly and Corra ODonovan at the launch of this year's Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. Photo: Andres Poveda Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann is coming to County Wexford this summer and theyre looking for up 1,500 volunteers from all across the county. The Fleadh will take place primarily in Wexford Town from Sunday, August 4 to Sunday, August 11 with over 500,000 people expected to visit the county during this time. To cater to the large crowds, the Fleadh team are recruiting between 1,000 and 1,500 volunteers to fill a variety of roles such as street ambassadors, car parking, catering, Irish speaking volunteers, photographers, Access volunteers and customer service. 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 Although the main event will be taking place in Wexford Town, this is an all county event and the whole county will benefit economically from the Fleadh. Volunteers are the heart of the Fleadh, said Eimear Kennedy while speaking at the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District meeting in April. Mandatory training on GDPR, health and safety and child protection will be given to each volunteer and is expected to take place on May 25 and June 22. Anyone 15 years old and above can apply to be a volunteer and each volunteer would be expected to commit to two shifts. A shift could last for up to four hours. Volunteers will wear a gold t-shirt and lanyard as their uniform. Anyone interested in volunteering can register online by clicking here. The incoming Heritage officer for Wexford County Council is very important and needs to be fully supported in that role, according to Independent New Ross Municipal election candidate, John Dwyer. Our county has such a vast history, from invasion to rebellion, from repression to uprising and from starvation to emigration, a comprehensive approach needs to be adopted, not just to record that vast history but to bring it to our schools and to make it available to the general public," said Mr Dwyer. 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 One example of that history is the town council record books of New Ross Town Council. There was talk twelve years ago about digitising those valuable record books but I believe that the county council with the help of the Heritage Council should think big in terms of bringing together our counties oral history, its built heritage and the existing written accounts. From seafaring to settlements, from state archives such as the military history archives, our history needs to be told, he said. "Wexford County Council has a duty and an obligation to lead this project and our children and grandchildren should be able to know and be proud of the treasure trove that is the history of our great country. Bus shelters are needed along the routes taken by Local Link and private bus companies. This was the view expressed by Wexford County Council chairman, Cllr John Fleming at the April New Ross Municipal District meeting. TFI Local Link Wexford offers numerous services across the district and county, including launching a new bus service on Monday, April 15, which will improve connectivity between New Ross and Enniscorthy. This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network. 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 Route 359 will operate five daily return services Monday to Saturday and three daily return services on Sunday and public holidays, creating a new connection from New Ross to Enniscorthy. The new route will provide a peak-time service for commuters to New Ross, an early morning service to Enniscorthy facilitating onward travel to Carlow and Dublin, as well as improved connectivity to regional bus and rail services. The route will offer enhanced connectivity to villages and areas of New Ross, Rathgarogue, Ballywilliam, Rathnure, Killanne, Kiltealy, Ballindaggan and Enniscorthy. Cllr Fleming said communities are having to take the initiative in rural Wexford to ensure shelter for bus users, mentioning Rathnure, where a concrete shelter has been erected. "No matter where you are going you need a shelter. It's a serious issue, he said. District director of services, Eamonn Hore said he joined the board of Local Link recently and plans to try to progress the provision of bus shelters, which are ultimately a decision for the National Transport Authority. "We are looking at putting some funding towards this. Cllr Pat Barden said bus shelters are also needed at Ballinaboola and near Good Counsel College. Looking for the latest innovations in scent? From dupes and layers to primers, our expert has sniffed out the best of the bunch You know the way the cherry blossoms are in full bloom at this time of year? In our house, we say its for all the important birthdays like my late sister Tricias, my son Maxi who was born on her birthday (which was also my late granny Agness birthday) and its also Rosanna Davison and make-up artist Siobhan OMahonys BDs! So Im all about scent this week. Ive a nose for anything fresh and new, and what Im noticing is that the perfume scene is undergoing a bit of a transformation these days, with dupes, layers and primers all making their appearance. Dupes have always been around, but I was fascinated to discover that Lynx is entering the fine fragrance market. I popped over to the launch in London where I got to meet one of the noses involved industry icon Ann Gottlieb, who is responsible for the groundbreaking Calvin Kleins CK1, Eternity and Euphoria. I was even more intrigued to discover that a survey found that 74pc of men aged between 16 and 24 preferred Lynx Black Vanilla, 5.19, boots.ie, to Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, 255, brownthomas.com. Hmm, I wonder if this is where fragrance is going now, and like fashion, will we see Prada dupes popping up in high street stores like Primark? Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf, 77, next.ie I wouldnt be surprised because Zara now has its own perfume dupes, which have been compared with some of the most iconic fragrances on the market. Take, for example, Zara Oriental, 12.95, zara.com, which has been compared to Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf, 77, next.ie. The Zara creation has top notes of bergamot and freesia, with vanilla and patchouli lingering long after that first little spritz. Trionas skincare saviours Im enjoying layering scents and the fragrance Im reaching out for these days is DedCools Milk Layering + Enhancer Fragrance, 85.95, dedcool.com. Its divine, with notes of white musk, bergamot and amber, and it works on its own or layered with other scents. Plus, it ticks a lot of boxes as its genderless, vegan, non-toxic and biodegradable. And it makes me smell tri-mendous. Acne Studios par Frederic Malle, 230, brownthomas.com If you adored Acne mohair scarves last winter, this summer youre gonna get the same warm, cosy feeling but from their first fragrance, Acne Studios par Frederic Malle, 230, brownthomas.com. Its a fruity gourmand composition with an overdose of aldehydes thats totally addictive! Thanks to perfumer, Suzy Le Helley, who reimagined the traditional scent profile of fresh laundry a scent Im so into but with earthy sandalwood and white musk for a more refined reimagining, while Frederic Malles vision added pearlescent qualities. Sniff it out yourself. Three of the best SPF No7 Future Renew Damage Protection Defence Shield SPF50, 32.99, boots.ie 1 No7 Future Renew Damage Protection Defence Shield SPF50, 32.99, boots.ie With a name like that, this SPF means business! As well as reversing the visible signs of sun damage with the Future Renew range, you can now protect against everyday sun damage. Plus, it sits so well under make-up. Lancome UV Expert Supra Screen UV Serum, 47, brownthomas.com 2 Lancome UV Expert Supra Screen UV Serum, 47, brownthomas.com This SPF50 + serum, launching next month, is perfectly portable for popping in your purse and aims to protect and prevent the early signs of photoaging, including collagen loss that leads to fine lines and wrinkles and sunspots. Image Daily Prevention Ultra Defense Moisturiser SPF50, 58, imageskincare.ie 3 Image Daily Prevention Ultra Defense Moisturiser SPF50, 58, imageskincare.ie I love how this physician-formulated, hydra-silk sunscreen is fast-absorbing and ultra-comfortable to wear, but even better is how it delivers both hydration and sun protection for more radiant skin. Trionas skincare saviours British policing minister Chris Philp said he was posing a rhetorical question after he appeared to ask whether Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are different countries. The MP for Croydon South earlier this week seemed to confuse the two African nations after a Question Time audience member from Congo asked about the Governments new law on deporting some asylum seekers to Rwanda. Tehrans morality police return to beating young Iranian women over flouting dress codes They cannot do anything with Israel, so instead they harass us The 'morality police' in Tehran question a woman over her headscarf. Photo: AFP Akhtar Makoii Telegraph.co.uk Sun 28 Apr 2024 at 03:30 Iranian women are being sexually assaulted, tasered and beaten by Tehrans morality police in a fresh crackdown on those flouting the countrys strict dress codes. Residents sift through rubble after tornadoes demolish homes in US Midwest But no-one was seriously injured in the series of storms in the US Midwest a fact described as miraculous by one local health official Tory Crozier, 30, cleans up the damage to her family's property near Minden, Iowa on Saturday, April 27, 2024, after a tornado the previous evening. (Anna Reed/Omaha World-Herald via AP) Nick Ingram, Jeff Martin and Heather Hollingsworth Sun 28 Apr 2024 at 10:16 Residents are sifting through the rubble after a tornado ripped through suburban Omaha, demolishing homes and businesses. Photo courtesy: adaniconnex.com Ahmedabad: AdaniConneX, a 50:50 JV between Adani Enterprises and EdgeConneX, has established Indias largest sustainability-linked financing to raise up to USD 1.44 billion. The financing has an initial commitment of USD 875 million, with an accordion feature to extend commitment up to USD 1.44 billion. The transaction elevates AdaniConneXs construction financing pool to USD 1.65 billion, building on the maiden construction facility of USD 213 million executed in June 2023. The upcoming data center facilities will employ state-of-the-art technologies and renewable energy solutions to minimise the ecological footprint while optimising operational efficiency. The sustainability-linked financing reinforces AdaniConneXs commitment towards driving a safety-first culture, delivering world-class Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) by adopting global best practices, and leveraging renewable energy resources. A key feature of the facility is the innovative solution of a syndicated guarantee-backed assurance programme in sync with the projects procurement strategy. Definitive agreements have been executed with eight international lenders ING Bank N.V., Intesa Sanpaolo, KfW IPEX, MUFG Bank Ltd., Natixis, Standard Chartered Bank, Societe Generale and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Access to a wide pool of liquidity strengthens the companys strategy to fast-track the implementation of portfolio assets in sync with accelerating demand. This transformative approach towards financing is a significant step towards building sustainable digital infrastructure that will fuel economic progress and accelerate Indias digital growth. This successful exercise is a testament to the collective resolve of the parties to meet the challenges of establishing sustainable and robust digital infrastructure, thereby pushing norms and setting new industry benchmarks, said Mr Jeyakumar Janakaraj, CEO of AdaniConneX. Construction financing is a core element of the AdaniConneX capital management plan, enabling us to deliver a data center solution firmly rooted in sustainability and environmental stewardship. We are delighted to embark on this journey alongside our esteemed international banking partners. ING Bank N.V., Intesa Sanpaolo, KfW IPEX, MUFG Bank Ltd., Natixis, Standard Chartered Bank, Societe Generale and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation acted as Mandated Lead Arrangers. ING Bank N.V. and MUFG Bank Ltd acted as Structuring Banks whereas ING Bank N.V., MUFG Bank Ltd and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation acted as Sustainability Co-ordinators. Allen & Overy and Saraf & Partners were the borrowers counsels. The lenders counsels were Milbank and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. Photo courtesy: wikipedia.org Tesla CEO Elon Musk is on a surprise visit to China, the second-largest market for the electric vehicle titan, media reports said. According to Reuters, Musk started the journey on Sunday to engage with high-ranking Chinese officials in Beijing. His visit to China comes after his trip to India was postponed a week earlier, citing 'Tesla obligations.' Musk was scheduled to visit India on April 22 and to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announce plans to enter the Indian market. Discussions in China will revolve around the implementation of Full-Self Driving (FSD) software in China and the necessary approvals to transfer locally collected data overseas for training algorithms in autonomous driving technologies, reported Reuters citing sources. In response to a query on the social media platform X, Musk said that Tesla might offer Full-Self Driving (FSD) to customers in China "very soon." Interestingly, Musk's visit to China was discreet and not widely publicised. Tesla has adhered to Chinese regulations since 2021 by storing all data collected by its Chinese fleet in Shanghai and has refrained from transferring any data back to the United States, said the report. Despite interest in NSD in China, Tesla has not yet introduced the model, the most autonomous version of its Autopilot software, in the country. FSD was rolled out by the US electric vehicle maker four years ago. Photo Courtesy: Goa Shipyard Ltd X page The Indian Defence Ministrys Goa Shipyard Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Damen Shipyards for collaboration in the sector of e-Tugs. The MoU was signed in the presence of Netherlands Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Liesje Schreinemacher. Speaking on the MoU, Goa Shipyard Ltd posted on X: "GSL signs MoU with @damen for collaboration in the field of e-Tugs, in presence of HE Mrs @LSchreinemacher ,Minister Foreign Trade & Development Cooperation, Netherlands. The MoU opens up new vistas in providing cutting edge, reliable, green solutions to Indian Ports." GSL signs MoU with @damen for collaboration in the field of e-Tugs, in presence of HE Mrs @LSchreinemacher, Minister Foreign Trade & Development Cooperation, Netherlands. The MoU opens up new vistas in providing cutting edge, reliable, green solutions to Indian Ports. pic.twitter.com/MIJKfC6wPE Goa Shipyard Ltd (@goashipyardltd) April 26, 2024 The Damen Group is a Dutch defence, shipbuilding, and engineering conglomerate company which is based in Gorinchem, Netherlands. Schreinemacher recently described India as a 'big geopolitical player' for her country. She praised Indian PM Narendra Modi for making his nation a really important geopolitical player. She said India and the Netherlands have a very good economic partnership. Speaking on India-Netherlands ties, Schreinemacher told ANI, For us, India is a very important geopolitical player, and that is why we really want to improve our relationship with India. Having said that, I believe that we do have already a very good economic cooperation, but also when it comes to the maritime security, this is why Im here. And so Im happy that I can really show our interest and the importance and the value that it has. Well, the economic relations amounts to about 20 billion euros, so that is a lot. And I believe that we can only grow that number, which is why Im here, to really enhance these economic relations as well. She said: "For us, its very important that we see India really as a big geopolitical player and economic player here in the region. So when we talk about Indo-Pacific stability and security, we cannot do that without India. So we need India, and this is also why Im here, to really enhance this cooperation when it comes to maritime security, but also, of course, as a minister for trade, to see where we can improve our economic relations. We already have good economic relations, but we can always improve it. India and the Netherlands established diplomatic relations in 1947. Year 2022 marked the 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations. "Today, India and the Netherlands enjoy strong political, economic & commercial relations. High level mutual exchanges have provided impetus to the multifaceted partnership between the two countries. Water, Agriculture and Health (WAH) are 3 priority sectors of cooperation besides technology and innovation," read the website of the Indian Embassy in the Netherlands. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash At the first-ever World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting hosted in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has pledged US $500 million over the next five years to support the work of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). This announcement marks a significant increase in funding for the global effort to eradicate polio a devastating virus that paralyzes and can be fatal for children but is preventable with vaccines. The funds announced today will enable GPEI partners the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Rotary International, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) spearheaded by national governments, to protect more than 370 million children with polio vaccines every year. It will also facilitate the delivery of other life-saving interventions like nutritional supplements and bed nets to underserved communities and strengthen health systems to better prepare countries for emerging health threats. The commitment was made as part of a broader more than US $620 million partnership by Saudi Arabia and BMGF to support polio eradication and contribute to other global health initiatives, including the Lives and Livelihood Fund. The partnership was announced at the WEF Special Meeting by His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Advisor to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre (KSrelief) and His Excellency Fahad bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel, Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the presence of Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO, and Bill Gates, co-chair of BMGF. H.E. Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah commented, In Afghanistan and Pakistan, the last remaining polio-endemic countries, we have seen significant progress, yet work remains to be done as the world pushes towards making eradication possible. The pledge from Saudi Arabia today will enhance the innovation and collaboration needed to eradicate this disease. Together with our partners, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the Islamic Development Bank and key countries across the region, our support will not only aim to end polio but to also strengthen health systems in these countries. "This investment towards global health isn't just a good to have; it's a strategic imperative for a thriving, more resilient future together, said H.E. Fahad bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel, the world faces many health challenges, and it is part of our responsibility and leadership to contribute with our partners in bridging the gaps, and through concerted efforts, we will be able to alleviate the suffering of many people." Thanks to decades of country leadership and global collaboration in delivering life-saving vaccines to billions of children, wild polio cases have fallen by 99.9% since the GPEI was founded in 1988 under the leadership of the World Health Assembly. More than 20 million people are walking today who would have otherwise been paralyzed by the virus. Just four cases of wild poliovirus have been recorded this year and 12 cases recorded last year in the remaining wild polio endemic countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, outbreaks of variant poliovirus, which can emerge in places where not enough children are vaccinated against polio, are increasingly confined to high-risk areas in just four countries Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Yemen. Still, in places where polio remains today, there are serious challenges to reaching all children with polio vaccines and other life-saving interventions, including vaccine misinformation, political insecurity, environmental disasters, and broader humanitarian crises. "For decades, polio inflicted lifelong suffering on children and families. Today, we take another step toward finally eradicating it, thanks to the generous contributions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. When we invest in eradicating polio, we make immunization and health systems more resilient, we equip nations to better respond to public health challenges, and most importantly, we ensure that more children will be able to live healthy lives," said Bill Gates. The announcement builds on a long history of support from Saudi Arabia and regional partners to the global polio eradication effort as well as across the Eastern Mediterranean the last region where wild polio is endemic. For more than two decades, Saudi Arabia has not only financially supported the GPEI, but has also advocated for polio eradication and access to other life-saving vaccines in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond. This support ranges from championing the cause among communities and religious leaders to advocating within major global convenings like the G20 and regional forums like the World Health Organizations Eastern Mediterranean Regional Subcommittee for Polio Eradication and Outbreaks. Reaching all children with lifesaving vaccines is critical to ending polio and protecting children and communities everywhere from other preventable diseases and emerging health threats, said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. With this new funding, Saudi Arabia will help to protect children in even the hardest-to-reach areas, and move towards a healthier, polio-free world. "This important support will help bring us one step closer to eradicating polio once and for all, said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. Together with communities, health workers, global partners, and donors like Saudi Arabia, we can help ensure that no child suffers from paralysis or dies from polio, and that more children have access to better health systems. To strengthen Afghanistan's health systems and encourage a continued focus on achieving polio eradication in one of the worlds last polio-endemic countries, Saudi Arabia and the Gates Foundation have pledged US $3 million and US $15 million respectively over three years to support the Polio Legacy Challenge. This Challenge is a results-based financing initiative spearheaded by ministers of health in the region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar, under the auspices of the WHO EMRO Regional Subcommittee on Polio Eradication and Outbreaks. Also today, as the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) celebrates its 50th anniversary, Saudi Arabia announced US $100 million in new funding to support the IsDBs Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), which aims to lift the poorest out of poverty across 33 IsDB member countries through investments in primary health care, eliminating preventable infectious diseases like polio, supporting smallholder farming and rural agriculture, and improving basic infrastructure. This follows the UAEs renewed pledge of US $50 million to the LLF announced earlier this week, continuing its support for the largest development fund in the region, which aids millions in low-income communities. On the occasion, IsDB President Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser stated: The Islamic Development Bank warmly welcomes the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias generous contribution to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. This vital support strengthens GPEIs efforts to eliminate this devastating disease. Were proud that IsDB and ISFD, our poverty alleviation arm, have been among the top financiers for Pakistans polio eradication efforts, providing over US $555 million since 2012. We also applaud the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias new funding for the Lives and Livelihoods Fund. This innovative initiative tackles poverty barriers faced by families, communities, and entire countries. We express our sincere gratitude to all partners, existing and new, for their continued collaboration and commitment. Together, through these concerted efforts, we can achieve the critical last-mile results needed to create a truly polio-free world, added the IsDB President. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay India, which has adhered to a long-standing commitment to universal nuclear disarmament, recently held consultations with Japan and South Korea on disarmament and non-non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Indian and South Korean delegations on Apr 26 held talks on the developments in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation relating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains. Besides regional non-proliferation issues, outer space security- related matters, conventional weapons including AI in the military domain and multilateral export control regimes were also discussed in the consultations held in the South Korean capital of Seoul. Meanwhile, on Apr 24, India held the 10th round of consultations with Japan on disarmament, non-proliferation and export control. In the meeting held in Tokyo, the two sides exchanged views on developments in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation relating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains, outer space security, non-proliferation issues, conventional weapons and export control. According to a journal article titled "India and Nuclear Disarmament" by Rajesh Basrur published on JSTOR, India continues to pursue the capabilities it feels are consistent with minimum deterrence. The prerequisites for India's participation in the disarmament process include deep cuts by the United States and Russia, multilateral steps toward a convention committing all nations to universal disarmament and toward the adoption of the principle of No First Use, and the involvement of China and Pakistan in the process, the journal article read. A key to facilitating India's participation would be its full transition from an outsider to an insider vis-a-vis the nonproliferation regime, it added. India has been a long-time supporter of nuclear disarmament, and much before other countries held up these measures, India had proposed universal nuclear disarmament, a nuclear test ban treaty, and a freeze on the production of fissile material. According to a research paper published in the South Asian Voices (SAV), an online policy platform for strategic analysis on South Asia, hosted by Washington-based Stimson Centre, India has been calling for global nuclear disarmament since independence in 1947, and the country's approach to nuclear disarmament is going through a definite shift. "At present, India continues to express its support for any initiative that can lead up to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, the factors that contributed to its strong support for nuclear disarmament are gradually evolving," the research paper read. According to a fact sheet titled "Nuclear Disarmament India" published in the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), a nonprofit, nonpartisan global security organization focused on reducing nuclear and biological threats imperiling humanity, India has adopted a no-first-use (NFU) policy and declared that it would never threaten or use nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear weapons state. It added that India maintains a doctrine of credible minimum nuclear deterrence which is ambiguously defined, suggesting that the country keeps a small but survivable nuclear force. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that the country engaged in relevant multilateral forums and with partner countries on disarmament, non-proliferation and international security affairs. Indias engagement is based on its longstanding commitment to the goals of universal and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament and the objectives of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, according to the ministry. Photo courtesy: twitter.com/narendramodi Sancoale (Goa): Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people of Goa to vote for the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) as he needs two strong colleagues in the parliament from the state where his destiny was written. Addressing a mega rally at South Goas Sancoale, Modi said, Goa holds a special place for me. Whatever I am today, every turning point of my life has been scripted in Goa. My party took the decision to make me the PM here. He requested the people at the gathering to go to every household and convey his salutations. Please go to every household and tell them that Modi ji has come and Modi ji has sent his namaskar. It was in Goa where he was declared as the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections during a public gathering. When the BJP-led government opted to take bold measures to the put the economy back on growth trajectory, it selected Goa as the venue to unveil the economic reforms. Attacking the Congress Modi said, "Fishermen have been always presentin the era of Lord Ram and also when the country got independence. But after independence, the Congress pushed the fishermen to oblivion. It is Modi who established a separate ministry for the fisheries department... We gave them a Kisan Credit card. Modi said Congress had exposed its hidden agenda once again with its remark that the Constitution was forced on Goans. This statement is a stark revelation that the Congress is only interested in vote bank and appeasement politics, he said. On PM Modi's visit to Goa, CM Pramod Sawant said, PM Modi has expressed how special Goa is for him... He is announcing guarantees and taking the state forward. I can assure you that the BJP will win both Lok Sabha seats from Goa. Only PM Modi is capable of giving a guarantee and the guarantee to fulfill the guarantee, he added. In image Arvinder Singh Lovely with senior Congress leaders/ courtesy: His Facebook New Delhi/IBNS: Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely Sunday resigned as the chief of the party's Delhi unit over its alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Lovely said that several AAP ministers have been jailed over corruption charges, still, the Congress formed an alliance with them for the Lok Sabha elections amid opposition by party workers. In a letter to Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, he said that since he cannot protect the interests of the Delhi Congress workers, he sees no reason to continue as the chief of the unit. "The Delhi Congress Unit was against an alliance with a party (AAP) which was formed on the sole basis of leveling false, fabricated and malafide corruption charges against the Congress. Despite that, the party made a decision to ally with the AAP in Delhi," he said. Hinting at an internal rift, Lovely also alleged that several decisions taken by him as the Delhi Congress Chief were vetoed by the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge). "Since my appointment as DPCC President, the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge) has not allowed me to make any senior appointments in the DPCC," he said. He said the party gave Lok Sabha tickets to candidates who were "total strangers" to the Delhi Congress unit, referring to Udit Raj's candidature in North-west Delhi and Kanhaiya Kumar in Northeast Delhi. Lovely was appointed the Delhi Congress President in August last year. The Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress had agreed to a 4:3 seat-sharing formula for Delhi earlier this year to put up a joint fight in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay The report alleged India of having significant human rights violations last year. It specifically mentioned an ethnic conflict in the state of Manipur that resulted in violence and displacement. The U.S. report claimed that around 175 people were killed and more than 60,000 people were left homeless due to the conflict. India rejected the report, calling it "deeply biased" and a sign that the U.S. does not understand the situation in India well. The report, mandated by Congress and released annually, summarizes the human rights situation in various countries. The document noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself condemned the violence as "shameful" and called for action. Elsewhere, the report also raised concerns about a 60-hour long search of the BBC's offices in Delhi and Mumbai by Indian authorities. This action, which took place in February 14th, 2023, came shortly after the BBC broadcast a documentary critical of Prime Minister Modi. The report acknowledged some positive developments. For instance, in July of last year, the government finally permitted a march to take place in Srinagar, allowing members of the Shia community to commemorate Muharram. This procession marked a significant milestone as it represented the first time the government officially sanctioned the event in Srinagar since a ban was imposed in 1989. It is important to note that the government did impose some limitations on the march, such as restrictions on the use of slogans or the display of logos associated with any banned organizations. It is useful to emphasize here the perennial US concern for Human Rights records across the world is a deliberate strategy in service of the US aspiration for global hegemony. In his book "Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World" (2018), scholar Samuel Moyn argues that the focus on human rights advocacy hasn't achieved its core goal of eliminating significant economic inequality around the Globe. Moyn suggests that current human rights efforts fall short in addressing this crucial aspect. Obsessive Human Rights advocates must face a harsh reality. The global order has embraced human rights as a core principle, yet the world seems to be falling apart with multiple crises happening simultaneously. This raises a crucial question: are these two trends simply coincidental, or is there a deeper connection? Growing scepticism and doubt surround its ability to tackle humanity's most pressing challenges. This criticism extends beyond academic circles. Even within academia, a traditionally strong supporter of human rights, a growing body of research is increasingly critical of the perceived failures of human rights to deliver on its promises. In their current form, human rights are partly to blame for the world's current problems. Human Rights simply haven't done enough to address the major issue of global and domestic inequality. Human Rights organizations lack ambition and are too willing to follow the lead of global economic and political forces that create these inequalities. While the official view of the UN, states that all human rights are equally important, in reality human rights organizations have had success only in promoting civil and political rights. These successes come from the idea that everyone should be treated equally and not discriminated against. The fight for equality continues in countries where discrimination is still legal or where social, cultural, and religious beliefs allow discrimination to happen even if it's against the law. There is a gap between two types of equality in human rights. Status equality is about everyone having the same legal and political rights, regardless of background. This is achieved by defending civil and political rights like freedom of speech and the right to vote. Material equality means everyone having the comparable amount of material resources, like income or property. Historically, the focus has always been on achieving status equality. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was a big step forward in recognizing social rights, which are related to material well-being. However, these social rights only aim for sufficiency, which means ensuring everyone has enough to live on, not true material equality. The problem with just focusing on sufficiency is that it allows for vast differences in wealth and resources. Someone could be considered "sufficient" if they have just enough to survive, even if others have a lot more. This creates a society with a big gap between rich and poor, which might undermine the idea of everyone having equal status. Many argue that social rights are being reduced to simply providing people with the bare minimum they need to survive. This approach shows a deep lack of moral ambition. On top of that, it allows vast economic inequalities to grow rapidly around the world. These inequalities contribute to many people dying prematurely. Even when laws are passed to guarantee social rights, they often fail to make a difference. This is because there's a widespread lack of political will to actually enforce and implement them. But even if these laws were enforced, the standards they set for social rights are simply not good enough. These standards are designed in a way that allows for massive economic inequality to exist alongside them. Beyond this normative level, the US has either conducted or tolerated rampant violations of human rights even in this limited sense. The United States has long portrayed itself as a global leader in upholding human rights. It frequently criticizes other countries for human rights violations. However, recent reports and events raise questions about the US's own human rights record. The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) recently evaluated the United States' human rights performance, revealing concerning shortcomings. The report highlights deficiencies in protecting citizens from discrimination and police brutality, notably through voter suppression tactics that disproportionately affect minorities and disabled individuals. Black Americans are particularly vulnerable to these human rights abuses, as emphasized by recent protests against police violence following George Floyd's death. The irony of the US criticizing other nations for similar actions while condoning violence against its own citizens undermines its global human rights credibility. This hypocrisy is exacerbated by the Trump administration's actions, including praise for leaders accused of minority rights violations, like China's President Xi Jinping, and policies reflecting racial bias, such as refugee resettlement reductions, particularly from non-European countries, and harsh treatment of asylum seekers. The US has drastically reduced admissions, particularly from non-European countries, reflecting a narrowing of its refugee policies.The UN has condemned these practices as potentially illegal, highlighting the arrest of individuals for expressing their beliefs as a recent example of rights violations. The US's poor human rights record, especially concerning minorities, hampers its ability to advocate for human rights internationally. Criticisms from the United Nations Human Rights Committee in November 2023 further underscore areas where the US falls short of global standards, including immigration policies, reproductive rights, detainee treatment, and law enforcement practices. These criticisms range from making asylum-seeking more difficult to concerns about conditions in detention facilities and restrictions on abortion access that disproportionately affect marginalized groups. The Committee calls for accountability for those perpetrating abuses, an end to racial profiling, and the cessation of excessive force against detainees and peaceful protesters.The US must address these issues to regain its global human rights standing. While required to respond to the Committee's observations, there isskepticism about the US's commitment, given its failure to implement principles it preaches to other nations. In conclusion, India has faced baseless allegations aimed at tarnishing its image, while the US leverages such accusations to maintain global dominance. These tactics underscore a broader agenda of perpetuating hegemony. India stands as a beacon of democratic resilience, navigating complex socio-political milieu with integrity and inclusivity. Contrary to these narratives, India upholds high democratic standards, prioritizing the well-being of its diverse population. It ensures the protection of religious and ethnic minorities, addresses inequality through redistributive measures, including reservation for the deprived, marginalized, and less fortunate, and diligently implements democratic principles. This balanced approach reflects India's commitment to secular values and inclusive governance, evidenced by its comprehensive welfare schemes. India's unwavering dedication to democratic principles serves as a testament to its resilience and integrity on the global stage. (About the author: Dr Maheep is a leading analyst of Global Politics and international Relations. He contributes articles regularly on the issues of utmost importance to humanity.) Photo Courtesy: Ghufran Sawadi Instagram page Iraqi social media influencer Ghufran Sawadi, better known as Umm Fahad, was shot dead by an unknown gunman outside her house in Baghdad on Friday. The attack which took place in Zayouna area east of Baghdad was caught by a surveillance camera. The video has gone viral on social media. In the video, a gunman, who is riding a motorcycle, could be seen gunning down the social media influencer. A Baghdad police source confirmed the authenticity of the video to CNN. An investigation into the incident has been launched. The accused has not been identified so far. The countrys Interior Minister announced on Friday that it was 'forming a specialized work team to find out the circumstances of the killing of a woman known on social media by unknown assailants', reported CNN. What did Sawadi post on social media platforms? Sawadi, who was popular on TikTok, was seen sharing her dancing videos in form-fitting clothes on the platform. She was mostly seen dancing to pop music. Her videos were earlier deemed to be inappropriate by Iraqs judiciary. Sawadi was sentenced to six months in prison for the crime of producing and publishing several films and videos containing obscene and indecent language, violating public decency and morals, an Iraqi judiciary statement said as quoted by CNN. The independent Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor reacted that time and said in a statement: "Iraqi authorities must rescind all prison sentences imposed on content creators, cease pursuing them and unjustifiably restricting their freedoms, and refrain from using the law to violate the rights guaranteed to individuals. The authorities must respect the right of individuals to freedom of opinion, expression, and publication, and refrain from taking any action that may undermine their freedoms and criminalise their exercise of their natural rights." Previous instances where social media influencers were targeted in Iraq In September 2023, Iraqi TikTok personality, Noor Alsaffar, known as Noor BM, was shot dead in Baghdad. Representative Image courtesy: Unsplash Norwegian Tibet Committee showed solidarity with the 11 Panchen Lama and participated in a rally outside the Embassy of China in Oslo on April 25. According to reports, Lama is currently detained by the Chinese authorities. At the demonstration, a demand was raised for the release of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi Nyima, who continued to be detained by Chinese authorities, even on his 35th birthday, reported ANI. During the protest, the protesters were seen carrying symbols representing the Tibetan identity. Tibetan flags fluttered alongside a photograph of the 11th Panchen Lama, serving as reminders of the ongoing struggle for religious freedom and human rights in Tibet, reported ANI. Photo Courtesy: Free Art License 1.3/Wikimedia Commons Karachi: Staff of key government institutions demonstrated at Karachi Port, causing a backlog in export and import operations at the port without clearance. According to the details, the officers and staff of the Pakistan Standard and Quality Control carried out a strike at Karachi port, ARY News reported. The former Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) asserted that the employees initiated the strike due to the withholding of bonuses and incentives, the news channel reported. The port's usual hustle and bustle came to an abrupt halt as the strike ensued. The repercussions of the strike rippled through the ports supply chain, impacting businesses reliant on timely shipments and causing concerns among traders and stakeholders, ARY News reported. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM) Chairman Sohail Abro has urged international human rights organizations to intervene for the safe release of young Hindu girl Priya Kumari. She reportedly went missing two years ago. Abro highlighted the alarming trend of Sindhi Hindu girls being forcibly converted and married off to Muslim men, often under the influence of extremist figures in the country, ANI reported. He criticized the judiciary for siding with individuals accused of such actions and called for justice for victims like Priya Kumari. Sindhi Hindu girls are forcibly converted and married off to Muslim men and people like Mian Mithu are free to do such activities. Even when girls express their desire to go with their family, courts refuse to do so as they are on the side of people like Mian Mithu Sohail was quoted as saying in his message on social media to ANI. The extremist cleric Mian Mithu is accused of kidnapping and forcing religious conversions of Hindu teenage girls in Pakistan. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Unknown attackers gunned down a police sub-inspector in Pakistan's Lahore city on Saturday. The cop was reportedly returning from his duty when he was attacked. The police told ARY News that the slain cop sustained three bullets that proved to be fatal. An investigation into the incident has been launched. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Security forces killed at least two terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Dera Ismail Khan District of Pakistan on Sunday. According to ISPR, the security forces conducted the operation on the suspected presence of terrorists, ARY News reported. During the conduct of the operation, an intense fire exchange took place between own troops and terrorists, and resultantly two terrorists Faheem Nawaz alias Andapuri and Mohsin Nawaz were killed, the news channel reported. Security forces recovered weapons, ammunition and explosives from them. Sanitization operation is currently ongoing. Videgrab of pro-Palestine portests in US university Campuses of several universities in the United States have been witnessing massive protests with the students seeking a ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas. More than 550 protesters have been arrested and some universities are witnessing violent clashes between cops and activists. At the behest of college administrators, police have deployed tasers and tear gas against student protesters at Atlanta's Emory University. However, the protests have been largely peaceful, activists at the spot told the media. Student protesters said they are expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where the death toll has crossed 34,305, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The protesters want universities to cut their investments in everything tied to Israel and weapons that fuel the war in Gaza. That means funds run by BlackRock, Google as well as Amazon's cloud service, Lockheed Martin and even Airbnb. Video circulated widely on social media shows two women who identified themselves as professors being detained, with one of them slammed to the ground by one officer as a second officer then pushes her chest and face onto a concrete sidewalk. Recently, Alakh Pandey, also known as Physics Wallah, was asked to speak at renowned educational institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, and the University of California. However, it was what he highlighted after his talk that struck a chord with many. Need youth of the country On Instagram, he posted several pictures posing with professors and students, along with a caption that has attracted significant online attention. In the viral post, Physics Wallah stated that he encouraged Indian students there to return to their homeland. Harvard University He wrote, "Hume HARVARD University , STANFORD University & University Of California me as a Speaker Invite kiya gya. Waha INDIAN Students ko BHARAT Vapas aakar ya Vaha rehkar bhi BHARAT k lie Directly or Indirectly Contribute krne k lie Motivate kia." Although he acknowledged that our country isn't flawless and has several shortcomings, he emphasised that perfection is unattainable for anyone or anything. He stressed that it's only the youth of the nation who can strive to improve the country. "Ha humare Desh me bhut kamiya hai , Par koi bhi Desh Perfect Nahi hota. But Jarurat hoti hai Desh ke Youth ki use Better banane k lie," he added. Check out his post here: Proud of India, say netizens The post, which has already amassed over 3.5 lakh likes, resonated with many. One said, "Proud of India," while another agreed, saying, "So so proud!!!" Physics Wallah Private Limited is an Indian multinational educational technology company based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Founded by Alakh Pandey in 2018, it started as a YouTube channel focused on teaching physics for the Joint Entrance Examinations. Physics Wallah In June 2022, following its initial funding round, where it raised $100 million, the company achieved a valuation of $1.1 billion, making it a unicorn company. In November last year, Physics Wallah laid off approximately 120 employees following a performance evaluation. These were the company's first job cuts since it became a unicorn in 2022. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Puducherry residents were in for a shock on Thursday night when a tiger was seen prowling around. For an area that isn't a tiger habitat, this was strange indeed. What unfolded, and the story behind it, was stranger. Tiger roaming the streets of Pudhucherry On Thursday night, people living in Lawspet, Puducherry, hurried indoors and secured their doors and windows. This was in response to two men riding a motorcycle and spreading the word that a tiger was roaming freely in the vicinity. Representational Image| Unsplash Additionally, pictures of the supposed 'tiger' prowling around were shared on social media platforms. A dog 'acting' like a tiger Upon receiving alerts, the police immediately took action, reviewing CCTV footage in hopes of locating the reported tiger. To their surprise, the footage revealed that the supposed tiger was, in fact, a stray dog that had been painted with orange and black stripes. This discovery has prompted a search for both the dog and the two individuals responsible for the false alarm. BCCL Inspector Venkatachalapathy of the Lawspet police explained, "There are no possibility of a tiger straying into this locality. There is no habitat for tigers in this region. Some miscreants coloured a stray dog with orange and black stripes to resemble a tiger. In the dark, residents mistook it for a wild animal. We have launched a hunt for the dog. Our inquiries revealed that the dog lives along the Puducherry-Tamil Nadu border. We have not received any complaints yet." He further added, "We suspect that the miscreants painted the dog to resemble a tiger, took photos and videos and shared it on social media before cleaning up the dog. There is no movement of wild animals in the residential locality and people must not panic." In general, tigers straying into residential areas in India has become a concerning issue in recent years. Unsplash| Representational Image As urbanisation encroaches upon traditional tiger habitats, these majestic animals sometimes find themselves navigating through human settlements in search of food or territory. Such incidents often result in panic among residents and pose risks to both humans and tigers. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Runway yoga, really? "Why not?" asks instructor Pavadee Komchokpaisan, 30. "This is a very special event for me," she said, adding that this was the first time yoga had been done on the runway. Who attended the event? 500 yoga enthusiasts and influencers | Image: AFP/MANAN VATSYAYANA Around 500 yoga enthusiasts and influencers, started showing up at 5:00 am at Bangkok's main airport on Saturday, not bothered by the dark sky that early and slowly making their way to their mats on the runway. "Today is going to be very special," the instructor said while urging participants to "put your coconut in the air!" "Feel like a beautiful bird," she said, as a plane made its way across the concrete before lifting off leaving the enthused yoga-goers on the tarmac. Also read: IPL 2024, DC vs MI: Fan Tries To Catch Ball After Tim David's Six, Gets Hit In The Face What company organised the event? The event was organised by Brew Yoga | Image: AFP/MANAN VATSYAYANA The event was organised by Brew Yoga, and scores were seen clad in the yoga uniform of black leggings and cropped white t-shirts emblazoned with the word 'Brew.' How did everyone react? "Today is going to be very special," the instructor said | Image AFP/MANAN VATSYAYANA "This was something fun, this was a nice event," said lawyer Rugeradh Tungsupakul who was attending with a friend. "Right now, because of our jobs, we are too busy to go to a yoga studio." Rugeradh checked the air quality before stepping out, a perennial issue for Bangkok quite like India. "Right now, it's not too bad," she admitted. Instructor Pavadee Komchokpaisan was all praises for Bangkok's yoga community: "We have so many people come here to just join the yoga class, and take a picture on a runway." Also read: 'Bachpan Ki Yaadein': Video Shows '90s Birthday Party Plate With Pineapple Cake & Samosas, Internet Nostalgic What do you think of this? Inputs: AFP There's a whole lot more on Indiatimes Trending. You can also follow us on Telegram. We all dream of being rich without really having to 'work hard' for it, right? We all wish that we were born in a rich home or somehow got to know that our ancestors have a stash full of money that will solve all of our life's problems. One man lived it! Well, not so much as a big treasure but a Delhi man was left pleasantly surprised when he came across some old investments made by his uncle. According to the Times Now report, Anil Raghu (name changed), a salaried professional from Delhi, found himself in possession of shares of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) after they were passed down to him by his uncle. His uncle, who lived in Mumbai and had no children of his own, left all his assets, including the RIL shares, to Raghu. According to an interview with Times Now Digital, Vikash Jain, Co-Founder & Director at Share Samadhan, helped Raghu recover shares mentioned in his uncle's will. Jain described the process, explaining that they conducted thorough research using Raghus uncle's details, which led to the discovery of additional shares in his name. However, obtaining the Probate of Will in Raghu's favor proved challenging. After reaching out to all the companies for shareholding details, they proceeded with the Probate of Will. Raghu's family lawyer supported this process after a legal battle in Mumbai, ultimately providing the Probate. Delhi Man Turns Millionaire Overnight With Rs 60 Lakh Worth Reliance Shares In Inheritance | Freepik Approximately Rs 60 lakh shares But the battle wasn't over. Share Samadhan had to liaise again with the registrar of Reliance Industries Ltd to fulfill requirements for duplicate and transmission of shares. Due to the substantial value of the shares (approximately Rs 60 lakh), meticulous scrutiny of documents and personal verification of the claimant were insisted upon by the company. There was a discrepancy in the name on the share certificate and the death certificate of Raghus uncle. Despite it being a clerical error, providing proof for the difference in name was challenging. Eventually, an Affidavit for the difference in name was accepted by the company. All formalities, including personal verifications and arranging a guarantor for the duplicate issue of shares, were completed. Although securing a guarantor proved difficult due to the high stakes involved, Share Samadhan managed to arrange one, leading to the issuance of shares in Raghu's favor. This was a significant moment for Raghu, both financially and emotionally, as his uncle had entrusted his hard-earned investments to him through the will. ALSO READ: What Luck! Man Finds Grandfather's SBI Shares Bought In 1994 For Rs 500, They're Now Worth Rs 3.75 Lakh For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here Mumbai, the big money spot in our country, is known for being super expensive. It's one of the priciest cities worldwide, way up there with lots of other global hotspots. Loads of folks in Mumbai shell out their hard-earned cash just to snag a house there. But get this what if I told you that for the same amount of money, you could actually buy a whole tropical island in UK? Crazy, right? Seems shocking, but it's true. A Scottish island off the west coast is up for grabs at $3.1 million (Rs 26 crore). This 453-acre island can be reached by boat or helicopter and boasts seven homes, able to house up to 26 people, along with a pub and a helipad. Additionally, there's a small farm with 55 black-faced sheep, as per Knightfrank.com. Who owns Sanda Island? The island was eventually sold to Swiss businessman Michi Meier for the reduced price of 2.5 million. Sanda Island lies between Scotland and Northern Ireland, off the southern tip of the Kintyre Peninsula, made famous by the 1977 song Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartnery and Wings. Island On Sale! With 7 Houses & A Helipad Is Up For Sale At Just Rs 26 Crore | knightfrank What is the history of Sanda Island? Over time, this island has had ties to monks, saints, and royalty. Scottish King Robert the Bruce and Norways King Hacon both visited, while its chapel is linked to Saint Columba and Saint Ninian. The island has changed hands many times, but one of its most notable owners was Jack Bruce from the rock band Cream. The lodging can cater to as many as 26 people, perfect for a cozy gathering at the Byron Darnton Tavern. This pub got its name from a shipwreck in 1946. Originally set up in 2003 by former owners Dick and Meg Gannon, it welcomed customers who arrived by boat for several years. However, it shut down when the island was purchased in 2010 by Swiss businessman Michi Meier. The island stands 23 meters tall (75 feet) at its highest spot. On a clear day, you can catch sight of Northern Irelands Antrim Hills, about 20 miles away across the North Channel. Campbelltown, in Scotland, is the main way to reach the island by boat. It's got a big marina, a bunch of whisky distilleries, and even Scotlands oldest cinema. Island On Sale! With 7 Houses & A Helipad Is Up For Sale At Just Rs 26 Crore | knightfrank All About Sanda Island Sanda Island has seven homes, with four up north and three by the lighthouse down south. Most of these houses have been spruced up by the current owners. They've put in new double-glazed windows and added new shower rooms in some cottages, which now have underfloor electric heating. The island also has a helipad near the road that links the farmhouse and the lighthouse cottages. You'll find loads of wildlife on Sanda, including puffins, storm petrels, razorbills, Manx shearwaters, kittiwakes, guillemots, great black-backed gulls, fulmars, cormorants, shags, and black guillemots. And guess what? The sale even includes ownership of Sheep Island (31.72 acres) and Glunimore Island (4.41 acres), just a hop, skip, and jump away to the north and northeast of Sanda. ALSO READ: Meet Pragya Misra, First Indian Hire Of ChatGPT Developer OpenAI For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here The biggest 3D printer in the world made a house that can make building quicker and need less work. This new machine at the University of Maine is four times bigger than the first one made less than five years ago. It can print even bigger things. This could mean using natural materials to build bigger 3D-printed homes and show how printed neighborhoods could give affordable housing to people without homes in the area. Worlds largest 3D printer The University of Maine has unveiled the worlds largest 3D printer, dubbed the "Factory of the Future." This massive printer is capable of producing objects measuring 96 feet in length, 32 feet in width, and 18 feet in height. Notably, it boasts exceptional speed, with a printing capacity of around 500 pounds per hour, surpassing many other printers on the market. Furthermore, the printer offers versatile functionality, allowing it to seamlessly switch between different printing techniques to suit complex tasks. These techniques include large-scale additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, robot arm operations, and continuous tape layup. To put things into perspective, Europe's largest 3D-printed building was constructed in 140 hours, making the 80-hour timeframe for the Factory of the Future a significant improvement. Print an entire house in roughly 80 hours or less What's fascinating about the world's new largest 3D printer is that it can build a whole house in about 80 hours or even less. While the houses it makes are basic single-story ones, this could be a huge help for Maine, which needs to build 80,000 more homes by 2030. Moreover, the machine's creators claim that everything it prints is recyclable. This means that in the future, it could be dismantled, ground up, and used again. This would be a significant improvement over the waste typically generated by the construction industry, making it incredibly valuable for building entire neighborhoods in the future. Original printer, named in 2019 The original printer, named in 2019, was officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's largest polymer 3D printer, as stated by the university. It was utilized to construct a 600-square-foot, single-family home using wood fiber and bio-resin materials that are recyclable. Known as "BioHome3D," it demonstrated the ability to rapidly produce homes. According to MaineHousing, Maine alone will require an additional 80,000 homes in the next six years to meet the growing demand for housing. Potential of the world's largest 3D printer The potential of the world's largest 3D printer extends beyond just building houses. The engineers behind the Factory of the Future suggest that it could also be used to construct vehicles such as submarines and other maritime vessels, including military ones. In fact, one senator even described the printer as "invaluable to our national security," highlighting its importance in defense applications. While this perspective aligns with American priorities, I'm personally more enthusiastic about the opportunities it presents for addressing homelessness and creating sustainable housing across the country. For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here The late teens and early 20s are a phase of a persons life where they are still mulling their career options and maybe still indecisive. In contrast, 22-year-old Aadit Palicha is the CEO of the online grocery store Zepto. But that is not the most striking part. The most striking part is that Zepto was introduced only in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic, which means the company went from absolute nil to multi-crore in a matter of months. The Standford dropouts are pivotal in shaping India's Q-commerce Industry through their unique business model. Founded in 2021 by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalay Vohra, Zepto offers quick commerce service, delivering online groceries, fruits, vegetables, electronics, and many more in a few minutes. Who is Adit Palicha founder of Zepto? Quick-commerce services have boomed lately in India, with rivals like Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart battling closely for the top spot in the special market. The idea of delivering orders in just 10 minutes is attracting a lot of customers, especially in big cities, where services arrive at your door in no time. In this tough market, a new startup called 'Zepto' is not only finding its footing but also showing real promise to take over this specific market. Aadit Palicha, born in 2001 in Mumbai, started his business journey at the age of 17. He founded a startup called GoPool before heading to Stanford University in the US to study computer engineering. Despite being in the middle of his studies, he decided to leave the program to focus on his company. It was a bold move, but luck was on his side. Zepto founder Aadit Palicha's Journey From Dropout To Rs 10k Crore Startup | ET In April 2021, Aadit and his friend Kaivalya Vohra launched the online platform Zepto for grocery delivery. Within just one month of operation, the startup was valued at $200 million. Aadit established this company to provide grocery deliveries within 10 minutes amidst the Covid-19 crisis, and his concept was incredibly successful. Palicha's before Zepto journey Palicha was studying for a bachelor's degree in Computer Science at Stanford University when he made the decision to drop out and pursue his own startup. His first venture, known as GoPool, was built when he was just 17 years old. Afterward, he and Kaivalya launched the precursor to Zepto, called 'Kiranakart'. It was introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, according to his account, they struggled to find a strong product-market fit with KiranaKart. As a result, they decided to shut down operations and start Zepto. The rest, as they say, is history. Zepto propels Palicha into the spotlight of fame and success Zepto founder Aadit Palicha has now become a familiar name in the startup scene, following his company's achievement of becoming the first unicorn (a company valued at $1 billion) in 2023. According to reports from ET, Zepto is currently in discussions for multiple rounds of funding, aiming to raise approximately $300 million from global investors. Once the funding rounds are completed, Zepto's valuation is expected to soar to around $2.5-3 billion. The model developed by the Nexus Ventures-backed unicorn is significantly different from the conventional e-commerce model employed by companies like Amazon and Flipkart in India. Unlike these companies, which manage their marketplaces directly, Zepto has implemented a unique backend structure. Adit Palicha's net worth According to the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List, Aadit Palicha has a net worth of Rs 1,120 crore. ALSO READ: The Journey Of A Bihar Man: From Rickshaw Puller To Multi-Crore Startup Owner What makes Zepto's unique? What sets Zepto apart is the founders of the delivery app, who have become notable figures in the Indian startup scene. These Stanford dropouts are playing a crucial role in shaping India's Quick Commerce (Q-commerce) Industry with their distinctive business approach. Established in 2021 by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto provides rapid commerce services, delivering a variety of products including online groceries, fruits, vegetables, electronics, and more within minutes. What is the operational model of Zepto? According to an ET report, Zepto operates through an innovative online franchise model. Essentially, Zepto licenses out its platform to entities like Geddit Convenience, Drogheria Sellers, and Commodum Groceries. These licensees, along with Zepto's founders' company, Kiranakart Technologies Pvt Ltd, collectively manage the platform. Here's how it works: Kiranakart Technologies, acting as a B2B wholesale company and tech service provider, supplies goods to Geddit and other licensed seller entities. These sellers then list and sell products on the Zepto app. Additionally, they also oversee the dark stores leased out by Kiranakart Technologies. This setup not only allows Zepto to comply with e-commerce regulations but also enables efficient operation of its platform, offering customers a seamless shopping experience. ALSO READ: Meet Pragya Misra, First Indian Hire Of ChatGPT Developer OpenAI For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here Police operatives of the Enugu State Command, have arrested two male kidnapping suspects allegedly involved in the abduction of a heavily pregnant woman. The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Saturday by DSP Daniel Ndukwe, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, State Command. The operatives, acting on intelligence-guided discreet investigations, rescued the woman along Eke-Egede Road in Udi Local Government Area of the State on April 22, 2024. Advertisement The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, Kanayo Uzuegbu, has equally ordered the manhunt of other members of the kidnapping gang at large. This is also as the victims husband, Ekene Igwe, hailed the State government for its quick intervention, which includes taking over the wifes medical bills. Ndukwe on his part said Uzuegbu swiftly led a crack team of police operatives, complemented by the Neigbourhood Watch Group and Forest Guards, to rescue the woman on April 23, 2024, around noon, barely 24 hours after her abduction. His words: Providentially, the woman, later identified as Chinwendu Igwe and already in her expected period of delivery, delivered a male child and, upon her rescue, was taken to the hospital, where she and the baby were medically attended to and are in good condition courtesy of the Enugu State Government, which has undertaken to foot the medical bills of the mother and newborn. READ ALSO: New Minimum Wage Cant Be Announced On Workers Day TUC A preliminary investigation into the incident has revealed that the woman, unaided and for reasons yet-to-be ascertained, knowing that she was within her expected period of delivery, embarked on a journey by land with two of her children from Lagos to her paternal home in Egede, Udi LGA. She got to 9th Mile around 9 p.m. Lacking a convenient means of conveyance, she boarded a commercial motorcycle, with the motorcyclist electing to transport her and her two children due to her state of pregnancy. However, while on their way, the abductors attacked them, beat up the motorcyclist, and abducted the woman into the forest, leaving the rider and the children behind, before a team of Police Operatives from the Ezinze Police Division of the Command that responded upon intercepting information on the incident, could get to the scene. The CP further describes as total misinformation the report by The Nation Newspaper of April 27, 2024 stating that the woman was on her way to the hospital for delivery and that the motorcyclist rescued the two children. He, therefore, enjoins media houses to always maintain accuracy and objectivity when reporting security information of this nature to avoid misinforming the unsuspecting public and violating laws and ethics of media practices. The CP bemoans the fact that Mrs. Igwe the decided to embark on such long-distance travel by land and unaided, considering her heavy pregnancy and the time of movement to her final destination. Neither did she consider stopping by and having her husband, who resides in the Enugu metropolis, take her to the said paternal home at a later time. Hence, he urges all and sundry to exercise discretion and caution in such circumstances. No less than 19 children in Mubi North Local Government Area (LGA) of of Adamawa State have reportedly been killed by complications from a suspected measles outbreak. Measles is a highly contagious disease that is caused by a virus that attacks mainly children. The most serious complications include blindness, brain swelling, diarrhoea, and severe respiratory infections. Advertisement Felix Tangwami, State Commissioner for Health, said more than 200 children in the LGA were already infected as disclosed by News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday. He said the outbreak was reported in Yola, leading to a quick mobilisation of medics and drugs to affected communities. He assured that children with severe infections will be referred to hospitals. READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu Fires 391 Lagos Water Corporation Officials The commissioner said the medical team will move from Mubi to Gombi LGA where another outbreak had been reported. Tangwami attributed the refusal of parents to immunise their children for the outbreak. In February, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had expressed concerns over the rapid spread of measles globally. Natasha Crowcroft, a WHO technical adviser on measles and rubella, said experts in the measles world are extremely concerned. Crowcroft said more than 306,000 cases of measles were reported worldwide in 2023 which represents a 79 percent increase from 2022. She said measles cases are typically dramatically under-reported noting that the real number is surely far higher. Given the ballooning case numbers, we would anticipate an increase in deaths in 2023 as well, she said. Natacha Anita Akide, often referred to as Tacha, a controversial reality TV star and media personality, has revealed that she is getting tired of Nigerian boys. She claimed that Nigerian men treat women unfairly. Advertisement On her Big Friday Show on Cool FM in Lagos, the reality star-turned-OAP said that she is now looking for South African men. She asked her guest on the show, Yvonne Godwin, who is dating fellow BBTitans reality star Juicy Jay from South Africa, how it is to date a South African. Tacha: How does it feel like dating a South African? I mean, for we, Nigerian girls that are already getting tired of Nigerian boys because we know what they do to us. Whats the treatment like dating a South African? Im looking for South Africans now. READ MORE: I Hate Mohbad More In Death Naira Marleys Associate Yvonne: I dont see the country with him [Juicy Jay] because he is just different. He makes it easy. The fact that he tries to learn Nigerian lingo. He also tries Nigerian delicacies. He is very open-minded. He makes it [dating] so easy. He is very caring. He takes his time. People dont take their time to know me but he really took his time to know me. And he loves me so much, I know that. A 31-year-old Philadelphia woman has been charged with shooting a teenage girl in the head during a dispute, police said Saturday. Sharnay Lewis was arrested without incident near where the shooting occurred, police said. She faces several charges including aggravated assault and making terroristic threats, police said. Advertisement The shooting occurred about 6 p.m. Friday in the Elmwood section of Southwest Philadelphia in the 6600 block of Guyer Avenue, police said. Lewis and the 15-year-old got into an argument described by police as a domestic matter. READ MORE: 15-year-old girl shot in Southwest Philly During the argument, Lewis allegedly pulled out a black gun and fired at least one shot, police said. The teen, who was sitting inside a vehicle, was struck once in the back of the head, police said. Police believe the bullet was fired into the rear windshield and traveled through the passenger-side headrest before striking the teen. The teen reported the shooting at the 12th Police District, where she arrived by a private car. Police took her to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where she was listed in stable condition, police said. Police said a firearm, ammunition and a spent cartridge casing were recovered from Lewis residence. The shooting remains under investigation. Keep reading by creating a free account or signing in. China calls for UN-led int'l probe of Nord Stream blasts Xinhua) 11:25, April 28, 2024 UNITED NATIONS, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday called for a UN-led international investigation of the September 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions. It has been more than 18 months since the Nord Stream incident. It is simply regretful that no conclusion has been drawn, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. China notes that Sweden and Denmark, two major parties to the incident, announced in February 2024 the termination of their country-specific investigations. The two countries' investigations did not disclose substantive information, did not reveal concrete progress, and did not draw clear conclusions, sparking even more speculations and misgivings in the international community, he told the Security Council. The Nord Stream pipeline explosions were a serious incident that sabotaged transnational energy infrastructure. Since the explosions, the Security Council has considered the issue on many occasions, and many council members, including China, have been calling for an objective, impartial, and professional investigation to find out the truth as soon as possible and to bring the perpetrators to justice in order to prevent the reoccurrence of similar incidents. he said. In the wake of the incident, members of the council debated whether to conduct international or country-specific investigations. At that time, certain members strongly advocated that Sweden, Denmark, and Germany be given the trust and the time to conduct their own country-specific investigations. However, after more than a year of investigations, no truth has been established, with only scant information offered, he noted. "With the situation standing where it is, one cannot help but suspect a hidden agenda behind the opposition to an international investigation, while lamenting the potential cover-up and loss of quantities of compelling evidence," said Geng. "We reiterate our call for the early launch of a UN-led international investigation to bring the truth to light for the international community." Russia is a main party to the Nord Stream pipeline explosions. China calls on the countries concerned to actively communicate and cooperate with Russia and jointly investigate the incident. On the Nord Stream issue, it is important to avoid double standards within the international community, and especially within the Security Council, he said. Russia has circulated a draft Security Council presidential statement on the Nord Stream pipeline explosions. The draft objectively describes the situation and calls on the parties concerned to cooperate in investigation. These elements, clear and concise, meet the expectations of the international community and should be the consensus of the council. China hopes that an early agreement can be reached on the draft so that the council can speak out on this issue as soon as possible. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The moral insanity of Americas long war in Vietnam protested by 1960s kids who were on the right side of history, even if the grown-ups didnt see it in real time came to be defined by the unnamed U.S. major who told journalist Peter Arnett after the particularly deadly 1968 battle of Ben Tre that it became necessary to destroy the town in order to save it. History doesnt repeat but it rhymes, gratingly. As a new generation of young people speaks out against attacks on women and children halfway around the world this time in Gaza college administrators from Boston to L.A. are racing to call in heavily armored riot cops to shut down protest encampments at campuses theyd sold to applicants as bastions of academic freedom, open expression, and historic demonstrations that had changed the world. Advertisement They are destroying the American university in order to keep it safe. In a week when decades happened, the lowest moments in what became a nationwide assault on college free speech by militarized police veered from shock to tragicomical irony. At the University of Texas in Austin, right-wing authoritarian Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a large helmeted brigade of state troopers to march through the heart of his states flagship campus and shut down a pro-Palestinian protest that hed branded as violent and antisemitic even before the event had actually started. Prosecutors later dropped all criminal charges against 57 UT students and others arrested by Abbotts army, saying the arrests lacked probable cause. The riot cops were photographed marching past a UT promotional sign, What starts here changes the world Students at two large Midwestern schools Indiana and Ohio State Universities who grew up on active shooter drills were shocked to look up during their campus protests to see what appeared to be trained police snipers aiming long guns at the action. IU officials stayed mum about what seemed to be photographic proof. In Ohio, where the volley of National Guard shots that killed four students at Kent State University at a May 4, 1970, protest still echoes today, OSU officials called the rooftop officers just spotters before admitting theyd switched to long-range firearms at night once the troopers began using force on the students. Apparently using force on the students wasnt a problem for them. Some of the most shocking footage came from Atlanta, involving police and the state troopers who in 2023 had shot and killed a protester against the police training center known to foes as Cop City. Multiple videos from Emory University showed a string of violent arrests, including a young Black man who was shot with a Taser even though officers had immobilized him on the ground. When an Emory economics professor, Caroline Fohlin, saw a cop violently arresting a student and screamed, What are you doing?!, a second officer grabbed her and slammed her hard to the ground, her head against the hard pavement, as she screamed, Im a professor. Fohlin, who was shown on video doing no more than raising her voice, was charged with battery against a police officer. One of the most chilling videos from Georgia, ironically, shows no violence at all. In it, Noelle McAfee, chair of Emorys philosophy department, stylishly dressed, handbag slung over her shoulder, is led away in handcuffs by a masked officer. She later told a faculty meeting that, like Fohlin, her supposed crime was questioning an officer making a violent arrest of a student. In her regular life as a distinguished academic, McAfee wrote a book, Democracy and the Political Unconscious, which argues that Americas untenable global war on terror showed a need to keep reliving the trauma of the 9/11 attacks a concept that must have crossed her mind as a militarized cop led her away. She turned to a videotaping student and asked, Can you call the philosophy department and tell them Ive been arrested? Id kind of like to call the philosophy department myself, in the hope that some beautiful mind there can explain to me how college presidents can morally justify calling armed police officers against their own students to clamp down on free speech, beyond their desperation to stay employed. Or maybe someone in Fohlins economics department could pick up the line and do the math for me on why Americas best universities value their biggest donors over their students free expression. The most tumultuous week on U.S. college campuses since May 1970 resulted in at least 600 arrests at 15 different schools as of Saturday, with more surely on the way. Its going to take even longer to tally all the students facing suspension and in some cases expulsion for speaking out on the bloodshed in Gaza, or the now-ruined careers of principled professors who stood between their students and a nightstick. Not to mention the lasting psychological scars for young people who saw their dream college summon cops to arrest them or even fire rubber bullets or canisters of tear gas at them, which would be considered a war crime if used in Ukraine but is apparently OK in the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s hometown of Atlanta. The notion of college as the American dream fostering not just upward economic mobility but a nation of informed citizens taught to think critically has been steadily dying since the original right-wing backlash against student protest in the 1960s triggered the end of taxpayer support for low tuition, which caused a $1.75 trillion student loan crisis. The maelstrom around the war in the Middle East has given the enemies of higher education and they are many a chance to move in for the kill. Their ammunition is the complicated relationship between student protests for Palestinian liberation and against Israels current conduct in Gaza, where its more-than-six-month assault has killed at least 33,000 people the majority of them women and children and the constant scourge of antisemitism. Even though some advocates lump political criticisms of the state of Israel under an overly broad definition of antisemitism, theres no question that the despicable harassment and assaults on Jews on or around college campuses have risen since the Oct. 7 start of the war (as they also have for Muslims). A few of the claims linking the worst antisemitism to the student protests have been disingenuous, such as when some journalists cited a nonstudent and well-known antisemite stationed a block from the Columbia University main gate as an example of protester hate speech. At Bostons Northeastern University, administrators sent in police Saturday who detained 100 students based on a shout of Kill all the Jews! that veteran journalists on the scene said came from a Jewish demonstrator waving an Israeli flag, apparently seeking an escalation. But there has also been some instances of antisemitism that are indeed the fault of pro-Palestinian student protesters. In the most egregious example, an encampment leader at Columbia posted a video in which he said Zionists dont deserve to live! Hes been banned from the Manhattan campus, and rightfully so. Just as it was a relief when the Cornell student who made vile antisemitic threats was arrested. It shows that the tools to single out and punish the perpetrators exist. So why instead blow up the entire ivory tower in a cloud of tear gas and paranoia? READ MORE: Fear and loathing on Americas college campuses as free speech is disappearing The biggest driver is right-wing authoritarianism. Red-state governors like Abbott in Texas or Georgias Brian Kemp have watched the new hero of U.S. conservatism, Hungarys Viktor Orban, make crushing his homelands once freethinking universities the centerpiece of his strongman governance. Now they are importing the strategy. The Gaza protests have given governors and their fellow travelers on Capitol Hill a golden opportunity to squelch the notion of a liberal education while squeezing out a few more tax-cut dollars for their billionaire donors, and creating a nightly Two Minutes Hate of young people on Fox News that distracts from the 88 felony counts against their presidential candidate. The hypocrisy is astounding, especially from the likes of Abbott, who actually signed a 2019 law he insisted would protect students freedom to speak their mind. Some colleges are banning free speech on college campuses, Abbott said five years ago. Well, no more. Well, thats exactly what Abbott and his tin soldiers did last week, even though months earlier the governor was silent when the Texas Republican Party rejected a ban on associating with Nazi sympathizers. The complexities of never-ending conflict in the Middle East is what allows the cynical Greg Abbotts of America to get away with this. Too many would-be Democratic critics are too wedded to years of deep support for Israel, ignoring that a) the right-wing extremism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies is not your fathers Israel and b) the assault on campus free speech has much deeper implications than the current crisis. Too many college presidents have displayed extreme cowardice, caught in the headlights between Republican bullying and billionaire donors, who likely fear the protesting students might eventually question the brand of capitalism that made them billionaires. Topping off this perfect storm is a critical failure on the left, which over the last couple of decades has emphasized a particular brand of campus identity politics that didnt take the free-speech question seriously, despite warnings from folks who remembered how hard students fought in the 1960s and 70s to win those rights. The safe-spaces crowd is now seeing the safety issue turned against them at places like the University of Southern California, where administrators fear of a Muslim valedictorian led to the cancellation of commencement for 65,000 people. But the biggest problem is the large mass of Americans sitting on the couch and saying absolutely nothing, glued to the nonstop Trump Court TV that cable news has become, watching pundits fret that democracy will die in the November election even as a runaway police state already clamps down in April. Look, the threat of a Trump 47 dictatorship is real, and last weeks three-hour Supreme Court debate over whether any president is above the law was riveting, even if in a healthy republic it would have lasted just three minutes. Too many boomer Trump Resistance types see the wave of college arrests as a distraction, a sideshow. Trust me, this is the entire ballgame. Ending free speech on college campuses is the leading edge of a bigger war against dissent that could already be lost by Nov. 5, and any contest of the election result that follows. Im sure Congress and President Joe Biden have some valid concerns about Chinese ownership of TikTok, but I doubt lawmakers would have moved so quickly to threaten a large media platform with extinction were it not for fear that too many young people are exposed to ideas they find dangerous. The chaos on college campuses is already being cited to curb other protests, such as moving demonstrators far away from Julys Republican National Convention so they cant be heard. Democracy defenders might find the battle to stop a second Jan. 6 coup was lost on the playing fields of Emory. By the time a returned-to-the-White-House Trump makes good on his vow to send out troops and tanks to put down any Jan. 20, 2025, inauguration protesters, America might be numb to such images. Thats why the time to speak up for Americas young people and everyones right of free speech to your neighbors, or in church or at the coffee shop, or even at the family dinner table is today. We cant trust the job to feckless college presidents who are willing to watch their students get slammed to the ground to save their jobs. Will somebody please call the philosophy department? READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter Its hard to get excited about Congress briefly escaping the strangling tentacles of partisan politics to provide long-overdue military aid to Ukraine. While the Eastern European nation continues to struggle mightily, a resurgent Russia and the threat of Donald Trumps reelection mean the war is far from over. Ukraine had been punching above its weight, retaking some of its lost territory and dominating its invader in the Black Sea, but the six months it took for Congress to pass aid legislation gave Vladimir Putin ample time to recover. Lacking the weapons it needed to repel the Russians, Ukraine surrendered more than 139 square miles, and Putin had time to replace his more than 315,000 killed and wounded. Advertisement Perhaps more devastating than the territorial losses was the anguish felt by the Ukrainian people, who understandably felt betrayed by American politicians too busy plotting their own agendas. That sense of abandonment has eroded the morale of young Ukrainians. They rushed to join the army when the invasion began two years ago, but now many are draft dodging by fleeing their country. Perhaps a history lesson is needed to remind Americans of what is at stake. Except for speed, Putins invasion of Ukraine has all the attributes of Germanys invasion of Poland in 1939. Adolf Hitlers storm troopers accomplished their mission in 35 days; six months later, France fell while Great Britain teetered on the brink. Interestingly, a 1939 Gallup poll showed that 71% of Americans nonetheless wanted no part in another world war. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his 1940 State of the Union address said that he understood the wishfulness of those who oversimplify the whole situation by repeating that all we have to do is to mind our own business and keep the nation out of war. But there is a vast difference between keeping out of war and pretending that this war is none of our business. We must look ahead and see the possibilities for our children if the rest of the world comes to be dominated by concentrated force alone even though today we are a very great and a very powerful nation. We must look ahead and see the effect on our own future if all the small nations of the world have their independence snatched from them or become mere appendages to relatively vast and powerful military systems. On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and the inevitable could no longer be avoided. We declared war on Japan, and Germany, abiding by a verbal agreement with Japan, declared war on the United States. Eight decades later, this country can avoid a similar trajectory toward another world war by helping Ukraine escape Polands fate. Ironically, Poland today has good reason to fear Putins apparent desire to cobble together a new Soviet Union. Even more fearful should be the Baltic nations Estonia and Latvia, which, like Ukraine, have large ethnic Russian populations who may be sympathetic to Putins ambitions. Republicans who opposed more Ukraine aid claimed it would be an unwarranted giveaway when this country should be doing more to secure our southern border from undocumented migrants. That argument was a canard designed to divert attention from the reality that America has more to lose if Putin is emboldened by Ukraines fall to replicate the domination the Soviet Union once held. That is not to say the current border crisis isnt real, but its also solvable. Just six months ago, a bipartisan group of senators came up with immigration reform legislation that included $20 billion to improve border security, plus additional millions to hire more judges for immigration courts, combat human trafficking, dismantle drug cartels, and impose sanctions on groups that participate in the distribution of fentanyl. That legislation never made it to the House because Speaker Mike Johnson said it would be dead on arrival. But Johnson risked his speakership last week by helping push the Ukraine funding bill through. So maybe the Louisiana congressman who has seemed under the thrall of Trump is finally seeing things more clearly. The same cannot be said for the coterie of dangerous do-nothing demagogues including Georgias Marjorie Taylor Greene and Arizonas Paul Gosar who continue to follow the former presidents lead and parrot Putin talking points. America needs immigration reform, but it cant afford to ignore what is likely to happen in Europe if Ukraine doesnt get the assistance it needs when it needs it. It may already be too late. It will take time to deliver some weapons systems and other supplies included in the $61 billion aid appropriation that President Joe Biden signed Wednesday. And Ukraine doesnt have a lot of time. If Ukraine falls, its allies, and especially the United States, must accept some blame. Ukraines task was always Herculean, but in the early days of the war, it seemed capable of getting the job done if given adequate support. That has not happened. Partisan politics got in the way in this country and Trump has said that if reelected, he would end the war in one day, likely by forcing Kyiv to give up territory to Moscow. That doesnt mean Ukraines defeat is inevitable and voters will have a strong say in November but it does mean our nations word must be its bond every time it makes promises to countries that need our help. President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18. Many Black Americans see themselves and their ancestors in the plight of the Palestinians, Solomon Jones writes. Read more In the wake of a presidential primary election in Pennsylvania that failed to excite many African Americans and young people, one issue has raised the ire of both demographics: the war in Gaza. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli militarys response to the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel. As Israel has sought to destroy Hamas and retrieve the 240 hostages taken by the militant Palestinian group, its military has attacked hospitals in Gaza, leaving mass graves behind. Images of suffering Palestinian civilians have made their way around the world, prompting the United Nations Security Council to demand an immediate cease-fire. The United States abstained from that vote. Advertisement Now, in the midst of an election year, with President Joe Biden poised to sign congressional legislation granting billions more in U.S. aid to Israel, pro-Palestinian protests are roiling campuses at Yale, Columbia, and other major universities. Amid a social media narrative that blames Biden for the civilian deaths in Gaza, its clear that the political landscape will be affected by the war, and that reality is driven by an abiding truth the Democratic Party must face. Young people and African Americans two groups Biden will need in November have differing views on foreign policy. But many people in both groups see injustice in this war. Just as young people protested civilian deaths during the war in Vietnam, this generation has witnessed the horrors of Gaza, and they are calling for the Biden administration to withdraw financial support. For young people who are also African American, the level of revulsion is even deeper, because they see themselves and their ancestors in the plight of the Palestinians. Todays college-aged Black youth have lived their lives in the shadow of a criminal justice system whose racial bias is quantifiable. Theyve seen police officers take the lives of Michael Brown and Tamir Rice, Rekia Boyd and Atatiana Jefferson. Theyve watched a social media hashtag grow into the Black Lives Matter movement, which was further amplified after George Floyds murder by a Minneapolis police officer. And they watched incremental change transform into a backlash. But the dim view of Israels bombardment of Palestinian civilians is not limited to young people. A survey conducted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in October, shortly after the Hamas attack, indicated that 95% of Black people rejected the idea of offering unwavering support to Israel. Im not surprised, because African Americans have watched for decades as Israels government has taken land from the Palestinian people through the creation of settlements, which are illegal under international law. We have seen rock-wielding Palestinians face off with Israeli soldiers. All of it looks stunningly familiar. Black people have lived through government-sanctioned land grabs. We have seen politicians who have enabled discrimination. For me, and for many of us, watching the Biden administration fund Israels attacks in Gaza is a reminder of what our people have suffered. Watching the Biden administration fund Israels attacks in Gaza is a reminder of what our people have suffered. Thats why we reflexively pause before accepting what were told about the war. We know what it is to have our narrative controlled by those who would oppress us. We see it even now in the attempt to twist the story of slavery in American classrooms. Make no mistake, Hamas was wrong to attack Israeli civilians. Those kinds of tactics are brutal, ugly, and unjust. We should not lose sight of that fact, even as college protests against the war continue to spread. The demonstrations were seeing now over the treatment of Palestinians did not begin with the widespread opposition to Israels military offensive in Gaza, just as the fight for racial justice didnt start with Floyd and the protests that followed. Maybe an inherent suspicion about the ways in which governments can mistreat minority groups is why so many in the Black community dont believe the flat coverage that excuses the annihilation of civilians in Gaza. Maybe that same sense of mistrust is behind the low electoral turnout in Tuesdays primary. And maybe, in spite of all the economic and social reasons for Democrats to support Biden in November, this war will be the reason many wont. It began as a passion project. Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh, one of Irelands leading costume designers, began to wonder what happened to the stunning pieces on set when cameras stopped rolling. She reached out to production companies, to designers, telling them of her vision to create an Irish costume archive. Today, along with her friend and associate Veerle Dehaene, she has preserved costumes from films ranging from My Left Foot to The Banshees of Inisherin, and everything in between. This week, visitors to the Newbridge Museum will be able to see these iconic pieces first-hand as a new exhibition is launched. It will appeal to film buffs, certainly, but also to any lover of fashion, design, and craft as it features costumes designed and made in Ireland for some of our most famous productions. Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell in Banshees of Inisherin However, with the costumes also plotting, through clothing, how Irish society has changed over the decades contrast Siobhan Ni Suilleabhains clothes in The Banshees of Inisherin with Mariannes insouciant Trinity College wardrobe in Normal People it is bound to appeal to a much wider audience too. The pieces in the exhibition have been carefully curated to complement the permanent exhibition at the Museum of Style Icons which features pieces from the golden age of Hollywood and those worn by contemporary icons. In the upcoming exhibition, youll recognise Helen Mirrens costume as the queen in the film of the same name, as well as costumes worn by the great and good of Irish film including a certain Irish Oscar-winner. Anthony Hopkins in Freud's Last Session 'EVERYTHING WAS BEING SOLD' Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh is one of Irelands leading costume designers. Her CV reads like a recent history of the Irish film industry and she has worked on productions including The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Breakfast on Pluto, Brideshead Revisited, and Calvary. She has just finished work on Matt Browns Freuds Last Session starring Anthony Hopkins, and her work on Martin McDonaghs The Banshees of Inisherin garnered much praise for her use of local materials and skills. Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh, along with Dehaene, is the co-founder of the Irish Costume Archive Project. The archive was established in 2017 to create a record of Irelands rich film industry through the preservation and conservation of its costumes many of which have been worn by our most accomplished actors. Many of the costumes originally came from The Costume Mill, which once stored designs by Joan Bergin among others as well as Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh herself. Everything was being sold, so Veerle and I went through everything and took out costumes that we felt were important, explains the designer. A lot of them were mine alongside Joans costumes from productions like My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father, Tudors, and Dancing at Lughnasa. Ardmore Studios housed the costumes which are now stored in Rathnew thanks to the support of Wicklow County Council. We started reaching out to production companies and costume designers telling them that we wanted to set up an archive. One of our biggest supporters is Element Pictures who have produced Poor Things, The Favourite, Room, Frank, Normal People and we work with some private collectors too, says Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh for whom the archive is very much a passion project. Cillian Murphy in Breakfast on Pluto The exhibition at The Museum of Style Icons will feature 18 costumes alongside film scripts, continuity notes, props and accessories. Look out for costumes from Freuds Last Session as well as from Normal People, In the Name of The Father, My Left Foot, Breakfast on Pluto, Vikings and The Banshees of Inisherin. Costumes from the main characters of Martin McDonaghs award-winning screenplay feature in the exhibition. Worn by Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan, Brendan Gleeson, and Kerry Condon, the costumes were all handmade in Ireland using Irish materials. Its lovely for people to see the craftsmanship that goes into these costumes, says Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh. The design is one thing, but there is a whole team of people who make the costumes on productions, so its lovely to highlight the talent behind the camera the tailors and the milliners involved in making these costumes. On Banshees we used linen from Emblem Weavers in Wexford and tweed from Magee in Donegal. The jumpers were knitted by Delia Barry using wool from Studio Donegal and Cushendale. The great thing about film is that when we set up a workshop, everything will be done in-house unless we need huge multiples of something like uniforms that cant be done in Ireland. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal in Normal People THE TEST OF TIME Some of her favourite pieces in the Newbridge exhibition include those from Breakfast on Pluto its 20 years old and has stood the test of time. Even back then Cillian Murphy was a star and its just great to see how well hes done and those from Normal People. Designer Lorna Marie Mugan did a really beautiful job especially when Marianne and Connell move to Dublin and start going to Trinity. He stays very ordinary while her style becomes quite bohemian. Its wonderful that we have those pieces in the archive. As a costume designer myself its really interesting for me to see pieces in the archive and to appreciate other peoples work. Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh agrees that costumes often seem to take on the shape and character of the wearer. When Daniel Day-Lewis costume from In the Name of the Father is on the mannequin, I can still see him in the costume. I think that costumes really do tell a story, she says. Day-Lewis amazing Afghan coat was made by Donnellys Leather on Harcourt Street in Dublin and when The Costume Mill was closing the gentleman who made the coat came to visit and told us all about the making of it and of how he had imported the skins from Afghanistan. Its wonderful for people to be able to see the work that goes into these costumes. Georgia Hirst in Vikings Another key piece in the exhibition, worn by Georgia Hirst in Vikings, is a beautiful piece of leather armour made by Dubliner Kelvin Feeney who has worked on The Tudors, Pirates of the Caribbean, Thor, Snow White and the Huntsman, and Dungeons & Dragons. Fans of Helen Mirren will enjoy seeing her costume from The Queen for which designer Consolata Boyle was Oscar-nominated. Helen Mirren in The Queen Mirren is seen wearing the dress and hat whilst viewing the sea of flowers outside Buckingham Palace after the death of Princess Diana. Is it more difficult to work on contemporary costumes than period ones? I love doing period costume because you cant help but be excited by the research finding out how people lived, what they wore, the social history, all the details the thing with contemporary costumes is that everyone has an opinion, so, its not that you get away with more with period costumes, but sometimes people [on set] will defer to you a bit more because you should know what its supposed to look like. There are a lot more critics out there now with social media too. Catherine Clinch in The Quiet Girl, featuring the film's symbolic yellow dress THE YELLOW DRESS Ephemera that will interest visitors includes an original script from My Left Foot and the costume continuity book from the same film containing behind-the-scenes Polaroid photos of Daniel Day-Lewis (in character, naturally) and Brenda Fricker (goofing around). Theres John Waynes bowler hat from The Quiet Man, Tom Hanks tin one from Saving Private Ryan, and Cillian Murphys umbrella from Breakfast on Pluto. A favourite costume for Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh is the yellow dress worn by Catherine Clinch, star of An Cailin Ciuin. Liam Neeson in Michael Collins All of the other costumes are adult-sized Liam Neesons costume for Michael Collins is really imposing and people often say Oh my god, is he really that tall? This dress is so tiny and it is a very poignant costume that film really pulled at the heartstrings. A costume doesnt have to be really elaborate as Louise Stanton, the costume designer, said, its probably the first new dress the character has ever been bought. '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. The head of the association representing the country's 19 voluntary hospitals has criticised the "heavy hand of centralised control" by the HSE over the hospitals. The Irish Voluntary Healthcare Association's members include the Mercy University Hospital in Cork, Childrens Health Ireland and Our Ladys Hospice & Care Services. Voluntary hospitals are run by boards or private bodies, but also receive a large proportion of their funding from the HSE. The associations chief executive Mo Flynn said their independent nature within the health service lacks recognition. We want to work with them as partners, she said. And to have a relationship that holds us accountable but also lets us get on with actually running our hospitals and organisations, without the heavy hand of centralised control or the bureaucratic hand that can at times disincentivise and disable the ability to actually deliver good services. Ms Flynn said there is a real issue with lack of recognition of the independent nature of the voluntary hospitals". "Theres been a considerable blurring of the issues around accountability and autonomy between the HSE and the hospitals now in the last number of years. However she said the biggest concern is the very grave funding situation now. Theres inadequate funding and a lack of clarity regarding funding as we move forward. You are seeing hospitals seeking professional advice regarding insolvency risks yet having to continue to operate on a day-to-day basis. Some are facing the possibility of having to reduce services, she said. Most of our members were notified of significant deficits they are being asked to carry from 2023, she said. "I think we are looking at a cumulative deficit of 340m across our members, between 2023 and 2024. The voluntary sites are also seeing a rise in patient numbers as well as struggles to hire enough staff, she said. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said voluntary organisations play a key role in service delivery across health and social care. The HSE is being restructured into health regions with new regional executive officers already in place, she said adding it is "essential" there is a formal recognition of the voluntary bodies within these new regions. The Department, HSE and voluntary organisations have met four times in the last year to discuss these changes, and co-design a plan. This proposal is at advanced stage and has been subject to a significant amount of consultation and feedback from voluntary organisations which is being incorporated presently. We anticipate agreeing this document shortly, she said. The Irish Examiner reported last week the HSE is allocating 1.174bn as once-off supplementary funding to be shared by all funded hospitals and community services. This funding will not cover the full stated deficit for each site. The supplement is linked to financial concerns around the overall budget, which shows a net deficit of 1.5bn. Ireland will not become a loophole for the UKs migration policy, the Taoiseach has vowed, with emergency legislation being drafted to allow for the return of asylum seekers who arrive here from the North. Justice Minister Helen McEntee will today meet her British counterpart, James Cleverly, after it was suggested that Britains contentious Rwanda policy has resulted in a spike of asylum seekers crossing the border into Ireland. Last week, Ms McEntee revealed that more than 80% of people applying for asylum in Ireland are coming over the border with the North. She also confirmed that less than 100 of the 7,300 people refused asylum in Ireland since the start of 2023 have been deported. It has been reported that Britain will begin to detain asylum seekers from today weeks earlier than expected in preparation for their deportation to Rwanda for processing. Those who attend routine meetings at immigration service offices will be immediately transferred to detention centres, while officials also plan to pick people up nationwide in a major two-week exercise. Those seeking asylum in Britain will then be put on flights to Rwanda, which are due to begin this summer. British prime minister Rishi Sunak said the increase in migrants coming to the Republic from the North, which now accounts for 80% of the total, shows that his Rwanda plan is working. Mr Sunak said: The deterrent is already having an impact because people are worried about coming here. Asked about this, Taoiseach Simon Harris said Cabinet will discuss new legislation being drafted to clamp down on this when it meets on Tuesday. The proposed new laws would allow for the transfer of people back across the border. The integrity of our migration policy in this country will not be in any way, shape, or form undermined by anybody elses migration policy and Im very clear on that, he said. Mr Harris said every country is entitled to have its own migration policy, but added: I certainly dont intend to allow anybody elses migration policy affect the integrity of our own. This country will not in any way, shape, or form provide a loophole for anybody elses migration challenge. The Taoiseach added that there are significant benefits to migration, but Ireland is also a country that has rules in place that will be enforced. We intend to provide humanitarian assistance to those who come here and have a right to it, he said. But we also intend to have a scenario where if people come here and dont have a right, that they can be returned. "The proposals being brought forward by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, this week with facilitate that. Enterprise Minister Peter Burke ruled out measures that would curtail free movement across the border, but said joint operations with the PSNI and the gardai will increase. Obviously, we have an open border, we fought so hard for that ability during Brexit because it is so important for our country to have the free movement and pieces of goods and services, Mr Burke said. "And thats critical to our success as an island economy. We have to protect that. But we will work to try respond to this issue with the Minister for Justice on Tuesday. Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill claimed neither Mr Harris, Ms McEntee, nor Tanaiste Micheal Martin made any contact with her as first minister in the North over the issue of people crossing the border and claiming asylum here. Read More Mary Lou McDonald defends Sinn Fein's rhetoric on open borders Meanwhile, Mr Harris has criticised protests outside peoples homes as downright thuggery at an event commemorating a murdered politician. He said that, too often, politicians have been targeted at their homes by angry mobs, have been attacked and abused, and have been in fear of what might happen to their families. He also said he is satisfied An Garda Siochana does not need new laws to deal with public order incidents and said he would support gardai in enforcing laws through measures such as the introduction of garda bodycams. Aontu leader Peadar Toibin called for an Irish Sea border in terms of the movements of people and suggested that passport checks should be in place at ports and airports in Northern Ireland. Its absolutely not doable to be able to check people on the border between the north of Ireland and the south or the idea that the PSNI and the gardai are going to start putting checkpoints up on the border, its not possible, he told RTEs the Week in Politics. Whether its a local man desperately in search of a girlfriend or a late night request for help with a mobile phone, Cork councillors are no strangers to the odd bizarre request. It seems there are some constituents who feel they can ask absolutely anything of their local politicians. As councillors prepare for the 2024 local elections, which are scheduled to be held on June 7, they reflect here on some jaw dropping exchanges with constituents in crises. Fine Gael councillor Marie OSullivan, who serves the communities of Bandon and Kinsale, takes these requests in her stride and says she is only too happy to help those who might be older or vulnerable. Even a call at 11pm from a woman who needed help with her mobile phone wasnt enough to faze her, and saw her drive out to the lady's home to solve her technical conundrum. Once I had someone call me from their landline because their mobile phone turned off," she explained. "They werent able to restart it, so I drove out to their house and fixed it at 11.30pm. "There were three sisters and the oldest sister used to organise everything for them. Unfortunately, she was in hospital, so they felt completely lost. It turned out the ladys mobile phone was just on airplane mode and hadn't turned off at all. "If you can offer a hand to someone like that, you dont think twice about it. They were very polite when they rang. Sometimes the little things mean a lot. Its very important to know that someone like this will be able to get a nights sleep without any worries. Other calls are considered more frustrating. I did get a call at 12.30am once from someone complaining that the road signs in our area were dirty. Looking back, I think it must have been a prank. Independent councillor Ben Dalton O'Sullivan, from the Carrigaline Municipal District, received an eccentric request from a gentleman on a mission to find love. There was one man who we set up for a hip operation in Belfast. A few weeks later, he told me that everything went fine. His only hope now was that I could sort him out with a woman. Independent councillor Ben Dalton O'Sullivan, from the Carrigaline Municipal District, received an eccentric request from a gentleman on a mission to find love. "He was in his 70s. I already had a bus organised for people going to the matchmaking festival in Lisdoonvarna, and I asked him to come along. We brought him up, but I still dont know if he had any luck. If he met anyone, he didnt tell us. Cork South West Fianna Fail councillor Fergal Dennehy , meanwhile, was able to step up and undertake a rather unpleasant task. I was asked to remove two dead mice from a hot press. That was one of the strangest ones. It doesnt come under your usual requests because its not a maintenance issue. "However, the mice needed to be removed before they decomposed. The best person to do the job was myself. Some people have a fear of a mice. Thankfully, I dont. When it comes to duty, you have no fear. I put them in a bag, sealed it up and disposed of them. A lot of what we do is above and beyond our remit. Cork South East An Rabharta Glas councillor Lorna Bogue learned that politicians have to be all things to all people. On this particular occasion, she doubled up as a last-minute hairdresser. I was canvassing in Waterford for the European elections a couple of weeks ago, when I knocked on the door of a young woman who was clearly getting ready to head out for the evening, she told the Irish Examiner. On occasions where I think Ive interrupted someone in the middle of a domestic task, I generally say that I dont want to bother them if theyre busy. It was at this moment that the homeowner asked Ms Bogue if she could apply her hair extensions. I, of course, agreed. What woman wouldn't? I was slightly nervous as the last time I did this was 10 years ago in a bathroom in Costellos. She seemed happy enough with it and thanked me before I went on to the next house. Meanwhile, Cork North Central Fianna Fail councillor Dr John Sheehan described an ultimatum he will never forget. One woman told me that I wouldnt get her vote if I didnt get her daughter a job by the following Friday. Friday was voting day and this was four days before the election. I told her that if I could get her a job that quickly I would, but I didnt have jobs in my back pocket. Councillor Lorna Bogue had to double up as a hairdresser. "I told her that, if she needed any advice or guidance, I was happy to sit down and chat to her. Thats all I can do. Some people want things that they know in their heart and soul arent achievable but they still ask anyway. Fianna Fail councillor Terry Shannon, who represents the South East Ward in Cork, was taken aback to receive a call from a constituent. On Christmas morning, I got a call from a woman who lost her wedding ring. She thought they would open the dump on Christmas Day to go and find it for her. There was an expectation that everyone else would abandon their Christmas Day to make this happen. "Chances are that the ring wasnt even there. She was put out when I told her there was nothing we can do. Castletownroche-based Independent councillor Frank Roche says that many of the calls he receives centre around marital difficulties. I get a lot of calls from the wives of farmers who are sick to death of their husbands lifestyles. They dont drink or go off with other women. However, what they do have is an addiction to cows. "A farmers day is never finished. There are a lot of farmers who dont even go to bed at night and will just fall asleep in armchairs, watching calving cameras. It can be a difficult life for dairy farmers in particular. Women often ask me to come out and talk to their husbands. "I am yet to have the wife of a farmer ring me to say their husband doesnt work hard enough. The complaint is always that they work too hard. Fine Gael councillor Kevin Murphy, whose electoral areas include Bandon and Kinsale, recalled being contacted at 2am on Christmas morning with an equally odd request. My wife answered the phone to a local man who wanted me to give him a lift home from the pub, he said. One constituent rang Fine Gael councillor Kevin Murphy to ask for a life home from the pub at 2am on Christmas morning. Whats even more unusual is that he rang on Christmas morning. She told the caller that I was asleep and wouldnt be able to take him home. Unorthodox requests never cease to astound Cork North East councillor Kenneth OFlynn. You get people ringing you asking to pay their bills, but they are just chancing their arm. Most of the requests he receives, however, are considerably more innocuous. Up in Farranree, I was asked to give two verses of Joe Dolans 'Youre such a good looking woman'. I had a man named Donal who won the over-60s with me, so we were able to sing it together. "You have a great bit of craic with people. Ive been asked to sing a couple of times. People ask for all sorts of things when youre a councillor. As one of the countrys fastest-growing cities with its population set to increase by 60% from 211,000 to 336,000 by 2040, Cork continues to attract both indigenous and international businesses as its base for European operations. The redevelopment of the docklands, considered to be the jewel in the crown of European regeneration projects, is expected to result in an additional 30,000 residents. Based in the heart of this expanding business and financial quarter is MC2 Accountants. Growing to meet demand Founded in 2013 by Jim McCarthy and Sean McSweeney, MC2 Accountants swiftly positioned itself as one of Munsters leading independent audit, tax and business advisory firms, carving a niche for itself as a trusted partner for private businesses seeking expert bespoke solutions. MC2 prides itself on the standard of services it provides to its clients in Cork and beyond. With a focus on professionalism, integrity, and client-centricity, the firm has built a reputation for delivering exceptional results and personalised service by offering a comprehensive suite of financial and business solutions tailored to each client. As MC2 continues to evolve and expand in line with the local economy, its commitment to excellence remains steadfast. With a growing team of dedicated professionals, a culture of innovation, and its relentless pursuit of excellence, the firm is poised to empower businesses in Cork and beyond to thrive and meet the demands of an ever-changing business landscape. The firm also recently expanded its office on Penrose Quay, one of two offices it has in the city, to accommodate newly recruited employees to meet the demand of continued business growth, with the aim of creating a further 20 roles in the next 18 months. Senior appointments As part of its business strategy, MC2 has announced the appointment of James Loughrey as its new Managing Partner. James has been a Partner with the firm for over three years, and takes over the position from Jim McCarthy, Partner in Corporate Finance, and co-founder of MC2 Accountants. Loughrey continues to hold the position of Partner in MC2s Audit and Business Advisory Department and has extensive experience advising indigenous businesses across the country. He has previously worked with EY and Parfrey Murphy, which MC2 acquired two years ago. To support this continued growth, MC2 has appointed James McMahon to the position of Tax Partner. McMahon joins MC2 from Grant Thornton, where he was Tax Director supporting entrepreneurial business owners. James joins Sean McSweeney in MC2s growing Tax Department. James McMahon, newly appointed Partner at MC2, and Sean McSweeney, MC2 Co-founder and Partner. Picture: Alison Miles / OSM PHOTO Sean commented: The appointment of James as Tax Partner reflects the continued growth of our practice as we continue to support our ambitious clients to achieve their goals. James will further strengthen the expertise of our leadership team and shares the firms vision of providing exceptional service to our clients. James McMahon added: I am thrilled to have joined MC2 Accountants as a Tax Partner. It is an exciting opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking and progressive practice with ambitious plans for the future. MC2 has a strong commitment to excellence and innovation, and I am eager to contribute to its continued growth and success. I am particularly excited about the opportunity to continue serving entrepreneurs and business owners, helping them navigate the complexities of taxation and financial planning. "In joining MC2, I am confident that we will continue to make a positive impact in the industry and continue to be a trusted partner for entrepreneurs and business owners seeking expert tax advice and strategic guidance." Our clients are our focus The announcement of the senior appointments is part of MC2s expansion plans as it reinforces its position as one of Corks largest independent accountancy firms and one of Munsters leading private business advisors. According to James Loughrey: Jim and Sean set up MC2 offering audit, tax and advisory services to private businesses. While the firm has grown significantly since then, that passion to support private businesses and their owners has never diminished. Being able to act as a trusted business advisor to our clients and having the focus on long-term, often multi-generational, relationships is something that we pride ourselves on. While there is ongoing consolidation in the accountancy industry in both Ireland and the U.K., MC2 believes that by remaining an independent firm it will continue to offer unparalleled value to its clients through personalised and uncompromised service, deep client understanding, enhanced staff career progression and the ability to be more agile in an ever-evolving business landscape. Loughrey states: We considered joining an international network and had various approaches from Private Equity firms; ultimately, operating as an independent firm has delivered for our clients and our people to date and this flexibility is vital as we embark on our next stage of growth. Private Equity is suitable for accountancy practices where succession might be an issue; in MC2, we have a young and energic partnership succession is not an issue. In fact, we are actively seeking to expand through strategic acquisitions, leveraging our proven experience in successful integrations. MC2 offers a nurturing environment where employees can thrive, grow and advance their careers. The absence of rigid corporate structures allows for greater autonomy and creativity, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in one's work. The firm also has a workplace culture that understands the importance of employee health and wellbeing and the role that a balanced working life plays. Our people are our greatest asset and the driving force behind our continued success. That's why we're committed to fostering a work environment where every individual can thrive, both personally and professionally, said James. The events of recent times have put into sharper focus the need for employees, and employers, to provide a better balance to work and personal life. We recognise that not all employees have the same responsibilities outside the office and offer several different benefits to help and support through innovation and foresight. One of the initiatives we introduced last year was a four-day working week, which has proven to be exceptionally successful. Four-day working week one year on In April 2023, MC2 introduced a four-day working week, just one of a very small number of Irish companies to launch such an initiative. One year on, how is it working out? According to Pamela Murphy, Partner in MC2, the firm has seen very positive outcomes, including increased productivity, improved employee morale and reduced absenteeism. Overall, the experience has been extremely positive, particularly from our clients. We were very cognisant of ensuring there would be no negative impact on the quality of service we provide and the business would operate as normal, which has been the case. We saw an increase in client satisfaction over the past 12 months as the focus is on results and not accumulated hours, said Pamela. Weve been delighted to see that the initiative is working as well as it is. The future MC2 has never been a firm to rest on its laurels; it is a firm willing to explore options and take the decisions that it believes are right for its employees, clients and its future growth. We are very excited about the next phase of MC2, said Loughrey, we are continuously enhancing our service offerings to our clients, most recently corporate finance services for management buy-outs as well as sustainability reporting services for SMEs. We challenge ourselves to be the best in terms of our client offering, our team and our position in the market. And I believe that by doing that on an ongoing basis, we will maintain our competitive advantage. mc2accountants.ie Harvey Weinsteins lawyer said that the former movie mogul has been taken to hospital for 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, Mr Aidala said. A message left with the hospital was not immediately returned. Messages seeking comment were also left with city and state corrections offices. 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 apnoea and eye problems. Mr 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 on Thursday morning. He said his clients 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, Mr Aidala said. Hes a 72-year-old sickly man. Mr 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 is 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 Labour Day. US President Joe Biden delivered an election-year roast on Saturday night at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner as protesters outside criticized his support for Israel's war against Hamas. Mr Biden used the annual black-tie event to chide his Republican rival Donald Trump for immaturity, poke fun at his own advanced age and take on the Washington press corps. "Yes, age is an issue. I'm a grown man, running against a 6-year-old," Mr Biden joked. Mr Biden, 81, later added of former President Trump, 77: "Age is the only thing we have in common. My vice president actually endorses me." Mr Trump reacted to the event by calling it "really bad" in a post, on his Truth Social platform. "Crooked Joe was an absolute disaster! Doesnt get much worse than this!" he said. Demonstrators holding banners outside the gathering at the Washington Hilton chanted about journalists' deaths in Gaza. Hundreds of protesters encouraged journalists to boycott the annual event and shouted down administration officials as they entered. Mr Biden avoided the large protests at the front of the hotel by arriving through a back entrance, where he was greeted by smaller groups of protesters calling for a ceasefire. At the century-old event, often referred to as Washington's "nerd prom," hundreds of journalists, politicians and celebrities rubbed elbows in a massive banquet hall. It often features friendly jabs from the president in a closing speech that takes aim at reporters and other guests in the audience. Mr Biden offered some advice to the press corps. "I'm sincerely not asking you to take sides. I'm asking you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment. Move past the horse race numbers and the gotcha moments and the distractions, the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics, and focus on what's actually at stake," he said. This year, the event was hosted by Saturday Night Live cast member Colin Jost. Donald Trump. Picture: Dave Sanders/The New York Times via AP Grassroots movement CODEPINK marched to the venue from a nearby park. "The United States media perpetuates anti-Palestinian narratives and ignores Israeli war crimes," the group said on its website. A growing movement against the war in Gaza has dogged the US president this year including at a $250-per-ticket March fundraiser at New York's Radio City Music Hall that was disrupted by protesters. Recently, that movement has expanded to college campuses in the US, signifying a growing revolt inside the Democratic base that Mr Biden needs to defeat Mr Trump, who is now the Republican frontrunner. Kelly O'Donnell, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, declined to comment on security measures for the dinner. "The safety and security of our protectees is the U.S. Secret Service's top priority," said U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Alexi Worley, who declined to comment further. Israel's six-month old war against Hamas in Gaza, in response to the Oct. 7 attack by the militant group in southern Israel, has killed more than 34,000 people, Palestinian health authorities say, and caused a humanitarian disaster for the enclave's more than 2 million inhabitants. The Hamas attack killed 1,200 people in Israel, and led to 253 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. The White House Correspondents Association was founded in 1914 and has held a dinner nearly every year since 1921 to celebrate the reporters who cover the presidency and raise money for scholarships. The war in Gaza spurred large protests outside a glitzy event with US President Joe Biden, journalists, politicians and celebrities, but it went all but unmentioned by participants inside. Mr Biden instead used the annual White House correspondents dinner to make both jokes and grim warnings about Republican rival Donald Trumps fight to reclaim the US presidency. An evening normally devoted to presidents, journalists and comedians taking outrageous pokes at political scandals and each other this year often seemed to illustrate the difficulty of putting aside the coming presidential election and the troubles in the Middle East and elsewhere. Mr Biden opened his roast with a direct but joking focus on Mr Trump, calling him sleepy Don in reference to a nickname the Republican had given the president previously. A demonstrator with red paint on their hand and face is seen behind a police barricade during a pro-Palestinian protest outside the event (Terrance Williams/AP) Despite being similar in age, Mr Biden said the two presidential hopefuls have little else in common. My vice-president actually endorses me, Mr Biden said, highlighting that former Trump vice-president Mike Pence has refused to endorse Mr Trumps re-election bid. But the president quickly segued to a grim speech about what he believes is at stake in the election, saying another Trump administration would be even more harmful to America than his first term. We have to take this serious eight years ago we could have written it off as Trump talk but not after January 6, Mr Biden told the audience, referring to the supporters of the Republican who stormed the Capitol after he was dumped from office in 2020. President Joe Biden, right, introduces host Colin Jost at the correspondents dinner (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) Mr Trump did not attend Saturdays dinner and never attended the annual banquet as president. In 2011, he sat in the audience and glowered through a roasting by then-president Barack Obama of his reality television celebrity status. Mr Obamas sarcasm then was so scalding that many political watchers linked it to Mr Trumps subsequent decision to run for president in 2016. Mr Bidens speech, which lasted around 10 minutes, made no mention of the ongoing war or the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. One of the few mentions came from Kelly ODonnell, president of the correspondents association, who briefly noted some 100 journalists killed in Israels six-month war against Hamas in Gaza. In an evening dedicated in large part to journalism, Ms ODonnell cited journalists who have been detained across the world, including Americans Evan Gershkovich in Russia and Austin Tice, who is believed to be held in Syria. The families of both men were in attendance, as they have been at previous dinners. Dinner guests had to face the protesters as they entered the venue (Kevin Wolf/AP) To get inside Saturdays dinner, some guests had to hurry through hundreds of protesters outraged over the mounting humanitarian disaster for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. They condemned Mr Biden for his support of Israels military campaign and Western news outlets for what they said was undercoverage and misrepresentation of the conflict. Many protesters shouted Shame on you as the guests hurried inside for the dinner, and at one point the crowd chanted: Western media we see you, and all the horrors that you hide. Other protesters lay sprawled motionless on the pavement, next to mock-ups of flak vests with press insignia. Mr Bidens motorcade took an alternative route from the White House to the Washington Hilton than in previous years, largely avoiding the crowds of demonstrators. The event itself drew nearly 3,000 people, with celebrities including DaVine Joy Randolph, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm and Chris Pine. Both the president and comedian Colin Jost, who spoke after him, made jabs at the age of both the candidates for president. Jost joked: Im not saying both candidates are old. But you know Jimmy Carter is out there thinking, maybe I can win this thing. Hes only 99. Britain's Home Office is to launch a surprise operation to detain asylum seekers across the UK on Monday in preparation for deportation to Rwanda, weeks earlier than expected, the Guardian has reported. Officials plan to hold refugees who turn up for routine meetings at immigration service offices and will also pick people up nationwide in a two-week exercise. They will be immediately transferred to detention centres, which have already been prepared for the operation, and held to be put on later flights to Rwanda. Others identified for these flights are already being held. It is thought the launch of the operation has been timed to coincide with Thursdays local council elections in England, to boost British prime minister Rishi Sunaks claims he is cracking down on illegal migration. Sunak said last week the first flights to Rwanda would take off in 10 to 12 weeks after the government forced its controversial bill legalising the flights through Westminster. Police in Scotland have been put on alert because of the high risks of street protests and attempts by pro-refugee campaigners to stop detentions. Here, the Cabinet is set to discuss new emergency laws next week that would see the Government able to send asylum seekers back to the UK. The meeting on Tuesday will see the issue discussed alongside amendments to existing law regarding the designation of safe third countries after Justice Minister Helen McEntee recently said that 80% of asylum applicants come to Ireland over the border with Northern Ireland. It also comes after Mr Sunak said that claims that his governments 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. Earlier this week, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said the UKs asylum policy is driving migrants in fear of being deported to Rwanda across the border from Northern Ireland into Ireland. And, on Saturday evening, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said Simon Harris doesnt comment on the migration policies of any other country, but indicated that changes to Irelands existing legislation were in the works. The safe countries list is part of a process for consideration of asylum applications. While asylum seekers may travel from countries deemed safe, there are still cases where applicants can show their personal circumstances mean their country is not safe for them. A spokesperson for the Taoiseach said: 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. The issue is also set to be discussed between Ms McEntee and her British counterpart on Monday. Dozens of people raised their arms in the fascist salute and shouted a fascist chant during ceremonies to honour Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on the 79th anniversary of his execution. Dressed in black, the neo-fascist supporters marched through northern Italian towns where Mussolini was arrested and executed at the end of the Second World War, and also in Predappio his birthplace and final resting place. Mussolini was stopped by anti-fascist partisans in Dongo, on the shores of Lake Como, on April 27, 1945 as he tried to escape with his lover, Clara Petacci, following the Allied liberation of Italy. On Sunday, a group of neo-fascists marched through Dongo and placed 15 roses in the lake in memory of the ministers and officials from the Mussolini government who were killed there, according to video of the event by LaPresse news agency. The partisans executed Mussolini and Petacci the following day in the nearby lakeside town of Mezzegra-Giulino, where commemorations were also held on Sunday. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks on the last of a three-day Brothers of Italy party conference ahead of the June elections for the European Parliament, in Pescara (LaPresse via AP) After a rendition of Taps, the leader of the commemorations shouted Comrad Benito Mussolini, and the crowd responded with a stiff-armed fascist salute and chant of present. Several police vehicles separated the demonstrators in Dongo from hundreds of protesters who sang the famous partisan song Bella Ciao during the ceremony. The anniversary of Mussolinis execution fell on the same day that premier Giorgia Meloni was leading her far-right Brothers of Italy party in an election rally in the city of Pescara. Brothers of Italy traces its roots to the Italian Social Movement, which was founded in 1946 by a chief of staff in Mussolinis last government and drew fascist sympathisers and officials into its ranks after Mussolinis fall. Ms Meloni, who joined the MSIs youth branch as a teenager, has tried to distance her party from its neo-fascist roots. She has condemned fascisms suppression of democracy and insisted the Italian right handed fascism over to history decades ago. On Sunday, Ms Meloni accused the left of being more of a totalitarian threat to Italy today. 04/27/2024 Jacksonville, Alabama - Antoine B. Richards, Jax State Emergency Management doctoral student, has been recognized as one of the honorees of the 2024 40 Under 40 Award by the U.S. Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM-USA). The announcement was made during the IAEM Plugged In Virtual Conference on April 18, 2024. The IAEM-USA 40 Under 40 Award is a prestigious recognition bestowed upon individuals under 40 who have demonstrated exceptional talent, leadership, and achievements in emergency management. This honor is a testament to the remarkable contributions and hard work of emerging professionals making significant strides in their careers and positively impacting their communities and the emergency management profession. Antoine B. Richards' selection for this esteemed award is a testament to his personal journey of dedication, expertise, and commitment to advancing the field of emergency management. As a doctoral student at Jax State University, Antoine has exhibited exceptional leadership and academic prowess, distinguishing himself as a rising star. He was the past President of IAEM Student Chapter at Jax State during 2018-2021 and the chapter won the Best Student Chapter of the Year Award from IAEM-USA in 2019. Dr. Tanveer Islam, Department Head for the Emergency Management and Public Administration Department at Jax State University, commended Antoine's achievement: "We are incredibly proud of Antoine and his well-deserved recognition by IAEM-USA. His passion, dedication, and innovative approach to emergency management exemplify the values and mission of our department. Antoine's contributions are shaping the future of the field, and we look forward to witnessing his continued success." Antoine B. Richards' inclusion in the IAEM-USA 40 Under 40 cohort is a testament to Jax State University's commitment to fostering excellence and leadership in emergency management education and practice. Through innovative research, hands-on training, and community engagement, Jax State empowers students like Antoine to become agents of change in addressing the complex challenges of disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. Antoine's success is a reflection of our collective efforts and dedication. For more information about Jax State University's Emergency Management program, please visit https://www.jsu.edu/emergency-management/ 04/27/2024 Jax State has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Alabama Board of Veterans Affairs. The grant will fund the Victory Center, which Dr. Marie Valentin, the lead on authoring the grant proposal, described as a "two-fold initiative that will serve the total military community. "The center will improve participants' overall mental health, support a smooth transition into civilian life, and help families flourish, stated Dr. Valentin. In addition to working with military members and their families, the center will provide internship opportunities for students pursuing bachelor's or master's degrees in social work or clinical mental health counseling. The recently established Military Friendly Campus Committee drove the pursuit of grants like the one funding the Victory Center. "It's like the name says," explains Dr. Justin Parker, Director of Jax State's Military and Post Traditional Student Services and committee member, We're focused on making the Jax State campus more military-friendly. That includes looking at grant opportunities to bring in some support initiatives Jax State didn't have." The first grant was the $10,500 grant awarded by the Alabama Military Stability Foundation, a state commission that supports the military community. The grant allowed members of the Jax State Military Friendly Campus Committee, including Justin Parker, Emily White who serves as the Co-PI for the grant, and Ashley Hanvey, in conjunction with the Prior Learning Assessment Committee (PLAC), to attend the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio, earlier this month. Among the topics, committee members explored the expansion of prior learning assessments and credentials for military-connected students. The committee's efforts are already paying off. Jax State has been named a Military Friendly School by Militaryfriendly.com for creating sustainable and meaningful education paths for the military community. According to the site's profile, "Jax State has a very supportive community both on and off campus for current service members and student veterans We have the support programming and experience to ensure the personal, academic, and professional success of all current and former service members," said Dr. Parker. All such accolades help raise the profile of Jax State for potential students with military ties. It's a good way to get Jax State's name out there, to kind of guide their decision, knowing that we look after our military students. It's all about making the best, most informed decision." Within the 15-county service population that Jax State covers, there are more than 53,000 veterans, according to the Veteran's Administration website. Those are the people whom the Victory Center and, by extension, the Military Friendly Committee wants to help. "It's easily more than three or four times that if you include family members," Dr. Valentin said. "With our Victory Center, we're looking at positively impacting the lives of thousands of military personnel and their families. We envision this lasting for more than a year, which is what the funding is set for now. "We want this to be part of Jax State's legacy to the area," stated Dr. Valentin. The Victory Center is expected to start accepting clients in early June. A final decision about its location has yet to be made, though Dr. Valentin hopes it will be housed in the McClellan Center. Susan J. Demas is a 23-year journalism veteran and one of the states foremost experts on Michigan politics, appearing on C-SPAN, MSNBC, CNN, NPR and WKAR-TVs Off the Record. In addition to serving as Editor-in-Chief, she is the Advances chief columnist, writing on women, LGBTQ people, the state budget, the economy and more. For almost five years, Susan was the Editor and Publisher of Inside Michigan Politics, the most-cited political newsletter in the state. Susans award-winning political analysis has run in more than 100 national, international and regional media outlets, including the Guardian U.K., NBC News, the New York Times, the Detroit News and MLive. Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. Via Michigan Advance Published under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is deeply worried that the International Criminal Court in the Hague may be on the verge of issuing arrest warrants for him along with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy, according to the Israeli press, including Israeli Channel 13. The ICC is chartered by the Rome Statute, which came into effect in 2002, to which 124 countries are signatories. Although Israel is not a signatory, the State of Palestine, a non-member observer state at the United Nations, has signed. Therefore, the ICC has jurisdiction over war crimes committed in Gaza and the West Bank, of which the Israeli government has committed a great number. Hamas, of course, is also guilty of a series of war crimes, which the ICC is also deliberating. Times of India Video: Big Blow To Netanyahu: ICJ Arrest Warrant Against Israel PM | Top Officials Secret Meeting The International Criminal Court does not judge governments but rather government officials. Its finding in the spring of 2011 that Moammar Gaddafi was guilty of crimes against humanity for his attempt to crush the peaceful protests that broke out that year paved the way to the UNSC-authorized no-fly zone that doomed Gaddafis ability to use fighter jets and helicopter gunships to put down the revolution against him. ICC judgments have therefore sometimes been consequential. The ICC also indicted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2009 for crimes against humanity in Darfur. Al-Bashir was overthrown by a popular revolution in 2019, and in 2020 the provisional government agreed to send him to the Hague for trial. That still has not happened, but this chain of events shows how an ICC indictment can deeply weaken and imperil a leader. On the other hand, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has thumbed his nose at the court since it indicted him last year. His movements, however, have been affected, since when he travels abroad he risks arrest. He had to cancel a trip to South Africa last summer because Pretoria is an ICC signatory and may have been constrained to arrest him. Netanyahu engaged in bluster this week against the court, saying its rulings would do nothing to restrain him which I interpret as an assertion that they would not make him cease committing any crimes for which he was indicted. Netanyahu may in any case go to jail in Israel for corruption, for which he is presently on trial. That Netanyahu is alarmed at this possible development shows the triumph of the State of Palestine, which was created in 1993 by the Oslo Peace Accords, and formally termed the Palestine Authority. The PA has for the past 15 years pursued a strategy of legal action against Israel for repeated violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territories. First, the state of Palestine sought observer status at the UN, which could be granted by the General Assembly and which could not be blocked by the passionately anti-Palestinian US. Then the state of Palestine signed the Rome Statute and acceded to the International Criminal Court. The ICC has no jurisdiction over non-signatory states, and so ordinarily would not be able to issue rulings against Israeli officials. But because the state of Palestine gave the ICC jurisdiction in the Palestinian West Bank and in Gaza, it can issue indictments for war crimes committed by Israelis in those occupied territories. It has been a brilliant legal strategy on the part of the Palestine Authority, and potentially far more consequential than the horrid terrorism to which Hamas has resorted. In fact, Hamas officials may well also be indicted soon. The ICC case against Israeli officials is different from the proceedings brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice accusing Tel Aviv of committing genocide. The ICJ is a judicial body established by the UN to adjudicate disputes between member states. ( Middle East Monitor ) Israel turned Gazas hospitals into execution fields and the international community only called for humanitarian pauses. Now that mass graves have been discovered, the international community is allegedly horrified and is calling for a transparent and credible investigation. Where did the UN think the bodies of Palestinians murdered by Israel would end up? And why is the UN horrified at the discovery of mass graves, but not at Israel killing thousands of Palestinian civilians? The mass graves discovery is another reason why we need a ceasefire, why we need to see an end to this conflict, why we need to see greater access for humanitarians, for humanitarian goods, greater protection for hospitals. We need to see the hostages released, the UN Secretary-Generals spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, stated during a press briefing. There is much dissonance in this statement. The ceasefire was needed before the discovery of the mass graves. During genocide, the UN speaking of conflict illustrates its complicity with Israel. Linking humanitarian aid to the mass graves is another atrocious comment humanitarian aid is for the living. Protection for hospitals is a necessity and not linked to the discovery of mass graves. And the Israeli hostages release has nothing to do with the discovery of the mass graves. The mass graves exist because Israel is committing genocide. And all that Dujarric listed must be linked to Israels genocide and the UNs complicity in allowing it to happen. However, given that the UN has now normalised genocide as well, it needs sensationalism to make its points while abstaining from any action that could halt Israels elimination of Palestinians from Gaza. And what better way to do it than focus on 392 Palestinians out of the thousands that have been killed, because their bodies have been discovered in a mass grave? Al Jazeera English Video: Evidence of torture, executions, and people buried alive found in Gaza mass graves Mass graves point towards evidence of war crimes and, in this case, genocide. However, the mass graves in Gaza are also evidence of international inaction over genocide. They are a continuation of the 1948 Nakba, which the international community has failed to refer to in its rhetoric. Playing shocked at the discovery of mass graves will not help Palestinians, but acknowledging the Nakba when it happened would have possibly prevented the current existence of mass graves, which Israel will contextualise in its perpetual security narrative. And which country is ready to tear down Israels lies and face the genocidal settler-colonial entity with facts? A mass grave is not just symbolic of violence. It is evidence, in Gazas case, not only of Israels annihilation of Palestinians but also of the international communitys fragmenting of genocide into separate violations to minimise accountability. However, even with the discovery of the mass grave, diplomats are still granting Israel further impunity. This is something that forces us to call for an independent investigation of all the suspicions and all the circumstances because it indeed creates the impression that there might have been violations of international human rights committed, the EUs spokesman, Peter Stano, declared. Might have been? There was evidence even without the discovery of mass graves, but the international community prefers to rest on speculation in the face of evidence. With one phrase, proof has been turned into an assumption. Can the international community, at least, stop sensationalising the horror of mass graves and focus on the entire genocidal process which wants to eliminate all traces of Palestinians? No independent investigation will cancel the fact that genocide unfolded with the international communitys blessing and, as a result, so did the mass graves. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment. Middle East Monitor Goo Hye Sun talked about romance and revealed why she is not open to dating. Here's what the actress said. Goo Hye Sun, Ahn Jae Hyun's Rocky Marriage Best known for her roles as Geum Jan Di in "Boys Over Flowers," and Yoon Soo Wan in "Angel Eyes," the actress' personal life, especially her romance with Ahn Jae Hyun became the talk of the town in 2015. The two first met on the set of the K-drama "Blood," where they played the lead stars. Following the drama's production, the duo were frequently spotted together, raising speculations about their relationship. Then, they confirmed their romance in 2016, and tied the knot in the same year on Jeju Island. Unfortunately, their love story ended after Ahn Jae Hyun filed for divorce in 2019. Their marriage went rocky, with the cheating accusations thrown at the actor. Years after the divorce, Goo Hye Sun talked about her current relationship status. Goo Hye Sun Relationship 2024 During her guest appearance in ENA's "Hype Boy Scout," the actress, who recently graduated from a university, was asked about her love life. The 41-year-old beauty went honest and said that she is "not currently dating." According to her, she doesn't "have any plans to date in the future." While she is much older than her classmates, the actress was asked if there were any students who had shown interest in her. "There weren't many. There were some, but I think they did it because they were young. I once seriously explained to those friends why we should never date." Goo Hye Sun also shared her honest thoughts about romance and dating. She revealed that the reason she is not prioritizing love right now is because of how she sees herself whenever she's in a relationship. "Sometimes, when you're in a relationship, you don't feel like yourself. Dating in itself can sometimes be stressful." What's Next for Goo Hye Sun? Although Goo Hye Sun is on her on-screen hiatus, she is focusing on her career behind the camera. Following her absence as an actress, she returned to the university, where she got a degree in filmmaking. Among her projects as screenwriter and director are the short film "The Madonna," which is her first work, and her recent film "Dark Yellow," which got nominated for the Asia competition at Japan's Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia 2022. As mentioned by a report, Goo Hye Sun explained that the short film focuses on the woman's perspective and deals "with subjects such as our inferiority complex and vulnerabilities." Interestingly, other than being a being a screenwriter and director, she is also an author and musician. In 2022, Goo Hye Sun released a New Age piano album as she honored her 20th anniversary of her debut. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Flores Jeon Jong Seo captured the hearts of fans with her amazing characters, from the fearless Tokyo in "Money Heist: Korea" to bodyguard Jang Ok Ju in "Ballerina," Viewers also got to see the other side of the actress as she took on her first rom-com, "Wedding Impossible." Portraying the role of struggling B-list actress Na Ah Jung, she took on a rollercoaster ride of life with her best friend Lee Do Han (Kim Do Wan) by faking their relationship. Joining the duo as the lead star is Moon Sang Min, who played as Do Han's younger brother, Lee Ji Han. Jeon Jong Seo Dramas 2024: What's Next for the Actress This Year? While viewers mostly see Jeon Jong Seo in movies, the actress is slated to be active in K-dramas. After "Wedding Impossible," she is set to star in back-to-back K-dramas. Among her soon-to-be released series is the action-historical K-drama "Queen Woo." Jeon Jong Seo will team up with Kim Moo Yeol, Ji Chang Wook, Lee Soo Hyuk, Jung Yoo Mi, and more as she takes on the titular role of Woo Hee. Slated to air in August 2024, the story will highlight Woo Hee's achievement as the first woman in history to become queen twice. Other than this, there are also talks for "Bargain" Season 2, with Jeon Jong Seo reprising her role as Park Joo Young. There are discussions that she will be starring with Jin Seon Kyu and Chang Ryul, who both appeared in the first season. Jeon Jong Seo Net Worth 2024 With her debut in 2018, Jeon Jong Seo immediately made a name for herself after landing her big break, which is also her first movie. She joined Steven Yeun and Yoo Ah In in the thriller mystery film "Burning," where she was nominated for Best New Actress at the Grand Bell Awards and Buil Film Awards. It was followed by another blockbuster movie, "The Call," with Park Shin Hye. This time, she bagged Best Actress in Film at the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Buil Film Awards, both in 2021. Since then, Jeon Jong Seo has been known for her badass roles; hence, she was cast as Tokyo in "Money Heist: Korea." With all the fame and projects, the actress has earned a good amount of fortune through her acting career. Per a report, Jeon Jong Seo's net worth as of 2024 is 10 million USD with a big chunk of it coming from her work as an actress and endorser. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Flores Yoon Eun Sung (Park Sung Hoon) wanted Baek Hyun Woo (Kim Soo Hyun) out of Hong Hae In's life, so he tried to kill him in "Queen of Tears" Episode 15. 'Queen of Tears' Episode 15: Hong Hae In Trapped in Yoon Eun Sung's Lies The episode began with Hyun Woo reading the diary left by Hong Hae In (Kim Ji Won). Then, the scene shifted to Eun Sung burning the diary hoping Hae In would not see it. He continued to tell Hong Hae In lies about Hyun Woo and her family, making her distant to them. They returned to Korea and were welcomed by her family. Her cold reaction made the atmosphere awkward, but they tried to understand her since she was still recovering from her surgery. Baek Hyun Woo, on the other hand, worked hard with his lawyer friends to look for evidence regarding the murder, which would also help him prove his innocence. Elsewhere, Eun Sung took Hae In home and confronted his mom Sol Hee for causing the accident in Germany. He threatened her with incriminating evidence that would testify to her involvement in poisoning the chairman. He also warned her to stay away from him and Hae In. Hong Hae In Reunites With Baek Hyun Woo Hae In visited Hyun Woo in prison, and the moment she saw him, she felt a sudden shift of energy. Her heart raced upon confronting her ex-husband. Hyun Woo, on the other hand, asked about her health, but she interrupted him and accused him of cheating on her and committing murder. Hyun Woo tried to warn her about Eun Sung, but she did not heed his warning. Nevertheless, even after after her visit, Hae In was still feeling dizzy and nauseous because her heart was still racing, which she mistook as an ailment. Later on, she went to the Queens Department Store with Eun Sung and met Secretary Na and asked her about herself. However, Secretary Na feared telling her the truth about her and Hyun Woo as she may lose her job. Baek Hyun Woo Gets Acquitted Baek Hyun Woo's first hearing went well, and Hae In's family was there to support him. Eun Sung was hoping he would lose the trial but was left astounded as Hyun Woo's friends came prepared and showed a plethora of evidence proving his innocence. Eventually, he won the case, while Eun Sung started to think of a new plan to keep him away from Hae In. Meanwhile, Hae In dragged Secretary Na along with her to follow Hyun Woo as he left the jail. She observed him and became perplexed at seeing him with Soo Cheol (Kwak Dong Yeon), questioning the odd family dynamics. Back at the Yongdu-ri, Aunt Beom Ja organized a party for Hyun Woo. She also expressed her feelings to Yeong Seong, which the whole village heard. Hong Soo Cheol, on the other hand, saved Da Hye from her ex. Hyun Woo's brother also came to his rescue. Hong Hae In Regains Her Memories With Baek Hyun Woo Yoon Eun Sung was troubled when the company's directors wanted to know about his 2.3 trillion krw investment fraud. Hyun Woo and Hae In's family kept track of his movements to make sure he faces the consequences of his evil deeds. Hyun Woo and Hae In met at the aquarium, and it turned out that she organized the date before the surgery. She couldn't believe her eyes, but Hyun Woo convinced her to doubt everything around her, especially Eun Sung. She met Eun Sung and saw incriminating evidence, it was a clip of her grandfather's last moments before he went into a coma. She tried to remember it when Eun Sung walked in and proposed a marriage. She refused to answer and walked away. At home, she found a parcel from Germany, it was the diary she had written for herself and Hyun Woo. While reading it, she realized the mistake she made. She remembered everything about Hyun Woo. Hae In rushed to meet him and saw him across the road. Eun Sung got a notification that she left the house. Hyun Woo was elated when he saw Hae In and was about to run to her, but he was hit by a car. In the ending scene, Eun Sung saw the two from afar, hinting that he caused the accident. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article. Shai San Miguel wrote this. "Queen of Tears" lead stars Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won were shocked by the huge crowd during their drama's wrap-up party. Fans Flocked at 'Queen of Tears' Wrap Party Surprising Kim Ji Won & Kim Soo Hyun Given the massive popularity of "Queen of Tears," fans gathered and were lucky to see the drama's cast during their second wrap-up party. On April 27, ahead of "Queen of Tears" finale, the cast members were present at the event. Despite their busy schedules, the celebrities made time to gather again for one last time in support of their work's continuous success. Before the event started, the cast began to arrive at a restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul. Lead stars Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won were surprised to see the sea of people waiting outside the venue. The actress arrived first and the insane crowd erupted the moment she stepped out of her car. Clad in a chic white blazer adorned with golden buttons, partnered with classic denim jeans and a black belt, Kim Ji Won exhibited a casual yet sophisticated charm. Moments later, Kim Soo Hyun made his entrance. Sporting a modern and chic black tunic paired with black trousers and white sneakers, he warmly greeted the fans with waves and smiles. In response, the fans were just as warm as him, screaming his name. Fans were delighted when he shouted one of his iconic lines in the drama, "Hong Hae In!" Kim Ji Won, Kim Soo Hyun Grateful for Unwavering Support The presence of the huge crowd was meaningful for the on-screen couple who were grateful for their unwavering support for the drama. Kim Ji Won commented: "Seeing the amount of fans and reporters who came, I realized how much love 'Queen of Tears' received. Thank you so much for your love, thank you for crying and laughing with me, and I would appreciate it if you could stay with me until the end." hello!~ this is kim jiwon, who played the role of hong haein. *gasped* seeing so many reporters and fans who gathered here *gasped again*, just how many queens of tears are here ??! however it makes me realize even more that ive received lots of love.pic.twitter.com/R3dPsTrzPz (@ahnjvnho) April 27, 2024 Kim Soo Hyun who was still amazed by the crowd also delivered his short message. "Thank you for such great love. I hope you will continue loving us until the last episode and next week's special broadcast." Park Sung Hoon's Witty Remark Leaves Fans Laughing The drama's villain, Park Sung Hoon, also made his way to the event. His humorous yet sincere remarks got the crowd laughing, requesting the fans to separate their feelings for his role. "Thank you for loving our series and thank you for hating Eun Sung. You can hate Yoon Eun Sung, but please don't hate me." ParkSungHoon sounds so nervous as he thanks the series fans.. " Thank you for loving our series and thank you for hating Eunsong.. You can hate Eunsong but please don't hate me" #QueenOfTears pic.twitter.com/jMC11BriZE Pia2423 (@pia2423) April 27, 2024 Furthermore, viewers were shocked by another twist that happened in "Queen of Tears" Episode 15. As Hong Hae In regained her memories with Baek Hyun Woo, the latter was involved in a car accident, giving the viewers a shocking momentum. With one episode left, will Hae In and Hyun Woo be able to save their love story and have a happy ending? Let us all find out in "Queen of Tears" Episode 16, airing this April 28 on tvN and Netflix at 9:10 p.m. (KST). For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article. Shai San Miguel wrote this. Sunday, April 28, 2024 - The internet has erupted after another photo of former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and his 30-year-old girlfriend Mary Biket surfaced. The 68-year-old seasoned politician had gone for a photo shoot with his beautiful girlfriend. He was rocking a black designer suit while Mary donned a figure-hugging black dress. They held hands like teenage lovers as the photographer captured their lovely moments together. See the photo. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Sunday, April 28, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed why he is interested in Nairobi politics. Speaking during the Lang'ata Women Empowerment programme, Gachagua insisted on safeguarding the city, a top destination for investors in Africa. Citing his various investments within the city, Gachagua promised to involve President William Ruto to monitor the leadership and development progress in Nairobi. "It is the business centre of East and Central Africa. We must take a keen interest in matters in Nairobi. Further, he added that he also had investments in Nairobi, hence his interest in city politics. "I constructed my home in Lang'ata in 1993. My businesses are rented apartments, I'm a stakeholder in Nairobi and we want to know what's happening in Nairobi, Gachagua revealed. I will take a keen interest in the political developments here because it is the capital seat of government and the business centre of East and Central Africa. Nairobi County has in recent years experienced major problems ranging from poor drainage systems, to uncollected garbage and corruption. "You will see us taking matters. Nairobi is too important to be left like that. The president and I will take a keen interest in restoring the glory of Nairobi." the DP stated. Gachagua further promised to work with other leaders within Nairobi County to restore its glory, regardless of their political affiliation. "I'm looking for this young man called Babu Owino so we can work together. We will work with Beatrice Elachi, Esther Passaris and even Jalang'o," he stated. Addressing the flood menace currently being experienced in Nairobi, the second-in-command advised Kenyans to take caution while using the roads, as the government worked towards providing relief to the affected. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, April 28, 2024 - Veteran trade unionist Francis Atwoli has slammed Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja, telling him that he is not happy with how he is governing the busy metropolis. Speaking during the Central Organisation of Trade Unions thanksgiving service on Sunday, Atwoli said that he has tried to restrain himself and will continue to do so, but everyone should tell the Governor that his father (Atwoli) is not happy. He explained that when Sakaja's dad retired he left him under his care, which makes him his father. He noted that when people stand on TV and say bad things about the Nairobi Governor, he gets hurt but restrains himself. "You all know Sakaja is my son and when I asked you to make him Senator of Nairobi, you did. Hes my boy. When his father retired and left him behind, he left him under our care." "When someone stands on TV hitting that boy (Sakaja) the first person to feel hurt is the father. And I will try to restrain myself and everyone should tell him the father is not happy," Atwoli said. His remarks come amid growing criticism over the way the county government of Nairobi is being managed. A few days ago, all four UDA elected MPs alongside a host of MCAs accused Sakaja of mismanaging the city. The lawmakers accused the governor of incompetence, corruption, and bureaucracy. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, April 28, 2024 - Central Organisation of Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli has revealed how he played the role of ensuring that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga gets a job to keep him busy because an idle mind is a devil's workshop. Speaking on Sunday at St Stephen Jogoo Road church, Atwoli said he approached President William Ruto during last year's Labour Day celebrations, where he asked him to find Raila Odinga a job. He said that when he requested Ruto, he did not know that he would take it seriously. Atwoli said that right now, they are all engaged in serious campaigns to make sure that Raila becomes the next African Union Commission chairperson. He said the campaign is being led by Ruto himself. "Labour Day ya mwaka jana, I asked President William Ruto, as a country if we are to move towards one direction, look for your friend, your closest friend Raila Odinga. "Even if you get him a job at the UN or the African Union. Little did I know that it sank in the two of them. "Right now, all of us are campaigning for my in-law, the doyen of opposition politics Raila Amollo Odinga, serious politics that is above our political divide to get the African Union Commission chairmanship and it is being led by none other than President William Ruto," the Cotu secretary general said. Atwoli was one of the leaders who strongly campaigned for Raila to become the fifth President of Kenya. However, soon after he lost, Atwoli switched camps and now backs President William Ruto. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, April 28, 2024 - Central Organisation of Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, has said former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is the best person to succeed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as Azimio One Kenya Alliance leader. Raila,79, is expected to resign as Azimio One Kenya Alliance supremo once he wins the African Union Chairperson contest. Speaking on Sunday, Atwoli said the opposition does not have to look any further, should Raila become the African Union's top sheriff. The veteran trade unionist insisted that Kalonzo is a respected leader with good moral standing. "Those of you remaining in Azimio will not hold another meeting to pick a leader. You already have a leader, a senior counsel, a lawyer of integrity, a diplomat in the name of Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka," Atwoli said. The Cotu boss said that Kalonzo is the leader who will bring together the government and the opposition for Kenya to move in one direction. He said that the former vice president has done it before in other countries on behalf of Kenya. "I know he will narrow the gap between government and the opposition politics because he has done it in Sudan and many other African countries on behalf of our Kenyan government," he said. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, April 28, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has warned Kenyans to be vigilant as heavy downpours continue to hit most parts of the country. Speaking in the Mathare constituency, Gachagua particularly urged Nairobi, Kajiado, and Machakos residents to expect heavy rains on Sunday. At the same time, the Kenya Meteorological Department stated that the floods which are in the third week were not projected to relent soon. Heavy rainfall expected in parts of Nairobi metropolitan this Sunday. Stay weather-aware, Nairobi residents were warned. Embakasi East and South are expected to experience the highest amount of rain above 80 millimeters. Flooding is also feared in; Starehe, Makadara, Kamukunji, Embakasi West, and parts of Embakasi Central. Mathare and Ruaraka residents have also been warned of the risk of flooding with rainfall ranging from 50 and 70 millimetres. Other regions to experience heavy downpours of above 50 millimetres include; Roysambu, Kigumo, Kangema, Ruiru and Juja. Moderate rainfall will also be experienced in Dagoretti South and North, Westlands, and Kasarani. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, April 28, 2024 - A close confidante of President William Ruto had a rough time on Saturday after he was sent away from a funeral ceremony in Bumula Constituency. Kimilili Member of Parliament, Didmus Barasa, had gone to bid farewell to innocent Sanguraa, a renowned academician from Bumula. Barasa, when he got the chance to speak, accused one of the deceased's relatives of failing to use his position to influence the employment of qualified people from the area. The UDA lawmaker referenced Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu's resolve to employ his fellow natives in the top government posts "I want to say this to you, Bumula people, that I recently told your MP Jack Wamboka, who had a report indicating that Education CS Ezekiel Machogu had employed people from his community, that there is no problem with Machogu doing that. "The problem is when our people like Sangura (a kin to the deceased) who have influence and means but fail to use it employ their people," said Barasa. His sentiments ruffled feathers and ushered in a brief moment of disorder, with a section of the mourners charging toward him to stop his speech. "You cannot attack someone who is mourning...Didmus Barasa is not speaking any longer. We would not allow it," one of the men was heard saying. Didmus acceded to the mourners' command, leaving the podium before finishing his speech. "Sawa, nimesikia (It's fine, I have heard you)" an intimidated Barasa surrendered. The lawmaker's security detail escorted him out of the chaos unhurt. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, April 28, 2024 - The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has moved to set the record straight following an altercation between its servicemen and police officers. This followed two separate incidents in the Coast region where KDF officers assaulted police officers in Kilifi and Mombasa Counties. In one of the incidents, a military officer stormed a police station, beat up police officers, and set prisoners free while in another incident, KDF soldiers were caught on camera assaulting police officers and security guards. This evening at the Likoni Ferry, KDF soldiers were involved in a scuffle that has been circulated through various social media mediums, KDF noted in a statement. To establish the circumstances leading to the incident, Military Police and requisite investigation agencies are currently handling the matter. KDF remarked that the incidents were highly regrettable and emphasised that the force was beholden to the value of professionalism. In the Likoni Ferry incident, five on-duty servicemen were seen beating up police officers and security officers stationed at Likoni Ferry on the island side. In the other incident, in Kilifi County at Rabai Sub-County, it was announced that police officers based at Kambe Ribe Police Station arrested a suspect accused of an assault case. Immediately after the arrest, a KDF officer stationed at Garissa, who is a cousin of the suspect, stormed the police station demanding the release of the suspect. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, April 27, 2024 American TV personality, Bill Maher has said that some college anti-Israel Protesters are ill-informed and mostly out-of-work narcissists. The 'Real Time' host who talked about protesters who are blocking roads and bridges, along with those disrupting college campuses, stated that their lack of knowledge over the conflict between Israel and Hamas is breathtaking. Maher also said that protesters who think Israel is an apartheid country are crazy, and he also offered receipts. He averred that these protesters are ignoring countries that subjugate women and minorities, and target the LGBTQ community for death. He added that the Hamas does want to commit genocide against Israel, and their slogan, from the river to the sea,- proves it. Bill also said that while Hamas wants to commit genocide, they can't, but Israel won't even though they can carry out a genocide. Sunday, April 28, 2024 - Thika Member of Parliament, Alice Nganga, has called on the government to prolong the school holiday by an extra week to ensure the safety of students. Speaking in Thika on Saturday, Nganga stressed the importance of assessing the situation before reopening schools, especially with the Kenya Meteorological Department predicting further rainfall. "We have a holiday in the middle of the week on Wednesday. "If the rains persist on Monday and Tuesday, let the children have one more week," MP Nganga stated, expressing concern for the children's safety. Nganga highlighted the preference for keeping children safe rather than risking their exposure to floods by reopening schools prematurely. She appealed to the Ministry of Education to postpone the school reopening date due to the prevailing rainy weather conditions. During the distribution of bursaries worth Ksh45 million to approximately 10,000 secondary school students from her constituency, Nganga emphasised the potential danger of reopening schools amidst heavy rains and floods. Accompanied by Kikuyu MP and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah, Nganga urged the government to delay the reopening date by at least one more week, citing inadequate planning for next week's reopening. It is better to have our children alive than telling them to go to school, then they are taken away by floods. If you see the rainfall is set to continue, let the children stay home until we are sure they will be safe, she stated. Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang reiterated on Thursday that schools would reopen as scheduled despite the heavy rains and floods affecting critical infrastructure across the country. He assured that preparations were underway for the reopening. As part of these preparations, the Ministry of Education's Director General, Elyas Abdi, issued a circular to regional directors of education, instructing them to assess the impact of the rain and floods and submit reports by Friday. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, April 28, 2024 - Members of the public were treated to a dramatic incident after Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers were involved in a scuffle with police officers at the Likoni Ferry Island. The heavily armed KDF special operations brigade was headed to the Kenya Navy Mtongwe base when they faced off with the police at the Likoni Ferry Island. Word has it that the KDF officers first attacked a private guard at the ferry, attracting the attention of the police on duty. When the police officers went to find out the cause of the initial scuffle, the KDF officers turned their rage on the police officers. Members of the public at some point sided with the police and called out the KDF soldiers. The soldiers were heard in the viral video accusing the police of charging their rifles against them thus prompting their violent reaction. The injured officers and guards were taken to hospital as investigators started their probe. Watch the video. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Tirlan, Irelands leading farmer-owned dairy and grain co-operative, and its employees have chosen Aware as their new charity partner. As part of the new partnership arrangement, many of Tirlans network of 2,300 employees will fundraise for the mental health charity. Tirlan will also make a corporate donation to support Awares invaluable work in communities nationwide. The move will also raise awareness of the essential role Aware plays in Ireland today, as the national organisation supporting people impacted by depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and related mood conditions. In 2023, Aware directly supported up to 40,000 people via its support and education services. Last year alone, Tirlan and its employees raised 116,000 for worthy causes and created a positive impact in communities across the south-east, midlands and north-east. Tirlan, which is home to many household brands such as Avonmore, Kilmeaden, Wexford, mymilkman.ie and GAIN Animal Nutrition, also proudly supports its communities through donations of funding and product via its 11 production facilities and 52 retail branches. Tirlan Chairperson, John Murphy explained: As a farmer-owned cooperative, were rooted in our communities and eager to support worthy causes that make a real difference on the ground. The incidence of anxiety and depression was exacerbated during the pandemic when people were forced to isolate and cut out social interactions. This has left an enduring legacy. Aware plays an even more vital role in such a prevailing environment and were delighted to support the charitys work. Farming and living in rural Ireland can be isolating at times. But organisations like Aware are breaking the stigma, encouraging people to talk and to get support. Our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Were honoured to play our part in supporting Awares work. Dr Lisa Koep, Tirlans Chief ESG Officer, was one of over 140 employees who last year took part in the Tour de Tirlan cycle and the Two Peaks charity climb, two of Tirlans biggest fundraising events. Our employees and our farmers are among the most generous and contribute a lot to charitable causes. We pledged to give back to our communities as part of our Living Proof sustainability strategy. Our partnership with Aware is Living Proof in action. We look forward to the positive impact working together will have in all of our communities, inside and outside of Tirlan. Stephen Butterly, Head of Fundraising at Aware, commented: We are honoured to have been chosen as Tirlans new charity partner. Depression is a significant societal issue that is impacting families and communities all over Ireland, every single day. We want to be here for everyone who needs us, and recognition and support from corporate organisations like Tirlan benefit us hugely in our quest to achieve that. We know stigma is still inhibiting some people from accessing supports, particularly in rural and isolated areas, with many people citing shame, embarrassment, or fear of judgement for delaying accessing supports. Charity partnerships like this one with Tirlan do much more than fundraise to support our nationwide services. They raise awareness. They break the stigma. They start conversations about how people are feeling, what supports can be accessed and can make a real difference to the many out there who are still struggling in silence. As well as raising 116,000 for charity last year, Tirlan also provided significant support to the Cois Nore cancer service in Kilkenny and supported other activities in the communities where its network of 11 production facilities and 52 retail branches are based. It also partnered with Riding for the Disabled Ireland to assist the charitable organisation in its ongoing drive to recruit volunteers and appropriate riding centres for its riders. Throughout 2023, Tirlan also provided significant financial commitment to agricultural shows and food festivals, such as Savour Kilkenny and the West Waterford Festival of Food. Sinn Feins Kathleen Funchion has called on the government to implement Sinn Feins proposal to scrap plans for further tax hikes on petrol and diesel this year. The Kilkenny TD was speaking as the price of petrol and diesel rose sharply this month, with fears prices could reach 2 per litre. Deputy Funchion said: Households continue to struggle under the cost of living crisis. In recent days the AA have announced that petrol and diesel prices rose again sharply this month, with fears the cost of fuel could soon rise to 2 per litre. At the beginning of April, the government hiked the price of fuel for households and plans to do the same again in August and October. Instead of focusing all its efforts on reducing living costs, this government seems determined to increase them. If the government presses ahead with these tax hikes, Irish households will face among the highest fuel prices in Europe. Petrol prices will have risen by at least 10 cent per litre, with diesel prices set to rise by at least 8 cents per litre. Fuel prices have risen by more than 30 percent in the past three years making the cost of travel even more expensive at this time is the wrong call. But this government is clearly out of touch with the financial pressures so many people are facing. It is time for the government to heed Sinn Feins call and scrap their planned tax hikes on petrol and diesel this year. Irish premier Simon Harris has said Ireland will not provide a loophole for anybody elses migration challenges, while the UK Government rejected the Republics bid to return asylum seekers in a deepening of the diplomatic spat. Mr Harris was speaking after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said claims that the UKs Rwanda plan is causing an increase in migration to Ireland shows its deterrent effect is working. The Irish Government has said there has been a shift in migration patterns into Ireland in recent months and the number of migrants crossing from Northern Ireland is now higher than 80%. Legislation is to be introduced next week in response to an Irish High Court ruling that Irelands designation of the UK as a safe third country for returning asylum seekers, in the context of the Rwanda plan, is contrary to EU law. The UKs Rwanda plan aims to send asylum seekers to the east African nation to deter others from crossing the English Channel on small boats. Labours shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said new data indicates Mr Sunaks plan is not working. Newly released Home Office figures show more than 7,000 people arrived by small boats before the end of April. This is the blunt reality behind all of Rishi Sunaks empty boasts; more people have arrived by small boats so far this year than ever before and more people are having to be rescued, Mr Kinnock said. What will it take for Rishi Sunak to wake up and realise that his plan is not working? Asked on Sunday whether the increase in asylum seekers travelling from the UK to Ireland suggested the Rwanda policy was working, Mr Harris said: Im not going to comment on whether the British migration policy is working, thats a matter for him (Mr Sunak) to put to the British people. Every country is entitled to have its own migration policy, but I certainly dont intend to allow anybody elses migration policy to affect the integrity of our own one. This country will not in any way, shape or form provide a loophole for anybody elses migration challenges. Thats very clear. Other countries can decide how they wish to advance migration. From an Irish perspective, we intend to have a firm rules-based system where rules are in place, where rules are in force, where rules are seen to be enforced. It is a statement of fact that there was a returns agreement in place between Ireland and Britain, and there was a High Court decision in the month of March in relation to that. My colleague, the Minister for Justice, will now bring forward legislative proposals to Cabinet on Tuesday that will seek to put in place a new returns policy. Were going to await the full details of that but its one which will effectively allow, again, people to be returned to the United Kingdom. And I think thats quite appropriate. It was always the intention. But the UK Government rejected any bid by Ireland to return asylum seekers unless France agrees to do the same. A Government source said: We wont accept any asylum returns from the EU via Ireland until the EU accepts that we can send them back to France. We are fully focused on operationalising our Rwanda scheme and will continue working with the French to stop the boats from crossing the Channel. Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee had been due to meet Home Secretary James Cleverly on Monday, but a note was sent out late on Sunday to say the meeting had been postponed. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill called for a thought-out response between the British and Irish governments. The Sinn Fein vice president said Mr Harris, Ms McEntee and Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin had not been in contact with her about planned legislation on asylum seekers arriving in Ireland from the UK. I am the First Minister in the north and I have yet to hear from the Taoiseach or the Tanaiste or the Justice Minister, she said in Dublin on Sunday morning. To me, that highlights, maybe even underlines, how disorganised they are in dealing with this issue. Policy responsibility for migration and immigration sits with the British Government. Im aware that Helen McEntee is to meet James Cleverly over the course of the next 24 to 36 hours. Theres also a British-Irish intergovernmental conference this week this is the forum in which these issues need to be addressed. This is the forum in which there should be a solution coming out the other end, but a thought-out solution, an actually considered solution, a human rights-compliant solution, and we look forward to (that) over the next couple of days. Ms ONeill was speaking at a launch of the partys local, European and Limerick mayoral election campaign in Dublin. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who was also at the event, said cross-border migration means Ireland should reject a newly revealed overhaul of EU laws on migration and asylum. I think the turn of events and the specific set of circumstances that we have to deal with on the island of Ireland actually argue against signing up to the EU migration pact lock, stock and barrel. Unlike other European jurisdictions, we have to deal with our next-door neighbour of Britain and we have to have the flexibility and the capacity to manage that. Simeon Brown announced: State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. The Long Tunnel option has the potential to deliver up to 15-minute travel time savings between the region and Wellington airport, compared to around 2-3 minutes for the current parallel or diagonal tunnel proposals at Mt Victoria and the Basin. The option would also see better urban amenity through greater reallocation of surface level road space to active modes and public transport in the CBD and greater opportunities for housing intensification. Enhanced regional connectivity to the airport and hospital would also be achieved with reduced city and state highway congestion. The vision that Steven Joyce had was four lanes from the Airport to Levin. This would make that possible. The four lane tunnel would go from Wellington Road in Hataitai to north of the current Terrace Tunnel. That would basically provide six lanes into and out of Wellington in the North and East. The two critical factors would be cost and time. It is a better solution than just duplicating the Mt Vic tunnel, but perfect can be the enemy of good. If it cant be funded and start construction in the next six years, then better to do the project that can be. However if it can be made practical, the time savings would be massive for Wellingtonians. Youre talking up to two and a half hours a week less time stuck in traffic. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr 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. LUs newly instated RSVP Center hosted its first poetry slam, allowing students to position themselves against sexual violence through art. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun will visit Cameroon and Senegal this week as a special presidential envoy to discuss the upcoming Korea-Africa summit scheduled for June, the foreign ministry said Sunday. Kang will visit the two countries from Sunday until Saturday and convey the government's wish to host the two nations' leaders during the inaugural summit set for June 4 and 5 in Seoul. The vice minister also plans to discuss ways to develop bilateral ties with each country, the ministry said. (Yonhap) While K-pop groups are likely to garner the most attention across the internet, social media, and online communities, individual members are also able to stand out on their own. To measure their popularity, the Korean Business Research Institute released its brand reputation rankings involving boy group members who made the most buzz this April. The organization collected data from March 20 to April 20. The results were also determined by analyzing several factors such as the idols' coverage from the media, the participation of consumers, and their overall engagement with fans. Here are the Top 10 K-pop male idols in April 2024! 1. ASTRO Cha Eun Woo Cha Eun Woo of ASTRO claimed the No. 1 spot for April, since the idol-actor gained a brand reputation index of 3,125,132. 2. EXO Baekhyun With a brand reputation index of 1,690,168, Baekhyun managed to claim No. 2 for April. 3. TWS Shinyu Shinyu of fifth-gen rookie boy group TWS successfully collected a brand reputation index of 1,462,181. 4. HIGHLIGHT Yoon Doojoon Yoon Doojoon claimed the fourth place with a brand reputation index of 1,392,689. 5. Wanna One Park Ji Hoon Park Ji Hoon completed the top five with a brand reputation index of 1,317,874. 6. BTS Jungkook Jungkook managed to secure a brand reputation index of 1,237,355, earning him the sixth place. 7. Super Junior Kyuhyun In No. 7, Super Junior's youngest member Kyuhyun garnered a brand reputation index of 1,227,114. 8. RIIZE Wonbin Wonbin gathered a brand reputation index of 1,168,992, which led him to claim the No. 8 spot. 9. Wanna One Kang Daniel Kang Daniel of Wanna One secured a brand reputation index of 1,158,773, claiming the ninth place. 10. BTS Jimin Lastly, Jimin of BTS collected a brand reputation index of 1,158,175, rounding up the top 10. See the full list below: 1. ASTRO Cha Eun Woo 2. EXO Baekhyun 3. TWS Shinyu 4. HIGHLIGHT Yoon Doojoon 5. Wanna One Park Ji Hoon 6. BTS Jungkook 7. Super Junior Kyuhyun 8. RIIZE Wonbin 9. Wanna One Kang Daniel 10. BTS Jimin 11. NU'EST & Wanna One Hwang Minhyun 12. HIGHLIGHT Lee Gikwang 13. BTS Jin 14. BTS V 15. Super Junior Heechul 16. THE BOYZ Juyeon 17. SEVENTEEN Mingyu 18. SHINee Minho 19. Wanna One Kim Jae Hwan 20. THE BOYZ Sunwoo 21. BTS J-Hope 22. RIIZE Sohee 23. HIGHLIGHT Yang Yoseob 24. NCT Mark 25. SEVENTEEN Jeonghan 26. RIIZE Sungchan 27. BTS RM 28. NCT Doyoung 29. SEVENTEEN Wonwoo 30. SHINee Key Which K-pop boy group members are your favorite artists? Do you have a bias among them? Let us know in the comments below! Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 20 K-pop Artists Dominating Circle's Weekly & Monthly Charts For April 2024: TXT, NCT DREAM, More! KpopStarz owns this article Written by Israel Monte Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Mexican president urges U.S. to stop issuing human rights report Xinhua) 13:13, April 28, 2024 MEXICO CITY, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Friday reiterated his request that the U.S. 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. He questioned for the fourth time this week whether the report prepared by the U.S. State Department serves to provide financial support to those countries that perform well in the field of human rights. In the case of Mexico, the United States "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 U.S. report assesses around 200 countries in the world regarding individual, political, civil and labor rights. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) The Congress on Sunday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is indulging in "fear mongering" as he is "desperate" after facing a "washout" in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions for the prime minister ahead of his rallies in Karnataka. Also Read | Sex With Woman Suffering From Mental Sickness Amounts to Rape Even If She Gives Her Consent, Says Mumbai Court; Awards 10 Years of Rigorous Imprisonment to Man Convicted for Impregnating Neighbour. "After the Phase II washout, a desperate PM is on a spree of Karnataka rallies today. Instead of lying and fear mongering, these are the questions he should answer," Ramesh said, listing his posers. "Why have BJP MPs performed so poorly as the people's representatives? After a 7-month delay, why has the Centre released less than 20% of drought relief funds? Why is the Centre holding up the Upper Bhadra and Mahadayi projects?" the Congress leader said on X. Also Read | Arvinder Singh Lovely Resigns: Delhi Congress Chief Quits, Says Party Allied With AAP. Elaborating on what he said were "jumla details", Ramesh asked where have BJP MPs been while the Modi government has been "unleashing its vengeance" on Karnataka. Citing the latest data from the Parliamentary Research Service (PRS), Ramesh claimed that the BJP MPs from Karnataka have shown a blatant disregard for their responsibilities, and displayed lack of commitment to serving their constituents. "While the national average attendance in Parliament was 79%, the average of the 28 Karnataka MPs was even lower at 71%. The review revealed that 26 of these MPs never raised Karnataka's concerns - the release of MGNREGA funds, drought and flood relief assistance, and the Centre's denial of additional allocations of rice for PDS," he said. Analysing the transcripts of all debates, PRS found that very few MPs even tried to initiate policies or programmes to address their constituencies' issues, Ramesh said. "Three MPs did not ask a single question in five years, and five MPs did not participate in a single debate. While most MPs were criticised for neglecting the state, seven MPs only focused on the RSS-BJP's unconstitutional agendas in their constituencies," he alleged. "Perhaps the most damning finding was that 14 of the 28 were directly or indirectly involved in abetting communal violence in their localities. Will PM Modi apologise for foisting these ineffectual MPs on the people of Karnataka? Or was this his design all along to elect non-performing BJP MPs so that he can ignore the voice of Karnataka?" he said. Ramesh also said that it has been more than seven months since the Karnataka government sought more than Rs 18,000 crore of relief from the Centre as per disaster relief rules. Karnataka is reeling under an acute drought situation, with 223 out of 236 talukas facing drought conditions and 196 taluks being categorised as severely hit, he noted. As early as September 2023, the Karnataka government had approached the Modi government to release funds of Rs 18,171 crore for drought relief, he said. "The rules of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, state that the Centre must take a final decision on the release of funds within one month of receiving the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) report. For Karnataka, this period expired in December 2023. Last month, the Finance Minister made the excuse that her hands are tied since the Model Code of Conduct came into force," he said. "After being forced to the Supreme Court by the Karnataka Government, the Centre has finally sanctioned funds but only a mere Rs 3,498 crore. This is less than 20% of the total amount requested," he said. Why is PM Modi so "indifferent" to the people of Karnataka, Ramesh asked. "In last year's Union Budget, the Modi government had proudly announced a Rs 5,300 crore grant for the Upper Bhadra Project. More than a year later, state Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has revealed that not a 'single paisa' of this grant has been released," Ramesh said. During his assembly election campaign, PM Modi had also claimed to resolve long-standing issues with the Mahadayi-Kalasa Banduri Nala Project but earlier this year, clearance for the project has been deferred by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, he said. "These projects are crucial to expanding drinking water and irrigation access in a state that has been reeling under a severe drought. Why has the Modi Government neglected these essential infrastructure projects? What vendetta does the PM have against the people of Karnataka?" Ramesh said and asked the prime minister to break his "silence" on these issues. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan interacted with top executives of several French defence majors, including Dassault Aviation, Safran and Naval Group, with a view to build futuristic capabilities of the Indian armed forces. The interaction was part of Gen Chauhan's series of engagements during his nearly week-long trip to France that concluded on Saturday. Also Read | Drought Relief Fund: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Holds Dharna Protesting Centres Injustice Over Drought Relief (Watch Video). "Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan concluded a comprehensive visit to France, which has reaffirmed the continued long-standing strategic partnership between India and France," the defence ministry said on Sunday. It is understood that India's plan to procure 26 Rafale (Marine) jets and three Scorpene submarines from France figured in his talks. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: N Chandrababu Naidu Promises Rs 1 Lakh Haj Aid if NDA Elected To Power. In July last year, the defence ministry approved the purchase of 26 Rafale (marine) jets from France, primarily for deployment on board the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The ministry had also cleared procurement of three Scorpene submarines from France. Under the Indian Navy's Project 75, six Scorpene submarines have already been constructed in India by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in cooperation with the Naval Group of France. The defence and strategic ties between India and France have been on an upswing in the last few years. The two strategic partners have been looking at co-development and co-production of advanced defence technologies, including for the benefit of third countries. Gen Chauhan held wide-ranging talks with senior civil and military leadership of France on ways to bolster the military cooperation between armed forces of the two countries. "The interactions of the CDS with Patrick Pailloux, Director of Civil and Military Cabinet of the Minister of the French Armed Forces, and Lt Gen Vincent Giraud, Chief of Military Cabinet of the Minister of the Armed Forces at the apex level and also with his counterpart, Gen Thierry Burkhard have enabled exchange of views on areas of common interests and mutual security concerns," the ministry said. It is learnt that the situation in the Indo-Pacific that has witnessed growing Chinese military muscle-flexing figured in the talks. "Deliberations at France's Directorate General of Armament for enhancing the exchange of high-end dual-use technologies followed by interactions with the top leadership of the French Defence industry, including Dassault, Safran and Naval Groups, and Thales Alenia Space, towards futuristic capacity building of the Indian armed forces, would provide an impetus to indigenisation," the ministry said in a statement. The CDS also visited the French Land Forces Command, the French Space Command, and the School of Military Studies (Ecole Militaire). During the interactions, Gen Chauhan provided India's point of view on key security challenges. The CDS also paid tributes at the War Memorials of Neuve-Chapelle and Villers-Guislain, remembering the extraordinary bravery of soldiers of the Indian Expeditionary Force who fought on the Western front during the First World War, the ministry said. "These memorials stand testimony to the long-standing Indo-French relationship," it said. "The India-France Strategic Partnership has gathered significant momentum over time and has now evolved into an even closer and multifaceted relationship that spans diverse areas of cooperation," it added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh, Apr 28 (PTI) Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Agarwal Sunday said with more than 25 lakh voters, Gurugram Lok Sabha constituency has the highest voter count for a parliamentary constituency in the state. Gurugram has 25,46,916 voters, of which 13,47,521 are male, 11,99,317 are female and 78 are transgenders, whereas in Faridabad Lok Sabha constituency, the number of voters is 24,14,168, of which 13,10,206 are male, 11,03,844 female, and 118 transgenders. Also Read | Drought Relief Fund: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Holds Dharna Protesting Centres Injustice Over Drought Relief (Watch Video). Polling for all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will take place on May 25 followed by counting on June 4. The notification for elections will be issued on April 29. The deadline for filing nominations is May 6. The scrutiny of nominations will be done on May 7, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until May 9. Also Read | Delhi Road Accident: Police Sub-Inspector Killed After His Scooter Hits Divider. In the 2019 LS polls, the voting percentage in Haryana was 70.36. "This time the target is to increase it to at least 75 per cent," the Haryana CEO said. For this, several unique initiatives have been undertaken by the election department, including launching the Voter in Queue app, sending polling invitations to voters akin to wedding invitations, and setting up 31 polling booths in the multi-storey societies of Gurugram, he said. He said 1,99,81,982 voters across the state are eligible to cast their votes in 10 Lok Sabha constituencies. Meanwhile, among other LS constituencies, he said that in Ambala there are 10,51,443 male voters, 9,35,635 female voters, and 76 transgender voters. Similarly, in the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency, there are 9,38,029 male voters, 8,50,439 female voters, and 23 transgender voters, while in the Sirsa constituency, there are 10,20,510 male voters, 9,11,339 female voters, and 41 transgender voters, he said. In the Hisar Lok Sabha constituency, there are 9,52,598 male voters, 8,32,569 female voters, and 11 transgender voters, in the Karnal, there are 11,03,606 male voters, 9,92,721 female voters, and 37 transgender voters, and in Sonipat, there are 9,40,969 male voters, 8,20,483 female voters, and 44 transgender voters. Agarwal said that the number of voters in the Rohtak Lok Sabha constituency is 18,83,383, out of which 9,96,702 are male, 8,86,660 female and 21 are transgender registered voters. Similarly, there are a total of 17,86,942 registered voters in Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha constituency, out of which 9,42,692 are male, 8,44,237 are female and 13 are transgender voters, he said. He said keeping in view the current hot weather conditions, all Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Electoral Officers have been given special directions to ensure the provision of additional resources at polling centres in their respective districts, including arrangements for cold water, coolers-fans, and tents. Similarly, arrangements will be made for wheelchairs and shades for the assistance of voters over 85 years of age and persons with disability (PwD) voters, he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kashmir (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], April 28 (ANI): In a significant move to counter-terrorism, the Jammu-Kashmir police on Sunday seized a property worth lacs under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, Jammu and Kashmir police said. The property was used by terrorists for carrying out anti-national activities. The seizure was made in South Kashmir's Pulwama district. Also Read | Sahil Khan Arrested: Mumbai Cyber Cell's SIT Arrest Actor in Mahadev Betting App Case (Watch Video). The property in question is a single-storey residential house located in Monghama Pulwama, which was used by terrorists for their shelter and stay. The logistic support to the terrorists was provided by the house owner Mohammad Lateef Kar, who allegedly has links to terrorist activities. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Setback to Opposition, Several Samajwadi Party Leaders Join BJP in Lucknow Amid General Polls. The property is now under official seizure, prohibiting any transfer, lease, disposal, or alteration without prior permission from the designated authority. This seizure is pursuant to FIR No. 315/2023 U/S 16, 18, 19 20, 38 and 39 UA(P) Act of police station pulwama. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) enacted in 1967 empowers law enforcement to detain individuals involved in unlawful activities posing a threat to the state. The law's main objective is to prevent unlawful activities that threaten India's sovereignty and integrity. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hyderabad, Apr 28 (PTI) The BJP will win more than 10 of the total 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana on the back of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity and his development agenda and corruption-free governance, BJP Rajya Sabha member K Laxman said. It is going to be a landslide victory for the BJP in Telangana in the Lok Sabha elections, Laxman, a member of BJP's parliamentary board, said. Also Read | Hassan Sex Scandal: Karnataka Government Sets Up SIT To Probe Involving HD Deve Gowda's Grandson and JDS Candidate Prajwal Revanna. The BJP won four seats in Telangana in the 2019 general elections. "People from every nook and corner of the state are looking towards PM Modi, his development agenda and welfare schemes for the poor and his achievements during the last 10 years," he told PTI here. Also Read | Noida Fire: Blaze Erupts at Leather Manufacturing Company Building in Sector 65 Area (Watch Videos). In the Assembly polls held last year, people might have voted for the local issues, but they are definitely going to vote for Modi as their choice for PM in the Parliament elections, he said. The Congress had won the Assembly elections, defeating the BRS which was in power since 2014 when Telangana was formed. Asked what are the factors that will contribute to BJP's success in the present Lok Sabha elections, Laxman said Modi's charisma, his development agenda and zero-tolerance towards corruption are among the causes that will determine voters' choice in favour of BJP. In Telangana, people are looking for development and that is possible only with the BJP under the leadership of Modi, he said. "We will definitely cross double digits (in LS polls). Our seats will be more than all parties put together," said Laxman, a former president of BJP in Telangana. Asked about Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's remarks that the BJP would change the Constitution and abolish reservations, Laxman said the CM is speaking out of frustration. Modi has repeatedly said he would not allow anybody to change the Constitution, Laxman, national president of BJP's OBC Morcha, pointed out. "It is you (Congress) people who are working against the Constitution. You are giving communal reservations which is anti-Constitution," he said. Architect of the Constitution Babasaheb Ambedkar never wanted religion-based reservations, but Congress is proposing religion-based reservations which is opposed by BJP, he said. "You (Congress) are also now clinching away the rights of OBCs, SCs, STs by appeasing Muslim community," he said. On the allegation that the BJP is increasingly raking up communal issues during the ongoing Lok Sabha election campaign, Laxman said it is the opposition parties who are repeatedly talking about reservations for Muslims and others. "Modi speaks for the poor irrespective of caste, whether it is Hindu, Muslim or Christian. Modi says we are working for the poor, women, youth and farmers," he said. The BJP, which won four seats in Telangana in the 2019 general elections, is hoping to win a majority of the constituencies now to add to its national kitty. Polling for all the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana will be held on May 13. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kasganj/Mainpuri/Etawah, April 28: The BJP will neither remove reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs nor will it allow anyone to do so, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday, calling it a "Modi guarantee". Opposition parties have repeatedly claimed that the BJP's call for "abki baar 400 paar" is aimed at winning 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections to have the numbers in Parliament to scrap quotas for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Speaking at a rally in support of Rajveer Singh, the BJP candidate from Etah-Kasganj, Shah alleged that the opposition parties ignored people from backward communities, who were granted their rights by Narendra Modi after he became prime minister. Targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he said, "Rahul Gandhi says that if the BJP gets 400 seats, it will remove reservation. I want to say that we had a full majority for two terms but Narendra Modi is a supporter of reservation." Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Amit Shah Slams CPIM-Led Left, Says Time Is Right for BJP To Make an Entry Into Kerala "I want to say that it is a Modi guarantee that neither will the BJP remove reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs nor will it allow anyone to do so," Shah said. The home minister also hit out at the opposition for keeping the Ram temple issue "hanging" and said the public has to choose between "those who opened fire at karsevaks and those who built the Ram temple." Attacking opposition party leaders for not attending the Ram temple consecration ceremony, Shah said in Kasganj, "The people who did not go to the consecration ceremony, they know that they are the people who shot at karsevaks." He asserted that there are two groups to choose from -- "one that fired shots at Ram bhakts and one that built the Ram temple". "The Congress, Rahul 'baba' and the party of Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party) kept the Ram temple issue hanging for more than 70 years. You made Modi ji the prime minister for a second time and he did 'Jai Shri Ram' by doing the consecration ceremony on January 22," Shah said. In Mainpuri, campaigning for BJP candidate Jaiveer Singh Thakur -- who is contesting against Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav -- the home minister said, "Akhilesh (Yadav) ji, Dimple (Yadav) ji, because of whose fear did you people not go to the Ram temple consecration? Even Azam Khan is now in jail." Shah alleged that the Samajwadi Party leaders did not attend the ceremony due to fear of losing their vote bank. "But the BJP is not afraid of (losing) vote banks. We built a temple where Lord Shri Ram was born," he said. Listing the BJP government's schemes, including free ration and homes to the poor, Shah said in Kasgang the free ration scheme will continue till 2029 if the BJP returns to power. He also hit out at Samajwadi Party chief Yadav for allegedly fielding only members of his family. Alleging that people had to migrate during the Samajwadi Party government, Shah said "goondas are forced to migrate not people" under BJP rule in Uttar Pradesh. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 'PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah Sellers and Ambani, Adani Buyers', Says Mallikarjun Kharge (Watch Video) "In Uttar Pradesh, where once bombs exploded, today 'bombs' are being manufactured for export under the leadership of Modi," Shah said in Kasganj. In Mainpuri, Shah claimed that the BJP will win all 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Targeting Yadav, he said the wind in favour of the BJP has blown from the west and it will wipe out the Samajwadi Party and the Congress everywhere via Mainpuri and Azamgarh. He also asserted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will win 400 seats under Modi's leadership. Taking a swipe at the INDIA bloc, Shah asked who the prime minister would be if the opposition alliance won a majority. He also asked the gathering if anyone except Modi can effectively run the country. In Kasganj, Shah claimed that the BJP will secure more than 100 seats from the constituencies that went to the polls in the first two phases while the Congress and the Samajwadi Party will not be able to open their accounts. Campaigning for Ram Shankar Katheria in Etawah, Shah said that on one side, there is a "corrupt INDI alliance" while on the other, there is Narendra Modi, who doesn't have any allegations against him despite serving as a chief minister and the prime minister for more than 23 years. "On one hand, there is Rahul Gandhi who leaves for vacations in Thailand in the summers. On the other hand, there is Narendra Modi who celebrated Diwali with soldiers on the border for 23 years," Shah said. He also accused the opposition for protecting Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, for their vote bank. Polling in Etah-Kasganj and Mainpuri will be held in the third phase on May 7. Etawah goes to the polls in the fourth phase on May 13. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kurukshetra (Haryana) [India], April 28 (ANI): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini attacked the Congress after Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely resigned from his post and said that there is discontentment in the Congress and people wanted to get rid of dynastic parties. Haryana CM offered prayers at Gurdwara Sachkhand Ishar Singh Darbar Jurasi Khurd in Pehowa sub-division of Kurukshetra on Sunday. Also Read | Vote Against Dictatorship, High-Handedness: Arvind Kejriwals Wife Sunita Kejriwal at West Delhi Lok Sabha Election Rally. Saini said, "There is a continuous discontentment in the Congress. In the last 55 to 60 years only one family has ruled in the Congress. People understand everything and people are fed up with nepotism. Now people have made up their minds to get rid of dynastic-based political parties and those who work for the country, people who take the country forward, today the public is working together with such people to take the country forward." He stated that people were leaving Congress due to its policies. Also Read | Meghalaya: Nine Held for Gang Rape of Minors in South West Garo Hills. He further said, "Many other people in the Congress are in the queue who want to leave the Congress due to its policies." Meanwhile, Arvinder Singh Lovely, in his resignation letter to Mallikarjun Kharge said that despite the Aam Aadmi Party accusing the Congress of corruption, the party allied (INDIA bloc) with them. "The Delhi Congress Unit was against an alliance with a party which was formed on the sole basis of levelling false, fabricated and malafide corruption charges against the Congress Party. Despite that, the Party decided to ally with the AAP in Delhi," Arvinder Singh Lovely wrote in his resignation letter. Lovely, said that since he cannot protect the interests of the Party workers, he sees no reason to continue in the said post. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Fazilka (Punjab) [India], April 28 (ANI): The Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday handed over a Pakistani national who had inadvertently crossed the International Boundary (IB) in Punjab's Fazilka, to the Pakistan Rangers, the BSF said in a release. The BSF said that the Pakistani individual was handed over to Pakistan rangers on humanitarian grounds. Also Read | Maharashtra Shocker: Woman Held for Killing Brother With Boyfriend's Help in Nagpur. According to the release, on April 27, BSF troops apprehended the individual near the border fence in Punjab's Fazilka district. Upon questioning, it was revealed by the individual that he was unaware of alignment of the IB and had unintentionally crossed into Indian territory. Nothing objectionable was found from his possession during the search. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Accuses Rahul Gandhi of Playing Appeasement Politics, Says 'Shehzada Insulted Indian Kings and Emperors but Forgot Aurangzeb's Atrocities'. A flag meeting was conducted with the Pak Rangers to express the concerns over their failure to restrict the unwarranted movement of Pakistani national. At about 11:56 am, the individual was handed over to Pakistan Rangers on humanitarian grounds and as a goodwill gesture, the BSF added in its release. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Sepahijala (Tripura) [India], April 28 (ANI): Supriya Das Datta, the elected head of Sepahijala Zilla Parishad (District Council) received a formal invite to attend a United Nations Population Fund-organized event in the USA on the role of women in local governance in India. She would be a part of the three-member Indian delegation that comprises two women elected representatives from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Zilla Parishad or district council are the elected bodies that act as the supervising authorities of all smaller elected bodies in the three-tier Panchayat system of a district. Also Read | Hate Speech: BSP's Akash Anand Booked for Using Objectionable Language During Poll Rally in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur. According to the invitation letter, the permanent mission of India and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) are jointly organizing the side event in collaboration with the United National Population Fund (UNFPA) on May 3 at the UN secretariat building based in the USA. The side event is being organized as a part of the Commission for Population and Development (CPD). The theme of the event has been finalized to be, "Localizing the SDGs: Women in Local Governance in India, Lead the Way". Also Read | Heatwave Death: Two Die of Sunstroke in Kerala, Heat Alert Sounded in Parts of State. The invitation letter was signed by Andrea M Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative and Country Director Bhutan. After receiving the invitation, she left for New Delhi on Sunday for the necessary preparations before leaving for the United States. Speaking to media persons before leaving for New Delhi, she attributed the invitation from such a coveted institution as an outcome of the work she was able to do after being elected to the post. "Ever since I have assumed the charge of office, I have been working tirelessly to ensure proper education to the school-going girls. We have taken multiple initiatives to improve the participation of women in the rural economy through schemes like the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission and so on. I am extremely grateful that I have been offered the opportunity to be a part of the Indian delegation at the UNFPA conference. Two more women representatives from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh will also travel with me as a part of the delegation that will represent India on the global platform," Das said. She said she will leave for New Delhi on Sunday as some prior preparations are required before leaving for the United States. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 28 (ANI): Union Minister and BJP candidate from the North Mumbai parliamentary seat, Piyush Goyal embarked on a morning walk, engaging locals in conversation and joining them in a yoga session at Poinsur Gymkhana in Mumbai on Sunday. Expressing confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Goyal assured residents of addressing drainage issues and enhancing Mumbai's infrastructure to global standards. Also Read | Heatwave in Tamil Nadu: As Heat Wave Grips, Light to Moderate Rain Predicted in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari Districts. "We are getting the blessings for the work and leadership of PM Modi and the way he has made India proud on the global stage. This is a matter of pride for us. Drainage issues will now be resolved... Finally, Mumbaikars are delighted that Mumbai is getting the global level infrastructure," Goyal said. Speaking to ANI, the Union Minister further said, "Our country has a large number of women...Who can forget those days when our mothers, sisters, daughters-in-law, and daughters had to defecate in the open? Who can forget those days when half of the country's population didn't have LPG gas connections and they had to wait for 15 days to refill the cylinders?" Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir: Encounter Breaks Out Between Security Forces and Terrorists in Udhampur (Watch Video). Speaking about drainage and water-related issues, he said, "Significant progress has been made to readdress water shortage problems. For the last 40 years, I have been listening that drainage problems will be solved but nothing has been done. Now, the orders have been issued regarding cleaning under the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Mumbai is now getting first-class infrastructure." On his candidature from the Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat, Goyal said, "We all are party workers. We get to perform different duties from time to time. This is the strength of the BJP that we all are the workers of the party. The party will decide the further contributions of Gopal Shetty (sitting MP from Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat)." Voting in Mumbai North for Lok Sabha polls will be held on May 20. Gopal Shetty is a two-time MP who has represented Mumbai North constituency in 2014 and 2019. Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second-largest after Uttar Pradesh. The first and the second phases of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections are over. While the first phase took place on April 19, the second phase was conducted on April 26. Next, the elections in Maharashtra will be held on May 7, May 13, and May 20. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 out of 25 contested seats, while the undivided Shiv Sena secured 18 out of 23 seats. The undivided NCP, part of the opposition alliance, contested 19 seats and won four. Following the split in the Shiva Sena 2022, the Eknath Shinde faction aligned with the BJP. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Peshawar, April 29: A district and sessions judge kidnapped by armed men in the country's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been released from captivity, said Barrister Saif, the spokesperson of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), early on Monday. The judge was kidnapped near Tank and Dera Ismail (DI) Khan district bordering Afghanistan on April 27. The driver of the judge was not harmed. The vehicle was also recovered from the spot. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Appoints Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as Deputy Prime Minister. The session judge has been released from captivity unconditionally. He has reached home safe and sound, the counter-terrorism department of the KPK Police said. Pakistan Shocker: Kidnappers Kill 13-Year-Old Boy Over Non-Payment of Ransom Money, Throws Dead Body in Katcha Area. Barrister Saif said the KPK government along with security forces is successfully fighting terrorism. A day earlier, the police said no one had claimed responsibility for the judge's abduction. Washington, DC [US], April 28 (ANI): An Indian-American radiologist who drove his family off the cliff had a 'psychotic breakdown' and believed his children were at risk of being sex trafficked, a psychologist testified regarding the case, according to San Francisco Chronicle. The radiologist, Dharmesh Patel, drove the Tesla carrying his wife and two children off a San Mareo County cliff, resulting in the crash that took place last January. Also Read | Elon Musk Warns Record Low Birth Rates Leading to Population Collapse in Europe and Most of Asia. The expert witness called by Patel's lawyers, Dr Mark Patterson, in his testimony on Wednesday this week said that he had met Patel many times since the January 2, 2023 crash. He said that he had diagnosed him with major depressive disorder with a single episode of psychotic features and anxious distress, according to San Francisco Chronicle. Also Read | Elon Musk Heads to China in Surprise Visit, Likely To Meet Senior Chinese Officials in Beijing To Discuss Rollout of Full Self-Driving Software in China: Report. "Patel had been hearing footsteps and thought he was being followed in the weeks before the crash," Patterson said. "It was paranoid and kind of delusional thinking that he acted on at the time to protect his family from a worse fate," he told the court, adding that "He was concerned that his children were at risk of being kidnapped, possibly for sexual molestation." Patel has been charged by prosecutors with three counts of attempted murder, alleging he intentionally drove his white 2021 Tesla Model Y off a cliff. Patel, who has pleaded not guilty, is, at this time, attempting to qualify for mental health treatment in lieu of prison time as part of a 2018 diversion law that was expanded last year. Patel, who drove his Tesla off with Neha and their two children in the car was 41 at the time of the crash, their 7-year-old suffered serious injuries, while their 4-year-old escaped largely physically unharmed. Citing the search warrant records, San Francisco Chronicle reported that Neha Patel told rescuers repeatedly that her husband intentionally drove off the cliff to kill the family. She also said that he had a mental health disturbance going on. However, Patel, in his statement told CHP officers he had not been on any medication or under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gopalganj, April 28: Two policemen were killed and over a dozen injured when the van in which they were travelling was hit by a speeding container truck from behind in Bihar's Gopalganj district on Sunday, police said. The incident took place near Barhima Bazar around noon when the police team was going to Supaul for the third phase of the Lok Sabha election duty. "The van carrying policemen on election duty had halted near Barhima Bazar when a speeding container truck rammed into it from behind. Two policemen died on the spot and over a dozen sustained injuries. Bihar Road Accident: Several Injured After Car Collides With Tractor in Khagaria District (Watch Video). "All injured have been admitted to the nearest government hospital and their condition is reported to be stable. The container has been seized by the local police," a statement issued by the office of the Superintendent of Police of Gopalganj said. Bihar Road Accident: Three Youths Killed in Road Mishap As Speeding Bike Crashes Into Parked Truck in Kaimur District (Watch Video). The deceased have been identified as Ashok Kumar Uraon (resident of Punea) and Pawan Mahto (resident of Bettiah) both constables of Bihar Police. "The driver of the container truck fled from the spot. Further investigation is on," said a local police officer. I am just finishing a road trip from New Jersey to Ohio and back. It required passing through the entire State of Pennsylvania, much of New Jersey and Ohio, as well as parts of West Virginia. I can state, unequivocally, that countless road crews are out working on major portions of the major highways I travelled on during this trip. All of this infrastructure investment in these major roads and bridges did not happen by accident. A man who was running around an estate with a chain in his hand had a knife attached to his leg and another between his shoulder blades. Igor Arcire, 62, of 7 The Maisonettes, Quigley Park, Rathdowney admitted being intoxicated and abusive at Quigley Park and having a five inch knife and a nine inch knife at Portlaoise Garda Station on December 27, 2023. He appeared before Portlaoise District Court where Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby outlined the case against him. He said the defendant was highly intoxicated running around the estate with a chain in his hands. He was aggressive towards responding gardai and he called Garda Sosinska a bitch. He was arrested and gardai discovered a five inch knife on his right ankle, said Sgt Kirby. Another type of knife was found on his back between his shoulder blades, he added. He said the defendant had no previous convictions. Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client had left it very late in his life to be appearing before the district court. He said it appears to have been an isolated incident. The man is from Moldova and has congenital difficulties, he said. Mr Fitzgerald explained that his client was on medication and had drank alcohol. He said there is no rational explanation for the behaviour but his client informed him that his strimmer broke and he started using the short knife to cut the grass and then used the larger one. He was heavily medicated at the time, said Mr Fitzgerald. Noting the early plea and the lack of previous convictions, Judge Nicola Andrews said she would apply the probation act if the defendant paid 500 to charity by September 23. If he doesnt, she said he would be convicted and fined 1,000. A man has been sent forward to the Central Criminal Court accused of rape, assault and coercive control in Laois. The 40 year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was served with a book of evidence at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. He is accused of assaulting a woman causing harm on a date between January 1 and April 30, 2010, and between April 1 and April 30, 2010 and between July 1 and July 31, 2010. He is accused of assault causing harm to the woman on May 23, 2010. He is further charged with assault causing harm between February 14 and 28, 2011 and between June 1 and June 30, 2013. He is accused of assault on June 12, 2016 and on October 24, 2020. He is also charged with criminal damage to a mobile phone between February 14 and June 30, 2011. The man is charged with rape on April 30, 2016 and on a date between February 1 and March 31, 2015 and on a date between July 1 and December 31, 2016. He is also charged with coercive control between January 1 and November 30, 2019. The offences are all alleged to involve one injured party. Garda Aisling OBoyle said she had served a book of evidence on the accused. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the DPP had directed that the case should be sent forward to the current sittings of the Central Criminal Court. He said there were 13 counts in the book of evidence, eight counts of assault, three counts of rape, one count of criminal damage and one count of coercive control. Judge Nicola Andrews sent the accused forward to the current sittings of the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. She remanded him on bail and granted legal aid to Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald and two barristers. The woes facing Laois tillage farmers whose backs are to the wall due to weather will be raised face to face with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on Laois land this week. The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that Minister Charlie McConalogue will travel to Laois for a meeting with tillage farmers in Ballybrittas on Tuesday afternoon April 30. Laois farmers have been to the fore arguing that a Government package is urgently needed to secure not just the future of individual farmers but the entire sector in the wake of a second bad spring which threatens this year's harvest on the back of an awful 2023. Stradbally farmer and Irish Grain Growers Chairperson Bobby Millar told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that tillager farmers were now gambling on good summer weather this year but that even if that went well farmers would still just break even in 2024. He called on the Minister and the Government to adopt the report of the Food Vision Tillage Group which is with the Agriculture Minister. Mr Millar's organisation has called for an 87 million investment in the sector in the first year of a five year implementation of the plan. Ballinakill man and IFA President Francie Gorman has said the delivery of the Tillage Survival Scheme put forward by IFA is a litmus test for new Taoiseach Simon Harris. Tillage farmers have faced a perfect storm since summer 2023, with falling grain prices; input costs remaining high; loss of rented land; and near incessant rainfall in the period since," he said in mid April. IFA National Grain Chairman and Laios farmer Kieran McEvoy the problems in the tillage sector predate the bad weather but the conditions have highlighted the "crisis on tillage farms". He called for a 67 million package to save growners. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has just released its Area, Yield and Production of Crops 2023 report which revealed that cereal production down 21% in 2023. Sophie Emerson, a CSO Statistician in Agriculture Surveys, painted a stark picture of what tillage farmers in Laois and elsewhere endured last year. "Overall, there was a decrease in the production of Cereals in 2023 compared to 2022. The combined decrease in production across Wheat, Oats and Barley was 531,300 tonnes (-20.9%). Production of Wheat, Oats and Barley decreased by 199,200 tonnes (-27.7%), 49,900 tonnes (-20.6%) and 282,200 tonnes (-17.8%) respectively. "The production of Beans and Peas rose from 65,700 tonnes to 81,300 tonnes in 2023 (+23.8%) driven by an increase in the area sown of 5,400 hectares (+50.0%) and despite a reduction in the yield from 6.1 tonnes per hectare to 5 tonnes per hectare (-17.5%). "The production of Potatoes dropped from 368,000 tonnes in 2022 to 322,200 tonnes in 2023 (-12.4%), based on a 3.3% reduction in the area sown and a 9.5% fall in the yield per hectare," she said. Signs are needed on a road cyclists use to get to the increasingly popular mountain bike trail in the Slieve Bloom Mountains, according to a Laois public representative. Cllr James Kelly, independent, made the appeal to Laois County Council during a recent meeting in Portlaoise. He tabled a motion calling on the local authority to install traffic calming measures and road safety signs on the R440 Roundwood to Killanure Road. Cllr Kelly acknowledged that the road had been resurfaced but insisted that more work is needed. It is very busy. I was on it recently and it was like the Tour de France, he said. Cllr Kelly said the mountain bikers are very welcome to the Coillte Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trail but he said the access road must be safe. He said it is already very busy as there is a school and church on the route which would get busier during summer. He said the main danger arises from a series of bends. We need traffic signs to warn road users of the very very bad bends, he said. The appeal was backed by Cllr Conor Bergin, Fine Gael, who agreed that the road was very busy. James Dowling, Senior Executive Engineer, in the Councils Roads Section, replied in writing. Laois County Council MD staff will meet with Cllr Kelly to investigate suitable road safety interventions to be installed on the Roundwood to Killanure Road, he said. Cllr Kelly welcomed this commitment when he raised the issue was raised at a meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District in County Hall. International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development Forum opens in Beijing BEIJING, April 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from CRI Online: In August 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution "International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development 2024-2033" (Sciences Decade). This resolution offers a distinctive opportunity for humankind to advance and leverage science in the pursuit of sustainable development and cultivate a new science culture?to engage everyone to advance science further and equally benefit from it. Entrusted as the lead agency by the UNGA, UNESCO is diligently formulating and disseminating a clear vision and dedicated mission for the Sciences Decade through extensive consultation with Member States, partners from other UN agencies, international scientific unions, science academies, private sectors, and NGOs. UNESCO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China and the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, co-organized the "International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development Forum" on April 25, Beijing, China. This forum is one of the parallel forums of the 2024 ZGC Forum, which is a state-level platform for global sci-tech innovation exchanges and cooperation. The primary objective of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development Forum is to foster a culture of science by expanding the outreach of the Science Decade, engaging with the scientific community, government entities, the private sector, and civil societies on the vision and mission of the Decade, and mobilizing various stakeholders for its effective implementation. 13 esteemed scientists, experts, and senior government officials from nine countries presented and exchanged their perspectives, expectations, advice, and approaches regarding the Science Decade's implementation. Additionally, the forum featured a high-level dialogue on engaging society in fostering a culture of science, and around 150 participants from more than 20 countries joined the forum. "One of the goals of the Decade is to advance scientific knowledge as a powerful force for humankind to achieve the goals of sustainable development," said Shahbaz Khan, director of UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office for East Asia, "China, especially innovative cities like Beijing with exceptional scientific minds, is uniquely positioned to contribute to this mission. And I have personally witnessed how China is using basic science to advance the environment and society. Furthermore, this forum has provided a unique platform for international scientific cooperation, enabling us to use scientific capabilities from around the globe to build a sustainable future together. We hope this forum will serve as a springboard for groundbreaking collaboration and knowledge exchange, propelling us towards a brighter future." Hu Shaofeng, director of the Division of Science Policy and Basic Sciences, Natural Sciences Sector; UNESCO, stated that science for sustainable development is facing several challenges, including limited recognition of the importance of basic science and insufficient investment, as well as the need to balance and complement different sustainable development goals. Hu advocates for strengthening knowledge-sharing initiatives through technological innovation supportive policies, enhancing knowledge-sharing through open science, and improving institutional and human resources in basic science, technology, research, innovation, and engineering, ultimately benefiting the people through science. Quarraisha Abdool Karim, president of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and associate scientific director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), highlighted that through continuous efforts and collaborative work, significant experience has been gained in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, including providing evidence-based guidance for decision-making and making scientific prevention measures and treatment methods more equitable and accessible to the public. What's more, the focus will remain on offering scientific advice to decision-makers, refining relevant laws related to testing, quarantine, and vaccination, enhancing epidemic prevention and monitoring, promoting public communication and education, and fostering international scientific cooperation to promote a sustainable future for all. According to Guo Huadong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director-General and professor of International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), open data is a key to open science. He stated that open data facilitates the development of open science by enhancing the transparency, reproducibility and collaboration of scientific innovation activities, thereby increasing the value of science for societal development. Guo emphasized the need of accelerating the construction of big data infrastructure, strengthening top-level design, creating comprehensive data ecosystems, and developing innovation-driven development models based on open science, enabling big data infrastructure to promote the sustainable development of open science services. Anna Maria Cetto Kramis, professor of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) and Chair of the UNESCO Global Committee on Open Science, emphasized strengthening the capability for talents and institutions. She underscored the importance of establishing a comprehensive open science infrastructure and addressing societal issues through a fairer, more diverse and inclusive scientific system. This approach aims to create a healthier future for generations to come. Gong Ke, executive director of the Chinese Institute for the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Strategies and the Director of Haihe Laboratory of Information Technology Application Innovation, highlighted that one of the key objectives of the "Sciences Decade" is to foster a scientifically literate population. To achieve this goal, he suggests employing strategies such as designing top-level systems, utilizing technology and digital resources, monitoring the progress of public scientific literacy, and launching public awareness campaigns. These efforts aim to ensure that individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds understand of scientific principles and are well-informed regarding to relevant decision-making processes. Carlos Alvarez Pereira, Secretary-General of the Club of Rome, emphasized the need for ethical-driven knowledge development and utilization to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. He called for advancing interdisciplinary educational practices, maximizing the multifaceted role of science in societal advancement, optimizing existing digital infrastructure, fostering a global interdisciplinary network, boosting investment in scientific innovation for sustainable development, and fostering harmonious coexistence between human and the planet. 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the construction of the Beijing Science and Technology Innovation Center and the first year of the "International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development", both of which are highly compatible in terms of enhancing public scientific literacy, promoting international scientific cooperation, and strengthening support for basic science. The Science Decade echoes the annual theme of the 2024 ZGC Forum, "Innovation: Building a Better World", and further demonstrates the internationalization of the ZGC Forum. SOURCE CRI Online 28 april 2024 at 00:55 News published onand distributed by: Lebanons Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (R) meets with France's Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Stephane Sejourne in Beirut on April 28, 2024. - / AFP France's top diplomat on Sunday, April 28, urged calm in Lebanon during his second visit to the country since cross-border tensions with Israel flared on the back of the war in Gaza. Israel and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group have exchanged near-daily fire since Hamas's unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 sparked the war in Gaza. Fighting has intensified in recent weeks, with Israel striking deeper into Lebanese territory, while Hezbollah has stepped up its missile and drone attacks on military positions in northern Israel. France has for months sought to de-escalate the cross-border tensions, presenting to both Lebanon and Israel an initiative in January seeking to end hostilities. During a visit to the headquarters of the United Nations' peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL), French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne reiterated that Paris has been making proposals to "avoid war in Lebanon." "I will head to Beirut to meet political authorities to... make proposals," he added. "Our responsibility is to mitigate escalation, and that is also our role in UNIFIL. We have 700 soldiers here." A French diplomatic source told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the volume of cross-border attacks had doubled since April 13. Sejourne is set to meet Lebanese officials on Sunday afternoon ahead of holding a press conference. Read more Subscribers only A wave of hostility against Syrian refugees in Lebanon Gaza summit in Riyadh In March, Beirut submitted its response to the French initiative, which was based on a UN resolution barring the presence of any forces other than the Lebanese military and UNIFIL in south Lebanon. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who heads a caretaker government with reduced powers, on Friday suggested that Paris was reviewing its proposal and would submit a new one to Beirut. Sejourne's trip which will also see him stop in Riyadh for a summit on Gaza coincides with a visit to Jerusalem by US envoy Amos Hochstein as Washington also pushes for de-escalation along the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah has repeatedly declared that only a ceasefire in Gaza will put an end to its attacks on Israel. Since October 8 at least 385 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 254 Hezbollah fighters and dozens of civilians, according to an AFP tally. Israel says 11 soldiers and nine civilians have been killed on its side of the border. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides. Read more Subscribers only The subtle war in northern Israel, a crucible for escalating tensions with Iran THE CRATLOE-BASED Independent European election candidate Eddie Punch said a protest at Shannon over the Israel-Palestine conflict was an empty, attention- seeking gesture. Mr Punch, general secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association, believes the actions of demonstrators to block the approach to the terminal building will do nothing to help those suffering in the conflict. Hundreds of protestors, many carrying Palestinian flags descended on Shannon Airport earlier this month. It was supported by Irish anti-war organisations The events, Mr Punch claimed, forced passengers to abandon their vehicles and walk almost two kilometres in order to catch their flights. While freedom of protest is fundamental to any democracy, the nature and effectiveness of protest is something worth considering, he said. Mr Punch says while he has enormous sympathy for the suffering of the Palestinian community and has supported widespread calls for a ceasefire and a Middle Eastern peace plan, he doesnt think the actions of the protest group are the way to go. I fail to see how blocking both lanes on the only public vehicular approach to Shannon Airport will serve in any way to deter the Israeli defence forces from its military operation in Gaza, said Mr Punch. READ MORE: Minister takes on role of election director for Limerick mayoral candidate He pointed out that almost two million passengers used Shannon Airport last year, with the base supporting more than 20,000 jobs and generating almost 650 million in tax revenues. Of course, protests at Shannon Airport are nothing new but all that blocking the N19 achieved was to inconvenience passengers wishing to access the terminal; it didnt prevent the deployment of any Israeli military hardware. Diplomatic action must be pursued to end this appalling war. Blocking the road into Shannon Airport represented an empty, attention-seeking gesture which ultimately benefited no-one, he concluded. Mr Punch said if elected to the European Parliament, he would support plans for a renewable energy hub in the grounds of Shannon International Airport. The President of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has reportedly said there is a shortage of hundreds of medicines in Ireland, including those needed to treat common medical conditions such Parkinson's, diabetes, blood pressure and ADHD. The union's annual conference in Athlone on Saturday heard from IPU President Tom Murray that this shortage is placing "phenomenal pressure" on pharmacists nationwide and many are facing burnout. Murray also described the shortage as having an "unfair" impact on patients. He said some pharmacists can spend up to nine hours per week trying to resolve supply issues, leading to frustration among members who are chasing "medicine shortages instead of spending that time caring for patients". The IPU reiterated its call for the Minister for Health to appoint a Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPO) within his department. This call was overwhelmingly supported at the Associations AGM, where a motion on the subject was debated and unanimously approved. Liam Butler, Vice-President of the IPUs Pharmacy Contractors Committee emphasised the crucial role of community pharmacists in providing local healthcare. The appointment of a CPO would ensure that the pharmaceutical care of our population and medicine supply is consistently addressed at the most senior levels of the health system. It would also facilitate the development of a strategic vision for community-based pharmacy care, ultimately enhancing patient services. The IPU has warned that most pharmacists fear medicine shortages will become a growing concern over the coming year. Some 84% of pharmacists who were surveyed by the IPU say they expect this problem to get worse over the next 12 months. The union also revealed that every pharmacy in Ireland has been challenged by medicine shortages in the past four months. Pharmacists have warned that medicine shortages can have a serious impact on patients and their families. TikTok spent the past four years trying to fend off a U.S. ban, but it never figured out Washington. The law signed by President Biden on Wednesday requiring a sale or ban of the popular app was in part the product of tectonic shifts in U.S.-China relations and coordinated, stealthy efforts by its critics on Capitol Hill. Those factors were compounded by a series of miscalculations that, in the end, left the Chinese-backed company scrambling for support among its users in ways that were ineffective or even backfired. TikTok now faces a battle for survival in the U.S. courts. Its other alternative is to find a deal that could extract some value out of its U.S. operationbut faces opposition from Beijing and uncertain interest from U.S. buyers. Failure on those fronts likely would mean the end of a U.S. business that forms the core of TikToks global operations, a grievous wound for the most internationally successful internet app to have come out of China. This account is based on interviews with current and former employees of TikTok as well as lawmakers, and others involved in the battle over the app. Missed opportunities They say TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew missed opportunities early in his tenure to try to build support on Capitol Hilland instead depended on negotiations with U.S. security officials over a complex restructuring that never panned out. In recent months, TikTok was outflanked by opponents and repeatedly surprised by the surging momentum against it in Washington, leading to last-ditch steps to rally support that reinforced many lawmakers concerns about the Chinese apps ability to influence public opinion. I dont think they ever understood how concerned we were with the national security implications of so much American data being put at risk," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R., La.) said of TikTok. It is unknowable whether different strategies could have changed TikToks fate, given Washingtons deepening, bipartisan distrust of China, especially on tech matters. The government was not negotiating in good faith, and they intentionally misled Congress about the facts," said Michael Beckerman, TikToks vice president of government relations. There is not a CEO in the world that could have done a better job than Shou." During its 2020 battle against a ban effort by President Donald Trump, TikTok had been led by a U.S. executive and an Australian. In mid-2021, parent company ByteDance tapped Chew, in part because of his extensive bicultural experience. Born and raised in Singapore, the 41-year-old is fluent in Mandarin, attended Harvard Business School and worked for Goldman Sachs. Need to build trust He lacked, however, extensive experience with U.S. politics. People close to Chew urged him to get to know Washingtons power players. While Chew spoke about the need for TikTok to build trust, he didnt give priority to such meetings, instead focusing on revenue, product features and a potential IPO. Chew left government relations to his general counsel, Erich Andersen, a longtime Microsoft executive who had served as head of the U.S. tech giants intellectual property group. Andersen spent much of 2022 negotiating with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., a federal panel known as Cfius, over TikToks proposal to wall off U.S. user data. Called Project Texas, the proposal was designed to assuage concerns that Beijing could pressure TikTok to provide data or influence Americans viewsdemands TikTok has said it would never comply with. Chew was getting conflicting advice. Some TikTok executives argued that he shouldnt meet with lawmakers because the Cfius talks were confidential. Others said TikToks problems were fundamentally political and he could engage without detailing the negotiations. In early 2022, Chew told employees in multiple calls that a deal with the U.S. government was nearly done. But within a couple months, it was clear that something was off. By August, Cfius wasnt returning TikToks calls. Visits to lawmakers offices That December, TikTok learned House lawmakers wanted Chew to testify. Twenty months into his tenure, he made his first big Washington tour, spending much of January through March visiting the offices of more than two-thirds of the approximately 50 members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. A TikTok spokeswoman said Chew had previously met with some lawmakers, and attended a congressional sporting event, in 2022. Chew faced a barrage of harsh questioning over more than five hours in the March hearing. Chews team felt much of the grilling was unfair, with lawmakers suggesting incorrectly that he is a Chinese citizen and his boss is Chinas Communist Party leader. But executives felt they had gained ground with users. One measure: Chews TikTok account soared from fewer than 15,000 followers before the hearing to more than three million soon after. TikTok was getting help from Club for Growth, a powerful conservative group backed by financier Jeff Yass, whose Susquehanna International Group is a major shareholder of TikToks parent company. And President Biden joined TikTok on Super Bowl Sunday to reach younger voters. The situation lulled some inside TikTok into thinking it was safe. But the ground was already shifting against it. Drafting bipartisan legislation After Chews testimony, Scalise began discussions with lawmakers, tasking a new select committee on China with drafting bipartisan legislation. That small team worked during the fall of 2023, fueled by a steady stream of pizzas, and the bones of the agreement were in place by late 2023. The team quietly worked with the Justice Department to make sure the bill was drafted with the best shot of staving off a legal challenge. Keeping the drafting under wraps helped delay the deluge of TikTok lobbying, which previously had some success deterring legislative efforts. Sentiment against China in Congress was continuing to sour, and criticism of TikTok gained new momentum because of anger over TikTok videos about the Israel-Hamas conflict, which many critics claimed were disproportionately anti-Israel. TikTok says it doesnt promote either side of an issue. Concerns about social media TikTok also was among the companies in the crosshairs over broad concerns about social media. TikTok is facing resistance from all the critics of big tech, all the criticism of social media, theyre facing all the criticism of Chinese apps, of China-based tech companies," said Daniel Castro, vice president at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a Washington-based research group funded by U.S. tech giants and other companies. When plans for a vote on the proposed House bill emerged in early March, TikTok executives were blindsided. In response, the app served users a notification urging them to call lawmakers to protest a possible ban. The stunt backfired, showing TikToks powerful ability to mobilize users for a political goal, lawmakers and congressional aides said. Meanwhile, Kellyanne Conway, a former senior White House official, made calls on behalf of the Yass-backed Club for Growth, urging lawmakers to reject the legislation as a violation of free speech and an unfair boost to Facebook, according to people familiar with the discussions. Pressure on Republican lawmakers Republican lawmakers also received calls from Doug Stafford, one of the people said. Stafford is an adviser to Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.), who according to federal records has received more than $24 million in political donations from Yass and Yasss wife since 2015. The people familiar with the calls said they understood the message from Conway and Stafford to be that politicians wouldnt get funding from Yass-backed groups in the future if they voted for the bill. A spokesman for Yass, a longtime supporter of libertarian causes, said opposing a TikTok ban was libertarianism 101." In a statement, Club for Growth President David McIntosh said Yass has never directed the organization to take a position on any issue, and that how lawmakers voted on the TikTok bill wouldnt affect whether Club for Growth supports them. The pressure stoked some anxiety among lawmakers but also some resentment. One lawmaker, in response, helped assemble a 278-page packet to other Congress members that made the case for the bill. It laid out arguments about national security concerns with TikTok. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the bill unanimously, and it sailed through the House in a 352-65 vote. Scalise said he hosted a celebration just off the House floor right after the vote. Some House staffers played TiK ToK," the 2009 hit song by Kesha. Trying to leverage support The company stuck with its strategy of trying to leverage support among U.S. users and creatorsthough that again demonstrated the ability to influence opinion that critics had feared. The company decided to post a video to its main account that featured Chew encouraging users to lobby their senators. The video went viral almost instantly, indicating that the company had used a tactic called heating" to promote the video widely on the platform, according to people familiar with the process. The video ultimately received more than 37 million views. The spokeswoman said TikTok didnt heat the video. The TikTok bill looked like it had stalled after arriving in the Senate. Executives again took solace, assessing that it might drag out until after the presidential election. Once again, TikToks assessment proved too optimistic. Behind the scenes, the bills supporters in the House were searching for a must-pass bill to attach it to. They found it in a Senate-backed $95 billion package of foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel. The package passed the House last weekend, followed by the Senate late Tuesday. Ultimately, the bill passed through Congresswhich hasnt been able to agree on other tech legislationbecause TikTok couldnt dissuade lawmakers that its ownership is a threat to the U.S. The divestiture bill is a national security bill," said Sen. Brian Schatz (D., Hawaii), a member of the Commerce Committee. Whatever we think about social-media companiesthats for another day." Chew once again sought support from users in a defiant message on TikTok. Its obviously a disappointing moment, but it does not need to be a defining one," he said. Rest assured, we arent going anywhere. MDH, an Indian spice king, has strongly denied allegations of pesticide contamination following reports from food safety regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore. The controversy erupted when the Center for Food Safety (CFS) in Hong Kong detected ethylene oxidea prohibited pesticidein various pre-packaged spice products from MDH and another Indian brand, Everest. The CFS issued a warning against the sale and purchase of MDH's Madras Curry Powder and Sambhar Masala, as well as Everest's Fish Curry Masala. In response, MDH stated, "We have not been approached by food safety authorities in either Hong Kong or Singapore about these findings." MDH reassured consumers, stating, "We do not use ethylene oxide at any stage of our spice production. Our products adhere to stringent health and safety standards both in India and internationally." The company also noted that neither the Spice Board of India nor the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had been contacted by the regulatory bodies of Hong Kong or Singapore regarding these findings. Also Read | Ishan Kishan admits to violating IPL Code of Conduct during MI vs DC clash, fined 10 percent of match fees The statement from MDH emphasized, "The allegations lack evidence and are thus baseless and unsubstantiated." Following these events, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) also recalled Everest's Fish Curry Masala. Despite these challenges, MDH continues to assert the safety and authenticity of its spices, underlining its commitment to quality. "MDH tagline, 'Asli Masale Sach Sach, MDH MDH' and 'Real Spices of India' reflect our genuine commitment to providing authentic, high-quality spices to customers," the company said. India, as the world's leading producer, consumer, and exporter of spices, saw nearly 32,000 crore in exports in the 2022-23 fiscal year, highlighting the industry's substantial scale and global impact. Does ethylene oxide cause cancer? Ethylene oxide (EtO) is widely used as a sterilant in medical and industrial settings, making its potential health impacts a significant concern. The carcinogenic potential of EtO is primarily attributed to its ability to form adducts with DNA, leading to mutations that can initiate cancer. Additionally, exposure to EtO can cause other genetic damages such as chromosomal aberrations, which further contribute to its carcinogenicity. These findings, detailed in recent research published in 2023, are crucial for understanding the risks associated with EtO exposure, particularly in occupational settings where its use is prevalent. The evidence from these studies forms the basis for regulatory measures aimed at minimizing exposure and protecting public health. For more detailed findings and discussions on this topic, access the study on ethylene oxide's evidence of carcinogenicity published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute Bengaluru: VerSe Innovation, the parent of news aggregator Dailyhunt and short-video sharing app Josh, is "acquisition hungry", as it embarks on a journey to expand its user base, explore monetization opportunities, and diversify its content offerings, co-founder Umang Bedi said in an interview. Earlier this month, the company clinched its largest deal to date, acquiring US-based subscription service Magzter in a cash-stock transaction of undisclosed value. This strategic move was aimed at foraying into international markets, and enter the premium subscription segment. "We have always been looking at acquisitions to improve our tech capabilities, product functionality, etc. Now, we are M&A-focused than ever, and our criteria (for target companies) is to have significant revenue scale, besides being Ebitda-positive," Bedi said. Ebitda stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The company will finance the acquisitions using its existing cash reserves. "We still have a lot of capital left over from the last fundraise." VerSe Innovation has significant dry powder of over $100 million, and is in "no rush" to raise primary capital, he added. In April 2022, VerSe was valued at $5 billion during its $805 million round. It counts Goldman Sachs, Falcon Edge Capital, Sequoia Capital India, Omidyar Network India, and Matrix Partners among its investors. The company is targeting acquisitions to strengthen its core business, including news and infotainment, short-video content, and ad-tech. The acquisitions will be funded using a combination of cash and stock, Bedi said. Read also: Dailyhunt parent acquires US-based magzter Citing examples like Meta's acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp, Deepika Ramani, a partner at executive search and talent advisory firm ABC Consultants, said social media companies with a certain scale can effectively expand their user base and offerings through acquisitions. "If you look at any organization of this nature, they are looking to increase revenue-generating opportunities, and subscriber base. For instance, the Magzter acquisition in many ways is going to do them a lot of good as the company has an extremely extensive catalogue. With this acquisition, VerSe could see their valuation increase multifold," she added. In the last five years, VerSe has acquired social media app GolBol, photo-video sharing community app Vebbler, AI solutions provider Cognirel and online news platform Local Play, according to data sourced from Tracxn. It has spent less than $100 million on each of its previous acquisitions. The company has been in advanced talks to acquire social networking startup Koo, according to news reports. How VerSe sailed through the ad-downturn Experts anticipate a surge in consolidation in the social media space, with companies struggling to generate revenues and sustain growth amid uncertain macroeconomic conditions, and declining advertising budgets. The funding winter, coupled with regulatory changes, such as a 28% goods and services taxes (GST) on online gaming, along with bans on betting and gambling, have added to the woes of the advertising industry. Even major players, such as Google and Meta, have seen stagnant or slower revenue growth, reflecting the broader industry trend. Read also: ShareChat and Moj are floundering. Can the businesses be fixed? However, according to Bedi, VerSe managed to buck the trend, and is witnessing steady revenue growth from online advertising and subscription services across its applications, influencer marketing, and other online platforms. In FY23, its operating revenue grew 51% to 1,456 crore, the company's latest filings sourced from Tofler showed. To sustain growth, VerSe has also been innovating. It introduced Xpresso, an artificial intelligence-driven newsfeed in local languages, tailored for younger audiences. The platform also signed licensing agreements with over 100,000 partners, including influencers and news portals, for aggregating content. These partnerships work on a variable revenue-sharing model. Furthermore, the company employs AI algorithms to analyze content and tailor feeds over time, leveraging users' implicit browsing behavior, likes, and click-through rates to provide a more personalized experience. Such initiatives helped the company post "very high, double-digit growth" last year. he added. Besides, with the decline of print, the company saw an uptick in advertising from small and medium enterprises. "We moved a lot of that money to digital by reaching out to small businesses through the thousand-plus smaller agencies that we work with, as well as our 250 sales force on the street." About 65% of VerSe's business now comes from small enterprises, Bedi said. The company is yet to file its FY24 financials. Overall, it boasts 215 million monthly active users on the app, and another 100 million users accessing all its platforms through websites, external links, and WhatsApp. According to the company, nearly 120 million users visit the platform daily, spending an average of 31.5 minutes across six sessions. In 2018, Bedi joined forces with VerSe founder Virendra Kumer Gupta, as a co-founder of Dailyhunt. The parent company was established in 2007. The platform targets affluent English-speaking individuals in Tier 1 cities, as well as the mass-affluent, educated audience in Tier 2 cities who prefer local language content. Monetizing short-video app Josh Much like Mohalla Tech which operates Sharechat and short-video app Moj, VerSe ventured into the short-video space with Josh in 2020. Josh was positioned to fill the void left by TikTok, the popular Chinese video hosting service, banned in India in June 2020. Short-video apps are still in the early stages of monetization and are struggling to scale up due to the higher costs associated with creating video content. Despite these challenges, Bedi claimed that Josh achieved an annual recurring revenue of $100 million within just one third of the time it took Dailyhunt to achieve the milestone. With this rate of growth for Josh, we are seeing the revenue trajectory growing very steeply. Now, with a rationalization of spends, we intend to become Ebitda profitable at the company level by FY25." The company heavily invested in Josh for setting up servers, technology infrastructure, cloud services, AI/ML capabilities, content creators, and marketing initiatives. During the pre-monetization phase, losses had widened significantly to 2,563 crore in FY22 from 808 crore the previous year. However, in the following year, it managed to narrow its losses to 1,910 crore. With around 75% of its content in text format, Dailyhunt achieved Ebitda profitability in 2023. Josh is expected to turn profitable later this year, with the burn rate reducing and monetization efforts paying off, Bedi said. "We were not monetizing Josh like we do today across three lines of business: advertising, VerSe Collab (Influencer Marketplace) and giftingot tipping." VerSe Collab, a technology-driven influencer marketplace, consolidates influencers from Josh, Instagram, and YouTube, as these platforms do not provide direct compensation to creators. Instead of making direct payments, the platform assigns campaigns to influencers, and earns a commission from collaborations, which are then promoted as ads. Other avenues, such as livestreaming and tipping, allow users to give gifts or tips to their favorite celebrities and influencers. Additionally, the company operates an ad-targeting platform to enhance ad performance. "(Overall), the company has been able to capture and engage with a multilingual audience, a tough feat to crack in a diverse country like India," Ramani said. Dailyhunt has a larger angle of community engagement, unlike any other home-grown social media platform so far, she added. Theoretically, redistribution of wealth is a good way to bring down economic inequality. But implementing it is fraught with challenges. As debate on the topic rages, Mint looks at the concept, the pros and cons of implementing it and the outcomes of past attempts. What is redistribution of wealth? It is a process by which income and wealth is transferred from the rich to the poor through steps such as taxes, land reforms and welfare measures. This is done to bridge economic inequality in the system. This subject typically comes to the fore when inequality widens significantly as is the case today. A study by the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development has revealed that the wealthiest 10% of households hold 52% of the total wealth while the least wealthy 60% hold just 12% across 38 member countries. Economists such as Thomas Piketty have called for greater redistribution of wealth. Why is it a hot topic today? The Congress election manifesto promises a nationwide socio-economic and caste census to strengthen affirmative action for bridging inequality. While this statement in itself is benign, speeches of its leaders have hinted at a greater redistribution of wealth. Rahul Gandhi has talked of historic assignment to distribute wealth of India, jobs and other welfare schemes" post census. Sam Pitroda has cited inheritance tax as a tool to redistribute wealth. Bharatiya Janata Party has portrayed this idea as an attempt by the Congress Party to grab peoples wealth and redistribute it, especially to minorities. Is redistribution a new concept? Noits already in play. Those earning more pay higher tax. The tax revenue is used to fund welfare measures, subsidies and direct cash transfers to the needy. State governments levy property tax. In the past, India had estate duty (a form of inheritance tax), wealth tax and gift tax. They were abolished as the cost of administering them was more than revenue generated. Is there a need for more redistribution? The wealth gap has widened in India in the recent years. According to a study published by The World Inequality Lab, richest 1% of Indians now own as much as 40% of the countrys wealth. Researchers say that this gap will not close on its own and needs specific policy interventions such as a super tax on billionaires and millionaires. They also say, their income apart, wealth of the rich must also be taxed. According to them this is needed as wealthy people are not paying their fair share of taxes. What do critics of the idea say? Redistribution of wealth, they argue, will smother innovation and hit productivity eventually causing the economy to slow. Inequality is inevitable in a growing economy as holders of capital reap the maximum benefit. Wealth creators contribute to economic prosperity and should not be penalized. Also, inequality is not a major concern as long as peoples lives improve. Zimbabwe and Venezuela tried large scale redistribution and failed. India once had income tax rates of 97.75% plus wealth tax but failed to end poverty, they say. The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has announced the university will accept the scores of the National Eligibility Test (NET) instead of the National Testing Agency (NTA) entrance test as the selection criteria for admission to its Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs from the current academic session, i.e. Academic Year 2024-25. In an official release, the JNU said, The University Grants Commission, to help the students with one national entrance test as part of the implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, has decided vide its Public Notice dated March 27, 2024, that score of National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by UGC and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) can be used by the Universities/HEIs for Ph.D Admission in place of entrance test. The university has decided to use the NET scores for PhD admissions, effectively replacing the entrance test previously conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). "Accordingly, JNU has decided to use NET score in place of the entrance test conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to Ph.D Programmes in the University from the academic session 2024-25," the release read. The University further cleared that the applications for admission to Ph.D. programmes of the following three categories of candidates will be accepted: Category 1: JRF-qualified candidates (100% weightage) Category 2: Candidates qualified for Assistant Professorship without JRF Category 3: Candidates neither qualified for JRF nor Assistant Professorship but are eligible for admission to Ph.D only on the basis of NET score. However, candidates with valid JRF will also be eligible to apply under the NET Score categories. Admission under NET Score Categories will replace the entrance examination. The weightage for NET Score and viva-voce will be 70% and 30% respectively, the JUN Ph.D notice added. The marks obtained by the candidates in the NET Examination conducted by UGC and CSIR will be valid for a period of one year for the purpose of admission to Ph.D programme as decided by UGC. The validity of JRF will be as mentioned in the JRF award letter, it further read. The University may conduct entrance examinations for those Ph.D programmes where NET exams in the prescribed subjects/disciplines are not conducted by UGC/CSIR. Bank Holidays in May 2024: Bank customers will have to plan around at least 10 non-working days at their banks this month, on account of various religious holidays and weekend leaves. Notably, all national banks, including the State Bank of India (SBI), have at least 10 days of non-working days in May 2024, including the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays off. The full list is below. Further, some states may also have leaves for regional festivals or occasions and you are thus advised to confirm all non-working dates with the nearest bank branch to plan better and avoid last-minute inconveniences. The banks' holiday calendar is decided by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the corresponding state governments. The regional holidays of the banks vary depending on the local customs of different states. See | Maharashtra Bank Holidays in 2024 Below is the full list of other bank holidays in May 2024 May 1 bank holiday: On account of May Day/Labour Day and Maharashtra Day banks will remain shut pan-India and in Maharashtra. May 8 bank holiday: Banks in West Bengal will be closed on the occasion of the birthday of polymath Rabindranath Tagore. May 10 bank holiday: Banks will be closed because of the Akshaya Tritiya festival. Also Read | Bank Holidays in 2024. Check the full list here May 23 bank holiday: On the occasion of Buddha Purnima banks will remain closed. Regular Bank Closures Banks will be closed on the second Saturday: May 11 Banks will be closed on the fourth Saturday: May 25 Bank holiday on Sundays: May 4, 12, 18, and 26 Customers Can Use Online Banking Facilities, ATMs Online banking services will remain operational without interruption during all bank holidays and the weekends. Customers can conveniently carry out their banking tasks using the banks' websites, mobile apps, or ATMs for urgent transactions. However, if assistance from bank staff is necessary, it's important to be aware of the bank holiday schedule and plan visits accordingly. Abhay Aima, a key figure in shaping HDFC Banks growth, passed away at 63 on April 27. Aima held the position of Group Head of Private Banking and was pivotal in developing the bank's private banking and securities divisions. His last rites will be performed at the Santacruz crematorium on April 28. His death is deeply felt by many, including former Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, who lamented on social media platform X, "Aima Saeba, not done! Childhood friend and chief protagonist in bedtime stories narrated to my son leaves me shattered. And alone. Five decades of association in Srinagar & Mumbai ends in a minute. Not fair. Abhay Aima, April 17th, 1961- April 27th, 2024. RIP." Drabu shared photos in the loving memory of his banker friend with caption, My friend Aima, no more. Eid 2020 Bandra. It is with deep sorrow to inform you of Abhay Aima's sudden demise at his residence in Bandra at 4:10 PM on 27th April. He will always be remembered for his big heart, kindness, warmth, and the impact he had on all who knew him, said a note shared by Drabu on X. Last rites shall be conducted tomorrow, the 28th April 2024, at 4 PM at Santacruz Crematorium, the note added. Who was Abhay Aima? Joining HDFC Bank in January 1995, Aima was a cornerstone in several of its most critical areas, including Private Banking, Equities, Third-Party Products, NRI Services, and the International Consumer Business. As a Director at HDFC Securities, he played a crucial role in steering the banks securities operations. as per official website. Bajaj Finance vs Jio Financial: The March quarter numbers of Bajaj Finance and Jio Financial came out mixed, further complicating the question of which stock one should buy between these two. Bajaj Finance reported a decent double-digit rise in profit and interest income year-on-year. Jio Financial, on the other hand, reported a single-digit sequential rise in profit and interest income. Jio Financial debuted on bourses in August last year, so its Q4 numbers were not comparable year-on-year. Bajaj Finance reported its March quarter earnings on Thursday, April 25. Its share price plunged 7.73 per cent to 6,729.85 the following day. Jio Financial reported its Q4 earnings on Friday, April 19. In the subsequent sessions on April 22 and 23, the stock rose 3.54 per cent and 1.27 per cent. However, it witnessed profit booking thereafter and closed in the red in the next three days. Still, for the week, Jio Financial share price climbed over 3 per cent. Q4 result: Key numbers of Jio Financial and Bajaj Finance Jio Financial Services reported a 6 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) jump in Q4 consolidated net profit to 310.6 crore. The revenue from operations increased 1 per cent QoQ to 418.1 crore from 413.6 crore in Q3FY24. Its net interest income (NII) rose 4.5 per cent QoQ from 269 crore in Q3FY24 to 281 crore in Q4FY24. Pre-provisioning operating profit for the quarter under review inched up to 317 crore against 315 crore QoQ. Bajaj Finance reported a 21 per cent year-on-year (YoY) rise in consolidated net profit to 3,825 crore in Q4FY24. Its net interest income (NII) for Q4FY24 saw a 28 per cent YoY rise to 8,013 crore against 6,254 crore in Q4 of FY23. However, the lender's net interest margin (NIM) shrunk 21 basis points (bps) in Q4 over Q3. Which stock should you buy? Jio Financial and Bajaj Finance have their own strengths and weaknesses. While Jio Financial has strong promoter backing, Bajaj Finance has an impressive performance history. Jio Financial has aggressive growth plans. Recently, the company signed an agreement with BlackRock Inc and BlackRock Advisors Singapore Pte Ltd to form a 50/50 joint venture for setting up wealth management and broking businesses in India. Experts find both stocks attractive for the long term and suggest one should pick between them according to their risk appetite. Amit Goel, Co-Founder and Chief Global Strategist at Pace 360, prefers Jio Financial to Bajaj Finance, considering its strong growth potential. "Choosing between Bajaj Finance and Jio Financial depends on an investors risk appetite and investment goal. Jio Financial, backed by Reliance Industries, is a rising star with ambitious plans to dominate the Indian financial landscape. Jio Financial presents a riskier yet potentially faster growth opportunity. We would recommend Jio Financial Services between these two," said Goel. Jignesh Shial, the director of research and the head of the BFSI sector at InCred Capital underscored that Jio Financial Services is at an initial stage, and it is early to predict about the stock. "Jio Financial enjoys a strong brand name and promoter backing though there is intense competition in all segments," Shial pointed out. Bajaj Finance is Shial's preferred pick given the resilient growth metrics, management track record of dealing with roadblocks and consistency in performance. "We have an add rating on Bajaj Finance with a target price of 9,000 as we continue to bet on the NBFC's aggressive customer acquisition and flawless diversity into new business," said Shial. Some technical analysts point out that technical charts also favour Bajaj Finance at this juncture. Riyank Arora, a technical analyst at Mehta Equities, pointed out that Jio Finance is trading in uncharted territory and near its all-time highs. A pullback towards the 300-310 zone should offer an excellent long-term buying opportunity for the stock. However, the technical indicators and chart structure of Bajaj Finance show more stability, and any move towards the 6,000 to 6,200 zone should be an excellent long-term buy for the stock, Arora observed. "At current levels, if we compare the technical chart structure of both stocks, then on any 8-10 per cent downside from the current levels, one can look to accumulate Bajaj Finance with a long-term vision for targets of 10,000 and above," said Arora. Read all market-related news here * French state aims to make bid by June - official * Targeted activities generate 900 mln euros of sales - official * French govt seeks support from other industrial groups-Le Maire (Adds details from source in paragraphs 2,4; details on indicative offer in paragraphs 9,10; background in paragraphs 11,12) By Mathieu Rosemain PARIS, April 28 (Reuters) - The French government sent a letter of intent to Atos over the weekend with the aim of acquiring all of its activities that the state deems strategic, as the IT consulting firm strives to restructure its debt. An official at the Finance Ministry said on Sunday the French state was targeting three of Atos's activities - Advanced Computing, Critical Systems and Cyber Products - deemed to have strategic importance. Atos secures communications for the French military and secret services and manufactures servers to make supercomputers capable of processing vast amounts of data for research or to develop the nascent artificial intelligence industry. The entities, part of Atos' prized cybersecurity unit BDS, employ about 4,000 people and generate about 900 million euros ($962 million) of annual sales, the official said, speaking before comments by Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire in an interview with French news channel LCI. "This weekend I filed a letter of intent to acquire all the sovereign activities of Atos," Le Maire said, adding he wished to see other industrial groups join the French state's potential bid for the activities, without elaborating. The consortium, led by France's state shareholding agency APE, would include other "French sovereign players", Le Maire said, declining to name them. There has been speculation in the French press that defence groups such as Thales and Dassault Aviation could take part in a plan to safeguard the assets. Thales and Atos declined to comment, while Dassault Aviation was not immediately available for comment. The aim is to build an offer by June, the official said, declining to elaborate on the estimated valuation the Finance Ministry had made in its indicative offer for Atos's entities. The expected offer is not conditioned to the formation of a consortium, but the aim is to have one, the official said. It was not clear what exact stake the French state would get in Atos's activities. Atos, which manages data and cybersecurity for the upcoming Olympic Games, is in the midst of a refinancing, which includes raising 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) via equity and new loans and will result in significant dilution for existing shareholders. Shares in Atos, whose net debt stood at 3.9 billion euros at the end of March, have plummeted over the past two years after a string of profit warnings, a revolving-door of CEOs and the collapse of potential asset sales, notably BDS and its legacy operation Tech Foundations. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday organised a walkathon in Delhi's CR Park. The walkathon named "Walk for Kejriwal" is in support of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who is in jail in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case. "We need to defeat BJP with votes (by voting for AAP)," Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said. Several AAP supporters carried flags with Kejriwal's photo on which 'Jail ka Jawab Vote Se' was written on it. "Today people have come from different parts of Delhi to participate in this walkathon for Arvind Kejriwal. They are showing their support and love, and giving blessings. Delhi people are fighting the election. They were thinking about breaking AAP by putting Arvind Kejriwal in jail. But the way people turned up in Sunita Kejriwal's roadshow, it has panicked the BJP," AAP minister Atishi said. AAP leader Somnath Bharti took a swipe at BJP saying, "No matter how big their corruption is, if anyone joins BJP, they get higher posts in the party. BJP has become more like a washing machine". He said that the walkathon is an awareness campaign against the policies and injustice of the BJP. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the federal agency in a liquor scam on 21 March. He was later transferred to Tihar Jail on April 1. The ED said that the agency has been able to recover key evidence that directly reveals the role of Kejriwal in processes and activities relating to the proceeds of crime. Kejriwal had approached the top court challenging his arrest by ED and his subsequent remand in the excise policy case. The apex court had earlier asked the Central Agency to file its response to Kejriwal's plea. After the disappearance of Gurucharan Singh, well-known for his role as Sodhi in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, a video has emerged on social media, shedding light on his movements just before he went missing. The viral CCTV footage shows Singh crossing a traffic intersection in New Delhi's Palam area, with a backpack on his shoulders. Watch the video here: The police have reviewed this footage and have launched an investigation into the actor's disappearance. Actor Gurucharan Singh went missing on April 22 evening, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Rohit Meena said, adding, We are looking for footage and we have even found many vital clues through technical investigation. According to the CCTV footage, he was last seen near the airport with a backpack. CCTV footage near his residence is being checked to know more about his route from his house to Delhi airport. PTI reported citing Police sources that a team of two officers of the special cell on Saturday visited Singh's house and marked the area to collect more information on his route and other activities done him after stepping out of the house. Meanwhile, Suresh Shyamlal Gupta, President of the All Indian Cine Workers Association, urged Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to expedite efforts to solve the missing person case of actor Gurucharan Singh, ANI reported. Meanwhile, the President of the All Indian Cine Workers Association, Suresh Shyamlal Gupta appealed to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of Delhi to expedite the resolution of the missing case of Actor Gurucharan Singh, ANI reported. Actor Gurucharan Singh, known for his role as Roshan Singh Sodhi in the popular Bollywood serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, has been Missing since April 22, 2024, from Delhi Airport. His father has filed a missing case at Palam Police Station in Delhi. The entire Bollywood and Indian Film Industry stand with Gurucharan Singh's family at every step, Gupta said. Gurucharan, who became a household name with his comic turns in 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,' bid adieu to the show a few years ago. During its decade in power, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has had its share of glides and stumbles in implementing its reforms agenda. How close did it come to delivering on the promise of achhe din" (good days) through its various policies? In the concluding part of the Election Pitch" data series, we pick one significant reform from each year the current government was in power, and check where things stand now. 2014: Banking the unbanked A decade after its launch, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) has over 520 million accounts with a total balance of around 2.32 trillion. The scheme provides a zero-balance bank account, a RuPay debit card and 1-lakh accident insurance. Despite early scepticism, it has largely been successful in providing formal banking to unbanked individuals, particularly in rural India, and forms one of the three pillars of Indias digital public infrastructure (the others being Aadhaar and mobile). However, there are some humbling reality checks that warrant attention. By December 2023, nearly a fifth of these accounts had not seen any customer-initiated transactions for over two years (though thats similar to the overall banking sector, according to the government). The accident insurance component also has a sketchy record, with nearly a third of the claims being rejected since the schemes inception, according to data shared in the Rajya Sabha. 2015: Pucca housing for poor The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) aims to provide financial assistance for pucca housing for poor households. Its urban component (PMAY-U) was launched in 2015 as a demand-driven scheme, and relies on proposals by states. The rural piece (PMAY-R), which came a year later, aimed to build 29.5 million pucca houses in two phases. Under PMAY-U, nearly 12 million houses had been sanctioned and 8 million of them built as of February. PMAY-R has completed 88% of its target. Women individually or jointly own nearly 72% of the houses under PMAY-R, against the national figure of 43% reported by the 2019-21 National Family Health Survey. On the flip side, a Parliamentary standing committee has pointed to limited contribution by several states, leaving nearly 60% of the house cost burden on the beneficiary, potentially defeating the schemes goal. The scheme has also seen the exclusion of beneficiaries and fraudulent sanctions, according to an audit conducted in Tamil Nadu. 2016: The banknotes gamble The decision to pull high-value currency notes ( 500 and 1,000) out of the system and bring in another high-value note ( 2,000) has been seen as one of the governments biggest policy blunders. Pushed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a means to tackle black money, the move ended up causing a long-lasting economic shock instead. Supporters say demonetisation helped speed up the digitisation and formalisation of the economy, but the period after demonetisation also saw five million lost jobs, according to a 2019 report by researchers at Azim Premji University. Nearly all the scrapped notes found their way back to the Reserve Bank of India (meaning that the initiative hardly removed any black money) and the new 2,000 note was eventually phased out last year (though it continues to be legal tender), raising more doubts about the purpose and success of the entire exercise. 2017: A tax gamechanger It took nearly two decades to implement the goods and services tax (GST) framework, which subsumed 17 types of indirect tax, but it became one of the biggest reforms under the Modi government. Several teething issues of the new regime have been resolved over the years. Seen as a notable example of a successful centre-state partnership through GST Council meetings, the indirect tax regime has also witnessed differences over how much states should be compensated for foregone revenue, and for how long. The growth in GST collections has stabilised, but remains lower than that in income and corporate tax, even as it has surpassed nominal GDP growth in the past couple of years. While the implementation and stabilisation of the GST regime is a feather in the governments cap, it is still miles from simplifying the system as several tax slabs, input tax credit, and the compliance burden continue to attract criticism. 2018: A pre-poll booster dose The Ayushman Bharat scheme, launched months before the 2019 elections, has been the centrepiece of the governments affordable-healthcare initiative. The scheme has two components: strengthening primary healthcare centres and providing 5-lakh cover to poor families for need-based care. Supporters say the scheme is an important step towards achieving the sustainable-development goal of universal health coverage by protecting the poor from out-of-pocket spending. The scheme has provided for 65 million hospital admissions worth 81,979 crore so far, shows health ministry data. Yet, hamstrung by low health spending, the scheme has faced teething issues on implementation, such as exclusion of eligible beneficiaries and under-utilisation of allocated funds, as highlighted in reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Parliamentary panel on health. Moreover, building primary health infrastructure to provide preventive care is where the public funds are most needed, some experts say. 2019: A pro-business shift? After returning to power in 2019 with a bigger majority, the Modi government's first big move reducing the corporate tax rate from 30% to 22% to boost private investments and growth. As the newly appointed finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered the out-of-Budget policy move, it was immediately termed as bold", progressive", and proactive". However, the tax cut failed to achieve its goals, as private investments have not taken off and the government has been forced to pump in massive amounts through capital expenditure to support the economy. At the same time, the immediate result of the tax cut is visible in collections, which is expected to be 3.2% of GDP in 2024-25, significantly less than the average mop-up a decade before the decision. As such, the governments coffers are being filled more by personal tax collections than by corporate tax, raising questions about whether it is indeed pro-corporate. 2020: Lockdown relief A few months before the pandemic the government was looking to boost growth through tax cuts and incentives, but covid and the ensuing lockdowns left the economy in a technical recession in 2020, with millions of poor people in dire straits. This led to one of the most important social welfare schemes of the Modi government's second term the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. To be sure, this was not a new scheme but a temporary tweak made to the National Food Security Act. While the act provided 35 kg of subsidised foodgrain to nearly 800 million citizens, the government announced an additional 5 kg for free. However, as the pandemic waned, the government, instead of scrapping the scheme, made the initial 35 kg of foodgrain free as well, only rolling back the additional 5 kg. The scheme has now been extended for another five years. Even thoughit is keeping the subsidy bill elevated, it is unlikely to be a problem given its popularity and near-universal praise. 2021: Facing farmers ire One of the key promises of the Modi government in its first term was doubling farmers income by 2022. A committee was set up in 2016, which set specific state-wise targets for 2022-23, but by 2019 farmers incomes were still only halfway to the target. In Budget 2019, the government tried to woo voters by announcing an income-support scheme, but the biggest overhaul came in 2020, with three laws intended to free the farm market from middlemen and price regulations. However, the reforms were immediately unpopular among farmers in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, and led to a year of massive protests. Facing strong opposition, the Modi government found itself with no choice but to repeal the laws in late 2021. The rare U-turn has left key reforms in limbo, and farmers are still struggling to improve their incomes. 2022: A new way to hire soldiers The government announced the Agnipath scheme to recruit soldiers aged 17.5 to 21 into the armed forces for four years. This was an attempt to do away with legacy defence recruitment, in which personnel were recruited for about 20 years with the benefit of a pension. The scheme, which came as a surprise, led to violent protests in several states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, mainly because it did not offer pension benefits. The governments already-huge defence pension bill does need pruning, particularly after the One Rank, One Pension scheme, but experts raised eyebrows about the government's lack of consultation before announcing the new scheme. The scheme has seen renewed interest as the main opposition party, the Congress, has promised to scrap it in its manifesto. Recruitment under the scheme is currently underway but it is too early to say if it has been the gamechanger" the government claims it to be. 2023: On the global stage Just seven months before the general elections, Modi got a shot in the arm when India managed to arrive at a consensus through the New Delhi declaration at the G20 summit . As opposed to the Bali declaration of 2022, where strong words were used against Russia, India chose a watered-down version of worries about the war in Ukraine. India has always been a close ally of Russia and also continued to import oil from the country, ignoring pressure from the West, displaying the confidence of an emerging economy and its growing influence. The success was seen as a huge win for Indias soft power and strengthened the governments projection of Modi as a global leader. According to the latest YouGov-Mint-CPR Millennial Survey, improving Indias image globally was rated among the biggest achievements of this government, and roughly 70% expressed satisfaction with Indias G20 presidency. This is the seventh and concluding part of a Plain Facts series covering the top election issues and the governments report card after nearly 10 years in power. Part 1: In charts: Story of polls, freebies and politics Part 2: Why low unemployment rate hides the full picture Part 3: A decade of flip-flops on farmers issues Part 4: Inadequate government funding keeps healthcare, education in crisis mode Part 5: Modi govts mixed record on corporate reforms Part 6: Price rise is a pet peeve for voters. Can it shape poll results, too? Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister with immediate effect, Samaa TV reported. The decision was announced through a notification released by the Cabinet Division. The development marks a strategic move within the government's leadership hierarchy, Samaa TV reported. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ishaq Dar is currently serving as Pakistan's Foreign Minister. He has been also included in the Council of Common Interests (CCI). Earlier in March, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the reconstitution of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), replacing the finance minister with the foreign minister, Geo News reported. The president, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, established the eight-member CCI in accordance with Article 153 of the Constitution, as stated in a notification. The CCI, chaired by Shehbaz Sharif, comprises all four chief ministers alongside other council members. The notification also confirms the inclusion of Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Safron Minister Amir Muqam, according to Geo News. The Council of Common Interests holds significant authority as the primary decision-making body in the nation. It adjudicates various matters, including the distribution of natural resources, especially in cases where disputes arise between the central government and provincial authorities, according to Geo News report. A fine art sale organized by Mumbai-based auction house Pundoles featuring 71 pieces elicited a strong response from connoisseurs and investors alike, with a Raja Ravi Varma classic fetching nearly 20 crore. All 71 lots, including from the personal collection of designer Pinakin Patel, found new homes, fetching a total 82.72 crore, split into a hammer price of 71.93 crore and the remainder as premium that buyers pay as commission to the auctineer. Interestingly, about half the paintings in this sale were works on paper, yet no piece was sold for less than 1 crore. Artworks on paper typically command a lower value than those on a canvas by the same artist, as the former are more difficult to protect from damage. Raja Ravi Varma's "Mohini", the top-seller at the auction, sold for a staggering 19.55 crore, exceeding its pre-sale estimate of 15 crore, once again reinforcing his popularity among art collectors. Other notable sales included Untitled by Nasreen Mohamedi, which fetched 12.65 crore, against an estimate of just 3 crore. This significant difference between the estimated and realised price suggests a growing appetite for art in India. In the last year or so, Indian art has generated a lot of interest from high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals who see it as a profitable investment option. The results of Thursday's white-glove sale show the depth of the market at all price points. We achieved a world record auction price for a rare canvas by Nasreen Mohamedi, and saw extremely strong prices achieved for several other women artists including Anjolie Ela Menon, Pilloo Pochkhanwala, Zarina Hashmi and B. Prabha. All the works offered by the collector and aesthete Pinakin Patel were eagerly bid on by both old and new collectors from home and overseas," Dadiba Pundole, owner of the eponymous auction house, told Mint. "A small sculpture by Adi Davierwalla set a new benchmark for a maquette by the artist. Overall, the sale reflects the strength of Indias growing economy and expanding buyer base." A white-glove sale refers to an auction where all lots or items on the block are sold. The past year has been one of the best for Indian art pieces, with over a dozen works selling at multi-crore price tags. At the auction, an artwork by Sayed Haider Raza Bindu Peace sold for 4.6 crore, against the pre-auction estimate of 1.5-2.5 crore. Three Maqbool Fida Husain works also sold for a cumulative 13.45 crore, the gallerys results showed. Independent art critic Uma Nair said that this sale reaffirmed Varma's place in Indian art's history. Years ago, MF Husain protested against art critic Geeta Kapur curating works of Varma's in a show at the NGMA art gallery. But this auction gives him the crown and personifies his brilliance from a time period when moderinsm wasn't recognised," she said. In a recent Christies New York auction concluded in March for South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art, Francis Newton Souza's artwork "The Lovers" sold for about 40 crore, including buyer's premium, setting a new global benchmark for the artist. In separate auctions, two paintings by Raza fetched a combined 86 crore. One painting, "Kalliste," sold for $5,619,900 (around 46 crore) at Sotheby's, while the second, "Paysage Agreste," was sold for 4.75 million (around 40 crore) at the Metayer-Mermoz auction house in France. In late 2023, Raza's piece "Gestation" set a record, selling for 51.75 crore (including commissions) at a Pundole's auction. Although this achievement was briefly surpassed earlier this year by Amrita Sher-Gil's "The Story Teller," which fetched 61.8 crore, Raza's consecutive high-value sales underscore his enduring impact on the Indian art market. At another recent Sotheby's auction, an important work by Bhupen Khakhar titled "Hatha Yogi" sold for $1,814,500 ( 15 crore). Top Events of the Day: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold four rallies in the North Karnataka region in Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Davanagere and Ballari on April 28. Orange alert issued over severe heatwave until April 28. Congress in Karnataka to stage protest on Apr 28 against 'paltry' drought relief given by Centre and more PM Modi will begin a full-fledged campaign in parts of Karnataka: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address four rallies in the North Karnataka region in Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Davanagere and Ballari on Sunday. PM will reach Belagavi on April 28 morning to address a public meeting at 10 am. The PM would then fly to Sirsi to attend a public meeting at 12 noon. The PM's next destination would be Davangere, where he is anticipated to participate in an election rally at 2 pm. Furthermore, Modi would address a public meeting in Ballari at 4 pm. On April 29, the Prime Minister would travel to Bagalkote to attend a public meeting at 11 am. Heatwave alert IMD says temperature to soar till April 28, rainfall likely to bring relief in some states: The India Meteorological Department has predicted severe heatwave over East and South Peninsular region for the next five days, while isolated rainfall is expected in some states including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and others till April 28. GT vs RCB Indian Premier League (IPL) match today: Gujarat Titans (GT) will host Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on April 28. Both teams are coming into the match after facing a close defeat. Orange alert issued over severe heatwave until April 28: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted severe heatwave conditions to continue over East and South Peninsular India for five days. An orange alert over the heatwave has been issued for Odisha, Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Interior Karnataka, and Rayalaseema until April 28. Pakistan: Jamaat-e-Islami to hold protest across Punjab to raise voice for farmers' demands - The Jamaat-e-Islami has announced to hold protest demonstrations across Punjab province in Pakistan to advocate the approval of farmers' demands, reported ARY News, on April 28. The Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan, Hafiz Naeemur-Rehman, announced the protest. Further, the Secretary General of JI, Ameerul Azim, said that the sit-in protests will take place on Tuesday, April 30, on major roads across the province, as reported by ARY News. In a statement, the secretary general of JI attributed the escalating wheat crisis to the government's misguided policies. Congress in Karnataka to stage protest on Apr 28 against 'paltry' drought relief given by Centre: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the Congress will stage a demonstration on April 28 here against the 'paltry' drought relief given by the Centre to the state, as per PTI. Shivakumar, who is also Congress state president, said against the demand for 18,172 crore to mitigate drought Following Bollywood actor Aditi Rao Hydari's complaint about being stranded on a Vistara flight in Mumbai early in the morning due to no ladder nor an airbridge, the airline released a statement, explaining that the delay lasted 12 minutes. In her Instagram stories on Saturday, she posted a photo taken from her flight window showing the airport after her plane had just landed. Hydari wrote, 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 further added, The relevant authorities were immediately informed and corrective measures were taken. We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers due to the same. Aditi made her acting debut in 2006 with the Malayalam film "Prajapathi," but gained significant recognition with her role in the Hindi film Yeh Saali Zindagi (2011). Her notable films include Rockstar, Murder 3, Wazir, Padmaavat, and Sufiyum Sujatayum. The Indian Navy helped in the rescue of a Panama-flagged crude oil tanker after it came under missile attack from Houthi militants. The vessel had a total of 30 crew members, of which 22 were Indians. According to the officials, Indian Navy's destroyer INS Kochi responded following the attack on the vessel, MV Andromeda Star, on April 26. All the crew members are reported to be safe. Iranian-backed Houthi militants launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Red Sea in the vicinity of merchant vessel Maisha and MV Andromeda Star, said the US Central Command. Also read: Pakistani crew of rescued Iranian vessel thanks Navy with 'India Zindabad' slogans; 9 armed Somali pirates held MV Andromeda Star is a Panaman-flagged and Seychelles-operated vessel. The vessel reported minor damage, it said. "A mission deployed Indian Naval destroyer INS Kochi responded to a maritime security incident involving the attack on Panama-flagged crude oil tanker MV Andromeda Star on April 26," the Indian Navy said. Also read: Indian Navy's INSV Tarini with women officers returns to Goa after 2 months The vessel was intercepted by the Indian Navy ship and an aerial recce involving a helicopter operation was undertaken to assess the situation, it said. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team of the Navy was also deployed to carry out "residual risk assessment", the Navy said in a statement. "A total of 30 crew including 22 Indian nationals are reported to be safe and the vessel is continuing its scheduled transit to the next port," it said. Also read: Malaysian navy helicopters collide mid-air during rehearsals, leaves 10 dead "The swift action of the Indian Navy ship reiterates the commitment and resolve of the Indian Navy in safeguarding the seafarers plying through the region," it added. The fresh incident comes amid growing global concerns over attacks on various commercial vessels in the Red Sea by the Houthi militants. (Bloomberg) -- US senators dismissed House Speaker Mike Johnsons suggestion to send the National Guard to college campuses to quell growing protests against the war in Gaza and US support for Israel. I dont know if you need to call in the National Guard, maybe you just call in the police, said Senator JD Vance, an Ohio Republican and one of several lawmakers from both parties expressing reservations. Vance spoke on Fox News Sunday. Sending the National Guard to campuses would evoke painful memories of the violent era of campus protest against the Vietnam War, specifically at Kent State University, Senator Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, said on NBCs Meet the Press. In 1970, the National Guard shot into a group of protesters at Ohios Kent State, killing four students. I think that would be a very, very bad idea, Kaine said of deploying the National Guard. There are ways to manage the protests using campus security, Kaine said, and also by offering students more opportunities to have dialogue that is civil and constructive where people hear one another. Lawmakers said that control of demonstrations should start with local police or school officials, while others added that universities should encourage constructive dialogue among students. Last week, Speaker Johnson condemned pro-Palestinian protests during a visit to Columbia University, saying that there would be an appropriate role for the National Guard if the demonstrations were not quickly contained. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have intensified as criticism of US support for Israels military campaign in Gaza grows. Protesters are gathering across college campuses across the country, setting up encampments on school grounds and demanding the administrations divest from entities that support Israel and the war. Some colleges have responded by bringing in police, at times arresting demonstrating students and professors. The University of Southern California canceled its main commencement ceremony last week because of safety concerns amid escalating protests. Green Party candidate Jill Stein was arrested while supporting a protest at Washington University in St. Louis. Read more: Harvard, Yale Students Shout Divest at Unyielding Colleges A pro-Palestinian crowd demonstrated outside the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington on Saturday night, shouting at lawmakers and journalists who attended the annual black-tie gala. Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, said most of the young people protesting on campuses are there out of conviction against the war and that the US should protect their right to peacefully protest. In some of these campus protests, there have been legitimate threats to students on campus. And I think in those instances, campus police or local police can and should handle those threats, Murphy said on Fox News Sunday. Asked if he would endorse sending in the National Guard, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said hed turn to the school administrations first. Lets see if these university presidents can get control of the situation. They ought to be able to do that, McConnell said on CBS Face the Nation. Civil discussion is what college education is supposed to be about. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Elon Musk has once again chipped in on the falling population debate, but this time by countering a far-right activist on her 'Great Replacement Theory' conspiracy. Responding to a video post by Dutch far-right activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek on social media site X (formerly known as Twitter), Musk said the 'great replacement theory" fails to take into account a "foundational issue" of low birth rates. "The problem with Great Replacement Theory is that it fails to address the foundational issue of low birth rates. Record low birth rates are leading to population collapse in Europe and even faster population collapse in most of Asia. Immigration is low in Asia, so there is no replacement going on, the countries are simply shrinking away," Musk said. "If this doesnt turn around, then any countries on Earth with low birth rates will become empty of people and fall into ruin, like the remains we see of the many long dead civilizations," the Tesla, X and SpaceX Chief added. Vlaardingerbroek in her post shared a video of her speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Hungary, alleged: "I spoke the forbidden truth: The Great Replacement is no longer a theory - its reality. White Europeans are being replaced in their own countries at an ever accelerating rate and it will mean the end of our civilization if we dont turn things around." What is the Great Replacement Theory? This is a white nationalist far-right conspiracy theory endorsed by French author Renaud Camus, which alleges that ethnic French and white European populations are being demographically and culturally replaced by non-white people through mass-migration and a drop in birth rates. Similar conspiracies' have since also emerged in the United States. However, mainstream scholars dismiss the conspiracy as "rooted in a misunderstanding of demographic statistics and premised upon an unscientific, racist worldview". As per the Encyclopedia Britannica, the theory is "widely ridiculed for its blatant absurdity." Not Musk's First Input on the Population Subject In February 2024, Musk reacted to Japan's low birth rate number by saying: Japan will disappear if something doesnt change. The Asian country recorded fresh record low number of babies born in 2023 after number of births fell 5.1 percent from a year earlier to 7,58,631. Not just the number of births, the number of marriages in Japan dipped 5.9 percent to 4,89,281 in 2023, as per Reuters report. This is the first time in 90 years that the number of marriages in a year dropped below 5,00,000. A spokesperson of the Japanese government said that the administration is ready to implement "unprecedented measures" to address diminishing birth rate, including the expansion of childcare services and salary increases for younger employees. The survey in Japan shows that the younger population is in doubt about getting married owing to bleak employment prospects, and the high cost of living, education spending, healthcare needs, etc. Earlier, in July 2022 too Musk said he is "doing my part" to boost birth rates, adding that "population collapse is the biggest danger civilization faces". Musk, who has fathered 10 children, took to Twitter and wrote, "Contrary to what many think, the richer someone is, the fewer kids they have. I am a rare exception. Most people I know have zero or one kid. The past two years have been a demographic disaster in the US. I mean, Im doing my part haha." Citing data from Wall Street Journal, Musk captioned, "USA birth rate has been below min sustainable levels for ~50 years". Musk said he is doing his best "to help underpopulation crisis". New Yorks highest court overturned two 2020 sex crimes conviction of the "disgraced Hollywood director" Harvey Weinstein, who was once to spend his remaining life behind bars. However, this was just one of the two cases the director has been convicted in. While overturning Weinsteins conviction, the court found he should receive a new trial after his attorneys argued that his conviction in New York affected his case in Los Angeles. This recent move has made the California case even more significant. Sexual crime allegations broke against the Oscar-winning producer in 2017, launching the #MeToo movement. He was convicted in a New York court in 2020 of the rape and sexual assault of ex-actress Jessica Mann in 2013, and of forcibly performing oral sex on former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006. He was later sentenced to 23 years in prison. What is next for Harvey Weinstein? Weinstein will appeal his California conviction on May 20, New York Times reported quoting his lawyer Jennifer Bonjean. She is appealing his conviction in California and expects that the New York ruling would help bolster his appeal in that case. Bonjean said jurors were overwhelmed with this bad character evidence that was not legitimate, that tainted the whole trial in California from our perspective. The New York decision relates to the excessive use of other accusers and the concept of uncharged accusers and bad acts is equally applicable in the LA case, she said. Weinstein will now be able to return to court and tell his side without having so much baggage from his past divulged to the jury, Arthur Aidala, Weinsteins lawyer, said. Hes been dying to tell his story from Day 1. Harvey Weinstein hospitalized Harvey Weinstein, 72, was hospitalized on Saturday upon his return to New York. "The NYC Department of Corrections determined that Mr Weinstein needed immediate medical attention," Aidala told AFP in a statement. "A myriad of tests are being performed on Harvey and he is being kept for observation." Two doctors provided testimony asserting that the Indian-American man who drove his Tesla off a cliff with his family inside was grappling with major depressive disorder and experienced a psychotic break during the incident, according to an LA Times report. The incident in question involves Dr Dharmesh Patel, a radiologist from Pasadena, who faced three counts of attempted murder after he drove his family's Tesla off Devils Slide cliff on Highway 1 near Half Moon Bay (California), as per prosecutors. Expert Testimony The doctors, Mark Patterson and James Armontrout, presented their testimony in support of Patel's defence. They affirmed that at the time of the crash, Patel was undergoing a psychotic episode, with beliefs centred on the fear of his children being involved in sex trafficking, according to District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe. In light of his mental state, Patel has sought mental health diversion, a measure that could lead to his release from jail and enrolment in a two-year treatment programme. Should Patel comply with the conditions and refrain from criminal activity during this period, the charges against him would be dismissed, the report added. Prosecutorial Opposition However, prosecutors contest this diversion plea. They argue that their own medical expert diagnosed Patel with schizoaffective disorder rather than major depressive disorder, casting doubt on the effectiveness of the proposed treatment plan. Prosecutors advocate for the case to proceed in court, expressing concerns over the lack of monitoring if Patel is released. Wagstaffe voiced apprehension regarding Patel's potential release, stating that it would be a challenge to monitor his medication adherence outside of psychiatrist appointments. If he goes off his medication, how do you know? Its not like being on probation or on parole. Its purely the visits with the psychiatrist, he said. Patel's attorney, Joshua Bentley, did not comment on the matter, LA Times said. What is the Case? In an incident that occurred on January 2, 2023, Dharmesh Arvind Patel, accompanied by his 41-year-old wife Neha and their two childrena 7-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boywere travelling in their vehicle along the Pacific Coast Highway, as per a Hindustan Times report. During the journey, Patel suddenly steered the car off the road. Fortunately, Patel, his wife, and their two children all survived the incident. Meghan Markle was recently spotted wearing a stunning collection of jewelry during her visit with Prince Harry to Florida for Duke of Sussex's Sentebale charity polo competition. But the most striking piece of her collection that caught the attention of the royal experts was her diamond eternity ring. An eternity ring is often presented as gifts on significant anniversaries or to commemorate a child's birth. The ring is believed to be a gift to her by Harry in 2019. However, Meghan and Harry's youngest, Princess Lilibet of Sussex, did not feature in the Suits actress' "trilogy jewel". Lilibet was born on 4 June 2021. A GB News report quoting a royal commentator said that the ring is a demonstration of her "connection" with Prince Harry and Prince Archie. Also read: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle insensitive for business ventures amid family turmoil, says royal expert Australian jeweller Austen & Blake's Regional Sales Manager James Harris said Meghan's jewellery staples include a wedding band, trilogy engagement ring and eternity rings. The eternity ring reportedly honours Meghan's family members. It features the birthstones of Meghan (a green peridot), Harry (a blue sapphire) and Prince Archie (a green emerald), Harris said. At the event, Harris spoke candidly about Meghan's jewellery saying that her bijouterie showcases balance between traditional and modern. Also read: Prince Harry has clearly won against Meghan Markle over a major decision involving their children "This stunning piece pays tribute to timeless jewellery designs whilst showcasing Meghans ability to strike an effortless balance between traditional and modern elements in her style," he said. Meghan accessorised her wrist with gold jewelry to counterbalance her vintage earrings, layered a modern yellow gold metal bangle with elegant chain bracelets. "This interplay of different sizes and textures added a touch of sophistication to her look," Harry added. (Bloomberg) -- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will step up efforts to secure a truce in Gaza during meetings in the Middle East on Monday, in what could be a final chance to persuade Israel to call off an attack on Rafah. The White House said Sunday that Israel has agreed to hear out its concerns. Israel has assured us that they wont go into Rafah until weve had a chance to really share our perspectives and our concerns with them, John Kirby, spokesman for the White Houses National Security Council, told ABC News. So well see where that goes. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged US President Joe Biden to intervene, telling a special edition of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh that the US is the only country capable of stopping an Israel invasion of Rafah. Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reviewed the talks on a hostage release and a Gaza cease-fire during a call on Sunday, according to a White House statement. Biden also reiterated his clear position on Rafah. If theres a deal, we will suspend the operation in Rafah, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Channel 12 on Saturday, even as the Israeli military continued to make preparations for an offensive. A Hamas official said its delegation plans to respond to the latest Israeli truce plan on Monday, Agence France-Presse reported, offering another glimmer of hope as the Gaza conflict grinds toward the seven-month mark. Egypt is stepping up efforts at mediation to secure an agreement between Israel and Hamas leading to a cease-fire in exchange for the release of hostages, but the two sides remain far apart. Blinken is traveling to Saudi Arabia to meet with regional counterparts and then on to Israel, according to US and Israeli media. Its the top US diplomats seventh Middle Eastern trip since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. Read more: Hamas Releases Video of Two Hostages as It Weighs Ceasefire An Israeli assault on Rafah, a safe haven for roughly half the Gaza Strips population whove fled almost seven months of fighting, would prolong the conflict and threaten Bidens hopes of getting Arab states to help with postwar rebuilding. It would also stymie a US push to secure a historic accord to establish relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The US has urged Israel against a large-scale offensive in Rafah, which Israeli officials say is needed to crush the final stronghold of 5,000 to 8,000 fighters and key leaders from the Palestinian militant group. The small city on the coastal strips border with Egypt had a prewar population of about 280,000 and is now crammed with more than a million refugees. There are fears of major civilian casualties if Israeli troops storm it. Israel has promised to move the civilians out, an uncertain process that could take weeks. Israel has been waging a military campaign in Gaza to wipe out Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the US, the European Union and others, since it swept across the border and attacked Israeli communities and military bases on Oct. 7. Read more: Israel Prepares Forces as Conflict With Hezbollah Intensifies Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people and abducted 250 others in that assault, of whom more than 130 remain in Gaza, some dead. The Israeli bombardment and ground offensive has destroyed much of Gaza, killing more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory, who dont distinguish between civilian and military casualties. Pressure is mounting on Netanyahu to make more effort to reach a truce with Hamas. Thousands of people took to the streets of Tel Aviv and other cities Saturday, some demanding the government step down to make way for early elections, after the group released videos of several hostages alive. Negotiations with Hamas remain deadlocked on the groups insistence for an Israeli commitment to eventually pull out all its troops and end the war. Israel has also refused demands to allow displaced Gazans to return to their homes in the north without any restrictions. In a sign of progress, Israel may be willing to compromise on the number of hostages freed in return for allowing Palestinian prisoners out of jail in an initial phase of any deal, Israeli media reported. Hamas had said it cant free 40 women, elderly or sick captives as demanded in return for a six-week cease-fire, because it doesnt have enough hostages in that category. Egypt has suggested a three-week truce in exchange for freeing 20 hostages, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing Egyptian officials. Read more: New Gaza Hostage Video Increases Heat on Netanyahu Over Rafah Under a previous proposal, a second phase would free men and soldiers under 50, followed by a third phase for the release of the bodies of hostages that should lead to a permanent end to the war, according to US officials. Axios cited two senior Israeli officials who werent identified as saying that Israel is ready to give one last chance for the negotiations before moving forward with a ground invasion of Rafah. Netanyahus room for maneuver is limited because he heads the most right-wing government in Israels history. His firebrand coalition allies, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, oppose a hostage deal right now, which could bring his administration down. They both warned in posts on X Sunday not to risk his governments existence. Read more: Why Rafah Is Raising Fears in Israel-Hamas War: QuickTake Qatar, which has also been mediating, warned that neither side is showing sufficient flexibility. We have expressed frustration regarding the level of commitment of both parties, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told Israels Kan state channel in an interview aired on Saturday. The US State Department said last week it was of dire importance for a hostage deal to be done immediately, and blamed Hamas for holding it up. Netanyahu, meanwhile, has frustrated a US bid to work with Arab allies - including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan and Egypt - to secure Gazas future after hostilities end, by refusing their demand to endorse the goal of an independent Palestinian state. Israel has also resisted the idea of giving the Palestinian Authority that rules in the West Bank responsibility for Gaza, raising the prospect of open-ended Israeli occupation. --With assistance from Galit Altstein, Courtney McBride and Michelle Jamrisko. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said on Sunday he was "honored to meet with [China's] Premier Li Qiang". Musk made a surprise visit to China on Sunday. On Sunday, Musk posted a picture with Qiang and said, We have known each other now for many years, since early Shanghai days. Chinese state media reported that the Tesla CEO met Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, during which Li told Musk that Tesla's development in China could be regarded as a successful example of US-China economic and trade cooperation, Reuters reported. What happened during Musk, Li meeting? During his tour, Musk was expected to discuss the rollout of Full Self-Driving software and permission to transfer data overseas. The US electric vehicle maker rolled out Full Self-Driving, or FSD, the most autonomous version of its Autopilot software, four years ago. But Tesla is yet to make it available in China, its second-largest market globally, despite customers urging it to do so. The company had reached an accord with Chinese authorities for a plant in Shanghai, its first outside the US, in 2018. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, in its report about Musk's meeting with Li, did not say whether the two had discussed FSD, or data. Musk also met with Ren Hongbin, a government official who heads the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the organiser of the Beijing auto show, state media reported. "It is good to see electric vehicles making progress in China. All cars will be electric in the future," Musk said in a video posted on social media by a user affiliated with state media. Tesla's FSD in China soon? Earlier this month, Musk said Tesla may make FSD available to customers in China "very soon", in response to a query on social media platform X. Rival Chinese automakers such as Xpeng have been seeking to gain an advantage over Tesla by rolling out similar software. Musk is looking to obtain approval to transfer data collected in the country abroad to train algorithms for its autonomous driving technologies, the person said. Tesla has since 2021 stored all data collected by its Chinese fleet in Shanghai as required by Chinese regulators and has not transferred any back to the United States. Musk skips India visit Elon Musk's trip came just over a week after he scrapped a planned visit to India to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He had then cited a "very heavy Tesla obligations." The company said this month it would lay off 10 percent of its global workforce as it grapples with falling sales and an intensifying price war for EVs led by Chinese brands. US auto safety regulators said on Friday they had opened an investigation into whether Tesla's recall of more than 2 million vehicles in the U.S. announced in December to install new Autopilot safeguards was adequate following a series of crashes. Elon Musk, when responding to a post featuring a drone video allegedly related to the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, mentioned that he hasn't seen any proof of alien activity. The post he replied to showed a video where something seemed to be flying near an aeroplane, suggesting it might be part of an operation. A user posted the video on X, saying a thing seems to be flying so close to the plane that it indicates an operation. Musk replied, I have seen no evidence of aliens. If I did, I would post about it on instantly! SpaceX has almost 6000 satellites in orbit and not once have we had to maneuver around aliens. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished from the radar on March 8, 2014, during a trip from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. However, users commented on the old video of the Malaysia Airlines flight disappearing from the radar. The Boeing 777-200ER, with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board, last communicated with air traffic control about 38 minutes after takeoff while flying over the South China Sea. The plane then disappeared from civilian radar, but military radar continued tracking it for another hour as it veered off course, flying west across the Malay Peninsula and the Andaman Sea. Earlier in March, the US said that there is no evidence like UFO sightings, or aliens, with most cases involving misidentified ordinary objects. This finding is outlined in a 63-page Pentagon report titled, Historical Record of US Government Involvement with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) by Pentagon. Efforts to broker an Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal continued this week against the looming threat of a Rafah offensive. A Hamas delegation will arrive in Egypt on Monday to deliver its response to a new hostage and truce counter-proposal from Tel Aviv. Meanwhile the White House insisted that Israel had agreed to listen to US concerns before making any move towards Rafah. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also departed for Saudi Arabia on Sunday seen by many as one last chance for negotiations. More than a million Palestinians had fled to the border city of Rafah as Israeli bombardment reduced much of north and central Gaza to rubble. Tel Aviv is now planning to after Hamas battalions in the southern Gaza city a prospect that has sparked global alarm. The Rafah border crossing is the sole entry and exit point to Gaza not directly under the control of Israeli forces. According to the Palestinian ambassador to Cairo, 80,000 to 100,000 people have crossed into Egypt since the Gaza war broke out in October last year. 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 in 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 United States 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." The US State Department is "deeply concerned" about the legislation, spokesman Matt Miller said Saturday, adding that the law threatens those most at risk in Iraqi society and "undermines the government's political and economic reform efforts." 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". (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. His decision to step down as general counsel was entirely his own, said Jodi Seth, a spokesperson for TikTok. The move comes days after President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that threatens TikToks existence in the US, requiring ByteDance to either divest its stake in the app or see it banned. The companies are expected to wage a legal battle to try to overturn or delay enforcement of the legislation. The company had been preparing to remove Andersen from his role as general counsel following the advancement in US Congress of the legislation to force a TikTok divestment or ban, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg on April 20. TikTok denied that the company was planning to remove Andersen. In his new role, Andersen will focus on the effort to overturn the legislation in the US and other pressing legal matters, the company said. It was a difficult decision to step down after so many years in this role, Andersen said in Fridays statement. Im grateful to my talented global legal team, which has successfully faced every new challenge with incredible grit and maturity. Read More: TikTok to Remove Executive Tasked With Fending Off US Claims Andersen oversaw negotiations with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which was reviewing national security concerns regarding TikTok, its parent company and the potential for influence from the Chinese government. Those efforts dragged on for years, and TikTok ultimately failed to demonstrate that the $2 billion-plus it is spending on a security plan to protect US users data was enough to reach a deal. Meanwhile, lawmakers grew impatient and acted on their worries about the potential for China, via ByetDance, to get its hands on sensitive user data or influence Americans social media feeds. TikToks parent spent $2.7 million on lobbying in the first quarter of this year on the heels of a record $8.7 million in 2023. But ultimately, the historic divest-or-ban bill was signed into law. In an internal memo to employees reviewed by Bloomberg, Andersen said he initiated conversations about transitioning out of his role. It was entirely my decision to do so, and it was not an easy one, Andersen wrote. But as I started to reflect some months ago on the stresses of the last few years and the new generation of challenges that lie ahead, I decided that the time was right to pass the baton to a new leader. (Updates with comment from TikTok spokesperson in second paragraph.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com It has become clear over the last year that Silicon Valley companies, which could keep Wall Street happy with enormous growth alone, finally had to embrace the real world. This meant layoffs, cost savings and doubling down on profit. It also meant trimming wild moonshot ideas that sounded cool but burnt cash. And it meant ending the myth that these companies cared about employees bringing their whole selves" to work. That was the stern message from Alphabet Inc CEO Sundar Pichais recent memo to workers, sent amid the latest round of discontent at the companythis time over its $1.2 billion contract (shared with Amazon) to provide cloud services to Israel. At least 50 Google employees have been fired for involvement in protests at its offices. Pichais tone was a stark departure from the companys old touchy-feely approach to employee activism. Not now. Pichai wrote: This is too important a moment as a company for us to be distracted." For most of his tenure, Pichai has been described in many quarters as a peacetime CEO," a highly capable executive steering a ship whose course had already been set by the visionaries who came before him in his case, Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page. That changed when OpenAI fired the first salvo in the artificial intelligence wars in late 2022 with the release of ChatGPT, beating Google to that breakthrough. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who quickly invested in OpenAI, laid down the battle lines after that, making it clear he thought Googles business model was now at risk. They have to defend it all," he said. With a fight on Alphabets hands, the pressure is on the mild-mannered Pichai to get things in order. This hasnt been going altogether well. The companys rollout of AI has been confused, controversial and suffering from the perception it is lagging behind competitors. Its cloud business remains a distant third in market share behind Microsoft and Amazon. Its telling that Brin has recently returned to Google, like a retired old general back in the trenches," as the Wall Street Journal put it. So when Google employees held sit-ins and other protests against the companys involvement in Project Nimbus, the company did not hesitate to force out the unruly. Every single one of those whose employment was terminated was personally and definitively involved in disruptive activity inside our buildings," Google said in a memo to employees. The No Tech for Apartheid group disputes this, saying some non-participating bystanders" were also let go. Would things have been handled differently had it been several years ago? Its difficult to say. Sit-ins are an egregious form of business disruption. And its not the first time Google has fired workers who have become outspoken on company ethics, offered poorly researched treatises on the differences between male and female engineers or claimed that the companys AI had become sentient. What seems certain, however, is that Google is not considering heeding the protestors demands, unlike in 2018 when it decided to back away from Project Maven, a Pentagon contract involving the use of AI. That episode provoked a fresh debate on what role American tech companies should play, or perhaps be obliged to play, in bolstering the tech capabilities of the US and its allies. Google erred on keeping its employees happy and the dont be evil" culture intact. Jeff Bezos Amazon took a different approach: This is a great country and it does need to be defended," he said at the time as the company was jostling with Microsoft for a lucrative Pentagon cloud contract. Employees not on board with that could work somewhere else. Google is now directing its employees to consider the same. Defence money is flowing to technology companies. Americas military-industrial complex has been rapidly expanding from the Capital Beltway to Silicon Valley," concluded a recent report from the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University. From 2018 to 2022, Alphabet received $4.3 billion from US defence spending compared with $13.5 billion for Microsoft and $10.2 billion for Amazon. As the defence sector, like every other industry, works to integrate cutting-edge AI, venture capital is pouring into defence tech startups: $100 billion between 2021 and 2023, according to Pitchbook, more than the amount in the previous seven years combined. Theres opportunity on the table. Google wants it and fears missing out. There is no time for employees to spend work time talking about disruptive issues" or debate politics," Pichai has decreed. Looking at Googles predicament, hes probably right. bloomberg Song Xia does not want her real name used. The young professional is neither a dissident nor an activist, yet she fears the watchful eyes of the Chinese state. After she left Shanghai to work in the Netherlands in 2012 she kept in touch with friends on WeChat, a Chinese app. Then she realised some of her messages were being censored. Even in her new country she is careful what she says in public and only goes to places she considers safe"those where no members of the Chinese Communist Party are present. Ms Song is typical of many Chinese who have moved to the West in recent years: well-educated and wealthy, unlike the labourers who dominated earlier emigrant communities. The number of Chinese abroad has doubled since 1990. It has risen particularly fast since 2000. The pandemic heightened the desire of many members of the elite to leave, as their resentment grew of covid-related controls and the partys ever-tightening restrictions on freedom of expression. China ended its battle against covid late in 2022, but its faltering economy and high youth unemployment are fuelling peoples anxieties. Many young Chinese now use the term runxue, the art of running", to convey their desire to flee. There are about 10.5m people living outside mainland China who were born on the mainland. Only the Indian, Russian and Mexican diasporas are larger. Some of these Chinese are among the countrys richest people. In many countries, they have long dominated wealth-related visa schemes. More than 70% of the 81,000 investor visas issued by the American government to dollar-millionaires between 2010 and 2019 were given to Chinese citizens. Since 2012 some 85% of people who have received Australias golden visas" for investing over A$5m ($3.3m) in the country have been from China. All but 41 of the 1,300 people who applied for the equivalent Irish scheme in 2022 were Chinese. Since the pandemic there have been signs that the outflow of extreme wealth is accelerating. Some 18% of Chinas nearly 900 dollar-billionaires live abroad, according to the 2023 China Rich List published by Hurun, a research firm, up from 6% in 2019. Despite tightening capital controls, more than 13,500 people with investable wealth of $1m or more left China in 2023, according to Henley & Partners, a consultancy. It says this equates to around 1.5% of Chinese with that level of wealth. The less affluent are leaving too, often by perilous means. In 2023 nearly 53,000 Chinese were detained at the American border, compared with just over 1,000 in 2018, a far faster increase than for overall border arrests. In the first eight months of 2023 more than 13,000 Chinese tried to make it to America via the dense, trackless jungle of the Darien Gap in Panama. With greater wealth, the destination of Chinese emigres has changed. Fifty years ago nine in ten people of Chinese descent lived in Asia; now just seven in ten do. Leavers from the mainland today have greater autonomy than the indentured labourers of much earlier times. A quarter of the Chinese diaspora live in America, another quarter live in Hong Kong, followed by Japan and Canada. Overall nearly half of Chinese citizens abroad live in the West. But leaving China does not necessarily offer freedom from the regimes strictures. Since China does not accept dual citizenship, many emigres are now solely citizens of another country. Yet the party has the ability to influence even those who no longer have a Chinese passport. These days most people within China are free to make money and lead comfortable lives. The party leaves them alone so long as they express no political discontent. Increasingly, many people outside China face similar restraints. The scope of sensitive or taboo topics has widened since Xi Jinping became Chinas leader in 2012, overseas as well as at home. Living outside China has become more like living inside it. The meddle kingdom The influence of the party on Chinese abroad takes three overlapping forms: direct intimidation of potential critics, propaganda aimed at the diaspora and pressure on people to censor themselves when discussing Chinese affairs. At home, the party ensures self-censorship by keeping people aware of the states proximity. This powerful tool is now in use abroad, too. When China opened up in the 1970s, officials viewed people of Chinese descent abroad as an economic resource. Later the party tried to lure back academics and entrepreneurs. A critical shift has occurred under Mr Xi. He sees the diaspora in a political light. He has increased the funding and status of the United Front Work Department (UFWD), which is in charge of boosting the partys influence among Chinese abroad. The party hopes they will act as advocates for its cause. But it also fears those among them who openly criticise China. It believes they may infect China with foreign democratic thinking. Small wonder that the diaspora is under scrutiny like never before. First consider the partys use of direct intimidation against Chinese overseas. Most blatantly, it targets dissidents and activists. Its tactics include interference in their digital communications, bullying of their family members in China and direct physical threats. In 2023 Safeguard Defenders, a human-rights group, accused China of setting up over 100 police stations in 53 countries without permission. Repressed ethnic minorities in China are closely monitored abroad and often intimidated. The party tries to get some of them deported: between 1997 and 2021 over 400 Uyghurs were sent back to China on dubious grounds, according to the Uyghur Human Rights Project and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, which tracks suck things. Other Chinese nationals have also been extradited from foreign countries on trumped-up charges. (Some governments, such as Thailands, have turned a blind eye to these dodgy pretexts.) Chinese abroad are often pressured to return without ever involving a host countrys legal system. Those targeted are often wanted for economic crimes, but some are pursued for political reasons. A far larger group is affected by the partys efforts to control the diasporas news sources. Many people from mainland China dwell largely in a Chinese-language world, even when living abroad. In America, for example, over half of Chinese immigrants have limited English, according to an American government survey in 2021. To feed this market, the party reportedly allocated about $7bn in 2009 to extend the global reach of Chinas state media. Under Mr Xi, their impact has expanded. The party has launched new Chinese-language media outfits and bought existing ones. It has pulled financial and coercive levers to influence opinions expressed in nominally independent outfits, Americas State Department said in a recent report. Chinese outlets abroad typically quash discussion of sensitive topics such as Tibet or the pro-democracy upheaval in China in 1989. They emphasise the shortcomings of democracies in an attempt to drive a wedge between diaspora communities and host countries. Free newspapers in Europe run articles that intersperse praise for the party with information on local life. In Australia Chinese-language media, which used to be broadly anti-Communist, now typically laud Chinas leaders. They are subject to little scrutiny by regulators. In America, where TV news is the main information source for diaspora households, pro-party channels dominate cable offerings, according to Sarah Cook of Freedom House. The think-tank reviewed Chinese-language programming supplied by three big cable providers: Verizon, Comcast and Spectrum. It found that most of their Mandarin and Cantonese output was from Chinese state broadcasters or other providers sympathetic with the party. View Full Image Graphic: The Economist These are not the only views on offer. In America publications such as the New York Times run news in Mandarin that often criticises party policy. Falun Gong, a spiritual practice banned in China, distributes Epoch Times, a free newspaper, worldwide. But at a time when many existing media firms are struggling financially, particularly with the decline of advertising revenues, the partys well-funded views have become increasingly prominent. In the digital age, the party is trying to influence not just what people read and watch, but how they interact online. The most pervasive aspect of this involves WeChat, which is central to Chinas social and business life. Diaspora Chinese also use it to contact family in China, as well as each other. The app is owned by Tencent, a technology firm with close links to the party, which actively surveys even accounts that have never been linked to a Chinese phone number, says Citizen Lab, a cyber-watchdog. WeChat automates censorship using frequently updated algorithms. It can access data relating to a users network operator, read a devices ID and monitor a persons physical activity, enabling Tencent to identify who is using the service. Learning to hide Chinas bid to control information access also extends into Western universities. One in ten Chinese abroad are now students, a number that does not include the many scholars who have stayed overseas after graduating. Mr Xi says he expects these students to be grassroots ambassadors" for the country. Under Mr Xi, rules have tightened for the 65,000 of them who are on scholarships funded by the Ministry of Education. According to UK-China Transparency, a research group, they have been required since 2019 to support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party". The Chinese government sometimes asks them to give technical details of their own research or of patents obtained by colleagues, which can involve revealing confidential information. Many feel obliged to comply. Families must repay fees if a recipient breaches a scholarship agreement by engaging in acts that damage the national interest". The Chinese state has increased its oversight of all Chinese students, not just government-funded ones. There are Chinese Students and Scholars Associations (CSSAs) on campuses worldwide. Many of them have close ties to diplomatic missions. Under Mr Xi, they have become better funded. Their services include greeting students at airports or helping them open bank accounts, but on some campuses they play a political role, too. Before the 2022 Winter Olympics the CSSA at George Washington University asked the universitys authorities to punish severely" anyone who puts up posters decrying human-rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. Chinese diplomats have also been known to interfere directly on foreign campuses. At times Chinese netizens and media outlets intimidate students who step out of line while abroad. The state frequently reminds Chinese students overseas that their status is uncertain" and impermanent", says Yaqiu Wang of Freedom House. A brief flare-up of protests on mainland China in November 2022 against Mr Xis zero-covid" policy provoked a flurry of sympathetic outbursts in the West by Chinese students and other members of the diaspora (a demonstration in New York is pictured). The Chinese authorities harassed some participants, such as by putting pressure on family members in China, Ms Wangs organisation says. The states vigilance also extends to academics in the diaspora, especially those who work on China, even if they were not born there. Visas to China have become weaponised", says Steve Tsang of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Scholars who are seen as critics may find their research in China curtailed. All this encourages self-censorship, particularly by those with family in China. On foreign campuses, such caution has become routine. University lecturers in several countries tell of Chinese students who refuse to speak up in class or ask not to be taught alongside other Chinese for fear they may be informants. One graduate in the Netherlands speaks of coming out" to fellow Chinese about her political views. Scholars pick their research with care. A professor in Florida says he may change the direction of his studies once he no longer has to be mindful of a need to return to China to visit his parents. Red flags While focused mainly on those born in China, the partys efforts to increase its influence covers all people of Chinese ancestry. There could be about 45m in this groupmore by some counts. Mr Xi calls ethnic Chinese of any type sons and daughters of the Chinese nation" and urges great unity" among them; the UFWDs tasks include co-opting ethnic Chinese born abroad. This sweeping approach fuels suspicion and racism in their countries of residence. A comparison with the Indian diaspora is illuminating. Both Asian groups are wealthy, educated and increasingly based in the West. But in business and politics the Chinese diasporaoften including people of Chinese ancestry born outside the mainlandis strikingly less successful in Western countries. Chinese-born entrepreneurs founded Zoom, NetScreen and WebEx, but there are far more people of Indian descent running giant firms, including Adobe, Alphabet (Googles parent) and Microsoft, among others. Silicon Valley companies may recruit directly from India for leadership roles but typically choose not to do so from China, says Frank Pieke of Leiden University in the Netherlands. When it comes to investing in foreign businesses, Chinese abroad also struggle. Their investments are scrutinised by governments in Europe and North America on national-security grounds, whereas deals involving people of Indian descent, say, raise less concern. In 2022 Britain introduced a law aimed at tightening scrutiny of foreign involvement in potentially sensitive sectors. In the first full financial year of its enactment, more than 40% of the projects examined were associated with China. Though there have been genuine cases of corporate espionage by the Chinese state, a presumption of suspicion towards anyone of Chinese descent quickly tips into racial profiling. Consider the fate of the China Initiative, an American government programme intended to stop Chinese spying in universities and businesses. As part of this, more than 150 academics were charged by the Department of Justice between 2018 and 2022. About 90% of them were from China or had Chinese ancestry. But only a handful were convicted, some for minor offences. Many researchers of Chinese descent stopped applying for jobs or grants for fear of inciting suspicion, even after the initiative was ended in 2022. Some left America. In politics, people of Indian origin fill some of the highest offices in Britain, Ireland and Portugal, yet there are few elected politicians of Chinese descent anywhere in Europe. The Chinese government is now encouraging such people to get more involved in local and national politics, hoping they will help to nurture more positive attitudes towards China in the countries where they live. Western governments have long hoped that the flow of Chinese abroad might foment democratic change in China. Instead, the partys effort to control them may be stunting their opportunities in the West. People of Chinese ancestry are more likely to be viewed with suspicion and regarded as the partys allies or even agents. Anti-Asian hate crimes increased in America after Donald Trump was elected in 2016. In many countries such assaults became more frequent during the pandemic. They remain more common. The partys actions perpetuate a vicious cycle. As fear grows about the power of the state abroad, diaspora groups become more insular, further fuelling distrust of them. The result may be that some Chinese abroad are driven back into the arms of the party. That, of course, would be precisely what it wants. Subscribers can sign up to Drum Tower, our new weekly newsletter, to understand what the world makes of Chinaand what China makes of the world. 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "maliciously twisting" every statement made by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said the BJP stalwart wants to inflame communal passions in the country. The general secretary of the grand old party was reacting to the remarks made by the prime minister during a rally in Belagavi of Karnataka, where he said the Shehzade of Congress insulted Indian kings but remained silent on atrocities committed by sultans, nawabs, nizams and badshahs for the sake of appeasement politics. Also Read | Elon Musk snubs India in favour of China visit, meets Premier Li Qiang Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter) Ramesh posted in Hindi, He maliciously and mischievously twists every statement of Rahul Gandhi to inflame, incite and ignite communal prejudices and passions." The Congress general secretary claimed that PM Modis remark shows that his exit is inevitable. "His (PM Modi) exit is inevitable and his realisation of that is making him more and more desperate. His campaign speeches are shameful really," Ramesh added to his post. What PM Modi said during Karnataka rally During his speech at the Belagavi rally in Karnataka, the prime minister said the Congress views India's history from an eye of appeasement and vote bank politics, and its senior leader Rahul Gandhi has insulted iconic Indian rulers like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Kittur Rani Channamma, adding that the Wayanad MP called Indian rulers atyachari. Also Read | PM Modi's BIG remarks on inheritance tax amid Lok Sabha elections 2024 "He (Gandhi) has accused them (rajas and maharajas) of usurping the lands and properties of people and the poor The Congress' shehzade has insulted great personalities like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Kittur Rani Channamma, whose administration and patriotism inspires us even today,'' PTI reported. The prime minister further said the Congress leaver never spoke about the atrocities committed by the nawabs, nizams, sultans and badshahs. Also Read | Satya Nadella to Sundar Pichai: 22 top executives join AI advisory board in US "Shehzade spoke ill about rajas, maharajas but shahzade's mouth was locked regarding the 'atyachar' that the nawabs, nizams, sultans and badshahs committed in India's history. His mouth was shut on them but on rajas, maharajas he speaks ill and insults them," he added. PM Modi further said the senior Congress leader cannot remember Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who destroyed Indian temples. Also Read | Will Arvinder Singh Lovely join BJP? Here's what he said "He (Aurangzeb) impure a number of our temples and destroyed them. The Congress is happily making alliances with parties that praise Aurangzeb It doesn't remember people who destroyed our religious places, indulged in killing, killing of cows. It doesn't remember the nawab who played a role in the partition of India. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi on Sunday alleged that the Election Commission (EC) has imposed a ban on the party's Lok Sabha poll campaign song Jail ke jawab mein hum vote denge. Addressing a press conference, Atishi said that in dictatorial governments, opposition parties are prevented from campaigning. This is what has happened today, another weapon of the BJP, the Election Commission has banned the campaign song of the Aam Aadmi Party through this letter. She noted, the Election Commission does not see the daily violation of the code of conduct by the BJP, but notices come if the leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party even breathe. In a post on X, Atishi wrote, Only in dictatorial governments the opposition parties are prevented from campaigning, and today another proof of this dictatorship of Modi ji and BJP has come to light. Now ECI has also banned AAP's campaign song, Jail ka jawab vote se Atishi added, When a dictatorial party violates the electoral process and the model code, then the ECI has no objection. But if an AAP leader even breathes, a notice from the ECI comes. When BJP misuses ED-CBI and arrests Kejriwal even after the code of conduct is in place, the Election Commission remains silent. But if someone writes a song on this dictatorship, the Commission becomes alert! The campaign song "Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se," performed in a rap style, was released at the party's headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday. The song was written and composed by Dilip Pandey, an AAP MLA and the chief party whip in the assembly. The campaign song Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se, performed in a rap style, was released at the party's headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday. The song was written and composed by AAP MLA Dilip Pandey. Also Read: Delhi Rouse Avenue court grants bail to AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in Waqf Board case AAP has centered its election campaign around Kejriwal's arrest, encouraging people to vote for the party as a response to the Chief Minister's arrest. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate for alleged irregularities in the 2021-22 excise policy. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to address four rallies in north Karnataka today in Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Davanagere and Ballari. According to BJP election management committee Karnataka state coordinator V Sunil Kumar, after Modi's first rally in Belagavi, he will fly to Sirsi (Uttara Kannada) to attend a public meeting at 12 noon. The PM's next destination will be Davanagere, where he is expected to take part in an election rally at 2 pm. Later, he will also address a public meeting in Ballari at 4 pm. Track | PM Modi in Karnataka LIVE Updates here Here are the top 9 quotes from Modi at his Belagavi rally When India emerges and strengthens, everyone feels proud. But Congress has grown so far from National interest, for so engrossed in the welfare of their family that it does not like the country's achievements... They have started feeling ashamed of every achievement made by us.. BJP government removed the colonial laws of the criminal justice system. Now in our 'Nyay Sanhita', we have prioritised justice for our citizens more than punishment. Laws pertaining to terrorism have been strengthened, and laws about atrocities on others have been severed. Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam has new provisions for electronic evidence. After being implemented on 1 July, it will help every citizen of the country. Congress has gone away from national interest, entangled in interest of a family." Bringing the topic of MCA student Neha Hiremath's murder case in Karnataka, PM Modi during the Belagavi rally attacked Congress saying that they "again prioritised appeasement", and added, "They don't value the lives of our daughters like Neha. All they care about is their vote bank...". Congress is making alliance with those who praise Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. In 10 years, India has become strong. Congress is ashamed of India's success. Congress 'prince' did not refer to 'atyachar' by Nawabs, Badshahs, but insults our Raja, Maharajas, says Modi in attack on Rahul Gandhi. Congress wants to take over people's wealth, redistribute among its vote bank. Congress taking help of banned PFI to win Wayanad LS seat, Modi alleged at Karnataka poll rally. The seat voted on April 27 and saw 72.70 percent voter turnout. Karnataka Lok Sabha Elections 2024 In Karnataka, there are a total of 28 Lok Sabha seats. For the general election, 14 seats had their polling on April 26, with the remaining seats scheduled for May 7. The 14 seats set for polling on May 7 in Karnataka are Bagalkot, Belgaum, Bidar, Bijapur, Chikkodi, Davanagere, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Haveri, Ballari, Koppal, Raichur, Shimoga, and Uttara Kannada. Historically, the BJP has consistently performed well in Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, irrespective of State Assembly outcomes. It stands out as the only southern state where the BJP has a strong foothold. In the 2019 elections, the party secured victory on 25 out of 28 seats, with the Congress winning just one seat. Arvinder Singh Lovely, who resigned from the post of the Delhi Congress chief on Sunday, said he is not joining any other political party. His statement came amid speculations that he might join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in Delhi. Amid the rumours, Lovely clarified that he has resigned from the post of Delhi Congress chief and not the party. "I have only resigned as Delhi Congress chief and I am not joining any political party," he was quoted by PTI as saying. Earlier in the day, Congress ex-MLA Asif Mohammad Khan claimed that the BJP would field Lovely from the East Delhi constituency, replacing Harsh Malhotra. " I can say this, in the place of Harsh Malhotra, Lovely will be declared candidate within one or two days...," he told reporters on Sunday. Reacting to the claims, Lovely said, "I thank [AAP leader] Saurabh Bharadwaj for his wishes. I think he makes the decisions on behalf of other parties. I have clearly said that I have resigned from the post of Delhi Congress chief." Why did Lovely quit as Delhi Congress chief? Lovely resigned as the party's Delhi unit chief, citing the alliance with the AAP as one of the reasons. The move came as a setback to the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha Eletions. He said the Congress' Delhi unit was against the alliance withe the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) but the party high command went ahead with it. The Delhi Congress unit was against an alliance with a party which was formed on the sole basis of levelling false, fabricated and mala fide corruption charges against the Congress party," he said in his resignation letter sent to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday. ".Half of the cabinet ministers (of the party) are presently in jail on corruption charges," Lovely added, saying despite that, the party (Congress) made a decision to ally with the AAP in Delhi. "We respected the party's final decision ... I even went to the extent of visiting Mr (Arvind) Kejriwal's residence on the night of his arrest along with Mr Subash Chopra and Mr Sandeep Dikshit, despite the same being against my position on the matter, Lovely was quoted by PTI As saying Ideals compromised Lovely said his resignation reflected the pain of Congress workers saddened by the fact that the "ideals they had been fighting for during the last seven to eight years" were being compromised. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Lovely said, I resigned as Delhi Congress chief. I want to clarify that I have not resigned over discontent over tickets (for Lok Sabha polls). WASHINGTONDonald Trump claims that neither the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel nor Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine would have happened on his watch, and that the world was an oasis of calm and stability when he was president. The reality was more complicated. The presumptive Republican nominee told supporters at a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month that attacks similar to the one recently launched by Iran against Israel were the product of failures by President Bidenan accusation the presumed GOP presidential nominee has frequently lobbed against him. It would not have happened if I were in office," Trump said in Schnecksville, Pa. Today we are considered a joke. Its not going to be for long, believe me." During Trumps four years in the White House, there was no conflict on par with the Israel-Hamas war or Russias war in Ukraine. But Iran, or Iran-backed proxies, did launch attacks on U.S. personnel in the Middle East and against countries across the region while Trump was president, and he was usually hesitant to respond, wary of further attacks. Russia also took aggressive actions against the U.S. and its allies around the world, and the U.S. and North Korea came close to the brink of conflict while Trump was in office. Some contend that Trump-era policies regarding Afghanistan, Russia and the Middle East paved the way for some of President Bidens overseas challenges. Throughout his presidency, Trump often appeared more risk-averse than his public bluster might have suggested. He carried out a series of limited strikes in the Middle East, including strikes against Iranian proxies and targets in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. But former senior officials who helped lead Trumps national-security strategy say his approach was often more nuanced. His view was generally that war is terrible for the economy, its terrible for business, and any time there is widespread violence, it has a negative effect on what he cares about, which is prosperity and growth," a former senior Trump national-security adviser said. Cliff Sims, a former intelligence official under Trump who spoke on behalf of the campaign, said the former president established credible deterrence so Putin stayed within his borders, Iran was broke, peace was spreading across the Middle East, and [Chinas Xi Jinping] wasnt breathing down Taiwans neck." This isnt hypothetical," Sims added. The best evidence that the world would be more peaceful if Trump was president is that the world actually was more peaceful when Trump was president." Iran and Israel After Trumps decision in 2018 to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement, tensions in the region escalated. Iran began stepping up its uranium enrichment and threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping lane, following U.S. withdrawal from the Obama-era nuclear agreement. Trump, according to former officials involved in the intense deliberations, had initially approved attacks on a handful of Iranian targets, like radar and missile batteries. The operation was in its initial stages, with planes in the air, when it was abruptly called off. Officials familiar with the planning said the strikes would have done more harm than good. In January 2020, the U.S. targeted and killed Qassem Soleimani, the top commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards elite Quds Force who was linked to the deaths of hundreds of Americans overseas. Days later, Iran fired retaliatory strikes on a base in Iraq, injuring more than 100 U.S. troops stationed there. Trump initially reported no U.S. troops were injured. But the Pentagon later said that 11 people had suffered traumatic brain injuries. Former U.S. officials said the U.S. was on the brink of conflict with Iran at the time. Top U.S. officials who served as advisers to Trump say Iran indicated through neutral third countries that it wanted to de-escalate. Despite attacks that injured U.S. forces, Trump himself didnt want to escalate the conflict. So the strikes went unanswered, officials said. Trump has also criticized Bidens handling of the Gaza crisis, saying Hamas wouldnt have attacked Israel if he were still president. But one of the grievances Hamas militants cited as impetus for their assault on Oct. 7 was the Trump-era Abraham accords normalizing relations between Israel and a number of Arab countriesa policy Biden has sought to build on, with limited success. Trump also defunded programs that provided aid to the Palestinians, which some say increased unrest and humanitarian problems in Gaza and the West Bank. Afghanistan Ahead of the Biden administrations August 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, Trump offered rare praise for his successor, saying his decision to proceed with removing U.S. forces was a wonderful and positive thing to do," and he urged for it to happen as soon as possible. But after the withdrawal became chaotic, and Taliban fighters took over the Afghan capital, Trump hammered Biden for abandoning a key air base in Afghanistan. We would have kept Bagram because it is next to China and it is one hour away from their nuclear facility, and we gave that up too," Trump told Fox News that November. What they did with the so-called withdrawal, which was really a surrender, what they did, it was the most embarrassing, horrible thing, and I dont know that we ever psychologically recover from that," Trump added. Biden administration officials have pushed back on Trumps criticism. They said the withdrawal followed a Trump-era decision to release thousands of Taliban fighters from prison as part of a deal that guaranteed a U.S. pullout from Afghanistan in exchange for a promise by the Taliban that they wouldnt let the country become a haven for terrorists. Some Trump officials wanted and intended to keep a stay-behind force including Bagram[but] what was very clear is that Trump wanted completely out," said Paul D. Miller, professor at Georgetown Universitys School of Foreign Service and author of a forthcoming book, Choosing Defeat: The Twenty-Year Saga of How America Lost Afghanistan." Miller added: He had zero intent to keep a stay-behind force." Russia and Ukraine Some of Trumps most pronounced criticisms of Biden have been over his handling of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Trump prided himself on having good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has come under criticism by some of his advisers who felt he wasnt cautious enough when dealing with the Russian leader. In 2018, following an episode when Russian forces seized Ukrainian boats under the Kerch Bridge, advisers close to Trump said he refused to address the matter in his meeting with Putin. He just acted like that was par for the coursehe didnt want to talk about what the Russians had done, which was an act of war against the Ukrainians," said John Bolton, who served as one of Trumps White House national-security advisers. While it is impossible to know if Putin would have invaded Ukraine had the outcome of the 2020 presidential election been different, some experts believe that he had been planning for the invasion for several years and would have gone ahead with the plans regardless of whether Trump was in office. Putin may have been thinking, Well, look, Ill wait until the 2020 election is over before I make a move on Ukraine. If its Trump, then it means one thing; if its Biden, it may mean something else," Bolton said. North Korea North Korea accelerated its progress toward a working nuclear-tipped missile force during Trumps presidency. In August 2017, Trump famously threatened to unleash fire and fury" against North Korea if it took actions that endangered the U.S. or U.S. personnel in South Korea or Japan, as tensions with the isolated nuclear-armed state escalated into one of the more serious foreign-policy challenges of his administration. When Trump made his public comments, Pyongyang warned hours later that it would create an envelope of fire" around Guamthe Pacific island where the U.S. operates an Air Force base. It ultimately didnt follow through with its threats, and Trump later engaged in an unprecedented diplomatic effort with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the hope of getting him to abandon his nuclear pursuits. While Trump has often said that they were in love" with each other, his diplomatic efforts fell short, and North Korea has continued to expand its missile program. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and 18 other top executives have joined an advisory board in the US that will advise the federal government on how to protect critical infrastructure such as power grids, airports and transportation from the threat of artificial intelligence. The board's mandate includes developing recommendations to prevent and prepare for AI-related disruptions to critical services that impact national or economic security, public health, or safety". The new body is also tasked with helping DHS stay ahead of evolving threats posed by hostile nation-state actors. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, while speaking about the new board, said, Artificial Intelligence is a transformative technology that can advance our national interests in unprecedented ways. At the same time, it presents real risks risks that we can mitigate by adopting best practices and taking other studied, concrete actions," "It is not a board that will be focused on theory, but rather practical solutions for the implementation of AI in our nation's daily life...It was very important to bring key developers of this extraordinary powerful tool" to the board." the DHS secretary added. Who will be on the new AI advisory board? Apart from the aforementioned names, the AI advisory board will be graced by almost all the major players in the artificial intelligence industry, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna. Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins, Amazon Web Services CEO Adam Selipsky and Advanced Micro Devices CEO Lisa Su. Other members on the board include Deta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian, Occidental Petroleum Vicki Hollub, Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. The star-studded AI advisory board will hold its first meeting in May, and it will have its planned future meeting every quarter. 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! A scene from the childrens classic storybook Where the Wild Things Are is painted on a wall above a toy kitchen and bean bag chairs at Bees Knees Resale in downtown Lewiston. The addition of an area for children to play while their parents shop is part of the stores transition under Bethany Peterson, the retailers new owner. Peterson acquired the fixtures, displays, racks and hangers from Krystle Monda, the owner of Grateful Threads, a similar business that had been in the same space at 628 Main St. before it closed in late February. Peterson is putting a new spin on the shop that sells high-quality, gently used clothing, toys and baby gear, drawing on the shops 20-year history. Her take includes what she learned when she owned it from 2016-19 and whats been popular under other owners since its founding by Tara Bren as Born Again Resale in the Lewiston Orchards. Like Born Again Resale, Bees Knees carries a wide selection of maternity and childrens clothing as well as toys, play mats, swings and bouncy seats. Like Grateful Threads, it has mens and womens clothing and welcomes all customers, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. Customers can still make private shopping appointments just as they could at Grateful Threads. New touches are part of the mix, too, such as books for people of all ages and an invitation for every child to take a title home for free. Our focus is to be affordable and have something for the whole family, Peterson said. In its off hours, the store can be reserved for activities such as group fitness classes, baby showers and birthday parties that can include opportunities to shop. The way Bees Knees acquires its inventory has changed, too. Just like Grateful Threads, it only accepts undamaged items in good condition without rips, stains or tears. But it buys goods outright, aiming for about 20% to 40% of what shoppers pay. Grateful Threads had a consignment model where people were paid a percentage of the sale price of anything that sold. The decisions about how to run Bees Knees have been part of a homecoming to the store that has been rewarding, said Peterson, who is continuing to operate a house cleaning business shes had for 20 years. Its been enjoyable, Peterson said, seeing customers she knew when she had the store previously and meeting people who began patronizing it when it was Grateful Threads. Its such a niche in the community, Peterson said. People love coming here and shopping. Bees Knees is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The buying hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. It also has buying hours one Saturday a month that rotates. Cosmetologist opens Style Bar Beauty Academy in Lewiston An individualized approach is the speciality of Style Bar Beauty Academy, a new cosmetology school in Lewiston. The school limits each class to five students who complete a 1,600-hour curriculum of classes and supervised hands-on training in 10 to 12 months, said Anna Estrada, the owner of the school. The schools first class started in January and the second one is scheduled to begin in the middle of July. A third class will begin in October or November. The curriculum includes cutting, styling, coloring and perming hair as well as doing facials, manicures and pedicures. Students also learn how to wax off unwanted hair, and adhere gel and acrylic artificial nails. Lewis-Clark State College could become a university in the near future. Cynthia Pemberton, president of the school, announced in her weekly email Monday that she and others have been exploring a name change that would need to win approval from the State Board of Education and the Idaho Legislature. In her Monday Message to the LCSC community, Pemberton noted the school has undergone several name changes over its 131 year history and switching from college to university would better reflect the educational opportunities it now offers. Today, as a comprehensive regional institution, LC State embodies and distinguishes itself more accurately as a university than a college, she wrote. Pemberton, through LCSC spokesperson Logan Fowler, declined to be interviewed on the name change. Fowler said school officials would reserve further comment until after upcoming conversations with the State Board of Education. Those discussions are scheduled to take place in May and June. Pembertons message said the pros and cons of changing the name have been discussed or shared with faculty, staff, alumni and student focus groups starting in December. However, some faculty members and emeritus professors who declined to comment on the record told the Tribune the idea has not been shared widely with staff or students. Pemberton also wrote that she shared the idea during one-on-one meetings with legislators and with members of a subcommittee of the State Board of Education. There is no hard and fast distinction between a college and university. But in general, colleges tend to be smaller, place a primary focus on undergraduate teaching and offer four-year bachelors degrees. Universities tend to place a premium on published research and offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees. Both universities and colleges can offer two-year degrees and certificates as well. Stories in this Regional News Roundup are excerpted from weekly newspapers from around the region. This is part two, with part one having appeared in Saturdays Tribune. McCALL The McCall Public Library was closed Tuesday until a new two-story expansion erected in front of the library building opens to the public next month. The closure, expected to last until the librarys May 18 grand opening, is needed to move more than 30,000 books, videos and other items from the existing library building into the new building. Its inspiring to see the interiors take shape and imagine our community using this new space soon, Library Director Meg Lojek said. Were so close to the finish line after many years of hard work by many people, city staff and volunteers alike. All library due dates have been pushed back and there are no late fees during the closure. A book drop-off in front of the library building will remain available until Monday. The library can still be contacted during the closure by calling (208) 634-5522 or emailing library@mccall.id.us. A grand opening will be hosted in the expansion building from 1-3 p.m. on May 18. The event will include refreshments, prizes and a puppet show. The cost of the library expansion is estimated at $11.8 million, or about 9% more than the $11.1 million maximum price the McCall City Council approved in 2022. The extra costs stem from engineering fees and work that was not awarded in the initial expansion contract due to high construction costs. That includes an estimated $243,000 to put a new roof on the existing library, which is being remodeled and incorporated into a two-story expansion building as part of the project. The largest funding source for the expansion is a $4.2 million bond that was approved by McCall voters in May 2021, at which time the project was estimated to cost $7 million. Another $2.3 million in private donations were raised by the McCall Public Library Foundation. City funds and grants are being used to pay for the remaining costs. The 69% cost increase since the bond election has been mostly attributed by city officials to inflated costs of construction and materials following the COVID-19 pandemic. The existing library, which was built in 1972, will expand from 4,000 square feet to about 16,000 square feet to accommodate growth in McCall. There was a nation A country comprised of 13 colonies would become a nation, then, after approximately 248 years, become obsessed with and directed by an utter fool, a fool who surely fits the character of a previous fool, who another country followed this fool to complete ruin. There are not many of us left to tell the story about the horror of what happened back then and now our people are heading down that same shameful road, like: 1. An education without wisdom attached. 2. Spoiled by their unearned wealth through the acceptance of unbridled capitalism. 3. Not recognizing the utopia in which we have lived. 4. Putting all pleasure before work. 5. The division which came to the populace when average was changed to median in all aspects of human endeavor; splitting us from $50,000-and-under to $50,000-and-over as a measuring formula. 6. Ignoring the fact that one size fits all is a misconception and a formula for discontent, by dividing the haves and the have-nots. And now: This misfit who is running for president fits nearly all the reasons people should acknowledge before they vote: 1. An admitted felon. 2. A liar and a cheat. 3. A want-to-be dictator. 4. An egomaniac. 5. The adjectives are endless. 6. An empty can that maybe had something in it. Do we really want this type person representing our country? Its truly sad what happened to the Jewish people in the Holocaust, but that doesnt give them the right to inflict the same kind of misery on the Palestinian people, which theyve been doing for more than three-quarters of a century. Few people in the West know the facts of Israels creation, where more than 400 Palestinian villages were destroyed, thousands of civilians massacred and more than a million women and children forced from their homes at gunpoint from 1947-49. Since the 1948 Nakba, Palestinians have been oppressed, subjugated and terrorized by the Jews on a daily basis, subjected to Israeli military occupation, discrimination and violent attacks. Every year hundreds of Palestinians are killed, tortured and imprisoned by Israeli security forces, but these incidents are rarely reported by Western mainstream media. Along with widespread arrests of Palestinians since its inception, Israel has taken punitive measures against Palestinian civil society in its eternal struggle for statehood and independence from Israel. This includes the designation of six leading Palestinian civil organizations as terrorist, primarily because of their efforts to hold Israel accountable in the International Criminal Court. One of the biggest fictions regarding the creation of Israel is that the land the Jews seized was empty. Israels visibility and access to Western media is vital to the propagation of such fictional realities, where all Jewish actions are justified and any criticism labeled antisemitism. Israeli genocide of Palestinians continues unabated, with blessings and assistance from the biggest, most hypocritical warmongering nation on earth. Mike Epstein Clarkston To hear Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador tell it, he had nothing to do with Idaho lawmakers failing to pass a health exception to the states abortion ban forcing doctors to choose between their patients well-being and their own legal jeopardy. Despite former Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Jones citing a direct source to the contrary, Labradors spokesperson, Dan Estes, labeled that assertion by legislative Democrats a lie: This is just another example of Democrats not being honest with the people of Idaho about abortion issues. Dont be fooled. As much as Labrador tries to twist out of this, he cant. Hes the reason Idaho has no health exception. This is a health care crisis of his own making. The man who once said nobody dies because they dont have access to health care owns it. Even without protection under Idahos abortion laws, women in crisis and the physicians who treated them had legal cover under a Reagan-era law the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act that obligates hospital emergency rooms that accept Medicare to provide stabilizing care for patients in crisis. When the Biden administration made that point in August 2022, U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill agreed and enjoined Idaho from prosecuting ER doctors who performed emergency abortions. Ever since, Labrador went to work to overturn it. He finally succeeded in January when his appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court which was heard Wednesday resulted in a revocation of Winmills injunction. Even before that point, there was trouble. Faced with the prospect of serving up to five years in prison, 22% of Idahos practicing obstetricians abandoned the Gem State. More than half of its maternal fetal medicine specialists went elsewhere. Candidates who might have otherwise come to Idaho have chosen to practice in other states. OB-GYN vacancies in Idaho are two or three times higher than normal. And three hospitals have closed their birthing centers. When Labradors intervention removed any scintilla of protection for health care providers, the horror stories accumulated. Among the examples compiled by The Idaho Statesmans Nicole Blanchard: When a pregnant womans water broke prematurely, subjecting her fetus to certain death and the woman to the risk of serious infection and detachment of the placenta from the uterine wall, OB-GYN Becky Uranga was powerless to help. The patient sought an abortion in Oregon, but delivered the baby while traveling to Portland. A second patient under Urangas care suffered the same condition. She didnt want to leave Idaho for an abortion. I dont know what happened to her, Uranga said. But I think about her a lot. A doctor in Oregon told Blanchard he treated an Idaho woman 18 weeks pregnant who was suffering from HELLP syndrome, a form of preeclampsia. While being treated in Idaho, she lost one of her twin fetuses. By the time she got to Oregon, the second fetus died. After all this, we had to coordinate transport back afterwards, after she had not gotten appropriate treatment for a long time and was in a terrible state, the Oregon physician said. Black voters have traditionally been pivotal to the fortunes of the Democratic Party, but some recent polls have suggested that they are proving less bankable for President Joe Biden than in the past. Whether or not as many as 20% of Black voters have in fact deserted the Democrats, as some recent polls suggest, is a contested matter. But its probably fair to say that Democrats currently are in more of a defensive than a growth mode with that portion of the electorate. But what of Donald Trump and evangelicals? Does the same apply? Historically, what we used to know as the evangelical bloc has meant a lot to the GOP base, much like Black voters have been crucial to the Democratic base. But both of these truisms are looking less reliable this time around as we see churchgoing declining in America and more factions developing within a previously homogenous bloc. Abortion politics comes into play here, too, and Trumps stance on the issue not only has been near impossible to pin down but also has appeared to many evangelicals to be a matter of political expediency, not sincere moral conviction. That said, its also true that the idea of a single evangelical point of view is looking increasingly dated as cultural and political earthquakes have erupted inside the church just as they have within our current presidential race. Clearly, some of former President Trumps statements in recent months have driven a wedge between his campaign and religious voters, particularly those all-important evangelicals. In April, for example, he said he believed abortion should be regulated at the state level, with very little interference from the federal government. His statements were met with strong backlash from the very same anti-abortion rights groups that had celebrated his appointment of the Supreme Court justices who helped write the landmark decision to overturn the Roe v. Wade ruling. Trumps head-spinning logic was impossible to follow. He took credit for the decision the three Trump-appointed justices helped make, but he then appeared to turn against its consequences, saying the states should make their own decisions about regulating abortion. Trumps new position infuriated the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America organization, which favors a federal ban on abortion nationwide and condemned Trumps comments as a morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate. That should hardly have come as a surprise. The issue now for Republicans, and Trump, is whether it will matter. And theres a growing sense within Trumps presidential campaign that he actually can afford some erosion of the traditional Republican support coming from evangelicals. Thats because Trumps most impactful base of support in the 2016 primary contest came from a rising group in the GOP whose impact has been largely unnoticed: Republicans who are thoroughly disinterested in churches, synagogues or other places of worship. Sen. Ron Wyden, of Oregon, who is chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee, has found a sure way to ensure that his prized legislation doesnt see the light of day. He sent a news release singling out the ranking Republican on the committee, Sen. Mike Crapo, of Idaho, and blasting Republicans for holding up legislation aimed at boosting the child tax credit and helping innovative small business owners the Tax Relief for Families and Workers Act. Wyden said that Crapo has not accepted the Oregon Democrats offer to change the bill. The changes he asked for instead would have destroyed any chance of passing the bill and left way too many kids living in poverty. I talked with Crapo about Wydens remarks, and the Idaho senator brushed them off. As Crapo said, its not unusual for committee chairpersons and ranking members to have aggressive disagreements, and Crapo recognizes that he is the GOPs focal point on this issue. Crapo and Wyden are longtime colleagues from neighboring states and have worked on a long list of issues over the years. This will not harm our working relationship at all, Crapo told me. Of course, Senate Republicans who may have read Wydens news release might have a different view. If anything, their support for Crapo and his opposition to the bill will be even stronger. Wyden says there is plenty of GOP support outside of the Senate. The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Jason Smith, of Missouri, a Republican and chairperson of the Ways and Means Committee. In January, the bill passed the House with 357 votes a landslide by House standards. Its a combination of ideas from both sides, Wyden says. It expands the child tax credit, focusing on kids from low-income families. For small businesses, it beefs up the incentive for (research and development) and investments in things like new equipment and software. Wyden suggests that Senate Republicans are holding out for a better deal in 2025, a notion that Crapo does not totally reject. Maybe some are hoping for a Donald Trump presidency, or a Republican majority in the Senate. Lewiston Tribune columnist Russell Gees April 10 commentary, titled Freedom of religion includes freedom from religion, purports to be understanding of religion. But consider that in 1649 the Maryland Toleration Act, providing for freedom of worship for all Christians, was passed by the Maryland Assembly. Our Founding Fathers were consistent and persistent in acknowledging the countrys dependence on God from its beginning and its continued good fortunes. A prayer by President George Washington said: Almighty God: We make our earnest prayer that thou wilt keep the United States in thy Holy Protection; that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens ... to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion without a humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In his 1789 inaugural address, Washington also said: The propitious smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of right and wrong. Wrong living is now considered to be right. Those who say that America has never been a Christian religious nation founded on Judeo-Christian principles, the generational moral civilizing force, feign ignorance or an actual denial of clear and unambiguous statements like those of Washington and of the other founders. It extends forward. In his Man in the Arena speech, President Theodore Roosevelt said: There is no more unhealthy being, no man less worthy of respect, than he who either really holds, or feigns to hold, an attitude of sneering disbelief toward all that is good and lofty. How fortunate we are to have local writers such as Gee and others who each surpass the combined abilities and wisdom of human nature of Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. The interchangeable entities of secularism, progressivism, wokeism, humanism, socialism, neo-Marxism, and diversity, equity and inclusion have all produced incivility and divisiveness. They have the common philosophy that individuals are always part of a collective group to be manipulated, instead of a sovereign person with God-given rights as stated in our Declaration of Independence. They use identity politics, called intersectionality, to label people as the oppressors or the oppressed. This means wrongs are collective actions, not individual ones, and an entire race composed of individuals living today can be blamed for the past wrongs of their ancestors. Despite incredible hardship, abolitionist John Stewart Rock (1825-1866) achieved much in his brief life. Denied admission to medical school because he was Black, Rock became a dentist, then a medical doctor and then a lawyer in 1861, becoming the first Black person to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas became Supreme Court justices. Ben Carson became a world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon. And Thomas Sowell became a world-renowned author and economist. All have or had power combined with authentic Christian empathy. They knew all people are created in the image and likeness of God. Those who curse Horatio Algers pull ourselves up by our bootstraps concept of advancement wish to denigrate these Black Americans accomplishments. The first right mentioned in the Declaration of Independence is that of life, without which none of the other enumerated rights could have meaning. In my Feb. 4 column, I explained that with the union of the sperm and egg, a new human with unique DNA that is usable for forensic and genealogy purposes is created. The storyline for accepting abortion is that pregnancies by rape and incest are a great percentage of abortions with that unique DNA not being a person. How many of the people thus born have stated they wish they werent born or that their offspring had not been born? Actually, how many people advocating abortion would wish to have been aborted, never having the chance for life? Life for me, but not for thee? Its very concerning, we try to keep our doors locked at all times now. Our girls have keys to get in and out to make sure our doors are able to stay locked, Crow said. Bernadette Quinn from Killoe suffered a stroke in 1983. Then in 2019, while working in a womens centre in Longford, Bernadette experienced weakness in the left arm and fatigue. Although nothing showed up in a hospital scan, she was convinced she had suffered a second stroke. Following her first stroke, she saw a newspaper ad about the Irish Heart Foundations in-person stroke support group opening in Longford. It took me a while to pluck up the courage to go. But it was heaven - to go in and meet other stroke survivors, said Bernadette. The support had many benefits: I also realised that the fatigue was related to my stroke from listening to others. It was great to know I wasnt on my own any more. The Irish Heart Foundation was a lifesaver. It was brilliant to have them. Bernadette continues to engage with IHF: I still attend the group; Ive used the Nurse Support Line and Ive done various courses with the Irish Heart Foundation; the Patient Champions Programme, Peer to Peer support course, and friendship calls to more recent stroke survivors. The people I speak to feel alone and dont know where to turn. I encourage them to contact the Irish Heart Foundation and to join a local stroke support group. The Irish Heart Foundation has launched a new drive to bolster State funding for services. Longford people are being urged to lobby TDs and Senators to sign a pledge to support Irish Heart Foundation patient support services. It's estimated that 5,000 people in Longford are living with cardiovascular disease. For many, support provided by the charity is the only help they receive after a life-changing heart event, heart failure, stroke or other cardiac conditions. The practical, social and emotional support services begin when patients leave hospital and continue for as long as they are needed. The Irish Heart Foundation currently receives just 8.6% of this to fund patient support services nationwide, which it says is inadequate to help the current volume of patients. The services reduce costs for the State every year by supporting patients to continue living in their homes rather than requiring nursing home care or being readmitted to hospital. Only a fraction of this work is State-funded, says the charitys Director of Advocacy and Patient Support, Chris Macey. Nationally, 80,000 heart and stroke patients are discharged from hospital every year, or one every seven minutes, in many cases to a bleak and uncertain future, he said. One in three of all stroke patients returning home are being referred into our services, whilst we are also supporting thousands of heart patients. The Irish Heart Foundation provides counselling, nurse-led needs assessments, weekly support calls, back-to-work programmes, fatigue management, peer-to-peer support services, social interaction and online exercise groups. They want people to ask their local representatives to sign an online pledge on irishheart.ie/advocacy to ensure 1.2million in crucial annual funding is made available. Once they sign the pledge, elected representatives names will appear on irishheart.ie/advocacy/ and they are also asked to share the pledge on their websites and social media. 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. Labour Party TD Aodhan O Riordain has recorded a video of the worsening makeshift asylum seeker campsite at Mount Street in Dublin, which he has said is "twice as bad" after the "PR stunt" to move residents around St. Patrick's Day earlier this year. The site, which has continued to grow due to rising homeless figures for those seeking international protection, was temporarily cleared in March by the Department of Integration to a site in Crooksling, near Saggart, but many moved back to the Dublin city street after complaining of a lack of facilities. In a video posted today on X, formerly known as Twitter, Labour Party TD Aodhan O Riordain recorded himself walking down Mount Street, saying that "things are worse than Patrick's weekend". Back on Mount Street Its absolutely clear that the intervention of St Patricks Weekend was nothing more than a PR stunt. The numbers are twice as bad as they were. pic.twitter.com/YhNRP1OthA Aodhan O Riordain (@AodhanORiordain) April 28, 2024 The Labour TD continued, saying it was a "PR stunt when the Government attempted to move a lot of these tents" in March. Now, according to O Riordain, the site is "twice as bad as it was, the numbers are twice as big". "The smell is back. No sanitary conditions. And whatever the Government thought they were achieving with that PR stunt, six weeks later it's exactly the same, if not worse. "1,700 asylum seekers in this country are homeless and these are the conditions that they are being allowed live in. Out of sight, out of mind, they (the Government) only reacted when they were forced to. "It was a PR stunt, I didn't want to believe that on Patrick's weekend, but it's absolutely clear that it was". Valentines Day, February 14, 1981, was a dark day in modern Irish history. In the early hours of the morning emergency services removed the bodies of 48 young people who lost their lives following a fire in The Stardust nightclub Artane, Dublin. In the 43 years since, The Stardust has become synonymous with a community's fight for justice. A fight to change a narrative casting the young people of the North Dublin suburb as the villains. Last week an inquest found that all the victims had been unlawfully killed. The majority decision, handed down by a jury of seven women and five men, stated the blaze was caused by an electrical fault in the hot press of the bar. A previous finding in 1982 had determined the fire was started deliberately, a theory the families never accepted. That '82 ruling was dismissed in 2009, leading to the latest inquests for the victims, who were aged from 16 to 27 and mostly came from the surrounding north Dublin area. On the February morning of 1982 consoling family members on the steps of the City Morgue in Store Street was Longford priest Fr Joe Hanlon. Fr Joe's role was preserved in history by chance. Editor of the Longford News at the time, Derek Cobbe, explained how the picture came about: Willie Farrell and I went up to Dublin to cover the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis, on February 14, 1981, as we did most years. The aim was to take lots of photos of attending locals and of course Albert and other politicians on the platform. When the news of the catastrophe broke Derek and Willie were aware of just how devastating it was: When the Ard Fheis was cancelled due to the Stardust tragedy, which was only really developing that morning, Willie and I decided to drive over to the old City Morgue in Store Street before we returned to Longford, to see what was happening there. The families were arriving to identify their loved ones in a tent erected in the yard of the Old Morgue and Coroner's court building, in Store Street. The Longford News editor said his colleague captured a moment: Naturally, we kept our distance as there was no real local Longford interest, but Willie in his wisdom, saw a great photo opportunity of two priests standing on the steps of the Morgue, trying to comfort families, both looking tragically and rightfully distressed and dazed. When the film was developed, someone mentioned that they may know the older priest in the photo, and within a few minutes we discovered it was Fr Joe Hanlon from Longford, brother of Noel, Oliver, Derek told. The Longford priest would provide further comfort to the families: Fr Joe was the Parish Priest of Bonnybrook, in Artane, Parish. That was the parish where most of the victims came from and he would soon be celebrant for many many funerals. The look on his face says it all. Fr Joe was parish priest of Bonnybrook from March 1979 to June 1986. He passed away in June 2010. His nephew, Patrick Hanlon, added to the story: I was aware of Fr Joe's role. It came up because the ambulances on the scene at the time were made in the Hanlons Ambulance factory in Longford. I have a couple of those ambulances. One of those ambulances was used in the documentary they made on The Stardust Tragedy, he told. He then went on to serve in the parish of Rathfarnham for the last 20 years of his life. He was a lovely person, Patrick concluded. On Tuesday Taoiseach Simon Harris issued a State apology in the Dail. Families were invited to attend, and the names of the victims were read out in the Dail chamber. China-proposed initiatives bring benefits to people worldwide: defense minister Xinhua) 13:16, April 28, 2024 ASTANA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) 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) Dear Amy: My friend Tina and I have been friends since college and are now in our 50s. When we met we were members of a campus religious organization, however as the years passed we both drifted away from our religious affiliations. I now would call myself agnostic. Recently, Tina had a difficult break-up with a significant other. Since the split she has returned to religion and now mentions it often, which makes me somewhat uncomfortable, as it seems she may be trying to get me back in the fold. Over Easter, she went to church and decided that she wanted to be baptized. She scheduled it at a friends church three hours away. She said she would like for me to go, however, I explained that I would not be able to attend due to the short notice. She was forced to cancel due to a family emergency, but then told me that she would reschedule her baptism so that I could plan on attending. The problem is, I dont have any desire to go. While I dont begrudge her any comfort her faith is bringing her, I am not interested and dont want to feel pressured to participate. How do I back out gracefully without hurting her feelings? Agnostic Dear Agnostic: I believe that in this context, honesty is not only called for, but it is also the most graceful way to handle this. You need to state a version of the following: Im very happy for you to have renewed your faith, but over the years weve known each other, Ive made my own choice about religion and dont participate. I wont be at your baptism ceremony, but I hope it is a joyous event for you, and I wish you all the very best as you move forward in your faith. You cant really control your friends response to this, but while she has the right to affirm her faith, you also have the right to affirm your own stand on religion. Neither of you should proselytize, and you should be determined to carry on in an attitude of mutual respect. (You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.comor send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter@askingamyorFacebook.) 2024 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A Boston man is being held pending a dangerousness hearing following an arraignment Thursday on several sex-related charges, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office. John Jamar Cokley, 38, was arraigned in Dorchesters division of the Boston Municipal Court on charges of sex trafficking of a person under 18, rape of a child by force, three counts of aggravated statutory rape, posing a child in a state of sexual conduct, two counts of causing a minor to distribute a drug and possession of child pornography, according to a statement Sunday morning from the district attorneys office. Cokley was previously charged in March with trafficking a person for sexual servitude, aggravated statutory rape, and possession with intent to distribute a class D substance, according to the district attorneys office. On Thursday, Judge William Farrell ordered Cockley held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Monday, the district attorneys office said. An attorney representing Cokley did not immediately return a request for comment on Sunday. Ashley Polin, an assistant district attorney, said in the statement that Cokley sexually exploited three teens using the social media site Instagram. Cokleys username included the term Hidden, and he contacted and groomed the teens, prosecutors said. He met with each separately over the course of several months, according to the district attorneys spokesperson, Tina Nguyen. Cokley picked them up near their homes and drove to various locations around Boston where he sexually assaulted them in his vehicle, a white Honda Accord, Nguyen said. The Boston man also requested sexually explicit photos and videos from the teenagers and recorded himself sexually assaulting them, creating child sexual abuse material, Nguyen said. In text messages and in person, Cockley pressured and coerced them into sexual acts, including forcible rape of a child and statutory rape, Nguyen said. Cokley gave money and drugs to two of the victims in exchange for sexual activity and encouraged them to sell marijuana to their peers, Nguyen said. Cokley collected and profited from the proceeds, according to the district attorneys office. Cases involving manipulation and sexual exploitation of children are devastating and all too common in todays online world. Members of the Boston Police Departments Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) and our office are focused on stopping exploitation and supporting the victims and families affected by these crimes. The young people in this case should be commended for their bravery after the discovery of this mans actions, Hayden said. In Suffolk County, survivors of child abuse and exploitation and their non-offending caretakers can receive comprehensive services at the Childrens Advocacy Center of Suffolk County. Additionally, the CAC has a specialized program, Support to End Exploitation Now (SEEN) that specifically works with and advocates for youth affected by trafficking and exploitation. The CAC can be reached at 617-779-2146. If parents would like help navigating online risks and how to discuss them with children and teens, District Attorney Hayden offers the Stop Block and Talk internet safety training program for caregivers and professionals. Information on the program and helpful resources can be found at www.suffolkdistrictattorney.com/stop-block-and-talk . Emerson College will not take disciplinary action against students arrested as part of a pro-Palestinian protest encampment that was dispersed by Boston police last week, its president said in a letter to the college community Sunday. Over 100 protesters were arrested in downtown Bostons Boylston Place alleyway in the early morning on Thursday, Boston police said previously. The demonstrators were part of an encampment protest against the war in Gaza by the student organization Students for Justice in Palestine. Those arrested in the public alleyway face a series of charges, including disturbing the peace and unlawful assembly, police said. But in his letter Sunday, Emerson College President Jay Bernhardt said he will encourage the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office to drop charges related to city ordinance violations stemming from the encampment. It is unclear whether this plea would include a request to drop charges related to a physical clash some demonstrators had with police during the arrests. Four Boston police officers were injured during the confrontation, police said previously. One was seriously injured, and the others had minor injuries. Videos of the arrests posted to social media show dozens of Boston police officers many of them dressed in riot gear arriving at the encampment around 1:45 a.m. Thursday. A line of protesters can be seen holding umbrellas and trying to block the officers entry into the alleyway. Police are then shown ripping the umbrellas from the demonstrators hands. Read more: Emerson officials acknowledge adverse impact of protester arrests on community In addition to forgoing disciplinary action against arrested students, Bernhardt said the college will provide housing for students who are required to stay in the city for court appearances after their dorms close. In the letter, he characterized these measures as initial steps toward healing and growth. The College has done its best to keep all community members safe every day during these challenging times, but we recognize that we must do more, Bernhardt wrote. Our leadership team is committed to redoubling our efforts, engaging and respecting all voices across our community, and actively listening and learning how to move forward together. The college president also asserted that Emerson made every possible effort to avoid confrontation between the police and the protesters at the encampment. Before police stepped in, the college spent days convincing law enforcement and city officials to delay the removal of the encampment. Then, when it became clear that the city intended to clear the tents from the alley, Emerson encouraged the protestors to remove them to prevent arrests and strongly and directly advocated for the peaceful removal of the tents without arrests, Bernhardt said. Since then, the college has sent staff to all the precincts where students are being held and posted bail for arrested students. It takes immense bravery to speak out and act in support of a cause, the college president wrote. As an institution, the College may not take positions on global conflicts, but our overarching goal is for Emerson to be unyielding in our support for our students education and their ability to find and express their voices. Bernhardt previously acknowledged the adverse impact of the arrests on the college community. This is the second time in the last two months that Emerson students have been arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest. On Saturday, over 100 demonstrators that were part of a student-organized pro-Palestinian encampment protest were arrested on Northeasterns campus. The university claimed that police were called in because outside organizers had infiltrated the protest and antisemitic rhetoric heard at the protest such as the phrase kill the Jews had crossed a line. But students that were part of the protest said they believed the majority of the demonstrators were students, and a reporter who had covered the protest wrote on social media that it was likely a pro-Israel counter-protester that had provocatively yelled the violent phrase. Both student encampment protests were inspired by a protest at New York Citys Columbia University earlier this month. Over 100 people were also arrested at Columbias student demonstration. A fundraiser has been created to benefit the family of a Billerica police sergeant who was killed Friday afternoon on a construction site while working a paid detail. Ian Taylor, 49, was struck by an excavator around 2 p.m. as it was backing up at a road construction site, according to authorities. The sergeant was helping move a tractor-trailer at the time. Taylor was taken to a hospital but later died. The Middlesex County District Attorneys Office and OSHA are investigating the incident, and so far everyone involved has been cooperative, according to authorities. Read more: Billerica police sergeant killed by excavator at construction site The fundraiser which was organized through the Boston-based Greg Hill Foundation had already raised more than double its goal of $5,000 by 11 a.m. on Sunday. You can donate on the foundations website. Created by long-time Boston radio host Greg Hill, his foundation raises money for families touched by tragedy, according to the foundations website. Read more: Police organizations mourn Billerica sergeant killed at construction site Taylor served in law enforcement for 21 years, working as part of the Lawrence, Wilmington and Billerica Police Departments, according to those departments. He leaves behind a wife and multiple children. A vigil to honor Taylors life is set to be held Sunday evening at Billerica High School. Funeral services for the sergeant have not yet been announced. King Charles III is back. The 75-year-old monarch will resume some public duties next week following a three-month break to focus on his treatment and recuperation after he was diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer, Buckingham Palace said Friday. Charles will mark the milestone by visiting a cancer treatment center on Tuesday, the first of several public appearances he will make in the coming weeks, the palace said. One of his first major engagements will be to host a state visit by the emperor and empress of Japan in June. The palace said the kings doctors are very encouraged by his progress, though it is too early to say how long his treatment will last. It didnt provide details about what type of treatment he is receiving. Charles will continue to perform all of his state duties, including reviewing government documents and meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as he has done since his diagnosis was disclosed on Feb. 5, the palace said. As the first anniversary of the coronation approaches, their majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year, the palace said in a statement. Charles return will relieve pressure on other members of the royal family after the kings absence, coupled with that of the Princess of Wales, also due to illness, highlighted the challenges faced by a slimmed down monarchy. Amid the kings commitment to cut costs and the decision of Duke and Duchess of Sussex more commonly known as Prince Harry and Meghan to walk away from royal duties, there are simply fewer family members available to carry out the endless round of ribbon cuttings, awards ceremonies and state events that make up the life of a modern royal. Charles has been largely out of the public eye ever since he had treatment for an enlarged prostate in January. His later cancer diagnosis came as the Princess of Wales one of the most popular royals underwent abdominal surgery and later announced that she, too, had cancer. Prince William took time off to support his wife and their young family. That left Queen Camilla, the kings sister Princess Anne and his younger brother, Prince Edward, to shoulder the load. Camilla, once shunned by the public for her role in the breakup of Charles marriage to Princess Diana, played a particularly prominent role during the kings absence, standing in for her husband at major events such as the annual Royal Maundy service on the Thursday before Easter. The return of the king will be a chance for him to reinvigorate his reign, which began in September 2022 amid expectations that he would modernize the monarchy, while reaching out to young people and minority groups to cement the royal familys role in the 21st century. Charles challenges include strengthening ties to the Commonwealth and the 14 independent countries outside the United Kingdom where the British monarch is still head of state, an unwelcome reminder to some people of Britains colonial history. The kings return is significant because it will help quell speculation about his well-being, royal historian George Gross said, citing an adage attributed to Queen Elizabeth II that the monarch needs to be seen to be believed. I think there is that feeling that its very difficult to have a functioning monarchy with the head of state away for any considerable length of time, said Gross, founder of the British Coronations Project at Kings College London. And this felt like a long time. Charles engagements over the coming months will be adapted as needed to minimize any risks to his recovery, the palace said. He wont have a full summer program, and his attendance will be determined closer to the time of each event and with the advice of his doctors. The summer months are normally a busy period for the royals with major events such as the monarchs birthday parade, known as Trooping the Colour, and the horse races at Royal Ascot. Critically for the kings safety, most of these showpiece spectacles take place outdoors, lessening the risk of infection for a cancer patient whose immune system may be weakened. Charles return will be warmly greeted by the public, partly because he chose to publicize his initial prostate issue and then his cancer diagnosis, spurring many people to consult with their doctors, Gross said. The monarch has seen that he can do good by discussing health and raising the awareness of cancer, he told The Associated Press. I think that thats at the top end of this. And thats a very special thing when a head of state can do good. Thats immense. A man was killed early Saturday morning in a shooting in Bostons Mattapan neighborhood, according to police. Officers responded to the area of Blue Hill Avenue and Fremont Street around 4:45 a.m. for reports that a person had been shot, Boston police said in a press release. They soon found the victim with life-threatening gunshot wounds and took him to a hospital where he was declared dead. The Boston Police Departments Homicide Unit is actively investigating the shooting. The department strongly urges anyone with information about it to contact the unit at 617-343-4470. You can also provide an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463). When Geoff Killebrew says he wants to see a renaissance come to the City of Worcester, hes not talking about focusing on growth in the Canal District or downtown. A musician and founder of the F.A.M Jam Family, Arts and Music Festival in Worcester, Killebrew, 40, told MassLive the renaissance he envisions features vendors and street performers who are Black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) becoming entrepreneurs through performance and selling their crafts throughout the city. We want to acknowledge the accomplishments of those who are currently vendors and performers but we want to make it easier for the ones getting started, Killebrew said. We want to create spaces, designate more spaces across the city for street vending and street performers. To accomplish his vision, Killebrew, a Worcester resident, has been promoting the Worcester Renaissance Project a project he started in 2019 to increase city-wide access for street vendors and performers to help their businesses. Killebrew said he has met with community and city leaders to support proposals to help performers and vendors have more access to open areas throughout the city to build their businesses. One of these proposals Killebrew advocates is the creation of place markers in locations with high foot traffic. These place markers would feature a QR code, and when someone clicks on it, they would access an online schedule and map of where vendors and performers can be found. Killebrew said this proposal will not only bring pedestrians to vendors and performers but also help bring more foot traffic to streets that dont have many pedestrians. I saw a path that was waiting to be blazed, Killebrew said. They have a rule where you only have one vendor at a park here. So what I am trying to do is have a petition so we can have that changed to have more than one vendor at a time. Geoff Killebrew and his daughter, Eden. Killebrew said this proposal received support from all members of the Worcester City Council and currently awaits the approval of City Manager Eric Batista. Thomas Matthews, a spokesman for Batistas office, told MassLive the proposal will need to be reviewed and approved by the city manager along with the citys parks division for it to be implemented. Ive had to get political, which was not my goal from the outset, Killebrew said. But in order to create these opportunities, we have to acknowledge that theres some red tape that makes it difficult. In addition to holding meetings and organizing, Killebrew planned to host a Worcester Renaissance Fair April 27 at the Elm Park Community School. The fair featured vendors selling their wares and artists performing poetry and music. Killebrew said these artists want to turn their crafts into real careers and that his fair will demonstrate what vendors and street performers can bring to the city. He told MassLive he expects to hold another festival next year. Were looking for vendors, performers and people to think outside of the box, Killebrew said. Here is your opportunity if you ever had a business idea. You get to do your thing and see if the community will support it. Who in Worcester supports the project? While Batista has not yet approved the proposal, Killebrews project and efforts have not gone unnoticed. Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty told MassLive he supports the Worcester Renaissance Project, saying it would enliven the streets in the city. Petty and the rest of the City Council voted in favor of the proposal and the mission statement of the Worcester Renaissance Project during a city council meeting in March. This brings energy to the city by allowing street vendors and citizens to engage in the City of Worcester, Petty said. The project is also supported by business owners and artists in Worcester who share Killebrews vision to see more vendors and performers in the city. Matt Caranci, the co-founder of the non-profit groups DIY Wormtown Ska Promotions and Worcester Community Music and Arts, applauded Killebrews efforts to bring more music and art to Worcester. DIY Wormtown Ska Promotions and Worcester Community Music and Arts group are two organizations that host live music shows in Worcester, according to the organizations Facebook pages. Caranci told MassLive he and Killebrew had collaborated before, as the two of them and activist David Webb teamed up to speak out against a $50 two-week permit fee for vendors that was proposed by the city. Batista revoked the proposal in response to the trios and other vendors outcry. As my goal is to bring to the city things that support the community and vibrancy of the city, I wish that Geoff is successful with his vision, Caranci said. Its great to see new life brought to Worcester in various ways. The Worcester Renaissance Project has even received support from those living outside of Worcester. Cie Morin, a spa studio owner who lives in Fitchburg, made several posts on her Facebook page touting the project and advocating Killebrews efforts. Morin also serves on the board of Fostering Change Inc., and told MassLive the project would help children as young as 14 enter the vending business and find ways to be productive. Meticulously researched, masterfully crafted and designed with such innovation, Morin said. This project is going to bring such opportunity, engagement and appeal to the city of Worcester and beyond. What does it mean to be in a renaissance? When Killebrew launched the Worcester Renaissance Project, his mission was to make it a renaissance for the entire city not just certain areas. Since 2018, Killebrew said he has heard stories of real-estate developers, business owners and politicians touting Worcesters success in starting new projects such as Polar Park, along with the construction of new apartments in the Canal District. Killebrew said that while some areas reaped in revenue, other regions, such as Canterbury Street, did not see the supposed renaissance that city leaders announced. According to Killebrew, Canterbury Street is one of several locations in Worcester that was subjected to the discriminatory practice known as redlining in the 1930s, where predominately Black communities were outlined on maps. Redlining resulted in neighborhoods being denied services, such as credit from banks or the construction of supermarkets a practice that Killebrew said still affects residents to this day as new developments are being built in more affluent areas. Because of redlining, we see homelessness due to historic practices, he said. This is why wealth wasnt able to be passed down through generations the way it is in other more affluent communities. Looking to the Harlem Renaissance of the early 20th century for inspiration, Killebrew said the Worcester Renaissance Project would give those from Black, Latino and indigenous communities the chance to pass down wealth and skills to the next generation. He envisions Worcester as a hub for vendors and street performers looking to build long-lasting businesses and the city where BIPOC vendors can establish a strong presence. While he admits Worcester has fewer vendors than larger cities such as Boston and New York, he said the Worcester Renaissance Project serves as a guide for how cities can benefit from street performers. Part of a renaissance is creative collaboration, Killebrew said. These families need our services. For Killebrew, a renaissance in Worcester does not solely focus on specific individuals whose talents are recognized through paintings and sculptures but instead on different communities coming together to bring music, art and crafts to life. He told MassLive there is still more work to bring the city into this new era but is confident he can help lead the way. Overall, this is business development, cultural development and community development, Killebrew said. This is a platform for all of that. THE final touches have been put in place for hosting the Aghamore Vintage Day this afternoon Sunday, April 28. The committee members are confident that it will be bigger and better than ever this year with entrants coming from all over Connacht as well as from Dublin, Laois and many other parts. The Aghamore campus is the site for this major event which looks set to attract a fine attendance to the east Mayo village. Apart from the fine selection of vintage material that will be on display throughout the day including steam engines, the afternoon will also feature a cattle show, horse and tractor ploughing, auto jumble, bouncy castles and much more. A devoted team of stewards will be in place to coordinate parking and access to the venue should be no problem for anyone. Midwest Radio will broadcast from the venue and will keep listeners fully up to date with events in the village. This is the third year of the Aghamore Vintage Day and the reputation for excellence established over the previous two years is certain to ensure that the 2024 show will top them all. Further details can be had by calling 087 6909044 (John Corley) or 086 8585968. by Tanya Gazdik , April 27, 2024 Mercedes-Benz USA is joining forces with nonprofit organization Little Free Library. MBUSA employees alongside the automakers ambassador, Atlanta Falcons player Bijan Robinson, built 175 book-sharing boxes, which will be filled with thousands of donated books and installed in communities across the country that have limited access to reading materials. The event was part of MBUSA's National Volunteer Week program, which features a series of give-back opportunities for employees. The collaboration reinforces the automakers commitment to promoting literacy through its corporate social responsibility program, Driving Your Future, aiming to empower the next generation by supporting educational programs, career readiness and child safety. The event brought together more than 250 employee volunteers at the automakers U.S. headquarters. advertisement advertisement Employees also participated in a virtual reading activity in collaboration with Share The Magic Foundation, an organization dedicated to transforming the lives of children through literacy. Employees conducted a virtual read-aloud for 600 students at Sunset Park Elementary in North Carolina and Norma Butler Bossard Elementary School in Miami. Little Free Library aims to promote literacy and community engagement by offering free access to books through small, publicly accessible book-sharing stations. Users are encouraged to take a book they are interested in reading and leave a book they have finished for others to enjoy. by Ray Schultz , April 28, 2024 Two central Minnesota counties that were about to lose their newspapers will soon have replacements. CherryRoad Media is launching The Hutchinson Station and The Litchfield Rail on May 9. These titles are replacements for The Hutchinson Leader and The Litchfield Independent Review that were set to be closed by Southwest News Media this week. The replacement papers will be led by the existing editorial and advertising staff led by Editor Brent Schacherer. When we heard these comm unities would lose their papers, we quickly reacted, says Jeremy Gulban, CEO of CherryRoad Media. We dont want to see these towns, and their citizens, fall into another news desert. Gulban adds, Hutchinson and Litchfield dont know us yet, but they can look to International Falls for an answer as to what kind of partner we will be. advertisement advertisement Southwest News Media announced on April 4 that it would close the newspapers, along with several others, including the Chaska Herald, Chanhassen Villager,Jordan Independent, Shakopee Valley News, Prior Lake American, Savage Pacer and Southwest Saturday The company was acquired in 2020 by MediaNews Group, which is owned by Alden Global Capital. Residents of Hutchinson, Litchfield and surrounding areas will go one week without a local paper, but only one week, says Lee Bachlet, COO of CherryRoad Media. Trusted Source European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID Global) 2024 Go to source Trusted Source Malaria affects over 200 million people worldwide each year, according to the World Health Organization. #malaria #malariatransmission #bloodtransfusion Advertisement Tackling Malaria Transmission Advertisement European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID Global) 2024 - (https://www.eccmid.org/) Malaria transmission through blood transfusion poses fatal risks, especially for vulnerable populations like cancer patients, due to inadequacies in donor screening tests as per a study presented at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID Global) 2024 ().The current strategy used in Europe toHowever, current serological tests that identify at risk donors are not sensitive enough to completely eliminate the risk.In a presentation to be given at this years ESCMID Global Congress (formerly ECCMID) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April), Dr Sophie Le Cam from the French transfusion blood service (Etablissement Francais du Sang [EFS]), will discuss the ongoing efforts being made to prevent transfusion-associated malaria in Europe and outline the different malaria screening strategies that need to be combined in order to ensure the safety of blood transfusions going forward.Transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM) is an accidental Plasmodium infection caused by whole blood or a blood component transfusion from a malaria -infected donor to a recipient.Just a few parasites in a unit of blood are enough to cause infection, and all Plasmodium species can survive in stored blood, even if frozen, and retain their viability for at least a week. Ten cases of TTM have been reported in Europe over the last 20 years, in France, Spain, the UK, Italy, and the Netherlands.Dr Le Cam highlights an important difference between natural malaria infection and TTM: When individuals are infected naturally with malaria from a mosquito bite they undergo an initial asymptomatic phase which allows immunity cells to be activated against malaria parasites. But infected blood transfusions directly release malaria parasites into the bloodstream triggering high-risk complications that can potentially lead to a fatal outcome, especially in non-endemic countries where the majority of individuals have never been exposed to malaria, and in immuno-compromised patients such as those with cancer and the elderly.Europe has a mandatory directive to prevent TTM, which recommends that people who have recently traveled to a country with malaria, or former residents of areas where malaria is present, cannot donate blood for at least 6 months and 3 years after they return, respectively.In many countries, this deferral period can be reduced to 4 months if a negative malaria test is shown before each donation. However, existing microscopy and serological tests that mandate these rules are not sensitive enough to reliably mitigate malaria transfusion risk.Microscopic examination is the gold standard for diagnosis of malaria illness but is not adapted to blood bank activities in Europe. Serologic tests are widely used, but their sensitivity and specificity are not as good as expected.According to Dr Le Cam, The risk that is most difficult to mitigate comes from donors born, or who lived their early childhood, in malaria-endemic countries who can develop an immune-tolerancea host response that protects against high numbers of parasite and illness without eliminating the infection.In these infectious immune-tolerant individuals, cases of TTM have been linked to blood donations given more than 5 years after the last potential exposure of the donor to P. falciparum, and several decades in the case of P. malariae.As Dr. Le Cam explains, These asymptomatic infections characterized by low parasite densities require more sensitive methods for detection such as recent molecular methods. But while a fully automated molecular method may be the ideal screening method for malaria infection in the blood donor population, it is an expensive option.Le Cam sees the current challenge towithout compromising the availability of blood products.On the one hand, the limited number of potentially infected donors requires a cost-effective strategy of blood donor screening, but on the other, the accuracy of screening needs to be optimal for the serious outcomes of TTM in malaria naive and immuno-compromised recipients, she says.What needs to be done to make TMM a thing of the past in Europe? According to Dr Le Cam, The key to transfusion security remains the deferral period after the return of donors from endemic countries. But we really need to develop new testing strategies. The parasite inactivation of blood using new technologies that are able to selectively inactivate pathogens without damaging cells or plasma could also be a good option, but the technology is not completely reliable for packed red blood cells and is very expensive. Ultimately, different strategies need to be combined in order to ensure the safety of blood transfusions in Europe that include blood donor screening by appropriate diagnostic tools, which should probably include molecular tests.Source-Eurekalert Read the original article on Business Insider. War experts are advising Ukraine to use its latest $61 billion U.S. aid package cautiously as there is always the possibility that American aid could again be derailed by politics. "Every fight over every next increment has gotten increasingly contentious and increasingly long," said Jennifer Kavanagh, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, referring to the months-long deliberation of the most recent package for Ukraine that passed in the Senate on Wednesday and past assistance debates. "I think that the plan should be what if there is no more money." During a Defense Priorities Wednesday discussion panel, experts such as Kelly Grieco, a Stimson Center senior fellow, weighed in, saying that "everyone involved in this conflict should treat this aid package as though it's the last one and plan accordingly, because that could be." The upcoming U.S. presidential election, in which the presumed Republican candidate is far less supportive of Ukraine, as well as the continued divisiveness of the Ukraine security assistance discussion between the political parties in Congress, could complicate the passage of future aid for Ukraine, which has not been brought up yet but almost certainly will as the war drags on. "It's uncertain who's going to be in office in January," Kavanagh said, further remarking that there is "certainly no appetite for starting the fight over January 2025 now." With the U.S. aid that was just approved, some conflict analysts assess that Ukraine's next steps to make the most of the new assistance should include building up defenses and exploring the possibility of negotiating with Russia. "I think Ukraine can win this war. It cannot win militarily in any way, it can win politically, though," Grieco said. "It can actually gain a political victory by not allowing Putin to achieve his main goal, which is to subjugate Ukraine," she said, noting that "Ukraine can remain a viable state and an independent state from Russia." Both Grieco and Kavanagh emphasized the importance of Ukraine showing up to the negotiating table and using diplomacy with Russia to prevent further land losses. Other experts, as well as Ukrainian officials, are critical of calls for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and have said that Vladimir Putin would demand the "demilitarization" of Ukraine in order to take advantage of it. Experts of the Washington-based Institute of the Study of War said in a March report that they continue to "assess that Russian President Vladimir Putin maintains his maximalist objectives in Ukraine, which are tantamount to complete Ukrainian and Western capitulation, and that Russia has no interest in good-faith negotiations with Ukraine." ISW has challenged the notion that the war is '"unwinnable" for Ukraine, calling that a Russian information operation. Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba has said that Russia cannot be trusted, a reality he says is proven by its documented failures to live up to past negotiations. He reminded the world last November in a statement on social media that "Putin is a habitual liar who promised international leaders that he would not attack Ukraine days before his invasion in February 2022." Kuleba said no one can seriously expect the Ukrainians to negotiate with Russia. The challenge is that six months of delayed assistance have put Ukraine in a difficult position, one that may not immediately be rectified by the coming aid. During the panel discussion Wednesday, Kavanagh argued that starting negotiations will also buy Ukraine time as it's expected that the approved US aid will not be flowing in all at once. "The reality is that politics is involved, which means that things won't be perfect and there will be delays," she said. WASHINGTON (AP) 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. What is europium and dysprosium doped strontium aluminate phosphor? Strontium aluminate europium-doped dysprosium phosphor is a special luminescent material mainly used in the field of optoelectronics, especially in lighting and display technology. The basic component of this material is strontium aluminate (SrAl2O4), whose luminescent properties are activated by doping with the rare earth elements europium (Eu) and dysprosium (Dy). The basic principle of europium and dysprosium doped strontium aluminate phosphor: Strontium Aluminate (SrAl2O4) is an alkaline earth metal aluminate that does not emit light by itself, but as a matrix material, it can be stably doped with an activator. Europium (Eu) is a commonly used activator that absorbs energy and re-radiates visible light. When europium is doped in strontium aluminate, the Eu ions jump from the ground state to the excited state when the material is excited by external energy (e.g., ultraviolet or blue light) and then release energy when it returns to the ground state, resulting in the phenomenon of luminescence. Europium-activated strontium aluminate emits mainly yellow-green light. Dysprosium (Dy) is usually added as a co-activator, which creates an energy trap and extends the materials afterglow time. In other words, dysprosium-doped strontium aluminate phosphors can keep emitting light for a longer period of time when the excitation light source is removed, exhibiting the so-called long afterglow property. Applications of strontium aluminate europium-doped dysprosium phosphors: These phosphors are mainly used in: Long afterglow materials: such as safety signs, emergency exit signs, watch hands, etc., which can continue to emit light at night or in dark places. White LED: By cooperating with blue LED chips, strontium aluminate europium-doped dysprosium phosphor can convert part of the blue light into yellow-green light and mix with the remaining blue light to generate white light, which is widely used in LED lighting and display technology. Other optoelectronic components: such as flat panel displays, optical storage devices, etc. Preparation of strontium aluminate europium-doped dysprosium phosphor: The preparation process usually includes precise weighing of raw materials, mixing, grinding to achieve uniform dispersion, and then high-temperature sintering. The sintering temperature and time need to be strictly controlled to ensure that the crystal structure of the phosphor is complete and the activator is evenly distributed. Sometimes it is also necessary to pulverize and screen the powder to achieve the required particle size distribution to ensure the luminous efficiency and application performance. During the sintering process, additional bonding agents may not be required, as components of the feedstock (e.g., silica) act as a natural bonding medium on their own. Suppliers of Strontium Aluminate Europium-Doped Dysprosium Fluorescent Powder Main Ingredients: Strontium Aluminate>96%, Europium-Doped Dysprosium Oxide<2%, Europium-Doped Dysprosium Oxide <2%. This product belongs to the inorganic rare earth aluminate long afterglow luminescent material, absorbing all kinds of visible light for 10-20 minutes. It can be continuously luminous in the darkness for more than 12 hours, and its luminous brightness and duration are more than 30 times of the traditional luminous material represented by ZnS: Cu, and it can be used indefinitely and repeatedly. Tested by professional organizations, the product is non-toxic, non-radioactive, and chemically stable. The product can be made into all kinds of luminous products and has been widely used in fire fighting, geographical name signs, home appliances, clocks and watches, fisheries, clothing, crafts and gifts, and other industries. It can also be used in oil-based paints, inks, or plastics. Strontium Aluminate Europium-Doped Dysprosium Fluorescent Powder supplier Luoyang Tongrun Nano Technology Co. Ltd. (TRUNNANO) is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12 years of experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials. If you are looking for high-quality Strontium Aluminate Europium-Doped Dysprosium Fluorescent Powder, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry. (brad@ihpa.net) State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code The Cubs have been without left-hander Justin Steele since he was pulled from his Opening Day start against the Rangers in the fifth inning due to a hamstring strain last month. It appears that the clubs time without their staff ace may be nearing an end, however, as Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun Times relayed this afternoon that (per manager Craig Counsell) Steele is set to join the clubs Triple-A affiliate in Iowa for a rehab assignment in the coming days. Counsell added that Wednesday is the likely target for Steeles rehab appearance, with MLB.coms injury tracker noting that the southpaw threw 47 pitches in an extended Spring Training game yesterday. Steele, 28, has surprised in recent years by emerging as a front-of-the-rotation caliber arm in Chicago. The lefty was selected by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2014 draft but did not make his big league debut until 2021, when he pitched to a mediocre 4.26 ERA and 5.52 FIP in 57 innings of work. When Steele returned to the clubs rotation the following year, however, it was clear he had taken his game to the next level: in 55 starts since the start of the 2022 campaign, Steele has pitched to an excellent 3.09 ERA (140 ERA+) with an even better 3.06 FIP. While Steeles 24.6% strikeout rate during a 2023 campaign that saw him make his first All Star appearance and finish fifth in NL Cy Young award voting was right around league average, his strong 5.0% walk rate and 50.3% groundball rate were both excellent according to Statcast, ranking in the 93rd and 83rd percentiles respectively. Steele will bring that well-rounded profile back to a Cubs rotation that has dealt with plenty of injuries to this point in the 2024 campaign. In addition to Steele, the Cubs have spent time this season without veteran right-handers Jameson Taillon and Kyle Hendricks. While the former has performed well in two starts since returning from the shelf, the latter struggled badly even when healthy enough to take the mound with a 12.00 ERA in four starts. Fortunately for the Cubs, a quartet of unproven arms have handled things admirably in the absence of more established arms. Leading the charge has been 30-year-old lefty Shota Imanaga, who signed a four-year, $53MM contract with the Cubs over the winter after being posted by the Yokohama BayStars of Japans NPB. Imanaga has been sensational in the early going of his first MLB season, with a 0.98 ERA that leads all qualified MLB starters backed up by a strong 2.36 FIP in 27 2/3 innings of work. Sophomore swingman Javier Assad has been joined by rookies Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown to fill out the rest of the clubs rotation, and the trio have performed admirably to this point with a combined 2.82 ERA in 60 2/3 innings of work in 12 starts. The Cubs are surely looking forward to Steeles return even in spite of those strong performances, of course. With the lefty seemingly on track for a return in early May, it appears the most likely course of action for Chicago is to move Brown into a full-time bullpen role when the clubs ace is ready to go. Browns debut season in the majors has gotten off to a solid start as hes swung between the Chicago rotation and bullpen. After allowing six runs in just 1 2/3 relief innings against the Rangers during his MLB debut, Brown has settled in and dazzled with a 1.02 ERA, 1.88 FIP, and 27.0% strikeout rate in 17 2/3 innings of work across five appearances (two starts). Browns move to a full-time bullpen role would surely help a Cubs bullpen that recently lost long relief arm Drew Smyly to the injured list and saw closer Adbert Alzolay removed from the closer role last week after converting just three saves in seven opportunities so far this year. Mariners right-hander Matt Brash has been shut down indefinitely from his rehab process, GM Justin Hollander told reporters this evening (including Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times). The righty had thrown yesterday ahead of a rehab assignment that was expected to begin this weekend, though now hell visit Dr. Keith Meister to determine next steps. Brash, 26 next month, was shut down due to elbow inflammation early in Spring Training amid concerns that he may miss the entire 2024 season. Following his diagnosis with elbow inflammation, however, Brash was cleared to resume throwing in early March and has been rehabbing the injury ever since. Per Hollander, that injury has taken a turn for the worse in recent days as hes begun to feel tightness in the aftermath of bullpen sessions that has begun to last longer after each throwing session. The ominous update is a potentially brutal blow for the Seattle bullpen, which has been without Brash and fellow set-up man Gregory Santos all season. Brash made his debut with the Mariners as a starter back in 2022 but struggled in the role and was quickly moved to the bullpen, where hes been nothing short of dominant ever since. Across 112 relief innings in his career, the flamethrower has posted a sterling 2.84 ERA with an even better 2.18 FIP eye-popping 34.5% strikeout rate in 101 1/3 innings of work. Thats good for the ninth-highest strikeout rate and second-lowest FIP of any reliever with at least 80 innings of work over the past two seasons. Given Brashs utter dominance out of the bullpen throughout his career, he was all but certain to act as the primary set-up man to closer Andres Munoz this season, forming perhaps the strongest one-two punch of relievers in the majors. Those plans will have to be put on hold for an uncertain amount of time, however, with Brash expected to meet with Meister for the second time this season in the coming days. Seattle has relied on Ryne Stanek and Gabe Speier to set up for Munoz in the absence of Brash and Santos. While elbow issues of any kind bring to mind the possibility of Tommy John surgery for many fans, theres been no indication of damage to Brashs UCL to this point, however and it wont be clear exactly what the prognosis is for Brash and what his timetable for return could look like until he meets with Meister. With all that said, it seems fair to expect the Mariners to be without their top set-up man for quite some time given the right-handers difficulties bouncing back between throwing sessions nearly two months after being cleared to resume a throwing program. If theres any silver lining for Mariners fans, its that the clubs bullpen has been performing just fine even without Brash in the mix. Seattle relievers rank first in the majors with a 2.40 ERA this season while they rank eighth with a 24.9% strikeout rate and ninth with a 3.68 FIP. That strong performance has involved almost universally solid numbers from the clubs relief corps: among the 11 players the club has used out of the bullpen so far this season, only right-hander Collin Snider and infielder Josh Rojas (the latter of whom pitched in a pair of blowout games early in the season) have posted an ERA above 3.09 entering play today. If the clubs relief corps can remain even close to that effective in the coming months, its possible the Mariners wont miss Brash as much as it might seem on the surface even in the event of an extended absence. HUDSONVILLE, MI--Students from West Ottawa High School headed to Hudsonville, sporting their best formal outfits for prom on Saturday evening. Over 600 students gathered at the Pinnacle Center on a warm summery evening on April 27. The Roaring 20s themed prom featured dessert, yard games and a busy dance floor for the attendees. Click here to see all 81 photos from West Ottawas 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. KENTWOOD, MI -- It was a Once Upon a Prom. 100 Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills and Grand Rapids University Prep Academy students attended their 2024 prom at Viewpond Banquet Hall in Kentwood on Saturday, April 27. Freelance photojournalist Chris duMond was there to document all of the moments. Click into the gallery above to see all of the photos. 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. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Hudsonville held their prom at GLC Live at 20 Monroe in downtown Grand Rapids on Saturday, April 27. The school sold 875 tickets, setting another Hudsonville prom attendance record, said Michelle Jesky, the schools Social Studies Department Chair who was helping to coordinate prom. In 2022, Hudsonville was forced to make a late venue change to the downtown music venue to accommodate the amount of students attending prom. 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. LANSING, MI -- Michigan Center High School went to their 2024 prom aboard the Michigan Princess Riverboat. Students and guests boarded the boat at Grand River Park in Lansing on Saturday, April 27. The prom featured dessert, a photo booth and dancing with views of the Grand River. The theme for the prom was Tangled in Our Memories, said prom advisor Mackenzie Schneider. I think they are all pretty excited, Schneider said. 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. Southern Michigan will really heat up today while a northeast wind will keep northern Michigan much cooler than expected a few days ago. There will also be an area of rain lifting north through Michigan today. A warm front with an active zone of showers and a few thunderstorms will be the whole driver of our weather today. The warm front is draped east-to-west across southern Michigan as of 8:00 a.m. The warm front will try to move north through the day, but only make it to just south of Saginaw and around Big Rapids. The areas that get into the warm sector south of the warm front will warm well into the 70s. North of the warm front temperatures will be stuck in the 50s for the day. Heres the radar forecast today showing the idea of a zone of rain shifting north through the day. Southern Michigan will be wet this morning and mostly dry this afternoon. Northern Michigan will get wet as you get into the late afternoon and evening. The area of rain will be most active early this morning and again this evening. There should be a shrinking of the rain area between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. We all get a period of rain, but we also all get many dry hours today. Radar forecast from 8 a.m. today to midnight tonight.NOAA The storms last night created a northeast wind across the northern half of Lower Michigan. That northeast wind will be hard to change direction over northern Michigan. As a result there will be a huge temperature difference between southern Lower and northern Lower. The temperature forecast animation shows it clearly below. Temperature forecast from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, April 28, 2024NOAA If you are going to be anywhere in the northern half of Michigan you will need a jacket today thanks to the northeast wind. If you are anywhere from Flint to Grand Rapids and southward it will be another warm afternoon. Ann Arbor and the Detroit area will warm to just shy of 80 degrees. Heres the temperature forecast at noon today. You can see where the big temperature change will be located. Temperature forecast at noon today, April 28, 2024NOAA By 5 p.m. today the southern third of Lower Michigan including Ann Arbor, Detroit, Jackson and Kalamazoo will warm well into the 70s. Temperature forecast at 5 p.m. today, April 28.NOAA If you get a little sunshine this afternoon in northern Michigan the temperatures will pop up to near 60. Its definitely the tale of two weather patterns today in Michigan- almost summer in the south and almost March-like in the north. We all get a round of rain at some point today. While severe storms are not expected, we meteorologists have a saying, Never trust a warm front. Ill keep an eye on it for you and watch for updates here if needed. The Supreme Court The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday the plea filed by the West Bengal government challenging the court-monitored CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into land grabbing and extortion cases in Sandeshkhali. As per the details published on the website of the apex court, a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta will take up the special leave petition for hearing on April 29. In an order passed in the second week of April, the Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to commence its probe in the matter after creating a special investigation team (SIT) for that purpose. A division bench of Chief Justice T. S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya asked the investigative agency to submit a detailed report to the high court following which the latter will decide on the next course of action. It directed the CBI to open a separate portal and email through which the victims in Sandeshkhali can register their complaints relating to illegal land grabbing and extortion, adding that the Central agency will maintain absolute secrecy with regard to the identity of the complainants. It ordered the district administration in North 24 Parganas including the district magistrate and the district police superintendent to identify the sensitive pockets at Sandeshkhali and install CCTVs. The district administration was also directed by the high court to properly illuminate the streets at Sandeshkhali. Several public interest litigations (PILs) were filed before the Calcutta High Court in connection with illegal land grabbing and extortion at Sandeshkhali, where the main accused was a section of the local Trinamool Congress leaders led by the now-suspended ruling party leader Sheikh Shahjahan. Earlier in March, the Supreme Court had dismissed the plea filed by the state government challenging the CBI probe into the attack on ED and CAPF teams at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas District on January 5. However, it had ordered to expunge the adverse observations made against the West Bengal Police and the state government in the impugned judgment of the Calcutta High Court. Mint Butterfield, 16, the child of Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield who was reported missing, has been found, and a man has been arrested. Courtesy of Butterfield family Mint Butterfield, the teenage child of Slack co-founder and former CEO Stewart Butterfield, was safely located Saturday in San Francisco after being reported missing last week, and a man the teen was found with was arrested for multiple criminal violations, authorities said. Mint, 16, was found inside a van that belongs to an adult male friend, identified as 26-year-old Christopher Kio Dizefalo, according to the Marin County Sheriffs Office. He was arrested and booked into the Marin County Jail, the sheriffs office said. Arrest records show Dizefalo was booked on suspicion of child stealing and other violations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Stewart Butterfield co-founded the instant messaging app Slack and sold it to Salesforce in 2020. Mints mother, Caterina Fake, co-founded the websites Flickr and Hunch. Dizefalo, who was arrested on Eddy Street in the Tenderloin, works as a parking valet, according to jail booking records. The teen, who uses they/them pronouns, was uninjured and told detectives that they voluntarily ran away from their home in Bolinas. Mint has since been reunited with their family. The Marin County Sheriffs Office is thankful for the assistance of the San Francisco Police Department, the Oakland Police Department and the FBI for their continuous efforts in helping us locate Mint, the sheriffs office said in a statement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Attendees supporting the Pride flag stand outside before Sunol Glen United School District Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 10. Two board members face a recall vote on July 2. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Tensions are mounting in the tiny town of Sunol, where the looming recall vote for two school district trustees has cast neighbors against one another and led to heated accusations of homophobia, racism and ethical breaches. Sunol was cast into turmoil in the fall, when the three-member Sunol Glen School Board of Trustees voted 2-1 to forbid hanging banners other than the U.S. and California state flags on campus a move perceived by many residents and people affiliated with the school as a ban on the LGBTQ Pride flag. That vote divided the East Bay town of 900, where the Sunol Glen School a K-8 campus with 263 students, and the only school in the district is the heart of the community. A group of parents initiated a recall campaign and collected enough signatures to put it up for a vote on July 2, and in the meantime tempers on both sides of the issue have been crackling. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Similar scenes have played out in communities across California, where conservative boards are issuing policies attacking LGBTQ rights. Two conservative board members were recalled in Orange County last month, largely over a policy that required teachers to notify parents if their children ask to change their gender identity at school. The president of the Temecula Valley Unified School District in Riverside County is facing a June 4 recall vote after supporting a flag policy much like Sunols, and for attempting to ban curriculum that mentioned San Francisco civil rights icon Harvey Milk. In Sunol, the controversy has led to the resignation of longtime Superintendent/Principal Molleen Barnes, who will leave at the end of the school year. She said tension created by the flag vote, which she opposed, and the recall was a large part of her decision. Parents, too, have pulled a handful of students from the school over the chaos, and some staff have left. Molleen Barnes, superintendent and principal of the Sunol Glen School, hugs a supporter during a school board meeting on Sept. 12. Barnes has announced her retirement at the end of the school year following turmoil created over a decision to remove Pride flags from the school. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle The latest kerfuffle involves board president Ryan Jergensen, who in March sent an email to the school district lawyer asking if he could get a list of every person who signed the petition to have him recalled a move his critics say is unethical, undemocratic and an invasion of privacy. Jergensens email, along with replies from his own lawyer and the school district attorney, were published Monday in a community newsletter. In the email, Jergensen asked that one of his fellow board members the one who is not up for recall and the superintendent not be told of his request, as that would definitely cause quite a stir with the recall people. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The lawyer replied that she would not attempt to get the list for him. In a letter addressed to the Citizens of Sunol and shared on social media this week, Jergensen said he had a duty as a board trustee to make sure that the recall was legally required. But its up to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters to validate the signatures, which it had already done. Indeed, at a school board meeting on Tuesday, a county official chastised Jergensen, noting that the signatures are confidential. Just the request itself may have been innocent, said Cheryl Cook-Kallio, who sits on the Alameda County Board of Education. Still, she added, board members have no responsibility or right to see those signatures, especially when theyre subject to the recall. The fact that President Jergensen requested his request be held confidential is deeply troubling, Cook-Kallio said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Board president Ryan Jergensen is facing a July 2 recall vote. Jergensen recently asked the district lawyer to obtain a list of voters who signed the petition to recall him. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Jergensen did not say in the letter posted online how the Sunol Glen School District would be better suited to verify signatures than the county registrar. In an email to the Chronicle on Friday, Jergensen said hed never intended to look at the signatures himself. I simply asked if she (the school district attorney) would look into it and make sure it is legal and legitimate at the request of many people in our town, Jergensen wrote. I was acting as a representative of residents and the district, not on my own personal agenda and I dont need to see them (the signatures), nor do I want to. Ted Romo, the one board member who is not up for recall, has called for a censure of Jergensen over the signature request. The censure is expected to come up for a vote at the next board meeting in May. Ryans actions reveal a shocking lack of integrity and undermine the governance of the district, Romo said at the Tuesday board meeting. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fallout from the flag vote and ensuing recall campaign has leached into almost all aspects of school governance, including a special committee formed this year to oversee spending of a $10 million bond measure. A few days after the first committee meeting, a member who opposes the recall sent an unsolicited email to a Sunol resident who supports it that included racist content. Committee member Debbie Ferrari sent the email to Anna Wang at her Stanford work address, where shes an associate dean. In the email, she asks why Wang is contributing to the divisive recall campaign. Most people I know of Chinese descent are much more compassionate and they understand that this is about control, control like they have seen in China, Ferrari wrote. She also twice mentioned Wangs employer and suggested it was inappropriate for someone in her position to be taking sides in the recall. Wang was outraged, and posted the email and her reaction to it on social media. At the next school board meeting, in March, several residents asked that Ferrari be removed from the committee for her comments. Jergensen and Linda Hurley, the second board member up for recall, declined to remove her, saying at the time they werent sure they had that authority. Ferrari lashed out at me for daring to have an opinion, Wang said. But she added that her main quarrel is with the board members who refused to take action. Advertisement Article continues below this ad My concern is this is part of a greater context of irresponsible and frankly narrow-minded leadership from these two members who are subject to the recall, Wang told the Chronicle. She said Hurley never responded to emails Wang sent expressing her concerns about Ferrari, and my guess is Jergensen is hoping this will fade away. Jergensen has said at board meetings that he is looking into the email incident. Ferrari has apologized for her comments. At the March school board meeting, she said she went overboard with the email, but anybody who knows me knows I dont have a racist bone in my body. As in many communities across the state, the Sunol Glen School board meetings have become a primary place for people on both sides of the recall issue to air their concerns, and meetings often turn loud and tumultuous. At Tuesdays meeting, a dozen parents held signs demanding Jergensen and Hurley resign, and people in the audience hurled accusations and insults at one another and all three trustees. What has taken place in the past year and a half has been unexplainable, said Hurley, her voice tense with emotion, after a particularly heated public comment period. She turned to Romo and said he, too, should be censured, just as hes asked to censure Jergensen over the signature request. There are many things that you should have been censured for, Hurley said, though she didnt name any. And I have had numerous people asking why were not recalling you. Sunol Glen Unified board member Linda Hurley faces a July 2 recall vote. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Parent Kelly Goldsmith, who is part of the team leading the recall effort, agreed that the past year-plus has been stressful for the entire Sunol Glen School community. Her son started kindergarten in the fall, and shed expected this year to be full of joy and exciting new experiences for her family. Instead, she spends all her spare time on the recall and whats happening with the school board. Protesters hold a vigil for Palestinians on Saturday night at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata. Justin Maxon/Special to the Chronicle Police stand guard near protesters at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata. Justin Maxon/Special to the Chronicle Protesters rally on the street near Cal Poly Humboldts campus in Arcata. Justin Maxon/Special to the Chronicle Families of prospective students attend admit weekend amid pro-Palestinian protests at Stanford University. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle Tents are set up at an encampment outside Sproul Hall at UC Berkeley. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Pro-Palestinian protests continued on college campuses in Northern California and across the nation Sunday despite administrators attempts to restore order. While police swept demonstrations at Cal Poly Humboldt and Stanford University, no new arrests were reported as of Sunday. That was not the case elsewhere: Hundreds of arrests unfolded at other protests nationwide Saturday. The protests many of them tent encampments began last week, sparked by a demonstration at New York Citys Columbia University in opposition to Israels missile strikes on Gaza in response to Hamas militants October attack. The university said Saturday that students and administrators were engaged in negotiations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At USC in Los Angeles, where protesters vandalized property Saturday, students declined to meet with President Carol Folt, and the administration hoped for a more reasonable response Sunday before we are forced to take further action, said Joel Curran, senior vice president of communications. The university drew criticism after refusing to allow the valedictorian, who has publicly supported the Palestinian cause, to make a commencement speech. The university then canceled its main graduation event an announcement that came Thursday, a day after police in riot gear arrested more than 90 protesters. People listen to pro-Palestinian activists Sunday as students protest near an encampment at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Kent Nishimura/Getty Images On Saturday, police took action at demonstrations at Washington University in St. Louis, Northeastern University in Boston, Arizona State University in Tempe and Indiana University in Bloomington, arresting more than 270 protesters in all. In Northern California, protesters were undeterred by the risk of arrests and discipline. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata, administrators closed the campus Friday for the rest of the school year after pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied an academic and administrative building. The university gave students until 5 p.m. Friday to leave or face arrest or discipline, but students stayed. More than a dozen police officers assembled on campus Saturday but later dispersed. The school planned to send 200 officers to campus as early as Monday night, according to a source contacted for the operation. Police arrested three students last week after a confrontation with law enforcement both inside and outside the building, a campus statement said. Few police were present near the encampment Sunday night, and about 35 protesters chased two officers away from the barricaded area. Chanting Cops off campus, protesters remained on high alert in anticipation of police action. Cal Poly Humboldt emailed students Sunday night saying the hard closure established Saturday, which prohibits unauthorized people on campus, has been extended through May 10. Work and instruction continues to be remote, and campus leaders will escort those concerned for their safety off campus, said the bulletin said, which offered guidance on housing, technology, and health and counseling. The individuals who are occupying Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall East, or illegally camping around those facilities, are urged to leave the campus peacefully now, the bulletin said. Leaving voluntarily will be considered as a possible mitigating factor in University conduct processes and may reduce the severity of sanctions imposed. This does not, however, eliminate responsibility for any potential conduct or criminal charges. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Protesters rally Saturday for Palestinians at White Plaza on the Stanford University campus. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle Protesters also remained at Stanford University, where administrators asked students to clear out of a grassy area outside the student union by 8 p.m. Friday. The demonstration continued as Santa Clara County sheriffs deputies swept through the encampment of about 20 tents Saturday morning. At UC Berkeley, protesters have also camped out on the steps of Sproul Hall, the administration building. The students have pledged to remain until the university divests from companies doing business in Israel and establishes a Palestinian studies program. Sonoma State University students added their voices to the movement over the weekend, setting up an encampment Friday and holding a study group and protest Sunday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Oakland police are investigating a shooting that left a victim in stable condition early Saturday. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle 2021 One person was hospitalized after a shooting in East Oakland early Saturday, police said. The Oakland Police Department received a report about a shooting on the 7900 block of Rudsdale Street just before 2 a.m., the agency said. Officers found multiple vehicles in the area, blocks away from the Oakland Coliseum, that had been struck by gunfire. Police later were notified about a walk-in gunshot victim at a local hospital who had been shot on Rudsdale Street. The victim was in stable condition Saturday, the police department said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Network18 Exclusive - 'Imprint of Muslim league': PM Modi says Congress manifesto a threat to SC/STs Follow us on: From 26/11 prosecutor to neta: BJP candidate Ujjwal Nikam's journey from black robe to saffron politics Follow us on: People of Karnataka regret voting for Congress in state elections, says PM Follow us on: PM interview: Modi rules out imposition of inheritance tax if elected for third term Follow us on: Network18 Exclusive - PM Modi's big charge: 'Games being played in Karnataka; DK Shivakumar seeking votes for brother to...' Follow us on: Congress leadership absent from campaign trail in Uttar Pradesh: 'It's affected our prospects' OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Taapsee Pannu gives a sneak peek into her quirky haldi decor Follow us on: Market Action: 4 companies to launch IPOs next week with 5 listings lined up Follow us on: 'Known each other since....', Elon Musk on meeting Chinese Premier Li Qiang Follow us on: Trade setup for today: 15 things to know before opening bell China to send 2 giant pandas to U.S. Xinhua) 13:19, April 28, 2024 A girl visits a gift shop with giant panda-themed plushies at the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2024. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Jack Ohman/The Chronicle Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate from California who looks like a guy born in a blue suit, had an experience familiar to many San Francisco residents. Someone broke into his car in a parking garage and stole his suitcases, which included U.S. Senator-type suits. If Schiff had six identical blue suits in there, I wouldnt be surprised. Schiff, of course, had to go to a fundraising dinner that night and gamely wore a very un-Adam Schiff hiking vest and a regular person shirt in a room full of suits and ties. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lee Houskeeper, who apparently is the most ubiquitous San Franciscan since Herb Caen and is working as a publicist for super hitter San Francisco attorney Joe Cotchett, noted that I guess its Welcome to San Francisco. Schiff told Houskeeper he had been in a hurry and didnt want to be late. I think a lot of us can relate. In 2017, a car burglar broke into my battered Ford F-150 while my wife and daughter were attending a heartwarming show by Garrison Keillor, whose weekly Minnesota Public Radio program A Prairie Home Companion (1974-2016), of course, brought up all my Minnesota boyhood feelings about the goodness of, well, everything. That was shattered, along with my truck window. Advertisement Article continues below this ad My wife ambled over to a couple of San Francisco police officers and told them what happened. One officer said, And? As in, What did you expect by not hiding the suitcases? The car thief got away with cash and prizes totaling $17,000, my novelist daughters handwritten draft of her second novel and lots of other stuff. When I called the San Francisco Police Department to report the break-in, the officer on the phone asked me what was in the suitcases. I dutifully but sheepishly listed everything, including some personal items that are precluded from being committed to print. I expressed concern. Sir, she gently reminded me, This is San Francisco. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Oddly, the burglar decided to commit the crime in front of live security cameras at a school, so my wife, a Law & Order aficionado, asked for the video to be released to the police, which it was. There was the perps face and, um, his license plate more Reno 911 than Law & Order. So they got the guy. My dandy insurance company stepped up with a check for $2,800 toward the $17,000, so we were out five figures. Some of you have had this experience, right? No word on whether Schiffs burglar was on a security camera but, wow, I would not want to be on the business end of an Adam Schiff-led investigation. Even by the fictional DA Adam Schiff on Law & Order. I used to be a suit guy until I moved to California. When I was hired at the Sacramento Bee, the publisher, a lovely woman who was also always dressed like a U.S. senator, liked my blue suit, but advised me not to wear it in the newsroom. Why? Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its California. Enough said, I stopped wearing the suits. Now I can hardly be bothered to dress in anything above a loincloth, Oofos sandals and a knife in a scabbard. Trust me, youd like the blue suit way more than the birthday suit. In Schiffs case, hes a triathlete and would look just fine in a loincloth. To be sure, this look would fit right in in certain precincts in The City, but its more commonplace to see people walking around in $5,000 worth of clothes. Houskeeper, who is also a confidant of former Assembly Speaker and Mayor Willie Brown, suggested that Schiff go to Da Mayors tailor. Maybe he can go out with Willie Brown to choose a new suit from many of the fine clothing establishments in San Francisco, Houskeeper helpfully suggested. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I told a Major Political Journalist I was going to meet Brown a few months ago and fretted over what to wear. I got a new Hugo Boss suit, I noted after a suitless pandemic where all my suits hadnt been stored and were filled with moth holes. The Major Journalist said, Well, dont worry. Willie will be wearing socks more expensive than your suit. He was right, although I didnt ask to check out Browns socks. Social cues, you know. About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies While Schiff is a noted liberal, they say a conservative is a liberal who got mugged. This event wasnt enough to push him over the edge yet. OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All India receives oil cargo in Russian SCF tanker after brief halt: Report April 28, 2024 / 22:34 IST Odisha continued to reel under severe heatwave conditions with industrial town Angul recording the state's maximum temperature of 44.3 degrees Celsius on Sunday. As many as 27 places in the state recorded a maximum temperature of above 40 degrees C, of which 12 places witnessed a temperature of 43 degrees C or above, a bulletin issued by IMD's Bhubaneswar centre said. The temperature was 44.1 degrees C at Boudh, followed by Baripada (44), Nayagarh & Cuttack (43.7), Dhenkanal (43.6), Talcher & Malkangiri (43.5), and Bolangir (43.3). Follow us on: Punjab CM Mann to meet Kejriwal in Tihar jail on April 30, say AAP sources Follow us on: Decision to resign unrelated to ticket, not joining any political party: Arvinder Singh Lovely Follow us on: INDIA bloc's formula is to give PM's post to alliance parties for one year each: Narendra Modi Follow us on: Modi govt has used privatisation as weapon to weaken reservations: Congress Follow us on: 'Those who turned down Ram Mandir invitation will be...', says PM Modi 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 OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All US President Biden pokes fun at Trump, age critiques ahead of presidential election Follow us on: US TikTok ban: India's stance may feature in American courts, says FCC chief 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. An all-you-can-eat restaurant in the south of France has gone viral on TikTok racking up 23.8 million views So why is it so good? The pictures speak for themselves, with a tower of lobsters in the shape of a Christmas tree, the largest cheese board in the world with 111 varieties of cheese, and a rotisserie, where you can order anything from whole roasted veal kidneys to escargots. So why is it so good? The pictures speak for themselves, with a tower of lobsters in the shape of a Christmas tree, the largest cheese board in the world with 111 varieties of cheese, and a rotisserie, where you can order anything from whole roasted veal kidneys to escargots. So why is it so good? The pictures speak for themselves, with a tower of lobsters in the shape of a Christmas tree, the largest cheese board in the world with 111 varieties of cheese, and a rotisserie, where you can order anything from whole roasted veal kidneys to escargots. With a seven-month waiting list, guests are reminded that they can't change the time, date or size of their reservation once they've booked. If you're heading to France anytime soon, and want to check it out for yourself, find their website HERE 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. A police officer based in Mwenezi, Masvingo province has appeared before a Karoi magistrate facing murder charges after he allegedly killed a fellow patron at a bar following a dispute. Farai Simudzirai appeared before magistrate Blessing Makati who did not ask him to plead. Simudzirai was remanded in custody to May 8. Prosecutors said Simudzirai was drinking beer with fellow officers including the now deceased Privilege Hove and Mirirai Chiveza at Kutepa Ultra City Night Club on April 21 around midnight. Accused person had a misunderstanding with fellow patrons and Constable Chiveza, who is stationed at ZRP Karoi Urban, came to restrain Simudzirai and dragged him outside the nightclub, state prosecutor Progress Muponde told the court. Hove, who was part of the patrons, came to the rescue. Simudzirai produced an Okapi knife and stabbed Hove on the stomach resulting in protruding of the intestines. Hove was transferred to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital and later Sally Mugabe Hospital in Harare where he died on arrival. Hove was buried at his rural home in Mberengwa last Wednesday. The Standard. Breaking News via Email Related Zimbabwe Latest News Conor here: The following post places the current crackdown on speech across the Collective West in a broader historical context. By Jorge Majfud, an Uruguayan-American writer and an associate professor at Jacksonville University. Originally published at Common Dreams. On January 1, 1831, The Liberator, the countrys first abolitionist newspaper and, later, a defender of womens suffrage, appeared in Massachusetts. At that time, Georgia slavers offered a reward of $5,000 (more than $160,000 in 2024 value) for the capture of its founder, William Lloyd Garrison. Naturally, this is how power reacts to freedom and the fight for the rights of others, but this attempt at violent censorship was not the legal norm at that time. The freedom of speech established by the First Amendment applied to white men, and no one wanted to break the law in broad daylight. To correct these errors there was always the mafia, paramilitarism and, later, secret agencies that are beyond the lawif not legal harassment under other excuses. In his first article, Garrison already reveals the tone of a dispute that is announced as something long-standing: I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to think, or to speak, or write, with moderation. No! no! Tell a man whose house is on fire to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hands of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen The Liberator, exercising its right to freedom of the press, began sending copies to the southern states. The response of the southern governments and the slave owners was not to prohibit the publication, since it was against the lawa law that was made so that some rich white men could protect themselves from other rich white men who never imagined that this freedom could in some way threaten the existence of the political power of all rich white men. Actually, that is what the land of the free meant when the poet and slaveowner Francis Scott Key wrote it in 1814: the land of the white menthe free race. Instead of breaking the law, an old method was resorted to. Theres no need to break the rules when you can change them. This is how a democracy works. Of course, not everyone has, nor does they have, the same possibilities of operating such a democratic miracle. Those who cannot change the laws usually break them and that is why they are criminals. Those who can change them are the first interested in ensuring that they are fulfilled. Except when the urgency of their own interests does not allow for bureaucratic delay or, for some reason, an inconvenient majority has been established, which those in power accuse of being irresponsible, childish or dangerous. In principle, since the First Amendment could not be directly abolished, losses were limited. North Carolina passed laws prohibiting literacy for slaves. The prohibitions continued and spread throughout the 1830s to other slave states, almost always justified by the disorders, protests and even violent riots that abolitionists had inoculated among blacks with subversive literature. Slavery propaganda was immediate. Posters and pamphlets were distributed warning of subversive elements among the decent people of the South and the dangers of the few conferences on the taboo subject. Harassment of freedom of expression, without actually prohibiting it, also occurred in the largest cities of the North. One of the pro-slavery pamphlets dated February 27, 1837 (a year after Texas was taken from Mexico to reestablish slavery) invited the population to gather in front of a church on Cannon Street in New York, where an abolitionist was going. to give a talk at seven at night. The advertisement warned about An abolitionist of the most revolting character is among you A seditious Lecture is to be delivered this evening and called to unite in putting down and silencing by peaceable means this tool of evil and fanaticism. Let the right of the States guaranteed by the constitution be protected. Abolitionist publications and conferences did not stop. For a time, the way to counteract them was not the prohibition of freedom of expression but the increase in slavery propaganda and the demonization of anti-slavery people as dangerous subversives. Later, when the resource of propaganda was not enough, all Southern states began to adopt laws that limited the freedom of expression of revisionist ideas. Only when free speech (freedom of dissident whites) got out of control did they turn to more aggressive laws, this time limiting free speech with selective bans or taxes on abolitionists. For example, in 1837, Missouri banned publications that went against the dominant discourse, that is, against slavery. Rarely did they go so far as to imprison dissidents. They were discredited, censored, or lynched for some good reason such as self-defense or the defense of God, civilization, and freedom. After the Civil War broke out, the slaveholding South wrote its own constitution. As the Anglo-Saxon Texans did, just about separated from Mexico, and for the same reasons, the constitution of the Confederacy established the protection of the Peculiar Institution (slavery) while including a clause in favor of freedom of expression. This passage did not prevent laws that limited it to one side or the paramilitarism of the slave (well-regulated) militias, origin of the southern police, from acting as they pleased. As in We the people of the Constitution, as originally the First Amendment of 1791, this freedom of speech did not include people who were neither the people nor were they full and responsible humans. It was referring to the free race. In fact, the constitution of the new slave country established in 1861, in its section 12, almost like a copy of the original amendment of 1791: (12) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (13). A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. More equitable and democratic, impossible The secret was that, again, like almost a century before, that of the people did not include the majority of the population. If anyone had observed that then, he would be accused of being crazy, unpatriotic, or a dangerous subversive. That is, something that, at its root, has not changed much in the 21st century. By the time the slave system was legally outlawed in 1865, thanks to the circumstances of a nearly lost war, The Liberator had already published 1,820 issues. Aside from supporting the abolitionist cause, it also supported the womens equal rights movement. The first woman candidate for the presidency (although not recognized by law), Victoria Woodhull, was arrested days before the 1872 elections on charges of having published an article classified as obsceneopinions against good customs, such as the law of the women to decide about their sexuality. As has been the norm for centuries in the Free World, Woodhull was not arrested for exercising her freedom of speech in a free country, but under the guise of breaking other laws. However, this is not an exclusive characteristic of the slaveholding South or of the United States as a whole. The British Empire always proceeded in the same way, not very different from the Athenian democracy twenty-five centuries ago: we are civilized because we tolerate different opinions and protect diversity and freedom of expression. Of course, as long as they dont cross certain limits. As long as they do not become a real danger to our incontestable power. In this sense, let us remember just one more example. In 1902, economist John Atkinson Hobson published his classic Imperialism: A Study in which he explained Britains vampire nature over its colonies. Hobson was marginalized by critics, discredited by academia and the mainstream press of the time. He was not arrested or imprisoned. While the empire that he himself denounced continued to kill dozens of millions of human beings in Asia and Africa, neither the government nor the British crown took the trouble to directly censure the professor. Many, as is the case today, pointed to him as an example of the virtues of British democracy. Something similar to what happens today with those critics of US imperialism, especially if they live in the United States: look, he criticizes the country in which he lives In other words, if someone points out the crimes against humanity in the multiple imperial wars and does so in the country that allows freedom of expression, that is proof of the moral and democratic goodness of the country that massacres millions of people and tolerates that someone dare to mention it. How do you explain all these apparent contradictions? Its not that complicated. An imperial power, dominant, unanswerable, without fear of the real loss of its privileges, does not need direct censorship. Whats more, the acceptance of marginal criticism would prove its benefits. It is tolerated, as long as they do not cross the limit of true questioning. As long as the hegemonic domain is not in decline and in danger of being replaced by something else. Now lets look at those counterexamples of hegemonic power and its stewards. Why dont you go to Cuba where people do not have freedom of expression, where plurality of political parties does not exist? To begin, it would be necessary to point out that all political systems are exclusive. In Cuba, liberal parties are not allowed to participate in their elections, which are called a farce by liberal democracies. In countries with liberal democratic systems, such as the United States, elections are basically elections of a single party called Democratic-Republican. There is no possibility that a third party can seriously challenge the Single Party because this is the party of the corporations, which are the elite that have the real power in the country. Communist parties here were prohibited and now, after FBI and CIA persecution of suspected sympathizers, it has been reduced to a virtual inexistence. On the other hand, if, for example, in a country like Chile a Marxist like the current president Gabriel Boric wins the elections, no one would even think of imagining that this president is going to leave the constitutional framework, which prohibits the establishment of a communist system in the country. The same thing happens in Cuba, but it must be said that it is not the same. Now, lets return to the logic of freedom of expression in different systems of global power. To summarize it, I think it is necessary to say that freedom of expression is a luxury that, historically, those colonies or republics that struggled to become independent from the freedom of empires (the free race) have not been able to afford. It would be enough to remember of dozens of examples like the Guatemalan democracy, destroyed by the Great Democracy of the United States in 1954 because its democratically elected government decided to apply the sovereign laws of its own country, which did not suit the megacorporation United Fruit Company. The Great Democracy did not hesitate to install another brutal military dictatorship, which left hundreds of thousands of dead over decades. What was the main problem of Guatemalan democracy in the 1950s? It was his freedom of the press, his freedom of expression. Through this, the Northern Empire and the UFCo managed to manipulate public opinion in that country through a propaganda campaign deliberately planned and recognized by its own perpetuatorsnot by its Creole butlers, it goes without saying. When this happens, the young Argentine doctor Ernesto Guevara was in Guatemala and had to flee into exile in Mexico, where he met other exiles, the Cubans Fidel and Raul Castro. When the Cuban Revolution triumphed, Ernesto Guevara, by then El Che, summed it up remarkably: Cuba will not be another Guatemala. What did he mean by this? Cuba will not allow itself to be inoculated like Guatemala through the free press. History proved him right: When in 1961 Washington invaded Cuba based on the CIA plan that assured that Cuba will be another Guatemala, it failed miserably. Because? Because its population did not join the liberating invasion, since it could not be inoculated by the massive propaganda that the free press allows. Kennedy found out and reproached the CIA, which he threatened to dissolve and ended up dissolving. Freedom of expression is typical of those systems that cannot be threatened by freedom of expression, but quite the opposite: when popular opinion has been crystallized, by tradition or by mass propaganda, the opinion of the majority is the best form of legitimation. Which is why these systems, always dominant, always imperial, do not allow their colonies the same rights that they grant to their citizens. When the United States was in its infancy and fighting for its survival, its government did not hesitate to approve a law that prohibited any criticism of the government under the excuse of propagating false ideas and informationseven years after approving the famous First Amendment. Naturally, that law of 1798 was called The Sedition Act, which made it a crime to print, utter, or publish any false, scandalous, and malicious writing about the government. These resources of the champion of freedom of expression were repeated other times throughout their history, always when the decisions and interests of a government dominated by the big corporations in power felt its interests were seriously threatened. This was the case of another law also called the Sedition Act, that of 1918, when there was popular resistance against the propaganda organized by public opinion manipulators like Edward Bernays and George Creel (the white hot mass of patriotism) in favor of intervening in the First World Warand thus ensuring the collection of European debts. Until a few years before, the harsh anti-imperialist criticisms of writers and activists like Mark Twain were demonized, but there was no need to tarnish the reputation of a free society by putting a renowned intellectual in jail, as they had done in 1846 with David Thoreau for his criticism to the aggression and dispossession of Mexico to expand slavery, under the perfect excuse of not paying taxes. Neither Twain nor the majority of public critics managed to change any policy or reverse any imperialist aggression in the West, as they were read by a minority outside of economic and financial power. In that aspect, modern propaganda had no competition, therefore direct censorship of these critics would have hindered their efforts to sell aggression in the name of freedom and democracy. On the contrary, critics served to support that idea, whereby the largest and most brutal empires of the Modern Era were proud democracies, not discredited dictatorships. Only when public opinion was too hesitant, as during the Cold War, did McCarthyism emerge with its direct persecutions and later the (indirect) assassination of civil rights leaders, violent repression with arrested and deaths in universities when criticism against the Vietnam War threatened to translate into effective political changein fact, the Congress of the 1970s was the most progressive in history, making possible the investigation of the Pike and Church Committee against the CIAs secret regime of propaganda and assassinations. When three decades later the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq occurred, the criticism and public demonstrations had become timid, but the new magnitude of imperial aggression after 2001 made it necessary to take new legal measures, as in 1798. History rhymed again in 2003. Instead of the Sedition Act it was called the Patriot Act, and it not only established direct censorship but something much worse: the indirect and often invisible censorship of self-censorship. More recently, when criticism of racism, patriotic history and too many rights for sexual minorities began to expand beyond control, the resort to prohibition by law returned. Case in point with Floridas latest laws, promoted by Governor Ron DeSantis directly banning revisionist books and regulating language in public schools and universities. The creation of a demon called Woke to replace the loss of the previous demon called Muslimswho replaced Communists, who replaced N-people. Meanwhile, the butlers, especially the sepoys of the colonies, continue to repeat cliches created generations before: how come you live in the United States and dare to criticize that country, you should move to Cuba, which is where freedom of expression is not respected. After their cliches they feel so happy and so patriotic that it is a shame to make them uncomfortable with reality. On May 5, 2023, the coronation ceremony of King Charles III of England took place. The journalist Julian Assange, imprisoned for more than a decade for the crime of having published a minor part of the atrocities committed by Washington in Iraq, wrote a letter to the new king inviting him to visit the depressing Belmarsh prison in London, where hundreds of prisoners are dying, some of whom were recognized dissidents. Assange was allowed the sacred right of freedom of expression generously granted by the Free World. His letter was published by different Western media, which proves the benefits of the West and the childish contradictions of those who criticize the Free World from the Free World. But Assange continues to serve as an example of lynching. Same, during slavery and segregation a few thousand blacks were lynched in public. The idea was to show an example of what can happen to a truly free society, not to destroy the oppressive order itself by eliminating all slaves, poor, workers, critics, and other inferior people. As Russia continues to grind down Ukraine and Israel does the same to Gazans, with heavy US involvement in both arenas, its worth remembering how tools used and lessons learned in theaters of combat typically find their way back to the US to be used on American citizens. Much of the technology and methodology the US three-letter agencies use against Americans was developed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Police are constantly becoming more militarized and outfitted with tools from the battlefields. There are surveillance blimps, the FBI flies drones over the US, state and local police departments use Stingray invasive cell phone surveillance devices that mimic cell phone towers and send out signals to trick cell phones in the area into transmitting their locations and identifying information. The collection of Americans data was also pioneered in the War on Terror. From a 2013 story at HuffPost: essentially amassing everything, however minor or unimportant, and then using increasingly powerful computers to pull out of that large pile actionable information, i.e., specific information to feed back to combat commanders and special forces to allow them to kill specific people. Knowing, for example, the name of a guys girlfriend leads to knowing what car she drives which leads to knowing when she left home which leads to listening to her make a date via cell phone which leads a credit card charge for a room which leads to a strike on a particular location at a specific time, high-tech flagrante delicto. The FBI has followed the NSAs wartime lead in creating its Investigative Data Warehouse, a collection of more than a billion documents on Americans including intelligence reports, social security files, drivers licenses, and private financial information including credit card data. It is unsurprising that these weapons and surveillance tools are turned on Americans. If we accept that the US is dominated by the transnational capital class, it stands to reason that its enemies have less to do with traditional nation-state boundaries and everything to do with resources and rent-seeking opportunities. Attempting to secure capitalists interests at home and abroad is the mission. Since the conclusion of WWII the US has been all about spreading freedom, which means a state devoted to high profits free from the political whims of local populations that could degrade an investments expected return. But that plunder does not just exist in far flung regions; its also alive and well in the US as well and requires the same tools of population control and punishment. At home, the war has always been raging too which was again about freedom for the capitalist class. Workers, labor organizers, the Black Panthers were largely beaten into submission in a lopsided class war with capital and the state pitted against workers. After all, as J. Edgar Hoover argued, conflict abroad must mean subversion at home, but what does that mean when the US ruling class sides with neo-Nazis in Ukraine and authoritarian capitalists in Israel? What Will the West Reap From Conflicts Involving Neo-Nazis in Ukraine and AI-Assisted Plausible Genocide in Gaza? The US helped initiate and continues to perpetuate the conflict in Ukraine. And despite public urgings of caution, has fully backed Israel in its destruction of Gaza. At the same time, the crackdown on criticism of Israeli policy is intensifying in the US. Lets look first at tools and then ideological creep. There are reports that Israel is using an AI targeting system in Gaza with little human oversight and a permissive policy for casualties. On April 3, +972 Magazine revealed that the Israeli army was using a program known as Lavender to mark all suspected operatives in the military wings of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including low-ranking ones, as potential bombing targets. During the early stages of the conflict, the army almost completely relied on the system, which flagged as many as 37,000 Palestinians as suspected militants and their homes for possible air strikes. Silicon Valley is hard at work on similar tools for the US, and Ukraine has been used as a testing ground where the AI has but an utter failure. Project Maven is a Department of Defense program to use artificial intelligence to help the military detect potential targets on the battlefield using drone footage and other data. As the New York Times reported on April 23, it is being used in Ukraine to collect Russian movements and communications into one big, user-friendly picture, employing algorithms to predict where troops are moving and where attacks might happen. While the AI might be a nice shiny toy, it doesnt work that well when your drones are quickly blown out of the sky and you cant produce enough shells to match the Russian side. The Times goes on to admit numerous failures of this technology in Ukraine, but what goes unmentioned is how it will likely find its way into use back in the US. Police drones are already widely used to monitor public gatherings in the US where theres no risk that the Russians will shoot them out of the sky. The US adopting Israel technology that has been tested on the captive population of Gaza is nothing new. Heres just a brief overview of some of the weaponized tech used in the occupied territories that has also been adopted in the US. One example is how Israeli surveillance company Cellebrite sells its phone-hacking tools to countless police departments across the US. Antony Loewenstein in The Palestine Laboratory points out how Israelis complain that any Washington criticism of Israeli policies ignores how much the US has benefitted from its combat laboratory for US weapon development. And another example: Some Americans are keen to learn on the ground in the Jewish state itself before taking it back to their home countries. In 2004, the US-based pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a self-described civil rights organization, began sending US police delegations to IsraelThe US police who went come back and they are Zionists. They understand Israel and its security needs in ways a lot of audiences dont. How commonplace are such systems in the US? Database that aims to collect information on every Palestinian. They then use it to restrict movement or potentially other freedoms. The monitoring of Palestinians 24/7 across the occupied territory can turn up personal details that an individual wishes to remain secret, e.g., a married man who might be gay, someone who might be having an affair, etc. That information, as well as any other embarrassing activities, can then be used to try to turn that person into a spy or pressure them in other ways. These same technologies are used in the US and elsewhere. Take Oosto, formerly AnyVision. Its an Israeli company that merges AI with facial recognition and biometrics and targets all Palestiniians across the West Bank. According to Loewenstein, Oosto operates in the US, and in locations such as casinos, manufacturing, and even fitness centers. And theres Cellebrite, the Israeli digital intelligence behemoth whose products include the Universal Forensic Extraction Device hacking tool. According to Loewenstein: Over 2,800 US government customers, including law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Agriculture, have purchased the companys equipment, and the firm has hired prosecutors, police officers, and Secret Service agents to train people to use it. The company has announced that it has secured business with six of the worlds biggest oil refiners and six of the planets largest pharmaceutical firms. It has also moved into the increasingly profitable field of corporate surveillance. Protecting Plunder I think it sometimes gets lost in all the madness of Project Ukraine just how important it was that Stanford hosted neo-Nazis last year: Elite Stanford University hosted a delegation from Azov, a neo-Nazi formation in Ukraines National Guard During the panel, Azov projected its Nazi symbol on the wall Neoliberal End of History philosopher Francis Fukuyama attended and posed for photoshttps://t.co/GkWrS8HM7T Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) July 5, 2023 The university is, after all, the intellectual center of the US capitalist citadel of Silicon Valley that increasingly dominates the military-industrial complex. The Nazism fostered in Ukraine by the West was unlikely to ever remain confined to Ukraine, and there are already signs it is beginning to spread throughout Europe. Heres Kit Klarenberg writing at Al Mayadeen: In mid-February, Berlins Junge Welt revealed how Centuria, an ultra-violent Ukrainian Neo-Nazi faction, has since the war in Ukraine cemented itself in six cities across Germany, and is seeking to expand its activities across Europe, influencing populations and governments to adopt their horrendous worldview. Disturbingly, theyre not the only fascist militants from Kiev with major political and societal ambitions, going under the name of Centuria. As we shall see, there are strong indications the latter is the monstrous offspring of British intelligence. Centurias activities are outlined in a detailed report from George Washington Universitys Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES). It notes that the groups parent organisation is a self-described order of European traditionalist military officers that has the stated goals of reshaping the countrys military along right-wing ideological lines, and defending the cultural and ethnic identity of European peoples against Brussels politicos and bureaucrats: [Centuria] envisions a future where European right forces are consolidated and national traditionalism is established as the disciplining ideological basis for the European peoples. IERES reported that Centurias military wing began training in 2018 in Ukraines Hetman Petro Sahaidachny National Army Academy (NAA), Kievs premier military education institution and a major hub for Western military assistance to the country. From there, many of the groups members were drilled by top Western military institutions alongside British, Canadian and American special forces officers. In turn, its operatives traveled to Western military training centres, spreading Neo-Nazism every step of the way. If youre going to back Nazis in Ukraine in order to weaken Russia, why would such a strategy stop with Ukraine? Why not Armenia, Poland, or the Baltics? Or how about Germany? Maybe even in the US? The fact that Stanford welcomed Nazis with open arms should not have come as a surprise, as described here by WSWS: Such a development can only be explained based on an analysis of the class forces on campus and the foul intellectual climate that has been created by decades of anti-Marxism and the promotion of postmodernist thought. The last thirty years of uninterrupted imperialist wars abroad and social counter-revolution at home that followed the end of the USSR also saw the ever closer integration of academic institutions, especially the so called elite universities, into the state and military apparatus and Wall Street. Stanford University is a primary example. The universitys Board of Trustees is largely composed of hedge fund managers and Wall Street executives, including Gene T. Sykes, the managing director of Goldman Sachs. The university has also long been notorious for the right-wing Hoover Institution, which is currently led by war criminal Condoleezza Rice, a key figure in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Hoover Institution has historically been a central hub for the promotion of right-wing historical revisionism and falsifications. Most notably, it has hosted workshops with far-right academics like Jorg Baberowski from Berlins Humboldt University, who has since emerged as a central figure in the international effort by academics to minimize the crimes of Nazism. The Hoover Institution, following in the footsteps of the former president it is named for, has also always played a guiding role in the class warfare waged by capitalists both at home and abroad. A 1978 Palo Alto meeting yielded much of the Reagan administration leadership and the Hoover Institution played a major role in the plan for the 1980s. Bush the Younger had a similar meeting in 1998. Where the US-backed conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and celebration of neo-Nazis at Stanford merge is at the intersection of plunder and authoritarianism. The driving force behind the war in Ukraine is a desire by the Western elite to restart the pillaging of Russia that began during the 1990s shock therapy and was largely ended by Putin. On the other hand, Israel is really a perfect model state for the US ruling elite, summed up here in Antony Lowensteins The Palestine Laboratory: According to Netanyahu, Jewish writer Peter Beinhart explained, the future belongedto authoritarian capitalism: governments that combined aggressive and often racist nationalism with economic and technological might. The question then becomes, would the transnational capitalist have any hesitation going from Mussolini style corporatism to full blown Fascism before relinquishing any of their ill-gotten gains or accepting limits on their power or reach? Just how far along the US is in the process of becoming more like Israel is debatable, but the vision is clear. Neve Gordon, who teaches international law and human rights at Queen Mary University in London, tells Loewenstein that the Israeli model is based on describing itself as a democracy, effectively surveilling and killing terrorists, and simultaneously advancing neoliberal economic objectives. The following passage describes Israel, but if it was referring to the US, would you be able to tell the difference? This attraction stems from the sense (real or perceived) that fighting terrorism through methods of homeland security, that include suspending due process in many areas of the criminal justice system, including torture, the right to a speedy trial, the freedom from arbitrary police searches, and the prohibition against indefinite incarceration and incognito detentions (to mention a few methods) does not conflict with democratic values. Thus, the ultimate attractiveness towards the Israeli experience in fighting terrorism is to its ability to link a militaristic worldview with a neoliberal economic agenda. Anything that gets in the way of that worldview is now being dismantled. Maureen Clare Murphy at Electronic Intifada goes into meticulous detail in this April 11 piece on all the ways the US is gutting international law in Palestine. Thats not new for the rules-based international order where the rules are whatever they say they are, but the point is being driven home clearly in Gaza and elsewhere. Heres just one recent example from the Newspaper of Record: It is not. The Wests backing of Israel is reminiscent of more overt forms of colonialism and resource theft. As the the Western oligarchs are increasingly thwarted in turf wars in Russia, China, the Middle East, Africa, and elsewhere, This will likely lead to even more violent rapaciousness at home, but how much more juice remains in the squeeze? Elsewhere, any weak state sitting on valuable real estate should be even more nervous than usual. Because what were seeing with Israel and the Wests support is the culmination of decades of increasing disregard for and rewriting of international law. They are now completely tearing it up and essentially saying, Anything goes. What could this mean? Lets just quickly take the case of Niger as an example because it has been in the news a lot in recent months. The impoverished country has some of the highest grade uranium ore deposits in the world. It has been mined for decades by the French, who got a massive discount in its former colony on fuel for their nuclear plants. The US also has a major drone base in the country. Well, Niger has decided that not only would the cushy deal for the French end, but the Americans would be kicked out as well. The Americans, however, are not leaving,. If we apply the Israel-Gaza doctrine, could France or the US respond to an attack on their troops or civilians by leveling the country and simply stealing the uranium? No doubt the US has already been engaged in similar efforts in recent decades, but could we see a more brutal doubling down in coming years? Frederic Lordon, writing from the French perspective, believes that Gaza represents a clear historical marker: What we are witnessing is moral suicide. Never before has there been such a colossal squandering of symbolic capital that was thought to be unassailable, which had been built up in the wake of the Holocaust. It turns out that the time for symbolic reckoning is coming for everyone, especially for this colonial project which calls itself the West and claims a monopoly on civilisation, yet wages violence in the name of its principles. If indeed they ever floated, its moral credentials are now sunk. It takes the arrogance of the soon-to-be-fallen rulers, who dont yet know it, to believe that they can pursue this course without cost. Those who remain passive, who participate as accomplices, even acting as deniers of such an enormous crime being committed before their eyes and before the eyes of everyone else people of this kind can no longer lay claim to anything. The whole world is watching Gaza die, and the whole world is watching the West watching Gaza. And nothing escapes them. At this point, we inevitably think of Germany, whose unconditional support has reached astonishing levels of delirium, and of which one darkly humorous Internet user was able to say: When it comes to genocide, they are always on the wrong side of History. Its not certain that we France are much better off, but it is certain that History is waiting for everyone around the corner. History: this is what the West meets in Gaza. If, as there is reason to believe, this is a rendezvous with decline and fall, then the time will come when we will be able to say that the world was upturned in Gaza. While the decline has been widely acknowledged for some time, much of the concern has centered around which form it would take. What Ukraine and Gaza announce is that the process will be a protracted, bloody mess. If Western governments, representing their oligarchic benefactors, are no longer interested in international law and no longer capable of agreements, the path has been laid. The precedent is being set, and the long term consequences are here: And the lesson here is clear for all: if you are undesirable by any force within this hegemony, you will be brutally erased from the face of the earth, swiftly, without a murmur of protest or a hint of recourse. Gaza is a blueprint for all of us this century. 5/ Julia Steinberger (@JKSteinberger) October 29, 2023 you and yours will be killed, imprisoned, displaced. 3. If you dare protest and criticize the hegemon, you will lose everything: work, reputation, protection. 4. At every turn, you will be forced to chose sides: stay part of the hegemon 7/ Julia Steinberger (@JKSteinberger) October 29, 2023 Videos show brazen police brutality across U.S. universities at the demand of Israel Some police are reacting violently to people who are protesting Israels actions in Gaza at universities throughout the nation, with video footage making the rounds online showing just how far Israels reach is when it comes to silencing dissenters. One particularly horrifying incident took place at Emory University in Atlanta. When economics professor Caroline Fohlin saw a student protester being violently arrested, she asked the police What are you doing? Apparently, that was enough to send the officer into a rage. He told her that she was under arrest and grabbed her arm. He screamed at her to get on the ground, and when she did not immediately comply, he forcefully pushed her to the ground, and then another officer came in to help pin her down. The second officer slammed her head on the concrete. The 57-year-old professor then said I am a professor of economics, perhaps to clarify that she was not trespassing and had a right to be there, but they proceeded to arrest her. Horrified onlookers can be heard screaming You people are fascists. You are Hitler, youre a rabid dog. Shame on you. May you never live another day. At one point, she tried to reason with the officers, apologizing and asking them to remove the handcuffs, but they continued to arrest her. ?? ATLANTA: Emory Economics Professor Caroline Fohlin came across the violent arrest of an anti-genocide student protester on campus and asked the police, "What are you doing?" An officer hurls her to the ground and handcuff her:pic.twitter.com/cLAkkKozjh Robin Monotti (@robinmonotti) April 26, 2024 She wasnt the only professor detained by Atlanta police; CNN crews saw at least one other professor being arrested, Philosophy Department Chair Noelle McAfee. At least 28 people were arrested overall at the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus, where police used rubber bullets to try to disperse the crowds. While the school tried to accuse protesters of trespassing and not being affiliated with the university, The Emory Wheels editor in chief, Madi Olivier, confirmed that 20 of the 28 people detained were indeed affiliated with the school. 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. Video shows brutal takedown of Fox 7 camera man In another incident, a Fox 7 camera man was slammed to the ground by police and detained at a pro-Palestine protest being held at the University of Texas at Austin. In video footage posted online, he does not appear to hit anyone, but the chaotic crowd pushes him as he tries to navigate the scene with a large camera. It is possible that he was accidentally bumped into a police officer, but he is clearly carrying a camera and his press credentials. US Police is aggressively cracking down against students and journalists at anti-genocide protests. Not only is the US Govt complicit in the Gaza genocide with arms and political support for Israel but now they want to silence the protests at US campuses. pic.twitter.com/AcSc3EBBlu Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) April 24, 2024 He said: They were pushing me, and they said that I hit an officer. I didnt hit an officer. He added that he was only covering the event and nothing like this had ever happened to him before. A journalist for the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE, Tony Plohetski, reposted the video online and wrote: I cant remember a journalist ever being arrested for doing his job in my 24 years of reporting in Austin. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the protesters belong in jail. The arrests continue to pile up, with 108 protesters reportedly arrested at Emerson College in Boston on Thursday morning, nearly 60 arrested at the University of Texas in Austin, and 93 arrested at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. The protests are part of a movement calling on universities to sever their financial tiers to Israel and divest from the companies they are affiliated with that they feel are supporting the genocidal campaign in Gaza. At least 34,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since October 7, when Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israel. Although the protests have been largely peaceful, they have been addressed with a heavy hand from universities, many of which are claiming the issue is anti-Semitism. USC law professor Jody Armour said: We have lots of Jewish, and Muslim, and Palestinian, and Catholic like I am, Protestants too, intergenerational, coming together. Everybody should hate anti-Semitism and fight anti-Semitism, but being opposed to Israels slaughter in Gaza that the UN has said may plausibly be genocide, does not mean that youre anti-Semitic, and we need to stop allowing people to weaponize anti-Semitism against real, valid protests. If anyone still had any doubts about how much influence Israeli interests have on the U.S., this should put them to rest. Sources for this article include: Mediaite.com Slate.com Medical associations silent after review finds weak evidence for recommending puberty blockers to kids Major medical associations have remained silent after the results of a four-year review commissioned by the National Health Service (NHS) England undermined their recommendations for giving puberty blockers to children with gender dysphoria (Article by Katelynn Richardson republished from YourNews.com) The Cass report, conducted by former Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health Dr. Hilary Cass and released April 10, found that there is weak evidence for offering puberty blockers to children. It concluded that its findings raise questions about the quality of currently available guidelines offered by associations like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and the Endocrine Society, yet neither organization has committed to reviewing their guidelines. The review recommends against treating children with puberty blockers outside of a research setting. It also urged extreme caution for providing cross-sex hormones to minors under 18 and stressed the need for a clear clinical rationale. The review further suggested a full programme of research be established to look at the characteristics, interventions and outcomes of every young person presenting to the NHS gender services. Although a diagnosis of gender dysphoria has been seen as necessary for initiating medical treatment, it is not reliably predictive of whether that young person will have longstanding gender incongruence in the future, or whether medical intervention will be the best option for them, the report noted. The American Medical Association, WPATH, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and Endocrine Society did not respond to multiple inquiries over the past week from the Daily Caller News Foundation asking whether they had concerns with the reports findings or intended to conduct their own review. Aside from WPATH, these organizations have largely failed to even address the report publicly. WPATH wrote in a statement that it supports policies that increase access to high-quality ethical care for transgender youth, claiming that the reports foundation is rooted in a false premise. The organizations standards of care 8th version states that waiting several years to start a young adolescent on puberty blockers is not always practical nor necessary given the premise of the treatment as a means to buy time while avoiding distress from irreversible pubertal changes, though it acknowledges that establishing a sustained experience of gender incongruence can be important before starting. The foundation of the Cass report is rooted in the false premise that non-medical alternatives to care will result in less adolescent distress for most adolescents and is based on a lack of knowledge of and experience working with this patient population, the organization said in a press release. It is harmful to perpetuate this notion and does not acknowledge the very real fact that medical pathways are an important treatment option for many young people. ? The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (@AACAP) is refusing to inform its members about the publication of the Cass Review, the biggest news in the field of pediatrics since COVID, and arguably in the 21st century. On Wednesday, AACAP member Dr. Kris Kaliebe pic.twitter.com/jtbzwXDFEN Leor Sapir (@LeorSapir) April 12, 2024 The Endocrine Society characterizes puberty blockers as a reversible pause to puberty and a first step in treatment to allow the adolescent to explore their gender identity and/or to provide relief from distress. WPATHs guidelines likewise recommend putting adolescents on puberty suppressing hormones to alleviate gender dysphoria. WPATH physicians acknowledged puberty blockers can cause irreversible consequences in minors like infertility, bone loss and disruption of brain development in educational sessions from September 2022 previously obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation. Both the AMA and AACAP recommend WPATHs guidance for handling gender dysphoria in children. The AMA often advocates against red state laws that ban sex-change procedures for minors, including puberty blockers. The Cass report notes there is no evidence that puberty blockers buy time to think, and some concern that they may change the trajectory of psychosexual and gender identity development. The Cass report also questioned WPATH and the Endocrine Society on the circularity of their citations, which make support for their positions appear stronger than they are. Early versions of the two organizations guidelines influenced nearly all guidelines set by other organizations, the report notes. The two organizations guidelines are also closely interlinked because WPATH provided input on the Endocrine Society recommendations, according to the report. The circularity of this approach may explain why there has been an apparent consensus on key areas of practice despite the evidence being poor, the report stated. Read more at: YourNews.com UPDATE: Judge Cannon unseals MORE unredacted documents exposes THREATS from Smiths office Jack Smith , this Muppet prosecutor, is simply a deep state tool and Biden is pulling the strings. (Article by Vince Quill republished from WLTReport.com) The Special Prosecutors case continues to face hurdle after hurdle, and loss after loss, as the entire sham case drifts ever closer to a complete implosion. Judge Aileen Cannon has been unsealing and revealing unredacted documents related to the case that conclusively show collusion between NARA and the Biden administration. A new round of unsealed court documents from Judge Cannon corroborate earlier claims that Smiths top prosecutor, Jay Bratt, allegedly coerced and extorted attorney Stanley Woodward. Woodward is the attorney for former Trump aide and co-defendant Walt Nauta. Fully Vaccinated About To See Tsunami of Illness and Death, Warns Virologist Bratt reportedly told Woodward that if he did not get Nauta to flip on President Trump, his long-sought judicial nomination would be threatened. Investigative journalist and court reporter Julie Kelly reports: Judge Cannon is on an unsealing binge. Unsealed records detail allegations that Jay Bratt, Jack Smiths lead prosecutor in classified docs case, threatened Stanley Woodwardatty for Walt Nautawith sinking a judicial nomination if he didnt get his client to flip on Trump. Judge Cannon is on an unsealing binge. Unsealed records detail allegations that Jay Bratt, Jack Smith's lead prosecutor in classified docs case, threatened Stanley Woodward--atty for Walt Nauta--with sinking a judicial nomination if he didn't get his client to flip on Trump: pic.twitter.com/X8aTyOB5PK Julie Kelly ?? (@julie_kelly2) April 24, 2024 Now one can understand Cannons disdain for Jay Bratt. (Btw he is about 52) At last court hearing as Bratt was addressing her, Cannon warned him not to say something sarcastic. He said oh Id never do that. Her face went into an ice cold glare at him. https://t.co/xJWMJdWEs2 Julie Kelly ?? (@julie_kelly2) April 24, 2024 The New York Post previously reported: James Trusty claimed prosecutor Jay Bratt had threatened to sink Nauta attorney Stanley Woodwards application for a federal judgeship. He apparently, along with five other people in his presence from DOJ, extorted a very well-respected, very intelligent lawyer from Washington, DC, saying essentially, If you want this judgeship thats on Joe Bidens desk, you have to flip your guy to cooperate against the President of the United States, Trusty charged. Bratt said Woodward wasnt a Trump guy and was going to do the right thing with respect to Nauta, a source familiar with the meeting told The Post Friday. The documents revealed yet another inconsistency with Smith and the Department of Justices narrative about the classified documents probe. LOL Trump and his lawyer were so uncooperative and obstructiony that HE EMAILED JAY BRATT (DOJ chief who visited MAL in June 2022 and now heads Jack Smith's team in classified docs case) TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF. This is BEFORE DOJ sent a subpoena in May 2022 for more records. pic.twitter.com/RfKOVF6ASz Julie Kelly ?? (@julie_kelly2) April 22, 2024 Jay Bratt is one of the key playersand worst actorsin Bidens lawfare against Trump. He knows hes toast once Trump exposes Crossfire Hurricane. So are Obama, Biden, Hillary, & many others. Thats what this Biden lawfare and election interference against Trump is all about. https://t.co/DXblRtiFS2 ?? Mike Davis ?? (@mrddmia) April 24, 2024 Even left-wing outlets like Newsweek are pointing out that Smiths case is going horribly: On Monday, Smith filed a court document expressing his frustration at the slow pace of the classified documents case. On April 11, Cannon sharply criticized Smiths sweeping request to censor FBI interviews in Trumps classified documents case. Read more at: WLTReport.com Flooding is threatening different coastal areas across the United States amid rising sea levels caused by the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps. In the context of climate change and global warming, the flooding risk is mainly driven by increasing atmospheric and ocean temperatures. Coastlines are also facing threats posed by tsunamis and heavy rain caused by intensifying storms. In recent years, previous studies have highlighted these risks across the country and in different parts of the world. Now, a new US map by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) makes an accurate outline of the places at risk of coastal flooding and tsunami hazard zones. The map shows some areas along the US coast are also at risk of storm surge during tropical cyclones. Coastal Flooding Risk Based on the NOAA's coastal flood hazard map, coastal areas along the US Gulf Coast, including Florida, and parts of the East Coast are at extreme risk of flooding. Whether it is caused by strong waves and rising sea levels. The increasing water volumes of the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean are putting low-lying areas in at risk of being submerged, threatening multiple coastal communities. Projections of these natural disasters are long-term, meaning that hazards like floodwaters and tsunamis may worsen in the coming decades. If current greenhouse gas emissions continue, the risks mentioned could continue until the end of the 21st century, scientists warn. Outside the US, multiple countries and territories also face the looming threat of sea level rise and coastal erosion. Also Read: Storegga Tsunami Event: Prehistoric Giant Wave 8,000 Years Ago Likely Destroyed Stone Age Coastal Communities [Study] Rising Sea Level Threat In its 2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report, the NOAA warns that sea level along the US coastline is expected to rise on an average of 10 to 12 inches (0.25 to 0.30 meters) in the next 30 years or by 2050. The rising sea level threat will vary regionally across the US coasts due to differences in both land and ocean height, the technical report says. The main threat of sea level rise is coastal flooding, caused by increasing tides and storm surges, that can reach further inland, according to the NOAA. By 2050, it has been estimated that damaging floods are expected to occur more often or 10 times than they are today, the US Government agency adds. Tsunami Hazard Zones In the NOAA map, tsunami hazard zones for large waves, as well as coastal flooding, place multiple states in the US in critical danger zones. These areas range from Maine to the Carolinas, Florida to the south, and Texas to the west. While tsunamis are primarily caused by earthquakes, the shift in ocean levels mentioned earlier means the flooding effect could reach further inland. Globally, tsunami events over the past decades were not only caused by earthquakes but also volcanic eruptions. In 2022, a major explosive eruption occurred at the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai in Tonga, generating widespread tsunamis across the Pacific Ocean. Related Article: Sea Level Rise Add At Least 23 Minutes of Commute for People in Coastal US Musk revives missing flight MH370 memories, says no evidence of aliens R eviving 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. Musk revives missing flight MH370 memories, says no evidence of aliens Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Antony Blinken on Saudi visit from Monday, Gaza truce talks on table T he US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia from Monday. Blinken's visit is aimed at giving impetus to the peace process in the Middle East and work on the release of Israeli hostages. Sources in Israel's defence ministry told IANS that while Blinken will not visit Israel during this trip, he will be engaging with Egyptian and Qatari leaders on the Israeli hostages' release issue. American State Department spokesman Mathew Miller in a statement said, The Secretary will discuss ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza that secures the release of hostages and it is Hamas that is standing between the Palestinian people and a ceasefire. It may be recalled that Israel has already sounded Hamas through Egyptian mediators that if at least 33 hostages are not released immediately the ground invasion of the Rafah region in the southern Gaza strip would commence. Israel has also said that its elite Nahal brigade is already positioned to enter the Rafah region if the diplomatic talks fail. Meanwhile, Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz has warned Hamas that Israel would not allow Hamas to drag its feet on the hostage release issue. The foreign ministry sources told IANS that the foreign minister has warned that Israel would enter the Rafah region if a minimum number of hostages are not released immediately. Antony Blinken on Saudi visit from Monday, Gaza truce talks on table Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Hansal Mehta swings with his 'rock' Pratik Gandhi, greets him on his birthday F ilmmaker Hansal Mehta, who is currently engrossed in the shoot of his upcoming streaming series 'Gandhi', shared pictures with his lead actor Pratik Gandhi on the occasion of the latters birthday. On Sunday, Hansal took to his Instagram and posted an array of pictures with Pratik. The images capture them relaxing and stealing some laid-back moments amid their busy shooting schedule. In most of the pictures, the director and the actor are seen sitting on swings, which inspired Hansals caption. The filmmaker wrote in the caption: "Swinging with my rock! Happy Birthday @pratikgandhiofficial. See you on set in a few hours." Hansal and Pratik share a close friendship, which blossomed after the success of the streaming series Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story. Their Gujarati backgrounds serve as the foundation of their bond, along with common interests and a shared passion for storytelling and cinema. Earlier, Hansal met the legendary filmmaker Shekhar Kapur in London during the ongoing schedule of Gandhi. The Aligarh director took to Instagram and shared pictures from their meeting. Shekhar visited the sets of Gandhi in London, observed Hansals work, and engaged in discussions about the show. The two also took a stroll through the streets of London. Hansal Mehta swings with his 'rock' Pratik Gandhi, greets him on his birthday Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Australian PM joins mass protests against gendered violence A ustralia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined nationwide protests calling for an end to violence against women. Tens of thousands of Australians on Sunday gathered at events across the country to demand action to address gendered violence, Xinhua news agency reported. In Canberra, protesters were joined on their march to Parliament House by Albanese, who earlier in April said Australia was facing a crisis of violence against women, and senior government ministers. According to the activist group Destroy the Joint, 26 women have been violently killed in Australia since the start of 2024. "Violence against women is an epidemic. We must do better," Albanese wrote in a post on social media on Sunday morning. "Governments need to do better, and as a society, we need to do better." Speaking at a press conference earlier on Sunday, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said more time was needed to determine if the 10-year National Plan to End Violence against Women implemented by the government in October 2022 was yielding results. The plan set a goal of eradicating violence against women within a generation. "The results will take some time to see the change we need to turn things around," Rishworth said on Sunday. She said she was hopeful the current national conversation would bring sustained resolve across society to address the issue. Australian PM joins mass protests against gendered violence Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Elon Musk visits China, likely to promote Tesla's driverless tech: Report T esla CEO Elon Musk has made an "unannounced and surprising" visit to Beijing, according to a media report on Sunday. Musk's visit has raised hopes for bringing Tesla's autopilot and supervised full self-driving (FSD) technology to China, known to be the electric vehicle makers second-biggest market, the South China Morning Post reported. This comes as China looks to increase the adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems and higher levels of autonomous driving functions in mass-produced cars. Musk had in a recent post on X.com noted that Tesla will make FSD available to customers in China "very soon. Tesla rolled out FSD, the most autonomous version of its Autopilot software, four years ago but the technology is yet to be available in China. Musk's latest visit also coincides with the ongoing 2024 Beijing Auto Show, the report said. Musk was earlier, this month, expected to visit India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the tech billionaire scrapped the plan amid crucial Tesla quarterly results and will possibly visit the country later this year to announce his investment plans. In a post on X, the billionaire said that unfortunately, "very heavy Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed." "But I do very much look forward to visiting later this year," Musk added. Elon Musk visits China, likely to promote Tesla's driverless tech: Report Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Experts are working on novel immune-enhancing therapies called host-directed therapies to use the body's own immune system to target tuberculosis, with hopes that they could tackle even the drug-resistant forms of the disease. In a presentation at this year's ESCMID Global Congress (formerly ECCMID) in Barcelona (27-30 April), Associate Professor Susanna Brighenti, Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM), ANA Futura at the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, will present work being done in this area by a collaboration of scientists. The reported global number of people newly diagnosed with TB was 7.5 million in 2022, causing an estimated 1.3 million deaths. As estimated 410 000 cases and 160 000 deaths were due to multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) have evolved a remarkable ability to manipulate the human immune response and undermine antimicrobial effector functions in host immune cells. While some new antimicrobial therapies are coming through, treatment with antibiotics remains an intensive and long process even for drug-susceptible forms of the disease. Importantly, mutations conferring antibiotic resistance are intrinsic properties of mycobacteria that effectively develop resistance to old as well as new groups of antibiotics, accentuating the need for adjunct treatments. Thus, new treatments are going to be absolutely vital in the battle against TB." Susanna Brighenti, Associate Professor, Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM), ANA Futura at the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Host-directed therapies (HDT) aim to strengthen the body's immune responses and represent an underexplored opportunity to improve treatment of TB, particularly MDR-TB. HDT are designed to target several immune pathways in infected cells to restore or induce antimicrobial functions instead of inhibiting bacterial growth directly. This may involve enhanced production of immune peptides or toxic molecules that contribute to bacterial killing, but it could also include rebalancing of inflammatory responses. Assoc Professor Brighenti will explain how her research collaboration has generated a platform for immune reconstitution in TB, using small molecule compounds including histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. "These drugs can regulate transcription of genes in cells such as those in the immune system, and thus enhance the expression of proteins associated with the antibacterial host defence. We have identified several HDAC inhibitors that reduce Mtb growth inside immune cells by some 50-75%, even in the absence of antibiotics," she explains. "That may not sound so impressive, but these immunomodulatory compounds could work well as a complement to standard therapy and exert additive or synergistic effects together with the antibiotics. This would provide the possibility to reduce the dose and treatment length required with antibiotics to improve patient outcomes." In this way, it is conceivable that the effect of existing antibiotics could be guarded by add-on therapies that restore protective immunity and limit excess inflammation and/or immunosuppression in patients with TB. Standard anti-TB treatment involves daily administration of 4-9 antibiotics, but instead of adding yet another antimicrobial drug to the regimen, an immune-enhancing compound could promote clinical recovery of patients with severe forms of TB and poor prognosis, especially MDR-TB. Assoc Prof Brighenti says "Implementation of immunotherapy as a complement to standard therapy has revolutionised the treatment of cancer, autoimmunity, and asthma/allergy. Similarly, our research on immune enhancement as a complement to antibiotics may become a game-changing treatment option for patients with TB that has the potential to impact clinical management and prevent spread of TB infections and drug resistance in this pivotal moment in our history when antimicrobial resistance constitutes a serious threat to human health." She adds: "Short-term, approved and already available 'off-the-shelf' therapeutics would represent an initial logical step to implement HDTs of patients with TB. This could include for example, HDTs based on glucocorticoid treatment or cytokine neutralisation (eg. anti-IL-6, anti-1) to reduce inflammation, while metformin, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may also promote or rewire the immune response. "Long-term, more precise immunomodulatory interventions in TB such as local administration of specific HDAC inhibitors, can be tested in clinical trials with the aim to customise therapy for patients with MDR-TB. Today, several HDAC inhibitors are FDA-approved for different diseases for example, Vorinostat, Belinostat, and Panobinostat for different cancers, Phenylbutyrate for urea cycle disorders and Givinostat for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, while the ones we have found to be most effective to reduce intracellular M. tuberculosis growth needs to be first tested in pre-clinical models for toxicity and efficacy before progressing to clinical trials." Importantly, like many other diseases, TB can be divided into different sub-groups and using a one-fits-all approach to treatment is not necessarily best. Tailored treatments that are optimised to individual patient needs, so called personalised medicine, will also be part of the future for TB management. While government jobs are very much in demand, they are not without their challenges. It is becoming quite stressful to find a government job with the growing demand, and the process of searching for government jobs can be taxing and time-consuming. Hence, if youre looking for a government job that suits your skill set and qualifications, then here is a rundown of the top government-recruited vacancies for you to pursue this week: UPSC RECRUITMENT FOR ASSISTANT COMMANDANT POSTS The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is seeking applications from both men and women for the recruitment of Assistant Commandant in the Central Armed Police Forces. Aspiring candidates can apply for the UPSC CAPF 2024 exam online through the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in. The recruitment drive will remain accessible until May 14. The CAPF written exam will be held on August 4, 2024, for the recruitment of 506 Assistant Commandants (Group A). Moreover, candidates must be at least 20 years old on August 1, 2024, and not older than 25 to be eligibleread more UPSC BSF RECRUITMENT FOR ASSISTANT COMMANDANT POSTS If you are dreaming of becoming an officer in the Border Security Force (BSF), then this opportunity is just for you. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released a notification for recruitment to the post of Assistant Commandant (Group A). Those who hold a graduate degree from a recognised university can apply for these posts by visiting the official website of the UPSC at upsc.gov.in. The application process for a total of 186 posts commenced on April 24 and will run until May 14. Aspirants need to undergo multiple stages to get selected, from a written exam to physical and medical tests. Lastly, shortlisted candidates will have to attend an interview round where their overall suitability is assessedread more ESIC RECRUITMENT FOR FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME SPECIALIST The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) is providing an excellent opportunity for all aspirants seeking government jobs. The recruitment board of ESIC is looking for candidates for the posts of full-time specialist (FTS) and part-time specialist (PTS). Interested candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can apply through the official website, www.esic.gov.in, until April 30. Applicants who wish to apply should be aged less than 69 years with an MBBS degree from any recognised university/institution with a post-graduate or equivalent degree. The pay scale for a full-time specialist can be Rs 1,06,000 per month, while for a part-time specialist, the salary can be Rs 60,000 per monthread more WBPSC RECRUITMENT IN WEST BENGAL JUNIOR FISHERY SERVICES GRADE II The West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) has invited applications offering various roles within the department, including Assistant Research Officer, Fishery Supervisor, Fisheries Extension Officer, and others in the WB Junior Fishery Services Grade II. Candidates between the ages of 18 and 40 can apply online through the official WBPSC website at psc.wb.gov.in until May 13. Candidates are expected to hold a bachelors degree in a related discipline from a reputable universityread more INDIAN NAVY RECRUITMENT FOR VARIOUS POSTS The Indian Navy has opened up apprenticeship opportunities for candidates who have qualified for classes 8th and 10th. The recruitment drive is being conducted on the official website of the Indian Navy, i.e., indiannavy.nic.in, for 300 vacancies. The application process started on April 23 and will run until May 10. The minimum age to file the applications is 14, and the maximum age is 18 years. Selected candidates will be paid a stipend of Rs 7700Rs 8050 per monthread more Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website. The Karnataka SSLC Result 2024 will be announced shortly by the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB). As per sources, the results are likely to be out by May 10, reported News18 Kannada. However, an official confirmation by the board is awaited. The Karnataka SSLC result 2024 can be viewed by students by accessing the boards official website kseab.karnataka.gov.in or karresults.nic.in. Approximately 8.9 lakh students took the Karnataka Class 10 exam this year. The Karnataka SSLC 2024 examinations were held from March 25 to April 6, 2024. Around 2,747 exam centres were made throughout the state. Steps to Check Karnataka SSLC Result 2024 Step 1 Visit kseeb.karnataka.gov.in and kseab.karnataka.gov.in, the official website of the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB). Step 2 Check out the SSLC portal through the homepage. Select SSLC Result by clicking on it. Step 3 Enter your username, password, and captcha code to log in. Step 4 The screen will display the Karnataka SSLC Result 2024. Step 5 For future use, download it and print it. Steps to Check Karnataka SSLC Result 2024 via SMS Step 1 Type a message KAR10 ( space) Roll Number Step 2 Send it to 56263. Step 3 The Karnataka Education Board will send the results to the students mobile number. Students must receive at least 40 marks out of 150 in theory examinations and 30 marks out of 50 in practical tests to pass the Karnataka SSLC exam 2024. The candidate needs to reach a 35 per cent aggregate overall. Those who dont fit this requirement will have to take the compartment exam that will be declared after the announcement of the result. In 2023, the Class 10 board examinations were held last year from March 31 to June 19, and the results were released on May 8. In the year 2022 exams were held, from March 28 to April 11, and the results were released on May 19. In the academic year 20222023, Karnataka saw an 83 per cent pass rate in the SSLC exam, which was lower than the 85 per cent pass rate from the year before. According to previous years, females performed better than male students, obtaining an impressive pass percentage of 87 per cent, while male students obtained 80 per cent. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website. Hours after stepping down from the post of the Delhi Congress chief, Arvinder Singh Lovely on Sunday clarified that he is not joining any party. Lovely said he has not resigned from the primary membership of the Congress and only stepped down from the post, citing the alliance with the AAP as one of the reasons. Addressing the media after tendering his resignation, Lovely thanked the Congress workers and senior leaders who came to support him and said, Mentioning the principles and the pain felt by the Congress workers, I have resigned from the post of Delhi Congress chief. I want to thank the Congress workers who came to meet me. He also clarified that he has not resigned from the party, but just from his post as Delhi Congress chief and said he is not joining any other party. The reason for the resignation is not because I didnt get the ticketThis was because of the principals, he added. His clarification came after Congress ex-MLA Asif Mohammad Khan claimed that the BJP would field Lovely from the East Delhi constituency, replacing Harsh Malhotra. Lovely said his resignation reflected the pain of Congress workers saddened by the fact that the ideals they had been fighting for during the last seven to eight years were being compromised. We are fighting the elections together but never did the Congress workers say that we are giving a clean chit to them or giving them credit for building schools and hospitals, which is far from the reality, Lovely said, referring to the partys tie-up with the AAP in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls. Lovelys Resignation As Delhi Congress Chief In a setback to the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, senior leader Arvinder Singh Lovely resigned from the post of partys Delhi unit chief. In his resignation letter sent to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lovely said that he found himself handicapped as all unanimous decisions taken by senior Delhi unit leaders have been unilaterally vetoed by AICC Delhi in-charge Deepak Babria. This comes days after former Delhi minister and AICC member Rajkumar Chauhan resigned from the party following an altercation with Babria. In his letter to Kharge, Lovely said, It is with a heavy heart that I write the present letter to you finding myself handicapped and unable to continue as the President of the Delhi party unit. I had gratefully accepted the role as the DPCC President with the sole objective of supporting the local Congress party workers with whom I have an extremely close connection and life-long association. However, since I cannot protect the interests of the party workers, I see no reason to continue in the said post. Therefore, with great regret and an extremely leaden heart, I, Arvinder Singh Lovely, do hereby tender my resignation from the post of DPCC President, he said. Lovely said even though the Delhi Congress unit was against the alliance with the AAP, he publicly backed it and made sure that the entire unit fell in line with the high commands final order. He said that he even withdrew his name as a potential candidate for the Lok Sabha polls in the interest of the party and so that other senior leaders could get tickets. Lovely also criticised Congress North East Delhi candidate Kanhaiya Kumar for heaping praise on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is behind bars in a money laundering case. The candidate from North East Delhi has also been giving media bytes falsely praising the Delhi CM, in direct contravention of the party line and the local party workers beliefs. In direct contradiction to the true factual position and the misery of Delhi Citizens, he endorsed the false propaganda of AAP in regard to the supposed works done by them in education, health, road and electricity sectors, he said. Such ill-thought and factually incorrect statements have not gone down well with the Delhi Congress unit since the local party workers had an inherent understanding that the alliance was not done in appreciation of AAPs false propaganda of the development of Delhi, he said. In fact, he added, the alliance was a compromise to improve the chances of victory of the Congress in the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress and the AAP are constituents of the INDIA bloc formed by opposition parties to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. While the AAP is contesting four Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, the Congress has fielded candidates on three. The BJP had won all the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. Lovely further said he was unable to continue as the party unit chief as all unanimous decisions taken by the senior Delhi Congress leaders have been unilaterally vetoed by the AICC General Secretary (Delhi in-charge). A minister in the Sheila Dikshit government, Lovely was appointed as the Delhi Congress chief in August last year. He alleged that AICC in-charge Babria forced him to suspend senior party leader Raj Kumar Chauhan. He further lamented that no senior AICC leader has spoken to him about pacifying the party workers who are unhappy with the decision and protested outside the DPCC office when the selected candidates were being introduced to the media. Lovely was first elected as an MLA in 1998 from Gandhi Nagar. He served as the minister of transport, education, urban development and revenue in the Congress government in Delhi. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. From Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), appeasement to Neha Hiremath murder and inheritance tax, Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued his attack on the Congress on Sunday, saying the party should apologise for spreading lies. Speaking at a rally in Belagavi, Modi said, Bharat has grown stronger in the past 10 years, but the Congress does not like the achievements of BharatUsing the EVM issue, they tried to spoil the countrys name across the world. They are spreading lies about EVMs. They should apologise to the nation. ALSO READ | Stop Attempts to Scare Me: PM Modi Challenges Congress With Another Manmohan Clip on Resources For Muslims We worship King Shivaji. The Congress prince keeps attacking and insulting Indias kings and queens for vote bank politics and appeasement. The Congress is supporting parties that praise Aurangzeb. Why is the party not talking about the atrocities done by Aurangzeb during his rule? The Congress ka shehzada does not remember the atrocities of Aurangzeb, who destroyed and desecrated hundreds of our temples. They have forgotten who destroyed our holy places, looted and slaughtered cows. He has insulted Shivaji Maharaj. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also attacked the party on the law and order situation in Congress-ruled Karnataka. The Congress is trying to finish democracy in the country. The law and order situation in Karnataka is bad after the Congress came to power. When there was a bomb blast at a cafe in Bengaluru, the Congress did not take it seriously. The entire country was shocked with what happened to a daughter in Hubballi. The girls family has been demanding action, but the Congress is only worried about its vote bank The PM was referring to Neha, a 23-year-old first-year Masters of Computer Applications (MCA) student at BV Bhoomaraddi (BVB) College of Engineering and Technology and daughter of Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) councillor Niranjan Hiremath, who was stabbed seven times on the campus by Fayaz, 23, a dropout of the same institute whose advances she had spurned. The woman died of multiple stab wounds, while Fayaz has been arrested. While the government initially cited personal reasons, her father later claimed she was being forced to convert and was murdered because she refused. For its vote bank, it is even taking support of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in Wayanad. The Congress is engaged in defending such a terrorist organisation just to win one seat, Wayanad, Modi said. ALSO READ | Being Misinformed: Kharge Writes To PM Modi Over Congress Manifesto, Says Party Always Works For Poor The PFI is an anti-national organization that gives shelter to terrorism and has been banned by the Modi government. Continuing his tirade against the inheritance tax, Modi said, The brother-sister want to do an X-ray of your property. With less than a month to go for polling across seven parliamentary seats in the national capital, Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely on Sunday announced his resignation from his post over its alliance with Arvind Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), hinting cracks within the Congress state unit. Earlier, in his resignation to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Lovely, a four-term MLA, said the party high command gave Lok Sabha tickets to candidates who were total strangers to the Delhi Congress and the party policies, referring to Udit Rajs candidature in North-west Delhi and Kanhaiya Kumar in Northeast Delhi. ALSO READ: Delhi Lok Sabha Election 2024: Constituencies in National Capital to Vote on May 25 The Delhi Congress Unit was against an alliance with a Party which was formed on the sole basis of levelling false, fabricated and malafide corruption charges against the Congress Party. Despite that, the Party made a decision to ally with the AAP in Delhi, wrote Arvinder Singh Lovely. As part of the seat-sharing deal with AAP, the Congress will contest three seats while the AAP will field its candidate in four constituencies in the national capital where the BJP swept all seven seats in 2014 and 2019. Besides North-East Delhi and North West Delhi, Congress is contesting Chandni Chowk seat where it fielded senior leader JP Agarwal, who won the seat thrice in 1984, 1989, and 1996. Lovely stated that out of the 3 seats given to Congress, the North-West Delhi and Northeast Delhi Parliamentary seats were given to 2 Candidates who were total strangers to the Delhi Congress. It is the prerogative of the High Command to have a final say on the Party Candidates, however, shockingly, once the High Command made the decision in regards to the aforesaid 2 Candidates, the PCC was not even intimated before the formal announcement, he added. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday claimed the Election Commission has banned its Lok Sabha campaign song Jail Ka Jawab, Vote Se Denge, but officials of the Delhi poll body said AAP was asked to modify the contents of the song since it violated ECs guidelines and advertising codes. The over two-minute campaign song, penned and sung by AAP MLA Dilip Pandey, was released at the party headquarters in Delhi on Thursday. Sources from the Delhi Chief Electoral Office said the song was not banned but the party was asked to resubmit the proposal with certain modifications, in accordance with Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 and ECI guideline/norms circulated through a letter dated August 24, 2023, for the certification. The Delhi poll panel said certain images and phrases are slanderous remarks and criticism of the ruling party on the basis of unverified facts and also cast aspersions on the judiciary and police. Addressing a press conference, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) senior leader Atishi accused the Election Commission of becoming a political weapon of the BJP and turning a blind eye to its violations. She also asserted that the campaign song does not mention the BJP and does not violate the Model Code of Conduct. It includes factual videos and incidents, whether it is the picture of Arvind Kejriwals arrest, whether it is the video of polices misbehaviour with Manish Sisodia in the Rouse Avenue Court, whether it is the brutal detention of our volunteers in protests, everything is factual. Does the EC want to suppress the truth? Does the poll agency want to hide the misconduct of the police or the political misuse of the probe agencies by the BJP? she asked. This is the first time in the history of the country that the Election Commission of India has banned the campaign song of any party to stop the campaign, she alleged. This is the same Election Commission which sees nothing when the BJP is making fun of the Model Code of Conduct on a daily basis. But if the AAP leaders even breathe, they are served another notice. When the BJP misuses the ED and CBI to put the opposition leaders in jail during the Model Code of Conduct, the EC has no objection to it. But if the AAP even writes about it in a song, the EC raises various objections, she claimed. Atishi claimed that according to the poll panel, the song Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se Denge shows the ruling party (BJP) and investigation agencies in a bad light. The most interesting thing is that throughout the campaign song, there is no mention of the Bharatiya Janata Partys name anywhere, but the Election Commission of India says that if you talk about dictatorship, this is a criticism of the ruling party. That means the poll body itself believes that the BJP is running a dictatorial rule in this country, she added. In its reply to AAP over the song, the Delhi Chief Electoral office said the phrase jail ke jawaab me hum vote denge contravenes provisions of ECI Guidelines and the Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, sources told PTI. It said that images showing a crowd carrying Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals photo in which he is behind bars cast aspersions on the judiciary, sources said. It also said some clips showing party workers clashing with police incite violence, while frames showing Manish Sisodia being escorted by police show the latter in a negative light, they said. The Delhi poll panel said certain phrases are slanderous remarks and criticism of the ruling party on the basis of unverified facts and also cast aspersions on the judiciary. Maintaining that her party has done no wrong, Atishi appealed to the poll body to pay attention to the fact that the BJP is flouting the Model Code of Conduct every day and stop the work of stalling the election campaign of the opposition. I really hope that after a few years, the elections of 2024 should not be remembered as the election in which Indias democracy ended, in which the Election Commission was not neutral, in which the Election Commission became a political weapon of the BJP, she said. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. Women constituted only eight per cent of the total 1,618 candidates in the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls, with political activists saying it reflects a deeper issue of gender bias and that the talk of empowering them rings hollow. In the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls, there were 135 women candidates while in the second phase, there were 100 women candidates, bringing the combined total for the first two phases to 235 women candidates. Of the 135 women candidates in phase 1, Tamil Nadu had the highest share at 76, but they account for just 8 per cent of the candidates in the state, while Kerala has the maximum women candidates at 24 in phase 2. Party-wise, the Congress has fielded 44 women till now while 69 women have been fielded by the BJP in the first two phases. This significant gender imbalance has sparked criticism from political analysts and activists, who ask why parties are waiting for the Womens Reservation Bill to be implemented instead of proactively issuing tickets to women. Dr Sushila Ramaswamy, Associate Professor at Delhi Universitys Jesus and Mary College, said political parties should take concrete steps to promote womens candidacy. Political parties should have been more proactive and fielded more women candidates, she underscored, citing the effectiveness of seat reservations for women within party structures, as seen in the Britains Labour Party. With women constituting nearly half of Indias electorate, their under representation in the candidate pool raises broader questions about the barriers hindering womens full participation in the political sphere, Dr. Iftekhar Ahmad Ansari, Associate Professor at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), said. Beyond the symbolic gestures and promises, he stressed the importance of structural reforms to ensure equal opportunities for women in politics. He highlighted the critical role of party leadership in promoting gender diversity. Political parties must prioritise gender inclusion in candidate selection and provide adequate support to women aspirants, she emphasised. The issue of womens political representation extends beyond numerical quotas to encompass systemic changes in party dynamics and electoral processes, Farhat Jahan, a retired faculty member at the Abdullah Womens College at the AMU said while emphasising the need for gender-sensitive policies that address challenges faced by women in politics. The upcoming phases of the elections present an opportunity for political parties to demonstrate their commitment to gender equality through concrete actions. Initiatives such as mentorship programs, capacity-building workshops, and awareness campaigns can empower women to actively participate in the electoral process and pursue leadership roles, she added. Prof. Mohammad Aftab Alam from the political science department at the AMU pointed out the challenges women often face in forming independent political opinions amidst societal influences. Even the ones elected are often relegated to symbolic roles, he remarked, highlighting broader issues of token representation. The BJD is the only party, which as a policy, gives 33 per cent tickets to female candidates. Meera Parida, state vice president of the Biju Mahila Dal of the BJD, stressed the need for substantive action in womens empowerment and praised her partys initiative of reserving 33 per cent of seats for women. Reserving seats alone is not enough. We need a cultural shift where women are seen as leaders and decision-makers, she emphasised, advocating for comprehensive reforms. Both major parties the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have listed women-centric initiatives in their manifestoes. The BJPs manifesto promises to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to honour and empower women, integrate women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) into the service sector to enhance their economic participation and expand health services. The Congress has pledged legislative reforms for womens empowerment, including the immediate enactment of the Womens Reservation Bill. However, these commitments are yet to translate into substantial numbers of women contesting elections. Alka Lamba, Chief of Congress Womens Wing, highlighted the Congresss commitment to gender equality across sectors. The Congress has extended political, economic, and social rights to women, Lamba affirmed, outlining ambitious targets for womens representation in leadership roles. As the Lok Sabha elections progress, the spotlight is on political parties to address these concerns and demonstrate tangible commitments towards fostering womens participation and representation in governance. The upcoming poll phases will be closely monitored to assess whether there is a meaningful shift towards greater gender inclusivity in the political landscape especially after the hype over passage of the Womens Reservation Bill, Aftab said. While parties are vocal about empowering women, the lack of women candidates reflects a deeper issue of gender bias within political systems, noted Dr. Ramaswamy. The Lok Sabha polls are being held in seven phases beginning from April 19 and the counting of votes will take place on June 4 for the worlds biggest election exercise. The second phase was held on April 26 while other phases are scheduled for May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. 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 Karnataka government on Sunday constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe an alleged sex scandal involving Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is the grandson of JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. The move came following a letter by the Chairperson of Womens Commission Dr Nagalakshmi Chowdhary to the government. The 33-year-old Prajwal was the NDA candidate in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, which went to polls on April 26. The JD(S) joined the NDA in September last year. The three-member SIT of IPS officers is led by the Additional Director General of Police (CID) Bijay Kumar Singh. The other two are Assistant Inspector General of Police Suman D Pennekar and Mysuru Superintendent of Police Seema Latkar. The SIT has been directed to complete its investigation soon. Some explicit video clips allegedly involving Prajwal had started making the rounds in Hassan in recent days. The decision to constitute an SIT was announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The police have information that Prajwal, who is the son of MLA and former Minister H D Revanna, has left the country, according to a statement issued by the Chief Ministers office. Dr Chaudhary on Thursday wrote to Siddaramaiah and state police chief Alok Mohan seeking a probe into the videos that are in circulation in Hassan. Through his election agent, Prajwal has lodged a complaint with the authorities that the videos are doctored and being circulated to tarnish his image ahead of the elections. Home Minister G Parameshwara told reporters: In case he (Prajwal) has gone to the foreign country, SIT will be responsible for bringing him back and continuing the investigation. We will not tell the SIT to do the investigation this or that way. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said, .we are hanging our heads in shame. I saw in the media that he has escaped. This is an unpardonable crime. It is a matter of shame. He is an MP and the grandson of a former Prime Minister. He represented the same constituency which the former Prime Minister had represented, Shivakumar, also state Congress chief, said. The government order on the SIT said the investigation will include those who perpetrated sexual crime, those who filmed it and then made it public. It said already an FIR has been lodged at the Holenarasipur police station under section 354(A) (Sexual harassment), 354(D) (Stalking) and 506 (Criminal Intimidation) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, which the SIT will investigate in detail. The order said all the cases pertaining to this incident registered in various parts of the state should be transferred to the SIT, which will utilise the resources of the CID during the investigation. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. Lok Sabha Election 2024 LIVE: With over a week left for the third phase (May 7) of the general elections, in which the remaining 14 seats of Karnataka will also go to polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed a public rally in Belagavi. Calling out the ruling Congress government for prioritising appeasement politics in the Neha Hiremath murder case, PM Modi said they only care about their vote bank. The prime minister is set to address four public rallies in Karnataka on Sunday. Of the 28 seats, the first batch of 14 seats were voted for in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, April 26. Karnataka saw a voter turnout of 69.56 per cent. Meanwhile, a controversy erupted over Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Raja Maharaj remark in connection to the Rajput community. BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya shared Rahuls video on X and said, Rahul Gandhi should immediately apologise to the Rajput community, for this offensive comment. Rahul Gandhi should immediately apologise to the Rajput community, for this offensive comment. pic.twitter.com/f0CvcItrqI Amit Malviya ( ) (@amitmalviya) April 27, 2024 In the video, Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a public meeting, can be heard saying in Hindi, Raja Maharaja used to rule the nation. They did whatever they wanted, they used to take away whosoevers lands they wanted. Congress party and our workers, in collaboration with the people of the nation, achieved Independence, brought democracy and Constitution in the country. LATEST UPDATES ON 2024 LOK SABHA POLLS While addressing a public rally in Belagavi, PM Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress over the Neha Hiremath murder case and said, Ever since the Congress government has been formed in Karnataka, the law and order situation has deteriorated in the state What happened in Hubballi, has shaken the entire country. The girls family demanded action, but the Congress government again prioritised appeasement. They dont value the lives of our daughters like Neha. All they care about is their vote bank Delhi Congress Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely on Sunday resigned from his post. BJP leader Amit Malviya demanded Rahul Gandhis apology over his remark. A comment made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over Raja, Maharajas sparked an outrage in the Rajput community. The Congress filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday, alleging poll code violation. At a poll rally, Thakur had alleged the presence of a foreign hand behind the grand old partys hand, which wants to hand over the wealth of peoples children to Muslims, a remark earlier raised by PM Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address four public rallies in Karnataka on Sunday. While Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address three election rallies in Uttar Pradesh Etah, Mainpuri and Etawah. Amid suspense over the Congress candidate in Uttar Pradeshs Amethi and Rae Bareilli, party General Secretary KC Venugopal after CEC meeting on Saturday said that Everything will be clear in one or two days. Earlier in the day, national president Mallikarjun Kharge had asked people to wait for few more days to get clarity on the candidates. The BJP on Saturday replaced Poonam Mahajan, party candidate from Mumbai North Central, with senior lawyer Ujjwal Deorao Nikam, who also played a key role as a public prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case. A day after Karnatakas Hassan constituency went to polls, JD(S) MP and former Prime Minister Deve Gowdas son, Prajwal Revanna, found himself in trouble regarding an alleged sex scandal. An SIT has been formed to probe the scandal-linked videos, that has been doing the rounds.These videos allegedly show Revanna indulging in sexual activities with many women, including government employees.The Women Commission said that it has also cases where some of them involve force or no consent. Commission head Dr Nagalakshmi Chaudhary said that influential politicians have sought sexual favours from women besides raping some of them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack at the Opposition grouping and said that their only goal is to form government and mint money. The PM raked up the issues from inheritance tax to pran pratishtha of Ayodhya Ram Mandir to remarks on Sanatan Dharma. He exuded confidence over the NDAs win in the LS polls and said that they are leading by 2-0 after the second phase of voting. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals wife, Sunita, held her maiden roadshow in the election season, in support of Aam Aadmi Partys East Delhi candidate Kuldeep Kumar. She said that her husband is a lion, adding that nobody can break him and make him bow down. Sunita raised the slogan Jail ka Jawab Vote Se at the AAPs Lok Sabha election campaign in the national capital. We will vote to remove dictatorship and save democracy, she said. (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. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has indicated in a mega exclusive interview to News18 Network that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would never be on board the concept of inheritance tax. Speaking to Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, Prime Minister Modi said the BJPs vision for the country is clearly laid out in its manifesto and indicated that inheritance tax is not remotely part of it. What the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) plans to do is written in our manifesto The ideology of the BJP is clear. We go before the country with our manifesto and works. Please dont impose their great thoughts on us, he said, referring to Congress leader Sam Pitrodas remarks on inheritance tax. Pitroda, US-based president of the Congresss overseas wing, had recently spoken about inheritance tax in the US while delving into the issue of redistribution of wealth. The Congress swung into damage control, distancing itself from the comments but the remarks have since snowballed into a major election issue in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. How does the thought that we will carry forward their plan even come to your mind? the Prime Minister exclaimed during the interview to News18 Network. I am talking about development and inheritance and they are talking of plundering that inheritance. Their history till date is about doing what they have mentioned in the manifesto. It is my responsibility to tell the countrymen that they are taking the country in this direction. Now you decide whether you want to go or not. But it is my responsibility that on the basis of facts and importance, I should tell you [the truth]. Talking about the BJP manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi said his vision is focused on welfare of the society and last-mile delivery of schemes. My entire election campaign is focused on two things. One, we have done work for the welfare of society. The biggest difference in this government [compared to previous ones] is that last-mile delivery is our specialty. See, no government is formed to do bad, it wants to do good. Some people know how to do good for others, some people wait for good things to happen. I am a person who believes in working hard and getting things done, PM Modi said. In recent election rallies, the PM has highlighted Pitrodas comments on wealth redistribution, saying zindagi ke saath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi is the opposition partys mantra to loot people. He said the comments have exposed the Congresss hidden agenda and that the party has become so removed from the countrys social and family values that it wants to legally rob people of their assets and lifelong savings they want to bequeath to their children. Inheritance tax, also known as estate tax, is a tax levied on the total value of money and property of a deceased person before it is distributed to their legal heirs. In India currently, there is no inheritance tax. When a property is inherited, in India, the tax liability arises not at the time of inheritance, like in Japan, the UK or the US. In India, the tax liability arises only when the inherited property is sold and a capital gain or some form of profit or income or revenue is derived by the inheritor. Policy experts have repeatedly stressed that inheritance tax isnt a good idea for a developing country like India, citing the countrys past experiment under the Nehruvian era. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. The Congress manifesto for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections seems to have the stamp of the Muslim League, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a mega exclusive interview to News18 Network, adding that while he is talking about inheritance of development, the opposition party is seeking to plunder that inheritance. Speaking to Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, PM Modi said he waited for 10 days for the evils of the Congress manifesto to be brought out in an unbiased manner, but was forced to bring some truths out. So far as the Congress manifesto is concerned, someone please tell me, are the manifestos of political parties during elections a mere showpiece? It is the work of the media to read the manifestos of every political party. I was waiting for the media to comment on it. I had commented on the manifesto on the first day. After seeing the manifesto, I feel that it has the stamp of the Muslim League. I thought that the media will be shocked. But they just kept saying whatever was presented by the Congress. Then I thought that this seems to be a big scam of the ecosystem and I will have to bring out the truth. I waited for 10 days that the evils in the manifesto would be brought out by someone because if it is brought out in an unbiased manner, it is good. Finally, I was forced to bring out these truths, he said. Asked whether his claim of the Congress wanting to redistribute wealth among Muslims is a real threat, PM Modi called for a closer look at his election campaign. I feel that maybe your team has not tracked my entire campaign You must have seen that my entire election campaign is focused on two things. One, we have done work for the welfare of society. The biggest difference in this government [compared to previous ones] is that last-mile delivery is our specialty. See, no government is formed to do bad, it wants to do good. Some people know how to do good for others, some people wait for good things to happen. I am a person who believes in working hard and getting things done. Detailing the initiatives his government has taken for the people, PM Modi said: I am continuously saying in the elections that we have built 4 crore houses for the poor. I tell so many people that when you go for this election campaign, please help me by sending a list of people whose houses have not been built. As soon as my third term starts, I want to take this work forward. Confident of securing a record third term as Prime Minister, Modi also laid out his vision for the future. I want to build 3 crore more houses. Now, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana is the worlds largest health insurance and health assurance scheme. This is the assurance of treatment to 55 crore people. It is an assurance that Modis government is with you. This time, we have said in the manifesto that no matter which class, society, background a person belongs to, whoever is above 70 years of age both men and women will get free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. This time we have also said in the manifesto that we will give this benefit to ASHA workers. We will give benefits to transgenders, no matter what their age is. The condition of banks in our country was poor. More than half of the population of the country was such that it gave money to open accounts in banks but the banks never opened their accounts. Then Modi came and opened 52 crore bank accounts, and I took the biggest advantage of it. I took the trinity of Jan Dhan, mobile and Aadhaar and encouraged Direct Benefit Transfer. A sum of Rs 36 lakh crore the figure is very big has gone into peoples accounts [via Direct Benefit Transfer]. This huge financial inclusion has happened in our country [due to opening of accounts]. This is more than the number of accounts that would have opened in the world in a year, he added. Comparing the performance of his government to the pre-2014 situation, PM Modi said: You see, what was the situation before 2014? Fragile 5 used to be the headline. Today, we have become a vibrant economy. In IMF, there is a group of 150 countries of the world which includes China and India which we can call developing countries or countries with an emerging economy. Commenting on Congress overseas wing president Sam Pitrodas comments on inheritance tax, PM Modi said: One of their greats gave an interview in America where he brought up the issue of inheritance tax, about 55% tax on your property. Now I am talking about development and inheritance and they are talking of plundering that inheritance. Their history till date is about doing what they have mentioned in the manifesto. It is my responsibility to tell the countrymen that they are taking the country in this direction. Now you decide whether you want to go or not. But it is my responsibility that on the basis of facts and importance, I should tell you [the truth]. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. The people of Karnataka are now regretting voting in the Congress last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told News18 Network in an exclusive interview, adding that once famous as Indias tech hub, Bengaluru is now infamous as the tanker hub due to crippling water woes. The economic condition of Karnataka is in a state of complete bankruptcy. They (Congress) made big promises and then said, if this happens, you will get this; if that happens, you will get this. This means you are cheating the public They cancelled the scheme for farmers, and there was no reason for it. Look at Bengaluru, it has played a big role in raising Indias reputation across the world. It used to be known as the tech hub and now, in no time, it has been turned into a tanker hub. And tankers also have a mafia culture. People are yearning for water, PM Modi said while speaking to Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi and News18 Kannada Editor Hariprasad. Misgovernance of the Congress, the Prime Minister said, has increased the public support of the BJP which had lost last years Assembly elections in the state. In such a short time, they still have unresolved issues like the post of CM. While the CM has taken oath, it has not been settled who it really is. There are a lot of people who consider themselves as the CM. If you look at the law-and-order situation, there are blasts and murders taking place When it comes to scholarships for the youth, they have reduced the amount as well as the number They have taken such negative decisions Look at the deputy CM. He is asking for votes for his brother so that he can become CM. Everyone is playing games. As far as the BJP is concerned, we work with team spirit. BS Yediyurappa is one of our tall leaders, but the whole team is working together and working hard to move ahead, he added. Asked about the Centre-State tussle over drought compensation for Karnataka, PM Modi said: Lets consider the previous government led by Siddaramaiah. When there was a drought back then, I called their entire team as Prime Minister and held discussions with them. We sat together and figured that we first must create schemes for water conservation. Now, as far as the state disaster relief fund is concerned, our government has already given the Centres share to the state. Our inter-ministerial team has also, under the rules and practices laid down before, visited the affected areas and conducted a survey. And it is the same process every time, he further said. Its a straight fight between the Congress and the BJP-JD(S) combine in the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka, where elections are scheduled in two phases on April 26 and May 7. Karnataka has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The BJP had won 25 seats in the 2019 general elections, while an Independent backed by the party had also emerged victorious. The Congress and JD(S), which were running a coalition government back then and fought the elections together, had secured one seat each. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. Neeraj Singh, the son of Defence Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh, who serves as the campaign in-charge for his fathers constituency, said that the slogan for Lucknow this time is Abki Baar 5 Lakh Paar. In an interview with CNN-News18, Neeraj, affectionately called Neeraj Bhaiya and regarded as the go-to person in Lucknow, shared that he is conducting five Nukkad Sabhas every day to increase the margin by 5 lakh votes. When asked about being considered the go-to person in Lucknow, Neeraj, who receives over 100 calls daily from Lucknow residents, said, We are born and brought up in Lucknow and this constituency is a big family for us. Last 20 years I have been in politics we serve society with selfless motive. My father is a founder member of this party and we work to serve the society not with an intention of getting votes. We have come a long way. In last 10 years the kind of work which has been done is worth 50000 crore. Rajnath ji always wanted Lucknow to develop like any metropolitan city. Investors summit 35000 crore MOUs have been signed. Now we have many railway stations in Lucknow. We have new Airport Terminal at Airport as Air Traffic will go up by 1 crore, Neeraj remarked on the developmental initiatives undertaken in the past decade. Neeraj said that Lucknow, known for its culture of Tehzeeb and Chikankari, will now also be recognised for the BrahMos missile, with a manufacturing unit established in the city. During his election rallies, Neeraj humorously remarked that when a BrahMos missile manufactured in Lucknow hits enemies, it will announce to the enemy nation, Muskuraiye, mein Lucknow se hoon (Smile, I am from Lucknow). Speaking about the success of last years first-ever Defence Expo in North India, held in Lucknow, Neeraj said, When all these works will come on ground, the per capita income of Lucknow City will double up. When asked about his fathers most admirable trait, Neeraj said, He has all the traits anyone would like to take from him. I admire Rajnath jis patience in last 50 years he has never said anything against anyone to hurt feelings, never landed in controversy. Vajpayees legacy Regarding Atal Bihari Vajpayees legacy, who had represented Lucknow, Neeraj emphasised that the foundation of Lucknows development was laid by the late former prime minister. He further said that his father is carrying forward this legacy by continuing the progress and development initiatives in the city. Additionally, he also stated that there is a wrong perception being created by the opposition that there is a lack of job opportunities in Lucknow. Two months ago, we organised the Lucknow Kaushal Mahotsav in collaboration with the National Skill Mantralay and the Kaushal Ministry of the UP Government. We provided jobs to 5000 people in two days. We keep organising such melas, he added. Neeraj has been in politics for the last 20 years. He holds an engineering degree as well as an MBA. He is actively involved in campaigning in the Lucknow and Ghaziabad districts of Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, he organises the Atal Swasth Mela (Free Medical Camp) and Kushal Rozgar Mela (Employment Camp) annually. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised his efforts after he successfully enlisted over 50,000 Viksit Bharat Ambassadors to the NaMo app. Grand nomination event for Rajnath The BJP is organising a grand nomination event for Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from the Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday. The procession will cover 100 locations where the Union Minister will be greeted by different groups. The procession, featuring three raths, will kick off from the BJP state office and conclude at the collectors office. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, BJPs Uttar Pradesh unit president Bhupendra Chaudhary, and other senior leaders will attend the event. 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 Gondia police in Maharashtra have arrested four minors in connection with the brutal rape and murder of a 12-year-old tribal student on April 19. The four minors, who were friends and aged around 17 years old, were apprehended by Gondia police on Saturday. Police are not ruling out the possibility of the four minors being involved in filming the sexual assault, which they allegedly deleted later to avoid detection. On April 19, the victim, a class-6 student, had accompanied her parents to a relatives wedding ceremony in Gotanpar village of Deori tehsil. Allegedly, she was abducted from there by an unidentified person. When the girl couldnt be found, her parents initiated a search. The next day, the victims decomposed body was discovered in the Dhawalkhedi forest near Gotanpar village. Authorities questioned nearly 150 suspects from the Maoist-hit Ganutola area before cracking the case. During the investigation, teams led by SP Nikhil Pingale and Addl SP Nityanand Jha discovered that many messages, posts, videos, and chats were deleted by young people in a specific area. The local crime branch team, led by Senior Inspector Dinesh Labde, also helped in the investigation, as per The Times Of India report. According to police sources, the victim had been friendly with a male friend from her village for some time. One of the perpetrators had met the girl at a wedding celebration in their neighbourhood. He then requested her to accompany him on his bike to a location where her male friend was waiting. The girl rode on the back of his bike and met her male friend, who was accompanied by two others. The four of them then went to Dhawalkhedi forest, where they sexually assaulted her. Police said that the minors are now accusing each other of coercing the girl into having sex, while maintaining their innocence. After multiple rounds of questioning, its suggested that the male friend initiated physical contact first, followed by the others, although this hasnt been confirmed by the police. There are also suspicions that the minors may have filmed the assault. Several posts and videos were discovered deleted from the perpetrators mobile phones, but these will be recovered through cyber forensics, according to a police officer involved in the investigation. The police also revealed that the perpetrators turned violent when the girl started resisting and protesting against the assault. One of the accused hit her with a stone and pushed her down. She suffered a fall on the rock and sustained a fatal injury on the back of the head. The blood-smeared stone was found beside the body too, the cop noted, adding villagers attempted to shield the perpetrators, despite witnessing the victim leaving with one of them. 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 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed on Sunday that the Tihar jail administration has denied permission for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals wife, Sunita, to meet him on April 29. However, there was no immediate reaction from the Tihar authorities. On the instructions of the Modi government, the Tihar Jail administration cancelled Sunita Kejriwals meeting with her husband Arvind Kejriwal. Modi government is crossing all limits of inhumanity, the party alleged in a post on social media platform X. Big Breaking pic.twitter.com/itt3qZKaLG AAP (@AamAadmiParty) April 28, 2024 Elected CM treated like An elected Chief Minister is being treated like a terrorist. Modi government should tell the people of the country why it is not allowing Sunita Kejriwal to meet her husband Arvind Kejriwal? it added. Before the party made these claims on its social media handles, an AAP source was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI that Sunita Kejriwal was supposed to meet him tomorrow (Monday) but the Tihar administration has denied permission. The jail administration has not cited any reason for denying the permission. Two people can meet a prisoner at a time and maximum four in a week, according to jail manual. Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi is scheduled to meet Kejriwal on Monday while Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet him on Tuesday. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. On October 21, 2015, a 15-year-old Tibetan girl along with her sister was picked up by Chinese authorities in the Tibetan county of Ngaba and were put behind bars for three years for publicly displaying portraits of the Dalai Lama and demanding a free Tibet. In June last year, the girl, Namkyi, arrived in India weeks after entering Nepal following a 10-day arduous journey on foot with a firm resolve to make people across the world aware about Chinese repression in Tibet, according to her account. Namkyi, now 24, says she is currently studying at Sherab Gatsel Ling, an educational institution run by the Tibetan government-in-exile in Himachal Pradeshs Dharamshala. What the Chinese government is showing to the entire world about Tibet is in total contrast to the real situation. The Tibetan people are living under increasing fear and repression, she told a small group of journalists. China has been trying to undermine Tibets identity, she alleges. Tibetan activists have been accusing China of denying religious freedom and trying to stamp out Tibets cultural heritage and identity. Beijing has been rejecting the charges. I want to tell the world what is happening in Tibet. I want to be the voice of the Tibetan people to let the world know about their pain and anguish, about the Chinese repression, Namkyi said. The girl, born to a typical nomadic family in Charo village, also recalled her and her sister Tenzin Dolmas detention following their demonstration at a key locality in Ngaba, calling for Free Tibet and seeking the swift return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. Not more than 10 minutes into our march, four or five police officers came from behind and snatched the portraits (of the Dalai Lama) from our hands, she said about the October 21, 2015 protest. We did not let go of the portraits and resisted the police action. Finally, the police dragged us down the road and told us to be silent. But we shouted our slogans continuously, she said. They handcuffed our hands, put us into the police van and took us away to the detention centre of Ngaba County. Then they took us to another detention centre in Barkam city. Namkyi claimed she and her sister were subjected to severe torture. We were interrogated in a small room where a heater was switched on with excessive heat. Different interrogators asked various questions such as who incited us to hold the protest; where did we get the portraits of the Dalai Lama and whether we had any acquaintances from outside, etc, she said. Despite mental and physical torture, we only responded that both of us freely decided to hold the protest, and no one incited us, and also that our family members knew nothing about it, she said. Namkyi said the trial started nearly a year after the arrest. That day (when the trial began), we both saw each other for the first time since our arrest, she recalled, adding the court sent them to prison. After three months in prison, I worked in a labour camp where copper wires were produced, and my sister made cigarette boxes at first, and then we were shifted to a wrist-watch manufacturing camp, she said. Later, we learned that our family had sent food and clothes for us, but we never got anything from the prison authorities. On 21 October 2018, we were released from prison after completing the prison term, she said. Namkyi alleged that the Chinese authorities troubled her family members and relatives because she and her sister took part in the protest. On May 13, 2023, I started my journey of escape with my aunt Tsering Kyi without telling anyone, she said, adding they first crossed over to Nepal through a border point and then came to Dharamshala on June 28. In India for close to 10 months, she feared for the safety of her family members back home. I am worried that my family may be targeted, she said. Namkyi said her main aim now is to let the world know the real situation in Tibet. People are living in pathetic conditions in Tibet. I want to be their voice to the world. I want to visit various countries and tell them what is going on in Tibet, she added. Tibetan activists said people from their community have been facing intense surveillance, and possessing pictures of the Dalai Lama or mentioning him in public is not allowed. Namkyi said she had the opportunity to seek the blessings of the Dalai Lama last year and he had underlined the need to work towards protecting the identity and cultural heritage of Tibet. Political head of Tibets government-in-exile Penpa Tsering said people in Tibet are living in fear and they face intense surveillance in their daily lives. People are living in fear because they could get blacklisted anytime. Once they get blacklisted, they land up in a lot of problems, he said. After a failed anti-Chinese uprising in 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet and came to India where he set up the government-in-exile. Tibets government-in-exile based in Dharamshala represents over one lakh Tibetans living in around 30 countries. The Chinese government officials and the Dalai Lama or his representatives have not met for formal negotiations since 2010. Beijing has been maintaining that it freed serfs and slaves from a brutal theocracy in Tibet, bringing the region on the path of prosperity and modernisation. China has in the past accused the Dalai Lama of indulging in separatist activities and trying to split Tibet and considers him as a divisive figure. However, the Tibetan spiritual leader has insisted that he is not seeking independence but genuine autonomy for all Tibetans living in the three traditional provinces of Tibet under the Middle-Way approach. Relations between the two sides strained further due to protests against China in Tibetan areas in 2008. The US and several democratic countries have been consistently supporting the Tibetan cause, notwithstanding Chinas strong objection. In 2020, the US came out with legislation reaffirming the absolute right of the Tibetan people to choose a successor to the Dalai Lama and the preservation of Tibets environment. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. Indian authorities seized 78 boxes of contraband, suspected to be heroin, weighing roughly 86 kg from a Pakistani fishing boat, marking the biggest seizure of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) during the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. In a statement, Gujarat ATS said the mid-sea operation was carried out jointly by Gujarat ATS, the Indian Coast Guard and the Narcotics Control Bureau. Due to the enforcement of MCC in the country, all the enforcement agencies are on high alert in the State. During this period, information was received by K K Patel, Superintendent of Police, Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) that a Pakistani drug operative named Haji Aslam alias Babu Baloch would be sending a Pakistani fishing boat, Alraza bearing registration number 339-BB-BFD from Karachi harbour to deliver narcotic substance like Heroin or Methamphetamine, the statement reads. The boat was to deliver the contraband in the intervening night of April 25 and April 26 in the Indian waters near IMBL off Porbandar Coast and the said contraband would be delivered to a Dhow from Tamil Nadu to be further delivered to Sri Lanka-based drug operatives. Based on this information, a joint team of Gujarat ATS and Indian Coast Guard had commenced an operation from Porbandar on board ICGS Rajratan and in the intervening night, identified a suspicious vessel in the Indian waters, 180 NM off Porbandar, Gujarat. The Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS team that had tried to board the vessel for checking was obstructed by the crew of the suspect boat and to restrain the crew and to stop the fleeing vessel, firepower was used in which one member of the crew of the vessel sustained bullet injuries, the statement added. The master of the boat, Nazir Hussain Azam Khan aged 62, had suffered a bullet injury during the mid-sea operation and was evacuated for further medical care. He has been operated upon and is presently in stable condition. The suspect Pakistani fishing boat, Alraza was carrying 14 crew members, all Pakistani nationals, and the search of the boat revealed contraband material. The boat and crew were brought to Porbandar for further legal procedures. The joint team of Gujarat ATS and Narcotics Control Bureau (Operations), New Delhi had boarded the vessel and, in the search, have recovered 78 boxes of contraband suspected to be Heroin weighing roughly 86 kgs and worth nearly 602 Crore INR in the international market, the statement said, adding that the 14 individuals were detained in connection with the seizure. This is the biggest NDPS seizure in the country during the process of Lok Sabha Elections, 2024, they said. All the detained individuals are residents of Julubi Maveli, Lasbella, Baluchistan, Pakistan. Further legal procedures, and probe into this international drug network are being undertaken by the Narcotics Control Bureau. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. An Indian naval destroyer helped a Panama-flagged crude oil tanker with 30 crew members including 22 Indians after the vessel came under a missile attack from Houthi militants, the countrys Navy said on Sunday. INS Kochi responded following the attack on the vessel, MV Andromeda Star, on April 26, officials said, adding all the crew members are safe. This incident comes as the Indian Navy extended assistance to several merchant vessels, in the recent past, in the Western Indian Ocean following attacks on them. A Mission deployed Indian Naval Destroyer #INSKochi responded to a #maritimesecurity incident involving attack on Panama flagged crude oil tanker MV Andromeda Star PM 26 Apr 24.The MV was intercepted by #IndianNavy warship & an aerial recce by helo was undertaken to assess the pic.twitter.com/nh5qfVOQMy SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) April 28, 2024 US Central Command The US Central Command said Iranian-backed Houthi militants launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Red Sea in the vicinity of merchant vessel Maisha and MV Andromeda Star. MV Andromeda Star is a Panaman-flagged and Seychelles-operated vessel. The vessel reported minor damage, the US Central Command said. A mission deployed Indian Naval destroyer INS Kochi responded to a maritime security incident involving the attack on Panama-flagged crude oil tanker MV Andromeda Star on April 26, the Indian Navy said. The vessel was intercepted by the Indian Navy ship and an aerial recce involving a helicopter operation was undertaken to assess the situation, it said. April 26 CENTCOM Red Sea UpdateAt 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 pic.twitter.com/eCwPHkL9XP U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 27, 2024 An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team of the Navy was also deployed to carry out residual risk assessment, the Navy said in a statement. A total of 30 crew including 22 Indian nationals are reported to be safe and the vessel is continuing its scheduled transit to the next port, it said. The swift action of the Indian Navy ship reiterates the commitment and resolve of the Indian Navy in safeguarding the seafarers plying through the region, it added. The fresh incident comes amid growing global concerns over attacks on various commercial vessels in the Red Sea by the Houthi militants. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. In a distressing incident, a man in Uttar Pradeshs Lakhimpur Kheri district was arrested on Saturday for holding a minor girl captive for three days and repeatedly sexually assaulted her after she declined his marriage proposal. The victim, a 17-year-old, was beaten, and according to police, the accused used a hot iron rod to write the letters of his name, Aman, on her face. According to the police, the accused is a 22-year-old school dropout who works at a salon in Hyderabad. The police initially registered a case under lesser sections such as wrongful confinement and voluntarily causing hurt, as alleged by her family, as per The Times Of India report. However, after the survivors statement was recorded before a magistrate under Sec 164 of the CrPC, sections related to rape along with the POCSO Act were added to the FIR. Since she didnt carry an ID, we were not sure whether she was a minor. We have now added IPC section 324 (voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapon) and 376 (rape) along with Pocso Act, stated SHO (Dhaurahra), Dinesh Singh. Speaking to the publication, SSP (Kheri) Ganesh Saha refuted the victim familys allegations, stating, We registered an FIR on basis of a complaint by her family. A video statement of the girl was recorded in which she didnt level such grave allegations. We dont know why she changed her statement in court. However, we have started our probe as per her allegations now. The accused has been arrested. 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. In todays edition of the News18 morning digest, we bring you the latest updates from Karnataka Obscene Videos Case as Shivakumar Seeks BJPs Explanation On Deve Gowdas Grandson and Actor Sahil Khan Arrested in Mahadev Betting App Case. Delhi Congress Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely Resigns From Post Over Alliance With AAP For Lok Sabha Elections, Ticket Distribution With less than a month to go for polling across seven parliamentary seats in the national capital, Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely on Sunday announced his resignation from his post over its alliance with Arvind Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), hinting cracks within the Congress state unit. READ MORE Ktaka Obscene Videos Case: Shivakumar Seeks BJPs Explanation On Deve Gowdas Grandson; JDS Welcomes SIT Probe Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered a special investigation team to probe a sex scandal allegedly involving Hassan MP and Janata Dal (Secular) candidate from the seat, Prajwal Revanna. The development comes a day after voting took place in the constituency on April 26. READ MORE Actor Sahil Khan Arrested in Mahadev Betting App Case, Says I Believe In Indias Judiciary The Mumbai Police arrested actor and influencer Sahil Khan for his alleged involvement in the Mahadev betting app case. He was apprehended by the Mumbai cyber cells Special Investigating Team (SIT) in Chhattisgarh after his plea for pre-arrest bail was rejected by the Bombay High Court. READ MORE My Marks Matter, Not Facial Hair: UP Board Topper Reacts To Trolls Prachi Nigam, who topped in this years Uttar Pradesh Class 10 board exams with an outstanding 98.5%, has spoken up against online bullies who have been targeting her for her facial hair. She stated that her academic achievements matter more than her appearance. READ MORE Cant Become CEO In US If You Are Not Indian: US Envoy Eric Garcettis Humorous Quip At AI Summit The US envoy to India Eric Garcetti in a humorous quip said that the tables have turned and now one cannot become a CEO in the US unless they are of Indian origin. Eric Garcetti made the statement during the 2024 Indiaspora AI Summit at Stanford University recently. READ MORE Aamir Khan Shares Ex-Wife Reena Dutta Slapped Him, Bit His Hand During Labour: Tried To Calm Her Down Aamir Khan recently opened up about learning human emotions when his ex-wife Reena Dutta was in labour. The actor recently made an appearance at The Great Indian Kapil Show, where he opened up about his career and shared some funny and noteworthy moments from his life. One such moment was the time when Aamirs ex-wife ended up slapping him while she was in labour. READ MORE 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. In a shocking incident from Uttar Pradeshs Muzaffarnagar, a man tried to kill his wife after she confided in him about being raped by his brother while he was away. The man tried to strangle his wife to death claiming that she was no longer his wife after being raped by his brother. According to an NDTV report, the woman claimed her brother-in-law raped her on April 2 when her husband was away. She narrated her ordeal to her husband when he returned only to be met with a shocking response. You are no longer my wife. You are my sister-in-law now, the husband declared. The woman further alleged that her husband tried to strangle her with her dupatta the next day while his brother recorded the incident on his mobile phone. The police noted the incident after the woman shared the video and a written complaint on social media. A case under sections 376 (rape), 307 (attempt to murder), and 328 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have been filed against the accused husband and brother-in-law at Khatauli Kotwali police station. Superintendent of Police Satyanarayan Prajapati said that efforts are underway to nab both the accused and legal action will be taken against them soon. Last month, a 32-year-old man allegedly murdered his wife and two children and kept their bodies next to him in their house in Uttar Pradeshs Lucknow for almost three days. The accused murdered his wife over suspicions of an affair. The accused identified as Ram Lagan Gautam was arrested on the charges of killing his wife Jyoti, aged 30 and children Payal and Anand, aged six and three. A 55-year-old man was apprehended for allegedly murdering his wife and keeping her body at their residence in Ghaziabad in March this year. 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. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar jail on April 30, AAP sources said on Sunday. This will be Manns second meeting with Kejriwal in Tihar. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an excise policy-linked money-laundering case. Mann met Kejriwal in jail earlier this month and alleged that the AAP chief was not being given amenities provided even to hardcore criminals. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. Tamil Nadu police recently arrested a man after CCTV footage emerged of him brutally assaulting his 63-year-old father over a property dispute. The father recently died of a heart attack, leading to suspicions regarding the sons involvement in his demise. The assault took place in Krishnapuram in Perambalur district on February 16, when 40-year-old K Santhosh attacked his father A Kulandaivelu. In the CCTV footage of the incident going viral on social media, Kulanthaivelu can be seen sitting at a settee before Santosh enters the frame and starts repeatedly punching his father. Soon another man enters the frame and takes Santosh away, shortly before Kulanthaivelu falls onto his side and appears to faint. Disturbing VisualMan beats to death his father over property dispute. Where are we heading as a society and humans ?? pic.twitter.com/QsnK4OwHxQ Amitabh Chaudhary (@MithilaWaala) April 28, 2024 Initially, after the assault, Kulandaivelu had lodged a complaint against Santhosh, which he withdrew later. Kulandaivelu passed away on April 18, following which his family then filed a complaint against Santhosh once again. A case under Sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (Voluntarily hurting with a dangerous weapon), and 506(ii) (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code have been filed by police, following which Santosh was arrested on Thursday. Meanwhile, police have also lodged a separate case under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in connection with Kulandaivelus death and an autopsy was done at a government hospital in Perambalur. Three policemen were killed and around 12 others injured when the van they were on board was hit by a speeding container truck from the rear side in Bihars Gopalganj district on Sunday, the police said. The accident occurred near Barhima Bazar when the police team was going to Supaul on Lok Sabha election duty. The van carrying policemen on election duty had halted near Barhima Bazar when a speeding container truck rammed into it from behind, a statement issued by the district SPs office said. Two policemen died on the spot and over a dozen sustained injuries. An injured colleague of the two succumbed in a government hospital later. All of them were constables of the Bihar Police. The container has been seized by the police but its driver managed to flee, according to the statement. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the death of the three policemen and injury to others in the accident. Kumar also directed the officials concerned to ensure that the injured policemen get the best possible treatment. Meanwhile, the Bihar police in a statement said the force has decided to provide a one-time grant of Rs 25 lakh to the family of each deceased. In addition to this, the Deputy Inspector General of Police of Saran range, under which Gopalganj district comes, will also provide the next of kin of each dead policeman a one-time grant of Rs 10 lakh. The Bihar police also requested the district election officer to write to the Election Commission for the payment of an ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh to each bereaved family since they died on election duty. Besides, Bihar Police will also provide jobs to one of the dependents of the deceased policemen on compensatory grounds, the statement said. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. The firefighting operation in Uttarakhands forests with the help of an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter continued for the second day on Sunday with the blaze being brought under control in several areas, officials said. The state reported eight fresh forest fires in the last 24 hours, gutting 11.75 hectares, compared to the 23 such incidents damaging 34.175 hectares from Friday evening to Saturday evening, the forest department said in its daily bulletin. Since November 1, 2023, Uttarakhand has so far recorded 606 forest fires in which 735.815 hectares of forest land were gutted, the bulletin said. No major fire broke out in the forests over the past 24 hours, Kumaons Chief Conservator of Forest Prasanna Kumar Patro said. In the Kumaon region, fires are raging at two to three places in Nainital district and at one place each in Champawat, Almora, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar, Patro said. The fire in the forests of Ladiyakata and Pines area on Nainital-Bhowali road have been extinguished with the help of the IAF helicopter that was deployed on Saturday, he said. After the forest fire in Nainital reached dangerously close to the High Court Colony and the Air Force base containing sensitive equipment on Friday, an IAF helicopter was brought in to help quell the flames. The forest blaze in Nainital and adjoining areas is gradually being brought under control after the deployment of the IAF helicopter on Saturday morning, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said after reviewing the situation in the Kumaon region on Saturday night. Patro said efforts are on to extinguish the flames at other places and they will be brought under control soon. He attributed the recent spike in forest fire incidents in Kumaon to increased dryness due to heat wave in the lower areas of Champawat and Nainital districts of Uttarakhand bordering Nepal. Meanwhile, efforts were stepped up to extinguish ongoing forest fires and prevent fresh incidents in the worst-affected areas of Nainital, Haldwani and Ramnagar forest divisions, forest officials said. The flames have already been doused in many areas, including Marora and Khanana civil areas in Maniknath range of the Narendranagar forest division, they said. Apart from the IAF helicopter and Army personnel, Prantiya Rakshak Dal volunteers and homeguard personnel have also been roped in to help in the firefighting operations, Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat said. Additional government vehicles, two each for the three forest divisions, have been provided to rush firefighting teams to the affected areas, he added. Help from locals with the involvement of forest panchayat officials is also being taken as they are the first responders to forest fires, Rawat said. Forest department personnel are going from village to village in the hills to raise awareness about forest fires, Garhwal DFO Anirudh Swapnil told reporters in Pauri. Loudspeakers are being used to spread the messages. People are being asked to report any forest blaze immediately to the authorities and not to burn garbage in the open or carelessly throw burning cigarette butts or bidis in the forest areas, Swapnil said. People are also being asked to report to the authorities if they catch someone setting a fire in the forests, he said, adding that any person reporting such a violation will be rewarded by the forest department. Legal action under the Forest Act 1927 will be taken against anyone caught setting fire to the jungles, he added. Burning forests in order to obtain fresh grass for their cattle is a widely prevalent practice in the hills of Uttarakhand. The leaves of forest department officials have been cancelled until the fire situation is completely brought under control. Leave applications of forest department personnel will be considered only in case of medical emergencies, Dhami said. According to the Indian Air Force, a Mi-17 V5 helicopter has been deployed in Nainital and surrounding areas to douse the flames. It collects water from the Bhimtal lake in a Bambi bucket, which has a capacity of 5,000 litres, and pours it over the burning forests. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. A Village Defence Guard (VDG) member was killed in a gunfight with recently infiltrated terrorists in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmirs Udhampur district early Sunday, a senior police officer said. Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Anand Jain, who rushed to the area to supervise the anti-terrorist operation, said a massive search operation is on to track down and neutralize the terrorists who have infiltrated from Pakistan. The ADGP said two groups of terrorists are believed to be present in the area after they recently infiltrated from across the border. Jain led the wreath laying ceremony of slain VDG member Mohd Sharief at Basantgarh police station this evening and saluted his supreme sacrifice for the nation. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi range, Rayees Mohd Bhat and other officers from police and CRPF also paid floral tributes to the martyr. We got information about the presence of terrorists (in Panara village of Basantgarh) late Saturday night and activated police and VDG members. Because the information was not pin-pointed and we have a vast jungle area, the area domination patrols were launched, Jain told reporters after the Shariefs body was dispatched to his home at village Khaned for last rites. He said one of the parties came under fire while moving towards Chochru Gala heights around 7:45 am and in the ensuing encounter, the VDG member laid down his life. Reinforcements from police, CRPF and Army were rushed and the whole area was cordoned off to track down the terrorists and neutralize them, the officer said. Officials said the army made two helicopter sorties to drop para-commandos deep inside the dense forest to eliminate the terrorists. The ADGP said two groups of terrorists are believed to be present in the area after they recently infiltrated from across the border. Where from the terrorists have infiltrated is a matter of investigation which is going on but it is certain that this group is a freshly infiltrated one, he said when asked about possible infiltration of the terrorists through the International Border from adjoining Kathua district. He said the strength of the two groups, as per preliminary investigation, is between four and six but their affiliation is not known immediately. We are working on various inputs and the area is being sanitized to hunt them down with deployment of additional forces. Earlier, official sources said there was information about movement of two separate groups of terrorists, who infiltrated recently, from Kathua to Basantgarh. One of the groups with five members was confronted, while there was no trace of the other group, which has four members and whose movement was last reported in the Machedi top area bordering Kathua, they said. The sources said the terrorists are believed to have infiltrated through the International Border from Kathua district and are heading to Kashmir via Chenab valley, taking advantage of the thick forest. Meanwhile, Pawan Kumar, a VDG member, demanded equipping them with automatic weapons to take on the terrorists effectively. We are ready and will not allow them to settle down, he said. This was after a long time that an encounter took place in Basantgarh, once a hub of terror activities, before it was cleared of terrorism by the security forces about two decades ago. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. China's urban passenger trips jump 27.7 pct in 2023 Xinhua) 13:22, April 28, 2024 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Explore the captivating Nordic region, where stunning landscapes, remarkable natural phenomena, and a fulfilling lifestyle await. From Norways majestic fjords to Icelands scenic vistas and the lively city of Denmark, embark on a journey to discover the tranquillity and joy you seek. Heres a guide to some essential experiences in the Nordic countries. Experience the magic of the midnight sunExperience the enchanting Nordic landscapes of Finland, known for its countless lakes and forests. Witness unparalleled natural wonders of Northern Finland like the mesmerising spectacle of the Northern Lights, best enjoyed by spending a night in a glass igloo or tent beneath the starlit sky. Another equally remarkable sight to see is the Lappish midnight sun during summer, when from May 23rd to July 20th, the sun never sets in Ivalo, offering a unique and unforgettable experience. Relax Finnish-style in Helsinkis saunasSaunas are a cornerstone of Finnish culture, with Finland boasting the highest number per capita globally. In Helsinki, the seaside capital, immerse yourself in this tradition at venues like Loyly, a sauna restaurant offering a variety of sauna experiences followed by a refreshing dip in the Baltic Sea. Complete your relaxation with a bowl of steaming Finnish salmon soup for a truly authentic experience. Sail through Norways stunning fjordsNorways stunning scenery includes over 1,000 picturesque fjords, some among the worlds longest, narrowest, and deepest. Notably, the Geirangerfjord and the Nryfjord are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Choose your favourite fjord and embark on a mesmerising fjord cruise to experience its mystique and beauty firsthand. Explore Oslos Urban ArtscapeDiscover Oslos natural charm by exploring its outdoor attractions. Marvel at over 200 captivating human statues in Vigeland Sculpture Park or admire internationally renowned artwork in Ekebergparken Sculpture Park, both free to visit anytime. Experience the citys history by wandering through well-preserved wooden houses from the late 1700s and 1800s on Damstredet and Telthusbakken streets, or explore Oslos vibrant street art scene. With plenty of free and enjoyable activities, Oslo offers a wealth of experiences for nature enthusiasts. See the rugged landscape of Iceland and nature by horseback ridingExperience Icelands breathtaking landscapes in an unforgettable way by horseback riding. Whether you opt for a short 30-minute ride or an extended 8-day adventure, exploring on Icelandic horses offers fun for all ages. Discover black sand beaches, hidden waterfalls, colourful volcanoes, lava fields, and more, immersing yourself in scenery that feels otherworldly. Embrace the Danish concept of HyggeTo truly grasp Denmarks essence, delve into the concept of hygge. Experience it firsthand on a Hygge & Happiness Tour with a local guide, discovering why Danes rank among the happiest people globally. Explore Copenhagens local life and uncover your own cosy hygge spot, whether its snuggled under a soft blanket, savouring the warm glow of candlelight, or enjoying mulled wine and seasonal festivities. Hygge embodies the Danish soul, encapsulating the joy of lifes simple pleasures shared with loved ones in a welcoming atmosphere. Embark on this adventurous trip across the Nordics with Finnairs direct flights from New Delhi to Helsinki and set out to discover these Scandinavian gems. Aamir Khan made his first appearance on Kapil Sharmas show recently. During the latest episode of Netflixs The Great Indian Kapil Show, the actor shared various anecdotes from his acting career. He particularly praised the humility of the people of Punjab and mentioned how he learned the significance of namaste from them while shooting for Dangal (2016) in a village in Punjab. In Hindi, Aamir expressed, This is a story thats very dear to me. We filmed Rang de Basanti in Punjab, and I had a great experience there. The people and the Punjabi culture exude love. So, when we went to shoot Dangal, it was in a small village in Punjab where we spent over two months. Every morning when I arrived around 5 or 6, as my car approached, people would be outside their homes ready to welcome me with folded hands and Sat Sri Akaal. They were eager to greet me, never causing any disturbance. After my work was done, upon my return in the evening, they would again be there to bid me Good Night.' Aamir further shared that as a Muslim, he was accustomed to a different way of greeting and initially found folding his hands for namaste unusual. He said, Coming from a Muslim background, I wasnt used to saying namaste with folded hands. Instead, I was more familiar with raising my hand (in adaab) and bowing my head. However, after spending time in Punjab, I realized the essence of namaste. Its a beautiful gesture. People in Punjab show immense respect to everyone without any bias. Aamir also spoke to Kapil about not being on his shows for 11 years. He said he was going through a tough time emotionally and found comfort in Kapils comedy. He also mentioned that the last two to two-and-a-half years have been very tough for him. Its been 11 years, but I am attending it for the first time because my last two to two-and-a-half years have been very tough. I was going through a tough emotional phase. During this time, I watched comedy with Kapil and it supported me a lot. You guys made me laugh when I was low and depressed. That is when I felt I should come here, Aamir said. the episode, there were fun skits by Sunil Grover and Krushna Abhishek, along with some heartfelt moments. Aamir also opened up about avoiding award shows and admitted his recent films werent good. He also mentioned that although many in the industry ask for his advice for their kids, his own children dont listen to him. Time is precious. You should use it wisely, he said. During the chat, Kapil Sharma candidly asked him to remarry. He teased the actor by asking, Aapko bhi settle ho jaana chaiye. Aamir couldnt stop blushing. The video instantly went viral. In his most recent prominent role, Aamir starred in Laal Singh Chaddha (2022). He also made a cameo appearance in Revathis Salaam Venky (2022), where Kajol played the lead role. Looking ahead to his next project, Aamir Khan is set to collaborate with Sunny Deol in Lahore 1947, a film directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced by Aamir himself. Aamir Khan recently opened up about learning human emotions when his ex-wife Reena Dutta was in labour. The actor recently made an appearance at The Great Indian Kapil Show, where he opened up about his career and shared some funny and noteworthy moments from his life. One such moment was the time when Aamirs ex-wife ended up slapping him while she was in labour. During his appearance, Aamir was asked if he notices the behaviour of people as an actor, to which the actor said that he observes and notices it big time, during strange situations. Speaking with Kapil Sharma, he said, Let me give you an idea of what I notice. It was the day when Junaid was about to be born. Reena Ji was in labour. We were at the hospital. And as a good husband, I practiced some breathing exercises. As the labour got intense, I tried to calm her down with it. But I got slapped, followed by, Stop this nonsense! Reena Ji was in immense pain. She even bit my hand. Aamir further added, Later, I realised what was happening around me. I noticed one thing when a person is in immense pain, like what women go through during childbirth. I didnt even plan this. It is just happening to me. I looked at Reenas face, and when she was experiencing that pain, normally we think that a persons face would contort with pain, but it is not that. When the pain is immense, the expression is one of surprise. It is disbelief. A person is in denial. She could not fathom the intensity of her pain. That I noted as an actor. Later, I said this to Reena when she came home with Junaid, and she was furious! (laughs). Aamir Khan and Reena Duttas marriage lasted for almost 16 years, and together they have had two children, Ira Khan and Junaid Khan. Aamir Khan married Reena Dutta in 1986. They parted ways in 2002. After that, the actor married Kiran Rao in 2005. They separated in 2021 and continue to co-parent their son, Azad Rao. Meanwhile, on the work front, Aamir Khan is all set to make his comeback with RS Prasannas Sitaare Zameen Par and Rajkumar Santoshis Lahore: 1947. While the actor will be starring opposite Genelia DSouza in the former, he will be producing his maiden collaboration in the latter, which will see Sunny Deol in the lead. The Mumbai Police arrested actor and influencer Sahil Khan for his alleged involvement in the Mahadev betting app case. He was apprehended by the Mumbai cyber cells Special Investigating Team (SIT) in Chhattisgarh after his plea for pre-arrest bail was rejected by the Bombay High Court. He has been sent to police custody till May 1. Earlier, the SIT had called Sahil and three others for questioning in December 2023, but he did not show up. He claimed to be just a brand promoter under a contract with M/s. Isports247, promoting The Lion Book brand, and denied direct association with the betting platform. However, the police said he was a co-owner of the app. He has been brought to Mumbai via Raipur. According to the police, he was the partner in Lotus App 247. After being brought to Mumbai, the actor said, I believe in the judiciary of the country. Also read: Actor Sahil Khan Arrested: From Ranbir Kapoor To Kapil Sharma, Celebs Under Scanner In Mahadev Betting App Case #WATCH | Actor Sahil Khan brought to Mumbai from Chhattisgarh. He has been arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch's SIT in connection with the Mahadev Betting App case.I believe in the judiciary of the country, " he says pic.twitter.com/HirOzizuXb ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2024 Sahil had earlier said that his contract was for 24 months, with a monthly payment of 3 lakhs for posting promotional videos on his social media. Despite this, the court dismissed his bail plea, citing his direct involvement in the illegal operation. Known for his roles in Style and Excuse Me, Sahil now focuses on fitness, having founded Divine Nutrition, which offers fitness supplements. Back in 2023, it was reported that the crime branch, conducting an inquiry into the Mahadev betting app case, summoned Sahil Khan and three others to record their statements on December 15. However, Khan did not present himself before the police for investigation and continued to engage on social media during that period. He even posted a picture of himself sitting in a pool with the caption, Good morning, Jumma Mubarak. This has drawn attention and criticism as he seemingly ignored the police summons. According to reports in IANS, authorities mentioned that Sahil Khan, as a fitness expert and YouTuber, allegedly put together celebrity gatherings with the intention of promoting the app and enticing more individuals to use it. The case, under simultaneous investigation by the Enforcement Directorate, had brought several other Bollywood actors under scrutiny following crackdown on various betting and gaming apps by different agencies. Imran Khan is preparing to make his Bollywood comeback after a nine-year break, marking a significant moment in his career. Through a report by Peepingmoon.com, it has been revealed that Imran is embarking on a new chapter in his professional journey, alongside his maternal uncle and mentor, Aamir Khan. Aamir played a pivotal role in Imrans early career, introducing him to the audience as a child actor in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak in 1988, and later as a leading man in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na in 2008. After almost eight months of speculation about his return to the big screen, Imran has officially confirmed his comeback project. He is set to portray the character of Happy Patel in a lively comedy produced by Aamir Khan Productions. Described as a laughter-filled riot, the film embraces a blend of familiar elements and a unique, refreshing setting that harks back to Imrans past works. According to an industry insider, filming has already begun in Goa for this eagerly anticipated movie. The source revealed, Imran has finally locked in his comeback project, nearly eight months after he hinted at the possibility of returning to movies last year. He will star in and as Happy Patel in a quirky comedy produced by Aamir Khan Productions. The film is a laugh-riot and is set in a familiar yet uniquely fresh world, reminiscent of Imrans previous works. Shooting has already commenced in Goa. Vir Das, known for his role in the successful 2011 black comedy Delhi Belly, is stepping into the directors chair for the first time with this film, signaling a new chapter in his career after 17 years in acting. While he has previously worked on an unreleased web series as a director and showrunner, this upcoming movie will be his debut in directing a feature film. Mona Singh, recognized for her performances in popular films like 3 Idiots and Laal Singh Chaddha, has a significant role in the movie. The casting for the female lead character is still a mystery, while there are rumors of Aamir Khan making a cameo appearance, although official confirmation is pending. Happy Patel has become Imrans chosen comeback endeavor following the shelving of his initially planned web series with Abbas Tyrewala. The web series was supposed to feature Imran in the role of an intelligence officer in a Disney+Hotstar espionage thriller centered on the South Asian counter-intelligence world. However, due to the merger between Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Company, the project was postponed, much to Imrans relief. He expressed his contentment with the cancellation, stating his preference not to portray characters who rely on guns to solve problems. Happy Patel seems to be the perfect project for Imrans return, promising viewers a delightful and engaging experience akin to the charm of his earlier successful films that continue to resonate with audiences today. The upcoming Imran Khan movie marks the newest addition to the intriguing lineup of projects from Aamir Khan Productions. Following the success of Laapataa Ladies, which recently premiered on Netflix after a well-received theatrical release, the production house has four more exciting films lined up. These include RS Prasannas Sitare Zameen Par featuring Aamir and Genelia Deshmukh, Rajkumar Santoshis :Lahore 1947 starring Sunny Deol, Sunil Pandeys Pritam Pyare with Sanjay Mishra and Neeraj Sood, and Junaid Khans remake of One Day with Sai Pallavi. The Mumbai Police arrested actor and influencer Sahil Khan for his alleged involvement in the Mahadev betting app case. He was apprehended by the Mumbai cyber cells Special Investigating Team (SIT) in Chhattisgarh after his plea for pre-arrest bail was rejected by the Bombay High Court. He has been brought to Mumbai via Raipur. According to the police, he was the partner in Lotus App 247. Also read: Actor Sahil Khan Arrested: From Ranbir Kapoor To Kapil Sharma, Celebs Under Scanner In Mahadev Betting App Case Sahil, flanked by police personnel, was photographed at the Mumbai airport. He wore a pink blazer over a black shirt. As reporters thronged him for a reaction, he said, I believe in the judiciary of the country. #WATCH | Actor Sahil Khan brought to Mumbai from Chhattisgarh. He has been arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch's SIT in connection with the Mahadev Betting App case.I believe in the judiciary of the country, " he says pic.twitter.com/HirOzizuXb ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2024 According to reports, Mumbai Crime Branch officials have arrived at the Mumbai Police Commissioners office with Sahil Khan. Earlier, the SIT team had interrogated Sahil Khan at the premises. Following the completion of the arrest formalities, Sahil Khan will now undergo a medical examination at the GT Hospital. After the medical examination, the actor will be presented in Mumbais Holiday Court. Sahil had earlier said that his contract was for 24 months, with a monthly payment of 3 lakhs for posting promotional videos on his social media. Despite this, the court dismissed his bail plea, citing his direct involvement in the illegal operation. Known for his roles in Style and Excuse Me, Sahil now focuses on fitness, having founded Divine Nutrition, which offers fitness supplements. Back in 2023, it was reported that the crime branch, conducting an inquiry into the Mahadev betting app case, summoned Sahil Khan and three others to record their statements on December 15. However, Khan did not present himself before the police for investigation and continued to engage on social media during that period. He even posted a picture of himself sitting in a pool with the caption, Good morning, Jumma Mubarak. This has drawn attention and criticism as he seemingly ignored the police summons. Its been over five days since Gurucharan Singh, who played Sodhi in Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC), went missing. He left Delhi for Mumbai on April 22 but never reached his destination. His father filed a missing person report, and the police are investigating it as a kidnapping case. Mandar Chandwadkar, who plays Bhide in TMKOC, shared with The Indian Express that Gurucharan often travelled between Delhi and Mumbai. They last met at Dilip Joshis sons wedding in December. Mandar said he is surprised and concerned about Gurucharans disappearance and is hoping for his safety. He said, Its really surprising for me as well. He keeps travelling between Delhi and Mumbai. Last we met at Dilip Joshis sons wedding in December. We had a nice time together, but since then we have not been in touch. Just hoping and praying all is well. While police are trying to find Sodhi, his close friend Ms Soni has now revealed that the actor was unwell for the last few days and had even undergone a few tests. She hoped that Singh would be found and said that she is constantly in touch with his family. His parents are worried and have filed a missing report in Delhi. I tried to file one in Mumbai as well, however, since he hasnt returned back a complaint cannot be filed here. Gurucharan jis health also hasnt been keeping well for the last many days, so I am worried about that, Ms Soni told Pinkvilla, adding, 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. On Friday, it was reported that Gurucharans father filed a missing complaint. The complaint stated that Gurucharan Singh, aged 50, left for Mumbai on April 22 at 8:30 am but didnt arrive. His phone is unreachable, and despite their search, he hasnt returned home. Expressing concern over the law and order situation in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed the Congress government in the state and accused the party of doing vote bank politics in the Hubballi murder case. During an election rally in Uttara Kannada, he accused the Congress party of neglecting public safety and prioritising political agendas over governance. This criticism came in light of the Hubballi murder case in which the daughter of Congress councilor Niranjan Hiremath was stabbed to death at a campus college. This incident has ignited widespread apprehension about safety in the state. Congress track record- no commitment to improving law and order + shedding tears for terrorists. pic.twitter.com/dRKO6sEA8p Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 28, 2024 Hubballi Murder Before 2014, newspapers were full of headlines of bomb blasts. Now they have all stopped. But when the Congress comes to power, there is a bomb blast in Bengaluru. What is unfortunate is that some Congress leaders suspected it was a gas cylinder blast, he said at a rally in the state. During the rally, PM Modi pointed out how In Hubballi, a murder took place in broad daylight on a college campus and Congress sought to do vote bank politics in this incident too. The murder of Neha is not an ordinary incident. During his address, PM Modi also criticised the Congress party for spurning an invitation to the Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration ceremony. The Prime Minister also claimed that Congress was seeking the support of banned outfits like PFI. Joining such anti-national forces like PFI is the track record of the Congress while our track record is to ban the outfit and arrest its leaders, he said. The Prime Ministers remarks came during the ongoing Lok Sabha election in Karnataka. Polling has already occurred in 14 parliamentary constituencies, with the remaining seats scheduled for voting on May 7, followed by vote counting on June 4. As the state braces for these upcoming electoral events, tensions run high over various political issues. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has hit out at Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, claiming fake Gandhis were using their surname for votes. Yadav was speaking at a public rally in Myana town of Madhya Pradeshs Guna Lok Sabha seat on Saturday. During a campaign speech in Rajasthan on April 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Congress plans to give peoples hard-earned money and valuables to infiltrators and those who have more children alluding to Muslims and would steal the gold of mothers and sisters if voted to power. Priyanka Gandhi later lashed out at Modi over his gold and mangalsutra remarks, saying her mother Sonia Gandhi sacrificed her mangalsutra for the country. Taking a dig at the Congress general secretary, Yadav said former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehrus soul must be shedding tears over a (great) granddaughter born in the family who does not even wear mangalsutra. Yadav also targeted Gandhis over the use of their surname. In our case, as soon as the daughter gets married, she is given the surname which is applicable there (at in-laws house), he said. But these vote-hungry people are forgetting their surname for the sake of votes and using Gandhi surname even today, the CM said. Priyanka also became Gandhi. Where did the Gandhi surname come from? Where would be the family members of the real Gandhi? These fake Gandhis are taking votes in the name of Gandhi, he claimed. Reacting to Yadavs statement, KK Mishra, senior Congress leader and media advisor to MP party president Jitu Patwari, claimed the CM said Priyanka Gandhi got married in another religion. Is it unconstitutional or a crime? Yadav also has an objection as to why Priyanka ji uses her surname as Gandhi after marriage. Chief Minister, please see her X account, Vadra is also written in front of the surname, he said. Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website. An 82-year-old woman in the United Kingdom who had been employed at Clarks for 68 years was unexpectedly laid off with only two days notice. Jill Cornick, a shoe shop employee, started working at the facility in 1956 at the age of 14 and she has been employed by the British business ever since, reported Metro. Cornicks nearly 70-year tenure came to an end on Monday when the business in the Dorset town shut down. I dedicated my whole life to Clarks, she told BBC. In order to continue working, she even put off her honeymoon in 1969 so she could take a training course. Prior to receiving the unexpected news last Thursday that the store would be shut on Monday, Cornick had just shortened her workweek to three days, but she had no intention of retiring. This means she will be out of a job for the very first time in her life. After mentioning how many good memories she had, the elderly commented, I think I might retire now. Having grown up above the neighbourhood shoe store, Cornick has spent her whole life in Blandford Forum. Ive lived there, worked there and brought my baby up there, she told the news outlet. In the 1970s, she even kept her son Jasons playpen at the store. According to Jill Cornick, she believes she has assisted hundreds of clients in selecting the ideal shoe. She claimed to have assisted four generations of the same family in determining their shoe sizes in certain cases. The woman went on to say that she has always had positive relationships with the clients and felt overwhelmed by their supportive comments. Her favourite aspect of the work was assisting kids in getting new shoes for school. She also told the news portal that she had numerous highlights from the years, but her greatest memories are of the excellent staff with whom she worked. I would have carried on working there if I could. An official from Clarks told BBC that the company is deeply grateful to every member of the Blandford Forum retail staff for their assistance and unwavering dedication to providing outstanding client service. They went on to especially thank Jill Cornick, whose remarkable and unprecedented 68 years of service and dedication to our customers is hugely valued by all at Clarks. We wish Jill all the very best, they added. The US envoy to India Eric Garcetti in a humorous quip said that the tables have turned and now one cannot become a CEO in the US unless they are of Indian origin. Eric Garcetti made the statement during the 2024 Indiaspora AI Summit at Stanford University recently. The successes have happened, more than one in 10 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies now are Indian immigrants who studied in the US. The old joke was you could not become a CEO in the US if you were Indian, now the joke is you cannot become a CEO in America if you are not Indian, whether it is Google, Microsoft or Starbucks, people have come and made a big difference, Garcetti said. Tech giants like Google and its parent organisation Alphabet Inc, Microsoft, beverage retailing company and global coffee chain Starbucks are led by Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella and Laxman Narasimhan, respectively. Several Indian-origin business leaders who were also attending the event agreed with Garcetti and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for positioning India as a global hub of innovation and progress. India is perceived very differently in the global space. Its a space of innovation. Its a space of human capital. Its a space of progress and innovation. And as we look forward, what Modi has been able to do is put India into the global map as a credible innovator, leader for all countries to invest in and grow, Informatica CEO Amit Walia was quoted as saying by NDTV. The CEO of Elastic, a data analytics company that provides search-powered solutions, Ash Kulkarni said PM Modi and his government are open to innovation and industry, powering Indias vast potential for progress, while Navin Chaddha of Mayfield Fund said PM Modis leadership has ushered an amazing era for India. Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu also attended the Indiaspora AI Summit along with the global tech tycoons. Student protesters at Harvard University sparked a controversy this week when Palestinian flags were raised over the iconic John Harvard statue, after whom the prestigious US university is named. The act was seen as a provocative display of support for Palestine in the ivy college amid Israels military campaign in Gaza. Saturdays incident unfolded when a group of protesters hoisted the flags over the John Harvard statue, a site typically reserved for the American flag or flags of visiting foreign dignitaries. As the flags fluttered in the breeze, chants of Free, free Palestine and From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free echoed across the Yard, according to The Harvard Crimson. Palestinian flag raised at Harvard University in place of the American flag.Harvard has been conquered. @sfmcguire79 pic.twitter.com/zpRr7JFr7E Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 28, 2024 Violation of University policy Harvard spokesperson Jonathan L. Swain condemned the action as a violation of University policy, saying that those involved would face disciplinary action. Despite the removal of the flags by Harvard staff, tensions escalated as protesters voiced their dissent, leading to a standoff with administrators. The threat of disciplinary action, including the withholding of degrees, looms large over the protesters, particularly as Harvards commencement ceremonies draw near. The encampment, which began earlier in the week, has become a focal point of dissent, with hundreds of students among those facing potential repercussions for the continued protest. READ MORE: US Govt Asks For Peaceful Campus Protests After Hundreds Of Pro-Palestinians Held Over The Weekend Wave of demonstrations The wave of demonstrations began at Columbia University in New York but they have since spread rapidly across the country. While peace has prevailed in many campuses, the number of protesters detained is rising fast. They include 100 at Northeastern University in Boston, 80 at Washington University in St Louis, 72 at Arizona State University and 23 at Indiana University. As demonstrations continued across the college campuses, the US federal government on Sunday insisted that pro-Palestinian protests that have rocked universities must remain peaceful after police arrested around 275 people on four separate campuses over the weekend. We certainly respect the right of peaceful protests, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told ABC. But, he added, we absolutely condemn the anti-Semitism language that weve heard of late and certainly condemn all the hate speech and the threats of violence out there. (With agency inputs) The effects of the war in Gaza are spiralling out of the region and affecting one of Israels closest allies, the US, as protests demanding Israeli divestment from US universities and ceasefire continue to rattle the US. Police detained nearly 200 people at three US universities on Saturday as they cleared pro-Palestinian encampments. At least 100 were detained in Boston after cops dressed in riot gear cleared a protest camp at Northeastern University. Northeastern University said in a statement on social media platform X that some protesters resorted to virulent anti-Semitic slurs, including Kill the Jews. Arizona State University officials said that the university police 69 people for trespassing after the group set up an unauthorized encampment on campus. They further added that the protest group most of whom were not ASU students, faculty or staff had set up a camp Friday and then ignored repeated orders to disperse. Police at Indiana University arrested 23 people as they cleared a campus protest camp, the Indiana Daily Student newspaper said in a report accessed by AFP. The war in Gaza will also be in the minds of the first panel discussions of the two-day World Economic Forum (WEF) special meeting being held in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia on Sunday called for regional stability and warned that the war will have an economic fallout. Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said wars in Ukraine and Gaza have I think cool-headed countries and leaders and people need to prevail, and you need to make sure that you actually de-escalate. The region needs stability, Jadaan said. The war in Gaza, which has sent regional tensions soaring, began with an unprecedented attack on southern Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7. The attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israel estimates that 129 hostages seized by militants on October 7 are still being held in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead. Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israels retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,388 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Palestinian leaders and high-ranking officials from other countries who are trying to broker peace between Israel and Hamas are attending the summit in Riyadh. The US State Department said that Blinken will discuss a pathway to an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel, during talks in Riyadh on Monday and Tuesday. Meanwhile, Hamas said Saturday it was studying Israels latest counterproposal for a Gaza ceasefire and also released video footage of two men held hostage in Gaza. The individuals were identified as Keith Siegel and Omri Miran by the Israeli campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. A district and sessions judge was abducted on Saturday by armed men in Pakistans 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 judges 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 isnt he serious about the establishment of peace and why terrorists are on the loose, he asked. Kundi said that the report of the judges 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 Marwats 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. Even as Israel carried out further air strikes and shelling on the war-battered Gaza, the United States is making a last-ditch effort to prevent The Hauge-based International Criminal Court (ICC) from issuing arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. This comes as diplomatic efforts increased on Sunday to reach a long sought-after truce and hostage-release deal in Gaza as global opposition to the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory has also been growing in the wake of the looming invasion of the southernmost city of Rafah. Writing for the news site Walla, analyst Ben Caspit said that Netanyahu is under unusual stress over the prospect of an arrest warrant against him and other Israelis by the UN tribunal, which would be a major deterioration in Israels international status. Netanyahu is leading a nonstop push over the telephone to prevent an arrest warrant, focused especially on the Biden administration, Caspit writes. Haaretz analyst Amos Harel writes that the Israeli government is working under the assumption that the ICCs prosecutor, Karim Khan, may this week issue warrants for the arrest of Netanyahu. According to Harel, the US, which, like Israel, is not among the 124 countries that signed the Rome Statute of the ICC, is already engaged in the effort to block the arrest warrants. Under my leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense.The threat to seize the soldiers and officials of the Middle Easts only democracy and the worlds only Jewish state is outrageous. We will not bow to it.Israel Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) April 26, 2024 Dangerous precedent Netanyahus latest public statement about the war said forthcoming decisions by the ICC could set a dangerous precedent. We will never stop defending ourselves. Whereas decisions of the court in the Hague will not affect Israels actions, they would be a dangerous precedent threatening the soldiers and officials of any democracy fighting criminal terrorism and aggression, he was quoted as saying by The Times Of Israel on Friday. According to an internal US State Department memo, some senior US officials have advised State Secretary Antony Blinken that they do not find credible or reliable Israels assurances that it is using US-supplied weapons, in accordance with international humanitarian law. 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 Israels assurances that its use of US weapons does not violate US or international law. Internal memo 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. According to Reuters, 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 Israels assurances, some favored rejecting them and some took no position, a US official said. A joint submission from four bureaus raised serious concern over non-compliance with international humanitarian law during Israels prosecution of the Gaza war. The assessment from the four bureaus said Israels 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. (With agency inputs) The ascent of steep mud volcanoes marks the start of Hindu pilgrims religious rituals in southwestern Pakistan. They climb hundreds of stairs or clamber over rocks to reach the summit, tossing coconuts and rose petals into the shallow crater while seeking divine permission to visit Hinglaj Mata, an ancient cave temple that is the focus of their three-day worship. The dramatic surroundings of Hingol National Park in Baluchistan province are the setting for Pakistans largest Hindu festival, Hinglaj Yatra, which started on Friday and ends on Sunday. Organizers say more than 100,000 Hindus are expected to participate. Muslim-majority Pakistan is home to 4.4 million Hindus, just 2.14% of the population, and Hinglaj Mata is one of the few Hindu sites that continues to draw large numbers of pilgrims every year from across the country. Muslims and Hindus generally live peacefully in Pakistan, from where most of the Hindus migrated to India when it was divided by British colonialists in 1947. But there have been attacks on Hindu temples in recent years as relations between the rivals remain tense. Hindus believe Hinglaj Mata is one the places where the remains of Sati, the goddess of marital felicity and longevity, fell to earth after she ended her life. Maharaj Gopal, the temples most senior cleric, explains why people flock to it. It is the most sacred pilgrimage in the Hindu religion, said Gopal. Whoever visits the temple and worships accordingly during these three days will have all of their sins forgiven. The journeys begin hundreds of kilometres (miles) away, mostly from neighbouring Sindh province. Hundreds of packed buses set off from cities like Hyderabad and Karachi, traveling along the Makran Coastal Highway that hugs Pakistans south and southwest. But theres scant parking and vehicular access to the holy sites, so many pilgrims disembark and complete their travel by walking over parched and rocky terrain, sometimes barefoot and carrying children or luggage. Its a few kilometres (miles) from the main road to the mud volcano and then, from there, almost 45 kilometres (25 miles) to Hinglaj Mata. Winds buffet the desert-like conditions, churning up dust that whips the eyes, nose and mouth. The pilgrims festive cheer and brightly coloured apparel are a contrast to the arid landscape. Strong gusts distort peoples celebratory cries of Jai mata di and Jai shiv shankar. Kanwal Kumar, 28, was visiting the temple for the first time with her husband. We have yet to conceive a child after six years of marriage, so we are hopeful for help from the goddess, she said. We believe that no one returns empty-handed. All wishes are granted by Hinglaj Mata. The Hindu festival brings the Pakistani park to life. Hundreds of stalls spring up to sell snacks, drinks, jewellery, and clothing. Vats of hot food are prepared in the open air or thatched huts. Pilgrims purchase coconuts, sweetmeats, flowers, and incense for their ritualistic offerings. Aloo Kumar, 55, wanted to express her gratitude to Lord Shiva, one of Hinduisms three most important deities. He blessed our family with a grandson, Kumar said, gesturing toward the boy beside her cradling his baby sibling. We prayed for a grandson during last years festival. Hinglaj Mata thrums with activity, even after dark. Fairy lights and other decorations adorn the shrine and pilgrims jostle for position in front of it, sometimes holding up babies so the deities can bless them. Stewards urge them to pay their respects and move along. The parks Hingol River provides Hindu pilgrims with the opportunity for ritual bathing, like the Ganges in India. While there is no ban on Hindu worship in Pakistan, openly practising the faith is not routine as ties between India and Pakistan are broken. Their interactions are riddled with animosity and suspicion after having fought three wars, built up their armies and armed them with nuclear weapons. Travel restrictions and hostile bureaucracies largely keep people from crossing the border for leisure, study and work, although the countries sometimes make exceptions for religious pilgrimages, usually for Indias Sikhs. The decades of political hostility present a challenge for the minority Hindu community, as many in Pakistan equate Hindus with India. The reverse exists in India, where Muslims complain of discrimination. Versimal Divani, the general-secretary of Hinglaj Mata, lamented that only Hindus in Pakistan can attend the festival. We can visit this temple in our beloved country whenever our heart desires, said Divani. But this is not the case for the rest of the worlds Hindus. I would like the Pakistani government to issue them visas so they can come here and take blessings with them. Its good for people-to-people contact and its good for the economy too. Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was on Sunday appointed as the deputy prime minister of the country, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division. Dar, 73, a chartered accountant and a veteran politician, belongs to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. According to the notification, the appointment was made by Prime Minister Sharif with immediate effect and until further orders. Dar, a close Sharif family associate, has served as finance minister in two previous governments. He was considered the partys answer to all economic problems, serving as finance minister for the fourth and last time in the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government. He was tipped to be made chairman of the Senate, the upper House of the Parliament last month, but lost the race after the PML-N made a deal with the former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to win its support for the coalition government. The party agreed to give the president and chairman senate slot to the PPP, leaving Dar with no option but to settle for some other role in the government. The PML-N and the PPP agreed on a power-sharing deal to form the coalition government even though the former prime minister Imran Khan-backed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed independents won majority seats at the 266-member National Assembly. The Telangana police this week rescued two techies who were lured by Chinese-run gangs into working a job where they were committing cyber fraud and toiling 16 hours a day while being trapped in Cambodia. These two techies are not the only Indian techies who have been lured into these jobs. Over the past years many unsuspecting Indian young IT workers have been misled and trafficked into Cambodia and Myanmar and forced to work for Chinese cyber crime gangs which operate out of these nations. The external affairs ministry last month said that India has rescued and repatriated about 250 Indians falsely lured into these jobs from Cambodia and 75 individuals returned home in the past three months alone. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India remains committed to put an end to this practice. We are also working with Cambodian authorities and with agencies in India to crack down on those responsible for these fraudulent schemes, the MEA said in a press release. ALSO READ | 15 Indians Caught in Web of Crime Syndicates Repatriated from Myanmar; Tally of Rescued Reaches 379 A separate report by News18 estimates that more than 5,000 Indians are allegedly being held against their will in the Southeast Asian country and are being forced to carry out cyber frauds on people back home. The government estimates that the fraudsters have allegedly duped people in India of at least Rs 500 crore over the last six months. The US state department estimates that more than 10,000 people from around the globe have been forced to work for these Chinese cyber criminals. The UN estimates are far scarier. ALSO READ | Cybercrime Web: How Chinese Syndicates Are Targeting Neighbouring Countries The UN believes that up to 120,000 people could be held in compounds across Myanmar and another 100,000 people held in Cambodia and elsewhere in conditions that are tantamount to modern slavery. These unfortunate individuals are not just Indians. Filipino, Bangladeshi and citizens of other nationalities have also been duped into working for these companies. ALSO READ | Vanquish Cyber Scammers: Have Myanmars Ethnic Militias, China Found Common Cause? Sometimes they are told that they will be working for Thailand or Philippines-based companies but later they are taken via road to Cambodia and dumped there, with their passports seized. These people who are victims of job fraud are then instructed to steal others life savings and sometimes even carry out cyber attacks against governmental or non-governmental organisations abroad, according to a report by Economic Times, which cited people familiar with developments. What Is Cambodia Doing To Prevent This? Cambodia in 2022 said that it received requests from Thailand, the Philippines, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mongolia and Malaysia to look into the issue of forced labour and the scamdemic that the nation is becoming infamous for. The Cambodian government also said in 2022 that has freed about 900 individuals in 2022 alone from traffickers but that action was met with backlash from Chinese cyber crime gangs, the Economic Times report said as a year later, in October 2023, more than 20 organisations affiliated with the Cambodian government were subjected to a cyber attack. Myanmar is the other hotspot where Chinese cyber traffickers operate with impunity. News agencies say that endemic corruption and unrest have led to the proliferation of such gangs in both nations. What Is China Doing? Chinas role remains unclear. The nation is being accused by Western nations of committing cyberespionage and attacking governmental as well non-governmental organisations through hacking and other forms of cyber attacks. The Economic Times report also said that Chinese provincial governments and politicians provide support to these groups and that too with the help of some influencers. On November 18, last year, Chinas Ministry of Public Security announced that authorities in northern Myanmar had handed over some 31,000 suspects. Among them, police said, 63 were key players of scamming groups, the police said. China was Cambodias largest source of international arrivals and a key driver of its tourism pre-pandemic but due to the nations rising scamdemic status, tourism has also taken a hit, according to a report by Nikkei Asia. When travellers apply for passports and visas, the police in China ask where they are going. When they find out they were going to Cambodia, the police say Cambodia is not safe. A hundred people out of the 240 didnt come, a tour organiser was quoted as saying by the news agency. An election-year roast of President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents dinner Saturday butted up against growing public discord over the Israel-Hamas war, with large protests outside the event condemning both Bidens handling of the conflict and the Western news media coverage of it. In previous years, Biden, like most of his predecessors, has used the glitzy annual White House Correspondents Association gala to needle media coverage of his administration and jab at political rivals, notably Republican rival Donald Trump. With hundreds of protesters rallying against the war in Gaza outside the event and concerns over the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the perils for journalists covering the conflict, the war hung over this years event. Shame on you! protesters draped in the traditional Palestinian keffiyeh cloth shouted, running after men in tuxedos and suits and women in long dresses who were holding clutch purses, as guests and other participants hurried inside. SHAME ON YOU! SHAME ON YOU!Amazing hope giving scenes outside of White House Correspondents Dinnerpic.twitter.com/SsNewXirAb Furkan Gozukara (@GozukaraFurkan) April 28, 2024 Chants accused US journalists of undercovering the war and misrepresenting it. Western media we see you, and all the horrors that you hide, crowds chanted at one point. Other protesters lay sprawled motionless on the pavement, next to mock-ups of flak vests with press insignia. Ralliers cried Free, free Palestine. They cheered when at one point someone inside the Washington Hilton where the dinner has been held for decades unfurled a Palestinian flag from a top-floor hotel window. Criticism of the Biden administrations support for Israels 6-month-old military offensive in Gaza has spread through American college campuses, with students pitching encampments in an effort to force their universities to divest from Israel. Counterprotests back Israels offensive and complain of antisemitism. Bidens speech before an expected crowd of nearly 3,000 people was being followed by entertainer Colin Jost from Saturday Night Live. There will also likely be a spotlight on the many journalists detained and otherwise persecuted around the globe for doing their jobs, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned in Russia since March 2023. Law enforcement, including the Secret Service, have instituted extra street closures and other measures to ensure what Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said would be the highest levels of safety and security for attendees. The agency was working with Washington police to protect demonstrators right to assemble, Guglielmi said. However, we will remain intolerant to any violent or destructive behavior. Protest organizers said they wanted to bring attention to the high numbers of Palestinian and other Arab journalists killed by Israels military since the war began in October. More than two dozen journalists in Gaza wrote a letter last week calling on their colleagues in Washington to boycott the dinner altogether. The toll exacted on us for merely fulfilling our journalistic duties is staggering, the letter states. We are subjected to detentions, interrogations, and torture by the Israeli military, all for the crime of journalistic integrity. One organizer complained that the White House Correspondents Association which represents the hundreds of journalists who cover the president largely has been silent since the first weeks of the war about the killings of Palestinian journalists. WHCA did not respond to request for comment. According to a preliminary investigation released Friday by the Committee to Protect Journalists, nearly 100 journalists have been killed covering the war in Gaza. Israel has defended its actions, saying it has been targeting militants. Since the Israel-Gaza war began, journalists have been paying the highest price their livesto defend our right to the truth. Each time a journalist dies or is injured, we lose a fragment of that truth, CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna said in a statement. Sandra Tamari, executive director of Adalah Justice Project, a U.S.-based Palestinian advocacy group that helped organize the letter from journalists in Gaza, said it is shameful for the media to dine and laugh with President Biden while he enables the Israeli devastation and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza. In addition, Adalah Justice Project started an email campaign targeting 12 media executives at various news outlets including The Associated Press expected to attend the dinner who previously signed onto a letter calling for the protection of journalists in Gaza. How can you still go when your colleagues in Gaza asked you not to? a demonstrator asked guests heading in. You are complicit. The Rajanna Sircilla district police in Telangana rescued two Indians who were forced into working for cyber scammers this week. The two Indians were forced into working for a job racket involving a Chinese company and it was busted by Cambodian police after an alert by Rajanna Sircilla district police, according to a report by the Times of India. The police further added that the two techies are being brought back to Telangana. They said that fraudsters sent a graduate from Sircilla district and another youth from Jagtial was sent to Cambodia three months ago by the fraudsters to work in a Chinese firm. The graduate from Sircilla was sent to Sihanoukville, a coastal city in Cambodia, three months ago. Two Indians were also arrested by Telangana police in connection with the job racket. A person from Jagtial, who also worked as a chef in Maldives, and his friend from Pune were also arrested. Two other people, one from Lucknow and the other from Dubai, are still at large. The person from Dubai, named Shadaab, who remains at large, along with the man arrested from Pune, Abid Ansari, were operating the racket by sending youngsters to Cambodia through Shadaabs contacts. Shadaab had links with Chinese nationals in Cambodia. Shiva, one of the rescued, was sent to Cambodia by Prasad, the chef who worked in Maldives. Prasad told him that his nature of work would be software operations but upon reaching there he found that he had to work for 16 hours a day and commit cyber fraud on Indians. A report by The Hindu said that 50% of cyber-crime complaints received on the national cyber crime helpline originate from China, pockets of Cambodia and Myanmar, citing Rajesh Kumar, chief executive officer of Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) of the Union ministry of home affairs. The US federal government insisted Sunday that pro-Palestinian protests that have rocked universities must remain peaceful after police arrested around 275 people on four separate campuses over the weekend. The wave of demonstrations began at Columbia University in New York but they have since spread rapidly across the country. While peace has prevailed in many campuses, the number of protesters detained is rising fast. They include 100 at Northeastern University in Boston, 80 at Washington University in St Louis, 72 at Arizona State University and 23 at Indiana University. We certainly respect the right of peaceful protests, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told ABC. But, he added, we absolutely condemn the anti-Semitism language that weve heard of late and certainly condemn all the hate speech and the threats of violence out there. Among those arrested at Washington University was Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, who faulted police for aggressive tactics she said provoked the sort of trouble they are meant to quell. This is about freedom of speech on a very critical issue, she told CNN shortly before her arrest Saturday. And there they are, sending in the riot police and basically creating a riot. College administrators have struggled to find the best response, caught between the need to respect free-speech rights and the imperative of containing inflammatory and sometimes violently anti-Semitic calls by protesters. At the University of Southern California, school officials late Saturday closed the main campus to the public after pro-Palestinian groups again set up an encampment that had been cleared earlier, the school announced on X. With final exams coming in the next few weeks, some campuses including the Humboldt campus of California State Polytechnic University, have closed and instructed students to complete their classes online. The activists behind the campus protests not all of them students are calling for a ceasefire in Israels war with Hamas, and want colleges to sever ties with Israel. Hamas militants staged an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 that left around 1,170 people dead, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Palestinian militants also took roughly 250 people hostage. Israel estimates 129 remain in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,454 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry. (With agency inputs) KENYA has pledged to donate US$1 million worth of maize to Zimbabwe, which will be delivered within the next few weeks to complement the Governments drought mitigation efforts in the face of a prolonged El Nino-induced drought. In his remarks during the signing of eight Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Kenya and Zimbabwe under the 4th Zimbabwe/Kenya Joint Permanent Commission on Co-operation, at State House in Bulawayo yesterday, President William Ruto called on the international community to respond to the declaration made on a State of Disaster in Zimbabwe. The effects of climate change threaten the lives and livelihoods globally, in particular, in the African continent. We are now increasingly witnessing devastating weather events such as droughts and floods whose frequency and severity are increasing, he said. It is imperative that all countries, and especially the developed world, meet their obligations and commitments under the Paris Agreement and other multilateral environment agreements. President Ruto implored the community of nations to join efforts to combat climate change and to promote sustainable management of natural resources and the ecosystem. On this note, I wish to express Kenyas solidarity with Zimbabwe in the face of the prolonged El Nino-induced drought that has left a severe food and humanitarian crisis in the Southern African region. We call upon the international community to respond to the declaration you made on the State of Disaster in Zimbabwe following the El Nino-induced drought. On its part, Kenya is committing to deliver US$1 million worth of food items, particularly maize to the people of Zimbabwe in the next few weeks, he said. Zimbabwe requires over US$2 billion for various interventions envisaged in the spectrum of the national response. The current agricultural season of 2023 to 2024 has not performed according to expectations due to the El Nino-induced drought. As a result, more than 80 percent of the country received below-normal rainfall. The country had put 1 728 897 hectares under maize crop and other cereals, which ordinarily would have guaranteed a bountiful harvest. Further worsening the situation characterised by poor rainfall was the outbreak of fall armyworm across the country. President Ruto also slammed the Western countries for imposing illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe and called for their immediate removal. Your Excellency, we both share a strong commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based multilateral system. It is for this reason that we have always maintained a principled position against unilateral coercive measures, he said. Kenya regards the economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe as illegal. We will continue to support the call for the immediate and unconditional lifting of these illegal sanctions. President Ruto also thanked the Government of Zimbabwe for gifting his country with 100 tonnes of medical oxygen in 2022 at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. Your gift is a demonstration of the true spirit of African solidarity that informed Africas liberation movement. More importantly, the fact that Zimbabwe has been able to develop local capacity to produce high-quality medical oxygen speaks to the vast innovative potential in Africa, that we need to nurture and promote, he said. President Ruto also wished President Mnangagwa success as he assumes the chair of the Sadc in August when the country hosts the regional bloc summit in Harare. Your Excellency, I am also aware that you will be hosting the Sadc Summit in Zimbabwe in August this year and taking over the chairmanship of the Summit. May I wish you at this very earliest opportunity a very successful Sadc Summit and chairmanship tenure, he said. I was appointed the Champion of the African Union Institutional Reforms during the 37th Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government. I seek your support as we strive to restructure the AU organs, conclude the division of labour between the Africa Union Commission Organs, Specialised Agencies, and Regional Economic Communities, and to streamline the Agenda of the assembly to cover strategic issues. President Ruto also requested Zimbabwe to Kenya in its bid to chair the Africa Union Commission between 2025-2028. This was after the African Union Executive Council, on 15 March, unanimously adopted the decision that the Eastern Africa region should submit candidates for the AU chairperson. Earlier speaking during the banquet hosted in honour of President Ruto on Friday night at the State House in Bulawayo, President Mnangagwa thanked his Kenyan counterpart for the maize donation. Over the past four decades, Zimbabwe and Kenya have fostered synergies across various sectors of the economy. I was briefing my younger brother (President Ruto) about the drought situation here, and by the way, they have no drought in Kenya because they are near the Equator. When I told my dear brother that we have drought he donated 30 000 tonnes of maize to Zimbabwe. Thank you, and that is what brothers do to each other. Early this month, President Mnangagwa declared the drought a State of Disaster, saying adequate resources will be mobilised and re-directed towards boosting national food security, including through supplementary grain imports as part of mitigation measures. Humanitarian agencies including the World Food Programme, which fed 270 000 people between January and March in four districts, have described the hunger situation as dire, calling on donors to provide more aid. Sunday News Get the news faster. Tap to install our app. Access Newser even faster. Click here to install our app on your desktop. X President Biden, members of the media, and celebs attended the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday, though they had to make their way through protests about the Gaza war to get there. Some of Biden's jokes and related news: Biden I: "The 2024 election is in full swing. And yes, age is an issue. I'm a grown man running against a 6-year-old," he said, per the New York Times. (Donald Trump did not attend and has not done so for years.) "The 2024 election is in full swing. And yes, age is an issue. I'm a grown man running against a 6-year-old," he said, per the New York Times. (Donald Trump did not attend and has not done so for years.) Biden II: "Age is the only thing we have in common. My vice president actually endorses me," he said, per Axios, a reference to Mike Pence. "Age is the only thing we have in common. My vice president actually endorses me," he said, per Axios, a reference to Mike Pence. Biden III: "Donald has had a few tough days lately. You might call it 'stormy' weather," said Biden, making a Stormy Daniels joke. "Donald has had a few tough days lately. You might call it 'stormy' weather," said Biden, making a Stormy Daniels joke. Biden IV: "Trump is so desperate he started reading those Bibles he's selling. And he got to the first commandment: You shall have no other god before me. That's when he put it down and said this book is not for me." "Trump is so desperate he started reading those Bibles he's selling. And he got to the first commandment: You shall have no other god before me. That's when he put it down and said this book is not for me." Biden V: "Look, being here is a reminder that folks think what's going on in Congress is political theater. That's not true. If Congress were theater, they would have thrown out Lauren Boebert a long time ago." This has to be said. The awarding of contracts to foreign companies, at a huge cost, does not only deplete our reserves at the Central Bank of Eswatini but reverses efforts to empower local people to improve their own economy. It is worse when these companies are not in partnership with local companies for purposes of skills transfer and development. It is better when foreign reserves are intentionally and positively depleted to import equipment that will create profitable business and improved services in the country. However, awarding tenders worth billions of Emalangeni to foreign companies, for works that emaSwati are capable of executing, is a vote of no confidence on local expertise. The recent awarding of a tender to Chinese companies to construct the Mpakeni Dam at the value of E3 billion should not have excluded Swati companies. I am aware that some people may view this analysis as shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted but is imperative that we condemn the exclusion of local companies from the Mpakeni Dam construction so that similar actions are avoided in future. ESWADE cannot be proud of the fact that there is no active local participation in a project worth US$167 million. This is in terms of partnership or joint venture. It is disappointing that emaSwati are excluded from such projects yet they were involved in the construction of the Maguga Dam, the largest facility in comparison with the Mpakeni Dam which is under construction. It is also disturbing to see that the foreign companies awarded the Mpakeni Dam tender have, on several occasions, been called on to react to allegations of unfair labour practices. Granted, I understand that unfair labour practices are common in Eswatini but there is a mind boggling question that needs answers: Does the project have a skills transfer programme? If so, I would really love to see it. The idea to hire specialised skills from abroad was generated by large economies solely for knowledge sharing purposes. Skills You cannot refer to the subcontracted firms as being part of a skills transfer programme. These companies are mostly involved in work they do on a regular basis and throughout the year. There is also no monitoring and evaluation of any skills transfer. In short, there is no assessment of knowledge acquisition in the Mpakeni Dam project. The argument that local companies did not qualify or were incapable of executing a project of this magnitude needs to be qualified with believable reasons. The Times SUNDAY wrote an article to the effect that external financiers support local participation in their funded projects, even though local participation is not mandatory. The AfDB, World Bank, European Bank, Exim Bank of the Republic of China on Taiwan and several others, have previously funded projects in the country which were executed by local companies. The local companies would sometimes form partnerships with their foreign counterparts. Therefore, it is incumbent on all public enterprises to help Eswatini companies comply with international standards. Eswatini companies have built towns, the United Nations (UN) complex, network of roads, dams, shopping malls and other facilities. These are indications of capability, high work ethic and the expertise we have. Projects that may be a challenge to us as emaSwati, for now, include manufacturing vehicles, boats, aircraft and other locomotives. Otherwise, the construction industry has remarkably improved since we attained independence in 1968. We have to applaud tertiary institutions like the Eswatini College of Technology, VOCTIM, MITC and others for the role they played in developing vocational skills in the country. We have to ensure that these institutions are adequately resourced to enrich the job market. However, the Mpakeni Dams tender documents discouraged local participation, which was absolutely counterproductive and against the principle of entrepreneurship empowerment. This is because each firm interested in the bid to build the dam was required to show a financial muscle of E8.1 billion. One analyst previously told this publication that the required amount of money was almost equivalent to the E8.35 billion the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini received from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) during the 2020/2021 financial year. Also, the firm or company should have met this financial capacity requirement before it was considered for the E2.6 billion tender. Mind you, the average construction turnover for any firm interested in the tender was fixed at E1.71 billion. management This was to be calculated as total certified payments received for contracts in progress and/or within the last five years, divided by five years construction contracts in the role of prime contractor, JV member, sub-contractor or management contractor for at least 15 years, beginning January 1, 2008. I am still surprised how or what actually might have led the AfDB to approve these conditions. This, I say, because Article 5.2 of the Banks Procurement Policy (Procurement Policy for Bank Group Funded Operations, 2015) appears to be flexible and accommodative as recently pointed out by our analysis. According to the article 5.2 of the AfDBs Procurement Policy, the bank does not permit a borrower to deny participation in a procurement process or award to an eligible bidder or disqualify any such bidder for reasons unrelated to its capability and resources to successfully perform the contract. Article 1.3 of the Policy, the bank encourages and promotes sound, fair, transparent and well performing procurement systems in Regional Member Countries (RMCs). Eswatini is one of the 54 RMCs. This principle is reportedly meant to ensure that financing is applied in ways that adequately secure the banks mandate while maximising development effectiveness. Due to what the local companies described as difficult bidding conditions, not even one firm from Eswatini submitted the bid for the Mpakeni Dam tender. That was totally unfair to say the least. Eventually, two companies from China formed a joint venture styled Sakhalive, which was awarded the tender. The JV is already on site undertaking the project. I am pretty sure Manqoba Khumalo, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, was not happy with the manner in which local participation was disadvantaged, to the detriment of the entire economy. I checked the documents and found that the large chunk of the money came as a requirement for contract management experience, wherein the bidder should demonstrate three contracts it managed, each with a minimum of value of E2.034 billion. This is a small economy. Why were the requirements crafted as if Eswatini is a developed country? Why was money necessary? realistically What if the work done for E2.034 billion could realistically cost less if another evaluation were to be considered? It is clear Eswatini companies were not needed but the big question is why? Will we ever know the answer? The bidding firm was also given an option of submitting one managed contract with a minimum of US$339 million, the equivalent of about E6.1 billion. This is odd when considering the countrys gross domestic product (GDP). There was another option to submit two contracts valued at US$170 million, the equivalent of E6.12 billion. Neither Inyatsi Construction (Pty) Ltd nor Stefanutti Stocks Eswatini made an attempt to submit the bid. Stefanutti Stocks South Africa and WBHO formed a joint venture and participated in the tender which was won finally the Chinese JV. Okay, are we supposed to believe that Stefanutti Stocks, which has a presence in Eswatini and WBHO, would have failed to build the dam?Do you think a partnership of Inyatsi, Stefanutti Stocks and WBHO would have failed to deliver? Of course not. Noteworthy, the AfDB, which finances the construction of the Mpakeni Dam, promotes local participation in its funded projects. Article 5.8 of the Procurement Policy for Bank Group Funded Operations issued August 2015, which is normally cited by public enterprises during tendering processes, is clear on what should happen where there is a question of local participation. Some of the countrys public enterprises claimed their tendering standards, which local companies could not meet, were in line with AfDB and World Bank procurement policies. I discovered that policies for these two well known financial entities promote engagement of qualified and capable local firms. I have noted that the procurement policy for the AfDB states that it (bank) does not normally accept conditions of bidding that require mandatory joint ventures or other forms of mandatory association between firms.The bank states that it does encourage associations with qualified national and/or regional firms. In my research, I discovered that the bank, for the purpose of the development of local capacity or other considerations of equity, agree with borrowers that, under special circumstances and conditions, the following should occur * A degree of preference be granted to associations that include a national firm holding a share in the association above a predetermined level; * Specialised nominated national sub-contractors be used in works contracts; or A minimum number of national key experts be proposed by consulting firms; It follows, therefore, that EWADE should have used to ensure there was local participation in the construction of the Mpakeni Dam. Article 8.1 states that the banks objective is to increase reliance on the borrower procurement system, essential to sustained and effective development and consistent with its fiduciary and development effectiveness mandate. It is stipulated in the policy that the bank will agree to the use, by the borrower, of its national procurement system for its specific financed transactions. This shall happen if the bank determines that, for these transactions, the principles of this policy are substantially met. comprehensive This will be done based on a comprehensive assessment of the borrowers procurement systems conducted by the bank, and this process is often done in collaboration with other donors and stakeholders. For those transactions where the bank determines that the fiduciary risks in the use of borrowers systems are high, the provisions of this policy will apply. In such cases, a roadmap may be agreed with the borrower for strengthening its procurement systems to ensure their acceptability in future. In addition, the AfDB states that the borrower (for instance, Eswatini) may require a transfer of knowledge or transfer of technology as a key component of an assignment or of the scope of works or services according to procedures acceptable to the bank. In all such cases, the bank will have to be satisfied that such provisions do not adversely affect the key requirements of efficiency, economy and competitiveness. It is clear here that the bank needs to be only satisfied that these provisions are consistent with the national laws of the borrowing country. Article 8.10 states that the AfDB may consider, under special circumstances and conditions, accepting provisions of RMCs national procurement regulations. RMCs are the banks regional member countries. The AfDB is a multilateral institution whose objective is to contribute to the sustainable economic development and social progress of the African countries that make up its RMCs, of which Eswatini is a member. In conclusion, I wish to reiterate that what happened at Mpakeni should never happen again, if we are serious about developing our countrys economy and empowering ordinary emaSwati. Harvey Weinstein's lawyer said 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 Saturday that Weinstein was moved to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan after his arrival on Friday to city jails, the AP reports. "They examined him and sent him to Bellevue. It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically," Aidala said. "He's got a lot of problems. He's getting all kinds of tests. He's somewhat of a train wreck health wise." 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, 72, had been housed at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 100 miles northwest of Albany. He 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, per the AP. Weinstein has been dealing with afflictions including cardiac issues, diabetes, sleep apnea, and eye problems. Aidala said he spoke to Weinstein on Friday after he was in transit to New York City from an upstate jail. He said that mentally, his client is "sharp as a tack." 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 said he was told that Bellevue doctors planned to run tests on Weinstein before he can be returned to the Rikers Island jail complex. (More Harvey Weinstein stories.) Pope Francis traveled to Venice on Sunday to visit the Holy See's pavilion at the Biennale contemporary art show and meet with the people who created it. But because the Vatican decided to mount its exhibit in Venice's women's prison and invited inmates to collaborate with the artists, the project assumed a far more complex meaning, touching on Francis' belief in the power of art to uplift and unite, and of the need to give hope and solidarity to society's most marginalized. The pope hit on both messages during his visit, which began in the courtyard of the Giudecca prison where he met with female inmates one by one, the AP reports. As some of them wept, Francis urged them to use their time in prison as a chance for "moral and material rebirth." "Paradoxically, a stay in prison can mark the beginning of something new, through the rediscovery of the unsuspected beauty in us and in others, as symbolized by the artistic event you are hosting and the project to which you actively contribute," Francis said. He then met with Biennale artists in the prison chapel, decorated with an installation by Brazilian visual artist Sonia Gomes of objects dangling from the ceiling, meant to draw the viewer's gaze upward. He urged the artists to embrace the Biennale's theme this year, "Strangers Everywhere," to show solidarity with those on the margins, per the AP. The exhibit has turned the Giudecca prison, a former convent for reformed prostitutes, into a must-see attraction. Visitors are greeted with Maurizio Cattelan's wall mural of two giant filthy feet, a work that recalls Caravaggio's dirty feet or the feet of prisoners that Francis washes each year on Holy Thursday. The exhibit includes a film starring the inmates and Zoe Saldana, and prints in the prison coffee shop by onetime Catholic nun and American social activist Corita Kent. Speaking with young people at the iconic Santa Maria della Salute basilica, Francis admired Venice's "enchanting beauty" but warned that it is increasingly vulnerable to climate change and depopulation. "Venice is at one with the waters upon which it sits," he said. "Without the care and safeguarding of this natural environment, it might even cease to exist." (More Pope Francis stories.) Tornadoes that tore across Oklahoma left a wide trail of destruction Sunday, leveling homes and buildings and knocking out power for tens of thousands of residents. At least four people were killed, including a child, the AP reports. Dozens of reported tornadoes have wreaked havoc in the nation's midsection since Friday, with flood watches and warnings in effect Sunday for Oklahoma and other statesincluding Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. "You just can't believe the destruction," Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said in Sulphur. "It seems like every business downtown has been destroyed." And more tornadoes, heavy rain, and large hail were forecast from Missouri to Texas on Sunday, per CNN . In Oklahoma, a tornado ripped through Holdenville, a town of about 5,000 people, late Saturday, killing two people, and injuring four others, Hughes County Emergency Medical Services said in a statement Sunday. Another person was killed along Interstate 35 near the southern Oklahoma city of Marietta, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. Stitt issued an executive order Sunday declaring a state of emergency in 12 counties. The Murray County Sheriff's Office urged people to stay away from Sulphur to clear the way for first responders, according to a statement posted by the agency on Facebook. "Stay home and do not come to look," the sheriff's office said. Unsettled conditions in the middle of the continental US are forecast to last until Monday, per CNN. "In addition to the severe weather, intense rainfall rates are expected to accompany these thunderstorms at times, leading to a moderate to locally high potential of flash flooding," the National Weather Service said. (More tornadoes stories.) President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel spoke on Sunday about reaching a ceasefire agreement under which Hamas would release hostages. US officials said Biden again warned against attacking Rafah in southern Gaza, the New York Times reports, adding that the president reiterated his "clear position." And Qatar, which is acting as an intermediary, called on Israel and Hamas to show "more commitment and more seriousness" in the ceasefire negotiations. With the talks stalled, Qatar has said it's reconsidering its role, per the AP . In interviews, a spokesman for Qatar's foreign ministry said the negotiations have essentially halted. He said Israel and Hamas are basing decisions on political interests and not the best interests of civilians, calling "both sides entrenched in their positions." Secretary of State Antony Blinken left Sunday for the Middle East to focus on limiting the attacks on Gaza, per the Times. Israel says it's still planning the assault on Rafah, which borders Egypt, though it promised to consult other nations. The US objections to invading the city, where about 1 million Palestinians are sheltering, are humanitarian. (More Israel-Hamas war stories.) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. MBABANE The uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) party has reportedly received spiritual anointing for success from Apostle Sabelo Mavuso. The founder of MK, Jabulani Khumalo recently led a delegation to Apostle Mavusos Victorius Life Christian Church in Durban, to receive blessings to do well in courts and during the elections. Khumalo registered the party with the Independent Elections Commission (IEC) in his name. However, the face of the MK is Jacob Zuma, the former President of South Africa who is understood to have requested Khumalo to register the party on his behalf. When Zuma was in the country to honour the 51st Army Day on April 5, 2024, some members of the MK visited Apostle Mavuso at his home for anointing through impartation. Impartation Impartation, according to Francis, is the ability to give unto others that which God has given you. Clark (2013, 16) defines impartation as the transference of the anointing which may include a gift or gifts of the Spirit, a filling of the Holy Spirit (especially for power) or the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He asserts that impartations are conveyed primarily through the laying on of hands and waiting on God. Meanwhile, Nhlamuko Ndlela, the Spokesperson of the MK, issued a statement on April 26, 2024, to the effect that the party has expelled its founder, Khumalo and four others. Ndhlela said the party was expelling what he termed rogue elements. He said the decision was taken in a meeting held by the National Leadership Core. He mentioned that it was taken in light of the attempts by external forces to destabilise the MK Party whose aim is to advance a revolution of the people. As a result, the spokesperson said the National Leadership Core which is now being led by Zuma took a decision to expel the following comrades: * Jabulani Khumalo, whom President Zuma requested that he register the party on his behalf. * Ray Khumalo; * Bheki Manzini. * Lebo Moepeng * Rochelle Davidson, also known as Gogo Mahlalaentabeni. We want to categorically state that the National Leadership Core will always act and make decisions in the interest of all patriotic South Africans that want to see change, Ndhlela said. We urge all MK members to be disciplined and trust the leadership as we work towards gaining support for a campaign that will emancipate the down-trodden people of our country. He said the MK Party was determined to amass a two-third majority on May 29, 2024, during the general election of South Africa. In an interview, Mavuso, the Director of the defunct Phumelele High School, now called Cebisa, confirmed that MK members, including the senior leadership, except Zuma, came to his church. He could not be reached for comment on the latest developments regarding the expulsion of Khumalo in particular. The apostle had applauded Khumalo and the MK party in entirety for turning to God for solutions. Mavuso said there was a benefit for Eswatini if the uMkhonto WeSizwe party were to win the general elections. The apostle said the MK would definitely support Eswatini in its endeavour to recover parts of its land when the South African apartheid manipulated borders. He said the borderline was created solely to control the movement of livestock from either country. When the South African apartheid created the Bantustans through the Land Act of 1913, two micro-States existed within the borders of the Republic Lesotho and Eswatini, formerly Swaziland. The governments of both Lesotho and Eswatini still lay claim to some of the South Africas land. Mavuso said the borderline, which he described as a veterinary cordon fence, was erected in a cruel or inhuman manner as it divided family compounds into two separate boundaries one in the Eswatini territory and the other on South African soil. ambition Speaking to the Times SUNDAY, the apostle said he appreciated the MKs ambition to participate in the general elections because the party is relevant to the countrys programme to recover the lost land from South Africa. Theres only one party that can reach a compromise with Eswatini, its the MK party and thats why I prayed for its leadership to win the court cases against it which were filed by the ANC, Mavuso said. He said he prayed for the leadership before the ANC and IEC took it to court respectively. The school administrator and pastor hosts programmes on community radio stations in Durban such as Imbokodvo FM, Highway FM and Izwi Lomzansi. Efforts to reach out to Khumalo were unsuccessful but sources within the party said they would continue seeking blessings from God through the liSwati man of God. They said they were indeed looking forward to leading a government that would forge strong ties with Eswatini. Zuma has a strong bond with the countrys leaders. After his release from the Robbin Island where he served 10 years, Zuma re-established ANC underground structures in Natal. He left South Africa in 1975 and was initially based in Eswatini, where he met Thabo Mbeki. In Mozambique, he dealt with the arrival of thousands of exiles seeking military training in the wake of the 1976 Soweto uprising. His former wife, Nkosazana Zuma-Dlamini, worked as a doctor at the Mbabane Government Hospital. In March 1976, Zuma, Mbeki and Dlomo were detained by the Eswatini authorities at Matsapa Maximum Prison. They were only released after the intervention of the late ANC President, Oliver Tambo, who sent Mabhida and Thomas Nkobi to negotiate on their behalf. deported He (Zuma) was released in April 1976 and was deported to Mozambique. He is presently the face, or technically the leader of the uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) party, replacing Jabulani Khumalo, who had initially registered with the party with the IEC. Born on April 12, 1942 at KwaNxamalala in Nkandla, northern KwaZulu-Natal, was introduced to the socialist movement and attended evening political classes under Moses Mabhida and Stephen Dlamini. It was Mabhida who recruited Zuma to the uMkhonto WeSizwe, the then military wing of the ANC, which has been revived as a breakway party that will contest the election against many organisations, including the African National Congress (ANC). Now, Zumas face will appear on the national ballot paper for MK instead of Khumalo, after the newly-formed political party informed it of the leadership changes. Accepting the changes, Khumalo who met Apostle Mavuso for the prayer described the decision of the election court as a victory for the party. Khumalo said they would focus on the campaign. He said they wanted Zuma to be the next president of South Africa. On June 1, Zuma will start to prepare to form his Cabinet, Khumalo told members of the MK party outside the Johannesburg High Court. This was after court had delivered its judgment on the registration of the party. Khumalo registered the MK party with the IEC last year. registration The court slammed the ANC for failing to challenge the registration of the MK party within the required period. According to SABC, the ANC has been arguing that the process followed to register the MK party was unlawful. But Khumalo said the decision of the court has cleared the path to contest the elections. The IEC had argued that there was nothing unlawful about the registration of the MK party. It is understood that the ANC faces its toughest election since 1994. It has had several splits in the last few years. The Congress of the People (Cope) was formed in 2008 after the recall of former President Thabo Mbeki. When it first started to contest the elections in 2009, Cope had 30 members in Parliament. But divisions rocked the party and this led to a loss of support. Cope has two members in Parliament. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) was formed in 2013 after Julius Malema was expelled from the ANC. When the EFF contested the elections in 2014, it had 25 members in Parliament, and in the 2019 elections it increased its caucus to 44 members. IOL reported that the MK has been shown support in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga during recent by-elections. In its journal, the Gauteng Tourism Authority states that the MK Partys ideological stance and platform remain somewhat vague, lacking a clear definition. leadership However, the party appears to be positioning itself within the populist spectrum, appealing to the working class and those disenchanted with the current ANC leadership. The authority says the MK amplifies many of Jacob Zumas criticisms of the government, focusing on issues such as corruption, economic disparity, and the perceived failure of the ANC to meet the needs of the impoverished. The arrival of the MK Party signifies a new chapter in South Africas political evolution. As the party carves out its niche, observers and voters alike must seek information from a variety of sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of its objectives, the dynamics of its support base, and the implications of its criticisms. The above statement was made by the authority. It is also understood that the unfolding story of the MK Party is a reminder of the ever-changing nature of political allegiances and the ongoing quest for representation and reform in South Africas democracy. MBABANE Government has disputed the notion that His Majesty King Mswati III is an absolute Monarch. This is because the roles of the King, Queen Mother and traditional structures, as well as the Legislature, Executive, Judiciary and other constitutional structures are clearly articulated in the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land. His Majesty is not an absolute Monarch, stated government in its report and letter to the EU Parliament. The letter was addressed to the EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola. Government told the EU Parliament that the narrative that the King is an absolute Monarch was developed in the 1980s and takes no account of the far-reaching changes introduced by the enactment of the Constitution of 2005. The EU Parliament heard that the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini provided for a Parliament in which a majority of the members are elected by the people. It is stated in the States report that the supreme law also provides for the separation of powers, protection of fundamental human rights and the rule of law. In terms of the Constitution, government explained to the EU Parliament that activists with political aspirations are expected to stand for election in their constituencies and win their support to take part in a democratic process in Parliament, rather than competing for power through violent conflict. In this regard, it is necessary to dispel some of the myths perpetuated by political activists, stated government in the report. Government explained to the EU Parliament that the Kingdom of Eswatini was a British protectorate, which received its independence in 1968. referendum Before The Kingdom of Eswatini received its independence in 1968, the State mentioned that a referendum was held among the people to determine its political future. Government said the options put before the people were: * Multiparty democracy advocated by the existing colonial powers; * King-in Council under traditional law and custom. It is mentioned in the government report that the referendum resulted in approximately 99 per cent of emaSwati voting in favour of the authority of the King-in Council leaving less than one per cent of the population in favour of multiparty democracy. Despite these results, government said a Constitution with a multiparty system was imposed on the people. Eswatini also explained to the European Union Parliament that members of both Houses of Parliament met at a joint session in 1973 and unanimously resolved to respect the majority decision of the people by revoking the foreign Constitution and its system of governance. The State said the MPs of that time resolved to restore the authority of the King in Council under Swazi Law and Custom. This was implemented through what became known as the 1973 Decree, explained government. In 1978, under the leadership of His Majesty King Sobhuza II, in close consultation with the nation through the involvement of all sectors of society including traditional structures, government said Eswatini established the current system known as Tinkhundla. It said the Tinkhundla System of Government is democratic and participatory-based, as it emphasises the devolution of State power from central government to constituencies known as Tinkhundla. European Union Parliament heard that individual merit is a basis for election and appointment into public office. It is a system based on direct representation by which elected officials are directly accountable to the people who elected them, reads the report. The State said His Majesty King Mswati III ascended the Throne in 1986 and under his leadership in close consultation with the people through national dialogue, various initiatives have been introduced. These include: * 1992 Tinkhundla Review Commission; * 1996 Constitutional Review Commission; * 2002 Constitutional Drafting Committee; * 2003 Draft Constitution for Public Review and Comment; * 2004 Swaziland Constitution Bill; and 2005 Swaziland Constitution. Eswatini stated in the report that the then Constitutional Review Commission consisted of members drawn from all sectors of society. It followed an all-inclusive process reaching out to all sectors of the population with the assistance of the international community led by the Commonwealth and the United Nations. Contrary to popular belief, government stated that the King and Ngwenyama of the kingdoms reign and exercise of executive power are enshrined in Chapter II of the Constitution, which names him the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Giving an account of the civil unrest, the State said the Kingdom of Eswatini has been in the political spotlight since May 2021. Government said protests besieged the kingdom initially premised on the election of a prime minister as well as various allegations of a breach of civil rights. The recent death of renowned human right lawyer Mr. Thulani Maseko and various other killings have also recently increased scrutiny on the disturbances, it is stated in the report. In the first instance, it is important to underscore that the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini prescribes the conditions of all elections and appointments of Members of Parliament and, subsequently, the Cabinet. Government mentioned that the Constitution also provided conditions for initiating constitutional reforms. Calls to elect rather than appoint a prime minister ostensibly premised on accountability measures that some felt were not adequate were used as rallying calls to push for constitutional change, reads the report. In this regard, reform protagonists have been duly referred to the provisions of the Constitution and how that process is to be undertaken. Added government: The parliamentary procedures related to the amendment of the Constitution include the introduction of a Members Bill that expresses succinctly the description and definition of the action. This is then followed by a joint sitting of both the Houses of Assembly and Senate convened for a resolution that requires a two thirds majority. referendum If the 2/3 majority is obtained, the amendment is taken to the people for a referendum and passes on the simple majority rule. The European Parliament was told that these conditions apply to amendments of entrenched outlined in Section (s) 246 and 247 of the Constitution Act (2005). As the fundamental law of the land stipulates, the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini assured the EP that it was committed to undertaking these processes, provided all the steps were to be followed to the letter. As emaSwati, we have always been proud of being a peaceful, friendly, and respectful nation, but our way of life is under threat, reads the Eswatini Government report. Although Eswatini has experienced strikes and protest action which has escalated into violence over the years, the violence and unrest that occurred in June 2021 were unprecedented. Government also talked about the assassination of Thulani Maseko. It said his demise was a great loss to the nation. The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has nothing to gain from the death of such a highly-respected, experienced, and renowned human rights lawyer and political leader who advocated for dialogue to bring about peaceful change at a time while we need everything in our power to enter into a peaceful dialogue against all odds. The government said it was committed to ensuring that the killing of Maseko was swiftly, transparently and comprehensively investigated and that any or all persons responsible for committing this heinous crime are brought to justice. The Kingdom of Eswatini was pleased to be able to report to the European Union (EU) Parliament that it has been enjoying sustained peace and stability. In recent months, the State said it has hosted a number of international festivals, summits and meetings. We also have a full programme of events and activities planned out for the upcoming months, government stated. In respect to some of the security issues that the country have had in the recent past, government was pleased to announce that most of these appeared to have been curtailed. Government stated that the majority of those who were killing emaSwati, including members of security forces and traditional authorities, have been apprehended and are behind bars. We are also aware of some others who perpetrated violence who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. While in those countries, they have continued to promote hate speech and seek to perpetuate the violence that they had been instrumental in, according to government. Our ongoing investigations into the violence and aggressive disinformation campaign that beset our country and sub-region in July 2021, and the subsequent killings, including those of high-profile individuals and designed to destabilise Eswatini have uncovered the identity of the people behind the campaign. Government said it was a proscribed entity that was continuing to operate from, and find refuge in, one of the neighbouring countries. A New Jersey food pantrys future is uncertain as it looks for a new home so it can continue to feed residents of Monmouth County a need that has increased in recent years. Leaders hope the Bradley Food Pantry can find a new home either before or after May 17, when it is expected to leave its current space at the St. James Episcopal Church on 4th Avenue in Bradley Beach. The pantry has spent 40 years at the church, said Linda Curtiss, its executive director. That anticipated shutdown comes while the all-volunteer pantry said it has been overwhelmed with public demand. The need grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, when millions of Americans were left to navigate social distancing protocols that limited the U.S. economy, forcing many out of work. An email to the church from NJ Advance Media for comment was not immediately returned. With rising consumer prices coupled with inflation, about 500 families have relied weekly on the pantry to stave off hunger, according to its website. In 2023, the pantry had 2,753 distinct families visiting for goods, leading the volunteers to shell out more than 850,000 pounds of food, according to the pantry. Thousands of families were disadvantaged because of this, but we cannot continue to offer food and hospitality at the current location, Curtiss said in a statement. The pantrys leaders have been at odds with the church, saying both have differing viewpoints without elaborating. Those differences led the pantry to begin searching for a new space to distribute meals since last August, the pantry said. It has already weighed over 100 locations without making a final decision. The pantry needs about a 2,000-square-foot space, but finding one under needed zoning laws has been daunting, its leaders say. In its last weeks at the church, the pantry will operate under an altered schedule Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. But, the limited schedule has placed an unprecedented challenge on the pantrys ability to serve the community, Curtiss said. The executive director said that despite recent hurdles, she and her team are striving to make the looming closure only temporary. The Bradley Food Pantry will not rest until we find a location where we can come back better and stronger than before, ready to help families in need once again, Curtiss said. MBABANE Four theories! The Eswatini Government has responded to the European Union (EU) Parliament to its joint motion for a resolution on the situation of human rights defenders in the kingdom, notably the murder of Thulani Maseko. The EU Parliament filed the motion on February 15, 2023. In its letter to the President of the EU Parliament, Roberta Metsola, dated August 22, 2023, Thuli Dladla, on behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III, touched on interesting but very sensitive matters. Dladla, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the current Deputy Prime Minister, represented government at the directive of Cabinet when she wrote the letter. According to our overseas sources, attached to the letter is a report on the political situation in the Kingdom of Eswatini. Firstly, the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini expressed commitment towards ensuring that the killers of Maseko and all other emaSwati were apprehended and brought to justice. It is stated in the letter received by the EU Parliament that government undertook to conduct a full and transparent enquiry into the killing of the human rights defender. The cover letter took a soft line, but government called a spade a spade in the report. The State pointed out that the prime suspects in the killing of Thulani Maseko are the militants responsible for other political killings. It then listed four theories, which, according to government, were in the public domain, with social media, in particular, hinting on them clearly and loudly. Government said certain theories were in the public domain through the media and social media. Theory 1 (Leadership dispute) Government said Maseko was a senior member of the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), a political party that was formed in 1983 and has been the main opposition to the government for more than 40 years. The State told the EU Parliament that PUDEMO was declared a terrorist organisation in 2008 after planting a bomb under a bridge that His Majesty was due to pass over on his way to a conference at the United Nations. The bomb exploded prematurely, killing two and injuring a South African cadre who died recently. This is an obvious reference to Amos Mbedzi. Government said Maseko had considerable support within the party and extensive international support, and he had also gained the support of civil society through the Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF). The State told the EU Parliament that Maseko supported dialogue with the government and opposed a more militant faction in PUDEMO and their participation in organising the June 2021 riots and subsequent killings. Sensitive Sensitive parts have been removed. Government said he openly supported one of the founders of PUDEMO to take over the party. It is stated in the report with the EU Parliament that PUDEMO elections were to be held in November 2022 and it was considered a foregone conclusion that this bid would succeed with the support of Maseko. The State disclosed that there had been allegations that Maseko might have been killed to neutralise his support for this bid to bring a new leadership to PUDEMO. Government said PUDEMOs postponement of the elections from November 2022 to February 2023, with Masekos murder in January 2023, left a lot to be desired. Government mentioned that Maseko and his candidate had a Western support base while the other group within PUDEMO had strong communist party alliances. Theory 2 (contract killers) Government also told the EU Parliament that there had been allegations that Maseko might have been killed by contract killers, because he controlled PUDEMOs funds through his attorneys trust account. According to this theory, Maseko had refused to release funds to pay them for recent killings, which had been ordered by the rival militant faction of PUDEMO. Withholding funds for the activities of the rival militant faction have also been suggested as a motive for his killing, government stated in its report to the EU Parliament. Theory 3 (Political Rivals) The States theory three suggests that there had been allegations that he may have been killed because he stood in the way of a rival political party called the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO), which was involved in the riots of June 2021. Government said Maseko was a leading figure in PUDEMO and carried national and international support through the MSF, the Political Parties Assembly (PPA) and other organisations. The State stated that he was expected to play a significant role in the direction and outcomes of the national dialogue which would have put SWALIMO at a considerable disadvantage in their quest for political power. It is stated that PUDEMO had indicated that they would disrupt the 2023 general elections, while SWALIMO had expressed intent to contest the elections, but this was not absolutely clear because of disagreements between the factions within these parties. The government report states that SWALIMO had also experienced the killing of political rivals. Government alleged that when one of their leaders (responsible for collecting and keeping arms and ammunition for SWALIMO), announced that he intended to break away from this movement with a colleague to form a new party called Swazis First Democratic Front (SFDF) because they were unhappy with its authoritative leadership style, he was abducted, tortured and killed. Government said his colleagues home was burnt down. This is an obvious reference to Muzi Mmema. His killers have not been arrested as well. Theory 4 (Land Disputes) The State told the EU Parliament that there had been allegations that Maseko might have been killed because of his involvement in a number of highly charged land disputes around his homestead by people who had been dispossessed of their land or were facing the possibility of being dispossessed of their land. In conclusion, government said Maseko was involved in many organisations on many fronts and had many friends and enemies and there had been other suggestions as to who might have killed him and motives for doing so. In this regard, government did not share other theories with the EU Parliament. State didnt kill maseko Government said allegations inferring that Maseko might have been killed on orders from government were totally unfounded and there was absolutely no credible evidence in support of these allegations. In fact, government said it had the least to gain and most to lose from Masekos death as a reformed opponent of violent extremism and a highly experienced and influential proponent of political change through national dialogue. Each of these scenarios is being investigated and will continue to be investigated until such time as there is sufficient proof, in line with investigative practices the world over, arrests to be affected, it is stated in the report. Government welcomed the assistance of the international community and its development partners, in cultivating an environment for peaceful dialogue that would allow all participants to exercise their right to speech and freedom of association, regardless of their ideology in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. amended In accordance with Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement, which has been further amended in the soon to be adopted Post-Cotonou, if a party considers that the other party fails to fulfil an obligation stemming from respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law referred to in Article 9(2), it shall, except in cases of special urgency, supply the other party and the council of ministers with the relevant information required for a thorough examination of the situation. This is done with a view to seeking a solution acceptable to the parties. To this end, it shall invite the other party to hold consultations that focus on the measures taken or to be taken by the party concerned to remedy the situation in accordance with Annex VII. EU Political Advisor Robert Adam said the delegation of the EU to Eswatini was not in a position to comment on a matter that was before the European Parliament. Asked if he was aware that government has responded to the EU Parliament, Alpheous Nxumalo, the Government Press Secretary, said his office was not privy to this information. According to the government report to the EU Parliament, the consultations shall be conducted at the level and in the form considered most appropriate for finding a solution. The consultations shall begin no later than 30 days after the invitation and shall continue for a period established by mutual agreement, depending on the nature and gravity of the violation. In no case shall the dialogue under the consultations procedure last longer than 120 days. Therefore, the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini noted the EUs concerns, looking forward to further engagement with them in this regard. According to the joint motion for a resolution on the countrys situation, notably the murder of Maseko, the European Parliament described Eswatini as an absolute monarchy and government refuted the notion that the Kingdom is an absolute monarchy. The motion read as follows: A. Whereas in Eswatini, the last absolute monarchy in Africa, human rights and fundamental freedoms are curtailed and political parties are outlawed; B. Whereas on January 21, 2023, Thulani Maseko, a prominent human rights and trade union lawyer and chairman of Eswatini pro-democracy organisation the Multi-Stakeholder Forum, renowned for his efforts in advancing democracy, the rule of law, good governance and human rights, was killed at his home just hours after State threats against members of Eswatinis pro-democracy movement. (The name of the person cited was removed just as names cited indirectly in the government report to the EU Parliament were not mentioned for legal reasons.) C. Whereas in 2021, protests demanding democratic reforms began and His Majestys Government launched a brutal crackdown on human rights activism, retaliating with arbitrary detentions, harassment, threats and abductions, internet shutdowns and bans on protests; whereas several dozen people have been killed by the security forces; whereas mercenaries have allegedly been hired to repress growing dissent; D. Whereas Members of the Eswatini Parliament Mthandeni Dube and Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza have been in jail since July 2021; E. Whereas the security forces systematically intimidate trade unionists and violate fundamental workers rights; whereas the authorities have detained and allegedly tortured student union leaders; whereas other human rights problems in Eswatini include impunity for the security forces and discrimination against women and minorities; 1. Strongly condemns the killing of Thulani Maseko; 2. Calls for a prompt, independent, impartial, transparent and thorough investigation, under the auspices of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights and the UN, into the attacks against other pro-democracy and human rights activists and the alleged recruitment of mercenaries to help security forces repress opposition; 3. Condemns the widespread human rights violations in Eswatini and calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners particularly MPs Mthandeni Dube and Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and an immediate end to the harassment, violence and pressure exercised against human rights defenders, trade unionists, pro-democracy activists and politicians; 4. Urges the authorities in Eswatini to respect, promote and protect human rights, including the freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly and to allow the people of Eswatini to exercise their civil and political rights; 5. Considers the imprisonment of politicians and human rights defenders and the banning of trade unions to be clear contraventions of Eswatinis commitments under the Cotonou Agreement; stresses that the countrys authorities must respect the principles of the International Labour Organisation; 6. Urges the authorities in Eswatini to respect their commitments and launch, without delay, a comprehensive dialogue with all affected stakeholders to work towards national reconciliation and the protection of human rights, the rule of law and democracy, with the ultimate goal of lasting peace, mediated and supported by the Southern African Development Community (SADC); 7. Calls for the EU to review and, where applicable, suspend support programmes for Eswatini, where funds risk being used for activities that violate human rights; 8. Instructs its president to forward this resolution to the Kingdom of Eswatini and to all relevant stakeholders and institutions. It was Article 8 of the motion that triggered governments response to the EU Parliament. Govt is suspect PUDEMO MBABANE The Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) says government cannot institute a fair and just investigation into the murder of Thulani Maseko. Brian Sangweni, the Spokesperson for PUDEMO, said government was allegedly a suspect in the case and its involvement in the investigation was bias. He said the movement would not entertain the theories because they depicted what he termed as hallucination. disturbing We can only say government cannot take a leading role in the investigation into the murder of Comrade Thulani Maseko because the State is the suspect here, Sangweni alleged. The PUDEMO spokesperson said there was a disturbing insinuation by one of the leaders of the country which was allegedly understood to be declaring the States readiness to attack political activists. He said this theory should be explored as well. In fact, he said this theory should form the basis of the investigation. death He said governments claim that there was nothing it would have gained from Masekos death was a lie. He said Maseko established the MSF, which put together collective efforts by all organisations to call for political freedoms. He said someone who established the MSF was obviously a threat to the State because he was able to organise all organisations to speak in one voice. Unemanga mani govt SWALIMO's Silolo MBABANE SWALIMO shifts liability for the killing of Thulani Maseko to the government and State. Thandaza Silolo, the SWALIMO Spokesperson, said his organisation: Does not have confidence in this government anymore as it tells lies without shame. He said Masekos brutal murder remained a burden on the governments shoulders. Silolo alleged that government was guilty of his murder on the basis that it was very regime, which unleashed the army and its police on unarmed civilians, allegedly killing them in cold blood and maiming many others for simply calling for freedom and a fair sharing of the economy. He said: What can they say now pointing fingers at other people who can never be guilty of this murder? ordered Silolo said they were still waiting on the government to own up and explain to the nation as to who ordered the killing of Maseko and demonstrate a commitment to fully supporting his widow and orphaned children while prosecuting the killers. He said this should be done as a matter of urgency. What do Donald Trump and Bruce Springsteen have in common? Theyre both getting big tax breaks under a 1964 law intended to preserve farmland in New Jersey. Theyre not real farmers, but under our law, rich folks like them can claim the credit if their estates produce just $500 worth of agricultural product, like firewood, or honey, or Christmas trees. Do that, and the tax on your land is cut by 98 percent. Willie Beemer has lived in ceaseless pain since shattering his right leg in a motorbike accident at age 14. Theres a visible knot on his shin, which turns even a short walk into an arduous slog, and thats only when the leg isnt numb entirely. He has gone through countless gallons of Motrin arthritis cream over the years; sometimes he gets relief from expensive lotions containing CBD oil. But nothing works better on his pain than cannabis, which he cannot afford. The only logical, life-saving alternative is to grow his own marijuana, because the two ounces he needs each month costs about $800 at a legal dispensary. So imagine his trauma last June 13, when the police entered his mobile home in Pittsgrove, confiscated the 15 marijuana plants from his tiny greenhouse, and charged him with a pair of first-degree felonies for cultivating and distributing cannabis. I showed the summons to my brother, whos a cop in Cumberland County, and he looked at it and said, Youre facing 20 years, Beemer, 49, told us last week. I couldnt believe it. It had me pretty shook. It felt so inhumane. They just went in and took my medicine. And the cruelty is compounded by two felony charges that both carry 10-year prison sentences. This is a lesson in harebrained government that we share each year with lawmakers who believe that home grow will have negative impact on our nascent recreational industry, and should therefore remain illegal. The man holding up all bills that would permit home cultivation, Senate President Nick Scutari, has cited that same concern since the legal market opened, though in November he conceded that home grow, people will be able to do it someday. . . .but were not there yet. Thats no longer an adequate excuse to make people suffer, because in the two years since the dispensaries have been in full vigor, we have learned this much: Business has been great for the corporations that dominate New Jerseys recreational market, while the lack of access to affordable cannabis for sick people is still -- to use Beemers word inhumane. I recall hearing that legalizing cannabis was done primarily for social justice reasons, not for profit reasons, said Sen. Vin Gopal, who has led the budding effort to legalize home grow. But its been very frustrating watching how legal cannabis has rolled out. The people making the money werent really impacted by the War on Drugs multistate corporations are making the money and preventing sick people from access is just wrong. This isnt the model we were expecting. There are actually 24 models New Jersey can emulate: Thats the number of states that allow citizens to grow marijuana at home for medical purposes even Utah and South Dakota do it and 11 of those 24 allow home cultivation for recreational use as well. Jail for growing weed? You must be high | Editorial https://t.co/EHiUG19ckt NJ Cannabis Insider (@InsiderCannabis) December 6, 2023 New York, in fact, is on track to permit home grow starting June 29. The grower will be allowed to personally possess six plants three of them mature and five pounds of useable cannabis at any time. The reason they have no fear about cutting into the legal market is because there is no proof anywhere that home grow does that. It is hard to determine how rigorously our state enforces its no-grow diktat, which two-thirds of New Jerseyans oppose. Remarkably, Beemers case was dismissed in September without explanation from the Salem County judge, he tells us and Ken Wolski of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana senses that law enforcement is probably treating personal grows as a lower priority. Chris Goldstein, an organizer for The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), believes otherwise, however: He says narcotics enforcement units on the county level are policing home grow as vigorously as ever, particularly in Essex, Atlantic, and Ocean Counties. And its all because of one man. I think Scutaris top-down rhetoric encourages this stuff at the county level, Goldstein said. The law is still on the books and people are still getting harassed and arrested and sent to prison -- or at least threatened with prison. Needless to say, applying a three-to-five-year sentence for growing just one plant is a disgraceful part of our history and our present that needs to end. Thats why Gopal will return to lobbying Scutari this month, with a small ask: Rather than letting every citizen grow at home, lets start by moving a smaller bill he has written with Sen. Troy Singleton that establishes a pilot program which allows home grow just for our 80,000 medical users. The measure even has Gov. Murphys support. Gopal has been at this for three years in part because a felony charge for a plant is absolutely insane. But its also because the no-grow law has perpetuated a broken criminal justice system, hindered research, and restricted access to the people who needed it most the desperately ill. This is abundantly clear to everyone but our most prominent lawmaker. Someone needs to clue him in. Happy Earth Day New Jersey! We planted some cannabis at the State House b/c we still need to allow home cultivation in our Garden State!! pic.twitter.com/xx60SmpMLR Chris Goldstein (@freedomisgreen) April 22, 2024 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. 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. New Orleans native Quin Hillyer is deputy commentary editor for the Washington Examiner, where this column first appeared. He can be reached at Qhillyer@WashingtonExaminer.com. His other columns appear at www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/quin-hillyer. Wheat futures were up across the board this week with a strong move that broke through several technical resistance levels. July KC Wheat futures were trading around $6.50 Friday morning, up 11% on the week. July Chicago Wheat futures were trading near $6.25, up 10% for the week as well. The wheat market has been stuck in the doldrums since the first of the year, trading sideways to lower, and the rally this week moved prices back to where they started the year. Fundamental reasons for the move carry the triple threat of supply worries, increased demand potential and fund traders caught out of position. First the fund position: According to the Commitment of Traders (COT) report, as of April 16 the managed money (funds) were short a combined 145,634 contracts of KC and Chicago Wheat, which is not a record short position but would classify as heavily short and be enough to get a nice spike in prices from short covering if a small fire were lit. The demand side consists of India having to import wheat this year. India is generally self sufficient, producing enough wheat that they are not typically huge importers. This headline has been in and out of the news since January, and one would want to be careful chasing the market based on this alone. Perhaps it is closer to being confirmed than what it was, but it has the feel of an excuse to explain the move. The supply concerns are probably the most tangible of fundamental concerns, as the hard red wheat in the U.S. plains is under serious stress where a lot of wheat went backwards in a big way last week with warm temperatures, windy days and a lack of rainfall for a crop that is by and large three weeks ahead of schedule from most folks I talk to. So, the potential for an early weather rally was there. Rain did fall this week, and there is potential for more this weekend. Coverage of the rainfall didnt catch everybody, though, and a lot of the western plains in Kansas and south were left on the outside looking in. Have a comment or question? Please reach out to derrick.hermesch@pinionglobal.com or call at 785-338-9605. Gaza, April 28 (UNI) 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. UNI/XINHUA GNK Sam Terese isnt fixed on creating a personal legacy, but he acknowledges that the impact he leaves behind is significant to him. Its not about personal glory. Instead, his priority lies in leaving the company he has guided for more than a decade in a stronger position than when he assumed leadership. That commitment starts with prioritizing the well-being of patients, employees and the industry as a whole. Alverno Laboratories operates 34 hospital laboratories in Indiana and Illinois, providing clinical and anatomic pathology services to the hospitals, physicians offices and senior care facilities it serves. As CEO and president since 2011, Terese has positioned the company to be a leader in the industry by priding itself on seeking innovations to improve quality diagnostic data and laboratory services. The goal, Terese said, is to advance health care as a whole, benefiting both health care facilities and the patients they serve. When we look at the world we are in where weve made innovations in microbiology and increased the speed of a diagnosis to a patient who is in a life-threatening septic state, to where we are today with digital pathology and artificial intelligence to finetune the interpretation of biopsies these are classic ways we have taken a leadership role, Terese said. What may surprise some is what Alverno does with the information it gains in the field. Weve created programs where if anyone asks us how we do it, well tell you how, Terese said. Its fundamentally important to our community, whether its within our community or another community across the world, where we dont keep secrets. If an innovation or technology has a broader implication for health care, we have an absolute responsibility to share that with the world. In the end, the sharing of information positively impacts all parties, including Alverno. Maybe theyll do it better than we did, and maybe it comes back to us 100 times better than what we created, but now we can do it better, Terese said. We cant be isolationist to the rest of the world. Among some of the latest projects Alverno Laboratories has spearheaded is the implementation of Ibex AI cancer diagnostic software that aids pathologists in prostate, breast and gastric biopsies. The company will roll out the technology first with prostate biopsies this spring. Alverno Laboratories has also partnered with Genomics Testing Cooperative to provide oncology patients who have more complex cases with access to GTCs advanced tests. Terese earned his MBA from the University of Illinois at Chicago in strategic planning and marketing, and his bachelors degrees in medical technology from Rosalind Franklin University Chicago and in biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Yet Terese's drive to position Alverno Laboratories on the cutting edge of innovation stems not only from his business acumen, but his clinical experience as well. Terese joined Alverno in 2005 as a member of the senior executive team, but got his start in the field as a phlebotomist and lab technician where he worked both in diagnostics and research. I think having that knowledge in both places allows you to have a deeper understanding of an initiative or project, not only from the lab science piece of it, but also the impact on patients and providers, Terese said. It helps you understand the why question why we are doing this and whats the value of it, versus only putting it in the frame of ROI. With a staff of nearly 2,000 employees, Terese says company culture is everything. About eight years ago, we took a different approach and asked our 1,000 employees at the time what our culture should look like, he said. Thats where our mission, vision and values come from. Its very deeply rooted within the workforce because they created it. In addition to nurturing company culture, Terese emphasizes the importance of fostering growth by offering opportunities for workers to enter the industry and make a meaningful difference. The N.O.W. career programs at Alverno Laboratories offer those who have a bachelors degree in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology or another physical science with the opportunity to join the team by becoming a medical laboratory scientist in just 90 days. The histology training program offers on-the-job training. Alverno also offers an emerging leader program for team members who are interested in management positions. The Alverno model weve created is that of a high-quality organization, and we continue to see it grow, Terese said. As health care continues to consolidate and transition due to economic factors, Terese says Alverno is positioned to help other facilities and organizations. Its what weve done and its the core of who we are, he said. Were well positioned to continue to help organizations through these challenging times, and the scientific and care innovation side of it will continue to take a position in adding value-based care. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday to speak with top Arab officials and try to figure out possible solutions for the thorniest issues of the Israel-Gaza war, including humanitarian aid, reconstruction and hostages, the State Department said on Saturday. One of Mr. Blinkens priorities on Monday and Tuesday will be discussing ongoing efforts to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza that secures the release of hostages, a department spokesman, Matthew Miller, said in a statement. He added that Mr. Blinken would underscore his belief that it is Hamas that stands in the way of a cease-fire for the Palestinian people, since the group is not budging on the hostage negotiations. Saudi Arabia is hosting a three-day meeting of the World Economic Forum, and top Arab officials, including Mr. Blinkens diplomatic counterparts, are attending. They include senior ministers from Qatar and Egypt, which have been the two Arab mediators in multiple rounds of talks over a potential hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas. The forums website says Mr. Blinken will be in a half-hour public conversation starting at 12:45 p.m. on Monday, the final day of the conference. A tornado that swept through the southern Chinese economic hub of Guangzhou killed five people and damaged scores of factory buildings on Saturday. The tornado struck at about 3 p.m. and injured another 33 people as it slammed through the Baiyun district, in the citys northern suburbs, the local government said. It lasted about four minutes. Hailstones, some with diameters of around 2 inches, also fell over parts of the city. Videos shared by Chinese official media showed transmission towers and power lines igniting and debris swirling in the air, against a backdrop of a giant funnel that had darkened the midafternoon sky. People in the media have long worried about the impact of the White House Correspondents Association dinner on journalism. The concern is that it makes the press look too chummy with politicians its covering. But what is the impact on comedy? A high-ceilinged hotel ballroom filled with television anchors and network executives is a tough room for stand-up, but no more so than an awards show. Trevor Noah was funnier two years ago at the dinner than he was at this years Grammys. A murderers row of comics, among them Conan OBrien, Jimmy Kimmel and Wanda Sykes, has taken this assignment because its one of the most high-profile live comedy sets of the year. And there has been one truly great performance (Stephen Colbert), some very good ones (Seth Meyers, Larry Wilmore) and one so thrillingly biting (Michelle Wolf) that the next year they replaced the comic with a historian. Colin Josts set this year does not belong in that pantheon. Without his Weekend Update partner Michael Che next to him, he came off muted, vanilla, less assured than usual. With long pauses between jokes, eyes darting side to side, he occasionally took a drink of water and at least once acknowledged the lack of laughter in the room. His jokes leaned on wordplay more than a specific or novel perspective. Some incredible news organizations here, began one of his pricklier jokes, finished by: Also, some credible ones. Programme exploring China's Greater Bay Area calls for applications from UK undergraduate students People's Daily Online) 16:32, April 26, 2024 Touching the Greater Bay Area A Journey of Discovery, the latest programme co-launched by Guangdong Radio and Television and Peoples Daily Online (UK), is calling for applications to take part in an engaging journey across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in China. The GBA, situated in south China, is composed of nine cities in Guangdong Province and two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao. The programme will invite ten UK students to embark on a 7-day in-depth journey to this vibrant city cluster between July 15 and Aug. 15, 2024. Participants will access a wide range of points of interest from historic landmarks to bustling street markets and to delve into various topics from Chinese martial arts to the latest telecommunication and green technology. In addition, there will be many opportunities for them to engage with local university students across the region. Participants are expected to be part of the programme televised through multiple channels, record their journey on video and share it on social media platforms. Candidates should be non-Chinese full-time undergraduate students enrolled at a university in the UK. There are no specific constraints on their majors. Candidates should also have an active and curated social media presence. Though a big following is not a must, any experience with vlogging and engaging with followers will be a plus. Last but not least, candidates must show a passion for Chinese language or culture, but proficiency in the language is not required. As for the expenses for the trip, all fees from international flights to food and accommodation will be covered by the sponsors. Those interested in this amazing all-inclusive opportunity can send their one-page CV, including their social media links, and a cover letter to greaterbay2024@gmail.com. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu) Nepali PM voices firm support for China in safeguarding core interests Xinhua) 13:24, April 28, 2024 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Sunday asserted that Arvinder Singh Lovelys resignation as Delhi Congress chief comes in opposition to giving tickets to those involved in anti-national activities. Addressing a press conference, Sachdeva said, Opposition to giving tickets to those involved in anti-national activities-Kanhaiya Kumar and Udit Raj is the reason behind Lovelys resignation. The language of resignation of both Congress leaders Rajkumar Chauhan and Lovely is the same, he said. Citing two reasons behind Lovelys resignation, Sachdeva termed the Aam Aadmi Party as a corrupt party. First reason is going with the corrupt Aam Aadmi Party, then the second issue of giving a ticket to Kanhaiya Kumar and Udit Raj, who stays with anti-national forces, he said. The cycle of resignations in the Congress won't stop. This will continue, Sachdeva said. On the INDI alliance, Sachdeva said, Every person who loves the country will not stay in this alliance. Meanwhile, when asked about Congress leaders Arvinder Singh Lovely and Rajkumar Chauhan joining the BJP, Sachdeva said that everyone is welcome in our party. On the question of whether they might not return to Congress after the elections, he said, When a new daughter-in-law comes in the house, she is welcomed, but she also has to improve her behavior." UNI PSP BD Contains spoilers for Seasons 1 and 2 of Guilt. Guilt, a pioneering series in Scottish television it was the first drama commissioned by the newly formed BBC Scotland channel in 2019 has built an audience well beyond its borders. A melancholy tale of family dysfunction presented as a complicated crime thriller, it combines British regionalism with peak TV-style poker-faced comedy in a way that has made it a critical darling around the world. Created and written by Neil Forsyth, Guilt has arrived in dense, lively four-episode bursts; the third and final season has its American premiere on PBSs Masterpiece beginning Sunday. Each installment has been organized around a psycho-philosophical theme: first guilt, then revenge in Season 2, and now, as Forsyth described it in a BBC interview, redemption. But the pleasure of the show does not come from diagraming its moral lessons (unless thats your thing), or from unwinding Forsyths sometimes maddeningly convoluted plots, which entangle sons and daughters of Edinburghs rough-and-tumble Leith district with the citys gangsters, cops and politicians. What makes Guilt worthwhile is Forsyths knack for creating characters who work their way into our affections, less by their actions than by their unconscious, soul-deep responses to life in the grim confines of Leith and the promise of something better in Edinburghs more comfortable precincts. On a December morning in central London, more than two dozen people drawn from influential institutions across the Middle East, Europe and the United States gathered in a conference room to pursue an aspiration that, at that moment, verged on preposterous. They were there to plan for the reconstruction and long-term economic development of Gaza. Gaza was under relentless bombardment by Israeli military forces in response to terrorist attacks launched by Hamas in October. Communities throughout the territory were being reduced to rubble, and tens of thousands of people had been killed. Families confronted the immediacy of hunger, fear and grief. Yet at the meeting in London, members of the international establishment discussed how to eventually transform Gaza from a place defined by isolation and poverty into a Mediterranean commercial hub centered on trade, tourism and innovation, yielding a middle class. The group included senior officials from American and European economic development agencies, executives from Middle Eastern finance and construction companies, and two partners from the international consulting firm McKinsey & Company. Officially, they were attending only as individuals, not as representatives of their institutions. Send questions about the office, money, careers and work-life balance to workfriend@nytimes.com. Include your name and location, or a request to remain anonymous. Letters may be edited. Ethics of Self-Preservation I am in a senior position with a marketing agency that is in bad shape. Employees are on reduced hours and pay because our work has slowed substantially. The owners pledged to get new work but have not made any moves in that direction. Im looking for a new job, and Ive seen some very appealing openings with current clients. Id be a great candidate, because I know many of the players, and they know and like my work. We dont have a noncompete, but I am worried I would further harm my employer if I applied for a job with its clients. Will the clients take it as a red flag? Will I accelerate the demise of my current company if I jump ship to a client? Anonymous You will not harm your employer by taking a new job with one of its clients. You are not responsible for your employers demise. If the roles were reversed, it would not offer you a fraction of the consideration you are offering. It is a job, and maybe you love it, but as I have said many times before, it will not and cannot love you back. If there are no noncompete issues (which may not matter anyway, as the Federal Trade Commission banned noncompetes last week), by all means, take a job with a client. If the client asks why youre leaving your agency, youre welcome to offer a diplomatic answer or you can tell the truth. This is not an ethical quandary. It would be unethical only if, for example, you took a position with a client and then shared proprietary information about your former employer or its other clients. The Overly Conscientious Boss I manage a small, stellar team at a nonprofit. After annual reviews last year, I reached out to my supervisor to request raises for each member of my team and myself, factoring in both the annual cost-of-living raise and the merit raises I would like to see. I then shared what I was hoping to get each individual with that person, so they would know they had someone advocating for them. This seemed like a good decision at the time, to show I valued their hard work. However, we recently received our raise notifications, and, while everyone did get a salary bump, we didnt quite hit the numbers I was hoping for. Now, based on some reactions, Im worried that theyre disappointed because expectations were set too high. Did I make a mistake in giving them the specific salary increases I was hoping for? How should I follow up? Should I follow up at all? Anonymous Though you meant well, you did make a mistake. In the future, you can certainly tell members of your team you are going to push for raises, but dont give them exact numbers until you know what those numbers are. In this instance, you set your team up for disappointment, and thats what youre seeing right now. Im not sure if you should follow up. It may just deepen any resentment theyre feeling a bit of salt in the wound. They probably dont care about your good intentions right now. The best path forward is to learn from this misstep. And dont be too hard on yourself. You were acting from a good place. Id also think of some other ways you can show your team how much you value its hard work. Robbi Mecus, a New York State forest ranger who led search-and-rescue missions and became a prominent voice within the L.G.B.T.Q. climbing community, died on Thursday after falling about 1,000 feet from a peak at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. She was 52. Her death was confirmed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, where she worked for 25 years. Ms. Mecus, who worked mostly in the Adirondacks, searched for and rescued lost and injured climbers facing hypothermia and other threats in the wilderness. Last month, she helped rescue a frostbitten hiker who was lost in the Adirondack Mountains overnight. At age 44, she came out as transgender, she said in a 2019 interview with the New York City Trans Oral History project. She then worked to foster a supportive community for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning climbers in the North Country of New York. When I was in college, I came across The Sea and Poison, a 1950s novel by Shusaku Endo. It tells the story of a doctor in postwar Japan who, as an intern years earlier, participated in a vivisection experiment on an American prisoner. Endos lens on the story is not the easiest one, ethically speaking; he doesnt dwell on the suffering of the victim. Instead, he chooses to explore a more unsettling element: the humanity of the perpetrators. When I say humanity I mean their confusion, self-justifications and willingness to lie to themselves. Atrocity doesnt just come out of evil, Endo was saying, it emerges from self-interest, timidity, apathy and the desire for status. His novel showed me how, in the right crucible of social pressures, I, too, might delude myself into making a choice from which an atrocity results. Perhaps this is why the book has haunted me for nearly two decades, such that Ive read it multiple times. I was reminded of that novel at 2 oclock in the morning recently as I scrolled through a social media account dedicated to collecting angry reader reviews. My attention was caught by someone named Nathan, whose take on Paradise Lost was: Milton was a fascist turd. But it was another reader, Ryan, who reeled me in with his response to John Updikes Rabbit, Run: This book made me oppose free speech. From there, I hit the bank of Lolita reviews: Readers were appalled, frustrated, infuriated. What a disgusting man! How could Vladimir Nabokov have been permitted to write this book? Who let authors write such immoral, perverse characters anyway? I was cackling as I scrolled but soon a realization struck me. Here on my screen was the distillation of a peculiar American illness: namely, that we have a profound and dangerous inclination to confuse art with moral instruction, and vice versa. Political careers often end in failure a cliche that exists because it too often happens to be true. Justin Trudeau, one of the worlds great progressive leaders, may be heading toward that moment. In a recent interview he acknowledged that every day he considers leaving his crazy job as Canadas prime minister. Increasingly, the question is not if he will leave but how soon and how deep his failure will be when he goes. At stake is something that matters more than one politicians career: Canadas contemporary liberal and multicultural society, which just happens to be the legacy of the prime ministers father and predecessor, Pierre Trudeau. When you fly into Montreal, you land in Trudeau airport, and thats because of Pierre, not Justin. The threat to that liberal tradition is not all Justin Trudeaus fault, of course. The right-wing tide overwhelming global politics has come late but with pent-up vigor to Canada. For several years now, polls have shown Mr. Trudeaus Liberals at lows from which no Canadian political party has ever recovered in elections. In a recent by-election, in a key suburban district of the Greater Toronto Area, the Conservative Party beat the Liberals by a lopsided 57 percent to 22 percent, a swing of nine percentage points to the Conservatives. But polls and by-elections can be poor predictors of election viability. A better indicator is the flummoxed figure of Mr. Trudeau himself, who seems increasingly out of touch in the new world of division and extremism. I had my head in a law book when I heard the drums. That was the sound of the first campus protest I ever experienced. Id come to Harvard Law School in the fall of 1991 as a graduate of a small, very conservative Christian college in Nashville. Many of my college classmates had passionate religious and political commitments, but street protest was utterly alien to the Christian culture of the school. We were rule followers, and public protest looked a bit too much like anarchy for our tastes. But Harvard was different. The law school was every bit as progressive as my college was conservative, and protest was part of the fabric of student life, especially then. This is the era when a writer for GQ magazine, John Sedgwick, called the law school Beirut on the Charles because it was torn apart by disputes over race and sex. There were days when campus protests were festive, almost celebratory. There were other days when the campus was seething with rage and fury. That first protest was in support of faculty diversity, and it was relatively benign. I walked outside and followed the sound of the drums. A group of roughly 100 protesters was marching in front of the law school library, and soon they were joined by an allied group of similar size from Harvards John F. Kennedy School of Government. I watched as they danced, sang and listened to speeches by student activists and sympathetic professors. That first protest had an angry edge, but it was also completely peaceful and endlessly fascinating to a kid from a small town in Kentucky whod never seen a drum circle before. But things soon got worse, much worse. Protests got more unruly, and student activists got more aggressive. The entire campus was in a state of conflict. In Sedgwicks words, students were waging holy war on one another. Small groups of students occupied administrative offices, and angry activists shouted down their political opponents in class and often attempted to intimidate them outside class. I was shouted down repeatedly, and twice I received disturbing handwritten notes in my campus mailbox in response to my anti-abortion advocacy. My student peers told me to go die. On a recent sunny Sunday, residents of San Franciscos Noe Valley gathered to celebrate the opening of a toilet. But not just any toilet. This was the nations most infamous public toilet. In 2022 my colleague Heather Knight, then at The San Francisco Chronicle, noticed the projected price tag on the commode: $1.7 million, which Assemblyman Matt Haney had secured from the state. This was business as usual in San Francisco. Other public toilets had cost about the same. Local officials were planning a celebration. But Knights article set off a furor. Gov. Gavin Newsom clawed back the money. The party was canceled. Haney denounced the project he had made possible: The cost is insane. The process is insane. The amount of time it takes is insane. He wanted answers. Phil Ginsburg, the general manager of San Franciscos Recreation and Parks Department, responded with a letter that is a masterpiece of coiled bureaucratic fury. He told Haney that the department had been pleasantly surprised by the unexpected allocation of $1.7 million for the Noe bathroom. Until now, Ginsburg wrote, we have not received any questions from you on the estimate. But Ginsburg was happy to walk Haney through the numbers and describe how Haney, as a former member of San Franciscos powerful Board of Supervisors and a current member of the State Legislature, bore responsibility for them. As you will see, the process is indeed long and expensive, he noted. It is also the result of many years of political choices and exacerbated by skyrocketing costs. The crowd began gathering at 5 p.m., into the movie-perfect backyard of a 1920s Spanish-style Los Angeles estate once owned by Madonna. The air was so soft and eucalyptus-scented you could wrap yourself in it. Glasses clinked. The pool glinted in the slinking sun. In the Santa Monica Mountains above, the Hollywood sign gleamed like a row of perfectly capped teeth. Into that golden light stepped Mauricio Umansky, fresh off his debut the night before on Dancing With the Stars. He made his way to a crystal lectern and began cracking jokes for the attendees, who were there for a star-studded awards show. Unlike the Oscars or the Golden Globes, these awards didnt go to actors, directors or screenwriters. They went to real estate agents, crowned in categories like Stratospheric Sale of the Year. (The winner of that award was Kurt Rappaport, who represented Beyonce and Jay-Z as they closed on a $190 million Malibu pad last May.) As a real estate broker with two seasons of Buying Beverly Hills and 13 seasons as a real husband on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills under his belt, Mr. Umansky was the consummate M.C. for the evenings Power Broker Awards. Amid a dizzying array of standoffs involving pro-Palestinian demonstrations and encampments at colleges, schools that cracked down on protesters over the weekend have given varying justifications for their actions, while others sent mixed signals with their inaction. Behind it all was a central question confronting university leaders across the country: When does a demonstration cross the line? Colleges have cited property damage, outside provocateurs, antisemitic expressions or just failures to heed warnings as reasons to clear encampments and arrest students. Student groups have strongly denied or questioned many of those claims. Northeastern University in Boston, Washington University in St. Louis, Indiana University Bloomington and Arizona State University had police forces move in on demonstrations on Saturday, leading to more than 200 arrests. At other schools including Columbia, Penn, Harvard and Cornell an icy tension lingered on Sunday as leaders warned about possible consequences for demonstrators but had yet to carry them out. Ian Berlin at CNN: 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. More here. Until that moment, it had not attracted much attention. Its subject matter a blooming iris, dandelions, birch trees did not seem controversial. But for Ms. Gendreau, 62, who was also a state senator representing northern New Hampshire, the mural had set off alarms. She was certain there were subversive messages in its imagery, planted there by the nonprofit group that had planned and paid for it. The original plan was to start a school district. That didnt work. So a group of residents in a sprawling unincorporated suburb of Baton Rouge, La., expanded their idea: Create a city of their own, called St. George. In 2015, they collected signatures to bring their proposal up for a vote, but didnt get enough. In 2019, they tried again. This time, they made it to a ballot and won the election, only to be stalled by a lengthy court battle. But the Louisiana Supreme Court cleared the way on Friday for the formation of St. George, a city of nearly 100,000 people that joins the ranks of the states largest cities, falling between Lafayette and Lake Charles in population. It is the first city to be incorporated in Louisiana in nearly two decades. A majority of justices found that lower courts had erred in blocking the citys creation over concerns of its financial viability. As a 23-year-old serving his first term in the Oregon state legislature, Representative Earl Blumenauer cosponsored the first bill in the country to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. More than 50 years later, the congressman from Portland is preparing to retire after nearly three decades on Capitol Hill, and mounting a lonely campaign to persuade his fellow Democrats, including President Biden, to press for legalization of marijuana at the federal level as a central plank of their political platforms. I have been doing this longer than any other politician in America, and I can say unequivocally, no politician was ever punished for being on the cutting edge of legalization of cannabis, Mr. Blumenauer, who has become Congresss top advocate for changing marijuana policy, said in an interview. This is something every candidate should embrace. Mr. Blumenauer has urged officials close to Mr. Biden to make the issue a more prominent part of the presidents re-election message. He argues that legalization is not only good policy, but a potentially electric political issue that could help the 81-year-old Mr. Biden appeal to young people who polls show have drifted away from him, and whose backing could be vital to his chances of winning a second term. Nearly seven months after the Israel-Hamas war began, the demonstrations convulsing college campuses nationwide are exposing fresh tensions within the Democratic Party over how to balance free speech protections and support for Gazans with concerns that some Jewish Americans are raising about antisemitism. From New York and Los Angeles to Atlanta and Austin, a surge in student activism has manifested in protest encampments and other demonstrations, drawing significant police crackdowns and sometimes appearing to attract outside agitators. The protests also have emerged as the latest flashpoint in the internal Democratic debate over the war. As scenes of campus turmoil play out across the country in the final days of the school year, the moment also carries political risk for a party that has harnessed promises of stability and normalcy to win critical recent elections, and faces a challenging battle for control of the government in the fall. The real question is, can the Democrats again portray themselves as the steady hand at the helm? said Dan Sena, a veteran Democratic strategist. Things that create national chaos like this make that harder to do. Lying in an Afghan desert, engulfed in flames and soaked in diesel fuel, Sam Brown realized he was about to die. It was September 2008, and Mr. Brown, who was a U.S. Army lieutenant at the time, had been leading his platoon to the aid of fellow soldiers who had been ambushed by the Taliban. Then, his Humvee struck a roadside bomb. In an explosion of fire and concussive sound, Mr. Browns life was forever changed. I remember laying there, facedown in the dirt in the Kandahar desert, trying to scoop dirt over myself to smother the flames and having no success, and thinking to myself: How long will it take to burn to death? What happens as I die? Mr. Brown recalled in an interview with The New York Times. And then literally making the decision to give up the will to live. But he survived. A fellow soldier, also injured in the blast, saved Mr. Brown, and his platoon provided first aid until he could be evacuated to a hospital. At a burn unit in Texas, he underwent more than 30 surgeries over a three-year recovery, and he was left permanently scarred. On a cold spring day last month, Mohsen, a 36-year-old from Iran, woke before dawn and was hurried by smugglers onto a rubber boat on the coast of France. The water was calm and the sky clear, but he knew the risks of the journey he was about to make, he said. Since 2018, at least 72 people have drowned in the English Channel while attempting crossings, according to the International Organization for Migration. He fled Iran, he said, because police officers came to his home last year threatening to arrest him after he took part in anti-government protests. Mohsen, who asked to be identified only by his first name over concerns that having his full name published could affect his asylum claim, said he was willing to risk drowning for the chance of a new life in Britain. And he boarded the boat even though he knew about the British governments plan to deport some asylum seekers to the central African country of Rwanda, which was first announced in 2022. The convoy rolled out of the military base before dawn into the mist-shrouded mountains straddling Guatemalas border with Mexico. Its mission: destroy opium poppies used to make heroin. Armed with rifles and machetes, the caravans nearly 300 soldiers and police officers from elite counternarcotics units scaled steep hillsides and waded through bone-chilling streams. They chased leads from drone pilots and inhaled dust as they rode in the back of pickup trucks barreling down washboard dirt roads. But after scouring village after village, they found only tiny plots of poppies here and there a fraction of the regions cultivation in previous years. The land here used to be covered in poppies, said Ludvin Lopez, a police commander, as soldiers fanned out around Ixchiguan, an area of remote hamlets populated by speakers of Mam, a Mayan language. But that was before opium prices plunged from $64 an ounce to about $9.60, he added. Whats the future of Gaza? Development agencies and Middle Eastern businesses have been meeting to discuss the eventual reconstruction of Gaza and to develop plans for its long-term economic future. They seek to transform Gaza into a commercial hub centered on trade, tourism and innovation. But those plans are far removed from todays dire reality. Israel has been bombarding the enclave for months. It is still weighing whether to invade Rafah, the southern city where more than a million displaced Gazans are sheltering. And there is no end to the war in sight, even though diplomacy continues. Yesterday President Biden spoke to Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss a possible cease-fire deal, and top diplomats from the U.S. and France traveled to the Middle East for more talks. Once the fighting ends, the transformation would cost tens of billions of dollars. The damage to Gazas crucial infrastructure has reached $18.5 billion, according to the World Bank and the U.N. The plan centers on a series of projects, including a deepwater port, a desalination plant, an online health care service and a transportation corridor connecting Gaza with the West Bank. The most forward-looking components, such as a new currency to replace the Israeli shekel, assume the establishment of Palestinian autonomy, which Netanyahu has vowed to resist. The Ukrainian marine infantryman endured nine months of physical and psychological torture as a Russian prisoner of war, but was allotted only three months of rest and rehabilitation before being ordered back to his unit. The infantryman, who asked to be identified only by his call sign, Smiley, returned to duty willingly. But it was only when he underwent intensive combat training in the weeks after that the depth and range of his injuries, both psychological and physical, began to surface. I started having flashbacks, and nightmares, he said. I would only sleep for two hours and wake up with my sleeping bag soaking wet. He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and referred for psychological care, and is still receiving treatment. Ukraine is just beginning to understand the lasting effects of the traumas its prisoners of war experienced in Russian captivity, but it has been failing to treat them properly and returning them to duty too early, say former prisoners, officials and psychologists familiar with individual cases. Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior government officials on charges related to the conflict with Hamas, according to five Israeli and foreign officials. The Israeli and foreign officials also believe the court is weighing arrest warrants for leaders from Hamas. If the court proceeds, the Israeli officials could potentially be accused of preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and pursuing an excessively harsh response to the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, according to two of the five officials, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter. The Israeli officials, who are worried about the potential fallout from such a case, said they believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is among those who might be named in a warrant. It is not clear who might be charged from Hamas or what crimes would be cited. An Offaly student has been awarded an All Ireland Scholarship which will cover the full duration of their undergraduate studies. Caoimhe Quinn was honoured at the All Ireland Scholarships Awards Ceremony recently in University Concert Hall, University of Limerick. In attendance at the ceremony was scholarship sponsor JP McManus, Guest of Honour and CEO of Northwell Health, Michael J. Dowling, Minister for Further and Higher Education Niall Collins T.D. and Director of Skills, Strategy & Policy, Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland, Graeme Wilkinson as well as the family, friends and school representatives of the scholarship recipients. Commenting at the awards ceremony, Scholarship Sponsor JP McManus said, I am delighted to be here today to celebrate the outstanding academic achievements of these 125 students. To date, 1,799 students have received an All Ireland Scholarship and 1,348 of those students have since graduated from university. Today is a very special occasion for the students, their families and principals. They should all be very proud of themselves, and we are looking forward to seeing what they do in years to come. The All Ireland Scholarships were established in 2008 by JP McManus and this year marks its 16th anniversary. The third level educational scholarship is awarded to 125 of the highest achieving students per year, with a minimum of two students from each of the 32 counties. The recipients must meet a further set of criteria, including attending a non-fee-paying school and be in receipt of a third level education maintenance grant from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) or be in receipt of an Education Maintenance Allowance in Northern Ireland. The scholarship offers full academic financial support for the duration of the students' third level studies. 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. A lucky woman has woman a fabulous family holiday voucher in her local store in Offaly. Linda Murphy from Portarlington, a customer at Dempsey's Gala, is a lucky winner in Gala Retails Home or Away store promotion, winning a holiday voucher worth 4,000. Gala Retail launched the promotion in celebration of 25 years of serving communities with customers having the the chance to win one of 25 holiday vouchers. Running throughout February and March, the promotion offered shoppers the opportunity to enter by spending over 10 in any of the participating Gala Retail stores. Entrants had the chance to win one of 10 family holidays abroad, valued at 4,000 each, or one of 15 holiday vouchers for unforgettable Irish staycations, each worth 2,500. Linda entered the competition in her local Gala store and was one of the lucky shoppers who won one of 10 family holidays abroad. Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail, reflected on the significance of 25 years of loyal custom in Gala stores, stating, " We are delighted to kick start our 25th year in business with a huge thank-you to our loyal Gala shoppers. This giveaway is our way of expressing our gratitude and giving back to the community that has supported us throughout the years. From staycations in Ireland to fun filled, family adventures abroad, there are so many exciting opportunities and were thrilled to see our customers creating unforgettable memories with family or friends." The Home or Away promotion, which ran from February 5 to March 17, received overwhelming participation and support from customers across the country. For more information, visit: www.gala.ie/news Taoiseach Simon Harris has criticised protests outside peoples homes as downright thuggery at an event commemorating a murdered politician. Mr Harris said that too often politicians have been targeted at their homes by angry mobs, have been attacked and abused, and have been in fear of what might happen to their families. He said: We know how this story ends. We have had too many warnings and we need to take them seriously before the unthinkable happens. Mr Harris was speaking at an event in Co Monaghan to mark 50 years since the death of former Fine Gael TD and senator Billy Fox. The 35-year-old senator was shot dead by members of the Provisional IRA in March 1974. On Sunday, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Billy Fox Memorial Park in Derrygoony in his memory. During a speech at the ceremony, Mr Harris highlighted a Dail debate in December 1971 where Mr Fox produced a plastic bullet and a tear gas cannister as evidence about what was being fired across the border. He said a portrait in his memory would be unveiled later this year. Billy Fox was hated by some because he was seen as too Republican, he said. He was hated by others because he was a Protestant and he wasnt seen as Republican enough. Mr Harris said the event provided an opportunity to reflect on a very significant coarsening around political debate in Ireland. A recent protest outside the home of Minister for Equality and Integration Roderic OGorman has been criticised across the political spectrum. He said Ireland should be a place where people can disagree with each other without people gathering outside somebodys home in balaclavas. He added: Thats not protest. Its downright thuggery. I do think occasions like this should always provide us with a moment to reflect on where were at in our own political discourse. Mr Harris said he is satisfied that the Gardai do not need new laws to deal with public order incidents and said he would support gardai in enforcing those laws through measures such as the introduction of Garda bodycams. We do need to also say this: No matter how challenging situations are, the laws of the land apply in this country. Its very important that laws are enforced and that rules are enforced without fear or favour. Speaking in Dublin on Sunday, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was a matter of common decency not to protest outside a persons home. We all know in a democratic society everybody enjoys the right to protest, and I am very keen that we respect that and we protect it, she said at the launch of her partys local and European election campaign. But its a different matter entirely if people are attacking members of the Garda, if people are attacking or interfering with other citizens going about their business. All of us enjoy the right to protest, but we have to be clear that it has to be within the boundaries of the law. As for events outside ministers homes, I just think its a matter of common decency to recognise that a persons home is where their family is. A persons home is their refuge and their shelter. Yes, people have been outside my home many times over the last number of years, I dont like it, but look, it is what it is. She added that this was the exception and the outlier and that most people, including those who disagree with politicians, are decent and civil. Indian government permits onion exports to six nations, including Sri Lanka Posted by Editor on April 28, 2024 - 9:27 am The Indian Government announced on Saturday that it has granted permission for the export of 99,500 tonnes of onions to six neighboring countries, despite the existing ban on shipments. These onions, primarily sourced from Maharashtra, will be exported to Bangladesh, UAE, Bhutan, Bahrain, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka. Additionally, the government has permitted the export of 2,000 tonnes of white onions, specially cultivated for markets in the Middle East and some European countries. The ban on onion exports was initially imposed on December 8, 2023, aiming to ensure sufficient availability domestically due to anticipated lower Kharif and Rabi crops in 2023-24 compared to the previous year. This measure was taken amidst a surge in demand in the international market. According to an official statement from Indias Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), designated for onion exports, has procured the onions through e-platform at competitive prices. These onions are being supplied to the respective destination countries at negotiated rates, with payment required in full in advance. The allocated export quota for the six countries is being fulfilled based on their requisitions. Maharashtra, as the leading onion producer in the country, plays a significant role in the onion supply for export. In addition to regular onions, the government has allowed the export of 2,000 tonnes of white onions. These onions, cultivated specifically for export markets, incur higher production costs due to factors like expensive seeds, adherence to good agricultural practices, and compliance with strict maximum residue limits requirements. To stabilize onion prices domestically, the Indian Department of Consumer Affairs has set a procurement target of 5 lakh tonnes from the Rabi crop of 2024 under the Price Stabilisation Fund. Central agencies are collaborating with local agencies to facilitate procurement, storage, and farmer registration. Efforts to reduce onion storage losses include plans to increase the quantity of onions to be irradiated and cold-stored from 1,200 tonnes last year to over 5,000 tonnes this year. Technical support from BARC, Mumbai, will aid in this endeavor. Recent data released by the Union Agriculture Ministry indicates a decrease in onion production for 2023-24 compared to the previous year. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan have experienced notable declines in output, contributing to this decrease. Dear Amy: My friend Tina and I have been friends since college and are now in our 50s. When we met we were members of a campus religious organization, however as the years passed we both drifted away from our religious affiliations. I now would call myself agnostic. Recently, Tina had a difficult break-up with a significant other. Since the split she has returned to religion and now mentions it often, which makes me somewhat uncomfortable, as it seems she may be trying to get me back in the fold. Over Easter, she went to church and decided that she wanted to be baptized. She scheduled it at a friends church three hours away. She said she would like for me to go, however, I explained that I would not be able to attend due to the short notice. She was forced to cancel due to a family emergency, but then told me that she would reschedule her baptism so that I could plan on attending. The problem is, I dont have any desire to go. While I dont begrudge her any comfort her faith is bringing her, I am not interested and dont want to feel pressured to participate. How do I back out gracefully without hurting her feelings? Agnostic Dear Agnostic: I believe that in this context, honesty is not only called for, but it is also the most graceful way to handle this. You need to state a version of the following: Im very happy for you to have renewed your faith, but over the years weve known each other, Ive made my own choice about religion and dont participate. I wont be at your baptism ceremony, but I hope it is a joyous event for you, and I wish you all the very best as you move forward in your faith. You cant really control your friends response to this, but while she has the right to affirm her faith, you also have the right to affirm your own stand on religion. Neither of you should proselytize, and you should determine to carry on in an attitude of mutual respect. You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. Update: Dulaney arrested April 26 A 53-year-old Portland man has been arrested in the fatal shooting a man inside a bar in North Portlands St. Johns neighborhood in February. At the first sound of music, cheers and cries of cheehoo, a celebratory chant originating in Samoa, rang through the stands of Linfield Universitys gymnasium. The opening dance of the hoike a Hawaiian word for performance had begun. The atmosphere inside the gym was humming on Saturday evening as the student dancers from Linfield gracefully danced across the stage with bare feet and bright costumes. The luau has been a cherished tradition at the McMinnville campus for over 50 years, celebrating the connection between the university and its Hawaiian and Pacific Islander student community. For students like Xanadee Madarang-Brandes, a sophomore from Oahu, the luau represents more than just a cultural showcase its an opportunity to feel more at home. When I heard that they were doing a show, I wanted to be a part of it, Madarang-Brandes said. Its also a big part of my culture. So I kind of wanted to continue doing things within my culture, even though Im away from home. Many parents and community members travel from Hawaii to participate in the festivities and contribute items to the Hawaiian marketplace known as a makeke. Shannon Hussey, a Linfield alumna and former lu'au and ho'ike co-chair, sold handmade leis at the event, and explained how the luau fosters a sense of family and community. Linfield University celebrates its 51st annual luau and hoike on Saturday, April 27, in McMinnville with food, performances and the McMinnville Makeke.Austyn Steelman/For The Oregonian Its definitely cool to see, generation after generation, they continuously adapt the show and make sure that it always incorporates Polynesian culture, Hussey said. No matter where youre from or who you are, you can participate and educate yourself on Polynesian culture. So its just nice seeing it progress and get bigger every year. This years 51st annual luau and hoike embraced the theme of Na Lani Eha, paying homage to the ancient rulers of the Pacific Islands. In Hawaiian history when you say Na Lani Eha, it refers to four specific royalty that we had in Hawaii, but we kind of took that translation and made our own, said Taetum Lynn Kalani, student coordinator for Hui o Lokahi, formerly known as the Hawaii Club, and co-chair of the luau and ho'ike. Kalani explained that the performance honors what royalty represents to many in the Pacific authenticity and the embrace of ones cultural identity. The show drew inspiration from four regions: Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand and Tahiti. The annual luau and hoike is the largest student-run event at Linfield, selling over 1,200 seats. It unites Hui o Lokahi with Linfields music department and theater program, to create an immersive show for attendees. The event is a large undertaking for the Linfield students who coordinate everything, including scheduling, choreographing dances, finding vendors for the market and organizing catering. I think its so popular because its something different, said Madarang-Brandes. So being able to watch something and experience it for the first time or just see a different culture thats new, it is really exciting. The Linfield luau is unique in bringing together students of many backgrounds, according to Kelly Williams Brown, Linfields media and public relations manager. Linfield University celebrates its 51st annual luau and hoike on Saturday, April 27, in McMinnville with food, performances and the McMinnville Makeke.Austyn Steelman/For The Oregonian Although a lot of our students and participants are from Hawaii, we have a large group of people who participate in the dances or in committees that arent from Hawaii, Kalani said. And over the semester I see that they have developed that same love and that same respect for a culture that is so important to people who are from Hawaii. Lesley Clanton of Tualatin watched her son, Max, participate in the luau for the first time. I think it is a special group of kids that are very respectful of the heritage and culture from Hawaii, Clanton said. And we have family who are Hawaiian, so its very important for us to be able to be here to support him. Seeing everyones hard work come to a close has been bittersweet for Madarang-Brandes. Hopefully, those watching will just really appreciate or enjoy how weve represented our culture, said Madarang-Brandes. Even if they dont know anything about it, they learned something from our culture that night. 23 1 / 23 Linfield University Luau and Hoike Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Reach her at 503-221-4327; cprofenna@oregonian.com or @chiara_profenna The Oregonian/OregonLive receives support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to bring readers stories on religion, faith and cultural connections in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive is solely responsible for all content. I was disappointed to see that The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board did not endorse Susheela Jayapal for U.S. Congressional District 3, (Editorial endorsement May 2024: Elect Maxine Dexter in Democratic primary for 3rd Congressional District, April 17). Jayapal is the best match for voters in District 3 - voters like me who care deeply about having a progressive voice in that seat. There are important policies that matter, such as Jayapals call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and her position supporting Medicare for All. As a climate activist, Jayapal has played a key role in the countys important efforts on mitigation and adaptation. She has supported efforts to educate our community about the dangers of the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub in the event of a catastrophic earthquake, participating in our community forums. She also led the countys effort to sue fossil fuel companies for their role in creating the climate catastrophe we face. Ten years ago, I worked with then-Portland Bureau of Transportation Commissioner Steve Novick to help pass Portlands original gas tax. So, when Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps called me recently to ask for my help with the renewal effort Measure 26-245 I was happy to help. Commissioner Mapps call was also timely, since the day before a pothole exploded my cars front right tire as I drove down Southwest Taylors Ferry Road to Southwest Macadam. Luckily, my car did not veer off the road into the chasm or his call might have been too late. My message is straightforward: this tax is up for renewal next month, and I urge you to vote for it. New York, US (PANA) - UN Security Council members on Saturday called on the warring parties in Sudan to immediately halt the military build-up and take steps to de-escalate the situation in El Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur Britney Spears and her father, Jamie Spears, also known as her conservator, have finally settled their legal fees dispute. After Britney's conservatorship ended in November, she still had ongoing legal disputes with his father over fees after the first filing in December 2021. Both parties' attorneys confirmed that the pair settled for an undisclosed sum in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, April 25. Britney Spears and Father Jamie Spears Settles Britney Spears' attorney, Mathew S. Rosengart, confirmed the news and expressed her complete freedom. Rosengart stated that following the termination of the conservatorship in November 2021, 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. Rosengart further emphasized Spears' victory in the court's decision to suspend her father's role, saying, 'Britney Spears won when the court suspended her father, and Britney Spears won when her fundamental rights and civil liberties were restored.' In response to the settlement, Jamie Spears' attorney, Alex Weingarten, noted that the two parties reached a settlement agreement resolving all outstanding disputes. Weingarten refrained from discussing specific details due to confidentiality but expressed Jamie's relief that the matter is behind him. 'He loves his daughter very much and everything he has ever done has been to protect and support her,' Weingarten added. He also lamented the prolongation of the legal battles, attributing it to 'some irresponsible people in Britney's life.' The settlement has averted a trial concerning alleged financial misconduct during Spears' conservatorship, which was scheduled to commence in May. Despite the termination of the conservatorship in November 2021, ongoing legal disputes persisted between Spears and her father's legal representatives. These disputes primarily revolved around attorney's fees and allegations of improper behavior in managing the conservatorship, with Jamie Spears consistently denying the accusations. Britney Spears had been under court-ordered conservatorship since 2008, with her father serving as her conservator for most of the 13-year arrangement. During this period, he had control over her finances and medical decisions." Conservatorship Saga Britney Spears made a groundbreaking appearance in court, breaking her silence after 13 years under conservatorship. She passionately implored the judge to release her from what she described as an abusive arrangement. During her testimony, Spears revealed distressing details, including being coerced into touring against her wishes, being prescribed lithium that left her feeling disoriented, and being denied the autonomy to marry or start a family, enforced by the use of an IUD for birth control. Expressing her longing for freedom, Spears emotionally stated, "I just want my life back. It's been 13 years and it's enough." Following this testimony, Spears gained the right to choose her legal representation, opting for Mathew S. Rosengart, an experienced attorney renowned for representing Hollywood figures. In September 2021, a pivotal moment occurred as the court suspended Spears' father, Jamie, from his role as her conservator, a precursor to the eventual termination of the conservatorship less than two months later. In her memoir, Spears candidly reflected on the oppressive nature of the conservatorship, describing years filled with emotional turmoil. She expressed how it stripped away her sense of womanhood, leaving her feeling like a mere shell of herself, particularly on stage where her passion for music was overshadowed by external control. At the 2024 edition of the esteemed Ghana Business League Awards, St. John's Hospital and Fertility Centre was recognized as the Business Leader of the Year in Fertility Health Services. The hospital received recognition for its outstanding accomplishments in Health and Fertility Care Services, Healthcare Facility Standards, Management, Quality, Corporate Social Responsibilities, Innovation and Technology, Client Satisfaction, Brand Appeal, Goodwill, Service Quality, and Brand Consistency, as well as its notable impact on the Ghanaian economy through the healthcare sector. With years of high-quality services, the award is a testament to St. John's Hospital and Fertility Centre's relentless pursuit of excellence and visionary leadership. By prioritizing excellence and driving innovation in Ghana's healthcare field, the hospital has established itself as a standout among industry peers. The Ghana Business League Awards hosted a luxurious executive dinner at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra on Saturday, April 20th, 2024, to celebrate exceptional achievements and forward-thinking leadership in Ghanaian businesses. The theme was "Celebrating the transformative impact of technological innovation, entrepreneurial drive, and economic growth driven by Ghanaian enterprises." The event, brimming with glamour and festivity, was graced by government officials, industry leaders, diplomatic representatives, distinguished guests, and influential corporate figures. St. John's Hospital and Fertility Centre emerged as a standout performer in the Fertility Health Services category after a careful evaluation by the event's research team and approval by the Awarding Board. According to the organizers, the recognition highlights the hospital's unwavering dedication to maintaining a consistent brand identity, goodwill, and elevated standards within the healthcare industry. Maame Yaa Afriye, the CEO of St. John's Hospital and Fertility Centre, recognized as the Female Exemplary Leader of the Year (Healthcare) that evening, expressed gratitude for the acknowledgement and thanked the awarding board for recognizing the hospital's influence on the healthcare sector. She reiterated the hospital's commitment to driving innovation and maintaining high standards in healthcare delivery. Below are other awards won by St. John's Hospital and Fertility Centre The CIMG for Best Private Hospital 2020 Customers Choice Fertility Centre of the Year 2021 Trusted Women & Fertility Hospital of the year 2021 HealthCare Centre of the Year (Fertility) 2022 from National Customers Choice Best Community Involvement Hospital 2022 from West Africa Excellence Healthcare awards Ultramodern Medical Facility of the year 2022 from Ghana-West Africa Excellence Awards Fertility Hospital Brand of the Year 2023 from Ghana Corporate BRANDS Awards Healthcare Facility of 2023 from NCC Awards Ghana, Outstanding Private Specialist of the Year (Gynaecology) 2023 and many others. 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 His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, clocks 25 years on the sacred Golden Stool of the Asante Kingdom today, Friday, April 26, 2024. Then known as Barima Kwaku Duah in private life, he was enstooled as the 16th Asante King on April 26, 1999, succeeding his late brother, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II. The historic enstoolment ceremony was held at the seat of the Asante Kingdom, the Manhyia Palace, in Kumasi, and it was graced by top government officials in the state at the time. Also present at the colourful traditional ceremony included all the powerful paramount chiefs of Asanteman and other traditional leaders from other regions in the country and beyond. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, a true royal of the Golden Stool, was the last child of the five children of the late Asante Queen, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem, who also reigned successfully. There was merrymaking in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region and other parts of the country, especially areas which served the Golden Stool when Otumfuo was officially unveiled as king in 1999. Mammoth Church Service As part of activities marking the Asantehenes 25 years reign today, there would be a mammoth interdenominational church service at the forecourt of the Manhyia Palace. The Asantehene is expected to grace the religious occasion, which would certainly be attended by prominent men of God in the Ashanti Region and the country at large. As usual, the clergy would lead the Asantehene in fervent prayers to thank God for helping and protecting him to attain 25 years on the great throne. Also, prayers would be made for Gods continuous guidance, direction and protection for the Asantehene so he would live long and his reign would be filled with success. Otumfuos Achievements Significantly, Otumfuo has used the last 25 years to write his name in the history books as one of the greatest kings that the Asante Kingdom, which is about 400 years old, has produced. Under his able leadership, the image of the Asante Kingdom, without doubt, has been transformed and positively uplifted across the country and at the world stage. This has been made possible following the Asantehenes unique leadership style, as he has combined the rich tradition of Asante and modern style to put the Asante Kingdom on the global stage. Among his major successes include his ability to resolve all the chieftaincy disputes, which were hindering the proper development of the Asante Kingdom before his enstoolment. Also, Otumfuo has scored higher marks in the area of education and human resource development through his famous Otumfuo Education Fund, which he established immediately he was enstooled. Through the Otumfuo Education Fund, thousands of brilliant but needy Ghanaian school-going children have been supported to realise their academic ambitions without any financial obstacle. The Otumfuo Education Fund has helped to produce medical doctors, engineers, journalists, teachers, nurses, and other professionals, who are now contributing to national growth. Also, the Asantehene has performed exceptionally well in the area of sanitation, as he has been seen leading periodic cleanup exercises to influence his people to live in a clean environment. In the area of health, the Asantehene has also sponsored several health outreach programmes, especially in the hinterlands. He has also built several health facilities in the Ashanti Region. Otumfuo has also dug an uncountable number of mechanised boreholes to provide clean water for people who are living in deprived communities, among other achievements. Also, the Asantehene has used his reign to boost unity between Asantes and other tribes in the country, as he has visited Akyem Abuakwa in the Eastern Region and Anlo in the Volta Region. Top Awards The Asantehenes achievements have been recognised and duly rewarded by top universities and other respected bodies in the country and the global stage during the last 25 years. For instance, due to Otumfuos love for peace and unity, he was once invited by the United Nations (UN) in the United States (US), where he delivered a powerful thought-provoking statement about the need for global peace. The Asantehene was also honoured with a Pillar of Peace award for his wise and significant efforts to help restore peace at Dagbon, in the Northern Region. Otumfuo, who is highly respected across the globe as one of the powerful monarchs in the world today, has also been invited to several countries for a state visit, where he was accorded protocols reserved for presidents. Just recently, he was invited by the Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom, where he attended the coronation of King Charles, a feat which brought honour to the country. 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 Following a huge display of creativity and innovation to canvass the most votes, Verna Purified Water has been adjudged the ultimate winner at the just-ended Ghana Beverages Awards (GBA) held at the Kempinski Gold Coast City Accra. The awards night which saw Verna Purified Water beat Star Beer, Malta Guinness, Bel-Cola, Vitamilk Regular, Tampico, Coca-Cola, and Adonko Bitters in an intense competition to emerge as the ultimate winner will go into the books for exuding glitz, glamour, and elegance. Other beverage brands awarded on the night included Heritage Beer, Heineken, and Johnnie Walker Receiving the award, Emelia Gyasi, Marketing Manager for Twellium Industrial Company Limited expressed gratitude to the organizers and the GBA Committee for recognizing their hard work for the year under review. She lauded consumers for their loyalty and their confidence in the product while dedicating the award to the staff of Twellium Industrial Company. On behalf of the management of Twellium Industrial Company Limited, I say thank you to all whose contributions have made this possible including the organizers and the esteemed awards committee. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team at Twellium Industrial Company Limited as well as our commitment to producing high-quality and innovative beverages. Our success would not be possible without the support of our customers, who have shown us time and again that they appreciate the quality and flavor of our beverages and have gone further to show solidarity by casting votes in our favour during the voting phase. We are proud to have been able to serve the people of Ghana with our products, and we will continue to strive to meet their ever-evolving tastes and preferences. She affirmed Twellium Industrial Company Limiteds dedication to remaining at the forefront of the ever-evolving beverage industry, promising continuous improvement in product quality, health standards, and environmental sustainability. At Twellium Industrial Company, we understand that the beverage industry is constantly evolving, and we are committed to staying at the forefront of these changes. We assure our patrons that we will continuously be working to improve our products, to ensure that they are not only delicious but also healthy and environmentally friendly, he emphasized. On his part, Chief Executive Officer for Global Media Alliance, Ernest Boateng congratulated Verna Natural Mineral Water for clinching the top honour, commending all stakeholders for their support. She said: Permit me to congratulate Twellium Industrial Company for emerging winners of the Product of the Year category. As organizers, we would always be grateful to our stakeholders whose support makes it possible for us to reward excellence in our beverage industry. GBA has come a long way and has grown in varied facets by virtue of constant feedback from our stakeholders. The successes chalked over the years could not have been possible without the support of our stakeholders and industry players whose participation and interest in seeing that GBA grows on all levels. The eighth edition of the Ghana Beverage Awards was organized with a special focus on developing players along the entire beverage value chain. This paved the way for the inclusion of a first-ever bartenders masterclass in the schemes collection of activities littered along the path to the main event. Additionally, sustainability took center stage in the affairs of the scheme this year leading to the introduction of a new category-Sustainability Champion of the Year. Since its inception, GBA has been crucial in highlighting the local beverage industry, promoting both domestic and foreign products, and encouraging small-scale beverage businesses in Ghana to participate. It has remained a force to reckon with through its contribution to ensuring that beverage manufacturing companies are compliant with the highest standards of practice in the production and delivery of their products. Below is the full list of winners Energy Drink of the Year: Vitamilk Energy Bitters of the Year: Adonko Bitters Carbonated Soft Drink of the Year: Bel Cola Fruit Drink of the Year: Tampico International Liqueur of the Year: Baileys Irish Cream International Beer of the Year: Heineken International Spirit of the Year: Johnnie Walker New Beverage of the Year: Reign Rum RTD of the Year: Smirnoff Cocoa/Chocolate Product of the Year: Koa Natural Cocoa Fruit Juice Liqueur of the Year: Sahara Solace Spirit of the Year: Reign Baobab and Hibiscus Rum CSR Company of the Year: The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of the Year Manufacturing Company of the Year: Twellium Industrial Company Limited Water of the Year: Voltic Natural Mineral Water Beer of the Year: Heritage Beer Beverage Campaign of the Year: Star Beer Shine On Campaign Indigenous Beverage Brand of the Year: Product of the Year: Verna Purified Water. 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 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 Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy, a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has suspected a foul play alleging that the government may be hiding some vital details concerning the contractual agreement between the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The former Presidential aspirant of the NPP revealed that, there is an absence of transparency which he believes is a deliberate attempt by government to cover up any illegalities in the contract and its consequences on Ghanaians at large. Dr. Arthur Kennedy opined that, it does not matter the amount of revenue the SML has generates for Ghana's economy, however, once the contract was not legally signed, it becomes invalid. In an interview on the AM Show on Joynews, on Friday, April 26, Dr. Arthur Kennedy urged President Akufo-Addo to release to the general public, the full audit report presented to the President by KPMG. According to him, making the report public would allow Ghanaians to have a better understanding of the issues surrounding the SML-GRA contract and its impact on Ghana's economy. Underscoring the importance of transparency in leadership and governance, Dr. Arthur Kennedy urged the government to prioritise accountability and provide the necessary information to the public, adding that this will ensure that citizens are informed about decisions that impact them directly as far as funds and contracts are concerned. He said, "It appears that the government is trying to hide something. The fundamentals of this are clear and the contracts were awarded illegally and regardless what benefits have been accrued, it begs the question of why, regardless of the official disapproval, people went round the processes and awarded the contract." "Of course, a contract can be awarded improperly to somebody who might deliver some benefits when for example the terms of the contract were inimical to the public interest. And I think that the best thing the government can do is actually to release the KPMG report so that the public can we review that." Dr. Arthur Kennedy's commentaries come on the heel of the recent audit report presented to the President by KPMG. The President contracted KPMG to investigate a contractual dealing between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML). Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com 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 Astute journalist Kwesi Pratt is surprised by criticism after commending the government for completed educational infrastructure projects. Days ago, Kwesi Pratt during a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' said: I am really surprised and amazed about some of the strides which have been made in the educational sector. Im surprised; I mean when I saw some of the type of Science laboratories they have built and the quality, the numbers and so on, I was genuinely impressed. Genuinely impressed! However, on Tuesday 23rd April 2024 edition of 'Kokrokoo', the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper said he's been receiving threatening messages after his comment. "I've been receiving calls from people demanding the basis for my comment; others are threatening me for speaking in favour of the NPP but is it wrong to do that? he questioned Listen to him in the video below 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 Dear Amy: My friend Tina and I have been friends since college and are now in our 50s. When we met we were members of a campus religious organization, however as the years passed we both drifted away from our religious affiliations. I now would call myself agnostic. Recently, Tina had a difficult break-up with a significant other. Since the split she has returned to religion and now mentions it often, which makes me somewhat uncomfortable, as it seems she may be trying to get me back in the fold. Over Easter, she went to church and decided that she wanted to be baptized. She scheduled it at a friends church three hours away. She said she would like for me to go; however, I explained that I would not be able to attend due to the short notice. She was forced to cancel due to a family emergency, but then told me that she would reschedule her baptism so that I could plan on attending. The problem is, I dont have any desire to go. While I dont begrudge her any comfort her faith is bringing her, I am not interested and dont want to feel pressured to participate. How do I back out gracefully without hurting her feelings? Agnostic Dear Agnostic: I believe that in this context, honesty is not only called for, but it is also the most graceful way to handle this. You need to state a version of the following: Im very happy for you to have renewed your faith, but over the years weve known each other, Ive made my own choice about religion and dont participate. I wont be at your baptism ceremony, but I hope it is a joyous event for you, and I wish you all the very best as you move forward in your faith. You cant really control your friends response to this, but while she has the right to affirm her faith, you also have the right to affirm your own stand on religion. Neither of you should proselytize, and you should determine to carry on in an attitude of mutual respect. Dear Amy: Im writing to you to ask your opinion of a moral/ethical situation that I am experiencing. Many years ago, at the time of my mothers passing, she left a will stating that my brother and I were to share equally in an amount of money that she left in some bonds that she had previously purchased. My mother discussed this with me before she died. Since she made my brother the executor of her estate, he was able to sell the bonds without my knowing until after Moms death. Subsequently, he advised me that there was no money for me (he cashed in the bonds and kept all of the money.) My brother died last year. I didnt want to bring up the aforementioned situation at that time, due to my sister-in-laws health and her intense grief. But now that its almost a full year since he passed, Id like to know this: Would it be morally/ethically correct if I ask her for the money that my brother stole from me? I know that she most likely didnt know anything about the fact that he did this. It upsets me to know that he didnt honor our mothers final wishes. I do need the money. So Id like your input as to whether or not it would be right for me to pursue this. A Wronged Sister Dear Sister: You had many years to confront your brother and pursue him legally for the money you believe he stole from you, but you didnt do that. You also dont mention seeing any will or documentation proving your case. Now that your brother has died, you would like to confront his completely ignorant and innocent widow in order to pressure her to give you this money. My opinion is that pursuing this now is both unethical and unkind. Dear Amy: Im responding to Concerned Grandparent, who watched their grandchild while their son and daughter-in-law worked. Grandparent wanted to allow their granddaughter to take a morning nap, even though her parents were against it. I think you may have erred on this one. The parents dont want their daughter sleeping in the morning. That should be it. Its their child and they should be the deciding factor in what is best for their child. Respectfully Disagree Dear Disagree: I believe that keeping a tired 15-month-old awake doesnt seem best for the child. You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook. Students arrive at the Out Door Country Club for the 2024 West York Area High School prom. SUBSCRIBER BENEFIT: This prom season, PennLive is offering subscribers free downloads of print-quality images. Simply log in to PennLive, look through the photo gallery to see if we photographed your favorite prom-goer, and choose Get Photo to download the images of your choice. You can also get 50% off the purchase of prom-related keepsakes. If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe here. We hope you enjoy the photos captured at the event, taken by PennLive photographer Zach Gleiter. Colin Jost brought the jokes, but he also closed with a touching and serious moment at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Here Are The Best Jokes From Colin Jost Video of Jost: 1). The Trump Allegation That Biden Is On Drugs I love being in Washington. Last time I was in Washington, D.C. I left my cocaine at the white house. Luckily the president was able to put it to good use for his State of the Union. Im kidding. Of course, the President does not call it cocaine. He calls it high-speed rails. By the way, can you blame the guy for turning to cocaine? You must be exhausted orchestrating four separate trials against rivals, reading the super bowl and gearing up to steal a second election. 2). Biden Is Both Senile And A Criminal Mastermind I love that Trumps two attacks on President Biden is that he is a senile old man and a criminal mastermind. I think you gotta pick one. Personally, I dont know any criminal mastermind who buy ice cream. 3). The Election Makes No Sense Let me see if I can summarize where this race stands at this moment. The Republican candidate for president owes half a billion in fines for bank fraud and is currently spending his days farting himself awake during a porn star hush money trial and the race is tied? The race is tied. Nothing makes sense anymore. The candidate who was a famous New York City playboy took abortion rights away and the guy who is trying to give you your abortion rights back is an 80-year-old catholic. How does that make sense? 4). The RFK Jr. Joke President Biden, isnt it crazy that he is only our second catholic president? In just a few short months, we will have our third in RFK Jr. I am kidding. Like his vaccine card says, he does not have a shot. 5). Colin Josts Grandfather, Joe Biden, and Decency I swear, Mr. President, this is not an age comparison. You remind me of him. Some of your best qualities remind me of him. I will say he was 95 and he was still great at stairs. I think it is because he did not try to run up them. But the reason that I bring up my grandfather and I dont know if you know but Staten Islands firefighters are not normally your demographic. Staten Island voted about 70 percent for Trump and the other 30% was for Giuliani. Staten Island also sided with the British during the Revolutionary War. So we are not always on the right side of history. You remember. My grandfather, a Staten Island firefighter, voted for you, Mr. President. He voted for you in the last election that he ever voted in. I am sure someone else will vote twice in this election using his name, but that is just how the Democratic machine works. He voted for you and the reason that he voted for you is because you are a decent man. My grandpa voted for decency and decency is why we are all here tonight. Decency is how we are all able to be here tonight. Decency is how we are able to make jokes about each other and one of us does not go to prison. A Special Message From PoliticusUSA If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here. We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value. [wpedon id=344887 align=center] From what Sen. Lindsey Graham said on Sunday morning, it appears that ex-president Trump is illegally interfering in US foreign policy. Graham was asked by CNNs Dana Bash about Trumps thoughts on an Israel/Saudi Arabia peace deal and said But I, you know, Ive talked to President Trump not very long ago. He wants the killing to end. He would like to see peace reign. You know, were gonna have an election here in November. But can we save some lives before November? Im confident that the Abraham Accords put in place the possibility of this deal. If we can get a deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, it is the Arab-Israeli conflict. It isolates the Iranians. It creates some hope for the Palestinians. It provides security in a real way to Israel. Yeah, I dont think anybody on the Republican side is going to undercut the deal. Im here on national television telling the Biden administration if you can land this deal, I think youll have a lot of Republican support in the United States Senate for a treaty between Saudi Arabia and the United States because itd be good for Israel. Itd be good for the world and I think President Trump will get his fair share of credit by having the Abraham Accords as the foundation of this. So Im not worried about that. Im worried about getting the deal done before the clock runs out. Video: Lindsey Graham makes it clear that Trump is meddling in Biden's foreign policy in violation of the Logan Act. pic.twitter.com/UUiigVPumY PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) April 28, 2024 Trump is talking to MBS and has made it clear that he is ok with a peace deal as long as he gets the credit. Senate Republicans are also fine with a peace deal as long as Trump gets the credit. Lindsey Graham tryin to frame the situation as Biden landing the plane, which suggests that Trump deserves credit for any deal is laughable. The only thing that Trump and Jared Kushner accomplished in the Middle East was seemingly lining their own bank accounts. Trump is interfering in US foreign policy by violating the Logan Act. What Trump is doing is against the law, and it is one of the many ways that Trump is using his dictator foreign allies to interfere in the presidential election. A Special Message From PoliticusUSA If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here. We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value. [wpedon id=344887 align=center] As a new poll shows RFK Jr. hurting Trump in critical swing states, the ex-president is lashing out at the third-party monster he created. Trump posted on Truth Social: I actually watched, first time in a long time, ratings challenged Bill Mahers really boring interview with RFK Jr. last night, only to find that Junior is far more LIBERAL than Maher and, in fact, far more LIBERAL than anyone running as a Democrat, including West and Stein. Yet despite this, he has no hope as a Democrat because they were able to use their typically Fascist tactics of repression and throw him out of the Party, like a dog, because he was taking primary votes away from the worst President in the history of our Country, Crooked Joe Biden. So now, Juniors a so-called Independent, but hes not, hes a Radical Left Lunatic, but trying to have it all ways. He said that No Vaccine is safe and effective, and then said I would never say that, Im not anti-vaccine! Where did that come from? Maher defended the vaccine, which Junior actually seemed to agree with (WOW!), and then told him that his poll numbers have crashed. No Republican can vote for this guy. MAGA2024! Why is Trump now trying to convince the tiny number of people who use Truth Social not to vote for RFK Jr.? The answer can be found in a new CBS News Poll of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, Most of those picking Kennedy in a four-way ballot test backed Trump initially in a two-way race with Mr. Biden, including leaners. Kennedys supporters look more like Republicans than Democrats on a variety of measures, including their views on the economy, immigrants, and Trumps trial, as well as how they voted recently, despite the fact that they often identify as moderates. Kennedy caused Trump to lose support with what is often referred to as the soft MAGA group of voters. These are voters who may identify as moderates or Independents, but they vote Republican. Trump must have these voters. If he doesnt, his odds of victory drop in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. RFJ JR. was a Trump and Steve Bannon idea. They thought that an RFJ Jr. candidacy would take votes away from President Biden, but the left saw through RFK Jr., and the right embraced his candidacy. In response, RFK Jr. has shifted his positions to the right, and is taking away support from Donald Trump. Trump does not have the funds and campaign organization to fight off an Independent challenge and take on President Biden. As Trump snoozes in court, his RFK Jr. problem is getting worse, and outside of ranting on Truth Social, there may be little Trump can do to stop it. A Special Message From PoliticusUSA If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here. We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value. [wpedon id=344887 align=center] You know how Charlestonians get when they see snow falling? That was Pickens Rep. Neal Collins the morning Tropical Storm Helene arrived at his Easley home. He stood in his garage and shot video of the rain. I woke up before my 5am alarm with unexpected excitement, he posted on social medi Read moreScoppe: 'We are being manipulated by people who don't have our best interests at heart' PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-28 15:40:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 909 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Sinopec Achieved Good Performance in 2024 Q1BEIJING, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / April 28, 2024 / China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation ("Sinopec Corp." or the "Company") (HKEX:00386)(SSE:600028) today announced its unaudited first quarterly results for the three months ended 31 March 2024.Financial HighlightsIn accordance with the IFRS, the Company's revenue for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB 789.967 billion; the net profit attributable to shareholders of the Company was RMB 18.721 billion; the basic earnings per share were RMB 0.156. In accordance with the CASs, the net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company for the first quarter was RMB 18.316 billion; the basic earnings per share were RMB 0.153. The Company achieved high quality operating results. In the first quarter, the Company's oil and gas production reached 128.78 million barrels of oil equivalent, up by 3.4% year on year, with natural gas production reaching 350.46 billion cubic feet, up by 6.0% year on year. The Company processed 63.30 million tonnes of crude oil, up by 1.7% year on year, and total sales volume of refined oil products was 59.81 million tonnes, up by 6.5% year on year. The ethylene production was 3.279 million tonnes, and the total chemicals sales volume was 19.51 million tonnes.Operational ReviewIn the first quarter of 2024, China's economy continued to pick up, with gross domestic product (GDP) up by 5.3% year on year. The international crude oil prices fluctuated with upward trend and the spot price of Platt's Brent for the first quarter averaged USD83.2 per barrel, up by 2.4% year on year. The domestic demand for natural gas rapidly increased, and the demand for refined oil products maintained growth. Domestic demand for chemical products increased at a faster pace year on year, and the chemical margin was at a low level due to continual newly-released production capacity and rising raw material prices.The Company closely followed the market demand, further optimised both of the whole business chain and the regions, strengthened the coordination of production and marketing, made great efforts to expand markets and sales, and achieved good performance. In accordance with CASs, net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company was RMB18.316 billion in the first quarter of 2024. In accordance with IFRS, net profit attributable to shareholders of the Company was RMB18.721 billion in the first quarter of 2024.Exploration and Production: The Company intensified efforts in high quality exploration, expanded the scale of profitable production capacity, and made positive progress in increasing reserve, production and profit. In exploration, we strengthened risk exploration, trap pre-exploration and integrated evaluation exploration, and made important breakthroughs in the regions such as Tarim Basin, Sichuan Basin and Jianghan Basin. In development, we accelerated the capacity building of Jiyang and West Junggar oilfields, and sped up capacity building of natural gas in West Sichuan and Shunbei. We further improved integrated gas system covering production, supply, storage and sales, optimised the resources structure of LNG import, and achieved an improvement in the profitability of whole natural gas business chain. In the first quarter, the Company's oil and gas production reached 128.78 million barrels of oil equivalent, up by 3.4% year on year, with natural gas production reaching 350.46 billion cubic feet, up by 6.0% year on year. The exploration and production segment realised earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of RMB14.823 billion.Exploration and ProductionUnitThree-month period ended 31 MarchChanges20242023(%)Oil and gas productionmillion boe128.78124.603.4Crude oil productionmillion barrels70.3669.491.3Chinamillion barrels63.1161.862.0Overseasmillion barrels7.257.63(5.0)Natural gas productionbillion cubic feet350.46330.476.0Realised crude oil priceUSD/barrel75.4375.210.3Realised natural gas priceRMB/cubic meter1.982.10(5.7)Note: For domestic production of crude oil, 1 tonne = 7.10 barrels. For overseas production of crude oil, 1 tonne = 7.26 barrels. For production of natural gas, 1 cubic meter = 35.31 cubic feet.Refining: The Company followed up closely with the market change, vigorously optimised production operation to maximise the overall profits along the business chain. We flexibly adjusted the product slate, and increased production of market-oriented products such as gasoline and kerosene. We scaled up export volume and optimised arrangement for exports. We controlled the progress of carrying forward the "oil to specialties" and "oil to chemicals" projects, and the structural adjustment projects and the transformation and upgrading projects were proceeded in an orderly manner. In the first quarter, the Company processed 63.30 million tonnes of crude oil, up by 1.7% year on year, yielding 38.83 million tonnes of refined oil products, up by 4.1% year on year. The refining segment realised EBIT of RMB6.887 billion.RefiningUnitThree-month period ended 31 MarchChanges(%)20242023Refinery throughputmillion tonnes63.3062.241.7Gasoline, diesel and kerosene productionmillion tonnes38.8337.304.1Gasolinemillion tonnes16.2215.167.0Dieselmillion tonnes14.7515.58(5.3)Kerosenemillion tonnes7.866.5619.8Light chemical feedstock productionmillion tonnes10.1810.61(4.1)Light product yield74.2674.82(0.56)percentage pointsRefining yield94.9494.880.06percentage pointsNote: Including 100% production of domestic joint ventures.Marketing and Distribution: The Company brought our advantages of integrated business into full play, strengthened the market judgement and the integration of production and sales, and made full effort to expand the market and improve profit. We carried forward differentiated marketing tactics. The sales volume of gasoline rose by 5.4% and the retail volume of vehicle LNG was up by 119.3%. We actively promoted the development of EV battery charging and swapping business, steadily stepped up efforts in demonstrating application scenarios of hydrogen mobility, and transformed to an integrated energy service provider of fuel, gas, hydrogen, electricity and non-fuel services. We carried out characteristic marketing campaigns to improve the quality and profitability for the non-fuel business. In the first quarter, total sales volume of refined oil products was 59.81 million tonnes, up by 6.5% year on year. The marketing and distribution segment realised EBIT of RMB8.678 One person has been confirmed dead while two others sustained varying degrees of injuries as a gas tanker exploded in Ita-Osin, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Saturday. The accident also left five vehicles burnt. A witness told PREMIUM TIMES that the accident occurred following a suspected brake failure, after which the tanker driver rammed the vehicle into the road culvert. He said the tanker went up in flames afterwards. A spokesperson for the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Florence Okpe, later confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday evening. Mrs Okpe said that the deceased was suspected to be the motorboy of the gas-laden tanker. She said the truck suffered a brake failure after which it lost control and hit the roadside culvert. The fire from the tanker reportedly engulfed four other cars and two shops around the accident scene. 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 number of people involved was six and all male adults. Two got injured. Unfortunately, one person died from the fire incident, which is the motor boy who was trapped. A total of five vehicles were involved. The fire service was contacted immediately and the scene was cordoned off to avoid a secondary crash, Mrs Okpe said. READ ALSO: Police confirm nine injured in Ogun gas explosion She disclosed that the corpse had been deposited at the State General Hospital morgue, Abeokuta and the injured victims had been taken away by their family members. The Ogun State Director of Fire Service, Fatai Adefala, while confirming the incident, said officials of the fire service were still on the ground clearing the wreckage of the burnt tanker as of the time of filing this report. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Residents of Sokoto and its environs face intense scarcity of petrol and potable water amidst high temperatures of over 42 degrees Celsius. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the situation has subjected people to harsh and miserable conditions in the state. NAN reports that some commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders and commuters have abandoned their businesses due to the lack of fuel. A NAN correspondent, who monitored the situation, reports that most filling stations were out of stock of petrol. Few stations selling the commodity are charging between N750 and N1,200 per litre, while black marketers are selling the products on the streets at N2,000 a litre Two commuters, Haruna Muhammad and Jamiu Afolabi, told NAN on Saturday that they bought a 4-litre gallon of PMS at N10,000 each from street hawkers. Another motorist, Abdullahi Maigidaje, said he bought a 4-litre gallon of petrol at N8,500 in the morning at Illela road and after returning from Gwadabawa he had no option but to buy the same quantity at N10,000. Mr Maigidaje blamed petroleum marketers for hoarding the product which has resulted in the scarcity, thereby affecting transportation services. 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 observed long queues of vehicles at a few filling stations across the Sokoto metropolis, signalling a scarcity of petrol. The condition had affected transportation fares as Sokoto to Kware cost N1,300 against the old fare of N500 while Sokoto to Illela travelers pay N4,000 against N2,000. NAN gathered that the situation has also affected interstate transport services, which have risen by between 50 and 70 per cent from the normal fares. On water scarcity, a cross-section of residents urged the Sokoto State government to hasten the implementation of measures announced to address the acute shortage of potable water confronting the state. NAN reports that taps have gone dry and residents have been sourcing for water wherever available, while the government has resorted to supplying water with tankers to douse the situation. A NAN correspondent reports that water vendors sell a 20-litre keg for between N120 and N140, complaining that they fetch the water from far places and commercial boreholes. To assuage the situation, Yusuf Maccido, the state commissioner for Water Resources, on 5 April, said the government had set up a committee to rehabilitate water systems. Mr Maccido said the government will overhaul all broken-down water pumping engines and ensure the dredging of 72 earth dams in the medium and long term. The commissioner said funds had been disbursed to the committee to address the situation, adding that some water engineers and experts from Kaduna have been called in to support the state water board in the repair and rehabilitation of the facilities. According to him, three of the pumping machines in Kware are being repaired to restore the water supply to Sokoto metropolis. He said that the government hopes that in the next three years, the issue of water scarcity will be fully addressed. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Police Command in Lagos State says the Nigerian Army has handed over a dismissed soldier and three others to it over alleged impersonation. The commands spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the handing over to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday. Mr Hundeyin said that an army captain (name not mentioned), attached to Dodan Barracks, Obalende, brought the four suspects (names withheld), to Onikan Police Division on Friday at about 5.01 p.m. He said that all the suspects were of no fixed addresses, adding that one of them was dismissed from the army in 2016. Mr Hundeyin said the suspects were caught wearing camouflage, a T-shirt and a fez cap of the Nigerian Army. On interrogation, it was discovered that the suspects frequently committed various crimes using military accoutrements and they equally used them to beat checkpoints. Efforts are on to ascertain how they got the army uniforms. Investigation is ongoing, he 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 (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Police Command in Kwara has reinforced security measures and deployed additional manpower to key locations in response to a recent jailbreak in neighbouring Niger State. This is contained in a statement signed by the commands spokesperson, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, on Sunday in Ilorin. She said that the command is working closely with the relevant agencies to ensure the safety and security of the state. On the 24th of April, 2024, there was a heavy rainstorm which occurred at night and extensively damaged part of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, leading to the escape of 118 inmates. The breach in the perimeter fence caused by the downpour facilitated the escape, as reported by an official of the Nigeria Correctional Service, ACC Abubakar Umar. In response to this incident, the Nigerian Correctional Service promptly activated its recapturing protocols and so far has successfully recovered 13 of the escaped inmates. Collaborative efforts with other security agencies are ongoing to recapture the 105 fleeing inmates. As a neighbouring state, the Kwara state police are fully aware of the security implications of such an incident, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya, has assured that the command is on high alert and is working closely with the relevant agencies to ensure the safety and security of our state. 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 Ms Ejire-Adeyemi quoted CP Olaiya as assuring the public that adequate measures have been put in place to prevent any attempt by the escaped inmates to enter or cause harm within the state. Patrols have been intensified along the border areas, and surveillance has been increased in vulnerable locations. We urge all citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest security agency. Together, we can maintain peace and security in our communities. The Kwara State Police Command remains committed to its mandate of protecting lives and property and assures the citizens of its readiness to respond swiftly to any security challenges, Mr Olaiya added. According to Ms Ejire-Adeyemi, the command control room is available every day of the week, urging residents to call any of the numbers if they notice any suspicious person(s) or movements on the numbers 07032069501 or 08125275046. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has debunked the report of an ongoing N15,000 palliative distribution to citizens across the country. This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the ministrys Director of Information, Patricia Deworitshe. Mrs Deworitshe said an online media outlet falsely claimed in its report that the ministry was in the process of distributing an instant relief fund of N15,000 to Nigerians. PREMIUM TIMES however could not confirm the ministrys claim. The statement urged the public to disregard the report as it is not currently engaged in disbursing funds of any amount to the public. It reads in part: The attention of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has been drawn to an online publication in the media that the Ministry is giving out Fifteen thousand Naira, (N15,000) INSTANT RELIEF FUNDS, to the public. The general public is to be informed that the ministry is not in the process of giving such money. 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 public is to note and beware as the information is not from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, she said. Ministry not recruiting Similarly, the ministry also advised Nigerians to ignore reports of an ongoing recruitment exercise for medical institutions. The Ministry is not currently in the process of recruiting general staff for the hospitals, the spokeswoman said in another statement. According to her, the ministry only made recruitment calls for Chief Medical Directors and Directors of Administration in a few federal tertiary hospitals. The recruitment advertisement was placed in two newspapers- Daily Trust and Punch Newspapers, last week. The public is to note that the recruitment exercise is not for the Federal Ministry of Health as this falls under the purview of the Federal Civil Service Commission, she noted. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the chairmanship seats in all the 33 local governments in Oyo State following Saturdays council elections. Chairman of Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Isiaka Olagunju, announced the results at a news conference at the commissions headquarters in Ibadan on Sunday. Mr Olagunju attributed the success recorded in the exercise to the support given by Governor Seyi Makinde and other stakeholders in the state. The OYSIEC chairman, who doubles as the Chief Returning Officer, however, acknowledged the fact that there were some aspects of the elections that required improvement. He said such areas would be reflected in the elections report that would be submitted to the state government. Mr Olagunju commended such stakeholders as the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), for allowing a robust relationship with OYSIEC towards achieving free and fair elections. I want to appreciate those who contributed in one way or the other to the success recorded. 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 We must also appreciate the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State and other security agencies for standing by the commission before, during and after the elections. We are not claiming to be angels or saints. We acknowledge that we have areas of improvement, and we promise that this will reflect in our report to the government, he said. Governor Seyi Makinde, while commenting on the elections on Saturday, had said the security report about the elections had been excellent, indicating that it was violence-free. He noted that his administration had successfully eradicated caretaker administration at the local government level, which had made people not to have a say in who should govern them. The governor also urged people who might notice any untoward activity to report to relevant authorities for redress. In his remarks, the re-elected Chairman of Ibadan North-East Local Government, Ibrahim Akintayo, promised the people of his local government area a better performance. It is a matter of continuity. We will try to improve on our bottom-up approach through which we will be listening and addressing the plight of our people, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerian Breweries Plc has recorded N81.88 billion gross profit in the first quarter ending March 31. This represented an 87 per cent increase when compared with N43.88 billion posted in the first quarter ended 31 March 2023. The company disclosed this in its unaudited condensed interim financial statements sent to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd., in Lagos. The statement was signed by its Managing Director, Han Essaadi, and Finance Director, Bernardus Boer, The groups total assets also rose by eight per cent to N856.79 billion as of 31 March, compared to N795.87 billion posted in the same period in 2023. Its total equity for the quarter under review dropped by 82.3 per cent to N11.41 billion, in contrast to N63.28 billion recorded as of 31 December 2023. The groups total liability as of the quarter ended 31 March, advanced by 15.42 per cent, to N845.38 billion, compared to N732.59 billion posted for the year ended 31 December 2023. The company, however, recorded a loss after tax of N52.089 billion for the first quarter ended 31 March indicating a 386.13 per cent increase, compared to N10.715 billion posted in the same quarter ended March 31, 2023. 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 groups loss before tax for the period under review stood at N65.58 billion, representing a rise of 276 per cent, in contrast to N17.44 billion posted in the same period of the previous year. Mr Essaad said that the companys performance was subject to seasonal fluctuations as a result of weather conditions and festivities. He noted that the companys full-year results and volumes were dependent on the performance in the peak-selling season, typically resulting in higher revenue and profitability in the last quarter of the year. The impact of seasonality is also noticeable in several working capital related items such as inventory, trade receivables, and payable, the managing director said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerian Breweries recorded a net loss of N106 billion for the year ended 2023, as against N13.93 billion posted in its 2022 financials, indicating a decline of 860 per cent. The firms gross profit for the year ended 2023 also fell by 0.3 per cent to N212.5 billion, compared to N213.20 billion posted in the previous year. Also, the firms operating profit declined by 15.3 per cent to 45 billion, against N53 billion recorded in the corresponding year. However, the firm disclosed it recorded a loss in operating profit due to higher input costs and one-off reorganisation costs despite strong and aggressive cost savings and other efficiency measures. Also, shareholders of the Nigerian Breweries Plc, on Friday, unanimously approved capital raising of N600 billion by way of rights issue at the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company in Lagos. READ ALSO: Nigerian Breweries to shut down two plants With this development, the board now has the authorisation to undertake capital restructuring through a rights issue. This will enable all the companys shareholders the opportunity to acquire more shares in proportion to their holdings, at a price determined by the Board, taking into consideration the market conditions. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print China (Chongqing) Pilot Free Trade Zone supports Chongqing in building hub for inland opening-up 13:31, April 28, 2024 By Jiang Feng, Wang Xinyue ( People's Daily Located at the junction of the Belt and Road and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Chongqing municipality is a key strategic fulcrum for the development of China's western region. The China (Chongqing) Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereafter referred to as "Chongqing FTZ") was established in 2017. Despite occupying only a thousandth of Chongqing's total area, it has gathered over 190,000 enterprises, including more than a quarter of the municipality's foreign trade companies, which contribute to about 70 percent of the municipality's total foreign trade volume. Photo shows a night view of a container terminal of the Guoyuan Port in southwest China's Chongqing municipality. (People's Daily Online/Li Hongbo) One of the key characteristics of the Chongqing FTZ is its focus on institutional innovation. It has issued the multimodal transport bill of lading developed by China International Freight Forwarders Association in an attempt to pilot a "single bill of lading" model for rail-sea intermodal transportation. Besides, it provides application scenarios on its cross-border financial blockchain service platform for financing and settlement along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), facilitating enterprises' freight settlement, trade settlement and financing with a total value of over $3.3 billion. Since its inauguration, the Chongqing FTZ has worked to align its policies with high-standard international economic and trade rules, steadily advancing institutional opening-up. With a long blast of whistle, a China-Europe freight train loaded with cars slowly pulled out from the Yuzui freight station of Chongqing. Launched by the Guoyuan Port to pilot the multimodal cross-border train services for finished cars, the train exits China through the Horgos Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. It has opened up an efficient and convenient international logistics channel for automakers in Chongqing and its surrounding areas. The train leaves China in about five days from its departure, which is twice as fast as sea transportation, said Xu Hao, manager of the overseas business development division of Chinese automobile manufacturer Changan Auto, adding that this multimodal logistics model helps the enterprise expand the overseas market. Vehicle brands independently owned by Changan Auto shipped over 100,000 vehicles overseas in the first three months of this year, an increase of 80.1 percent year on year. Photo shows the Xiyong section of the China (Chongqing) Pilot Free Trade Zone. (People's Daily Online/Sun Kaifang) In the first quarter of 2024, Chongqing's auto exports totaled 8.92 billion yuan, up 24.1 percent year on year. In particular, the exports of electric vehicles reached 14,000 units, with a year-on-year growth of 219.4 percent in terms of value. After settling in the Xiyong Comprehensive Bonded Zone of the Chongqing FTZ, Hewlett-Packard Company experienced the convenience of shipping products through intercontinental railway. China-Europe freight trains and freight trains of the ILSTC have cheaper fare than air transportation and higher efficiency than sea transportation, thus significantly lowering the logistics cost for enterprises. Because of this, Hewlett-Packard Company has constantly expanded its production in Chongqing. It has manufactured 400 million computers in the municipality. "Thanks to China-Europe freight trains and freight trains of the ILSTC, the Chongqing FTZ can provide solid logistics support for enterprises and introduce more products to the world, thus achieving a virtuous circle of development in which transportation corridors facilitate logistics, logistics promotes economy and trade, and economy and trade drives industrial development," said Wang Xin, director of the Chongqing FTZ institutional innovation department of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce. Vehicles to be shipped are parked in an international logistics park in Shapingba district, southwest China's Chongqing municipality. (People's Daily Online/Sun Kaifang) With two laptops being manufactured per second, Chongqing contributes to almost one-third of the world's laptop production, becoming a key global hub for laptop manufacturing in just a few years. This giant leap couldn't have been made without the improvement of government services in the Chongqing FTZ. "Nearly 1,000 material codes need to be documented for a single laptop computer, a task that previously demanded customs officers to manually review and file each one separately, leading to a huge workload," said Cao Huawu, deputy head of the Xiyong Customs, a subsidiary of Chongqing Customs. "We provide proactive services that allow enterprises to file independently, set their own write-off periods, and engage in self-declaration and self-tax payment, which improves the whole procedure to the greatest extent," Cao added. Tech-Front (Chongqing) Computer Co., Ltd. is one of the beneficiaries. "Now with just a click of the mouse, we can file on our own," said Liu Hongliang, the company's manager. According to him, the company has increased its efficiency in importing and exporting goods by approximately 20 percent. The Chongqing FTZ has been developing an open industrial system to gather modern factors in recent years, including intelligent manufacturing equipment, new energy and intelligent connected vehicles, cloud computing, big data, consumer finance, international exhibitions, and cross-border e-commerce, supporting Chongqing in its endeavor to build a hub for inland opening-up. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu) ? Unico como el anis de Curahuasi y espiritual como los Rios Profundos del taita Arguedas. Asi es nuestro #Apurimac, tierra de los guerreros chancas y orgullo del Peru, que hoy celebra su 151 aniversario de creacion politica. Feliz dia, Apurimac! ????#PonlePunchePeru ?? pic.twitter.com/hGJ9fpzLW2 The police in Enugu State, south-east Nigeria, say they have rescued a pregnant woman from kidnappers captivity. The police spokesperson in the state, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. Mr Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police, said the victim, Chinwendu Igwe, was kidnapped at about 9:45 a.m. on 22 April along Eke-Egede Road in Udi Local Government Area of the state. The police spokesperson said a preliminary investigation into the incident showed that the pregnant woman was on a journey by road with two of her children from Lagos to her paternal home in Egede, Udi LGA, without assistance despite knowing that she was within her expected period of delivery. She got to Ninth Mile around 9 p.m., lacking a convenient means of conveyance, she boarded a commercial motorcycle, with the motorcyclist electing to transport her and her two children due to her state of pregnancy. However, while on their way, the abductors attacked them, beat up the motorcyclist, and abducted the woman into the forest, leaving the rider and the children behind, before a team of police operatives from the Ezinze Police Division of the Command that responded upon intercepting information on the incident, could get to the scene, he said. Rescue Mr Ndukwe said the pregnant woman was later rescued on 23 April by police operatives. 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 He said the police conducted the rescue operation in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch Group and Forest Guards following a tip-off. The police spokesperson said two male suspects connected to the womans kidnap had been arrested. He said police authorities in the state had decided to withhold the identities of the arrested suspects for investigation reasons. Meanwhile, the husband of the pregnant woman, Ekene Igwe, was earlier quoted in some media reports as saying that he paid N1.6 million as ransom to the kidnappers before his wife and newborn were released by the hoodlums. But the police spokesperson described the report as total misinformation. He also refuted a report that the woman was on her way to the hospital for delivery when she was attacked and that the motorcyclist rescued the womans two children after the kidnap. Rescued pregnant woman delivers Mr Ndukwe said the pregnant woman, who was already in her expected period of delivery at the point of the kidnap, was taken to a hospital shortly after her rescue. He said the woman later successfully delivered a male child at the hospital. The police spokesperson said the Enugu State Government has undertaken to foot the medical bills of the mother and newborn. Manhunt The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Kanayo Uzuegbu, has ordered a manhunt of other fleeing members of the kidnapping gang, Mr Ndukwe said. The police commissioner, however, expressed disappointment that the pregnant woman had to embark on such a long-distance journey by road unaided and at such a late hour. He urged residents of the state to exercise discretion and caution in such circumstances. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Agricultural extension experts in Nigeria have called for the integration of artificial intelligence and relevant technological innovations into agricultural extension practices in the country to achieve food security. The experts spoke at the Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria (AESON) 29th Annual Conference held at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) last week. The conference came under the motif Leveraging the Dynamics of Agricultural Extension Policy for Sustainable Development, to equip participants with knowledge that will enhance their understanding and ability to address contemporary issues in agriculture. Through the conference, the organisers said, the society has brought together extension practitioners and academics in agricultural extension to generate and share ideas for moving agricultural extension practice forward. In a statement released after the programme, AESON president, Yusuf Idrisa, emphasised the need to reinvigorate and unleash the potential of technology through efficient mobilisation of resources for full exploration of e-Extension services to boost all facets of agriculture. Mr Idrisa said the National Agricultural Growth Scheme (NAGS) of the federal government was commendable, but that its goals would become more realisable if AESON had the opportunity to play its deserved role in the programme. Research extension linkage should be reinvigorated by massive recruitment of extension personnel across agricultural development programmes and associated agencies in states, the official 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 In Nigeria, agricultural extension service offers farmers technical advice and supply them with the necessary inputs and services to support their agricultural production. The extension agents are expected to provide information to farmers and pass on new ideas developed by agricultural research institutions. However, over the past decades, the impact of agricultural extension programmes has not been felt across farming communities in the country amidst a plethora of challenges. Farmers in the country are largely ignorant of innovative agricultural technology that could help improve their productivity amidst uncertain weather conditions and high prices of farm inputs. Comments In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of FUTA, Adenike Oladiji, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Taiwo Amos, noted that several challenges facing agriculture in Nigeria have remained with us for decades. The problems include low application of modern technology and low productivity, as well as poor storage facilities among others, she said. Solutions had been found to most of the problems but the gap between the researchers and the farmers seemed to have remained. That is why the Agricultural Extension experts should be given all the necessary support to play their roles effectively and efficiently. This, she said, is necessary not only for the production of food crops but also for all agricultural practices that add value to the economy. In her keynote address, Project Director, ACCLAWA, International Labour Organisation, Agatha Kolawale, highlighted actions to ensure sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria including the adoption of legal working age, promotion of recent work for youths of legal working age, social protection, provision of funds for entrepreneurial development and mitigating economic vulnerabilities associated with child labour. She said youths play a significant role in promoting technological innovations in agriculture and must be equipped with sound educational training so that they can effectively contribute their quota to agricultural development in the country. Highlights According to the statement, one of the major highlights of the gathering was the charting of a pathway to tackle the problem of food availability and affordability bedevilling the country. At the conference, participants noted that given the current realities of serious concerns over feeding Nigerias teeming population, governments at all levels keyed into several global initiatives and launched policies to ensure food security. The experts said the various initiatives to boost agriculture and food security can only be realisable if there is a synergy with experts in agricultural extension services as they are in the vantage position to leverage this opportunity to enhance the Agricultural Extension Policy for Sustainable Development. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The federal government has begun the demolition of properties affected by the right of way on the Lagos-Calabar coastal road construction. The Minister of Works, David Umahi, made this known in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media, Orji Uchenna, on Sunday in Abuja. Mr Umahi said that the project would mark a major milestone in the Renewed Hope roadmap of President Bola Tinubu towards economic diversification. He said: The federal government is passionate about the plight of the people and will, in the exercise of the right of way, put a human face on the demolition of properties required to give way for the construction of the coastal highway. Mr Umahi said: The federal government is considering the most economically viable way to pass the coastal road without much damage. So there would be no delay in the payment of compensation to affected property owners. So I solicit your cooperation to the timeline of the demolition exercise. We are doing some minor adjustments, and our commitment is to stay within the coastline. 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 Umahi called on those affected by the demolition exercise to take it as a sacrifice for the ultimate impact of the project for the economic prosperity of the nation. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Two notorious drug kingpins Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian and Agbo Chidike Prince will now spend the rest of their lives in jail, bringing an end to their years of criminal enterprise of exporting cocaine across continents following their arrest and diligent prosecution by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. For 43-year-old businessman Uwaezuoke, his journey to a lifetime in jail began when he was first arrested by NDLEA operatives on 19 March 2022 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia after he was found to have ingested 100 big wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243 kilograms. He was subsequently arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2022 and was granted bail on certain conditions after he pleaded not guilty. He thereafter absconded, leading the court to revoke his bail and issue an arrest warrant against him. In a curious twist, Uwaezuoke was again arrested by NDLEA operatives on 1 August 2023, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos while attempting to export 1.822 kilograms of cocaine to India through ingestion using a different passport and under a different name, Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi. He was again arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division in charge number FHC/L/554C/2023. He pleaded guilty to the two counts charge and was convicted and sentenced on 18 October 2023 to a total term of seven years of imprisonment or a fine of 1, 500,000.00. He paid the fine and was transferred to Abuja to face the importation case pending against him. He was re-arraigned on 20 March 2024 at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2022 before Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik, where he pleaded guilty again. Despite his plea, the court, noting his lack of remorse, the seriousness of drug-related offences and the fact that he is a repeated offender, convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment. 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 the case of 42-year-old Agbo Chidike Prince, he was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja during the outward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight to Hong Kong on 21 October 2023 for ingesting 49 wraps of cocaine weighing 998.73grams. Upon his arraignment before Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, the defendant pleaded guilty to the one count charge, prompting the prosecution to present evidence and review the facts of the case. Despite the plea of allocutus by the defendants counsel, the court, noting the nature of the case and the commercial quantity of the drug, emphasized the seriousness of drug-related offences, convicted and sentenced the defendant on 15 April, 2024 to life imprisonment. Meanwhile, NDLEA officers at the Gate C departure hall of the Lagos airport on Friday 26 April arrested a passenger, Yahaya Danjuma Oturah, while attempting to export 4,000 pills of tramadol 225mg to Malpensa, Italy on an Ethiopian Airline flight. The psychoactive substance was found concealed in women wears and granulated melon packed in the suspects backpack and another bag containing food items. In his statement, Oturah who is a frequent flyer confessed he was hired to courier the drug for 700 Euros on successful delivery of the consignment in Italy. In Bayelsa, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 24 April arrested 28-year-old Jennifer Iliya at Amarata area of Yenagoa for producing and distributing cakes laced with illicit drugs especially cannabis sativa. At the time of her arrest, substantial number of the drugged cakes weighing 1.5kg were recovered from her. A 20-year-old hair stylist, Josephine Odunu and a dispatch rider, Edesemi Ikporo, 30, had been arrested on Sunday 10 March by NDLEA operatives for in Yenagoa for a similar offence. Two suspects: Joseph Dadik, 47, and Bensha Yari, 32, were arrested with 24,180 ampoules of pentazocine injection weighing 135.5 kilograms at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, while Adamu Umar, 18, was nabbed with 20.700kg cannabis when his house in Shuware area of Mubi, Adamawa state was raided on Friday 26 April. No less than 310.7kg cannabis was recovered on Thursday 25 April when NDLEA operatives raided parts of Mushin in Lagos state. While 300kg was seized at Olatunji Street, Mushin, 10.7kg of same substance was retrieved from two suspects: Tijani Wasiu and Suleiman Aisha at Anifowose, Mushin. While Stanley Chukwudi, 43, was arrested with 5,900 ampoules of pentazocine injection at Sabon Gari area of Kano State on Thursday 25t April, a couple, Fredrick Odion, 53, and Gladys Odion, 52, were nabbed with 50kg cannabis at Iruekpen, Esan west LGA, Edo state by NDLEA officers on Wednesday 24 April. With the same zeal, the various commands of the Agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students and staff of Federal Government College, Nise, Anambra; Royal Institute of Health Technology, Ifo, Ogun state; Akpugo-Eze High School, Oji-River, Enugu; Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa; and Jubilee Secondary School, Ore, Ondo state, among others. While commending the officers and men of the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services of the Agency for the diligent prosecution of Uwazuoke and Agbo cases, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the success rate of cases prosecuted by the agency has shown that theres no escape route for those involved in the illicit trade of drug trafficking. He equally applauded those of MMIA, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Edo, Adamawa and Bayelsa Commands as well as their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their drug supply and drug demand reduction activities. Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja Sunday, 28 April 2024. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Lawyers and key justice sector players have advocated far-reaching reforms in the appointment of judges and the administration of courts across the country. If implemented, the recommendations will substantially whittle down the enormous powers of the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). It will also reduce the overbearing influence of CJN and other heads of court in the administration of judicial institutions. Other heads of courts, like the Chief Judges at Federal and State High Courts, will substantially shed their powers going by proposals for sustainable reform of the judiciary. A two-day national summit on justice sector reform ended in Abuja on Thursday where varied issues inhibiting the efficient operations of Nigerian courts were discussed. The event, which was declared open by Vice-President Kashim Shettima who represented President Bola Tinubu had in attendance the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the CJN, Mr Ariwoola and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi. Top lawyers and critical government functionaries, including the Chief of Army Staff, Christopher Musa, were at the occasion. 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 a communique issued at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja on Friday, the chairperson of the national summit on Justice 2024, Babatunde Ajibade, highlighted three priority areas of reforming Nigerias justice sector for optimum performance. Summit and priority areas The three priority areas include the judicial appointment process, funding and budgeting, and delays in justice administration. In Nigeria, there has been clamour for reforms in the justice sector to reduce the power concentrated in the CJN office. Besides being the head of the Supreme Court, the CJN heads crucial judicial institutions like the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) and the National Judicial Council (NJC). These two institutions, the FJSC and NJC, are statutorily empowered to oversee the substantial part of appointing federal and state court judges. We believe that the appointment process of judges is a foundational matter because if we do not get the judicial appointment process right, it will be difficult to build anything significant on top of that, Mr Ajibade, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told journalists on Friday. He said these reform initiatives aimed at repositioning the Nigerian justice system through constitutional, statutory and operational changes. The constitutional amendments required to bring about the reforms may take a while. Still, lawyers under the umbrella body of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) expressed hope that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Fagbemi, would push through with the reforms. The summits theme was repositioning the justice sector in Nigeria, constitutional statutory and operational reforms for access and efficiency. The focus of the summit was on promoting cooperation and collaboration between all justice sector stakeholders. The key areas of discussion included the validation and adoption of the revised national policy on justice from 2024 to 2028, which outlines a roadmap for significant reforms in Nigerias justice sector. It also focused on consideration and consensus building on specific justice sector reform proposals. The summit acknowledges the importance of collaboration between various stakeholders, including the executive, the judiciary, the Nigerian Bar Association, and development partners to achieve these goals. Brainstorming sessions While brainstorming on the issues, Bolaji Owasanoye, a law professor, argued that court administration should be professionalised, leaving Chief Judges with justice administration. Speaking on the issue of poor budgetary allocation to the judiciary, Mr Owasanoye, a former chairperson of Nigerias anti-corruption agency, ICPC, advised the heads of courts to open their books for public scrutiny. He said judicial accountability regarding its finances was crucial to bolstering public confidence in Nigerias justice system. If details of the judiciarys budget are displayed on its website, members of the civil society organisations could begin to push for improved funding, but when its shrouded in secrecy, how do we begin to advocate for more transparency is lacking in how you spend what you have got? Mr Owasanoye wondered. Another major thrust at the summit was endemic delays in justice administration with many cases clogging court dockets for years unending. Babatunde Fagbohunlu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said judges and lawyers must be held to account for what he described as arbitrary postponement of cases without notice to parties. Mr Fagbohunlu pointed out that such an issue is partly responsible for the slow pace of adjudication of cases. The failure of courts to digitalise their proceedings has primarily been responsible for the backlog of suits, experts said. The Chief Judge of Borno State, Kashim Zannah, said the digitalisation of court operations would eliminate delays in adjudication of cases. Allegations of corruption in budgetary spending and judicial appointments Two years ago, a retired justice of the Supreme Court, Ejembi Eko, lamented the corruption in the Nigerian judiciary, especially in the handling of its finances. Mr Eko was not the only one. Two other justices of the Supreme Court Abdu Aboki and Dattijo Muhammad, while exiting the court, called for reforms. In October 2023, Mr Muhammad, a Nigerian jurist for over 40 years, exited the Supreme Court bench with indelible remarks, criticising the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), over the concentration of powers in the CJNs office and judicial corruption. Casting aside the conservative posture of judges, Mr Muhammed spoke of how merit had given way to family connections and lobbying in appointing judges. He also criticised, citing references from public opinions, perverse decisions emanating from the Supreme Court and other Nigerian courts, as well as the flawed and arbitrary appointments of judges in the country. Similarly, Chidi Odinkalu, a law professor and onetime chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, has consistently pilloried the process of judicial appointments in Nigeria. Following in the same footsteps, then- Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, challenged the judiciary to open its budget. Mr Malami said the federal government was not in a position to know whether the judiciarys budget allocation was inadequate due to the opacity that characterises its financial records. The judiciarys budget has ballooned from N165 billion it received in the previous year to N342 billion in 2024, doubling by over 100 per cent. But a budget breakdown remains hidden from the Nigerian public, a development that has raised questions among lawyers about the judiciarys transparency and accountability in its spending. Consensus The consensus reached by participants at the summit was that the role of the NJC in discharging its responsibility for judicial appointments into the superior court of record required significant review. There was a concern expressed about the fact that the CJN, who is the chairman of the NJC, is also the chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, which is the body that initially reviews proposals or lists of candidates by appointment into judicial office, Mr Ajibade who chaired the summit planning committee said. In addition, the summit resolved that there is a significant need for reform in the performance of the roles of the state Judicial Service Commission to ensure that that composition is more diverse, and that it reflects the interests of the users of the justice sector. It emphasises that the focus should be on improved transparency in the appointment process, a focus on meritocracy and an emphasis on meaningful performance evaluations of those wo seek judicial office. There is a clear consensus on the need to professionalise the administration of the courts, acknowledging the fact that judges are by their training, not first in administration or management, but are trained to adjudicate over cases, a part of the communique read. The summit agrees that there is a need to appoint persons with clear administrative experience to be selected through a transparent process to administer the courts and to separate the administration of the courts from the administration of justice. To bring these recommendations to fruition, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, was mandated to convert these discussions and resolutions into draft legislation that would be presented to the National Assembly for inclusion in the ongoing constitution review process and also for non-constitutional related legislation to be implemented immediately. Although there are no timelines for implementing specific recommendations, the national policy on justice reforms is expected to be implemented from 2024 to 2028. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has called for collaboration and inclusiveness towards addressing global challenges and ensuring sustainable solutions. Mr Tinubu said this would drive innovation across a chain of interests for a more stable and prosperous world. He said this during a high-level panel session at the World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday. The President said that collaboration and inclusiveness, especially with regard to Africa, are elemental to building a future of hope, peace, and progress for all. He said capital mobilisation, which is needed to spur economic growth and associated advancements in Africa, cannot be overlooked any longer. The President said the continent is richly endowed but that the diversity of its resources must reflect in its wherewithal and economic realities. The capital formation that is necessary to drive the economy, agriculture, ensure food security, innovation, and technological advancement must be an inclusive programme of the entire world. No one should be left behind. 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 I am glad the world is recognizing the need for cooperation, and that with the type of population growth that Africa is experiencing; the diversity of its resources must be married with economic opportunity. We must collaborate to achieve that, Tinubu said. The President called on global leaders to pay attention to the developments in the Sahel, emphasising the need for a studied understanding of the vectors of the current situation. We are encouraging the entire world to pay attention to the Sahel and the other countries around us. As the Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I have wielded the big influence of Nigeria to discourage all unconstitutional change of government. Equally, we have eased the sanctions. We need to trade with one another; not fight each other. It is very necessary and compulsory for us to engender growth, stability, and economic prosperity for our people in West Africa. The rest of the world needs to look at the fundamentals of the problem; not just geo-politically, but at the root. Has the world paid attention to the poverty level in the Sahel and the rest of ECOWAS? Have they facilitated the infusion of capital and paid adequate attention to ensuring the exploitation of resources and the creation of opportunities presented by the mineral resources available? Are we going to play a big-brother role in a talk shop without taking necessary action? We just have to be involved in the promotion and prosperity of that region in order to see peace, stability, and economic growth, Mr Tinubu said. Detailing the steps taken to set Nigerias economy on the path of recovery, the President said he had taken tough but essential decisions like removing fuel subsidy with its attendant perils and managing the nations currency, effectively removing corruption-laden arbitrage. Concerning the question of subsidy removal, there is no doubt that it was a necessary action for my country not to go bankrupt and to reset the economy and the pathway to growth. It was going to be difficult, but the hallmark of leadership is making difficult decisions when they need to be made. That was necessary for the country. Yes, there have been drawbacks. Yes, there was the expectation that the difficulty would be felt by a greater number of people. But, of course, it was the interest of our people that was the primary focus of the government. Along the line, there was an arrangement to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal on the vulnerable population of the country. We shared the pain across the board. We cannot, but include those who are very vulnerable. Luckily, we have a very vibrant youth population interested in innovation and highly ready to leverage technology, good education, and who remain committed to growth. We were able to manage that and partition the economic drawback and the fallout of the subsidy removal equally; engendering transparency, accountability, and fiscal discipline for the country he said. The President added: The currency management was necessary, equally to remove the artificial element of value in our currency. Hence, our local currency finds its level and competes with the rest of the worlds currencies as we remove corrupt arbitrage and opaqueness. That, we did. At the same time, that is a two-engine problem in a very turbulent situation for the government. But we are able to manage that turbulence because we prepared for this with inclusivity in governance and rapid communication with the public. In her remarks, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, commended Mr Tinubu for offering insights on how to execute strategic economic reforms. President Tinubu has emphasized the right things about what world leaders must consider primary in the execution of strategic economic reform. He said there is a need to ensure that reforms are accompanied by a human touch. The needs of people must be identified and catered to as governments implement tough but necessary reforms, the IMF Managing Director said. During the session, the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, who was also on the high-level panel, said: I am happy that the Nigerian President spoke on the need for inclusive economic growth. Africa is the stage for an expanding middle class. As the growth of the middle class in developed economies stagnate, Africas middle class is growing. It is our human resources and not natural resources that make our continent strategic and central to the global community moving forward.(NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print God says: The soul who sins shall die. The redeemed is no longer under the law of sin and death but under the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Let me tell you a fictitious story of a lady called Abigail. She was married to a man called Nabal and he gave her hell. He had a list of dos and donts. He gave Abigail this list of things she had to do as his wife. But it was simply impossible for her to meet them all. No matter how hard she tried she would always find that she forgot to do something, or forgot to say something, or did something in a way that was different from the exact way he wanted it done. He wanted his rice cooked in a particular way. His meat had to be boiled in a particular way. His shirt must be ironed in one way, or you wont hear the last of it. If Abigail failed to meet even one of his many conditions, it was like she had failed to meet every condition. Abigail contemplated suicide, but she did not have the courage. She thought of murdering her husband. On one occasion, she seriously considered poisoning his Edikaikong soup. But she was afraid of spending the rest of her life in jail. And then there was this issue of divorce. She had nightmares about divorce. She was afraid that she would wake up one day and discover that she was divorced. Nabal made her understand that he could divorce her any day at any time for any cause. And then where would she be? Where would she go? So what happened? 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 Nabal died One day, Nabal had a stroke and died. He just fell and died. When he died, Abigail got married to David. When she moved into the house of David, she asked David for his list of dos and donts. But he said he had none. I just love you, he said. There are no laws, no rules, no regulations, and no guidelines. Just love. For love makes up for many of our faults. Love covers a multitude of sins. This is what happens when we are redeemed by the grace of Jesus Christ. We are dead to the law of sin and death and are now married under the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. (Romans 7:2-6). Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Righteousness of God The passion of Jesus, His agony on the cross, and His death all came about because He chose to atone to God for the sins of mankind. As Isaiah prophesied: He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6). Gods attitude to sin is so extreme that it cost Him the death of Jesus, His only begotten Son whom He loved before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24). He could not even make an exception for His beloved Jesus. Jesus plea-bargained with God the Father in Gethsemane: He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will. (Matthew 26:39). In effect, God the Father said: It is not possible. It is impossible because God does not call back His words. God says: My word that goes out from my mouth will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11). Gods word that must be fulfilled in this case says: The soul who sins shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4). Therefore, to redeem the sins of mankind, Jesus had to die. Wages of sin Let me tell you a parable. Most people did not know the Head of State was implacably determined to stamp out corruption in the land. Since he came to power, he has made speeches upon speeches that corruption would not be tolerated. Any official caught stealing public funds would be executed, he maintained. It sounded so extreme that people did not believe him. All government officials were corrupt. Corruption had permeated every facet of the society. To implement his decision, the president would have to kill everybody one by one. After several people were caught stealing and executed, a plot was hatched and the one and only son of the Head of State was arrested on trumped-up charges and accused of corruption. False witnesses testified that he also had been stealing government funds. Many laughed and ridiculed the Head of State. They said: Well see now about all your talk about fighting corruption. So what is going to happen to your son? Will you also execute him? The presidents son was charged in court. Everyone predicted that the trial would be fixed. Many anticipated the judge would be bought over and given instruction from above to throw out the case. But something seemed to go wrong. The Presidents son was declared guilty as charged. What about the sentence? The judge sentenced him to death by hanging. The people could not believe it. Surely, the President would pardon his son. Surely, he would not allow his son to be executed. But to everyones surprise, the presidents son was hanged without reprieve. He died and was buried in a common grave. The president did not even attend his sons burial. After the burial, the president addressed the nation and repeated his earlier declaration: Anyone caught stealing public funds would suffer the same fate that happened to my son. This time, everybody believed him. They said: This man is insane. This man is serious about fighting corruption. So serious that he did not even spare his son from death. Extremist God Gods judgement is pure and His attitude to sin is total. So total in fact that He destroyed the whole world in the Flood because of sin, saving only eight people out of all humanity. So total that he created the lake of fire and brimstone for the fallen angels where they are to be tormented for the ages of the ages. (Revelation 20:10). So total that He turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes for the sins of the people. (2 Peter 2:6). So total that having saved His chosen people out of Egypt, He destroyed them all one by one in the wilderness, except for Joshua and Caleb. So total that if anyone broke just a single one of the 613 laws of Moses, he is considered guilty of all the laws. (James 2:10). So total that even Moses, Gods dear friend who spoke to Him face to face, was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because of one single infraction. (Deuteronomy 3:25-26). No wonder, the writer of Hebrews concluded: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31). Despising grace Nevertheless, this is Gods word of prophecy: For Zions sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalems sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. (Isaiah 62:1). Jesus was so determined that this prophecy be fulfilled that He left the glory of heaven to come down to earth to redeem us from our sins. He was so determined that He who created the heavens and the earth became a baby, crawled on the ground, sucked a womans breast, and grew in wisdom and stature, only to die a shameful death on the cross. Therefore: If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:2629). The redeemed of Christ must be determined to live sinless lives. We must reckon ourselves to be freed from sin. We must carry our crosses daily and follow Jesus: the way the truth and the life. (John 14:6). We must acknowledge that we were crucified with Christ so we can have the newness of life in Him. But we cannot be freed from sin if we continue to make provision for the flesh. We cannot be freed from sin if we continue to excite the flesh. Otherwise, we would jump down from the cross. Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at Gods right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Dont be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshipping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behaviour, slander, and dirty language. Dont lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. (Colossians 3:1-10). CONCLUDED. Faribisala@yahoo.com; www.femiaribisala.com Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The enchanter recited the incantation with utmost fury: River Niger and River Benue, the confluence is in Kogi State. Except say River Niger and River Benue no come meet for Kogi; if River Niger and River Benue come meet for Kogi, dem no go fit arrest Bello Dem dey use EFCC pursue am, dem no go succeed o. Dem go lay siege for im house for Abuja Except say I no be born of Igala kingdom EFCC dey front, you dey back; you dey back, dem dey front; you dey left, dem dey right; you dey right, dem dey left; you dey centre, dem come there, you jump dem pass!a lion cannot give birth to a goat The repertoire is a typical exchange in African rituals. The target was the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an organisation headed by Ola Olukoyede. Olukoyede is said to be a pastor in Enoch Adeboyes RCCG. So, three men gather in a place that looks like a forest. Woven round the heads of two of them like bandana is a white cloth. They crouch on their knees. The third, kneeling in the middle, carries a brown pot from which oozes a thick smoke. Libation ingredients are ready. They are: a black cock, tortoise, a green bottle which ostensibly habours in its bosom sacrificial liquor. The liquor is then sprinkled on the ground as libation. Two egg-like objects complete the ingredients of sacrifice. Either as an effigy or in person, the presence of the recipient of the ritual is always needed. His spirit needs to connect with the spirits. So, a portrait of the man who gave self the sobriquet of White Lion, Yahaya Bello, is procured for the libation process. He is dressed in all-white attire like the god, Obatala. Obatala is a Yoruba god of purity. Then the one who looks like the chief priest begins to render a monologue that is known in African ritual practice as incantation. It is similar to the allocutus lawyers enter into on behalf of their guilty client. The aim is for the de-escalation of the pursuit of Bello by the EFCC, his alleged theft of Kogi States N82 billion notwithstanding. Bellos matter got escalated towards the end of the week when the EFCC chairman alleged that the ex-governor paid in advance, the sum of $845,852.84 to the Abuja school of his children. Bello has made feeble attempt to denounce this from his hiding hole with the ill-logic that it was paid with his hard-earned sweats. Why the rush to pay school fees till 2034 if where the money was got today would remain permanent? Yahaya Bello and his apologists have been spurting out bunkum. They allege that the EFCC is hounding him. Let us assume they are right. First, it is shameful for a self-styled Lion to hide inside a hole like a coyote, thereby eating stale food reserved for effeminate animals. Dont they say that the leopard, and by extension, the lion, does not eat stale food? (Ekun kii jeran ikasi). It is thus lawless of Yahaya Bello not to honour the anti-graft bodys lawful invitation. Bellos 8-year reign was notorious for his naked stomping on oppositions human rights, running a government fittingly described as an orgy of violence. Why are executioners always afraid when swords are flung in their faces? His is reminiscent of the story of an executioner in Old Oyo Kingdom whose specialty was in decapitating his victims with relish. Upon courting the ire of the Alaafin and was sentenced to death, the ex-executioner suddenly became jittery. When the man about to decapitate him began to do the traditional acrobatics pre-cutting off of his head, jittery, the ex-executioners voice shaky, he asked what part of his body would be cut off, my head or feet? Celebratory townsmen who had gathered to witness his comeuppance were angered and demanded rhetorically what part of his victims bodies he relished in cutting off during his reign of terror. Anthropologists of the in the pre-colonial era of the 20th century studying witchcraft were shocked. They had earlier submitted that occult practices would die with modernisation and urbanisation. However, in the last two decades, modernity seems to have lost the battle in Africa. The miserable and insecure nature of everyday life has made African politicians to go two steps backwards. Rather than the Gods of Christianity and Islam which they inherited from the colonisers, they have gone back to ancient practices preceding the incursion of Arab and European lords. Now, the patronage of priests, priestesses of divinities, herbalists, sorcerers and occults is key to resolution of political dilemmas. Politicians use charms, amulets, rings, belts, ritual, incantations for the attainment of political goals. Either it was a skit or reality, that viral video of enchanters seeking Yahaya Bello to be set free typifies the usual scene in power relations in Africa. In the bid to attain, sustain or vend off irritants in political power struggles, there is widespread evidence confirming that many Africans today strongly hold on to beliefs which they got from traditional cosmologies. These have now constituted the core of their everyday lives. The Kenyan Mau Mau revolt is said to have been fought with African magical powers. Magical and ritual practices are pervasive in power relations in Nigeria. This evidently affirms that when complicated issues and challenges of life confront Nigerian politicians, they quickly run to their tradition and origin. This equally demonstrates the ease with which they momentarily throw away their Christian and Islamic cloaks to hold on to the utilitarian purpose that magic and sorcery serve them. Late University of Leiden scholar, Stephen Ellis, in a 2001 article, Mystical Efforts: Some evidence from the Liberian war (Journal of Religion in Africa, XXX1, 2) described how young fighters in the Liberian war, sporting amulets which assumably made them bullet-proof, filled the streets with corpses. Monrovians were shocked at how the soldiers (disemboweled) the bodies of their victims and (eat) their flesh or internal organs, particularly the heart. The art of eating human heart is borne of a residue of practices in Africa. The belief is that, a persons essence is contained in the heart and the blood. So, once the hearts and blood of these warriors are eaten and drunk, the one who had just eaten them acquires some of the power formerly possessed by his victim. Wherever Bello is at the moment, no one needed to be told that he is engrossed with one or a combination of three elements in the bid to confront the coercive power of the Nigerian state. In the tragedy that is Yahaya Bello, these three elements must be making gross harvests from his calamity. They are, on the one hand, the religious combine made up of Pastors, Alfas and African indigenous religious rituals and magic. The second is, lawyers scrambling to profit from what they perceive as the loot from Kogi. Some shameless ones gathered in court last week to protest against the EFCC. The third is bloggers/journalists who by now must have offered to defreeze adversarial comments against him in traditional and social media platforms. 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 As guest speaker at a 2-day education summit which held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in 2013, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, waded into the now popular syncretic practices among Nigerian leaders. His particular beef was with Nigerian leaders dependence on consultation of marabouts and prophets to acquire and sustain political power. Give me the name of any head of state who has not been consulting marabouts and prophets and so on, sacrificing goats, animals in the dead of night to receive a third term in office and so on, he said. The veiled reference was to Olusegun Obasanjo. Marabouts have become notorious in the incestuous relationship between politics and religion in northern Nigeria. They are traditionally Muslim religious leaders and teachers who functioned historically as chaplains serving in Islamic army of North Africa, the Sahara, and in the Maghreb. Soyinka was right. After the Gideon Orkar volley of bullets on the Dodan Barracks seat of power had subsided, it occurred to General Ibrahim Babangida that kinetic power alone could not guarantee his safety in power. IBB was reported to have consulted marabouts from Senegal who promptly buried live cows in Aso Rock to guarantee his fortification. Same went for General Sani Abacha who reportedly imported seasoned marabouts to spiritually guard Aso Rock. Bowels of the four corners of Abuja reportedly opened up their wombs and swallowed countless cows in sacrifice. Marabouts from Cameroon were also said to have assured the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar that Olusegun Obasanjo would not have a second term, thus exacerbating the animosity between the president and his vice. Spiritism is not strictly a Nigerian phenomenon in power relations. In political in-fighting among political elites, the belief is that, once the elites gain access to the spiritual world, they have clinched the needed vital resource in the constant struggle to secure advantage over their political rivals. Communication with the spirit world, use of sacrifices and protective objects, and divinations were potent means of achieving this. For instance, in Senegal, marabouts or Islamic holy men who belong to Sufi brotherhoods, wield such phenomenal influence that made them a source of political influence for decades. When Zimbabwe was fighting its war of liberation, the advice offered by mediums, believed to be possessed by spirits of ancestors, constituted a major requirement for anyone who sought the peoples political support. President Felix Houphouet-Boigny was an example. A devout Catholic, he was said to have privately resorted to African mediums. Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire also ran a government of elite conspiracy of witches where marabouts were consulted at every point for the enhancement of political power. For very many other African heads of state, clerics and known spiritualists were their advisors. Kenneth Kaunda was top among them. As president of Zambia, he had an Indian, Dr Ranganathan, as consultant on power matters. So also did President Mathieu Kerekou of Benin. He had a Malian marabout called Mohamed Amadou Cisse, also known as Djine or the Devil as his spiritual advisor. Cisse once publicly espoused the Devil. He was hitherto advisor to some other African leaders like Mobutu and Omar Bongo of Gabon. Kerekou later appointed Cisse minister of state whose responsibility in the Beninese government was secret services. President Didier Ratsiraka of Madagascar too had a palace that boasted of an extravagant temple dedicated to Rosicrucian god. So also did Paul Biya of Cameroon and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, both of whom were followers of Transcendental Meditation. Marabouts, herbalists, sorcerers and occult chiefs of the Yahaya Bellos of this world and other African leaders become repositories of highly confidential state information. These are got in the process of spiritual interventions for the captive leaders. Feckless and desperate in the bid to attain and cling on to power, they divulge details of innermost governmental secrets to them. A 1998-published journal article written by Stephen Ellis and Gerrie ter Haar with the title, Religion and Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa (The Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 175-201) discusses how leading marabouts have pre-knowledge of coups de tat and other secrets of power. Amadou Cisse, for instance, knew virtually all the secrets of power in Benin. So did another marabout, Amadou Oumarou Bonkano, who was appointed chief of national intelligence service. Having known details of President Seyni Kountche of Nigers operations, Oumarou attempted a coup against Kountche, his patron and employer. At a random and conservative estimate, ninety per cent of Nigerian politicians, aside the Christianity and Islam they profess in broad daylight, patronise priests, herbalists, sorcerers and occults. They probably have discovered that the immediacy of execution that these African deities possess cannot be found in the Western God. Again, I tend to submit that the rash of theft of public money among them is borne out of the presumed fortification they are promised by African deity priests and priestesses. They offer human beings as sacrifice in the process. Unknown to them, they kill the proverbial hunchback, Abuke Osin, the favourite servant of Obatala god, in the process of acquiring these powers. Unjustly shed blood fight back. According to renowned living archive of Yoruba traditional institution, Yemi Elebuibon, in his The Adventures of Obatala: Ifa and Santeria God of creativity, (2016) the hunchback was one of the faithful servants of Obatala who he sent on errands. Having become rich due to his generosity to the Abuke Osin, Tortoise, Alabahun the fabled trickster, envied Ojugbe, his neighbour. Impressed by his generosity to the hunchback, Obatala chanted some incantations which deposited precious beads, gold and other ornaments inside the carapace-like chest of the hunchback. So when Ojugbe rubbed the hunchbacks chest, he became stupendously wealthy. Stingy and unable to compete with Ojugbe-kind generosity, Tortoise lured the Abuke Osin into his house and forcefully rubbed his chest which refused to emit money. He then killed this servant of Obatala and incurred the wrath of the god. The moment the Nigerian state allows Yahaya Bello, for whatever reason, to escape the wrath of the law, its last lever of strength will snap off. Whoever kills the Abuke Osin should pay dearly for it. The Bull at 71 A few weeks ago while on phone with the Sawe of Ilesa, Chief Akinwande Akinola, as an identifier, I reminded him that as a young school leaver from the C & S High School, Iyemogun, Ilesa in the 1980s, I became his Messenger. Akinola, now in his 80s, was then the Managing Director of International Breweries Ltd, brewers of Trophy beer. The old man must have wondered how the then indecipherable seeds lying inside a small walnut pod could become a delicacy to bite today. As a die-hard comparativist, I love mentoring the youth of today who see only hopelessness in the horizon. In my narration of a tomorrow, I place yesterday side by side today and counterpoise the future with today. Inside them are hidden fruits whose plum harvest no one can tell. Akinola was one major icon that a young school leaver like me saw and swore to crawl my way to become somebody in life. Of all that is said about the Chairman of Globacom, Dr Mike Adenuga, two attributes catch my fancy the most. One is his grass-to-grace story. The other is his personification of the tigritude philosophy of Leopold Sedar Senghor, parodied in a conversation Professor Wole Soyinka once had. Soyinka had lovingly articulated the tigritude of a tiger thus: A tiger does not proclaim his tigritude; he pounces. Put succinctly, when a tiger is in the jungle, he does not sit regally in the forest to mouth his prowess by saying I am a tiger. Upon a walk past the spot where the tiger has walked heretofore, what confronts you are a conquerors memorabilia like the skeleton of the duiker, decapitated head of an impala and caked blood that paint the jungle leaves red. When you see these insignias, as the holy writ says, verily I say unto thee, these are proclamations that a tiger was here. Experiences of life either toughen one into a monster or open up the trough of humanity latent in those experiences. For Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga, they seem to have provoked and strengthened his humanity. If the youth of today can study his life, his rise to where he is today, they have the tendency of providing ample ground for their role-modeling and mentorship. His life can unlock the can-do spirit in them and open situation-blurried eyes to see a glorious tomorrow. History has it that the young Adenuga, born 29 April, 1953, wasnt your idea of a silver spoon. With a school teacher father and businesswoman mother, Juliana Oyindamola Adenuga, (nee Onashile) as early as when he was a student of Ibadan Grammar School, Adenuga swore that his life would make a difference. Those who knew him while growing up in Ibadan in the 70s talk about a young man who hawked lace cloth materials while distributing soft drinks. Coupled with the renowned industry and financial doggedness of Ijebu people, Adenuga must have caught the bug of the business acumen while helping his mother oversee her businesses. He subsequently pulled himself off by the lace of his canvass by working as a taxi driver in America to eke out a living and self-secured the funding for his university education. There are several Mike Adenugas dotting the landscape of Nigeria. Unfortunately, rather than see prosperity in the current hardship, they are blinded from a prosperous future. I am sure that as plenty dotted the landscape of the 1970s and 80s when Adenuga was struggling to wriggle out of lack, complaints of an opaque tomorrow also filled the land. Determination and vision helped him punch the walls of challenges that lined his way to the top. Now to my second fancy about him. Bookmakers claim he is the richest Nigerian. The names of some others are equally mentioned. Adenuga does not attempt to denounce or affirm this. This does not seem to matter to him. He has something in common with MKO Abiola who once said he might not be able to say that he was the richest African, but that he attempted to be the most generous African. Rather than worship wealth as is the vogue with rich Nigerians, Adenuga deconstructs wealth by becoming a tree that makes a forest without noise. Those who have seen him are far between but his imprints dot the landscape. Like the Soyinka tiger, Adenuga does not proclaim his tigritude. However, when you walk past the spot where his tiger has walked heretofore, the memorabilia confirm that The Bull is indeed the tiger of humanity. It is said that he grants a $32 million annual scholarships to students and endows professorial chairs for research and development in the mould of Bill and Melinda Gates. If you read the autobiography of Kabiyesi Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, you would have a glimpse of how Adenuga suffered to get here. In 2001, his application for GSM licence met its waterloo, leading to huge financial loss. His Ogun State kinsman, Olusegun Obasanjo, who was busy making billionaires of other people from other ethnicities, swore to liquidate him. Like Bob Marley said about the magical touch of his feet, Adenugas feet are personified in his audacity, his focus, his hardwork and a brain that is tirelessly innovating. Adenugas life should be a book of inspiration daily read by upcoming youths. It should also demonstrate to emergency mega-billionaires who litter Nigeria that money is a vehicle, a journey and not a destination that they erroneously assume it to be. Money should not be venerated because in doing that, its vanity looms large. By deconstructing it, money assumes a utility and functional humanity of its own that gives its owner unquantifiable joy and satisfaction. This is wishing The Bull a happy 71st birthday tomorrow. For Ayogu Eze and Ezinne Margaret Nwomeh On Thursday last week, I had just arrived Enugu for the funerals of Ezinne Margaret Nebechi Nwomeh of Ozalla in Enugu State when another news of demise hopped in like a demonic apparition. Big brother and friend, Ayogu Eze, senator who represented Enugu North, had passed on. I met Eze 21 years ago there in Enugu. Once the Commissioner for Information in the first term, I felt it a great honour to serve with him in the state. Blessed with a gift of the garb, Eze was detribalised in every sense. Perhaps resulting from his matrimony to a woman of my stock or his years as journalist with the Guardian newspaper, Eze had inspiring stories to tell about his association with the Yoruba, a language he struggled to flaunt. A couple of years back, told I was visiting Enugu, he visited me in my hotel room where, for hours, we filled the gap of physical absence from each other. I reciprocated later on by attending his fathers burial at Enugu-Ezike in Igboeze North where I was treated to a variety of Igbo culinary delicacies. Talking of culinary delicacies, Mama Nwomeh reminded me of my Enugu years when her son, my friend, Dan and I used to dash to her Ozalla, Four Corner home. Her first demand was what we would eat. As we gathered in Ozalla for her wake ceremony on Friday, I spent quality time with her son, Benedict, a professor of surgery and vice-chair of global surgery in the department of surgery at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center where he drilled down on the humanity of his mother. Widowed at the age of 23, Ezinne Nwomeh single-handedly guided her five children to the zenith of their lives. She could have taken them to the motherless home for the challenges ahead her were daunting. Wrote Ben in his tribute to Mama: On the fateful day of 12 March, 1970, tragedy struck our family as Papa was called home, leaving Mama shattered. The war had just ended, and Mama, at the tender age of 23, found herself widowed with five young children to care for. Angela, the eldest, was merely seven years old at the time. Mama was thrust into a world of uncertainty, facing homelessness and the daunting challenge of providing for her children with no means to do so. Amidst the haze of post-war years, my earliest memories of Mama began to take shape. Even as a young child, I observed her unwavering resolve to secure our survival. One poignant memory stands out vividly: Mamas relentless struggle to ensure we had food on the tableWhile instilling in us the code of honour expected of the children of Peter Nwomeh, Mama also went to great lengths to ensure we enjoyed a normal childhood alongside other neighbourhood kids. She taught us the importance of family, tirelessly working to maintain connections with all our extended relatives, in every direction, and never once attempting to sever our ties with anyone. Mama fostered a spirit of generosity within us, serving as the driving force behind the creation of the Peter Nwomeh Foundation. In honour of both our parents, it will now be renamed The Peter and Margaret Nwomeh Foundation, and its sister charity, the Peter and Margaret Nwomeh Foundation USA. As we bid farewell to Mama, we do so with hearts full of gratitude for the seventy-seven years of love, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion she bestowed upon us. May her soul find peace in the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father, and may her memory continue to inspire us all. Yesterday, as we celebrated this amazons 77 eventful years on earth in Ozalla, my heart grieved on the passage of Ayogu. He was an avuncular spirit who left fond memories in the hearts of everyone he encountered. Sleep well, Ezinne Margaret Nebechi Nwomeh and the great soul, Ayogu Eze. Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print At least 19 persons were burnt to death in an auto crash on Okene Bypass on the Okene-Lokoja Highway in Kogi on Sunday. Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Jonas Agwu, stated in Abuja that the crash involved a Dangote Cement truck and a Toyota Hiace bus. He stated that it took operatives of the FRSC, battling through the accompanying inferno, three hours to rescue two surviving victims of the crash. Mr Agwu, an assistant corps marshal, added that the Toyota bus was travelling from Kano and was on its lane when the Dangote truck driver travelling from Port Harcourt wrongfully overtook a vehicle and collided head-on with the bus. The impact of the collision resulted in an inferno that burnt the victims to death. The crash, which was caused by route violation and wrongful overtaking, involved 22 male persons. Unfortunately, 19 persons out of the 22 victims were killed, while one was injured. 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 two victims who got rescued by FRSC operatives survived without injuries because they complied with traffic regulations on the compulsory use of seatbelts. Corpses retrieved from the crash were deposited at Okene General Hospital, Mr Agwu stated. Mr Agwu assured that the driver of the Dangote truck would be prosecuted by directives earlier issued by the Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali-Biu. Mr Ali-Biu had in the past called on the judiciary, the leadership of transport unions and other relevant stakeholders to join hands with the FRSC to restore sanity to Nigerian roads through speedy and effective prosecution. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has urged residents of the state to stop vandalising government projects. He gave the advice on Wednesday while inaugurating an underground flood control project and the reconstructed Atiku Abubakar Avenue in Uyo, the state capital. Speaking at the event, which was streamed live on Facebook, the governor said he got wind of the deplorable state of the road through pictures sent to him via WhatsApp message from an unknown person. Mr Eno said he immediately showed the pictures to his deputy and insisted that he must visit the road the same day. The road was completely impassable. And I told the deputy governor that we must visit this place immediately from the church programme, Mr Eno said at the event attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan. What this shows is that all of us can collectively run this state. The money is not my money but belongs to all of us. Anything you see that you believe the government should intervene, you should bring it to our table. You can draw our attention to such issues and we will work with you. 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 We try to run an open government, one across party lines because knowledge is not based on one person or in one party. We can do it together. Together one of us can be in government. But please, as government fixes these things, do not destroy them, the governor said. Do not vandalize projects that the government has spent a lot of money to build. It is not my money, it is our collective money. And so if you destroy government property, know that it is part of your money that you are destroying, Mr Eno said. Speaking before inaugurating the project, former President Jonathan who led a delegation of investors to the state a day earlier, said the project was a product of fate and circumstance. He commended the governor for acknowledging that the money he used for the project was state money and not his money. I know of a governor who whenever he talks about the state money he refers to it as his money. He appropriates the state money to be his money but Eno calls it everyones money, Mr Jonathan said and advised the people to take ownership of government projects and not destroy them. Looking at this project, youll see how the road has been transformed from a once flooding area to what we all witness today. In a world where flooding through global warming is affecting places like Dubai that is in the desert, this project reflects a governor that has focus. This project that we are commissioning today is a very critical one and it shows a focused leadership and we must commend the governor and his team, Mr Jonathan said. This is the second time that an unknown person has drawn the attention of Governor Eno to a deplorable road in the state. While flagging off the construction of Ediene Abak- Ikot Ekan road last month, the governor said he got wind of the road through pictures sent to him via WhatsApp. This road, surprisingly I give credit to school children who sent me the video of this road. I dont know them, I wish I knew them but how they got my number I dont also know. Of course, my number is in the public domain. It was a rainy day. They were under the rain. They took pictures and sent to me and I forwarded the pictures to the commissioners for works and I told him because of these children, lets do this road, he said while flagging off Ediene Abak- Ikot Ekan road last month adding the state government has so far mobilised contractors for 20 roads. In Nigeria, it is rare for governors to make their phone contacts accessible to citizens but Mr Eno said he would still keep his phone line open to the public. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The 4WD group missed their turning and ended up getting stuck on popular tourist island K'gari. A 4WD and camper trailer completely submerged after getting bogged at a beach on K'gari. Source: Facebook As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, Aussies around the country are hitting the outdoors to get their last moments of sunshine before winter hits. But things didnt go to plan this weekend for one group of campers at a popular holiday island highlighting the unforgiving terrain many Aussies face while 4WDing. The holidaymakers were travelling along the beach track on the western side of Queensland island Kgari, formerly known as Fraser Island, when they realised they missed their campsite and did a u-turn with their camper attached. The Jeep required rescuing off the western side of K'Gari after the tide receded. Source: Facebook 4WD 'floated away' as tide rose Disastrously, their camper became stuck in the sand as the tide began to rise. Despite attempts to rescue the car, the tide rose too high and it wasnt long before the vehicle was completely submerged in water. These campers trip to Coongal Creek on the Western Side of the island didnt go to plan, said Fraser Island towing who came to the rescue when the water receded, adding that once under water, the vehicle then floated further away from shore. 4wd and Trailer recovered by Fraser Island Towing and Rainbow Beach Towing, with extra caution due to the unforgiving terrain on that side of the island. Cost of rescue on Fraser Island 4WD motorists who find themselves in strife can expect to pay a minimum of $800 to be towed off the island. The owner of a towing service at a popular Aussie tourist spot Bribie Island previously told Yahoo that he has rescued "hundreds" of cars from being bogged on the beach with more and more tourists falling victim this past summer. Images of Rick Williams' business regularly feature on social media, showing how often 4WDs become stuck on the sand island on the northern part of Moreton Bay. Last month, a man's Toyota Land Cruiser was snapped half submerged in the water after only having been on the beach "for five minutes". Williams said although he's "helped a lot of locals over the years" he's also rescued tourists "from really almost every country around the world". "A lot of those people are still friends of ours and still send us emails and tell us what they're doing, so you make friends as you go, too," Williams said. During one incident on Monday last week, a driver attempted to "go through a lagoon" that was over a metre in depth. "That vehicle is going to be a total loss now," he lamented. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. BEIJING, April 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 25, 2024, CATL (SZ:300750) and Beijing Hyundai signed a strategic partnership agreement at Auto China 2024 to cooperate on Beijing Hyundai's EV projects and to power future Beijing Hyundai electric models with CATL batteries. As a joint venture with a deep presence in China for 21 years, Beijing Hyundai has sold over 12 million vehicles in China, proving reliable vehicle manufacturing capabilities. Since its cooperation with CATL began in 2017, Beijing Hyundai has launched a series of popular models with cumulative sales exceeding 200,000 units. With the new agreement in place, Beijing Hyundai is expected to unleash a wave of over 10 leading global models equipped with CATL's latest battery technology including CTP and NP. CATL will leverage its technological advantages to work with Beijing Hyundai to create high-quality automotive products and support Beijing Hyundai's business growth in China. A shared focus on product development ensures a win-win for both companies. CATL has established and strengthened partnership with Hyundai over the past years. In October 2021, CATL and Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. (MOBIS) signed a technology licensing and partnership agreement, according to which CATL will introduce and disclose its CTP (cell to pack) technology to MOBIS as well as support MOBIS in the supply of related CTP products not only in South Korea, but also worldwide. SOURCE Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, April 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "Currently, the world economy is gradually recovering and the energy industry is accelerating its green and low-carbon transition. Developing nuclear energy has become a broad consensus of the world," said Yu Jianfeng, chairman of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), at the 26th World Energy Congress (WEC) held in Rotterdam on April 22-25. WEC, the global energy event with longest history, is held once every three years. This year's congress marks its 100th anniversary and is hosted by the World Energy Council. CNNC attended this year's congress, showcasing China's latest technological achievements and solutions in fields such as clean energy. Deeply engage in the transformation of the international energy governance system and promote global nuclear energy development. "As a promoter and practitioner of global nuclear energy development, China attaches great importance to the development of nuclear energy and promotes the safe and orderly development of nuclear power," said Yu at the themed side meeting held by CNNC. He also elaborated on the crucial role of nuclear energy in global energy transition and introduced China's outstanding achievements in nuclear energy development. Currently, China has 55 operational nuclear power units, with an additional 36 units approved or under construction. Its total installed capacity ranks the second globally and its construction scale has maintained the top position for many years. China has been continuously building nuclear power plants for nearly 40 years and has the ability to simultaneously construct 40 units. China is a major producer and consumer of energy. However, nuclear power accounts for only 4.7% of China's total electricity generation, indicating significant space for further development. China will continue to be a major market for global nuclear energy development. Yu pointed out that as a leading enterprise in China's nuclear industry, CNNC will uphold openness and cooperation, actively deepen bilateral and multilateral nuclear energy cooperation, participate in the construction of the global clean energy system, engage in the transformation of the international energy governance system, and promote global nuclear energy development. At a nuclear power roundtable, Yu and other guests, including Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), discussed nuclear energy cooperation and future development. Yu emphasized that with the accelerated evolution of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, global nuclear counterparts should jointly promote the research and application of advanced nuclear energy technologies. He highlighted the importance of building an interconnected and integrated, safe and stable global nuclear industry supply chain system, benefiting human society through the development of nuclear energy. At the Nuclear Industry China 2024 (the 17th China International Nuclear Industry Exhibition), CNNC opened 10 large-scale nuclear research facilities to the international community. Yu expressed the hope for broader nuclear energy cooperation, encompassing areas such as nuclear technology exchange, nuclear power project and market development, and talent training. He emphasized that CNNC has always been open to cooperation, and willing to share China's experiences and opportunities in nuclear energy development. Offer high-quality comprehensive nuclear energy solutions to the international community As one of the few nuclear enterprises with a complete industrial chain, CNNC enjoys the advantageous ability to integrate nuclear power design, construction and commissioning, supply of equipment, and technical services. Leveraging this advantage, along with its one-stop service approach and outstanding delivery capabilities, CNNC aims to provide high-quality comprehensive nuclear energy solutions, contributing China's wisdom and the strength of CNNC to the development of nuclear energy worldwide. At the side meeting, China National Nuclear Corporation Overseas Ltd., China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., China Nuclear Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd, and China National Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. shared their experiences in nuclear power construction over the past 40 years from various aspects such as design, construction, and project management. The event attracted over 100 experts and professionals from around the world. Director General of the World Nuclear Association (WNA) Sama Bilbao y Leon expressed appreciation for China's development in nuclear power and nuclear technology applications. She pointed out that China's experiences in nuclear power have set a benchmark for global nuclear power projects. Huang Wei, director of the IAEA Division of Planning, Information and Knowledge Management, praised CNNC's achievements in promoting nuclear power construction. He looks forward to further enhancing exchanges and cooperation between IAEA and CNNC, leveraging CNNC's nearly 40 years of experience in nuclear power construction to promote the healthy development of global nuclear power construction. During the congress, CNNC showcased its capabilities in advanced nuclear energy technology and nuclear power construction, demonstrating its knowledge of the entire industrial chain in participating in international cooperation. CNNC used an electronic sand table to demonstrate a future smart city with nuclear energy. The connection between the lights and the elements such as seawater and buildings on it shows various applications of different types of reactors in the fields of power generation, desalination, hydrogen production, and petrochemicals. They showcase the ubiquitous presence of nuclear energy in future life. The types of reactors include Hualong One, Linglong One, high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, and fusion reactor. Distinguished guests such as IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi visited CNNC's booth. CNNC also held bilateral discussions and signed cooperation agreements with important partners such as the Ministry of Energy of Ghana and Electricite de France. SOURCE Global Times -Visit OBiO Tech booth #1644 at American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy in Maryland, USA SHANGHAI, April 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OBiO Technology (Shanghai) Corp., Ltd. (OBiO, 688238.SH), a world leading contract development and manufacturing organization for cell and gene therapy, will showcase at American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy in Maryland, USA from May 7th to 11th. 9 posters will be presented at American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy. Among these presentations are three self-developed patented achievements, four notable advancements in process optimization, and two cutting-edge technology introductions. These milestones exemplify OBiO Technology's significant strides in the gene therapy domain, enhancing vector yield and efficiency, refining therapeutic processes, and driving down production costs. The innovative solutions offered by OBiO Technology provide dependable and cost-effective production methods for gene therapy, propelling forward clinical projects in gene and cell therapy. OBiO Technology's experts are ready to share how their comprehensive viral vector platform accelerates development timelines, de-risks manufacturing, and provides the performance and product quality needed for your success, with a lower cost. "We are delighted to continue our legacy of excellence at the ASGCT conference! OBiO Technology will participate with utmost enthusiasm and innovative prowess, showcasing our latest achievements in gene and cell therapy." said Javier Jia Guo, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of OBiO Technology. "Our nine presentations, featuring self-developed patented achievements, process optimization breakthroughs, and technology introductions, epitomize our commitment to relentless innovation and collaborative problem-solving. They also underscore our significant progress in enhancing yield efficiency, streamlining production processes, and driving cost efficiencies. OBiO Technology remains steadfast in its forward-looking technological layout and continuous improvement of service capabilities, contributing to the rapid advancement of the gene and cell therapy industry." About OBiO Technology OBiO Technology leads the way in gene and cell therapy as a pioneering Contract Research Organization (CRO) and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), dedicated to providing comprehensive solutions. OBiO Technology's state-of-the-art 830,000 sq.ft facility ensures global supply excellence. Specializing in vectorology studies, functional genomics, and process and analytics development, OBiO Technology ensure Investigational New Drug (IND) readiness and support all phases of clinical and commercial manufacturing. Guided by mission to "Enable Gene Therapy for Better Lives," OBiO Technology prioritize delivering top-tier services worldwide. From laboratory to clinic, OBiO Technology continuously advance your products, making a positive impact on populations worldwide. OBiO Technology's unwavering commitment ensures the delivery of high-quality CDMO services across the preclinical, IND, clinical, and commercial stages. OBiO Technology's expertise spans plasmids, mRNA, AAV, LVV, Ad viral vectors, cell therapy (CAR-T, NK, Treg), as well as cutting-edge technologies like inducible viral vector packaging, ultralow endotoxin processes, and tissue-specific AAV variants. SOURCE OBiO Technology (Shanghai) Corp., Ltd. Berlin, April 28 : Following the delivery of long-range US missiles to Ukraine, Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski is hoping that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will change his mind and provide the attacked country with German Taurus cruise missiles. "I hope the Chancellor feels encouraged by the events of the last few days," said Sikorski in an interview with German newspaper Bild am Sonntag and other Axel Springer media in Warsaw. Sikorski described the delivery of US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine as a "reaction to the Russian escalation" in Ukraine, to which Germany must also respond. A few days ago, it became known that Ukraine had received long-range ATACMS missiles from the US. However, the Pentagon did not provide any specific details as to whether these were models with a range of around 300 kilometres or those with a shorter range. The media reported that they were the longer-range models. The US had already sent ATACMS missiles with a shorter range last year. Scholz has so far emphatically rejected supplying Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. He fears that Germany could be drawn into the war if the missiles with a range of 500 kilometres are provided. "The Russians have already shut down 70% of Ukraine's power generation capacity. That is actually a war crime," Sikorski continued. A conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war had taken place in Berlin. However, it would be better to prevent the destruction of the country in the first place, the Polish Foreign Minister pointed out. In dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the aggressor in the Ukraine war, he said, one had to be tough. "I think we all know now that Putin only reacts to pressure, to the harshest arguments of brute force." --IANS/DPA sha/ Tel Aviv, April 28 : The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia from Monday. Blinken's visit is aimed at giving impetus to the peace process in the Middle East and work on the release of Israeli hostages. Sources in Israel's defence ministry told IANS that while Blinken will not visit Israel during this trip, he will be engaging with Egyptian and Qatari leaders on the Israeli hostages' release issue. American State Department spokesman Mathew Miller in a statement said, "The Secretary will discuss ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza that secures the release of hostages and it is Hamas that is standing between the Palestinian people and a ceasefire." It may be recalled that Israel has already sounded Hamas through Egyptian mediators that if at least 33 hostages are not released immediately the ground invasion of the Rafah region in the southern Gaza strip would commence. Israel has also said that its elite Nahal brigade is already positioned to enter the Rafah region if the diplomatic talks fail. Meanwhile, Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz has warned Hamas that Israel would not allow Hamas to drag its feet on the hostage release issue. The foreign ministry sources told IANS that the foreign minister has warned that Israel would enter the Rafah region if a minimum number of hostages are not released immediately. Varanasi : , April 28 (IANS) A notice will soon be issued to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi for making alleged communal statements during a speech at a public meeting of PDM Nyay Morcha in Varanasi on April 25. The notice will be issued by an additional returning officer on behalf of the district election officer. Kashi region BJP legal cell convenor Shashank Shekhar Tripathi had complained to the Election Commission, alleging that AIMIM chief Owaisi delivered communal statements during a public meeting in Varanasi. Confirming that such a complaint was received, Additional Returning Officer Sub-Divisional Magistrate Neeraj Patel said on Sunday that after the initial probe, a notice was being issued to Owaisi. In the meeting last Thursday, Owaisi alleged Mukhtar Ansari was killed in judicial custody. He was a "martyr and such people never die". "It was the responsibility of the BJP government to save them, but it failed," he said. Owaisi also fiercely targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and SP president Akhilesh Yadav in his 40-minute address. "Half of Akhilesh Yadav's family sits and drinks tea with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he asks us to give up our lives," Owaisi had said. Mumbai, April 28 : The Washington University in St. Louis and India's Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment have finalised a partnership for academic research, student exchange and generating global leaders in different fields of social justice, according to top officials. The wide-ranging tie-up for a research partnership was proposed in a meeting here between Union MoS for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale and Director of Advancement, International Programs, Eric Yin, of the 171-year-old Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. At least 26 Nobel laureates have conducted significant portions of their award-winning and globally acclaimed research work at this leading private university, established in 1853, officials said. "Through this partnership, we aim to encourage research, capacity building and educate the next generation of global leaders in the fields of inclusion, diversity, equity, allyship and social justice," Union Minster Athawale told IANS, giving a sneak peek into the plans. This cooperation would attempt to strengthen bonds with India through collaborations with the prestigious Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, on the lines of the Washington University in St. Louis' academic tie-up with IIT-Bombay. Among the highlights would be a study programme that would be designed for around 100-200 students of Masters in Social Work (MSW) across various institutions here, undertaking their final year studies at the Washington University in St. Louis campus in Missouri. There would be an exchange program in which the research students could spend 6-12 months both in India and the USA campuses to understand the realities of social excellence in both countries, said Union Minster Athawale. Yin said that for many decades, the Washington University in St. Louis' MSW program has ranked at No. 1 or No. 2 in global rankings. He said the varsity's Brown School offers courses with rigorous research training, leading to a doctoral degree in Social Work (since 1952) and Public Health Sciences (since 2014), preparing the scholars for good academic careers in top universities. Union Minister Athawale said the Washington University in St. Louis has offered scholarships to deserving Indian students which in turn would support India's Social Justice Department that extends similar benefits to the economically deprived communities. "Our proposed partnership with Washington University in St. Louis will boost our efforts in creating an environment where economically and socially backward students along with persons with disabilities can thrive and gain the benefits of education in the world's best schools and research institutions," he added. The Union Minister further said that also on the cards is an India-US Centre that will provide various services and serve as a hub for skill development, promoting self-reliance and resulting in empowerment, as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Besides the Brown School, Yin urged India to explore the academic and research opportunities available at its other prominent campuses, like the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, School of Law, Olin Business School, and others for the benefit of Indian students. After the successful discussions in Mumbai, Union Minister Athawale said he is likely to attend a major conference on Social Justice realities planned at the Washington University in St. Louis in July-August this year. He explained that his Ministry facilitates international scholarships for the poor, the tribals, the Dalits, and children of farm workers or traditional artisans to obtain world-class higher education in national or international universities and will now seek to tap India Inc. for CSR funds for similar initiatives. Last year, of the 125 students awarded international scholarships, 115 went to SC students, 6 to different categories of tribals, and 4 to children of farmers or traditional artisans, including 30 per cent women. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in) Police have since confirmed that three people have been arrested and charged over the dramatic ordeal that unfolded on a suburban street. Chilling CCTV footage has emerged of the moment a family fought back and rescued a 10-year-old boy from an alleged kidnapper, in a stunning altercation involving multiple people that sent shockwaves through a tight-knit community. Police allege a group of a children were playing at a skatepark in Logan in Queensland on Friday when one threw a stone at a nearby Jeep. They say it was that act that prompted the driver to allegedly snatch the boy from the popular playground, in Kingston, and drive off with him in his car, which contained two other occupants. Officers further allege that for more than half an hour, the group allegedly armed with machetes drove around the suburbs with the boy in the car until his family caught wind of the ordeal and intercepted the vehicle on a suburban street. Footage captured the ensuing brawl between the boy's parents, other family members and the occupants of the vehicle. Chilling CCTV has captured the moment a family rescued their 10-year-old son from his alleged kidnappers car in Logan, Queensland Credit: 7NEWS Shocking CCTV captures chilling struggle to free young boy In the desperate scenes that followed, the family can be heard screaming at the alleged abductors. "Give our son back, his mother can be heard yelling, as his father tries to force the SUV's door open. "Someone help, help! They stole my kid." Punches and kicks are thrown as the altercation intensifies, with the boy's dad being knocked unconscious by one of the alleged offenders, before his mother attempts to aid him, before also being allegedly assaulted. Grainy vision captured from a nearby home shows the two groups continue to violently clash before the boy is eventually freed, with the child heard asking for his scooter to be returned from the Jeep as the group drives off, fleeing the scene. However they didn't make it far, being apprehended by police just some 100 metres from where the brawl took place. Police confirm three charged over alleged kidnapping Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a spokeswoman for Queensland Police said a total of three people were arrested and charged in the wake of the incident. "A 27-year-old Woodridge man has been charged with one count each of kidnapping and assault occasioning bodily harm," the spokeswoman said. "He has been remanded in custody to reappear at Beenleigh Magistrates Court on June 10. "A 22-year-old Woodridge man has been charged with one count each of kidnapping and assault occasioning bodily harm. A 29-year-old Kingston woman has been charged with one count each of kidnapping and assault occasioning bodily harm." They are expected to appear at Beenleigh Magistrates Court on May 16. Three people have been charged over the incident, which was captured on shocking CCTV. Source: 7 News Addressing media at the weekend, Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Chris Stream said the shocking saga was "really scary" for the young boy and his family. "There will be a number of allegations which police will allege occurred involving interactions between those three persons, a 10-year-old child and also persons (who) were related to that 10-year-old child, he said on Sunday. Currently, theyre allegations but obviously, really scary for a child to be involved in that type of incident, as you would appreciate, also very scary for parents involved, having a child allegedly abducted. The 10-year-old boy will be supported by the child protection unit. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. New Delhi: Media persons at the Supreme Court complex on the day of the court's verdict. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, April 28 : The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday the plea filed by the West Bengal government against the Calcutta High Court's order cancelling 25,753 appointments in teaching and non-teaching posts made by the WBSSC in 2016. As per the details published on the website of the apex court, a bench headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra will take up the matter for hearing on March 29. In an order passed last week, the Calcutta High Court nullified the appointment of all the 25,753 persons empanelled in 2016 for various categories of jobs at secondary and higher secondary schools in the state. A division bench of Justices Debangsu Basak and Shabbar Rashidi of the high court ordered that the candidates selected from the expired panels will have to return the entire salary drawn by them, along with an annualised interest of 12 per cent, within the next four weeks. Besides directing the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) to start the recruitment process afresh, it also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to carry on with its investigation into the matter. Taking cognisance of the state cabinetas decision for the creation of super-numeric posts, the Calcutta High Court said that the CBI, if necessary, can question the masterminds behind the creation of the seats in excess of the vacant posts. These super-numeric posts, which have remained under the cloud since the beginning, are perceived to provide room for ineligible candidates recruited illegally. In July last year, the apex court had set aside the interim direction passed by the Calcutta High Court terminating services of 32,000 primary teachers and asking the West Bengal authorities to complete the recruitment process for the newly created vacancies within three months. Asking the high court to decide the appeal pertaining to the school-jobs-for-cash scam at the earliest, the Supreme Court had stressed that the opportunity for a hearing has to be given to all concerned. Lucknow, April 28 : Accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and BJP's UP president Bhupendra Chaudhary, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will file his nomination papers in Lucknow on Monday. Rajnath Singh will arrive in Lucknow on Sunday evening. UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak invited representatives of various social, business, religious organisations and public representatives to be a part of the memorable event. The Deputy CM said the amount of development work done by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Lucknow had not been done in any other city of the country. Senior BJP leader Neeraj Singh said detailed information was being shared on social media for April 29. Party's Lucknow metropolitan president Anand Dwivedi said, "A number of street meetings are being organised to send the message. The work of distributing family slips is also being done. Party workers are giving slips to family heads and distributing leaflets about the development works of the Lucknow MP." Dwivedi said Rajnath Singh will proceed to file his papers from the UP BJP office opposite the Vidhan Sabha. "From there, he would proceed on a motorised chariot to the collectorate to file his nomination along with ministers, mayor, senior party functionaries and others from 10 a.m. onwards," Dwivedi said. Rajnath Singh is seeking a third term as a Lok Sabha MP from Lucknow. Before contesting his first election from Lucknow in 2014, he had won the Lok Sabha polls from Ghaziabad in 2009. Lucknow will go to the polls along with 13 other constituencies on May 20 in the fifth of the seven-phased 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Ahmedabad, April 28 : In a bid to accelerate digital infrastructure growth in India, AdaniConneX, a JV between Adani Enterprises and EdgeConneX, on Sunday said it has established the country's largest sustainability-linked financing to raise up to $1.44 billion. The transaction elevates AdaniConneX's construction financing pool to $1.65 billion, building on the maiden construction facility of $213 million executed in June last year. "This successful exercise is a testament to the collective resolve of the parties to meet the challenges of establishing sustainable and robust digital infrastructure, thereby pushing norms and setting new industry benchmarks," said Jeyakumar Janakaraj, CEO of AdaniConneX. The upcoming data centre facilities will employ state-of-the-art technologies and renewable energy solutions to minimise the ecological footprint while optimising operational efficiency. The new financing has an initial commitment of $875 million, with an accordion feature to extend commitment up to $1.44 billion. "Construction financing is a core element of the AdaniConneX capital management plan, enabling us to deliver a data centre solution firmly rooted in sustainability and environmental stewardship," Janakaraj added. According to the company, a key feature of the data centre facility is the innovative solution of a syndicated guarantee-backed assurance programme in sync with the projects' procurement strategy. The agreements have been executed with eight international lenders -- ING Bank N.V., Intesa Sanpaolo, KfW IPEX, MUFG Bank Ltd., Natixis, Standard Chartered Bank, Societe Generale and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, informed the company. AdaniConneX aims to build an environmentally and socially conscious 1GW data centre infrastructure platform by leveraging the complementary capacity of the Adani Group and EdgeConneX, one of the largest private data centre operators. Mumbai, April 28 : Taapsee Pannu showcased her mastery of various aerial yoga poses on silk fabrics, effortlessly creating shapes with absolute ease. On Sunday morning, Taapsee took to Instagram to share a video of herself practicing aerial yoga. The actress is dressed in blue athleisure attire, perfectly complementing the shades of the silk fabric she was performing on. Taapsee captioned it: "WIP," an acronym for "Work in Progress." The video features "Symphonia" by Mozart playing in the background. Aerial yoga seamlessly blends traditional asanas and yoga philosophies with the art of aerial acrobatics, utilising silk fabrics or ropes suspended above to assist practitioners in creating various shapes. The actress, who got married to her longtime beau Mathias Boe in March, is set to appear in the upcoming sequel 'Phir Aayi Haseen Dilruba', the second instalment of 'Haseen Dilruba'. The film also features Vikrant Massey, Sunny Kaushal, and Kimmy Sheirgill in pivotal roles. Seoul, April 28 : South Korea's top carmaker Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia said on Sunday that they have inked an agreement with China's tech giant Baidu to develop technologies for connected cars. Under the memorandum of understanding signed in Beijing last week, the two South Korean carmakers and Baidu will join hands in a wide array of areas, including connectivity and self-driving technologies. Hyundai and Kia will also utilise Baidu's smart cloud computing technology to address Beijing's enhancing data regulations, reports Yonhap news agency. The South Korean companies will seek to find new business models harnessing artificial intelligence technologies with the Chinese counterpart as well, they added. "Through the strategic collaboration with Baidu, we will make efforts to establish the ecosystem for connected cars in the Chinese market," Hyundai and Kia said in a press release. The agreement came amid the growing market for connected cars in China. The annual sales of connected cars in China are anticipated to reach 17 million units this year, marking a sharp rise from 7.2 million units tallied in 2019, Hyundai said, citing Chinese data. Hyundai and Kia have been working closely with Baidu since 2014, including the development of voice recognition technology. New Delhi, April 28 : In a show of solidarity with incarcerated Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), on Sunday morning, organised a walkathon dubbed 'Walk for Kejriwal' in the national capital. The event aimes to galvanise support for Kejriwal, who is facing the heat of ongoing legal battles, notably his recent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case linked to the liquor policy. Minister and senior AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, while participating in the walkathon, emphasised the party's stance on corruption. "Today the youth wing of the party has organised a walkathon. We have installed a BJP washing machine here, if you put any corrupt leader in this machine, he will come out clean," Bharadwaj asserted, drawing attention to the party's anti-corruption narrative. "PM Narendra Modi is very nervous. The way he has changed his stance in his election rallies makes it clear that even he believes that the Opposition is coming to power," he said, reflecting on the political dynamics at play amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Echoing Bharadwaj's sentiments, another AAP leader and Delhi Minister, Atishi, reiterated the resolve of the people to stand behind Kejriwal in these testing times. "Today through this walkathon, the people of Delhi have come to express their support for Kejriwal ji. BJP thought that if they put Arvind Kejriwal in jail, AAP will not be able to campaign for the elections. But the people of Delhi are campaigning for Arvind Kejriwal," Atishi said. New Delhi, April 28 : In a huge setback to the Congress, its Delhi unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely has resigned from the party post. This comes amid the ongoing seven-phase Lok Sabha elections and Delhi is scheduled to go to polls on May 25. In a four-page letter to party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday, Arvinder Singh Lovely expressed anguish over the functioning of the Congress general secretary. He said, "All unanimous decisions taken by the senior Delhi Congress leaders have been unilaterally vetoed by the AICC general secretary (Delhi in-charge). Since my appointment as DPCC president, the AICC general secretary has not allowed me to make any senior appointments in the DPCC. My request for the appointment of a veteran leader as media head of DPCC was blatantly rejected. To date AICC general secretary has not allowed the DPCC to appoint all block presidents in the city resultantly more than 150 blocks in Delhi do not presently have block presidents." Expressing his unhappiness over the party's alliance with the Aam Adami Party (AAP) in the national capital, he said, "The Delhi Congress unit was against an alliance with a party, which was formed on the sole basis of levelling false fabricated and mala fide corruption charges against the Congress party and in turn whose half the cabinet minister is currently in jail on corruption charges. Despite that, the party decided to ally with AAP in Delhi." Lovely also expressed his dissatisfaction over the selection of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections for Delhi seats. He said, ".. given the limited number of seats granted to the Congress party in the alliance in Delhi, in the interest of the party in Delhi and in order to ensure that the tickets are allotted to the senior Congress colleagues, I publicly withdrew my name and opted out from being considered as a potential candidate. Out of these three seats, while rejecting the views of the DPCC, all observers and the local party workers, the North-West Delhi and Northeast Delhi seats were given to two candidates who were total strangers to Delhi Congress and party policies." The party has fielded Jai Prakash Agarwal, Udit Raj and Kanhaiya Kumar from three Delhi constituencies. Out of these Agarwal is a veteran of many elections and represented Chandni Chowk thrice earlier. In the letter, he mentioned the protests that happened after the three names were declared and how he was forced to suspend some leaders. "I tried to diffuse the situation by publicly stating that in a democratic party system, all party members have a right to voice their dissent. However, in direct contravention of my public democratic stand, the AICC general secretary distressingly asked me to suspend Mr Raj Kumar Chauhan (ex-Delhi Minister), Mr Surender Kumar (ex-MLA) and other party functionaries from the party. He, instead of calming the situation, further also, in the public meetings entered into numeric heated exchanges with Mr Sandeep Dikshit (ex-MP), Mr Raj Kumar Chauhan (ex-Delhi Minister), Mr Bhsham Sharma (ex-MLA) and Mr Surender Kuymar (ex-MLA)." Bengaluru, April 28 : Both, the BJP and Congress, are confident that the "good" voter turnout in Karnataka's 14 Lok Sabha seats, which went to the polls on April 26, is favourable for them. Karnataka has recorded 69.56 per cent turnout on April 26, according to the Election Commission. Barring Bengaluru's three parliamentary seats, all constituencies in the state witnessed over 70 per cent voting. While state BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra is claiming that the voting has been done in the favour of the BJP-JD(S) alliance, the Congress is saying that ground reports are suggesting that its seat tally will be greater than that of the BJP. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after the polling said that he had spoken to the candidates and district in-charges and all of them had given him a positive feedback. Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D.K. Shivakumar thanked the voters and said that his party would surely win seats in double digits. Shivakumar also claimed that JD-S is saying that the BJP leaders have "not cooperated in Mandya and Hassan Lok Sabha constituencies and dharma of alliance was not followed. In the Bengaluru Rural seat as well, BJP leaders have not supported the JD(S)". Both BJP and Congress are confident about winning the Hassan Lok Sabha seat, where the contest was primarily between former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda's grandson Prajwal Revanna and Congress' Shreyas M Patel. The constituency witnessed a 77.68 per cent voter turnout. The strengthen their claims, BJP and JD(S) sources claim that the Vokkaligas won't desert their "unquestionable" leader Deve Gowda. In addition to this, they are sure that a large chunk of Lingayat votes in Kadur, Sakleshpur, Belur and Arasikere assembly constituencies have come in support of the NDA candidate following the MCA student Neha Hiremath murder case. On the other hand, the Congress says that Prajwal Revanna had lost his chance after a scandalous pen drive against him surfaced before the election. In Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha seat, the BJP is confident of retaining the seat while the Congress is hopeful that the caste card will divide votes and its candidate Padmaraj will create history. The parliamentary seat saw 77.56 per cent turnout. The Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha seat has registered a 77.15 per cent voter turnout and both the national parties are claiming to win the seat. For the Chitradurga (reserved) Lok Sabha seat that registered 73.3 per cent polling, the Congress sources say their party will win the seat because of the overwhelming support of Dalits, backwards and minorities, who have a significant presence in the constituecy. Also, they claim that the party is benefitted by the internal strife within the BJP. The BJP, on the other hand, is relying on the Lingayat vote bank and is hopeful that it will emerge victorious. For the Tumakuru Lok Sabha seat, BJP sources say that the charisma of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reputation of BJP candidate V. Somanna as a person who delivers will help the party to win. The Congress, on the other hand, is claiming that oppressed classes, minorities and Vokkaligas have voted for the party. The constituency witnessed a 78.05 per cent voter turnout. With the high-profile Mandya seat seeing a turnout of 81.67 per cent, both NDA and Congress are claiming that the trend showed support for them. Supporters of JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy say that the trend showed absolute support for him while the Congress claims that the Vokkaliga vote bank, which is decisive in the segment, is standing behind Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, and thus its candidate will win from the seat. BJP and Congress insiders agree that there is a tough fight between the two parties in Chikkaballapur and Kolar Parliamentary seats, and the margin of victories will be low. For Bengaluru, the BJP claims that its dominance in three seats of the IT city will continue while the Congress says that results will surprise the rival party. Los Angeles, April 28 : A total of 69 protesters attending a pro-Palestine protest on Arizona State University's Tempe campus, the main campus of the public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area, were arrested for "violating university policy." The protesters were arrested early on Saturday "for trespassing after they set up an unauthorised encampment, in violation of university policy," said a statement released by the university, Xinhua news agency reported. Demonstrations against Israeli military action in Gaza are spreading on major university campuses across the US, with hundreds arrested, as the protracted conflict in Gaza has become a humanitarian catastrophe. On Saturday, at least 22 Palestinians were killed and several others injured due to Israeli airstrikes on central and southern Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. Jammu: Security personnel carry out search operations after three militants travelling in a truck from Jammu to Srinagar opened fire at a checkpost near the Jhajar Kotli police station, in Jammu on Sept 12, 2018. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) t. Image Source: IANS News Jammu, April 28 : An encounter broke out between terrorists and a joint team of police and Village Defence Guard (VDG) members at Basantgarh in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district, said officials on Sunday. One of the VDG members was injured in the firing. "Based on the information received about the presence of terrorists in the area of Police Station Basantgarh, J&K Police activated the security grid in Basantgarh police station limits of Udhampur district," a police statement. "Today morning, party of Police Picket Sang carrying along with them VDG members proceeded towards Chochru Gala heights where around 0745 hrs a face off ensued between Police party and a group of hiding terrorists. One Village Defence Guard member member of JKP was injured in the initial exchange of fire," said police in a post. The officials said the Special Operation Group of the police along with Army and CRPF parties had staged a cordon in the area and the operation is going on there. Beijing (Gasgoo)- During the Auto China 2024 in Beijing, Chery Automobile signed a cooperation agreement with NVIDIA to further enhance collaboration in the field of autonomous driving. Photo credit: EXEED Leveraging their respective technological advantages, the two parties will upgrade their cooperation from the existing NVIDIA DRIVE Orin platform and jointly develop a new-generation high-end intelligent driving platform around the NVIDIA DRIVE Thor platform, starting with Chery's high-end models. The recently launched pre-sale of Chery's new model, the EXEED STERRA ET, is based on the NVIDIA DRIVE Orin platform. Equipped with LiDAR and two Orin chips, it features NEP full-scenario intelligent driving assistance, enabling autonomous driving assistance on urban roads and highways. Moreover, the EXEED STERRA ET supports intelligent parking assistance, including automatic parking, remote parking, and valet parking, providing users with a safe and intelligent driving experience. The next-generation NVIDIA DRIVE Thor chip will feature the new NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, designed specifically for Transformer, large language models (LLM), and generative AI workloads. It will offer rich intelligent cockpit functions, as well as safe and reliable highly automated driving and unmanned driving capabilities, seamlessly integrating all functions into a centralized AI platform. Backed by the "Yaoguang 2025" forward-looking technology strategy, Chery plans to invest over 100 billion yuan in technology R&D over the next five years, with 20 billion yuan allocated to the field of intelligence. Chery aims to establish over 300 Yaoguang laboratories worldwide. New Delhi, April 28 : The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday the plea filed by the West Bengal government challenging the court-monitored CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into land grabbing and extortion cases in Sandeshkhali. As per the details published on the website of the apex court, a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta will take up the special leave petition for hearing on April 29. In an order passed in the second week of April, the Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to commence its probe in the matter after creating a special investigation team (SIT) for that purpose. A division bench of Chief Justice T. S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya asked the investigative agency to submit a detailed report to the high court following which the latter will decide on the next course of action. It directed the CBI to open a separate portal and email through which the victims in Sandeshkhali can register their complaints relating to illegal land grabbing and extortion, adding that the Central agency will maintain absolute secrecy with regard to the identity of the complainants. It ordered the district administration in North 24 Parganas including the district magistrate and the district police superintendent to identify the sensitive pockets at Sandeshkhali and install CCTVs. The district administration was also directed by the high court to properly illuminate the streets at Sandeshkhali. Several public interest litigations (PILs) were filed before the Calcutta High Court in connection with illegal land grabbing and extortion at Sandeshkhali, where the main accused was a section of the local Trinamool Congress leaders led by the now-suspended ruling party leader Sheikh Shahjahan. Earlier in March, the Supreme Court had dismissed the plea filed by the state government challenging the CBI probe into the attack on ED and CAPF teams at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas District on January 5. However, it had ordered to expunge the adverse observations made against the West Bengal Police and the state government in the impugned judgment of the Calcutta High Court. Mumbai, April 28 : Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who is currently engrossed in the shoot of his upcoming streaming series 'Gandhi', shared pictures with his lead actor Pratik Gandhi on the occasion of the latter's birthday. Mumbai, April 28 (IANS) Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who is currently engrossed in the shoot of his upcoming streaming series 'Gandhi', shared pictures with his lead actor Pratik Gandhi on the occasion of the latteras birthday. On Sunday, Hansal took to his Instagram and posted an array of pictures with Pratik. The images capture them relaxing and stealing some laid-back moments amid their busy shooting schedule. In most of the pictures, the director and the actor are seen sitting on swings, which inspired Hansalas caption. The filmmaker wrote in the caption: "Swinging with my rock! Happy Birthday @pratikgandhiofficial. See you on set in a few hours." Hansal and Pratik share a close friendship, which blossomed after the success of the streaming series aScam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Storya. Their Gujarati backgrounds serve as the foundation of their bond, along with common interests and a shared passion for storytelling and cinema. Earlier, Hansal met the legendary filmmaker Shekhar Kapur in London during the ongoing schedule of aGandhia. The aAligarha director took to Instagram and shared pictures from their meeting. Shekhar visited the sets of aGandhia in London, observed Hansalas work, and engaged in discussions about the show. The two also took a stroll through the streets of London. Patna, April 28 : Political parties very well recognise the worth of each single vote; thus, they try to reach every voter to seek support in elections. In Bihar, this outreach programme by political parties is not just limited to the constituencies they are contesting but a way beyond. Bihar has 10 Lok Sabha constituencies located near the India-Nepal border and a significant chunk of voters live in the neighbouring country. Thus in every election -- from Panchayat to Lok Sabha polls, political parties try to lure these voters to return home and vote for their candidates. It is estimated that around three lakh people of Bihar origin live in Nepal and a majority of them still enjoy Indian citizenship, and are eligible to cast their vote here. The state has 40 Lok Sabha constituencies and the 10 seats that share borders with Nepal are -- Valmiki Nagar, Paschim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Sheohar, Supaul, Sitamarhi, Jhanjharpur, Madhubani, Araria and Kishanganj. Of these 10 constituencies, polling in Kishanganj was held during the second phase on April 26 while voting in Supaul, Jhanjharpur and Araria is slated for May 7. Elections in Madhubani and Sitamarhi are scheduled in the fifth phase on May 20; and in Valmiki Nagar, Paschim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, and Sheohar in the sixth phase on May 25. For several voters living abroad, elections are like a festival during which they get an opportunity to visit their hometown and meet relatives and friends. "We have a business in Kathmandu, and elections give us an opportunity to visit our native place. We used to come here four to five days before the polling day to exercise our voting rights... this time too, we will do the same. During elections, the international border witnesses a fair-like atmosphere due to the gathering of people in large numbers," said Chandeshwar Shah, a Kathmandu-based trader who is a native of Inarwa block in West Champaran district. His brother Mukteshwar Shah said: "Election is an excuse for us to meet our relatives and friends. It is a festival for us just like Holi, Diwali, and Chhath." Some voters living in Nepal, on condition of anonymity, told IANS that local representatives of candidates contesting from their native constituency "lure them to come home and vote for their candidates. Such practices are frequent in Panchayat and urban local body elections as well as the Lok Sabha polls." "Representatives of candidates generally contact the family members and their relatives to obtain phone numbers of voters living in Nepal. They contact them over the phone and ask them to return home to vote. Now why would anyone leave work and come here unless they have their own personal or financial interest?" said Sudhir Singh (name changed), who is associated with a political party and a native of Raxaul in East Champaran district. Jitendra Singh Gangwar, the Bihar Police's ADG (Headquarters), said that the international border is temporarily sealed 72 hours before the polling as per the directions of the Election Commission and thus, those willing to cast their votes must come before the border is sealed. New Delhi, April 28 : Markets are expected to consolidate in the near term as investors focus on Q4 earnings season. "We expect a consolidation in the near term, leading investors to seek refuge in bonds and gold," says Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services. Additionally, upcoming US Fed policy and US nonfarm payroll data will dictate the global market, while the ongoing Q4 earnings reports are poised to influence the domestic market dynamics, he said. Relief from Middle East tensions, coupled with a correction in oil prices, and a bolstered Indian economic outlook fuelled by elevated composite PMI data from manufacturing and service sectors, propelled a market rally, Nair said. However, the unexpected decline in US GDP and a surge in the US core PCE price index triggered a global stock market downturn on the last trading day, he added. "The domestic market lagged its Asian peers as Q4 earnings remained largely subdued, with weak results from IT and a few index heavyweights also disappointing. The expectation of an improvement in asset quality and the RBI's regulatory ecosystem for private banks led the PSU banks to outperform," Nair said. Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst, HDFC Securities, said the short-term trend of Nifty seems to have reversed down after a reasonable rise from the lows. Immediate support is placed at 22300 and the weakness below this support could trigger more declines ahead. Immediate resistance is at 22625 levels. 'Sleepless Gauahar Khan shares 'story of every new mom on video. Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, April 28 : Actress Gauahar Khan has shared a rib-tickling video discussing the experience of every new mother. Gauahar took to Instagram and shared a reel. In the video, the sleepy actress is seen lying down on the couch while the nanny takes her baby away. The actress humorously mouths the dialogue: "Jis din meri neend poori hogayi na mainai duniya badal deni hai (The day I have a complete sleep, I will change the world)." "Story of every #newmom !! #ifeelyou. Drop a yawn in comments if you are also sleepless as me," Gauahar wrote in the caption. Gauahar's video received a like from Bollywood star Varun Dhawan, who is also preparing to enter parenthood soon. Last year, in May, Gauahar and her husband, Zaid Darbar, announced the arrival of their first child, a boy named Zeehan. New Delhi, April 28 : Following Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely's resignation, the BJP on Sunday said that once again, evidence of the fractured state of the grand old party has emerged while asserting that the party lacks any mission for the country, and instead is filled with confusion, contradiction and division. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the Congress appears to lack a coherent national mission and, instead, is rife with confusion, contradiction and internal division. Poonawalla further said that Lovely's resignation reflects a growing discontent among the Congress leaders and workers towards the party's high command. "Today, many within the Congress feel insulted by their leadership's attitude, leading to a wave of resignations. The irony is that the same Congress, which the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had previously sought to cleanse, is now being pardoned by its high command, evidenced by the alliance formed with the AAP in Delhi," said Poonawalla. The BJP spokesperson criticised the Congress' stance towards the AAP, highlighting contradictions between their approach in Punjab and Delhi. "While the Congress in Punjab accuses the AAP of associating with extremists and being corrupt, in Delhi, they have allied with the same party, suggesting inconsistency in their principles," he said. Moreover, the BJP leader expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of candidates fielded by the Congress in Delhi, alleging that many of them lack local connections and electoral viability. The BJP leader further criticised the lack of achievements by the AAP government in Delhi, suggesting that even Congress leaders acknowledge this fact. However, he said that the Congress high command appeared deaf to the concerns of its leaders, leading to a series of defections from the party across the country. "The cracks within the party's alliances, ranging from Jammu and Kashmir to Kerala, further underscore the disarray within the Congress ranks," he claimed, while adding that the root cause of these issues lies in the Congress high command's self-serving focus, neglecting the welfare of its workers. Russian troops compared to ISIS for demanding ransom from mother of captured Ukrainian soldier. Image Source: IANS News Kyiv, April 28 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has decried Russian attacks on the country's gas transit system. Zelensky said in his evening video message broadcast in Kyiv on Saturday that the infrastructure through which gas is channelled through Ukraine to the European Union has been attacked. Despite the Russian invasion, which has been going on for more than two years, Russian gas continues to flow through the country - albeit in much smaller quantities. The state-owned gas company Naftogaz had also previously complained of Russian attacks on the pipeline network, without giving details. The company recently announced that it would no longer be transporting Russian gas to the West from 2025 onwards - the current contracts with the Russian state-owned company Gazprom expire at the end of the year. The main recipients are countries without access to the sea that are unable to switch to liquefied natural gas (LNG). Russia once again hit Ukraine with missile attacks in the early hours of Saturday, targeting energy facilities in particular. Four thermal power plants were damaged, according to the energy company DTEK. Following the air strikes, Zelensky once again called on the West to provide more air defence support. In his video address, he explained that Russia had expanded the radius with its massive attacks, which was now making the work of Ukrainian air defence even more difficult. Ukraine needs more US Patriot air defence systems. Workers in Ukraine are in the process of repairing the damage caused by the new Russian attacks, said Zelensky. Moscow had previously excused the massive new shelling of energy facilities in Ukraine by saying that Kyiv was also attacking Russian infrastructure with drones. During one such attack, a fire broke out at an oil processing plant in the Krasnodar region on Saturday. However, the damage caused by Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory is minuscule compared to the massive destruction caused by Moscow's missile strikes against Ukrainian facilities. --IANS/DPA sd/svn Canberra, April 28 : Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined nationwide protests calling for an end to violence against women. Tens of thousands of Australians on Sunday gathered at events across the country to demand action to address gendered violence, Xinhua news agency reported. In Canberra, protesters were joined on their march to Parliament House by Albanese, who earlier in April said Australia was facing a crisis of violence against women, and senior government ministers. According to the activist group Destroy the Joint, 26 women have been violently killed in Australia since the start of 2024. "Violence against women is an epidemic. We must do better," Albanese wrote in a post on social media on Sunday morning. "Governments need to do better, and as a society, we need to do better." Speaking at a press conference earlier on Sunday, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said more time was needed to determine if the 10-year National Plan to End Violence against Women implemented by the government in October 2022 was yielding results. The plan set a goal of eradicating violence against women within a generation. "The results will take some time to see the change we need to turn things around," Rishworth said on Sunday. She said she was hopeful the current national conversation would bring sustained resolve across society to address the issue. Belagavi : , April 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday intensified his attack on the Congress over the wealth redistribution issue and said that the "brother and sister duo" wants to take away people's property, including the 'mangalsutra', which they want to give to their vote bank, adding that he will not let this happen till he is alive. Addressing a huge 'Vijaya Sankalp' rally in Belagavi city, Prime Minister Modi said, "Your servant is working towards increasing the wealth in villages, of women, youth and all classes of the society. This brother and sister want to carry out an 'X-ray' of the whole country. They want to conduct an X-ray (screening) of your property, bank lockers, lands, cars, bikes, and bicycles. They will know how much gold and jewels you have, and they will conduct X-rays of your 'mangalsutras' as well. These people will conduct X-rays on every house and take away your property. After seizing it, they will redistribute it to people whom they like." PM Modi asked, "Will you allow the loot? Loot of your jewels? Loot of your mangal sutras? Will any hand take that away? Until Modi is alive, you (brother-sister) stop your plans. I will not allow you to do that. I will not allow your game." "The Congress leaders are also claiming that, if their party comes to power in New Delhi, they will bring inheritance tax and there will be a law in this regard. You will toil hard and save for your children so that after you age, they should not come under the mercy of others. The Congress is saying whatever you have saved, your children will not get it. By imposing a 55 per cent tax their government will take it away. This is being done for their vote bank," Prime Minister Modi said while slamming the Congress. "The party's (Congress) stand is very clear. Their Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had made a statement in this regard," Prime Minister Modi stated. Prime Minister Modi asked the gathering if they would allow such a thing to happen in Karnataka. "Will you allow the Congress to bring such legislation? ...The BJP and NDA get inspiration from the erstwhile queen Chennamma and the women are allowed to be part of all Armed Forces. The number of women serving in the Army has doubled...Your dream is my conviction. I live my life for you and the country. I need the support from Karnataka. I need your blessings," PM Modi said. Imphal, April 28 : Heavy exchange of fire between village volunteers of the two rival communities has been reported in Manipur's Imphal West district on Sunday, police said. Imphal, April 28 (IANS) Heavy exchange of fire between village volunteers of the two rival communities has been reported in Manipuras Imphal West district on Sunday, police said. Police said that several armed cadres of village volunteers opened indiscriminate fire on Koutruk village in the periphery of Imphal Valley from the adjoining hills in Kangpokpi district, and the armed village volunteers of rival ethnic groups retaliated. Due to the gunbattle, villagers including women, children and elderly persons fled to safer places. Country-made mortar shells known as 'Pumpi' are also used in the firing and caused panic among residents, a police official said. Some of the shells reportedly pierced walls of the homes of the villagers. A huge contingent of combined Central and state security forces have rushed to the area to bring the situation under control. There is no report of any casualty or injury in the incident yet. Sundayas gunfight occurred within 24 hours after 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 Bishnupur district, early on Saturday. On April 24, a vital bridge on National Highway-2 in Manipur's Kangpokpi district was badly damaged in IED blast, disrupting the movement of traffic between Manipur and the rest of the country via Nagaland. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On April 26, Desay SV, GAIC AIONs Hyper brand, and NVIDIA signed a tripartite cooperation agreement at the Auto China 2024 in Beijing. Photo credit: Desay SV The three parties will jointly develop and accelerate the deployment of next-generation cockpit-driving integrated solution and central computing platforms based on NVIDIA's new generation DRIVE Thor chip, catering to the hardware and software requirements of Level 4 (L4) advanced autonomous driving systems. The trio aims to jointly manufacture L4 production vehicles, providing power support for advanced autonomous driving functions, confident views, digital clusters, and AI-powered cockpits. Hyper plans to mass-produce L4 models by 2025, achieving an industry-leading 2,000 TOPS computing power. The NVIDIA DRIVE Thor SoC (System-on-Chip) integrates NVIDIA's latest CPU and GPU innovations, including the NVIDIA Blackwell tailored for Transformer models and generative AI applications. DRIVE Thor supports 8-bit floating point (FP8) precision, providing 1,000 TOPS high-performance computing power on a single chip. This solution systematically integrates hardware and software, shortening the development cycle and significantly reducing costs. New Delhi, April 28 : After the resignation of Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit expressed understanding for Lovely's "personal challenges", attributing them to recent developments within the grand old party. Dikshit also met Lovely at his residence in the national capital. Talking to reporters, he said that Lovely has experienced personal pain over the last two to three months due to developments in the party. "I haven't read the letter. His pain is that we are struggling to bring back our old reputation in Delhi. Becoming the President of Congress is a crown of thorns," Dikshit said, emphasising the demanding nature of leadership within the party. "Despite this, he worked hard in the last 6-8 months and built the party, which is evident through INDI alliance rallies," he said. Sandeep Dikshit also emphasised the need for unity and consensus within the Congress, and said, "When we get two or three seats, it seems that if we give seats to people with the consent of all the people of Congress, then the work will go better in the future." Earlier on Sunday, in a huge setback to the Congress, its Delhi unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely resigned from the party post. This comes amid the ongoing seven-phase Lok Sabha elections and Delhi is scheduled to go to polls on May 25. In a four-page letter to party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday, Arvinder Singh Lovely expressed anguish over the functioning of the Congress. Expressing his unhappiness over the party's alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the national capital, he said, "The Delhi Congress unit was against an alliance with a party, which was formed on the sole basis of levelling false fabricated and mala fide corruption charges against the Congress party and in turn whose half the cabinet minister is currently in jail on corruption charges. Despite that, the party decided to ally with AAP in Delhi." Lovely also expressed his dissatisfaction over the selection of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections for Delhi seats. Colombo, April 28 : An Indian firm jointly taking over the management of China-built country's second biggest airport in Hambantota - one of the hotspots of China's controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Sri Lanka - sends a strong signal of Colombo's growing power shift to New Delhi from Beijing. On Friday, the Sri Lankan Cabinet of Ministers gave the green light to hand over the management of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) to Shaurya Aeronautics (Pvt.) Ltd of India and Airports of Regions Management Company of Russia for a period of 30 years. "The Cabinet of Ministers expressed their consent to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation to entrust M/s Shaurya Aeronautics (Pvt.) Ltd of India and Airports of Regions Management Company of Russia with the management of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport for 30 years," the Department of Government Information announced. "A total of five institutions submitted their proposals and two companies were selected," Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena told media announcing the decision to hand over the management of the airport branded as one of the "emptiest" airports in the world. Built at a cost of $209 million Chinese commercial loan, out of which $190 million was taken on a high-interest from the Exim Bank of China, the airport has been plagued with problems since its inauguration in 2013 with hardly any flights operating from it considering its 230 km access from capital Colombo. Due to the mounting losses, Sri Lanka has been looking for commercial partners to manage the airport since 2016. The National Audit Office (NAO) revealed that over the period 2017-2022, the MRIA has accumulated losses of over Rs 42.81 billion. The decision to shift the management of the airport also takes place while Sri Lanka is in talks with China's EXIM Bank to reorganise the airport loan, which is a part of the $4.2 billion borrowed for various infrastructure projects. The airport closer to the southern tip of the island in the Indian Ocean is presently being used for handling chartered tourist flights from Russia and some countries from Central Asia. The airport is in close proximity to the China-run harbour in Hambantota - one of the Chinese government's major infrastructure projects under its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), just like Gwadar in Pakistan and Djibouti in East Africa. Unable to repay a huge Chinese loan of about $1.263 billion, Sri Lanka was forced to hand over the port on a 99-year lease to China Merchants Port Holdings which turned out to be a classic example of 'debt trap diplomacy' which focused on cornering countries with loans and seizing strategic assets after they cannot repay. Since the debt swap, China has attempted to use the port for vessels carrying controversial operations. In April 2021, Sri Lanka asked a China-bound cargo ship to leave the strategic Hambantota port after it was found to be carrying radioactive uranium without declaring it to the Lankan authorities. In August 2022, both India and the US expressed strong protest against the entry of the controversial Chinese navy vessel 'Yuan Wang 5' into Hambantota Port. Amidst continuous protest against China's attempts to bring down research vessels to Lankan waters, the Ranil Wickremesinghe government temporarily banned allowing research vessels citing "security threats" to the Indian Ocean region. Suffered by continuous perilous impacts on its economy which includes the Easter Sunday attacks, the Covid-19 pandemic and the international financial crisis, Sri Lanka in May 2022 became the first Asian lower-middle-income country to default on its sovereign debt in two decades. The island nation declared a debt default on over USD 51 billion in foreign loans out of which 52 per cent is owed to China, the largest lender. Amidst the unprecedented financial crisis faced since 1948 independence, India came to the rescue of its southern neighbour with Lines of Credit worth over USD 4 billion in different sectors, including the supply of essentials such as petroleum, fertilisers, medicine, development of railways, infrastructure, defence sector and renewable energy. India also took the initiative with other bilateral creditors like Japan and the Paris Club to speed up the debt restructuring process, the action which helped the country to secure an International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditional bailout package of nearly $ 3 billion for three years. Berlin, April 28 : Russia and Ukraine continued to attack each other with drone strikes a day before, according to local authorities on Sunday. Ukrainian Governor Vitaly Kim said a hotel and an energy supply facility were hit in the southern city of Mykolaiv. The exact damage is still being determined, he wrote in a post on Telegram. However, there were no casualties. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia deployed four Iranian-made Shahed-131/136 combat drones -- so-called 'kamikaze' drones -- and five other drones of unknown design. The four Shahed drones and one other drone were shot down, officials said. The Russian air attacks on Ukraine were not as intense as those on Saturday when dozens of rockets, cruise missiles and combat drones hit targets in the country. Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry in Moscow said that 17 Ukrainian drones had been shot down over areas close to the border on Sunday night. DPA is unable to independently confirm details of the strikes provided by either side. The Governor of the Kaluga region in Russia, Vladislav Shapsha, said that three Ukrainian drones had been intercepted near a fuel depot. Ukraine has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion of the country for more than two years. Russian airstrikes have targeted areas throughout the country, with particularly intense attacks recently aimed at Ukraine's energy supplies. Ukraine, meanwhile, has increased the range of its own combat drones and is increasingly targeting Russian refineries and fuel supply facilities as well. --IANS/DPA sd/khz Elon Musk hints at new 'tap to park' feature for Tesla cars. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, April 28 : Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made an "unannounced and surprising" visit to Beijing, according to a media report on Sunday. Musk's visit has raised hopes for bringing Tesla's autopilot and supervised full self-driving (FSD) technology to China, known to be the electric vehicle maker's second-biggest market, the South China Morning Post reported. This comes as China looks to increase the adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems and higher levels of autonomous driving functions in mass-produced cars. Musk had in a recent post on X.com noted that Tesla will make FSD available to customers in China "very soon". Tesla rolled out FSD, the most autonomous version of its Autopilot software, four years ago but the technology is yet to be available in China. Musk's latest visit also coincides with the ongoing 2024 Beijing Auto Show, the report said. Musk was earlier, this month, expected to visit India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the tech billionaire scrapped the plan amid crucial Tesla quarterly results and will possibly visit the country later this year to announce his investment plans. In a post on X, the billionaire said that unfortunately, "very heavy Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed." "But I do very much look forward to visiting later this year," Musk added. New Delhi, April 28 : Undiagnosed immune deficiency is significantly rising among children under the age of five in India, said doctors here on Sunday, as part of the World Primary Immunodeficiency Week. Every year, April 22 to 29 is observed as World Primary Immunodeficiency Week. It aims to raise awareness about Primary immunodeficiencies (PIs), also known as inborn errors of immunity (IEI) -- a group of 450 rare and chronic conditions where a part of the body's immune system is missing or does not function correctly. Dr Gaurav Kharya, Director, Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, told IANS that the prevalence of primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDs) is rising in India. "These are potentially fatal genetic conditions that affect a child's immune system, making them more susceptible to infections, autoimmunity, and malignancies," he explained. While there is no nationwide data on the prevalence of PIDs in India, statistical projections claim that there could be more than one million patients with PIDs in the country. Dr Sagar Bhattad, Consultant - Paediatric Immunology & Rheumatology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, told IANS that over the past seven years, the hospital has identified more than 450 children suffering from rare and complex immune deficiency diseases. "Whereas, a decade ago, the number was limited to 1-2 cases per month, which has now increased to 10-12 every month -- a significant five-fold increase. In the past year alone, over 125 diagnoses were made, and experts predict this number to rise substantially in the coming years. "It is estimated that before 2004, less than 50 cases of immune deficiency were identified nationally. This number has risen dramatically, with an estimated 300-500 cases diagnosed in 2014 and a further increase to 2,500-3,000 cases projected in 2024. This represents a staggering 300-400 per cent increase over the past decade," Dr Sagar said. The doctors blame lack of awareness about the conditions as well as treatment facilities to be a major reason for the rise in PIDs. "These genetic conditions are more common in communities that practise consanguineous marriages. Many cases of immunodeficiency go undiagnosed due to a lack of facilities and awareness, especially in rural areas," Dr Gaurav said. "The lack of awareness and diagnostic facilities are often the reasons why these patients do not reach tertiary care centres where they can be treated for these disorders," he explained. The doctors stressed the need for recognising the signs and symptoms that can help in early diagnosis, as well as better outcomes. Genetic testing during pregnancy can be key to identifying potential problems and preventing recurrence in future pregnancies. According to Dr Gaurav, bone marrow transplant (BMT), which replaces the defective immune cells of the patient with healthy cells from a compatible donor, has emerged as a potentially curative treatment for several types of primary immunodeficiencies. "If a child falls ill repeatedly and requires frequent antibiotics, it could be a sign of a serious genetic immune problem. These conditions can affect multiple children in the same family," Dr Sagar said. "By identifying these conditions at early stages, children can receive the targeted treatment they need to avoid frequent infections and the overuse of antibiotics," he said, calling for a wider availability of affordable genetic testing to enable earlier diagnoses and improve treatment outcomes. "By working together, we can ensure that no child misses out on a healthy life due to an undiagnosed immune deficiency," the doctor said. Berlin, April 28 : Germany's Minister of Education and Research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, has called on universities to scrutinise any joint projects with China in the light of recent arrests over spying allegations. "The arrest of three Germans for suspected espionage once again makes it abundantly clear that we must not be naive in our dealings with China," the liberal politician told German news magazine Wirtschaftswoche. "We need to weigh up the risks and benefits of cooperation even more carefully, especially in science and in universities. This includes reviewing existing cooperative relationships." A week ago, a married couple and another man were arrested in the western German cities of Dusseldorf and Bad Homburg on suspicion of having procured information on military technology in order to pass it on to the Chinese secret service. According to the federal prosecutor's office, they were in negotiations about research projects that could be useful for expanding China's naval combat power. Stark-Watzinger said that support would only be given to projects "that have a clear added value for Germany and Europe". At the same time, she said that Berlin would "continue to support the expansion of independent China expertise". --IANS/DPA khz Chandigarh, April 28 : BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Chandigarh, Sanjay Tandon, on Sunday joined the brigade of youngsters on motorcycles to lend a new hue to his campaign. He flagged off as well as led the rally from his residence in Sector 18 to Namdhari Gurdwara in Sector 30. The en route zig-zagged through various sectors amidst slogans of pro-Modi and pro-Tandon. Tandon said, "The bike rally reminded me of my younger days when I used to accompany my father, Balramji Dass Tandon, on his bike during election campaigns." The "youthful" side of Tandon was appreciated by all young riders who accompanied him in the rally. The rally concluded at Namdhari Gurdwara, where Tandon paid obeisance. As a mark of respect, he was presented a 'saropa'. Suba Gurmukh Singh, Head Namdhari Sangat of Chandigarh and Panchkula, extended support of the Namdhari community to the BJP candidate. Tandon thanked the Namdhari Sangat for its magnanimity and said this support means a lot to him. Belagavi : , April 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Congress of bowing to the pressure of appeasement politics and not giving justice to the family of MCA student Neha, who was murdered on college campus. Addressing a huge gathering here, Prime Minister Modi stated, "Dekhiye unki himmat... Hubballi mein hamare ek beti ke saath jo college campus pe huwa, pura desh main bhuchal aa gaya ... uss beti ka parivar action ki maang karta raha. (Look at their courage... What happened with our daughter on a college campus in Hubballi shook the nation. Her family is demanding action... They don't value the lives of our daughters like Neha...They are worried about their vote bank..." The Prime Minister further said, "Since the Congress government has come to power in Karnataka, the law and order situation in the state has become worrisome..." "Here in Belagavi, what happened to an Adivasi woman, and what happened to Jain Muni Maharaj in the neighbouring city Chikkodi is shameful... These incidents had brought disrepute to the Karnataka state," he stated. "In the Bengaluru cafe blast case, the Congress government did not show any interest. Some leaders stated that it was a gas explosion. Why are you (Congress) trying to fool people? If you are not capable, leave the place," Prime Minister Modi said. The manifesto of the Congress reflects the mindset of the Congress. The whole country knows wherever the Congress comes into power, development halts and the same is happening in Karnataka. When the BJP government ruled the state, a big chunk of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) came to the state. The situation has changed now. Jaha Congress ayegi, waha barbaadi layegi (wherever Congress comes, it brings destruction)", Prime Minister Modi said. "Our's is a country of small farmers. BJP and NDA have strengthened them through self-help groups and cooperatives," he stated. He slammed the Congress government for stopping the Rs 4,000 allowance to the farmers given by the previous BJP government in the state. Kolkata, April 28 : BJP national president J. P. Nadda on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, saying that despite having a woman chief minister, females in the state are most unsafe. Addressing a rally in Behrampur, he said, "Trinamool Congress came to power in West Bengal by promising to be the voice of the common people. But after that, the party snatched the land of the poor people. The women in West Bengal are unsafe and this is despite the fact that the chief minister of the state is a woman." "Only Trinamool Congress is responsible for the bad name that the state is getting in the present context. Once it was said that what Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow. And because of the misrule of Trinamool Congress, the state's image is getting maligned. The Mamata Banerjee government is resorting to appeasement politics. They are even compromising with the terrorists. They are sympathising with the anti-social elements," the BJP president said. He claimed that during the last 10 years of the BJP regime in the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "If Pakistan tried to cast an evil eye on India, our forces conducted surgical strikes. Previously, the mobile phones available in the country were either 'Made in China' or 'Made in Taiwan'. But now all are 'Made in India'. This is the progress that the country has achieved during the last 10 years." However, throughout his speech, he did not utter a single word about the Congress candidate from Baharampur and the state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Patna, April 28 : Two police personnel were killed and 12 others injured after a speeding container truck rammed into a parked bus in Bihar's Gopalganj district on Sunday. The victims were on the way to Supaul for election duty when the tragic incident occurred. The injured were admitted to Sadar Hospital and the condition of six of them was stated to be critical. The deceased were identified as Pawan Mahto and Ashok Uraon. "Around 45 constables of police line Gopalganj were travelling in a bus proceeding towards Supaul for election duty. When the bus reached the Barhima Mor under Sidhwalia police station, the driver stopped the bus at the roadside eatery for breakfast. Majority of the constables deboarded the bus for refreshment while some remained seated inside the vehicle. In the meanwhile, a container truck rammed into the bus," Prabhat said. "Two constables died on the spot while 12 constables were injured in this accident. We have admitted them to the Sadar hospital for the treatment," he said. "We have registered an FIR under relevant IPC sections of rash and negligent driving against the driver and seized the container truck," he added. NEW YORKAfter the fourth official day of testimony has concluded, jurors in the hush money trial against former President Donald Trump have a three-day weekend to consider what they were told by the prosecutors and defense attorneys. Trump stands accused of 34 felony counts related to a scheme to silence adult star Stormy Daniels from sharing the story that she had a brief affair with the 2024 presidential candidate in 2006. Elements of the case include payments to former Playboy model Karen McDougal via coordination with the former publisher of the tabloid National Enquirer, David Pecker, who spent the first days of testimony explaining the alleged "catch-and-kill" scheme to silence stories critical of Trump. Pecker stepped down from the witness stand after testifying for 10 hours across four days. He told the court Thursday that he believed that payments to both Daniels and McDougal violated campaign finance laws and were made to influence the 2016 election. Trump's plan, per Pecker's remarks on Friday, was to help circumvent campaign finance laws so that the parent company of National Enquirer, American Media Inc., and other principal firms and individuals didn't have to disclose any contributions they made to Trump's campaign. Federal law requires all federal political candidates, from Congress to the presidency, to disclose financial contributions made to all political campaigns related to electioneering activities. Defense attorneys for Trump once again tried to poke holes in the testimony Pecker delivered in a bid to weaken the former tabloid publisher's credibility. According to a recap by CNN, Trump lawyer Emil Bove tried to find inconsistencies in Pecker testifying to the payments made to Karen McDougal through American Media totaling about $150,000. A banker, Gary Farro, testified for the prosecutors about the paper trail left by personal Trump attorney and fixer Michael Cohen. Farro explained Cohen set up a shell corporation in Delaware to funnel the payments to silence Stormy Daniels and potentially circumvent campaign finance disclosure requirements. Cohen formed a shell company and a bank account to compensate American Media for McDougal's silence but this account was never funded, Farro said. Later, Cohen opened an account for another shell company called Essential Consultants in October 2016, which ultimately served as the vehicle to pay off Daniels to suppress her story about having an affair with Trump in 2006, in the amount of $130,000. Farro is expected to continue his testimony next week. Another individual who testified for the prosecution was Trump's long-time former assistant, Rhona Graff. Graff testified that she managed Trump's contacts and calendar for decades as his assistant. Jury members were presented exhibits showing evidence of contact entries for Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. Graff testified that she input those entries into the Trump Organization's rolodex for Trump. Daniels was referred to simply as "Stormy." She also testified she saw Daniels once at Trump Tower. A defense attorney for Trump, Susan Necheles, tried to clarify to Graff that Daniels might have been meeting with Trump to discuss a possible appearance on his reality show Celebrity Apprentice as a contestant. I vaguely recall hearing him say that she was one of the people that may be an interesting contestant on the show, Graff told the court. I never had the same day twice in all that time. ... It was a very stimulating, exciting, fascinating place to be. Trump reportedly gave her a smirk from across the courtroom. With the depth of testimony, there is still public interest regarding whether Trump will be held in contempt of court for continuing to violate the gag orders placed on him by Judge Juan Merchan. ABC News online recollects at least 14 gag order violations, including a post by Trump to Truth Social, "Thank you to Michael Avenatti." Avenatti, who for a time served as Daniels' attorney and is currently serving a 14-year sentence in a federal prison for defrauding former clients, including Daniels, posted on X somehow that Daniels and Cohen should be held to the same gag order standard as the former president. Merchan has yet to rule on the gag order violations Trump is accused of by the prosecutors. Budaun : , April 28 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday that the Samajwadi Party (SP) has become a joke of the Lok Sabha elections by changing its candidates again and again which proves that they have accepted defeat even before the battle is over. He said that those who challenge the power of God are certain to fall. He said that Congress is working on a hidden agenda against the country. Yogi Adityanath was addressing a huge public meeting for Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and regional president Durvijay Shakya in Bilsi on Sunday. "The previous Prime Minister used to hesitate in going to Ayodhya. Modi ji is the first Prime Minister who visited Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya and also installed Ram Lalla in the grand temple after 500 years," he said. The chief minister started his address by paying homage to the great sage Kashyapa of Saptarishi tradition, and Budaun, the holy place of Vedas and the holy place of Maharaj Bhagiratha. Taking a jibe at SP, he said, "Even the uncle (Shivpal) thought it best to flee from here and the nephew's (Aditya Yadav) legs had already been uprooted. SP has done the same thing in Shahjahanpur, Rampur and Meerut also. But the public is saying that there will be no benefit from this, they will calculate on the basis of all the past exploits of SP." The chief minister said that previous governments played with the faith and sentiments of people. "Congress people used to say that Ram and Krishna never existed. Many people will come to mislead us, we should not be misled by anyone. We will give respect to great men and faith in every district. We have started from Kashi and Ayodhya, Brij Bhoomi and after that, the number of Budaun is also going to come," he stated. The chief minister warned people to beware of Congress, SP and BSP. "They have a hidden agenda against India. They are going to break into the reservation of Scheduled Castes, Tribes and Backward Classes. They are preparing to survey the property and levy inheritance tax on your property. Unfortunately, if Congress comes, your property will be taken over by Congress and SP," he reiterated. He further said that the Samajwadi Party did not utter a word of condolences on the death of former chief minister Kalyan Singh but on the death of a mafia, the SP president went to his house. Kiev, April 28 : Russian forces shot down 17 Ukrainian drones over its territory on Sunday, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed as quoted by media reports. According to the Ministry, Russian air defence shot down two drones over the Belgorod region, three over Kursk region, three over Kaluga region, and nine over Bryansk region, The Kyiv Independent reported. Vladislav Shapsha, Governor of Kaluga region in Russia, claimed that three drones "fell down" near an oil depot in the town of Lyudinovo. No casualties or damages were reported. Ukrainian officials did not comment on these claims, which cannot be verified independently. 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. One of the oil refineries was targeted in Kaluga region in mid-March in an attack reportedly carried out by Ukraine's military intelligence agency. In one of the latest strikes, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) struck with drones two oil refineries and a military airfield in Russia's Krasnodar region on April 27, hitting "key technological objects," according to the Kyiv Independent's source in the security and defence forces. Strikes against Russian energy targets have prompted criticism from US officials, who have made it clear that Washington does not support Ukraine's campaign against oil refineries, citing fears that it could threaten the global energy market. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev has the right to use its own weapons with retaliatory strikes on Russian oil refineries. He has made 251 trips to jail but is not a criminal. Image Source: IANS News Lucknow, April 28 : He is one of the 'oldest' student leaders, contesting the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. He is better known for making a record of sorts by going to jail more than 251 times in his 40-year-long career. Meet Ravidas Mehrotra, the Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate from Lucknow Lok Sabha seat. Mehrotra, 66, an alumnus of Lucknow University, has had a chequered career with more downs than ups but that has not lessened his zeal for social work. About his jail record, Mehrotra says, "All the cases against, me are related to demonstrations and protests held by me during my university days and after that, when I joined politics. It speaks for the fact that I have been a fighter all along. There is not a single 'criminal' case against me." "The SP government will work for the downtrodden and those denied justice, be it Muslims, Dalits, Christians and especially Brahmins, who have been persecuted under the BJP government. We will make sure we bring 'vikas' to all, irrespective of caste, community and religion," Mehrotra says and adds that, "We are standing by the claim that "roti, kapda sasta ho, dava padhai muft ho." Mehrotra feels that the promise of the restoration of the old pension scheme by the SP is his biggest advantage since the constituency comprises mainly the salaried class. As he informs his voters about the schemes promised by his party if it comes to power, he says, "BJP has not done anything for the state's development. The law-and-order situation is bad and women and children are not safe." Mehrotra will be facing Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in this electoral battle but that does not unnerve him. "The biggest giants have fallen before the people and this is an election. You never know what can happen, "he says. Baghdad, April 28 : The Iraqi Parliament has passed a law criminalising same-sex relations and vowing tough penalties against them in a decision that rights advocates decried as discriminating against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The legislature on Saturday voted for an amendment to a 1988 anti-prostitution law, penalising homosexuality by 10 to 15 years in prison, and which bans promoting prostitution and same-sex relationships in "any way" in Iraq, making it punishable by at least seven years in jail. An initial draft proposed the death penalty for same-sex relations, the Iraqi independent portal Alsumaria News reported. The acting head of the Iraqi Parliament, Mohsen al-Mandalawi, defended the bill. "It is an essential step to protect the value structure of society and a supreme interest to protect our children against calls of moral depravity and homosexuality," he said in a press statement. However, the legislation triggered an outcry and condemnations. "Absolutely horrific developments in law for Iraq today (Saturday) as it codifies discrimination against the LGBT community," said Raz Salayi, an Iraq researcher at the rights group Amnesty International. The US, an ally of Iraq, said it was "deeply concerned" about the Iraqi move. "This amendment threatens those most at risk in Iraqi society and weakens Iraq'a ability to diversify its economy and attract foreign investment," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a post on X. Previously, homosexuality was not explicitly criminalised in Iraq. --IANS/DPA sd/khz Patna, April 28 : A low turnout of voters in the first two phases of the Lok Sabha elections has forced the political parties in Bihar to redraw their strategy and revisit the schedule of rallies that will be addressed by their star campaigners. While the polling percentage was 48.23 per cent in the first phase in comparison to 53.47 per cent registered in 2019, the second phase witnessed 58.58 per cent voting which too was four per cent less than the 2019 figure. The third phase of the Lok Sabha elections will be held in Bihar's Jhanjharpur, Supaul, Araria, Madhepura and Khagaria Lok Sabha constituencies on May 7. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has appealed to the voters to reach polling centres and take part in the electoral process, will stay in Madhepura for the next three days to address rallies and road shows. He will also address two rallies in the other four constituencies where elections will be held on May 7. Since the election campaign started in Bihar, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani have been addressing four to five rallies every day and they have the same programme scheduled for the five constituencies in the third phase as well. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address two rallies in Jhanjharpur and Begusarai on April 29. The polling in Begusarai will take place in the fourth phase. After the low turnout of voters in the first two phases, HR Srinivasa, the chief electoral officer of Bihar, has instructed DMs and SPs to take additional initiatives so that voters can come to the polling centres. "At many places, we have seen people boycotting the elections. The officers have been asked to resolve the issues, if any. Keeping in view of the hot weather, we have also asked them to make adequate arrangements at the polling stations," said Srinivasa. In the third phase, three candidates of JD-U, one candidate from LJP(R) and one candidate from BJP are in the fray on the five seats. In Jhanjharpur, JD-U candidate Rampreet Mandal will contest against Suman Kumar Mahaseth of VIP. Dilleshwar Kamat of JD-U will contest against Chandrahas Chaupal of RJD in Supaul. Dinesh Chandra Yadav of JD-U will contest against Kumar Chandradeep of RJD for the Madhepura Lok Sabha seat. In Araria, Pradeep Singh of BJP is contesting against Shahnawaz Alam of RJD while Rajesh Verma of LJP(R) is contesting against Sanjay Kumar of CPI in Khagaria. New Delhi, April 28 : It was a moment of distress for 79-year-old Rajni Dhar when the cacophony over the inheritance tax during a news show took her back several decades to the painful memories of her birthplace, Kashmir. Her family and many others from the Hindu community were significantly affected by the 'Land to Tiller Law', meticulously enacted in 1950 by then J&K Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah. The law restricted the ownership of landlords, and extra land was taken over by the state and given to tillers. The latter did not pay any compensation for the land received. The Hindu landlords were especially targeted in both Jammu and Kashmir, rendering them economically weaker. Now in 2024, the buzz about Congress promising to take away all that 'extra' wealth of a section of the population brought back memories of the pain that Dhar and many others had to endure. Kamlesh, a 47-year-old house help, whose family resides in a dwelling built with government funds in her village in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district, is confused today. After hearing about the Congress' wealth distribution plan, she feared that her family might lose the new house as the joint family had an ancestral dwelling in the same village. She is also apprehensive since her family is worried about talks regarding the reservation rights for Backwards being snatched away and given to the Muslims by Congress. These fears have become a topic of discussion among the general populace. The fact that Congress has a history of doing such things has made people take Rahul Gandhi's statement critically this time. In 1953, then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's government brought the inheritance tax under the Estate Duty Act as it found that there were inequalities in wealth. The Act, also known as 'Death Tax' was imposed on the principal value of movable and immovable property, including agricultural land, which a person inherited after the death of the owner of the property. The Act was abolished in 1985 by the Rajiv Gandhi government when he became Prime Minister after the death of Indira Gandhi. The BJP has accused that he did so to escape from the said tax on Inheritance. With this piece of history being resurrected, people feel that this is Rahul Gandhi's plan for a new 'INDIA'. What has given credence to this is the statement by Sam Pitroda, a close aide of the Gandhi family and Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, who highlighted the importance of wealth redistribution policies, citing the US laws. Though the Congress later distanced itself from Pitroda's comments, the cat is already out of the bag. Rahul's pledge to pursue 'jitni abadi utna haq' and his X-ray plan to detect peoples' wealth have set the middle-class thinking. Amit is an IT professional in Delhi, who bought an apartment on EMI. Recently his loan ended and he got the ownership paper from the bank. Rahul Gandhi's wealth distribution plan has worried him as now he owns the flat and has also inherited property from his late father. There are millions of Amit-like stories in the middle class. The voices may or may not reflect the sentiment of the whole nation, but hint at the churn that has started, especially among the middle class. They work hard, take loans to build new nests and create assets after paying taxes. It is not just the lands and houses; the fear is also about Rahul Gandhi's Congress/INDIA bloc government -- if voted to power -- sneaking into the lockers and cabinets of millions of women who keep their valuable 'stree dhan' hidden away. It is also about the attack on the tradition of hidden savings done by women in all households. Women in India are highly sensitive and emotive about stree dhan and their hidden treasures in the lockers. These are things passed on from generation to generation. But Rahul Gandhi seems to have other plans for this 'hidden' wealth. What he wants the Congress to do is what is at the core of Communist philosophy, which believes in redistribution of wealth. Communists all over the world have failed in their deeds. The crumbling of the erstwhile Soviet Union is the best example of this failure. China, another communist power, was forced to adopt changes and has space for private capital. The East European bloc, too, has suffered immensely. But in 2024, Rahul Gandhi wants to pick up from the Communist Manifesto, a political pamphlet written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848. While releasing the party's election manifesto at a public meeting in Tukkuguda in Telangana on April 6, he stressed: "Jitni aabadi, utna haq". He said: "First, we will conduct a caste census to know the exact population and status of backward castes, SCs, STs, minorities. After that, the financial and institutional survey will begin. Then, we will take up the historic assignment to distribute the wealth, create jobs." The Congress party's manifesto and Rahul Gandhi's plan to map everyone's assets and then equally divide them have provided vital ammunition to the BJP. The BJP has called it divisive and a reflection of the Congress' appeasement politics. The Congress may believe that inheritance, redistribution, and reservation could be its three mantras for progression. But, at the moment and as the election progresses, the grand old party seems to be only widening its gap from the masses. People like Rajni Dhar, Kamlesh, and Amit are not just a few individuals but reflect a growing sentiment. (Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in) Kolkata, April 28 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday expressed apprehension at the BJP benefitting from the division of the votes against it in the state. aAlways remember that only Trinamool Congress is putting up the real fight in West Bengal against BJP. Do you want me to surrender in front of the CPI-M? In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress does not have any understanding with any other party. But elsewhere, we are supporting the Congress. We are taking a lead role in ensuring the victory of the INDIA bloc. So a division in anti-BJP votes in West Bengal is undesirable. If the BJP benefits from the division in the opposition votes here, then it will be a disaster for West Bengal," she said while addressing an election rally in the state's Malda. Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool supremo, claimed that she tried to persuade the Congress leadership not to come to any kind of understanding with the CPI-M. "I was also willing to forgo two seats in favour of Congress. But the Congress leadership did not listen to me. I have always tried to help out Congress, although they do not have any representation in the state assembly. But the Congress leadership here preferred to hold the CPI-M's hand," she said. She said that it was the Trinamool MPs who were the most vocal against the BJP on the floor of the Parliament. Banerjee also claimed that BJPas projection of crossing the 400 mark will never be a reality this time. "First let them cross 200," she said. Mainpuri : , April 28 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already scored a century of seats in the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls. Polling in the first two of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections was held on April 19 and April 26. Addressing a rally in Mainpuri, HM Shah said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win all 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. "The accounts of both the princes have not been opened. It is a choice to develop and prosper the country. Ram Mandir was constructed in five years. The Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party delayed Ram temple," he said. HM Shah said that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple Yadav did not go to Ram temple due to fear of the vote bank. "This election is between those who opened fire on Ram devotees and those who built Ram temple," the Union Minister said. "Article 370 was removed from Jammu and Kashmir even though the Congress said that it would not allow Article 370 to be removed. We gave a befitting reply to Pakistan with a surgical strike," HM Shah, addressing the rally, said. "Tell me whether Kashmir is a part of India or not. When we removed Article 370, 'Rahul Baba' said that rivers of blood would flow but not even a pebble was moved during PM Modi's rule. Earlier there used to be terrorist attacks. PM Modi gave a befitting reply by carrying out surgical and air strikes." The Home Minister said that "we are in support of reservation, and no one can remove reservation". "We will not allow anyone to remove the reservation. The Opposition has opened a factory of lies. There was migration during the Samajwadi Party rule. PM Modi ended nepotism. Also, the 80 crore people of this country will continue to get free ration," HM Shah said while appealing to the people to defeat nepotism and make PM Modi win. The former BJP president also said that PM Modi has brought 25 crore people out of the poverty line. "They talk about backward people but when Kalyan Singh died, these people did not go to pay him respects. But they drove to Mukhtar Ansari's house. Will they respect the people of backward communities?" HM Shah wondered. New Delhi, April 28 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, stepping up the party's campaign in Odisha on Sunday lashed out at the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government and the opposition BJP while accusing them of having 'married' each other for personal gains and befooling the public. Rahul claimed that the ruling BJD has got into a secret partnership with the main opposition party BJP and both have one shared goal, to 'benefit the select few corporates'. Addressing a huge public gathering at Salepur in Cuttack, Rahul alleged that the Naveen Patnaik government was running a nexus with the rival BJP and facilitating the loot of the state's resources in various fields including plantation and mining. He also declared if Congress came to power in the state, the looted money would be returned to the residents. "Your money was stolen by them (BJD and BJP) through the mining scam worth Rs 9 lakh crore, farmers' land grab worth Rs 20,000 crore and plantation scam worth Rs 15,000 crore. I am giving these numbers because when the Congress party comes to power here in Odisha and in Delhi, we will start returning the money they have looted from you," roared Rahul at the rally, drawing applause from the crowd. Gandhi said that Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik was running the government for a 'select few' while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was running a government for the billionaires. He also said that though Naveen Patnaik was the Chief Minister, the state government was being run by his aide VK Pandian. "Uncleji of Delhi (referring to PM Modi) and Naveen Patnaik offered people of Odisha PAANN (Pandian, Amit Shah, Narendra Modi and Naveen Patnaik)," Gandhi said in a sharp jibe at Odisha CM. Rahul also promised the crowd that if Congress came to power in the state, Rs 2000 each per month would be deposited in the bank account of women, Rs 3000 would be deposited in the account of unemployed youths and free electricity up to 200 units, kitchen gas cylinder at Rs 500 will be given to the public. He also elaborated on the several Nyay Yojanas of the Congress party and explained how these will benefit the common citizens if the party is voted to power. "PM Modi has given Rs 16 lakh crore to 22 billionaires. If Cong comes to power, we will make a list of all the poor families and select one woman member from each family and will transfer Rs 1 lakh annually in her account," Gandhi added. He also boasted about Cong's one-year apprenticeship programme for unemployed youth and made a slew of poll promises including enhancing wages under the MNREGA scheme, doubling the salary of Anganwadi and Asha workers, farm loan waiver for farmers and an MSP guarantee law for farmers. Notably, Odisha will vote in simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in four phases starting May 13. The results will be declared on June 4. Naveen Patnaik-led BJD has been in power in the state since 2000 while BJP emerged as the principal Opposition party in the state, after the 2019 polls. Amaravati, April 28 : Continuing attack on her brother and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Y. S. Sharmila Reddy on Sunday reiterated that he was behind adding the name of their father and late Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) in the disproportionate assets cases filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Denying Jagan's allegation Congress party was behind adding YSR's name in the FIRs, Sharmila claimed that it was Jagan who got a petition filed by Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy in the court to add YSR's name and later rewarded him with the post of Additional Advocate General. Sharmila also claimed that Sudhakar Reddy was appointed to the post six days after Jagan took oath as the chief minister. "This was the return gift given by Jagan to Sudhakar Reddy. No one knew Sudhakar Reddy but six days after assuming office, Jagan made him the Additional Advocate General. "For Jagan, Sudhakar Reddy filed a petition and got YSR's name added to the charge sheet. In return, Jagan rewarded him with the post of Additional Advocate General. Will someone give a post to a person who has added the father's name to cases," she asked. She asserted that the CBI had not added YSR's name to the FIR. It was felt that if YSR's name is not added to the charge sheet, Jagan can't come out on bail. "Sudhakar Reddy filed petitions in CBI Court, High Court and Supreme Court to add YSR's name to the cases," she said. The Congress leader said that while the CBI court and High Court dismissed Sudhakar Reddy's petition, the Supreme Court stated that let the investigation be carried on. Sharmila said that there is no truth in Sudhakar Reddy's statement that he had lot of respect for YSR. She reiterated that he filed the petition in the court at the instance of Jagan. "For once check with Vundavalli Arun Kumar if this was not a fact," she said and mentioned that the former MP had once stated that Jagan got YSR's name included in the cases. Earlier, taking strong exception to Sharmila's allegation, Sudhakar Reddy had stated that she was using her father's name for political gains. He recalled that in 2011, the then Congress MLA Shankar Rao and TDP leader Kinjarapu Yerrannaidu had made the allegations and filed petitions in the courts, which led to the addition of YSR's name in the CBI's FIRs and charge sheets. Sudhakar Reddy urged Sharmila to come up with facts instead of making baseless allegations against him. He had also said that he was ready for an open debate on this issue. He claimed that YSR was made an accused prior to his petition in the High Court, which was all about seeking an explanation as to why the CBI failed to add the names of concerned ministers and secretaries, who issued GOs favouring Sandur power company. New Delhi, April 28 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's analogy of Kings and Maharajas as the 'land grabbers' continues to invite public wrath and ire of the Rajput community, with the latest being Jaiveerraj Singh Gohil, the 'Yuvraj' of Bhavnagar, Gujarat. Jaiveerraj Singh Gohil, also a role model and fashion icon for youth, scoffed at the Congress leader for describing the ancient kings and maharajas as the 'looters' of public wealth. "I feel pity for Rahul Gandhi. It's very sad that the person whose father and grandmother were nation's Prime Minister, has ruined the party," the Bhavnagar prince said in scathing criticism of Congress' 'Yuvraj'. "I pray to his mother that she keeps him happy and also helps enlighten him mentally," he added in terse satirical jibe. Rahul's statements on kings and Maharajas of India, at a recent public rally in Karnataka ignited a huge controversy, with many claiming that he insulted and disparaged the rich legacy of Rajputs. During a rally in Karnataka on Saturday, Rahul said, "it was the rule of Kings and Maharajas, they could do whatever they wanted, if they wanted someone's land they would take it away. It was the Congress party and our workers, along with the people of the country achieved Independence and brought democracy." Jaiveerraj Singh also said that Rahul makes baseless statements but forgets about his own party and its legacy. "It was his grandmother who brought land ceiling law, resulting in loss of ownership of land for many citizens," he added. "Lot many of our people lost their land because of such biased legislation, who is responsible for that?" asked the Bhavnagar Yuvraj. The Land Ceiling Act was a law under which five members of the community were treated as a unit and they had rights to own a certain area of land, the surplus of which would be taken away by the government. The law was brought to limit the size of landholdings by landlords and its redistribution among the wider population. Sirsi : , April 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the decision to build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya should have been taken the very next day after the country achieved Independence in 1947. Addressing a mega public rally at Sirsi town in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district, PM Modi blamed the Congress for the long delay and stated that the party made efforts till the last minute to ensure that the temple is not built. "In Ayodhya, our ancestors waited and battled for 500 years for Ram Mandir to be built... 500 years is not a small period. They should have taken this decision on the next day of Independence but they did not do it. To get this work done, it takes 'chhappan inch ka seena'. This power comes from one vote of yours," PM Modi said while addressing the rally. "Now that Ram Mandir has been built, the appeasement politics has reached its height in the country... the trustees of Ram Mandir went to their homes and invited them but they rejected the invitation. Won't Karnataka and the country reject the Congress party now?" he wondered while speaking at the public meeting. PM Modi also accused the Congress of disrespecting Ram Mandir for vote bank politics. "On the other side, there is an Ansari family... Iqbal Ansari's entire family fought the case against Ram Temple for three generations but when the Supreme Court's verdict came, he accepted it. The trustees of Ram Mandir invited Ansari, and he attended the 'Pran Pratistha' ceremony at Ayodhya," said PM Modi. PM Modi also slammed the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka for the "worsening situation of law and order" in the entire state and for encouraging anti-social and anti-national elements. "What happened in Belagavi with a tribal sister, what happened in Chikkodi with a Jain monk, is shameful. What happened with our daughter on a college campus in Hubli shook the entire nation. Her family kept demanding action but the pressure of appeasement prevailed on the Congress-led state government. Even when a bomb blast occurred in a cafe in Bengaluru, the Congress government initially did not show seriousness. This is the same Congress that used organisations like the PFI for votes in elections and defended their action," he said. New Delhi, April 28 : Although rare and curable, young men must be aware of testicular cancer, which can severely impact their reproductive health, say experts. Testicular cancer is not only rare worldwide, but also in India. The country has one of the lowest incidences of testicular cancer with less than 1 man per 100, 000 population affected by this condition. However, it is the most common cancer in young men aged 15 to 35 years, and can significantly affect their fertility levels. "Testicular cancer has a direct impact on the organs that produce sperm, which may interfere with the ability to reproduce," Dr Pallavi Prasad, Fertility Consultant, Nova IVF Fertility, Basaveshwara Nagar, Bengaluru, told IANS. "Surgery is frequently used as the primary therapy for testicular cancer, which involves removing the cancerous testicle. While this surgery tries to eliminate malignant cells, it may influence sperm production. Even if the remaining testicle is healthy, sperm production might be temporarily or permanently impaired," she added. In addition, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, used to target cancer cells throughout the body, can also cause collateral harm to sperm cells, reducing sperm production and quality. The doctor suggested fertility preservation methods, like sperm banking to save sperm samples before cancer treatment. "Men can maintain the prospect of biological parenting by storing sperm before treatment, even if cancer therapy influences fertility. However, it is important to note that fertility preservation methods may not be available to all men, and the decision to explore such treatments might be difficult. Treatment urgency, financial factors, and personal preferences may all impact people's fertility preservation decisions," Dr Prasad said. Although precise reasons behind testicular cancer are not yet understood, risk factors include early exposure to oestrogens via hormone therapy, and congenital conditions like small testes, or undescended testes (cryptorchidism), among others. Dr Shalabh Agrawal, Consultant, Urology, C.K. Birla Hospital, Gurugram, told IANS that the most common symptom of testicular cancer is a painless enlargement in one of the testicles. "This is in contrast to a sudden, painful enlargement, which is more likely to be due to an infection rather than cancer. If a patient is being treated for a long-standing testicular infection but the enlargement persists, they should be screened for the possibility of testicular cancer," he added. Yet, "testicular cancer is considered a highly treatable form of cancer, with a 10-year survival rate exceeding 90 per cent," Dr Agrwal said, stressing the need for early detection via self-examination. "The self-examination should be performed daily, after showering, by gently palpating both testicles to check for any abnormalities in size, position, or the presence of lumps or swelling. If any such changes are detected, it is essential to promptly report them to a healthcare provider for further evaluation and appropriate management," he added. New Delhi, April 28 : A Sub-inspector of Delhi Police died after his scooter hit a divider in the national capital, an official said on Sunday. The incident occurred on Saturday night and the deceased was identified as N K Pavitharan. The officials said that Pavitharan was posted in the East Delhi district's crime team. Sharing the details, police said that the incident occurred around 10.30 p.m. when Pavitharan lost balance over his scooter and hit a divider near Pragati Maidan tunnel. "He was taken to Lady Hardinge Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead," said a senior police official, adding that a probe has been initiated into the incident. Mumbai, April 28 : Actor-choreographer Raghav Juyal, who was recently seen in the film 'Kill', has urged people to not damage the environment by littering around. The actor-choreographer recently took to his Instagram and shared a video in which he expressed his concern over littered plastic and beer bottles near a waterfall in Uttarakhand's Dehradun. The video has now gone viral on social media. The video shows him lashing out at the locals who allegedly littered the place. He can be seen standing in thigh-deep water in front of the waterfall and holding a plastic bottle which he found near the waterfall, as he spoke to the camera. He said that he heard locals are littering the place and requested them to stop doing it. He said in the video, "We found this here. Do this (littering) at your home and not here. We heard locals are littering the place. I request you with folded hands to stop this. Thank you." He wrote in the caption, "Broken beer bottles, plastic bottles, we need pollution police in Dehradun now, it's enough." His friends from the industry took to the comments section, and lauded him for taking a stand. Music composer Vishal Dadlani of duo Vishal-Shekhar, commented, "I really hope the sick people who do this sort of thing are watching and learning." Filmmaker Hardik Mehta, who is known for 'Decoupled' and 'Kamyaab', wrote, "Thank you Raghav. You are a champ." New Delhi, April 28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his "Rajas and Maharajas" remarks, saying that the "Shehzada" did not speak a word on atrocities committed by the "Nawabs, Sultans, Badshahs (Mughal Emperor) like Aurangzeb". PM Modi also alleged that the Gandhi scion insulted Shivaji Maharaj and Rani Chennamma by ignoring their contribution with an 'intention to appease a certain vote bank'. Significantly, PM Modi made these remarks while addressing an election rally in Congress-ruled Karnataka. The Prime Minister was at his oratorical best as he said that Banaras Hindu University (BHU) could not have been established without the help of the king who ruled the city in ancient times. Maharaja Gaekwad of Baroda helped Baba Saheb Ambedkar to pursue higher studies abroad, he added. PM Modi's remarks, where he criticised Rahul Gandhi for not acknowledging the atrocities committed by certain historical figures, while also invoking the legacies of revered figures like Shivaji Maharaj and Rani Chennamma, carry significant political implications, especially in states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, with significant number of Lok Sabha seats of these states going to polls in the third phase on May 7. Analysts believe that PM Modi's criticism of Rahul Gandhi's 'silence' on the atrocities committed by historical figures including Muslim rulers like Aurangzeb is a strategic move to undermine Rahul Gandhi's credibility and portray him as insensitive to historical injustices. He used Rahul Gandhi's 'raja-maharaja' remarks to buttress his claims that Congress party often engages in appeasement particularly with regard to a community (Muslims). The Congress party's decision to decline an invitation to the Ram Mandir inauguration ceremony and the grand old party's idea of "wealth redistribution to Muslims" were already highlighted by PM Modi as a form of action aimed at appeasing this minority community. Moreover, by invoking the memory of victims of historical atrocities, PM Modi aims to resonate with voters who hold strong emotional ties to the victims' legacies. This sentiment is particularly potent in regions where such atrocities have left a lasting impact on collective memory. PM Modi's references to figures like Shivaji Maharaj, Rani Chennamma, and Baba Saheb Ambedkar and to the institution like BHU were carefully chosen to resonate with the cultural and historical fabric of specific regions. Political analysts are of the view that in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, where Shivaji Maharaj and Rani Chennamma respectively hold significant cultural and political significance, PM Modi's invocation of these figures is likely to strike a chord with voters and reinforce support for the BJP. Needless to say, the sentiments around regional identity and pride are strong in these states, in view of which PM Modi's message is likely to appeal to voters who identify with the cultural heritage of figures like Shivaji Maharaj, say analysts. Referring to atrocities of Sultans and Nawabs who ruled also over parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh, could influence voter sentiment in the state, PM Modi's remarks may resonate with voters in the southern state. At the same time, BHU holds significant pride for PM Modi's constituency Varanasi, and for the entire Uttar Pradesh as well. Overall, the BHU's presence in Varanasi and its impact on the socio-economic and cultural landscape of Uttar Pradesh can indeed influence voter sentiment in the state. PM Modi citing BHU during the rally speech assumes significance in this context. It is also believed that PM Modi's invocation of historical figures and atrocities committed in the past is also part of a larger narrative around nationalism and national pride. By emphasising the importance of acknowledging historical truths, PM Modi sought to position the BJP as the party that stands for justice and accountability. According to some, PM Modi's statement reflects a strategic response aimed at rallying support around Indian icons and 'delegitimising' the Congress party's leadership. What the PM has said also understandably highlights BJP's calculated approach aimed at both cornering Rahul Gandhi and continuing to spotlight the issue of Congress' alleged appeasement politics, a longstanding narrative in Indian politics. Political observers believe that the Prime Minister sought to juxtapose Congress' purported appeasement of a particular community with the BJP's emphasis on a more inclusive development agenda. This framing seeks to portray the BJP as a party that prioritises the interests of all citizens over narrow sectarian considerations. Undoubtedly, PM Modi's characterisation of Rahul Gandhi's silence on historical figures like Aurangzeb, coupled with accusations of appeasement politics, is likely to shape the narrative surrounding the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. In fact, PM Modi's attack on Congress' appeasement politics has become a key feature of electoral discourse this time, shaping narratives around national security, identity politics, and development. PM Modi has been portraying appeasement politics as something detrimental to the idea of a unified national identity, suggesting that it fosters division along religious lines and undermines the concept of a secular state. Ahmedabad, April 28 : In a major success, the Indian Coast Guard, following an overnight aerial-maritime joint operation with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), on Sunday apprehended a Pakistan boat in the Arabian Sea, west of Gujarat's Porbandar, and seized a large haul of narcotics. The operation, involving extensive coordination among multiple agencies, resulted in the capture of 14 crew members along with the illegal cargo of 86 kg of narcotics, valued at Rs 600 crore, officials said. "The Coast Guard deployed ships and aircraft for this intelligence-driven anti-narcotics mission, demonstrating effective multi-agency teamwork. ICG ship Rajratan, with ATS and NCB officials on board, identified and pursued the suspect vessel. Despite the boat's attempts at evasive manoeuvres, it was no match for the well-equipped Rajratan. A specialist team from the ship boarded the vessel, conducted a thorough search, and confirmed the significant haul of narcotics," an official said. The captured boat and crew are being transported to Porbandar for further investigation. This operation marks the eleventh of its kind in the past three years and comes after an interception last month that led to the seizure of 80 kg of drugs, as per the ICG. Mumbai, April 28 : A day after being nominated from the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat, prominent lawyer Ujjwal Nikam said that he accepted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) offer after being quite impressed with Narendra Modi government's ruthless approach and policy of zero tolerance against terrorism. Having handled several high-profile cases, including that of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as a Special Public Prosecutor, Nikam believes that PM Modi has kept the national interest at the forefront over the last 10 years. "The government took a firm stand that terror and talks (with Pakistan) will not happen at the same time. The success achieved by PM Modi-led government in defeating the anti-national elements, including in the Kashmir Valley by empowering the army, is unique," said Nikam on Sunday. "In the last 10 years, incidents of terror attacks and bomb blasts have been largely kept under check. However, if you recall the phase before that, Pakistan had created a sense of fear in the minds of Indians by carrying out terrorist attacks in the country, including Mumbai. The number of sleeper cells in the country was also increasing. The political system used to kneel before the separatists instead of taking a firm stand against Pakistan," Nikam, the man behind the execution of Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, added. The prominent lawyer praised the current government for reacting strongly after the Pulwama and Uri terror attacks. "PM Modi-led government targeted Pakistan by conducting surgical strikes and air strikes. National security and economic development are the two sides of the same coin. Today, India's economic growth is being hailed all over the world while Pakistan has become a beggar," he said. The BJP on Saturday sprang a surprise by dropping sitting MP Poonam Mahajan and nominating Nikam from the parliamentary constituency. Though a greenhorn in politics by his own admission, Nikam, widely known in legal circles for his eloquence, said he is all prepared for the new innings, notwithstanding the "outsider" banter. Nikam thanked PM Modi and the top BJP leadership, saying that he wants to contribute to the journey of 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India). He also credited PM Modi-led government for "tremendous improvement" in India's relations with the Islamic countries. "All eight ex-Navy officers from India sentenced by Qatar were released safely due to India's proactive diplomacy. By abrogating Article 370, this government sped up the development of Kashmir. Be it the cries of Khalistan emerging in Punjab, the challenge posed by China on border areas or the befitting reply given to Pakistan, today the country is living a happy and peaceful life under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Nikam said. The BJP nominee for Mumbai North Central LS seat mentioned that the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case was the turning point in his career as a lawyer. "After that case, be it the 2006 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai or the horrific terror attack of 26/11, I have fought various cases and used all judicial tools. I have made sincere efforts to ensure that the culprits involved in these cases get the strictest punishment. I am justifiably proud that we succeeded in punishing a terrorist like Ajmal Kasab, who came with the intention of attacking India's sovereignty," Nikam said. "While fighting these cases, I clearly felt the shortcomings and weaknesses of the then political system," he said. He acknowledged that the announcement of his nomination may have raised many eyebrows. "Basically, politics is not my domain. I have spent all my career in the legal profession. Still, I was often asked about joining politics. During the last election, I was strongly urged to be a candidate by the senior leaders of the state but I politely refused. No doubt they will be the first ones to be shocked by my decision now," he said. On the opposition criticising him as an "outsider" - as he was born in Jalgaon but is now contesting from a Mumbai LS seat -- Nikam said though Jalgaon is his birthplace, Mumbai is his place of work. " ... the victims of the terror attack cases for whom I fought were from Mumbai. A person who resolves to work for the national interest is never restricted by geographical boundaries. Hence, to be criticised as an 'outsider' means that the rival candidates have already taken a beating over my candidature," Nikam said. He also rebutted attempts to project his image as anti-Muslims saying that in his career of 40-50 years as a lawyer, he never thought about caste or religion. "For me, the Constitution, law and nation remain the supreme. All are equal before the law... this is the most important principle of law, and I have been working as a true follower of this principle," he said. (Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in) Washington, April 28 : A conviction for former President Donald Trump on any of the 91 criminal charges he is facing across four separate cases will not prevent him from running for the White House but it will cost him the support of a third of his own Republican party voters and Independents, according to polls, and deprive him of his own vote. Trump is currently on trial in Manhattan in a case of falsification of business records in regard to hush-money he allegedly paid an adult porn star in 2016 for not going public with their affair. He is facing 34 charges in the case, each of which carries the punishment of four years in jail. But a conviction will not land him in prison immediately as he will be able to appeal it in the appellate court and eventually the Supreme Court. The other three cases have not gone on trial yet. A Reuters/Ipsos poll in February found that while the majority of Americans - 55 per cent - will not vote for Trump if he is either convicted or is in jail, a third of Republicans - 32 per cent - said they won't, and 24 per cent said they were not sure yet of what they will do. A vast majority of Democrats - 90% - said they wonat vote for him if he was convicted or jailed. Another poll by Ipsos, done with Politico magazine in Month, found that a third of Independent voters said they would be less likely to support Trump if he were to be convicted in the Justice Departmentas case against him for trying to subvert the 2020 election through the January 6 insurrection and the Manhattan case of falsifying business records. Independent voters are critical in determining the electoral outcomes in the handful of swing states that decide the presidential election every cycle. The poll did not cover views about the two other cases, mishandling of classified documents and trying to overturn the 2020 vote count in Georgia. A conviction would not, however, stop him from running. The US Constitution only lays down three qualification rules for running for President: 35 years of age, a natural-born citizen, and a resident of the US for 14 years. There are no rules on criminals and felons, and although some states have barred felons from running, these rules do not apply to elections for federal offices. But a conviction will take away his vote in Florida, where he lives. People convicted of a felony are disenfranchised by Florida state law till the completion of the jail sentence or payment of a fine. Felons can, however, apply for a waiver from the Governor. He could, however, switch to New York state where he has lived most of his life to keep his vote because of the more permissive rules, which allow felons to vote during parole or probation. But if he is imprisoned, he will lose his vote. Only the states of Vermont, Maine, and Washington DC allow felons to vote. The four cases against Trump Falsification of business records, Manhattan, New York: Trump faces 34 charges of falsifying records to pay Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, to keep quiet about an affair they had in 2005 (he has denied the affair). The money was paid to Daniels by Michael Cohen, a one-time fixer for Trump, and he was later reimbursed as legal fees. Mishandling of classified documents: The US Justice Department has charged Trump with 40 counts for carrying away classified documents from the White House at the end of his term. He had held on to them despite requests from the National Archives, which is the custodian of all presidential records. President Joe Biden was also found later to have carried away classified documents after his two terms as Vice President in 2016. January 6 efforts to overturn 2020 presidential election: The US Justice Department has also charged Trump with four counts for instigating supporters to attack the US Capitol, home to the US Congress, to stop a joint sitting of the two chambers to prevent the certification of Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election. Georgia state efforts to overturn 2020 vote count: The former President faces 13 counts of conspiring with his accomplices over the vote count in the state to overturn his defeat to Biden into victory. --IANS yrj/vd New Delhi, April 28 : Noted economist Surjit Bhalla believes that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's leadership qualities remain doubtful due to several past instances where he failed to take effective decisions. "Leadership is a very big thing. There is no evidence regarding Rahul Gandhi whether he would be an effective leader or not. In 2013, he tore the ordinance of his own government in front of everyone. Leaders do not do that," Bhalla, a former member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, told IANS in an interview. Bhalla says that unlike before 2014, the elections are now based on merit. "Who is the face of the opposition at this time? I don't see anyone. There are 50 faces in the opposition. PM Modi is one face of the BJP. This is another reason why BJP will do well," says the former Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Bhalla favours conducting an income distribution survey, but only after the elections get over. "No income distribution survey has ever been conducted in India. I think it should be. Whenever people ask me, I say definitely do it and if you do it after the elections, then it will be a very good thing. This is a matter of ideology. We should see what the data says and make decisions accordingly," he told IANS. The renowned writer and columnist also expressed his opinion on Congress leader Sam Pitroda's statement on inheritance tax. "See, there are 50 states in America, out of which inheritance tax is applicable in six. The rest of the states have not implemented this either. The rate quoted by Pitroda as 50 per cent is also wrong as it is only 20 per cent. America is a rich country. It is not necessary that we will also do what the US is doing. It will be discussed when we become a developed country," Bhalla said. New Delhi, April 28 : The AAP on Sunday claimed that the Tihar Jail authorities have revoked permission given to Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of incarcerated Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, to meet him on Monday. "The meeting, which was scheduled for tomorrow (Monday), has now been cancelled, leaving both the Kejriwal family and AAP supporters dismayed," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), adding that the Tihar Jail administration has not cited any reason yet for cancelling Sunita Kejriwal's meeting. The prison administration is yet to respond to the AAP claims. Kejriwal, arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the alleged excise scam, is lodged in Tiharas Jail No 2 in judicial custody. He has provided a list of six individuals, whom he wants to meet in prison. Lucknow, April 28 : Bahujan Samaj Party's national coordinator Akash Anand has been booked for a hate speech in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district, police said on Sunday. Senior police officials confirmed that a case against the BSP leader has been registered. The organisers of the rally where Akash Anand, the nephew of party chief Mayawati, gave the speech, have also been booked. Meanwhile, the BJP, on Sunday, slammed the BSP for turning into the newest nursery of nepotism. BJP spokesman Rakesh Tripathi, while referring to a speech given by Akash Anand, said that the party leaders were issuing such statements to remain in the headlines. aHowever, the comments made by these leaders regarding the BJP will cost them dear. They will have to pay the price to the Election Commission as well as in the peopleas court," he said. Addressing a rally in Sitapur, Akash Anand termed the BJP government "a government of terrorists". He said that a government that cannot provide security to women, employment for the youth, and enslaves senior citizens by doling out free ration is a government run by terrorists. aSuch a government is run by the Taliban. The BJP government is not a government of bulldozers but it is a government of terrorists. They are enslaving you," he said. Anand further said that if the EC felt that he should not have called them Taliban, then he would request the EC to come and see the ground realities itself. Nellore : , April 28 (IANS) While the BJP is opposing reservation for Muslims and has even promised to scrap the same in neighbouring Telangana, its ally in Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Sunday assured Muslims that four per cent quota for them in the state will continue. TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu alleged that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is resorting to false propaganda that the reservations for Muslims will be repealed if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comes to power. The TDP is contesting next monthas Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in the state in alliance with the BJP and Jana Sena Party. During an interaction with Muslims at Nellore, the former Chief Minister promised that soon after the NDA comes to power in the state, Rs 1 lakh financial assistance will be extended to every Muslim for Haj pilgrimage. Chandrababu Naidu told the Muslim community that though the TDP was part of the NDA even in the past, it never allowed any kind of injustice to be done to the community. He promised the Muslim community that after coming to power, the NDA will revive all schemes for their welfare which were rescinded by the YSR Congress government and new schemes will also be implemented. Mentioning that 90 per cent works of the Gurukula (residential) schools for Muslim students was completed, he promised to complete the remaining work within six months of forming the NDA government. The TDP president alleged that the YSRCP extended unconditional support for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Parliament. He also claimed that the YSRCP backed the National Register of Citizens (NRC). "While the TDP built a Haj House for the benefit of the Muslim community, Mr Jagan has built palaces for his own comfort," he said. Naidu noted that the entire Muslim community is known for trust and courage and they always believe in hard work. He stated that the community is playing a significant role in all sectors. He observed that if there are no Muslims there will be no development. A majority of the community depends on auto repair works in all urban areas in the two Telugu states, he said. "Muslim brethren in Hyderabad are far ahead of their community in other parts of the country, in fact, the world, because of the initiatives taken by the TDP when it was in power," he said. Recalling that Urdu University was established in Hyderabad during the TDP regime and when Atal Behari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, he said that Haj House too was built by the then TDP government. Naidu also pointed out various other welfare measures implemented for the Muslim community during the TDP regime and regretted that attacks on Muslim women have been on the rise in the past five years in the state. Claiming that several mosques were built when he was the Chief Minister, Naidu said Jagan Mohan Reddy had not built even a single mosque during the last five years. He recalled that it was during the TDP rule that direct flights were introduced for Haj pilgrimage. Guwahati, April 28 : Nine persons were arrested by the police in connection with the rape of minor girls in the South West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, officials said on Sunday. Earlier on Sunday, Priyank Kanoongo, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Chairperson, said that illegal Rohingya infiltrators were behind this incident. He has also shared a video on his social media platform X, in which he reached the crime spot with the police team. Kanungo wrote on X, "I have come here with the NCPCR team to investigate the complaint in connection with the gang rape of minor girls in the attack during a tribal festival in South West Garo Hills's Ampati district of Meghalaya. It is surprising that there has been no discussion at the national level on such a brutal crime against tribal children. According to the complaint, the culprits are suspected to be illegal Rohingya intruders. Investigation is underway.'' According to the police, the incidents of rape took place on April 16 night at Chenga Benga Mela village in Ampati, the headquarters of South West Garo hills district. Superintendent of Police (SP), West Garo Hills district, Vikash Kumar, told IANS, "The incident happened on April 16 night and the police complaint was lodged on April 18. Although the state had conducted Lok Sabha polls on April 19, the police launched a probe immediately and the accused were taken into custody." "Nine accused persons were arrested from South Salmara-Mankachar district with the active assistance of the Assam Police. They were taken into custody after more than a week of investigation," he added. The police said that one minor girl was raped and another one was gang raped on April 16. SP Kumar asserted all nine accused persons are residents of the Teporpara village in Assam's South Salmara-Mankachar district. The village is located between the border of Assam and Meghalaya. According to the Meghalaya Police, seven mobile phones have been seized from the possession of the arrested persons, and the data were analysed meticulously. "During the course of investigation, it was learnt that the criminals had snatched a mobile phone from one person and also threatened and extorted money from another person," the police added in a statement. Agartala, April 28 : With the state buffeted by a heat wave over two weeks now, the Tripura government on Sunday extended the holidays in all schools for another three days from Monday to provide respite to children. Additional Secretary, Education (School), N.C Sharma said that in view of the prevailing heat wave and on the advice of the Revenue Department, the state government has decided to extend holidays in all government, government-aided, and privately-managed schools from April 29 to May 1. All district education officers were asked to convey this decision to each and every school under their jurisdiction, the order said. Earlier, the state Education Department, in view of the scorching heat, declared holidays for four days from April 24 to April 27. The order was issued after the Revenue Department advisory said that Tripura has been reeling under hot and humid weather conditions for the past two weeks and as per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the same weather conditions are likely to continue for a few more days. The Tripura government had earlier declared heat waves, sunstroke and sunburn state-specific disasters. For management of the prevailing hot and humid weather, all district disaster management authorities were asked to conduct extensive awareness, update the public about weather conditions, provide safe drinking water and shade at public and strategic places, and extend medical support and other necessary provisions for the vulnerable communities in the districts. The state government has also issued doas and donats during the heat wave period and provided medical tips to the people. Maximum temperatures in Tripura settled 4 to 6 degrees Celsius above normal during the past fortnight. Kolkata, April 28 : The National Commission for Women (NCW) asked West Bengal's Director General of Police Sanjoy Mukherjee to conduct a thorough investigation into the Sunday attack on woman BJP leader, Saraswati Sarkar, allegedly by ruling Trinamool Congress activists. The NCW issued a statement, strongly condemning the assault on Saraswati Sarkar, who heads the BJPas Kasba unit in south Kolkata. "The shocking incident underscores a disturbing pattern of violence against women in West Bengal," the statement read. As per the statement, NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma has sent a letter to DGP calling for immediate and decisive action from authorities to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure justice. "The safety and dignity of women must be prioritised, and we demand accountability," it said. Local Trinamool councillor, Sushanta Ghosh has, however, denied any association of his party with the attack on Sarkar. "Whatever has happened is most unfortunate. But no one in Trinamool Congress is involved in the matter. There might be some local reasons behind the attack," he said. Ballari : , April 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, while addressing a rally in Karnataka's Ballari, sought the blessings of the people to protect crores of daughters like Neha Hiremath, an MCA student and Congress leader's daughter who was stabbed to death in broad daylight by a Muslim youth with whom she was in a "relationship". Speaking at the rally, PM Modi said that he was not seeking power to enjoy but to curb incidents like bomb blasts in the country. "Before 2014, many bomb blasts had happened but after 2014 they stopped. This is Modi. I will ensure the security of the nation, of your house, by keeping in check the guns and bombs," he said. Slamming the Congress, PM Modi said: "Our daughters are not safe under the Congress government in Karnataka. A young woman was stabbed to death in full public view in broad daylight. There is no fear in the accused as the Congress party is ruling. A daughter has been killed... and her family has been living with worries. This is the result of the policies of the Congress." In an oblique reference to Pakistan, PM Modi said "neighbours who exported terror earlier are now struggling to import potatoes". "Once, when terror acts were on the rise, our soldiers were beheaded. Now, they know Modi is there, and he will not hesitate to come inside and punish," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister further said: "India is rapidly developing. Few countries and organisations do not like it. Many want India to be weakened. They want a weak government so that they can benefit. "The Congress will make a way for them as it wants an opportunity to practice corruption. But the BJP is a threat to them as our government will not relent," he added. PM Modi also said that "the political corridors of Delhi were earlier filled with dalals (middlemen)". "All the work was done through middlemen. Since 2014, the scenario has changed. The middlemen have shifted their base from Delhi to states. The Congress' diktat won't work anymore," PM Modi said. Urging people to support the BJP while speaking at the rally, PM Modi said: "With the help of your (people's) one vote, I am able to stop bomb blasts, make the terrorists run away. I got the strength to ensure this with the support of your one vote. If not for your vote, the bomb blasts would have continued and innocents would have lost their lives." He also said that the Congress was against the SC, ST, OBC and women. "The Congress will snatch away your property and distribute it to its vote bank. Who will protect you? Who will stop the loot? Modi will protect you from all this loot," PM Modi said. Mansa : , April 28 (IANS) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Sunday said like the case of Delhi, governance in Punjab had come to a standstill because Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was not signing any file for months now, resulting in complete paralysis in government work. He also promised that SAD was committed to establishing a medical college in Mansa once it came into power in the state while castigating the AAP government for promising to establish 16 medical colleges but not even starting work on one institution. Talking to the media here, Badal said while two lakh school students in Delhi had not got their school uniforms, books, and stationery because Arvind Kejriwal has not resigned as Chief Minister, even after being arrested in a corruption case, education and health services and even various projects had been affected in Punjab because Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was not signing important files since months. He said no-objection certificates (NOCs) for various projects were also awaiting the Chief Ministeras nod for months. Urging Punjabis to punish these "power-hungry" politicians, Badal said: "The situation has become such in Punjab that it was for the first time that salaries of various departments including the Health Department and Punjab Police were not released till around April 25." He accused the AAP government of squandering more than Rs 1,000 crore on advertisements and even spending hundreds of crores on hiring aircraft for the use of AAP convener Kejriwal as well as election campaigns of the AAP across the country. Stating that the AAP government had failed to generate revenue, Badal said: "Recently the government borrowed Rs 2,500 crore by auctioning the Punjab government stock during the model code of conduct." He said AAP leaders, including Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann, had claimed they would increase both excise collection as well as mining fees by thousands of crores. "But instead of doing this, they perpetrated an excise scam on the pattern of the Delhi excise scam and encouraged its legislators to indulge in illegal mining at the cost of the State exchequer," he alleged. Badal said the only way out of this mess was to reject both the AAP and Congress in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. "This will set the stage for installation of a pro-people government led by SAD which being a regional party would always put the interests of Punjab first and work assiduously to resolve all pending issues of Punjab and Punjabis," he added. Bhubaneswar, April 29 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda on Sunday upped the ante against the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha, urging the voters to throw out the "corrupt" Naveen Patnaik-led state government. Addressing a public gathering at Ambapua in Berhampur area of Ganjam district, JP Nadda urged the voters to give a third term to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India the third-largest economy in the world. The BJP chief also asked the electors to vote his party to power in the state for the proper implementation of development projects launched by the Central government. "A BJP government should be voted to power in Odisha for the proper implementation of the development programmes being launched by PM Modi in Delhi," JP Nadda said. In a veiled attack on BJD leader and former bureaucrat V.K. Pandian, JP Nadda said: "Efforts are on to bring an outsider as leader. Are there no leaders in Odisha and no son of the soil for the leadership? It is worrisome the way outsiders are being promoted under Naveen Patnaik's government?" The BJP national president alleged that 160 chit-fund companies duped 20 lakh investors of Rs 32,000 crore and that is an example of corruption of the BJD government. Taking a jibe at the ruling BJD, he alleged that tenders under the Jal Jeevan Mission are being given to blacklisted contractors. He also criticised the state government for not introducing the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Odisha. He said 68 lakh poor and needy people in Odisha are deprived of benefits under Ayushman scheme. JP Nadda also listed various achievements of the Central government under the leadership of PM Modi. He said PM Modi has brought a massive change in every sector of Indian politics. He said that earlier, politics was being done on the basis of caste, religion, community and locality but PM Modi connected Indian politics with 'Vikasvaad' and took the country towards development. JP Nadda said that now politics is done over report cards, development, accountability. "This change was brought under the leadership of PM Modi," he said. JP Nadda also said that the Indian economy is now considered a bright spot while the economy of other countries was in a bad state due to the effects of the Covid-19, and Russia-Ukraine war. "India has become the fifth-largest economy in the last 10 years of PM Modi's rule. India is second in the sector of medicine manufacturing. The country recorded 128 per cent increase in the export of drugs," JP Nadda said. He said India is in third spot by overtaking Japan in the sector of automobile manufacturing. India registered a 106 per cent increase in exports in the petrochemicals sector. "Mobile phones are now being manufactured in India. Similarly, around 1.5 lakh villages are being connected with optical fiber under PM Modi's rule," JP Nadda said. Meanwhile, former Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who was present at the programme, during his speech also criticised CM Naveen Patnaik for promoting an outsider (former bureaucrat VK Pandian) as the leader of Odisha. "Had late Biju Patnaik been alive today, it would have greatly pained him seeing an outsider ruling his state," Deb said. BJP's Odisha unit chief Manmohan Samal, national vice president Baijayant Panda along with other leaders were present during the meeting. Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases from May 13 to June 1. The results will be announced on June 4. New Delhi, April 29 : Three people were injured after a rash and recklessly driven Jaguar car lost control and hit three vehicles in Delhi Cantonment area in the early hours of Sunday, police said, adding that they have arrested the accused, who fled the spot after the incident. The 23-year-old accused, identified as Saurabh Pahwa, is a BBA final year student and a resident of Delhi's Saraswati Vihar. His father is a property dealer. Sharing the details, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Rohit Meena said that a police control room (PCR) call was received at 4:55 a.m. on Sunday regarding the accident of three vehicles and three persons injured. Upon reaching the spot, the police team found that the injured had been shifted to some unknown hospitals. "Medico-legal case reports of injured cab driver identified as Harjeet Singh, a resident of Shakarpur, and other two persons in the cab were received at 8.32 a.m. from AIIMS," said the DCP. "The Jaguar is registered in the name of Sushil Pahwa," said the DCP. New Delhi, April 29 : Indian Naval Destroyer INS Kochi responded to a maritime security incident after an attack on a merchant vessel by Houthi rebels. The incident involved an attack on Panama-flagged crude oil tanker Merchant Vessel (MV) Andromeda Star PM on 26 April, in the Red Sea. The Navy said on Sunday that the Indian Mission deployed in the sea responded and all 22 Indian nationals, who were on board the merchant vessel, are safe. According to the Navy, the MV was intercepted by the Navy ship and an aerial recce by helicopter was undertaken to assess the situation. The EOD team was deployed onboard MV for residual risk assessment. A total of 30 crew (including 22 Indian nationals) are reported to be safe and the vessel is continuing its scheduled transit to the next port. The swift action of the Navy ship reiterates the commitment and resolve of the Indian Navy in safeguarding the seafarers plying through the region, an official added. According to some international reports, the attack on the Andromeda Star was claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels. After the attack, Houthi rebels had stated that the missiles targeted the tanker as part of their ongoing support for Palestinians. Greg Grippo / Instagram By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/28/2024 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum Greg Grippo has revealed if he's ready to begin dating again following his split from Victoria Fuller Amid breakup speculation, multiple sources told Page Six last week that Victoria and Greg, both 30, had called it quits on their relationship "months ago."And Greg confirmed that his relationship with Victoria is over during a recent appearance on Jason Tartick 's "Trading Secrets" podcast.Greg noted how his breakup with Victoria was "really sad" and is still "hard," and because of that, it appears Greg needs more time to heal before he can officially move on.Greg shared with Jason how he's "really not" thinking about dating again any time soon."I'm not. I really am in repair mode," Greg revealed, adding how he's essentially emotionally unavailable right now.When asked if he'd like to meet -- or even just have a coffee with -- any of the women in Bachelor Nation, Greg replied, "No. I'm just getting out of this [with Victoria]. This was heavy for the both of us."Fans had assumed for months that Greg and Victoria had ended their romance.Not only did Victoria and Greg recently unfollow each other on Instagram, but they also haven't posted photos of one another on social media since December 2023.And leading up to Greg's breakup announcement, Victoria and Greg had been ignoring questions from fans on Instagram about the current status of their relationship.Greg, however, said on "Trading Secrets" that he doesn't have "anything bad to say" about Victoria."She's amazing," he said of his ex-girlfriend, "and I know that she's going to continue to do amazing things... She has a really good heart."Greg now has a part-time place in Chicago until September, and he said he's about to sign a lease in Williamsburg, VA, come June. Victoria, meanwhile, still resides in Nashville, TN."I'm really excited about it," Greg said of what's to come for him. "I'm really happy about it. This is the lightest I've felt in I don't know how long."Last summer, Victoria and Greg had been house hunting in Nashville together, but Greg apparently never made the move.Victoria and Greg also dealt with split rumors last summer.When rumors had swirled that Victoria was single again -- mainly because she and Greg hadn't posted about each other on social media for a month -- she shut down breakup speculation by sharing some photos of herself cuddling with Greg in her home.In June 2023, Victoria explained in a Q&A session via Instagram Stories why she and Greg hadn't gotten engaged yet . After all, Greg had said only a few months earlier that he could picture himself marrying Victoria and having kids with her within five years."LMFAOOOOOOO. [Questioning about our engagement] is nuts!! You guys, if you don't remember, one year ago I was engaged Johnny. When it happens, it will not be rushed or for anyone but us. But y'all will be the first to know, trust," Victoria said.Greg and Victoria first met at Governors Ball Music Festival in Summer 2021 and remained friends for nearly a year.The couple told Nick Viall in December 2022 on "The Viall Files" podcast that they had mutual interest in each other but never acted on those feelings, especially since Victoria wanted to appear on Bachelor in Paradise that year and Greg was in a relationship with a woman overseas at that point.Victoria therefore looked for love on Paradise, and she fell hard and fast for Johnny, who initially competed for Gabby Windey 's heart on 's nineteenth season.Victoria and Johnny got engaged on Bachelor in Paradise's eighth season in 2022, but the couple split shortly after filming the finale.Victoria alleged Johnny had called her terrible names -- including a "f-cking c-nt" and "homewrecker," which Johnny denied and called "low blows" -- and Johnny claimed Victoria was jealous and "heartbroken" over his stint, which was airing on television while they were secretly engaged.Johnny also said Victoria demanded a lifestyle he wasn't ready for yet and their differences were glaring.According to Victoria, she and Johnny ended their engagement three weeks after Johnny's marriage proposal because their dynamic was "toxic." But Johnny claimed his relationship with Victoria didn't officially end until mid-September 2022 considering they were allegedly still speaking and had been going to therapy before Victoria enjoyed a surprising European getaway with Greg in late October of that year.Fans first spotted Victoria and Greg, and suspected a romance, when they were spotted in Italy together.Because of how quickly Victoria moved on from Johnny, the brunette beauty was accused of cheating on her then-fiance with Greg.Victoria and Greg also flirted on social media as reports swirled about Victoria and Johnny's split.Victoria said that Greg had officially asked her to be his girlfriend on Halloween in 2022, and then Victoria went public with her new relationship on November 4 of that year, when the Bachelor in Paradise reunion special taped.Bachelor in Paradise's reunion aired in late November 2022, and fans were shocked to see Victoria and Greg so affectionate and carefree about their relationship. Victoria claimed she didn't care what anyone thought of her because she was so happy with Greg."I'm completely in love with her, like, head over heels in love with her," Greg said on Nick's podcast.Nick therefore playfully asked Greg if he was ready to propose marriage to Victoria."Stay tuned!" Victoria teased."I mean, we both want that in life," Greg interjected, "she's my person."Victoria had agreed that Greg was her "person," and then Greg added, "I haven't felt -- I don't want to say 'content,' that's not the right word because it sounds boring. But I think there's a certain beauty with being content with someone."Greg said he could just sit in a room with Victoria for days on end and they wouldn't get sick of each other."We're growing day by day, and I see it going that route," Greg gushed. "I want that and I know that that's important to her, and I want to be able to take that step with her."Victoria was clearly getting choked up during the interview and she said, "I'm going to cry."Prior to appearing on Paradise, Victoria competed for Peter Weber on The Bachelor's 24th season and finished in third place after Fantasy Suites.Greg initially competed on Katie Thurston 's season of . He quit the show following his hometown date because Katie was reluctant to express her love for him and it made Greg question if their romance was real.Greg's decision infuriated Katie and resulted in her bashing him in the media Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group On a surprise visit to Beijing amid speculation that he may unveil Tesla's autonomous driving technology in the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) market in China, billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday met Chinese Premier Li Qiang and discussed future expansion plans for his automobile. Photograph: Tingshu Wang/Reuters Premier Li met with Musk, CEO of the US electric carmaker Tesla, in Beijing on Sunday, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The SpaceX and Tesla chief travelled to China at the invitation of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, meeting with CCPIT president Ren Hongbin to discuss further cooperation with the country, official broadcaster CTGN reported. Musk is expected to meet senior Chinese officials at the State Council and "old friends" in Beijing, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. His Tesla has become a popular EV in China after he set up a $7 billion factory in Shanghai which went into production in 2020. Musk, who recently skipped a scheduled visit to India to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to firm up plans to open a Tesla factory in the country, is visiting Beijing when his Tesla market in China is threatened by the local EVs increasing sales. The Austin-based (Texas) Tesla has faced fierce competition from Chinese EV makers in the past few years. It has cut the prices of its Shanghai-made vehicles by up to six per cent to maintain its leading position in China's premium EV segment. Grace Tao, Tesla's vice-president of external relations in China, wrote a commentary piece in China's official newspaper People's Daily on Friday, saying autonomous driving is a key growth driver for the country's new energy vehicle sector, arguing that the technology will hatch new business models such as robotaxis, a vision that Musk has embraced, the Post reported. Musk's latest visit to China coincides with the 2024 Beijing Auto Show, which kicked off on Thursday. As a strong backer of Beijing in the US despite concerns over China's rise across the political divide in Washington, Musk enjoys red-carpet treatment in China. In 2019, Tesla was allowed to drive cars into the Zhongnanhai compound, the living and working area of Chinese leaders, when former Premier Li Keqiang hosted the CEO, and during Musk's three-day visit to Beijing last June he was received by then foreign minister Qin Gang, according to the Post report. The trip was warmly received by the Chinese public, with social-media posts focusing on the Chinese food Musk ate, and some referring to him as a "pioneer" and "brother Ma". Tesla, the leader in China's premium EV segment, delivered 603,664 Model 3s and Model Ys made at its Shanghai Gigafactory to buyers in China last year, an increase of 37.3 per cent over 2022. The growth rate matched the 37 per cent rise in sales recorded in 2022 when it delivered about 440,000 vehicles. Tesla has sold more than 1.7 million cars in China since it entered the market in 2012 and located its biggest factory in Shanghai, where Musk enjoys high levels of political support for the project. In a sign of its further commitment to China, Tesla bought a parcel of land in Shanghai to build a factory with a planned annual capacity of 10,000 Tesla Megapack batteries, which are used for battery storage stations. His visit to China also coincides with Tesla's recent announcement to lay off "more than 10 per cent" of its global headcount to cut costs and boost productivity. "As we prepare the company for our next phase of growth, it is extremely important to look at every aspect of the company for cost reductions and increasing productivity," Musk said in an email, adding that Tesla's growth has led to "duplication of roles and job functions in certain areas." "As part of this effort, we have done a thorough review of the organization and made the difficult decision to reduce our headcount by more than 10 per cent globally. "There is nothing I hate more, but it must be done. "This will enable us to be lean, innovative and hungry for the next growth phase cycle," he said. The layoffs that could impact more than 14,000 people came two weeks after the electric automaker reported its first year-over-year drop in sales in three years. The company has also warned that sales growth could be "notably lower" in 2024 than its stated goal of 50 per cent growth each year, according to a report by the state-run Xinhua news agency. A Mumbai court on Sunday remanded actor Sahil Khan, who has been arrested in connection with the Mahadev betting app case, in police custody till May 1. IMAGE: Actor Sahil Khan. Photograph: @iSahilKhan/X Khan was apprehended from Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh on Saturday after the Bombay high court rejected his pre-arrest bail plea. Khan was brought to Mumbai, placed under arrest and produced in a magistrate court in Dadar. The Mumbai cyber cell's SIT sought his remand saying he was not cooperating in the investigation. The police said it had recovered more than 2000 SIM cards and had details of 1700 bank accounts, all of which needed verification. His advocate Mujahid Ansari told the court Khan was cooperating with the investigation and had submitted documents as well bank statements. The actor, known for films like 'Style' and 'Excuse Me' and who has now become a fitness expert, is the second person to be arrested by the Mumbai police in the betting app case. The Mumbai cyber cell's SIT has been probing alleged illegal transactions between some financial and real estate firms in Maharashtra and the promoters of the Mahadev betting app. The size of the scam is about Rs 15,000 crore, as per the first information report registered at Matunga police station in Mumbai. While the Enforcement Directorate is investigating the money laundering angle in the Mahadev betting app case, Mumbai police has registered a separate case against Sahil Khan and 31 others. The ED has arrested nine persons so far as part of its probe in the money laundering case. Notably, Chhattisgarh's Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offence Wing on April 24 said it has arrested two persons from New Delhi and Goa in connection with the alleged illegal operations of the Mahadev online gaming and betting application. 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". IMAGE: BJP leader Anurag Thakur addresses an election rally in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur. Photograph: @ianuragthakur/X "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. Meanwhile, the Congress complained to the Election Commission against Anurag Thakur for his "outrageous" remarks 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'. In a setback to the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, senior leader Arvinder Singh Lovely has resigned as the party's Delhi unit chief, citing the alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party as one of the reasons. IMAGE: Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely addresses a press conference, at AICC headquarters in New Delhi, March 30, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo He said the Delhi Congress unit was against the alliance but the party high command went ahead with it. In his resignation letter sent to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday, Lovely also said that all unanimous decisions taken by the senior Delhi unit leaders have been "unilaterally vetoed" by AICC Delhi in-charge Deepak Babria. This comes days after former Delhi minister and AICC member Rajkumar Chauhan resigned from the party following an altercation with Babria. Reacting to the development, the Delhi BJP on Sunday said this "explosion" was set in motion when the Congress started naming candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, while the AAP said this is an internal matter of the Congress. In his letter to Kharge, Lovely said, "It is with a heavy heart that I write the present letter to you finding myself handicapped and unable to continue as the president of the Delhi party unit." "I had gratefully accepted the role as the DPCC president with the sole objective of supporting the local Congress party workers with whom I have an extremely close connection and life-long association. "However, since I cannot protect the interests of the party workers, I see no reason to continue in the said post. Therefore, with great regret and an extremely leaden heart, I, Arvinder Singh Lovely, do hereby tender my resignation from the post of DPCC President," he said. A minister in the Sheila Dikshit government, Lovely was appointed as the Delhi Congress chief in August last year. Lovely said even though the Delhi Congress unit was against the alliance with the AAP, he publicly backed it and made sure that the entire unit "fell in line with the high command's final order". He said that he even withdrew his name as a potential candidate for the Lok Sabha polls in the interest of the party and so that other senior leaders could get tickets. "The Delhi Congress unit was against an alliance with a party which was formed on the sole basis of levelling false, fabricated and malafide corruption charges against the Congress party... half of the cabinet ministers (of the party) are presently in jail on corruption charges. "Despite that, the party (Congress) made a decision to ally with the AAP in Delhi. We respected the party's final decision... I even went to the extent of visiting Mr Kejriwal's residence on the night of his arrest along with Mr Subash Chopra and Mr Sandeep Dikshit, despite the same being against my position on the matter," he said. Lovely also criticised Congress North East Delhi candidate Kanhaiya Kumar for heaping praise on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is behind bars in a money laundering case. "The candidate from North East Delhi has also been giving media bytes falsely praising the Delhi CM, in direct contravention of the party line and the local party workers' beliefs. "In direct contradiction to the true factual position and the misery of Delhi Citizens, he endorsed the false propaganda of AAP in regard to the supposed works done by them in education, health, road and electricity sectors," he said. "Such ill-thought and factually incorrect statements have not gone down well" with the Delhi Congress unit since "the local party workers had an inherent understanding that the alliance was not done in appreciation of AAP's false propaganda of the development of Delhi," he said. In fact, he added, the alliance was a "compromise" to improve the chances of victory of the Congress in the Lok Sabha polls. "It appears that the North East Delhi candidate is unaware of the fact that admittedly, the condition of schools, hospitals and public infrastructure in Delhi, under the AAP rule, has severely worsened as compared to the development work done under the late Sheila Dikshit Ji's Congress regime," Lovely said. The Congress and the AAP are constituents of the INDIA bloc formed by opposition parties to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. While the AAP is contesting four Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, the Congress has fielded candidates on three. The BJP had won all the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. Lovely further said he was unable to continue as the party unit chief as "all unanimous decisions taken by the senior Delhi Congress leaders have been unilaterally vetoed by the AICC General Secretary (Delhi in-charge)". "Since my appointment as DPCC President, the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge) has not allowed me to make any senior appointments in the DPCC. My request for appointment of a veteran leader as media head of DPCC was blatantly rejected. Till date, AICC general secretary (Delhi in-charge) has not allowed the DPCC to appoint all block presidents in the city. Resultantly, more than 150 blocks in Delhi do not presently have a block president," he said. Lovely alleged that AICC in-charge Babria forced him to suspend senior party leader Raj Kumar Chauhan. "In direct contravention of my public democratic stand, the AICC general secretary (Delhi Incharge), distressingly, asked me to suspend Raj Kumar Chauhan (ex-Delhi Minister), Surender Kumar (ex-MLA) and other party functionaries from the party. "He, instead of calming the situation, further also, in public meetings, entered into numerous heated exchanges with Sandeep Dikshit, (ex-MP), Raj Kumar Chauhan (ex- Delhi minister), Bhisham Sharma (ex-MLA) and Surender Kumar (ex-MLA)," he wrote in his letter. Lovely claimed the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee was not given any intimation about the decision to field Kanhaiya Kumar from North East Delhi seat and Udit Raj from North West Delhi seat before the official announcement was made by the party high command. He further lamented that no senior AICC leader has spoken to him about pacifying the party workers who are unhappy with the decision and protested outside the DPCC office when the selected candidates were being introduced to the media. Lovely accused Udit Raj of making "anti-party" statements in the press and disrespecting party workers. He claimed Raj had written several letters to him asking him to suspend various generational local party leaders. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said Lovely's decision to resign was driven by the voice of his soul. "The reason cited by Lovely for his resignation is an open secret. This explosion was set in motion the day the Congress started announcing tickets (for Lok Sabha poll candidates)," he said. "No patriot will stand with someone who speaks of dividing the country or stands with the nation's enemies. Given the way the Congress has distributed tickets, many people are raising the banner of revolt," he said. Senior AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said this is an internal matter of the Congress. Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said the issues raised by Lovely need to be addressed. "We had discussions about his resignation. Clearly, he is pained by the events that unfolded in the last few months. The issues he has raised will have to be addressed," he said. Lovely was first elected as an MLA in 1998 from Gandhi Nagar. He served as the minister of transport, education, urban development and revenue in the Congress government in Delhi. The Congress had fielded Lovely against BJP's Gautam Gambhir and AAP's Atishi from East Delhi constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a plea by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest in a money laundering case stemming from the alleged excise policy scam. IMAGE: AAP workers take part in the 'Walk For Kejriwal' walkathon in support of arrested Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, at CR Park in New Delhi, April 28, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta is likely to hear the matter. Kejriwal had earlier told the apex court that his "illegal arrest" in the case constitutes an unprecedented assault on the tenets of democracy based on "free and fair elections" and "federalism". In a rejoinder to the Enforcement Directorate's reply affidavit filed on his petition challenging his arrest in the case, Kejriwal said the mode, manner and timing of his arrest just before the Lok Sabha elections when the Model Code of Conduct had come into play, speaks volumes about the "arbitrariness" of the agency. Kejriwal claimed it is a "classical case" of how the Centre has misused the ED and its wide powers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to "crush" the Aam Aadmi Party and its leaders. It claimed that the ED illegally 'picked up' a sitting chief minister and the national convenor of one of the national Opposition parties, five days after the general elections were announced and the Model Code of Conduct came into force. He said a level playing field, which is a pre-requisite for 'free and fair elections', has clearly been compromised with his illegal arrest. It said the entire basis of Kejriwal's arrest rests upon certain statements which are in the nature of "self-incriminating confessions" by alleged accomplices who have been given the immunity by way of pardon etc. "Whether such statements could qualify as materials to reach the conclusion of guilt as envisaged under section 19 PMLA to justify the arrest of a sitting chief minister of NCT of Delhi or a national convenor of a national political party in India in the midst of general elections," it asked. In the rejoinder, Kejriwal alleged the only objective of the ED was to procure and obtain some statement against him and as soon as the statement was taken, the mission of the probe agency was accomplished and thereafter, the co-accused were neither arrested nor any further statements were taken. The AAP leader claimed the malicious intent of the ED in conducting the investigation was apparent from its deliberate concealment of statements made by co-accused individuals where either no allegations were made or allegations were explicitly denied. Kejriwal also said there is no link whatsoever established by the ED to claim that an amount of Rs 45 crore was transferred by the South group as advanced kickback which was then utilised by the AAP in the Goa elections. The chief minister said the ED, in its reply affidavit filed in the apex court, has said that one of the reasons which necessitated his arrest was that he did not remain present before the investigating officer (IO) despite being summoned nine times. In its reply affidavit filed in the apex court earlier this week, the ED has claimed that Kejriwal is the "kingpin and key conspirator" of the excise policy scam and the arrest of a person for an offence based on material can never violate the "concept of free and fair elections". The ED arrested Kejriwal on March 21 after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him protection from coercive action by the federal anti-money laundering agency. He is currently lodged in Tihar jail under judicial custody. On April 15, the top court issued a notice to the ED and sought its response to Kejriwal's plea. The high court had on April 9 upheld Kejriwal's arrest in the money laundering case, saying there was no illegality about it and that the ED was left with "little option" after he skipped repeated summonses and refused to join the investigation. The matter pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 which was later scrapped. The Karnataka government on Sunday constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe an alleged sex scandal involving Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is the grandson of Janata Dal-Secular supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. IMAGE: Congress supporters stage a protest demanding the arrest of Janata Dal-Secular MP Prajwal Revanna over his alleged involvement in the sex scandal, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, April 28, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The move came following a letter by the chairperson of Women's Commission Dr Nagalakshmi Chowdhary to the government. The 33-year-old Prajwal was the National Democratic Alliance candidate in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, which went to polls on April 26. The JD-S joined the NDA in September last year. The three-member SIT of IPS officers is led by the additional director general of police (CID) Bijay Kumar Singh. The other two are Assistant Inspector General of Police Suman D Pennekar and Mysuru Superintendent of Police Seema Latkar. The SIT has been directed to complete its investigation soon. Some explicit video clips allegedly involving Prajwal had started making the rounds in Hassan in recent days. The decision to constitute an SIT was announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The police have information that Prajwal, who is the son of MLA and former minister HD Revanna, has left the country, according to a statement issued by the chief minister's office. Dr Chaudhary on Thursday wrote to Siddaramaiah and state police chief Alok Mohan seeking a probe into the videos that are in circulation in Hassan. Through his election agent, Prajwal has lodged a complaint with the authorities that the videos are "doctored" and being circulated to tarnish his image ahead of the elections. Home minister G Parameshwara told reporters: In case he (Prajwal) has gone to the foreign country, SIT will be responsible for bringing him back and continuing the investigation. We will not tell the SIT to do the investigation this or that way. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, ....we are hanging our heads in shame." I saw in the media that he has escaped'. This is an unpardonable crime. It is a matter of shame. He is an MP and the grandson of a former Prime Minister. He represented the same constituency which the former Prime Minister had represented, Shivakumar, also state Congress chief, said. The government order on the SIT said the investigation will include those who perpetrated sexual crime, those who filmed it and then made it public. It said already an FIR has been lodged at the Holenarasipur police station under section 354(A) (sexual harassment), 354(D) (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, which the SIT will investigate in detail. The order said all the cases pertaining to this incident registered in various parts of the state should be transferred to the SIT, which will utilise the resources of the CID during the investigation. The Congress on Sunday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is indulging in "fear-mongering" as he is 'desperate' after facing a 'washout' in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Goa CM Pramod Sawant (third from left), state BJP chief Sadanand Tanavade, party South Goa candidate Pallavi Dempo, North Goa candidate Shripad Naik greet the gathering during a public meeting in South Goa, Apri 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions for the prime minister ahead of his rallies in Karnataka. "After the Phase II washout, a desperate PM is on a spree of Karnataka rallies today. Instead of lying and fear-mongering, these are the questions he should answer," Ramesh said, listing his posers. "Why have BJP MPs performed so poorly as the people's representatives? After a 7-month delay, why has the Centre released less than 20% of drought relief funds? Why is the Centre holding up the Upper Bhadra and Mahadayi projects?" the Congress leader said on X. Elaborating on what he said were "jumla details", Ramesh asked where have BJP MPs been while the Modi government has been "unleashing its vengeance" on Karnataka. Citing the latest data from the Parliamentary research service, Ramesh claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party MPs from Karnataka have shown a blatant disregard for their responsibilities, and displayed lack of commitment to serving their constituents. "While the national average attendance in Parliament was 79 percent, the average of the 28 Karnataka MPs was even lower at 71 percent. The review revealed that 26 of these MPs never raised Karnataka's concerns -- the release of MGNREGA funds, drought and flood relief assistance, and the Centre's denial of additional allocations of rice for PDS," he said. Analysing the transcripts of all debates, PRS found that very few MPs even tried to initiate policies or programmes to address their constituencies' issues, Ramesh said. "Three MPs did not ask a single question in five years, and five MPs did not participate in a single debate. While most MPs were criticised for neglecting the state, seven MPs only focused on the RSS-BJP's unconstitutional agendas in their constituencies," he alleged. "Perhaps the most damning finding was that 14 of the 28 were directly or indirectly involved in abetting communal violence in their localities. Will PM Modi apologise for foisting these ineffectual MPs on the people of Karnataka? Or was this his design all along to elect non-performing BJP MPs so that he can ignore the voice of Karnataka?" he said. Ramesh also said that it has been more than seven months since the Karnataka government sought more than Rs 18,000 crore of relief from the Centre as per disaster relief rules. Karnataka is reeling under an acute drought situation, with 223 out of 236 talukas facing drought conditions and 196 taluks being categorised as severely hit, he noted. As early as September 2023, the Karnataka government had approached the Modi government to release funds of Rs 18,171 crore for drought relief, he said. "The rules of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, state that the Centre must take a final decision on the release of funds within one month of receiving the Inter-Ministerial Central Team report. For Karnataka, this period expired in December 2023. Last month, the Finance Minister made the excuse that her hands are tied since the Model Code of Conduct came into force," he said. "After being forced to the Supreme Court by the Karnataka Government, the Centre has finally sanctioned funds but only a mere Rs 3,498 crore. This is less than 20% of the total amount requested," he said. Why is PM Modi so "indifferent" to the people of Karnataka, Ramesh asked. "In last year's Union Budget, the Modi government had proudly announced a Rs 5,300 crore grant for the Upper Bhadra Project. More than a year later, state revenue minister Krishna Byre Gowda has revealed that not a 'single paisa' of this grant has been released," Ramesh said. During his assembly election campaign, PM Modi had also claimed to resolve long-standing issues with the Mahadayi-Kalasa Banduri Nala Project but earlier this year, clearance for the project has been deferred by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, he said. "These projects are crucial to expanding drinking water and irrigation access in a state that has been reeling under a severe drought. Why has the Modi government neglected these essential infrastructure projects? What vendetta does the PM have against the people of Karnataka?" Ramesh said and asked the prime minister to break his "silence" on these issues. The Indian Navy swiftly assisted a Panama-flagged crude oil tanker with 30 crew members including 22 Indians after the vessel came under missile attack from Houthi militants. IMAGE: Indian Navy personnel with rescued crew members including Indians onboard Panama oil tanker, April 28, 2024. Photograph: Courtesy Indian Navy on X Indian Navy's destroyer INS Kochi responded following the attack on the vessel, MV Andromeda Star, on April 26, officials said, adding all the crew members are safe. The US Central Command said Iranian-backed Houthi militants launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Red Sea in the vicinity of merchant vessel Maisha and MV Andromeda Star. MV Andromeda Star is a Panaman-flagged and Seychelles-operated vessel. The vessel reported minor damage, the US Central Command said. "A mission deployed Indian Naval destroyer INS Kochi responded to a maritime security incident involving the attack on Panama-flagged crude oil tanker MV Andromeda Star on April 26," the Indian Navy said. The vessel was intercepted by the Indian Navy ship and an aerial recce involving a helicopter operation was undertaken to assess the situation, it said. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team of the Navy was also deployed to carry out "residual risk assessment", the Navy said in a statement. "A total of 30 crew including 22 Indian nationals are reported to be safe and the vessel is continuing its scheduled transit to the next port," it said. "The swift action of the Indian Navy ship reiterates the commitment and resolve of the Indian Navy in safeguarding the seafarers plying through the region," it added. The fresh incident comes amid growing global concerns over attacks on various commercial vessels in the Red Sea by the Houthi militants. In the last few weeks, the Indian Navy extended assistance to a number of merchant vessels in the Western Indian Ocean following attacks on them. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said talks between India and China are going smoothly and in a good environment, and India will never bow down. IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addresses a public meeting in support of Union minister and BJP candidate for the Khunti Lok Sabha constituency, Arjun Munda ahead of latter's nomination filing for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, in Khunti, Jharkhand, April 23, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Singh, who is in Ahmedabad to campaign for Bharatiya Janata Party candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections, said India has become a powerful country from a military standpoint and wants to maintain good relations with its neighbours. "India is no longer a weak India. India has also become a powerful country from a military point of view. We want to maintain good relations with our neighbouring countries," the minister said when asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's accusation against the Narendra Modi government over Chinese aggression. Talks between India and China are going on smoothly and in a good environment over whatever issues there are, he said. "I understand that we should wait for the outcome of the talks. But I want to assure the countrymen that India has not bowed down anywhere, nor will it ever bow down," he said. Singh also expressed confidence that India's defence exports, which crossed the Rs 21,000 crore mark in the financial 2023-24, will increase going forward. "In 2014, we exported Rs 600 crore defence items, but now the figure has crossed Rs 21,000 crore, and I can say that it is going to increase," he said. The minister said the Modi government is committed to ensuring that defence items, whether missiles and other weapons, bombs or tanks, should be made in India and by Indians. "Today, we have achieved defence production worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore," he said. A Village Defence Guard member was killed in a gunfight with terrorists in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district early Sunday, officials said. Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com Image used for representational purpose only. Additional director general of police, Jammu zone, Anand Jain, who rushed to the area to supervise the anti-terrorist operation, said a massive search operation is on to track down and neutralize the terrorists who have infiltrated from Pakistan. The ADGP said two groups of terrorists are believed to be present in the area after they recently infiltrated from across the border. Jain led the wreath laying ceremony of slain VDG member Mohd Sharief at Basantgarh police station this evening and saluted his supreme sacrifice for the nation. Deputy inspector general of police, Udhampur-Reasi range, Rayees Mohd Bhat and other officers from police and CRPF also paid floral tributes to the martyr. "We got information about the presence of terrorists (in Panara village of Basantgarh) late Saturday night and activated police and VDG members. Because the information was not pin-pointed and we have a vast jungle area, the area domination patrols were launched," Jain told reporters after the Sharief's body was dispatched to his home at village Khaned for last rites. He said one of the parties came under fire while moving towards Chochru Gala heights around 7:45 am and in the ensuing encounter, the VDG member laid down his life. Reinforcements from police, CRPF and Army were rushed and the whole area was cordoned off to track down the terrorists and neutralize them, the officer said. Officials said the army made two helicopter sorties to drop para-commandos deep inside the dense forest to eliminate the terrorists. The ADGP said two groups of terrorists are believed to be present in the area after they recently infiltrated from across the border. "Where from the terrorists have infiltrated is a matter of investigation which is going on but it is certain that this group is a freshly infiltrated one," he said when asked about possible infiltration of the terrorists through the International Border from adjoining Kathua district. He said the strength of the two groups, as per preliminary investigation, is between four and six but their affiliation is not known immediately. "We are working on various inputs and the area is being sanitized to hunt them down with deployment of additional forces." Earlier, official sources said there was information about movement of two separate groups of terrorists, who infiltrated recently, from Kathua to Basantgarh. One of the groups with five members was confronted, while there was no trace of the other group, which has four members and whose movement was last reported in the Machedi top area bordering Kathua, they said. The sources said the terrorists are believed to have infiltrated through the International Border from Kathua district and are heading to Kashmir via Chenab valley, taking advantage of the thick forest. Meanwhile, Pawan Kumar, a VDG member, demanded equipping them with automatic weapons to take on the terrorists effectively. "We are ready and will not allow them to settle down," he said. This was after a long time that an encounter took place in Basantgarh, once a hub of terror activities, before it was cleared of terrorism by the security forces about two decades ago. Women constituted only eight percent of the total 1,618 candidates in the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls, with political activists saying it reflects a deeper issue of gender bias and that the talk of empowering them rings hollow. IMAGE: BJP East Tripura candidate Kriti Devi Debbarma meets with supporters during an election campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, at Asharambari in Khowai, in Tripura, April 24, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo In the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls, there were 135 women candidates while in the second phase, there were 100 women candidates, bringing the combined total for the first two phases to 235 women candidates. Of the 135 women candidates in phase 1, Tamil Nadu had the highest share at 76, but they account for just 8 percent of the candidates in the state, while Kerala has the maximum women candidates at 24 in phase 2. Party-wise, the Congress has fielded 44 women till now while 69 women have been fielded by the BJP in the first two phases. This significant gender imbalance has sparked criticism from political analysts and activists, who ask why parties are waiting for the Women's Reservation Bill to be implemented instead of proactively issuing tickets to women. Dr Sushila Ramaswamy, associate professor at Delhi University's Jesus and Mary College, said political parties should take concrete steps to promote women's candidacy. "Political parties should have been more proactive and fielded more women candidates," she underscored, citing the effectiveness of seat reservations for women within party structures, as seen in the Britain's Labour Party. With women constituting nearly half of India's electorate, their under-representation in the candidate pool raises broader questions about the barriers hindering women's full participation in the political sphere, Dr. Iftekhar Ahmad Ansari, Associate Professor at the Aligarh Muslim University, said. Beyond the symbolic gestures and promises, he stressed the importance of structural reforms to ensure equal opportunities for women in politics. He highlighted the critical role of party leadership in promoting gender diversity. "Political parties must prioritise gender inclusion in candidate selection and provide adequate support to women aspirants," she emphasised. The issue of women's political representation extends beyond numerical quotas to encompass systemic changes in party dynamics and electoral processes, Farhat Jahan, a retired faculty member at the Abdullah Women's College at the AMU said while emphasising the need for gender-sensitive policies that address challenges faced by women in politics. "The upcoming phases of the elections present an opportunity for political parties to demonstrate their commitment to gender equality through concrete actions. Initiatives such as mentorship programs, capacity-building workshops, and awareness campaigns can empower women to actively participate in the electoral process and pursue leadership roles," she added. Prof. Mohammad Aftab Alam from the political science department at the AMU pointed out the challenges women often face in forming independent political opinions amidst societal influences. "Even the ones elected are often relegated to symbolic roles," he remarked, highlighting broader issues of token representation. The BJD is the only party, which as a policy, gives 33 percent tickets to female candidates. Meera Parida, state vice president of the Biju Mahila Dal of the BJD, stressed the need for substantive action in women's empowerment and praised her party's initiative of reserving 33 percent of seats for women. "Reserving seats alone is not enough. We need a cultural shift where women are seen as leaders and decision-makers," she emphasised, advocating for comprehensive reforms. Both major parties -- the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress-- have listed women-centric initiatives in their manifestoes. The BJP's manifesto promises to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to honour and empower women, integrate women self-help groups into the service sector to enhance their economic participation and expand health services. The Congress has pledged legislative reforms for women's empowerment, including the immediate enactment of the Women's Reservation Bill. However, these commitments are yet to translate into substantial numbers of women contesting elections. Alka Lamba, chief of Congress Women's Wing, highlighted the Congress's commitment to gender equality across sectors. "The Congress has extended political, economic, and social rights to women," Lamba affirmed, outlining ambitious targets for women's representation in leadership roles. As the Lok Sabha elections progress, the spotlight is on political parties to address these concerns and demonstrate tangible commitments towards fostering women's participation and representation in governance. The upcoming poll phases will be closely monitored to assess whether there is a meaningful shift towards greater gender inclusivity in the political landscape especially after the hype over passage of the Women's Reservation Bill, Aftab said. "While parties are vocal about empowering women, the lack of women candidates reflects a deeper issue of gender bias within political systems," noted Dr. Ramaswamy. The Lok Sabha polls are being held in seven phases beginning from April 19 and the counting of votes will take place on June 4 for the world's biggest election exercise. The second phase was held on April 26 while other phases are scheduled for May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Periods of rain. High 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 42F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Forum on promoting university technology transfer held in Beijing Xinhua) 13:33, April 28, 2024 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Tourists in traditional clothes visit Qingzhou ancient town scenic spot in Weifang. Photo: VCG Located in East China's Shandong Province, Weifang, known as the "World Capital of Kites," offers a fascinating blend of cultural heritage and scenic beauty. Come explore the city's rich history, from its ancient kite traditions to the modern-day attractions that draw tourists from around the globe. The museum At the heart of Weifang's identity is the Weifang World Kite Museum. Established in 1989, it is the first large-scale kite museum in China and is located in Kuiwen district of Weifang. Recognized as a prominent cultural site in the "World Capital of Kites," the museum's architecture is inspired by the traditional dragon centipede kite, with a roof designed to resemble a dragon in flight, underscoring its symbolic connection to kite flying. This institution is more than just a museum, it's the heart of the global kite community, offering insights into kite evolution from a practical tool to an artistic symbol used in festivals and celebrations across China. Each exhibit delves into different aspects of kite craftsmanship, from the materials used to the intricate designs that depict everything from folklore to regional stories. Visitors to the museum can explore various exhibitions that detail the history, craftsmanship and a wealth of kite-related materials, including photographs, calligraphy, paintings, and replicas that document the evolution of kite making over the centuries. The museum is renowned not only for its collection but also for its educational and cultural role, particularly during the annual Weifang International Kite Festival, when kite enthusiasts from around the globe gather to celebrate and participate in kite flying competitions and exhibitions. This festival is a significant event that showcases the diversity and creativity of kite designs worldwide and underscores Weifang's status as a global center for kite enthusiasts, as well as a global kite ambassador. The Weifang World Kite Museum is free to visit and is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Close to the Weifang train station, some visitors choose to make it their last stop in their visit to Weifang, storing their luggage at the coat check desk, which is very convenient for travelers. A portal to the past Fangzi town in Weifang, also known as Fangtze Eurotown, with its meticulously preserved historical architecture, provides a window into Weifang's complex colonial history. Once a hub of activity during the occupation periods, the town has been transformed into a vibrant site for cultural tourism. The integration of historic preservation with modern cultural expressions creates a dynamic environment where the past meets the present. Visitors can wander through the town, admiring the architectural legacy and learning about the historical context that shaped the region. Once one of the four major high-grade stations on the Jiaoji Railway, Fangzi Station played a pivotal role as a transportation hub between Jinan and Qingdao, two important cities in Shandong. Established in 1902, the station facilitated the development of Fangzi town, a community enriched by its railway and coal industries. The town is remarkable for its well-preserved German and Japanese-style buildings, a legacy of historical colonial occupations. These include 103 German structures such as former military headquarters, hospitals, post offices, churches, and barracks, which together form a complete community architecture. Additionally, there are 63 Japanese buildings, including consulates, hotels, and banks. Recognized for its cultural significance, this architectural cluster was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit by Weifang city in April 2000. In 2008, Fangzi district initiated conservation and development project, transforming the area into the "Fangtze Eurotown," named after the German pronunciation of Fangzi, to reflect the Rhine-style charm of the 1920s and 1930s. Today, Fangtze Eurotown boasts a variety of cultural and historical attractions. It has evolved into a top film and television base in Shandong and a center for China-Germany cultural exchanges. Natural escapes and beyond Weifang's charm extends beyond its urban centers into the lush landscapes of Qingzhou, an area known for its profound historical significance and natural beauty. Take Taihe Mountain for instance. It features natural scenic spots with picturesque valleys and cultural relics, making it a perfect spot for both trekking and historical exploration. And Old Dragon Lake is another spot not to be missed. The scenic area is renowned for its springs, pools, and historical buildings, providing a tranquil escape for nature lovers. These natural attractions not only offer recreational opportunities but also provide a deeper understanding of the region's geographical diversity and its impact on local culture. Efforts to enhance Weifang's tourism infrastructure have seen significant growth in the sector. The establishment of the Weifang Modern Kite Cooperative and other cultural enterprises aims to promote kite making not only as an art form but as a pillar of sustainable cultural tourism. This initiative includes the creation of a kite culture museum and an intangible heritage experience hall where visitors can engage directly with the kite-making process. Weifang is well-connected by air, rail, and road, making it accessible to both domestic and international tourists. The city's transport infrastructure supports its status as a cultural and tourist destination, with facilities that accommodate large-scale events like the kite festival. Looking ahead, Weifang is set to continue its trajectory as a center of cultural heritage and innovation. Meanwhile, plans for the establishment of new tourist attractions and cultural projects are underway, aiming to further integrate the rich history of the region with contemporary cultural practices and tourism. MANCHESTER A memorial commemorating the life of stage and screen actor Treat Williams, of Manchester, will be held at the Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) in Manchester on June 9. Williams, who died last June after his motorcycle collided with a car on Route 30 in Dorset, was widely considered a Manchester neighbor who happened to be famous, and a beloved member of the community who was generous with his time and talent. Though a memorial for close family and friends was held soon after his passing, Williams wife Pam Van Sant felt that the community deserved a chance to say goodbye as well. Terrible tragedy that it is, at least he went where he loves, Van Sant said. He loved Vermont more than anything. The event will begin at SVACs Arkell Theatre at 3:30 p.m. where a reel of Williams work will be shown. The actor remained sought-after even at the age of 71, and had 129 movie and television roles as well as numerous Broadway credits though it wouldnt be fair to say he boasted them. In conversations with local residents after his passing, he was repeatedly described as a down-to-earth man who was quick to lend a hand, and adored his family. Following a yet-to-be-unveiled special surprise, guests will retire to Curate Cafe on SVACs campus where they can share their memories of Williams from the screen or around town with others who cared for him. Williams roots in Southern Vermont ran deep, Van Sant said. Though he grew up in Connecticut, Williams family would vacation in Vermont nearly every weekend, primarily in Peru and Weston. Eventually, his parents purchased a home in the Northshire. As the actor built a family of his own, those local roots grew stronger. When we were first dating we came up here and stayed in his parents' house, Van Sant said. We bought our house here on North Road in February 1988 and got married in the Weston Church. With his pilots license, Williams was able to bring his family to Vermont most weekends according to Van Sant. We used to joke that it would probably be easier to drive with the babies and whatnot, she said with a laugh. Wed be here in the summers and then every other weekend. Manhattan remained their home base until 2001, when the family moved to Utah for Williams role in the television series Everwood. They returned to Manchester full-time a little more than a decade ago so their eldest daughter could attend school at Burr and Burton Academy. During their time in the Northshire, Williams and his family developed close connections with SVAC, making the arts center a fitting location for a celebration of his life. Treat and his wife Pam were longtime supporters of SVAC, said SVAC Interim Executive Director Connie Blatchford. We are honored to host Treat Williams' Memorial here in the Arkell Pavilion this summer. Ive had so much support and love from the community, I know everyone has been thinking about us so I just wanted to give back, Van Sant said. I wanted to provide a place where everyone can come and share stories about Treat. So they have some kind of closure too. China has destroyed thousands of old homes and shops in the ancient Silk Road trading post. A Uyghur prepares a traditional yogurt-based drink at the Old KashgarCity tourist area in northwestern China's Xinjiang region, July 20, 2023. In an about-face, Xinjiangs highest legislative body has issued a new regulation to protect Kashgars Old City the heart of Uyghur culture which they previously ordered to be destroyed and reconstructed, leaving only a small area as a tourist attraction. The measure, which take effect on May 1, prompted accusations of Chinese hypocrisy by experts on the far-western region, who say it's meant to benefit investors in tourism and deflect criticism of Beijings persecution of the 11-million mostly Muslim Uyghurs. The Regulation on the Protection of the Ancient City of Kashgar passed on March 31 aims to safeguard the cultural heritage of Kashgars ancient city, which was once a key trading post on the Silk Road between China and Europe. But starting in 2008, China has already demolished 85% of Kashgars ancient quarter and relocated thousands of residents to newer earthquake-resistant houses, according to a June 2020 report by the Uyghur Human Rights Project, or UHRP, on the destruction of the Old City. By the end of 2010, more than 10,000 ancestral earthen homes there had been destroyed, and shops near the 15th-century Id Kah Mosque were transferred to new buildings made to look like Uyghur architecture, according to journalist Nick Holdstock, who has written two nonfiction books about Xinjiang. Above their doors are wooden signs saying Minority Folk Art or Traditional Ethnic Crafts in English and Chinese, he was quoted as saying in the UHRP report. Now all that is left is about 15% of the Old City, which has largely been renovated into a Disneyland-like tourist center for visiting Chinese tourists and dignitaries. The supposedly ancient Kashgar gate that appears frequently in Chinese promotional material is actually a modern creation and doesnt reflect traditional Uyghur design. Chinas past actions appeared to be motivated by a campaign to stamp out tangible aspects of Uyghur culture, the UHRP report said. Cradle of Uyghur civilization This is particularly painful for Uyghurs because Kashgar is considered to be the cradle of their civilization, with two millennia of history. Urumqi may be the political capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, but Kashgar has been the historic center of Uyghur statecraft, politics, art, music literature, trade, culture and religion. Police officers patrol Kashgar Old City in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, May 4, 2021. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) It was in Kashgar that in the 11th century prominent Uyghur Turkologist Mahmud Kashgari penned the Diwan Lughat al-Turk, the first comprehensive dictionary of Turkic languages, which also contains an early map showing countries and regions from Japan to Egypt. A strategic trading post along the Silk Road, Kashgar was visited by Marco Polo on his way to the court of Kublai Khan during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century, and before that had been the capital of the Uyghur Karakhanid Empire, a Turkic-Uyghur empire that lasted from 999 to 1211. It was also in Kashgar that the first East Turkistan Republic was declared in 1933, before China aided by the Soviet Union invaded and took control of the region in 1949 against the wishes of the people to remain an independent country. Museumify Now, after all the destruction China has wrought in the city, the new regulation calls for the preservation of the old quarters overall historical appearance, natural environment, historical buildings, ancient trees, traditional communities, streets, courtyards, buildings and other structures such as street-side pillars. It also will protect intangible cultural heritage, including historical events, figures, handicrafts, traditional arts and customs and rituals. Any demolition, alteration or disruption of the architectural or landscape features designated for conservation is strictly prohibited, the regulation says. But experts say the measures will hardly rectify the damage already done, and will only serve to turn whats left of Kashgars vibrant culture into a tourist attraction. It seems absurd in the present context to think that the Chinese government actually is concerned about the preservation of Uyghur culture, said Sean Roberts, director of the Central Asia Research Project at George Washington University. One of the dangers that Uyghur culture faces right now in China is being museumified in a way that no longer reflects active lived culture, but reflects something that is packaged for tourists, he said. RELATED STORIES Demolition plan for Kashgar Kashgars Old City destruction emblematic of Beijings cultural campaign against Uyghurs: report China razes Kashgars iconic Grand Bazaar Demolition of Kashgars Khan Bazaar creates uncertain future for Uyghur shop owners Historic Kashgar mosque open for tourists, but not worshipers Experts denounce trips to Xinjiang as genocide tourism More seriously, the move is likely meant to deflect attention from atrocities China has committed against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, Roberts said. Besides the destruction of thousands of mosques and other structures significant to Uyghur heritage, Chinese authorities have suppressed Muslim religious practices. Since 2017, they have also detained an estimated 1.8 million Uyghurs in state-sponsored camps, where some have been subjected to maltreatment and forced labor, sterilization, contraception and abortion. China has denied committing atrocities in Xinjiang and says the camps were vocational training centers that have been shut down. But the United States has determined that Chinas actions against the Uyghurs constitute a genocide, while a U.N. report said they may amount to crimes against humanity. The parliaments of some Western countries also have deemed the actions a genocide and crimes against humanity. Benefiting Chinese developers The new regulation will benefit Chinese investors involved in tourism in the city, said Henryk Szadziewski a senior researcher at the Uyghur Human Rights Project. For example, Beijing-based tourism and property developer Zhongkun Investment Group Ltd. is involved in restoration efforts and tourism initiatives in the Old City, he said. Following earlier reconstruction work, the Old Citys neighborhood Communist Party committee leased the reassembled quarter to Zhongkun, which began marketing the area as a living Uyghur folk museum and established a near monopoly over Kashgars tourism, the UHRP report said. The new Kashgar Old City has a different set of people who occupy that space people who have interests in tourism and people who have interests in the exploitation of that, Szadziewski told RFA. To come up with this and to try to portray it as something genuine is quite a cruel irony for the Uyghur people, he added. A woman cooks next to the remnants of neighboring houses demolished as part of a building renovation campaign in Kashgar Old City in northwestern China's Xinjiang region, Aug. 3, 2011. (Carlos Barria/Reuters) The regulation comes 13 years after a European Parliament resolution urging China to stop the planned demolition of the ancient city of Kashgar and the forced resettlement of Uyghurs. Members of the European Parliament encouraged the Chinese government to consider including Kashgar in a joint application with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan for the Silk Road's UNESCO Heritage designation. But Beijing did not respond to the call. Among UNESCOs priorities is the safeguarding of cultural expressions and the knowledge and know-how of local communities. Preserving Kashgar will be impossible without its inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage List, given the instability of local policies and future plans, said Kahar Barat, a Uyghur-American historian known for his work on Buddhism and Islam in Xinjiang. Barat said he believes that for the Chinese government to genuinely safeguard the Old City it must ensure comprehensive cultural preservation, including the restoration of manuscripts, old madrassas and mosques. Preserving the citys appearance and traditional streets primarily caters to tourism, showcasing it to visitors, Barat said. Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. 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 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. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has defended her partys rhetoric on open borders, arguing that it has long been her position on immigration. Ms McDonald claimed that there has been a lot of misinformation around migration and accused the Government of scrambling on the issue. Sinn Fein is not for open borders, we are for a system that is fair, human rights compliant, efficient, she said on Sunday. Sinn Fein opposes open borders and advocates for a fair, efficient, and enforced immigration system that respects the human rights of those fleeing conflict and persecution. This is why we have voted against much of the EU migration pact. @Donnchadhol pic.twitter.com/w8FvIGBrzy Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) April 24, 2024 When it was put to Ms McDonald that Ireland doesnt have open borders, Ms McDonald said: I have used that term for clarification purposes, and Ive been using that language and making that point as far back as 2007. She referenced an Irish Times report from 2007 where Ms McDonald, then an MEP for Dublin, said Sinn Fein is not in favour of an open door or open border policy on migration. I made the point then, and I make the point now, that anyone who says that Sinn Fein is for open borders is wrong. We are for a system that is orderly, that is fair, that is human rights compliant, that is efficient thats an important piece and that is enforced. Asked what had changed since Ms McDonald told RTEs This Week programme in February that there is no such thing as open borders and that Ireland does not have open borders, she said: Nothing has changed. Ive been saying since 2007 go and check the Irish Times that were not for open borders, she added. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Stormont First Minister Michelle ONeill and Stormont Economy Minister Conor Murphy address the crowd at The Helix (Niall Carson/PA) Let me repeat: we want a system that is fair, that is efficient, thats enforced. During the RTE interview, which aired on February 4th, she also said: I hear people talk about this business of open borders. This seems to be a line thats peddled by some. Theres no such thing, Ireland doesnt have open borders. We have a system that is rules-based, that is based in law and it has to be efficient, it has to be fair, it has to comply with human rights standards, with international law and it also has to be applied. And I think reasonable people will see that as a fair and a sustainable way to proceed. Ms McDonald was speaking on Sunday as the party launched its campaign for the local, European and Limerick mayoral elections at The Helix on the Dublin City University campus. Stormont First Minister Michelle ONeill was given a standing ovation as she addressed the delegation of local election and European candidates, using her speech to call for a thought-out response to people who seek asylum in Ireland after travelling from the UK. Stormont Economy Minister Conor Murphy, Senator Lynn Boylan, and front bench TDs, such as Eoin O Broin and Pearse Doherty, were also in attendance at the event. The GAA and wider community are being urged to support the family of a former Shannon Gaels GAA club member. Dominic Keenehan late of Cashel, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Roscommon sadly passed away on July 18th, 2023 at the age of 38 after a brave battle with a rare form of cancer. At the time of his passing, Dominic left behind his pregnant wife Orla McDermott and their 14 month old son Lachlan. Orla gave birth to their daughter Eden after the passing of her husband. On Sunday, May 5th a number of events will be held in his home parish of Croghan in support of his young family. Following his diagnosis with bile duct cancer, St Farnans GAA Club in his adopted home of Aughris, Templeboy, Sligo suggested a fundraiser to support him. However, his wish was that a fundraiser would be held for his family after his passing to help towards the renovations of their home. Dominic and Orla were together 18 years. They met in 2005 and were married in 2018. In 2021, the couple moved from Westport back to Orlas home place in Aughris, County Sligo. They became a family when their son Lachlan arrived in May 2022. Dominic and Orla were granted planning permission to renovate their house and work was scheduled to begin in April 2023. During their first Christmas as a family, he noticed a dull pain in his side and was referred for tests. In January 2023 the doctors believed that Doms pain was caused by gallstones. At this time he and Orla were delighted to find out they were expecting their second child. Unfortunately, his pain worsened, and further tests suggested that he had an autoimmune disease called PSC. He was told that he would need a liver transplant in 15 years but no treatment was required at the time. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated rapidly and in March he was referred to St Vincents Hospital in Dublin and placed on the top of the transplant list. He waited for three months but no suitable liver became available. In June after further tests were carried out it was discovered that he had bile duct cancer, a very rare and aggressive cancer. He was told the cancer was terminal and was given three months to live. On July 18th 2023, only one month after receiving the devastating news, Dominic passed away surrounded by his loving family. His baby daughter Eden Dominique Keenehan was born on October 6th. His former club, Shannon Gaels, has called for the community to support the family in an upcoming fundraiser on Sunday, May 5th. Last year we sadly lost our club member Dominic Keenehan. Dominic played at all levels with Shannon Gaels before eventually settling in Dromore West, County Sligo. Dominics local GAA club, St Farnans, Sligo, has kindly organised a number of fundraising events this summer to help Dominics wife Orla, and his children Lachlan and Eden to raise funds to help with renovation costs of their home. On Sunday, May 5th, St. Farnans mens and ladies teams will travel to Croghan where games will take place, followed by food and refreshments in the old creamery, Croghan. A GoFundMe page, Doms Wish has been set up to coincide with these events; 10% of all donations will go towards North West Hospice. We would ask our community to support this great cause in the coming weeks. For anybody wishing to donate, please visit the GoFundMe page entitled Doms Wish. Booksellers from old Bucharest: Leon Alcalay Born in Bucharest in 1847, Alcalay was attracted to books from his adolescence. Booksellers from old Bucharest: Leon Alcalay Steliu Lambru, 28.04.2024, 14:00 Throughout history, culture has been a producer of economic and social change, as well as of spiritual development. In turn, books have educated minds and physical skills. The first information revolution that benefited the book was the printing press, invented by the German Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century. Since then, in the book and printing press industry new trades appeared and developed such as typographer, compositor and later linotypist. But books also gave rise to such jobs as publisher, bookshop owner, bookseller, and book trader. The history of the widely circulated book in the Romanian space begins in the middle of the 19th century. The book trade appears against the background of the expansion of primary education and the drop in illiteracy and, more generally, as a result of the emergence and consolidation of the modern Romanian state. From an object intended for elites and ecclesiastical circles, the book diversifies and becomes a product for wide circulation, accessible to all classes and social categories. Popularizing the book was both a business opportunity and a means to educate those who could not afford expensive books. One of the best-known publishers, bookshop owners and booksellers in old Bucharest before 1945 was Leon Alcalay. Born in Bucharest in 1847, Alcalay was attracted to books from his adolescence. As the Bucharest of the 1870s was in a great fever of change and the infusion of books was massive, he started out as an itinerant seller of books, magazines and old prints. He was, what we call today, an antiquarian book seller. He placed his business on Calea Victoriei, at the intersection with Elisabeta boulevard, on the main street of the city, near the Grand Hotel du Boulevard. Felicia Waldman from the University of Bucharest, who is inventorying the landmarks of the Bucharest Jewish community, also put on the map of Jewish Bucharest the place where the history of the Alcalay brand began: On the ground floor of this hotel there was, from the very beginning, since 1867 when it was built, the Alcalay universal bookstore. Leon Alcalay was a Sephardic, Spanish-born Jewish bookseller who began selling second-hand books at the age of 16 behind the hotel, where Eforie Street is today. The Russian legation was located there at the time, and in front of it there were two shelves of second-hand books. He was so passionate about books in general that from this small business of selling second-hand books he became the biggest publisher, bookseller, book producer and producer of all categories in the publishing industry, with this universal publishing house Alcalay. Leon Alcalays book business was growing, and he moved to a higher level, publishing and marketing topical books. A modern spirit, Alcalay wanted to spread the universal values of humanism and culture in Romania as well. Thus, in the trade of the books he printed or resold, universal literature held pride of place. The greatest names of universal literature thus reached the Romanian readers. He followed the trends on the Western book market and thus the pocket-book-format inspired by the famous Library for all collection from Reclams Universal Bibliothek in Leipzig appeared in Romania. Until the end of the First World War, Alcalay was one of the leaders on the Romanian book market. In 1920, however, the founder of the book for all in Romania dies at the age of 73, ending an era. Here is Felicia Waldman back with details: In 1920, he died and his family inherited and continued the bookstore business. It was practically all over the country, not only in Bucharest. It was the bookstore that brought to Romania what is called the Library for all concept. It was a German collection that made literature accessible to the less financially stable readers. Basically, he made books available at lower prices, so that both the Romanian and universal literature became accessible to a wider audience, through the Alcalay bookstore and the Library for all collection. The Library for all collection continued during the communist period, but it was obviously taken over by another publishing house, as the Alcalay publishing house no longer existed. At the end of the 1930s, the name of the founder no longer appeared on the building that hosted the Alcalay publishing house, being replaced with the name of Remus Cioflec. And the explanation for that change is state anti-Semitism. Felicia Waldman is back at the microphone: In 1938-1939, the Alcalay family understood what was happening, understood what was to come, and sold the business to Remus Cioflec. He was also a publisher of that time who had the opportunity and also the interest to buy the Alcalay network which he practically saved. The Alcalay publishing house was saved because Cioflec agreed to take it over and then it was nationalized by the communists, which meant its end. But at least it lasted until 1948. Book accessibility in the Bucharest of yore is linked to the name of Leon Alcalay. Old books enthusiasts can find, even today, in second-hand bookshops, the brand that brought culture to everyone. (LS) Fourth week of April 2024 witnessed updated model launches, new product unveils and new Global NCAP ratings for popular cars Upcoming products like the biggest Pulsar, Mahindra XUV 3XO and 5-door Thar (Thar Armada) continue to create interest among enthusiasts. Another key development was Global NCAP crash test results for Kia Carens, Honda Amaze and Mahindra Bolero Neo. Some new products were also launched during the fourth week of April 2024. Baleno tops premium hatch sales in FY24 Maruti Baleno emerged as the top selling premium hatch in FY24. For the second spot, it was a close contest between Tata Altroz and Hyundai i10. Altroz was ahead by a thin margin of just 174 units. Toyota Glanza was placed in fourth place on the list. Mahindra XUV 3XO new details emerge XUV 3XO is scheduled for launch on 29th April, 2024. Several new details have emerged such as the largest sunroof in the sub-4-meter SUV segment. XUV 3XO will offer fast acceleration, rated at 0 to 60 km/H in 4.5 seconds. Mileage will be 20.1 km/L. Honda Activa leads with 43.15% market share Activa has emerged as the top selling scooter in FY24. Total sales were at 22,54,537 units, registering a YoY growth of 4.88%. Second bestseller was TVS Jupiter, followed by Suzuki Access, TVS Ntorq and Ola S1. Taigun GT Line, GT Plus Sport launched New variants of Volkswagen Taigun have been introduced Taigun GT Line and Taigun GT Plus Sport. These are priced in the range of Rs 14.08 lakh to Rs 18.53 lakh. Along with an improved driving experience, these new Taigun variants get complimentary 4-year Service Value Package (SVP). New Fortuner Leader Edition debuts For the Asian market, Toyota has introduced a new Fortuner Leader Edition. It gets some new design updates and customizations. It will use the same 2.8-litre turbo diesel engine that generates 200 bhp and 500 Nm. Transmission choices include 5-speed manual and 6-speed automatic. Only 42 RWD format is available with Fortuner Leader. Maruti tops FY24 car exports With 41.77% market share, Maruti has topped car exports in FY24. Hyundai is the second largest car exporter, with a market share of 24.28%. At number three is Kia, with market share of 7.75%. Volkswagen is fourth, followed by Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Renault, Mahindra and Jeep. Dzire tops sub-4-meter sedan sales in FY24 Maruti Dzire registered sales of 1,64,517 units in FY24. At number two was Hyundai Aura, with sales of 55,215 units. Honda Amaze was third (36,017), followed by Tata Tigor (26,921) in fourth place. Kia Carens Global NCAP results Carens latest model has been tested by Global NCAP. It has scored 3-star in Adult safety and 5-star in Child safety. Carens has received 22.07 out of 34.00 in Adult safety and 41 out of 49.00 in Child safety. Honda Amaze 2 Star Global NCAP rating In the latest crash tests, Honda Amaze has received a 2-star rating for Adult safety. Points scored are 27.85 out of 34.00. Child safety rating is zero, with a score of 8.58 out of 49.00 points. Honda said that the low score is primarily due to lack of specific equipment such as side curtain airbags and electronic stability control. Bolero Neo 1 Star Global NCAP rating Points scored are 20.26 out of 34.00 in Adult safety, which leads to 1-star safety rating for Bolero Neo. For Child safety also, the rating is 1 star. Points scored is 12.71 out of 49.00. Across both ratings, the low scores are primarily due to the absence of specific safety equipment. Nissan Magnite achieves 1 lakh sales milestone One of the consistent performers in the sub-4-meter SUV segment, Nissan Magnite has achieved the 1 lakh sales milestone. It has registered sales of 30k+ units per year for the third consecutive financial year. Magnite is also exported to multiple overseas markets. Splendor tops FY24 motorcycle sales A total of 32,93,324 units of Splendor were sold in FY24. Splendor commanded a market share of 26.52 percent. At number two in the list is Honda Shine, followed by Bajaj Pulsar, Hero HF Deluxe and Bajaj Platina. Pulsar N160 gets USD forks Bajaj has introduced the updated Pulsar N160 at a starting price of Rs 1.39 lakh. One of the key updates is USD forks, which will ensure improved control and handling. Other updates include LED indicators and sportier graphics. Honda Elevate emerges bestseller in Japan In Japan, Honda Elevate is on sale as the new WR-V. Within a month of launch, bookings have crossed 13,000 units. In comparison, Elevate in India had registered 20k bookings in just 100 days post launch. 2024 Bajaj Pulsar 220 updated New 2024 Pulsar 220 has started arriving at dealerships. Key updates include a fully digital instrument cluster. It has Bluetooth connectivity for basic phone functions. A USB charging socket has been added in the dashboard area. 2024 Bajaj Pulsar 220 also gets new colours and graphics. Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 debuts Ultraviolette has launched the F77 Mach 2 at a starting price of Rs 2.99 lakh. The top-spec Recon variant is available at Rs 3.99 lakh. Both variants have a top speed of 155 km/H. 0 to 60 km/H can be achieved in just 2.8 seconds. BMW i5 M60 xDrive launched BMW has launched the i5 M60 xDrive at Rs 1.20 crore. Across international markets, BMW i5 M60 xDrive takes on rivals such as Tesla Model 3, Audi e-Tron GT, Porsche Taycan and EQE sedan from Mercedes-Benz. BMW i5 M60 xDrive will come to India via CBU route. 2024 Jeep Wrangler Launched Updated 2024 Jeep Wrangler is available at a starting price of Rs 67.65 lakh. The trim levels of Unlimited and Rubicon have been retained. The updated kit includes new off-road equipment and new safety features. Thar 5-door spotted with ADAS A test mule of Mahindra Thar 5-door was recently spotted with an ADAS camera setup. ADAS features for Thar 5-door could be similar to that of XUV700. The SUV will also be getting other premium features such as six airbags, 360 camera, front parking sensors and all-4 disc brakes. BYD Ocean M Hot Hatch Concept unveiled BYDs upcoming hatchback based on the Ocean M Hot Hatch Concept will take on rivals such as MG4 and VW ID.3. It will go on sale in China in Q3. BYD will also be looking to introduce the hatch across European markets. Honda Ye S7 and Ye P7 revealed Enthusiasts recently got to see the first real-world images of Honda Ye S7 and Ye P7 compact electric SUVs. These are expected to be launched in China later this year. Both SUVs will be getting a comprehensive range of premium features. Chetak affordable variant incoming Bajaj recently showcased a cheaper version of Chetak to its dealers. As subsidies are getting axed, OEMs are introducing affordable versions to push sales. The same approach is being followed for Chetak. The affordable version of Chetak is expected to be launched at under Rs 1 lakh. Sonet sales cross 4 lakh units In a time period of under 44 months, Kia Sonet has crossed the sales milestone of 4 lakh units. As may be recalled, the SUV was launched in September 2020. Data shows that 63% of customers have opted for sunroof variants. Toyota showcases two new EVs At the Beijing Auto Show, Toyota has unveiled the BZ3C and BZ3X EVs. These will be produced by FAW Toyota and GAC Toyota, respectively. Launch in China is expected in 2025. Both SUVs get Lidar module, along with various other premium features. Powertrain details have not been revealed. Maruti Suzuki has announced that they are working on affordable hybrid technology which will power their small cars Despite being Indias leading car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki has yet to introduce homegrown electric vehicles. However, recent announcements from Suzuki indicate a shift towards considering self-charging and plug-in hybrid options, which promise cost-effectiveness and suitability for more economical vehicles. Marutis affordable hybrid tech for small cars Presently, Maruti Suzuki offers hybrid powertrains in India through models like the Grand Vitara and Invicto, utilizing technology from Toyota under a strategic partnership. However, the pursuit of indigenous hybrid technology has become imperative, especially given Indias price-sensitive automotive market. Maruti Suzukis Chairman, RC Bhargava, has highlighted concerns about the affordability of Toyotas hybrid powertrains, which could inflate prices for consumers. In a recent interaction with the media, he has revealed Suzuki Japans commitment to developing cost-effective hybrid solutions tailored for smaller cars, promising class-leading fuel efficiency at a more accessible price point. One significant barrier to achieving affordable hybrid vehicles in India lies in the countrys taxation policies. Currently, hybrid vehicles face a hefty 43% GST, significantly higher than the 5% for electric vehicles and 48% for petrol cars. However, there are hopes for change, with Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, proposing a reduction in GST to 5% for hybrids and 12% for flex-fuel vehicles. The Prospect of PHEVs from Suzuki RC Bhargava emphasizes that pricing will be pivotal in determining the success of hybrid vehicles in India, with the GST Councils decision on taxation playing a crucial role in shaping the future of electrification in the automotive industry. Models like the Swift, Baleno, Fronx, and WagonR are prime candidates for Marutis hybrid lineup. Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO of Maruti Suzuki, is also enthusiastic about plug-in hybrid vehicles for the Indian market. He views PHEVs as an intriguing prospect and believes the company must explore their potential. Maruti Suzuki aims to electrify 40% of its portfolio by FY 2030-2031, underscoring its commitment to sustainable mobility solutions. Maruti Small Car Hybrid Tech Mileage The introduction of affordable hybrid technology by Maruti Suzuki has the potential to reshape the automotive market in India on multiple fronts, particularly in terms of sales figures and fuel efficiency standards. Firstly, the affordability factor plays a crucial role in attracting a wider customer base, especially in a market known for its price sensitivity. With hybrid technology becoming more accessible in smaller cars like the Swift, Baleno, and Fronx, Maruti Suzuki can tap into a previously untapped segment of environmentally conscious buyers who were deterred by the high upfront costs associated with hybrid vehicles. Furthermore, the incorporation of hybrid technology is poised to significantly enhance the fuel efficiency of Marutis affordable cars. By leveraging hybrid systems, these vehicles can achieve remarkable mileage figures, surpassing conventional petrol counterparts. With rising fuel prices and growing environmental concerns, consumers are increasingly prioritizing fuel efficiency when making purchasing decisions. Marutis commitment to offering class-leading fuel efficiency through hybrid technology will undoubtedly attract a considerable number of buyers looking to save on fuel costs and reduce their carbon footprint. Moreover, the implementation of favourable tax policies, as proposed by the government, will further bolster sales of hybrid vehicles by reducing the financial burden on consumers. A lower GST rate for hybrids will make them even more appealing, incentivizing potential buyers to opt for eco-friendly alternatives without breaking the bank. Also Read New Maruti Swift India Launch Next Month Hundreds of Bengali men gathered Sunday at Buffalo Muslim Center in Broadway Fillmore, demanding justice after the killing of two men Saturday afternoon, in a meeting with city officials that devolved into chaos. Buffalo police: SWAT team seeking gunman, 2 dead after shooting on Zenner Street Police officials responded to a call about shooting just after 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of Zenner Street. The community was upset and afraid over the fatal shootings of Abu Saleh Mohammod Yousuf, a father of two with his wife expecting a third child any day, and Babul Meah, who leaves behind a wife and seven children. The two handymen, who frequently worked together, went to 148 Zenner St. around 12:30 p.m., believing the house listed for sale to be empty, and were shot by someone inside, according to Buffalo police. One was shot on the porch almost immediately, and another was found shot in the street. Police learned from footage that the suspect left through a back door before officers arrived. That suspect remains at large, police said. Three surveillance video images of the suspected assailant were issued around noon Sunday, and a more clear image shortly after, as rumors swirled in the community over what had happened. There is no indication that the men who were at the house doing work were targeted, Mayor Byron Brown said inside the packed mosque, shortly after prayers finished. It appears there was a squatter inside the house, someone who should not have been there or was not authorized to live there. It appears anyone who came to that house and tried to go in, this individual who did the shooting would have shot them. It could have been the postal worker, the cable person, the gas company, the electric company. When the mayor said the city was working tirelessly to bring the suspect to justice, loud chants of We want justice! could be heard around the room. When any homicide occurs in the City of Buffalo, we want justice and we work to bring the person responsible to justice, the mayor said, picking up on the crowds call. Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia also attempted to reassure the crowd that the police, working with other law enforcement agencies, was doing everything it could to apprehend the person responsible. He said there was a $7,500 Crime Stoppers reward for any information on the assailant. After both men finished, the crowd grew increasingly restless with loud shouting from around the room. The mayor and commissioner left the podium they were on and exited through a door behind them that led them along the wall at one side of the room. Attempts by Abdul Khan Fahim, president of the Buffalo Muslim Center, to tame the crowd went unheard. Gramaglia spoke to a smaller, angry crowd outside, whose complaints included slow police response times when crimes take place, and feeling not seen or respected. Some also wanted a police car outside the homes of the two surviving families for protection, which the commissioner said he didnt feel was necessary. At a press conference downtown, the commissioner repeated the determination to capture the suspect, but warned the public not to physically intervene. Do not attempt to confront this individual, he said. If you see someone out there, we want you to call 911 immediately. Do not confront them. There are believed to be well over 1,000 Bangladeshi families living in Broadway Fillmore since their migration from mostly New York City began in the early 2000s. While crime is high in 2020, there were 434 crimes reported, 73 of them assaults these were believed to be just the second and third homicides of Bengalis, Gramaglia said. Moynul Hussain said he saw the victims two days ago in his repair shop on Clinton Street, never imagining such a terrible thing would occur. I was shocked yesterday when I heard they were gone, Hussain said. Abu Yousuf was in his late 30s and was a good man. He came to New York from Bangladesh and then to Buffalo to have a better life with his kids. Babul was in his late 40s. Both men are strugglers and were here for a better future, he said. He added: For a Bangladeshi community, this is heartbreaking. We have never had something like this Bengali people are working-class people, everybody minding their business and no one going to have confrontations with anybody. Syed Ahmed, who has lived in Buffalo for five years, said he was both upset and panicked by what happened. I am worried about my kids and the criminal is not arrested yet, so we dont know what is going to happen, he said. It has emotions running high for people in Buffalos Bangladeshi community, said Karim Mohammed, a local restauranteur. This is very hard. We are a very united community and we give all the respect to every person, Mohammed said. We are hardworking Bengali, Bangladeshi people. This could happen to anybody. People are scared. Police ask anyone who may have information to call Crime Stoppers WNY at 716-867-6161 or submit a tip through Crime Stoppers' "Buffalo Tips" app. Technology Spotlight Popularity of ChatGPT, AI tools comes with big climate cost Amid all the excitement about and increasing use of artificial intelligence, theres growing concern about its darker side its environmental impact. Training AI models and then using them to create images, code or text requires immense amounts of energy. Depending on where the data processing takes place, it can result in the release of large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. AIs carbon emissions are likely to only worsen as the technology matures and develops, researchers say. In general, AI developers have an incentive to create ever bigger models because the technologys capabilities increase with its size, they say. The problem is that bigger also leads to more resources, said Alex de Vries, founder of Digiconomist, which focuses on the environmental consequences of new technologies. That just doesnt work out very well for the climate. Researchers have known for several years now that training large-scale AI models that power applications like ChatGPT requires lots of energy. GPT-3, the model OpenAI later refined for ChatGPT, required an estimated 1,287 megawatt-hours to train, according to a 2021 research paper on which UC Berkeley computer science professor David Patterson was the lead author. Thats equivalent to the amount of electricity 123 average American homes use in a full year. And thats just one model, albeit a widely used one. Numerous others have been developed, gobbling up lots of electricity in the process. Google DeepMinds Gopher model, which it announced in late 2021, required an estimated 1,066 MWh hours to train, according to a 2022 research paper on which Sasha Luccioni, the AI and climate lead at AI developer Hugging Face, was lead author. But Gopher and GPT-3 would be considered smaller models by todays standards. GPT-4 is estimated to be about 10 times as big as GPT-3, its predecessor. Training it required between 51.8 and 62.3 gigawatt-hours around the yearly electricity use of 4,900 to 5,900 American homes according to an estimate by data researcher Kasper Groes Albin Ludvigsen. Representatives of OpenAI, which has disclosed little about the size and energy requirements of GPT-4, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Similarly, Google has replaced Gopher with the much larger Gemini. Google spokeswoman Corina Standiford declined to say how much energy was needed to train Gemini, but in general, the bigger the model, the more energy is needed to train it, experts say. However, with AI models that are intended for real-world use, training is just the first step. The second is inference, in which the models use their training to respond to novel queries and prompts, such as when a user asks ChatGPT to compose a term paper as if written by Shakespeare. In the past, when AI models were largely being developed and used in labs, the training stage dominated their energy usage. Now, though, inference is consuming at least as much energy as training, if not much more so, experts say. That said, each individual interaction with an AI model requires relatively little energy, even for the most taxing tasks, according to a 2023 paper on which Luccioni was the lead author. Generating text which is what ChatGPT typically does required 47 watt-hours per 1,000 queries. Thats about equivalent to the amount of power needed to illuminate five average LED light bulbs for an hour. But all those queries and prompts can add up quickly, and bigger models tend to require more energy for inference than smaller ones, according to the 2023 Luccioni paper. Indeed, thanks to the widespread use of ChatGPT, that model likely used more energy in responding to peoples prompts than was needed to train it within just a few months of its launch, according to the paper. With numerous AI models being trained and used, all that energy usage is adding up. The amount of electricity used to power data centers worldwide from around 2015 to 2018 accounted for about 1% of global energy use annually, according to the International Energy Agency. Since then, though, thanks to cryptocurrency mining and AI, data-center energy consumption has soared, hitting 2% of global use in 2022, according to the IEA. The agency said it expects AI and cryptocurrency mining to continue adding to the load, potentially doubling the energy used by data centers again by 2026. The added energy demand implied by the top end of its forecast is equivalent to all the electricity used by Germany, according to the IEA. AIs energy demand is already increasing carbon dioxide emissions. The electricity needed to train OpenAIs GPT-3 emitted 552.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to the 2021 Patterson paper. Thats equivalent to the emissions generated by a passenger jet flying more than three round trips from San Francisco to New York, according to the paper. Training Gopher, meanwhile, resulted in the emission of 380 metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to a research paper from Googles DeepMind division. Thats about equivalent in emissions terms to more than two round-trip San Francisco-to-New York flights. Even a small model can result in significant amounts of emissions. The emissions generated by training a six-billion parameter model just 13% of the way to completion were equivalent to that produced by the average U.S. home over the course of a full year, according to a 2022 paper on which Jesse Dodge, a senior research scientist at the Allen Institute for AI, was the lead author. Newer models, with their vastly increased size and power requirements, almost certainly resulted in significantly more emissions. Depending on where it took place, the training of GPT-4 could have emitted between 1,035 to 14,994 metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to Ludvigsen. Googles Standiford declined to say how much carbon dioxide was emitted as a result of training Gemini. The company uses tested practices to reduce data-center-related emissions, she said. But as Luccione noted in her paper, its not just training that has carbon-related consequences. Inference also has a power cost, and thus a carbon cost as well one that quickly adds up the more often a model is used. All that increase in carbon emissions comes as the world desperately needs to curtail such pollution. Thanks to past and ongoing emissions, the planet is already on track to surpass a 1.5-degree Celsius average temperature increase above preindustrial levels. Scientists have long argued the world needs to stay below that limit to avert the worst effects of climate change. AI developers can limit some of the carbon emissions related to training and using AI by relying on data centers powered by clean or cleaner energy sources. Indeed, the amount of carbon associated with AI varies greatly with where the models are being trained and run. The problem is that the rapid increase in electricity demand in recent years partly from such data centers is outpacing the rollout of new renewable-energy sources. As a result, utilities around the nation are delaying the closure of carbon-emitting coal and natural-gas power plants to ensure they have adequate supply, Bloomberg reported earlier this year. Newer AI chips promise to be more efficient, but thats unlikely to dramatically limit the overall amount of energy consumed and carbon produced by AI systems, experts say. Thats because in general, AI models get better the bigger they are and the more data they train on. So theyre almost certain to take advantage of any efficiency gains to make their models larger, experts say. Its not going to be leading to less electricity consumption, Dodge said. 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. Queensbury, N.Y. When she was pulled from the lazy river inside an Upstate New York water park last weekend, the 5-year-old girl wasnt breathing, according to reports. Stacy Brayton, a paramedic, was visiting the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark in Queensbury with her young son on Saturday when she saw people carry a child from the Tak-It-Eesi-Creek area, WNYT NewsChannel 13 reported. Although she wasnt on duty, she rushed to help. When they could not find a pulse, Brayton told NewsChannel 13 she and others including the waterparks lifeguard and EMT team started to give the child CPR. After about five minutes worth of compressions, she said the girl started to breathe on her own. By the time the ambulance got there, she was conscious and crying, Brayton, who works for Medcor, told NewsChannel 13. So then when everybody came in, I just said to them, shes breathing, shes breathing, because thats the first thing you want to hear as a first responder. The child from Hudson was airlifted by LifeNet to an Albany hospital, where the Warren County Sheriffs Office reported she is recovering, according to the Hudson Valley Post. The Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark is on the edge of the Adirondacks at 89 Six Flags Drive in Queensbury, Warren County. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- To get a parking spot you had to get to campus at least 45 minutes before your class started. And getting there to begin with was often an arduous task. In fact, it wasnt uncommon to sit in traffic as you practically crawled up the hill. Your drive would include hearing glam rock tunes, like Guns N Roses Paradise City blaring from one of the many muscle cars driven by students who were in a rush to snag a good spot for their IROC-Z. When you finally got a parking spot, you often had to make your way through extremely crowded hallways, often consumed with the smell of smoke and hairspray. It was the late 1980s the decade of excess and perhaps the heyday at the Staten Island campus of St. Johns University. Having graduated from Tottenville High School among a class of about 800 students, St. Johns seemed small to me. Back then, the only classrooms were in Mahoney and Lavelle halls. But the school was teeming with students, mostly from Staten Island, and some from Brooklyn and nearby New Jersey. It was a commuter school only back then, but there were plenty of fraternity and sorority parties that took place at bars and clubs, like Wave Street, which was located off the once vibrant bar strip on Bay Street in Stapleton. MEETING MY MENTOR While in college, all I wanted to do was graduate so I could pursue my long-held dream of becoming a journalist. My mentor, and later my boss and friend, the late Dr. Deborah Greh, the director of the communications department at the Staten Island campus, told me not to be a stranger when I graduated. St. John's alumni at the Com Connection in March, 2019. From Left: Jessica Jones-Gorman, Advance/SILive.com reporter; Dr. Deborah Greh; Tracey Porpora, Advance/SILive.com news manager; and Christine Albano. After inspiring so many students over the years, Dr. Greh died in February 2020. (Courtesy of Tracey Porpora) And I wasnt. After a few years of working at the Advance as a reporter, she told me to go get my masters degree so I could teach journalism at my alma mater. It was about six years later when I started a masters program at Hunter College in Manhattan. So in my late 20s, I added adjunct professor to my resume. And I will always be grateful to Debbie Greh for giving me this opportunity, and Dr. Nancy DiTunnariello, the current coordinator of the communication arts program, who allowed me to teach there until the very end. Dr. Nancy DiTunnariello, awards Tracey Porpora the Outstanding Adjunct award in 2023 at the last Communications Connection event held at the Staten Island campus of St. John's University.(Courtesy of Tracey Porpora) News writing, magazine journalism and mass communications classes in the late 1990s, to online news, crime reporting, the craft of interviewing and public relations in the 2020s, I taught on and off for 25 years at this satellite, bucolic campus of what is touted as the largest Catholic University in New York City. And I never thought there would come a time when it wouldnt be there. Even during the pandemic, Advance/SILive.com employees, like Sport Writer Charles DeBiase Jr., took time out to come to St. John's journalism classes.(Courtesy of Tracey Porpora) A DAY ILL NEVER FORGET I have a plethora of memories of the many students who took my classes. But there is one day Ill never forget. Living in Grasmere at the time, I needed to take Clove Road to get to St. Johns. I was late as usual. It was the first day of class Sept. 11, 2001. I was stopped by the FDNY Rescue 5 truck that seemed to be in a hurry to exit the firehouse. I can still envision the firefighters face, as he told me to stop by putting his hand out at about 8:48 a.m. so the truck could pull out. Breaking News Reporter Shaina McLawrence spoke to St. John's University students in a crime reporting class about the types of stories she writes for the Advance/SILive.com.(Courtesy of Tracey Porpora) That truck never came back from the Trade Center that day. But I didnt know where those brave firefighters were going until I entered my classroom, a computer lab in Lavelle Hall. A student walked in and said, I heard a plane hit the Trade Center. I said, This is a journalism class, go online and find out what happened. Remember: cell phones were only phones at this time, and not all media was fully online yet. The first report we found was from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). They were speculating if it was an accident or an act of terrorism. A good portion of that semester was spent looking at the coverage of that tragic day. The from the scene podcasters, Jason Paderon and Erik Bascome, let St. John's University journalism students sit in on a podcast about the fate of the Staten Island campus of their school. Jessica Jones-Gorman was the guest on the podcast. Pictured from left is Jason Paderon, Tracey Porpora, Jessica Jones-Gorman and Erik Bascome.(Courtesy of Tracey Porpora) FROM STUDENTS TO COLLEAGUES I have taught an army of students many of whom have become colleagues, and friends, at the Advance/SILive.com (one, James Yates, is even my direct manager!) Im proud to say I currently work with a student who was in my very first class I ever taught (and shes never told me how bad that was). Thats Jessica Jones-Gorman, who is the Advance/SILivecoms business and real estate reporter. And our most recent hire, Jillian Delaney, took two of my journalism classes in the last few years. (Now, shes on the Pubic Interest & Advocacy Team, for which Im a the news manager). Breaking News Manager Eddie D'Anna addresses students in a crime reporting class at St. John's University while the students took a tour of the Advance/SILive.com.(Courtesy of Tracey Porpora) REAL LIFE JOURNALISM One of my favorite events has always been to bring real life journalism into the classroom. I called them mock breaking news events. Many of my fellow journalists would come in as actors. They would play the role of public officials, cops, firefighters, witnesses and parents, at fictitious breaking news events. Fellow journalists loved giving the students a hard time, like responding no comment, to the many questions the aspiring journalists asked. One of my favorite events has always been to bring real life journalism into the classroom. I called them mock breaking news events. Many of my fellow journalists would come in as actors. They would play the role of public officials, cops, firefighters, witnesses and parents, at fictitious breaking news events. Fellow journalists loved giving the students a hard time, like responding no comment, to the many questions the aspiring journalists asked. Pictured from left is Tracey Porpora, Annalise Knudson, Erik Bascome and Mark Stein.(Courtesy of Tracey Porpora) I also have brought in so many professional journalists and public relations professionals from variety of major New York media outlets and companies, who have inspired my classes, and taken some students on as interns and/or full-time employees. And I always took my classes for tours of the Advance/SILive.com. Some have even gotten to sit in on podcasts. JUST SHARING WHAT I LOVE But I never thought of myself as a teacher. Im the kid who never raised her hand in class, and I also never dreamed of standing in front of one and lecturing for hours on end. Shane DiMaio of the Advance/SILive.com talks about the world of social media, and how he conducts live social media posts of a variety of events.(Courtesy of Tracey Porpora) I have always seen myself as a writer and journalist sharing the passion and love I have for what I do with those who might want to do it too. I dont think it really hit me until my last class on April 24 that this side gig I enjoyed so much (who wouldnt appreciate getting paid to talk about something you love doing), would really come to an end. Breaking News Reporter Luke Peteley talks to an online journalism class about weather reporting earlier this year.(Courtesy of Tracey Porpora) I will always have a place in my heart for 300 Howard Avenue, and I hope to find a new home to continue to inspire young people about writing and the world of journalism. St. Johns first announced it would close the Grymes Hill campus in 2022, citing a 63% decline in enrollment, exacerbated by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Staten Island school, which originally opened in 1934 as Notre Dame College, a Catholic undergraduate institution for women, is equipped with enough classroom space to accommodate thousands, but as of fall 2021, enrollment at the Staten Island campus had slipped to just 861. A journalism class from 2018 visited the Advance/SILive.com. Pictured are sone students, including Advance/SILive.com Reporter Jillian Delaney (second from right).(Courtesy of Tracey Porpora) FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and X STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Opportunistic squatters have long been a worry for New York property owners, but a portion of the 2024 state budget promises to change that, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday. As part of the historic actions to address the housing crisis in the [fiscal year] 2025 budget, Governor Hochul reached an agreement to reinforce existing law to make clear that squatters are not tenants, supporting property owners statewide, a Hochul spokesperson said. A portion of the budget agreement clarifies a tenant-protection portion of state law adding language that specifically excludes squatters from those protections. The language defines a squatter as someone staying at a property without permission from the owner or a representative for the owner. Squatters rights, an age-old complaint among property owners in the Empire State, came to the forefront on political consciousness this year following a series of high-profile media reports related to people effectively stealing homes. On Staten Island, the NYPD arrested four people earlier this month for allegedly commandeering a Westerleigh home. Cops said they arrested four people after squatters had taken over the residence and they received numerous community complaints about the home at 305 Livermore Ave., according to a post by the 121st Precinct on X, formerly known as Twitter. In addition to the arrests, the city Buildings Department issued a partial vacate order and the home was secured to prevent the squatters from returning, said the NYPD post, which included photos of officials boarding up windows and doors. District Attorney Michael McMahon said Thursday that he had long directed his office to crack down on squatters, and that the law change would help his staff do so better. Squatters are not just an inconvenience for Staten Island property owners, they are often brazen, opportunistic fraudsters who exploit our laws to the detriment of law-abiding homeowners and surrounding neighbors and they pose a credible threat to our boroughs public safety, he said. It defies all rational thinking that until now, New Yorks laws have benefitted and protected squatters over taxpaying property owners and actually hamstrung law enforcement from taking meaningful action. Bipartisan support of changing squatters rights grew around the state, including on Staten Island where State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/Southern Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) pushed for new rules. For too long, my constituents have grappled with the current reality where individuals unlawfully occupy their spaces without any recourse. We witness distressing scenarios unfold in the news week after week hardworking homeowners facing legal repercussions for rightfully reclaiming their own property from individuals who brazenly occupy it without consent, Scarcella-Spanton said. No one should return home to find their property seized by squatters, who now have more rights to their property than they do. Scarcella-Spanton introduced legislation earlier this year that contained squatter-defining language similar to what was included in the state budget. Previously, there was limited legal distinction between tenants and squatters. Tannousis joined fellow members of the minority Republican party earlier this year in calling for changes to the states squatter rights that could leave homeowners embroiled in years-long legal battles trying to get the wrongdoers out of their homes. He said Monday that the portion of the budget doesnt go far enough tying it into Republicans oft-repeated refrain about bail reform. The Assembly failed to make any actual meaningful impact on public safety. For example, the new crimes enacted to protect transit workers and retail workers are being introduced as non-bailable offenses, he said. Im happy to see the squatting proposal which I advocated for be included in the budget but there is an overarching issue at play that is continuously being ignored and if it is not addressed, crime will continue to rise as our quality of life continues to diminish. Hi Neighbor, Time will tell that we are on the right side of history. Those the words of a pro-Palestinian protester at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. The right side of history? Sorry, but no. I dont know whats in the heads of protesting students at some of the most elite colleges in America, like Columbia, Brown, and the University of Texas at Austin. But defending an organization that launched a brutal attack upon the people of Israel is unfathomable. And defending Hamas they are, no matter how they spin it. Hamas . . . a terrorist group whose main goal is to destroy Israel Would they have Israel sit back and accept it? Try negotiating peace through diplomatic means? Suggesting that these students are naive . . . that theyre living in a bubble . . . doesnt come close. Twelve hundred were brutally murder Oct. 7 when thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, the worst loss of life in a single day since its founding in 1948. So Israel reacted. What is the pro-Palestinian student response? Instill fear in Jewish students, harassing some, forcing them to stay away from classes. Demand colleges stop doing business with Israel, or any company that does. Its the definition of antisemitism. Perhaps these pro-Palestinian students forgot or know nothing about an extraordinarily dark and horrible period in world history called the Holocaust. Israelis have been there. They have spent the last 80 years pledging to Never Forget. If pro-Palestinian protesters think their occupation of campuses will force Israel to forget the six million Jews killed by Nazis in the 1940s, then calling those students naive doesnt come close. And before some compare these events with the protests of the Vietnam era, stop right there. If we want to look at college campus protests that were on the right side of history, all we need do is look back to the war in Southeast Asia (or conflict, as some suggest, because Congress never declared a war.) The differences are stark. Although America might now be standing by its loyal ally, sending arms and billions in financial support to Israel, Americans are not dying on the battlefield. Frankly, I dont know how many Americans really understood why our nation was even in Vietnam. To stop the spread of Communism, we were told over and over. Teens were drafted at 18, an age when they could not drink alcohol in many states and didnt even have the right to vote for a president ordering they be sent, many to their deaths -- 58,220 to be precise. America was not attacked by Vietnam and Vietnam was not a threat to America. For the most part, the focus then was not anti-Vietnam it was anti-war. At least, anti-senseless war. All we are saying is give peace a chance, sang John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1969. It seemed ridiculous when Lennon first uttered those words. He was asked by a reporter why he and Yoko were doing a bed-in for a week to protest war and promote peace. Just give peace a chance, John replied, quickly realizing he had a hit song on his hands. Ridiculous it might have been, but it became the chant of the anti-war movement. It was a innocent sentiment then, and an innocent sentiment now. Sadly, it didnt work in 1969. And it wont work in 2024. Of course, anyone with a soul does not want innocents killed in a war. But in todays world, much like Hitlers Nazis, terrorists like Hamas have no souls. I wish the student protesters would consider that. Brian Oh by the way: Our representative in Congress, Nicole Malliotakis, sided with the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz and voted No on a bill to send billions to Ukraine in its battle for survival with Russia. The congresswoman maintains she supports Ukraine but opposes the Biden administrations border policy. At this point, its doubtful anyone in America thinks the border policy now in place is working. That we get. But jeopardizing the fight to stop Russia from usurping Ukraine and moving on to its next target is just plain wrong. Theres an old cliche, two wrongs dont make a right. American border policy is wrong. Congressmember Malliotakis vote against aid in an effort to stop Russian aggression would never make it right. Live from Washington, D.C., its the White House Correspondents Dinner! Longtime Saturday Night Live writer and Weekend Update co-anchor Colin Jost headlined the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday, April 27, delivering a brutal, but thoroughly entertaining 23-minute roast, which poked fun at President Joe Bidens age and former President Donald Trumps legal woes, and mentioned his time as an aspiring journalist at the Staten Island Advance. I have to admit, its not easy following President Biden. I mean, its not always easy following what hes saying, opened Jost, a Harvard alumnus who was born and raised on Staten Island. But before I begin tonight, can we just acknowledge how refreshing it is to see a president of the United States at an event that doesnt begin with a bailiff saying, All rise? And I would like to point out its after 10 p.m. and Sleepy Joe is still awake. While Donald Trump has spent the past week falling asleep in court. Every morning, though, Fox News said he was just being anti-woke, said the dinners host. Jost also teased about how absurdly close the presidential race is, saying, The Republican candidate for president owes half a billion in fines for bank fraud and is currently spending his days farting himself awake during a porn star hush money trial and the race is tied? The race is tied. Nothing makes sense anymore. The candidate who is a famous New York City playboy took abortion rights away, and the guy who is giving you abortion rights back is an 80-year-old Catholic. How does that make sense? JOST WAS AN ADVANCE REPORTER! During his roast, Jost poked fun at The New York Times, Fox News, and the Washington Post, among others, and mentioned the Staten Island Advance, saying, Like many of you here tonight, I pretend to do news on TV. Ive done Weekend Update for a while now, but most people dont know that I started out doing the actual news. My first job out of college was as a reporter for the Staten Island Advance newspaper. They do not have a table here tonight, but they asked me to pass along this message to the other print journalists in the room, joked Jost. You think youre better than me? He added, By the way, I want to point out, when I worked at the Staten Island Advance, we had a daily circulation of 100,000. The Washington Post would kill for that. So as a former aspiring journalist, I want to genuinely congratulate all the award winners here tonight. The Correspondents Association provides scholarships to promising young journalism students who may one day be sent off to cover dangerous geopolitical hotspots like Columbia University. To the delight of Staten Island viewers and beyond, Jost again mentioned the borough and the slow demise of print media because of the swell of popularity of social media platforms, the source for users to get their real-time news. Did you know that 90% of people now get their news exclusively from social media? asked Jost. And that must be true because I saw it in a random guys TikTok. As a Staten Islander, I still get all my news from the New York Post, the only paper where the front page always has the same 200 point font, whether the headline is World War Three to start tomorrow, or, Central Park owl dead in building collision. The New York Post is like having the New York Times summarized for you by a crackhead. The Times will say, A border deal continues to evade Congress, and the Post is like, These Mexicans are taking my stuff. Actor Scarlett Johansson and comedian Colin Jost pose for photographers as they arrive at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)AP RECALLS LATE GRANDFATHER IN ENDORSEMENTO OF PRESIDENT BIDEN Jost concluded his roast with an endorsement of President Joe Biden because of his decency. He presented it by sharing thoughts on his late grandfather, William Kelly, the father of his mom, Dr. Kerry Kelly. William Kelly was a firefighter for four decades with the FDNY who died this year. Josts dad is Daniel Jost, the chairman of the board of the Staten Island Museum. I lost my grandfather this year, William Kelly. He helped raise me growing up, and I would not be here today without him, said Jost, who became visibly emotional at the start of the tribute. My grandpa was a firefighter on Staten Island for 40 years. To make extra money for his family, he was a substitute teacher and he painted houses. My grandfather was another rare Irishman who didnt drink because he lost his father and his brother to alcoholism. And I swear. Mr. President, this is not an age comparison. You remind me of him. Jost turned the serious moment lighter, joking, Some of your best qualities remind me of his. And I will say he was 95 and he was still great at stairs. I think its because he didnt try to run up them. Acknowledging that Staten Island is historically red (Staten Island firefighters are not normally your demographic and about 70% [voted] for Trump in the last election, and the other 30% was for Giuliani), Jost admitted his grandfather voted for Biden. President Joe Biden, right, introduces host Colin Jost at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)AP My grandfather, a Staten Island firefighter, voted for you, Mr. President, in the last election that he ever voted in, said Jost, following it with a voter-fraud joke: I mean, Im sure someone else will vote twice in this election using his name. But thats just how the Democratic machine works. Turning serious again, Jost added: He voted for you. And the reason that he voted for you is because youre a decent man. My grandpa voted for decency. And decency is why were all here tonight. Decency is how were able to be here tonight. Decency is how were able to make jokes about each other. And when you look at the levels of freedom throughout history and even around the world today, this is the exception. This freedom is incredibly rare. And the journalists in this room help protect that freedom. And we cannot ever take that for granted. So, Mr. President, I thank you for your decency on behalf of my grandfather. And I thank all of you, almost all of you, for your decency as well. When the Chinese government finally lifted crippling tariffs on Australian wine four weeks ago, the Rathbone Wine Group still had containers of bottles that had been sitting on the wharfs for months, waiting to be cleared by customs. The end of the tariffs which were as high as 220 per cent for the past three years also terminated the burdensome red tape for the handful of Australian winemakers who were exporting small quantities to China, and Rathbones premium wines soon after made it onto the Asian mainland. Trade with China has been tougher than Darren Rathbone initially anticipated, after the country said it would drop tariffs on Australian wine last month. Credit: Jason South We had seen containers of wine sitting on the wharfs for extended periods, while Chinese customers were slow to process Australian wines going through the ports, Rathbone chief executive Darren Rathbone says. Theres still a reasonable amount of red tape, but its gone back to what it was pre-tariffs. The opening sequence of a trailer for The Fall Guy, the recently released action movie starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt shot in Australia last year, features an action-packed race down Sydneys George Street. Swerving around civilians on his e-scooter, Gosling beats the closing doors of the L2 Light Rail to Randwick, before crashing out a window through the other side of the carriage. Yes, the writers rooms of Hollywood have concocted a high-stakes action sequence within an alternate reality beyond the bounds of our imaginations: legalised e-scooters in the Sydney CBD! I jest. (Although, please, no one let Transport for NSW see this film as they will add light rail window damage to their list of safety concerns keeping Sydney from following every other eastern capital city in trialling the devices.) Watching The Fall Guy trailer in a Sydney cinema brought on a moment of reflection, if not cultural cringe. Among the snapshots of Sydney daily life featured in this internationally released film, which involved shutting down the Harbour Bridge for a car chase, is the light rail? Ryan Gosling is racing onto and crashing through the window of the light rail? We let Ken catch the light rail? Its not exactly Wolverine fighting bad guys on the bullet train to Nagasaki. Or is it? Maligned by locals since it opened four years ago as the public transport you catch when you want to travel through the city at a bit quicker than walking pace (but, crucially, not quite at running pace), Sydneys light rail has become an unlikely movie star. Lygon Street has never been more interesting than it is right now, one trader says. Start at one end of a street you think you know, and take a virtual walk with restaurant reviewer Dani Valent. In this series, she tells you exactly where you should go to eat and drink. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share In this Good Food series, Dani Valent explores Melbournes best Eat Streets. See all stories . Five years ago, Lygon Street was a fake-parmesan-dusted relic of its vibrant Little Italy past. Today, its transforming with a slew of innovative and exciting places to eat and drink, with a renewed fondness for old players. The strips recent glimmering suggests this is the street that never says die: its a key Melbourne destination that reflects immigrant waves and the culinary innovation that surges with them. There are ebbs and flows, but you always know Lygon Street will come back, says Luca Sbardella, whose family have been custodians of Lygons landmark King and Godfree deli since 1955. I feel Lygon Street has never been more interesting than it is right now. People love it because theres so much to discover. On a recent Saturday night, the strip throngs with a million Melbourne stories. Students line up for chicken parmigianas at perennially busy Universal. A hotted-up V8 vrooms past Papa Ginos pizza place like a big-haired messenger from the 1980s. Date-nighters debate: will it be pistachio gelato from Pidapipo or a durian scoop from Indonesian-leaning ice-cream shop Beku? At El Giza, men suck on shisha pipes and order halal doner kebab pizza. At Johnnys Green Room, on King and Godfrees rooftop, Sbardella reflects on the changes. We stood here five years ago, just after we renovated, looked down at the street and half the shops were vacant, he says. We had just 10 people up here. We asked ourselves what we had done. Now there are lines out the door. Capricciosa pizza at Tiamo. Josh Robenstone Melbourne loves its eat streets, more than any other town I know, says Sbardella. When you have a high level of service and offering, it makes the next venue be that little bit better. It keeps building and building. Weve seen that here. That push to improve flows through the whole street. Its always been an important food strip, says Michael Harden, author of the 2008 book Lygon Street: Stories And Recipes From Melbournes Melting Pot. Surveyed as part of the original Hoddle Grid in 1852, the street was Melbournes Jewish centre from the 1890s: you could use your Yiddish to buy a kosher chicken in the shtetl in ek velt (little town at the end of the world). Advertisement After World War II, Italian migrants gradually overtook the Jews. By 1960, about a quarter of Carltons population was Italian. Restaurateur Marco Donninis grandparents arrived in 1952 and his family installed Melbournes first proper espresso machine in their University Cafe. No one knew what it was, says Donnini. They created a little Italian ghetto where everyone felt comfortable. Loading In 1966, Stephanie Alexander and her then-husband Rupert Monty Montague wanted to open a Jamaican foodstore. Lygon Street was the obvious choice, she says. Carlton was the centre of anything interesting in the way of food and people. Over the decades, heart-and-soul cooking gave way to more commercial operations. At the same time, lax planning meant no limit on the number of restaurants. The strip closer to the city became lined with cookie-cutter restaurants, the bohemia moved to Brunswick Street and St Kilda; Lygon Street felt grimy and touristy, Harden says. The original mid-century immigrants were ageing, and their kids often moved further afield. With pizza and pasta all over Melbourne, and new eat streets burgeoning, Lygon Street became less compelling, for Italian food anyway. Theres nowhere else as enduring and exciting as Lygon Street. Luca Sbardella In the past decade, a new spark has come from international students moving to the northern CBD and Carlton, near the University of Melbourne. A lot of students dont cook in their apartments, says Donnini. They may not spend much, but they go out five nights a week. The southern portion of Lygon Street caters to those thrifty students with places such as Universal and DPenyetz. Halal Mandina Kitchen, which serves Yemeni food, is part of a new clutch of restaurants catering to Muslim diners. North of Grattan Street, classic but spirited Italian restaurants such as University Cafe and Donninis have innovative new neighbours like Lagoon and Madeleine de Proust. Advertisement For Lygon Street lifers, its an exciting era. Theres nowhere else as enduring and exciting as Lygon Street, Sbardella says. Kazukis They call themselves a slow restaurant on a fast street, which goes some way to describing two-hatted Kazukis calm, intentional approach to hospitality. Their style of Japanese fine dining is expressed over five- or seven-course tasting menus, offered with beautiful wine and sake matches, and with a deft melding of Japanese and French cooking and premium Australian produce. 121 Lygon Street, Carlton, kazukis.com.au Universal Restaurant See that person holding their hand over their chicken parmigiana as though theyre some kind of energy healer? Well, theyre (most likely) not a reiki master. Theyre checking if this $17.90 main course really is as big as their hand. (Answer: it is.) Universal has been serving Italian comfort food since 1969 and the menu here is a pizza-pasta-parma parade. Though the offering is similar to other classic restaurants on the strip, clever updates such as Bubblegum Sour cocktails and Nutella tiramisu draw a younger crowd. Lining up has become part of the experience and cheery waiters work the queue with free tidbits. Advertisement 141 Lygon Street, Carlton, universalrestaurant.com.au Yemeni-style hospitality at Mandina Kitchen. Simon Schluter Mandina Kitchen Whether youre seated at a table or cross-legged on a mat, this Yemeni restaurant rolls along generously: each meal begins with a complimentary lamb broth. Good dishes include flaky mulawah bread, sizzling lahsa (a claypot scramble of tomato and egg), mandi (baked rice served with bone-in spiced lamb or chicken) and maglooba, a layered rice and lamb dish thats tipped upside down to serve. 143 Lygon Street, Carlton, mandinakitchen.com.au Review Mandina Kitchen joins Lygon Street's Middle Eastern culinary wave Beku Gelato Advertisement Theres a flurry of Indonesian places at the southern end of Lygon Street near Lambs, the famous late-night souvlaki joint on the corner of Queensberry Street. Beku distils ideas from South-East Asia to create smooth, creamy treats in cups and cones: pandan rice pudding is a winner. Nearby, Martabak Pecenongan 78 serves sweet and savoury stuffed pancakes, DPenyetz offers all kinds of chicken, rice and seafood dishes, and Kantin prides itself on home-style Indo fare such as nasi ayam jamur, a chicken and mushroom stew. 150 Lygon Street, Carlton, beku.com.au Good Measure is a cafe by day and bar by night. Supplied Good Measure A gorgeous cafe by day and a cool bar by night, its easy to love this place for its flexibility and hospitality. Wine and beer are all on tap and cocktails bring the noise, especially the Tres Chile Margarita with jalapeno, habanero and guajillo fighting for attention beneath a well-salted rim. Theres a courtyard out back for sheltered outdoor sipping and snacking. 193 Lygon Street, Carlton, goodmeasure.au Start at one end of a street you think you know, and take a virtual walk with restaurant reviewer Dani Valent. In this series, she tells you exactly where you should go to eat and drink. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share In this Good Food series, Dani Valent explores Melbournes best Eat Streets. See all stories . When he walks along Thornburys High Street today, 1800 Lasagne owner Joey Kellock is reminded of Fitzroy in its 1980s heyday. I was lucky to grow up along Brunswick Street in the golden era when restaurants and cafes were opening there for the first time, he says, pointing to Marios and Rhumbarallas, among other iconic hangouts. That same purity and freshness is what Im seeing in Thornbury now, he says. Its exciting to be part of a fresh wave for Melbourne. High Street runs for about 18 kilometres, beginning in village-like Westgarth and trundling through busy Northcote before arriving in hip Thornbury for a brief but rich kilometre. The artery then continues through up-and-coming Preston all the way north to Epping. Each suburb has its charms but Thornbury is arguably the most energised and creative strip for eating along High Street right now. Thornbury can look a little sleepier than Northcote, but theres a lot of energy just below the surface, says Kellock. On the map, its just a thin rectangle of land but its got a special feeling. Historically, theres a strong Greek and Italian presence in Thornbury, with the Hellenic heritage still in evidence today. The original post-war migrants opened groceries, social clubs, radio stations, theatres and delis in the 1950s, says Christian Evripidou, co-owner of cool new Greek bar Capers. Loading Some of them are still in the clubs today, playing backgammon, the Cypriot card game, Pilotta, and Diloti, a Greek card game. Theres also a second and third generation like us who want to celebrate their Greekness, plus Greek-speaking migrants that have come since the financial crisis of 2009. Its layered, with everything happening all at once. Thornbury is part of Darebin City Council, which references the suburbs alternative culture on its website, as well as a higher proportion of LGBTQ people compared to the rest of the municipality. Its one of the nicest and friendliest streets in the world, says Kellock. On the map, its just a thin rectangle of land but its got a special feeling. Joey Kellock, 1800 Lasagne Advertisement Eliza Sparvell, a bartender at Capers, feels the same. Ive worked on High Street since I was 16, moving my way up the tram line at six different places over the past six years. Its low-key and casual, a very, very, very lovely spot for hopping from place to place. Everyone knows one another and you cant walk 50 metres without running into a mate. Louise Zelencich has owned Pallino for 10 years. Its definitely a vibe around here, she says. The business owner feels shes been supported by the community, but shes nurtured it too. When the old Italian social club next door seemed set to close, she took it on because she couldnt stand the idea that the suburbs old Italians wouldnt have a place to play cards and chat. We open three days a week for them and use the space for functions and events on the weekends. That kind of connection is classic Thornbury, says Kellock. Ive lived in 10 or 12 houses in Northcote and Thornbury in my life, he says. Its really special to me and I just want to contribute. I see history, opportunity and an amazing future here. I think High Street could become the best eat street in Melbourne. Take away a slice of one of Mali Bakes signature layer cakes. Mali Bakes Chef Patchanida Chimkire focuses mainly on whole layer cakes with retro styling, extravagant frosting and bespoke messages, but serves single slices on Saturdays direct from the bakeshop. You might luck on to vegan vanilla cake with roasted strawberry; olive oil ricotta cake with blackberry and fennel jam; or featherlight matcha chiffon roll with sake-soaked cherries. All are made with premium ingredients such as Gippsland Jersey butter. Some people say cake isnt the answer to all woes. Come and prove them wrong. Advertisement 627 High Street, Thornbury, malibakes.com The Thornbury Local Theres nowhere else on the strip that has such a local lounge room feel to it. You might think youre coming for the po boys, fried pickles, poutine and pizza from an unabashedly American menu, but youll stay for the great vibes and cheery staff. Hangout spaces include the upstairs balcony overlooking the street and a rear courtyard with its own cosy fireplace. Theres live music on weekends, along with open mic nights and trivia during the week. 635 High Street, Thornbury, thethornburylocal.com Inside cruisy cafe Lan Coffee Thornbury. Penny Stephens Lan Coffee Thornbury Lan offers possibly the best coffee on the strip with its selection of locally roasted beans tweaked regularly, and every coffee made with care and focus. The kitchen offers Asian-ish brunches: consider delights such as char siu pork in a charcoal bun, kimchi fried rice and prawn pasta with Sichuan chilli relish. The mood is cruisy and quiet: this is a pleasant place to bring your laptop or a book. Advertisement 640 High Street, Thornbury, lancoffee.orderup.com.au Franklins Bar The warehouse frontage can look a bit foreboding, but its all smiles once you come inside and explore the indoor-outdoor spaces. The house cocktails are all about fun spins on classics for example, the pandan colada which includes coconut-washed dark rum and toasted pineapple cordial. Drinkers need ballast: ciabatta-style pizzas have classic toppings you can jazz up with hot sauce. 646 High Street, Thornbury, franklinsbar.com 1800 Lasagnes just-right retro decor. Justin McManus 1800 Lasagne The namesake pasta bake is rightly the focus but theres so much else to love at this Thornbury restaurant, a fixture as soon as it took over this old pizza shop in 2020. The staff deliver smart-casual dining with flair and aplomb, and the decor channels the northsides hippest nonnas. Of course, youll eat lasagne, but consider too the perfect clouds gnocchi, spaghetti with pipis, and specials that feature seasonal vegetables. Theres music on vinyl, except when theres jazzagne on Sundays. Advertisement 653 High Street, Thornbury, 1800lasagne.com.au Good Food hat 15 / 20 Review 1800 Lasagne is Melbourne's first hatted lasagne restaurant Crosta DOro Vietnamese bakery. Penny Stephens Crosta DOro Hot Bread This large family-run bakery is an easy place to pick up a ciabatta or lamington, as well as a killer banh mi on a fresh, crusty roll. Which filling? The pork crackling is so loud, its almost violent. But the more shy and retiring tofu version is a lovely partner for the secret spicy sauce each roll is doused in. The owners are often known to give away doughnuts, so you have dessert sorted, too. 656 High Street, Thornbury, 03 9484 0519 Psarakos Market Hundreds of mourners, many wearing white ribbons, gathered at a funeral home in Ballarat North to farewell 23-year-old Hannah McGuire, who was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend earlier this month. McGuires mother, Debbie McGuire, spoke at the funeral thanking those in attendance and remembered her amazing daughter. Mourners at Hannah McGuires funeral. Credit: Joe Armao We come together with great sadness, but also with thanks for the time we had with her. Today we celebrate Hannahs life and all the things that made her the amazing daughter that she was, she told those inside the chapel. Hannah touched our lives in profound ways and her memory will forever remain etched in our soul. Hannah, we miss the way your presence made everything feel right. Hannah McGuires ex-boyfriend has been charged with murder. McGuire was one of a number of women who have died under allegedly violent circumstances across Australia this year, which have rocked the nation, sparked protests and prompted calls for a royal commission into violence against women. Nicole van Berkel, a lifelong friend of McGuires parents, said she was an exceptional young woman who inspired the lives of those around her with her determination to succeed in her education and sports. McGuires body was found in a burnt-out car in bushland in Scarsdale, about 25 kilometres south-west of Ballarat, earlier this month. The often-rushed process has recently been in the spotlight for tragic reasons. This masthead revealed on Friday that two weeks before Daniel Billings allegedly murdered his 28-year-old former partner Molly Ticehurst, it was alleged in court at his bail hearing on earlier charges that he showed the concerning behaviour of a domestic abuser escalating toward the most disturbing conclusion. Magistrates dont work weekends in Dubbo, where a registrar released Billings on bail within just 12 minutes on April 6 on sexual assault, stalking and animal cruelty charges. A magistrate continued Billings bail days before the alleged murder. Following Ticehursts death, NSW Premier Chris Minns announced a review of bail laws in NSW to determine whether urgent law reform is required. Ticehursts horrific death is not comparable to Sundays cases. Molly Ticehurst (left) and her accused killer, Daniel Billings. Credit: Sharni Tolhurst Photography, Facebook However, there is a common theme among many bail applications there is little time for busy courts to make decisions. While each case has its unique challenges, some are more complex than others. Magistrate Eve Wynhausen summed part of the problem up well when ultimately refusing bail for a man who had allegedly made threats involving a knife towards his ex-partner on Sunday. His defence lawyer told the court his client made no attempt to throw the knife at his ex-partner and had the knife in his hand when police arrived. He was devastated at their relationship ending and threatened to harm himself, not her, he said. The Herald has chosen not to name the 26-year-old to protect his alleged victims identity. The magistrate noted there were two intimidating incidents days apart, one involving a weapon, and the risks of endangering the community or committing further serious offences were serious. She refused bail. But she would have liked more information to guide her decision, which was made in a matter of minutes. The material before the court is and this is understandable as it is a bail court somewhat scanty, both on the parts of the prosecution and the defence, in terms of greater detail about his mental health, Wynhausen said. The strength of the prosecution case as is usually the case in these types of matters is difficult to predict at this stage. Samir Karnib, principal solicitor of Karnib Law Group, witnesses daily the pressure defence legal teams and prosecutors face in quickly preparing for bail submissions and accepts time restraints can be tough on judicial officers faced with limited information. The high-profile lawyer regularly answers surprise calls in the middle of the night from people who have just been arrested and need him in court as early as the very next morning. He has the option to delay applying for bail and spend more time gathering information, but his clients are keen to be freed. Loading The challenge, of course, is that the courts are trying to balance the right of the defendant together with the prosecutions concerns of granting bail, and whether they can be mitigated with bail conditions, he said. If the magistrate thinks the history of the offender or continued repeat offending, for example, forms an unacceptable risk, theyre refused bail. I appreciate the stress that the courts go through in doing it with how many cases we all have to get through. Its not easy. While Karnib was speaking to the general bail process and stressed that he respected the courts and the decisions magistrates made, he acknowledged if a man who is granted bail while charged with serious domestic violence offences allegedly murders his ex-partner two weeks later, and magistrates comment on the scanty available information they can be faced with, the courts dont always get it right. Concept plans for two towers of up to 58 storeys as part of a major transport hub planned for the northern end of Sydneys CBD have received the green light. Pub and restaurant billionaire Justin Hemmes is part of a consortium competing against a group led by global investment giant Brookfield, which redeveloped Wynyard station, for the right to complete a metro train station beneath Hunter Street and build the two towers above. The two planned skyscrapers, in red, will be 58 and 51 storeys high. Credit: City of Sydney The states planning department has approved concept plans for a 58-storey tower above the stations eastern entrance between OConnell and Bligh streets and a 51-storey building above the western entry on the corner of George and Hunter streets. Construction of the underground station beneath Hunter Street for the $25 billion Metro West line between the CBD and Parramatta began last year. The email arrived. An invitation from a primary school for an interview before my four-year-olds entry to prep. Im sure Im not the only parent to feel anxious, wondering if kindy kids can pass or fail before theyve even learnt how to tie their shoelaces. But there is nothing to worry about. Heres what you can expect from an interview with a Brisbane school for the prep 2025 year. Children might be asked to identify numbers or colours at a pre-prep interview, but the process is designed to help the school learn more about students to support them. Credit: iStock If youve applied to a state school, and you live in-catchment, youre in, but even if thats not your situation, dont stress. Cheektowaga strip club owner Peter Gerace Jr. has accused federal prosecutors and agents of causing the suicides of two potential witnesses in his forthcoming trial at federal court. Gerace, who is in jail awaiting trial on charges of sex and drug trafficking, bribing a Drug Enforcement Administration agent and witness tampering, made the accusations in a letter he recently sent to The Buffalo News. Pharaoh's witness death seen as 'mega case,' but prosecution won't seek death penalty Federal prosecutors say they will not seek the death penalty while building their case against strip club owner Peter Gerace Jr. and three others they allege played a role in the death of federal witness Crystal Quinn. The owner of Pharaohs Gentlemens Club claims he is the victim of prosecutorial misconduct by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi and other federal law enforcement officials. Gerace, 56, said he also sent the letter to the Justice Departments inspector general, former President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Attorney Trini Ross and other public officials. The defendants letter accuses Tripi, the FBI and other law enforcement officials of putting extreme pressure on two potential witnesses, State Supreme Court Judge John Michalski and former Pharaohs strip club employee Crystal Quinn, and causing them to kill themselves. State Supreme Court Justice John Michalski dead at 61 Federal and state law enforcement officers, who have been investigating the judge for several years, raided his home on March 24. But no charges were filed against the judge or his wife. Authorities said Michalski died by suicide in his Amherst home in April 2022, 12 days after FBI agents raided his home, searching for evidence. Quinn, who had agreed to testify in Geraces trial, died of a massive drug overdose in Wellsville in August 2023. Her death has not been ruled a suicide. Prosecutors charged a Wellsville man with purposely giving Quinn a lethal dose of fentanyl to stop her from testifying against Gerace. They charged Gerace and three other men with a witness tampering conspiracy, accusing them of conspiring to kill Quinn. Geraces letter claims both Michalski and Quinn would have testified on his behalf as 2 of my most important witnesses. The letter claims that both people killed themselves because of the pressure (Tripi) put on them to either give false testimony or else face prison time themselves. Federal prosecutors charged Quinn in 2023 with tampering with a different witness in the Gerace case, but the charges were dropped after she agreed to testify as a government witness. Defense attorneys said they also planned to call Quinn to testify. Ross, Tripi and Justice Department officials in Washington declined to discuss the accusations with The News. But Tripi has defended the actions of law enforcement during pretrial arguments about the case before District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Crystal Quinns mother, Sharon Quinn, was critical of federal prosecutors and agents during an interview with The News shortly after her daughters death. But she told The News on April 19 that she now agrees with prosecutors that her daughter was murdered. I dont think that the prosecutor or the FBI gave my daughter enough fentanyl to kill 400 people. My daughter did not commit suicide. She was murdered, no matter what Peter thinks, Sharon Quinn said April 19. I will let the FBI and prosecutor investigate the murder and, hopefully, justice will be served. Terrence M. Connors, attorney for Judge Michalskis family, said he and the family do not wish to comment. Prosecutor calls late Judge Michalski 'unindicted co-conspirator' in Gerace sex-trafficking case Federal prosecutors claim strip club owner Peter G. Gerace Jr. arranged sex for John L. Michalski, a State Supreme Court justice who later died by suicide, and gained judicial favors from him. In addition to his claims about the deaths of Michalski and Quinn, Gerace claims prosecutors are harassing him and his attorneys, punishing them for making vigorous efforts to prove he is not guilty. Geraces letter repeatedly refers to the prosecutor as Mr. Trippi. The prosecutorial misconduct of Mr. Trippi, himself and through his associate AUSAs, continues, Gerace wrote. Joe Trippi and his partners are doing everything in their power to prevent me from getting a fair trial. Gerace details alleged misconduct Geraces letter makes these claims about the treatment he has received while he is jailed and awaiting trial: The Pharaohs Gentlemens Club owner claims that Amherst Police Detective Gregory Trotter was another witness who would have helped him. He claims prosecutors charged Trotter last year with lying to the FBI, as part of an effort to prevent Trotter from testifying for the defense. A grand jury indicted Trotter Thursday on charges that he lied to the FBI when they questioned him about his contacts with Gerace. Another of my important witnesses is Detective Greg Trotter, so there is no surprise that Trippi had him arrested, Gerace wrote. He claims federal law enforcement interceded with jail officials in Niagara and Chautauqua counties to make it difficult for him and attorneys to prepare their defense. According to the letter, Gerace was transferred from Niagara County Jail about 30 miles from Buffalo to the Chautauqua County Jail, about 70 miles from Buffalo, to make it inconvenient for his attorneys to meet with him. He claims that a prisoner who is a paralegal was helping him to prepare legal challenges. He said that prisoner has been separated from him and is no longer allowed to assist him. He's not in the courtroom, but Peter Gerace casts a big shadow at Bongiovanni trial Testimony about the owner of Pharaoh's Gentlemen's Club was inevitable because eight of the 15 bribery, obstruction of justice, false statement and other charges Joseph Bongiovanni faces involve Peter Gerace Jr. in some way. Gerace claims jail officials have placed restrictions on his ability to copy documents and to engage in phone calls with attorneys. I believe all these actions were taken strictly out of spite for Peter standing up for his innocence, said attorney Steven M. Cohen, who represents Gerace in a civil case and in a criminal case accusing Gerace of Covid-19 aid fraud. Since Gerace was first arrested in 2021, federal prosecutors have either forced or tried to force all four of his defense attorneys to stop representing Gerace, Cohen said on Thursday. The government has gone after every attorney who has sought to aggressively represent Mr. Gerace, Cohen said. Tripi has argued in court that the government had solid legal grounds to seek removal of the four Gerace attorneys. The News reported in January that Cohen, identified as Gerace attorney 1, was accused by a grand jury of making efforts to prevent Quinn from testifying against Gerace as part of a conspiracy. Cohen is not charged with any crime in that case. 'Gerace Attorney 1' under investigation by feds in Pharaoh's strip club case Federal prosecutors are investigating one of the regions most high-profile attorneys in connection with a conspiracy that reportedly caused the death of a witness in the Pharaoh's strip club case to prevent her from testifying. Gerace claims that federal prosecutors last year tried to convince State Liquor Authority officials not to renew Pharaohs liquor license. The license was renewed last year. Asked about Geraces claim, a SLA spokesman declined to comment to The News. Tripi: a hard-nosed prosecutor A 'tough-as-nails' prosecutor takes on mob allegations and criticism for the case Some local defense attorneys and Italian American organizations say they are outraged over Joseph M. Tripis repeated references to Italian organized crime in court and legal papers, including an indictment. Gerace also said he has sent letters complaining about his treatment to Judge Vilardo, who is overseeing his case. On several occasions, Vilardo has mentioned in open court that Gerace has complained to him. Tripi is perhaps Western New Yorks most high-profile prosecution trial lawyer. Attorneys call him a hard-nosed prosecutor who often battles with defense lawyers. According to federal court records, he has never had a verdict overturned due to a prosecutorial misconduct complaint. He has won two national law enforcement awards for his prosecutions of violent drug gangs in the Buffalo area. Tripi has been a federal prosecutor since 2008, handling many of the regions most disturbing murder and gang violence cases. He is the lead prosecutor in the federal death penalty case of Payton Gendron, the admitted white supremacist killer of 10 Black men and women who were slain at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo. In 2022, defense attorneys accused Tripi of maliciously prosecuting Gerace and other Italian-American defendants. Two judges ruled in Tripis favor, saying they found no evidence of discriminatory conduct by Tripi, who is Italian-American. While it is not unusual for a criminal defendant to complain about prosecutors, it is quite unusual for a defendant who is awaiting trial to make public those complaints, retired U.S. Attorney Denise E. ODonnell said. Sometimes, after a person has been convicted, they will make claims of prosecutorial misconduct while trying to get their verdict overturned, ODonnell said. To do that pretrial is quite unusual. She said she wonders if former President Donald J. Trumps highly publicized pretrial attacks on prosecutors will inspire other defendants to use similar tactics. I think this is something were going to see more often as part of a defense strategy, said ODonnell, a Democrat who has no involvement with the Gerace case. Blame the government, blame the prosecution for persecuting you and try to taint the jury and look for public sympathy. Gerace sold his home Meanwhile, Gerace recently sold his Clarence home for $1.35 million, real estate records show. His attorney, Mark A. Foti, said one of the main reasons Gerace sold the home was to raise money for his defense. Foti said his client is very frustrated over his money problems, his long wait for a trial date and what he sees as wrongdoing by the prosecution. At this point, its become a bigger and bigger challenge for Peter to pay for his defense, Foti said Thursday. Hes been in jail and unable to work for more than a year now. A Queensland police officer has been struck by a car in an alleged hit-and-run in Brisbanes south. The woman police say is responsible, remains on the run over 24 hours after the incident, which took place about 11.30pm on Friday in Wishart. Police pulled over the Nissan Pulsar for speeding but when officers approached the drivers side of the vehicle, the car accelerated, striking a senior constable. PolAir located the womans car a short time after she fled the scene it was crashed into a tree and abandoned. Suburbs in Perths central area and south-east have the highest concentration of international students, with the percentage of rentals taken up by this group far exceeding the national average. The City of Perth had the highest concentration of international students with 14.4 per cent of rental properties taken up by those on a temporary student visa, research from the Property Council of Australia has found. International students have been unfairly blamed for the rental crisis in WA, according to the Property Council Australia. Credit: Fiona Bianchinotti It was followed by City of Canning and Town of Victoria Park which contains Curtin University with 11.9 per cent and 8.7 per cent respectively. Nationally, just 13 local governments had a percentage of international students in rentals higher than 10 while almost three-quarters had less than 1 per cent. The platitudes offered by federal ministers over the weekend in response to growing demands for more action on the domestic violence crisis gripping our nation were as predictable as they were pathetic. Thousands join the No More: National Rally Against Violence rally on Saturday. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos At a time when the public is begging for action on the appalling rate of women being murdered or beaten to a pulp each week, two Albanese government ministers rejected out of hand the idea of a national royal commission into the underlying causes of the violence. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, who recently had to apologise to a female journalist for the way he spoke to her at a press conference, on Saturday reeled off a series of measures already under way to address the national crisis. I think weve actually identified a whole range of actions already that need to be taken, he told reporters. 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. 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. A woman whose father murdered her mother has joined calls for a state-based royal commission into domestic violence, saying political leaders need to hear the experiences of survivors, the bereaved and children as calls grow for increased funding for womens services. Now an advocate and lawyer, Amani Haydar has been appointed to the federal governments Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission roundtable, a group tasked with developing a cohesive, cross-sectoral approach to ending violence against women and children. Amani Haydar has joined calls for a royal commission into domestic violence. Credit: Daniel Munoz Her calls come as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a rally in Canberra on Sunday that governments of all levels must do better, including my own. This is a national crisis, Albanese said to heckling from the crowd. We need to make sure that this isnt just up to women. Its up to men to change mens behaviour as well. Premier Jacinta Allan will become the first state leader to appear before a formal Indigenous-led truth-telling commission on Monday, when she will stress Victorias commitment to a treaty with First Peoples. The premier will deliver a prepared statement to the Yoorrook Justice Commission, saying a different approach is needed to address the injustices and entrenched disadvantage faced by Indigenous Victorians. Premier Jacinta Allan listened to Wurundjeri leaders and commissioners at a Yoorrook Justice Commision hearing near the old Coranderrk mission, in Healesville, last week. Credit: Justin McManus The $52.1 million Yoorrook Justice Commission is tasked with examining the historical and ongoing social, economic and political impacts of colonialism on First Peoples in Victoria. This month, it has heard wide-ranging evidence on matters related to waters, land and sky. Allan described the scheduled hearing as a deeply significant moment, saying she was deeply humbled and honoured to sit before the commission. Lviv: Defence Minister Richard Marles says the Australian government is prepared to send more military equipment and financial support to aid Ukraines fight against Russia until the war ends on Kyivs terms. Visiting the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, Marles promised the latest $100 million package was just the next tranche of support and by no means the end as he declared Ukraines armed forces were fighting for Australias national interest on the battlefield. Defence Minister Richard Marles (left) and Australian Army chief Lieutenant General Simon Stuart at a ceremony for fallen Ukrainian soldiers in Lviv on Saturday. Credit: Department of Defence The deputy prime ministers visit the first by a member of the Albanese government for almost two years coincided with another fierce round of Russian airstrikes, as 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 US military aid. The airstrikes, carried out with ballistic and cruise missiles fired by Russian strategic bombers based in the Arctic Circle, marked the fourth large-scale aerial assault targeting the power system since March 22. TikTok creators fear economic blow of US ban San Francisco, April 28 (AFP) Apr 28, 2024 Ayman Chaudhary turned her love for reading into a living on TikTok, posting video snippets about books like those banned in schools in ultra-conservative parts of the United States. Now the online platform she relies on to support her family is poised to be banned in what entrepreneurs using TikTok condemn as an attack on their livelihoods. "It's so essential to small businesses and creators; it's my full-time job," the 23-year-old Chicago resident told AFP. "It makes me really worried that I live in a country that would pass bans like these instead of focusing on what's actually important, like gun control and healthcare and education." A new US law put TikTok's parent, Chinese tech giant ByteDance, on a nine-month deadline to divest the hugely popular video platform or have it banned in the United States. US lawmakers argued that TikTok can be used by the Chinese government for espionage and propaganda as long as it is owned by ByteDance. "Everybody who's involved in deciding whether or not this platform is going to get banned is turning a blind eye to how it's going to affect all of the small businesses," said Bilal Rehman of Texas. His @bilalrehmanstudio TikTok account, which playfully promotes his company's interior design projects, has some 500,000 followers. "They don't really understand social media and how it works," the 24-year-old added. TikTok has gone from a novelty to a necessity for many US small businesses, according to an Oxford Economics study backed by the platform. TikTok fuels growth for more than seven million businesses in the United States, helping generate billions of dollars and supporting more than 224,000 jobs, the study determined. "It's become such a huge part of our economy that taking that away is going to be devastating to millions of people," Rehman said of TikTok. Chaudhary took to TikTok to share her passion for reading in early 2020 while enduring Covid-19 lockdowns. "I made a handful of videos and, long story short, one went viral," Chaudhary said. Opportunities to make money from sponsors or advertising came as her audience grew, and posting on her @aymansbooks TikTok account became a job. She saw books she extolled snapped up by readers, as she shined attention on titles banned from schools or libraries in parts of the country. - Unique vibe - A TikTok ban would be a particularly hard blow to businesses just starting out, according to eMarketer analyst Jasmine Enberg. "Social media has democratized the commerce landscape, and TikTok really supercharged that," Enberg told AFP. "It's become a crucial platform for many small businesses, especially those that are in niche industries or sell quirky products." One factor setting TikTok apart from rival platforms is the potential for videos to be spread quickly by a highly engaged audience, according to Enberg. "The potential to be discovered on TikTok is really unparalleled, and that's largely thanks to its algorithm as well as the entertaining kind of content that it hosts," she said. A young generation is using TikTok as a search engine of sorts, making queries as they might on Google and seeing what the algorithm serves up, said SOCi director of market insights Damian Rollison. "It feels like it has been created by your peers, so they're telling you the real deal about whatever the topic might be," Rollison said of the trend. TikTok lovers say it has a unique style that will be missed in the case of a ban. "There is definitely a different vibe on TikTok versus YouTube or Instagram," said Chaudhary. "TikTok has a lot more humor in it and a lot more creativity than I see happening on Instagram." "My favorite part about TikTok is, it feels almost like you're on a FaceTime call with your friend," Rehman said. "It feels really raw and authentic." Rollison advised businesses relying on TikTok to make contingency plans in event of a ban, sticking with short-form video, given the appetite for such content. "The demand signals are so powerful amongst younger users that I believe the usage patterns are going to survive any of the outcomes," Rollison said. "Learning that ecosystem is not only a useful but even critical strategy." Demetrio Jackson was desperate for medical help when the paramedics arrived. The 43-year-old was surrounded by police who arrested him after responding to a trespassing call in a Wisconsin parking lot. Officers had shocked him with a Taser and pinned him as he pleaded that he couldnt breathe. Now he sat on the ground with hands cuffed behind his back and took in oxygen through a mask. Then, officers moved Jackson to his side so a medic could inject him with a potent knockout drug. Its just going to calm you down, an officer assured Jackson. Within minutes, Jacksons heart stopped. He never regained consciousness and died two weeks later. Jacksons 2021 death illustrates an often-hidden way fatal U.S. police encounters end: not with the firing of an officers gun but with the silent use of a medical syringe. The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the nation over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found. Based on thousands of pages of law enforcement and medical records and videos of dozens of incidents, the investigation shows how a strategy intended to reduce violence and save lives has resulted in some avoidable deaths. At least 94 people died after they were given sedatives and restrained by police from 2012 through 2021, according to findings by the AP in collaboration with FRONTLINE (PBS) and the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism. Thats nearly 10% of the more than 1,000 deaths identified during the investigation of people subdued by police in ways that are not supposed to be fatal. About half of the 94 who died were Black, including Jackson. Behind the racial disparity is a disputed medical condition called excited delirium, which fueled the rise of sedation outside hospitals. Critics say its purported symptoms, including superhuman strength and high pain tolerance, play into racist stereotypes about Black people and lead to biased decisions about who needs sedation. The use of sedatives in half these incidents has never been reported, as scrutiny typically focuses on the actions of police, not medics. Elijah McClains 2019 death in Aurora, Colorado, was a rare exception: Two paramedics were convicted of giving McClain an overdose of ketamine, the same drug given to Jackson. One was sentenced last month to five years in prison and the second was sentenced to probation Friday. It was impossible to determine the role sedatives may have played in each of the 94 deaths, which often involved the use of other potentially dangerous force on people who had taken drugs or consumed alcohol. Medical experts told the AP their impact could be negligible in people who were already dying; the final straw that triggered heart or breathing failure in the medically distressed; or the main cause of death when given in the wrong circumstances or mishandled. While sedatives were mentioned as a cause or contributing factor in a dozen official death rulings, authorities often didnt even investigate whether injections were appropriate. Medical officials have traditionally viewed them as mostly benign treatments. Now some say they may be playing a bigger role than previously understood and deserve more scrutiny. Time and time again, the AP found, agitated people who were held by police facedown, often handcuffed and with officers pushing on their backs, struggled to breathe and tried to get free. Citing combativeness, paramedics administered sedatives, further slowing their breathing. Cardiac and respiratory arrest often occurred within minutes. Paramedics drugged some people who were not a threat to themselves or others, violating treatment guidelines. Medics often didnt know whether other drugs or alcohol were in peoples systems, although some combinations cause serious side effects. Police officers sometimes improperly encouraged paramedics to give shots to suspects they were detaining. Responders occasionally joked about the medications power to knock their subjects out. Night, night is heard on videos before deaths in California, Tennessee and Florida. Emergency medical workers, "if they arent careful, can simply become an extension of the polices handcuffs, of their weapons, of their nightsticks, said Claire Zagorski, a paramedic and an addiction researcher at the University of Texas at Austin. Supporters say sedatives enable rapid treatment for drug-related behavioral emergencies and psychotic episodes, protect front-line responders from violence and are safely administered thousands of times annually to get people with life-threatening conditions to hospitals. Critics say forced sedation should be strictly limited or banned, arguing the medications, given without consent, are too risky to be administered during police encounters. Ohio State University professor Dr. Mark DeBard was an important early proponent of sedation, believing it could be used in rare cases when officers encountered extremely agitated people who needed rapid medical treatment. Today, he said hes frustrated officers still sometimes use excessive force instead of treating those incidents as medical emergencies. Hes also surprised paramedics have given unnecessary injections by overdiagnosing excited delirium. Others say the premise was flawed, with sedatives and police restraint creating a dangerous mix. The deaths have left a trail of grieving relatives from coast to coast. Theyre running around on the streets administering these heavy-duty medications that could be lethal, said Honey Gutzalenko, a nurse whose husband died after he was injected with midazolam in 2021 while restrained by police near San Francisco. Its just not right. Im begging you to stop Jackson was standing on a truck outside a radio station on the border of the small Wisconsin cities of Eau Claire and Altoona. An employee called 911 before dawn on Oct. 8, 2021, hoping officers could shoo away a stranger who doesnt seem to be a threat, but not normal either. Police video and hundreds of pages of law enforcement and medical records show how the incident escalated. An Altoona police officer met Jackson in the parking lot. Jackson appeared uneasy and paranoid, looking around and talking softly. He had taken methamphetamine, which a psychiatrist said he used to self-medicate for schizophrenia. Hed been in and out of jail and living on the streets, with frequent visits to the emergency room seeking a place to rest. The officer, joined by a second Altoona officer and a sheriff's deputy, told him he could leave if he gave his name. Jackson refused. Police identified him through his tattoos, learning he was on probation for meth possession. They noticed the truck had minor damage and decided to arrest him. Jackson took off running. The officers chased Jackson, who stopped seconds later and staggered toward the first officer. Body-camera video shows she fired her Taser, its darts striking Jackson in the stomach and thigh. He screamed after the electrical shock and collapsed. When officers couldnt handcuff Jackson, she fired additional darts, striking Jackson in the back as he lay on the ground. Officers from the Eau Claire Police Department forced Jackson onto his stomach to be handcuffed and restrained him in whats known as the prone position. Im begging you to stop, Jackson said. I cant breathe. After a couple of minutes, officers moved him to his side and then sat him up, trying to improve his breathing. An officer wondered aloud whether Jackson had excited delirium and asked a colleague if paramedics were going to stand around and do nothing. He voiced approval when one arrived with ketamine, adding Jackson would not like it when he gets poked. The Eau Claire Fire Departments excited delirium protocol advises, Rapid sedation is the key to de-escalation!!!!! The medic measured 400 milligrams after estimating the 6-foot-tall Jackson weighed 175 pounds, enough to immobilize someone within minutes. He injected the medicine into Jacksons buttocks. Five medical experts who reviewed the case for AP said Jacksons behavior did not appear to be dangerous enough to justify the intervention. I dont believe he was a candidate for ketamine, said Connecticut paramedic Peter Canning, who said he supports sedating truly violent patients because they stop fighting and are sleeping by the time they get to the hospital. Minutes later, Jackson stopped breathing on the way to Sacred Heart Hospital. Hed suffered cardiac arrest and, after he was resuscitated, had no brain function. Jacksons mother, Rita Gowens, collapsed while shopping at an Indiana Walmart when she learned her oldest son was hospitalized and not expected to survive. Gowens rushed to the hospital 500 miles away, where she was told hed been injected with ketamine. She searched online and was stunned to read its used to tranquilize horses. Gowens spoke to Jackson, held his hand and hoped for a miracle. She eventually agreed to remove him from a ventilator after his condition didnt improve, singing into his ear as he took his final breaths: Youve never lost a battle, and I know, I know, you never will. She still has nightmares about how police and medics treated her son, whom she recalls as a happy boy with chunky cheeks that inspired the nickname Meatball. There are few days when she doesnt ask, Why did they give him an animal tranquilizer? Ketamine moves to the streets The practice of using ketamine to subdue people outside hospitals began in 2004 when a disturbed man scaled a fence, cut himself with a broken bottle and paced along a narrow strip of concrete on a Minneapolis highway bridge. The man was in danger of falling into traffic below when officers reached through the fence and grabbed him. Dr. John Hick, who worked with first responders, heard the emergency radio chatter while driving and rushed to the scene with an idea. Hick gave the man two shots of ketamine, started an IV and kept him breathing with an air mask. The man stopped struggling, and responders lowered him to safety. Paramedics had occasionally used other sedatives to calm combative people since the 1980s. Hick and his Hennepin County Medical Center colleague Dr. Jeffrey Ho believed ketamine worked faster and had fewer side effects, showing promise to avert fatal police encounters. Ho was a leading researcher on Taser safety and an expert witness for the company in wrongful death lawsuits. In a 2007 deposition in one such case, he argued for a potentially life-saving tactic of having sedative injections quickly follow Taser shocks, saying the combination could shorten struggles that, if prolonged, might end in death. Some doctors at his public hospital in Minneapolis were using something called ketamine, which is an analog to LSD, he said. Its sort of an animal tranquilizer. The drug became more common outside the hospital in 2008 when Hennepin County paramedics were given permission to use it. Read more: An American College of Emergency Physicians panel that included Ho said in 2009 that ketamine had shown excellent results and safety while acknowledging no research proved it would save lives. In time, its use became standard from Las Vegas to Columbus, Ohio, to Palm Beach County, Florida. The earliest death involving ketamine documented in APs investigation came in 2015, when 34-year-old Juan Carrizales was injected after struggling with police in the Dallas suburb of Garland, Texas. Shortly after ketamine became authorized for such use in Arizona in 2017, deputies who were restraining David Cutler facedown in handcuffs in the scorching desert asked a paramedic to sedate him. The medic testified he was surprised when Cutler stopped breathing, although the dose was larger than recommended for someone weighing 132 pounds. He said he had been trained that ketamine didnt impact respiration. Cutlers death was ruled an accident due to heat exposure and LSD though that was disputed by experts hired by Cutlers family, who said heat stroke along with ketamine caused his death. In Minneapolis, an oversight agency found the use of ketamine during police calls rose dramatically from 2012 through 2017 and body-camera video showed instances of officers appearing to pressure paramedics to use ketamine and joking about its power. The department told officers they could never suggest or demand the use of sedation. Facing criticism, Hennepin Healthcare halted a study examining the effectiveness of ketamine on agitated patients. The Food and Drug Administration later found the research failed to protect vulnerable, intoxicated people who had not given consent. By 2021, the American College of Emergency Physicians warned ketamine impacted breathing and the heart more than previously believed. Ketamine is not as benign as we might have hoped it to be, a co-author of the new position, Dr. Jeffrey Goodloe, said on the groups podcast in 2022. He said the practice of giving large doses of ketamine, sometimes too much for smaller patients, had spread nationwide as agencies copied each others protocols with little independent review. But the APs findings show risks of sedation go beyond ketamine, which was used in at least 19 cases. Roughly half of the 94 deaths documented by the AP came after the use of midazolam, which has long been known to heighten the risk of respiratory depression. Many came during police encounters in California, where ketamine is not widely used. Midazolam, a common pre-surgery drug known by the brand name Versed, is also part of a three-drug cocktail used in some states to execute prisoners. Other cases involved a range of other drugs, including the antipsychotic medications haloperidol and ziprasidone, which can cause irregular heartbeats. The need for monitoring side effects is often laid out for paramedics in written guidelines, many of which are based on the disputed belief that excited delirium can cause sudden death. The history of excited delirium The theory of excited delirium was troubling from the start. In the 1980s, with cocaine use soaring, Dr. Charles Wetli, a Miami forensic pathologist, coined the term to explain a handful of deaths of violent cocaine users, many of whom had been restrained by police. Wetli, who died in 2020, also blamed excited delirium for the mysterious deaths of more than a dozen Black women. He said cocaine and sexual activity triggered the fatal condition. The womens deaths eventually were attributed to a serial killer. Wetlis theory survived. And over time, symptoms described by Wetli and others superhuman strength, animal-like noises and high pain tolerance became disproportionately assigned to Black people. The terms spread to police and emergency medical services to describe certain agitated people and explain sudden deaths. By the mid-2000s, police were encountering more drug users and mentally ill people as stimulant use increased and psychiatric hospitals closed. Departments adopted Tasers as a less-lethal alternative to firearms, but there was a problem hundreds died after being jolted. Supporters of Wetlis research, including the medical examiner in Miami-Dade County, ruled again and again that excited delirium was the cause of these deaths, not the effects of the weapons and other physical force. Executives at Tasers manufacturer agreed, promoting excited delirium to medical examiners around the country and retaining experts who explained the concept to juries in wrongful death lawsuits. In 2006, a grand jury that investigated Taser-related deaths in Miami-Dade recommended an untested treatment that it said could save people before they died from excited delirium: squirting midazolam up their noses to cause almost immediate sedation. Its report acknowledged they may experience difficulty in breathing. Miami-Dade paramedics adopted this treatment. But key medical groups didnt recognize excited delirium, and activists were calling for limits on Taser use. What happened next would help promote sedation alongside Tasers as tools to gain control. In 2008, the biggest names in excited delirium research gathered at a Las Vegas hotel for a three-day meeting organized by a group with ties to Tasers manufacturer. A lot of talk took place on chemical sedation because the cops didnt know what to do with these people, recalled John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, which sponsored the meeting. Jeff Ho had done some work up in Minnesota. He said, Look. Ive been using ketamine. It knocks them out quicker. The timing was fortuitous: The American College of Emergency Physicians would soon form a task force to study excited delirium and how police and medics should respond. The 19-member panel included Ho, who became Tasers medical director under an arrangement in which the company paid part of his hospital salary; Dr. Donald Dawes, a Taser research consultant; and University of Miami researcher Deborah Mash, who testified for Taser about several deaths she blamed on excited delirium. At least two other panelists were routinely retained by officers and their departments as expert witnesses. The panels 2009 paper disclosed none of these relationships. It found excited delirium was real, could result in death regardless of whether someone was shocked with a Taser and called for aggressive chemical sedation to treat the symptoms. DeBard, the now-retired Ohio doctor who chaired the panel, told AP he recruited relevant experts to join and that disclosure of conflicts wasnt required by the ER doctors group then. He said Taser didnt influence the outcome, which reflected the panel's consensus. Mash said she had no conflict because Taser didnt fund her research. Dawes declined an interview request. Ho didnt return messages. Taser rebranded itself in 2017 as Axon. A spokesperson for the company declined interview requests and did not respond to written questions. Dr. Brooks Walsh, an emergency physician in Connecticut who was not on the panel, said the 2009 paper reinforced racial bias as it formalized loaded terms used to describe excited delirium, influencing how the diagnosis would be applied. Ho and other Taser- and police-aligned experts joined a federally sponsored panel in 2011 that built on the work, recommending four actions on a checklist for officers and paramedics: Identify excited delirium symptoms; control (with a Taser if necessary); sedate; and transport to a hospital. No test measures for excited delirium, so paramedics faced a judgment call: Which patients were so agitated, strong, impervious to pain and dangerous that they needed to be sedated? DeBard said the symptoms were based on medical observations, not race. If youve got somebody thats delirious, irrational, aggressive, hyperactive, running around naked, I mean, its really pretty easy" to recognize, he said. Yet, over time, prominent medical groups and some experts pointed to overuse of sedation during police encounters and a disproportionate impact on Black people. Even supporters of the practice have acknowledged that the wrong patients at times have been injected. The deaths of Black men in police custody, including the 2020 killing of George Floyd, put pressure on the medical community to re-examine excited delirium. The ER doctors group in 2023 withdrew approval of the 2009 paper and said excited delirium shouldnt be used in court testimony. Some doctors called that decision political and note the group still recognizes a similar condition hyperactive delirium with severe agitation that can be treated with sedation. But today no major medical association legitimizes excited delirium. Convenient for law enforcement In more than a dozen cases reviewed by AP, police asked for or suggested the use of sedatives, calling into question whether medics were working for law enforcement or in patients interests. Officers often suggested their detainees had excited delirium. University of California, Berkeley, law and bioethics professor Osagie Obasogie, who has studied excited delirium and sedation, said officers should be banned from influencing medical care. We need to be sure that folks are treated in a way that meets their medical needs and not simply given a chemical restraint because its convenient for law enforcement, he said. Officers are told not to dictate medical treatment but some knuckleheads have done otherwise, said Peters, whose group hosted the 2008 Las Vegas meeting that focused on excited delirium. Paramedics say they make medical decisions independently from police, following guidelines that call for sedating people who may be dangerous. But in several cases AP found, people were injected though they had calmed down or even passed out after struggles with police. Ivan Gutzalenko, a 47-year-old father, was struggling to breathe as two officers restrained him in Richmond, California. Gutzalenko told the officers they were hurting him, and bucked to try to get one off his back. A paramedic viewed Gutzalenkos action as aggression, and went to his ambulance to get a 5-milligram dose of midazolam. When he returned three minutes later, Gutzalenko lay motionless. Hes faking like hes unconscious, an officer said. The medic plunged the needle into his bicep. Gutzalenkos heart stopped. He was declared dead at a hospital. A pathologist testified that midazolam was given to quiet him down during an episode of excited delirium but did not contribute to the death, which he blamed on prone restraint and meth use. His wife said Gutzalenko, a former critical care nurse, would never have consented to receive midazolam that day. I know from being a registered nurse since 2004, you dont administer a sedative to someone who is clearly already in respiratory distress, she said, adding that his death has been devastating to their two teenage children. Dr. Gail Van Norman, a University of Washington professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine, said its dangerous for officers to put pressure on the backs and necks of detainees before and after theyre injected with sedatives. Its a recipe for disaster, because you may have created a situation in which you are impeding a persons ability to get oxygen, she said. If we dont change the training, change the protocols, change the leadership to make the system safer, then we all bear responsibility for future deaths. Paramedic Eric Jaeger The AP investigation found half who died following sedation had been shocked with a Taser and the majority had been restrained facedown. Their blood acid levels may already have been spiking from drugs, adrenaline and pain while oxygen levels may have been plummeting life-threatening conditions called acidosis and hypoxia. Sedatives can dull the instinct to compensate by breathing quickly and heavily to blow off carbon dioxide, essential for the heart to beat, said Dr. Christopher Stephens, a UTHealth Houston anesthesiologist and former paramedic. Under sedation, he said, the body doesnt respond as efficiently to the buildup of carbon dioxide. Your brain doesnt care as much about it, Stephens said. And they can go into respiratory and cardiac arrest. Paramedics usually have no idea whether their patients have alcohol, opioids or other depressants in their bodies that increase sedatives effects on breathing. More than a dozen who died had been drinking, including Jerica LaCour, 29, a Colorado Springs, Colorado, mother of five young children. She was stressed about family finances, husband Anthony LaCour recalled, when deputies found her trespassing at a trucking company. Guess who gets ketamine? paramedic Jason Poulson of AMR, the nations largest ambulance company, said as LaCour was restrained on a gurney, according to body-camera footage. An EMT said in a report that she told Poulson that LaCour had calmed and didnt need ketamine, and later warned that LaCour was no longer breathing. In a disciplinary agreement with state regulators, Poulson admitted he was unsuccessful in protecting LaCours airway despite multiple attempts, mishandled the syringe and failed to document the ketamine use properly. His state certification was put on probation. AMR and Poulson denied responsibility for LaCours death in court filings, arguing LaCour was experiencing excited delirium and ketamine was appropriate. This week they settled a long-pending wrongful death lawsuit, LaCour family attorney Daniel Kay said Friday. He said the settlement amount was confidential and the proceeds would help her children. AMR didnt immediately respond to a request for comment and a man who answered a cellphone number listed for Poulson hung up on a reporter. After death, sedation goes unquestioned When people died, the use of sedation often went unacknowledged publicly and unquestioned by investigators. After Jacksons death in Wisconsin, police press releases said nothing about ketamine. State police redacted mention of the drug from investigation records and blurred video of the prone restraint and injection, saying his familys privacy outweighed the public interest in disclosure. The fire department, which declined comment, blacked out the information in its incident report. But when AP uploaded the document, redactions disappeared, revealing Jackson was given 400 milligrams of ketamine. An autopsy concluded Jackson died from complications caused by meth. The report said Jacksons ketamine dose was 100 milligrams, a quarter of what the fire department report said. Two longtime forensic pathologists who reviewed the case for AP said meth use wasnt the only factor. Dr. Joye Carter said she believed the police altercation and ketamine caused the death, saying the sedative can cause heart problems when given to a meth user. Dr. Victor Weedn said the level of meth in Jacksons blood was high but generally not lethal. He said Jackson likely died from high blood acid levels, with police restraint and possibly ketamine contributing. The autopsy was performed in Ramsey County, Minnesota. A county spokesperson defended the findings from a now-retired medical examiner, saying the discrepancy on the ketamine dose wasnt significant. Citing the autopsys finding that meth was the cause, Eau Claire County District Attorney Peter Rindal ruled Jacksons case was not an officer-involved death under Wisconsin law and closed the investigation. In nearly 90% of the deaths examined by AP, coroners and medical examiners did not list sedation as a cause or contributing factor. Some autopsy reports failed to document that the deceased had been sedated. The most common ruling was an accidental death in which other drugs, often meth or cocaine, were causes or contributing factors. More than a quarter were at least partially attributed to excited delirium. Medical examiners view sedatives as safe treatments to control patients and wouldnt question their use unless there was a grievous error, said Dr. James Gill, the chief medical examiner of Connecticut and past president of the National Association of Medical Examiners. Generally were going to default then back to whats the underlying disease or injury that started this chain of events, Gill said. He said sedatives rarely cause deaths by themselves but additional studies could look at whether they play a role in fatal police struggles where many factors are involved. Even when autopsies implicated sedatives, investigations didnt always follow. In LaCours case, the coroner found she died from respiratory arrest associated with acute alcohol and ketamine intoxication. The district attorneys office said it had no record of reviewing her death. Nine miles from LaCours injection, a paramedic injected 26-year-old Hunter Barr with ketamine as officers held him facedown in the dirt outside his Colorado Springs home in September 2020. Retired postal worker Mark Barr had called 911 for help controlling his son, who he said wasnt violent but was having a bad reaction to LSD. He watched as a medic gave two injections just minutes apart. He said he couldn't figure out why the second injection was necessary, saying his son was subdued. Hunter Barr became unconscious on the way to a hospital and died within hours. The coroner ruled Barr died from the effects of ketamine. The Colorado Springs Police Department closed the case as non-criminal and the DAs office again had no review. When deaths were investigated, inquiries usually focused on whether police used excessive force. In audio and video reviewed by AP, investigators seemed uninterested in how sedation may have contributed. Im not trying to get in the weeds with a whole bunch of that, an investigator told a paramedic explaining the ketamine injection he gave 18-year-old Giovani Berne before Bernes heart stopped in Palm Bay, Florida, in 2016. Bernes sister, Christina, said the family didnt know he had been given ketamine until contacted by AP years later, but we knew something bad happened in the ambulance. A medical examiner ruled that Berne died of excited delirium. The death of McClain, 23, in Colorado is the only one that resulted in charges against paramedics. Prosecutors argued Aurora paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec didnt assess McClain, gave him too much ketamine for someone his size and didnt monitor him afterward. Their convictions shook the EMS field, whose leaders say treatment mistakes shouldnt be criminalized. Defense attorneys argued the paramedics followed their training on excited delirium and ketamine. A judge gave Cichuniec five years in prison while Cooper is scheduled to be sentenced Friday. Civil liability is also rare, in part because deaths have multiple causes and some courts have ruled that unwilling injections arent excessive force even when they cause harm. That hasnt stopped families from trying: A number of wrongful death lawsuits involving sedation are pending. Lawmakers in Colorado banned excited delirium as a justification for using ketamine and put other restrictions on the drug, but changes in the law elsewhere have been few. Paramedic reformers are working to address the failures that increase the risk of sedatives contributing to deaths. Paramedic Eric Jaeger helped rewrite New Hampshires protocols and, at a fire station in Hooksett, recently used Jacksons death as a training scenario after evaluating the case for AP. He questioned whether sedation was necessary. He said medics failed to thoroughly evaluate Jackson and should have had monitoring equipment ready before any injection. He said he had been aware of a handful of deaths but the number found by AP dramatically increases the scope. If we dont change the training, change the protocols, change the leadership to make the system safer, Jaeger said, then we all bear responsibility for future deaths. Lethal restraint investigation Many more people have died after police subdued them than the American public knows. The AP found that over a decade, more than 1,000 people died after police subdued them with physical force that is not supposed to be lethal. Explore the full database of cases: 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 United States 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." The US State Department is "deeply concerned" about the legislation, spokesman Matt Miller said Saturday, adding that the law threatens those most at risk in Iraqi society and "undermines the government's political and economic reform efforts." 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. Burkina Faso says massacre report "baseless" Ouagadougou, April 28 (AFP) Apr 28, 2024 Military-ruled Burkina Faso has rejected as "baseless accusations" a Human Rights Watch report that soldiers killed at least 223 villagers in two attacks on February 25. "The government of Burkina Faso strongly rejects and condemns such baseless accusations," communications minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo said in a statement late on Saturday. "The killings at Nodin and Soro led to the opening of a legal inquiry," he said. The minister expressed his surprise that "while this inquiry is underway to establish the facts and identify the authors, HRW has been able, with boundless imagination, to identify 'the guilty' and pronounce its verdict". HRW described the massacre as "among the worst army abuse in Burkina Faso since 2015". "These mass killings... appear to be part of a widespread military campaign against civilians accused of collaborating with Islamist armed groups, and may amount to crimes against humanity," the New York-based group said on Thursday. According to the Burkina statement, "The media campaign orchestrated around these accusations fully shows the unavowed intention ... to discredit our fighting forces." "All the allegations of violations and abuses of human rights reported in the framework of the fight against terrorism are systematically subject to investigations" followed by the government and the UN high commissioner for human rights. The junta on Thursday suspended the BBC and Voice of America radio networks from broadcasting after they aired the report accusing the army of attacks on civilians in the battle against jihadists. The West African nation under military rule has been battered by a jihadist insurgency that swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015. Thousands of civilians, troops and police have been killed, two million people have fled their homes and anger within the military at the mounting toll sparked two coups in 2022. French FM calls for greater cooperation on European defence Berlin, April 28 (AFP) Apr 28, 2024 Stronger European cooperation on defence would act as "a second life insurance policy" alongside the NATO alliance, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said Sunday. In an interview with German daily Die Welt, Sejourne called for greater "standardisation of weapons systems on a European level". This did not mean having "competing standards" within NATO but "strengthening the European pillar" of the military alliance, Sejourne said. "The development of the European defence industry should not be a substitute, but a complement" to NATO, the minister said. "We have to take out a second life insurance policy alongside NATO," he said. Concerns over the United States' commitment to NATO in the event of former president Donald Trump's re-election this year have precipitated discussions over Europe's military readiness. Washington would remain a strong partner in defence, but Europe needed to develop its own "sovereignty and strategic autonomy", the minister said. Sejourne echoed a message delivered by French President Emmanuel Macron in a speech at the Sorbonne University in Paris on Thursday. Macron warned that Europe faced an existential threat from Russian aggression in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. He called on the continent to adopt a "credible" defence strategy less dependent on the United States. Macron also said in his speech he would ask European partners for proposals in the coming months. The contents of Macron's proposals would be discussed "intensively" with officials in Berlin, Sejourne said. "France and Germany have a shared responsibility to set goals and act quickly and decisively," he said. As an example, Sejourne cited progress on a joint battle tank project, with an agreement signed by the French and German defence ministers on Friday. The project showed movement towards becoming a "power in the field of European defence", Sejourne said. The minister by contrast acknowledged that Germany was going a separate way to France on air defence, with Berlin pushing its own European Sky Shield Initiative. While the German project looked abroad for the purchase of missiles, "France has its own air defence equipment and there is neither the intention nor the need to buy this foreign equipment," Sejourne said. France supported efforts to strengthen air defence "but we are encouraging them to buy European equipment in the long term", the minister said. "By becoming dependent, Europeans are preparing for the problems of tomorrow," Sejourne added. sea/imm OTTAWA, ON, April 28, 2024 /CNW/ - On April 28 of every year, Canada observes its National Day of Mourning in commemoration of those who have lost their lives, suffered illness or injury on the job or experienced a workrelated tragedy. This year, the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO-SACC-CSN) was present on Parliament Hill to take part in a 24hour vigil in honour of the workers for whom this day is of special relevance. UCCO/SACC logo (CNW Group/CSN - Secteur public CCSPP) The National Day of Mourning is of key significance to federal correctional officers for many reasons. They are employed in a work environment that is marked by escalating violence, which, increasingly, targets them directly. Too often during their shifts, they suffer physical injury or are spattered with bodily fluids resulting from acts of assault against them. "Working in an environment where exposure to physical and psychological harm is routine should not be normalized. We are standing in solidarity today with our peers and with workers who are subjected to violence in the workplace" asserts Jeffrey Wilkins, National President of UCCO-SACC-CSN. It is crucially important to note that working conditions, especially under a management structure that systematically fails to recognize and address frontline needs, have led to one of the worst diagnosed mental-health crises ever documented in Canadian history. "Correctional officers are constantly on high alert. Hundreds of us have suffered violent attacks from inmates in the last few years. As a result of this, more than half of correctional officers are diagnosed with at least one mental health injury within the first 5 years of their employment," adds Mr. Wilkins. "What we need is for our employer to take our safety and security more seriously. We have been putting solutions on the table and we need our employer to be more receptive and show more respect and appreciation towards the correctional officers who put their safety on the line each time they start their shifts." About UCCO-SACC UCCO-SACC-CSN was founded in Montreal, Quebec, on January 19, 1999. It is a democratic non-profit, autonomous employee organization, affiliated with the CSN. The Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO-SACC-CSN) represents over 7,500 members, working in federal institutions across Canada. SOURCE CSN - Secteur public CCSPP Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2024/28/c5014.html Burg Chinese Chorus celebrates 10th anniversary with concert in Germany Xinhua) 13:52, April 28, 2024 ESSEN, Germany, April 27 (Xinhua) -- A concert celebrating the 10th-anniversary of the German Burg Chinese Chorus took place on Saturday in the western German city of Essen, presenting an audio-visual extravaganza that blended Chinese and German cultures. During the concert, the chorus performed a repertoire of 12 songs, ranging from Chinese classics such as "My Classmate" to popular tunes such as "Chengdu." The beautiful singing earned resounding applause from the audience. Huang Wei, an official with the Chinese Embassy in Germany, lauded the choir in his address, declaring it "a splendid emblem of China-German friendship." "Over the past decade, the choir has achieved a remarkable success, gracing numerous significant diplomatic events between China and Germany, and making valuable contributions to the cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries," he said. "Music is the universal language that brings joy and fosters harmony among people," said Olaf Millmann, chairman of the Burg Chinese Chorus association. "Over the past decade, the Burg Chinese Chorus has exemplified this notion repeatedly, and one might even say it lives by this principle." The Burg Chinese Chorus is a non-profit organization, offering the "Learn Chinese by Singing" program for German youths. To foster people-to-people exchanges between China and Germany, the choir has been actively engaging in strengthening the friendship between the two countries through language and cultural initiatives. Anna Blumek, a 23-year-old student who participated in the performance, said that she began learning Chinese in 2016 and has been a chorus member for eight years. "I've made many new friends here, and singing together can always make me happy," she said. "My Chinese has also improved significantly." Blumek said she has visited China four times. "In the future, I will further my Chinese studies and explore more places in China." Speaking about Saturday's performance, Zhang Yungang, leader of the chorus, said that the concert was "not only a reflection on the past decade but also harbors hopes for the future, symbolizing a fresh beginning." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The upcoming 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will honor Studio Ghibli with an honorary Palme dor. It marks the first time that the festival has given its honorary prize to a group of people rather than an individual artist. It also marks only the second time since 2002, when the festival started regularly handing out these honorary awards, that theyve recognized people from the animation world. The other animation-related winner was Dreamworks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg in 2017. The honorary award is presented to notable figures who have never won a competitive Palme dor. In Ghiblis case, they are being recognized for their roughly two dozen feature films produced over the last forty years. The films, which include Porco Rosso, Pom Poko, Kikis Delivery Service, Grave of the Fireflies, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbors the Yamadas, The Wind Rises, and The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, are in the words of the festival, imbued with poetry and with humanistic and environmental commitments, and share stories that are as personal as they are universal. The studios most recent effort, Hayao Miyazakis The Boy and the Heron, won the Academy Award for best animated feature. Like all the icons of the Seventh Art, these characters populate our imaginations with prolific, colorful universes and sensitive, engaging narrations, said Iris Knobloch, president of the Cannes film fest, and Thierry Fremaux, general delegate. With Ghibli, Japanese animation stands as one of the great adventures of cinephilia, between tradition and modernity. Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki, who co-founded the studio with Hayao Miyazaki and the late Isao Takahata and Yasuyoshi Tokuma, added in a statement: I am truly honored and delighted that the studio is awarded the Honorary Palme dor. I would like to thank the Festival de Cannes from the bottom of my heart. Forty years ago, Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and I established Studio Ghibli with the desire to bring high-level, high-quality animation to children and adults of all ages. Today, our films are watched by people all over the world, and many visitors come to the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka and Ghibli Park to experience the world of our films for themselves. We have truly come a long way for Studio Ghibli to become such a big organization. Although Miyazaki and I have aged considerably, I am sure that Studio Ghibli will continue to take on new challenges, led by the staff who will carry on the spirit of the company. It would be my greatest pleasure if you look forward to whats next. The Cannes fest, which ironically offers zero animated features in its competition line-up this year, will take place from May 14-25 in France. * 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. Mr Sunak has insisted that he intends to call a general election in the second half of the year, but the fallout from the local elections could force his hand, either by leading to a challenge to his leadership or by persuading him that an earlier polling day could be a better solution than limping on with a divided party. 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. Studio Ponocs The Imaginary will debut on Netflix worldwide, bar Japan, on July 5. The streamer is also planning an Oscar-qualifying theatrical run for the film. The Imaginary is directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, a Studio Ghibli veteran who storyboarded, animated, and served other roles on films such as Grave of the Fireflies, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away. Momose also directed the Life Aint Gonna Lose segment in Ponocs anthology film Modest Heroes, as well as the studios official Olympics short Tomorrows Leaves. He directed the feature NiNoKuni released in 2019. The Imaginary is the first new feature to be distributed by Netflix, which signed a deal to become the exclusive streaming home for Studio Ponocs animated feature slate. Studio Ponoc was established in 2015 by former Studio Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura, a two-time Oscar-nominated producer for The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There. Per the official synopsis, Studio Ponocs The Imaginary, adapted from the novel of the same name by A.F. Harrold and illustrated by Emily Gravett, portrays the depths of humanity and creativity through the eyes of young Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger. Their fantastical adventures launched from her attic, lead them to discover a magical world of creatures and places never before seen until a sinister force threatens to destroy their imaginary world and the friendship within it. It is described as an unforgettable adventure of love, loss, and the healing power of imagination. The producers have said that the hand-drawn animation is enhanced by first-of-their-kind techniques of light and shadow. Design and animation studio Primal Screen, an entrenched part of Atlantas broadcast-driven animation scene, is closing shop after thirty years of operation, the owners of the company announced this week. In a post on Linkedin, Primal Screen said it would wrap down operations by the end of May. The company, whose current CEO is Giulia Bundesmann, did not provide a reason for why it was shutting down. Primal Screen was started by Douglass Grimmett around 1995 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The company initially focused on animated music videos and advertising, but discovered a more lucrative niche after relocating to Atlanta: on-air branding. Primal Screen formed a particularly close relationship with the then-fledgling Cartoon Network, part of the Turner Broadcasting Systems empire, headquartered out of Atlanta, and produced thousands of IDs, bumpers, and promos for the cartoon broadcaster throughout the years. In addition to its work for CN, Primal Screen was involved in the on-air branding for the launch of Boomerang, the launch of Voom HDs Animania (touted as the first global hi-def animation network), a relaunch of Nick Jr., and the launch of Sprout. The company also had a decades-long relationship with PBS Kids and rebranded their on-air graphics at least a half-dozen times. Dozens of former employees are sharing memories about their time at the studio on the companys Linkedin page. The official statement on Primal Screens closure can be read in its entirety below: Every great story comes to an end. We started Primal Screen to do stunning work with people we love. In the past 30 years, weve collaborated with amazing clients who trusted us with their audience. Together we never lost sight of the power of playful storytelling. And weve told a lot of stories. At the end of May, Primal Screens story comes to a close. We cannot even begin to express how grateful we are for all the opportunities, friendships, and beautiful work weve been part of. Although we are no longer accepting new projects, the remarkably talented artists and producers who made us great will continue to create smart, fun, extraordinary work. Youll be so happy if you welcome one of them into your organization, guaranteed! We want to say a huge thank you to everyone whos shared this adventure with us. Your support and creativity have been the heart of Primal Screen. Some examples of Primal Screens work can be viewed below: St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO) in partnership with the Creative Exchange Lab (CEL), a local design nonprofit, is launching a project to revitalize Dr. Martin Luther King Drive from downtown to Kienlen Avenue. The initiative, which SLACO will lead, aims to harness art, history, culture, and design as equitable, sustainable catalysts to energize the area. The endeavor is expected to span over a decade. The initial phase, supported by a grant from the Missouri Humanities Council, will focus on gathering oral histories and conducting background research as well as initiating an interactive website. For the second phase, SLACO and CEL have proposed a project to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) that includes more extensive background research and further development of the website. The plans include designing a bike and pedestrian walkway/loop that connects iconic sites along MLK and in surrounding neighborhoods. It would help tell the pivotal story of this historic St. Louis Black community. Our vision extends to developing MLK as a hub for cultural tourism and creative industries. Planned enhancements include new performance venues, heritage restaurants, a center for creative entrepreneurship, retail outlets, and lodging, Kevin B. McKinney, SLACO executive director, and Jasmin Aber, CEL executive director, said in a letter to the St. Louis American. We are having ongoing conversations with the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) to partner to request funding through the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town program to support this comprehensive master plan. Hundreds of Washington University campus community members and local activists demanded the private university stop investing in Boeing during a Saturday protest. The aerospace giant was targeted for its decades-long relationship with Israel, including making weapons used in the war in Gaza, and follows anti-war demonstrations on college campuses across the United States. In response, at least one university paused its relationship with Boeing. After several hours of marching and an attempt to set up an encampment, police deemed the protest held on private property illegal and arrested more than 80 people. Washington University officials said they all will be charged with trespassing, and of those, some will also be charged with resisting arrest and assault for injuring officers. Many of those detained were made to sign criminal trespass warnings that state they could be arrested if they returned to any of Wash Us campuses. This article/photo journal orginally appeared in its entirety here. Rev. Marissa Farrow presents a tiny frame and a humble persona that can easily be misleading. When she stands at the sacred desk and proclaims Gods word, she towers above and thunders throughout with an unmistakable trumpet sound. Rev. Howard-John Wesley recently invited her to Alexandria, Va., to preach for Alfred Street Baptist Churchs March Gladness Spring Revival. I wanted to hear her preach, he said. I could not wait to invite her to Alfred Street Baptist Church. I hope yall get something out of it too. Farrow grew up in Baltimore in the home of Bishop Robert and Evangelist Jacqueline Farrow and has been soaked and shaped by the power of prayer and the worship of God. The senior Farrow is pastor of Mt. Calvary Church and Ministries in Baltimore, so church is what Marissa Farrow has always known. But who knew shed flourish at such a youthful age into an international preacher who, at 34, is still envisioning the ministry God has shaped her for? Ive never known anything else. When we got up in the morning, we prayed. When we left for school, we prayed. When we got ready to travel, we prayed, she says. Prayer for us is everything. Thus, The Morning Cup, the prayer ministry Farrow shares on Instagram, attracts more than 1.5 million people on a weekly basis with an audience that is among the youngest on social media. And theyre the ones in her heart when she talks about mission. One of her connections is to campus ministry. She is aware of the needs students often encounter, even basic daily needs, and shed like to expand her ministry in that space. For the last 11 years, Farrow has been under the tutelage of the Reverend Doctors Floyd and Elaine Flake, senior pastors of the 23,000-member Greater Allen Cathedral in Jamaica, Queens, New York, an experience she cherishes deeply. I couldnt have learned anywhere else what Ive gotten from being in practice and praxis with them, says Farrow, who began as a preaching intern. Even now, Im preaching, teaching, and serving as the social media manager. It has been invaluable. Not to mention the marvelous preachers to whom shes been exposed. She has also written two books, Delivered From Dysfunction: A Seven-Step Guide to a Better You! and The Amazing Weight: The Gift, Grief and Glory of the Called. This year marks the 110th year that ministers from around the world, including military chaplains and university professors, gather on Hampton Universitys campus in Virginia, during the first full week of June for the Hampton Ministers Conference. It is a premier gathering for teaching, preaching, rejuvenating, fellowshipping, and having the freedom to worship without the constraints of ministry obligations. News is announced, books and films are released, and the best of Black preaching is shared along with a phenomenal communion service. Farrow is one of the featured preachers for the 2024 conference. This honor is usually reserved for preachers with many years of experience and a professional ministry degree, a Master of Divinity, which shell earn this year from the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. I really couldnt believe it when they asked me last year to preach, she says. Its still hard to believe, but Im praying, and many others are praying with me. Hampton University Ministers Conference The Rev. Farrow will speak with other clergy members during the 110th Annual Hampton University Ministers Conference June 2-6, 2024, in Hampton, Va. The conference preacher is the Rev. Frederick Haynes, who surprisingly stepped down as Rainbow Push Coalition president and CEO last week after just over three months in the position. Roland Martin, Black Star Network CEO, told a Chicago CBS affiliate that the Rev. Jesse Jackson may have retired but did not surrender control of the organization. You had the friction there. [Haynes] did not have the full authority to actually do the job, said Martin, who knows both men. You cant continue to frankly have the reins of an organization when you turn it over to somebody else. Thats really what you had here. HAZELWOOD In 2000, just three years after acquiring St. Louis defense contractor McDonnell Douglas, Boeing announced plans to spin off its local fabrication business and about 1,500 jobs to a British company called GKN PLC. Analysts at the time applauded the decision to outsource the work, saying it would free Boeing to focus on its core competencies and become more competitive. On Friday, that cost-cutting strategy appeared to come full circle when Boeing announced it was buying back GKNs St. Louis operations and saving 550 jobs, nearly all of the 600 employees who remain. Boeing had little choice but to work out a deal. In February 2022, GKN Aerospace the sole supplier of key parts for Boeings F-15 and F/A-18 fighters announced it would close its Hazelwood plant by the end of 2023, saying it was unprofitable. Soon after the announcement, GKN proposed a sale, but Boeing passed on a deal. Then Boeing sued. Its lawsuit, which ended up in federal court, accused GKNs parent company, Melrose Industries, of inadequately capitalizing GKN and trying to gouge it on a sale price, knowing that the plant produces parts for fighters that Boeing cant get anywhere else. GKN had agreed to produce certain parts for Boeings fighters, and it had to honor those contracts, the planemaker argued. While the companies were battling in court, Boeing was lining up new business for the latest versions of the F-15 and F/A-18. A new U.S. order and a major pending one from a key ally may have added urgency to Boeings attempt to come to terms with GKN. Last month, Boeing secured a $1.3 billion contract from the U.S. Navy for 17 new F/A-18s. Rather than winding down next year, the order extended the life of the St. Louis County manufacturing line into 2027. Meanwhile, President Joe Bidens administration is pushing an $18 billion deal with Israel for up to 50 F-15EX fighter jets, one of the largest arms deals with the country in years. It shows that Boeing expects it will be selling more F-15EXs, Loren Thompson, a longtime defense analyst, said of the potential GKN sale last week. Its clear that Boeing thinks theres an ongoing international market, and therefore this could be a long-term business. With those orders lining up, Boeing couldnt afford the supply chain complications of a GKN plant closure in Hazelwood. Delivery of its F-15EXs to the U.S. military are already running at least a year behind, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report. Continued delays could breach a military procurement law, triggering the need for special certifications from the Secretary of Defense to continue the program, according to a report from Air & Space Forces Magazine. Plus, Boeing is beginning a $1.8 billion expansion of its facilities surrounding St. Louis Lambert International Airport as competition between it and rival Lockheed Martin heats up to build the U.S. militarys next generation fighter. A major disruption on the military side of Boeings operations could have hampered those efforts and drawn more unwelcome publicity for the company, which is already struggling to manage the fallout from equipment failures on its commercial planes. It worked fine until it didnt GKN knew it had leverage over Boeing. And it was willing to use it, according to Boeings lawsuit. GKN makes more than 1,000 kinds of parts for Boeings fighter jets, some of them highly complex. For certain components, it may take years to line up other suppliers, Boeings attorneys wrote. For some materials, such as superplastics and flight-control surfaces used in the F-15 and F/A-18 fighters, GKN was the only manufacturer, Boeing claimed in legal filings. A few months after Boeing leaders first learned of the closure plans, according to its lawsuit, a GKN executive approached Boeing in May 2022 about acquiring the factory. Boeings attorneys cast the discussions as an attempt by Melrose to use the facilitys insolvency to force Boeing to acquire the company on unfavorable terms. GKN even brought other Boeing plants into the fight. When it filed its lawsuit in December 2022, Boeing said GKN threatened to cut investment in another factory outside Wichita, Kansas, that supplied parts for Boeings commercial 787 and 737 planes if Boeing took legal action over GKNs St. Louis fighter contracts. Boeing said former GKN Aerospace CEO David Paja warned that legal action from Boeing over the Hazelwood plant would leave no option but to cease any further funding into the (Kansas) site. The litigation between the two companies dragged on for more than a year. The risk to Boeing seemed to heighten last month, when Boeing requested an emergency hearing to stop GKN from scrapping essential parts for F/A-18 and F-15 production. GKN ultimately backed down. Had Boeing not spun off the fabrication unit a generation ago (the deal was announced in 2000 and closed in early 2001), it may have avoided this scenario. Still, theres a logic to outsourcing in order to cut back on costs and manufacturing footprint, said Jeff Windau, an analyst with Edward Jones. Theres just a lot of cost associated with having all of that under your roof, he said. But Boeings recent problems with suppliers may be forcing the company to reassess. Boeings dependence on GKN is similar to the more headline-grabbing problems its commercial operation has with supplier Spirit AeroSystems, said Richard Aboulafia, a longtime aerospace analyst and managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory. Boeing is now in talks to acquire Spirit, another former subsidiary, while propping it up with advance payments for orders. Basically 20 years ago some genius at Boeing decided that it should all be about outsourcing and return on net assets, which means more outsourcing, and return on invested capital, which means, oh let me think, more outsourcing, Aboulafia said. So you sell off factories, and it works fine until it didnt. GKN, meanwhile, faced its own internal changes. Melrose, a British turnaround firm, took control of the company through an $11 billion hostile takeover in 2018. It set about breaking up the old British manufacturing conglomerate, completing the separation of GKN Aerospace from GKNs automotive unit last year. Melrose planned to shut down some U.S. factories and consolidate operations in Texas. GKN and Melrose said in court filings that business at its Hazelwood plant was unsustainable and the unforeseen loss of two major programs with non-Boeing related customers also impacted the factorys viability. Boeing is being forced to take some essential manufacturing functions back in house in part because aerospace suppliers are in a tough business themselves, Aboulafia said. Spirits financial problems are well documented, and Aboulafia said GKN Aerospace appears to be retrenching. Outsourcing the work to GKN doesnt look like a good move in the rearview mirror, Aboulafia said. And from the suppliers standpoint, its also very, very hard to make a go of it. Retrenching or not, GKN and Melrose had the leverage they needed to bring Boeing to the table on the Hazelwood plant. ST. LOUIS Police arrested dozens of pro-Palestine protesters who attempted to set up encampments Saturday on the campus of Washington University in the latest example of pushback by university administrators against demonstrations that have roiled academic institutions across the country. The protesters were demanding an end to the war in Gaza and calling on the private university to cut all ties to Boeing Co., a major supplier of military equipment to Israel and leading employer in the St. Louis region. Among those arrested and led away to waiting vans Saturday was Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, said Aldermanic President Megan Green, who participated in the protest. Shortly before midnight, Washington University released a statement that said it had arrested more than 80 people who refused to leave campus. Those arrested may face trespassing charges and some could be charged with resisting arrest and assault for injuries to police officers, the university said. The university said the large group included students, employees and many individuals not affiliated with the university. It quickly became clear through the words and actions of this group that they did not have good intentions on our campus and that this demonstration had the potential to get out of control and become dangerous, Washington Universitys statement said. By 8:40 p.m., the campus was cleared, and about 25 people who werent arrested were escorted to the sidewalk along Skinker Boulevard. Those arrested seemed to mostly comply with police orders, and police led most protesters away without incident. After the encampment was cleared, a police officer with a bullhorn told those remaining who were not affiliated with the university to leave. Green, also an adjunct professor at Washington University, said that she was affiliated with the university. Are you leaving? the officer responded through the bullhorn. Youve also been given a dispersal order. Green said she was dismayed at the police response to the protest, which she called jovial and loving before the arrests began. Green, along with Stein and St. Louis Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, sought to speak with university administrators to secure permission for the protest to continue peacefully. They were rebuffed by police on the scene. Earlier Saturday, activists said they launched the encampment following similar protests at Columbia University and other colleges and universities across the United States. Its the morally right thing to do, retired St. Louis County resident Ed Bongo Herhold, 70, said about joining the march Saturday, one of several actions he has participated in since the war began in October. Its humanity. He said Washington Universitys arrests earlier this month of protesters on campus were totally uncalled for and akin to the responses from university administrators against Vietnam War demonstrators. Theyre making the same mistakes they made 50 years ago, Herhold said. By 4 p.m., the protesters had pitched about 10 tents outside of Olin Library, where curious students studying inside watched through the librarys glass walls. After police told the protesters to disperse, and warned of arrests, the protesters packed up their tents and then marched to Tisch Park, on the campus between Brookings Hall and Skinker Boulevard, where they set up the tents again. Police followed the protesters to the new encampment site. Many of the protesters chanted WashU you cant hide, you support a genocide and From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. They also chanted long live the Intifada, referring to two uprisings of Palestinians in the late 1980s and early 2000s. There has been no official finding that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza although South Africa has made such a claim at the International Court of Justice. Israel strongly rejects the accusation and has asked the court to throw out the case. The phrase from the river to the sea is widely seen as a call for the elimination of the state of Israel. Jordan Kadosh, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League Heartland, said his organization was dismayed to see anti-Israel protests ... using terms like Intifada, which refers to two periods of indiscriminate violence directed at Jews in Israel. Protests that use these terms dont alleviate suffering nor bring about lasting peace in a global setting, Kadosh said in a statement about the Washington University protest. At 5:15 p.m., officers with the universitys police department gave the roughly 150 or so protesters who remained on campus a 10-minute warning, saying they would be arrested for trespassing and disruptive behavior unless they dispersed and left campus. Protesters responded by sitting in a circle with arms locked, chanting were not leaving. By 7:30 p.m., the arrests began. Every few minutes, the police would approach the remaining group of about 150 protesters, arrest a dozen or so, and lead them back to the waiting police vans, whittling down the protesters over the course of an hour. In addition to campus police, a couple dozen police officers from University City, Richmond Heights, Clayton, St. Louis and St. Louis County gathered about 100 feet west of the circle of protesters near Skinker Boulevard. St. Louis resident Kieron Kessler, 24, said they had attended several actions since the war in Gaza began and Washington Universitys arrests of protesters was a huge problem. Protesters are being arrested on college campuses even in blue states like New York and Massachusetts, so Kessler said there could be an even greater risk in Missouri, a red state. Theres a lot of different ways to engage with Palestine, and this is a huge part of it, Kessler said of the march. Later that evening, Kessler was trying to find which city's police station their friends had been taken to. Kessler said they were the last of the group of friends that had come out to protest. They just arrested their own students, Kessler said of Washington University. This is some Vietnam-era behavior. Max F., a protest organizer with Resist Wash U and a junior at the university who declined to give a full name, said prior protests were not met with this level of response from police. There had been arrests, but nothing on this scale. Saturdays protest, which initially drew about 300 people, began at about 3 p.m. in Forest Park, just east of the university campus. The protesters briefly blocked traffic on Skinker Boulevard as they made their way to the Danforth Campus. In a press release sent at 4 p.m., the activists listed five demands: Cut ties with Boeing, including banning the aerospace giant from recruitment events. Cut ties with Israeli educational institutions. Drop charges and suspensions stemming from earlier campus protests. Stop acquiring real estate in St. Louis, and make payments in lieu of taxes to University City and St. Louis. (All of Washington Universitys property in Missouri is exempt from property taxes.) Release a statement condemning the ongoing genocide in Palestine and calling for an immediate, permanent cease-fire. Julie Hail Flory, the universitys vice chancellor for marketing and communications, initially declined to comment on the protest and demanded the Post-Dispatch leave the campus. Later Flory said she believed a majority of the protesters are not students. Later, the university released a statement that said the encampment violated university policy. We are firmly committed to free expression and allow ample opportunity for voices to be heard on our campus, Washington Universitys statement said. However, we expect everyone to respect our policies and we will take swift action to enforce them to their fullest extent. Dozens of colleges and universities have seen student protests over the Israel-Hamas war in recent weeks, but the number accelerated after the arrest last week of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University. Washington University graduate student Rui Zhang said she was on her way to the library Saturday when she heard the drums and the library was shut down. She stood off to the side of the remaining protesters Saturday evening to observe. She was impressed with the protesters calling for peace and additional rights on behalf of people they didnt even know. So far, she said, the police had showed restraint. But police warned they would begin arresting those remaining on campus soon. I think theyre brave, Zhang said of the protesters. Palestinians supported protesters in St. Louis a decade ago during the Ferguson unrest and activism, said Richard Buthod. All the things the St. Louis cops did to us in Ferguson, the Palestinians knew from their own experience how best to respond, said the 68-year-old Ferguson resident. Buthod said Washington University took the easiest route in arresting protestors on campus rather than embracing free speech. Washington University is famous for protecting its endowment first and its reputation second, he said. Updated at 12:35 a.m. Sunday. Photos: Protests over Gaza met with arrests at Washington University in St. Louis Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Toodee, and Plex are making a comeback in the new Apple TV+ series Yo Gabba GabbaLand!, set to premiere globally on Friday, August 9. Inspired by the Nickelodeon variety series Yo Gabba Gabba!, which ran from 2007-2015 on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., the new variety show picks up with a similarly eclectic mix of song, dance, live-action costumed characters, and animated segments. The main characters will be joined by a new host Kammy Kam, performed by Kamryn Smith. It has brought everyone at Apple so much joy to reimagine this beloved childrens series in the most vibrant, magical and colorful way possible for fans of all ages, said Tara Sorensen, head of childrens programming for Apple TV+. The original characters, stories and music of Yo Gabba Gabba! have a truly unique quality that captured the hearts of global audiences as it taught kids about the world around them. As we expand this wonderful world with friends both old and new, alongside so many brilliant musical guests, this iconic pop cultural phenomenon will undoubtedly uplift a whole new generation. Ten episodes are being produced. Guest on the new series include Reggie Watts, Sam Richardson, Gillian Jacobs, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Lauren Lapkus, Chelsea Peretti, Diplo, and Flea. Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz, who created the original series, also created this series. Yo Gabba GabbaLand! is produced in partnership and collaboration with Wildbrain and Yo Gabba Gabba LLC, co-owners of the brand. Jacobs and Schultz serve as executive producers for Yo Gabba Gabba LLC, alongside Josh Scherba and Stephanie Betts for Wildbrain. TEL AVIV, Israel The White House on Sunday said U.S. President Joe Biden spoke again with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as pressure builds on Israel and Hamas to reach a deal that would free some Israeli hostages and bring a cease-fire in the nearly seven-month-long war in Gaza. The White House said Biden reiterated his clear position as Israel plans to invade Gazas southernmost city of Rafah despite global concern for more than 1 million Palestinians sheltering there. The U.S. opposes the invasion on humanitarian grounds, straining relations between the allies. Israel is among the countries U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit as he returns to the Middle East on Monday. Biden also stressed that progress in delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza be sustained and enhanced, according to the statement. The call lasted just under an hour, and they agreed the onus remains on Hamas to accept the latest offer in negotiations, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to comment publicly. There was no comment from Netanyahu's office. A senior official from key intermediary Qatar, meanwhile, urged Israel and Hamas to show more commitment and more seriousness" in negotiations. Qatar, which hosts Hamas' headquarters in Doha, was instrumental along with the U.S. and Egypt in helping negotiate a brief halt to the fighting in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages. But in a sign of frustration, Qatar this month said that it was reassessing its role. An Israeli delegation is expected in Egypt in the coming days to discuss the latest proposals in negotiations, and senior Hamas official Basem Naim said in a message to The Associated Press that a delegation from the militant group will also head to Cairo. Egypts state-owned Al Qahera News satellite television channel said that the delegation would arrive on Monday. The comments by Qatars Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari in interviews with the liberal daily Haaretz and Israeli public broadcaster Kan were published and aired Saturday evening. Al-Ansari expressed disappointment with Hamas and Israel, saying each side has made decisions based on political interests and not with civilians' welfare in mind. He didn't reveal details on the talks other than to say they have effectively stopped, with both sides entrenched in their positions. Al-Ansaris remarks came after an Egyptian delegation discussed with Israeli officials a new vision for a prolonged cease-fire in Gaza, according to an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss developments. The Egyptian official said that Israeli officials are open to discussing establishing a permanent cease-fire in Gaza as part of the second phase of a deal. Israel has refused to end the war until it defeats Hamas. The second phase would start after the release of civilian and sick hostages, and would include negotiating the release of soldiers, the official added. Senior Palestinian prisoners would be released and a reconstruction process launched. Negotiations earlier this month centered on a six-week cease-fire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages held by Hamas in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. A letter written by Biden and 17 other world leaders urged Hamas to release their citizens immediately. In recent days, Hamas has released new videos of three hostages, an apparent push for Israel to make concessions. The growing pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach a cease-fire deal is also meant to avert an Israeli attack on Rafah, the city on the border with Egypt where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million population is seeking shelter. Israel has massed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles. The planned incursion has raised global alarm. Only a small strike is all it takes to force everyone to leave Palestine," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asserted to the opening session of the World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia, adding that he believed an invasion would happen within days. But White House national security spokesman John Kirby told ABC that Israel "assured us they wont go into Rafah until weve had a chance to really share our perspectives and concerns with them. So, well see where that goes. The Israeli troop buildup may also be a pressure tactic on Hamas in talks. Israel sees Rafah as Hamas last major stronghold. It vows to destroy the group's military and governing capabilities. Aid groups have warned that an invasion of Rafah would worsen the already desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza, where hunger is widespread. About 400 tons of aid arrived Sunday at the Israeli port of Ashdod the largest shipment yet by sea via Cyprus according to the United Arab Emirates. It wasn't immediately clear how or when it would be delivered into Gaza. Also on Sunday, World Central Kitchen said that it would resume operations in Gaza on Monday, ending a four-week suspension after Israeli military drones killed seven of its aid workers. The organization has 276 trucks ready to enter through the Rafah crossing and will also send trucks into Gaza from Jordan, a statement said. It's also examining if the Ashdod port can be used to offload supplies. Virtual mental health care skyrocketed during the pandemic and has stayed popular. Is this the new norm? Virtual mental health care skyrocketed during the pandemic and has stayed popular. Is this the new norm? What is happening on college campuses is morally repugnant, politically stupid, and continues to perpetuate the narrative that elite universities have been hijacked by the far left. The scenes from the elite pillars of higher education lately do not actually seem to be about the Israel-Hamas War at all. Rather the chaos we are witnessing is due in part to too many in leadership positions acting as mere spectators, instead of behaving as models for their institutions. At this point, the public does not know how many outside agitators there are in the mix of students, who is behind the funding of these protests, or the propaganda that has been fed on social media. What we do know, is that as a society, we are failing our children. In the aftermath of Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and Israels response to that terrorist violation, there has been a dramatic rise in antisemitism across the U.S. and the world. This has been especially true on college and university campuses nationwide. The stories coming out of the protests at Columbia University in New York have been horrendous. Young men with kippahs have had water thrown at them; protesters burned another Jewish students Israeli flag and then hit him in the face with rocks. There are videos of protestors with Palestinian flags shouting Hamas we love you and Go back to Poland a reference to Nazi death camps there during World War II. The situation seemed to best be summed up by a statement issued by Rabbi Elie Buechler of the Orthodox Union and the Orthodox Union-Jewish Learning Initiative at Columbia Barnard to its Jewish students: What we are witnessing in and around campus is terrible and tragic. The events of the last few days, especially last night, have made it clear that Columbia Universitys Public Safety and the NYPD cannot guarantee Jewish students safety in the face of extreme antisemitism and anarchy. It deeply pains me to say that I would strongly recommend you return home as soon as possible and remain home until the reality in and around campus has dramatically improved. It is not our job as Jews to ensure our own safety on campus. No one should have to endure this level of hatred, let alone at school. Columbia University has since moved to remote learning. While I am not excusing any of the students behaviors, the blame should go much further, to those entrusted to care and educate our children. This deleterious group includes college administrators and some faculty, as well as parents. They bear responsibility for allowing a mob mentality to take over their places of higher learning, where parents have sent their children for crucial formation. University administrators and their boards of trustees have a responsibility to keep all their students safe. They should handle the menace that is antisemitism the same way they would have any other threats or harassment toward any members of the student body, faculty or staff, up to and including expulsion and termination. As of this writing, Columbia University President Nemat Shafik still has her job. Colleges and universities should be communities where students learn critical thinking that most issues are not black and white, and require nuance. This does not appear to be taking place on campuses today. Many college students put their trust in their faculty. Students want to please them and many try to emulate their instructors and mentors. This makes many students vulnerable to indoctrination by those elders. But an individuals moral compass is originally calibrated at home. Thats why some responsibility should lie with the parents of the students who are spewing hatred and vitriol. Parents are ultimately responsible for teaching their children how to be decent human beings. Members of Congress and other elected officials from both political parties, including the House Speaker Mike Johnson, have visited campuses recently. They have denounced the blatant antisemitism and called for control. Neither Israel nor these Jewish students on this campus will ever stand alone, Johnson said during his Columbia visit Wednesday. President Joe Biden has also released statements including this one which read, in part: This blatant Antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country. These political leaders are doing their part, but their actions and words need to take hold at a wider societal level. We should all be teaching our children that hate has no place here. If Americas educational leaders cant or wont share that sentiment, then they should be removed and replaced by shepherds who will. April 28, 2024: Russia is trying to perfect its Kh-69 stealthy cruise missile, which is an upgrade of the older Kh-59. Kh-69 was still in development throughout 2023, then in April 2024 six of these missiles, launched from a Russian fighter-bomber, were used to destroy a Ukrainian power plant. Ukrainian air defense systems did not detect the incoming Kh-69s because they were launched from Russian aircraft that were on the Russian side of the Ukrainian border and, when the missiles entered Ukraine, they were low to the ground and virtually undetectable by Ukrainian ground radar. It would take an aircraft based ground surveillance radar, like the one carried by the Americans AWACS aircraft, to spot incoming Kh-69s. Ukraine doesnt have any AWACS but NATO has fourteen of them and the United States has 31. There are dozens of smaller AWACS-type aircraft produced by other countries, such as Sweden, based on twin-engine business jets. NATO or the United States could provide Ukraine with some AWACS but Ukraine would have to supply jet fighters to protect the AWACS against potentially aggressive and possibly effective efforts to shoot them down. The Russians would certainly try, as one of their few AWACS-type aircraft were shot down or damaged by the Ukrainians. Because a Ukrainian AWACS could detect the Kh-69 Russian cruise missile, the Russians would definitely try to shoot down any AWACS Ukraine might get. Ukraine hasnt received any but the Russians definitely have more Kh-69 cruise missiles they want to use against Ukrainian targets, even if the Ukrainians figure out how to detect and intercept them using ground radars and Patriot or similar anti-aircraft systems. The 800 kg Kh-69 is definitely in service, but Russia is finding it difficult to produce more because a Kh-69 requires many electronic components that are not made in Russia and have to be imported from NATO countries. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has had to deal with severe economic sanctions. Russia has to smuggle in these components, which makes production of more Kh-69s possible, but at a low rate of production. Russia would like to have several hundred of these missiles but given the current situation the military receives three or four Kh-69s at a time. Kh-69 range is 400 kilometers and Kh-69 covers that while traveling at 800-900 kilometers an hour. Guidance is GPS with a backup jam-proof INS (Inertial Navigation System). This means a Kh-69 will land within a few meters of its aim point and the 300 kg of explosives in its warhead will detonate with considerable effect. This was demonstrated when three Kh-69s demolished a Ukrainian power plant. Ukrainian air defenses have detected and shot down a few Kh-69s but found that these missiles were difficult to detect and because they flew so low, were problematic targets for air-defense systems. Fortunately for Ukraine, Russia has few Kh-69s and is unable to build a lot more in the near future. Russia will probably let the few Kh-69s they receive accumulate until they have a few dozen that use them all in a massive, and usually more effective attack on Ukrainian targets. The Ukrainian capital Kyiv could be a target despite the substantial air defenses protecting the city. Russia still has dozens of older Kh-59 missiles. The Kh-69 is a much improved Kh-59. Before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, they had about 300 Kh-59 missiles and by 2024 these were gone. Russia can build a hundred or so Kh-59s a year and is continuing to do so. As is the Russian custom, these missiles are accumulated as they are produced so they can be used in large numbers all at once. This has more impact and also overwhelms air defense systems which can only destroy ten or twenty percent of the incoming missiles. A U.S. Marine hands out fresh water at the Halsey Terrace community center on Honolulu, Hawaii, on Dec. 14, 2021. (Chris Liaghat/U.S. Navy ) The Navy on Friday released several documents regarding its data on the health impact of the November 2021 Red Hill fuel spills, just before a federal trial begins Monday in a lawsuit brought by affected families against the federal government alleging the spill has caused long-term health damage. The Navy released three documents about water quality data as well as reports of medical and mental health issues reported to military care providers in the aftermath of the incident, during which JP-5 jet fuel stored at the Navys Red Hill fuel facility tainted the services Oahu water system, which serves 93,000 people including service members, military families and civilians living in former military housing areas. In the documents, the Navy concluded that while fuel entered the water system, it asserted that the available data demonstrate a lack of a (Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam) systemwide impact associated with JP-5 fuel, and said the main exposure time frame was Nov. 20-29, 2021, before the Navy shut off the tainted Red Hill water well. It argued that after Dec. 3, 2021, 100% of the drinking water supplied to the Navy system was from the Waiawa Shaft, which was not impacted by the JP-5 fuel release. The Navy also found that while there was a spike in doctors visits around the spill, involving a variety of symptoms ranging from rashes to intestinal problems, neurological issues and psychological symptoms, by the end of December the visits returned to pre-release levels. The report did not look for long-term health symptoms, so it has no bearing on whether people are still experiencing symptoms from their exposure, said Kristina Baehr, an attorney representing the families in the lawsuit. In real life the Navy acknowledges that more than 7,000 people had medical encounters within their own system related to the fuel exposure. And in court they have hired an expert ... to claim that there was not enough fuel in the water to make anyone sick at all. Their litigation position continues to defy reality, according to their own doctors. Some officials have posited that some of the symptoms reported by Red Hill-affected families are psychosomatic the result of stress and mental health issues rather than long-term symptoms from fuel exposure. But Baehr notes remarks and documents sent out by U.S. Army Col. John Oh, the Defense Health Agencys chief of occupational and environmental health, indicate that it could be more complicated. In an April 9 webinar hosted by the DHA regarding Red Hill exposures, Oh said that when it comes to long-term symptoms, it isnt either/or in weighing mental health and fuel exposure when it comes to illnesses, noting that the event was traumatic and both could be a factor. He also said that some symptoms may not even be manifesting themselves yet and could appear years from now. In March the DHA sent out guidance to military medical providers in dealing with patients exposed to the Red Hill fuel, advising, The long-term health risks of exposure to JP-5 and fuel additives are unknown. Defense Health Agency Public Health is investigating the cause of persistent symptoms and reports of neurological conditions and is planning an independent, third-party Red Hill exposure registry to monitor individuals health and quality of life. The guidance stated that the long-term health risks of exposure to JP-5 and fuel additives are unknown. Defense Health Agency Public Health is investigating the cause of persistent symptoms and reports of neurological conditions and is planning an independent, third-party Red Hill exposure registry to monitor individuals health and quality of life. Maj. Mandy Feindt, an Army officer who is among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, told the Honolulu Star- Advertiser that mental health issues did not cause my 1-year-old son to have body rashes and skin rashes, after bathing in water that we didnt know was contaminated. Mental health issues did did not cause my 1-year-old son to have permanent lung damage from inhaling toxic fumes in our home. This is this same buffoonery that the U.S. Navy pulled with Camp Lejune families, added Feindt, referencing water at the North Carolina Marine Corps base that was tainted with toxic forever chemicals causing health problems for many who lived there. Lacey Quintero, a military spouse whose family was exposed and currently serves as co-chair of the Red Hill Community Representation Initiative, said, They can spend all the time and effort they want to produce long-winded, misleading reports written by their paid-off experts. The reality remains the same. People living on JBPHH waterlines are still experiencing visibly contaminated household water that is causing them to experience negative health effects. ... Just this week I have already personally received three new reports of water contamination and health symptoms. People are fed up with the Navys inaction. Baehr said she believes the timing of the release just before the trial is no coincidence. Theyre basically saying this report proves that people didnt get sicker over the long term. Thats what theyre claiming, she said. But within the report there are nuggets that show that in the short term, people were even sicker than we thought, she added, noting that the more than 7,000 people mentioned in the report are more than the 6,000 people she was aware of making medical appointments before. And thats only within the the military (health care) system. Its not including civilian providers, and many military service members and their families use civilian providers. So this is really pretty extraordinary data, she added. The documents also come after a Navy Swarm Team of experts officially concluded that recent tests detecting petroleum were the result of lab errors. The recent documents noted that in the aftermath of the November 2021 spill, there were significant gaps and potential oversights in tested water. The Navy turned to water- testing methods that were meant for groundwater and dont account for chlorine in drinking water systems. The documents state that groundwater analytical methods are commonly used in emergency responses when quicker lab turnaround times are required. The documents also said, There were no samples collected from the JBPHH drinking water system in the time between the JP-5 release on November 20, 2021, and when the first health impacts and fuel-like tastes, odors, and sheen began to be reported on November 28, 2021, when concentrations where likely at their highest. Baehr noted that the government is continuing to build a registry of people who were affected by the 2021 Red Hill fuel release. For decades to come, theyll be spending at least a million dollars a year in perpetuity, Baehr said. If people were not at risk, if people are not at risk, why are they spending millions of dollars a year to track the risk? (c)2024 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Dr. Rob Wood on the flight deck of the USS Hornet Museum with a Cloud Aerosol Research Instrument on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Alameda, Calif. (Aric Crabb, Bay Area News Group/TNS) (Tribune News Service) The flight deck of a decommissioned World War II-era aircraft carrier docked at Alameda, Calif., has recently begun launching something other than airplanes: microscopic droplets of salt water that scientists hope will help counteract the effects of climate change. A team of atmospheric scientists from the University of Washington has teamed up with Silicon Valley-based Stanford Research Institute, an independent nonprofit research facility, and SilverLining, a nonprofit focused on near-term climate risks, to study whether adding plumes of salt water to a cloud will make it more reflective and stop excess heat from reaching the Earths surface. Cloud brightening is an idea first proposed by British scientist John Latham in 1990. Now after years of discussion and experiments, the University of Washingtons privately funded attempt to put Lathams idea to the test is ready for trials outside of a lab. The Marine Cloud Brightening Program has taken up residence on the USS Hornet, where scientists will spend the next several months testing equipment and creating computer models to find out if their lab results can be replicated in real atmospheric conditions. At the programs official launch on Wednesday, scientists from around the world gathered to discuss the new technology and see the testing setup. This project is a really unique collaboration, said Kelly Wanser, the executive director of SilverLining, during the programs launch event. The Hornet, an 80-year-old aircraft carrier turned museum, was chosen as the home for the tests. Wanser said she was blown away by the combination of science, history, engineering [and] human innovation at the ship. The Hornet was built during World War II and went on to fight through the Cold War and Vietnam War, said the Hornets marketing manager Russell Moore. Its final mission was retrieving the astronauts from the Apollo 11 and 12 missions after they landed in the Pacific Ocean. The Hornet was decommissioned following the Apollo mission, and was scheduled to be scrapped. Instead, the ship was given a second life as a museum, and now serving as the home for this experiment is a new chapter in its storied history. Scientists at the University of Washington have already gone through about 70 iterations of the technology in the laboratory, said Dr. Rob Wood, principle investigator and professor of atmospheric science at the University of Washington. Now, they are using the experiment on the Hornet to move to the next step of research: testing the sea salt plumes in real clouds. After being launched from nozzles in a spinning, fan-like machine, the spray of salt water in which the droplets are broken down into tiny molecules only 1/1000th the width of a human hair diffuses through the air and into the clouds, where it replicates the reflective effect of natural aerosols. Scientists theorize that with this increased reflectivity, clouds can block excess heat from making it to Earths surface and contributing to global warming. Wood explained there are a number of questions about the real-world effectiveness of the technology that they are attempting to answer with this experiment. Even if we could make the particles go into the clouds, how much do they brighten the clouds? he said. Can we even make the particles that we think are sufficient to brighten the clouds? Scientists plan to launch the molecules over open ocean, and working on the Hornet specifically in the morning allows them to match those atmospheric conditions, such as 70-80% humidity, Wood said. Higher humidity makes it more likely the salt water droplets will remain in liquid form instead of drying into salt crystals, which may interact differently with each other, he added. Every few minutes is different, Wood said of the weather and wind conditions. Its moving everything around, and that will hopefully dilute the plume so that the particles are further apart and they dont really interact with each other. The project launch also included a screening of a Ted Talk by Dr. Sarah Doherty, the projects program director, where she explained the science behind the experiment. This is not a solution to the climate crisis, she said. However, marine cloud brightening might be a way of treating the main symptom of the problem, which is too much heat in the atmosphere and ocean. Wood acknowledged that there are some people who question whether there will be unintended consequences of implementing cloud brightening, and added that there are already studies at other universities studying potential consequences, such as those on marine ecosystems. Its a big effort beyond this small part of it that were doing, Wood said. Its always going to be a comparison, ultimately, with what would happen if we didnt do anything if we just left climate change unchecked. 2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit mercurynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Josh Smith/Stars and Stripes) Eastern Afghanistan, Aug. 18, 2015: Afghan army soldiers fire a recoilless rifle during an operation to clear a Taliban compound in eastern Afghanistan. Security forces faced off against an increasingly diverse array of insurgent groups that had become disaffected with the Taliban. Marlee DaBrowski, an Army spouse, tearfully hugs her son, John, 4, after receiving her associates degree in general studies at the University of Maryland Global Campus Europe commencement ceremony on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. About 250 graduates walked the stage, out of a class of more than 1,100 who earned degrees from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes) RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany When Jennifer Egbe deployed to Poland in January, she was 18 credits shy of earning her bachelors degree. The Army National Guard supply specialist and communications major enrolled in the University of Maryland Global Campus Europe. From her barracks at Powidz Air Base, a key logistics hub near NATOs eastern flank, Egbe finished her online classes with a mobile hotspot connection and earned a spot in the UMGC Europe class of 2024. Egbe and six of her fellow guardsmen piled into a van and made the 10-hour drive to Ramstein so Egbe could receive her diploma in person at the universitys spring commencement Saturday at the Ramstein Officers Club. I wasnt ever planning on getting to walk the stage, Egbe said. This whole experience has been amazing for me, getting to be at a real graduation in Germany. Army National Guard Spc. Jennifer Egbe is the first soldier deployed to Powidz Air Base in Poland to attend University of Maryland Global Campus Europe graduation ceremonies. The school held its spring commencement on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Egbe, who earned a bachelors in communications, drove to Germany from Poland for the event, with six fellow guardsmen who came to show their support. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes) Egbe, 23, was the first U.S. soldier deployed to Powidz to attend UMGC Europe graduation, school officials said. She was among 250 graduates to don a cap and gown and file into a large ballroom for commencement exercises before Maryland faculty and family members. About 1,100 students from across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East earned associates, bachelors or masters degrees this year, with some attending local graduation ceremonies in Italy, Spain, England and Bavaria, UMGC officials said. The universitys footprint in Europe dates back 75 years, an enduring milestone celebrated on Saturday. I doubt many could have foreseen what would come of seven daring professors hopping a plane to allied-occupied Germany in the fall of 1949, armed only with satchels of books, said Jay Perman, University System of Maryland chancellor, in his keynote address. Erin Narvaez, an Air Force spouse, adjusts the hood worn by masters degree graduate Army veteran Bryce Williams at the University of Maryland Global Campus Europe spring commencement on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Williams, who served 24 years in the Army, said he lost track of how many years it took him to earn his bachelors before his masters degree. I was doing one class at a time, so it took me a long time, he said. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes) It was the beginning of a legacy founded on serving those who serve us, those who safeguard our civil liberties and our freedom, he said. The first classes were taught at six different sites in Germany, said Rosemary Hoffmann, a UMGC assistant archivist. Many in the U.S. military officer corps were only high school graduates, she said, and had first dibs on courses such as military history, writing and speech. The university didnt know how many might show up, telling the professors if less than 300 students turned up, they were to return, Hoffmann said. They got 1,800 students, just like that. Annette Gary, left, and Monica Brady traveled from the United States to see Joseph Gary, their son and brother, respectively, receive his associates degree in criminal justice at the University of Maryland Global Campus Europe commencement on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. We made the journey to be part of this moment for him, Gary said of her son, an Army veteran who lives and works in Stuttgart, Germany. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes) William Wood, who sits on the universitys board of regents, recalls attending school in the mid-1950s at the former Frankfurt American High School while his Army lieutenant colonel father took Maryland night classes at the same school. Wood, 84, said his initials are still carved into the bomb shelter in the backyard of his familys former home. UMGC has been around a very long time, he said Saturday. Some 12,000 military personnel, civilians, contractors and family members took classes this year from UMGC Europe, according to school officials. But active-duty service members continue to seek UMGC degrees while serving from far-flung locations. About 62% of this years graduates in Europe are active duty. About 100 earned a degree while deployed to Poland, Bahrain, Djibouti, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other places, officials said. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kerly LaBranche and his wife, Kayla LaBranche, both earned bachelors degrees from the University of Maryland Global Campus Europe, which held spring commencement at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Saturday, April 27, 2024. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes) Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kerly LaBranche, a computer science major, recalled logging into class from a tent during a field exercise at Camp Aachen in Grafenwoehr, where hes stationed with his family. His wife, Kayla, pushed him to finish his degree while she completed hers in business administration, UMGC Europes most popular major this year. As they prepared to walk the stage Saturday, they described how they hit the books after putting their kids to bed. Were up until midnight or 1 oclock, writing codes or writing papers, Kerly LaBranche said. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Alonzo receives her bachelors degree in criminal justice from Gregory Fowler, the president of University of Maryland Global Campus, at commencement on Saturday. About 250 graduates walked the stage on Saturday, April 27, 2024, inside the Ramstein Officers Club at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. () Family also motivated Air Force Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Alonzo, 30, to earn her degree in criminal justice after years of schooling, pursued in fits and starts between deployments, short tours and moves, she said. Alonzo, who works in cyberdefense operations at Ramstein, grew up in Los Angeles, with a father who went to prison for gang activity when she was 11. Her degree helped her learn more about gangs and understand what may have drawn her father to that life. While it wasnt the best avenue (for him) to go through, it helped me understand why he was there and how I can help others to not follow that path, she said. I woke up this morning and was telling my husband, I cant believe Im actually graduating, Alonzo said. Its been 12 years. Im finally there. Bodies of Hamas militants are covered and lined up in a park in Kibbutz Beeri, Israel, on Oct. 11, 2023 (Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post) JERUSALEM - More than six months into the war in Gaza and with dimming hopes for a cease-fire deal, Palestinians there are growing more critical of Hamas, which some of them blame for the months-long conflict that has destroyed the territory - and their lives. The war has displaced most of the Gaza Strips population, killed tens of thousands of people and pushed the enclave toward famine, its infrastructure in ruins. The Israeli military waged a punishing campaign to eliminate Hamas after the group, which ruled Gaza for 17 years, attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing an estimated 1,200 people and abducting more than 250. But while the majority of Palestinians in Gaza blame Israel for their suffering, according to polling conducted in March, they also appear to be turning their ire toward the militants. In interviews with more than a dozen residents of Gaza, people said they resent Hamas for the attacks in Israel and - war-weary and desperate to fulfill their basic needs - just want to see peace as soon as possible. If Hamas wanted to start a war, they should have secured people first - secured a place of refuge for them, not thrown them into suffering that no one can bear, said Salma El-Qadomi, 33, a freelance journalist who has been displaced 11 times since the conflict started. Palestinians want leaders who wont drag people into a war like this, she said. Almost everyone around me shares the same thoughts: We want this waterfall of blood to stop. Seventeen years of destruction and wars are enough. Hamas, an Islamist political and military movement, was founded in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising. It staged some of the deadliest attacks on Israeli civilians and later won Palestinian legislative elections, beating out the secular Fatah party that leads the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. The rival parties entered into a deadly power struggle, fighting a brief but bloody battle in Gaza in 2007, when Hamas seized control. For years after that, the group fought sporadic wars with Israel, but it also presided over periods of calm. It used the smuggling tunnels under the border with Egypt to manage the territorys besieged economy and cracked down on criminal gangs that preyed on locals. More recently, however, Hamass fortunes turned. The tunnel trade had dried up after Egypt sealed off the network, and the groups isolation deepened as some Arab states began normalizing relations with Israel. Still, many observers, including Israels leaders, were sure Hamas wanted to stay in power and had little interest in a major conflict. The attack in October took many Palestinians - and much of the world - by surprise. Hamas has said it launched the assault in part to avenge what it claimed was Israels desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, Islams third-holiest site, known to Jews - who also consider it sacred - as the Temple Mount. The attack, a terrifying rampage through southern Israeli communities, initially boosted the groups support in both Gaza and the West Bank, according the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, which carried out polling in late November and early December. Even recently, in a poll conducted over five days in March, a majority of respondents in both places say Hamass decision to carry out the attack was correct. But, the centers researchers said, it is clear from the findings that support for the offensive does not mean support for Hamas. Instead, the results show three-quarters of Palestinians believe the attack refocused global attention on the conflict after years of neglect. The anger mounting now in the enclave appears centered on stalled cease-fire talks, with Hamas insisting on a permanent truce and Israels full withdrawal from Gaza before it hands over any hostages. We cant live like this anymore, said a 29-year-old displaced lawyer and mother of three, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. Hours before the interview, she said, Israeli drones fired at her and her children on the street in central Gaza. We need to be able to mourn what has happened to us, to bury those who were killed and look for those lost, she said. By any means, we want the war to stop, whatever it takes. Fedaa Zayed, a 35-year-old writer from northern Gaza, said she thinks Hamas is avoiding a cease-fire agreement because it doesnt want to admit defeat. She fled her Gaza City apartment on the second day of the war and is now staying in Rafah on the border with Egypt. In reality, we are in full retreat, the domestic front is destroyed, Zayed said. We, as a people, want a cease-fire, the withdrawal of the Israeli army. We want to return to our homes even if they are in rubble. Hamas says it understands the frustrations of those who are suffering in Gaza. But these complaints do not reflect the political situation, said Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official. Instead, he said, we are listening to thousands of voices that are emphasizing that despite the sacrifice, they refuse to let go of the big goals that involve ending the occupation, freeing Jerusalem and setting up a Palestinian state. Naim and other senior political leaders, including Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, are based outside Gaza. Inside the enclave, Hamas leader Yehiya Sinwar, the apparent mastermind of Oct. 7, is believed to be hunkered down in a tunnel to escape the Israeli strikes. Hamas, however, has never really tolerated dissent, and it arrested, jailed and beat activists who spoke out against its rule. The groups administration in Gaza was full of corruption, nepotism, and bias in favor of the movement, said Mohamed, 35, a graphic designer from Rafah. He spoke on the condition that only his first name be used out of fear of reprisal by the groups fighters. Also in Rafah, Ayman, 46, said he voted for Hamas in 2006 because he thought the Palestinian Authority was corrupt. But what came next, he said, also speaking on the condition that only his first name be used, was a number of wars, the destruction of homes, the martyrdom of thousands, difficulty in life, and the siege. Earlier this year, demonstrations calling for a cease-fire broke out in at least two cities in Gaza. In a video of a protest in January, a crowd of mostly men and boys marches down a street in the city of Khan Younis, holding antiwar signs and chanting: The people want an end to the war! Analysts say they have also seen an uptick in social media posts critical of Hamas. Hamas dont be upset with us and try to understand us correctly, Rami Haroon, a 45-year-old dentist and father of five, wrote on Facebook on April 20. We have been suffocated by you for a long time, wrote Haroon, who said he is not affiliated with any political party. Your ship will sink and you will drown us with you. But while resentment is brewing, many Palestinians feel its a shame to go after Hamas during this Israeli assault, said Mkhaimar Abusada, associate professor of political science at al-Azhar University in Gaza, who is now based in Cairo. They dont want to be seen as collaborators with the occupation if they protest against Hamas now. In the March poll from the policy center, a slim majority of respondents in Gaza said they would prefer Hamas - rather than the Palestinian Authority - to control the Strip after the war. The other options included the United Nations, the Israeli military, or one or more Arab countries. Given the magnitude of the suffering in the Gaza Strip, this seems to be the most counter intuitive finding of the entire poll, the researchers wrote. At the same time, the results were consistent with the increase in the percentage of Palestinians in Gaza who think Hamas will win the war and stay in power. There are many ways to understand that, Palestinian political analyst Khalil Sayegh, who is based in Washington, said of the finding in an interview last week. One of which is that the people understood and saw that Hamas is staying, and thus theyre afraid to express their opinions. According to Abusada, people care about Palestine and resistance and freedom and independence. But first of all, they want to live as humans, to be able to eat and sleep. Thats why the criticism is much more vocal now and much more public now, he said. Israel really sent us to the Stone Age. Mahfouz and Balousha reported from Cairo, and Harb from London. Sarah Dadouch in Beirut contributed to this report. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (Pool, Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will step up efforts to secure a truce in Gaza when he arrives in the Middle East on Monday, in what could be a final chance to persuade Israel to call off an attack on the southern city of Rafah. If theres a deal, we will suspend the operation in Rafah, Israels Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Channel 12 on Saturday as the Israeli military continued to make preparations for an offensive. Egypt is stepping up efforts at mediation to secure an agreement between Israel and Hamas leading to a cease-fire in exchange for the release of hostages, but the two sides remain far apart. A Hamas official has said its delegation plans to respond to the latest truce plan on Monday, Agence France Presse reported. Blinken is traveling to Saudi Arabia for two days to meet regional counterparts and then on to Israel, according to U.S. and Israeli media. Its the top U.S. diplomats seventh Middle East trip since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. An Israeli assault on Rafah, a safe haven for roughly half the Gaza Strips population whove fled almost seven months of fighting, would prolong the conflict and threaten U.S. President Joe Bidens hopes of getting Arab states to help with post-war rebuilding. It would also stymie a U.S. push to secure a historic accord to establish relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The U.S. has urged Israel against a large-scale offensive in Rafah, which Israeli officials say is needed to crush the final stronghold of 5,000 to 8,000 fighters and key leaders from the Palestinian militant group. The small city on the coastal strips border with Egypt had a prewar population of about 280,000 and is now crammed with more than a million refugees. There are fears of major civilian casualties if Israeli troops storm it. Israel has promised to move the civilians out, an uncertain process that could take weeks. Israel has been waging a military campaign in Gaza to wipe out Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., EU and others, since it swept across the border and attacked Israeli communities and military bases on Oct. 7. Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people and abducted 250 others in that assault, of whom more than 130 remain in Gaza, some dead. The Israeli bombardment and ground offensive has destroyed much of Gaza, killing more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory, who dont distinguish between civilian and military casualties. Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make more effort to reach a truce with Hamas. Thousands of people took to the streets of Tel Aviv and other cities Saturday, some demanding the government step down to make way for early elections, after the group released videos of several hostages alive. Negotiations with Hamas remain deadlocked on the groups insistence for an Israeli commitment to eventually pull out all its troops and end the war. Israel has also refused demands to allow displaced Gazans to return to their homes in the north without any restrictions. In a sign of progress, Israel may be willing to compromise on the number of hostages freed in return for allowing Palestinian prisoners out of jail in an initial phase of any deal, Israeli media reported. Hamas had said it cant free 40 women, elderly or sick captives as demanded in return for a six-week cease-fire, because it doesnt have enough hostages in that category. Egypt has suggested a three-week truce in exchange for freeing 20 hostages, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing Egyptian officials. Under a previous proposal, a second phase would free men and soldiers under 50, followed by a third phase for the release of the bodies of hostages that should lead to a permanent end to the war, according to U.S. officials. Axios cited two senior Israeli officials who werent identified as saying that Israel is ready to give one last chance for the negotiations before moving forward with a ground invasion of Rafah. Netanyahus room for maneuver is limited because he heads the most right-wing government in Israels history. His firebrand coalition allies, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, oppose a hostage deal right now, which could bring his administration down. They both warned in posts on X Sunday not to risk his governments existence. Qatar, which has also been mediating, warned that neither side is showing sufficient flexibility. We have expressed frustration regarding the level of commitment of both parties, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told Israels Kan state channel in an interview aired on Saturday. The U.S. State Department said last week it was of dire importance for a hostage deal to be done immediately, and blamed Hamas for holding it up. Netanyahu, meanwhile, has frustrated a U.S. bid to work with Arab allies including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Egypt to secure Gazas future after hostilities end, by refusing their demand to endorse the goal of an independent Palestinian state. Israel has also resisted the idea of giving the Palestinian Authority that rules in the West Bank responsibility for Gaza, raising the prospect of open-ended Israeli occupation. With assistance from Galit Altstein and Courtney McBride. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. President Joe Biden briefly speaks to reporters as he departs the White House on April 25, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/TNS) NEW YORK (Tribune News Service) 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. People rally and camp at Columbia University, occupied by pro-Palestian protesters, in New York on Monday, April 22, 2024. (Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) 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. 2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. First responders arrive at the scene of a shooting at the Decades nightclub in Washington, D.C., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Five people, all adults, were shot and wounded late Friday night near a nightclub in the Dupont Circle area of Northwest Washington, the D.C. police said. None of the wounds appeared to be life-threatening, and someone was taken into custody shortly after the gunfire broke out around 11:30 p.m., according to police. They said they recovered a gun. An argument at the club in the 1200 block of Connecticut Avenue NW apparently touched off the shooting, according to police. The gunfire occurred just outside the club, said police spokesman Tom Lynch. The site is about a block and a half southeast of Dupont Circle. A patron identified the club as Decades. He said it was busy at the time, with a line of people outside awaiting admission. This all started with a dispute that happened inside an establishment here, said Assistant Police Chief Ramey Kyle at a news briefing early Saturday. The dispute spilled out into the street, he said. A Washington Post photographer, Jabin Botsford, was inside Decades at the time and linked it to the gunfire. He was on the second floor and heard shots, he said. A security guard told second-floor patrons that somebody was shooting down there, Botsford said. About 75 people were in the second-floor section of the club at the time, Botsford said. About half left immediately via a fire escape at the rear of the club. He said he later saw a woman being carried from the area of the club doorway on a stretcher. Her leg was bandaged but she seemed conscious, he said. Connecticut Avenue, regarded as one of the citys premier addresses, runs north and south for miles through one of the safer areas of the District. Shootings there are relatively rare. Early Saturday, in a separate incident about two hours after the Connecticut Avenue gunfire, a man was found fatally shot about a mile away in another of the Districts busy dining and nightlife areas, according to Lynch, the police spokesman. The victim was found inside an establishment in the 1300 block of U Street NW, Lynch said. In a social media message, police said they were looking for two people in connection with the shooting. The block where the Saturday morning shooting occurred is near the U Street and 14th Street corridors. It houses a variety of businesses in addition to restaurants and bars. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators at an encampment on the University of California, Berkeley. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg) WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) U.S. senators dismissed House Speaker Mike Johnsons suggestion to send the National Guard to college campuses to quell growing protests against the war in Gaza and U.S. support for Israel. I dont know if you need to call in the National Guard, maybe you just call in the police, said Sen. J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican and one of several lawmakers from both parties expressing reservations. Vance spoke on Fox News Sunday. Sending the National Guard to campuses would evoke painful memories of the violent era of campus protest against the Vietnam War, specifically at Kent State University, Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, said on NBCs Meet the Press. In 1970, the National Guard shot into a group of protesters at Ohios Kent State, killing four students. I think that would be a very, very bad idea, Kaine said of deploying the National Guard. There are ways to manage the protests using campus security, Kaine said, and also by offering students more opportunities to have dialogue that is civil and constructive where people hear one another. In this photo from Sept. 6, 2018, Rise of the Rest Seed Fund managing partner J.D. Vance speaks onstage during day two of TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2018 at Moscone Center in San Francisco. (Steve Jennings, Getty Images for TechCrunch/TNS) Lawmakers said that control of demonstrations should start with local police or school officials, while others added that universities should encourage constructive dialogue among students. Last week, Speaker Johnson condemned pro-Palestinian protests during a visit to Columbia University, saying that there would be an appropriate role for the National Guard if the demonstrations were not quickly contained. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have intensified as criticism of U.S. support for Israels military campaign in Gaza grows. Protesters are gathering across college campuses across the country, setting up encampments on school grounds and demanding the administrations divest from entities that support Israel and the war. Some colleges have responded by bringing in police, at times arresting demonstrating students and professors. The University of Southern California canceled its main commencement ceremony last week because of safety concerns amid escalating protests. Green Party candidate Jill Stein was arrested while supporting a protest at Washington University in St. Louis. A pro-Palestinian crowd demonstrated outside the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington on Saturday night, shouting at lawmakers and journalists who attended the annual black-tie gala. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, said most of the young people protesting on campuses are there out of conviction against the war and that the U.S. should protect their right to peacefully protest. In some of these campus protests, there have been legitimate threats to students on campus. And I think in those instances, campus police or local police can and should handle those threats, Murphy said on Fox News Sunday. Asked if he would endorse sending in the National Guard, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said hed turn to the school administrations first. Lets see if these university presidents can get control of the situation. They ought to be able to do that, McConnell said on CBS Face the Nation. Civil discussion is what college education is supposed to be about. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) A South Carolina man was sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of the murder of a disabled U.S. Army veteran, according to the 8th Circuit Solicitors Office. On Wednesday, following an eight-day trial in a Laurens County courtroom, 49-year-old Timothy Paul Spencer was convicted for the December 2021 murder of Billie Jean Cross, the solicitors office said in a news release. Spencer was then sentenced to life behind bars, without the possibility of parole, according to the release. Missing On Dec. 10, 2021, Cross family members reported the 58-year-old disabled Army veteran missing, the solicitors office said. In a conversation with her mother the previous day, Cross said she was waiting on a HVAC repairman to fix the heat in her cold house and that she would call her mother back when the repairman left, according to the release. Cross mother never received that call. The following day, Cross mother and other family members met detectives at the veterans residence on Fairview Road south of Fountain Inn and they didnt find Cross or any signs of forced entry, the solicitors office said. Investigators did spot several small drops which appeared to be blood on the carpet near a chair where Cross was known to sit, according to the release. Investigators also noted that Cross rolling trash container was missing, the solicitors office said. Cross was listed as missing and possibly endangered by the Laurens County Sheriffs Office. The investigation Over the course of the ensuing week, investigators were able to use Cross bank records to identify Spencer as the HVAC repairman who went to Cross home, according to the release. Subsequent search warrants for the victims phone data, Spencers phone data, and Spencers truck GPS records led investigators to the repairman, a resident of Anderson County, as being a prime suspect in the case, the solicitors office said. Spencer denied any involvement, but was held on warrants in Greenville County stemming from fraud allegations surrounding his HVAC business, according to the release. Investigators also discovered a transaction using a phone app between Cross personal bank account to Spencers account in the amount of $2,500 the afternoon after she disappeared, the solicitors office said. Spencer appeared to be having financial difficulties after frequent visits to a casino in North Carolina, including one visit to the casino early in the early morning hours before Cross went missing, according to the solicitors office. Later that week, Cross body was found wrapped in a blanket taken from her house in bushes in a rural area about seven miles from Spencers Anderson County residence in the Starr area, the solicitors office said. Her body was discovered by a man and his son who were looking at property they were buying on Cummings Springs Road in Anderson County, The State previously reported. An investigator later searched for and found a trash can that appeared to have been tossed off a bridge into a creek less than a half-mile from Spencers home, according to the release. The trash can was identified as the one missing from Cross home and ultimately was found to have blood that matched Cross DNA in the trash can, the solicitors office said. Spencers truck GPS data showed that he was at the victims house, the location where the body was found, and the location where the trash can was found at the bridge on the day Cross went missing, according to the release. Information about a motive for the killing and Cross cause of death were not available. Horrific Timothy Spencer committed a crime that is as horrific and senseless as I have seen in over two decades in this profession, Solicitor David Stumbo said in the release. My prosecutors and I were honored to carry this case into the courtroom to make sure justice was done for Billie Jean. Josh Thomas and Jared Simmons led the prosecution for the solicitors office, with assistance from 8th Circuit Investigator Joey Pittman and Sgt. Kendall Cash of the Anderson County Sheriffs Office, and Laurens County Victim Advocate Joy Lindsay. Spencer was represented by 8th Circuit Public Defender Chelsea McNeill, along with attorneys Tristan Shaffer and Joel Broome of the Public Defenders office. The victim Cross grew up in Greenville County, went to Mauldin High School and earned a degree in English and Spanish from Clemson University in 1985, The State previously reported. She served four years in the U.S. Army at Fort Meade in Maryland as an electronic warfare signals intelligence analyst before working a number of office jobs in Greenville and Spartanburg counties. Cross served during Operation Just Cause in Panama, according to her obituary. She married Larry Wayne Cross, a systems analyst and avid parachutist, in 1998, according to The State. They lived in his hometown in Nova Scotia for a few years before he died in 2015. Cross, who was suffering from arthritis and used a walker, came back to Greenville and earned paralegal certification at Greenville Technical College and worked in a law office for a few months, The State reported. 2024 The State. Visit thestate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Alan Hutch pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of a woman in Dublin city centre A nephew of Gerry the Monk Hutch is facing even more jail time after he pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of a woman in Dublin city centre last year. Serial offender Alan Hutch (41), previously of Portland Place but whose address was given as a hostel in north Dublin, appeared at Dublin Circuit Court by video-link from prison for arraignment this week. He had been charged with attempting to rob Mary Dowling on Talbot Street, in Dublins north inner city, on March 3 last year. Asked how be was pleading to the charge. Hutch replied: Guilty. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Hutch in custody until May 9 for sentencing Eddie Hutch Sr with son Ross (right) Alan Hutch is a son of Eddie Hutch Snr (59), who was murdered at his home as part of the feud with the Kinahan Cartel on February 8, 2016, in revenge for the Regency Hotel shooting days earlier. His mother Jane Hutch (66) was found dead from a suspected heart attack at the family home last year. In a psychological report referred to at a previous court hearing, Alan Hutchs upbringing was described as challenging and stated that he had witnessed violence inflicted on his mother, brothers and himself by his father. Eddie Snr was a brother of Gerry the Monk Hutch who was acquitted last year of murder in relation to the Regency Hotel attack which claimed the life of Kinahan associate David Byrne. Alan Hutch has been in trouble since he was a teen and has spent large spells behind bars. He clashed with several relatives while inside prison, including his brother Ross who he headbutted in an incident several years ago. After his release from prison in 2017, Alan was stabbed in the face and arm in an early morning dispute with someone he knew but he refused to tell Gardai anything about the incident. Two months later, Alan was charged with assault causing harm after he allegedly stabbed Ross at their family home in January 2018. When he was charged with the attack a garda told the court there appears to be an ongoing dispute between himself and his brother. However, the case against him was later struck out. Alan Hutch Alan also previously had charges of threatening his other brother, Eddie Jnr, and their mother Jane with a knife struck out after the victims said they didnt want to give evidence in the case. Alan has 77 previous convictions and previously served an eight-year sentence for threatening to kill three gardai while claiming he had a grenade and assaulting an officer. He was out on bail for separate offences, including a violent robbery and involvement in a high-speed chase and escaping from custody at the time. He has been back before the courts on several occasions since the Kinahan/Hutch feud began. His lawyers regularly brings up the difficulties he has had by being a member of the Hutch family, while also saying he was not involved in the feud. Last year, he was handed down a six-month sentence for snatching a womans handbag in a pub on Dorset Street in Dublin Hutch was jailed for four years with 18-months suspended in 2019 for burglary and assault causing harm to a man at the Office of the Revenue Commissioners on Upper OConnell Street the previous year. Hutch attacked the employee who returned from a tea break to find him stealing phones and a camera. Terrified addicts house was used by major gang Drugs found in the raid on the home of Eric Lawlor A MAJOR organised crime gang is behind an elaborate store house where an 8.2 million drugs stash had been run by a farmer with a crack cocaine habit. The Co. Kildare drugs warehouse, where tick lists, mixing agents and encrypted mobile phones were discovered by gardai, had been operating for a long period of time. A white Renault van parked outside had been modified with a hidden compartment in the ceiling and was operated electronically. Officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau discovered 11kgs of cocaine hidden at the property when they raided it in February 2021. Details of the drugs operation emerged at a court hearing this week, when Eric Lawlor had been due for sentencing. Eric Lawler He owned the property Cypress House at Baybush, Straffan, where 314kgs of cannabis, valued at 6.2million, along with 9.2kgs of cocaine were found in the garage. A co-accused, Eugene Mulligan, from Sligo, was caught in a car with 60kgs of cannabis worth 1.2 million. He was recently sentenced at Naas Circuit Court to six years in prison. It was previously heard that Mulligan had driven from Sligo to collect drugs from the Co. Kildare address. Evidence was heard from Detective Garda Marguerite Reilly, who said intelligence led them back to the house which was searched on the same day after Mulligans arrest. Although the tick list and other records showed the store house had been operating for some time, no customers could be identified. The officer explained in reply to counsel for the DPP, Daniel Boland, that in such cases code names were used but it did show a considerable amount of drugs had been stored there over time. Detective Reilly told counsel for Lawlor, Michael Bowman, that the accused said he had a 1,400-a-week crack cocaine habit at the time and owed money. Mr Bowman said that when Lawlor went to pay his debt to his drug dealers they were not interested and instead saw an opportunity to use him and his property. He had rented a room out to someone at the time for 100 during the Covid lockdown who had access to drugs. He had developed at 1,400-a-week crack habit over eight months and the drugs had been supplied on credit. Despite being able to pay back the debt, other criminals were not interested and wanted to use Lawlors property in north Co. Kildare for their own ends. The detective agreed that Lawlor was forced to do things that he would not otherwise do. He told officers he knew nothing about the modified van containing the cocaine parked at his house. Co-accused Eugene Mulligan Lawlor knew others involved to be violent and dangerous criminals and was shocked and distraught at being involved in this. He spent a month in custody following his arrest but had never been in prison before. He has since moved back in with his parents, who were described as being a hard-working, decent family. Lawlor had been living a risk-prone lifestyle but was now drug-free after taking steps to address his addictions. Mr Bowman for Lawlor said that it was another example of an individual facing years in prison because of the fear of other people. He said his client believed doing what he did was the only way to keep his family safe. Lawlors parents believe gardai saved his life by taking him out of this environment, it was added. Lawlor is due to be sentenced next month and was remanded in custody by Judge Martina Baxter. Speaking shortly after the Garda raid in 2021, Detective Chief Superintendent Angela Willis of the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, said: We will continue to target those who are engaged in the distribution of illicit drugs and tackle criminality engaged in by organised crime gangs who benefit from such activity. FG politician blames outside actors and says theres no place for disorder that saw protestors battle with gardai Dishonesty from the Department of Integration opened the door for far-right agitators to infiltrate the Newtownmountkennedy protest, a Fine Gael councillor said yesterday. Councillor Shay Cullen, who lives in the area, became involved with the protest six weeks ago after IPAS, the Departments International Protection Accommodation Service, sent heavy machinery in to clear the site. Cllr Cullen said he withdrew after three weeks when extremist actors, who came from outside the community, began escalating the fears of local people about the arrival of asylum seekers. Several hundred people attended yesterdays protest, which was was livestreamed by far-right agitator Philip Dwyer who is before the courts for allegedly engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour outside a creche. Marchers in Newtownmountkennedy There is no suggestion that anyone attending todays peaceful march is involved with the far-right. I live in the area and I had been on that protest myself, said Cllr Cullen. I had genuine concerns up to the point that the far-right people came in from the outside and antagonised the situation. I had enough of it at that point. You see, what happened at the very start was diggers arrived on the site. And the first statement that came out from the Department was that there was no worry here...they were just clearing up and assessing the site. That was a blatant lie they wouldnt have just put machinery in there unless they had a plan. And thats what I am saying about communication, its been handled very badly in my view. Gardai at the scene Asked if he was saying IPAS were dishonest, the FG councillor responded: Yes. I think IPAS were dishonest at the very start of this protest and that got the backs up of the local community. It took drip feeding and constant pushing from our side to get answers. Cllr Cullen said he and other local elected representatives eventually secured a meeting with the Department of Integrations Community Engagement Team three weeks ago shortly before far-right agitators from outside the community became involved. We had a very constructive meeting... there were three members of the protest group as well as all of the councillors from the Wicklow area and a few TDs. At that point we had a little bit of dialogue and we were looking for answers in terms of questions about the building, the site, the location and the purpose it was going to be used for. A placard at the site of the demonstration And one thing we made clear on the day, which still bugs me, was that there had been such a lack of communication, it created a scenario where people felt they were being lied to. They felt they werent given the correct information and I believe that created a void in the community where it was being filmed by far-right protestors and people who were able to antagonise the situation. They did certainly infiltrate the local people and added to the fear, I thought! It was at that stage I pulled back when people from outside Newtown decided they wanted to come and be part of it and, in my view, antagonise the situation. The degree to which the far-right have pushed their views onto the local community is evidenced in posts on local community forums. One comment read: I wonder who from Newtown will help the filthy vermin settle into our town. The f**king animals should be homed in cages. Cllr Cullen said the behaviour of the Department of Integration has divided the community. Protesters outside the proposed asylum centre The people protesting are very passionate and the people who dont want to be involved are keeping their heads down it has been very divisive. Asked about the events that occurred on Wednesday night when gardai were attacked, cars were targeted and a building was set alight, Cllr. Cullen said: You cant have that type of behaviour and you cant tolerate it. You have to keep law and order. Yesterday, several hundred people protested peacefully against the construction of the asylum centre carrying signs. Cllr Cullen called for more dialogue. I still feel that the community have a role to play here; not the thuggery we have seen but the genuine people who have legitimate concerns and who arent getting any hearing. Professor told 11-year-old they were boyfriend and girlfriend and asked her for naked images Academic Philip Newsholme sent a naked video of himself to what he thought was an underage girl A disgraced professor who spent almost two decades teaching in UCD is now facing a lengthy jail sentence in Australia after pleading guilty to almost 50 child exploitation offences. Professor Philip Newsholme (63), who was the Head of Biochemistry in UCD before moving to Australia, groomed children online including an 11-year-old girl who he told they were boyfriend and girlfriend and that he loved her. He used encrypted apps and social media to talk to multiple children to try and get them to send him images. Newsholme, who alerted police after he sent a naked video of himself to what he thought was an underage girl, also distributed and received child abuse imagery from online associates. He told one online associate that he really likes little girls aged between five and 12. He has pleaded guilty to 45 charges relating to child exploitation and the distribution and possession of child abuse imagery and the case is due before Perth District Court in June for mention ahead of sentencing. He was refused bail and is currently behind bars as he awaits sentence Newsholme was an Oxford-educated biochemist who began lecturing in UCD in 1993. He received a promotion to Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry in 2002, Associate Professor in 2007 and Head of Biochemistry in UCD Dublin in September 2008. During his time at the college he gave interviews to respected newspapers including The Irish Times and Sunday Independent on topics varying from how his research could lead to new treatment for diabetes to whether women were being poisoned by toxins in their make-up. After 18 years at UCD he left Ireland to become Professor and Head of School, Biomedical Sciences at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, in September 2011. Newsholme came on the radar of police after he sent a naked video of himself to what he thought was an underage girl. This led to Crimestoppers in New South Wales tipping off police, who raided his home in May last year. Investigators seized several digital devices when they raided the property in the Perth suburb of Como, where Newsholme lived alone. He had been chatting with a number of underage girls online. One was an 11-year-old girl who he had been chatting to for a month and who he told that they were boyfriend and girlfriend. He told her he loved her and asked her to send videos of herself to him. He then said he would be careful not to get her pregnant and other vulgar acts. He used Snapchat and Telegram to contact his victims. Investigators also found a large amount of child abuse images and videos on his devices. Police also raided Curtin University, where they seized other devices linked to Newsholme. When he first appeared in court last year, the shamed academic was charged with 12 child exploitation offences relating to the distribution and possession of child abuse material and using electronic communications to expose a child believed to be under 16 years to indecent matter. At his initial court appearance police said they had identified three children from Australia, the UK, and the US who had been targeted by Professor Newsholme and were attempting to identify more. Police identified more crimes committed by Newsholme as part of their investigation and he was subsequently charged with a total of 45 offences relating to his exploitation of children. Court records show he has pleaded guilty to all 45 offences. Newsholmes case is next listed for mention in Perth District Court on June 21. A spokesperson for Curtin University said Newsholme is no longer employed at Curtin. Ex-cop reveals how heartless thug Felloni got Dublin citizens and his own children hooked on heroin Tony Felloni pictured near the Four Courts in 2017 Tony Felloni was one of the main drug dealers in Ireland Notorious drug boss Tony Felloni should never have been allowed become the dominant heroin dealer in Dublin. Dubbed King Scum by the Sunday World, he flooded the city with heroin in the 1980s after the Bronco Dunne family gang were taken down by gardai. Described as a loner who relied on his immediate family, one ex-cop said that Fellonis drug business flourished because official Ireland refused to believe there was a drug problem. Former Detective Sergeant Maurice Heffernan, who served both in Store Street garda station and in the Drugs Squad in the 1980s, said the heroin epidemic was ignored until it was too late. Fellonis name was always in the limelight, as it were. He was an up-and-coming criminal at the time, said retired Gda Sgt Heffernan. Tony Felloni pictured near the Four Courts in 2017 He was on a level with the Dunnes, who were on the way up at the time as well. But he was a loner; he used his own family rather than other people. That was his problem, he didnt have his own team as such. Incredibly, as Felloni and the Dunnes were building up their heroin business, the warnings from the street were being ignored. The authorities never believed that there was really a drug problem, even though we had the likes of Felloni at that time coming on stream, says Heffernan. They even refused the customs authorities who wanted to set up their own drugs unit they were declined at that time in the Seventies. They were thinking, this wasnt an Irish problem, this was an external problem and that others were creating it. They totally ignored it. It wasnt until the 1980s that they woke up and brought in new legislation. In his book, Once There Was a Boy Who Survived, Maurice Heffernan recounts interviewing members of the Dunne family after their arrest in Spain. Christy Bronco Dunnes infamous warning about the next wave of drug dealers could have been applied to Felloni If you think we were bad, wait til to see whats coming behind us. Felloni had started his criminal career as a juvenile, getting caught stealing, but by the 1960s was involved in exploiting young women who came to Dublin for work. He would take compromising photographs of them and force them to hand their money to him. Tony Felloni (right) pictured with notorious gangster John Gilligan After a stint in jail in the UK for drugs possession, he came back to Ireland and increased his share of the growing heroin market in north Dublin. The fact that the drug was ravishing the community around him didnt bother Felloni, who became a hate figure and was the focus of anti-drugs marches. During one of his spells of imprisonment, his wife Ann Felloni gave an interview to the late journalist Veronica Guerin, telling her prison was too good for her husband. Hes f***ed up every one of his own kids, so he doesnt give a s***e about anyone. At Fellonis trial for heroin dealing in 1996 it was heard how he used some of his children in his illicit business and introduced them to the drug. His brazen activities, having been caught three times while on bail, were also a factor in the referendum vote to change bail laws. The convicted wife-beater was considered by gardai to be a key dealer for two decades and was one of the first major criminals to be targeted by the Criminal Assets Bureau after it was set up. The bureau spent 14 years chasing his money and property, eventually taking almost 500,000 from him. Tony Felloni with prison officers He was sentenced to 20 years, which he mostly served in Portlaoise Prison. It was considered one of the toughest sentences handed down for drug dealing and upheld on appeal. Frail Behind bars he was close to John Gilligan, who was also serving a lengthy sentence for drug dealing at the time. Tony Felloni on his release from Portlaoise On his release in January 2011 there was nobody there to meet him when he left Mountjoy Prison Training Unit and he was driven into the city centre by a probation worker. He kept a low profile subsequently, although his name would crop up when any of his offspring appeared in court. In 2017, the Sunday World photographed him looking old and frail outside the Four Courts where he was trying to sue five prisons for having to slop-out during his time inside. Bungalow that boss of burglary gang bought for cash is to go up for auction The bungalow in Newbridge will go for auction in May. Patrick Wall (inset) A property seized from a senior member of Irelands most prolific burglary gang is the latest house belonging to the criminal outfit to be put up for sale. The three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, has a reserve price of just 150,000 but is likely to net much more for the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). It comes as CAB successfully made 1.2 million at auction this week selling off properties that belonged to several serious gangland figures. Patrick Wall, who changed his name by deed poll to Connors, handed over the house after settling the case with the Bureau last December. Wall and his wife Tina were previously paid up to 1,400 rent for the property which they had bought for 166,500 in cash. The bungalow in Newbridge will go for auction in May . . Wall is part of the Pale Miley organised crime gang, according to CAB, who this week also sold the house belonging to grandfather of crime and former head of the family Pale Myles Connors. The house in Newbridge, due to go under the hammer on May 22, is described as having an entrance hall, kitchen, sitting room, dining room, three bedrooms and a family bathroom. It comes with a large front and back yard and ample parking with the added benefit of a secure gate. Some parts of the house are described as needing refurbishment. Patrick Wall CAB has sold a swathe of property in the last week, including houses owned by Ross Browning, the Kinahan Cartels No1 man in Ireland. Patrick Wall had bought the Newbridge bungalow for cash, despite not having had any income to explain his wealth. In their case, CAB said he was a close associate of infamous criminal Edward The Bullet Connors and is suspected of carrying out dozens of break-ins all over Ireland. The Bullet, a cousin of slain mobster Fat Andy Connors, is one of the countrys most prolific burglars and has amassed dozens of convictions over the years. Known as the Pale Miley Gang, the group was the top target in a Garda effort to shut down robbery gangs under Operation Fiacla launched ten years ago. They were notorious for using high-speed cars to carry out raids and to outpace pursuing patrol cars. Despite being arrested with The Bullet 28 times, Wall was convicted of just five break-ins during his criminal career. The bureaus case described how Wall and the gang operated across the four provinces and created terror in rural Ireland. Pale Myles Connors house in Tallaght (below) . It detailed how Wall has 39 criminal convictions, including eight which resulted in a prison sentence. In evidence, the Bureaus Chief Officer, Michael Gubbins, stated that Patrick Wall is involved in serious criminality and has a history of committing burglaries and of criminal associations with individuals who are also known to be serial burglars. This week the bureau successfully sold off five properties taken from gangland figures, making 1.2 million for the exchequer. The properties included Kinahan Cartel man Ross Brownings sprawling country estate in north Co. Dublin, which went for a bargain 550,000. Christopher Git Waldrons house in Cabra, Dublin, on which CAB said he spent 430,000, went for 284,000. Pale Mileys dilapidated five-bedroom house in Tallaght saw the most interest and bidders battled it out until it went for 322,000. Also sold were two seaside plots of land that Browning had owned, both going for the reserve prices of 45,000 and 20,000. Kinahan mobsters erratic behaviour linked to prospect of facing charges connected to Hutch murder Jailed Kinahan Cartel gunman Trevor Byrne spat at and tried to bite prison officers during a violent meltdown in hospital this week. Byrne, who was rushed from Mountjoy Prison to the Mater on Sunday last after he was found unresponsive in his cell, was recovering in a room in the hospital on Wednesday when the frenzied incident occurred. He completely lost the plot, a source told the Sunday World. He was convalescing under guard in a single room in the hospital when a governor from the prison came over to visit to check on his progress. It started with Byrne giving out and arguing but it escalated very quickly. He ripped the IV out of his arm and staff were forced to call in officers from the prison to restrain him. While he was being restrained, he spat at and attempted to bite officers. It was completely off the wall stuff. The source said Byrne was later medically discharged and taken back to Mountjoy Prison where he is now subject to internal disciplinary proceedings arising from the incident. Sources say Byrnes increasing erratic behaviour may be linked to the likelihood of his time inside being significantly extended if he is prosecuted in connection with the murder of The Monks brother, Eddie Hutch. Gardai at the scene of Eddie Hutchs murder The 43-year-old, who is already serving a 17-and-a-half-year sentence for firearms offences and an armed raid on a bookies, was one of up to a dozen people named in a file compiled by gardai probing the murder of Hutch (58) by the Kinahan Cartel on February 8, 2016. Eddie Hutch was shot dead three days after the murderous attack on the Regency Airport Hotel in north Dublin that left Kinahan associate David Byrne (33) dead. Earlier this year, it emerged gardai in the Dublin North Central Division had sent a file to the DPP asking for mob boss Daniel Kinahan (46) to be charged with the crime. He was one of up to a dozen people named in the file and Byrne was another. The file remains with the DPP who will ultimately decide whether charges are to be pursued. Gardai believe it is likely they will get a charge against a number of those named in the file. Byrne was arrested on two occasions in connection with the horrific killing while serving his sentence in Mountjoy Prison. Byrne, who has 44 previous convictions, was convicted in 2021 by the Special Criminal Court of five charges arising from the armed robbery of BoyleSports in Applewood Village in Swords, Co. Dublin, in March, 2010. He was caged for 17-anda-half years. He had pleaded not guilty to the robbery, possession of a firearm, false imprisonment, threatening to kill, and to unlawfully seizing a vehicle used in the getaway. He is now appealing that conviction. At the Court of Appeal, John D Fitzgerald SC, for Byrne, said the conviction of his client could have been unsafe due to the lack of contemporaneous notes taken by gardai around the CCTV identification process. Kinahan thug Trevor Byrne Mr Fitzgerald said his client was appealing the convictions, submitting that the identification evidence of Detective Garda Patrick McDonagh from the CCTV footage recorded inside the bookies should not have been admissible in the trial. Det Gda McDonagh was the only officer in the case to give evidence of recognising Byrne from the CCTV. The detective said he had worked in Finglas for 17 years and been on regular mobile patrols during which he encountered the appellant and had previously arrested him. Det Gda McDonagh said he was 100 per-cent certain the man in the footage was Byrne. He said he had not been given any details of the purpose of the identification request other than that there had been a robbery and that the getaway car had been abandoned in Finglas. Shane Costello SC, for the State, said there had been no unfairness in the procedure, that the Pace code did not apply to this jurisdiction and that the failure to record the process did not render the evidence inadmissible but merely meant a consideration was needed regarding what weight to give the evidence. President of the Garda Representative Association slams lack of clarity on legislation when dealing with far-right Newly appointed President of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) Mark OMeara has said gardai have the right to defend themselves in the face of threatening behaviour and violence. Speaking as this weeks GRA annual conference came to a close and as violent clashes occurred between gardai and protestors at an anti immigrant protest in Newtownmountkennedy, Mr. OMeara told the Sunday World: Everyone understands the right for peaceful protest, he said. But when that line turns to intense intimidation and abuse while videoing the faces of gardai as was witnessed recorded and posted online, that is when it becomes unacceptable. And when that intimidation turns into threatening behaviour and violence, our members have to retain the right to protect themselves and the public and to restore public order. Asked specifically about the scenes that erupted in Newtownmountkennedy, the GRA President said: I cant really talk about that as there have been a number arrests, except to say that our thoughts are with our colleagues who were at the scene and carried out their duty in very difficult circumstances. Gardai had previously been criticised for failing to intervene during protests mounted by far-right agitators, targeting the homes of individuals. Most recently, such a protest occurred when balaclava-clad men erected posters outside the home of Childrens Minister Roderic OGorman. Mr OMeara said this protest has occurred at a time when a hands-off approach directed by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris was in operation. He said this policy had also been backed by Justice Minister Helen McEntee. He also added that rank-and-file gardai would be reluctant to deploy force at non-violent protests for fear of sanctioning, discipline and suspension. Before the Dublin riots, the Commissioner wanted a hands-off policy with peaceful protests, he said. And, even when there was an element of the far-right in them, the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said she endorsed the policy of a hands-off approach. Following the political outcry in the wake of the event at Minister OGormans home address, Mr OMeara confirmed that his members were now operating under a different policy approach. Now were seeing, he said, that we get an instruction from our Commissioner telling us we can use the legislation that we have to arrest these people. But you have to ask whether the existing legislation, the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and the Public Order Act, was drafted up to deal with a person wearing a balaclava at a peaceful protest. And the answer is possibly no. Mr OMeara said even the Taoiseach had previously queried whether the legislation in place is sufficient to deal with protests of this nature. He [Simon Harris] didnt query whether there was legislation he queried whether it was robust enough, he said. The GRA President Mark OMeara When your Taoiseach, publicly on the airwaves, passed that comment, it can only cause uncertainty among the members of An Garda Siochana. Combined with the lack of training in relation to legislation, it doesnt empower our members on the street. Where at times the use of reasonable force is required, they are going to question what they are doing for fear of further sanctioning, discipline and suspension. You can adapt your law to the situation if activities of people at the protests are putting a person in reasonable fear for their safety. But that needs to be trained and drilled into our members properly. The real difficulty for our younger members is that they have been trained in the college and they have received no further training other than online training since, which we believe is insignificant. And that creates a fear of implementing legislation because if they implement it incorrectly, they fear for their careers. Mr O Meara also was heavily critical of the equipment being supplied to gardai. When I left the college, I was given a riot helmet, he said. I still have it in my locker. Do young members get them now? No. So that is a problem. Mr OMeara said the activities of the far right are draining garda resources from other areas where they are needed. It puts massive strain on the resources there, he said. And were finding in different areas around the country, its new to the members and they havent been trained in that. I dont believe any of my colleagues will shy away from making an arrest. But the problem my colleagues have is that they are always in the unenviable position of having to justify their actions. A training course to deal with this is needed. We need more training around public order and protest removal. And we need more training for junior members leaving the Garda college. I also believe we should have refresher training relying on training from 27 or 28 years ago isnt good enough. We need refresher training now! Asking whether the rise of the far-right could now be considered one of the biggest issues facing gardai, Mr OMeara was unequivocal in his response. No! he said. It is a small group in society but we are concerned about it. Theres a big issue with the keyboard warriors. Groups who are putting up misinformation and false statements and people dont even try to check it out they just take it as gospel and react. We saw it during the riots, their message went out and we suddenly got this influx into the city centre. And then it suddenly it took off. That needs to be tackled. Some of the social media platforms are very difficult to tackle because the users are almost anonymous. So, it is difficult and is there is a rise in it? Yes! And it certainly wasnt as violent and aggressive as it is now. Rapist Creswell was facing a barrage of further sexual abuse allegations from more than a dozen women EVIL KILLER Jonathan Creswell was facing a catalogue of sex abuse allegations made by more than a dozen other women, we can reveal. The 36-year-old, who took his own life this week just hours after his trial for the murder and rape of Katie Simpson began, was facing further potential charges as detectives awaited the end of his court case. The Sunday World can today reveal that in the aftermath of Creswells initial appearance in court on charges of murdering Katie, a series of alleged victims came forward to the PSNI to make a serious number of complaints. The revelations come as we can reveal that despite his horrific reputation, he was worshipped as some sort of love God by a number of women in his life. And today we can reveal that despite being convicted of a shocking attack on a previous partner, some of these women acted like he was a cult leader so much so they were even prepared to cover up his murder of one of their supposed friends. Katie Simpson Police briefings seen by the Sunday World reveal how Creswell lived his life, openly sleeping with different women, with each knowing about the other. On the day Creswell attacked Katie, the briefings to the Public Prosecution Service reveal how his long-term partner Christina Simpson went to her sister Katies bedroom to find her sibling in bed with the twisted thug. The following morning 04.30hrs Christina observes Johnny sleeping in Katies bed with Katie. When Christina leaves at 06.00 she observes Johnny now sleeping in the spare room, the brifeing states. Early in the criminal case, during a bail application, one senior officer told the court that Creswell had been controlling Katie since she was nine or 10 and has control over other females. In the police briefings to the PPS, Hayley Robb details a phone call with Creswell on the day Katie is taken to hospital. She tells police she was on her way to meet the horse trainer for sex. It states: During this time he is on a call to Hayley, she is travelling on the understanding she will have sexual intercourse with Johnny. Other court hearings are told how Creswells own defence team described him as a philanderer. Jonathan Creswell It also emerged he not only slept with loads of women at the same time but he tapped them for massive cash loans. Sources say Creswell lived in squalor and never had money and never paid bills, running up huge debts in the process. One woman, who was in a relationship with Creswell from 2009 to 2019, had provided him with a 15,000 loan and also reported to police of being regularly abused. Detectives told the court a teenage girl had also spoken to police about being abused by Creswell. And we can reveal Katie also took out a 10,000 loan which was handed over to Creswell, and while she lay in hospital critically ill after being attacked by him, he approached her mother and asked for more money. Katie Simpson As well as Katie and her sister, Creswell also had sexual relations with the three women now awaiting sentence for trying to cover up his attack on his tragic victim. Jill Robinson, who admitted washing Creswells clothes at a launderette in Fintona, Co Tyrone, was a long-term associate of his who was heavily involved in the equestrian industry. Jill was around at the time of the incident with Abigail Lyle [the woman he threatened to kill in a bath of bleach] and was equally as loyal to him in that incident. Jill previously denied ever being in a relationship with him, however, others claim she was. She definitely was around him a lot and considered him her best friend. She put up bail for him from the outset but later withdrew due to public backlash. Jill Robinson (left) and Rose De Montmorency-Wright (right) Rose de Montmorency-Wright is a successful eventer who met Creswell through the equestrian scene while she was a teenager. Creswell described Rose as his Queen and she frequently stayed with him and Christina before finally moving in with them and she in turn was fiercely loyal to him. Fellow equestrian Hayley Robb was in a continuous relationship with Creswell since 2009, overlapping with Abigail and Christina. She took out huge loans for him and has been left having to pay them off. Hayley was utterly consumed with Creswell and tolerated a lot, says a source. Hayley Robb She described him being abusive and controlling and it was only when he was remanded she got the strength to really come clean about what really happened. She was the whistleblower in terms of the women who covered up and unfortunately despite her volunteering a lot of detail, she was hit the hardest by PPS. A lot of her actions were out of loyalty and potentially fear but she did try to do right by Katie in the end. She was the first to plead guilty and she put herself forward as a co-operating PPS witness, willing to give evidence against Creswell and the others. Her guilty plea sank Jill, as they washed his clothes together. Christina Nina Simpson was Creswells long-term partner and mother of his two children. They met when he came to work for Dr John Fitz Gillespie at Darton Ree Stables in Tynan, Co. Armagh. Perv Dolan masturbated in front of young girls Mark Dolan caught on CCTV about to expose himself to the three children Staff at the garage where convicted sex offender Mark Dolan works have expressed their anger that he is still employed there despite his conviction for masturbating in front of children. Mark Dolan (49) received a suspended sentence last month after pleading guilty to carrying out a sexual act in front of a child. Dolan drove from Athy to a quiet cul de sac in north Dublin, where he masturbated in front of four girls aged between six and eight for around 10 minutes saying to them, I hope you dont mind me doing this, girls. Mark Dolan The Sunday World revealed last week how the parents of Dolans victims were furious after discovering he moved from Athy to a house a short distance from where his victims live. Dolan has regularly been spotted at the north Dublin home, even though he works at an auto repair shop in Laois. Staff at the garage where Dolan has worked for 16 years have complained to management about having to work alongside Dolan since his conviction. A source said: Some of the staff are disgusted and want him gone. Two of the boys went in to the boss and said whats the story now that hes been convicted can he go now. However, the source said Dolan has been kept on despite the complaints by fellow staff. His employer gave a reference ahead of Dolans sentence hearing last month. Sources said that teenagers under 18 have worked at the garage on work experience before while Dolan was working there. Mark Dolan was caught on CCTV carrying out sex act in front of young kids The garage owner said there is currently no one under 18 working with Dolan. Thats incorrect so good luck. Good luck. He declined to comment any further and then hung up. A source said that a number of years ago Dolan kept asking a teenage girl who worked with him for her number. He kept at her for her number. She went to a mechanic about it who told Dolan to stop and he made out he was only messing with her. There was no suspicion about him at that stage so people thought it was just a joke that was inappropriate at the time but it wasnt. The source said Dolan told colleagues after he had been charged that he had just been trying to urinate by a tree. However, they were disgusted when they found out the truth. The source said Dolan has been arrogant since his suspended sentence. The whole thing is just wrong. His arrogance is a joke. Theres a weird thing with him. He has a few people on board and he has the chest out going around like he is a great lad. Hes got away with it. The source said Dolan called in last Monday to take a day off work because he was unhappy with the Sunday World coverage of him last weekend but then came back to work as normal on Tuesday. He added that Dolan has previously been involved in the scouts but is no longer a member. Parents of Dolans victims say that his car was parked up outside the Dublin house near where they live a number of times this week. How we covered the story The car was gone on Sunday but was there on Monday most of the day so we thought he didnt go to work, one mother said. The neck of him. He should have been packing his bags. His car has been there intermittently since then. I cant believe hes still there. I have to protect my daughter. He is a danger to children and I just cannot comprehend why he is insistent on living so close to his victims. Is he getting a thrill out of it? He has to be getting some kind of a thrill. She said she is surprised his employer gave him a reference in court and has kept him on despite the protestations of staff members. Im extremely angry that any employer would want a registered sex offender on the books. The employees have already complained but hes still there. Its just bizarre. Most people wouldnt want to be within ten feet of someone like. Again, were just reinforcing that kids dont matter. Mark Dolan was caught on CCTV carrying out sex act in front of young kids The mother who last week revealed how she had been walking with her daughter last weekend when Dolan came out of the house where he was staying, but thankfully her daughter didnt see him. She said she is still angry that Dolan would put himself in a position where his victims could see him. He said in court he was disgusted with himself for the trauma he caused the children, total nonsense. His actions are saying the complete opposite. He is the one that did something wrong but Im the one going around skullduggery in case my daughter sees him. All our daughters think the bad man is in jail. It was the only way we could get them to go back outside like little kids should. A new proposal allowing migrants to be returned to the UK from Ireland will be brought before Cabinet next week Taoiseach Simon Harris has said a new proposal allowing migrants to be returned to the UK from Ireland will be brought before Cabinet next week. Earlier this week Justice Minister Helen McEntee claimed before the Oireachtas Justice Committee that more than 80pc of migrants entering Ireland are coming from the UK via the Border. Mr Harris was speaking following a service in Co Monaghan to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Fine Gael Senator Billy Fox, who was the only member of the Oireachtas to be murdered during the Troubles. He said other countries policies on migration will not be allowed have an impact on those of Ireland. Every country is entitled to have its own migration policy, but I certainly don't intend to allow anybody else's migration policy affects the integrity of our own one. This country will not in any way, shape or form provide a loophole for anybody elses migration challenges. That's very clear, other countries can decide how they wish to advance migration. From an Irish perspective, we intend to have a firm, rules-based system where rules are in place, where rules are enforced and where rules are seen to be enforced." There was an agreement in place between Ireland and the UK for the return of migrants previously which was the subject of a High Court decision in March. It ruled that Irelands designation of the UK as a safe third country for returning asylum seekers, in the context of Britains Rwanda plan, is contrary to EU law. Ms McEntee will bring a proposal before Cabinet on Tuesday for a new agreement on the return of migrants between Ireland and the UK. Meanwhile Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has defended her partys rhetoric on open borders, arguing that it has long been her position on immigration. She was speaking at the launch of the partys local, European and Limerick mayoral election campaign in Dublin. Ms McDonald claimed that there has been a lot of misinformation around migration and accused the Government of scrambling on the issue. Sinn Fein is not for open borders, we are for a system that is fair, human rights compliant, efficient, she said on Sunday. Also speaking in Dublin on Sunday, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill called for a thought-out response to people who seek asylum in Ireland after travelling from the UK. Sinn Fein vice president Ms ONeill said neither Simon Harris, Micheal Martin nor Helen McEntee had yet been in contact with her about planned legislation on asylum seekers arriving in Ireland from the UK. I am the First Minister in the north and I have yet to hear from the Taoiseach or the Tanaiste or the Justice Minister, she said. To me, that highlights, maybe even underlines, how disorganised they are in dealing with this issue. Policy responsibility for migration and immigration sits with the British government, Im aware that Helen McEntee is to meet (Home Secretary) James Cleverly over the course of the next 24-36 hours. Theres also a British-Irish intergovernmental conference this week, this is the forum in which these issues need to be addressed. This is the forum in which there should be a solution coming out the other end, but a thought-out solution, an actually considered solution, a human rights compliant solution, and we look forward to (that) over the next couple of days. Jeffrey Donaldson joined the Orange Order aged 16 and he rose to make Assistant Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland Rape suspect Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP has received a second red card from the Orange Order, the Sunday World can reveal. The 61-year-old politicians name had been pencilled-in to deliver his Christian Testimony at a special Tent Mission Hall in the Kingdom of Mourne, where Donaldson was born and raised. Jeffrey Donaldson joined the Orange Order aged 16 and he rose to make Assistant Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. But after his appearance at Newry Magistrates Court on Wednesday on rape and other serious child sex charges, the Orange Order in his home district moved to remove his name from a list of speakers scheduled to speak in the Tent Mission Hall. Lady Eleanor Donaldson outside court Until the Covid crisis struck, the Mourne Mission in Kilkeel was one of the main highlights in the Orange summer calendar. Based in a specially constructed marquee-style Mission Tent on the Leestone Road near the beach at the fishing port, it nightly attracts hundreds of committed Christians over a two-week period. Organised by the Orange Orders District No 6, the Mourne Mission is due to run from Sunday May 26 until Sunday June 9. And the Sunday World learned Sir Jeffrey who was born and raised at nearby Ballinran and who is a member of the Orangefield LOL had been scheduled to deliver his Christian testimony on the Sunday evening. Belfast-based evangelist John Weir is also a guest preacher. But we can reveal that the Orange Order removed Sir Jeffreys name from a list of guest speakers after he and his wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson appeared before the Magistrates Court in Newry on Wednesday. Yesterday, Mourne District Orange Order chaplain Gregory Nicholson who was one of those behind the removal of Donaldsons name from the speakers list told the Sunday World: Jeffrey Donaldsons name was removed from the list. It was the right thing to do under the circumstances. Weve removed him and well get someone else or work out a Plan B. Its a very sad situation. We are hoping for a great turnout in Kilkeel and we need it. Weve had a few tragedies here. But sometimes God can move peoples hearts through tragedy. The Mourne District invite He added: Well be putting the new arrangements up on the District No 6 Facebook page. Following Sir Jeffreys arrest on March 28, the Grand Lodge of Ireland which is the Orange Orders ruling body moved swiftly to suspend the veteran member. And in a statement, it said: Jeffrey Donaldsons membership has been suspended in accordance with the rules of the Loyal Orange Institution, pending the outcome of the legal process. Sir Jeffreys strong links to the Orange Order have boosted his political career and before defecting to the DUP, he had been tipped to reach the very top of the Ulster Unionist Party. He had donned the uniform of Ulster Defence Regiment during the Troubles. And Donaldson had also acted as campaign manager to South Down MP Enoch Powell during two successful elections. An ultra-right carpetbagger politician and former British army brigadier, Powell attended Donaldsons wedding. And friends say that one of Donaldsons most treasured possessions is a photograph of Powell kissing the bride. In 1997, Jeffrey Donaldson became UUP MP for the Lagan Valley constituency following the resignation of party leader Sir James Molyneaux, for whom he had also worked as a Parliamentary Assistant. But on the morning of the day the Good Friday Agreement was signed 10 April 1998 Donaldson walked away, claiming lack of progress on IRA weapons decommissioning as his reasons. Jeffrey Donaldson with his wife Eleanor and Enoch Powell on their wedding day In the years following the signing of the GFA, Donaldson ploughed a lonely political furrow. Donaldson was reduced to being a one-man band, although he still retained substantial personal support in his Lagan Valley constituency. It emerged though that Jeffrey was having cordial late-night discussions at Westminster with DUP big beasts Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds. And he was informed that any inquiry from him about joining the party would be looked upon favourably by both of them. The door is already open Jeffrey. All you have to do is push it, he was advised by representatives of two powerful factions within the DUP. As he continued to witness a decline in unionist support for the UUP, Jeffrey began to wonder if a place in the DUP front bench would give him the support he needed to help negotiate a more acceptable agreement. Jeffrey Donaldson with David Trimble He knew he would soon have to make his mind up about joining the DUP or remaining an independent MP. According to Dr Noel Davidsons authorised Jeffrey Donaldson autobiography, it was in December 2003 that the south Down man finally decided to make his move. On Saturday January 3, 2004, Donaldson was invited to tea in the home of DUP leader Dr Ian Paisley. And two days later, the stage was set for a triumvirate of UUP defectors Jeffrey, Arlene Foster and Norah Beare to jump ship and join the DUP, giving the party a major boost. Appointed a Privy Councillor, the political career of the future Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was on the up and up. And his destiny dream to sit on the red leather benches of the House of Lords seemed assured. Today, that dream lies in tatters. Infamous hardman Bobby Tohill talks from his death bed about republican life as he prepares to meet his maker Bobby Tohill in his living room beside a picture of Bobby Sands Bobby Tohill talking to our reporter in hospital in 2004 after a failed kidnap attempt Notorious IRA hitman Bobby Tohill says he is in his death throes but has no regrets about his life. Given just nine months to live by doctors less than a year ago, time is fading fast for the former IRA hardman who instilled fear during his time as an active member of the terror groups ruthless D Company in west Belfast before joining the ranks of the INLA. As rumours of his demise spiralled out of control on social media this weekend, Tohill gave an exclusive bedside interview to the Sunday World and revealed he has no regrets about his blood-soaked past yet admitted he has some sadness in his heart for the pain and suffering he caused. When asked if he was a killer and who he killed, he refused to be specific. He will take that part of his life story to the grave. I want to make this clear: I have no regrets, none, none, absolutely none. I did what I did because I had to, no one forced me to do the things I did, I did them and have no regrets, Tohill told the Sunday World. Bobby Tohill on the lower Falls Roads I dont regret a single part of my life but as Im in the death throes, Im sad that people had to die, but they had to, just as I am now. Were people hurt by me? I do wish that things never happened in the first place? But I had no choice, I am facing my God. Did I kill anyone during my time being active? I cant answer that, I couldnt answer that. I would implicate myself and my comrades in a very serious way. All I can tell you is I played a major role. I was involved in hurting and killing people during the struggle, Tohill told the Sunday World. The 66-year-old father-of-six remains a dedicated Irish republican and his broken body belies an undiminished allegiance to the cause. A ruthless operator, there is no doubt he took lives and ruined lives. His sworn allegiance to the IRA wasnt enough to insulate him. Unhappy with the direction in which the Provos were going, he defected to the INLA and it was rumoured he had joined the Real IRA which he denies. On a Friday night in February 2004 a four-man IRA snatch squad swooped on Kellys Cellars bar in Belfast city centre to abduct him. Bobby Tohill talking to our reporter in hospital in 2004 after a failed kidnap attempt It took 10 minutes to overpower him and bundle him into a van. He was bound for the border and an executioners bullet, only for the unlikely intervention of an unmarked police car which rammed the van. Speaking to the Sunday World at the time from his hospital bed, he told us he knew his time was up. He said he received a savage beating at the hands of his abductors. Tohill had been implicated in the murder of his childhood friend Danny McGurk in 2003. Although he was arrested and released, he was always under suspicion for his alleged role in the brutal assassination. He still denies any involvement. No, I did not kill Danny McGurk. He was my friend, a lifelong friend, since we were young, growing up on the Lower Falls. Yes, I was part of D Company then INLA, but not the Real IRA but I did not pull the trigger on Danny McGurk, no. I wasnt on the front line in those days with any organisation, I was on the periphery of the Real IRA, never a member and I did not kill Danny. There were elements within my own community who thought I was involved but I can tell you now, no. When I came back from Dublin I left after the kidnapping I was slightly mixed up. I was never a member of the Real IRA, never. Diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver too late, there is nothing doctors can do. Tohill has faced death before hes been shot and beaten on multiple occasions. His kidnapping in 2004 almost brought the peace process down as he fingered the IRA as being responsible when interviewed by this reporter at his hospital bedside in Belfasts RVH. He said this week: Yeah, I have faced death before; times when I knew I was going to die, like when I was kidnapped and many more occasions. But the difference is that I was in control, I knew what I was doing, I knew the dangers, I knew who and what I was fighting, in the back of the van, yeah I knew I was going to die but it was by my own hand, my own actions. Bobby Tohill in his living room beside a picture of Bobby Sands Today I know I am going to die, but I have no control, life has dealt me this card. I have no control over what is happening to me. I know there are people who will think I deserve this, I dont. I was given nine months, that has passed. How long do I have? I cant answer that. All the signs of my ailment are starting to show. My legs and arms are starting to swell, they are bleeding, massive weight loss, I think I lost about five stone, Im on my way to meet my maker. I dont want forgiveness from anyone, but understanding. I am a genuine, kind, and peaceful man in the wrong place at the wrong time. I will go to my grave with the wish of peace and happiness across the world, I dont want another Bobby Tohill in this world. The former Big Brother winner scooped up the gong for Irelands Most Stylish Man at the InterContinental Hotel in Dublin Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian will welcome their new child in July Brian Dowling revealed his second childs due date for the first time at the Platinum VIP Style Awards on Friday night. The former Big Brother winner scooped up the gong for Irelands Most Stylish Man at the InterContinental Hotel in Dublin, beating out the likes of Baz Ashmawy, James Patrice, and James Kavanagh. Brian is set to become a father for the second time this summer almost two years after he and his husband Arthur Gourounlian welcomed their daughter Blake into the world with the help of Brians sister Aoife, who acted as surrogate. Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian with their first child, Blake Aoife is helping the couple become parents once again by carrying their new baby and Brian finally confirmed their little ones due date this weekend. In his Style Awards acceptance speech, he gushed: Arthur and I are technically pregnant with our second child, so Im going to dedicate this award to our second child whos due on Independence Day, July 4th! Speaking to the Sunday World about expanding their family, Brian admitted that his sister Aoife has kept her pregnancy private as she got a bit of a hard time from online trolls last time. We obviously went through a lot of it the last time, as in the negativity and the trolling, so this time Aoife made a conscious decision herself not to be so obvious on Instagram because she got a bit of a hard time and we got a bit of a hard time, he explained. So, this time Aoife said to us, listen, Id rather if I just stepped back a little bit, and we obviously have to respect that. Shes doing great, just really tired. Shes not been sick, which is amazing. Gender The bump is so different. The pregnancy is so different. Blake moved around so much but this baby is a little shyer. Katja Mia The Six OClock Show host admitted he didnt sleep for weeks when Blake was born and vows to be a bit more relaxed and not panic with baby number two, whose gender he and Arthur are keeping as a secret. I feel like the second time around, Ive already done it. Blakes nearly two years old. Shes healthy, shes happy, shes content, so clearly weve done something right, Brian told us. Early July is like weeks away! Were very excited that we get to do it again. Blake has been such a good kid. Shes really just been so fabulous. Shes prepared us in a way, I think, to do it again. Arthur chimed in: Then again, you never know because Blake is wild. I mean, shes an incredible baby and she feeds, she sleeps, but shes wild. So, you never know what the second one will be like! Dozens of other well-known faces lined out at the five-star InterContinental Hotel, where the VIP Style Awards were held for the first time back in 2001, on the night, including Rosanna Davison, Muireann OConnell, and Erica-Cody. Rosanna Davison Irelands Fittest Family host and Former Miss Sunday World, Laura Fox took over presenting duties, dishing out awards to Doireann Garrihy, Bonnie Ryan, and Lisa Jordan, who won Best Dressed on the Night. Virgin Media star Katja Mia took home the gong for Irelands Most Stylish Woman, looking the part in a delicately beaded navy velvet gown from Irish brand Folkster, which she paired with a white train. What an honour it is to win Most Stylish Woman of the Year at the VIP Style Awards! And it was chosen by YOU! Still in shock! she wrote on Instagram. Thank you to everyone who voted, the kindness and love I have fell upon the last year has been a true gift. MetService is reporting that the North Island/Te Ika-a-Maui had the "chilliest temperatures" overnight on Saturday, especially about the Central Plateau. The temperature at Taupo Airport dropped to -1.5 degrees Celsius, Raetihi was -1.8, Galatea -2.2, Desert Road -3.4, and south Waiouru was the lowest at -4.0 degrees Celsius. It turns out that the date April 28 has been noteworthy over the last 100 years for weather-related events occurring on this day in New Zealand. Temperatures across the Central Plateau on Saturday night, April 27, 2024. Background image: Primo's webcam over Tarata in Taranaki. The MetService have posted some interesting facts from this day in history on their Facebook page. Looking through the records, the 28th of April often seems to be quite eventful weather-wise, but not this year, says MetService's Clare O'Connor. In 1932, two yachts and a launch were pounded to pieces in a fierce easterly gale which struck Auckland during the morning. A number of other boats were blown ashore and were damaged. A visit to the waterfront showed the gale in its ugliest mood. An unusually muddy looking harbour was white with broken water. In 1990, a New Plymouth hotel suffered damage when it was hit by lightning. The lightning blew out the hotels telephone system, fire alarm, tills, computers, televisions, videos, antenna system and refrigerators. In 2002 on this day, the occupants of a house on the southwestern shore of Lake Taupo escaped uninjured after a lightning strike badly damaged their house. The lightning started a small fire and blew out a wall in the house. In 2006, a Whakatane primary school was shut down after a bolt of lightning struck an outside light attached to a classroom. A 10-year-old student described the bolt of lightning as a shotgun going off in his ear. The school lost power to a large portion of its buildings. On this day in 2014, more than 300 homes in Timaru lost power due to strong winds damaging power lines. Strong winds brought down a large tree west of Wanaka, completely blocking Mt Aspiring Road. Finally, in 2015, a heavy downpour of rain in the early hours caused considerable surface flooding in central parts of Wellington. Between 4am and 5am, 18mm of rain was recorded at Kelburn. Cold start on Saturday Saturday morning was also a cold start for many, with most of New Zealand recording less than 10 degrees Celsius at around 7am. New Zealand temperatures recorded at 7am on Saturday April 27. Image: MetService. Clare says that Christchurch/Otautahi dipped to -2.9 degrees Celsius at 6.09am, on Saturday morning. [This is] not only the coldest morning recorded at Christchurch Airport in 2024 (so far!) but the third coldest April temperature we have recorded there since 1954! says Clare. Over the other side of the city, New Brighton Pier was 4.5 degrees Celsius on Saturday morning. On this day [April 27] in weather history, in 1870: Snow blanketed the streets of Christchurch during a particularly cold southerly outbreak, says Clare. Clear night skies perfect for star gazing It turns out that cold overnight temperatures are often an indicator of a clear night skies, says the MetService. As we move into the waning moon phases, the evening sky darkens quickly after sunset, says Clare. In the west, Orion - or The Pot - sits low in the sky, with the bright stars of Rigel/Puanga and Betelgeuse/Putara putting on a show as they twinkle above the horizon." Western sky. Image: MetService. Slightly higher in the sky and hard to miss is Sirius/Takurua - turning towards the south and looking slightly higher again is Canopus/Aotahi," says Clare. These two stars are the brightest that you can see in the night sky. As they set around 11pm, these stars will begin to sparkle due to the distortion of the atmosphere. Three zodiac constellations are visible in the bottom image: Gemini, Cancer, and Leo. Cancer is between Gemini and Taurus, but the legend goes that the crab ate all the bright stars of the constellation; hence there's not a lot to see! "The Bay of Plenty will cloud over overnight but early in the evening tonight is your best chance to spot those stars; although they will be visible after sunset for another couple of weeks yet," says Clare. Night sky constellation. Image: MetService. For those wanting to learn more about star constellations, check out your local astronomical society. RASNZ has a directory here: www.rasnz.org.nz/affiliated-societies/general-information. The Tauranga Astronomical Society, which meets at their observatory in Fergusson Park, Tauranga, is due to hold their next meeting on May 14. This will coincide with the Moon being at an ideal phase for viewing the craters, through the society's telescopes, weather permitting. With all this wonderful 'geeking out' around weather history facts and exploring the stars, the question is, says Clare at MetService, do you want a cold morning but sunny day, or a cold snow day? The weather ahead On Tuesday, April 30, a front, preceded by a strong moist northwesterly flow, is expected to move northeast over the lower South Island. There is moderate confidence that rainfall accumulations will meet warning criteria in Fiordland, and low confidence for Westland District. There is also low confidence that northwest gales will become severe for a time in Fiordland, Southland and Otago. On Wednesday, the front weakens as it moves northwards, followed by a cool southwesterly flow. There is low confidence of significant heavy rain over Westland district. Cold and showery southwesterlies are expected to affect many areas on Thursday, however, severe weather is unlikely. At the end of the week on Friday, May 3. the cool southwesterly flow is expected to ease, with severe weather again unlikely. A line of students snakes around the table piled high with food. They know the drill and bring bags to fill. Breads, meats and dairy products the process is just like shopping except no payment is required. Every week a local charity sets up shop on campus and every week the students come. This is the reality for many tertiary students who are struggling to meet the rising cost of living. Struggling tertiary students are lining up for food parcels each week as the cost-of-living crisis eats into their budgets. Food charity Good Neighbour has given away $136,000 worth of food in the past financial year to students at the University of Waikato and Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology in Tauranga. Students associations say the trend is occurring at tertiary institutes across the country as it gets harder for akonga/students to cope with skyrocketing food prices. . The situation is compounded by rental costs in Tauranga, which exceed the national average and are forcing some locals to live in boats and vans. Good Neighbour general manager Renee Hanna says a growing number of students have been using the food service since the charity started in 2020, particularly in the past year. It seems to have gone from [an] additional bonus to we now rely on this, we need this food. Good Neighbour general manager Renee Hanna says there's more need than ever for the food it repurposes for students. Photo / Alex Cairns. Renee says students are unlikely to ask for help and are often suffering in silence, with those unable to access the student allowance suffering the most. For students under 24, eligibility for a student allowance is calculated on parental income. Families who earned above the eligibility threshold are often struggling to put food on their own tables, let alone support their tertiary students. Renee says these are the students falling through the loophole. You get so financially stressed that everythings just hard Student Jess, 20, who spoke on condition her surname was not published, is ineligible for a student allowance and relied heavily on her student loan. She works casual shifts at an after-school care facility, without which she could not afford to cover her basic living costs. You get so financially stressed that everythings just hard. She's reluctant to ask her parents for help and feels guilty asking for money. We complain about a lot ... the cost of life and studying, [so] its actually nice to be seen and heard, she sayd. It is getting harder Waikato Student Union president George Liu says students have always done it tough but it is getting harder. More students are experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. The union offers services such as the Kai Cupboard, where students can pick food up for free, and staff provide regular barbecues. In 2023 alone, WSU delivered 1200 Good Neighbour food parcels to students in Tauranga. Waikato Student Union president George Liu says students' lives have been becoming progressively harder. Increased rents in the Bay are effectively driving students out of certain rental markets. Third-year student Faith Healey, 20, says finding accommodation in Tauranga is hard because, in her view, some landlords don't think students are reliable enough to pay rent on time every week. During the summer when her student loan was paused, Faith was able to secure only 16 hours per week of work. Without her partners financial support, she says she would only have $5 left weekly after covering her costs. You cant even go on the benefit as youre still a registered student, she says. Uni is such a distant reality for some University of Waikato student Rhea, 20, who also doesn't want her surname published due to privacy reasons, says it's become harder over the past three years to survive and notes that parking is an issue. Taking public transport is not always an option due to her schedule. Rhea says she doesn't know how people get through years of study without family support. Finding and affording parking are concerns for tertiary students in Tauranga's CBD. Photo / Bevan Conley. Its such a distant reality for some to even go to university, which is really sad because everyone should have the same opportunity ... to have this education, and living at home is not always an option. Once rent and necessary expenses are taken care of, many are left with little for groceries. Rhea says a whole bunch of us will often benefit from food handouts by Good Neighbour with the student union. Yesterday, I got a bag with toilet paper, milk, oats, muesli bars, baked beans, she says. If we go into uni and weve no lunch, we could probably go ask for some noodles or something like that. Physical, mental and general wellbeing affected Students around the country are facing similar challenges. A Victoria University of Wellington Students Association spokesperson says students are working more and are finding it harder to make ends meet. Otago University Students Association president Keegan Wells says: The skyrocketing price of healthy food is nearly impossible to maintain on a students budget, especially during winter, noting this negatively impacts students physical, mental and general wellbeing. Keegan says the association has noticed a significant increase in food parcel requests over the last few years, particularly as local rent continues to increase coupled with rising food costs. It also provides food vouchers sponsored by a private donor. University of Canterbury Students Association president Luc MacKay says the Studylink income is not enough to live on with rent of $180 to $200 per week consuming half their income, meaning part-time work is necessary. Students experiencing poverty Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology faculty dean Bart Vosse says some students experience poverty. Engagement facilitators support students with budgeting, student loans and fees, and hardship assistance. A University of Waikato spokesperson says students leaving home for study are particularly affected by the cost of living, and the university offers residential scholarships and self-catered studio rooms which accommodate 91 students. Director of student services Brett McEwan says 45 per cent of students living in its Tauranga accommodation have a university-funded scholarship. To offer a cost-effective solution for students living outside the main centres, a joint transport initiative between the University of Waikato, Toi Ohomai and Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council was created. A regional bus service offering free or reduced fares to tertiary students aims to "alleviate fuel and parking concerns", according to Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Stuart Nightingale. Photo / NZME. The Regional Tertiary Commuter Baybus offers services from Whakatane, Katikati and Rotorua to Tauranga, and Murupara and Tauranga to Rotorua. All, except for the Katikati to Tauranga route, are free for those with a valid student ID from a NZQA-registered institution. Council transport operations manager Stuart Nightingale says fares are kept affordable with significant concessions for tertiary students and aims at alleviating parking and fuel concerns. Government not in a position to splash the cash Asked during a visit to Tauranga if students need more government support, Associate Minister of Education David Seymour says he recognises how hard it is for students and recalls still having student debt when he was elected to Parliament. He cites the rising cost of rents as the primary reason students were finding it tougher now, but aside from the annual standard adjustments where student allowances were increased by five per cent on April 1, the Government is not in a position to [splash] the cash at any particular problem. Seymour says he doens't know how students manage rental costs and that its very, tough, however, the Government is up against it trying to balance the budget, so theres no area where youre going to see more spending. -Bay of Plenty Times. The story of Alejandro, the 13-year-old boy in Spain who has saved his mother's life twice The first time was when he was just three years old, and the second occasion was four years ago Roberto G. Lastra Rioja Sunday, 28 April 2024, 09:21 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X (antes Twitter) LinkedIn Telegram Threads They look at each other with pride, they embrace, they kiss... It is a very close mother-son bond, as if the umbilical cord, severed 13 years ago, remained intact. She, Monica Galilea, brought him into the world, but he, Alejandro Lopez de Murillas Galilea, barely a teenager, has given her life, literally, and twice. The case has not been forgotten at SOS Rioja, as was recalled a few days ago by some of the professionals who went to CEIP Varia school, in the Varea neighbourhood of Logrono, to give pupils a presentation of the course '112 Emergencies in Schools', an educational project to promote what to do. Alejandro had also previously participated in the course at his school, Maristas, and was able to take advantage of the classes to save the life of his mother, who he had already saved from the risk of a lethal coma when he was only three years old, as both mother and son told Diario La Rioja, a sister newspaper of SUR. Alejandro is shy and finds it hard to open up. His gaze, in the first moments, does not stray from the camera. Monica is diabetic and a sudden drop in her blood sugar a decade ago almost proved fatal. "He was only three years old at the time, and when he couldn't wake me up, he phoned my mother, who was the one who phoned 112, and his other grandmother, to get them to come quickly. Everything was solved thanks to him, he saved my life," she says, hugging her son, the first of several during the brief interview. Alejandro becomes more confident and tells his version, based on some faint recollections and what he has been told. "Yes, I was very young and I think I was very nervous at the time, so while I was waiting for them to come and help my mother, I watched TV to relax a bit." Years later, at his school, Alejandro, like the rest of his primary school classmates, took part in the '112 Emergencies in Schools' project promoted by the regional ministry of health and social policies, through the sub-directorate general for emergencies and civil protection. "They came to give us a course that consisted of telling us that whenever there was a problem concerning an illness, accident or something bad, we should call a recommended number, which was 112. They explained to us how it worked, what it was for and how it could help us. They also showed us some videos with examples of accidents and illnesses," recalls the teenager, who four years ago, in the middle of the pandemic, and still a child, was subjected to a new test of responsibility. Damp cloth and sugar "It was in 2020, and it was just the two of us at home, because my husband was working. I checked my blood sugar, I took a shot, we ate and I laid down on the sofa for a while, but I fell asleep so fast that I had a sugar crash and I didn't know anything about it," recalls Monica, before handing over the spotlight to her son. "I was doing some homework that had been sent to me and when I finished, I picked up my mobile phone and started watching YouTube and things like that. As my mother told me to wake her up at a certain time, I went to wake her, but she didn't respond. I called her several times, but she didn't answer and I started to worry," explains the minor. "As I'm a bit nervous and I was afraid of not knowing how to answer the doctors' questions, I first called my grandmother, who told me that she would call the ambulance. She told me to put a damp cloth on my mother's forehead and put a little sugar in her mouth, so that's what I did. I stayed with my mother while waiting for 112 to call me. They phoned immediately and I gave them the location, and they asked me to open the door as soon as they arrived. By this time, my father and grandmother were already on their way to our house," he explains, adding, slightly embarrassed, "I think I remember that everything was sorted out when they arrived." Her son's punch line brings out a motherly laugh. "Hahahahaha, if it hadn't been resolved I wouldn't be here, but of course he doesn't remember well because he was 10 years old," says Monica, who is aware that she is still in this world because of her son: "The 112 emergency services who came to attend me told me straight away, without any doubts, that my son had saved my life both times. In these cases of low blood sugar, which are much more dangerous than high blood sugar, because it goes up gradually, you can go into a coma. I wear glucose sensors, but that day it didn't work. Thank goodness I had my other sensor by my side, my guardian angel," says the proud woman, adding, with a kiss to her son, that "although it hasn't happened to me in the last four years and we hope it doesn't, I know that if it does, he would save me again". Dear Amy: My friend Tina and I have been friends since college and are now in our 50s. When we met we were members of a campus religious organization, however as the years passed we both drifted away from our religious affiliations. I now would call myself agnostic. Recently, Tina had a difficult break-up with a significant other. Since the split she has returned to religion and now mentions it often, which makes me somewhat uncomfortable, as it seems she may be trying to get me back in the fold. Over Easter, she went to church and decided that she wanted to be baptized. She scheduled it at a friends church three hours away. She said she would like for me to go, however, I explained that I would not be able to attend due to the short notice. She was forced to cancel due to a family emergency, but then told me that she would reschedule her baptism so that I could plan on attending. The problem is, I dont have any desire to go. While I dont begrudge her any comfort her faith is bringing her, I am not interested and dont want to feel pressured to participate. How do I back out gracefully without hurting her feelings? Agnostic Dear Agnostic: I believe that in this context, honesty is not only called for, but it is also the most graceful way to handle this. You need to state a version of the following: Im very happy for you to have renewed your faith, but over the years weve known each other, Ive made my own choice about religion and dont participate. I wont be at your baptism ceremony, but I hope it is a joyous event for you, and I wish you all the very best as you move forward in your faith. You cant really control your friends response to this, but while she has the right to affirm her faith, you also have the right to affirm your own stand on religion. Neither of you should proselytize, and you should determine to carry on in an attitude of mutual respect. (You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.) 2023 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Herkimer, N.Y. -- A 90-year-old woman died Thursday after a vehicle rear-ended the car she was driving in Herkimer County, pushing it into oncoming traffic, troopers said. The woman killed was Doris Palczynski, of Herkimer, Trooper Jack Keller, a spokesperson for the State Police, said in a news release. Around 4:16 p.m. Wednesday, troopers responded to State Route 28 in the Town of Herkimer for a three-car accident, Keller said. Palczynski, of Herkimer, was traveling north on State Route 28 when she slowed down to pull into her driveway, Keller said. A vehicle, driven by Greta Elliot, 40, of Mohawk, rear-ended Palczynskis vehicle, Keller said. Palczynskis vehicle was pushed into oncoming traffic colliding with a third vehicle driven by Sharon Kupiec, 36, of Newport, Keller said. Keller said Palczynski was taken to Little Falls Hospital, and later moved to Albany Medical Center where she later died from her injuries. She was pronounced dead the next day on April 25, he said. State Police are investigating the crash. Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com anjan_c2007 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 8,499 Thanked: 21,704 Times View My Garage Gujarat government bans bright, white, unauthorised LED lights No doubt, these bright or extra bright white LED headlights have been a public nuisance, but rarely has such a crackdown been initiated by a state government. Its praiseworthy that Gujarat took the step forward. Other state/UT governments need to also take lead in curbing the menace of such bright and unauthorised white LED lights to make the roads safer. The Transport Commissioner's office would do better, if they seek clearance from the Gujarat High Court for taking such a measure. They need to cite safety and the larger public interest reasons for taking such a corrective measure, lest someone file a writ petition sooner or later to get a stay for the government's action. Also bribery and underhand dealings could play spoilsport. Quote: The installation of unauthorized white LED headlights in any type of vehicle is now prohibited, according to a directive issued by the Commissionerate of Transport. Vehicle owners caught with such modifications will face penalties. The Ahmedabad RTO has already initiated a campaign targeting vehicles with unauthorised lights. In the directive, the Commissionerate highlighted the seriousness of the issue, citing the danger posed to traffic by vehicles with excessively bright or unauthorized additional lights. The letter requires all RTOs under the Commissionerates jurisdiction to conduct enforcement drives and submit action taken reports. The issue of LED lights is not only confined to urban areas but also extends to vehicles with white headlights on highways, becoming a distraction for drivers in other vehicles and leading to numerous accidents. In the future, authorities will also crack down on auto accessory shops selling and installing unauthorised white LED lights. https://deshgujarat.com/2024/04/22/v...-begins-drive/ As a step in the right direction the Gujarat government has banned unauthorised white LED headlights in all types of vehicles. These have a blinding effect on the oncoming traffic users, also distracting their attention. Multiple complaints have been received by the Transport Department in Gujarat, which has triggered the crackdown. The authorities as a next step will also penalise accessory and spare shops/ auto- electricians selling or installing such accessories.No doubt, these bright or extra bright white LED headlights have been a public nuisance, but rarely has such a crackdown been initiated by a state government. Its praiseworthy that Gujarat took the step forward. Other state/UT governments need to also take lead in curbing the menace of such bright and unauthorised white LED lights to make the roads safer.The Transport Commissioner's office would do better, if they seek clearance from the Gujarat High Court for taking such a measure. They need to cite safety and the larger public interest reasons for taking such a corrective measure, lest someone file a writ petition sooner or later to get a stay for the government's action.Also bribery and underhand dealings could play spoilsport.The link:- Last edited by anjan_c2007 : 24th April 2024 at 21:08 . Forward-looking: The Chips Act was born out of a desire to give the US economy a boost following the pandemic and to improve its competitiveness profile on the global stage. Little did its advocates know how successful it would prove to be. Thanks to the investments, by 2030, the US will probably produce around 20% of the world's most advanced chips, up from zero percent today. Last week President Biden visited Syracuse, NY, to do something government officials typically do: tout a massive investment in the local economy. But this was not just any investment it was $6.1 billion provided by the CHIPS and Science Act to Micron Technology, which plans to spend $100 billion building a manufacturing campus in Syracuse's northern suburbs, as well as a factory in Boise, Idaho. The investment will have significant impacts on Syracuse, which is hopeful it will revive the local economy. It has a larger significance as well: it is the latest in a series of federal grants doled out under the Chips Act that has spurred an unexpected investment boom across the US. Multi-billion-dollar grants have been provided to Intel for projects in Arizona, Ohio, New Mexico and Oregon; TSMC for projects in Arizona; and most recently Samsung for projects in central Texas. The US government has now spent over half of its $39 billion in Chips Act incentives with chip companies and supply chain partners announcing investments totaling $327 billion over the next 10 years. There has also been a 15-fold increase in the construction of manufacturing facilities for computing and electronics devices. Consider the impact of the Micron investment. Its Idaho facility is expected to be production-ready by 2026, followed by the two facilities in New York in 2028 and 2029. The White House predicts they will create 20,000 construction and manufacturing jobs as well as tens of thousands of indirect jobs in the regions. It is doubtful the Act's proponents envisioned such wild success when they were advocating for its passage. Instead, the focus was on the increasingly dwindling competitiveness of the US semiconductor industry on the global stage. As the Semiconductor Industry Association noted at the time, the share of modern semiconductor manufacturing capacity located in the US has eroded from 37% in 1990 to 12% today, mostly because other countries' governments have invested ambitiously in chip manufacturing incentives and the US government has not. Meanwhile, federal investments in chip research have held flat as a share of GDP, while other countries have significantly ramped up research investments. Fast forward a few short years and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is claiming that by 2030, the US will probably produce around 20% of the world's most advanced chips, up from zero percent today. This will go far in reducing the US' dependence on global supply lines, a painful lesson brought home during the pandemic. It probably won't mean complete self-sufficiency, given that the US consumes over a quarter of the world's chips, writes Chris Miller, author of Chip War, in the Financial Times. "Production of smartphones and consumer electronics would be disrupted in the event of a crisis in east Asia, an ever looming fear," he says. "But this production would be roughly enough for the needs of critical infrastructure like data centers and telecoms." Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software is on the verge of hitting the Chinese market after CEO Elon Musk paid a surprise visit to Beijing to negotiate its implementation with top regulators. Musk's visit, as reported by Reuters, shows Tesla's goal of bringing its most advanced autonomous driving technology to China, the company's second-largest market worldwide beyond its home market, the United States. According to Reuters, Musk arrived in Beijing to meet with officials and discuss not just the implementation of FSD, but also the authority to transfer data obtained in China for training Tesla's autonomous driving algorithms. Tesla CEO Elon Musk gestures during the Tesla China-made Model 3 Delivery Ceremony in Shanghai. Tesla CEO Elon Musk presented the first batch of made-in-China cars to ordinary buyers on January 7, 2020 in a milestone for the company's new Shanghai "giga-factory", but which comes as sales decelerate in the world's largest electric-vehicle market. Is Tesla Bringing Its Self-driving Technology to China? Despite years of customer demand for FSD, Tesla has yet to make it available in China, even though it launched FSD in the United States four years ago. Musk did, however, post on social media site X earlier this month that FSD would be available in China "very soon." The delay in introducing FSD to China has enabled Chinese automakers like Xpeng to gain traction by releasing similar autonomous driving software. Tesla's debut in the Chinese FSD market has the potential to increase competition in the country's fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) sector. To address regulatory concerns, Tesla has been storing all data collected by its Chinese fleet in Shanghai since 2021, as mandated by Chinese regulators. Musk's discussions with Chinese officials aim to obtain approval for transferring this data overseas to enhance Tesla's autonomous driving technologies. Musk's itinerary in Beijing included a meeting with Ren Hongbin, head of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, coinciding with the ongoing Beijing auto show. Despite not having a booth at the auto show, Musk's visit underscores Tesla's strategic focus on the Chinese market. In a recent video posted on social media, Musk after arriving in China expressed optimism about the future of electric vehicles in China, stating, "All cars will be electric in the future." Read Also : Tesla Cybertruck Powers Your Home and More with New Charging Tech Recent Challenges Meanwhile, Tesla is facing issues in its home market, as evidenced by its recent decision to lay off 10% of its global workforce due to declining sales and increased pricing competition from Chinese EV companies. In addition, the US auto safety regulator has launched an inquiry into whether Tesla's recall of over 2 million vehicles in the US to install updated Autopilot safeguards was sufficient in the wake of a string of crashes. Critics accuse Musk of exaggerating the prospectsfor full autonomous driving to boost Tesla's stock price, which has fallen by over a third since the start of the year. Musk, on the other hand, remains undeterred in his vision for Tesla's future, revealing plans to deliver new, cheaper models as well as a "robotaxi" equipped with self-driving technology. Elon Musk also called the robotaxi a "Cybercab" in Tesla's earnings call. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), a defense contractor, has been awarded a $13 billion contract by the US Air Force to upgrade its aging fleet of E-4B "Doomsday' Nightwatch aircraft. The plan is to replace USAF's four 1970s-era E-4B aircraft, commonly known as the National Emergency Airborne Command Post, with a new and improved Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC), the company said in a recent news release. US President Joe Biden boards Air Force One at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas, on March 21, 2024, as he returns to the White House. Biden was in Texas as part of a three-day campaign trip. Air Force Awards SNC $13B Contract for New 'Doomsday' Aircraft The SAOC program, which is set to run until July 2036, will see SNC take over the modification of Boeing's 747-8i aircraft, which will serve as the platform for the new command and control planes. This decision comes after Boeing withdrew from the contract, allowing SNC to emerge as the winner. As the chosen contractor, SNC boasts a considerable aerospace and defense resume, which includes prior projects such as the A-29 Super Tucano and C-130s. The company's responsibilities will include not only aircraft modification but also the integration of essential military systems such as air refueling and secure communications. Read Also : [WATCH] US DARPA Releases Footage of First Ever AI vs Human Dogfight Air Force to Improve Defense Against Nuclear, Electromagnetic Pulse Attacks Improving the nuclear command and control capabilities of the Air Force is one of the main goals of the SAOC program. In times of crisis, the high-altitude, in-flight refueling E-4B aircraft is an invaluable tool for maintaining national security and government operations. Breaking Defense tells us that the President, Secretary of Defense, and Joint Chiefs of Staff, among other top leaders, will receive crucial support from the new SAOC planes, which are outfitted with cutting-edge satellite communications capabilities and shielded from electromagnetic pulse impacts. With a request for almost $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2025 and an allocation of $744 million for the SAOC program in fiscal year 2024, the Air Force is prepared to advance its drive to modernize its nuclear portfolio. The SAOC initiative is a long-term strategic investment in the nation's defense capabilities. tapping into the expertise of industry leaders such as SNC, the Air Force hopes to ensure that its airborne command and control capabilities remain operationally relevant and secure in a constantly evolving threat landscape. SNC Wins Contract Against Boeing In addition to improving the aircraft's military capabilities, SNC plans to also fortify civilian planes against electronic and nuclear attacks. This multifaceted strategy emphasizes the SAOC program's comprehensive nature, which goes beyond the aircraft to include ground support systems and future modifications. Reuters tells us that the victory by SNC follows Boeing's unexpected withdrawal from the competition, apparently due to difficulties in reaching an agreement on contract structure and data rights. Nonetheless, SNC's win is an important milestone for the company, reaffirming its status as a major player in the defense industry. Stay posted here at Tech Times. The inaugural London Defense Tech Hackathon brought together technology, venture capital, and national security leaders to develop novel solutions. This event comes in light of the UK announcement of its largest military support package for Ukraine, 3 billion ($3.7 billion) for the current fiscal year amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Besides traditional military weapons, a new tech project announced over the weekend aims to boost Ukraine's asymmetric warfare capabilities against Russia. Alex Fitzgerald of Skyral and Richard Pass of Future Forces organized the hackathon, which attracted both hardware and software developers, with support from the Honourable Artillery Company, Apollo Defense, Lambda Automatam D3 VC, and others, per TechCrunch. The London hackathon prioritized defense, national security, and deep tech developments, with a particular focus on drones and digital warfare. Innovations to Address Real-World Challenges Given the use of drones and electronic countermeasures in the Ukraine war, the hackathon aimed to connect civilian and military tech demands. Participants were instructed to imagine military technology's effects. A hackathon in El Segundo, California, earlier this year inspired the London hackathon, wherein organizers compared civilian digital innovation to military technology's promise and stressed the significance of making it accessible and meaningful. Apollo Defense's Catarina Buchatskiy, born Ukrainian, stressed the need to address real-world challenges to her country. She underlined the importance of hackathons in encouraging innovation and integrating varied military stakeholders. The NATO Investment Fund's presence demonstrated NATO's commitment to European defense innovation. Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky, a fund partner, stressed the fund's focus on collective defense and resilience solutions. Alex Flamant, an HCVC investor, emphasized the importance of European defense technology investment and demystifying the market for young entrepreneurs. The hackathon participants wanted to help solve security issues, including drone detection and monitoring. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently unveiled the UK's biggest military aid package for Ukraine, raising worries that Vladimir Putin's objectives go beyond Ukraine. According to The Guardian, the UK Prime Minister met with Polish President Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Poland on Tuesday and discussed European security and Russia. Sunak also visited Germany to meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz to boost defense partnerships The UK provides Kyiv with 400 vehicles, over 1,600 missiles, 4 million rounds of ammunition, 60 boats, and 500 million in military financing, totaling 3 billion this financial year. "Defending Ukraine against Russia's brutal ambitions is vital for our security and for all of Europe," Sunak said before his diplomatic meetings. UK Deepens Support for Ukraine to Win Fight Against Russia UK's military support for Ukraine promotes European stability, according to UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps. "We have been at the forefront of providing support to Ukraine, from NLAW missiles to modern tanks and long-range missiles," he said. "Our commitment deepens. Ukraine faces an existential fight, but with our support, they will win," as quoted in an Al Jazeera report. The following year, Chancellor Sunak proposed to Poland the deployment of an RAF Typhoon squadron for NATO air policing above Poland. As Russia advances militarily and targets infrastructure in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for more Western aid. The US House recently approved $60 billion in military aid for Ukraine. The measure seeks Senate approval, with deliberations that started this week. A recent report from the Australian Anti-Scam Centre revealed disturbing figures about online scams in Australia. According to the report (via News.com.au), scammers cost Australians a startling $2.3 billion in 2023, with over 601,000 cases recorded to authorities. While losses declined by 13.1% over the previous year, the number of reported frauds increased by 18.5%, revealing the ongoing threat posed by online fraud. A recent report reveals online scams cost Australians $2.3 billion in 2023. Investment scams top the list, with social media emerging as a key platform for fraud. Online Scams Cost Australians Billions Last Year Investment scams emerged as the most costly, accounting for a staggering $1.3 billion in damages. Remote access scams totaled $256 million, followed by romance scams at $201.1 million. Particularly troubling is the disproportionate impact on people over the age of 65, who saw a 13.3% increase in reported losses, mostly owing to investment frauds. These findings show the need to carry out tailored measures to safeguard vulnerable demographics from falling prey to online fraud. Social Media Opened More Australians to Scams The report also revealed how scammers lure their victims. Contact initiated through social media platforms has emerged as one of the most used means for fraud, with text messages being the most commonly reported contact method, up 37.3% from the previous year. Despite this, scam calls caused the most reported losses, totaling $116 million, followed closely by frauds originating from social media contact, which cost $93.5 million. Furthermore, people from culturally and linguistically diverse areas were shown to be disproportionately affected by job scams. Many people fell victim to scammers offering part-time work or ways to supplement their income, underlining the importance of focused outreach and awareness programs in these regions. Read Also : US Court Rules Police Can Force Suspects to Unlock Phones via Thumbprint Government Officials Call on Citizens to be More Vigilant In response to these alarming trends, government officials have reiterated the need to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones acknowledged the report's positive early findings but emphasized that fraud losses remain unacceptably high. ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe echoed these sentiments, expressing optimism about coordinated efforts to reduce scam losses. She emphasized the need for a comprehensive Scams Code Framework with enforceable obligations on banks, telecommunication companies, and digital platforms to prevent scammers from exploiting weaknesses in the system. Additionally, she highlighted the importance of data sharing and intelligence gathering in combating online fraud effectively. Card Fraud Numbers on the Rise In related news, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released figures back in March indicating a concerning rise in card fraud cases. An estimated 1.8 million Australians experienced card fraud in 2022-23, representing an increase from the previous year. Buying or selling scams, including false billing and online shopping scams, were identified as the most common types of fraud, affecting nearly 200,000 Australians. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Shanghai releases new promotional video to attract global audiences (People's Daily App) 15:17, April 28, 2024 Shanghai recently released the "Shanghai, Let's Meet" promotional video series to showcase its vibrant culture and attract global visitors. The latest installment, "Go and See Shanghai" (English version), offers a unique perspective on the city's dynamic urban development and the captivating charm of its culture. German and Korean versions were released in March. (Video source: Shanghai Daily; Compiled by Liang Xiaojian) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Several Nigerian and Vietnamese suspects in a money laundering case are arrested in HCMC, April 2024. Photo courtesy of the police A Nigerian man was detained in Ho Chi Minh City Saturday for allegedly forming over 250 companies to launder money for other foreign-based criminals. Eneh Davidson Caleb, 28, along with his Vietnamese wife Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, 35, and 11 others have been detained by HCMC police on charges of money laundering and illegally trafficking money across borders. Earlier this month, police received reports about a company in Ukraine that had been conned by a criminal group using forged email addresses. The company had agreed to transfer money into certain bank accounts in HCMC per the fraudsters request. By tracing the money flow, police discovered that the money was transferred several times before being withdrawn and brought to Cambodia. Investigators then discovered the ring was a foreign group cooperating with Vietnamese collaborators. Police launched a full-scale investigation into the group, collecting evidence to ascertain their exact identities, locations, and crush the entirety of their criminal activities. Investigators identified 13 suspects in relation to the case. They discovered that the suspects had formed a total of 250 companies, either directly or by hiring someone else to do so. They had also opened fraudulent bank accounts they used for criminal activities, investigators said. The police then identified over 100 bank accounts related to the case. Having by then accumulated all the digital evidence they needed, law enforcement agency forces raided 12 locations to seize physical evidence. At Caleb and his wifes house, special forces confiscated 234 seals belonging to the companies formed for the sake of money laundering. Nigerian arrested in HCMC for laundering foreign criminal money Kham xet uong day rua tien HCMC police raid several locations related to a money laundering case. Video courtesy of the police Authorities said the criminals had been conning foreign companies into giving them money that they would then transfer to companies formed in Vietnam, masquerading as partners of the conned firms. These funds would then be transferred internationally multiple times before being withdrawn, according to authorities. Investigators said the cash would eventually be transferred to the Yen Sao Kingfood facility on District 11's Le Dai Hanh Street, and the Duc Long gold shop on Tan Binh District's Pham Van Hai Street. The money would then be transported to Cambodia, police said. Raids at the two aforementioned locations resulted in the confiscation of VND9 billion ($355,099) and $1.5 million in cash, along with other foreign currencies. Initial investigations revealed that the total value of illegal transactions at the Duc Long gold shop amounted to around VND13 trillion. Further investigations into the case are ongoing. Tours from Vietnam to South Korea, China, and Japan were fully booked from mid-April, bustling with the departures of thousands of travelers on Saturday, the first day of the five-day Reunification Day holiday. Waiting to check in for her flight to Taiwan at Hanoi's Noi Bai airport on Saturday afternoon, Bich Loan, a 32-year-old woman from the northern city of Hai Phong, expressed excitement and nerves about her first trip abroad. She initially considered spending the holiday in the coastal city of Da Nang with her mother and sister. However, she changed her mind after seeing the high domestic flight prices. Loan and her family were not the only travelers to switch from domestic to international tours during this holiday period. Tran Thi Bao Thu, marketing director at travel agency Vietluxtour, explained that the spike in domestic flight prices pushed up the cost of domestic tours, leading 60-70% of their agencys clients to opt for international tours. Vietluxtour had over 30 tours heading to China departing on Saturday, with each group having at least 30 people. "We had a similar number of groups departing the day before," said Thu, adding that the number of travelers departing Sunday is expected to be "no less." Vietnamese tourists depart for Taiwan from Hanoi's Noi Bai airport on the morning of April 27, 2024. Photo by Redtours Flamingo Travel agency Trang An Travel is also set to take nearly 1,000 clients on tours to China during this holiday, including over 300 on road trips and the remaining, divided into 30 groups, by air. Nguyen Thanh Thu, a 38-year-old tour guide from Ho Chi Minh City, specializing in tours departing from Vietnam to international destinations, mentioned that she and her colleagues were fully booked for the holiday. One of the tours she accompanied during this period is a six-day and five-night trip for a group of 15 Vietnamese people to Chinas Fenghuang Ancient City, starting on Saturday. She noted that there was currently a shortage of Chinese guides who speak Vietnamese to serve Vietnamese peoples high demands of traveling to China. Japan, South Korea, and China are the destinations with the highest growth in tour purchases compared to last year, according to statistics from many travel companies. According to Dutchtravel app Booking, the three countries were highly ranked among the top 10 international destinations booked by Vietnamese travelers for the holiday, with check-in dates between April 26 and May 1. Nguyen Huu Cuong, general director of travel agency Trang An Travel, reported about a 20% increase in his companys bookings for South Korea, China, and Japan tours departing during the holiday, compared to the same period last year. Compared to the Lunar New Year holiday in February, the number of tours of this group surged by 15%. Cuong also said his companys Northeast Asia tours for the Reunification Day holiday were fully booked from April 24, with certain tours even sold out since the beginning of the month. The road trip tours to China were fully booked from mid-month. "This year, most Asian travel markets have fully recovered, offering guests more options, thus leading to more outbound travel," he said. Yoshida Kenji, head of the Japan National Tourism Organization in Vietnam, said that this years number of Vietnamese travelers to Japan increased compared to 2023, thanks to the availability of more charter flights connecting Vietnam with various provinces like Kagoshima, Kagawa, and Fukushima. Thu also noted that the Northeast Asia tours her company operated saw an increase of around 25% compared to the same period in 2023. "These tours are always the stars in the list of overseas destinations chosen by Vietnamese clients at our company," she added. Vietnamese travelers waiting at the Vietnam-China border gate to enter China on the morning of April 27, 2024, at the northern province of Lao Cai. Photo by Hoang Viet Travel A tour to South Korea, departing on April 30 and spanning a duration of five days and four nights, costs from VND13.8 million (US$545). A tour to Japan that lasts for six days, and five nights starts at VND29.4 million. Meanwhile, the prices for tours to China vary widely, from under VND5 million to over VND20 million, due to the diversity of destinations and means of travel. Besides these destinations, European and Southeast Asian destinations like Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia are also popular choices for Vietnamese travelers. Such tours attract many customers on regular days, not just during holidays. Despite the surge in flight prices, domestic travel still attracted a higher number of clients than international travel this Reunification Day holiday, according to Thu. Groups traveling to domestic destinations often number from hundreds to thousands of people, in contrast to the smaller groups of only tens of travelers going to overseas destinations. Philippines to endure extreme heat until mid-May Manila, April 28 (AFP) Apr 28, 2024 Unusually hot weather in the Philippines was expected to last until mid-May, a forecaster said Sunday, after the temperature hit a record high in the capital Manila. Extreme heat has scorched Southeast Asia in recent days, prompting thousands of schools to suspend in-person classes and authorities to issue health warnings. In the Philippines, many people flocked to air-conditioned shopping malls and swimming pools for relief from the relentless heat. "This is the hottest I've ever experienced here," said Nancy Bautista, 65, whose resort in Cavite province near Manila was fully booked due to the hot weather. "Many of our guests are friends and families. They swim in the pool to fight the heat." The temperature in Manila hit a record high of 38.8 degrees Celsius (101.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday with the heat index reaching 45C, data from the state weather forecaster showed. The heat index measures what a temperature feels like, taking into account humidity. The months of March, April and May are typically the hottest and driest time of the year, but this year's conditions have been exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon. "All places in the country, not necessarily just Metro Manila, are expected to have hotter temperatures until the second week of May," Glaiza Escullar of the state weather forecaster told AFP. "There is a possibility that the areas will exceed those temperatures being measured today until the second week of May." Camiling municipality in Tarlac province, north of Manila, recorded a temperature of 40.3C on Saturday -- the country's highest this year. As the mercury rose, Gerise Reyes, 31, planned to take her two-year-old daughter to a shopping mall near Manila. "It's hot here at home. This is the hottest I've ever experienced especially between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm," she said. "We need a free aircon to cut our electricity bill." Global temperatures hit record highs last year, and the United Nations' weather and climate agency said Tuesday that Asia was warming at a particularly rapid pace. The Philippines ranks among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Schools closed, warnings issued as Asia swelters in extreme heatwave Manila, April 28 (AFP) Apr 28, 2024 South and Southeast Asia braced for more extreme heat on Sunday as authorities across the region issued health warnings and residents fled to parks and air-conditioned malls for relief. A wave of exceptionally hot weather has blasted the region over the past week, sending the mercury as high as 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) and forcing thousands of schools to tell students to stay home. The Philippines announced on Sunday the suspension of in-person classes at all public schools for two days after a record-shattering day of heat in the capital Manila. In Thailand, where at least 30 people have died of heatstroke so far this year, the meteorological department warned of "severe conditions" after temperatures in a northern province exceeded 44.1C (111.4F) on Saturday. And in Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, India and Bangladesh, forecasters warned that temperatures could exceed 40C in the coming days as people endured searing heat and stifling humidity. "I dare not go out in the daytime. I am worried we would get heatstroke," said a 39-year-old cashier in Myanmar's Yangon who gave her name as San Yin. She said she has been going to a park with her husband and four-year-old son at night to escape the heat of their fourth-floor apartment. "This is the only spot we can stay to avoid the heat in our neighbourhood," she said. Global temperatures hit record highs last year, and the United Nations weather and climate agency said Tuesday that Asia was warming at a particularly rapid pace. Extensive scientific research has found climate change is causing heat waves to become longer, more frequent and more intense. - No relief - Myanmar has recorded temperatures that are 3-4C higher than the April average, its weather monitor said last week. And on Sunday, the national forecaster predicted temperatures in the central city of Mandalay could rise to 43C. The ministry of water and meteorology in Cambodia warned that temperatures could also hit 43C in some parts of the country in the week ahead, while the health ministry advised people to monitor their health "during hot weather related to climate change". Temperatures in Vietnam were also forecast to remain high during a five-day national holiday, with forecasts as high as 41C in the north. Forecasters there said it would remain intensely hot until the end of April, with cooler conditions expected in May. India's weather department said Saturday that severe heatwave conditions would continue through the weekend in several states, with temperatures soaring to 44C in some locations. "I have never experienced this heat before," Ananth Nadiger, a 37-year-old advertising professional, told AFP from Bengaluru. "It's very unpleasant and it takes the energy out of you." The world's biggest democracy is in the middle of a six-week general election that saw millions of voters queue up in searing temperatures on Friday. India's election commission said it had formed a task force to review the impact of heatwaves and humidity before each round of voting. And in Bangladesh, millions of students returned to schools that had been closed due to extreme temperatures, even though its weather bureau said Sunday the heatwave would continue for at least the next three days. "I went to the school with my 13-year-old daughter. She was happy her school was open. But I was tense," said Lucky Begum, whose daughter is enrolled at a state-run school in Dhaka. "The heat is too much," she told AFP. "She already got heat rashes from sweating. I hope she does not get sick." - School closures - The suspension of in-person classes in the Philippines came after Manila witnessed its highest temperature ever recorded, with jeepney drivers also planning a nationwide strike on Monday and Tuesday. The temperature in the capital hit a record 38.8C (101.8F) on Saturday, with the heat index reaching 45C, data from the state weather forecaster showed. The heat index measures what a temperature feels like, taking into account humidity. Many schools in the Philippines have no air-conditioning, leaving students to swelter in crowded, poorly ventilated classrooms. The hot weather persisted on Sunday, with many flocking to air-conditioned shopping malls and swimming pools for relief. "This is the hottest I've ever experienced here," said Nancy Bautista, 65, whose resort in Cavite province near Manila was fully booked. "Many of our guests are friends and families. They swim in the pool to fight the heat." March, April and May are typically the hottest and driest months of the year in the region but this year's conditions have been exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon. "All places in the country, not necessarily just Metro Manila, are expected to have hotter temperatures until the second week of May," Glaiza Escullar of the state weather forecaster told AFP. Camiling municipality in Tarlac province, north of Manila, recorded a temperature of 40.3C (104.5F) on Saturday -- the highest in the Philippines this year. As the mercury rose, Gerise Reyes, 31, planned to take her two-year-old daughter to a shopping mall near Manila. "It's hot here at home. This is the hottest I've ever experienced, especially between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm," she said. "We need a free aircon to cut our electricity bill." On 19 April in Budapest, we held a panel discussion focused on the connection between Christian thought and values and the strengthening of democracy on the European continent. The panel was moderated by Teplan Istvan, President of Prosum Foundation. Former presidential candidate in Hungary and Professor of Economics at Oxford University, Peter Rona, opened the panel by setting the historical context. He argued that Europe in the form it is now is inconceivable without the likes of Shakespeare, Kant, Descartes, Bach, Spinoza etc.; likewise, we cannot imagine it without St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, Luther and the Christian faith. Christianity is part of the story of Europe, the ethical structure of our European civilisation is inextricably linked to Christianity. Modern European democracy is built on the teachings of Jesus and the tenets of St. Paul: (1) that all human beings are created by God and are His children- this is what the concept of equality is based on; and (2) that we have a soul, a conscience and free will. From this second tenet comes the idea of personal responsibility for our own acts to ourselves and to God. A secular power, therefore, cannot own, subject or control our soul and conscience. Professor Rona continued in subsequent interventions to speak about the role of Constitutions as tools to limit political power, to hold those in power accountable and he pointed to the ironic contradiction in Hungarian law which says that changes to the Hungarian Constitution cannot be decided via referendum. The next speaker, Pal Csaky, former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia for European affairs, human rights and minorities and former MEP, spoke about the role and place of ethnic minorities in the European landscape. He shared his personal story and spoke about his lifetime work in service of minorities, concluding that the European Union is an extraordinary force for good in that respect, the best form of government to protect minority rights, cultural diversity and to ensure their harmonious co-existence. Jacques Bazen, ECPM board member and Lecturer at Saxion University, the Netherlands, presented the ECPM, its history and the work we do at European and national level. He spoke about our priorities and values during this campaign and about the collaboration with MEP Marton Gyongyosi and Jobbik Conservatives party. During the panel discussion, he focused on the global economic landscape and its implications for Europe. He offered a brief analysis of the economic power of some of the countries with imperialistic tendencies: while Russia's power of disinformation and cyberwarfare capabilities are effective, its economic might is the size of BeNeLux. China's profile grew considerably in the last decade and although its economic influence is considerable, it lacks soft power which is equally valuable in the global order. The United States are certainly a force to reckon with, especially militarily. But their society is dysfunctional and they are deeply divided politically. He concluded saying Europe has real economic power, it is the largest trading block in the world and has the potential to be even larger and more influential if there is political will and courage. MEP and Jobbik Conservatives president Marton Gyongyosi spoke about the threat of Russia to the European way of life and to our values, especially through disinformation. He took Hungary as example and started with a brief history review in which he demonstrated that his country has had to make a choice repeatedly: either to align with the powers in the West or with the ones in the East. Joining the European Union was another such choice and Hungary chose the West then once again. It is thus disheartening and shocking to him and to the Western powers how at this time Hungary is slowly being turned Eastward and there are doubts creeping up as to whether it belongs in the Union. He concluded saying that Europe must take this threat seriously and be vigilant, especially with Hungary taking over the Council Presidency in the next semester. The event was attended by 40 people: academics, students and civil society representatives who networked with the panelists and ECPM representatives over a light meal and drinks following the conference. A terraced field in the ripe rice season of the Mong ethnic people in Tua Chua. (Photo: VNA) Tua Chua is home to Trung Thu pine forest, ancient tea trees of Sin Chai, Ta Si Lang mountain ebony forests, ancient rocky plateau of Ta Phin, and a system of pristine and magnificent caves, making it prime real estate for adventures and exploration activities. The district also features a beautiful and diverse system of terraced fields, while being one of the two in the province with a flooded area from Son La hydropower reservoir. The advantage of the reservoir contributes to positioning Tua Chua within a region capable of linking tourism development among the three provinces of Dien Bien, Son La, and Lai Chau. Moreover, this area is home to seven ethnic groups, coexisting with diverse cultural identities, traditions, as well as unique cultural and tangible and intangible heritage, including the cultural space of traditional wet markets in Ta Sin Thang and Xa Nhe communes. During a survey of tourist attractions in Tua Chua, Nguyen Thanh Hai, Deputy General Director of Vietourist Company in Ho Chi Minh City, assessed that this land is blessed with stunning natural landscapes. However, according to the Tua Chua district People's Committee, tourism development in the district still faces limitations, with many potential yet to be exploited due to its remote location, far from the provincial centre and without a national highway passing through. Tourist sites have yet to receive cohesive and professional investment. Services are still lacking, simplistic and fail to prolong visitors stays. The district welcomed over 22,000 visitors in 2023, with the figure exceeding 10,000 within the first three months of this year. The number of tourists to the area and the revenue from tourism activities have so far increased significantly compared to the previous period. A Mong ethnic woman embroidering and sewing by a traditional Mong house (Photo: VNA) According to the provincial tourism development plan until 2025 with a vision towards 2030, the Tua Chua tourism area will step by step be built to meet the criteria set for a national tourism site. By 2030, it is expected to host over 40,000 visitors, of whom about 10% will be foreigners. Secretary of the Tua Chua Party Committee Vui Van Nguyen stated that the district is committed to sustainable, professional, and effective tourism development, striving to create a favourable environment to attract resources outside the local budget. Vietnamese arrivals to Japan continue to set record high The number of Vietnamese visitors to Japan in March reached a new record of 67,000, up 41% from 2019 and a rise of 25.6% compared to the same period from 2023, VOV reported statistics compiled by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO). Vietnamese arrivals to Japan continue to set record high During the first three months of the year Japan received 172,100 Vietnamese tourists, showing a year-on-year increase of 40.3%, higher than some Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia with 134,200 arrivals, Singapore with 132,000 arrivals, and Indonesia with 117,000 arrivals. These figures mean that Vietnam ranked ninth among the top 25 countries sending tourists to Japan during the January to March period, the JNTO reported. Japan is one of the top foreign destinations of Vietnamese holiday-makers as many people are keen to discover it during the cherry blossom season between late March and mid-April. Visitors can also watch flowers bloom in some areas until late May. Furthermore, tourists can easily fly to localities around Japan such as Kagoshima, Kagawa, and Fukishima prefectures from major cities in Vietnam. Vietjet aims for 27 million passengers, 25% dividend payout in 2024 According to VNA, Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company (HoSE: VJC) on April 26 organised the General Meeting of Shareholders (GMS) 2024 where the annual-business plan was approved. At the General Meeting of Shareholders (GMS) 2024 of Vietjet. (Photo: Vietjet ) The airline aims to maintain domestic market share, promoting cooperation and joint ventures to expand international flight routes. High growth targets in 2024 The GMS eyes air transport revenue and consolidated revenue to surpass 59 trillion VND (approx. 2.32 billion USD) and 65.5 trillion VND (approx. 2.57 billion USD) respectively, increasing by 10% and 12.4% YoY in the given order. Vietjet is expected to safely operate142,000 flights with more than 27.4 million passengers onboard. The GMS also approved the 2024 profit distribution plan, in which dividends and advanced dividends will be paid in cash and stock at a maximum ratio of 25%. The GMS also votes on various important issues targeting at promoting growth while responding flexibly to market changes, leading market trends, and creating new opportunities. Vietjet, with its leading market share, will maintain stability of the domestic market and at the same time expanding its flight network worldwide to new destinations in South Asia, Central Asia, Australia, and towards Europe. With the slogan Real deal to new me for 2024, Vietjet has pioneered in connecting Vietnam to the world. The carrier has announced and inaugurated many new international routes including Phu Quoc Taipei, Ho Chi Minh City - Chengdu, Xian and Ho Chi Minh City - Vientiane, and services from Hanoi to Hiroshima, Sydney, and Melbourne, etc. Leading international expansion and outstanding business performances in 2023 The financial statements for 2023 showed that despite the challenging economic situations in Vietnam and the world with volatile exchange rates and high oil prices. The expansion of its international network drove robust revenue, resulting in a positive balance sheet with financial indicators multiplying. Vietjet safely operated 133,000 flights with 25.3 million passengers onboard a surge of 183% YoY, of whom more than 7.6 million were flying internationally. In 2023, Vietjet launched 33 new domestic and international routes. It became the largest airlines operating between Vietnam and five biggest cities of Australia while having opened several routes to the Indian market and in particular the direct flightconnecting Hanoi and Jakarta (Indonesia) which had been off the radar of any airlines for decades. Vietjet also increased its flight frequency to Northeast Asian countries, becoming the airline with the highest frequency from Vietnam to Japan and South Korea. Vietjet's international flight routes have contributed greatly to promoting diplomatic activities and development of economic ties, trade, investment, and tourism between countries. Vietjet safely operated 133,000 flights with 25.3 million passengers onboard a surge of 183% YoY, of whom more than 7.6 million were flying internationally. (Photo: Vietjet) As of December 31, 2023, Vietjet's eco-friendly fleet of 105 aircraft, including A330s, optimizes resources, saves fuel, and aligns with long-term ESG goals. Over a decade, CO2 reduction efforts have saved up to 15-20% fuel, contributing significantly to sustainable development. ESG remains a strategic priority, driving resource optimization, fuel savings, and CO2 emission reductions through the airline's modern fleet. Focusing on human resource development, Vietjet Aviation Academy (VJAA) trained over 97,000 students through 6,300 courses. It also installed its third flight simulator, maintaining its position as a top-notch regional pilot training center. Effectively operating the current flight network while opening new international routes have resulted in impressive business performance for Vietjet in 2023. Seperate and consolidated revenue were reported at 53.7 trillion VND (approx. 2.16 billion USD) and 58.3 trillion VND (approx. 2.35 billion USD) respectively. As of December 31, 2023, Vietjet's total assets totaled more than 86.9 trillion VND (approx. 3.43 billion USD). The cash and cash equivalents balance was reported at 5.05 trillion (approx. 203 million USD), more than 2.7 times higher YoY, ensuring the airline's financial capacity./. About a month ago, my brother and I saw the Eric Bana movie The Dry 2: Forces of Nature. This title got even funnier after I saw the film and discovered it is entirely set in a rainforest. There is not a single dry thing in the movie. The Dry 2 has a measly 47 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes but I loved it, in particular for its ridiculousness. The movie was so over the top that it exhibited a form of actors brain the idea that what an actor is doing is so important and impactful that the rest of the world should thank them. Crocodile Dundee may be decades-old but it still inspired a $38 million Tourism Australia campaign that included an ad that aired during the 2018 Super Bowl. Credit: Tourism Australia While The Dry 2 and its sense of self-belief was ultimately endearing to me, too many Australian movies have become inflicted with this seriousness. We have a type of film now. In the 1980s and 1990s, that did not exist. During those decades, Australian cinema flourished with a diverse range of narratives and genres and included the likes of Crocodile Dundee, Mad Max 2, Monkey Grip, Proof, Muriels Wedding, The Castle, Priscilla ... and many more. These days, Aussie films seem so solemn all about murder, sexuality or drought. In the case of the original Dry, it scored an Aussie hat trick. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute has more to worry about at the moment than the Chinese armada the hawkish think tank insists will be upon us any day now. And with former Department of Foreign Affairs boss Peter Varghese due to complete his review of Commonwealth funding for strategic policy work within weeks, wed be nervous too. Senator James Paterson put in a good word for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen After all, we brought word this month of the demise of the China Matters think tank, which was doomed by the decision of the Morrison government, which had no time for the think tanks nuanced approach to relations with the emerging superpower, to cut funding. Strategic Policy Institute executive director Justin Bassi a captains pick by Peter Dutton to lead the institute after working for Liberal PM Malcolm Turnbull, defence minister Marise Payne and attorney-general George Brandis wrote in the dear old Canberra Times on Anzac Day that reports of his organisation being targeted by Chinese hackers proved the institute was a vital bulwark for Australian democracy. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australia Jewry, said the event was designed to split our country apart and induct children into racial hatred and religious extremism. Dr Elizabeth Strakosch, co-Executive Officer of the Jewish Council of Australia told the Herald: We should be proud of all of the students and children, many of whom are Jewish, who are speaking out against this unfolding genocide. We all seek to raise our children with a strong sense of values and what is right and wrong in the world. A statement from the organisers of the excursion, Families for Palestine, said the event was a peaceful gathering of multi- and no-faith people to educate children about social justice and solidarity, especially amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Children were encouraged to engage voluntarily with Palestinian issues, with chants and slogans led by both children and adults. No one chanted that Israel is haram; misreporting of this is dangerous, as it puts communities at risk of harassment, underscoring the significance of our educative work at Families for Palestine. We aim to raise socially conscious individuals empowered to advocate for justice, rejecting any suggestion of promoting violence or hatred. In one of the biggest protests on Brisbanes streets since 2020s Black Lives Matter marches, about 3000 people protested the alleged murders of 33 women in domestic violence attacks in Australia since the beginning of the year. Sundays march was part of a weekend of action in other Australian states to protest gender violence where speakers described male violence towards women as a health crisis. About 3000 people came to a gender violence rally in Brisbane to protest male violence against women which they say has seen 33 women murdered this year. Credit: Tony Moore Premier Steven Miles, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Yvette DAth and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli listened as speakers criticised governments for, they said, relying too heavily on police. Shaan Ross-Smith, a former DVConnect worker, prison counsellor, and now Griffith University academic, said the massive health issue started with men disrespecting women. 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. 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. More than 10,000 Victorians have rallied against gender-based violence, marching from Melbournes State Library to Federation Square on Sunday, chanting: Say it once, say it again: no excuse for violent men. Premier Jacinta Allan and federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus joined the rally, along with federal independent MPs Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel. The march was one of many held across the country in recent days to remember women who died due to domestic violence. Protesters rally in the Melbourne CBD against gender-based violence. Credit: Wayne Taylor Protesters held signs saying The system has failed us, calling the repeated deaths of women at the hands of men an epidemic. The names of dozens of Australian women killed this year were read out, and a flower was laid on a stage for each one. This photo shows an intelligent embroidery machine at the Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, new venue for Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, April 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) A parallel session of the 2024 Zhongguancun (ZGC) Forum in Brussels drew nearly 150 Chinese and European government officials, industry leaders, scholars and entrepreneurs. BRUSSELS, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Brussels hosted a dynamic Chinese tech forum on Friday, spotlighting vibrant discussions on eco-friendly collaboration between China and the European Union (EU). A parallel session of the 2024 Zhongguancun (ZGC) Forum in Brussels drew nearly 150 Chinese and European government officials, industry leaders, scholars and entrepreneurs. They held extensive discussions on green economy, innovative technologies and new energy vehicles. Zhongguancun, a major tech hub in Beijing, is home to more than 17,000 high-tech enterprises. Beijing Vice Mayor Tan Xuxiang presented the ZGC forum as a high-profile platform for global scientific and technological innovation exchange and cooperation. Delivering a welcome speech via video, Tan stressed the city's dedication to collaborating with European partners to advance research and applications in green technology and energy conservation. Zhu Jing, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Mission to the EU, highlighted the strong consensus between China and Europe on green and low-carbon development, pointing to substantial opportunities for collaboration in technology research and development, standardization, and industrial development. A staff member tries an AI project at the Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, new venue for Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, April 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) Zhu called for efforts from both sides to uphold market principles, oppose decoupling and disruption of supply chains, and enhance the ability to manage risks through cooperation. Salvatore Majorana, vice president of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation, told Xinhua that he was thrilled by China's tremendous move from being a "quantity player" to a hub of high-quality manufacturing. He noted that while China was once an importer of knowledge in the 1980s, it could now bring knowledge back to Europe. Founded in 2007, the ZGC Forum, with its enduring focus on innovation and development, has evolved into a national-level open innovation platform and an international forum. Editor: ZAD Australia is facing a national crisis of domestic violence, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says, one that will be the topic of a snap national cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning. The meeting will bring together Albanese and first ministers to discuss how to tackle rising violence against women and children. Albanese was heckled and cheered as he joined thousands of people at a rally in Canberra on Sunday one of several held around the country highlighting the urgent need to end the scourge. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attends a rally to a call for action to end violence against women, in Canberra on Sunday. Credit: AAP It was an emotionally charged event that left the organiser, Sarah Williams, visibly upset as the prime minister responded to her demand that he declare a national emergency. In an era where digital technology blurs the lines between reality and simulation, the musical landscape finds itself at a crossroads. A recent controversy involving Drake and the estate of Tupac Shakur underscores the emerging legal and ethical challenges faced by artists in this new digital frontier. The core of the controversy Last week, the music industry was abuzz when Drake released a diss track featuring what appeared to be the voice of the late Tupac Shakur. However, instead of celebrating this technological marvel, the move quickly spiraled into a legal threat from Tupacs estate. The heart of the issue centers on the unauthorized use of Tupacs voice, artificially generated via artificial intelligence, leading to immediate repercussions for Drake. Legal actions taken Tupacs estate issued a cease-and-desist letter to Drake, demanding the removal of the track from all public platforms. The estate expressed not only disappointment but also concern over the ethical implications of using such technology. This scenario raises questions about intellectual property rights when dealing with posthumous digital creations. Ethical considerations and artist relationships The decision to illicitly harness Tupacs AI-generated voice against another respected rapper, Kendrick Lamar, added layers to the conflict. Kendrick has publicly shown respect for Tupac, complicating the moral dimensions of the situation. Such actions might not only damage professional relationships but also tarnish legacies left behind by revered artists. Community response The reaction from the industry and fans has been mixed, with some calling for more rigorous regulations on AI technologies in artistic productions. Moreover, the involvement of other prominent voices like Snoop Dogg hints at wider implications and potential further disputes within the industry. Navigating AI legalities in music production The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence in music generation presents thrilling possibilities alongside formidable legal challenges. Identifying clear guidelines is essential to navigate this uncharted territory. Future implications include copyright management, personality rights, and possible exploitation concerns, necessitating proactive legal frameworks. Pioneering policies Laws concerning digital reproductions and AI are still in infancy. The Tupac-Drake incident underlines the urgent need for policies that both encourage innovation and protect individual rights. As lawmakers and creatives work towards common ground, the guiding principle should remain rooted in respect for artist legacy and integrity. A look forward: What next? How the music industry chooses to address these burgeoning issues will likely resonate across all of digital media. With every new technological advent, the balancing act between innovation and ethics becomes more precarious. Moving towards resolution It remains to be seen how disputes such as these will be resolved. However, one thing remains clear: As we march further into the digital age, the realms of law, technology, and art will increasingly intersect, necessitating dialogue and compromise among all stakeholders involved. Review existing copyright and intellectual property laws concerning AI. Develop clear standards and commitments respecting artist legacies in projects employing AI. Foster ongoing discussions among tech developers, legal experts, artists, and the public to shape the evolving narrative around AI in music. In conclusion, while the advent of AI in music opens innovative avenues, it also brings forth significant legal and ethical conundrums. Cases like Drakes involve multiple layers of ownership, creativity, and tribute, highlighting the complex interplay between evolving technologies and established norms. How the industry navigates these dilemmas will set important precedents for the future of digital creativity in music and beyond. Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actor goes missing; police file FIR NEW DELHI, A TEAM of the Delhi Police Special Cell on Saturday visited the house of actor Gurucharan Singh on Saturday to investigate his mysterious disappearance, officials said. The Delhi Police on Saturday lodged an FIR under Section 365 (abduction) over the disappearance of Singh, who plays the role of Roshan Singh Sodhi in the famous TV serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, they said. Multiple teams have been formed to find the 50-year-old actor, who resides in the Palam area here, after he went missing five days ago, the police said. He was last seen on April 22 near the Delhi airport with a backpack, the police said citing a CCTV footage. CCTV footage near his residence is being checked to know more about his route from his house to Delhi airport. Police sources said a team of two officers of the special cell on Saturday visited Singhs house and marked the area to collect more information on his route and other activities done by him after stepping out of the house. Actor Gurucharan Singh went missing on April 22 evening, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Rohit Meena said. Singhs father lodged a missing complaint saying his son had left for Mumbai on April 22 at 8.30 pm. He has been missing since then, Meena said. The actor had left his home here to take a flight for Mumbai. But he did not reach Mumbai, neither he returned to his home and his phone was also unreachable, the complaint stated. The officer said the police are investigating the entire matter from every angle. We are looking for footage and we have even found many vital clues through technical investigation. According to the CCTV footage, he was last seen near the airport with a backpack, the DCP said. 2 CRPF men killed in militant attack IMPHAL, TWO CRPF personnel were killed and two others injured as militants attacked a camp of security forces in Manipurs Bishnupur district in the early hours of Saturday, police said. 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 CRPFs 128 battalion, a senior police officer said. The deceased were identified as Sub-Inspector N Sarkar, a native of Assams 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. Manipur security advisor issues stern warning: 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, 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? 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. Air Force, Navy jets get Rampage missile boost By Ajit Dubey NEW DELHI, IN A major boost for firepower of its fighter aircraft fleet, the Indian Air Force has inducted the Rampage long-range supersonic air-to-ground missiles which can hit targets at around 250 Km. The missile known as the High-Speed Low Drag-Mark 2 missile in the Indian Air Force was reportedly used in a big way by the Israeli Air Force during its recent attacks on Iranian targets. The Indian Air Force has inducted the Rampage in its Russian-origin aircraft fleet including the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29 fighters along with the Jaguar fighter jets, defence sources told ANI. The Indian Navy has also inducted the missile in its fleet for the MiG-29K naval fighter jets, they said. The stand-off weapon will give Indian fighter pilots the option of engaging and taking out targets like communication centres or radar stations, the sources said. The procurement was part of the emergency powers given by the Defence Ministry to the armed forces to equip themselves with critical weapons and equipment after the standoff with China started in 2020. The missiles have a longer range than the Spice-2000s used in the Balakot air strikes in 2019. The Indian Air Force has gone in for multiple weapon systems including the long-range systems from both aboard and Indian vendors. Indian Air Force recently tested the ROCKS or the Crystal Maze-2 missile in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands territory. The air-launched ballistic missile had hit its target successfully in the trials done around a fortnight ago. Induction of the Rampage and integration with the Russian Su-30 has given a big boost to the Russian aircraft fleet which can now fire multiple long-range air-to-ground missiles including the over 400 Km strike range BrahMos supersonic missiles. 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) Editor: ZAD CBI to investigate Biranpur murder case Raipur, The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the probe into the murder of 22-year-old Bhuneshwar Sahu in communal violence in Biranpur, in Bemetara district, in April last year. A statement from the Press Information Bureau said the CBI on Friday re-registered a case in connection with the incident on a request of the Chhattisgarh Government that was received on April 25 as well as further notification by the Union governments Department of Personnel and Training on April 26. On April 8 last year, some children returning from school in Biranpur village were beaten up allegedly by members of another community over an altercation, and when Sahu and a few others went to the locality of the alleged accused, they were pelted with stones, as per police. 22-year-old Bhuneshwar Sahu died after being attacked with knives and other sharp weapons by 12 persons, all of whom were arrested at the time and are presently in judicial custody. The PIB statement said the CBI has now taken over the case registered on April 8 last year against these 12 persons in Saja police station in Bemetara under Indian Penal Code sections 147, 148, 149, 336, 307, 302 and 120-B. In a post on social media platform X on Saturday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, Now, CBI will investigate the Biranpur murder case. Based on the decision and consent of the cabinet of our government, the Centre has also issued a notification. Late Bhuneshwar Sahus family will definitely get justice. Incidentally, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who holds the Home portfolio, had announced in the Chhattisgarh Assembly in February this year that the state government would recommend a probe into the incident. The communal clash in Bemetara had made national headlines as just two days after the death of Sahu, the bodies of Rahim Mohammad (55) and his son Idul Mohhamad (35), residents of the same village, were found with multiple injuries. The clash had seen imposition of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which bars assembly of four or more persons in the area, for nearly 20 days. The BJP had attacked the then Congress government under Bhupesh Baghel on the communal flare-up and had fielded Sahus father Ishwar Sahu from Saja seat in the 2023 Assembly polls against then state minister Ravindra Choubey. Sahu defeated Choubey in the polls, which were swept by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Gusty winds with rainfall forecast in city Staff Reporter Due to simultaneous presence of several active weather systems in different locations, there is a possibility of gusty winds accompanying rainfall in Jabalpur along with other divisions of Madhya Pradesh. Weather in the State will remain the same for next two days. It is estimated that clouds, rain and strong winds will prevail in the State till Sunday due to the influence of a cyclonic circulation and western disturbances. The Weather Department had issued an alert for rain and gusty winds in more than a dozen districts, on Saturday. According to the department, the State is experiencing rainfall due to western disturbance, cyclonic circulation and trough line. Possibility of rain and thunderstorm exists in the western parts of Madhya Pradesh, including Jabalpur and nearby districts. Spokesman of Weather Department informed that currently, there are nearly six active weather systems, which are influencing conditions of the State. A western disturbance has formed as a cyclonic circulation in upper levels of the atmosphere over Iran and adjacent Afghanistan. This cyclonic circulation is associated with a trough line extending up to the Arabian Sea. Rajasthan is experiencing an induced cyclonic circulation and there is also a cyclonic circulation in the upper levels of the atmosphere over Marathwada. A trough line extends from the cyclonic circulation to Tamil Nadu. Likewise, there is an anti-cyclonic circulation in the Arabian Sea. These weather systems are causing moisture to flow from the Arabian Sea, resulting in a significant change in the weather conditions. Similar conditions would continue on Sunday also. Hudkeshwar Police crack mystery, book girl for property dealers murder Special Correspondent AFTER a lot of hue and cry, Hudkeshwar Police succeeded in cracking the mystery behind the death of 55-year-old property dealer Ravindra Pandit Kudwe by registering a case of murder against a young girl with whom he allegedly had an extra-marital affair. Cops booked Kajal Ashok Joge (27), a resident of Sai Nagar No 2, Hudkeshwar Road, in this connection. A resident of Plot No 37, Vyas Nagar, Kudwe left home on a moped around 1 pm on April 19. He was found lying in an unconscious state on Uday Nagar Road. A friend of Kudwes son rushed him to Government Medical College & Hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead. Hudkeshwar Police had registered an accidental death case under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and initiated a probe into the incident. The autopsy report revealed that Kudwe died of shock due to testicular injuries. Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Singal intervened and directed Hudkeshwar Police to register a case of murder as initial probe and circumstantial evidence revealed that it was a homicide. Further investigation took an altogether new turn when Kudwes son Hitesh (27) told police that his father had an affair with Kajal Joge for the past 5-6 years but now she wanted to marry another man. Kajal often used to demand money from Kudwe for her marriage and fought with him. On April 19, she again fought with Kudwe following the dispute over marriage expenses in a flat at Aakash Nagar. After a scuffle between them, she allegedly gave a forceful blow to his testicles with some object resulting in his death. Following a complaint lodged by Hitesh, police registered a case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code against Kajal. Meanwhile, police sources said that possibility of involvement of some more person(s) in the murder case could not be ruled out. Indias UNSC Membership By Lt General M K Das IN THE election manifesto titled Sankalp Patra released by BJP on 14 April 2024, the party has promised seeking permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to elevate Indias position in global decision making. A couple of months back, Dr. S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister had commented that India will get a permanent seat at the UNSC but it wont be easy as there are a lot of countries who want to block us. This particular initiative by a political party is a welcome step in our pursuit to be developed nation by 2047. After the surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945, the As worlds largest democracy, the absence of India from the high table of UNSC is not at all justified. India has been the largest contributor in the UN Peace Keeping Force in strife torn region and has brought normalcy in the affected countries.officially ended. The six-year war which began on September 3, 1939 left behind a trail of death and destruction in most parts of the world. United Nations came into existence on October 24, 1945 primarily with the aim of preventing future wars/conflicts and maintaining international peace security besides a host of other charter. UNSC is the most important organ of the UN and has five permanent members (P5) which are United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Russian Federation (in place of erstwhile USSR) and China. It also has 10 non- permanent members which are elected in rotation for a two-year term. The UNSC is also responsible for approving any changes to the UN Charter. One look at the UNSC reveals that the permanent members were essentially the victors in the World War II. The five permanent members of the Security Council have the exclusive veto powers and no resolution can be passed with their concurrence. So even if one permanent member vetoes a resolution, nothing can move ahead and the world opinion can wait. There has been a lot of talk about reforms in the UN but the permanent members are not much interested. After all, such reforms would take away their complete hold on the body. Thus, any reform in the UNSC lies at the mercy of the permanent members. India and China were one of the early signatories of the UN Charter, well before gaining formal independence. While China became a permanent member of the Security Council, there is some controversy about India squandering away the opportunity to become a permanent member in the 1950s. By this time, the world was divided between the West block led by the US and the East block led by the USSR. As a young nation, India was struggling with building the nation on a democratic plank and possibly wanted to occupy a moral high ground. The dilemma possibly helped Chinas cause to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Once the powerplay in the international arena was well established, India now perforce has to stake its claim afresh. As worlds largest democracy, the absence of India from the high table of UNSC is not at all justified. India has been one of the most active members of the UN and has contributed significantly in all the spheres. India has been the largest contributor in the UN Peace Keeping Force in strife torn region and has brought normalcy in the affected countries. India has also been at the forefront of humanitarian aid, medical relief and disaster management. India made most significant contribution through its astute COVID vaccine diplomacy. India has emerged as the natural leader of the developing nations in voicing concerns about environment, green energy, conservation and developmental goals. All these may not be sufficient for Indias case. Now that we are the fifth largest economy in the world with the aim of becoming the top three economy by 2030, our best chance is possible around that time. As a country, we will have to be smart to leverage our economy to further the aspiration of joining the P5. The reforms in the UN are inevitable as this world body has proved to be ineffective in resolving the international conflict. Russia - Ukraine war and Israel- Hamas conflict are clear examples of the UNSC failure. With Iran intervention against Israel making the security scenario even more bleak, the current security council appears to be toothless to deal with the looming crisis. India has to raise the voice for a more effective security council. China is going to block all our efforts to be a permanent member. Obviously, India alone is not the sole claimant to be the permanent member. The changed international dynamics make Japan, Germany, Brazil and one country from Africa equal contenders for the spot. The UN Security Council is outdated and needs a clear revamp, representing the aspirations of the continents and the emerging global order. Therefore, our efforts should concentrate in isolating China from the rest of the world. The recent G20 presidency of India was a good step towards aggressive diplomacy wherein India managed to get the African Union to be part of G20. In todays world, an autocracy like China has no business to call the shots at the UN Security Council. With deft handling and delicate diplomacy as demonstrated in our relations with Russia, India has already shown that it remains strong in protecting the national interest in the emerging power dynamics. India has also stood with old friend Israel in the current crisis in a mature manner. India has to exhibit collective national will to stake its claim as the rightful permanent member of the security council. India is already a member/associate member of SAARC, ASEAN, BRICS, SCO and QUAD (Australia, India, Japan and US) to name a few. Thus, our global standing as a serious and sincere nation in an ideal multipolar world should be lauded. The new Government at the Centre should form a committee to lobby for the reforms in UN in general and permanent membership of India in the UN Security Council in particular. Iran to free 16 IndianS on seized ship NEW DELHI, 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 ships 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, Prime Minister Narendra Modis guarantee works not just within the country, but also outside. Joseph, who is from Keralas 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 crews 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. JMC closely inspects units dealing with explosives, flammable material Staff Reporter Following the recent power explosion at a scrap workshop in the city, which claimed two lives, Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) has sprung into action. Launching a thorough inspection campaign, the JMC is targeting establishments dealing with explosives and highly flammable materials. Senior officials of Fire Department of JMC are conducting inspections at petrol pumps, LPG cylinder godowns, hostels, restaurants, marriage halls, high-rise buildings and similar structures. The primary focus is on ensuring the availability of adequate firefighting equipment. Likewise, senior officials are scrutinizing fire safety certificates, a mandatory requirement for such establishments. Kushagra Thakur, Superintendent of Fire Department, said the drive has been ongoing for several days. Surprise inspections have been conducted at 69 establishments, including 51 petrol pumps and gas godowns. Significant irregularities were found, particularly at fuel filling stations and gas godowns, with most lacking the required number of fire extinguishers and other essential equipment. He said notices have been issued to owner of concerned establishments and they were asked to rectification needed things within a week. Thakur said on Saturday, they conducted inspection at hospitals and hotels including Ayushman Children Hospital, Mahakoshal Heart Hospital, Johri Hospital, Golden Heart Hospital, Triveni Health care, Shikhar Palace Hotel, Arihant Hotel etc. Irregularities were found at the establishments, leading to issuance of notices to the respective owners, demanding prompt compliance with safety measures and certification requirements within a week. Thakur said senior fire department officials will revisit these establishments to ensure compliance. Furthermore, inspections are broadening to include banks, large showrooms and other similar establishments to ensure presence of adequate measures to address emergency situations like fires. Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner, Preeti Yadav has asked fire department to expedite the drive and take stern action against violators of safety regulations. Make Narendra Modi PM for third term to rid country of terrorism and Naxalism: Amit Shah PORBANDAR, 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 Partys candidate from Surat has been elected unopposed. I would appeal to you to vote for lotus (BJPs 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. MI-17 V5 roped in to douse Uttarakhand forest fires DEHRADUN, AN IAF helicopter was pressed into service on Saturday to extinguish the raging forest fires in Uttarakhands Nainital district, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said. The situation in the district worsened on Friday with the flames reaching the High Court Colony in the Pines area. An MI-17 helicopter collected water in a Bambi Bucket from Bhimtal lake and poured it over the burning forests of Pines, Bhumiadhar, Jyolikot, Narayan Nagar, Bhawali, Ramgarh and Mukteshwar areas of the district, officials said. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said all efforts are being made to bring the fires under control and it will be done soon. An IAF helicopter has already started dousing the fires, he said. Dhami said he will hold a meeting with forest officials in Haldwani later in the day to review the situation. 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 had 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. The administration has banned boating in Naini lake in view of the blaze. Of inculcating a regular habit of reading Loud Thinking - Vijay Phanshikar PSYCHOLOGISTS assert that one requires only 12 days to form a habit. If one gets engaged in a particular action or method consistently for 12 days at a given time or given manner, then one forms the habit -- which, then, refuses to go away. Habits die hard, as they say. It is obvious that the same principle applies also to forming the habit of reading. But when the loud-thinker talks about this to people, many grimace and refuse to believe that such a habit-formation can really take place. They say, in effect, they just cannot read since that is not their habit. There is no need to doubt their version. Yet, it may not be out of context if the loud-thinker suggests a method by way of which the habit of reading regularly can be formed. The word reading often has our mental association with engaging with books for hours on end. Most people find a long engagement with books rather boring, so to say. So, they prefer to stay away from the books. But this issue can be overcome rather easily. There is actually no need for anybody to engage with books for hours on end. The loud-thinker has developed a well-formed belief that reading can be done even in short stints of just a few -- of 10-15 -- minutes at a time with books. The loud-thinker loves reading and believes that that habit of his has helped him like nothing else ever did. There is an interesting, life-changing anecdote in this regard. When he was a child of less than ten years of age, the loud-thinkers mother declared -- though in a voice wet with love -- that he was a duffer. Disturbed by that epithet, he asked his father what he should do to prove mother wrong. Father said something very simple, and very important -- Read books. That proved to be a turning point of life. From that tender age, books became an integral part of life, and have continued to be so even now several decades later. But, knowing the little boys intellectual limitations, Father told the loud-thinker to read only for just a few minutes at a time. The boy never even realised that how one stint of a few minutes turned into several stints of ever-increasing durations. No book, then, remained a thick and impossible-to-finish kind. Once the habit got formed, there was no looking back. Of course, the loud-thinker does not remember if that habit of his was formed in 12 days or less or more. Never mind that, reading has really become a calling now -- as a great source of spiritual nourishment, and as a source of professional equipment that took the little boy from Nagpur to places around the world. Looking back, banking on sheer personal experience, the loud-thinker, therefore, suggests to his massively big family of readers that if they really want to develop the habit of reading books, all they need to do is to start reading a book for 10-15 minutes at a time. They will soon realise that they are able to finish about 10 pages of the book in that short time. If they continue with this habit, they may be able to finish a book of standard size of about 250 pages in about 20-25 days. And by any standard, that is great. So, happy reading, friends! SAME NONSENCE CONGRESS leader Mr. Rahul Gandhi has indulged in the same nonsense again -- by levelling accusations that one person -- Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi -- and one party -- Bharatiya Janata Party -- are trying to abolish Indias Constitution and democracy for the first time in history. It is time, therefore, to remind Mr. Rahul Gandhi that his attempt to distort facts has a criminal and anti-India streak. Of course, each such utterance of Mr. Rahul Gandhi makes a positive difference to the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. No matter the statistics that may emerge on June 4, factually, the picture will be one of the clear win for the Prime Minister and his Government and his party. And this assurance stems from the thoughtless statements being made time and again by Opposition leaders and campaigners most consistently. Mr. Rahul Gandhi also needs to be reminded of the truth of Indias contemporary history almost exactly 49 years ago -- on June 26, 1975 -- when his grandmother and the then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi had crossed all barriers of democratic protocols and slapped Emergency on the country by subverting officially all human and fundamental rights of the people and stalled political process like no one else ever did. In a truthful contrast, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has followed every constitutional norm and form while taking and implementing major decisions that included abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution and withdrew Special Status to Kashmir. He made some epochal legislations possible by following all norms -- like withdrawal of instant triple talaq, for example. The BJP also has won elections and also lost many of those in the past ten years of the Narendra Modi regime -- all as per the constitutional framework. If he had twisted constitutional arrangements to his favour, he would not have lost a single election in the past ten years. That did not happen. Even when the Congress party was accusing the Prime Minister of trying to subvert the Constitution, it was winning elections as well -- as it did in Karnataka and Telangana and Himachal Pradesh. The country also saw many non-BJP parties winning elections in different States and forming Governments as per the norm. Where does the question arise then about the Prime Minister and the BJP trying to subvert the Constitution and perpetuating their rule ?! In fact, enough evidence is available in the political arena to suggest that it was Congress party that has been toying with the Constitution. But then, who will tell Mr. Rahul Gandhi that he is walking down the wrong path ? This stance by the Opposition is totally wrong and politically-biased -- and planned with the sole aim of winning the Lok Sabha elections by hook and crook. True, many Opposition leaders do realise that they have chosen a wrong path, but cannot wriggle out of the quagmire of their own making. This is, of course, stupidity of the worst order. Yet, Mr. Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders do not seem to realise the blunder they are committing even when the election has already completed first two phases. All that can be said in this regard is that the Opposition leadership is living in its own paradise ! Egyptian students taste Chinese tea during a ceremony to celebrate Chinese Language Day in Cairo, Egypt, April 27, 2024. Students studying in Egyptian colleges celebrated Saturday the United Nations Chinese Language Day with a themed event featuring a concert, food and tea tasting, sketch comedy, and art show. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) by Mahmoud Fouly CAIRO, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Students studying in Egyptian colleges celebrated Saturday the United Nations Chinese Language Day with a themed event featuring a concert, food and tea tasting, sketch comedy, and art show. At the event, a traditional orchestra from Nanjing University in southeastern China played melodic music such as "Jasmine" and "Birds Greeting the Phoenix," receiving a thundering ovation from enthusiastic audiences. Li Zhiru, an erhu player at the band who majors in electronic engineering, said he was proud and excited to perform in Egypt and was glad to see the local audience enjoyed the show. The event was held at the Egyptian Chinese University (ECU) in Cairo, with the participation of students and faculty members of universities from the two countries, Arab League representatives, Egyptian officials, and Chinese diplomats. Later, about 20 Egyptian students and Chinese teachers wowed the attendees with a choral song about family ties and connection. Eman El-Sayed, an Egyptian student at Cairo-based Ain Shams University said it's a great pleasure to take part in the event, which offers "many activities, including singing, acting, and many other performances." "I decided to study Chinese because China is a big country with a strong economy and a nice culture and learning Chinese provides many job opportunities in Egypt," she noted. Ahmed El-Sewy, who performs a sketch comedy in Chinese, suggested language learners put what they get from books into good use, spend more time interacting with people, and try out a lot of cultural activities. Hu Die, a Chinese teacher at the Confucius Institute at Ain Shams University, said that it is a great honor to introduce Chinese to more people and see them get interested in the language, adding the number of Egyptian students in Chinese is on the rise. Addressing the event, Lu Chunsheng, minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, said that with the Chinese language as a medium, "we will promote common prosperity between China and Egypt, advance China-Arab ties, and deepen exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations." For her part, ECU president Rasha El-Kholy said that the university has set Chinese as a mandatory course and the number of students enrolling in the schools continues to rise. "The Chinese language is not just a language to study, but it is a language with a very large history and civilization. It connects many peoples and symbolizes civilization, and it is currently linked to technology and progress," the ECU president told Xinhua. The UN observes the Chinese Language Day on April 20 annually to promote multilingualism, cultural diversity, and the use of Chinese as one of the organization's six official languages. Egyptian students enjoy a traditional Chinese musical instrument performance during a ceremony to celebrate Chinese Language Day in Cairo, Egypt, April 27, 2024. Students studying in Egyptian colleges celebrated Saturday the United Nations Chinese Language Day with a themed event featuring a concert, food and tea tasting, sketch comedy, and art show. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) An Egyptian student tries traditional Chinese costumes during a ceremony to celebrate Chinese Language Day in Cairo, Egypt, April 27, 2024. Students studying in Egyptian colleges celebrated Saturday the United Nations Chinese Language Day with a themed event featuring a concert, food and tea tasting, sketch comedy, and art show. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Students and teachers perform a song during a ceremony to celebrate Chinese Language Day in Cairo, Egypt, April 27, 2024. Students studying in Egyptian colleges celebrated Saturday the United Nations Chinese Language Day with a themed event featuring a concert, food and tea tasting, sketch comedy, and art show. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Editor: WXL 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. Editor: WXL The internet is a shared home for mankind. In order to maintain its global hegemony, the United States has abused its information technology and resource advantages, engaging in wiretapping and espionage, creating public opinion, manipulating public sentiment, undermining rules, decoupling supply chains. These actions run counter to the global digitization process and have made the US the world's largest perpetrator of cyberattacks, producer of cyber weapons, and disruptor of cyberspace order. To expose the hegemony and bullying behavior of the United States in cyberspace, the China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance (CCIA) has organized the compilation of the report "US Threats and Sabotage to the Security and Development of Global Cyberspace" (both Chinese and English versions) (hereinafter referred to as the "Report"). The Report, from the perspective of cybersecurity expertise, employs empirical analysis to closely track the specific actions of the United States that threaten and undermine global cyberspace security and development. Drawing on reports and articles published by government departments, global cybersecurity companies, research institutions, and news media in recent years, it integrates various analytical processes and research results to systematically analyze the serious threats and damages caused by the United States to global cyberspace security and development, as well as to world peace and stability, and the civilization and progress of human society. The Report is divided into six sections based on behaviors and timeline, mainly covering the US infiltrates and subverts foreign governments via the Internet, performs indiscriminate cyber surveillance and espionage, attacks and deters against other countries in the cyberspace, triggers a cyber arms race, abuses political measures to disrupt the global industry and supply chain, and sabotages cyberspace rules and order. The following is the full text of the Report: US Threats and Sabotage to the Security and Development of Global Cyberspace Preface Cyberspace is the home of mankind. But to maintain hegemony, the US abuses its IT and resource advantages and extended hegemony to the cyberspace. It conducts cyber espionage and theft, shapes and manipulates public opinion, breaks rules and seeks decoupling and disrupts supply chains. It has been the biggest cyber attacker, cyber weapon maker, and cyber order breaker in the world. It is seriously threatening the development and security of the global cyberspace, the peace and stability of the world, and the civilization and progress of human society. 1. Infiltrating and subverting foreign governments via the Internet The US uses the Internet as a subversion instrument. Against the target countries, it performs ideological infiltration and control, spreads fake news, smears their governments, incites the people, misleads public opinion, interferes with their internal affairs and subverts their state power via the Internet. Since 2003, many abnormal regime changes have happened in the Eurasian region. As shown in Georgias Rose Revolution, Ukraines Orange Revolution and Kyrgyzstans Tulip Revolution, protests and riots happened in elections and evolved into overall political crises. Dubbed as the second CIA, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is long funded by Congress and the White House. On March 29th, 2022, Damon Wilson, president and CEO of NED, acknowledged the US had planned color revolutions in the region via the Internet. In 2011, the so-called Arab Spring originated from Tunisia, overwhelmed West Asia and North Africa, and caused social turmoil, tens of thousands of casualties and a loss of one trillion dollars. Based on Twitter, Facebook and other social media, the US shaped public opinion, incited people, and advocated Western values. It incited people to take to the streets to trigger social turmoil and regime changes. On February 25th, 2022, the former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton acknowledged that We did some of that in the Arab Spring in an interview with MSNBC when talking about interfering with other countries via the Internet. In August, 2022, Stanford Internet Observatory and the research company Graphika jointly published a report Unheard Voice: Evaluating five years of pro-Western covert influence operations. The report showed popular social media outlets like Twitter, Meta and Instagram had a number of interconnected sham accounts funded by the US government. The accounts used deceptive tactics to cover covert campaigns for almost five years to support the US and its allies and oppose countries including Russia, China and Iran. 2. Performing indiscriminate cyber surveillance and espionage The US takes national interests as an excuse, and abuses its IT and industrial advantages to spy on the world in cyberspace massively, systemically and indiscriminately. From civilians to national leaders, politicians to international organizations, diplomatic missions to firms, no one can be exempt from the US intelligence agencies even including the US allies. The US data theft has breached global Internet users privacy, trampled on human rights and infringed upon the sovereignty of other countries. In 2007, the National Security Agency(NSA) started a top-secret surveillance program PRISM to monitor global communication, including that of the US citizens, from the servers of nine such Internet giants as Google, Facebook and AOL. In June, 2013, the former defense employee and subcontractor Edward Snowden disclosed to The Guardian and The Washington Post secret files of PRISM. The files showed the US government had been tracking real time data including emails, live chats, videos, audios, files and photos and monitoring everything about the targets. On June 7th, 2013, the then US President Obama acknowledged the program. The Washington Post later noted that the NSAs surveillance was covert and might be illegal. In 2015, WikiLeaks published that the US spied on 35 Japanese targets including Japanese cabinet members and Mitsubishi. In February, 2020, The Washington Post, ZDF and SRF published a joint investigation report and revealed the CIA and the German Federal Intelligence Service used a Swiss communications encryption firm Crypto AG to spy on governments and firms by covertly controlling Cryptos encryption products sold to 120 countries. In May, 2021, DR reported the NSA and the Danish Intelligence Service wiretapped leaders of EU countries including then German Chancellor Angela Merkel. On May 31st, 2021, President Macron and Chancellor Merkel attended a virtual Franco-German Council of Ministers meeting and requested the US and Denmark to explain. This is unacceptable among allies, said President Macron. In early April, 2023, The Washington Post and many media outlets reported a leak of many US military intelligence documents on the Ukraine crisis. The leaked documents showed the US eavesdropped on the UN Secretary-General Guterres and leaders of other countries such as the Republic of Korea and Israel. On April 18th, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the UN had officially expressed to the US its concern on the above mentioned media reports. 3. Attacking and deterring other countries in the cyberspace Based on its cyber advantages, the US uses cyber deterrence as a major instrument of its hegemony. Cyber deterrence is increasingly becoming its preference in international relations. The US frequently attacks other countries in cyberspace, uses cyberspace as a main battlefield of a new Cold War, and adopts a defend forward tactic based on all its state power including politics, economy, diplomacy and the military. In particular, the US takes civilian critical infrastructure cyber attacks as a new method to maintain hegemony and achieve political, economic and military objectives. This greatly harms the security, development and social stability of other countries. In December 2010, the Stuxnet virus was used to attacked the Iranian Natanz Nuclear Power Plant. It destroyed a number of centrifuges and delayed related nuclear projects. On June 1st, 2012, New York Times reported Stuxnet originated from a program Olympic Games of the US government around 2006. This was the first cyber weapon attack in the real world. The US was so excited to find the cyber warfare cost much lower than the traditional warfare that it soon established cyber forces. It has been the initiator and source of global cyber warfare. Equation Group is a cyberattack group with notorious track records. But the US supports it in cyber attacks globally. On August 13th, 2016, a famous hacking group The Shadow Brokers revealed in social media that the leaked data showed the Equation Group had hit over 45 countries in over ten years. The attack manual and string of malware program were exactly the same with those of PRISM. The evidence indicated the link between the Equation Group and the US NSA. In 2018, the US published the DoD Cyber Strategy, which initiated the hunt forward principle of cyber warfare, and extended its cyber defense line to other countries. In the mid of October, 2022, the US Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) published policy documents on cyber warfare. Based on the documents, the objective of the US cyber operations was to own the domain; the US cyber forces put critical infrastructure as legitimate targets during times of cyber conflicts; and pursued preemptive strike as an offensive strategy. This showed the US militaristic ambition to seek hegemony in cyberspace. Since 2018, CYBERCOM has conducted over 40 operations in over 20 countries including Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine. It used the so-called situational awareness and the defend forward methods to uncover, locate and expose adversaries cyber operations to conduct cyber deterrence and strikes. In December, 2022, French COMCYBER commander Aymeric Bonnemaison told the parliament that the US CYBERCOMs hunt forward operations in Europe were quite aggressive. Hunt forward operations were only excuses of the US cyber espionage and attacks and had made its European allies very uneasy. On June 1st, 2022, Sky News reported that Paul Nakasone, Commander of US CYBERCOM and Director of National Security Agency, acknowledged in an interview that in December, 2021, the US sent a cyber force to Ukraine and stayed there for about three months. In the Ukraine crisis, the US also conducted a series of operations across the full spectrum; offensive, defensive, [and] information operations. This was the first time that a senior US official confirmed the US cyber attacks against another country. On September 5th, 2022, Chinas National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center and Qihoo 360 Technology Co., Ltd. published a Report on the Cyber Attacks of NSA on Chinas Northwester Polytechnical University (NPU). The report showed NPUs network had been repeatedly attacked by overseas hackers attributed to Office of Tailored Access Operation(TAO) under NSA for years. TAO infiltrated and controlled NPUs critical information infrastructure with over 41 dedicated cyber weapons to steal key network equipment configuration, network management data, and operation and maintenance data. On July, 26th, 2023, Wuhan Municipal Emergency Management Bureau published a statement that CVERC and Qihoo 360 detected a cyber attack from overseas organization on its earthquake monitoring center. Some front-end station collection points of earthquake reporting data had been implanted with backdoor programs. The media later reported that the recent investigation found very complex backdoor malware that fit the characteristics of US intelligence agencies. This was the latest example of the US cyber attack on Chinas critical Chinese infrastructure with a clear military reconnaissance purpose. 4. Triggering a cyber arms race The US is the culprit of cyber arms race. It viewed cyberspace as a new battlefield, introduced new combat concepts, and conspired to dominate this new battlefield. Early in 2009, the US founded the first cyber command in the world and continued to strengthen cyber forces. It had built dozens of large intelligence-gathering systems and developed a huge armory of cyber weapons. Instigated by the US, its allies soon followed suit and the cyber arms race is getting white-hot globally. By 2015, the US had developed over 2,000 cyber weapons including worms, Trojans, logic bombs and trapdoors. EternalBlue was a tool accidentally leaked from the NSAs cyber armory. It was later changed into the WannaCry virus. On May 12th, 2017, the WannaCry ransomware attack erupted, hit about 300,000 computers in over 150 countries, and caused a loss of up to 8 billion dollars. On August 18th, 2017, CYBERCOM was elevated to the US 10th combatant command as equal to the US Central Command. Until September, 2018, the US Cyber Mission Force(CMF) had had 133 cyber teams, including 13 Cyber National Mission Teams, 68 Cyber Protection Teams, 27 Cyber Combat Mission Teams and 25 Combat Support Teams. 5. Abusing political measures to disrupt the global industry and supply chain The US government uses political security and ideology as an excuse, overstretches the national security concept and hypes up the China threat narrative. It ignores Chinas adherence to the independent foreign policy of peace over the decades, smears Chinas great contribution to the global cyberspace and voice of justice, and forces its allies to take sides. It ignores the international order after WW2, the basic principles of cyberspace, and the UN consensus on developing and implementing globally interoperable common rules and standards for supply-chain security. It abuses its export control measures, oppresses foreign firms or entities with political, economic and financial measures, and creates exclusive small cliques. It has disrupted global trade, violated market laws, undermined market rules and trade order, and destabilized global industry and supply chain. The US Department of Commerce has put a number of firms and entities on the Entity List of export control and caused chaos in the global supply chain. Taking China as an example, more than 1400 Chinese entities were on the list spanning industries including telecommunication, finance, and transportation before September, 2023. The list included technology firms like Huawei and SMIC, and research and education entities like Harbin Institute of Technology and the Institute of Computing Technology of Chinese Academy of Sciences. In May, 2019, the US gathered 32 countries for the Prague 5G Security Conference in Czech Republic, jointly published the Prague Proposals, and conspired to ban Chinas 5G products from the policy, security, technological and economic aspects. The US also pressed European, Asian and African countries to ban Huaweis 5G products. Globally, many media and industrial experts argued that banning Chinese companies from 5G was an embarrassing request against global digitalization and its future development. In September, 2021, the US used increasing supply chain transparency as an excuse and forced hundreds of major firms throughout the semiconductor supply chain including Apple, Microsoft, Intel, TSMC and Samsung to submit their confidential information including customer information, sales data, chip inventories and expansion plans. The request put their confidential corporate information at the risk of leakage, cut their advantages in price negotiations with the US firms, eroded the trust and confidence of global customers and undermined the semiconductor supply chain in the world. In August, 2022, US President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act and forced international firms to side with the US. Based on the Act, the US government requested foreign firms like TSMC and Samsung who would benefit from the American chip industry subsidies to set up chip plants in the US. In this way, the US could dominate the industry chain of high-end chips and harass the chip industry of other countries. In April, 2024, US President Biden signed a package of Foreign aid bills, which included forcing ByteDance to divest its TikTok US business within nine months, or it would banned in United States. This regulation fully reflects the United States double standard to maintain its cyber hegemony of controlling and manipulating international public opinion platforms. On one hand, it advocates freedom and democracy internationally while selling social media platforms it controls to nearly all countries worldwide. On the other hand, it broadens the notion of national security, exploiting legal measures for coercive and predatory actions. 6. Sabotaging cyberspace rules and order The US deems itself the leader of cyberspace and makes most of the defects of cyberspace like unsound regulations and imbalanced development to strengthen its superpower hegemony. It puts its own interests over the interests of the world and puts the global cyberspace into a security dilemma, promise-breaking deadlock and trust-breaching panic. On September 23rd, 2019, the US and another 27 countries published a Joint Statement on Advancing Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace. This statement distorted and tampered with the framework of responsible state behavior and deviated from the consensus the US and its cohorts had agreed with. This fully illustrated the US all-time principle of applying international law in a selective and utilitarian way. The US deliberately ignored the aspiration of the international society to build a peaceful cyberspace and divided the cyberspace into peacetime and non-peacetime. Its intention was to legalize its offensive military operations in cyberspace and make the cyberspace a new battlefield. Such behavior maliciously aggravated cyber conflict risks among countries and was detrimental to cyberspace peace and security. On April 28th, 2022, the US gathered over 50 countries and jointly published a Declaration for the Future of the Internet. It openly affirmed to promote and sustain an Internet that is global and interoperable. In reality, it discarded multilateral platforms like the UN, created small cliques based on ideology, and undermined the international order and rules with gang rules of blocs. The so-called declaration was a latest example of US intention to divide the cyberspace and trigger cyber confrontation. Conclusion Cyberspace is a shared space of mankind. Every country has shared interest and future in cyberspace, and aspires to a peaceful, secure, open, cooperative and orderly cyberspace. But the US recklessly maintains its cyber hegemony, pursues absolute security of itself at the cost of other countries, and even pursues a way of undermining and splitting the cyberspace. The US vicious deeds impede global digitalization, run against the history, and must be denounced by the world. For the interest of mankind, governments of conscience, firms, social organizations, scholars and netizens aspiring to fairness, justice and freedom should strengthen dialogues and cooperation, promote development, maintain security, pursue joint governance and shared benefits, build a community with a shared future in cyberspace, and work for a brighter future for mankind. (End) Editor: WRX RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 29. The Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) has celebrated its golden jubilee, the 50th anniversary in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Trend reports from the event venue. The speech by Custodian of Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud was delivered by Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, governor of Riyadh region. Addressing the ceremony, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that IsDB work has made a vital contribution to its member countries and to Muslim communities across the globe, particularly in the face of recent crisis, and it will remain essential in the future. We are relying on you to rapidly scale up long term affordable finance, including mobilizing far more private finance. United Nations is your partner and your ally in these efforts, and I wish you all the very best for the next 50 years, he said. Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristallina Georgieva noted that IsDB has served with professionalism and very deep commitment. In a moment of tragedy, and unfortunately there were far too many over the last years, it has swiftly offered a helping hand. The role of the Islamic Development Bank is only growing in significance, she said. Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said that over the years, the EBRD and the Islamic Development Bank have positively collaborated across a number of countries and areas. We look forward to continuing the strong relationships between our institutions and maximizing our collective impact, she said. The event featured presentation of gift to the Guest of Honor. "Instead of politicians, let the monkeys govern the countries; at least they will steal only the bananas!" Have you ever encountered someone who staunchly defends a politician, leader or public figure regardless of the controversial statements they make. I am sure we have seen those devotees who passionately praise their chosen idols despite obvious flaws, in logic and judgement. Let ask you this, have you ever been baffled by why an otherwise intelligent friend follows a pundit who routinely argues against public interests or why someone routinely excuses a callous wealthy businessman's policy by pointing to their wealth as proof of profound, if you have had frustrating experiences with intelligent yet seemingly stubborn devotees of irrational leaders or policies then you likely relate to Carlo Cipolla famous writings on human behavior. Cipolla was an economic historian and professor who formally studied and classified various forms of foolish thinking, teaching at the University of California Berkeley. In the 1970s Cipolo became fascinated about patterns of stupidity and unintelligent decision making across society throughout history. While we often think of stupidity to be a lack of knowledge or intelligence, Cipolla argued that it has fundamental laws and predictable root causes independent of other traits. His satirical yet insightful treatise that human stupid follows distinct mathematical patterns governing choices that go against common sense and self-interest. As the basis for his theory Cipolla categorizes people into four distinct human behaviors. The intelligent: those who benefit both themselves and others. The bandits: those who benefit themselves by harming others. The unfortunate: those who create harm while trying to help others and themselves. The stupid: those who hurt themselves and others. The context in which he developed this law is essential to understanding its significance and relevance. Cipolla was writing during a time of great social and political change in Italy. The country was experiencing economic growth, political instability, and social unrest. Cipolla was frustrated with the inefficiencies and absurdities of the Italian bureaucracy and political system, which he believed were hindering progress and development. In this context, Cipolla's Law of Stupidity was a satirical commentary on the human behavior he observed in the political and bureaucratic spheres. He argued that a small percentage of people are intelligent and capable (the "smart" ones), while a larger percentage are stupid (the "stupid" ones), and an even smaller percentage are bandits (the "bandits"). Cipolla's law was meant to highlight the ways in which stupidity and banditry can perpetuate themselves in systems, leading to inefficiency, corruption, and stagnation. He believed that understanding this dynamic was essential to creating positive change and improving societal outcomes. The context of Cipolla's law also reflects the broader intellectual and cultural currents of the time. The 1970s were a period of great social and political upheaval, with movements like the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, and the feminist movement challenging established power structures and seeking to create a more just and equitable society. In this context, Cipolla's law can be seen as a contribution to the broader conversation about power, inequality, and social change. By highlighting the ways in which stupidity and banditry can perpetuate themselves in systems, Cipolla was drawing attention to the need for critical thinking, civic engagement, and institutional reform. Overall, understanding the context of Cipolla's law of stupidity provides valuable insights into the historical and intellectual currents that shaped its development, and highlights its ongoing relevance and significance in contemporary debates about power, inequality, and social change. Cipolla argues that the last group of stupid people are driven by innate tendencies for nonsensical decisions that damage even their own interests that baffle even intelligent observers and the root causes driving such stupidity come from arrogance, self-delusions, persistent ignorance and absent mindedness and more. Cipolla's first law of stupidity is always and inevitably everyone underestimates the number of stupid people in circulation, I dont know why I am thinking of Nigeria. However, here Cipolla means that at every given time people assume that the number of people thinking and acting stupid must be a small fringe group amongst the general population. We figured society couldn't function A silver-tongued charlatan and a half-wit society are made for each other! When these two come together in an election, a great disaster happens: Charlatan comes to power! Carlo Cipolla's Law of Stupidity, offers a profound insight into human behavior, in Nigeria particularly in the context of politics. The law states that "a person is smart, stupid, or a bandit." This categorization may seem simplistic, but it provides a compelling framework for understanding the dynamics at play in Nigeria's political landscape. The "smart" individuals in Nigeria are the visionaries, innovators, and change-makers. They are the ones who work tirelessly to improve the country's infrastructure, education, and healthcare systems. They are the entrepreneurs, scientists, and artists who drive progress and development. Despite their contributions, they often find themselves marginalized and excluded from the political process. The "stupid" individuals, on the other hand, are those who hinder progress and act against their own interests. They may vote for corrupt politicians, engage in harmful behaviors, or prioritize short-term gains over long-term benefits. This group includes those who are misinformed, disenchanted, or simply apathetic. They may not intend to cause harm, but their actions perpetuate the status quo and maintain the cycle of corruption. The "bandits" are the corrupt politicians and individuals who exploit the system for personal gain. They prioritize power and wealth over the nation's well-being, often using their influence to maintain a status quo that benefits them. They are the ones who embezzle funds, rig elections, and undermine institutions. They are the masterminds behind the corruption, nepotism, and cronyism that plagues Nigeria. Cipolla's Law suggests that the "stupid" individuals outnumber the "smart" ones, while the "bandits" are relatively few but hold significant power. This imbalance perpetuates the cycle of corruption and stagnation in Nigeria. The "stupid" individuals are often exploited by the "bandits," who use their influence and resources to maintain control. To break this cycle, it's essential to empower the "smart" individuals, educate the "stupid" ones, and hold the "bandits" accountable for their actions. This can be achieved through: 1. Education and awareness: Informing citizens about their rights, responsibilities, and the impact of their actions can help reduce the number of "stupid" individuals. 2. Institutional reforms: Strengthening institutions, promoting transparency, and enforcing accountability can help curb the influence of the "bandits." 3. Civic engagement: Encouraging active participation in politics, supporting progressive candidates, and advocating for policy changes can help amplify the voices of the "smart" individuals. 4. Leadership by example: Promoting role models who embody integrity, competence, and vision can inspire others to follow suit. 5. Economic empowerment: Providing opportunities for economic growth and development can reduce the appeal of corrupt practices and increase the number of "smart" individuals. 6. Anti-corruption efforts: Implementing effective anti-corruption measures, such as whistleblower protection and independent judicial bodies, can help hold the "bandits" accountable. 7. International cooperation: Collaborating with international organizations and countries to share best practices and implement global standards can help combat corruption and promote good governance. 8. Cultural shift: Encouraging a cultural shift that values integrity, hard work, and meritocracy over nepotism and corruption can help create a more informed and engaged citizenry. 9. Technology and innovation: Leveraging technology and innovation to improve governance, increase transparency, and enhance citizen participation can help reduce the influence of the "bandits." 10. Historical reflection: Studying Nigeria's history and learning from past mistakes can help identify patterns and prevent the repetition of errors. In conclusion, only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." Cipolla's Law of Stupidity offers a thought-provoking perspective on the dynamics between Nigerian politicians and citizens. By recognizing the roles played by the "smart," "stupid," and "bandits," we can work towards a more informed and engaged citizenry, a more accountable political class, and a better future for Nigeria. It's time to empower the "smart," educate the "stupid," and hold the "bandits" accountable. By doing so, we can break the cycle of corruption and stagnation and unleash Nigeria's full potentialMay Nigeria win! The 6th Meeting of the National Council of Niger Delta (NCND), recently held in Asaba, the Delta state capital, with the theme: Stimulating Strategies for Economic Growth and Development in the Niger Delta Region, may have come and gone, but not without touching, and significantly proffering solution to the root of social, economic, environmental and infrastructural poverty bedeviling the people and the region. Aside from the disclosure at the event by the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, that the Council was working assiduously with other stakeholders to improve on infrastructural development and human capital development in the region in line with President Tinubus renewed hope agenda, coupled with his assurance that the ministry would work with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to complete all ongoing and abandoned projects across the region, very profound of the gathering, was President Bola Tinubus reassurance of his administrations commitment to a holistic plan for the overall development of the Niger Delta region. President Tinubus remark at the gathering was not only laced with practical definition of the regions problem, the goals to be achieved and the means chosen to address the problem/achieve the goals, but more than anything else dotted with considerations for connecting the poor in the region with good means of livelihood; food, job, security and sustainable infrastructures. While appealing for patience of the people of the region on the infrastructural deficit in the region, saying his administration will make good his promise, Mr. President who was represented by the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, said that the focus of the council was in tandem with his administrations objectives in the renewed hope agenda. He said: It is expected to bring succour to all citizens of Nigeria in these difficult times. The government has developed a holistic plan for the development of the Niger Delta Region and, indeed, all parts of Nigeria in terms of infrastructure, education, and harnessing the bountiful resources of all parts of our great country. This is evident in the Ministerial Performance Bond for Presidential Priorities and Deliverables for 2023 2027 which was signed between the Minister of Niger Delta Development and myself, as well as with all members of the Federal Executive Council. To achieve these development initiatives, my administration deemed it fit to widen the scope of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development which is saddled with the responsibility of formulating and executing plans, programmes and other initiatives for the development of the Niger Delta region. To this effect, the name of the Ministry was changed from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to the Ministry of Niger Delta Development. The expected effect of this is that the Ministry will now be responsible for all policies, projects and programmes that are targeted at bringing to fruition the long-envisaged development of the Niger Delta region. I am pleased to note that the new leadership in the Ministry has prioritized the process of Harmonizing all Developmental Plans of Agencies and Development Partners operating in the Niger Delta Region into a Single Integrated Regional Development Plan as a roadmap to accelerated development of the Region. It will gladden you to note that my administration has demonstrated interest in repositioning the NDDC to ensure it delivers optimally on its objectives and mandate, and to make its achievements manifest in different sectors of life across the Niger Delta region. This is evidenced in the recent inauguration of the new board of the Commission. Away from Mr. Presidents declarations, another key remarks at the event that must not be allowed go with political winds came from the chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who among other comments called for ideologically based conversation on the overall development of the region and urged the NDDC to call a meeting of the Governors of the nine states of the Niger Delta to discuss the way forward on Niger Delta Development. Indeed, separate from the awareness that the forum serves as a strategic platform for states in the Niger Delta region to focus on issues and challenges of common interest, create a more dynamic and equitable arrangement for regional prosperity, and deepen our collaboration for using the regions natural resources for inclusive growth and sustainable development, it will not in any way be adjudged as hasty to characterize the gathering as learning ecosystem devised to fashion out how the leadership of the region can work hand in hand with the Federal Government for unprecedented, efficient and transparent development of the Niger Delta region. Without doubt, for so many years, the Niger Delta region in the opinion of this piece symbolized a location where communal right to a clean environment and access to clean water supplies was violated, where the oil industry abandoned thousands of polluted sites in the region and a location where the past Federal governments employed non-participatory approach to development and consultative approach that stripped the people of the region their sense of ownership over their own issues and most importantly, where the previous administrations and other Nigerians from different geo-political zones failed to see the problem of the Niger Delta as a national one and not restricted to the region. Also, before now, the region was reputed for infrastructural insufficiency and amply considered as a zone where fierce and protracted war raged between ethnic and social forces in Nigeria over the ownership and control of oil resources. And as a direct result, a long dark shadow has been cast on efforts to improve the wellbeing and economic development of the regions individuals, peoples, and communities. But with the latest promise by Mr. President that his government has developed a holistic plan for the development of the Niger Delta Region and, indeed, all parts of Nigeria in terms of infrastructure, education, and harnessing the bountiful resources of all parts of our great country and other calculated development focused efforts so far put in place by his administration, it is obvious that Niger Deltans should expect a changing narrative for their region. Also working in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration is the fact that the Mr. Chiedu Ebie led Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, recently constituted by him, is not left out in this clarion formulation of strategies needed to get hold of regions resources and stakeholders, and converting same to a springboard for right vision that will set the tone for the region's sustainable development. For me, it appears certain that the era of waiting and imaginations are over for the good people of the region as they are presently in the period of sustainable transformation to reality. Jerome-Mario Utomi is the Programme Cordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social And Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA). A Lagos based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). He could be reached via [email protected] or 08032725374. With less than 10 days to the commencement of airlift of Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia by all hajj participating countries, Independent Hajj Reporters, a faith based civil society organization that monitors and reports hajj activities have called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to announce the date of the commencement of transporting Nigerian intending pilgrims from Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. IHR said almost all major Hajj participating countries have announced the date of their inaugural flights to ferry their pilgrims. The CSO said it has always been a tradition in the country for the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), to announce the date, venue and which states pilgrims will be transported during the countys inaugural flight to Saudi Arabia. We are sad to note that with just a few days left until the closure of the e track portal for visa issuance, NAHCON is yet to announce when and where the inaugural flight will take place, " IHR said in a statement Sunday, signed by its national coordinator Ibrahim Mohammed. The CSO said the top 5 hajj countries have so far announced when they will begin transporting their pilgrims. Indonesias Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organizations, Hilman Latief in a statement recently, said the first batch of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims will depart for the Amir Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz International Airport (AMAA) in Medina on May 1223, 2024, The second batch will depart for the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAAIA) in Jeddah from May 24 to June 10. Also, Bangladesh and Pakistan announced 9TH May as date of commencement of airlift while Malaysia will start airlift on May 11, even the Ghana Hajj board has publicly announced 18th of May as the date to kick start airlifting of its pilgrims. IHR said it is beginning to get apprehensive over the deliberate withholding of vital information from pilgrims - whose interests the commission and States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards are to serve all the time. NAHCON as the apex hajj regulatory body is responsible for selecting and coordinating airlifts of Nigeria pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and back. Nigerian registered pilgrims comprise civil servants, farmers, businessmen and women and entrepreneurs. Each pilgrim is expected to spend a minimum of 28 to 30 days in Saudi Arabia and as such they need timely information on their departure dates to make adequate provision for their families and dependants. While we acknowledge the shortage of time inherited by this board due to the unnecessary wastage of precious time by the former board of the commission before announcing the commencement of 2024 hajj registration, we believe that announcing the date of the commencement of airlift will allow intending pilgrims to plan properly and not to be caught unawares within few days in a rush hour mode, IHR said. Again, Announce BTA Also, Independent Hajj Reporters had earlier urged the commission to maintain its tradition of announcing the Basic Traveling Allowance (BTA) that will be given to each pilgrim in order to allow the intending pilgrims make adequate financial plans and also exhibit accountability on the part of the commission. As at the time of penning down this statement, NAHCON and States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards have refused to tell the pilgrims officially how much they will receive as BTA. E -Signed Ibrahim Muhammed For: Independent Hajj Reporters 28th April 2024 Air strikes carried out on Saturday by the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch targeted at terrorists hideouts in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State and against economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta region have yielded significant results. A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said in Shiroro LGA, the strikes were executed at the stronghold of notorious terrorist kingpin, Mallam Umar and several other commanders located in the Alawa Forest area. The statement added that similar air strikes were also carried out the same day in the Niger Delta region against economic saboteurs and oil thieves bent of illegally siphoning crude oil from mutilated pipelines, while destroying the environment and ecosystems. This time, surveillance over Ke, Egbema, Akaso Krakama, Krikama and Military Council Valley revealed retinue of illegal refining sites which were effectively destroyed by the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe. A Cotonou boat fully loaded with crude oil product was also observed at Akaso Krakama about to depart southwards was subsequently attacked and destroyed, according to Gabkwet. The statement further added that these strikes have substantially weakened the potency of terrorist elements in the Northwest and oil thieves in the Niger Delta region to continually constitute a security threat to the well-being of the nation and its citizenry. Air strikes carried out on Saturday, 27 April 2024, by the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch targeted at terrorists hideouts in Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State and against economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta region have yielded significant results. In Shiroro LGA, the strikes were executed at the stronghold of notorious terrorist kingpin, Mallam Umar and several other commanders located in the Alawa Forest area. The strikes conducted were sequel to extensive Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations in the targeted area, revealing clusters of huts within compounds amidst dense vegetation, with significant presence of armed terrorists loitering around the vicinity. Also, painstaking intelligence earlier gathered had confirmed that these same terrorists were responsible for the recent attacks on ground troops at Bassa Community as well as multiple Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) incidences along the Pandogari-Alawa Road within the same LGA. Accordingly, the Air Component promptly deployed its air assets to decisively eliminate the terrorists, resulting in effective and maximum damage to the targets. A post-strike Battle Damage Assessment later confirmed the neutralization of several of the terrorists and the destruction of their hideouts, with positive consequences on their ability to attack surface forces as well as innocent civilians within the area. Similar air strikes were also carried out the same day in the Niger Delta region against economic saboteurs and oil thieves bent of illegally siphoning crude oil from mutilated pipelines, while destroying the environment and ecosystems. This time, surveillance over Ke, Egbema, Akaso Krakama, Krikama and Military Council Valley revealed retinue of illegal refining sites which were effectively destroyed by the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe. A Cotonou boat fully loaded with crude oil product was also observed at Akaso Krakama about to depart southwards and was subsequently attacked and destroyed. At Krikama, several cooking sites were observed and destroyed as well. In all 18 illegal refining sites and 3 cotonou boats were destroyed. These strikes have substantially weakened the potency of terrorist elements in the Northwest and oil thieves in the Niger Delta region to continually constitute a security threat to the well-being of the nation and its citizenry. For the NAF, air operations while collaborating with other security agencies will continue across the nation through extensive situational awareness, constant patrols and targeted interdiction of criminals safe havens, the statement reads. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 28. Hosting COP29 is a huge responsibility, which, at the same time, helps to raise the level of internal climate-related awareness, said Elchin Amirbayov, Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on special assignments, in an interview with Correio Braziliense, Trend reports. COP29 is the most important event when it comes to one of the greatest challenges facing the entire world: climate change and all these consequences that all countries experience. As our nation is known as a hydrocarbon country, with an economy based on natural gas and oil exploration, we have realized for several years that we have to ensure the transition to green and renewable energy, one of the strategic objectives of our government, he said. Amirbayov also noted that Azerbaijan is eager to strengthen commercial ties with Brazil. Brazil could, for example, increase imports from Azerbaijan in the area of fertilizers, which is very important for our economy. We also have very good contacts in the airline industry because we are buying a lot of planes. We also want the number of tourists to increase because the best way to present your country is when you can have a direct flight, and that is exactly what we needed to work on, to make stopovers as short as possible, he added. Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,00080,000 foreign guests. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. The parties to the convention are 198 countries. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn. Marching towards May 3, 2024 Fresh surge in violence | The pattern and agenda behind the surge in fresh violence should be clear to Imphal and Delhi, and obviously the people. Even as each day brings Manipur closer to the one year mark, which is on May 3, Kuki militants are hell bent on underlining the run up to the one year mark with bombs and bullets. In the process they have not hesitated in training their guns on Central security forces killing two CRPF men and injuring two others in a pre-dawn strike at Naranseina Meitei village in Bishnupur district on April 27. The professional mark which accompanied the surgical strike on the camp of the CRPF would not have missed the eyes of the security establishment and the possibility of the attack on the CRPF camp being part of a larger game plan to mark the completion of one year of violence and ethnic clash cannot be ruled out. The Government would also have noted the pattern behind the surge in violence. The gun fire and bombs that rained on the CRPF camp on April 27 fits in well with the general apprehension that the lull in violence before the two phase Lok Sabha elections in Manipur was just a blip on the radar. Just one day before the attack at the CRPF camp, heavily armed Kuki militants had launched a calibrated offensive from Sinam Kom Tabi hill range towards Meitei villages. This is where one is left wondering what has happened to the buffer zones that came along with the instruction, You be in charge of the valley and I will take care of the hills from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Chief Minister N Biren during the earlier stage of the conflict. The Kuki militants are belligerent, no doubt about this, but yet in many ways the attack at the CRPF camp is a reflection of the total failure of Delhi and Imphal to address the ongoing violence which has claimed over 200 lives so far. The writings on the wall should have been clear. Just four days before the attack at the CRPF camp, Sekmai came under heavy firing from Kuki militants on April 23. Reflecting the reality that Meitei settlements can be picked up and targeted by the well armed Kuki militants at will and one is left wondering what Delhi has been doing all these days. A more than clear indication that the Government has horribly failed to come anywhere near the stage of tackling the situation and perfecting the script to let Manipur continue to suffer. This is what is unacceptable, for in as much as the Meiteis and the Kukis may be against each other it also stands that a Government reluctant to tackle the issue with a strong hand has only aided the conflict to linger on for so long. Renewed onslaught, targeting even Central security personnel and obviously this is how the Kuki militants would want to mark the completion of one full year of violence and mayhem. Again it was just a few days back that Sapermeina bridge on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway was substantially damaged wth bombs. The pattern, spoken of earlier here, then is to ring in the completion of one year of the clash with more violence and inflame peoples sentiments. Even as the run up to the one year mark of the clash has been marked with violence and more violence, Manipur and the Kuki-Zos must have started charting out the dos to be observed on May 3, 2024. Apart from the spree of violence that has been witnessed in the run up to the said date, one can expect more and more false narratives to be fed to the mainstream media. One can also expect the day to be observed at places such as Delhi, Aizawl and other places which have a sizeable population of Meiteis and Kuki-Zos and arrangements must already be in place to observe the day to fit in with the false narratives that have marked the ongoing clash since it erupted on May 3, 2023. Eyes will also be on Imphal, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Moreh and while one can expect manufactured stories to come out from the latter three places mentioned, no word would be said on why and how violence erupted at Churachandpur after the Tribal Solidarity March on May 3, 2023, while it passed off peacefully at Senapati, Ukhrul and Tamenglong. Can ITLF answer this or is the truth too uncomfortable for them, is the question that may be raised now. A Bangladeshi citizen named Mohammad Jalil was arrested at Kolkata station for concealing money in a mixer-grinder. It is reported that he had Rs 8,92,000 in Indian currency and $10,700 in US dollars. Jalil was arrested in this connection. The mixer-grinder raised suspicion during a check by Ramesh Chandra Joshi, an inspector of the anti-smuggling department of RPF and Swati Bandyopadhyay, a customs official. Upon inspection, rolls of black paper containing the money were found. Jalil was arrested for smuggling without providing information and he has been charged under the foreign currency smuggling law. This incident has raised concerns among railway authorities, despite the presence of two communication trains between Bangladesh and India: Maitree and Bandhan. Maitree Express departed from Kolkata at 7:10 in the morning, preceded by passenger screening. There have been allegations of smuggling on this train, even though it was previously under the responsibility of the Border Security Force (BSF), which relinquished its duties a few months ago. Now, the responsibility lies with the anti-smuggling department of RPF and the GRP (Government Railway Police) along with the customs. Despite this, incidents of smuggling like this continue, raising concerns among railway authorities. Advertisement An explosion at the residence of a BJP leader at Chandipur in Hasanabad of North 24-Parganas has caused tension today. Allegations by Trinamul Congress suggested that the explosion was caused by a bomb. Several people have been injured in the blast. However, whether it was a bomb or something else causing the explosion remained unclear as per the police. They have been investigating since Saturday morning. Local sources reported a severe explosion at the residence of local BJP leader Nimai Das. Initially, locals thought it was a bomb blast in the area. Some claimed it was caused by a gas cylinder burst, according to a faction of local BJP leadership. Upon receiving the news, the police from Hasanabad PS went to the scene. Advertisement Trinamul Congress was wick to cease on this opportunity to blame the BJP for causing trouble. The party on its X handle wrote: While @BJP4Bengal leaders are storing bombs in their houses, the BJP-led Union govt is misusing central agencies & counter-terrorism forces to exact political vendetta. Challenging @AmitShah to take action against their 2021 Hingalganj candidate Nemai Das, whose house was stocked with explosives. The matter came to light when an explosion rocked the area today. Will @NIA_India now probe Das links with @SuvenduWB & @blsanthosh? Or will they continue digging up dirt in Sandeshkhali? Waiting for a response, Mr Home Minister. On the other hand, Trinamul leader Kunal Ghosh said: On instructions of National BJP leaders, Bengal BJP leaders are amassing arms and ammunition to unleash massive violence during polls in Bengal. We demand immediate arrest of BJP leader Nimai Ghosh while leaders like B L Santosh and Suvendu Adhikari should also be investigated. The TMC also posted pictures of the BJP leader in question, Nimai Das with party seniors B L Santosh and Suvendu Adhikari. After Prime Minister Narendra Modis public meeting in Malda yesterday, the Congress leadership has planned to invite partys national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi for campaigning, just to retain Maldah Dakshin Lok Sabha seat. Party sources said that they were waiting for confirmation from the Congress headquarters in New Delhi on her Malda visit. Priyanka may campaign for two Congress candidates in a suitable location near Gour Malda on 30 April or 3 May. It depends on the availability of her time. We have sent a proposal to the party high command and are waiting for confirmation of her schedule, said one of the vote managers of Congress candidate Isha Khan Choudhury. Advertisement It may be noted that PM Modi, addressing the audiences in Malda yesterday, had criticised the Congress. Narendra Modi had pointed out that the Congress has been committing a dacoity on the OBCs reservation rights to introduce reservation on the basis of religion for Muslims against Constitutional provisions. Congress will try to loot the claim of SC, ST and OBCs and give them to others. Mr Khan Choudhury, who is contesting from Maldah (Dakshin) and his team conducted a survey immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modis public meeting to know about voters sentiment. To beat the BJP candidate here, both the Congress and Trinamul Congress candidates are contesting each other, banking on the anti-BJP voters. Notably, the BJP leaders and supporters are confidently campaigning that the party candidate will win due to religious polarisation of voters. It is learnt that a section is working against party candidate Sreerupa Mitra Choudhury, who is also an MLA from English Bazaar. As a result, the Congress leadership is trying hard to garner votes by reducing the share of Trinamul Congress candidate Sehnaj Ali Rehan. Notably, Abu Hasan Khan Choudhury, brother of the late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, was elected from Maldah Dakshin LS seat in last three consecutive terms. Khan Choudhury, keeping in mind peoples sentiment, after sharp polarization of his vote bank, was in favour of a political understanding between the Congress and Trinamul Congress. Finally, Khan Choudhury, owing to his illness, decided to field his son Isha Khan Choudhury, who was elected as an MLA from Baishnabnagar and from Sujapur twice. But he was defeated in the Assembly polls in 2021 from Sujapur. Trinamul Congress candidate had bagged the seat. Notably, he contested Lok Sabha polls in 2019 from Maldah (Uttar) on Congress ticket, from where, BJP candidate Khagen Murmu was elected as Trinamul Congress candidate Mousam Noor shared huge votes from anti-BJP camp. Thousands of devotees assembled to offer prayers to Goddess Shakuntala Kali at Konnagar, today. Konnagar is today observing 135th Shakuntala Kali Puja, which takes place in the Bengali month of Baishakh, on Amavasya (new moon day). As per rituals, the Kali Puja starts after sunset and the immersion of the idol takes place before sunrise. Thousands of devotees carry water from the holy Ganges and pour it on the holy bedi (pedestal). Devotees seek blessings as well as offer prayers for their desires to be fulfilled. Advertisement As per a lore, a Brahmin priest of Chakraborty zamindar family, Devendranath Chakraborty, once while returning to his home after sunset was stopped by a divine female figure with an aura around her. The priest asked the goddess the reason for her appearance but without giving any answer, she gave out a loud laugh and then vanished. That very night, the goddess appeared in the dream of the priest. The priest related the entire incident to the locals and it was decided to start the puja of the goddess at the same spot where the Brahmin had his vision, in the form of a ghot (small earthen pitcher). As vultures (shakun) could be spotted at the spot, hence the name, Shakuntala Kali. The Trinamul Congress has lodged a complaint against the CBI with the Election Commission of India (ECI). The central investigating agency along with the NSG has conducted the operations in Sandeshkhali to tarnish the image of the Trinamul Congress during ongoing seven-phase parliamentary elections in the state, the party leadership stated in their complaints filed with the national poll panel. This type of operation might influence the voters of the island, as per the complaint. Advertisement The party leadership in its complaint stated that the law and order is a state subject but the CBI conducted raids in Sandeshkhali keeping the state government in the dark. Its not yet clear whether the recovery of arms and ammunition in the island was a genuine case or the CBI and NSG in a planned move have stored these items there in Sandeshkhali much before the central agencies conduct raids there, the complaint added. The Prime Minister and his party leaders are attacking Trinamul Congress everyday and its is fact that the Central Government and the BJP are using the CBI against the ruling party in Bengal regularly, the complaint added drawing attention of the ECI. The Trinamul Congress leadership has also urged the Commission to take steps so that the central investigating agencies cant take any step against any political party during ongoing elections. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the seizures of huge cache of arms and foreign-made pistols and ammunitions by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Sandeshkhali and deployment of the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos along with a hi-tech robots in the area on Friday is a game plan of the BJP to spread panic amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in the state. Miss Banerjee said that nothing can save BJPs sinking ship this time. The saffron party is using money and muscle power to win elections, she said. While reacting to the developments in the Sandeshkhali island of North 24-Parganas district, yesterday afternoon, the chief minister in a late night X handle post wrote, After the second phase of the LS election, BJP has spiraled into a state of panic. Theyre using every last ounce of their money and muscle power to sabotage the polls. Nothing can save BJPs sinking ship this time! Victory for the people is inevitable, according to her post. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 28. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the press service of the Armenian government says, Trend reports. According to the information, during the conversation the parties discussed the bilateral agenda and the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement. "The interlocutors discussed issues related to the agenda of Armenia-US bilateral relations, the meeting held on April 5 in Brussels, as well as the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process. Nikol Pashinyan expressed satisfaction with the intensification of bilateral relations. The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of implementing the agreements reached in Brussels on April 5, noting that these agreements were expressed in a press release following the meeting, and the meeting did not have any secret agenda," the report says. It is reported that during the conversation Pashinyan spoke positively about the process of demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border. The AAPs youth wing on Sunday organised a walkathon, Walk for Kejriwal, in support of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal under the Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se campaign. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is currently in Tihar Jail under judicial custody. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case. A large number of youth and supporters participated in the walkathon organised near Deshbandhu College in South Delhi. Advertisement Delhi governments Cabinet ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi, Rajya Sabha MP ND Gupta and AAP national secretary Pankaj Gupta, along with AAP Lok Sabha candidates Somnath Bharti and Sahiram Pahalwan were in attendance. People were wearing yellow T-shirts with Jail ka Jawab Vote Se written on them and holding AAP flags in their hands. Senior AAP leader and Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi said the people of the national capital have come to express their support for their CM Arvind Kejriwal through this walkathon. The BJP had thought that if they put Arvind Kejriwal in jail, then Aam Aadmi Party would not be able to campaign. But today, the Aam Aadmi Party is not campaigning, rather the people of Delhi are campaigning for the Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal. The people of Delhi are contesting the elections, and the people of Delhi will win the elections, she said. Senior AAP leader and Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, who participated in the walkathon, said the people of Delhi are running a campaign Jail ka Jawab Vote Se in protest against the way Arvind Kejriwal has been sent to jail. Today the Youth Wing of Aam Aadmi Party organised a walkathon. Lok Sabha candidates from South Delhi and New Delhi also participated in the walkathon, he said. Taking a dig at the BJP, Bharadwaj said, We have installed a washing machine here, and if you put any corrupt politician in this machine, he comes out clean. The Delhi Chief Minister has been lodged in Tihar Jail since April 1, following his arrest in the Delhi excise policy case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21. Earlier on April 25, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court opposing Kejriwals plea against his arrest and said that he did not cooperate with the central agency despite multiple summons issued to him. The ED said the agency has been able to recover key evidence that directly reveals the role of Kejriwal in processes and activities relating to the proceeds of crime. Kejriwal had approached the top court challenging his arrest by ED and his subsequent remand in the excise policy case. The apex court had earlier asked the Central Agency to file its response to Kejriwals plea. Actor Sahil Khan, recognized for his roles in Bollywood films such as Style and Excuse Me, found himself at the center of a legal storm as he was brought back to Mumbai from Chhattisgarh. The Mumbai Crime Branchs Special Investigation Team (SIT) apprehended Khan in connection with the Mahadev Betting app case, an alleged betting scandal that has captured headlines across the nation. Despite his arrest, Khan remained composed, expressing his faith in the countrys judicial system. However, his journey back to Mumbai was not without hurdles as the Bombay High Court had rejected his plea for pre-arrest bail, leading to his evasion of authorities for nearly two days before he was finally caught. The allegations against Khan revolve around his purported involvement in running a betting platform and promoting illegal betting activities. His name emerged during the investigation into the Mahadev betting app case by the Matunga Police in Mumbai. Despite being granted anticipatory bail conditional on cooperation with the police, Khans failure to adhere to this condition led to his arrest. Advertisement The scope of the scandal is vast, with over 38 individuals, including Khan, implicated in the FIR. Among them are notable figures such as Mustakim, brother of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, and Ravi Upal. Interestingly, the chief accused, Ravi Uppal, was detained in Dubai last year, highlighting the international dimension of the case. Actor Sahil Khans transition from the silver screen to the fitness industry added another layer of intrigue to the unfolding saga. As the case gained momentum, jurisdiction shifted from local authorities to the Crime Branchs cyber cell, culminating in the formation of the SIT tasked with unraveling the intricacies of the alleged betting racket. With the Mumbai Crime Branch now at the helm of the investigation, all eyes are on the unfolding developments as the legal proceedings against Sahil Khan and others involved in the Mahadev Betting app case continue to unfold. Bipasha Basu poured her heart out on social media, marking the 8th anniversary of her union with actor Karan Singh Grover. Taking to Instagram, she shared a series of endearing snapshots capturing their journey together, accompanied by a touching message that exuded love and gratitude. In her heartfelt caption, Bipasha expressed her overwhelming feelings, reminiscing about the swift passage of time since they became husband and wife. She thanked Karan for his ever-growing love, sprinkled with hashtags like #monkeylove and #choosingsunshine, emphasizing their journey of happiness. Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bipasha Basu (@bipashabasu) The shared pictures spoke volumes, portraying moments brimming with love and warmth between the couple, evoking joy and contentment. As expected, the post stirred a flurry of emotions among fans and friends who flooded the comment section with congratulatory messages and affectionate emoticons. Notably, Bigg Boss contestant Arti Singh couldnt contain her emotions, joining the chorus of well-wishers showering love on the couple. Bipasha and Karans love story unfolded on the set of Alone in 2015, blossoming into a beautiful journey that culminated in their wedding in April 2016, following a year of courtship. Their joy multiplied with the arrival of their daughter, Devi Basu Singh Grover, born on November 12, 2022, as announced by Bipasha on Instagram, celebrating the tangible manifestation of their love. While the couple savors these precious moments in their personal lives, Karan Singh Grover continues to make waves in his professional endeavors. His recent appearance in Siddharth Anands upcoming aerial action thriller Fighter, alongside Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, marks another milestone in his career. As Bipasha and Karan celebrate their journey of love and companionship, their fans eagerly anticipate more heartwarming moments from this adorable duo, wishing them endless happiness and togetherness in the years ahead. Salma Hayek recently took to social media to express her heartfelt gratitude to Madonna for an unforgettable experience during the pop icons Celebration Tour. The Mexican-American actor joined Madonna on stage during a tour stop in Mexico City, where she was invited as a guest judge for the performance of the hit song Vogue. Dressed as the legendary Frida Kahlo, a role she previously portrayed on screen, Salma Hayek shared the stage with Madonna, even sharing the microphone for a brief moment. In an Instagram post the following day, Hayek showcased her Frida-inspired attire, striking a pose reminiscent of Madonnas iconic Vogue style. In her caption, she thanked Madonna for the opportunity to be part of such an iconic tour, expressing her appreciation for the unforgettable night. Madonnas Celebration World Tour has seen a lineup of special guests joining her on stage during the performance of Vogue. This year alone, Cardi B made an appearance in Los Angeles, while Pamela Anderson attended one of the Canadian shows. Other notable guests have included actress Julia Garner, Kelly Ripa, and Madonnas boyfriend, Josh Popper. Additionally, five out of Madonnas six children have joined her on stage, turning Vogue into a family affair during a memorable show in New York City in October 2023. Advertisement Madonnas inclusivity and penchant for collaboration have been evident throughout her tour, with each guest bringing their own unique flair to the stage. Salma Hayeks participation, dressed as the iconic Frida Kahlo, added a special touch to the Mexico City show, showcasing the diverse talents celebrated by Madonnas tour. As the tour continues, fans can anticipate more surprises and memorable moments as Madonna continues to redefine the concert experience. In a major setback to the Congress in Delhi ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Arvinder Singh Lovely resigned from his post citing various issues including, alliance with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and selection of party candidates for North West Delhi and North East Delhi parliamentary seats. Lovely through a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced his resignation from the post of partys Delhi unit chief. However, he has not resigned from the party. In his letter to Kharge, Lovely said, With a heavy heart I write the present letter to you finding myself handicapped and unable to continue as the President of the Delhi party unit. All unanimous decisions taken by the senior Delhi Congress leaders have been unilaterally vetoed by the AICC General Secretary (Delhi in-charge). Advertisement He claimed that since his appointment as the president, the partys Delhi In-charge has not allowed him to make any senior appointments in the DPCC. Mentioning about the Congress-AAP alliance, Lovely said, The Delhi Congress unit was against an alliance with a party which was formed on the sole basis of levelling false, fabricated and malafide corruption charges against the Congress and in turn, whose half of the cabinet ministers are presently in jail on corruption charges. Despite that, the party made a decision to ally with the AAP in Delhi. The Congress and AAP have formed alliances in Delhi and other states for the Lok Sabha elections. As per the seat sharing, the Congress is contesting in three and AAP in four out of the seven parliamentary seats in Delhi. On selection of party candidates in Delhi, he said, Out of these 3 seats, while rejecting the views of the PCC, all Observers and the local party workers, the North-West Delhi and North East Delhi seats were given to two candidates who were total strangers to the Delhi Congress and the party policies. It is the prerogative of the High Command to have a final say on the party candidates. However, shockingly, once the decision in regards to the aforesaid two candidates was made by the High Command, the PCC was not even intimated before the formal announcement, Lovely said. Kanhaiya Kumar is Congress candidate from North East Delhi LS seat and Udit Raj is partys North-West Delhi parliamentary constituency. He further said, The candidate from North-East Delhi has also been giving media bytes falsely praising the Delhi CM (Arvind Kejriwal), in direct contravention of the party line and the local party workers beliefs. In direct contradiction to the true factual position and the misery of Delhi Citizens, he endorsed the false propaganda of AAP in regard to the supposed works done by them in the Education, Health, Road and Electricity sector. In such a situation , I cannot protect the interests of the party workers, I see no reason to continue in the said post. Therefore, with great regret and an extremely leaden heart, I, Arvinder Singh Lovely, tender my resignation from the post of DPCC president, he said. Voting in seven parliamentary seats in Delhi is scheduled to be held on 25th May. Odia ashmita or pride apparently stays at the top of poll plank for the Opposition BJP and Congress as both the parties have embarked on campaign trail to put brakes on the successive electoral victory march of anti-incumbency-hit BJD in Odisha, which is going to simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in four phases starting May 13. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will launch his campaign in Odisha on Sunday at Salepur in Kendrapara Parliamentary constituency after paying tributes to Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das in what evidently is an attempt to rake up the Odia Pride sentiment. Playing the Odia Pride card to the hilt, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier appealed to the Odisha voters to uproot the corrupt BJD government saying that the government is being run by people who dont understand the language, literature and culture of the State. Advertisement Addressing his maiden election rally at Sonepur on Thursday, Shah said those who cant take pride in the language and culture of the state, cannot take Odisha forward. Like the BJP, Congress has raked up the Odia pride plank on innumerable occasions to train guns at the BJD and revive the grand old partys electoral fortune, which is in steady downslide since 2000. AICC Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar besides senior leaders of State unit is also equally vocal in firing salvo at BJD, raising Odia pride plank. The Naveen Patnaik-led BJD has been firmly ensconced in the State since 2000. In both the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, the regional party has largely emerged as the undisputed and unchallenged political force in the coastal State. The BJP, the former ally of the BJD, has emerged as the principal Opposition in the state since 2019 polls, relegating Congress to No.-3 spot in Odisha politics. Both the Opposition parties have trained their guns at V K Pandian, close-aide of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, alleging that Patnaik Government has been outsourced to outsiders by a Tamil Nadu-born former bureaucrat. BJP recently released a catalogue elucidating elaborate details of Naveen Patnaik governments misrule and misdeed. The entire administration and system of governance has been manipulated to promote the agenda of a non-Odia individual. The non-Odia contractors and companies are executing the project works at the behest of Patnaiks trusted aide Pandian. It has severely hurt the Odia pride, BJP leaders said in recent election rallies. The Odisha government implemented a school transformation project pumping Rs 3400 crore from the State exchequer. It was a sell-devised plot to sabotage the career prospects of Odia students, BJP alleged in the recently-released catalogue of Patnaik Governments misrule. With no understanding of Odia traditions, the non-Odia BJD leader (Pandian) runs proxy administration, which is an affront to the 4.5 crore Odias, BJP catalogue charged. The BJD top leadership however, refutes the charges asserting that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is firmly etched in the hearts of 4.5 crore Odia people. Because of Patnaiks good governance and love for Odia people, he is the tallest leader in the State. The party will silence all on 4 June when the election results will come out. The BJD will carry forward its uninterrupted victory stride in the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls as it has been doing since the last 24 years, senior BJD leaders maintained rebutting the Odia pride issue. Pointing out that the BJP forgot its slogan of crossing 400+ seats after the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the public has rejected BJP candidates in the first and second phases. When they saw the public sentiments in the first and the second phases, they came to know the ground reality. The BJP had assured the farmers that their income would double. However, the Central and state governments did not give them the right price for their crops till date, he said. Listing the failures of the BJP government, Akhilesh Yadav said, Diesel and petrol have become expensive. Fertiliser is beyond the reach of farmers. If a coalition government comes to power, along with a legal guarantee for the MSP, farmers loans will be waived off. Advertisement He regretted that the BJP government waived off the loans of big industrialists in the country but nothing was done for the farmers. If the farmers are happy, then India will develop, he added. Addressing an election rally in Bilari of Sambhal Lok Sabha seat here on Sunday, the SP president said the BJP would lose by a maximum number of votes in Sambhal while alliance (INDIA) candidates would win from the Rampur and Moradabad seats too. He said elections were being held here under special circumstances in Sambhal as the SP was the first to announce and give a ticket to Shafiqur Rahman Barq Saheb. Now, this is the election to pay tribute to Shafiqur Rahman Burke Saheb, he told the voters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his purported remarks against kings and maharajas, saying the prince of the grand old party has insulted great personalities like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Rani Chinamma. Addressing a public rally in Karnatakas Belagavi, Modi said, Shehzada of Congress says that the kings of India were atrocious. They snatched the assets of the poor as per their wishes. The Shehzada of Congress has insulted great personalities like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Rani Chinamma, whose good governance and patriotism still motivate us. Does the Shehzada not know the contribution of the Mysuru Royal family, whom we all are proud of? Modi further reiterated his charge of appeasement politics against Rahul Gandhi, and said that his statements are made very thoughtfully to appease their vote bank. Advertisement The statements made by the Shehzada of Congress have been made very thoughtfully to appease their vote bank But the Shehzada does not say a word about the atrocities committed by the Nawabs, Nizams, Sultans, and Badhshahs Congress does not remember the atrocities committed by Aurangzeb who destroyed thousands of our temples. Congress forms political alliances with parties who praise Aurangzeb. They do not talk about all those who destroyed our pilgrimage sites, looted them, killed our people, and killed cows, the PM added. What Rahul Gandhi said on Kings and Maharajas? In a purported video of Rahul Gandhi shared by BJP leader Amit Malviya on X, Gandhi said that while kings and maharajas snatched peoples land, the Congress brought democracy in the country and brought the Constitution. It was the rule of kings and Maharajas, they could do whatever they wanted. If they wanted someones land, they took it away. The Congress party and our workers, along with the people of the country, achieved independence, brought democracy and gave the Constitution to the country, the Gandhi scion was heard saying inthe video. Identifying the challenges to addressing the problem of Central Nervous System (CNS) Tuberculosis, experts from different fields, especially neurosurgery, neurology, respiratory medicine, critical care, radiology, among others explored all possible solutions during an event here on Saturday (April 27). A conference CNS Tuberculosis: Challenges and Solutions organised by a team of highly-experienced doctors in Delhi was attended by medical experts from across India. There was a consensus among the experts at the event that Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health crisis in India with 220,000 deaths caused by the disease every year. In 2020, the Indian government came up with an ambitious target of eradicating tuberculosis from the country by 2025 through its National TB Elimination Program. Advertisement Central nervous system (CNS) with extremely devastating clinical manifestations was noted in 5 to 10 per cent of extrapulmonary TB cases, and accounts for approximately 1 per cent of all TB cases. The experts were of the view that the management of CNS TB is largely different from TB elsewhere in the human body and its mortality and morbidity are very high in comparison. The biggest problem in the management of CNS TB is delayed diagnosis due to a lack of typical signs and symptoms. The treatment is also complicated due to a lack of typical radiological features and follow-up is complicated by a lack of typical findings. To address some of these issues, the experts said they have designed a clinical scoring system that is well-accepted and easily usable, and any doctor needs just to fill in the blanks. It has been created to give a predictive value so that a triage can be done and patients likely to have TB can be identified and can be investigated accordingly. A similar radiological grading has been done and findings have been defined for ease of use and universality both these have been developed with the aid of artificial intelligence and an algorithm has been made. A new surgical technique from India was also discussed for some patients who need surgery. This new indigenous technique is published and accepted worldwide as it showed a significant improvement in the patient. One of the main highlights of the event was the announcement of a research grant for brain shunt management. A new innovative method of measuring brain oxygenation was discussed for which the team has been awarded a research grant by the Research Department of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital where a team doctors measure these levels that help them in predicting the outcome of brain shunt management. The entire program was planned in two parts. The first covered six individual speaker presentations followed by a presentation on take home message on summary of solutions to the problem raised in the six talks. Afterwards, a panel discussion was done by experts addressing topics specific to typical problems faced in brain TB shunt management. One of the key members of the organising team and Senior Consultant and professor of Neurosurgery at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr Samir Kalra delved into details of Brain Shunt Management. He said, Amongst the most common conditions that affect the brain is hydrocephalus which means increased content of normal brain fluid known as cerebrospinal fluid. The treatment of this condition is done by a shunt tube which drains this extra fluid into the abdominal cavity and restores the brain pressure to normal. This tube gets blocked commonly at the abdominal end and in that case, a repeat surgery has been done. This happens in 10 to 20 percent of operated patients. Our technique, which is well accepted, presented, and published internationally utilises laparoscopic aid and reduces this complication rate to around 1 to 5 percent, concluded Dr. Kalra. In a setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of general elections in Delhi, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday asked the party to modify its campaign song for the Lok Sabha elections. The poll panel said that the campaign song jail ke jawaab me hum vote denge casts aspersions on the judiciary and violates the commissions guidelines. The phrase jail ke jawaab me hum vote denge showing an aggressive mob holding the photo of Arvind Kejriwal showing him behind bars, casts aspersions on the judiciary. Further, the said phrase appears several times in the advertisement which contravenes the provisions of ECI Guidelines and Rule 6(1(g) of Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, the ECI said. The panel told the AAP to submit the song for certification after making the required changes. Reacting to the poll panels order, AAP leader and Delhi minister Atishi said that ECI banning the campaign song centred around Arvind Kejriwals arrest was another political weapon of the BJP. Another political weapon of the BJP, the Election Commission has put a ban on AAPs campaign song. This has happened for the first time in the history of India, that the Election Commission has put a ban on the election song of a political party, Atishi told news agency ANI. The AAP leader questioned the alleged silence of the ECI when ED, CBI and other cases on political leaders are closed as soon as they join the BJP. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 28. The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia would soon meet in Almaty, as per the suggestion of the Kazakh side, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Trend reports. The head of state mentioned that the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia would soon meet in Almaty, as per the suggestion of the Kazakh side, to continue negotiations on the peace treaty. Recalling that it was the Republic of Azerbaijan, who was the initiator of the peace treaty and its underlying five principles, and stressed that Azerbaijan would continue to spare no efforts to advance the peace agenda and that Azerbaijan had a strong political will in this regard. In an overnight operation, the Indian Coast Guard undertook an intelligence-based anti-narcotics operation at sea on Sunday, apprehending 86 kg of narcotics worth Rs 600 crore along with 14 crew from a Pakistani boat. The operation was the epitome of inter-agency coordination wherein the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) collaborated seamlessly which culminated in the successful operation. The ships and aircraft of the Indian Coast Guard were deployed on concurrent missions to effect the operation. ICG ship Rajratan, which had NCB and ATS officials embarked, positively identified the suspect boat. Advertisement No amount of evasive manoeuvring tactics employed by the drug-laden boat could save it from the swift and strong ICG ship Rajratan. Ships specialist team embarked the suspect boat and after thorough checks confirmed the presence of the sizeable amount of narcotics, a press note said. The Pak boat and crew are being brought to Porbandar for further investigations. The jointness of ICG and ATS, which has led to eleven such successful law enforcement operations in the last three years itself reaffirms the synergy for national objectives, the press note added. Reacting to the resignation of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Arvinder Singh Lovely from his post, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Sunday said Lovely has experienced personal pain over the last two to three months due to developments in the grand old party. Lovelys resignation from his post comes amid the backdrop of the ongoing seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, with Delhi scheduled to go to polls on 25 May. In a four-page letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lovely expressed anguish over the functioning of the Congress. Advertisement Several Congress leaders, including Sandeep Dikshit and Subhash Chopra, later met Arvinder Singh Lovely at his residence in the national capital. Speaking to reporters, Sandeep Dikshit said, I havent read the letter. Being the Delhi Congress president and a Congress worker, he (Arvinder Singh Lovely) seems to have experienced personal anguish. His (Lovelys) pain is that we are struggling to restore our old reputation in Delhi. Becoming the president of Delhi Congress is like wearing a crown of thorns, Dikshit said, emphasising the challenging responsibilities that come with the leadership within the party. Despite this, he worked hard in the last 6-8 months to strengthen the party, which is evident by the INDI alliance rallies, Dikshit said. Emphasising the importance of unity and consensus within the Congress, he said, When we secure two or three seats, it becomes evident that allocating seats with the consent of all the members of the Congress will lead to smoother operations in the future. Talking to a news agency, Subhash Chopra said Lovely has resigned only from the post and not from the party. When I asked him why he resigned from the post of the Delhi Congress chief, he said he has conveyed all the reasons to the party president. It is an internal matter of our party, and we intend to resolve it through discussions. He emphasised that he has only resigned from the post, not from the party, Chopra said. In his resignation letter to Kharge, Lovely said that despite the Aam Aadmi Party accusing the Congress of corruption, the party allied with it under the INDIA bloc. The Delhi Congress unit was against an alliance with a party which was solely formed on the basis of levelling false, fabricated and malafide corruption charges against the Congress party. Despite that, the party decided to ally with the AAP in Delhi, Arvinder Singh Lovely wrote in his resignation letter. Lovely said that since he cannot protect the interests of the party workers, he sees no reason to continue in the said post. Dubbing the government at the Centre and Odisha as billionaire-friendly, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, alleging that both have entered into partnership to run the State. Gandhi, who was addressing an election rally in Salipur under Kendrapara Parliamentary constituency, said the BRS government in Telengana was in partnership with the BJP. It was wiped out in the Assembly polls in the southern State and the Congress stormed back to power. In Odisha, the same pattern of governance is going on. Here, BJD and BJP have entered into matrimonial partnership. Both have formed an unholy nexus. They have imposed Pandian (Naveen Patnaiks trusted aide) upon the Odia people to loot the State exchequer, he charged while predicting that the Congress will be voted to power in Odisha and at the Centre. Advertisement Narendra Modi government is run by 22 to 25 billionaires, while Naveen Patnaik Government in Odisha is being run by a few handpicked people. All benefits are going to these billionaires while the common people are left to fend themselves, he said. Gandhi pinpointing corruption charges against the Naveen Patnaik Government said that mining scam to the tune of 9 lakh crore, Rs 20,000 crore of grabbing of agriculture land, plantation scam worth Rs 15,000 crore have been perpetrated by the State government. If voted to power in the State and the Centre, the looted money will be routed back to the poor people of Odisha, he said. The Congress if voted to power in Odisha will offer a guaranteed hike the minimum support price of paddy to Rs 3,000 per quintal and waiving all farm loans, pension of Rs 2,000 to farmers every month, he said. Besides, it will provide 2,000 units of free electricity to every domestic consumer and LPG cylinder to every family at Rs 500 to middle class families. Rahul Gandhi also promised youth a year-long apprenticeship with Rs 8,500 per month stipend, if voted to power in 2024. Despite a scorching heat wave with mercury hovering around 42 degree Celsius, the poll rally drew an impressive assembly of people mostly from coastal Odisha. The State leadership of the grand old party, which is apparently fighting the toughest election with large-scale exodus of its leaders jumping to BJD and BJP fold, are obviously elated over the success of Rahul Gandhis poll rally. They exude confidence that it will boost the morale of largely demoralized party cadres. Apart from desertion, the party had to contend with the crisis of finding suitable candidates in quite a number of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats. Gathering finances to fight polls amid high voltage campaign trails of BJD and BJP has also been a difficult proposition for the Odisha unit of Congress. The Congress party in Odisha is lying low dwindling support from voters for more than two decades. Its vote share touched the lowest ebb at 17.02 per cent during the 2019 assembly elections, trailing way behind the Biju Janata Dals impressive 44.71 per cent. Bharatiya Janata Party with 32.49 per cent vote share replaced Congress as the principal Opposition party. Congress struggled to win nine seats only out of 147 Assembly seats in 2019. In the last parliamentary polls, it fared no better securing only one out of 21 Lok Sabha seats. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Sunday played Odia pride card by making an apparently veiled hint at influential Tamil Nadu-born bureaucrat-turned-politician VK Padian, whom the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is grooming as his successor. Nadda, while addressing an election rally at Ambapua in Berhampur Parliamentary constituency in Odishas Ganjam district, launched a blistering attack on the Biju Janata Dal government, saying that the BJD chief is importing an outsider for future leadership while there is no dearth of Odia leaders. Expressing dismay over Patnaiks patronization of non-Odias, Nadda said: It seems as if there are no Odias to take up the leadership in Odisha. BJD is importing leaders from outside. The son of the soil has to be made a leader. Attempt is being made to bring an outsider to lead Odisha. Advertisement People have to remain cautious as BJD thinks there are no leaders in Odisha. The manner in which outsiders are being patronized by Naveen Patnaik, is a matter of grave concern, he said. Voters will give a fitting reply in the upcoming election by pressing a button on BJPs lotus symbol, Nadda said, alleging that the BJD Government in Odisha is mired in corrupt practices. It may be noted here that the Odisha unit of BJP on Wednesday last had released an Odia catalogue, titled (pachis barsha ra papa pedi) 25 years box of sins, highlighting the misrule of Patnaik-led BJD government and Patnaiks trusted aide Pandians unbridled grip over the Odisha administration. VK Pandian, a non-Odia leader within the BJD, has no understanding of Odia traditions. This non-Odia leader exerts influence in the government. This is an affront to the 4.5 crore Odias, the catalogue noted. Pandian, a Tamil Nadu born former IAS officer and closest aide of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, had joined the BJD ahead of election in November last. Pandian, appointed as chairman of 5T with Cabinet rank, is understood to have shouldered the mantle of ticket distribution and election management with tacit approval of party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Claiming that PM Modi has already scored a century in the two phases of voting that has taken place so far in the country, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday in Uttar Pradesh that the Oppositions account wont open and BJP would win all the 80 seats. Now, the voters have to decide whether to vote for the Samajwadi Party, the party that opened fire on kar sevaks, or to vote for the BJP, the party that sacrificed its governments to build the Ram Temple, he told the Mainpuri voters. Addressing an election meeting in Kisni of the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat from where SP Presidents wife Dimple Yadav is pitted against UP minister and BJP candidate Jaiveer Singh, Shah questioned, Akhilesh babu and Dimple madam had been invited to Ram temple. Due to whose fear did they not come? Azam Khan is also in jail. He did not go to Ayodhya due to fear of vote bank. Advertisement The Union home minister said, I want to ask Akhilesh Yadav whether you received the invitation for consecration or not. I also want to ask Rahul Baba, Sonia Gandhi also got it, Mallikarjun Kharge also got it, Akhilesh and Dimple Yadav also got it but no one went to Ayodhya. Those who have not gone to the consecration of Ram temple know that they were the people who opened fire on the kar sevaks. He said the BJP built the temple where Ram was born. The party brought Kashmir to India. Congress maintained Article 370 for 70 years but PM Modi destroyed it, he added. Amit Shah said Rahul Baba is a special friend of Akhilesh. They had announced if Article 370 was removed, rivers of blood will flow but nothing happened. There used to be infiltration during Congress rule every day from Pakistan. Pulwama revenge taken under Modi Government. Terrorism was eliminated by the government. PM Modi did the work of bringing the economy from 11th to 5th in the world. PM Modis guarantee is that this time we will become the number 3 economy. 25 crores population were taken out of the poverty line. 80 crore people were given free food grains, he said listing the achievements of the Modi Government. The home minister recalled Akhilesh Yadav had said he would not take the Corona vaccine, but he himself went with Dimple to get the vaccine. Samajwadi Party calls itself a sympathiser of Yadavs, but at the time of elections no other Yadav is found, but only family members get opportunity,he directly charged. He said the time has come to end the family-based party and blossom the lotus and announced before the voters that if you send Jaiveer to Parliament, Modi ji will make him a big man. Earlier in Kasganj, Amit Shah termed the INDI alliance, a factory of lies. He appealed to the people of Etah parliamentary seat to make BJP candidate Raju Bhaiya win the polls with a landslide margin. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address four rallies in the North Karnataka region in Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Davanagere and Ballari on Sunday. PM Modi will address public rallies to strengthen the BJP state units efforts to consolidate votes in the North Karnataka region. Former Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar and other dignitaries welcomed the Prime Minister, who arrived at Kundanagari Belgaum for the Lok Sabha election campaign on Saturday night. Voting was held in 14 Lok Sabha seats out of 28 in Karnataka on Friday. The other 14 seats that will go to polls on May 7 are Bagalkot, Belgaum, Bidar, Bijapur, Chikkodi, Davanagere, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Haveri, Ballari, Koppal, Raichur, Shimoga, and Uttara Kannada. BJP has always performed brilliantly in the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka. It is the only state in the south where BJPs hold has been strong. In the 2019 elections, the party had won unilaterally on 25 out of 28 seats in the state. Advertisement Congress won one seat. In such a situation, while the BJP once again faces the challenge of repeating its performance like the last election, Congress is trying to save its existence. In Karnataka, if Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities come together on one platform, then they are capable of bringing a big upheaval in the politics of Karnataka. BJP has also had to suffer the consequences of this in the assembly elections. Lingayats have the largest population in Karnataka, while Vokkaliga community is in second place. JDS chief HD Deve Gowda and Congress state president DK Shivakumar belong to the Vokkaliga community. The third phase is scheduled for May 7 which will witness polling in 94 constituencies across 12 states/UTs. The results will be announced on June 4. special investigation team (SIT) of the Mumbai Cyber Cell arrested actor Sahil Khan from Chhattisgarh in connection with the Mahadev betting app case. The arrest came following the dismissal of Sahils plea for anticipatory bail by the Mumbai High Court. He was taken into custody from Jagdalpur on Saturday. Advertisement Sahil Khan was allegedly involved in the operation of a betting site and promotion of a betting app. The investigation spearheaded by the Mumbai Polices Matunga Cyber Cell brought Sahil Khans name to the forefront. After his arrest in Jagdalpur, located in southern Chhattisgarh, Sahil Khan was taken to Mumbai. All his attempts to evade legal action by continuously changing locations and moving between Maharashtras bordering states and Chhattisgarh proved futile. Currently, the SIT of the Mumbai Cyber Cell is investigating alleged illicit financial transactions and real estate dealings involving various financial entities and promoters associated with the controversial Mahadev betting app. According to the FIR filed in the case, the magnitude of the scam can be gauged from approximately Rs 15,000 crore it cost. Khan is accused of promoting the Lion Book betting app and attending related events. He allegedly ventured into the launch of the Lotus Book 24/7 app as a partner. Leveraging his celebrity status, he extensively promoted the app, engaging celebrities and orchestrating extravagant gatherings. Acclaimed for his roles in movies such as Excuse Me and Style, Sahil Khan transitioned from the film industry to embracing a fitness journey, eventually emerging as a prominent fitness influencer. He currently oversees Divine Nutrition, a supplement sales company. The investigation against Sahil Khan and 31 others is currently underway, with the police conducting a scanning of their financial records, communication devices, and technological assets. As the investigation progresses, further developments are expected, promising significant revelations in this complex case. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that the Samajwadi Party seems to have conceded defeat even before the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections. The frequent shuffling of candidates by the Samajwadi Party indicates that the party acknowledges its impending defeat even before the conclusion of the elections, he remarked. Taking a dig at the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, Yogi Adityanath said that those who dare to challenge divine power are destined to fail, adding that the SP has made a mockery of the Lok Sabha elections. Advertisement Referring to the Congress manifesto while addressing a public meeting at Bilsi in Badaun, the Chief Minister said, The Congress is pursuing hidden agendas against the nation. While former Prime Ministers hesitated to visit Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first to witness the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla in his magnificent temple after 500 years. He also urged people to support the BJP candidate and partys regional president Durvijay Shakya in the ensuing elections. Taking a jibe at SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Yadav, CM Yogi remarked, It appears that the chacha (uncle) realised it was time to step back, while the bhatija (nephew) stumbled even before the race began. This trend by the SP is evident in Shahjahanpur, Rampur, and Meerut. However, the public is well aware of these tactics and wont be swayed by them. SP general secretary Shivpal Singh Yadavs son Aditya is contesting the polls in Badaun. Yogi stated that with the connection of the Ganga Expressway, this region is becoming a part of the industrial development process. Before 2014, terrorist activities in India were celebrated in Pakistan, with the Indian government maintaining silence. Today, even if a firecracker goes off in Pakistan, it starts giving explanations because it knows well when and where a surgical strike might occur, Yogi added. Currently, the country is achieving new milestones in security and prosperity marked by the construction of highways, expressways, and overall development. A series of welfare schemes for the poor is available to the public, Yogi said. The Chief Minister stated that previous governments played with faith. People from the Congress used to say that Ram and Krishna never existed. Today, after 500 years, the anticipation has ended, and Ram Lalla is now seated in his magnificent temple. We will honour revered figures and beliefs in every district. We have started with Kashi and Ayodhya, and after Braj, Badaun is also on the list, he pointed out. CM Yogi cautioned people against the Congress, SP, and the BSP, alleging that they harbour a hidden agenda against India. They are planning to tamper with the reservation system for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and the backward class, and are plotting to impose an inheritance tax on your property after conducting surveys, he stated. Yogi remarked, We have tackled the mafia and goons. The SP did not utter a single word of condolence on the death of former chief minister Kalyan Singh but visited the home of a mafia to read Fatiha upon his death. He emphasised the importance of casting votes for a self-reliant and developed India. A member of the Village Defence Group (VDG) was on Sunday killed in a gunfight with terrorists in the Udhampur district of Jammu. The deceased, Mohammad Sharief (48 years), sustained critical injuries in the exchange of gunfire with terrorists and passed away later, police said. This incident marks the second terrorist attack in the Jammu region within a week. Advertisement In a post on X, ADGP (Jammu Range) Anand Jain said: The J&K Police swiftly responded to intelligence inputs on terrorists near the Basantgarh police station in Udhampur district. A clash ensued as the police confronted the hiding terrorists, resulting in one VDC member sustaining injuries. A joint operation, involving the Army and the CRPF, is underway. A joint team of security forces has cordoned the area and a search operation has been launched to flush out the terrorists. After receiving inputs on the movement of suspicious individuals late Saturday evening, the J&K Police activated the security grid in the Basantgarh police station limits. On Sunday morning, policemen deployed at a police picket, accompanied by VDG members, advanced towards the Chochru Gala heights around 7.45 am. A face-off ensued between the police party and a group of hiding terrorists. One VDG member sustained injuries in the initial exchange of firing. It is worth mentioning that about 26,000 residents from terrorism-prone hamlets have received training from the Army in handling firearms to protect their respective areas. VDGs were established in all ten districts of the Jammu division during the peak of terrorism in 1995. The terrorist attack in the Jammu region, which has largely maintained peace so far, came within days of the targeted killing of a government employee by terrorists in the Kunda Top village in the Rajouri district last week. Political activities in Lucknow will gain momentum from Monday when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore will file their nomination papers tomorrow from Lucknow and Mohanlalganj parliamentary seats respectively. UP Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi, his counterpart in Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami and BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi will be present with Rajnath Singh and Kaushal Kishore when they file their nominations at the Lucknow Collectorate. The Defence Minister and Kishore will reach the collectorate atop a BJP rath in a roadshow from the party office, starting at 1000 AM and after crossing Hazratganj, will reach the collectorate at 12 noon. Advertisement Both the CMs Adityanath and Dhami will also join the road show where several state ministers will be present. Meanwhile, Union Minister Smriti Irani will also file her nomination as BJP candidate from Amethi parliamentary seat on Monday. Today, she took the blessings of Ram Lalla and offered obeisances at Hamungarhi temple. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will join Irani during her roadshow on the way to nomination in Gauriganj. Polling in Lucknow and Amethi constituencies will be held in the fifth phase on May 20. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 28. Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov has discussed possibilities for joint activities in the energy sector with President and CEO of Saudi Aramco Amin H. Nasser, Trend reports via the minister's post on X. "During our visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we met with Amin H. Nasser, the President and CEO of Saudi Aramco. We touched upon the conditions available for foreign investors in our country, the opportunities for joint activities in the energy sector, and the potential for collaboration in production projects," the minister said. Saudi Aramco, formally known as the Saudi Arabian Oil Group or simply Aramco, stands as a state-owned giant in the petroleum and natural gas sector, serving as Saudi Arabia's national oil company. As of 2022, it ranks as the world's second-largest company by revenue. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Arvinder Singh Lovely, who resigned as Delhi Congress president, dismissed speculations that he would contest the Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket. After his resignation, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj asked if the BJP was going to change its candidate from the East Delhi seat. Reacting to the AAP leaders innuendo, Lovely said, I thank Saurabh Bharadwaj for his wishes. I think he makes decisions on behalf of other parties. I have clearly said that I have resigned from the post of Delhi Congress chief. Advertisement In his resignation letter sent to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lovely had cited alliance with the foe-turned-friend AAP as one of the reasons behind his decision. He further clarified that he has not resigned over discontentment over ticket distribution. I want to clarify that I have not resigned over discontent over tickets (for Lok Sabha polls) We (Congress and AAP) are contesting the (Lok Sabha) polls together but the Congress and its workers never gave a clean chit (to AAP) or gave them the credit to build schools and hospitals, he said. However, his resignation letter mentioned the partys decision to get tickets to the candidates who are completely strangers to Delhi. The Congress is fighting the Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Delhi in an alliance with the AAP. As per a seat-sharing agreement, the grand old party has been given three of the seven seats in the national capital, while the remaining four have gone to the AAP. In the tumultuous arena of Bihar politics, where alliances shift like sand dunes in the wind, this election seems poised to redefine the political landscape. The once unassailable dominance of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), faces an unprecedented challenge from the emerging force of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). As the battle lines are drawn, it becomes increasingly evident that Bihar is no longer the bastion it once was for the ruling coalition. The fervent campaigning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscores the gravity of the situation for the NDA. Their relentless efforts to recapture the magic of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls speak volumes about the apprehensions within the ranks especially because Bihar seems to be craving something more than the repetitive rhetoric of past victories. On the opposing front, the INDIA bloc, under the leadership of Mr Tejashwi Yadav, presents a formidable challenge. With a focus on issues like job creation and youth empowerment, Mr Yadav has struck a chord with the masses. His rallies, brimming with hope and promise, stand in stark contrast to the lacklustre performances of some of his opponents. By aligning with diverse parties and fielding candidates from marginalised communities, the alliance has crafted a strategy that resonates with Bihars diverse electorate. Yet, amid the flurry of political manoeuvring, both alliances grapple with internal challenges and uncertainties. The INDIA blocs inability to accommodate influential leaders like Mr Pappu Yadav underscores the delicate balance of power within the coalition. Similarly, the Rashtriya Janata Dals dilemma over candidate selection in key constituencies highlights the inherent complexities of coalition politics. As the battle for Bihar intensifies, it is imperative to recognise the shifting dynamics of power and influence. Gone are the days of one-party dominance. Bihar now stands at a crossroads. The outcome of the upcoming elections remains uncertain, with no guarantees of a repeat performance for either alliance. At its core, the contest in Bihar represents more than just a clash of political ideologies. It is a battle for the soul of the state. Advertisement The electorate finds itself at a critical juncture, torn between the familiar promises of the past and the tantalising allure of a new vision for the future. In the end, it will be the people of Bihar who determine the course of history, casting their votes not just for candidates, but for the ideals and aspirations they represent. As the dust settles and the ballots are counted, Bihar will emerge transformed, its political landscape reshaped by the winds of change. Whether it heralds a new dawn of progress and prosperity or merely marks another chapter in the cyclical nature of Indian politics remains to be seen. One thing, however, is certain: Bihar will be a battle to watch. Having won 39 out of 40 seats in 2019, the NDA has a lot of turf to protect. I was not familiar with the concept of layoff when I was in India. My father used to work in a jute mill and occasionally faced lock outs which meant that gates of the mill were locked by the company and no employee was allowed to enter the premises and work; they did not get paid either. Lockouts typically happened during labour disputes and affected the entire employee pool. However, these were temporary events and activities went back to normal once disputes were resolved. There was firing or termination of individual employees because of poor performance or major violation of company rules. However, I did not know that employees could be laid off simply because a company thought that there were too many employees and just wanted to reduce their number. In those days, any employment meant a lifetime job security. I became a manager at RCA Consumer Electronics division in Indianapolis, USA in the mid-1980s. Coincidentally, layoffs became common phenomena during the Reagan era because companies focused on improving their bottom lines to make shareholders happy; merger/acquisition, followed by downsizing, became the norm. I took several management courses at the local university at the companys expense. Advertisement I was even selected to attend a prestigious management training programme in New York. However, none of these courses nor the associated textbooks had anything to say about layoffs or how to lay employees off. Unfortunately, this lack of knowledge came back to haunt me when the mighty GE corporation purchased the entire RCA in 1986. Jack Welch, the then CEO of GE was well-known for his ruthless downsizing by conducting massive layoffs; he had the nickname Neutron Jack; like the nuclear particle neutron, he did not destroy buildings, only peoples lives. This essay recounts three layoffs I was forced to undertake as part of my management job under GE. Layoffs started shortly after GEs acquisition of RCA. Ironically, the first incident happened right after I returned from my management course in New York whose purpose was to train us on how to improve manufacturing and become a worldclass company. I returned full of energy and ideas on how to implement many of the lessons I learned from the course. I found my boss Robert pacing outside my office when I showed u p f o r w o rk t h e d a y a f t e r m y return. He informed me that while I was gone a management decision had been made to implement a sizable layoff of engineers. Robert represented me in the meetings and designated a new engineer, Jim, in my group as the candidate to be laid off. I concurred because Jim was yet to make any significant contribution and was somewhat reclusive in his social interactions. Robert told me to corner Jim as soon as he came to work and give him this bad news myself before he f o u n d o u t f ro m t h e s t re e t rumours. In his mind, this was the proper and humane thing to do. Not only did I instantly lose all the newfound enthusiasm for my job, I had no idea on how to conduct this meeting. Should I be very brief and get right to the point or should I take time to give him some background information about the companys financial situation and GEs plans? Should I look into his eyes or look away? Do I leave some time at the end for answering his questions? How would I handle it if he had an emotional breakdown? There was no guidance for me and even the Human Resource (HR) department was not involved. I had to do it from the seat of my pants. Fortunately, Jim was a quiet guy and did not even say a single word. I hated every second of that meeting. We knew that there would be a second round of layoffs. Managers at my level bitterly complained to our superiors that this must be done more systematically, and we must give the engineers ample time to prepare both financially and emotionally. Our bosses listened and came up with a scientific approach. All first level managers identified their weak employees and got together to prepare a forced ranking based on four criteria: seniority, criticality of their jobs, flexibility, and performance. We were told to inform the affected engineers near the bottom of the ranking several weeks before the next layoff. The guy in my department was Larry: a recently married and cheerful engineer. I called Larry to my office and gave him a rundown of the entire process; not only the companys financial background but how managers came up with the forced ranking. Finally, I said Larry, unfortunately, from my group, you are at the bottom. I stopped there and did not explicitly tell him that he would be laid off on a specific date. I figured that he was smart enough to put two and two together. Much to my surprise, I noticed that Larry started to work unusually hard after that meeting; often working late, staying beyond quitting time and sometimes even working weekends. I realized that he did not get my message; he thought that I was saying that being at the bottom of the list he must improve by putting extra effort. Larrys wife Rose also worked at our company. Much to my embarrassment, she not only understood the implication of my message, but also mentioned the situation to her boss Peter, one of my colleagues, implying that I had not delivered my message to Larry properly. Peter informed me about the situation. I was exasperated; it was time for me to call Larry in once again and deliver the message bluntly and advise him to start looking for another job and do appropriate financial planning. This meeting was even more excruciating than my meeting with Jim. Fortunately, Larry managed to get a job at another local company in a short period of time, putting an end to my guilt trip. My third experience with a layoff, a few months later, was a little easier. This time it was an elderly engineer, Ed, in his late fifties with more than twenty-five years of work experience in the company and eligible for a hefty pension plus severance package. He was a grumpy man and not well-liked. He did not seem to be too thrilled to work for a know it all young Indian. I called him for a meeting, gave him the news over coffee while trying to build a rapport with him. I criticized what GE was doing to engineers by these layoffs. I confided that I did not feel secure in my job myself and was trying to get a job at Sony in San Diego. Ed was not shocked at the turn of events and volunteered that both his married daughters lived in the San Diego area. He was implying that he would gladly work for me again if I could find him an opportunity at Sony. Unfortunately for him, that never happened. Layoffs are now part of life in the US and have become common also in India. I do not know how they are handled these days in either country. I know that HR is more involved in providing support to laid-off workers in job hunting. Mass layoffs are typical and announced in group meetings. One-on-one layoffs are much more stressful. I strongly feel that all managers must be trained in how to conduct layoffs, or these should be done by AI robots, devoid of emotions and guilt. (The writer, a physicist who worked in industry and academia, is a Bengali settled in America.) In the tapestry of Britains social fabric, the conversation around assisted dying emerges as a poignant reflection of evolving values and aspirations for individual autonomy. As Britain stands on the cusp of what could be a monumental reform, it is essential to navigate this complex terrain with empathy, pragmatism, and a commitment to upholding human dignity. At the heart of the debate lies the principle of individual freedom. Just as Britons have fought for the right to marry whom they choose and pursue divorce when relationships sour, so too should they have the right to decide the manner and timing of their own death, argue proponents of assisted dying. This is not a matter of promoting death, but rather recognising the inherent dignity and agency of every human being, even in their final moments. While Britain may be at the forefront of this discourse, it is not alone in grappling with the complexities of assisted dying. Across the globe, from the tranquil canals of Belgium to the rugged landscapes of Oregon, countries and jurisdictions have navigated similar terrain, each with its own set of legislative frameworks and ethical considerations. By drawing upon the experiences and lessons learned from these diverse contexts, Britain can chart a course that is informed, compassionate, and tailored to its unique cultural landscape. One of the key challenges in crafting legislation on assisted dying lies in striking a delicate balance between ensuring access to this fundamental right and safeguarding against potential abuse. While it is crucial to put in place robust safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals, overly restrictive measures risk denying individuals the autonomy they seek in their final days. Britain must heed the lessons learned from jurisdictions where assisted dying is already legalised, ensuring that any legislation is both compassionate and pragmatic. Moreover, as Britain grapples with the intricacies of mental health and cognitive decline, it must confront the thorny issue of determining capacity and consent. While it is essential to safeguard against coercion and ensure that individuals are of sound mind when making end-of-life decisions, it is equally important to recognise the legitimacy of mental suffering. Advertisement By adopting a nuanced and compassionate approach, Britain can ensure that individuals with mental health disorders are not unjustly excluded from exercising their right to a dignified death. As British lawmakers and citizens engage in this critical conversation, it is imperative to approach the issue with empathy and respect. By drawing upon the collective wisdom of diverse perspectives and experiences, Britain can forge a path forward that reflects its values, respects individual autonomy, and ensures compassion for those facing the end of life. In doing so, Britain has a chance to lead by example and set a new standard for compassionate end-of-life care in the modern world. 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. Advertisement 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 prosecutors office applied for the 57-year-olds arrest and he is to be brought before the investigating judge at the district court on Sunday. 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. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 28. Turkmenistan has fully completed the construction of its part of the Turkmenistan - Afghanistan - Pakistan - India (TAPI) gas pipeline, Trend reports. This was stated by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd. Muhammetmyrat Amanov, during the International Forum to Attract Foreign Investments in Turkmenistan's Energy Sector, which is taking place in Paris. Amanov noted that important agreements had been reached with Afghanistan on security issues and the acquisition of land plots for pipe laying. Furthermore, the CEO of the company added that Pakistan also intends to include TAPI in the Foreign Investment Protection Act to attract international creditors. It is expected that the TAPI gas pipeline will annually transport 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas along an 1800-kilometer route from Turkmen Galkynysh, the second largest gas field in the world, to the Indian city of Fazilka, located near the border of India with Pakistan. I am blown by the amount of research the BJPs speechwriters have put in. They have gone way back in time to dig out and wilfully misquote something Manmohan Singh said in 2006 at a meeting of the National Development Council (NDC), which is Our collective priorities are clear. Agriculture, irrigation and water resources, health, education along with programmes for the upliftment of SC/STs, other backward classes, minorities and women and children We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development. They must have the first claim on resources... It is interesting to note that after making this deeply worrying statement, Singh still managed to get re-elected in 2009clearly proving that a majority of voters were chill with what he had said. My guess is that the majority of voters are still chill with what he said. And our worry is more to do with our missing fruits of development. Like, hello, where is our big fat fruit platter? And why isnt Prime Minister Narendra Modi explaining why it is missing, instead of making hateful statements about how many children our Muslims are producingwhen he surely must know, with all the reports he has to read, that Muslims are producing roughly the same amount of children as everybody else, and that India achieved replacement level fertility rates two whole years ago. I even wrote about it here, and wondered why we werent celebrating this achievement more. (Duh, because the ruling party likes to use this hoary, defunct bogey bear to whip up insecurity and division.) Illustration: Deni Lal For those who demand specifics, fertility rates have declined drastically across all religious communities over the last two decades to land at 2.1. And the Muslim fertility rate, while still the highest in India, is only 2.36, and getting steadily lower every day. Also, it gets compensated (sadly) by the communitys neonatal mortality rate, which is also the highest in the country. So either our prime minister is not doing his homework, which is unlikely because he wakes up so early and works so hard, reminding me often of the endearing prime minister Hugh Grant played in Love Actually who lifts the 10 Downing Street phone to say, Im very busy and important. Or hes knowingly inciting the voters of Rajasthan by implying Muslim hordes, dressed in furs and riding on horseback, will swoop in to snatch mangalsutras from the necks of Hindu mothers and wives if they vote for the Congresswhich is just plain sillybecause there are 80 per cent Hindus in India and only 14 per cent Muslims, and it is much too hot to wear fur in Rajasthan. And anyway, if they had to do that they wouldve done it during the 60 years of Congress misrule for heavens sake. Our Election Commission, by coyly declining to comment on this flagrant hate-mongering, has proven it has a severely debilitating case of erectile dysfunction. By speeches such as this, and telling acts like turning the Doordarshan logo saffron, and arresting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwalthe BJP has revealed that it is not as confident as it claims to be. Such insecurity, when the party is resurgent, flush with funds, and has all the state institutions in their firm control, is puzzling. Is the BJP, which always has its ear to the ground, actually worried that Ram phal is not considered a fruit of development by most Indians? Is it because more people are saying hey, if were allowed to go back in time and pull out old speeches, wheres that plump 15 lakh fruit Modi assured us was gonna drop into all our bank accounts? Maybe Muslims probably stole that, too. And used it to buy fur-coats and horses. editor@theweek.in When Hermes was hit with a class-action lawsuit last month for antitrust activities, it didnt see it coming. Most of the luxury world has all eyes on this suit, filed by two interested consumers who claim they were denied a purchase, and whether it would go to trial. Many brands are gleeful. For long, brands have wondered how Hermes, a luxury leader, has managed to hold on to its strategy of rarity and snob value at the risk of losing a sale. Some industry watchers are worried, as American judges are famously pro-consumer. In March, the plaintiffs Tina Cavalleri and Mark Glinoga filed a suit in San Francisco, California, stating Hermes was indulging in the unlawful practice of tying. This means it made its customers purchase smaller products such as shoes, scarves, ties and costume jewellery before being allowed to purchase one of their two mega products, the Birkin bag or the Kelly purse. Both the Birkin and Kelly have been the subject of various books, blogs and films, thanks to the almost mythical marketing Hermes employs to promote them. The waitlist for a Birkin and Kelly can go into several months or years, giving rise to a famous saying, You dont choose an Hermes bag, it chooses you. Handbags from Hermes | Instragram@hermesaddict The suit states the company is engaged in unfair, anti-competitive business practices, and the two complainants have also invited other consumers who have been denied a purchase to join their cause: their freedom to buy a crazy expensive handbag if they wanted to. Hermes, last week, hired a well-known antitrust legal firm, Latham & Watkins, to represent them. They are yet to comment on the suit, adding to the intrigue. But last year, the brand told Businessoffashion.com, Hermes strictly prohibits any sales of certain products as a condition to the purchase of others. The CEO Axel Dumas, however, accepted that stores are encouraged to vet buyers and sell the sold-out bags only to real clients, in a bid to thwart the growing resale market for their products. It is also interesting to note that this suit comes less than one year after Hermes stock rose to more than 2,000 per share, raising its market cap to 210 billion. Hermes, not the worlds largest-selling label (it appears well after Nike, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Adidas), has for the first time surpassed Nikes market cap. I am honestly intrigued. If the suit goes to trial, Hermes will be forced to disclose trade practices it has long held secret. Hermes is said to focus on traditional manufacturing techniques and training its artisans for up to 10 years, across its 21 ateliers in France, instead of making assembly-line products. But Michael Tonello (who authored the riotous Bringing Home the Birkin, exposing the luxury labels faux waitlist by shopping for Birkins at the smaller stores instead), wrote on his Instagram: I began reading some of the Hermes PurseForum (one-stop shop for inaccuracies and untruths) and Reddit groups, back around 2005. Each of them were like a country club for Hermes cheerleaders Every Hermes bag is entirely handmade, hand-sewn (saddle-stitched) by a single craftsman at a bench. And, Ive yet to find anywhere in print where Hermes makes that claim. And they wont, because its not true But you can find that verbiage in most publications and stories about Hermes. Hermes, and eventually luxury brands after the trial, will be forced to disclose methods they disguise for the convenience of myth-based marketing. This may turn on their head stories of the exclusivity, quality and long-held beliefs of discretion that luxury labels are known for. It will also shift the focus of power in the industry. Who controls the keys to the success of a luxury brandthe producer company, the purchasing customer, or the sales staff who decides whom to open the doors of the private viewing room to. This suit may change the luxury game forever. As Indians battle it out in our nations 18th general election, it is again time for voters to reflect on the Idea of Indiaor rather, on two duelling ideas of India that are now before us and between which the nation must choose at the ballot box. They both date back to before independence, when our nationalist movement was divided between two sets of ideas, one held by those who saw religious identity as the determinant of their nationhood and the other by those who believed in an inclusive India for everyone, irrespective of faith. The former became the idea of Pakistan, the latter the idea of India. Pakistan was created as a state with a dominant religion, a state that discriminates against its minorities and denies them equal rights. But India never accepted the logic that had partitioned the country: our freedom struggle was for all, and independent India would also be for all. This nebulous Idea of Indiathe phrase is Tagoresis, in some form or another, arguably as old as antiquity itself. Today, though, it incorporates a certain conception of human rights and citizenship, vigorously backed by due process and equality before law. Despite the mystical influence of Tagore, and the spiritual and moral influences of Gandhiji, the idea of India embedded in our Constitution is a robustly secular construct inspired by the vision and intellect of our founding fathers, notably (in alphabetical order) B.R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The preamble itself is the most eloquent enumeration of this vision. In its description of the defining traits of the Indian republic, its conception of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, it firmly proclaims that the law, and not religion or community, will be the bedrock of the idea of India. This is the idea of an ever-ever landemerging from an ancient civilisation, united by a shared history, marked by rich diversity, sustained by pluralist democracy. Indias democracy imposes no narrow conformities on its citizens. The whole point of Indian pluralism is you can be many things and one thing: you can be a good Muslim, a good Keralite and a good Indian all at once. The Indian idea, as I have long argued, is that a nation may endure differences of caste, creed, colour, conviction, consonant, culture, cuisine, costume and custom, and still rally around a consensus. And that consensus is around the simple idea that in a democracy you dont really need to agreeexcept on the ground rules of how you will disagree. My idea of India celebrates diversity: if the US is a melting-pot, then to me India is a thali, a selection of sumptuous dishes in different bowls. Each tastes different, and does not necessarily mix with the next, but they belong together on the same plate, and they complement each other in making the meal a satisfying repast. Many of us complacently assumed that this idea of India was immutable and universally held. But we were wrong; before Muhammad Ali Jinnahs Muslim League passed its notorious Pakistan Resolution in 1940 demanding the vivisection of the country, the Hindu Mahasabha had in 1937 advanced the theory that Hindus and Muslims were two nations. Todays ruling BJP is the political arm of the RSS, which remains committed to the doctrine of hindutva and advocates the establishment in India of a Hindu Rashtra. Such an idea has nothing in common with the constitutional idea of India. It represents a nationalism that is divisive rather than inclusive, embodied in a chauvinism intolerant of diversity and difference. The BJP/RSS idea of a Hindu Rashtra is the mirror image of Pakistana state with a dominant majority religion that seeks to put its minorities in a subordinate place. That would be a hindutva Pakistan, and it is not what our freedom movement fought for, nor is it the idea of India enshrined in our Constitution. This is a battle for Indias soul. Indias founding fathers wrote a constitution for their dreams; we have given passports to their ideals. Let us not let them down by surrendering our idea of India to the idea of Pakistan. editor@theweek.in Barely a week after he canceled his planned trip to India and meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to "very heavy Tesla obligations" Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrived in China for an unannounced visit. The visit to China coincides with the 2024 Beijing Auto Show, which started on Thursday. The visit also comes amid speculations that Musk may unveil Tesla's autonomous driving technology in the electric vehicle (EV) market in China. Tesla maker rolled out full self-driving four years ago. However, the company is yet to make this available in China. According to a Reuters report, Musk, who reached Beijing on Sunday, is likely to meet senior company officials to discuss rolling out full self-driving software and permission to transfer data overseas. Musk reportedly met Chinese Premier Li Qiang and discussed future expansion plans for his automobile company. According to a CTGN report, Musk arrived in China at the invitation of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. South China Morning Post reported that Musk may meet senior Chinese officials at the State Council and "old friends" in Beijing. China is Tesla's second-largest market. The company has sold more than 1.7 million cars in China since it entered the market in 2012. The visit also comes even as the company is facing increased competition from local EV makers. On Monday, postponing his planned visit to India, Musk had tweeted: "Unfortunately, very heavy Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed, but I do very much look forward to visiting later this year." Bollywood actor Vidya Balan, who has been receiving high praise from critics for her latest movie Do Aur Do Pyaar, opened up about her admiration for Malayalam cinema and two leading stars in the industry, Mohanlal and Mammootty. During a recent interview with Samdish Bhatia of Unfiltered by Samdish, the actor was asked to choose between the two stalwarts of the Malayalam movie industry. She said she watches more of Mohanlal's works because of the comedies he has done, but she also likes the movies of Mammootty. "I recently watched Kaathal and he is so beautiful in it. I messaged Dulquer (Salmaan) after watching the film and asked him to convey the message to his father," Balan said. She pointed out that Mammootty not only played the role of a gay man in the movie but also produced Kaathal, which was directed by Jeo Baby. "For such a big star to act as a gay man there is no better way to show acceptance and support for the community. Therefore opening the minds of others," she said. She further said none of the leading actors in Hindi cinema would be able to do such a film. "One we have to accept the fact that it is the more literate audience in Kerala. That makes a big difference....I dont disagree that Ayushmann Khurrana has done it. He was excellent at it. But maybe, it is easier there (Kerala)." Praising the cine-goers of Kerala, Balan said the audience in the state is more open to such roles. "And they revere the actors like nowhere else. They worship their stars and thats why it is more credible that he went and did that film. He didnt worry whether it would reflect on his image or anything like that. He is a more secure actor," she observed. In a bid to boost the party's chances in the Northern Karnataka region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend four mega election rallies in Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Davanagere and Ballari on Sunday. Interestingly, the Prime Minister's election campaign will coincide with Congress's protest against the 'paltry' drought relief given by the Centre to the state. The Prime Minister who arrived at Kundanagari Belgaum on Saturday evening was welcomed by former Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar and other dignitaries. Former chief minister and BJP leader Jagdish Shettar welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kundanagari Belgaum | ANI Of the total 28 seats in the state, voting was held at 14 Lok Sabha seats. The constituencies that will go to polls in the second phase (May 7) are Bagalkot, Belgaum, Bidar, Bijapur, Chikkodi, Davanagere, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Haveri, Ballari, Koppal, Raichur, Shimoga, and Uttara Kannada. During the 2019 elections, the BJP had performed well, winning 25 out of 28 seats in the state. In all 14 seats, the fight is directly between the BJP and the Congress. NDA ally JD(S) is not contesting in any of the seats in the North Karnataka region. The saffron party traditionally is backed by the Lingayats, the single biggest community numerically in the state. The other is Vokkaliga, which mostly supports the JD(S) and Congress in some pockets. However, this time things aren't smooth for BJP as some Lingayat seers have warned of rebellion against the party. They allege BJP representative and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi of neglect and disrespect toward the community. The last Assembly elections saw the Lingayats siding with the Congress, leading to the BJP losing power. Meanwhile, the Congress in Karnataka will stage a protest on Sunday against the 'paltry' drought relief given by Centre. The Congress has been using 'empty promises' as a poll plank against the Centre this Lok Sabha elections. arnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, while announcing the demonstration, said the Centre has sanctioned only Rs 3,454 crore against the demand for Rs 18,172 crore to mitigate drought in the state. "The union government has announced a very paltry sum of relief, which will be grossly insufficient to provide drought relief to farmers. In this regard, we have decided to stage a protest near the Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha. We will also continue our legal battle for more drought relief. We are not seeking alms, this is our right," he told reporters on Saturday. Shivakumar said Karnataka had only sought 50 per cent of the estimated loss of Rs 35,000 crore, but the Centre has agreed to release only a fraction of that. Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely on Sunday announced his resignation from the post, citing the party's high command's decision to ally with the Aam Aadmi Party, which he says was formed "on the sole basis of levelling false, fabricated and malafide corruption charges against the Congress Party." In a letter written to the party, Lovely said: "The Delhi Congress Unit was against an alliance with a Party which was formed on the sole basis of levelling false, fabricated and malafide corruption charges against the Congress Party. Despite that, the Party made a decision to ally with the AAP in Delhi." He alleged that all decisions taken by senior Delhi Congress leaders have been vetoed by the Congress general secretary (Delhi-incharge), who also did not permit him to make appointments in the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee. "My request for the appointment of a veteran leader as Media head of DPCC was blatantly rejected. To date, the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge) has not allowed the DPCC to appoint all block presidents in the city. Resultantly more than 150 blocks in Delhi do not presently have a Block President," he said. He said the Delhi unit was against the party's alliance with the AAP. "Despite that, the Party decided to ally with the AAP in Delhi," Lovely said. "We respected the Party's final decision. Not only did I publicly back the decision, but I also ensured that the full state unit fell in line with the High Command's final order. On instructions from AICC General Secretary (Organisation), I even went to the extent of visiting Kejriwal's residence on the night of his arrest along with Subash Chopra and Sandeep Dikshit, despite the same being against my position on the matter," he added. He also hit out at the comments made by the North-East Delhi candidate (Kanhaiya Kumar), for falsely praising the Delhi CM and endorsing the works done by AAP in the Education, Health, Road and Electricity sector. "Such ill-thought and factually incorrect statements have not gone down well with the local unit since the local party workers had an inherent understanding that the alliance was not done in appreciation of AAP's false propaganda of the development of Delhi but as a "compromise- to improve the chances of victory for the party as part of the National Alliance," he said. Lovely added that since he cannot protect the interests of the party workers, he sees no reason to continue in the said post. Lovely's resignation comes just days after former Delhi minister and AlICC member Rajkumar Chauhan on Wednesday resigned from the party. Chauhan, who quit a day after the meeting of the Delhi Congress' disciplinary committee, was said to have been involved in an alteration with AICC Delhi in-charge Deepak Babria. A meeting held last Sunday at the residence of Babria witnessed a heated argument between Babria and Chauhan. "Babaria called for a meeting and we had gone to his house. When I started speaking in the meeting, Babria asked me to 'get out' and he repeated it four to five times. I was trying to tell him that the candidate, who has been given the ticket (Udit Raj), has been abusing every caste," Chauhan said. "I am a four-time MLA and a three-time minister (in Delhi government). We have done so many development works for Delhi. An outsider was telling me to get out. That's why I was angry and sent my resignation to DPCC chief Arvinder Singh Lovely," Chauhan said, adding that he did not get a ticket last time also. The Delhi Congress disciplinary committee, under the chairmanship of Narendra Nath, had unanimously decided that the AICC should decide on the complaint against Chauhan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi raked up Muslim appeasement charge against Congress and said while Rahul Gandhi insults personalities like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he doesnt utter a word about the atrocities of Nawabs or other Muslim rulers. Addressing a poll rally in Karnataka on Sunday, the prime minister said, Shehzada of Congress says that the kings of India were atrocious. They snatched the assets of the poor as per their wishes. The Shehzada of Congress has insulted great personalities like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Rani Chinamma, whose good governance and patriotism still motivate us. Does the Shehzada not know the contribution of the Mysuru Royal family, whom we all are proud of? Modi charged the Congress leader made the comments to appease his vote bank. The statements made by the Shehzada of Congress have been made very thoughtfully to appease their vote bank. But, the Shehzada does not say a word about the atrocities committed by the Nawabs, Nizams, Sultans, and Badhshahs. Congress does not remember the atrocities committed by Aurangzeb who destroyed thousands of our temples, Modi charged. The prime minister alleged Congress is forming poll alliances with parties who praise Aurangzeb. They do not talk about all those who destroyed our pilgrimage sites, looted them, killed our people, and killed cows, he said. The prime minister charged the Congress government in Karnataka prioritised their vote bank over ensuring justice in Hubbali student Nehas murder case. "Ever since the Congress government has been formed in Karnataka, the law and order situation has deteriorated in the state. What happened in Hubballi has shaken the entire country. The girl's family demanded action, but the Congress government again prioritised appeasement. They don't value the lives of our daughters like Neha. All they care about is their vote bank. -with inputs from agencies. Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Minister Atishi charged the Election Commission has banned the Lok Sabha election campaign song of the party for criticising central agencies. Atishi said, Another political weapon of the BJP, the Election Commission has put a ban on AAP's campaign song. This has happened for the first time in the history of India. The same Election Commission ignores the violation of the model code of conduct done every day by the BJP. Atishi said the poll body banned their campaign song allegedly for portraying directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate in a bad light. The ECI does not object when the ED, CBI, and other cases on political leaders are shut as soon as they join the BJP, but when we mention that in our campaign song, the ECI objects to it. ECI says that if you talk about dictatorship, it is a criticism of the ruling party. This means that ECI also believes that the BJP is a dictatorship government, Atishi said. -with ANI inputs. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 28. Kazakhstan has imposed a ban on the import of chicken eggs by road for six months, Trend reports via the country's Ministry of Agriculture. The measure applies to the import of eggs from third countries and from the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), except in cases of transit through the territory of Kazakhstan or transportation of eggs between the member states of the EEU through the country. Taken actions aim to support domestic egg producers in the spring and summer periods. The ban will take effect from May 1 of this year. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel In the mid of last year, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu announced the super six, a set of election promises at a large party meeting held in Andhra Pradesh. Prominent among them was the free bus ride for all women in the state. This announcement came days after the Congress party rode to power in the Karnataka Assembly elections, having made exactly the same promise. In the latter part of 2023, the Congress unit of Telangana also replicated the poll guarantee of providing free bus travel to women, and it won power, dislodging the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). The Andhra Pradesh Congress party also promised the same in their manifesto released recently. However, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), which had enough time to study the pros and cons of the scheme, has decided not to give in to the temptation of including the populist scheme in their manifesto. Chief Minister and YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy released the party manifesto on Saturday, where he stressed sticking to the deliverables. Though some of the super six promises of the TDP boasted of higher monetary benefits for farmers and pensioners, the YSRCP did not attempt to outmatch the amount. An additional Rs 80,000 crores per year is required to fulfill the promises of the TDP, which is not possible, said Jagan, who asserted that he chose to be realistic and credible. He criticized the alliance of TDP-BJP-Jana Sena party for failing to fulfill the promises made in 2014, when the three parties last came together to fight elections. The YSRCP highlighted that they implemented 99 per cent of the promises made in the last terms manifesto in 2019 and intend to post a similar record. Named Jagananna Navaratnalu Plus, the manifesto is a fortified version of the last terms promises. Jagan has decided to continue most of his pet welfare schemeswith incremental amounts compared to the existing figurethat are targeted at the rural and various downtrodden sections of society and have earned a strong voter base for the YSRCP. According to the CM, around Rs 2,70,000 crores have been deposited in the bank accounts of the beneficiaries of various welfare schemes in the state in the last 5 years. Responding to the allegations of the opposition that the YSRCP government is not focused on capital expenditure, he furnished data to prove them wrong. Between 2014 and 2019, when the TDP was in power in the state, the annual capital expenditure was Rs 15,000 crores, whereas between 2019 and 2024, under YSRCP government rule, the capital expenditure was Rs 17,000 crores, according to slides shown during the event. With the opposition alliance attempting to capture the urban and literate voters, claiming poor infrastructure development and lack of investments in the state, the YSRCP has tried to allay the narrative with attention to specific areas. The CM has assured that he will prioritize the construction and maintenance of roads. Apart from that, there are plans to establish industrial parks in each district and also turn each district headquarters into a smart city. Once in power, the party wants to expedite the construction of an international airport and the development of ports and harbors. Housing layouts will be taken up in urban areas for middle-income groups with a corpus fund of Rs 2000 crores. After Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, too, has recognized the gig and platform workers. Around one lakh delivery staff and drivers working for app-based companies like Zomato, Swiggy, and Uber operating in urban or semi-urban areas will be covered for Rs 5 lakhs under accidental death insurance. The Tihar jail administration has denied permission for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita to meet him on April 29, AAP said on Sunday. There was no immediate reaction from the Tihar authorities. "Sunita Kejriwal was supposed to meet him tomorrow (Monday) but the Tihar administration has denied permission. The jail administration has not cited any reason for denying the permission," the party said. According to jail manual, an inmate is allowed two meetings per week. Two people can meet a prisoner at a time and a maximum of four people are allowed in a week. In a post on X in Hindi, the party said, "At the behest of the Modi government, the Tihar jail administration cancelled Sunita Kejriwal's meeting with her husband Arvind Kejriwal. The Modi government is crossing all limits of inhumanity. "An elected chief minister is being treated like a terrorist. The Modi government should tell the people of the country as to why it is not allowing Sunita Kejriwal ji to meet her husband Arvind Kejriwal ji?" Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi is scheduled to meet Kejriwal on Monday while Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet him on Tuesday. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 in connection with excise policy linked money laundering case. He is in judicial custody till May 7. The special investigation team of the Mumbai cyber cell has detained actor Sahil Khan from Chhattisgarh in connection with the Mahadev betting app case, an official said on Sunday. The actor was apprehended from Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh on Saturday after the Bombay High Court rejected his pre-arrest bail plea, he said. Khan was recently questioned by the SIT in connection with the case. The SIT has been conducting a probe into the alleged illegal transactions between certain financial and real estate firms in the state and the promoters of the controversial Mahadev betting app. The size of the scam is about Rs 15,000 crore, as per the first information report (FIR) registered by the police in the case. An investigation is underway against Khan and 31 other individuals. The probe involves examining their bank accounts, mobile phones, laptops, and all technical equipment, according to the police. So far, one person has been arrested in the case and further investigation is underway, the official said. Sahil Khan, known for films like Style' and Excuse Me', has become a fitness expert. Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely, who stepped down as the partys Delhi unit chief on Sunday, said he is not joining any other political party. "I have only resigned as Delhi Congress chief and I am not joining any political party," Lovely said at a press conference amid speculation that he might join the BJP. The rumours of his crossover to the saffron party flew thick and fast after Congress ex-MLA Asif Mohammad Khan claimed that the BJP would field Lovely from the East Delhi constituency, replacing Harsh Malhotra. Earlier in the day, Lovely announced his resignation, citing the party high commands decision to ally with the Aam Aadmi Party for the Lok Sabha elections. Lovely said his resignation reflected the pain of Congress workers saddened by the fact that the "ideals they had been fighting for during the last seven to eight years" were being compromised. "We are fighting the elections together but never did the Congress workers say that we are giving a clean chit to them or giving them credit for building schools and hospitals, which is far from the reality," he said. In his resignation letter sent to party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lovely also said that he found himself "handicapped" as all unanimous decisions taken by senior Delhi unit leaders have been "unilaterally vetoed" by AICC Delhi in-charge Deepak Babria. "It is with a heavy heart that I write the present letter to you finding myself handicapped and unable to continue as the President of the Delhi party unit, he said in his letter to Kharge. Lovely also criticised Congress North East Delhi candidate Kanhaiya Kumar for heaping praise on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is in jail after being arrested in connection with a money laundering case linked to the excise policy scam. Lovely had been appointed the Delhi Congress chief in August last year. Condemning the Centre for not releasing adequate drought relief funds to the state, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D.K. Shivakumar along with several ministers protested in Bengaluru on Sunday. The chief minister alleged injustice was done to the state. Holding 'Chombu', the round water pot symbolising emptiness and deception, the leaders charged the Centre with "cheating" Karnataka by not releasing adequate relief to face acute drought, the kind of which was not witnessed in the past several decades. They held the symbolic dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the premises of "Vidhana Soudha", which houses the Legislature and Secretariat. The state government has declared 226 out of the total 236 Taluks in Karnataka as drought-hit and said there was a crop loss in 48 lakh hectares of land. The chief minister on Saturday tweeted the Centre has released drought relief funds to the state only after approaching the Supreme Court. The Centre has now released Rs 3,454 crore. As per NDRF rules, we have asked for Rs. 18,171 crore. The money released now is less than one-fourth of the compensation we asked for, he posted on X. Tweeting timeline of events which led to the release of funds, Siddaramaiah said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi is really concerned about the state, the Centre should correct the injustice in tax distribution. However, Opposition leader R. Ashok said, "Siddaramaiah is a Lie Ramaiah', he is lying every day. Now he's asking for Rs 18,108 crore as compensation from the centre. Earlier he said that they have asked for Rs 4,860 crore as compensation, but now he's saying another thing. He's a liar and D.K. Shivakumar is a liar Kumar. They are making false statements every day. The central government released funds as per the norms, not only to Karnataka but also to Tamil Nadu and Assam as well, ANI reported. -with agency inputs. The Karnataka government has decided to form a Special Investigation Team to probe an alleged sex scandal involving Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna. Prajwal is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. He was the NDA candidate in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, which went to polls on April 26. The JD(S) joined the NDA in September last year. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah posted on X, The government has decided to form a special investigation team in connection with Prajwal Revanna's obscene video case. He added, Obscene video clips are circulating in Hassan district, where it appears that women have been sexually assaulted. 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. According to Hindustan Times, Revanna has reportedly left the country and travelled to Frankfurt on Saturday. Allegedly, obscene videos involving Revanna were circulated in Hassan ahead of Lok Sabha polling on April 26. Karnataka Womens Commission Chairperson Nagalakshmi Chaudhary wrote to Karnataka chief minister and State police chief seeking a special probe on the videos. Revanna, through his election agent, has lodged a complaint with police and alleged doctored videos are being circulated to tarnish his image. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar asked JD(S)and BJP leaders to clarify on the issue. -with agency inputs. Hyderabad MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM )leader Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "those who have more children" remark. Owaisi said the BJP leader is trying to spread lies among the Hindu community to infuse hate. Directly addressing PM Modi's claim that more children are born in the Muslim community, Asaduddin Owaisi said the answer to the question lies in government data itself. The fertility rate among Muslims in India has dropped and men among from community use condoms the most in the country, he said. "The Prime Minister is saying Muslims are producing more children. The Modi governments data itself says the fertility rate of Muslims has dropped, but he is saying we are producing more children. "If anyone uses condoms the most among men in India, they are Muslims. I am not saying this. This is government data," India Today quoted the Lok Sabha MP as saying. Earlier this week, Owaisi had made the same point to attack the Prime Minister for stereotyping Muslims in a speech. Addressing an election rally in Bihar, the Hyderabad MP said he would like to conduct a post mortem" examination on Modi's speech in Rajasthan where the PM had torn into the Congress manifesto, raking up an old remark of his predecessor Manmohan Singh. "Modi said Muslims have more children. That is a lie. Fertility rate has declined in the community and, according to official data, it is 2.36 per cent. Though, admittedly, the fertility rate is lower among our Hindu brethren, Owaisi told the rally in Purnea district," PTI quoted him as saying on April 22, Monday. "Going by Modi's logic, the southern states may start agitating over having fewer MPs in Parliament, just because population growth is less rapid there, though these states contribute more to the GDP than the north," he reportedly added. As many as 1060 nominations filed by 625 candidates were found to be valid after scrutiny of 1488 papers received for May 13 Lok Sabha polls in Telangana.After the scrutiny on Friday, 428 nominations were rejected, a communication from Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj said on Saturday. As students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at college campuses across US 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 organisers 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 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 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 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 school's 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 university's facilities policies, though about 40 tents remained in place Saturday morning. The "harassing and intimidating comments and actions by some protesters violate the school's 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. Hundreds of Australian men and women have gathered in cities and towns across the country to protest against the prevalent gender violence in the country. The steep rise in the number of women killed so far this year paved the way for demonstrations in the country. The protesters demanded stricter laws to be put in place to stop the killings. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the issue was a national crisis. In Australia, a woman has been killed on average every four days so far this year. A 35-year-old man was formally charged on Sunday with the murder of a 30-year-old woman in WA. While speaking at a march in Canberra, Albanese said the government was required to do better. "We need to change culture, the attitudes, the legal system and the approach by all governments...We need to make sure that this isn't up to women, it's up to men to change men's behaviour as well," he said. Earlier in 2021, marches took place across the country over allegations of sexual misconduct within the government. Earlier this month, a man stabbed six people to death in a Sydney shopping centre. Five of the victims were women and the police are still investigating if it's a hate crime. According to data by the campaign group Destroy the Joint, 27 women were killed in the first 119 days of 2024. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan attended a march through Melbourne's CBD and thanked the organisers for bringing the community together for the event. "We need to stop talking about women's safety and get on and tackle men's violence, that's the issue here," Ms Allan said. "It's about men for some men their ongoing pattern of violence against women and how women deserve the right to be safe in every space." Protests were carried out in various places including Perth, Brisbane, Bendigo and Cobram. "It is a visual representation of some of the people, women and children, that have been killed as a result of domestic and family violence," organiser Melissa Venville was quoted by ABC news. The World Central Kitchen (WCK) on Sunday announced that it would resume operations in the Gaza Strip from Monday onwards. The aid supply was suspended after seven of its staff were killed in an Israeli airstrike last month. The WCK had distributed over 43 million meals in Gaza since October before halting the aid supply. The charity said it had 276 trucks with the equivalent of almost 8 million meals ready to enter through the Rafah Crossing. They are also planning to send trucks into Gaza from Jordan as well. "The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire," said the charity's chief executive officer Erin Gore. "We are restarting our operation with the same energy, dignity, and focus on feeding as many people as possible," she was quoted by Reuters. The airstrike that occurred on April 1 triggered widespread condemnation and demanded Israel for an explanation. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the strike by the Israeli forces was "unintentional". He described it as a tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people in the Gaza Strip. The food charity founded by celebrity chef Jos Andrs said that those killed include citizens of Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom and a US-Canada dual citizen. Countries including, Poland, Australia and the United Kingdom sought an explanation and demanded an investigation into the incident. Israel's investigation found serious errors and breaches of procedures by its military. It dismissed two senior officers following the incident. However, WCK is demanding an independent investigation. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 28. Uzbekistan exported 8,000 tons of tomatoes for a total of $8.7 million from January through March 2024, Trend reports. The data from Uzbekistans Statistics Agency shows that the recorded volume is 33.3 percent lower year-on-year (12,000 tons in January-March 2023). At the same time, the volume of tomato exports from Uzbekistan amounted to 2,900 tons in March 2024. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan exported 57,500 tons of tomatoes worth $44 million in 2023. This figure indicates a 24.7 percent decline over the previous year (76,400 tons). In total, Uzbekistan exported 375,300 tons of fruit and vegetables worth $219.8 million from January through March 2024. This figure has increased by 72.4 percent (157,700 tons) compared to the same period last year (217,600 tons in JanuaryMarch 2023). Pakistan accounted for the largest volume of horticultural product exports from Uzbekistan, with a total volume of 79,100 tons worth $57.6 million. Russia ranked second with 85,500 tons of exports worth $55.1 million, followed by Kazakhstan with 86,100 tons of horticultural products exported worth $23 million from January through March 2024. The disgraced Hollywood producer, Harvey Weinstein, whose 2020 rape conviction got overturned by the New York Court of Appeals, got hospitalised after his return from the upstate prison. Weinstein's lawyer said that he had been hospitalised for a series of tests. Attorney Arthur Aidala said Weinstein was moved to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan after his arrival on Friday to city jails. 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, Aidala said. Meanwhile, Frank Dwyer, a spokesperson with the New York City Department of Correction said that Weinstein is 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 kilometres) northwest of Albany. The appeals court on Thursday overturned his conviction after concluding that the trial judge permitted jurors to see and hear too much evidence not directly related to the charges he faced. The court ordered a retrial and erased his 23-year prison sentence. However, experts opine that the retrial of Weinstein's case will not be coming to a courtroom soon as two women, who testified against him said they wont be testifying again. 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. However, Weinstein will still be in prison as 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 alleged that Weinstein was not treated well while transporting to the prison. They refused to give him even a sip of water, no food, no bathroom break. He's a 72-year-old sickly man, Aidala said. The lawyer said that he is set to meet Weinstein on Monday. The Indian-origin doctor, who was alleged of intentionally driving his Tesla off a cliff in California along with his wife and children in the car, was experiencing psychotic episodes. Two psychologists testified in the case against Dr Dharmesh Patel, a Pasadena radiologist, who is charged with three counts of attempted murder. The incident occurred in January last year when Patel drove his Tesla off California's Devil's Slide Cliff with his wife and two children inside. The family survived despite the 250-foot fall and was being treated at a hospital. The children were four and nine years old then. Patel was arrested for intentionally driving his car off the cliff after he was discharged from the hospital. Even the investigators back then concluded that the incident was an "intentional act". The psychologists, who testified in the case, said that Patel feared that his children would be sex trafficked. Mark Patterson, one of the psychologists called by Patel's attorney told the court that he was "paranoid and kind of delusional thinking he acted on at the time to protect his family from a worse fate," Mail Online reported. "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," Patterson further said. Patterson and James Armontrout were the two psychologists who testified for Patel's defence. Interestingly, Neha Patel, 41, had earlier said that her husband had told her that he was depressed and would drive the car off the cliff. Patel had pleaded not guilty to the three counts of murder and is attempting to seek mental health as a diversion in the case. However, the prosecutors argued that their doctor found Patel was suffering from a depressive disorder called 'schizoaffective' and was not one with a psychotic feature. The case will return to court on May 2, when San Mateo County prosecutors are expected to call their witnesses. Sharat Pradhan Modi ki GuaranteeRam Lalla Darshan Yojana. The promise, displayed on giant hoardings, is what welcomes you to Raipur as you exit the airport. Even those who live in the hinterlands of Chhattisgarh have been assured of a darshan at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya if Prime Minister Narendra Modi retains power after the Lok Sabha polls. Sure enough, the grand new Ram Temple has become the focal point of the BJPs campaign in heartland statesChhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Together, these states have 214 of 543 Lok Sabha seats, and Modi hopes they will power him to victory for a third consecutive time. The BJP has, indeed, left no stone unturned to woo south Indiathe Ram idol in Ayodhya was sculpted in stone by a Mysuru artistbut the party continues to depend heavily on support from the Hindi heartland. Barring Uttar Pradesh, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won almost all the seats in all these states in 2019. So the BJP has its task cut out: raise its UP tally while maintaining the high numbers in all other states. The party won 62 seats in UP in 2019, down from 71 in 2014. Its ally Apna Dal won two seats in 2019. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which drew a blank in 2014 and won 10 seats in 2019 (in a brief alliance with the Samajwadi Party), has become so dormant that even its supporters share the common perception that party chief Mayawati has yielded to the BJP. With senior BSP leaders having joined other parties, the 10 seats are up for grabs. The SP, which won only five seats in 2019, is out to regain its lost domain, while the Congress is struggling to look beyond Raebareli, the lone seat won by party leader Sonia Gandhi. With Sonia having moved to the Rajya Sabha because of her ill health, and Rahul Gandhi having been defeated in Amethi in 2019, the Congresss prospects remain bleak. Advertisements show Modi holding the hand of a five-year-old child symbolising Ram Lallathus demonstrating the BJPs slogan Ye laye hain Ram ko (He has brought Ram). Such gimmicks sell well in the heartland. Electoral bonds-related irregularities have become a talking point in heartland states. A lot will depend on how the opposition spreads the message that the Modi government may well have skeletons in its cupboard. The BJP is heavily depending on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who maintains his reputation as a master polariser, to make gains in UP. But the common impression is that he is not on the best of terms with Amit Shah, Modis man Friday and Union home minister, who actually calls the electoral shots. No wonder that Ram Lalla darshan, the icing on the Modi guarantees cake, is dominating his campaign in heartland states. The guarantees themselves are reiterations of the welfare schemes that Modi has initiated over the past ten years. Interestingly, while Modi is tireless in describing similar welfarist schemes by his rivals as rewri batna (distribution of freebies), he does not hesitate to boast about his welfare push in the name of Modi ki guarantee. The darshan guarantee, especially, seems to have already taken the BJP ahead of its rivals in the Hindi belt. The party has long been trying, overtly and covertly, to polarise voters by shrewdly playing the hindutva card. Facts have been tweaked or distorted, and incidents blown out of proportion, to achieve desired results. The most glaring example in recent years relates to the beheading of Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor in Udaipur, Rajasthan, by two Muslim extremists in June 2022. The Rajasthan Police, under Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, arrested the assailants in just two hours, but the BJP claimed that the arrest was made only after the Union government handed over the case to the National Investigation Agency. While Gehlot gave a compensation of Rs50 lakh to Kanhaiya Lals family, and provided jobs for two family members, the BJP created a story that only Rs5 lakh was given to Lals family, while Rs50 lakh was doled out to a Muslim who was killed in a case of road rage in Jaipur. Such claims, amplified by the media, paid the BJP rich dividends in the Rajasthan assembly polls last year. With the Congress failing to effectively counter the disinformation campaign, the polarisation of votes brought down the Gehlot government. A more recent instance of such a campaign was when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi remarked about Modis shakti (power) in capturing institutions, industry, media and the entire constitutional structure of the country. Modi gave it a twist, and declared that Rahul had made a derogatory comment against the goddess Shakti. Rahuls assertion that he was not referring to any divine power, but to the power of corruption and falsehood, hardly gained currency. Also, BJP workers in the heartland states made it a mission to portray Rahul as anti-Hindu. Evidently, to attain its target of winning more than 400 seats for the NDA and to realise the long-cherished RSS dream of making India a Hindu Rashtra, the BJP seems to be orchestrating a communal divide. The foundation of this Hindu Rashtra was, perhaps, laid on January 22, when the prime minister himself, on behalf of the state, carried out the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The message was loud and clearModi was well above all priests and pontiffs. A prayer for votes: A devotee near the Ram Temple in Ayodhya after its inauguration on January 22 | Reuters Modi has been able to sell this hindutva card with impunity. The BJP has also been impressing upon its audience that it was Modi who brought the 500-year-old dispute over the temple to its logical conclusion. TV and newspaper advertisements, and roadside hoardings, show the prime minister holding the hand of a five-year-old child symbolising Ram Lallathus demonstrating the BJPs slogan Ye laye hain Ram ko (He has brought Ram). Such gimmicks sell well in the heartland. The messaging also helped the BJP install an idol of a five-year-old Ram in the sanctum sanctorum of the new temple, sidelining the original idol of new-born Ram that had appeared inside the Babri Masjid in December 1949. The legal battle for rights over the plot on which the sixteenth-century Babri Masjid stood had begun after this appearance in 1949. The BJP has systematically underplayed the fact that it was only after the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on the title case in 2019 that the construction of the Ram Temple could begin. People are now being told that, if not for Modi, the temple would not have become a reality. Since there are not many Ram temples in India, a grand temple dedicated to Ram at his birthplace gains all the more significance. It allows the BJP to focus on the popular belief that the masjid was erected at the very spot where once an ancient Ram temple stood. The transformation of Ayodhya from an ancient temple town into a modern Hindu pilgrimage centre, with star hotels and a state-of-the art railway station and international airport, has been attracting devotees from across India. But recent reports say the footfall in Ayodhya has been falling steadily. It is hardly good news for the BJP. No wonder that BJP-ruled states are sponsoring Ayodhya free-rides in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. As this writer found, a large number of Hindus in all such states were looking to make use of the opportunity. The big hitters: Union Home Minister Amit Shah (right) and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath | PTI Interestingly, the pilgrimages are being monitored not just by the state governments, which have been readily bearing the cost of travel, but also by the Prime Ministers Office. For Modi, apparently, every single vote matters. Modis poll-speak also seems to be having grassroots impact, even though it may appear to be a bundle of contradictions. His proclamations about Indias economy touching new heights are in sharp contrast to free rations for 80 crore people who could well go hungry otherwise. But, ultimately, such freebiescooking gas connections under the Ujjwala scheme, or a toilet for every householdresonate with the masses across the heartland. They could even override traditional caste alignments. States where the BJP is in power have been on a publicity blitz to cloak the problem of rising prices and unemployment. UPs publicity budget is 01,450 crore, and multinational consultancy firms have been spinning statistics to win votes. The publicity drive has apparently been so successful that even Gehlot, who had introduced a free medical treatment scheme that was better than the Modi governments much-publicised Ayushman Bharat scheme (which provides a health cover of 05 lakh per family per year), is finding it difficult to score over Modis guarantees. In Madhya Pradesh, too, the Congress has not been able to showcase the achievements of its government under Kamal Nath, which was brought down by the BJP in 2020. In Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel of the Congress had done more as chief minister on the welfare front than his predecessor, three-time chief minister Raman Singh of the BJP. But Baghel lost the assembly polls last year, and is now contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Rajnandgaon. He has the uphill task of combating Modis aggressive campaign positioning himself as a saviour of tribals to win a seat that the Congress had last won 17 years ago. The elections are being fought by the BJP essentially in Modis name. For the man on the street, Modi is the BJP and the BJP is Modi. Fulfilling Modis dream of getting a third term, and reaching the much-hyped target of 400 seats, remain the dominant theme of the partys poll campaign. Intimidating and browbeating the opposition appears to be becoming the order of the day. The arrests of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and the looming threat on other opposition leaders, make it evident that Modi wants to paralyse the opposition. Apart from the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, the income tax department has also become a tool for arm-twisting. In a news conference in Delhi in March, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi accused the Union government in general and Modi in particular of trying to financially cripple the Congress by freezing its bank accounts in violation of the prevailing IT laws. Terming the move as an attempt to deny a level playing field during the polls, they said the Congress was not in a position to even buy a rail ticket or book advertisement slots in the media, let alone fund its candidates or carry out other routine poll-related activities. Rahul described the IT departments action as criminal. The oppositions allegation that electronic voting machines were being manipulated was recently dismissed as a trivial joke by Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar. Also glaring is the fact that the commission has not cared to grant an audience to 26 opposition parties that had sought to raise the issue directly before it. Thankfully, an intervention by the Supreme Court did force the government to let the State Bank of India finally disclose all details regarding electoral bonds. Significantly, this was the first time that the government found itself cornered by the opposition. Electoral bonds-related irregularities have become a talking point in heartland states, even though mainstream media has been underplaying it. A lot will depend on how the opposition spreads the message among common voters that the Modi government may well have skeletons in its cupboard. But, even if the opposition succeeds in it, there remains a million-dollar questioncan it override the BJPs efforts to overwhelm voters with the aura of the Ram Temple? Sharat Pradhan is an independent journalist and author of Yogi Adityanath: Religion, Politics and PowerThe Untold Story. RAJASTHAN Despite his best efforts, Ashok Gehlot failed to retain power in the 2023 assembly elections in Rajasthan. Contrary to the popular belief that the former chief ministers welfare schemes and freebies would bring rich dividends, the Congress lost badly to the BJP. The infighting in the Congress between Gehlot and his arch rival Sachin Pilot added to the partys woes. But with Gehlot and Pilot deciding to bury the hatchet for the time being, the Congresss fortunes could improve in the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress has a chance of doing very well in at least eight of 25 seats in the state, said senior journalist Anil Sharma. Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi said the INDIA bloc would give the BJP a run for its money in Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Tonk, Bharatpur, Dausa, Jaipur (Rural) and Nagaur. The selection of candidates in these seats could make a difference. For instance, in Churu, the Congress candidate is Rahul Kaswan, the sitting MP, who crossed over from the BJP. In Nagaur, the INDIA bloc has fielded Hanuman Beniwal of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, a strong Jat leader who had won from here in alliance with the BJP in 2019. State Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra said the BJPs polarisation politics was unlikely to work in these seats. There is anger among farmers who were not allowed to go to participate in the farmers agitation at the Delhi border. Even the Ram Temple card does not work. Dotasra plays a balancing role for the Congress, which is recovering from the open strife between Gehlot and Pilot. The dedication and commitment of our party workers have been amazing and you will see that the pains they have taken will give positive results, he said. A major disadvantage for the BJP is its top leaderships decision to sideline former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who is seen by insiders and opposition alike as the real leader. Although her son, Dushyant Singh, has been given a ticket, the party rank and file believe that she has been denied her due. It appears that just like in the case of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Vasundharas popularity went against her. The BJPs top brass, comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, does not seem to approve of leaders who do not need propping up from Delhi. Political observers in Jaipur do not rule out the possibility of a quiet backlash that could jolt the BJP. A large chunk of the party workers are not impressed by the leaderships choice of Vasundharas replacement, Bhajan Lal Sharma. All that he had to his credit was a district presidentship of the party, from where he rose to contest his first assembly elections and was then handpicked as the chief minister of a large and politically important state like Rajasthan. Party workers believe that the new regime is being dominated by the bureaucracy and see the existing system as Delhis obvious design to run the state by remote control. The new chief secretary, for instance, was said to be handpicked by Delhi. The crisis within the ruling front may have created a more level-playing field for the Lok Sabha polls, although the BJPs state leadership says the party has a clear advantage. We will maintain our cent per cent tally that we achieved in 2014 and 2019, said Arun Chaturvedi, former state chief of the BJP. Asked about the discontent within the BJP about offering more sops to those who cross over to the party, Chaturvedi said all switch-overs had been unconditional. Those who have crossed over to our side have neither asked for anything nor do they have any expectations. They have joined us unconditionally, because they are disgusted and see no future for the Congress. BJP state president C.P. Joshi refuted the Congress charge that several welfare schemes introduced by Gehlot were discontinued by the new government. No scheme meant for the larger good of the people has been discontinued. In fact, the monthly pension of Rs1,000 has been revised to Rs1,150. Even the old pension scheme is being continued. We are providing cooking gas cylinders for Rs450 and special meals to the poor under the Annapoorna Rasoi scheme, he said. The new government is, however, having a tough time maintaining Gehlots medical insurance scheme that offered treatment up to Rs25 lakh. Although the Ayushman Bharat plan is in place, it provides only Rs5 lakh cover. The Congress believes that compared with the last two elections, the field looks more equitable this time. It hopes that the outcome of the polls could, therefore, spring a few surprises. Kolkata, Apr 28 (PTI) Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd, a Kolkata-based speciality chemicals major, to expand its speciality carbon black capacity in a brownfield expansion project in West Bengal, with an estimated investment of Rs 220 crores, a company official said on Sunday. The expansion is envisaged to meet the increasing demand from Europe amid an impending ban on Russian carbon black imports in the EU. The expansion, scheduled to be operational within the next 18 months and located at Singur in the Hooghly district, will be funded through internal accruals. This additional capacity of 70,000 tonnes per annum will increase the company's speciality carbon black capacity to 1.3 lakh tonnes per annum, enhancing the cumulative capacity to 2.5 lakh tonnes from the current 1.8 lakh tonnes, the official added. "We foresee a significant uptick in demand for speciality carbon black, especially with the impending ban on Russian carbon black imports into the European Union. The gradual increase in the proportion of high-margin speciality carbon black will undoubtedly enhance our profitability and diversify our product mix," Anurag Choudhary, CMD & CEO of Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd said. He also mentioned that exports, currently contributing around 25 per cent of their turnover, are expected to increase to 35 per cent in the next three years. Upon completion, the expansion will make it the world's largest speciality carbon black capacity at a single site, claimed the company. Himadri currently operates seven manufacturing facilities in India located in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. With a capacity utilization rate of 92 per cent in FY23-24, the company has witnessed substantial demand for its products. Speciality-grade carbon black is extensively used in pigment for products like paints, coatings, inks, and toners, commanding a significant premium compared to regular-grade carbon black. The company is focusing on speciality carbon black, including in energy storage, due to its exceptional electrical conductivity, making it an ideal conductive additive in lithium-ion batteries. Himadri has introduced and promoted its range of high-performance speciality carbon blacks tailored for niche applications in plastics, fibers, coatings, inks, and more. Additionally, Himadri is setting up India's first commercial lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) cathode active material facility and has partially acquired a stake in Invati Creations and Australian start-up Sicona Battery Technologies to produce high-quality Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery materials. Meanwhile, the company reported a 49 per cent increase in net profit for the March quarter, reaching Rs 115 crore compared to Rs 77 crore in the same period last year. Revenue for the quarter stood at Rs 1,177 crore, up from Rs 1,029 crore year-on-year, with EBITDA up by 45 per cent at Rs 177 crore. On an annualized basis for FY'24, the company achieved a revenue of Rs 4,185 crore and a net profit of Rs 410 crore, turning net debt-free. New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) AdaniConneX, a joint venture equally owned by Adani Enterprises and EdgeConneX that is building data centres, secured India's largest sustainability-linked financing arrangement, raising up to USD 1.44 billion (around Rs 11,520 crore), the company said on Sunday. Adani Enterprises Ltd, the flagship of billionaire Gautam Adani-run conglomerate, is investing around USD 1.5 billion on its fledgling data centre business in the next three years. Its joint venture with EdgeConnex plans to build nine data centres with a total capacity of 1 gigawatt by 2030 to provide infrastructure for the booming digital services demand. In a statement, the firm said the "financing has an initial commitment of USD 875 million, with an accordion feature to extend commitment up to USD 1.44 billion." "The transaction elevates AdaniConneX's construction financing pool to USD 1.65 billion, building on the maiden construction facility of USD 213 million executed in June 2023," it said. AdaniConnex, which has only one operational data centre in Chennai so far, has completed almost two-thirds of the construction in the Noida and Hyderabad facilities. "The upcoming data centre facilities will employ state-of-the-art technologies and renewable energy solutions to minimise the ecological footprint while optimising operational efficiency. "The sustainability-linked financing reinforces AdaniConneX's commitment towards driving a safety-first culture, delivering world-class Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) by adopting global best practices, and leveraging renewable energy resources," it added. A key feature of the facility is the innovative solution of a syndicated guarantee-backed assurance programme in sync with the projects' procurement strategy. Definitive agreements have been executed with eight international lenders -- ING Bank NV, Intesa Sanpaolo, KfW IPEX, MUFG Bank Ltd, Natixis, Standard Chartered Bank, Societe Generale, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. "Access to a wide pool of liquidity strengthens the company's strategy to fast-track the implementation of portfolio assets in sync with accelerating demand," the statement said. This transformative approach towards financing is a significant step towards building sustainable digital infrastructure that will fuel economic progress and accelerate India's digital growth. "This successful exercise is a testament to the collective resolve of the parties to meet the challenges of establishing sustainable and robust digital infrastructure, thereby pushing norms and setting new industry benchmarks," said AdaniConneX CEO Jeyakumar Janakaraj. "Construction financing is a core element of the AdaniConneX capital management plan, enabling us to deliver a data centre solution firmly rooted in sustainability and environmental stewardship. We are delighted to embark on this journey alongside our esteemed international banking partners." ING Bank NV, Intesa Sanpaolo, KfW IPEX, MUFG Bank Ltd, Natixis, Standard Chartered Bank, Societe Generale, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation acted as Mandated Lead Arrangers. ING Bank NV and MUFG Bank Ltd acted as Structuring Banks whereas ING Bank NV, MUFG Bank Ltd and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation acted as Sustainability coordinators. Allen & Overy and Saraf & Partners were the borrower's counsels. The lenders' counsels were Milbank and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. Beijing, Apr 28 (PTI) Billionaire Elon Musk arrived in Beijing on Sunday amid speculation that he may unveil Tesla's autonomous driving technology in the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) market in China. The SpaceX and Tesla chief travelled to China at the invitation of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, meeting with CCPIT president Ren Hongbin to discuss further cooperation with the country, according to Chinese state-run broadcaster CTGN. Musk is expected to meet senior Chinese officials at the State Council and old friends in Beijing, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. His Tesla has become a popular EV in China after he set up a USD seven billion factory in Shanghai which went into production in 2020. Musk, who recently skipped a scheduled visit to India to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to firm up plans to open a Tesla factory in the country, is visiting Beijing when his Tesla market in China is threatened by the local EVs increasing sales. The Austin-based (Texas) Tesla has faced fierce competition from Chinese EV makers in the past few years. It has cut the prices of its Shanghai-made vehicles by up to six per cent to maintain its leading position in China's premium EV segment. Grace Tao, Teslas vice-president of external relations in China, wrote a commentary piece in China's official newspaper People's Daily on Friday, saying autonomous driving is a key growth driver for the country's new energy vehicle sector, arguing that the technology will hatch new business models such as robotaxis, a vision that Musk has embraced, the Post reported. Musks latest visit to China coincides with the 2024 Beijing Auto Show, which kicked off on Thursday. As a stronger backer of Beijing in the US despite concerns over Chinas rise across the political divide in Washington, Musk enjoys red carpet treatment in China. In 2019, Tesla was allowed to drive cars into the Zhongnanhai compound, the living and working area of Chinese leaders, when former Premier Li Keqiang hosted the CEO, and during Musks three-day visit to Beijing last June he was received by then foreign minister Qin Gang, according to the Post report. The trip was warmly received by the Chinese public, with social-media posts focusing on the Chinese food Musk ate, and some referring to him as a pioneer and brother Ma. Tesla, the leader in China's premium EV segment, delivered 603,664 Model 3s and Model Ys made at its Shanghai Gigafactory to buyers in China last year, an increase of 37.3 per cent over 2022. The growth rate matched the 37 per cent rise in sales recorded in 2022 when it delivered about 440,000 vehicles. Tesla has sold more than 1.7 million cars in China since it entered the market in 2012 and located its biggest factory in Shanghai, where Musk enjoys high levels of political support for the project. In a sign of its further commitment to China, Tesla bought a parcel of land in Shanghai to build a factory with a planned annual capacity of 10,000 Tesla Megapack batteries, which are used for battery storage stations. His visit to China also coincides with Teslas recent announcement to lay off "more than 10 per cent" of its global headcount to cut costs and boost productivity. "As we prepare the company for our next phase of growth, it is extremely important to look at every aspect of the company for cost reductions and increasing productivity," Musk said in an email, adding that Tesla's growth has led to "duplication of roles and job functions in certain areas." "As part of this effort, we have done a thorough review of the organization and made the difficult decision to reduce our headcount by more than 10 per cent globally. There is nothing I hate more, but it must be done. This will enable us to be lean, innovative and hungry for the next growth phase cycle," he said. The layoffs that could impact more than 14,000 people came two weeks after the electric automaker reported its first year-over-year drop in sales in three years. The company has also warned that sales growth could be "notably lower" in 2024 than its stated goal of 50 per cent growth each year, according to a report by the state-run Xinhua news agency. New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu on Sunday announced her new film titled "Bangaram" on the occasion of her 37th birthday. The update comes months after "The Family Man 2" star said she will return to work after a seven-month hiatus following her myositis diagnosis in 2022. "Bangaram" will be produced under the banner of Tralala Moving Pictures. Samantha shared the title announcement teaser of the upcoming film on her Instagram page. "Not everything has to glitter to be golden. #Bangaram @tralalamovingpictures Starting soon," she captioned her post. The actor's last big-screen release was "Kushi". Next up for Samantha is the Prime Video series "Citadel: Honey Bunny" opposite Varun Dhawan. New York, Apr 28 (AP) Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war have popped up on an increasing number of college campuses following last week's arrest of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University. The students are calling for universities to separate themselves from any companies that are advancing Israel's 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 largely act independently, though students say they're inspired by peers at other universities. A look at protests on campuses in recent days: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Pro-Palestinian student protesters set up a tent encampment at the Ivy League university in New York last week. Police first tried to clear the encampment on April 18, when they arrested more than 100 protesters. But the move backfired, inspiring students across the country and motivating protesters at Columbia to regroup. Earlier this week, the Ivy League school, where Monday is set to be the last day of classes, switched to hybrid learning. Commencement is set for May 15. Students said Friday afternoon that they had reached an impasse with administrators and intended to continue their encampment until their demands are met. Columbia officials had earlier said that negotiations were showing progress. Despite dozens of journalists on campus and scores of police officers outside the gates, an unassuming spring day unfolded Friday with students sitting on the library's steps or grabbing a quick bite while soon-to-be-graduates posed for photos in their powder-blue gowns. Columbia's president, Minouche Shafik, faced a significant, but largely symbolic, rebuke from faculty Friday but retains 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," including calling in police. Following the report, the senate passed a resolution that included a task force to monitor how the administration would make changes going forward. Hundreds of counterprotesters gathered on the streets outside Columbia on Friday morning, many holding Israeli flags and chanting for the hostages being held by Hamas and other militants to be released. The university said in a statement Saturday night that students and administrators had engaged in negotiations. 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. NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY 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 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. About 100 people were detained and students who produced a valid ID were released. They will face disciplinary action" but not legal action, while people who refused to disclose their affiliation were arrested, the university said. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 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 harrassing 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. The university canceled its main stage graduation ceremony set for May 10 after its campus was roiled by protests. The university already canceled a commencement speech by the school's pro-Palestinian valedictorian, citing safety concerns. The Los Angeles Police Department said more than 90 people were arrested Wednesday night on charges of trespassing during a protest at the university. One person was arrested on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. There were no reports of injuries. The university said Wednesday that it had closed campus and police would arrest people who did not leave. In her first public statement in nearly two weeks, President Carol Folt in a statement late Friday the last day of classes condemned the protests while imploring the campus community to find common ground and ways to support each other. THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY Police clashed with protesters at Ohio State University in Columbus, just hours after they gathered Thursday evening. Those who refused to leave after warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass, said university spokesperson Benjamin Johnson, citing rules barring overnight events. Of 36 people arrested, Johnson said Friday that 16 were students and 20 were not affiliated with the university. The school's commencement is set for May 5. GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY About 50 students at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., set up a tent encampment on the school's University Yard on Thursday. 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 them. The protesters are demanding that the university divest from Israel and lift a suspension against a prominent pro-Palestinian student group. The university's last day of classes before final exams is set for Monday and commencement is scheduled for May 19. Because of the noise generated by the protests, the university said it would move law school finals to another building from the one where they had originally been scheduled. The university said the protesters must remove tents and disperse by 7 p.m. CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, HUMBOLDT University officials extended the closure of the campus until May 10 the end of the semester saying instruction would continue to be remote, after protesters at the university in northern California used furniture, tents, chains and zip ties to block entrances to an academic and administrative building on Monday. Commencement is scheduled for May 11. Officials said in a statement Tuesday that students had occupied a second building and three students had been arrested. On Wednesday, officials said some unidentified people who were not students were also inside one of the occupied buildings. On Thursday, the university said protesters continued to occupy the two buildings. A dean at the school, Jeff Crane, suggested during the meeting that the university form a committee that would include students to do a deep dive into the school's investments. Crane also suggested faculty and students continue meeting every 24 hours to keep an open line of communication. The sides have yet to announce an agreement. The school's senate of faculty and staff demanded the university's president resign in a no-confidence vote Thursday, citing the decision to call police in to remove the barricaded students Monday. On Friday, the university released a statement responding to questions from those occupying the buildings. The statement said there will be consequences for actions that violate policy or law, but officials would take into account actions by any students who choose to evacuate the occupied buildings and support efforts to clear them. It did not say the charges faced by those arrested would be dropped. The administration also offered protesters a 5 p.m. deadline to leave and not be immediately arrested. But that deadline passed and local media reported that protesters remained on campus Saturday morning. Officials on Saturday afternoon said a hard closure would be enforced going forward. Individuals are prohibited from entering or being on campus without permission, the university said in a statement. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY An encampment set up by students at NYU 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. Commencement is set for May 15. EMORY UNIVERSITY At Emory University in Atlanta, where Atlanta police and Georgia state troopers had dismantled a camp on the school's quadrangle, the school president on Friday said in an email that some of the videos of a clash between police and people on the campus are shocking and that he is horrified that members of our community had to experience and witness such interactions. School officials said 20 of the 28 people arrested were Emory community members." Video circulated widely on social media shows two women who identified themselves as professors being detained, with one of them slammed to the ground by one officer as a second officer then pushes her chest and face onto a concrete sidewalk. In a separate incident Thursday evening, some protesters pinned police officers against the glass doors of the Candler School of Theology on the campus and threw objects at the officers, Emory's president said. NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY 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. University President Michael Schill issued an email saying the university had enacted an interim addendum to its student code to bar tents, among other things, and warned of disciplinary actions including suspension, expulsion and criminal charges. The goal of this addendum is to balance the right to peacefully demonstrate with our goal to protect our community, to avoid disruptions to instruction and to ensure university operations can continue unabated, Schilling said. The university's commencement is scheduled for June 9. FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 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 kaffiyehs. Other protesters outside the building held signs and Palestinian flags. They refused to speak to a reporter. Around a dozen protesters spent the night in tents and sleeping bags inside a campus building. The institute's museum, which is located in the building where the demonstrators set up camp, was closed Friday. The school's commencement was still scheduled for May 22 and May 23. INDIANA UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON After an encampment was set up at Indiana University Bloomington, police with shields and batons shoved into a line of protesters linked arm-in-arm Thursday afternoon. Videos posted to social media appear to show the protest continuing after law enforcement stopped making arrests. In an update Friday, the university police said 34 people were arrested. Public information officer Hannah Skibba said charges include trespassing, resisting law enforcement and battery on a public safety official. One officer sustained minor injuries." Protests continued Friday, one day before the last day of classes. The university's commencement is scheduled for May 4. Jeffrey Kehr, chief deputy prosecutor for Monroe County, said in an email that those arrested were released on their own recognizance and the office will examine all the reports we receive and any relevant footage to determine what, if any, charges are appropriate. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA The University of Pennsylvania interim President J. Larry Jameson called late Friday for an encampment of protesters on the west Philadelphia campus to be disbanded, saying it violated the university's facilities policies. The harassing and intimidating comments and actions by some protesters violate the school's 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. I am deeply saddened and troubled that our many efforts to respectfully engage in discourse, support open expression, and create a community that is free of hate and inclusive for everyone have been ignored by those who choose to disrupt and intimidate, he said. Failure to disband the encampment immediately and to adhere to Penn's policies will result in sanctions consistent with our due process procedures as they apply to students, faculty, and staff, Jameson said. The university's chapter of the American Association of University Professors responded by urging the administration not to escalate the situation or violate the rights of students and faculty. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA In Gainesville, Florida, home to the University of Florida, protesters were warned Friday that students could face suspension and banishment for three years, and employees could be fired, if they violated rules including camping, using bullhorns, protesting inside buildings or possessing weapons. Around 50 people have been protesting on campus since Wednesday. Earlier this year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis directed the state's universities to make it easier for out-of-state students facing antisemitism and other religious harassment in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war to transfer to Florida campuses. The Republican governor's administration last fall also ordered state universities to ban a pro-Palestinian student organization, Students for Justice in Palestine, from campuses, saying it illegally backs Hamas militants who attacked Israel. The group has challenged that decision in federal court. ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY 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. Protesters pitched tents, including some that police dismantled, and at least three people were arrested Friday. A television news report put the number of protesters in the dozens and video showed people waving flags and holding signs reading Free Palestine." University and Tempe city police representatives did not immediately answer emails asking about arrests, injuries or the size of the crowd. A university spokesperson, Elena Bras, issued a statement that said unapproved encampments were prohibited on campus, and failure to comply would be grounds for arrest for trespassing. (AP) GSP Chbar Mon (Cambodia), Apr 28 (AP) A funeral was held Sunday for 20 soldiers who died at an army base in southwestern Cambodia in a huge explosion of stored munitions that also wounded several others and damaged nearby houses. There has been no public explanation of what caused the Saturday afternoon blast at the base in Kompong Speu province, though there were no suggestions it was triggered deliberately. Defence Minister Tea Seiha, representing Prime Minister Hun Manet, presided over the Buddhist funeral ceremony, which was attended by relatives of the victims and fellow soldiers. Cambodian flags covered the wooden coffins. A villager living nearby told The Associated Press on Sunday that he trembled after hearing the blast because he had never before experienced such a loud explosion. When the explosion happened, I was fixing my house with some construction workers, said Chim Sothea. Suddenly there was a loud explosion, causing my house to shake and breaking tiles on my roof. They fell down but luckily they didn't fall inside the house. Images showed several badly damaged buildings on the base, at least one with its roof blown off, and soldiers receiving treatment in a hospital. Other photos showed nearby houses with holes in their roofs. Four buildings on the base three for storage and one work facility were destroyed and several military vehicles damaged, Col Youeng Sokhon, an army officer at the site, said in a report to army chief Gen Mao Sophan. Another villager, who asked to be named only as Sophal, said the military closed the road to the base and villagers were in a panic, seeking a safe place. He moved his family to his parent's home, farther away from the base. When he returned to his own house hours later, he found it undamaged but other villagers' houses had broken windows, doors and roofs, he said. Cambodia, like many countries in the region, has been suffering from an extended heat wave, and the province where the blast took place registered a high of 39 C (102 F) on Saturday. While high temperatures normally can't detonate ammunition, they can degrade the stability of explosives over a period of time, with the risk that a single small explosion can set off a fire and a chain reaction. In March 2005, a nighttime blast at an arms depot in the northwestern provincial town of Battambang triggered an hourslong spray of shells and bullets, killing at least six people and causing panic. A 2014 report by the Swiss-based group Small Arms Survey highlighted the dangers of poorly stored or mishandled munitions, calling it a global problem. It noted that from 1979 through 2013 there were more than 500 incidents involving unplanned explosions at munitions sites. (AP) SCY SCY RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 28. Islamic financial principles could be pivotal in unlocking the wealth of innovation, said Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, addressing the 18th Islamic Development Bank Global Forum on Islamic Finance held as part of the IsDB annual meetings in Riyadh, Trend reports. The global challenges we face today require visionary leadership to propel us toward a future rooted in ethical principles and sustainable development. This transformation lies in cultivating a generation of entrepreneurial leaders who serve as catalysts for the economic growth and progress of their communities. These are leaders who envision possibilities beyond existing constraints, who are willing to face challenges head on and who drive the process of change. They are not simply driven by financial gains. They are passionate about creating a positive impact in the world. The impact of entrepreneurship extends far beyond individual businesses. When entrepreneurs excel, they have a profound ripple effect on future generations, he said. Al Jasser noted that enterprises like Alibaba, Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Tesla have dramatically changed the economic landscape and created immense value for people worldwide. The combined current market value of these companies is almost $12 trillion, which exceeds the economic output of 2023 of the United Kingdom, France and Russia combined. The impact of successful entrepreneurs on both domestic and global economies cannot be overstated. They have created millions of jobs, empowered countless businesses and catalyzed economic growth in countries around the world. By nurturing potential entrepreneurs, we can expedite the development and progress of our member countries, he said. Al Jasser went on to add that the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor revealed that both new and established entrepreneurs are significantly contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the critical disparity persists that calls for our immediate attention. According to the World Bank, there is a stark contrast in new business creation rates. Addressing this gap is crucial. By fostering a conducive environment that supports and nurtures entrepreneurship, we can unlock a wealth of innovation and drive progress for generations. Initiatives such as micro financing, tailored to comply with Islamic financial principles could be pivotal in this respect, he said. 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 attracts international and regional attention. The Annual Meetings 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 are participating 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. New York, Apr 27 (AP) Harvey Weinstein's 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. He's got a lot of problems. He's getting all kinds of tests. He's somewhat of a train wreck health wise, Aidala said. A message left with the hospital was not immediately returned Saturday. Messages seeking comment were also left with city and state corrections offices. 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. He's a 72-year-old sickly man. 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. (AP) AMS Tel Aviv, Apr 28 (AP) A senior Qatari official has urged both Israel and Hamas to show more commitment and more seriousness in cease-fire negotiations in interviews with Israeli media, as pressure builds on both sides to move toward a deal that would set Israeli hostages free and bring potential respite in the nearly 7-month-long war in Gaza. The interviews with liberal daily Haaretz and Israeli public broadcaster Kan were published and aired Saturday evening. They came as Israel still promises to invade Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah despite global concern for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sheltering there, and as the sides are exchanging proposals surrounding a cease-fire deal. Qatar, which hosts Hamas headquarters in Doha, has been a key intermediary throughout the Israel-Hamas war. Along with the US and Egypt, Qatar was instrumental in helping negotiate a brief halt to the fighting in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages. The sides have held numerous rounds of negotiations since, none of which produced an additional truce. In a sign of its frustration, Qatar earlier this month said it was reassessing its role as mediator. In the interviews, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari expressed disappointment in both Hamas and Israel, saying each side has made its decisions based on political interests and not with the good of civilians in mind. We were hoping to see more commitment and more seriousness on both sides, he told Haaretz. He did not reveal details of the current state of the talks, other than to say they have effectively stopped, with both sides entrenched in their positions. If there is a renewed sense of commitment on both sides, I'm sure we can reach a deal, he said. The Israeli journalists conducted the interviews in Qatar, which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel. Relations between Qatar and Israel have been strained throughout the war, as some politicians in Israel, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have criticised Qatar for not putting enough pressure on Hamas. Israeli legislators have also cleared the way for the country to expel Al Jazeera, the Qatar-owned broadcaster. Al-Ansari's remarks came after an Egyptian delegation had discussed with Israeli officials 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. But the progress seemed minimal. The Egyptian official said Israeli officials are open to discussing establishing a permanent cease-fire in Gaza as part of the second phase of a deal. They showed willingness to do so but not commitment, the official said. Israel has refused to end the war until it defeats Hamas. The second phase would start after the release of civilian and sick hostages, and would include negotiating the release of soldiers, he added. Senior Palestinian prisoners would be released and a reconstruction process launched. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim said in a message to The Associated Press that a delegation from the group will head to Cairo to discuss the latest proposals. He did not elaborate, but Egypt's state-owned al-Qahera TV said the delegation would arrive on Monday. Negotiations earlier this month centred on a six-week cease-fire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages held by Hamas in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. There is growing international pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach a cease-fire deal and avert an Israeli attack on Rafah. A letter penned by US President Joe Biden along with 17 other world leaders urged Hamas to release the hostages immediately. Hamas in recent days has released new videos of three hostages it holds, which appear to be meant to push Israel to make concessions. Israel meanwhile has massed dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles ahead of an expected offensive in Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million population is seeking shelter. The planned incursion has raised global alarm because of concerns over potential harm to civilians. The troop buildup may also be a pressure tactic on Hamas in the truce talks. Israel sees Rafah as Hamas' last major stronghold and has vowed to attack the militant group there in its bid to destroy its military and governing capabilities. The war was sparked by Hamas' attack on October 7 into southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities, who say another 250 people were taken hostage. Hamas and other groups are holding about 130 people, including the remains of about 30, Israeli authorities say. Israel's retaliatory assault on Hamas has killed more than 34,000 people, most of them women and children, according to health authorities in Gaza, who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their tally. The Israeli military says it has killed at least 12,000 militants, without providing evidence to back the claim. (AP) GRS GRS Venice, Apr 28 (AP) Venice has always been a place of contrasts, of breathtaking beauty and devastating fragility, where history, religion, art and nature have collided over the centuries to produce an otherworldly gem of a city. But even for a place that prides itself on its culture of unusual encounters, Pope Francis' visit Sunday stood out. Francis travelled to the lagoon city to visit the Holy See's pavilion at the Biennale contemporary art show and meet with the people who created it. But because the Vatican decided to mount its exhibit in Venice's women's prison, and invited inmates to collaborate with the artists, the whole project assumed a far more complex meaning, touching on Francis' belief in the power of art to uplift and unite, and of the need to give hope and solidarity to society's most marginalised. Francis hit on both messages during his visit, which began in the courtyard of the Giudecca prison where he met with the women inmates one by one. As some of them wept, Francis urged them to use their time in prison as a chance for moral and material rebirth." Paradoxically, a stay in prison can mark the beginning of something new, through the rediscovery of the unsuspected beauty in us and in others, as symbolised by the artistic event you are hosting and the project to which you actively contribute, Francis said. Francis then met with Biennale artists in the prison chapel, decorated with an installation by Brazilian visual artist Sonia Gomes of objects dangling from the ceiling, meant to draw the viewer's gaze upward. He urged the artists to embrace the Biennale's theme this year Strangers Everywhere, to show solidarity with all those on the margins. The Vatican exhibit has turned the Giudecca prison, a former convent for reformed prostitutes, into one of the must-see attractions of this year's Biennale, even though to see it visitors must reserve in advance and go through a security check. It has become an unusual art world darling that greets visitors at the entrance with Maurizio Cattelan's wall mural of two giant filthy feet, a work that recalls Caravaggio's dirty feet or the feet that Francis washes each year in a Holy Thursday ritual that he routinely performs on prisoners. The exhibit also includes a short film starring the inmates and Zoe Saldana, and prints in the prison coffee shop by onetime Catholic nun and American social activist Corita Kent. Francis' dizzying morning visit, which ended with Mass in St. Mark's Square, represented an increasingly rare outing for the 87-year-old pontiff, who has been hobbled by health and mobility problems that have ruled out any foreign trips so far this year. And Venice, with its 121 islands and 436 bridges, isn't an easy place to negotiate. But Francis pulled it off, arriving by helicopter from Rome, crossing the Giudecca Canal in a water taxi and then arriving in St. Mark's Square in a mini popemobile that traversed the Grand Canal via a pontoon bridge erected for the occasion. During an encounter with young people at the iconic Santa Maria della Salute basilica, Francis acknowledged the miracle that is Venice, admiring its enchanting beaty and tradition as a place of East-West encounter, but warning that it is increasingly vulnerable to climate change and depopulation. Venice is at one with the waters upon which it sits, Francis said. Without the care and safeguarding of this natural environment, it might even cease to exist. Venice, sinking under rising sea levels and weighed down by the impact of overtourism, is in the opening days of an experiment to try to limit the sort of day trips that Francis undertook Sunday. Venetian authorities last week launched a pilot programme to charge day-trippers 5 euros (USD 5.35) apiece on peak travel days. The aim is to encourage them to stay longer or come at off-peak times, to cut down on crowds and make the city more livable for its dwindling number of residents. For Venice's Catholic patriarch, Archbishop Francesco Moraglia, the new tax programme is a worthwhile experiment, a potential necessary evil to try to preserve Venice as a livable city for visitors and residents alike. Moraglia said Francis' visit the first by a pope to the Biennale was a welcome boost, especially for the women of the Giudecca prison who participated in the exhibit as tour guides and as protagonists in some of the artworks. He acknowledged that Venice over the centuries has had a long, complicated, love-hate relationship with the papacy, despite its central importance to Christianity. The relics of St. Mark the top aide to St. Peter, the first pope are held here in the basilica, which is one of the most important and spectacular in all of Christendom. Several popes have hailed from Venice in the past century alone three pontiffs were elected after being Venice patriarchs. And Venice hosted the last conclave held outside the Vatican: the 1799-1800 vote that elected Pope Paul VII. But for centuries before that, relations between the independent Venetian Republic and the Papal States were anything but cordial as the two sides duelled over control of the church. Popes in Rome issued interdicts against Venice that essentially excommunicated the entire territory. Venice flexed its muscles back by expelling entire religious orders, including Francis' own Jesuits. It's a history of contrasts because they were two competitors for so many centuries, said Giovanni Maria Vian, a church historian and retired editor of the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano whose family hails from Venice. The papacy wanted to control everything, and Venice jealously guarded its independence. Moraglia said that troubled history is long past and that Venice was welcoming Francis with open arms and gratitude, in keeping with its history as a bridge between cultures. The history of Venice, the DNA of Venice beyond the language of beauty and culture that unifies there's this historic character that says that Venice has always been a place of encounter," he said. Francis said as much as he closed out Mass in St. Mark's before an estimated 10,500 people. Venice, which has always been a place of encounter and cultural exchange, is called to be a sign of beauty available to all," Francis said. "Starting with the least, a sign of fraternity and care for our common home. (AP) GRS GRS New York, Apr 28 (AP) As students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at college campuses across US 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 organisers 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 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 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 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 school's 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 university's facilities policies, though about 40 tents remained in place Saturday morning. The "harassing and intimidating comments and actions by some protesters violate the school's 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 president's email, saying it included unsubstantiated allegations that have been disputed to us by faculty and students who have attended and observed the demonstration. The university's 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, ASU's first priority is to create a safe and secure environment that supports teaching and learning, the university said in a statement. (AP) GSP Jerusalem, Apr 28 (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 Reaper 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 underway, without elaborating. 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) GSP New Delhi, Apr 27 (PTI) A fire broke out at a residential flat here on Saturday, officials said, adding that no injury was reported. "At around 7 pm, a PCR call regarding a fire incident at a house in DDA flats, Seikh Sarai was received at the Malviya Nagar police station," a senior police officer said. The officer further said that the incident took place on the first floor of a three-storeyed building to a short circuit in a window AC unit. "One fire tender reached the spot and extinguished the fire. Some household items such as a refrigerator, an LCD were damaged due to the fire," said the officer. Bolpur (WB), Apr 27 (PTI) A woman and her daughter were killed and her professor husband was injured on Saturday when their car met with an accident in Jharkhand, police said here. The accident occurred near Ranishwar area when they were returning from Jharkhand's Dumka to Bolpur in West Bengal, a senior officer said. How the accident took place is unclear, he said, adding that the teacher himself was driving the car. Local people rescued the three to a nearby hospital at Raniswar. Later, they were shifted to the Suri Sadar Hospital where Puspalata Jena (50), wife of the professor, and their daughter Sukriti Jena (25), were declared brought dead, the officer said. Santanu Jena, a professor of Visva Bharati's Silpa Sadana, was undergoing treatment at the Suri hospital, and his condition was stated to be critical. The professor suffered serious injury and one of his legs may be amputated, the officer said. An investigation into the accident has been initiated, he added. Kolkata, Apr 28 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the Eastern Region at 5 pm. CAL 8 WB-TMC WORKER-LD KILLING *Bengal: TMC worker killed in 'factional fighting', woman BJP leader attacked Kolkata: A Trinamool Congress worker has been killed, while a local BJP leader has been seriously injured in separate incidents in Kolkata, police said on Sunday. CAL 7 BH-ACCIDENT-POLICEMEN Two policemen killed, over a dozen injured in road accident in Bihar's Gopalganj Gopalganj: Two policemen were killed and over a dozen injured when the van in which they were travelling was hit by a speeding container truck from behind in Bihar's Gopalganj district on Sunday, police said. CAL 6 MN-LD GUNFIGHT One killed, three injured in gunfight between village volunteers in Manipur Imphal: One person was killed and three others injured in a gunfight between village volunteers of two warring communities in ethnic strife-torn Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Sunday, police said. CAL 3 NL-SHUTDOWN People rush to Assam to buy goods as indefinite business shutdown in Nagaland affects normal life Kohima: People made a beeline to neighbouring Assam to buy essential commodities as the indefinite shutdown of businesses to protest "extortion" by Naga political groups threw normal life out of gear in Nagaland, with the stir entering the third day on Sunday. ELN 56 ELECTIONS-WB-2NDLD NADDA Mamata wants govt at Centre that is soft on terrorism: Nadda Baharampur/Ranaghat: BJP president J P Nadda on Sunday alleged that Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee desires a central government that is "soft on terrorism" and believes in appeasement. ELN 43 ELECTIONS-OD-LD RAHUL Modi runs govt for billionaires, Patnaik for select few: Rahul Gandhi in Odisha Cuttack: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that while PM Narendra Modi runs a government for billionaires from Delhi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik leads a dispensation that works for "select people" in Odisha.* New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan interacted with top executives of several French defence majors, including Dassault Aviation, Safran and Naval Group, with a view to build futuristic capabilities of the Indian armed forces. The interaction was part of Gen Chauhan's series of engagements during his nearly week-long trip to France that concluded on Saturday. "Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan concluded a comprehensive visit to France, which has reaffirmed the continued long-standing strategic partnership between India and France," the defence ministry said on Sunday. It is understood that India's plan to procure 26 Rafale (Marine) jets and three Scorpene submarines from France figured in his talks. In July last year, the defence ministry approved the purchase of 26 Rafale (marine) jets from France, primarily for deployment on board the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The ministry had also cleared procurement of three Scorpene submarines from France. Under the Indian Navy's Project 75, six Scorpene submarines have already been constructed in India by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in cooperation with the Naval Group of France. The defence and strategic ties between India and France have been on an upswing in the last few years. The two strategic partners have been looking at co-development and co-production of advanced defence technologies, including for the benefit of third countries. Gen Chauhan held wide-ranging talks with senior civil and military leadership of France on ways to bolster the military cooperation between armed forces of the two countries. "The interactions of the CDS with Patrick Pailloux, Director of Civil and Military Cabinet of the Minister of the French Armed Forces, and Lt Gen Vincent Giraud, Chief of Military Cabinet of the Minister of the Armed Forces at the apex level and also with his counterpart, Gen Thierry Burkhard have enabled exchange of views on areas of common interests and mutual security concerns," the ministry said. It is learnt that the situation in the Indo-Pacific that has witnessed growing Chinese military muscle-flexing figured in the talks. "Deliberations at France's Directorate General of Armament for enhancing the exchange of high-end dual-use technologies followed by interactions with the top leadership of the French Defence industry, including Dassault, Safran and Naval Groups, and Thales Alenia Space, towards futuristic capacity building of the Indian armed forces, would provide an impetus to indigenisation," the ministry said in a statement. The CDS also visited the French Land Forces Command, the French Space Command, and the School of Military Studies (Ecole Militaire). During the interactions, Gen Chauhan provided India's point of view on key security challenges. The CDS also paid tributes at the War Memorials of Neuve-Chapelle and Villers-Guislain, remembering the extraordinary bravery of soldiers of the Indian Expeditionary Force who fought on the Western front during the First World War, the ministry said. "These memorials stand testimony to the long-standing Indo-French relationship," it said. "The India-France Strategic Partnership has gathered significant momentum over time and has now evolved into an even closer and multifaceted relationship that spans diverse areas of cooperation," it added. Srinagar, Apr 28 (PTI) Police on Sunday seized a residential property in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district that was allegedly used to shelter terrorists, a police spokesperson said. "In a significant move to counter terrorism, police in Pulwama have seized a property worth lakhs under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act," he said. The single-storey house in the Monghama area was allegedly used by terrorists for shelter and other logistics support, provided by the property owner Mohammad Lateef Kar. "The property is now under official seizure, prohibiting any transfer, lease, disposal or alteration without prior permission from the designated authority," the spokesperson said. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 28. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) is expected to provide financing in the amount of $10 million to enhance the education system in Kyrgyzstan, said Adylbek Kasymaliyev, First Deputy Chairman of Kyrgyzstans Cabinet of Ministers, during panel discussions held as part of the annual meetings of the IsDB in Riyadh, Trend reports. As part of the Global Partnership for Education, which supported the implementation of the enhancing the foundations of learning project worth $4.8 million, significant progress has been made. The project facilitated rehabilitation work in 41 community kindergartens, procurement of essential furniture and educational play materials for 60 community kindergartens, and development of a digital educational course for distance learning targeting teachers and preschool children in the STEM field. Additionally, technical assistance was provided to develop a strategy for the education sector's development in Kyrgyzstan from 2021 to 2040. The implementation of this strategy will catalyze the overall development of the education sector in the country. Utilizing the allocated funds from the Saudi Development Fund totaling $500 million, 36 public schools and 10 educational institutions are set to be constructed. The Islamic Development Bank is expected to contribute $10 million to enhance the education system in Kyrgyzstan, he said. Kasymaliyev emphasized that the commitment of these two major partners to education development in the country has led to the reservation of grant resources amounting to $15 million from the Global Partnership for Education to support the education sector in Kyrgyzstan. 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 attracts international and regional attention. The Annual Meetings 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 are participating 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. Ghaziabad (UP), Apr 28 (PTI) Former district president of Hindu Yuva Vahini Jitendra Kumar Tyagi on Sunday said that he along with his family has sought permission for euthanasia, and alleged that he is being tortured by police. Speaking to reporters here, he said that he sought permission for euthanasia in his letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu. In the letter, he alleged that police are torturing him, have slapped fake criminal cases against him, and are harassing him under the pressure of a political family. In 2022, Jitendra was booked in the murder case of Naresh Tyagi, who was the maternal uncle of BJP MLA Ajit Tyagi and brother-in-law of former minister Rajpal Tyagi. When contacted, Ghaziabad Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra refused to comment on this issue. Hyderabad, Apr 28 (PTI) Claiming that the BJP would not get more than 200 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday said his party BRS would fight effectively on behalf of people if it wins most of the total 17 seats in the state. Addressing a gathering at Warangal during his ongoing 'bus yatra', the BRS president Rao said media reports indicate that "Modi would not get more than 200 seats" though the BJP makes tall claims. Telangana can play a key role in the event of a hung verdict in the parliament elections if the BRS wins about 14 of the total 17 seats in the state, Rao, also known as KCR, said. Attacking the Congress government, he asked whether the ruling party's promises, including one tola gold to brides at the time of marriage and Rs 2,500 to women have been implemented, to which the gathering replied in the negative. He claimed that PM Modi sent a notification to the state government to "take away" the share of Godavari river water from states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka which is against the interests of Telangana. The Revanth Reddy government is silent on the issue, he said. Describing BJP as a "dangerous party", he asked whether promises and schemes like 'beti bachao, beti padhao', Jan Dhan Yojana, bringing back black money and "depositing Rs 15 lakh per household" have yielded any results for people. Referring to the arrest of his daughter and BRS MLC K Kavitha by the ED, he said he, however, did not lose morale. "This BJP government, this traitorous government, put my daughter in jail. But, we did not fear. We will remain secular throughout our life," he said. Bengaluru, Apr 28 (PTI) JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday said he would like to wait for the facts to come out of the investigation into an alleged sex scandal involving his nephew and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, but asserted that there is no question of forgiving anyone who has committed a crime as per law. The former chief minister said he has nothing to do with Prajwal Revanna reportedly leaving the country, and it is the responsibility of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to get him back if required. The 33-year-old Prajwal Revanna is the son of former prime minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda's elder son H D Revanna, who is an MLA and former minister. Some explicit video clips allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna had started making the rounds in Hassan in recent days. Prajwal Revanna is the BJP-JD(S) alliance's candidate from Hassan, which went to polls on Friday. Kumaraswamy said, "I have noticed that the chief minister has ordered an SIT probe. Whether it is me or Deve Gowda (his father), we have always conducted ourselves respectfully towards women and have responded positively when anyone came with any sufferings. We have tried to address them." Speaking to reporters here, he said, "The Hassan related issue that started during elections, let the facts come out through a probe. Whoever it is, who has committed the mistake as per the law of the land...there is no question of forgiving anyone who has committed the mistake. So let the facts come out from the probe, after that I will react." To a question on Prajwal Revanna going to a foreign country, Kumaraswamy said, "It is not related to me. SIT probe has been ordered, officials have been put to work. If he has gone to a foreign country, getting him back is their responsibility. What should I say, if I'm asked. They (SIT) will get him, don't worry." Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the decision to constitute a SIT to probe the alleged sex scandal involving the MP. Meanwhile, the police have information that Prajwal has left the country, according to a statement issued by the Chief Ministers office. "Prajwal Revannas explicit video clips are being circulated in Hassan and it appears prime facie that women were sexually assaulted," the statement said, adding that the government decided to form an SIT based on a petition by the chief of the Karnataka State Commission for Women. The Commission's chairperson Dr Nagalakshmi Chaudhary on Thursday wrote to Siddaramaiah and state police chief Alok Mohan, seeking a probe into the videos that are in circulation in Hassan. Prajwal has through his election agent lodged a complaint with the authorities that the videos are "doctored" and being circulated to tarnish his image ahead of elections. Hyderabad, Apr. 28 (PTI) Dubbing the Congress campaign claim that BJP would abolish reservations if voted to power at the Centre again as the biggest lie of the decade, Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy on Sunday mocked Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy saying they are "daydreaming". Addressing a press conference here, Reddy alleged that the Congress during Telangana assembly polls had unleashed a similarly "malicious" campaign that BJP and BRS were one and the same, though people did not believe it. I dont know whether Rahul Gandhi has been daydreaming or Revanth Reddy was dreaming in the night. Congress has resorted to Goebbels' campaign against BJP that we will remove reservations, abolish reservations. Congress has been harping on that campaign in order to make people believe it, Reddy said. The lie that the Congress is spreading is the biggest lie of the decade. It is the Congress which has diluted BC reservations in Telangana against the spirit of Dr BR Ambedkars ambition, he said. Alleging that Congress has no moral right to criticise BJP, the union minister said it was his party which made Ramnath Kovind, an SC, and Advivasi lady Draupathi Murmu as Presidents. According to him, there are as many as 27 BC, 12 SC and eight ST ministers in Prime Minister Narendra Modis government at the Centre. Reddy claimed that Congress has no claims to seek votes in Telangana and its graph is declining while that of the BJP has been going up. He opined that BJP will win "double digit" Lok Sabha seats in the state. Elections for Telangana's 17 Lok Sabha seats will be held on May 13. Bengaluru, Apr 28 (PTI) The Karnataka government has decided to form a Special Investigation Team to probe an alleged sex scandal involving Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna. Prajwal is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. He was the NDA candidate in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, which went to polls on April 26. The JD(S) joined the NDA in September last year. "The government has decided to form a special investigation team in connection with Prajwal Revanna's obscene video case," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in a post on 'X' on late Saturday night. Obscene video clips are circulating in Hassan district, where it appears that women have been sexually assaulted, the chief minister said. "In this background, the Chairperson of the Women's Commission (Dr Nagalakshmi Chowdhary) had written a letter to the government to conduct an SIT investigation. This decision has been taken in response to their request," Siddaramaiah said. Kochi, Apr 28 (PTI) A Kenyan national has been arrested by the sleuths of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence for allegedly smuggling cocaine worth Rs 6.68 crores through the international airport here. A DRI official said on Sunday that based on specific intelligence, the DRI sleuths intercepted Kenyan national Karanja Michael Nganga, who arrived from Ethiopia via Muscat at Cochin International Airport last week. He said the DRI officers had specific intelligence indicating that the passenger was carrying a narcotic drug. However, personal and baggage searches resulted in nil recovery of drugs. Officers, on the reasonable belief that drugs might be concealed inside his body, subjected the passenger to X-ray screening at a private hospital, which showed a positive indication for foreign bodies inside his stomach. The passenger was admitted to another private hospital in Angamaly for the extraction of concealed foreign bodies inside his stomach, which the passenger had swallowed. "With excellent support provided by the doctors and staff of the hospital and a week-long effort, around 50 capsules of foreign bodies were recovered, and upon testing, all the capsules tested positive for cocaine. 668 grams of cocaine worth Rs 6.68 crores were seized by DRI," he said. The accused was produced before the Judicial First-Class Magistrate's Court, Angamaly, and was remanded to Aluva Sub Jail during the early hours of Friday. Officials said further investigation is ongoing. Cochin Airport is under red alert for a similar modus operandi of smuggling of narcotic drugs, they added. Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 28 (PTI) Amid the severe heat in Kerala, the meteorological department on Sunday issued a maximum temperature warning for 12 districts over the next five days. In Kollam, Palakkad, and Thrissur districts, there's a possibility of a heat wave in certain areas, according to the IMD and the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. "Maximum temperatures are very likely to be around 41C in Palakkad district, around 40C in Kollam & Thrissur districts, around 38C in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kozhikode & Kannur districts, and around 37C in Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Malappuram & Kasaragod districts, and around 36C in Thiruvananthapuram district (3 to 5C above normal) during 28th April to 2nd May 2024," the weather agencies said. These districts are expected to experience hot and humid weather conditions, excluding hilly areas, from April 28th to May 2nd, due to elevated temperatures and humidity levels, they added. Additionally, there is a likelihood of heat wave conditions occurring in one or two locations within Kollam, Palakkad, and Thrissur districts specifically on April 28th and 29th, the agencies added. Thane, Apr 28 (PTI) Navi Mumbai Police arrested a clothes merchant for allegedly sexually abusing two minor girls in his shop, an official said on Sunday. The incident occurred a few days back when the girls visited his shop in Pavne village under the limits of Turbhe police station, he said. Police arrested the man on various charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the official said. Further investigation is underway. Viewed 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. President Joe Bidens administration is indefinitely delaying a plan to ban menthol cigarettes, a decision that is certain to infuriate anti-smoking advocates but could avoid a political backlash from Black voters in November. In a statement Friday, Bidens top health official gave no timeline for issuing the rule, saying only that the administration would take more time to consider feedback, including from civil rights groups. Its clear that there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. The White House has held dozens of meetings in recent months with groups opposing the ban, including civil rights organizers, law enforcement officials and small business owners. Most of groups have financial ties to tobacco companies. The announcement is another setback for Food and Drug Administration officials, who drafted the ban and predicted it would prevent hundreds of thousands of smoking-related deaths over 40 years. The agency has worked toward banning menthol across multiple administrations for more than a decade without ever finalizing a rule. This decision prioritizes politics over lives, especially Black lives, said Yolanda Richardson of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, in an emailed statement. It is especially disturbing to see the administration parrot the false claims of the tobacco industry about support from the civil rights community. Richardson noted that the ban is supported by groups including the NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus. Previous FDA efforts on menthol have been derailed by tobacco industry pushback or competing political priorities. With both Biden and former President Donald Trump vying for the support of Black voters, the bans potential impact has been scrutinized by Republicans and Democrats heading into the fall election. Anti-smoking advocates have been pushing the FDA to eliminate the flavor since the agency gained authority to regulate certain tobacco ingredients in 2009. Menthol is the only cigarette flavor that wasnt banned under that law, a carveout negotiated by industry allies in Congress. But the law instructed the FDA to continue studying the issue. More than 11% of U.S. adults smoke, with rates roughly even between white and Black people. But about 80% of Black smokers smoke menthol, which the FDA says masks the harshness of smoking, making it easier to start and harder to quit. Most teenagers who smoke cigarettes also smoke menthols. The FDA released its draft of the proposed ban in 2022. Officials under Biden initially targeted last August to finalize the rule. Late last year, White House officials said they would take until March to review the measure. When that deadline passed last month, several anti-smoking groups filed a lawsuit to force its release. We are disappointed with the action of the Biden administration, which has caved in to the scare tactics of the tobacco industry, said Dr. Mark Mitchell of the National Medical Association, an African American physician group that is suing the administration. Separately, Rev. Al Sharpton and other civil rights leaders have warned that a menthol ban would create an illegal market for the cigarettes in Black communities and invite more confrontations with police. The FDA and health advocates have long rejected such concerns, noting FDAs enforcement of the rule would only apply to companies that make or sell cigarettes, not to individuals. An FDA spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon. Smoking can cause cancer, strokes and heart attacks and is blamed for 480,000 deaths each year in the U.S., including 45,000 among Black Americans. (AP) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 28. Two terrorists neutralized during operation by Pakistani security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the interdepartmental public relations service of the country's Armed Forces says, Trend reports. According to information, the country's security forces conducted an anti-terrorist operation in the Dera Ismail Khan area. Their target was one of the terrorists hideouts, information about this was provided by local security agencies. As a result of the clash, two terrorists were killed. Weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive devices, which the terrorists planned to use against Pakistani citizens, were recovered from the scene of the shootout. President Joe Bidens administration on Friday formally began planning for a potential presidential transition, aiming to ensure continuity of government no matter the outcome of Novembers general election. Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, sent memos to all executive departments and agencies, directing them to name a point person for transition planning by May 3. Its the routine first step in congressionally mandated preparedness for presidential transitions. Next week, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients who also chaired Bidens 2020 transition effort will lead the first meeting of the White House Transition Coordinating Council, which consists of senior White House policy, national security and management officials, as required by the Presidential Transition Act. The act provides federal support for major party candidates to prepare to govern so that they can have personnel in place to take policy actions on their first day in office. Making sure presidential candidates are ready to take charge of the federal government became a heightened priority after the Sept. 11 attacks, and the act has been updated several times since to provide additional resources to candidates and to require incumbents to plan for a handoff with even greater intensity. Youngs letter is nearly identical to the one sent four years ago by Trump administration acting director Russell Vought, for a transition process that started out orderly, but derailed when then-President Donald Trump refused to concede his defeat to Biden. It took until Nov. 23, two weeks after the election was called, for Trumps General Services Administration to name Biden as the apparent winner of the 2020 race a required step for the transition to begin. The law requires presidential candidates and the General Services Administration to reach a memorandum of understanding that governs everything from the provision of federal office space to access to sensitive documents by Sept. 1, though often it is reached sooner. Candidates must first formally secure their partys nomination at their conventions before the memorandum of understanding can be signed. Transition teams begin vetting candidates for jobs in a future administration, including beginning the time-consuming security clearance process for likely appointees who need to be ready to take their posts on Inauguration Day. Biden in February launched a separate task force aimed at addressing the systemic problem of mishandling classified information during presidential transitions, days after a Justice Department special counsels sharply critical report said he and his aides had done just that when he left the vice presidency in 2016. (AP) A real estate company owned by Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway has agreed to pay $250 million to settle lawsuits nationwide claiming that longstanding practices by real estate brokerages forced U.S. homeowners to pay artificially inflated broker commissions when they sold their homes. HomeServices of America said Friday that the proposed settlement would shield its 51 brands, nearly 70,000 real estate agents and over 300 franchisees from similar litigation. The real estate company had been a major holdout after several other big brokerage operators, including Keller Williams Realty, Re/Max, Compass and Anywhere Real Estate, agreed to settle. Last month, the National Association of Realtors agreed to pay $418 million. While we have always been confident in the legality and ethics of our business practices, the decision to settle was driven by a desire to eliminate the uncertainty brought by the protracted appellate and litigation process, the company said in a statement. HomeServices said its proposed settlement payout represents a current after-tax accounting charge of about $140 million, though it will have four years to pay the full amount. The real estate company also noted that its parent company is not part of the settlement. Buffett said in February in his annual letter to shareholders that Berkshire had $167.6 billion cash on hand at the end of last year. That makes Berkshire, which is based in Omaha, Nebraska, an attractive target for litigation, but the company largely lets its subsidiaries run themselves and doesnt directly intervene in litigation involving its many companies, which include Geico insurance, BNSF railroad and Sees Candy. Including HomeServices proposed payout, the real estate industry has now agreed to pay more than $943 million to make the lawsuits go away. This is another significant settlement for American home sellers who have been saddled with paying billions in unnecessary commission costs, Benjamin Brown, managing partner at one of the law firms that represented plaintiffs in a case filed in Illinois, said in a statement. The lawsuits central claim is that the countrys biggest real estate brokerages and the NAR violated antitrust laws by engaging in business practices that required home sellers to pay the fees for the broker representing the buyer. Attorneys representing home sellers in multiple states argued that homeowners who listed a property for sale on real estate industry databases were required to include a compensation offer for an agent representing a buyer. And that not including such cooperative compensation offers might lead a buyers agent to steer their client away from any sellers listing that didnt include such an offer. In October, a federal jury in Missouri ordered that HomeServices, the National Association of Realtors and several other large real estate brokerages pay nearly $1.8 billion in damages. The defendants were facing potentially having to pay more than $5 billion, if treble damages were awarded. The verdict in that case, which was filed in 2019 on behalf of 500,000 home sellers in Missouri and elsewhere, led to multiple similar lawsuits being filed against the real estate brokerage industry. The major brokerages that have reached proposed settlements in these cases have also agreed to change their business practices to ensure homebuyers and sellers can more easily understand how brokers and agents are compensated for their services, and that brokers and agents who represent homebuyers must disclose right away any offer of compensation by the broker representing a seller. HomeServices said it also agreed to make substantially similar new or amended business practice changes that have been included in the other corporate defendant settlement agreements, said Chris Kelly, a HomeServices spokesperson. NAR also agreed to make several policy changes, including prohibiting brokers who list a home for sale on any of the databases affiliated with the NAR from including offers of compensation for a buyers representative. The new rules, which are set to go into effect in July, represent a major change to the way real estate agents have operated going back to the 1990s. While many housing market watchers say its too soon to tell how the policy changes will affect home sales, they could lead to home sellers paying lower commissions for their brokers services. Buyers, in turn, may have to shoulder more upfront costs when they hire an agent to represent them. (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 defense systems had intercepted more than 60 Ukrainian drones over the southern Krasnodar region. Ukraines air force said Saturday that Russia had launched 34 missiles against Ukraine overnight, of which 21 had been shot down by Ukrainian air defenses. In a post on Telegram, Minister of Energy 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. 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 defense systems to ward off such attacks. At a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the U.S. will provide Ukraine with additional munitions and gear for its air defense 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 Emegency Situations. In Russia, the Defense Ministry said Russian air defense 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 that 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 Saturday that two oil refineries in the Krasnodar region had been hit by drones. Five people were wounded in a drone attack in a border village in Russias Belgorod region, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said. (AP) A freight train carrying fuel derailed and caught fire Friday near the Arizona-New Mexico state line, forcing the closure of an interstate highway that serves as a key trucking route. Initial passersby posted video and photos on social media of crumpled train cars and billowing, black smoke. No injuries were reported in the midday train wreck near Lupton, Arizona. BNSF Railway spokesperson Lena Kent said company personnel were on site working to clear the wreckage. Kent said the cause of the derailment is under investigation. Interstate 40 was closed by authorities in both directions in the area in the early afternoon, directing trucks and motorists off the freeway to alternate routes, New Mexico State Police and the Arizona Department of Public Safety announced. The train was transporting non-odorous propane and gasoline, and a half-dozen rail cars caught fire and burned for hours after the derailment, New Mexico State Police Lt. Phil Vargas said. It looks like theyre just letting those (rail) cars burn themselves out, Vargas said. Nearby residences and a truck stop were evacuated as a precaution as winds carried away thick smoke and local firefighting crews responded. The derailment also led Amtrak to cancel some passenger travel, including on the route between Los Angeles and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Traffic on I-40 backed up for more than 10 miles, though detours were opened on two-lane roads and highways, said Kristine Bustos-Mihelcic, a spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Transportation. The agency warned Friday evening of an extended highway closure that would increase traffic on other interstate highways, including I-25 and I-10. The Arizona Corporation Commission that oversees railroad safety said in a social media post on X that 10 rail cars were involved in the derailment and that two were transporting liquid petroleum. The agency said it planned to send a railroad inspector to the site but later learned the derailment happened on the New Mexico side of the tracks. (AP) Yemens Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed shooting down another of the U.S. 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. U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bryon J. McGarry, a Defense Department spokesperson, acknowledged to The Associated Press on Saturday that a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 drone crashed in Yemen. He said an investigation was underway, without elaborating. The Houthis described the downing as happening 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 U.S. 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 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 Oct. 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 U.S. Maritime Administration. Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a U.S.-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 U.S.-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) In Londons Hyde Park, authorities covered the Holocaust memorial with a blue tarp to protect it from potential vandalism during anti-Israel protests. The monument, which is engraved with Hebrew and honors the victims of the Holocaust, was covered on Saturday as reported by LBC radio. Hyde Park has become a focal point for these protests. Holocaust survivor Noemi Ebenstein expressed her dismay to The Daily Mail, stating that covering the monument feels like a concession to antisemitism and Holocaust denial. This incident follows a related controversy where police prevented a Jewish man from approaching an anti-Israel march due to safety concerns. Yad Vashem gave YWN the following statement: Yad Vashem expresses deep concern over recent reports of Holocaust memorials and monuments being covered in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Holocaust memorials serve as solemn reminders of the unparalleled horrors perpetrated, during one of the darkest chapters in human history. They stand as testaments to the millions of innocent lives lost and are beacons of hope so that such atrocities cannot and will never be allowed to occur once more. The decision to cover up Holocaust memorials and exhibitions out of fear from the scourge of global antisemitism is deeply troubling. By concealing these historical reminders, we are only addressing the symptoms while ignoring the root cause of the issue. Yad Vashem implores authorities to address the heart of the events: hatred and antisemitism. These are the true issues that are eating away at the moral fabric of our society. Yad Vashem calls upon all individuals, communities, and governments to uphold the memory of the Holocaust and to actively work towards a world free from hatred and discrimination. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to combat antisemitism, ensuring that the voices of the victims are never silenced and their legacies never forgotten. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The United States is actively participating in a diplomatic push to prevent the International Criminal Court (ICC) from issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials, amid escalating tensions over alleged human rights violations. This effort comes as Israel, not a signatory to the Rome Statute like the U.S., faces significant international scrutiny. Israeli media have reported Netanyahu is exerting considerable effort, particularly through engaging the Biden administration, to avert what he describes as a dangerous precedent that could threaten democratic nations ability to defend themselves against terrorism. According to Wallas analyst Ben Caspit, Netanyahu is under significant stress as the possibility of arrest warrants looms, which could severely impact Israels global standing. Meanwhile, the ICCs prosecutor, Karim Khan, is expected to soon decide on the issuance of warrants for Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. The ICC allegations include severe accusations such as the deliberate starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, prompting Israel to enhance its diplomatic and public relations efforts to counteract the potential charges. In response to these critical developments, the Israeli government has mobilized its National Security Council and Foreign Ministry to engage internationally and clarify Israels positions. Additionally, IDF International Spokesman Nadav Shoshani conducted a rare Shabbat briefing for foreign reporters to highlight Israels humanitarian efforts in Gaza, further underscoring the nations proactive stance against the ICCs possible actions. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is set to visit Beeri on Wednesday, marking the highest-ranking US official visit since the Hamas massacre on the kibbutz on October 7. During his tour, which follows a trip to Saudi Arabia, Blinken will be joined by Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Foreign Minister Israel Katz. This visit underscores ongoing US involvement in Israeli security issues, including efforts with Israel to block potential ICC arrest warrants for Israeli officials and to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza. The US is actively collaborating with Israel to deter the International Criminal Court in The Hague from issuing arrest warrants against Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli officials related to the conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Additionally, US officials are participating in negotiations, facilitated by Qatar and Egypt, aimed at achieving a temporary ceasefire and securing the release of numerous hostages currently held by Hamas. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) From the time that Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginzberg was a young yeshiva bochur learning in Eretz Yisroel through today as a seasoned rov for almost 40 years, he had the merit to do what most of us just dream about. He had developed a close and personal connection to almost all of the gedolei hador of the previous generation and spent a great deal of time with many of them. He would personally ask them hundreds of contemporary shailos in all areas of halacha and hashkafah, and he immediately committed their responses in writing, often reviewing with them what he had written. These responses comprise the sefer Shailos Uteshuvos Divrei Chachomim, which, in a new edition, contains hundreds of shailos that were never publicized before, including an expanded hashkafah section. In this Inside ArtScroll interview, Rabbi Ginzberg discusses this new sefer, as well as his interactions with the gedolei hador, sharing fascinating stories and reminiscences. Buy the new book HERE . WATCH: Watch all Inside ArtScroll episodes at: Inside.Artscroll.com. TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST OF THE INTERVIEW, CLICK ON THE PODCAST PLATFORM YOU WANT: Spotify Apple Podcast Podbean Tune-In Stitcher Or Podcast.ArtScroll.com Inside ArtScroll is also available on TorahAnytime.com. The FTSE 100 is expected to be boosted as soon as next month when the Chinese online giant Shein announces that it has decided to float its shares in London. Support for a blockbuster share offer has come from the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Labour's shadow business secretary Johnny Reynolds following last month's visit to the UK by the fashion groups's chairman Donald Tang. Shein originally had indicated a preference for an initial public offering in New York where stock market valuations for on-line firms tend to be much higher. Change of heart: Shein originally had indicated a preference for an initial public offering in New York where stock market valuations for on-line firms tend to be much higher But a deteriorating political environment for Chinese firms in the US led it to look to London. With a prospective valuation of 60 billion or more, Shein would immediately join the top rank of firms with London listings if the public offer goes ahead. The hostile climate towards China in the US was underlined in the last week when the US Congress gave its assent to a bill forcing ByteDance, the Beijing-based owner of Tik Tok, to divest its US operations on national security grounds. President Biden has signalled that he will sign the bill. The US fears that the social media platform could provide its parent with access to sensitive data it holds on 170m users. Based in Singapore, Shein manufactures most of its output in China and uses advanced technology to translate the latest fashion designs into new products. Little is known about the group's financial underpinnings, which will be revealed in a prospectus at the time of the float. Founded in Nanking in 2008 by Chris Xu, a US born entrepreneur and search engine expert, it earned its reputation as a low cost clothing brand. Its products are shipped to more than 150 countries worldwide including Britain one of its bigger markets. It sources products from some 6,000 factories across China under the Shein label and has been described by Time magazine as the Amazon of fashion. Nevertheless, its float in London is certain to be controversial. The company has been dogged by allegations of long working hours at some of its factories and operations in parts of China where there are human rights abuses. But Tang is said to have been reassured by his conversations with UK politicians and took particular care to engage with Labour when he was visiting Britain. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 29. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud called on European governments to support the implementation of the solution to the creation of a Palestinian state, which would prevent further conflicts in the Middle East, said Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud at a special session of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, Trend reports. "Our European partners are engaged in discussions about the implementation of a two-state solution, but we must move from talk to concrete steps, and this cannot be left to the discretion of the warring parties. We, the international community, and especially those countries that have the most influence, as well as the [UN] Security Council, must intervene," he said. According to the minister, the majority of Saudi Arabias partners in the international community are in favor of resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the two-state principle. A tale of a chief executive about to join a high-profile British company has gone down in City folklore. Before taking the reins, a trusted advisor asks him the rather awkward question of how much he thought he should be paid. 'How much do you think I can get away with?' came the haughty reply. It's an intriguing insight into the entitled, self-serving mindset that still prevails in some of Britain's boardrooms, despite decades of efforts by campaigners to curb 'fat cat' pay and a cost-of-living squeeze that has hit households. The number of leading companies pushing for pay rises for their leaders has jumped even after they trousered an average of 4.5 million, a recent study revealed. The analysis by business consultancy Deloitte found that 16 FTSE 100 companies are looking to revamp their pay policies with nine of them having 'radical' plans to boost their boss's pay this year, compared to four previously. 'Many of these companies have a significant US footprint and cite the disparity in pay levels between the UK and US as a challenge when competing for and retaining senior talent in a global marketplace,' said Deloitte partner Mitul Shah. But are British-based bosses really underpaid? And is there any evidence that more lucrative deals on offer across the Atlantic are causing an executive exodus of top talent? To find out, The Mail on Sunday compared the pay of chief executives from leading firms on both sides of the pond. We found that US bosses generally earn more than their British counterparts but the gap is not always that big, especially when stock market valuations are considered. Charles Woodburn at BAE Systems took home 13.5 million last year nearly 5 million less that the boss of Lockheed Martin. But the US defence contractor is worth more than twice as much as BAE based on their respective share prices. The same is true in the oil and gas sector where Shell's Wael Sawan recently joined the growing chorus of bosses threatening to up sticks and leave London. He and BP's Murray Auchincloss would appear to be paid a pittance compared to their peers at Exxon and Chevron until you realise that investors value shares in the US energy giants much more. Pascal Soriot, chief executive of pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca, once complained that he was 'the lowest-paid chief executive in the whole industry'. He has been playing catch-up ever since and is now Britain's highest paid boss, earning 16.9 million last year. Soriot still lags the likes of his US counterpart at Eli Lilly but a recent analysis by the Financial Times put him in the middle of the pack of 'Big Pharma' pay. That may explain why more than a third of AZ's shareholders this month opposed plans to give him a bumper pay rise. Experts say pay disparities exist because US bosses are rewarded much more in shares than salary, but that comes with risks. 'The danger of packages which focus too heavily on share price performance is that they can lead to short-term thinking,' says Russ Mould of investment firm AJ Bell. The average tenure of a FTSE 100 boss is just over five years, he notes. 'It is not hard to cut costs or make an acquisition to boost short-term income and perhaps the share price,' he adds. Another reason that American bosses are paid more might be because they are better managers. Among those leading calls to pay bosses more is Rupert Soames, president of the Confederation of British Industry lobby group. He has dubbed many companies in the FTSE 100 'Brilos' 'British in Listing Only' because most of their revenues come from overseas. As chairman of Smith & Nephew, Soames is busy urging shareholders to give chief executive Deepak Nath a huge pay rise at the medical equipment group's annual meeting this week. GSK boss: Emma Walmsley It is true that Nath earns a lot less than his peer at Stryker. But that may be because investors rate the US rival more highly, giving it a stock market price tag more than ten times that of Smith & Nephew. Also on the warpath is Julia Hoggett. The London Stock Exchange chief executive has warned that a 'lack of a level playing field' is driving a brain drain from the City to New York and beyond. Another showdown occurred earlier this week when investors backed plans to more than double the pay of her boss, David Schwimmer, to 13.2 million. That has put him on a par with Jeffrey Sprecher, who runs the New York Stock Exchange owner Intercontinental Exchange. Companies such as chipmaker Arm Holdings, plumbing giant Ferguson and Tarmac-owner CRH already have moved their main listing to Wall Street. Executive pay is higher in the US but so too is pay inequality. Whereas the typical FTSE 100 boss earns 109 times more than an employee's average pay, the ratio in the US for the top 500 firms is 272 times. But it is often forgotten that US bosses also wield much more power in the boardroom than their UK peers. They usually combine the role of chief executive and chairman something frowned upon here. There is also scant evidence of an active transfer market in disgruntled UK executives heading west for big bucks. Perhaps the most successful British-born executive in the US is Jane Fraser but she rose through the ranks before taking over at investment bank Citigroup. It is also significant that the list of highest-paid bosses of British companies is dominated by foreigners. That suggests London is still a magnet for attracting and retaining footloose global executives whatever the pay. On that measure at least, reports of the City's demise as a leading financial centre look premature. 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. Britain must scrap the 'double taxation' blighting popular stock market investments to help revive the City of London. Investment trusts such as Scottish Mortgage and Polar Capital Technology are companies listed on the stock market and are therefore subject to the UK's 'pernicious' stamp duty regime. This means savers pay a 0.5 per cent levy when they buy shares in the trusts. At the same time, the trusts are charged 0.5 per cent when they purchase shares in companies the fund managers invest in. By contrast, savers do not pay stamp duty when investing in so-called 'open-ended' funds which are not listed on the stock market. 'Pernicious': Experts said the double taxation or 'double-dipping' on listed trusts is 'unfair' on the sector Experts said the double taxation or 'double-dipping' on listed trusts is 'unfair' on the sector. They said it also holds back saving and investment and hampers the wider stock market and economy. Ministers are facing mounting calls for stamp duty on share trading to be scrapped to level the playing field with countries such as the United States. Leading industry figures told the Mail that if this is deemed not possible, then the Government should at least get rid of it on investment trusts. Richard Stone, chief executive of the Association of Investment Companies that represents the sector, said: 'Stamp duty on shares shouldn't be there at all. It is a tax on liquidity. But if you can't get rid of it completely, they should get rid of the double-dipping. The biggest injustice is that you are 0.5 per cent down before you have even started versus investing in an open-ended fund.' He added: 'The current approach taxes investors twice. Ending this unfairness should be a priority.' Investors pay 0.5 per cent in stamp duty on the price of UK-listed shares they buy but the tax does not apply to the purchase of shares in foreign companies. A report by City broker Peel Hunt describes it as 'a pernicious tax that is having a material impact on equity markets'. Meanwhile Abrdn boss Stephen Bird has branded the tax 'as unpatriotic as it is economically destructive'. Step off the train at Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire and you're greeted by a multi-coloured mural welcoming you to the town. It's bold and brash, alluding to the area's coal mining history, its monuments and glorious parks. Cambuslang was once a thriving town, renowned for its steel making and the steel plates integral to ship building at Glasgow's shipyards. The community, just 15-minutes by train out of Glasgow (Glaschu), is a shadow of its former self, but Cambuslangers don't do self pity. Promise: Jeff Prestridge met Jennifer Stephenson, above right, one of many fans of Cambuslang banking hub Not even the recent news that the town's library is closing (council cuts) has deterred them. They are determined to fight back, to prove, against the odds, the Cambuslangs of this world can survive and thrive. Driven forward by a passionate local community council (all volunteers), the town has been spruced up with battalions of planters set to burst into flower. Its pavements have also been fixed so that they can be safely walked on. Little improvements, but important ones. And in among the pubs, betting shops and fast food outlets, a banking hub is breathing new life into the town's high street. Without the relentless campaigning of the community council, it would never have got off the ground. 'It has been mighty hard work,' admits the council's chair John Bachtler who with his lieutenant Mark Lauterberg made the hub happen. 'None of the banks wanted to support Cambuslang, but the success of the hub proves that high street banking services are an essential piece of the community's jigsaw.' The hub, set up just over three years ago in a former butcher's shop, was one of two 'pilots' (the other was in Rochford, Essex). Today, 47 hubs criss-cross the country while a further 75 have been approved. One-stop community banks facilitate basic banking needs for businesses and personal customers from all banks. You can deposit cash and cheques, withdraw cash and pay bills. Community bankers from the leading banks are also on site on selected days to help with more complex needs. Funded by the banks and operated by the Post Office, the hubs can only be opened in communities where all banks (as well as building society Nationwide) have shut their branches. Even then, hubs can only be approved if it is deemed that there will be sufficient demand for services. In Cambuslang's case, it lost its last bank, TSB, five years ago. Sceptics believe that the banking giants see hubs as a short-term measure, designed to head off criticism of the immolation of branch networks. As demand for high street banking declines, the hubs (most on short-term leases) will then be shut, leaving consumers with no choice but to go digital. Yet Cambuslang is proving that hubs are not mere stop-gaps, but a vital cog that enables communities to function better. Since it was opened, usage has grown with current daily transactions averaging 120, compared to an average of 97 since launch. In total, more than 70,000 counter transactions with a combined cash value of 21 million have been processed through the hub. Judging by the number of people who used the hub when I visited on a rainy Friday, it is popular. A steady trickle of people, of all age groups, came in to deposit cheques or withdraw cash and a number of retailers visited to get cash out ahead of a weekend of trading. Freelance musician Jennifer Stephenson came in to bank some cash. The 40-year-old, an accomplished clarinet player, says the hub ticks so many boxes. It's good for our community,' she says. 'It encourages people to spend here rather than in Glasgow or Rutherglen. It's also good for the elderly who prefer face to face banking.' Jennifer Taylor, a 39-year-old primary school teacher, is also a fan. She banks with Santander which has a branch in Rutherglen, but the Cambuslang hub is more convenient for her banking. She says. 'It's fantastic to have a banking service on the doorstep.' Jean Austin, 65-year-old owner of local card and gift shop Pandora's Box, uses the hub to get cash and bank takings. She adds: 'My customers prefer to pay by cash. The hub is good for them, my business and for the community.' Liz Maclean, 57-year-old manager of local pub Finlays, agrees. She uses the hub to bank takings three times a week. 'My local bank branch was turned into a Costa Coffee. I live here and love it, but it has its challenges. Unemployment is a problem. Parking is an issue and the high street has too many bookies and fast food shops. The hub is one of the best things to open here for years.' Hubs only provide basic high street banking services. But with a little imagination (and give) from the banks, they could be improved. A minority open on a Saturday when demand for services might be higher. Hopefully, this will change in the future. Rules governing where a hub can be opened mean that in some communities where Nationwide remains, small businesses are disadvantaged as the building society doesn't offer business banking. Towns chosen for hubs are decided by cash machine network Link, according to strict criteria. Gareth Oakley, chief executive of Cash Access UK, the organisation funded by the banks and responsible for putting the hubs in place, says: 'Cambuslang shows how much people value face-to-face banking and it shows the life a hub can bring to the community.' As for councillors John Bachtler and Mark Lauterberg, their quest for Cambuslang goes on. They want the hub to embrace the credit union, a debt counselling service and a library. Mark says: 'We won't lie down until Cambuslang has the services in place to thrive again.' I wouldn't bet against this determined pair succeeding. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 28. Turkiye and Greece have reached an agreement on the construction of a new bridge connecting the checkpoints of the two countries in the Maritsa River area, Trend reports. The construction of the new 811-meter-long, four-lane bridge structure will start this year. The structure will function alongside the old two-lane bridge built in 1958. Yunus Sezer, the governor of Edirne, a province bordering Greece, said that the existing bridge can no longer cope with the increasing volumes of Turkiye's international trade. Therefore, the authorities of the two countries have decided to implement a new transportation project. The construction work will be financed by both sides. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel On Friday, April 26, 32-year-old American billionaire and founder of Bilt Rewards Ankur Jain celebrated a lavish wedding with his beloved, former WWE athlete Erika Hammond in front of the Great Sphinx in Giza, Egypt. The couple had long planned to exchange rings in space, but the idea was immediately rejected by the bride, who said she did not want to die on her wedding day. ADVERTISIMENT They decided to move away from the traditional way of celebrating. As Jain told People, they did not have bridesmaids, a wedding cake, special decorations, and other things that are common for weddings. "We are New Yorkers and there is something special about being in a completely different world. So we decided that our wedding is a moment together to celebrate a new beginning, a really special party with our friends somewhere where you are in another world. I am obsessed with ancient history and society. Seeing the pyramids is just crazy. We are speechless. I can't believe that this is even a part of our civilization," Ankur shared. ADVERTISIMENT The couple believes that a wedding is, above all, an experience, so this was the reason for the unusual style of the ceremony. "I had no idea what napkins or table settings looked like. Why should you spend $20,000 on flowers? It doesn't make sense. And none of this should matter when you have the opportunity to sit and have dinner at the foot of the pyramids!" the man said. However, problems with the flight almost ruined the couple's holiday. After checking in to the charter plane in South Africa, they were denied service. As a result, the wedding "opening" party took place later in the night. ADVERTISIMENT "Everyone was calm when we were late and our guests [about 130 people] said, "No, we're going to keep the party going, we're going to stay... and you come when you land and we'll celebrate together.' We celebrated until 5:00 in the morning, having the best opening ever," Jain recalled. It was during this celebration trip that the couple was able to get to know Egypt as closely as possible. Their holiday program, which was planned for about a year, included private tours of the pyramids, museums, and familiarization with local culture and traditions. "I was literally speechless. Looking at the photos, I lived my best life. Last night I became a pop star on stage. It was the most incredible night of my life," Hammond said. ADVERTISIMENT The couple first met back in the pre-COVID-19 days when Jain started going to the gym where Hammond worked. "We were just acquaintances there," she recalled. Since then, they have been in contact, and eventually a relationship. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Russia complained about a new attack by Ukrainian drones on the night of April 28. The Russian Defense Ministry reported the "destruction" of 17 UAVs over four regions of the Russian Federation overnight. ADVERTISIMENT The night was particularly noisy in the Bryansk region, and in the Kaluga region, all three "destroyed" drones were found near the oil depot in the town of Lyudinovo. This was reported by Russian official resources and local channels. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed a traditional "victory" in the nighttime UAV attack on Russia: they reported the "destruction" of 17 Ukrainian drones. "Seventeen Ukrainian UAVs were intercepted and destroyed by air defense systems on duty, including nine over the territory of the Bryansk region, three over the territory of the Kursk region, two over the territory of the Belgorod region, and three over the territory of the Kaluga region," the ministry, headed by Sergei Shoigu, said. ADVERTISIMENT Local authorities reacted differently to the loud night. For example, the governor of the Belgorod region had not made any statements as of 9:00 a.m. His counterpart from Kursk region limited himself to reposting the "victorious" message from the Russian Defense Ministry. The head of the Bryansk region published several messages on Telegram with a thorough count of the "downed" UAVs (by the way, he counted less than the number stated by the Russian Defense Ministry). Meanwhile, residents of the region are posting videos in local channels that were shot in the region last night. Meanwhile, residents of Bryansk region report a total of "four destroyed drones," specifying that "three UAVs were destroyed over Vygonychi district and one over Trubchevsky district." ADVERTISIMENT And the governor of the Kaluga region, Vladislav Shapsha, reported the "downing of 3 UAVs in the area of the Lyudinovo oil depot." He claims that there were "no casualties or damage" as a result of the drones being "shot down" by the oil depot. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, on the night of April 27, UAVs attacked a number of facilities in Russia: two refineries, a bitumen plant, and an airfield. As it turned out later, the refinery and airfield in Russia were targeted by the SSU and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In the afternoon, Russian channels published a video that allegedly showed the aftermath of the strike on a military airfield in Russia. Judging by the footage, it appears that bombs were being modernized there. And the refinery in Sloviansk-on-Kuban suspended operations after the drone attack. The equipment there was damaged. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! As always, here on this blog we're committed to finding solutions . . . And so we ask . . . WILL PROTESTERS FUND MILLIONS FOR KANSAS CITY BUS FREE RIDES?!?! In fact . . . It would be fun if our activist class helped to find the money in the budget and confronted the political consequences for so much pilfered cash that gets "lost" amid transit cash conversations. For now, we take another look at bad policy and even worse math . . . The Kansas City Council unanimously approved $70.9 million in funding for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. Bus and paratransit rides will stay at zero fare at least until the contract expires on April 30, 2025, but the bus system faces a deficit once federal funds run out. KCATA has said that it will have a $26 million fundraising gap by 2025 once the last of the federal COVID-19 relief money is spent. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Kansas City voters seem to have FINALLY awoken to the cruel reality of the free market and realized that activists & anti-tax campaigners LIED to the electorate when they downplayed the risk of Chiefs & Royals moving. Moreover . . . We want to start by clearing up a deception that KCMO politicos & pundits keep repeating: THERE IS NO "GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD" THE CHIEFS & ROYALS ARE LEAVING JACKSON COUNTY!!! We'll only allow a small hope that one of the teams MIGHT stay in the metro . . . But at this point all bets are off. Remember . . . The same people who claim the teams won't leave the region were COMPLETELY WRONG about the teams staying put insider KC Proper. Moreover . . . Here's the open secret that all of the local politicos understand: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS HAVE TOLD MANY LOCAL POLITICOS THAT THEY'RE NEVER GOING BACK ON THE BALLOT . . . WHICH RULES OUT MISSOURI & MAYBE EVEN KANSAS!!! Again . . . So many other towns who have lost their teams doubted their fate right until the moving vans pulled away. Hope, theatricality and deception are powerful agents to the uninitiated. But here at TKC we are initiated. And so we offer this status report . . . - There is no "cooling off" period. The teams are now talking with their feet. - Save The K was a lie: The Royals don't want it. - Now BACK-TO-BACK SUPER BOWL CHAMPION Kansas City Chiefs have CONFIRMED they're in play for a move despite the assurances of the Mayor, friendly reporters, clueless keyboard warriors and so many pay-for-play activists all working together in order to mislead the electorate. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Kansas City Chiefs considering new stadium following failed tax vote Kansas City Chiefs President and CEO Clark Hunt said the team is considering all options, including building a new stadium to replace Arrowhead following a failed tax vote. Chiefs' Hunt: Future stadium plans will be independent of Royals; new stadium possible Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said Saturday the club plans to work independently from the Kansas City Royals in future stadium efforts. New Chiefs stadium on the list of options after failed tax vote After the failed April stadium tax vote, the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals are reviewing their options for future steps. Chiefs owner says leaving Arrowhead Stadium is an option after sales tax funding was rejected The Kansas City Chiefs plan to explore options that include leaving Arrowhead Stadium after voters in Jackson County, Missouri, soundly rejected a sales tax initiative that would have helped to pay for renovations to the 52-year-old building. Chiefs look at stadium options beyond Arrowhead The Chiefs are looking at options beyond renovating Arrowhead Stadium as they search for a home beyond the expiration of their lease after 2030. Developing . . . 'The Running Grave' By Robert Galbraith Mulholland Books, 2023, 950 pages ISBN: 9780316572101 One of my favourite book series is the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (a pseudonym for J. K. Rowling). The Running Grave is the latest and seventh book in the series and it is very entertaining. While private detective Cormoran Strike and his business partner Robin Ellacott, along with their colleagues, always have several cases that they are working on, their main case involves trying to rescue a young man, Will, from a religious cult in the Norfolk countryside. The rescue request is from Wills father who is concerned for his sons welfare while with the Universal Humanitarian Church. While the religious group appears to be a peaceful organization with a mission to help others, there are some serious concerns about the groups activities and beliefs. In order to make an attempt at removing Will from the cult, Robin infiltrates the religious group living among its members in Norfolk. And while she takes precautions before going to live with the church, she is unprepared for what she experiences there and the dangers that are present. While this seventh instalment in the series is a lengthy one at more than 900 pages, it is a riveting read throughout. Looking forward to the next book in this captivating series. 'Daughter of Mine' By Megan Miranda Marysue Rucci Books, 2024, 355 pages ISBN: 9781668055717 "Daughter of Mine" is an entertaining suspense mystery by Megan Miranda. Set in the mountains of North Carolina, the thriller slowly builds throughout the story to an ending that will have you guessing as to who the murderer is. The decades-old mystery sees Hazel Sharp return home to Mirror Lake after her father Detective Perry Holt dies. Even though Hazel has two brothers, she is left the house in her fathers will surprising everyone in the family. The community of Mirror Lake has other surprises and mysteries as well, including two vehicles that were discovered submerged in the lake due to a severe drought reducing the water levels of the lake. One of the cars was found just off of the shore of Detective Holts home. If you enjoy a good thriller, "Daughter of Mine" is a novel you will want to add to your reading list. 'Unmarked Graves' By Neil Broadfoot Const., 2023, 295 pages ISBN: 9781408718773 "Unmarked Graves" is part of Neil Broadfoots Connor Fraser series. The story goes back to 1983 where university professor, Robert Balfour, was found floating in Airthrey Lock on the campus of Stirling University. And while his death was deemed an accident, there are questions concerning his demise, including a claim made by one of his students that the professor was executed. Forty years after Balfours death, his son Jonathan, now a TV presenter and news anchor in the United States, travels back to Scotland to make a documentary of his fathers death. Jonathan also believes that the death of his father was no accident. In an attempt to minimize any problems with the situation, DCI Malcolm Ford asks Connor Fraser, who is involved in security work, for his help. And as people who appear to be connected to Robert Balfour are killed, the case with a past becomes increasingly dangerous and violent. Ukrzaliznytsia has returned the Intercity+ high-speed train to Odesa. Initially, it will run on the popular route on a test basis and only for 3 days - May 3, 4, and 5. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the company itself. They noted that the train has been assigned the number 761/762 Kyiv; tickets are already available for sale. "Ukrzaliznytsia is returning the Intercity+ high-speed train to Odesa in a test mode. The train No. 761/762 Kyiv - Odesa will depart from Kyiv on May 3, 4, and 5," the statement said. Train schedule According to Ukrzaliznytsia, the train will depart from Kyiv at 06:03. It will arrive in Odesa at 13:34. The train will depart from Odesa at 14:20. It will arrive in Kyiv at 21:50. How much do tickets cost? For April 3, tickets for the train from Kyiv to Odesa are sold in 1st and 2nd class seats. Their prices are as follows: 1st class - 992.65 UAH; ADVERTISIMENT 2nd class - 509.08 UAH. Tickets for the return trip are also available for 1st and 2nd class seats. And you can buy them at the same price. Where to buy tickets You can buy tickets in the Ukrzaliznytsia app. And also: in chatbots; on the company's website; at the railway station ticket offices. As reported by OBOZ.UA, earlier the chairman of the board of Ukrzaliznytsia, Yevhen Lyashchenko, said that there are no plans to increase the cost of tickets for domestic trains in 2024. But the situation with foreign trains is not yet clear, as in this case, pricing is jointly established with international partners. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! ADVERTISIMENT The world majority must force Russia to peace and can do so. The path to a just peace may begin in June. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening video address, Ukrinform reports. Video: OP I wish you health, dear Ukrainians! We are not losing a single day for Ukraine: I have just spoken with the leader of the Democrats in the US House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries. I thanked him and all the congressmen for their support of our country and personal leadership in promoting a new package of assistance to Ukraine. We are working with our partners at all levels to achieve the level of promptness in assistance that is needed not only to maintain our positions, but also to disrupt Russia's war plans. We are still waiting for the supplies promised to Ukraine - we expect exactly the volume and weight of supplies that can change the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine's interests. And it is important that every agreement we have reached is implemented - everything that will yield practical results on the battlefield and support the morale of everyone on the front line. In a conversation with Mr. Jeffries, I emphasized that we need Patriot systems as soon as possible. Also, our teams - Ukraine and the United States - are currently working on a bilateral security agreement. We are already working on a specific text. Our goal is to make this agreement the strongest of all. We are discussing the specific foundations of our security and our cooperation. We are also working on fixing specific levels of support for this year and for the next 10 years. This includes armed support, financial support, political support, and joint arms production. The agreement should be truly exemplary and reflect the strength of American leadership. I am grateful to both our team and the team of the American side for the progress in preparing the agreement. Next week will also see a lot of international communication, both public and non-public. Let's remember what this year should bring us politically. This includes the result with the European Union. Ukraine has fulfilled all the necessary conditions for the actual start of accession negotiations, and now the EU side must fulfill its obligations. We continue to prepare for the first, inaugural Peace Summit in June, and our team, along with the teams of our key partners, is working to make the Summit truly global. We can say for sure that all continents will be represented - different parts of the world, different views on global development. But all of them are united by the same recognition that the UN Charter and basic international conventions are binding documents for every country in the world, including a country like Russia, where madness reigns. The world majority must force Russia to peace and can do so. It is in June that the path to a just peace can begin. We are also preparing for the NATO summit to be held this summer. We need a strong political signal - the Alliance should not be afraid of its own strength and hide from its own foundations. Every country that shares common values and is ready to actually defend them deserves an invitation to join the Alliance. And our unwavering gratitude goes to the soldiers, to the entire Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, to each and every one of them at the front, at combat posts, on combat missions. Kharkiv region, Donetsk, all the southern directions. I am grateful to every soldier and commander who is doing everything to destroy the occupiers - it is needed as much as possible. The soldiers of the 57th and 58th separate motorized infantry brigades, as well as the soldiers of the 35th separate marine brigade, deserve special thanks. I would also like to mention our border guards - those who are fighting on the front line along with everyone else, and those who are protecting our border communities and destroying Russian subversive groups. Special thanks to all the soldiers of the special unit DOZOR of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Also, to the soldiers of the "Revenge" brigade, and thank you for the special results of Staff Sergeant Oleksandr Meteyko, Senior Sergeants Serhiy Nesterenko and Svyatoslav Ihnatyuk. The Steel Frontier Brigade - Staff Sergeant Ivan Koval, Sergeant Vitaliy Mykytenko, and Senior Soldier Yevhen Kolesnik. Well done! Chernihiv and Volyn Border Guard Detachments - Senior Soldiers Mykhailo Danyliuk and Mykhailo Myndyuk, Sergeants Yuriy Romashyn and Mykhailo Sereda, and Senior Sergeant Roman Novyk. Sumy Border Guard Detachment - soldier Andriy Krut and staff sergeant Yuriy Popkov were particularly distinguished. I also thank all the soldiers of our Kharkiv detachment, especially senior soldiers Denys Shevchenko and Volodymyr Shevtsov, and Major Andriy Kuchynskyi. I am proud of you all, soldiers! I thank each and every one of you who is with Ukraine, who is in Ukraine and for whom Ukraine is the only home on this earth. Glory to Ukraine! We have no idea what sights tourists in other Ukrainian cities go to immediately. But we know exactly where they are heading when they arrive in Chernivtsi. Of course, to the famous university. Today we are going to tell you about it. ADVERTISIMENT A little background In the second half of the nineteenth century, Austria-Hungary experienced a real educational boom. The empire was actively building higher education institutions. But in order for a region to have its own institution, it had to win a competitive selection process. Thus, in the 1860s and 1870s, Prague, Brno, and Trieste competed for the title of university city. But surprisingly, Chernivtsi won. In fact, there is no magic here. The university was built thanks to the Bukovinian Metropolitan Yevhen Hakman. In his younger years, the priest managed to enter the Vienna University. And not just graduate but become one of the best students. It was then that he was noticed by Emperor Franz I and offered to teach Romanian to the heir to the Austrian Empire, Ferdinand. During their studies, the student and teacher became close, true friends. So when the question arose of where to build a university, the monarch supported his former mentor. ADVERTISIMENT By the way, several other factors influenced Emperor Ferdinand's decision. It turned out that it was much cheaper to build an educational institution in Chernivtsi than in any other city. At that time, only the theological faculty was being built. It was the residence of the metropolitans of Bukovyna and Dalmatia. The language issue also played an important role. At the Sejm in 1872, Constantin Tomaszczuk proposed teaching in German and noted that students of all nationalities would be able to receive education. By the way, it was he who became the first rector. The speech of the famous scientist and public figure bore fruit. Therefore, the grand opening took place on October 4, 1875, but the work was officially completed in 1882. There was a reason for the hurry. It was on this day that the 100th anniversary of Bukovyna's accession to Austria-Hungary was celebrated. ADVERTISIMENT Of course, at that time, the scale of the ensemble was inferior to the modern one. Initially, there were only three faculties: law, philosophy, and theology. In 1955, there were eleven. The number of departments also increased. During its existence, the university changed its name several times. First, it was named in honor of its founder Franz Joseph, and then of King Ferdinand. After the Communists came to power, the institution became simply a state university, and in 1989 it was named after Yurii Fedkovych. Who worked on the complex The Czech architect Josef Hlavka was entrusted with the development of the building plan. Interestingly, he designed more than 150 buildings in different European cities during his lifetime. But only this one was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. ADVERTISIMENT At that time, the construction cost a lot of money. It was, as the saying goes, "Many hands make light work." The Bukovyna Orthodox Foundation invested in the complex the most. The Austrian government and other religious denominations of Chernivtsi also contributed to the financing. The budget was over 1.75 million guilders. But the costs were worth it. A real beauty was born, and it still impresses with its appearance. The chief architect invited famous artists to join his team. Epaminandos Buchevsky, Evgeny Maksimovich and others worked on the interiors. By the way, two brick and one tile factories were built to construct the university. Josef regretted making this decision. After all, the construction site often received low-quality materials that had to be returned. They immediately started working on the arboretum project. Many ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers were planted on the territory. ADVERTISIMENT Architecture The terracotta complex is often compared to Hogwarts. And indeed, there are similarities. Inside, there are the same majestic corridors, classrooms, and departments. The walls are decorated with paintings by famous artists, and pompous chandeliers hang from the ceiling. From the outside, it looks very different from a castle from the magical world. But if you look at it from a different angle, the picture changes. There are also slender towers, and instead of sharp roofs and spires, there are rounded ones with Orthodox crosses. No cement was used during the construction. The foundation and columns are made of sandstone. A special mortar was made to hold the materials together. To do this, they slaked lime and then mixed it with egg white, milk, and sand. Interestingly, no containers were used. Instead, two deep pits were dug in front of the central building, and the mixture for the bricks was mixed there. ADVERTISIMENT By the way, the laying of the tiles was also approached with originality. Only multi-colored samples were used for the coating. Upon completion of the work, the ornament of Bukovinian carpets was drawn. Present day Today, Chernivtsi National University is known far beyond the borders of Ukraine. In 2011, the UNESCO World Organization took it under its wing. It is one of the few universities in our country that offers guided tours. However, with the outbreak of a full-scale war, it has become more difficult to get inside its walls. Now you can be on the territory of the institution only if you are accompanied by a guide. But there is good news. You can sign up not only in advance but also on the spot. ADVERTISIMENT Lectures are held every hour from 10:00 to 16:00. During the walk, visitors are shown the main buildings: The Church of the Three Saints, the Stone, Blue, and Red Halls of the Residence, as well as the courtyard. The university is waiting for every tourist to visit. So be sure to check it out if you have a chance. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Donot fall for fakes! (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Apr, 2024) The Chairman Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari, held a courtesy meeting with His Excellency Ambassador of Kingdom of Morocco in Pakistan, Mohammed Karmoune, at the Embassy of Morocco here on Friday. This meeting marked a crucial moment in the humanitarian relationship between Pakistan and Morocco. The meeting provided a platform for both parties to deliberate on matters of mutual interest, particularly focusing on humanitarian aid and disaster management. Chairman Laghari emphasized on the substantial partnership between the two nations in addressing humanitarian challenges. During the discussions, Chairman Laghari provided insights into the ongoing programs and projects of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, emphasizing the organization's commitment to serving vulnerable communities nationwide. He underscored the importance of international cooperation and solidarity in effectively addressing humanitarian crises, expressing gratitude for Morocco's past participation in PRCS-organized events such as the International Donors Conference. Chairman Laghari specifically emphasized PRCS's anticipation of support from the Government of Morocco, especially in the recovery phase following the devastating Monsoon 2022 floods. He also expressed a strong desire to enhance cooperation, particularly with the Moroccan government and the Moroccan Red Cross, and other humanitarian organizations aligned with the Red Crescent mandate, aiming to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable communities in Pakistan. Chairman Laghari extended an invitation to His Excellency Ambassador Mohammed Karmoune to visit the PRCS National Headquarters, which was graciously accepted. H.E Ambassador Mohammed Karmoune expressed gratitude to Chairman Laghari for the comprehensive information and insights provided regarding disaster management during the floods, noting the impressive execution. He commended the Pakistan Red Crescent Society for its relentless efforts, led by Chairman Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari, in providing assistance to those in need, especially during times of crisis. The Moroccan Ambassador pledged to facilitate Chairman Laghari's visit to Morocco, arranging meetings with counterparts from the Moroccan Red Cross and heads of humanitarian organizations The aim is to investigate opportunities for collaboration and address any gaps in interventions, such as shelter, livelihood, health, and cash assistance, being carried out by PRCS during the recovery phase. He recognized the indispensable role of humanitarian organizations like PRCS in mitigating human suffering and promoting resilience within communities. Concluding the meeting, Chairman Laghari presented a memento to Ambassador Mohammed Karmoune, along with a souvenir, symbolizing the spirit of humanitarian collaboration. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Apr, 2024) Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed sorrow and grief over the death of senior politician and party leader Afzal Tarar. The Chief Minister expressed her heartfelt sympathy and condolence with the daughter of the (Late) Saira Afzal Tarar. Maryam Nawaz Sharif said," Afzal Tarar was a close, trustworthy and a loyal companion of Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and my affectionate elder as well. His death is a profound shock for all of us. May it be the reign of dictatorship, any political struggle or tenure of a government, Afzal Tarar remained steadfast with the party on the path of truth like a staunch loyal companion. Afzal Tarar did not switch sides with the change of political climate. He was an honest person who believed in treading on the right path along with serving the humanity. His invaluable services rendered for the country, nation and political party would be remembered for long. May Allah Almighty grant an exalted place to the (Late) in Jannahtul Firdaus and fortitude to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity." LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Apr, 2024) Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has affirmed the governments commitment to health, welfare and safety of every worker in Punjab. In her message on World Day for Safety and Health at Workplace, the CM said the purpose of celebrating Occupational Safety Day is to reaffirm our commitment to ensure a safe and healthy environment for workers at workplace. The chief minister said that workers safety comes first. We would make sure they get home safely every day. The Punjab government has already started an occupational safety campaign in collaboration with the private institutions, she mentioned. Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that awareness of workplace safety culture is essential in factories, offices, construction sites and farms, adding that accidents can be prevented through the implementation of the Safety Act and training. The chief minister explained that labor laws are being amended, companies that do not care about the health and safety of employees will be fined. She vowed, "Occupational safety is the responsibility of the government and its implementation will be ensured." Maryam Nawaz Sharif impressed upon employers to ensure workers' safety and a healthy working environment, saying that employees safety is also the responsibility of every organisation. RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Apr, 2024) Chairman, Rawalpindi Board of Intermediate and Secondary education (RBISE) Mohammad Adnan Khan has said that the board had adopted zero tolerance policy against cheating mafia and no one would be allowed to use unfair means in ongoing intermediate examinations. The Chairman said that all the arrangements had been finalized by the board to ensure fair and transparent conduct of the examinations. According to a board spokesman, the Chairman and the Controller of examinations as per the vision of Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz had launched a grand operation against the cheating mafia. He informed that in the light of the directives of the Punjab Government, the Chairman, the Controller and district administration officers were visiting different exam centers across the division. He said that the board was utilizing all-available resources to ensure transparent conduct of the examinations. On violations of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), strict action was being taken and FIRs were also being lodged against the invigilators, he added. Dublin, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Apr, 2024) Ireland's prime minister Simon Harris warned on Sunday that Dublin would take action to stem an influx of asylum seekers from Northern Ireland, the British territory across the border. Ireland would not, he said, let other countries use it as a "loophole" for their own immigration policy. His comments confirmed a report from broadcaster RTE that Ireland is looking to amend the law to allow the return of asylum seekers to the United Kingdom. Last week, Dublin's Minister of Justice Helen McEntee -- who visits London on Monday -- told a parliamentary committee she estimated 80 percent of those applying for asylum in the republic had come over the land border with Northern Ireland. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in comments broadcast Sunday on Sky news, said this was evidence that London's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was acting as a deterrent. In response, Harris said: "Every country is entitled to have its own migration policy. "But I certainly don't intend to allow anybody else's migration policy to affect the integrity of our own one. " He added: "This country will not in any way, shape or form provide a loophole for anybody else's migration challenges." McEntee would introduce the proposed changes to the law on Tuesday to put the new returns policy in place, he said. "We're going to await the full details of that but it's one which will effectively allow, again, people to be returned to the United Kingdom. And I think that's quite appropriate." Earlier, his spokesman told RTE: "Ireland has a rules-based system that must always be applied firmly and fairly." McEntee is expected to discuss the new returns policy when she meets UK interior minister James Cleverly in London on Monday. The UK's controversial Rwanda bill cleared its final parliamentary hurdle last Monday after an extended struggle between the upper and lower chambers of parliament. Sunak hopes the bill will discourage asylum seekers from trying to enter the UK on small boats over the Channel from northern Europe. (UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) meeting featured a session on global access of advanced prostate cancer in low- and lower-middle income countries, and a presentation by Dr. Dingwei Ye discussing how to deal with the projected rise of prostate cancer cases in the Chinese healthcare system. Prostate cancer incidence is increasing in China, now the 6th most common male cancer, with 18.61 cases per 100,000 men in 2022: Moreover, radical prostatectomy volume at Dr. Yes institution, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, has dramatically increased over the last decade: Whether there is a rise or not in prostate cancer cases in China, there is an imbalance in diagnosis, with the majority of cases being diagnosed in urban compared to rural areas: Dr. Ye also emphasized that prostate cancer ranks 7th in mortality among male cancers in China, with 5-year survival rates far lower than that of other countries: Of note, there are epidemiological differences in prostate cancer between China and the United States, with prostate cancer patients in China being diagnosed at a later stage. Dr. Ye emphasized that one way to deal with the increase in cases in China is the Healthy China Initiative (2019-2030), which was announced by the State Council and is designed to decrease potential life years lost, improve survival outcomes for cancer, and improve early diagnosis rates. Dr. Ye notes that there are policies for cancer screening for breast, upper gastrointestinal, colorectal, liver, and lung cancer, but there is an absence of a screening policy for prostate cancer. As such, local agencies are developing their own screening strategies in the Eastern coastal areas. There is also a push for upgrading medical facilities to improve hospitals and equipment to meet the treatment needs of more patients. Additionally, there is resource integration for medical resources, optimizing medical processes, improving treatment efficiency, and reducing patient economic burden. Currently, there are 314 Da Vinci Surgical Robotic sets in China, with the following distribution in the country, certainly favoring the East: The current models of the robot include the RONOVO, Jingeng, and Toumai: An important initiative is acceleration of drug approval. The following examples for enzalutamide and olaparib demonstrate the substantial gap between approvals in the United States and China: Dr. Ye also notes that China is also working on multidisciplinary collaboration specifically for prostate cancer: Indeed, in hospital tumor boards started in China in 2005, followed by domestic tumor boards in 2015, and now international tumor boards starting in 2018: Dr. Ye concluded his presentation by discussing how to deal with the projected rise of prostate cancer cases in the Chinese healthcare system with the following take-home messages: The incidence of prostate cancer is rising rapidly in China, with significant imbalances between urban and rural areas, southeastern coastal and central-western regions China does not have a national-level PSA screening policy but is exploring screening strategies in economically developed regions The Chinese government has made great efforts to enhance public health awareness, accelerate approval of new drugs, introduce new equipment, and support original research Chinese experts are actively promoting the multidisciplinary tumor model and internationalization of diagnosis and treatment to improve the prognosis of prostate cancer in China Presented by: Dingwei Ye, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China 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 the identification, assessment, and management of side effects of systemic therapies, and a presentation by Dr. Anthony Joshua discussing how we can help our patients with hot flushes. The pathophysiology of side effects secondary to ADT is based on: Suppression of testosterone, leading to erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle mass, loss of muscle strength Suppression of endogenous estradiol, leading to osteoporosis and increased fracture risk, lipid changes, increased fat deposition, increased insulin resistance, memory loss, and hot flushes Strikingly, 44-80% of men undergoing ADT have hot flushes. At four months, there is a peak of LHRH, with no useful predictors for who has more severe peaks. At 12 months of ADT, the median time to cessation of hot flushes is 7.6 months, and at 5-8 years, 70% to 40% will continue having hot flushes. Hot flushes have a significant impact on patients, with 30% of patients reporting hot flushes as the most troublesome effect on therapy. They also lead to sleep disturbances, diminished cognition, and lower quality of life, with up to 55% of patients reporting distress and 11% severe distress. Furthermore, hot flushes can lead to treatment discontinuation and/or abbreviation. Among 64 UK urologic oncologists, the most common therapy recommendations for addressing hot flushes included: lifestyle changes, cyproterone acetate, acupuncture, and herbal medicines: Cognitive behavioral therapy has increasing evidence for reducing the impact of hot flushes, especially in the first 2 months of treatment, with previous trials showing a 40% reduction in problem rating secondary to hot flushes. There have been single-arm studies for acupuncture showing a 40% reduction in symptoms, which appears to be sustainable. In a cross-over study of 39 women, the EMBR wave heat pump watch had an impact on hot flushes interfering with sleep (90% vs 70%). Dr. Joshua then discussed the PATCH trial, a phase 2/3, randomized, multicenter trial at 52 study sites in the UK. In this trial, men with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer were randomly allocated (1:2) to either LHRH agonist according to local practice, or transdermal administration of estradiol patches (four 100 g patches per 24 h, changed twice weekly, reducing to three patches twice weekly if castrate at 4 weeks). Any grade hot flushes occurred in 86% of men in the LHRH agonist arm versus 35% of men in the transdermal administration of estradiol patches arm, with 3% Grade 3 hot flushes versus 0%, respectively. Moreover, any grade gynecomastia occurred in 38% of men in the LHRH agonist arm versus 86% of men in the transdermal administration of estradiol patches arm, with 0% Grade 3 gynecomastia versus 4%, respectively. The following table summarizes hormonal management with estradiol: Other therapies that have previously been tested for ADT hot flushes includes medroxyprogesterone (20 mg BID daily), cyproterone acetate (50-100 mg/day), and venlafaxine (75 mg daily). Dr. Joshua notes that venlafaxine appears effective, but is likely dose-dependent and temporary. Gabapentin studies have been tested at 600 900 mg daily. Interestingly, a trial reporting on oxybutynin for hot flushes will be presented at ASCO 2024. Fezolinetant is a neurokinin 3 antagonist that has been tested for hot flush reduction in women, leading to decreased hot flush severity, decreased hot flush frequency, and increased quality of life indices at both 4 and 12-week evaluations. With any treatment, particularly one aimed at decreasing debilitating symptoms such as hot flushes, there may be challenging side effects: Medroxyprogesterone: edema, nausea, chills, headache, mood changes, thrombosis risk Cyproterone acetate: fatigue, weight gain, mood changes Estrogen: nipple sensitivity, gynecomastia, increase in body fat, thrombosis risk Fezolinetant (rare): hepatotoxicity, headache, GI symptoms Gabapentin: fatigue Oxybutynin: dry mouth, dizziness, constipation Dr. Joshua also emphasized that there are challenges with trial design, including (i) objective quantification of hot flushes (ie. scales), (ii) objective quantification of bother and impact on quality of life, (iii) large placebo effect, and (iv) hard to fund off label treatments. Dr. Joshua concluded his presentation discussing how we can help our patients with hot flushes with the following take-home messages: The current management of hot flushes is suboptimal There is no single solution and there is a need to individualize Upcoming data (ASCO, ESMO) may assist with treatment Side effects of treatment for hot flushes need vigilance Fezolinetant trials are needed Comparison and combination studies are needed Presented by: Anthony M. Joshua, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, Kinghorn Cancer Centre, St. Vincents Hospital, Sydney, 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. References: (UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) meeting featured a session on the identification, assessment, and management of side effects of systemic therapies, and a presentation by Dr. Pierre Blanchard discussing the patients who are at risk for long-term non-recovery of testosterone after stopping ADT. Dr. Blanchard started his presentation with a case of a 72-year-old male with no comorbidities who was diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer (cT3, Gleason 3+4, PSA 12 ng/mL). At baseline, he was potent with no urinary symptoms. He was treated with external beam radiotherapy + HDR brachytherapy boost + 18 months of ADT (last treatment 6 months ago, a GnRH agonist in September 2014). In 2023, his PSA was <0.01 ng/mL, and testosterone was 0.7 ng/mL. Testosterone recovery after GnRH agonist from the radiation oncology literature tells us that for short-term ADT it is ~17-18 months versus 24 months for long-term ADT: In the relugolix HERO trial,1 the testosterone recovery for relugolix (a GnRH antagonist) was much quicker, with a higher testosterone level, compared to leuprolide: At 8 months of treatment, the following figure emphasizes the minimal effect of abiraterone versus abiraterone + degarelix versus degarelix alone on testosterone recovery: In the EMBARK trial2 assessing enzalutamide + leuprolide versus enzalutamide versus leuprolide in high-risk non-metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, during treatment suspension in the combination group and the leuprolide-alone group, testosterone recovered slightly, but not to baseline levels. There was very little effect on testosterone in the enzalutamide monotherapy group. Once treatment resumed in both groups (enzalutamide + leuprolide and leuprolide alone), testosterone levels were reduced: The impact of radiotherapy on testosterone seems to be modest, with men having a ~30% reduction in testosterone during radiotherapy, and a median recovery time of 6 months to >90% of baseline. Dr. Blanchard summarized this section of his talk discussing testosterone recovery with the following statements: Agonists: 6-24 months after end of treatment Antagonists: 1-6 months after end of treatment There is no impact of concurrent abiraterone or ARPI Radiotherapy by itself can lead to testosterone decrease A recent study from Nabid et al.3 assessed testosterone recovery after ADT in localized prostate cancer by assessing long-term data from two randomized trials. Among 1,230 patients, 87.4 % (167/191), 75.9 % (293/386), 54.8 % (181/330) and 43.2 % (80/185) of patients recovered normal testosterone on the 0-, 6-, 18- or 36-month schedule, respectively (p < 0.001). In patients recovering normal testosterone, the median time to testosterone recovery increased with ADT duration ranging from 0.31, 1.64, 3.06 to 5.0 years for the 0-, 6-, 18- or 36-month schedules, respectively (p < 0.001) and was significantly faster for those with normal testosterone at baseline (p < 0.001): Factors associated with testosterone recovery on multivariable analysis include baseline normal testosterone, age, diabetes, and duration of ADT:3 Preston and colleagues4 looked at the Optum database to assess the clinical impact of delayed testosterone recovery following the discontinuation of medical ADT. Of 3,875 patients who initiated and discontinued ADT, 1,553 received one or more testosterone-level tests within the 12 months following discontinuation and were included in this study. These 1,553 patients were categorized into two cohorts: 25% as testosterone recovery (testosterone levels >280 ng/dl at any test within 12 months following ADT discontinuation) and 75% as non-testosterone recovery. The testosterone recovery cohort had a lower risk of new-onset diabetes (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.27-0.79), trended toward a lower risk of new-onset depression (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.33-1.02), and had a higher likelihood of seeking treatment for sexual dysfunction (HR 1.33, 95% CI 0.99-1.78) versus the non- testosterone recovery cohort: With regards to the oncologic impact of a longer time to testosterone recovery, Dr. Blanchard discussed a 2009 report by DAmico and colleagues5 that assessed whether the risk of death is associated with the time to testosterone recovery after radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. Among 102 men randomized to receive radiotherapy and hormone therapy, 57 (56%) had a time to testosterone recovery of >2 years, and none of these men had died of prostate cancer after a median follow-up of 7.6 years. As the time to testosterone recovery increased, the risk of death decreased significantly (aHR 0.60, 95% CI 0.43-0.84; p = 0.003): Dr. Blanchard summarized this portion of his talk with the following thoughts: Time to testosterone recovery is associated with patient age, baseline testosterone, ADT duration, and BMI Longer time to recovery impacts general health but may improve DFS in patients without comorbidities Testosterone replacement therapy recommendations are based on small cohorts and low-level evidence. There is no indication of an increased risk of recurrence, but testosterone replacement therapy should only be given to men with proven testosterone deficiency and bothersome symptoms of hypogonadism. Shared decision-making is paramount due to the theoretical risk of disease recurrence. Going back to the aforementioned case presentation, Dr. Blanchard notes that in follow-up, the patient was suffering from symptoms of hypogonadism and was referred to endocrinology in 2023. He started testosterone replacement therapy in the spring of 2023, with improvement in sexual function and general well-being. His PSA continues to remain undetectable in spring 2024. Dr. Blanchard concluded his presentation discussing the patients who are at risk for long-term non-recovery of testosterone after stopping ADT with the following take-home messages: Concomitant/adjuvant ADT improves survival in high-risk localized prostate cancer based on studies done with GnRH agonists Testosterone recovery is long and uncertain with GnRH agonists and is faster with antagonists Time to testosterone recovery is associated with patient age, baseline testosterone, ADT duration, BMI, and comorbidities The risk/benefit ratio needs to be discussed when planning testosterone replacement therapy, with careful PSA monitoring Presenter: Pierre Blanchard, MD, PhD, Gustave Roussy, Universite 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. Related content: Testosterone Recovery After ADT: Timing, Predictive Factors, and Clinical Implications - Pierre Blanchard References: Cuban mercenaries who participated in the fighting in the Pokrovsk sector as part of the 428th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces killed their commander. This once again confirms that the command of the occupation forces cannot control mercenaries from the global south. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Atesh movement. "An Atesh agent from the headquarters of the Center troop grouping of the Russian Armed Forces reports that Cuban mercenaries fighting in the Pokrovsk sector as part of the 428th Motorized Rifle Regiment have killed their commander," the statement said. The murder occurred due to constant humiliation, physical beatings and improper payment of wages to Cubans from Latin America. The perpetrators of this crime have already fled to the Rostov region of the Russian Federation. The direct perpetrators have already been transferred to the Rostov region of the Russian Federation. After that, the regiment's leadership appealed to the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces with a request to replace foreign mercenaries with Russian soldiers. "We can conclude that such situations sometimes occur, but they do not become public. The Russian leadership does not spare the lives of even its citizens, let alone foreigners. Think twice before you decide to do such part-time jobs," Atesh noted. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, two Russian soldiers were detained in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region on suspicion of killing at least three people. They confessed that they had killed the "head" of the village and civilians, trying to hide the crimes by setting fires. As reported by OBOZ.UA, in April 2024 alone, the Russian Armed Forces were involved in several "incidents" that caused a great resonance among their compatriots - for example, the occupiers shot their own and hunted them as saboteurs. Moreover, the "battlefield" was not only in the part of Ukraine captured by the aggressor, but also in the deep rear of the Russian Federation. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam. Armed assailants ambushed and killed three law enforcement officers in southern Chile on Saturday before setting their car on fire, authorities said, the latest attack on police to revive security concerns in the South American country. It remains unclear who carried out the assault on Chile's national police force in the Biobio region some 400 kilometers (about 250 miles) south of Santiago, the capital. But a long-simmering conflict between the Mapuche Indigenous community and landowners and forestry companies in Biobio and Chile's Araucania region farther south has intensified in recent years. That has prompted the government to impose a state of emergency and deploy the military to provide security. "There will be no impunity," Chilean President Gabriel Boric said, declaring three days of national mourning Saturday, after firefighters dousing the burning police car made the grisly discovery. The spate of bloodshed has tested Boric, who came to power in 2022 promising to ease tensions in the region, where armed Mapuche activists long have stolen timber and attacked forestry companies that they claim invaded their ancestral lands, among other targets like churches and national institutions. But the Indigenous community's distrust of authorities has deepened, spurring violence even as Boric's administration has touted its success in reducing Chile's national homicide rate by 6%, according to government figures from 2023 published earlier this week. "This attack goes against all the enormous strides that have been made," said Interior Minister Carolina Toha, a center-left former mayor of Santiago appointed as minister in late 2022 to boost Boric's position as his approval ratings dipped. Describing the assailants as "terrorists," Boric traveled south to personally offer condolences to the victims' families. The Carabineros, Chile's national police force, said they were "working to the best of our abilities" to catch the assailants but declined to comment on possible leads. The killing had been well planned, early reports suggest, timed to coincide with National Police Day, celebrating the 97th anniversary of the establishment of the Carabineros in Chile. It was the second such fatal attack on the force this month. The Carabineros' general director, Ricardo Yanez, told reporters the officers had been dispatched in response to fake distress calls from the rural road, where they were met with a barrage of gunfire. "This was not coincidental, it was not random," Yanez said of the ambush. In Chile, around 1 in 10 citizens identify as Mapuche, the tribe that resisted Spanish conquest centuries ago and was only defeated in the late 1800s after Chile won its independence. Large forestry companies and farm owners control an estimated 500-700 kilometers (about 435 miles) of the land originally belonging to the Mapuche, many of whom now live in rural poverty. China's coast guard confronted Japanese lawmakers in waters claimed by both countries in the East China Sea, China's embassy in Tokyo and Japanese media said Sunday, the latest in a series of maritime disputes involving China and its neighbors. Chinese vessels took unspecified law enforcement measures, the embassy said in a statement, adding that it had lodged solemn representations for what it called "infringement and provocation" by Japan near tiny, uninhabited islands that Beijing calls the Diaoyu and Tokyo calls the Senkaku. The Japanese group, including former Defense Minister Tomomi Inada, was on an inspection mission organized by the city of Ishigaki in Okinawa prefecture, according to the Chinese embassy and Japanese public broadcaster NHK. Japan and China have repeatedly faced off around the Japan-administered islands. China also has escalating run-ins with the Philippine navy in disputed areas of the South China Sea, where Beijing's expansive maritime claims conflict with those of several Southeast Asia nations. Inada's group spent three hours near the islands Saturday, using drones to observe the area, and the Japanese coast guard vessel sought to fend off the Chinese coast guard, NHK said. "The government and the public are aware of the severe security situation," said Inada, a senior official of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, according to NHK. "The Senkaku are our sovereign territory, and we need to go ashore for research." It was the first such inspection trip to the area involving a member of Japan's parliament since 2013, NHK reported. Officials of Japan's foreign ministry were not immediately available for comment outside of working hours. China strongly urged Japan to abide by what it called a consensus reached between the two countries, stop political provocations, on-site incidents and hyping up public opinion, the embassy said. It asked Japan to "return to the right track of properly managing contradictions and differences through dialog and consultation, so as to avoid further escalation of the situation." On a recent afternoon, Grant Oh zigzagged across the University of Southern California campus as if he was conquering an obstacle course, coming up against police blockade after police blockade on his way to his apartment while officers arrested demonstrators protesting the Israel-Hamas war. In many ways, the chaotic moment was the culmination of a college life that started amid the coronavirus pandemic and has been marked by continual upheaval in what has become a constant battle for normalcy. Oh already missed his prom and his high school graduation as COVID-19 surged in 2020. He started college with online classes. Now the 20-year-old will add another missed milestone to his life: USC has canceled its main commencement ceremony that was expected to be attended by 65,000 people. His only graduation ceremony was in middle school and there were no caps and gowns. "It's crazy because I remember starting freshman year with the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which came after senior year of high school when the Black Lives Matter protests were happening and COVID, and xenophobia," he said "It feels definitely surreal. It still shocks me that we live in a world that is so fired up and so willing to tear itself apart." Oh, who is getting a degree in health promotion and disease prevention, added that his loss of a memorable moment pales in comparison to what is happening: "At the end of the day, people are dying." College campuses have always been a hotbed for protests from the civil rights era to the Vietnam war to demonstrations over apartheid in South Africa. But students today also carry additional stresses from having lived through the isolation and fear from the pandemic, and the daily influence of social media that amplifies the world's wrongs like never before, experts say. It's not just about missed milestones. Study after study shows Generation Z suffers from much higher rates of anxiety and depression than Millennials, said Jean Twenge, a psychologist and professor at San Diego State University, who wrote a book called "Generations." She attributes much of that to the fact that negativity spreads faster and wider on social media than positive posts. "Gen Z, they tend to be much more pessimistic than Millennials," she said. "The question going forward is do they take this pessimism and turn it into concrete action and change, or do they turn it into annihilation and chaos?" Protesters have pitched tents on campuses from Harvard and MIT to Stanford and the University of Texas, Austin, raising tensions as many schools prepare for spring commencements. Hundreds of students have been arrested across the country. Inspired by demonstrations at Columbia University, students at more than a dozen U.S. colleges have formed pro-Palestinian encampments and pledged to stay put until their demands are met. The campus will be closed for the semester at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, which 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. USC announced Thursday that it would be calling off its main graduation ceremony after protests erupted over not only the Israel-Hamas war but the school's decision earlier this month to call off the commencement speech by its valedictorian Asna Tabassum, who expressed support for Palestinians. Officials cited security concerns. "By trying to silence Asna, it made everything way worse," Oh said, adding that he hopes there will be no violence on graduation day May 10 when smaller ceremonies will be held by different departments. Maurielle McGarvey graduated from high school in 2019 so was able to have a ceremony but then she took a gap year when many universities held classes only online. McGarvey, who is getting a degree in screenwriting with a minor in gender and social justice studies at USC, called the cancellations "heartbreaking," and said the situation has been grossly mishandled by the university. She said police with batons came at her yelling as she held a banner while she and fellow demonstrators said a Jewish prayer. "It's definitely been like an overall diminished experience and to take away like the last sort of like typical thing that this class was allowed after having so many weird restrictions, so many customs and traditions changed," she said. "It's such a bummer." She said the email by the university announcing the cancellation particularly stung with its link to photos of past graduates in gowns tossing up their caps and cheering. "That's just insult to injury," she said. Students at other universities were equally glum. "Our grade is cursed," said Abbie Barkan of Atlanta, 21, who is graduating from the University of Texas in two weeks with a journalism degree and who was among a group of Jewish students waving flags and chanting at a counter-protest Thursday near a pro-Palestinian demonstration on campus. University of Minnesota senior Sarah Dawley, who participated in pro-Palestinian protests, is grateful graduation plans have not changed at her school. But she said the past weeks have left her with a mix of emotions. She's been dismayed to watch colleges call in police. But she said she also feels hope after having gone through the pandemic and become part of a community that stands up for what they believe in. "I think a lot of people are going to go on to do cool things because after all this, we care a lot," she said. When a small number of cases of locally transmitted malaria were found in the United States last year, it was a reminder that climate change is reviving or migrating the threat of some diseases. But across the African continent malaria has never left, killing or sickening millions of people. Take Funmilayo Kotun, a 66-year-old resident of Makoko, an informal neighborhood in Nigeria's Lagos city. Its ponds of dirty water provide favorable breeding conditions for malaria-spreading mosquitoes. Kotun can't afford insecticide-treated bed nets that cost between $7 and $21 each, much less antimalarial medications or treatment. For World Malaria Day on Thursday, here is what you need to know about the situation in Africa: Malaria is still widespread The malaria parasite mostly spreads to people via infected mosquitoes and can cause symptoms including fever, headaches and chills. It mostly affects children under 5 and pregnant women. Vaccine efforts are still in early stages: Cameroon this year became the first country to routinely give children a new malaria vaccine, which is only about 30% effective and doesn't stop transmission. A second vaccine was recently approved. On Thursday, WHO announced that three African countries Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone were rolling out vaccine programs for millions of children. Cases of resistance to antimalarial drugs and insecticides are increasing, while funding by governments and donors for innovation is slowing. Living conditions play a role, with crowded neighborhoods, stagnant water, poor sanitation and lack of access to treatment and prevention materials all issues in many areas. And an invasive species of mosquito previously seen mostly in India and the Persian Gulf is a new concern. A growing problem Globally, malaria cases are on the rise. Infections increased from 233 million in 2019 to 249 million in 85 countries in 2022. Malaria deaths rose from 576,000 in 2019 to 608,000 in 2022, according to the World Health Organization. Of the 12 countries that carry about 70% of the global burden of malaria, 11 are in Africa and the other is India. Children under 5 constituted 80% of the 580,000 malaria deaths recorded in Africa in 2022. COVID-19 hurt progress The fight against malaria saw some progress in areas such as rapid diagnostic tests, vaccines and new bed nets meant to counter insecticide resistance, but the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift in focus and funding set back efforts. A study published in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease last year said COVID-19-induced lockdowns led to disruptions at 30% of rural community health service points across Africa. Malaria cases started spiking again, breaking a downward trend between 2000 and 2019. That downward trend could soon return, according to the WHO. A warming world and new frontiers Africa is "at the sharp end of climate change," and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events causes havoc in efforts to combat malaria in low- and middle-income regions, Peter Sands, the executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, warned in December. In 2023, the WHO's World Malaria Report included a chapter on the link between malaria and climate change for the first time, highlighting its significance as a potential risk multiplier. Scientists worry that people living in areas once inhospitable to mosquitoes, including the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and the mountains of eastern Ethiopia, could be exposed. In Zimbabwe, which has recorded some of its hottest days in decades, malaria transmission periods have extended in some districts, "and this shift has been attributed to climate change," said Dr. Precious Andifasi, a WHO technical officer for malaria in Zimbabwe. Hamas says it is reviewing a cease-fire plan for Gaza put forth by Israel. This follows a visit to Israel by an Egyptian delegation where officials described a new vision for a prolonged end to hostilities. VOAs Arash Arabasadi has more. Eleven militia fighters working alongside Nigeria's military to battle jihadis were killed Saturday in the country's northeast when their vehicle hit a landmine on a highway near the border with Cameroon, two militia sources told AFP. Jihadis in Nigeria are increasingly resorting to planting mines on highways to target military and civilian convoys after they were pushed back from the territory they once controlled during the early years of the country's more than 15-year Islamist insurgency. The militia fighters were escorting a civilian convoy from the town of Gamboru in Borno State to the regional capital Maiduguri when around 1230GMT their vehicle drove over a landmine suspected to have been planted by jihadis at Damno village, the two sources said. "The rear tires of the vehicle carrying 13 of our comrades hit a wide pothole in which a landmine was buried, and it exploded," Shehu Mada, an anti-jihadi militia leader in Gamboru said. "Eleven people in the vehicle were killed while two escaped with injuries." The victims were removed from the remains of the vehicle and returned to Gamboru for burial, said Usman Hamza, another militia leader who gave the same toll. Nigeria's militant conflict has gradually eased in intensity as the military carries out offensives against the militants. The Gamboru to Maiduguri highway is a strategic 140-kilometer (87-mile) trade route in the region and provides an important link with neighboring Cameroon. The highway was reopened in July 2016 after it was shut by the military for two years due to incessant jihadi attacks. Boko Haram and rival Islamic State West Africa Province still launch sporadic ambushes on convoys from their hideouts and plant landmines along the highway. In January, 17 people were killed along the highway in two separate mine blasts that were blamed on jihadis. Ten more people were killed by a landmine in April. Nigeria's grinding conflict has killed 40,000 and displaced around 2 million from their homes in the northeast since 2009. The violence has spilled over into neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroon. The recent military coups in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso and subsequent withdrawal of French and U.S. troops from the Sahel to Nigeria's north have heightened concerns over regional instability and violence extending farther into the coastal West African states. No woman had ever preached the keynote sermon at the Joint National Baptist Convention, a gathering of four historically Black Baptist denominations representing millions of people. That changed in January when the Rev. Gina Stewart took the convention stage in Memphis, Tennessee, the southern city home to Christ Missionary Baptist Church where she serves as senior pastor and delivered a rousing message, asserting that Jesus not only included women in his ministry, but identified with their suffering. But what happened next put a spotlight on the obstacles women in Christian ministry continue to face as they carve out leadership space within the patriarchal culture of the Black Church in America. Several women pastors told The Associated Press that it should serve as the breaking point. This is an example of no matter how high you rise as a woman, youre going to meet patriarchy at the top of the hill, said Martha Simmons, founder of Women of Color in Ministry, which helps women navigate the process of becoming ordained. The next Norton Anthology of African American preaching is probably 20 years away, but that sermon will be in there. Despite the enthusiastic reception for Stewart, the original recording of her historic sermon disappeared from the conventions Facebook page, setting off a social media firestorm driven mostly by women protesting its removal. A recording of the sermon later appeared, but it was followed by accusations the convention edited her closing remarks, which challenges the four allied denominations to support women in ministry. National Baptist Convention, USA, President Jerry Young did not reply to requests from The Associated Press for comment. He said at another January meeting that he believed the Facebook page had been hacked and he planned to involve the FBI. I still dont know what happened with the sermon, but what is clear is that this was a form of erasure, Stewart said. I was just as shocked, stunned and surprised as everyone else. It is symptomatic of a larger problem, according to several Black women pastors interviewed by the AP. They emphasized how they were worn down by the physical and psychological toll of working in a male-dominated culture. In some denominations, women have made progress. The African Methodist Episcopal Church estimates that one-fourth of its total staff is women, including 1,052 ordained ministers. In the Black Church as a whole, male pastors predominate, though theres no comprehensive gender breakdown. Simmons estimates that less than one in 10 Black Protestant congregations is led by a woman, even as more Black women are attending seminary. The conditions arent new, but the public discourse over womens equality in ministry has rapidly gained ground due in part to the bullhorn social media provides, said Courtney Pace, scholar-in-residence with Memphis-based Equity for Women in the Church. Pace noted how Facebook afforded Eboni Marshall Turman a venue to publicly share her grievances before filing a gender discrimination lawsuit in December against Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York. The late theologian and civil rights activist Prathia Hall underscores this dynamic, said Pace, who wrote Freedom Faith: The Womanist Vision of Prathia Hall. In the book, she details how Hall was a key inspiration for Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream speech. The kind of thing that happened to Gina Stewart happened a lot to Prathia Hall, Pace said. When she was doing her work, we did not have social media, or cell phones with voice recorders and cameras in every hand. So who knows what the response to Prathia would have been with an empowered public like we have today. Hall was born in Philadelphia in 1940, the daughter of a Baptist preacher. As a youth, she took part in local speech competitions where she melded folk religion and liberation theology. But not all of Halls relationships within the insular preaching fraternity of the National Baptist Convention were as collegial as her relationship with King, whom she said in later years did more with I have a dream than she could have. Many theologically conservative Christian churches, including some Black Protestant denominations, prohibit women from preaching. They frequently cite certain biblical passages, including one they interpret as saying women ought to be silent in churches. Even in denominations without explicit bans, women with leadership aspirations often must contend with a patriarchal culture. Last month, the audience was dotted with young Black women at an event hosted at the Howard University School of Divinity in Washington. A group convened a panel about the evolution of Black womens role in the church. Inside the cavernous Dunbarton Chapel that Howard Divinity shares with the Howard School of Law, a half-dozen Black women representing a range of independent churches and Black Protestant denominations spoke about persevering through instability and transition. Their current duties, some of the women said, left them exhausted and unable to grieve the members they lost to COVID-19. One speaker was the Rev. Lyvonne Briggs. In 2019, she was being overworked and underpaid as an assistant pastor of a large Baptist church in California. Her marriage dissolved. She restarted her life in Atlanta. During the lockdown one Sunday morning in her apartment, Briggs went live on Instagram and held a self-styled worship space for 25 people to share their experiences. It became known as The Proverbial Experience, which Briggs describes as an African-centered, womanist series of spiritual gatherings to nourish the soul. In two years, Briggs grew her church into a digital community of 3,000. She also wrote Sensual Faith: The Spiritual Art of Coming Home to Your Body, a treatise on liberation from the sexual politics and objectification of Black womens bodies in the church setting. I dont ascribe to this idea that the Black Church is dead, Briggs told the AP. But I do acknowledge and promote that we have to eulogize what it used to be so that we can birth something new. One preacher who fashions himself an expert on the topic of womens role in the church, Walter Gardner of the Newark Church of Christ in Newark, N.J., sent a video link of one of his lectures when queried by the AP about his beliefs. At the end of one session, Gardner suggested that women, overall, ignore Scripture and are incapable of being taught. Thats a mindset Gina Stewart would like to change, on behalf of future generations of Black women. I would hope that we can knock down some of those barriers so that their journey would be just a little bit easier, said Stewart, who has continued to charge forward. In a given week, her preaching schedule can take her to multiple cities. As an example, she traveled to Washington earlier this month after accepting a sought-after invitation to preach at Howard Universitys Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel. Stewart's goals mesh with those of Eboni Marshall Turman, who gave the Martin Luther King Jr. Crown Forum lecture in February at Martin Luther Kings alma mater, Morehouse College. In December, after not being named a finalist, she had sued Abyssinian Baptist Church and its pulpit search committee for gender discrimination over its hiring process for its next senior pastor, an assertion the church and the committee disputed. No woman has ever held the post. A former Abyssinian assistant minister, the Rev. Rashad Raymond Moore, said in an email to The Associated Press that of the several dozen applicants for the senior pastor job, None were more exciting, promising and refreshing than Eboni Marshall Turman. Added Moore, who now is pastor of New York Citys First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, Pastoral searches in Black congregations, historically socially conservative, are often mired in the politics of discrimination, including biases based on gender, sexual orientation, marital status and age. Marshall Turman, a Yale Divinity School professor, offered pointed critiques in her first book at what she deemed the inherent patriarchy of Morehouses social gospel justice tradition. She adapted her recent lectures title from the last speech ever given by King, the all-male colleges most famous alumni. The title was blunt: Im Not Fearing Any Man. At least 23 members of Nigeria's civilian joint task force were killed Saturday in separate attacks by militants and an armed kidnapping gang in the north, two officials from the force said Sunday. In northeast Borno state, the heartland of an Islamist insurgency, suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters used an improvised explosive device (IED) to blow up a vehicle carrying the Civilian Joint Tast Force (CJTF) team, a local force chairman said. The CJTF was first formed in 2013 to protect communities in the northeast and help the military fight Boko Haram and later its offshoot ISWAP. The force has since been extended to other northern states that are grappling with armed kidnapping gangs. Tijjanima Umar, CJTF chairman for Gamboru Ngala area near the border with Cameroon, said his team was traveling to Borno state capital Maiduguri when they drove over the IED. "As the mine blew up, nine of them died instantly ... while two other people had severe injuries and were immediately taken to hospital for treatment," Umar told Reuters by phone. The Nigerian military was not immediately available to comment. Although severely curtailed by Nigerian security forces, Boko Haram and ISWAP still carry out deadly attacks against civilians and the military. In northwestern Soko state, 14 CJTF members were killed and several were missing following an ambush by gunmen Saturday, task force sector commandant Ismail Haruna told Reuters. Haruna said the CJTF members were killed in Sokoto's Isa local government area, where they had raided and destroyed a bush camp belonging to a known armed kidnapping gang leader. The gang quickly regrouped and ambushed the CJTF as they drove back to Sokoto state capital, he added. U.S. President Joe Biden delivered an election-year roast on Saturday night at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner as protesters outside criticized his support for Israel's war against Hamas. Biden used the annual black-tie event to chide his Republican rival Donald Trump for immaturity, poke fun at his own advanced age and take on the Washington press corps. "Yes, age is an issue. I'm a grown man, running against a 6-year-old," Biden joked. Biden, 81, later added of former President Trump, 77: "Age is the only thing we have in common. My vice president actually endorses me." Trump reacted to the event by calling it "really bad" in a post on his Truth Social platform. "Crooked Joe was an absolute disaster! Doesnt get much worse than this!" he said. Demonstrators holding banners chanted about journalist deaths in Gaza outside the Washington Hilton, the site of the annual gathering. Hundreds of protesters encouraged journalists to boycott the event and shouted down administration officials as they entered. Biden avoided the large protests at the front of the hotel by arriving through a back entrance, where he was greeted by smaller groups of protesters calling for a cease-fire. At the century-old event, often referred to as Washington's "nerd prom," hundreds of journalists, politicians and celebrities rubbed elbows in a massive hotel banquet hall. It often features friendly jabs from the president in a closing speech that takes aim at reporters and other guests in the audience. Biden offered some advice to the press corps. "I'm sincerely not asking you to take sides. I'm asking you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment. Move past the horse race numbers and the gotcha moments, and the distractions, the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics and focus on what's actually at stake," Biden said. This year, the event was hosted by Saturday Night Live cast member Colin Jost. Grassroots movement CODEPINK marched to the venue from a nearby park. "The United States media perpetuates anti-Palestinian narratives and ignores Israeli war crimes," the group said on its website. A growing movement against the war in Gaza has dogged Biden this year including at a $250-per-ticket March fundraiser at New York's Radio City Music Hall that was disrupted by protesters. Recently, that movement has expanded to college campuses in the U.S., signifying a growing revolt inside the Democratic base that Biden needs to defeat Trump, who is now the Republican frontrunner. Kelly O'Donnell, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, declined to comment on security measures for the dinner. "The safety and security of our protectees is the U.S. Secret Service's top priority," said U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Alexi Worley, who declined to comment further. Israel's 6-month old war against Hamas in Gaza, in response to the October 7 attack by the militant group in southern Israel, has killed more than 34,000 people, Palestinian health authorities say, and caused a humanitarian disaster for the enclave's more than 2 million inhabitants. The Hamas attack killed 1,200 people in Israel, and led to 253 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. The White House Correspondents Association was founded in 1914 and has held a dinner nearly every year since 1921 to celebrate the reporters who cover the presidency and raise money for scholarships. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky said that the situation on the front line has escalated. While in Zaporizhzhia and the left bank of the Kherson region the invaders have not made any special achievements, and in the Kupyansk and Lyman directions Ukrainian soldiers managed to improve their tactical positions, the invaders managed to advance west of Avdiivka and south of Maryinka in the Donetsk region. ADVERTISIMENT Syrsky confirmed that Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from Berdychi, Semenivka and Novomykhailivka. He explained the decision to leave these villages as a desire to avoid losses among the Defense Forces. Syrsky characterized the situation in the Pokrovske and Kurakhove directions as "the most difficult". Fierce fighting is taking place there. The defense forces west of Avdiivka and near Maryinka are facing significant occupation forces. "The enemy has deployed up to four brigades in these areas and is trying to develop an offensive west of Avdiivka and Maryinka, making its way to Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. The Ukrainian Defense Forces units, preserving the lives and health of our defenders, moved to new frontiers west of Berdychiv, Semenivka and Novomykhailivka," said the Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief. ADVERTISIMENT Syrsky assured that despite the fact that the enemy managed to achieve certain tactical successes in the above-mentioned areas, the Russians did not gain an operational advantage there. "Ukrainian troops are inflicting maximum losses on the enemy both in personnel and military equipment. To strengthen defense in these areas and replace the units that suffered losses, brigades that have regained combat capability are being redeployed," the Chief of Staff emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine spoke about the escalation of the situation on the battlefield. Thus, in a lengthy post on his Telegram channel, Syrsky explained what was actually happening at the front and named the most difficult areas. It was also reported that the morning report of the General Staff on April 28 stated that 88 combat clashes took place at the front during the day. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! Venice has always been a place of contrasts, of breathtaking beauty and devastating fragility, where history, religion, art and nature have collided over the centuries to produce an otherworldly gem of a city. But even for a place that prides itself on its culture of unusual encounters, Pope Francis visit Sunday stood out. Francis traveled to the lagoon city to visit the Holy Sees pavilion at the Biennale contemporary art show and meet with the people who created it. But because the Vatican decided to mount its exhibit in Venices womens prison, and invited inmates to collaborate with the artists, the whole project assumed a far more complex meaning, touching on Francis belief in the power of art to uplift and unite, and of the need to give hope and solidarity to societys most marginalized. Francis hit on both messages during his visit, which began in the courtyard of the Giudecca prison where he met with the women inmates one by one. As some of them wept, Francis urged them to use their time in prison as a chance for moral and material rebirth." Paradoxically, a stay in prison can mark the beginning of something new, through the rediscovery of the unsuspected beauty in us and in others, as symbolized by the artistic event you are hosting and the project to which you actively contribute, Francis said. Francis then met with Biennale artists in the prison chapel, decorated with an installation by Brazilian visual artist Sonia Gomes of objects dangling from the ceiling, meant to draw the viewers gaze upward. He urged the artists to embrace the Biennales theme this year Strangers Everywhere, to show solidarity with all those on the margins. The Vatican exhibit has turned the Giudecca prison, a former convent for reformed prostitutes, into one of the must-see attractions of this years Biennale, even though to see it visitors must reserve in advance and go through a security check. It has become an unusual art world darling that greets visitors at the entrance with Maurizio Cattelans wall mural of two giant filthy feet, a work that recalls Caravaggios dirty feet or the feet that Francis washes each year in a Holy Thursday ritual that he routinely performs on prisoners. The exhibit also includes a short film starring the inmates and Zoe Saldana, and prints in the prison coffee shop by onetime Catholic nun and American social activist Corita Kent. Francis dizzying morning visit, which ended with Mass in St. Mark's Square, represented an increasingly rare outing for the 87-year-old pontiff, who has been hobbled by health and mobility problems that have ruled out any foreign trips so far this year. And Venice, with its 121 islands and 436 bridges, isn't an easy place to negotiate. But Francis pulled it off, arriving by helicopter from Rome, crossing the Giudecca Canal in a water taxi and then arriving in St. Mark's Square in a mini popemobile that traversed the Grand Canal via a pontoon bridge erected for the occasion. During an encounter with young people at the iconic Santa Maria della Salute basilica, Francis acknowledged the miracle that is Venice, admiring its enchanting beaty and tradition as a place of East-West encounter, but warning that it is increasingly vulnerable to climate change and depopulation. Venice is at one with the waters upon which it sits, Francis said. Without the care and safeguarding of this natural environment, it might even cease to exist. Venice, sinking under rising sea levels and weighed down by the impact of overtourism, is in the opening days of an experiment to try to limit the sort of day trips that Francis undertook Sunday. Venetian authorities last week launched a pilot program to charge day-trippers 5 euros ($5.35) apiece on peak travel days. The aim is to encourage them to stay longer or come at off-peak times, to cut down on crowds and make the city more livable for its dwindling number of residents. For Venices Catholic patriarch, Archbishop Francesco Moraglia, the new tax program is a worthwhile experiment, a potential necessary evil to try to preserve Venice as a livable city for visitors and residents alike. Moraglia said Francis visit the first by a pope to the Biennale was a welcome boost, especially for the women of the Giudecca prison who participated in the exhibit as tour guides and as protagonists in some of the artworks. He acknowledged that Venice over the centuries has had a long, complicated, love-hate relationship with the papacy, despite its central importance to Christianity. The relics of St. Mark the top aide to St. Peter, the first pope are held here in the basilica, which is one of the most important and spectacular in all of Christendom. Several popes have hailed from Venice in the past century alone three pontiffs were elected after being Venice patriarchs. And Venice hosted the last conclave held outside the Vatican: the 1799-1800 vote that elected Pope Paul VII. But for centuries before that, relations between the independent Venetian Republic and the Papal States were anything but cordial as the two sides dueled over control of the church. Popes in Rome issued interdicts against Venice that essentially excommunicated the entire territory. Venice flexed its muscles back by expelling entire religious orders, including Francis own Jesuits. Its a history of contrasts because they were two competitors for so many centuries, said Giovanni Maria Vian, a church historian and retired editor of the Vatican newspaper LOsservatore Romano whose family hails from Venice. The papacy wanted to control everything, and Venice jealously guarded its independence. Moraglia said that troubled history is long past and that Venice was welcoming Francis with open arms and gratitude, in keeping with its history as a bridge between cultures. The history of Venice, the DNA of Venice beyond the language of beauty and culture that unifies there's this historic character that says that Venice has always been a place of encounter," he said. Francis said as much as he closed out Mass in St. Mark's before an estimated 10,500 people. Venice, which has always been a place of encounter and cultural exchange, is called to be a sign of beauty available to all," Francis said. "Starting with the least, a sign of fraternity and care for our common home. Prince Harry will return to Britain to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games in May, before joining his wife Meghan on a visit to Nigeria, his spokesperson said Sunday. Harry, the youngest son of King Charles, lives in the United States with Meghan and their two children after he gave up working as a member of the royal family in 2020. He has only returned to Britain on a few occasions since his departure from royal life, arriving for major events such as the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in 2022 and his father's coronation in May 2023. His spokesperson said Harry would attend a service at St. Paul's Cathedral in London on May 8 to celebrate the Invictus Games, the international sporting event that he founded for military personnel wounded in action. Harry served as a military helicopter pilot in Afghanistan and Invictus organizers said the service was designed to mark "a decade of changing lives and saving lives through sport." It will include readings by Harry and the British actor Damian Lewis. Wounded veterans and members of the Invictus community will also attend. Harry will then be joined in Nigeria by Meghan, a former American actress who is known as the Duchess of Sussex. Harry's spokesperson said the couple had been invited by the country's chief of defense staff, its highest-ranking military official. No further details were given about the trip. Harry was last seen in Britain in February this year for a brief meeting with his father after the monarch announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer. The palace said Friday that Charles would return to public duties after he made good progress following treatment and a period of recuperation. Diplomatic efforts increased on Sunday to reach a long sought-after truce and hostage-release deal in Gaza, as Israel carried out further airstrikes and shelling on the war-battered territory. A new video of two hostages being held by Hamas militants since the group's October 7 attack prompted fresh outrage in Israel, where protesters have piled pressure on the government to reach a deal. Global opposition to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has also been growing, with world leaders and aid groups warning that a looming Israeli invasion of the southernmost city of Rafah would lead to massive civilian causalities. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas appealed to the United States on Sunday to stop Israel from invading Rafah, which he said would be "the biggest disaster in the history of the Palestinian people." The U.S. Israel's main ally and weapons supplier was the only nation capable of preventing Israel from "committing this crime," Abbas told a global economic summit in Saudi Arabia. Hamas said on Saturday it was studying a new Israeli counterproposal for truce and hostage release, a day after media reports said an Egyptian delegation was in Israel in a bid to jump-start stalled negotiations. Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been trying to mediate a new truce ever since a one-week halt to the fighting in November saw 80 Israeli hostages exchanged for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Hamas has previously insisted on a permanent ceasefire a condition that Israel has rejected. However, the Axios news website, citing two Israeli officials, reported that Israel's latest proposal includes a willingness to discuss the "restoration of sustainable calm" in Gaza after hostages are released. It is the first time in the nearly seven-month war that Israeli leaders have suggested they are open to discussing an end to the war, Axios said. 'Momentum' for truce talks Abbas spoke at a World Economic Forum (WEF) summit that opened Sunday in Riyadh, which U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and high-ranking officials from other countries trying to broker a ceasefire are also due to attend. While there is no Israeli participation, other key players will discuss the truce talks and humanitarian situation in Gaza, WEF president Borge Brende said. There was "some new momentum now in the talks around the hostages, and also for... a possible way out of the impasse we are faced with in Gaza," he said. The war began with Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack which resulted in the deaths of about 1,170 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 34,454 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. Israel estimates that 129 hostages seized by militants on October 7 are still being held in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead. The Gaza health ministry on Sunday reported at least 66 deaths in the past 24 hours. In central Gaza, Mohammed al-Hattab said he found his 1-year-old boy in the rubble after an Israeli air strike hit the Nuseirat refugee camp over the weekend. The boy is being treated for a fractured skull, while his 2-year-old daughter's face was "completely disfigured" in the strike, he told AFP. Israel carried out air strikes and shelling in Gaza overnight, hitting three houses in the southern city of Khan Yunis, an AFP correspondent said Sunday, also reporting strikes on Gaza City and Rafah. The Israeli military said its jets struck dozens of terror targets including "launch sites, armed terrorists and observation posts." Most of Gaza's population has taken refuge in Rafah, according to the U.N., many in makeshift shelters after fleeing violence elsewhere. Despite international outcry, Israel has vowed to invade the city, where Israel's military says Hamas is holding hostages. On the side of a tent in Rafah on Saturday, a Palestinian wrote a message to the thousands of protesters on U.S. university campuses. "Thank you, students in solidarity with Gaza, your message has reached," it read. 'End the bloodshed' A heated rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday night was the latest held by protesters demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ensure the release of the hostages. Just hours earlier, the armed wing of Hamas released a video featuring two of the hostages, Keith Siegel and Omri Miran, who appeared to speak under duress. "Keep protesting, so that there will be a deal now," Miran said in the footage. "We are in danger here, there are bombs, it is stressful and scary," said Siegel, a 64-year-old U.S. citizen. Omri Miran's father Dani called on Hamas to "show humanity" and release the hostages. "The world wants to see an end to the bloodshed," he told the Tel Aviv demonstration. U.N. humanitarian agency OCHA has warned that "famine thresholds in Gaza will be breached within the next six weeks" if a massive amount of food aid does not reach the territory. A British ship set sail toward Gaza on Saturday which is planned to house hundreds of U.S. troops building a temporary floating pier off the coast to help deliver aid. Rapper Toomaj Salehi's lawyer, Mostafa Nili, revealed recently that during last year's legal proceedings in Iran, Salehi was acquitted of the initial charge of "corruption on earth" and should have been covered under the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's February amnesty. Speaking to Etemaad newspaper, Nili said that the judges said the "corruption on earth" charge was not included in the amnesty directive. "Certain cases were exempted under the leader's amnesty directive," he said. Yet, Nili stressed, "Toomaj was acquitted of 'corruption on earth' [charges] in last year's proceedings." Nili spoke in the aftermath of the recent death sentence handed down to Salehi. The sentence has ignited controversy and elicited widespread condemnations domestically and on the global platform. According to his legal counsel, Salehi's case revolved around the 2022 protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, with an additional case initiated regarding his post-bail interview. "Following this interview, a one-year sentence was handed down to Toomaj, with no further implications," Nili said. Salehi is known for expressing critical views of Iran during the protests. Legal experts contend that Salehi's death sentence was not consistent with legal standards and did not correspond to the charges leveled against the dissident rapper. They argue that this ruling was premeditated and intended to "instill fear within society." Salehi faced trial on April 18 at Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Isfahan where he was charged with "assembly and collusion" and "assisting in rebellion." His legal team received notification of his death sentence on April 24. Death sentence sparks protests Salehi's death sentence has been met with a surge of domestic and international protests. Numerous artists and public figures have posted on social media platforms, sharing messages, including images or songs of Salehi, advocating for his freedom. Many activists and professional associations have likewise denounced the verdict. In a statement condemning the ruling, educational activists in Alborz province emphasized, "the government's shameful track record grows darker with each passing day." On Friday, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk voiced apprehension regarding the harsh repression of Iranian women by the Islamic Republic, particularly under stringent compulsory hijab regulations. Concurrently, he urged the immediate and unconditional release of Salehi. The high commissioner also called for the release of all individuals imprisoned by the Islamic Republic for exercising their freedom of opinion and expression, including artistic expression. Turk has urged Iran to immediately halt the application of the death penalty. Following the reports of Salehi's death sentence, several international bodies, including the United Nations Truth Commission, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Islamic Republic, and other organizations, have individually denounced the verdict and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the incarcerated artist. At age 75, one of Latin Americas most storied journalists had been looking forward to weaving into books the fragmented threads of more than four decades of investigative reporting that exposed high-level abuse of power in Peru and abroad. In an illustrious career, Gustavo Gorriti has endured death threats from drug traffickers, survived Peru's harrowing Shining Path insurgency and a kidnapping by silencer-toting military intelligence agents during a 1992 presidential power grab. Then an aggressive lymphatic cancer struck, wasting the former five-time national judo champion's robust physique. Diagnosed in August, Gorriti was in the final drips of two months of chemotherapy in December when a different kind of body blow landed. A smear campaign amplified by complicit, cowed or indifferent broadcast and print media portrayed the self-styled intelligence agent for the people as Public Enemy No. 1, a ruthless, egotistical victimizer of innocents. Gorriti is clear on who is behind it: A cabal of kleptocrats in Peru's political and business elites who are in prosecutorial peril due in large part to his crowning gumshoe achievements. Their aim: to liquidate all gains in the war on corruption." With his hair gone from the chemo, his trademark white beard down to like three hairs," Gorriti said he "looked like a pathetic Fu Manchu. He was so debilitated I only wanted to sleep, he said in an interview on the terrace of his Lima apartment. But indignation stirred the pugilistic reporter to action, marshaling his team at IDL-Reporteros, an online news site, to mount a vigorous, detailed defense. You dont get to choose when you go to war, he said. Then it got worse. By March 27, Gorriti was facing a criminal investigation in a bizarrely framed bribery case, accused of favoring" two anti-corruption prosecutors with publicity. Of course it's not true, one of the prosecutors cited, Jose Domingo Perez, told The Associated Press. This is a blatant attempt to muzzle one of Latin Americas best investigative reporters, the outlet that he has founded, and, by extension, any journalist who would dare to speak truth to power in Latin America," The Washington-based National Press Club said in a statement co-signed by seven press and human rights groups. The Committee to Protect Journalists and France-based Reporters without Borders also protested. The case could hurt prosecutions in an epic bribery scandal implicating five former presidents and Keiko Fujimori, the eminence grise of Peruvian politics and a perennial presidential candidate who came within a hair of winning the job in 2021. Her trial is set for July 1. It was Fujimori's father, Alberto, whose agents kidnapped Gorriti to silence him as the autocrat shuttered Congress by force in a 1992 presidential power grab. An international outcry got the reporter promptly released. The prosecutor now targeting Gorriti has demanded his communications with Perez and fellow anti-corruption prosecutor Rafael Vela from 2016-2021. Gorriti is refusing, citing reporter's privilege, but fears he could get a judicial order. After years of democratic backsliding, a loose coalition of corrupt actors" has captured enough institutions that referee Peruvian political life to weaponize them against rivals, said Steven Levitsky, co-author of How Democracies Die and a Harvard professor. And thats exactly whats happening with Gustavo. Gorriti's enemies have been trying to discredit him including with claims he sympathizes with leftist terrorists since he began unmasking politicians bribed by the Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht in Latin America's biggest corruption scandal ever. Dubbed Lava Jato after a Brazilian car wash, it saw roughly $788 million in bribes associated with more than 100 public works projects paid in 12 countries including Argentina, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Guatemala and Venezuela; $29 million went to Peruvian officials from 2005-2014, according to the U.S. Justice Department. To unearth its machinations outside Brazil, Gorriti recruited reporters from multiple countries and personally traveled there. Ensuing prosecutions have varied by country. If not for pressure from Gorritis team and other journalists, the Peruvian cases might have faltered, said Perez, the anti-corruption prosecutor. In 2017, the chief prosecutor's office didn't want to investigate Keiko Fujimori, he added. Gorriti won hero status, standing ovations at book fairs and hugs in the street. But with Lava Jato cases now coming to a head every elected 21st-century Peruvian president is implicated gatherings outside Gorritis home and IDL Reporteros offices have taken on a different, sinister tone: Street toughs hurling insults and even bagged excrement. The probe of Gorriti was solicited by an unusual alliance of the party of Keiko Fujimori and its longtime nemesis, that of former President Alan Garcia. Ensnared in the Odebrecht scandal over rail projects, Garcia shot himself in the head in 2019 rather than surrender to police after Uruguay's embassy denied him refuge. His loyalists claim Gorriti and the anti-corruption prosecutors "criminally entrapped him. That's absurd, says Gorriti. After the suicide, reporters determined that Garcia told friends and family he would take his life to avoid public humiliation. The frenzy of demands for Gorritis head flow from unsubstantiated tales slung by Jaime Villanueva, a former adviser to a suspended chief national prosecutor. Villanueva unleashed the accusations after coming under investigation for alleged crimes including bribery and influence-trafficking and agreed to testify against his former boss in exchange for favorable treatment. Neither he nor the prosecutor who launched the investigation against Gorriti, Alcides Chanchay, responded to AP interview requests. After working with then-chief prosecutor Patricia Benavides to try to choke anti-corruption efforts, Villanueva counseled lawmakers on crippling judicial independence, Gorriti says. The guy had a trajectory Judas Iscariot would have envied. In the citation for a 1998 press freedom award, the Committee to Protect Journalists called Gorriti Latin America's top investigative reporter. International pressure could certainly help now. Gorriti is regaining strength after good results from immunotherapy begun in February. His hair has mostly grown back. But the relative silence of Peruvians worries him. They generally despise the president, Dina Boluarte, and Congress. Polls show more than nine in 10 want them gone. But political gridlock has delayed new elections. Pedro Castillo, the last elected president, was impeached in 2022 for trying to dissolve Congress. Troops then killed at least 40 people in ensuing protests. Peruvians are demoralized by all the corruption and still addled from the COVID-19 pandemic, Gorriti says. No country suffered a higher per-capital death rate. And they've had six presidents in six years. If Gorriti were to wind up jailed, perhaps Peruvians might again be stirred to action. Suppressing an intermittent cough, Gorriti expressed hope his case can mark a milestone for freedom of expression and democracy. As he told Colombian journalist Maria Jimena Duzan in a recent podcast, If I need to do battle in my old age, well, so be it. Old folks can fight, too. Republican-led states in the U.S. are rushing to give broader immigration enforcement powers to local police and impose criminal penalties for those living in the country illegally as the issue of migrants crossing the U.S. border remains central to the 2024 elections. The Oklahoma Legislature this week fast-tracked a bill to the governor that creates the new crime of "impermissible occupation," which imposes penalties of as much as two years in prison for being in the state illegally. Oklahoma is among several Republican-led states jockeying to push deeper into immigration enforcement as both Republicans and Democrats seize on the issue. That was illustrated in February when President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both visited the U.S.-Mexico border the same day and tussled from a distance over blame for the nation's broken immigration system and how to fix it. Here are some things to know about the latest efforts in various states to target immigration: What's happening in Texas? Lawmakers in Oklahoma followed the lead of Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill last year that would allow the state to arrest and deport people who enter the U.S. illegally. That law is currently on hold while the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considers a challenge brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. Opponents consider the law to be the most dramatic attempt by a state to police immigration since an Arizona law more than a decade ago, portions of which were struck down by the Supreme Court. What does Oklahoma's bill do? Oklahoma's law would make it illegal to remain in the state without legal authorization, with a first offense a misdemeanor punishable by as much as a year in jail. Violators would be required to leave the state within 72 hours of being released from custody. A second and subsequent offense would be a felony punishable by as much as two years in prison. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, who carried the bill in the Senate, voiced frustration with the federal government and Congress for not taking more definitive steps to solve the immigration problem. "The federal government has failed. The U.S. Congress, they have not done anything to impact it," said Treat, an Oklahoma City Republican. "So what can we do? We can say you have to be here legally in Oklahoma." Outside the state Capitol, more than 100 people gathered Tuesday in opposition to the bill. Sam Wargin Grimaldo, 36, an attorney from south Oklahoma City whose mother emigrated from Mexico in 1979, urged those who rallied to register to vote and become more politically engaged. Grimaldo said many Latinos in Oklahoma are frightened about the new law. "We feel attacked," said Grimaldo, wearing a shirt that read, "Young, Latino and Proud." "People are afraid to step out of their houses if legislation like this is proposed and then passed." What are other states doing? Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has signed a bill requiring law enforcement agencies to communicate with federal immigration authorities if they discover people are in the the country illegally, and it would broadly mandate cooperation in the process of identifying, detaining and deporting them. That bill takes effect July 1. Another proposal there would allow sentencing enhancements up to life in prison for someone in the country illegally who commits a violent crime. In Iowa, Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill this month that mirrors part of the Texas law. Another approach at a Texas-style bill is advancing in Louisiana. Idaho lawmakers considered a similar measure but adjourned without passing it. In the U.S. state of Georgia lawmakers passed a bill that seeks to force jailers to check immigration status, part of a continuing political response to the killing of a nursing student on the University of Georgia campus, allegedly by a Venezuelan man. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill last month to increase prison and jail sentences for immigrants in the United States illegally if they are convicted of felonies or of driving without a license. What happens next? Like Texas' new law, many of the bills are almost certain to face legal challenges because immigration is a federal, not a state, issue under the U.S. Constitution, said Kelli Stump, an immigration attorney in Oklahoma City and the president-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "The whole thing is a mess and the system is broken, but the Constitution says that states handle state issues and the feds handle federal issues," Stump said. "This will ultimately end up at the Supreme Court if I'm a betting person." A tightening job market in Canada, fueled by a surge of immigration that produced the fastest population growth in 67 years, is hitting the country's large cohort of international students particularly hard. With more than 1 million foreign students in the country who are largely restricted to low-wage, part-time jobs, photos are being shared on social media of long lines forming outside businesses with even a single job opening for a position such as cashier. "The present affordability crisis in Vancouver, along with the declining job opportunities, is becoming very stressful," said Dhvani Malik, a fourth-year international relations student at the University of British Columbia. "International students already pay so much in fees, and the increasing rent and living costs have only added to the financial pressure," Malik told VOA. "In my circle, students are taking multiple part-time jobs to address this burden. Students have to make the bargain of getting certain groceries at some point and then leaving the rest for when they can afford it." Youth unemployment hovers near 12% Unemployment in Canada has been inching up in recent months, hitting 6.1% in March and roughly twice that for young people, according to the federal government's statistical agency. The trend is attributed in part to rapid population growth, fueled almost entirely by immigration and the arrival of temporary residents such as seasonal workers and foreign students. In public remarks this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau effectively acknowledged that his government's strategy of addressing a severe labor shortage by opening the door to record numbers of immigrants and temporary residents has overshot the mark. "To give an example, in 2017, 2% of Canada's population was made up of temporary immigrants," Trudeau was quoted by Global News as saying during a housing announcement in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. "Now we're at 7.5% of our population comprised of temporary immigrants. That's something we need to get back under control." Statistics Canada reported that the country's population of about 39 million grew last year at its fastest rate since 1957, with immigration accounting for almost all the growth. But while helping address a post-pandemic labor shortage, the rapid increase has placed pressure on housing costs and government-financed health care. "We want to get those numbers down," Trudeau was quoted as saying in Nova Scotia. "It's a responsible approach to immigration that continues on our permanent residents, as we have, but also hold the line a little more on the temporary immigration that has caused so much pressure in our communities." International students, who are offered pathways to employment in Canada and eventual citizenship after graduation, have been an important part of the rapid growth. Canada has roughly the same number of foreign students as the United States with eight times the population, The Washington Post reported this week. Regulations restrict work hours Because the foreign students pay much higher fees than Canadian citizens, they are also an important source of revenue for the nation's universities. However, facing mounting political pressure, the government in January announced new caps on the number of foreign students that would be admitted, and last month announced a plan to scale back the total number of temporary residents. For foreign students seeking to support themselves in Canada while pursuing their degrees, the problem is exacerbated by regulations that restrict the kinds of jobs they can accept and the number of hours they can work. "The main issue is that they cannot work full time," said Al Parsai, an immigration expert based in Toronto. "They also do not have a Canadian degree or Canadian work experience, yet. Consequently, they end up looking for hourly minimum wage jobs." Malik, the UBC student, said she finds herself shut out of many job opportunities because she cannot provide a referral from a prior employer or relative in Canada. "My field has several job opportunities in the nonprofit sector and the government, but those jobs are reserved for domestic students and refugees," she said. "I have celiac disease, and the groceries are already so expensive that with the current crisis, it is becoming unaffordable to get through my grocery list," she said. "In a nutshell, the current crisis is making it difficult to stay in Canada." The decision to cut back student visas, meanwhile, is expected to create financial headaches for universities such as UBC, one of the most prestigious in Canada, where tuition-paying international students accounted for 27% of the school's enrollment in 2022. The harshest province to crack down on international students has so far been Ontario, which has aimed to give 96% of its foreign study permits only to public universities and colleges, shutting out private colleges that have been criticized as "diploma mills." Quebec might go even further, as the Parti Quebecois has asked the provincial government to freeze all temporary immigration to Canada. Maryam Alwan figured the worst was over after New York City police in riot gear arrested her and other protesters on the Columbia University campus, loaded them onto buses and held them in custody for hours. But the next evening, the college junior received an email from the university. Alwan and other students were being suspended after their arrests at the " Gaza Solidarity Encampment," a tactic colleges across the country have deployed to calm growing campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war. The students' plight has become a central part of protests, with students and a growing number of faculty demanding their amnesty. At issue is whether universities and law enforcement will clear the charges and withhold other consequences, or whether the suspensions and legal records will follow students into their adult lives. Terms of the suspensions vary from campus to campus. At Columbia and its affiliated Barnard College for women, Alwan and dozens more were arrested April 18 and promptly barred from campus and classes, unable to attend in-person or virtually, and banned from dining halls. Questions about their academic futures remain. Will they be allowed to take final exams? What about financial aid? Graduation? Columbia says outcomes will be decided at disciplinary hearings, but Alwan says she has not been given a date. "This feels very dystopian," said Alwan, a comparative literature and society major. What started at Columbia has turned into a nationwide showdown between students and administrators over anti-war protests and the limits of free speech. In the past 10 days, hundreds of students have been arrested, suspended, put on probation and, in rare cases, expelled from colleges including Yale University, the University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University and the University of Minnesota. Barnard, a women's liberal arts college at Columbia, suspended more than 50 students who were arrested April 18 and evicted them from campus housing, according to interviews with students and reporting from the Columbia Daily Spectator campus newspaper, which obtained internal campus documents. On Friday, Barnard announced it had reached agreements restoring campus access to "nearly all" of them. A statement from the college did not specify the number but said all students who had their suspensions lifted have agreed to follow college rules and, in some cases, were put on probation. On the night of the arrests, however, Barnard student Maryam Iqbal posted a screenshot on the social media platform X of a dean's email telling her she could briefly return to her room with campus security before getting kicked out. "You will have 15 minutes to gather what you might need," the email read. More than 100 Barnard and Columbia faculty staged a "Rally to Support Our Students" last week condemning the student arrests and demanding suspensions be lifted. Columbia is still pushing to remove the tent encampment on the campus main lawn where graduation is set to be hosted May 15. The students have demanded the school cuts ties with Israel-linked companies and ensure amnesty for students and faculty arrested or disciplined in connection with the protests. Talks with the student protesters are continuing, said Ben Chang, a Columbia spokesperson. "We have our demands; they have theirs," he said. For international students facing suspension, there is the added fear of losing their visas, said Radhika Sainath, an attorney with Palestine Legal, which helped a group of Columbia students file a federal civil rights complaint against the school Thursday. It accuses Columbia of not doing enough to address discrimination against Palestinian students. "The level of punishment is not even just draconian, it feels like over-the-top callousness," Sainath said. More than 40 students were arrested at a Yale demonstration last week, including senior Craig Birckhead-Morton. He is due to graduate May 20 but says the university has not yet told him if his case will be submitted to a disciplinary panel. He worries about whether he will receive a diploma and if his acceptance to Columbia graduate school could be at risk. "The school has done its best to ignore us and not tell us what happens next," said Birckhead-Morton, a history major. Across the country, college administrators have struggled to balance free speech and inclusivity. Some demonstrations have included hate speech, antisemitic threats or support for Hamas, the group that attacked Israel on October. 7, sparking a war in Gaza that the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry says has left more than 34,000 dead. May commencement ceremonies add pressure to clear demonstrations. University officials say arrests and suspensions are a last resort, and that they give ample warnings beforehand to clear protest areas. Vanderbilt University in Tennessee has issued what are believed to be the only student expulsions related to protesting the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to the Institute for Middle Eastern Understanding. More than two dozen students occupied the university chancellor's office for several hours on March 26, prompting the university to summon police and arrest several protesters. Vanderbilt then issued three expulsions, one suspension and put 22 protesters on probation. In an open letter to Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, more than 150 Vanderbilt professors criticized the university's crackdown as "excessive and punitive." Freshman Jack Petocz, 19, one of those expelled, is being allowed to attend classes while he appeals. He has been evicted from his dorm and is living off campus. Petocz said protesting in high school was what helped get him into Vanderbilt and secure a merit scholarship for activists and organizers. His college essay was about organizing walkouts in rural Florida to oppose Gov. Ron DeSantis' anti-LGBTQ policies. "Vanderbilt seemed to love that," Petocz said. "Unfortunately, the buck stops when you start advocating for Palestinian liberation." Togo on Monday holds legislative elections after a highly divisive constitutional reform that opponents say paves the way for President Faure Gnassingbe to further extend his family's decadeslong grip on power. At the helm of the small West African country for nearly 20 years, Faure Gnassingbe succeeded his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled for almost four decades. Critics say the political dynasty's hold on the small West African nation will be extended by the reform. People in the streets of the seaside capital, Lome, were split over the election, the role of Togo's leader, and who it should be. Building painter Komlan Gato said he hoped the vote could usher in a new leader but was unsure about the fairness of the ballot. "I am certain that if these elections are transparent, there will be change in this country. We are tired of seeing the same family in power," he said. "I was born in January 1970, and I only know the Gnassingbe family in power." The reform, adopted by lawmakers on April 19, makes the president's post a largely ceremonial one. The president will now be elected by parliament and not the people for a four-year term. Power will reside with the president of the council of ministers, a sort of super-prime minister who happens to be the leader of the majority party in the new assembly. If the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party -- which has an overwhelming parliamentary majority -- wins on Monday, Gnassingbe can assume the new post. Critics say that will allow him to skip presidential term limits. As president he would have been able only to run for one more five-year term in an election next year. The opposition boycotted the last elections in 2018, citing irregularities. But they have asked supporters to turn out massively to challenge the UNIR's stranglehold on power. "The youth are desperate. The country is poorly managed and we are tired of the system in place," said trader Ayaovi Sohou, 32. Bernado Agbve, a baker, 28, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to "publish results from the polls: good results and not fictitious results." Gnassingbe has been reelected four times since being put in power in 2005 by the military to succeed his father after his sudden death. Each of the votes was rejected as a sham by the opposition. 'Much remains to be done' For Elvire Atchou, 38, an accountant in an insurance company, Gnassingbe should be allowed to continue. "Togo is changing, let President Faure Gnassingbe continue the major projects: construction of roads, schools, health centers," she said, adding, "I know that much remains to be done." With the country facing the risk of spillover from jihadist conflicts in the Sahel to its north, security and stability are key concerns. Nutsugan Koffi, 25, a taxi driver, said Gnassingbe should be allowed to stay as long as Togo is stable. "There is peace in Togo. It is very important for the development of a country. President Faure Gnassingbe can remain at the head of this country as long as possible, that does not bother me, provided that we are comfortable," he said. "The only thing that young people expect is employment." The constitutional reform also means Togo can shift away from presidential elections that have often sparked violence, he said. All the presidential elections since the start of democracy in 1990 have been contested by the opposition, often with waves of violence, notably during the April 2005 vote. Violence left at least 105 and perhaps more than 800 people killed, depending on figures from the government or from the opposition. The United Nations estimated at the time that there were between 400 to 500 deaths. Leaders of opposition parties and civil society organizations brand the reform an "institutional coup" tailor-made to keep Faure in power. They have announced "large-scale actions" without giving details, though the last attempt to bring supporters to the streets was quickly banned and blocked by authorities. U.S. President Joe Bidens jokes were well-received by those who attended the White House correspondents dinner in Washington Saturday. But his political rival, Donald Trump, criticized the event as he gears up for a new round of campaign stops and court appearances this week. VOAs Veronica Balderas Iglesias has the details. Activists of the resistance movement have discovered one of the largest oil depots in the temporarily occupied Crimea. The enemy facility is located in Dzhankoy. ADVERTISIMENT It is noteworthy that the invaders are trying to carefully guard the territory of the oil depot. This was reported on Telegram by the military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars "Atesh". For many months, since the end of last year, agents have been conducting reconnaissance and surveillance of the oil depot. The activists recorded the logistics routes and equipment used by the Russian occupiers to transport oil products. In addition, the territory of the oil depot is completely fenced and constantly patrolled. The Russians have also installed dozens of cameras around the perimeter. "They are installed both in prominent places and in points for hidden video recording, which demonstrates how much the occupiers value this facility," Atesh agents report. According to the resistance activist, the information about the oil depot was handed over to the Ukrainian Defense Forces a long time ago. The coordinates of the facility were also published online: 45.689880, 34.369375. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, the Russian occupiers have begun to protect their oil refineries from drone strikes. The enemy is covering the fuel tanks with nets known as "grills". However, the attack on the Slavyansk-EKO refinery in the Krasnodar Territory showed that such structures did not help the invaders. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier it was reported that on the night of April 28, explosions occur red in Dzhankoy and on Cape Tarkhankut in the temporarily occupied Crimea. The attacks were likely targeted at Russian units and air defense systems. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Former U.S. President Donald Trump said he is ready to renew a right-wing alliance with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban if he wins the presidential election in November. The presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee made the comments in an address to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Europe, which was held in Budapest on Thursday and Friday. The conference has long been a powerful force in right-wing American politics. The first European edition of the conference was held in Budapest in 2022 and has been an annual fixture since. Orban, the host and keynote speaker, received a standing ovation as he told the audience that conservatives had a chance to seize power in a major election year. "These elections coincide with major shifts in world political and geopolitical trends. The order of the world is changing, and we must take our cause to triumph in the midst of these changes. Make America great again, make Europe great again! Go Donald Trump, go European sovereigntists!" Orban told a delighted crowd. He claimed that liberal forces were trying to silence the political right. "This is what they are doing with the conservatives in the progressive liberal European capitals. The same thing is happening in the United States when they want to remove [former] President Donald Trump from the ballot with court rulings," he said. 'Battling to preserve our culture' In a recorded address to the conference, Trump said he was ready to renew a conservative alliance with Orban. "Together we're engaged in an epic struggle to liberate our nations from all of the sinister forces who want to destroy them," Trump said. "Every day we're battling to preserve our culture, protect our sovereignty, defend our way of life and uphold the timeless values of freedom, family and faith in Almighty God." "As president I was proud to work with Prime Minister Orban by the way, a great man to advance the values and interests of our two nations," Trump said. Orban's critics, including most of his European Union allies, accuse him of overseeing a backsliding of democracy. The Hungarian prime minister sees an opportunity to hit back, said Zsolt Enyedi, a political analyst at Central European University in Budapest. "Orban has an ambition to change the discourse, so he's not simply someone who is, who cares about staying in office, but he also wants to have an impact on the ideological climate, and he thinks that by sponsoring particular friendly parties, governments and intellectual clubs and initiatives, he will emerge as the leader of this conservative movement and that can counterbalance the fact that the mainstream in Europe and in liberal democracies hates him," Enyedi told VOA. Another of the keynote speakers at the CPAC conference was the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who is facing anti-government protests at home over a controversial proposed foreign agent law, which has been widely compared to similar Russian legislation. The EU has said the law would be incompatible with Georgia's membership in the bloc. "(Kobakhidze) at the moment is turning his country more and more toward Russia, trying to in a way turn his back on the European Union, and interestingly, he is welcome at a club that is supposed to stand for the interest of the West. So, these kinds of strategic alliances are possible, because all speak the language of culture wars," Enyedi said. Orban faces challenges at home While right-wing parties are expected to do well in June's European parliamentary elections, Orban's Fidesz party is battling an economic crisis alongside a series of political scandals. The U.S. presidential election is set for November 5. Polls suggest a tight race between Trump and incumbent Joe Biden. Oleksandr Taran's mobile artillery unit isn't officially part of Ukraine's military, but that hasn't stopped his men from destroying Russian targets on their own dime. "We ... get by thanks to the pension fund," the 68-year-old commander - whose call sign is "Grandpa" - said with a chuckle. Taran's all-volunteer unit, the Steppe Wolves, is comprised of dozens of Ukrainian men mostly over 60 years old who are considered too old to be drafted but still want to fight. Roving behind the front line with truck-mounted rocket launchers, they take orders from field commanders and work with other troops, contributing to the war effort despite lacking official support from the military. The unit is funded by donations and stocked with faulty rounds they repair themselves as well as weapons captured from the enemy. Both are delivered to them by front-line troops. When Reuters recently visited their base in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, they were preparing 122 mm Grad rocket rounds that were later fired by troops from another unit. "The commanders that provide us with targets are happy," said a 63-year-old fighter with the call sign "Zorro." "They give us more targets [and] help us with ammunition however they can." Taran, the commander, said his unit has been attempting to officially join Ukraine's armed forces to directly receive ammunition - and salaries - but has been unsuccessful. The unit also includes younger men who have been ruled unfit to fight. Willing and able More than two years into Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine's mobilization effort is struggling amid flagging enthusiasm. Russian troops have been advancing in the east, and analysts say Ukraine's shortage of manpower needs to be addressed. Some prominent Ukrainian and foreign supporters of the war effort have urged Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy to significantly reduce the mobilization age. Earlier this month, Zelenskyy approved new measures allowing the military to call up more troops and tighten punishment for evasion. He also reduced the mobilization age from 27 to 25. Taran, who has been fighting since Moscow launched its war in 2014, said coercion would be unlikely to replace genuine enthusiasm from a potential recruit. "Beat him with a stick if you want, but he won't fight," he said. "If a person wants to, he can go on for 100 years to fulfill his tasks and destroy the enemy." Editor's note: Here is a look at immigration-related news around the U.S. this week. Questions? Tips? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com. Chicago's response to migrant influx frustrates its Blacks The closure of Wadsworth Elementary School in 2013 was a blow to residents of the majority-Black neighborhood it served, symbolizing to them a city indifferent to their interests. And when the city reopened Wadsworth last year to shelter hundreds of migrants without seeking community input, it added insult to injury. Across Chicago, Black residents are frustrated that their long-standing needs are not being met while the city's newly arrived are cared for with a sense of urgency, and with their tax dollars. The Associated Press reports. White House weighs immigration relief for spouses of US citizens The White House is weighing ways to provide temporary legal status and work permits to immigrants in the U.S. illegally who are married to American citizens, three sources familiar with the matter said on Monday, a move that could energize some Democrats ahead of the November elections. Reuters reports. Reactions to UK's new migrant law, Botswana proposal UN criticizes Britain's Rwanda migrant law, as boat tragedy shows dangers of crossing After years of political wrangling and court battles, British lawmakers passed legislation on Monday that the government hopes will allow it to deport asylum-seekers arriving in across the English Channel to Rwanda for processing. As Henry Ridgwell reports from London, the dangers of the migrant crossings were underlined just hours after the law was passed. Henry Ridgwell reports for VOA from London. UN human rights office objects to Britain's plan to transfer asylum-seekers to Rwanda The U.N. human rights office on Tuesday objected to Britain's plan to transfer asylum-seekers to Rwanda, saying it sets a perilous human rights and refugee protection precedent. Two UN officials call on UK to reconsider Rwanda asylum plan Two top United Nations officials called on the United Kingdom to reconsider a plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda. They say the move would have a harmful impact on human rights and refugee protection. A controversial measure on the matter was approved. Rwanda has welcomed the decision. Botswana rejects controversial UK proposal on asylum-seekers Botswana says it has rejected a proposal to accept asylum-seekers from the United Kingdom, an arrangement similar to the one Rwanda has agreed to. The U.K.'s House of Lords on Monday passed a bill that will see migrants deported to Rwanda in a move condemned by human rights activists and the United Nations. Mqondisi Dube reports for VOA from Botswana. Immigration around the world News Brief U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced this week the application period for the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, which provides funding for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country. Wild horses will stay in North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park amid fears from advocates that park officials would remove the beloved animals from the rugged badlands landscape, a key lawmaker said Thursday. Republican U.S. Senator John Hoeven said he had secured a commitment from the National Park Service to maintain wild horses in the park, though the number remains to be determined. Roughly 200 horses now roam the park. Hoeven said the Park Service would abandon its proposed removal of the horses under an environmental review process begun in 2022 and would continue to operate under an existing 1978 environmental assessment that calls for a reduction in their numbers. "They've committed to me that we will have a thoughtful and inclusive discussion on how many horses they keep in the park," Hoeven told The Associated Press. There is no timeline on that, he said. In a statement, the park said its decision to terminate the review "was made after careful consideration of the information and public comment received during the [environmental assessment] process." Park visitors, much to their delight, often encounter the horses while driving or hiking in the rolling, colorful badlands where a young future president, Theodore Roosevelt, hunted and engaged in cattle ranching in the 1880s in what was then Dakota Territory. "People love horses," Hoeven said. "And where do you go to see wild horses? I mean, it's not, like, an easy thing to do, and most people don't have horses, and they love the idea of wild horses. They see it as part of our heritage in America." Earlier Thursday, Hoeven's office said in a statement the decision "will allow for a healthy herd of wild horses to be maintained at the park, managed in a way to support genetic diversity among the herd and preserve the park's natural resources." The horses roam the park's South Unit near the Western tourist town of Medora. In 2022, park officials began the process of crafting a "livestock plan" for the horses as well as about nine longhorn cattle in the park's North Unit near Watford City. Park officials have said that process aligned with policies to remove non-native species when they pose a potential risk to resources. "The horse herd in the South Unit, particularly at higher herd sizes, has the potential to damage fences used for wildlife management, trample or overgraze vegetation used by native wildlife species, contribute to erosion and soil-related impacts ... and compete for food and water resources," according to a Park Service environmental assessment from September 2023. Proposals included removing the horses quickly or gradually or taking no action. Park Superintendent Angie Richman has said the horses, even if they ultimately stay, will still have to be reduced to 35 to 60 animals under the 1978 environmental assessment. The park will continue to manage the longhorns as done previously, according to Hoeven's office. Thousands of people made public comments during the Park Service review, the vast majority of them in support of keeping the horses. North Dakota's Republican-controlled Legislature made its support official in a resolution last year. Governor Doug Burgum offered state help to maintain the horses. The Park Service reached out to the five tribal nations in North Dakota to find out if the tribes wanted to be involved in managing the horses, Hoeven said. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe indicated interest, he said. The senator's announcement came after Congress passed and President Joe Biden recently signed an appropriations bill with a provision from Hoeven strongly recommending the Park Service maintain the horses. The legislation signaled that funding to remove the horses might be denied. Chris Kman, president of Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates, said she was in tears when she read Hoeven's announcement. She said she planned to pursue federal protection for the horses and explore potential state legislation. "If they don't have federal protection, then they're at the mercy of the next administration that comes in or whatever policy they want to pull out and cite next time and try to get rid of the horses again," Kman said by phone from the park. The horses descend from those of Native American tribes and area ranches and from domestic stallions introduced to the park in the late 20th century, according to Castle McLaughlin, who researched the horses as a graduate student while working for the Park Service in North Dakota in the 1980s. After the latest attack in the Red Sea on a British oil tanker, a top Houthi official in the Yemeni capital is vowing to attack U.S. interests across the region, including military bases on the east coast of Africa in Djibouti, Eritrea and elsewhere. Some commentators think this is part of an Iranian strategy to increase Tehran's influence in the Middle East. Arab media reports that Yemen's Houthis who control much of the north of the country and part of its Red Sea coast attacked a British oil tanker, the Andromeda Star. U.S. military sources indicated the ship was slightly damaged by three missiles fired by the Houthis. A U.S. drone struck targets in Yemeni territory controlled by the Houthis to retaliate. The Houthis' military spokesperson, Yehya Saree, claimed in a video statement aired by Arab media that Houthi forces "hit the Andromeda Star directly," and that the Houthis' air defenses also shot down a U.S. drone flying over Houthi-controlled territory. He said that [Houthi forces] fired the "appropriate-sized missiles" to target the ship, hitting it directly, adding that Houthi air defense units also shot down a U.S. MQ-9 drone over the Houthi bastion of Saadeh in the far north of Yemen. Official threatens US A top Houthi political official in Sanaa, Hussein al Ezzi, also threatened the U.S. in a tweet Saturday, saying that his group which controls the capital, but is not recognized by most countries as the official government of the country "will attack U.S. interests or targets all across the region." Sky News Arabia, based in the United Arib Emirates, claimed the Houthis "may attack U.S. military forces in Djibouti, Eritrea or Somalia." It is not clear that the Houthis have the technology to undertake such a feat. London-based Iran analyst Mehrdad Khonsari told VOA that he thinks Tehran is agitating its Houthi militia proxies to keep the focus off Iran's most important regional ally, Hezbollah, in Lebanon, which he thinks Israel would like to destroy or severely damage. "Exerting pressure on the Americans and the Europeans including raising insurance costs are important to Iran at this time to try to prevent the Israelis or the Americans or Europeans from dealing with issues of much, much greater concerns to [Tehran]: namely the potential Israeli degradation of Hezbollah, which would mean the collapse of Iran's entire regional policy and proxy policy," said Khonsari. Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at the University of Paris, argued that he thinks Iran is using all of its proxy forces, including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Iraq's pro-Iranian Shi'ite militias, to "maintain a strong position in an eventual negotiation with the U.S. after the 2024 elections, if President Joe Biden is re-elected. He said that Iran is pulling the strings and agitating its militia forces across the region to tell Hamas (in Gaza) that we are not letting you down, and to eventually have the upper hand when it comes time to go to the negotiating table after U.S. elections in 2024. Abou Diab went on to assert that Iran has "two main objectives, the first being to continue with its nuclear program and the second is that, with all the ongoing anarchy in the region, everyone had forgotten about Iran's nuclear program as it increases its uranium enrichment capacity. "Finally," he argued, "Iran is waiting to negotiate with the Biden administration, as it did with the Obama administration, a new nuclear agreement." Joshua Landis, who heads the Middle East studies program at the University of Oklahoma, told VOA the conflict in Gaza is causing side effects on multiple fault lines in the Middle East, as well as the rest of the world. Meanwhile, in Cairo, Egypt continued Saturday to try and broker an agreement between Hamas and Israel to bring a cease-fire to the Gaza conflict. Most regional observers, however, are not optimistic about a breakthrough. Rawt in hell. Photo: Noam Galai/Bravo via Getty Image Every year the White House Correspondents Dinner proves to be a contest as to which outlet can invite the most random, attention-grabbing guests. This year, the Daily Mail proved to be an early frontrunner by inviting former Vanderpump Rules stars (and current The Valley stars) Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright right in the middle of their new separation. But these two arent the only Vanderpump Rules stars to have breached nerd prom and shared a room with the president. Just last year, Ariana Madix, Lala Kent, and Lisa Vanderpump set the precedent also invited by the Daily Mail and even got to hear host Roy Wood Jr. joke about Scandoval in front of Joe Biden. So who else from the hit Bravo show should snag a ticket to this not-so-elite function? Lets brainstorm. Stassi Schroeder Her podcast Straight Up with Stassi technically makes her a member of the press, so she should be invited in any case. Mamaw Brittanys grandmother would bring beer cheese for everybodyunless the Secret Service intervenes. Peter Madrigal Dont actually invite him, just bring him out at the end with a tray of tequila shotsjust like the reunion. Scheana Shay Its tough to recover from Ariana getting Dancing with the Stars before her, but hopefully this will soften the blow. Jo Let her dye Joe Bidens hair platinum blonde. The cast of Drive Theyre honorary Vanderpump Rules cast members at this point, right? Ally Lewber Just picture her asking Chuck Todd what his star sign is. DJ James Kennedy and Hippie (the dog formerly known as Graham) Yes, James can DJ the afterparty, but Hippie would also be a great role model for the Biden familys unruly dog Commander. Kristina Kelly Oh you want headline-making star quality? Look no further than the true star of the show, icon Kristina Kelly. Laura-Leigh As bonafide actress, reality television is now beneath her, but maybe the White House Correspondents Dinner isnt. Kristen Doute Wearing her famous green dress, of course. And there are plenty of people in that room she can tell to suck a dick. Miami Girl No need to send an invitation, Kristen will secretly bring her to blindside everyone. 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. A 35-year-old man has been charged with murder following the death of 30-year-old mother of four Erica Hay in Perths south on Thursday. Emergency services were called to Currie Street in Warnbro about 1am in response reports of a house engulfed in flames. In a statement, WA Police said, it will be alleged sometime between 7.30am and 1am, the accused physically assaulted the victim at their shared home on Currie Street. It will be further alleged the accused set the property alight while the victim was still inside. The 30-year-old woman was later located deceased. 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. Pro-Kremlin propaganda continues spreading fakes about a "conflict" between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Recently, the enemy began spreading false reports that the general was arrested and "kept under heavy security." ADVERTISIMENT This information is not true. This was reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security on the SPRAVDI Telegram channel. The Russians are trying to convince citizens that Zelenskyy allegedly "ordered the arrest of Zaluzhnyi because of political competition." The enemy also claims in its Telegram publics that the SSU has been ordered to keep the former Armed Forces chief under heavy security. A similar propaganda piece was launched back in 2023. At the time, the Russians wrote that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Zaluzhnyi, and the Commander of the Land Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, were arrested for "disagreeing with the president's position." SPRAVDI emphasized, "Zaluzhny was appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom after his dismissal on February 8, 2024. On March 7, the head of state approved his candidacy." ADVERTISIMENT Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that Zaluzhnyi's advantage in this position would be his military background. On April 26, the general appeared in a photo for the first time in a long time. It was posted on Facebook by Maryna Shashkova, a political columnist for the Telegraf. The fake news about the general is another attempt by pro-Kremlin propaganda to fuel the narrative of the "Zelenskyy and Zaluzhnyi conflict." As previously reported, in late April, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that London had already approved the candidacy of Valerii Zaluzhnyi as Ukraine's ambassador to the UK. The military officer may begin his new duties in a few weeks. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The army of the terrorist state of Russia has concentrated its efforts on several frontlines, some of which have achieved tactical success, creating a significant advantage in forces and means. The situation is escalating, the most difficult is in the Pokrovske and Kurakhove directions. ADVERTISIMENT Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, described the situation on the frontline in a Telegram message. He noted that the picture is dynamic, with some positions changing hands several times a day, which gives rise to an ambiguous understanding of the situation. The situation at the front in the following areas Luhansk region. Russians are trying to use their superiority in air, missiles and artillery ammunition to reach the administrative border of the region. Kupyansk direction. The enemy concentrated its efforts on the villages of Stelmakhivka and Berestove, had partial success, but the Defense Forces managed to stop it. The defenders improved their tactical position in the area of Synkivka. Lyman direction. The Russian offensive on the village of Terny continues. The occupants are still trying to push the Ukrainian Defense Forces beyond the Chorny Zherebets River to no avail. Ukrainian defenders have improved their tactical position in the area of Serebryansky forestry. ADVERTISIMENT Siversk direction. The enemy is advancing in the area of Bilohorivka and Rozdolivka, trying to break through and block Siversk to create conditions for a continued offensive on Sloviansk. Defense forces stopped the enemy's advance in this area. Kramatorsk direction. The hottest spots are Ivanivske and Chasiv Yar. The Russians are trying to regain control of Klishchiyivka and reach the border through the Siversky Donets-Donbas canal. Pokrovske and Kurakhove directions. According to the Commander-in-Chief, the situation there is currently the most difficult. Fierce fighting continues. The Russians have deployed up to four brigades and are trying to advance west of Avdiivka and Maryinka, making their way to Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. ADVERTISIMENT Ukrainian Defense Forces units moved to new lines west of Berdychiv, Semenivka and Novomykhailivka to save the lives and health of the military. The enemy achieved some tactical success in these areas, but did not gain an operational advantage. "Ukrainian troops are inflicting maximum losses on the enemy, both in personnel and military equipment. To strengthen the defense in these areas, replace the units that suffered losses, we are moving brigades that have regained combat capability," noted Syrsky. In addition, the colonel general noted that the situation in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions remains tense. "In the Novopavlivka sector, the enemy is trying to advance in the area of Staromayorske, in the Orikhiv sector - in the areas of Robotyne and Verbove, in the Kherson sector - still hoping to drive our troops out of Krynky. They have not succeeded in any of the areas," the Commander-in-Chief emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT Moreover, he added that in the Kherson sector our troops managed to advance in the area of Veletenske and establish control over Nestryha Island. North. Kremlin war criminals continue shelling and sabotage activities in the border regions of Sumy and Chernihiv. At the same time, there are no signs of the enemy's direct preparations for offensive actions in northern Ukraine. In the Kharkiv sector, the enemy is increasing its numbers and regrouping troops. "In the most threatening areas our troops have been reinforced with artillery and tank units," assured the colonel general. According to him, rotation is currently underway in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to restore the combat capability of military units. The training of personnel in training centers continues, with the main emphasis on the quality and skill in the use of weapons. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA: - Analysts believe that Russia is likely to achieve tactical success at the front in the coming weeks, while Ukraine is waiting for the arrival of military aid from the United States. The enemy is relying on large resources of manpower and equipment. ADVERTISIMENT - National Guard Major Dmytro Kozhubenko said that Ukrainian soldiers continue to hold the defense of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region. They are succeeding despite the fact that Russian occupation forces are constantly trying to storm the positions of the Defense Forces. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Belmullet prepares to commemorate a most significant milestone in its past with an event that promises to captivate both locals and visitors alike. On Saturday, May 4th, the town will come alive with a performative street spectacle hosted by the renowned LUXE Landscape Theatre Company. The event, aptly titled 'Aisling an Iarthar A Mirage in the West', pays homage to a pivotal moment in Belmullets history. Back in May 1824, William Henry Carter, an absentee landlord, embarked on a journey into the barony of Erris via the newly constructed road from Castlebar. This historic arrival marked the birth of Belmullet town, envisioned and brought to life amidst the untamed wilderness, earning it the epithet of an oasis in the desert". Fast forward to May 4th, 2024, and the spirit of that momentous occasion will be reignited through a mesmerising lantern procession, tracing the path of Carters inaugural journey from land to sea. The communitys active participation will infuse the event with a sense of unity and shared history, making it an experience to cherish for generations to come. As chairperson of Belmullet 200, I am thrilled to help orchestrate this fusion of our towns history and creativity in this spectacular event, remarked Mark Ruddy. This celebration not only honours our past but also shines a bright light on our future. Its a momentous occasion that will leave a lasting impact on our community, showcasing the unique spirit, culture and charm of Belmullet and Erris for all to see. As the clock strikes 9pm, on Carter Square in Belmullet, spectators will be transported back in time, witnessing the magic of history unfolding before their eyes. The procession, led by a carriage and a lantern horse, will weave its way through the town streets, accompanied by enchanting music and illuminated handcart pieces, casting a spellbinding glow on the surroundings. As the procession progresses, fire performers will light a path with flames, while the communitys lanterns will illuminate the night. The journey will culminate at the towns historic pier, where sculptural fire drawings will celebrate the towns maritime heritage. On the beach nearby, a stunning fire mandala made from 200 flaming steel bowls symbolises Belmullets resilience while a firework finale will ignite awe amongst the crowd. This event is proudly supported by Mayo County Council, Failte Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Udaras na Gaeltachta, the Arts Council and Ealain na Gaeltachta and promises to be an unforgettable celebration of history, community, and the enduring spirit of Belmullet. Mairead Melody-Carr, Manager of Mayo North Tourism, stated: This celebration will attract tourists to North Mayo, encouraging visitors to explore the town and wider environs. This event highlights the variety of experiences available in our region, including historical sites and cultural attractions. We look forward to welcoming guests to the area and showcasing the appeal of Belmullet to a wider audience. The event which takes place on May 4th coincides with the Mayo Day 2024 festivities in the Belmullet earlier that day. For further information, follow @belmullet200 on social media. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin can back down and end the war against Ukraine under two conditions. These are the partners' firm belief in the achievability of Ukraine's victory and the absence of fear of the Kremlin leader as the "political animal", as the Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the dictator, "can sense" it. ADVERTISIMENT He stated this in an interview with CNN. The official noted that the dictator becomes more aggressive as soon as he senses fear. "Our partners need a firm belief that Ukraine's victory is achievable. And secondly, the absence of fear of Putin. Because Putin is a political animal that senses it," the minister emphasized. Instead, Kuleba noted, if the dictator feels the strength demonstrated by the Congress, for example, by approving aid for Ukraine, he will be forced to retreat. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister also thanked U.S. lawmakers for approving the military aid package. He emphasized that the price of Russia's victory would be much higher than the price of supporting Ukraine today. Kuleba also noted that every delay in providing aid is compensated by the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. "Everything we have lost since the fall until now, we have lost because our soldiers did not have enough weapons... We know what will happen if we lose, and that is why we will continue to fight," Kuleba emphasized, adding that "the survival of the nation, the survival of a sovereign state is at stake." ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, Kuleba thanked the United States for approving the new aid but added that the West should recognize that "the era of peace in Europe is over." Kyiv will inevitably need additional assistance to fight a full-scale Russian invasion. Kuleba also believes that it is a matter of justice to return home the citizens of Ukraine who are subject to military service and are abroad in the midst of a full-scale war and general mobilization. After going abroad, these people had all the proper legal statuses and payments intended for citizens of our country. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! Poland noted that Ukraine should take the initiative to cooperate with the Polish side on the return of Ukrainians liable for military service to their homeland. In general, Warsaw perceives this issue as "ethically ambiguous," although it understands that Ukraine needs to replenish its army to defend itself against Russian aggression. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by Polish Foreign Minister Radislaw Sikorski on TVN24. He also called "interesting" the idea from several months ago to suspend social benefits for those who cannot prove "regulated relations with military service." Journalists asked Sikorski whether the Ukrainian side had asked the Polish authorities for help in returning men of military age to Ukraine. To this, the head of Polish diplomacy replied that Poland was waiting for an initiative from Ukraine. "Ukraine really needs to take the initiative here, because this is an ethically ambiguous issue for us. Although, of course, we understand that Ukraine needs its own defenders to protect its homeland," Sikorski said. He added that he has no detailed information on how Ukraine plans to return its citizens liable for military service from abroad after the law on mobilization is passed. However, during Sikorski's visit to Kyiv last December, his Ukrainian colleagues shared with him the idea of introducing special documents for men abroad that would confirm "regulated relations with military service." The Polish foreign minister added that the Ukrainian partners then asked the Poles not to extend social benefits to those who did not have such documents. ADVERTISIMENT Sikorski called this way of solving the problem "an interesting idea." Earlier, lawyers explained who is subject to restrictions on the issuance of documents by Ukrainian consulates abroad. They also explained how Ukrainians abroad can clarify their military registration data in order not to lose the opportunity to receive consular services. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! Israel has warned Hamas that the IDF will enter Rafah if the militants do not accept an agreement to release hostages. It is about the release of 20 to 40 people: women, the elderly, and informed persons. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, The Jerusalem Post reports. According to him, if Hamas does not accept these conditions, Israel will conduct a large-scale military operation. Katz emphasized that the release of hostages held by Hamas is a deep priority for his country. A total of 133 people remain in captivity. "If there is a possibility to reach an agreement, we will do so. If an agreement is reached, we will suspend the operation," the Israeli Foreign Minister said. Hamas said that on Saturday, April 27, it received Israel's official response to its latest ceasefire proposal and is studying it before sending a response. The proposal included the possibility of the militants releasing some hostages in exchange for a pause in the war. Israel is also expected to release Palestinian prisoners and terrorists held in its prisons. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, on April 20, regular anti-government protests took place in several cities in Israel. People demanding the release of hostages taken by Hamas terrorists and the holding of new elections in the country took to the streets of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and other cities. As reported by OBOZ.UA: - Israel's military considers the city of Rafah to be the last major Hamas strong hold in the Palestinian enclave, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. - The United States has admitted that it is in ongoing discussions with Israel regarding the IDF operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! People pose for photos at a Cambodia-China paintings exhibition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on April 26, 2024. A Cambodia-China paintings exhibition opened in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Friday, attracting scores of visitors. Jointly organized by the Royal Academy of Cambodia and China's Jiujiang University, the half-day event displayed dozens of paintings featuring scenery, culture and tradition of both countries as well as Chinese calligraphy. PHNOM PENH, April 26 (Xinhua) A Cambodia-China paintings exhibition opened in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Friday, attracting scores of visitors. Jointly organized by the Royal Academy of Cambodia and China's Jiujiang University, the half-day event displayed dozens of paintings featuring scenery, culture and tradition of both countries as well as Chinese calligraphy. Speaking at the event, Sok Touch, president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the exhibition was part of the joint activities organized to celebrate the Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year 2024. "Through this painting exhibition, I believe that people will gain a better understanding of the culture and tradition of Cambodia and China," he said. Touch said the event will contribute further to promoting mutual understanding and deepening the traditional bond of friendship between the peoples of the two countries. "This joint painting exhibition will surely inject fresh impetus into the cultural cooperation between the two countries," he said. Phal Sreymean, a 30-year-old visitor, said the exhibition would contribute further to promoting cultural ties and people-to-people exchange between the two countries. "I like this Cambodia-China painting exhibition very much because it can further enhance the Cambodia-China ties and promote cultural understanding among Cambodian and Chinese peoples," she told Xinhua. "It will also allow Cambodian students and people to know more about the Chinese culture," she added, and expressed hope that there will be more such painting exhibitions in the future. Bo Sreynich, a 28-year-old visitor, said it was her first time to see a joint Cambodia-China painting exhibition. "I like it because the artists are very talented and the paintings are beautiful and vivid," she told Xinhua. "These paintings have brought us to ancient times, telling us about their beautiful culture and tradition." Sok Touch (2nd R), president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, looks at a Chinese painting at a Cambodia-China paintings exhibition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on April 26, 2024. A Cambodia-China paintings exhibition opened in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Friday, attracting scores of visitors. [Photo by Phearum/Xinhua] People visit a Cambodia-China paintings exhibition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on April 26, 2024. A Cambodia-China paintings exhibition opened in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Friday, attracting scores of visitors. [Photo by Phearum/Xinhua] People visit a Cambodia-China paintings exhibition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on April 26, 2024. A Cambodia-China paintings exhibition opened in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Friday, attracting scores of visitors. [Photo by Phearum/Xinhua] (Source: Xinhua) Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said that Russian imperialism is the biggest threat to Europe. That is why it is important for Ukraine to win the war unleashed by Russia, so Prague will support Kyiv as long as it is needed. ADVERTISIMENT Lipavsky said this on Friday, April 26, during a press conference after a meeting with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto, Telex reports. He emphasized that it is in Europe's interest that Ukraine should be able to defend itself against Russian aggression and regain all its territories. "This is not only a realistic but also a necessary goal 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 as it threatens international order, international stability and prosperity," Lipavsky said. He added that Russia's actions violate all basic principles of security, its military attacking nuclear power plants, seizing them and taking control. "So these are important security issues that we are talking about," the diplomat said. ADVERTISIMENT "Currently, no one is doing more for the security of Europe than Ukrainians, so we support President Zelenskyy's peace plan and currently see it as the only realistic way to end the war," the minister emphasized. He added that Ukraine must be a sovereign participant in any peace talks. Others must respect the principle of territorial integrity of our country, and the decision to end the war must be acceptable to Ukraine. "The situation is not simple, we must put the security of Europe first. In 1938, when the European states agreed on peace, it was a wrong peace, it was a policy of non-interference that led to the outbreak of World War II," the Czech Foreign Minister reminded. As previously reported, Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihail Popsoi said that Russia will not stop at Ukraine if our country loses the war. Moldova may be the next target of the Kremlin as Russian dictator Vladimir Putin does not hide his imperial ambitions and dreams of restoring the USSR. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! 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." Students learn Chinese characters in London, Britain, April 25, 2024. [Xinhua/Li Ying] (Source: Xinhua) Residents at a downtown apartment complex are on high alert after an Amazon driver was sexually assault robbed on Friday. North Wales Police volunteers celebrated at awards ceremony This article is old - Published: Sunday, Apr 28th, 2024 The work and contribution of North Wales Police volunteers has been recognised at an awards ceremony in Colwyn Bay. It was marked with the recognition of the contributions made by 33 serving Volunteer Police Officers who had each contributed over 200 hours during 2023. Each officer was awarded with a certificate of recognition for the dedication shown to the role throughout the year. During 2023, the Special Constabulary contributed over 22,000 hours of unpaid time towards helping their communities, supporting colleagues, training and managing other Special Constables, and taking part in numerous operations. The occasion was also marked with the recognition of the contributions made by 33 serving Volunteer Police Officers who had each contributed over 200 hours during 2023. Each officer was awarded with a certificate of recognition for the dedication shown to the role throughout the year. During 2023, the Special Constabulary contributed over 22,000 hours of unpaid time towards helping their communities, supporting colleagues, training and managing other Special Constables, and taking part in numerous operations. As well as recognising the hours officers contributed, five officers were also presented with certificates of service for hitting their five-year milestones within the Special Constabulary. Special Constables, also referred to as Volunteer Police Officers, have the same police powers, uniforms and equipment as regular police officers but give up their free time on a voluntary basis, balancing their busy personal lives, family, day jobs and other commitments around police duties. The new officers, having completed their initial training were sworn in and presented with their warrant cards in the presence of friends and family on 18 April. They will now be deployed out to their stations where their development will continue to be supported by both paid and voluntary colleagues. The event also welcomed three new Special Constables to the rank. Kevin Shenton is a Volunteer BikeSafe Observer. He adds another layer of support by co-ordinating dates and organising volunteers for the Bikesafe workshops. He also supports training days for officers by acting as a role-player to make our training scenarios as realistic as possible. Gary Leighton-Jones has a number of hats as a PSV. He is a Cadet Leader, Critical Incident Debriefer and hits the jackpot with his role as lottery co-ordinator. Successfully resurrecting the force lottery a number of years ago, through which a substantial amount has been raised for local charities. Connor Freel has been the NWP LGBTQ+ Staff Support Liaison volunteer since late 2021. With a vision to make the world a more inclusive place, Connor has had a huge impact within the force, in the wider community and nationally, being awarded the Wales LGBT+ Police Network Excellence Award and the Julie Barnes-Frank Award for Excellence in LGBT+ Policing in 2023. Four volunteers from the Cyber Crime department were also recognised; Huw Vaughan Jones, Jason Davies, Gareth Evans and SC Dwain Barnes each offer a set of skills unique to the Cyber Crime Team and are advisors to NWP in their quest to Prevent, Protect, Prepare and Pursue. Presenting the awards and assisting throughout the evening were High Sherriff of Gwynedd, Sarah Foskett JP and Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Evans who said: It was an honour to attend the awards ceremony to recognise the contribution and achievements of so many of our amazing volunteers over the past year. Im very aware of the amount of great work that goes on across North Wales which wouldnt be possible without the hard work and dedication of all our volunteers, across so many different roles. From Special Constables and Police Support Volunteers to Police Cadets, all our volunteers play a vital part of policing and are an integral part of North Wales Police. Id like to offer my sincere thanks to each dedicated individual who bring a unique set of skills and life experience to volunteer their free time to serve their community, and in doing so help us achieve our vision of making North Wales the safest place to live, work and visit in the UK. Senedd rejects calls to introduce for academies and free schools in Wales This article is old - Published: Sunday, Apr 28th, 2024 The Senedd rejected calls to introduce free schools and academies after a report found major challenges in Wales education system. Tom Giffard led a Conservative debate on educational attainment, warning that Wales is consistently at the bottom of UK-wide league tables. The partys new shadow education secretary pointed to an Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) report on education in Wales which found low outcomes and high levels of inequality. Mr Giffard told the Senedd the IFS report highlights the pitfalls of the Welsh Government putting all its eggs in the basket of a skills-based approach. Criticising a failure to measure skills inequalities and pupil progress, he stressed that Wales lower performance is due to policy and approach rather than funding or the pandemic. Breaking point He said: It seems the Welsh Government relies on Pisa results to tell the story but then, when those same results are all too disappointing, they are dismissed in equal measure. Mr Giffard, who previously worked in a primary school, said declines in Pisa results can be observed in almost every country that has adopted a skills-based approach. Raising concerns about disappointing Pisa results, the South Wales West MS pointed out that Wales saw the lowest scores in the UK for every subject. Heledd Fychan, Plaid Cymrus shadow education secretary, warned that Wales schools are understaffed and facing difficult decisions due to budgets being at breaking point. She criticised implementation of the Welsh Governments additional learning needs (ALN) reforms, saying schools cannot realise the aims without the budget to bring them to life. Ms Fychan said Plaid Cymru agreed with much of the Tory motion but her party would not support calls for free schools and academies. Disastrous Sam Rowlands described the IFS report as damning, warning that the Welsh Governments education reforms have been disastrous and have widened inequality. The Tory MS claimed the reforms are systematically holding back disadvantaged children, saying: The most remarkable fact is that the performance of disadvantaged children in England is either above or similar to the average for all children in Wales. Mr Rowlands added: The poorest in Englands schools are doing the same or better than the Welsh average, thanks to ambition, the academies and free schools. Samuel Kurtz, a fellow Tory, said free schools and academies have driven up standards in England as he argued a Wales roll-out provides an opportunity to improve outcomes. James Evans, the Conservative MS for Brecon and Radnorshire, highlighted the partys pledge to get 5,000 more teachers into Wales classrooms. Transformation Buffy Williams, the newly elected chair of the Senedds education committee, said Wales is undergoing a profound transformation propelled by ALN and curriculum reforms. The Labour MS for Rhondda stressed the importance of listening to teachers and allowing ample time for the reforms to take root in classrooms across Wales. Altaf Hussain recounted a conversation he had this week with a headteacher at one of the largest schools in his South Wales West region. The Conservative said: The major improvements they have been delivering to attainment and addressing behavioural issues are all at risk because of cuts to funding. Vital work undertaken to improve the lives of young people with additional needs could be halted because they cannot afford to continue employing the support workers. Scaffolding Lynne Neagle recognised the scale and seriousness of work still ahead to improve Wales education system, stressing: I am not, in any way, complacent about that task. Wales newly appointed education secretary, who takes over from Jeremy Miles, said sustained improvement in attainment will be among her top priorities. She told the chamber: My early focus has been to listen closely to schools and where it is clear that schools seek more scaffolding. Ms Neagle said the Welsh Government will work with trade unions and employers to reduce workload and eliminate unnecessary red tape. The Conservative motion was voted down, 14-35, following the debate on April 24. The motion as amended by the Welsh Government was agreed, 26-23. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Urgent calls for Welsh Water improvement amid environmental concerns This article is old - Published: Sunday, Apr 28th, 2024 MSs warned Welsh Water must take urgent steps to improve, with growing calls for a regulatory and governance overhaul amid concerns about a lack of accountability. Llyr Gruffydd, who chairs the Senedds climate change committee, led a debate on a report following an inquiry on the performance of Welsh Water. Mr Gruffydd told the chamber Welsh Water has dropped to a two-star environmental rating, with its overall performance categorised as lagging for the second year running. Warning of growing public anger over sewage spills, he said: Pollution, leakages, quality and supply interruptions are just some of the issues Welsh Water is struggling with. Mr Gruffydd, who represents North Wales, warned: Theres a continuing public perception that Welsh Water can illegally spill sewage and get away with it scot-free. He emphasised that the only acceptable number of pollution incidents is zero. Accountability gap Lee Waters suggested goodwill towards Welsh Water which is owned by Glas Cymru, a non-profit company has constrained scrutiny and challenge. He told MSs the not-for-profit model should not excuse poor performance nor inefficiency. He said: Without the pressure and scrutiny of shareholders, there is a particular need to ensure that there is robust questioning of the companys performance. Mr Waters, who stood down as deputy minister for climate change last month, remained unconvinced that the current model of scrutiny has proven itself. Warning of an accountability deficit, the Labour MS for Llanelli said Ofwat applies a one-size-fits-all approach to regulation which has not served Wales well. Mr Waters said the scandal at Thames Water shows that private companies underperform and have poor governance too, and Ofwat didnt do its job there either. Scrap Ofwat Adam Price agreed about the accountability gap as he questioned whether the Glas Cymru model works, saying Scotland has outperformed Wales over the past two decades. The former Plaid Cymru leader told the chamber Wales has the powers to diverge from the England-and-Wales regulatory system and scrap Ofwat. Mr Price, who represents Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, also urged the Welsh Government to request further devolution of full powers over water from Westminster. He said: Now is the time for us to have a broad-ranging debate in Wales as to whether the model we have within the water sector is working for us And if it isnt and I think there is plenty of evidence to suggest its not then we should discuss what alternative model we would wish to adopt. Crisis Janet Finch-Saunders, the Conservatives shadow climate change secretary, acknowledged Welsh Water is making improvements, with a 3.5bn investment programme over five years. But she criticised the companys not strong enough commitment to a 24% reduction in pollution by 2030 to 69 incidents or less, saying one pollution incident is too many. Delyth Jewell, her Plaid Cymru counterpart, stressed the importance of balancing the needs of customers during a cost-of-living crisis with the need to invest in infrastructure. She said: The investment by Welsh Water, which is vital, will lead to higher bills and these bills are already among the highest in the sector. Plaid Cymrus deputy leader also raised concerns about bonus payments for senior staff at Welsh Water at a time when customers are expected to pay such high bills. Not fit for purpose Jenny Rathbone, the Labour MS for Cardiff Central, warned Wales has a Victorian drainage system that is not fit to meet the challenges of climate change and an increasing population. She welcomed Welsh Waters response to the committee report which confirmed the utility company is now aiming for zero serious pollution incidents. But she warned Welsh Water has an awful lot of work to do to restore public trust. Sarah Murphy, a fellow Labour backbencher, said many of her constituents in Bridgend and Porthcawl are fed up as she called for a timeline on improvements. She said: They just want to know when they are going to be able to swim in clean water and not worry about getting infections, and not worry about sending their children out into it. Mixed picture Responding to the debate on April 24, Huw Irranca-Davies, the newly appointed climate change secretary, said the latest performance reports paint a mixed picture. But Mr Irranca Davies, a member of the committee during the inquiry, warned Welsh Water has a long way to go to meet the challenges of the climate and nature emergencies. The former MP, who served as a junior Defra minister under Gordon Browns government, said: Improving the performance and delivering for the people of Wales is a top priority. Mr Irranca-Davies pointed to the progress of the river quality taskforce on storm overflows, adding that sustainable drainage systems are now mandatory for most new developments. He said Welsh Waters new business plan offers the opportunity to deliver a step change in investment towards environmental improvements. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter The models who set the ideal skin tone for photo developing with the most controversial word in human history, 'normal.' In her 1977 book On Photography, Susan Sontag wrote that photos not only depict reality but also reflect the viewers perspective, thus serving as both a documentation and an interpretation of the world. Author James Baldwin added: It is said that the camera cannot lie, but rarely do we allow it to do anything else, since the camera sees what you point it at: the camera sees what you want it to see. Sontag foresaw in the seventies that todays world would be flooded with images. This has become reality: the digital image overload led to a resurgence of analog photography, with sales tripling in 2023. Film development is reintroducing the concept of waiting, and its vintage colors are making a nostalgic comeback. Yet, underlying it all is a persistent grammar an ethics of vision highlighted by historian Luis Vives-Ferrandiz Sanchez in his book on contemporary visual culture. Chemical film developing processes were established within and for a society marked by racism. To fully understand this, you need to know the history of the Shirley card and how normal color shaped our perspectives. In the 1950s, the introduction of Technicolor transformed the world by bringing vibrant colors to screens. This innovation replaced black-and-white photography, making color photos accessible to the masses. You didnt have to be a Hollywood star or wealthy socialite to get a portrait highlighting your green eyes... and light skin. However, this future excluded non-whites because Kodak standardized color photo processing with a card it distributed to labs worldwide. The card featured a portrait of an anonymous woman nicknamed Shirley, alongside samples of six different color tones, including the primary colors (red, yellow and cyan), as well as intermediate colors like pink, green and another shade of blue. Also known as the color photo girl, the original Shirley a white brunette was dressed in white and wore a pearl necklace. Developed using a blend of the color tones on the card, Shirley had light-colored eyes and fair skin. Underneath her portrait was a label that said normal. Shirley set the standard for chemical film developing using machines calibrated to obtain the proper skin tone in prints. According to Sarah Lewis, an art history and architecture professor at Harvard University, the aim was to ensure all the Shirleys looked good in every photo. These calibrated cards were also used in film and TV, where Shirley was called China Girl, a reference to the porcelain mannequins used in early screen tests for makeup standards on sets. In 2019 New York Times article, Lewis explained how this translated to color balancing in digital technology. For instance, the way camera sensors in automatic mode detect subjects influenced the development of video surveillance systems. MIT Media Labs Joy Buolamwinis discovery that facial recognition algorithms do not see dark-skinned faces accurately is expertly explored in the award-winning Netflix documentary Coded Bias, directed by Shalini Kantayya. The "China Girl" is the (white) reference model for light and color balance in film and TV. CC BY 2.0 Deed The defect acts like a wild card but conceals a pattern in the original Shirley card and the variations that followed: a few men chose a bunch of women and blended them into one ideal. They first selected features like eyes, hair color, height, width and skin tone. Then came neckline styles, hairdos and clothing. And of course, always remember to smile. The outcome shaped our view of the world. Through the Shirley cards, Western ideals objectified the female body, turning the dominant societal perspective into reality for all. As photographer Laurent Leger Adame said, Technology is supposed to level the playing field for everyone, but its created by us humans, and we all bring our own social norms into the mix. Leger, a person of color, deals with the everyday challenge of adjusting cameras to accurately capture darker skin tones. While digital cameras can be fine-tuned to represent dark skin well, the default settings are usually based on lighter skin tones, leading to overexposure of faces with darker tones. So, youve got to decide if you want to prioritize making the person look good even if it affects the rest of the image, or take a chance on compromising their appearance for the sake of consistency. Nowadays, image editing on a computer allows for adjustments like increasing shadows and balancing contrast, even for digitally scanned analog photos. Of course, its unfair because you end up spending more time on photos of certain people just because theyre Black. Efforts to address the problem have been underway for some time. For instance, some professional photographers began using film made by Fujifilm in the late 20th century because it displayed dark skin tones more faithfully than Kodak film. Kodak's multiracial card was made in the 1990s to correct the Shirley card problem. CC BY 2.0 Deed New approaches have also been explored in the realm of cinema. Cinematographer Bradford Young, known for collaborations with director Ava DuVernay, is always innovating lighting techniques for filming. Similarly, director of photography Ava Berkofsky shared her methods for lighting actors on the HBO series Insecure in a recent interview with Mic. Her top tip? Use a moisturizer on Black skin to get more reflections. But this technique has a problem that brings us back to the beginning of this story. It can give faces a porcelain-like appearance, said Leger, whos not very enthusiastic about the technique. People of color face a number of challenges achieving an accurate appearance on camera. Film emulsions could have been designed initially with more sensitivity to the continuum of yellow, brown, and reddish skin tones, but the design process would have had to be motivated by a recognition of the need for an extended dynamic range, wrote Lorna Roth, a media and communication studies researcher. Leger believes that this recognition should also encompass equipment, like lenses. The lack of recognition left millions of people with overly dark photos that obscured their features. In a 2014 BuzzFeed article, Syreeta McFadden wrote, Kodak never encountered a groundswell of complaints from African-Americans about their products. Many of us simply assumed the deficiencies of film emulsion performance reflected our inadequacies as photographers. Roth discovered that the Shirley card changed due to pressure in the 1970s from furniture and chocolate manufacturers to correct color bias. They complained that their print catalogs couldnt accurately depict subtle details such as wood grains and chocolate shades. But making the change for people seemed impossible. Nearly fifty years on, photographers still seek out the aesthetics of that bygone era. I notice a lot of photographers these days who rely on old photos for inspiration when they take pictures of Black folks. I still see magazine pics of people with dark skin that are lighter than the original photos. This happens because theyre sticking to that old inspiration, using old film to match those pics. Its just laziness and ends up making us look too dark, said Leger. He says magazines and media outlets are now favoring professionals who work with analog equipment and chemically developed film. Leger prefers it because the product of analog photography, technically speaking, is a whole different ballgame. Its all about mastering the art. He argues that the careful use of film enables more control over composition, which is often overlooked, especially by white photographers. Analog image quality has a charm of its own, even when its digitally emulated using software and app filters. Instagrams logo was designed to look like a Polaroid camera. Interestingly, the Polaroid ID2 model was used to photograph Black people for South Africas infamous passbooks, a tool of racial segregation and enforcement during the apartheid era. Syreeta McFadden noted that the ID2 has a flash boost button engineered to add 42% more light on its subjects. Its effect would result in a deliberate darkening of dark-skinned subjects. In a 2013 interview with The Guardian, South African artist Adam Broomberg said the light range was so narrow, that if you exposed film for a white kid, the black kid sitting next to him would be rendered invisible except for the whites of his eyes and teeth. This goes along with what Leger is really worried about: more and more white photographers who deliberately darken the person so you can only see their eyes, which is seriously offensive to us. Who protects Black people? What about all the crossover we have to do? If we all disappeared, who would remember us? asks Pica Sullivan, the protagonist of Drylongso, a 1998 film by African-American director Cauleen Smith. Pica was talking about the ongoing violence in Black communities caused by police brutality and drug overdoses. The film, shot with a 16mm camera, follows a young, Black art student from Oakland who takes picture of young people of color. Cauleen sees photography as a means to preserving individuals and communities, fearing their memory will fade. Ironically, the camera Pica uses is a Polaroid. Four years before Drylongso, Kodak finally introduced a multiracial card with three women who were quickly dubbed the new Shirleys. It was intended to reconstruct the standard with different skin tones. But by then, digital photography was approaching to perpetuate a legacy the cards could not resolve. A month ago, Leger says, two girls came together to his studio so he could photograph them. One was of Congolese descent and the other Tunisian. When I started taking their photos, the digital camera I was using accurately picked up details for one girl but not the other. So, I had to adjust the background and brighten the lighting a bit for the darker-skinned girl. But Leger insists, If you know how to do it, itll just take a few extra minutes, so no excuses. Lets use the same technology that shaped us to change things but we have to be intentional about it. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New anti-obesity medications have introduced fresh hope for millions of overweight individuals, not to mention having created an immense industry. Novo Nordisks Ozempic is the best-known of these pharmaceuticals, but it constitutes the mere tip of an iceberg that is accumulating mass by the minute. A fistful of rivals aspires to the Danish companys throne. Some of their new treatments involve just one injection every seven days to lose 15% of ones weight in 68 weeks, with tolerable side effects. Up until now, the only truly effective option was bariatric surgery, which can be a risky procedure. These new medications, known as GLP-1 receptor antagonists (referring to a peptide 1 that is similar to glucagon), take effect on different intestinal hormones to make one feel fuller, because food stays longer in a persons stomach (slowing down gastric emptying) and, at the same time, stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas, which combined, reduce food intake. This biological hack has given rise to vast profits for the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture such medications and also, hope. Every year, five million human beings die from obesity-related diseases. By 2030, it is estimated that this figure will rise to one billion. In the United States alone, according to Cornell University, economic losses due to obesity-related sick leave amount to $30 billion per year. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predicts that the epidemic will cost countries, on average, 1.6% of their GDP between 2020 and 2050. In the race to slim down, Novo Nordisk has become, according to Capital Markets, the leading provider of weight-loss medication. It has quietly become the most valuable company (at $410 billion) in Europe, surpassing luxury group LVMH. Profits of the firm, which makes the popular Ozempic and Wegovy meds, have risen nearly 50% over the last year. Barclays predicts that sales of Wegovy will reach $7.3 billion this year and that those of Ozempic, which was designed to treat diabetes but often prescribed for the overweight, will reach $16.5 billion. But lets press pause on this enthusiasm. Although the GLP-1s and companies that produce them have attracted a lot of investor interest, we are still in the early stages of a long journey towards realizing the potential of these drugs, says Steve Smith, chief investment officer at Capital Group. One of the reasons is the size of the market. In 2022, GLP-1 drugs were prescribed to about nine million people in the United States, compared to a global population with obesity of more than one billion. Another challenge is supply. The medicine is administered in weekly injections, which is causing demand bottlenecks. Novo Nordisk has responded to this by acquiring three manufacturing plants (in Italy, Belgium, and the United States) last February for $11 billion. They are accelerating production because there are other firms working on a new generation of GLP-1 small molecules that could prove even more effective. Amgen, Viking Therapeutics and AstraZeneca are all on the quest for the Holy Grail of thinness. For the moment, only three GLP-1 medications have been approved to treat overweight and obese individuals: liraglutide and semiglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic), developed by Novo; and tirzepatide (Zepbound), a product from the U.S. giant Eli Lilly. The numbers are certainly adding up. So far this year, theyve risen to the tune of 29.9%. A medical cornucopia Bloomberg has tracked at least 100 companies working on this type of pharmaceuticals. Although there are enormous opportunities, the competition is becoming fierce and regulation, challenging, says Sergio Avila, an IG analyst. He elaborates: Success will depend on how these companies manage development and commercialization. But the industry is showing certain cracks in its armor. To save their patents, some pharmaceutical companies alter the molecule slightly and register it as a new drug, says Javier Aledo, an expert at Spain-based International Financial Analysts. A shortcut to treasure Goldman Sachs predicts that the GLP-1 market could generate $100 billion, and The Economist stretches that figure to $150 million by 2031. Currently, only 1% to 2% of U.S. residents use these medications. Given that the country has the highest rate of obesity on the planet, alongside Mexico and Korea, it would appear to have the most to gain, and be able to provide the most clients for these treatments. Across the pond, if these pharmaceuticals work in the long-term, they could improve obesity rates in the European Union, which currently stand at 17%. In countries with a largely public healthcare system, savings from these treatments could help to alleviate the fiscal situation, states a source from Capital Economics. In addition, they say, GDP growth could be achieved through higher productivity and healthier populations. Such are the whispers of the future, but there is no lack of hope surrounding the treatments right now either. Another pharmaceutical designed to aid in weight loss, survodutide (a new dual antagonist of the glucagon/GLP-1 receptors), invented by German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, in collaboration with the Danish firm Zealand Pharma, demonstrated efficacy among people with obesity and has potential according to sources from the German company to become the best treatment in its class, considering the 115 million people who suffer from steatohepatitis associated with metabolic dysfunction, which is expected to be a leading cause of liver transplants by 2030, placing a significant financial burden on healthcare systems. At the same time, two U.S. firms, Regeneron and BioAge (both declined to comment for this article), are working on one of the side effects of these medications: loss of lean body mass. And going even further into areas of true urgency, GLP-1 pharmaceuticals could also be able to treat illnesses like Alzheimers and Parkinsons, which cause brain inflammation. There are currently tests in phase 3, and potentially by 2025, we will know their results, says Daniel Drucker, endocrinology expert at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. The cost of slimming down The financial cost of GLP-1 pharmaceuticals turns out to be quite high and currently, treatment lasts for the rest of a patients life. This implies a lot of will, and cash, to ensure continued success. Studies suggest that people go back to their old eating habits and weight once they stop taking the drug, warns Stephen Freedman, director of analysis of sustainability at Pictet AM. And this is a pricy prescription. Wegovy costs $1,300 a month and Ozempic, $900. Novo Nordisks CEO, Lars Fruergaard Jrgensen, proposed flexible pricing for healthcare systems in an interview with the Financial Times. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Days after Gisele Bundchen broke down in tears over an alleged stalker during a traffic stop, the mayor of Surfside, Florida, is showing his support for the supermodel and calling on police to do better when it comes to showing empathy. "I was dismayed yesterday to watch a video interaction of one of our residents speaking to one of our police officers. As one watches the video, it becomes clear very early in same that the resident is upset and frightened," Mayor Charles Burkett said in a letter addressed to Interim Chief Henry Doce and obtained by Local 10 News. "The frightened resident tells the Surfside officer that she believes a stalker is following her and that she is afraid." The supermodel was driving around Surfside, Florida, on Wednesday when she was stopped by police for driving erratically. The officer who pulled her over let her go without issuing a ticket, but in bodycam footage obtained by Fox News Digital, she quickly became emotional. GISELE BUNDCHEN'S KIDS WITH TOM BRADY HAVE 'DIFFERENT RULES' BETWEEN HOMES: 'I CAN ONLY CONTROL WHAT I DO' Gisele Bundchen said she was being followed by paparazzi when she was pulled over by Florida police. "I was just trying to stay [away] from that guy," Bundchen told the officer, referring to a paparazzo who had been pursuing her. The officer acknowledged that he knew who she was and understood the situation, but told her that he couldn't do anything to help her with it. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "This response is wholly unacceptable and not reflective of the values, judgment and service residents expect from their police," Burkett said. "On the contrary, our police department's paramount job is to keep our residents safe! 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." LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS During the traffic stop, Bundchen was told she'd have to file a report with the police in Miami Beach , since that's where the photographer originally began tailing her. The officer apologized for not being able to do more, and that's when she began crying. Gisele Bundchen told the police officer she's "so tired" of paparazzi following her. "I'm so tired," Bundchen said through tears. "Everywhere I go I have these f---ing guys after me. Nothing protects me. I can't do nothing. I just want to live my life." "I can't prevent them from doing their job, which is to take pictures," the officer responded as she sobbed. "I don't know how that's allowed," she told him. He asked if he could do anything else for her, and she said no, then thanked him. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Reps for Bundchen did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment at the time. "I have always supported our police, and all the men and women who choose to honorably serve" Burkett concluded his letter. "What I saw on that video and the actions of the Surfside union boss at our recent meeting indicate that the past command staff leadership and union leadership, have lost sight of their mission. We are all counting on you to refocus our police departments primary mission back to serving our residents." Fox News Digital's Emily Trainham and Caroline Thayer contributed to this post. Original article source: Gisele Bundchen gets support from Surfside mayor after 'unacceptable' police interaction during traffic stop Princess Margaret's four grandchildren are pursuing very different paths in life. Her eldest grandson, Samuel Chattothe son of Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chattorecently traveled to Japan to work on his pottery. Artist Kazuaki Sakuma posted a video of Chatto working with clay on their Instagram, writing, "All you can hear is birds singing in this studio. A tea tree about to turn into a gentle butterfly before my eyes. And the artists from London spinning the sounds." That artist from London is none other than Samuel Chatto himself. Here, five things to know about the young royal: 1. He's 29th in line for the throne. Tim Graham - Getty Images Samuel Chatto was born on July 28, 1996, the eldest son of Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto. He follows his mother, Lady Sarah, in the British line of succession, and he has one younger brother, Arthur Chatto, who is an officer training course for the Royal Marines. 2. He attended Eton College and the University of Edinburgh. He attended Eton, then graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an MA in History of Art in 2018. From 2019 to 2020, he attended the Royal Drawing School. His alumni page notes, "Interested in the idea of transformation through process in both ceramics and printmaking, he joined the Royal Drawing School in 2019. He has since developed a highly individualistic practice, where both the subjects of his work and the materials he uses display his deep connection to the landscape around him." 3. Chatto is an artist. He often shares his artwork on his instagram, @samchatto. 4. He often appears with the British royal family on major events. Karwai Tang - Getty Images JEFF J MITCHELL - Getty Images Chatto was in attendance at Queen Elizabeth's State Funeral and King Charles's coronation (pictured above). He most recently appeared with the rest of the British royal family on Christmas day in Sandringham: Joe Giddens - PA Images - Getty Images He also joined the Windsors at Kate Middleton's "Together At Christmas" Carol Service at Westminster Abbey earlier in December 2023. 5. He's a certified yoga instructor. Back in 2019, Chatto revealed he spent four weeks in India undergoing yoga teacher training. "Although I have no plans of teaching anytime soon, it was an incredibly eye opening experience which I am so deeply grateful for," he posted on his Instagram. "I had the pleasure of connecting with so many beautiful, supportive, and honest/open/loving people, discovered so much about my body and mind, and have come away with knowledge of an invaluable practice and a whole new family of kind spirited friends!" You Might Also Like 'If I have the great wish to be a track and field athlete,' Kafka wrote in 1921, 'it is probably the same as if I wished to go to heaven and to be permitted to be as despairing there as here' - Illustration for The Telegraph by Wesley Merritt/Debut Art Between 1909 and 1923, Franz Kafka kept what he called his Tagebucher, or diaries. At first glance, much of their content is strikingly unrecognisable as diary entries often undated, penned deep into the night in dense handwriting, with crossings-out, corrections and insertions, now and then accompanied by drawings. Across these 12 notebooks and two bundles of loose paper, the German-speaking Jewish Prague native interspersed many different kinds of writing: not just records of daily events, reflections and observations, but also drafts of letters, accounts of dreams, outbursts of anguish and bouts of self-torment, enigmatic aphorisms, and all-but-finished stories. Its often difficult to discern whether Kafka is registering a private experience, crafting fiction, or transforming one into the other. Yet, what emerges is an unprecedentedly rich picture of the writer wrestling his literary vision into being a picture that, until now, has been obscured for anglophone readers. The sole previous version of Kafkas Tagebucher in English, first published in the late 1940s, is based on the outdated, bowdlerised German edition prepared by Kafkas closest friend and literary executor, Max Brod, decades after the diarists untimely death from tuberculosis in 1924 at the age of 40. Brod applied a heavy editorial hand. Occasionally concerned with his own reputation, cutting unflattering lines about himself, he also excised texts that could be considered literary works, and censored, camouflaged or sanitised passages of a sexual nature, such as those referring to visits to prostitutes. In particular, he removed anything with a tinge of homoeroticism. My new translation from which the below extract is taken is the first to give English-speaking readers access to the complete text, based on the German critical edition published in 1990 and edited by Hans-Gerd Koch, which restored all that Brod had omitted and altered. From Kafkas description of a fellow train passenger, for example, Brod deleted the line His apparently sizable member makes a large bulge in his pants. An entry written during Kafkas stay, in July 1912, at a nudist sanatorium that in my translation reads 2 beautiful Swedish boys with long legs, which are so formed and taut that one could really only run ones tongue along them was condensed by Brod to two handsome Swedish boys with long legs. 'Connection with F will give my existence more power of resistance': Kafka with Felice Bauer in 1917 - Fine Art Images/Heritage Images via Getty Images At the sanatorium Kafka stood out among the naked men in keeping on his swimming trunks (Im known as the man with the swimming trunks) but finally allowed a new acquaintance to sketch him fully unclothed, as he recorded in his notebook: Served as a model for Dr. Schiller. Without swimming trunks. Exhibitionistic experience. Brods version reads only: Posed for Dr. Sch. Brod also covered up occasional lapses in Kafkas generally positive and open-minded attitudes toward Eastern European Jews lapses that the diarist himself was quick to register in his own self-examination. For instance, in a line expunged by Brod, Kafka records the following moment from an evening at the theatre with Yitzchak Lowy, a Warsaw-born Yiddish he had befriended: Moreover, L confessed his gonorrhea to me; then my hair touched his when I leaned toward his head, I grew frightened due to at least the possibility of lice. Here Kafka confronts his own Western European Jewish anxiety about the hygiene of his Eastern European Jewish companion. Brods unwillingness to publish such lines in his edition of the diaries runs directly counter to Kafkas recognition that whatever high-mindedness he elsewhere exhibited (for example, when he expressed indignation at his fathers contemptuous comments about Lowy) did not necessarily exempt him from reflexive, even visceral prejudices. His edition thus does a disservice to the writers inclination to probe these very corners of himself. Brods skewed adaptations of Kafkas unpublished writings above all promoted a myth of Kafka as a literary saint, whose purity placed him at an elevated remove from the world. In my new translation of his unexpurgated diaries, I hope to reveal Kafka in all his complexity, as a less exalted, more embodied and multifaceted figure. A page from Kafka's notebooks - DeAgostini/Getty Images [From First Notebook] In my external appearance Im a person like others and even if Im rather short and somewhat fat, Im still appealing to many people, even girls. About that theres nothing to say. Just recently one of them said something very reasonable Oh, if only I could see you naked one day then you must be especially pretty and kissable she said. But if I were missing my upper lip here, an ear there, a rib here, a finger there, if I had hairless spots on my head and pockmarks on my face, it still wouldnt be an adequate counterpart to my inner imperfection. [March 29 1911] My visit to Dr. Steiner. A woman is already waiting [] but implores me to go in before her. We wait. The secretary comes and holds out hope to us. Glancing down a corridor, I see him. A moment later he comes toward us with arms half spread. The woman declares that I was here first. Now I walk behind him as he leads me into his room. His black frock coat, which on lecture evenings appears polished, (not polished, but only shiny due to its pure black) is now in the light of day (3 oclock in the afternoon) dusty and even stained especially on the back and shoulders. In his room I try to show my humility, which I cannot feel, by looking for a ridiculous place for my hat [] Only you cant look around, because he keeps trying to hold you with his gaze. But whenever he doesnt do so, you have to watch out for the return of the gaze. He begins with a few loose sentences: So youre Dr. Kafka? Have you been interested in theosophy long? But I press forward with my prepared speech: I feel a large part of my being striving toward theosophy, but at the same time I have the utmost fear of it. Im afraid, namely, that it will bring about a new confusion, which would be very bad for me since my present unhappiness itself consists of nothing but confusion. This confusion lies in the following: My happiness, my abilities and any possibility of being in some way useful have always resided in the literary realm. And here I have, to be sure, experienced states (not many) [] in which I dwelled completely in every idea, but also filled every idea and in which I felt myself not only at my own limits, but at the limits of the human in general. [Yet] I cannot now devote myself fully to this literary realm, as would be necessary, and indeed for various reasons. Leaving aside my family circumstances, I couldnt live off literature if for no other reason than the slow emergence of my works and their special character; moreover, my health and my character also hinder me from devoting myself to what is in the most favorable case an uncertain life. I have therefore become an official in a social insurance institute. Now these two professions could never tolerate each other and permit a shared happiness. The least happiness in one becomes a great unhappiness in the other. If I have written something good one evening, I am aflame the next day in the office and can accomplish nothing. This back-and-forth keeps getting worse. In the office I outwardly live up to my duties, but not my inner duties and every unfulfilled inner duty turns into an unhappiness that never leaves me. [] He listened very attentively, without appearing to observe me at all, completely devoted to my words. He nodded from time to time, which he seems to consider an aid to strong concentration. At first a quiet head cold bothered him, his nose was running, he kept working the handkerchief deep into his nose, one finger at each nostril [The entry cuts off abruptly.] 'My legs had grown so stiff from sitting that I could hardly pull them out from under the desk': one of Kafka's own illustrations for The Trial, 1905. - Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images [October 2 1911] Sleepless night. The third in a row. I fall asleep easily, but after an hour I wake up as if I had laid my head in a false hole. Im completely awake, have the feeling of having slept not at all or only under a thin skin, have the work of falling asleep ahead of me anew and feel rejected by sleep. And the rest of the night until toward 5 it goes on in such a way that I do sleep but at the same time intense dreams keep me awake. I am practically sleeping next to myself, while I myself must grapple with dreams. Toward 5 the last trace of sleep is used up, I only dream, which is a greater strain than being awake. In short I spend the whole night in the state in which a healthy person finds himself for a little while before actually falling asleep. When I wake up all the dreams are gathered around me but I take care not to think them through. Toward morning I sigh into the pillow, because for this night all hope is gone. I think of those nights at the end of which I was raised out of deep sleep and awoke as if I had been confined in a nut. [October 16 1911] In the train carriage: Tip of the old womans nose with almost-still-youthfully taut skin. Does youth thus end at the tip of the nose and does death begin there? [October 24 1911] Yesterday it occurred to me that I have not always loved my mother as much as she deserved and as I could only because the German language hindered me from doing so. The Jewish mother is no Mutter[.] [October 30 1911] This longing I almost always have, once I feel my stomach is healthy, to heap up in myself fantasies of taking terrible risks with food. I satisfy this longing especially in front of smokehouses. If I see a sausage labeled as an old hard Hauswurst, I bite into it in my imagination with all my teeth and swallow quickly, regularly and heedlessly like a machine. The despair that this act even in the imagination has as an immediate result increases my haste. I shove the long rinds of rib meat unbitten into my mouth and then pull them out again from behind tearing through my stomach and intestines. I eat dirty grocery stores completely empty. Fill myself with herrings, pickles and all the bad old sharp foods. Candies are poured into me like hail from their tin pots. [November 2 1911] This morning for the first time in a long while the pleasure again in imagining a knife twisted in my heart. [November 5 1911] I want to write, with a constant trembling on my forehead. Im sitting in my room in the headquarters of the noise of the whole apartment. I hear all the doors banging, their noise spares me only the footsteps of those running between them, I hear even the slam of the oven door in the kitchen. My father bursts through the doors of my room and passes through in his dragging dressing gown, the ashes are being scraped out of the stove in the next room, Valli [the second oldest of Kafkas three sisters, Valerie] asks shouting into the indefinite through the hall as if through a Paris street whether Fathers hat has been cleaned yet, a hiss that wants to be my friend raises the cry of an answering voice. The apartment door is unlatched and makes a noise as if from a catarrhal throat, then continues to open with the brief singing of a womans voice and closes with a dull manly jerk that sounds the most inconsiderate of all. My father is gone, now begins the gentler more scattered more hopeless noise, led by the voices of the two canaries. I thought of it before, but with the canaries it occurs to me anew, whether I shouldnt open the door a little crack, crawl like a snake into the next room and thus on the floor ask my sisters and their governess for quiet. 'I do sleep but at the same time intense dreams keep me awake': sketch from Kafka's notebook, c1923 - Fine Art Images/Heritage Images via Getty Images [May 23 1912] This evening out of boredom washed my hands three times in succession in the bathroom. [September 23 1912] [This passage appears immediately following the text of Kafkas short story The Judgment]: This story The Judgment I wrote at one stretch on the night of the 22 to the 23 from 10 oclock in the evening until six oclock in the morning. My legs had grown so stiff from sitting that I could hardly pull them out from under the desk. The terrible strain and joy, how the story unfolded itself before me how I moved forward in an expanse of water. Several times last night I bore my weight on my back. How everything can be risked, how for all, for the strangest ideas a great fire is prepared, in which they die away and rise again. How it turned blue outside the window. A carriage passed. Two men walked across the bridge. At two oclock I looked for the last time at the clock. As the maid walked through the hall for the first time, I wrote down the last sentence. Putting out the lamp and daylight. The slight heart pains. The tiredness passing away in the middle of the night. The trembling entrance into my sisters room. Reading aloud. Beforehand stretching in front of the maid and saying: Ive been writing until now. The appearance of the untouched bed, as if it had just been carried in. The confirmed conviction that with my novel writing I am in disgraceful lowlands of writing. Only in this way can writing be done, only with such cohesion, with such complete opening of the body and the soul. [June 21 1913] The tremendous world I have in my head. But how to free myself and free it without being torn to pieces. And a thousand times better to be torn to pieces than to retain or bury it in me. Thats why Im here, after all, thats completely clear to me. [July 3 1913] When I say something it immediately and definitively loses its importance, when I write it down it always loses it too, but sometimes gains a new one. [July 21 1913] Compilation of all the arguments for and against my marriage [Kafka would become engaged to Felice Bauer on May 31 1914; the engagement was subsequently broken off]: 1. Inability to endure life alone, not inability to live, on the contrary, its even improbable that I know how to live with someone, but the onslaught of my own life, the demands I make on myself, the attack of time and age, the vague surge of the desire to write, the sleeplessness, the nearness of insanity all this Im unable to endure alone. Perhaps, I naturally add. The connection with F[elice]. will give my existence more power of resistance. 2. Everything immediately gives me pause. Every joke in the comic paper, the memory of Flaubert and Grillparzer [two of Kafkas favourite authors, neither of whom ever married], the sight of the nightshirts on my parents beds, which have been prepared for the night, Max [Brod]s marriage. Yesterday my sister said: All the married people (of our acquaintance) are happy, I dont understand it this statement too gave me pause, I became afraid again. 3. I must be alone a great deal. What I have achieved is only a result of being alone. 4. I hate everything that doesnt relate to literature, it bores me to carry on conversations (even if they relate to literature) it bores me to pay visits, sorrows and joys of my relatives bore me to my soul. Conversations take from everything I think the importance, the seriousness, the truth. 5. The fear of the connection, of flowing across. Then Ill never be alone again. 6. In front of my sisters, especially in the past it was so, I have often been a completely different person than in front of other people. Fearless, exposed, powerful, surprising, moved as otherwise only while writing. If through my wifes mediation I could be like that in front of everyone! But then wouldnt it be at the expense of the writing? Anything but that, anything but that! 7. Alone I could perhaps one day really give up my job. Married it will never be possible. [November 19 1913] I intentionally walk through the streets where there are whores. Passing them entices me, that remote but nonetheless existing possibility of going with one. Is that vulgarity? But I know no better and carrying this out seems to me basically innocent and causes me almost no remorse. I want only the fat older ones, with outmoded clothes made, however, to some extent luxurious by various adornments. [October 16 1921] If I have the great wish to be a track and field athlete, it is probably the same as if I wished to go to heaven and to be permitted to be as despairing there as here. [April 10 1922] As a boy I was (and would have remained so for a very long time if I had not been forcibly pushed into sexual things) as innocent and uninterested with regard to sexual matters as I am today with regard to, say, the theory of relativity. Only trifles (but those too only after precise instruction) struck me, such as the fact that the very women who on the street seemed to me the most beautiful and the most beautifully dressed were supposed to be bad. Ross Benjamin 2024. Extracted from The Diaries of Franz Kafka (Penguin Classics, 24) tr Ross Benjamin, published on May 2 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: The following article contains some spoilers for Shogun] Theres a scene in Episode 5 of FXs hit show Shogun, smack dab in the middle of the TV series, that acts as a microcosm for the larger narrative. The horrified English Protestant sailor, Blackthorne, wishes to give up on his mission and leave Japan and the shows central figure of whom hes asking permission, Toranaga, actually considers it. Then an earthquake happens. Toranaga is buried by a landslide and its Blackthorne who finds and pulls him out. Its in this moment Toranaga staring at Blackthorne whos ripped him from deaths clutch realizes the way towards peace despite the forces against him. More from IndieWire If people know the history, they already know what Toranaga creates, Shogun star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada said in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter. That was the most important thing for me about this story: Toranaga ended [the Warring States period] and created a peaceful era in Japan that lasted for about 260 years, until the country opened to the world. Thats Toranagas vision. Thats what hes been struggling for and thats what his never-give-up mindset has achieved. It would seem Sanadas own vision has led him not only to this role, but to shepherding this project as a producer. To him it was a responsibility to be both a messenger of Japanese culture and history, as well as a harbinger for a larger message of peace based on figures from the past. Since I was a kid, Ive been reading novels about him, watching movies and TV series about him, Sanada said. The reason I took the role this time is because I believe we need this kind of hero right now. We need the hero who brings about peace. Thats a very good message for the world especially now when human beings around the world are fighting each other again. Shogun shows how hard peace can be to achieve. For Sanada, part of communicating this message meant taking ownership over the entire project as a producer. Right away, I felt a big difference between having this title and not having it. I could share my views right away. Everyone would listen, and the production would move forward. Having this title allowed me to help make a much better show. So maybe it was the same for Toranaga. He didnt really want it. But at some point, he realized the only way to create a peaceful era was to become Shogun himself. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The park benches in Cartagenas Plaza de los Estudiantes are full on a Friday night in February. On one, several young people drink from beer cans. On another, a man appears to be waiting for someone. In the plazas most discreet corner, three women sit, looking in front of them. The police take exception with the latter group, and four officers approach the women, directing them to stand. Two of the young women jump up, but the third stays put, talking on her phone until a cop grabs her. The woman turns, bracing herself and shouting. Beginning in January, the fight against sexual exploitation in the historic center has meant that sex workers are never allowed to rest. Motorcycle police disperse them by blaring their sirens. The plan to remove them from the epicenter of the most tourism-heavy city in Colombia has turned into one to keep them walking. Theirs are the eternal perambulations of the night. The woman on the phone is nearly dragged to the police station. This Friday, she will spend the night in prison and, her companions say, her young children will wake up at home, alone. The other two women disappear down Candilejo Street, lamenting her bad luck. They actually only met each other a few hours ago. One of them comes from Bucaramanga to Cartagena for a few days every two months to earn the money in the street that she needs to care for her daughter. Shes quite clear on the golden rule: I always try to be invisible because to the police, we are nothing. Five years ago, she arrived in Colombia from Venezuela. She is 24 years old, and this is her only source of income. For the citys new mayor, Dumek Turbay, the plan to reestablish public order that has been baptized Titan 24 is proving to be a success. The closure of numerous locations and the police siege have visibly reduced sex work in the citys center. The secretary of the interior, Bruno Hernandez, proudly explains that during the recent Holy Week, Cartagena received family, religious and sports tourists, although he recognizes that prostitution has neither disappeared nor been eradicated, but merely moved to other zones where it is less visible. Young women say they can make up to five million pesos [$1,284] in one night, theres no other job that can match that, says the official. The image of a U.S. tourist entering a Medellin hotel with two teenaged girls led to a worldwide scandal a few weeks ago, but the same scene is repeated daily in places like this Caribbean city, which is split by inequality into two worlds. Much has been said about clients or abusers, but the most dramatic realities to which these women and girls have been subjected have been the wounds of racism, marginalization and unmet needs. They are the ones who are prohibited from sitting on park benches because they sully the idyllic postcard of itself that the colonial city seeks to sell. A sex worker struggles with the police after being removed from a park bench in Cartagenas historic center on February 22. CHELO CAMACHO Beyond the Cartagena of colorfully painted building facades, jasmine-covered balconies and streets adorned with colorful pennants that visitors post to Instagram, there lies a world of poverty: 43% of its nearly one million residents have much deeper problems than the centers urban aesthetic might suggest. These victims of segregation, violence and hunger live at the margins of society and, in some cases, find that sex work is the only tool within their reach when it comes to forming part of a city laser-focused on tourism, and one that seems to have forgotten them. The childhood abyss From the streets you can barely glimpse a dozen pairs of eyes that stare like owls. Its a Friday in April and music leaks out through the iron bars of the entrance gate. Hands braid colorful bracelets on laps amid the voices and laughter of teenagers. There are 50 boys and girls aged 10 years and up living in this house temporarily. They are victims of sexual violence who are now part of a Fundacion Renacer [Rebirth Foundation] program, which looks to restore their rights and heal them of the horror they have experienced, both inside and out. Some have suffered from domestic abuse, others have been victims of exploitation rescued from dire situations and still others come from vulnerable families in which sex trafficking is both accepted and taught, sometimes for generations, as a way of bringing money home. Behind closed doors, the work to run the program is exhausting: escapes, returns, relapses, withdrawal, guilt, sadness, anger. The team that accompanies these minors, who are under the protection of the Colombian state, provides them with constant companionship and also facilitates support from psychologists to alleviate the enormous weight they try to lift from the childrens shoulders. The most difficult are the ones who, despite all the love they had for them, were sold or trafficked by their mom or dad, says one worker. Phrases like sal a rebuscarte, si no ganas no comes [go out and forage, if you dont earn you dont eat] and vaya siquiera a mamarla, pero traiga plata [go suck it, but bring back money] have lost their significance in too many homes along the Caribbean coast. The husband-and-wife duo of 74-year-old sociologists Raul Paniagua and Rosa Diaz, who have dedicated their lives to the youth of Cartegena, know this all too well. In this and other regions of Colombia, the paternal figure is very weak. The prevailing idea is that women are strong and they bring up the children, while theres a certain tolerance for men who dont fulfill their responsibilities, says Paniagua. For generations, children have been raised by a network that extends past their mothers: a grandmother, a godmother, a neighbor in a more comfortable financial situation. The Paniaguas themselves have one biological child and nine foster children. Rosas mother, as if straight from a Gabriel Garcia Marquez story, herself raised 20. Police fences installed by the city to discourage sex work at the Torre del Reloj [Clock Tower]. CHELO CAMACHO The city used to be a bucolic place to breathe in salt air and history. In 1984, its nearly seven miles of defensive walls were declared a UNESCO world heritage site until development and lax urban planning fragmented the city into segments, whose realities were as stratified as those of foreign nations. Wealth grew in the heat of international tourism and Bogota's elite fixed up colonial mansions to serve as their beach homes. Today, Cartagena is to many the city that lies within those historic walls and the nearby Getsamani neighborhood, and whose peripheral areas dont matter, or even exist, beyond a brief glimpse from airplane windows during landing. It was through this idea of hiding poorer, more difficult realities that they began losing their values, says Panigaua. Children also became invisible and many began to be considered a financial resource, with their parents consent. Rural Cartagena In the village of Arroyo Grande, 40 kilometers from the city, a man to whom everyone refers as El Extranjero [The Foreigner] first appeared a year ago. Ten percent of Cartagenas population reside in these rural areas, in villages and townships where between 80% and 90% of residents live in conditions of poverty or extreme poverty. In the northern area where Arroyo Grande is located, large-scale tourism has yet to appear, but hotel chains and real estate projects are making plans involving sites that have traditionally been home to Black communities. Airlin Perez Carrascal, an activist from Movimiento Mujeres Negras y Barriales [Black Neighborhood Womens Movement], warns of the vulnerability of a population that has always lived under the institutional radar: Inequality is most notoriously located in the body of the Black woman and girl. The Foreigner, a U.S. man who no one calls by his real name, has become popular in this area, where the sight of tourists is unusual. Sometimes he comes, gifts clothing to little girls, and takes them for a walk, as a local woman put it, warily. This method is replicated in other, equally poor areas. In the Olaya Herrera neighborhood, which has the highest crime rates in the city, local activists can regularly pinpoint the little girls who, over the course of two months, change the way they dress, begin using brand-name sneakers, start bringing expensive cell phones to school, and are chauffeured in cars or cabs, generating more envy than scandal. City plan Titan 24 The panorama of the historic center one Friday in April no longer resembles that of the night in February, when a young woman was seen leaving the police station on the way to prison, having been accused of an assault on a police officer while her kids waited for her at home. The presence of sex workers, which in recent years had been multitudinous at any hour of the day, is now nearly imperceptible, one might say. We have eradicated the problem in this area by 75%-80%, states Hernandez, who says that no minors have been found in the municipal operations that have been carried out since January. The citys campaign has been applauded by a plethora of politicians, residents and tourists. On this night, from its base in the seaside neighborhood of Bocagrande, the citys Titan plan is carrying out various operations, helmed by Hernandez. Along just one short stretch of road, the team, formed by various officials, firefighters, police officers and members of the navy, have shut down a 24-hour business and a hair salon/travel agency for not possessing proper permits. The objective, explains Hernandez, is to bring back quality, sustainable, family-based tourism to the city. Of course, it goes without saying, only certain kinds of families. A few years ago, a police officer got three little girls from the same neighborhood pregnant. Rosita Paniagua visited their homes to encourage their families to file a complaint. None of them did. One played the situation down because the child was already used. Another, because the agent gave them a small weekly allowance. At the house of the third, who was still pregnant, they were praying that the baby would be born a boy. Perhaps if it was, the girls rapist would decide to stay with her and life could become a little easier for the rest of them. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Although Colin Jost is no stranger to solo stand-up comedy, most of America recognizes him best as part of a duo. Hes famous for being the straight-edged Weekend Update co-anchor on Saturday Night Live, working alongside the much raunchier, more dangerous Michael Che. How would Jost fare on his own? The answer, it turns out, is perfectly fine. His roast at Saturday nights White House Correspondents Dinner was nowhere near as brutal as Stephen Colberts famous WHCD roast in 2006, but it was certainly entertaining. Jost predictably focused a lot on the speculation that President Joe Biden might be too old to run for re-election, starting off his speech with, I have to admit, its not easy following President Biden I mean, its not always easy following what hes saying. The comedian also referenced Bidens viral stumbling on the steps of Air Force One, and made light of the accusations that Biden was high on amphetamines during his recent energetic State of the Union address. "The last time I was in D.C., I left my cocaine at the White House, Jost said, in what initially seemed like a joke about Josts Republican demeanor, before adding, Luckily, the president was able to put it to good use for his State of the Union. Im kidding, of course, the president doesnt call it cocainehe calls it high speed rail. Lest anyone think he was too hard on Biden, however, Jost quickly pointed out the double-standard in the way the two presidential candidates age is portrayed in the media. I would like to point out, its after 10 p.m. Sleepy Joe is still awake, while Donald Trump has spent the past week falling asleep in court every morning. Jost later added, Im not saying both candidates are old, but you know Jimmy Carter is out there thinking, I could maybe win this thing. Josts hardest hitting jokes were about Bidens poll numbers, as he expressed frustration and incredulity over how the race was still so tight. The Republican candidate for president owes half a billion in fines for bank fraud and is currently spending his days farting himself awake during a porn star hush money trial, and the race is tied? In a far blunter joke, Jost told the audience, My Weekend Update co-anchor, Michael Che, was going to join me here tonight, but in solidarity with President Biden, I decided to lose all my Black support. The line received some applause (and plenty of groans) from the audience, so Jost added, Che told me to say that, and Im just realizing I was set up. SNLs Michael Che Pulls Brutal Joke Swap Prank on Colin Jost Jost also ridiculed a bunch of major newspapers in his roast, explaining how he forgot that the New York Times do stuff in addition to puzzles. He reminded audiences that Fox News CEO Rupert Murdoch has recently stepped down, adding, Which is strangeI didnt think there was a step down from Fox News. He mused on how AI might replace most of the journalists in the audience, and how puzzles like Wordle were the only things keeping many papers afloat. One of his darkest jokes, the one that genuinely seemed to stray into dangerous territory, touched briefly on the recent college protests surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Correspondents Association provides scholarships to promising young journalism students, who may one day be sent off to cover dangerous geopolitical hotspots like Columbia University, he quipped, to muted laughter. Much better received by the audience was his later joke cashing in on O.J. Simpsons recent passing. Obama got Bin Laden. You got O.J., he told Biden. And by the way, now that O.J.s dead, who is the new frontrunner for Trumps VP? Is it Diddy? Protesters Confront Guests at White House Correspondents Dinner: Shame On You! Some of this mightve seemed in bad taste, but luckily for Jost, the first comedian to perform at the dinner was Matt Friend, a rising stand-up comedian who came out swinging with a rapid-fire collection of shock-value punchlines, most of which flopped hard. Im on fire right now like the guy outside the courthouse, he joked in a Trump impression, next to audience members who looked like they were being held hostage. Im killing this dinner harder than Kristi Noem kills the puppies. Josts roast seemed downright wholesome in comparison, especially when he ended it with a touching tribute to his late grandfather William Kelly. He described him as a Staten Island firefighter and a pillar to his community. He voted for you, Jost told Biden, and the reason that he voted for you is because youre a decent man. My grandpa voted for decency, and decency is why were all here tonight. President Biden covered a lot of the same points when he took the stage, taking care to address concerns about his age and spin it into a weak point against his opponent. Yes, age is an issue: Im a grown man running against a 6-year-old, he said, to laughter and applause. I really feel great. Im campaigning all over the country. Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina. Ive always done well in the original 13 colonies. Biden gave a nod to his evolving public persona over his career, pointing out that SNL has cast an almost-unprecedented eight different actors to play him over the course of the show. And who the hell says Im not a real job creator? The president also responded to criticisms that hes too standoffish with the press. He called out The New York Times for their recent statement accusing him of actively and effectively avoid[ing] questions from independent journalists, responding Hey, if thats what it takes to get the New York Times to say Im active and effective, Im for it. His main focus, much like Josts, was on underlining just how much worse of a candidate Donald Trump is, and how the election shouldnt be nearly as close as the current polling indicates. [Trump] said he wants to be a dictator on day one and so much more. He tells supporters he is their revenge and retribution. When in Gods name have you ever heard of another president say something like that? Biden finished his thoughts on the election with a somber plea: We have to take this seriously. Eight years ago, it could have written off as just Trump talk, but no longer, not after January 6. Im sincerely not asking of you to take sides, but asking [you] to rise up to the seriousness of the moment. SNLs Colin Jost Has Spent 10 Years Torturing Himself for Our Amusement Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The 13 best things to do in Corfu Visiting the many stunning beaches and coastal towns is one of the best things to do in Corfu - GERARD PUIGMAL/Gerard Puigmal Theres more to Corfu than its comely beaches. Dig deeper and you will uncover many centuries of history in and around the cobblestoned old town capital, dating from antiquity to the present day. One of Greeces most lush islands, this Ionian jewel is made for hiking enthusiasts and there are marked trails everywhere you look. On the western and northern coasts strikingly sculpted cliffs, some bare and others verdant, plunge down to cerulean seas. Visit a functioning hilltop monastery that enjoys eye-wateringly beautiful sea views. In an isolated inland village see age-old olive groves and learn how to identify high quality extra virgin olive oil. For further Corfu inspiration, see our guides to the island's best hotels, restaurants, beaches and nightlife. Find things to do by area Corfu Old Town Peel back the layers of time Four centuries of Venetian rule mostly shaped the Old Town of Corfu into the Unesco World Heritage-listed stunner it is today. Lose yourself in the alleyways of the atmospheric Campiello neighbourhood, where laundry hangs between pastel-coloured dwellings; pay your respects to the isles patron saint at Agios Spyridon church; and linger in the shade of trees at a cafe in the elegant Liston Arcade. Insiders tip: Go for a sunset stroll along the coastal road from the old port past the Mouragia area and see neoclassical buildings bathed in golden light. Conclude your walk at sprawling Spianada Square, which comes alive with youthful laughter every evening. Corfu's picturesque Old Town was largely influenced by centuries of Venetian rule - carmengabriela Scale a fortress for unrivalled views Built by the Venetians in the 14th century and expanded by the British, the Old Fortress is strategically situated on a peninsula with twin craggy peaks at the mouth of the Adriatic Sea. Not only does it represent notable military engineering, but the views of the surrounding sea and Old Town from the taller of its two towers are spectacular. Insiders tip: When the weather is warm, join locals taking a dip at tiny Limanaki beach at the foot of the monument. Afterwards, enjoy a cool beer or juice at the nearby Corfu Sailing Club and admire the sailboats moored at Mandraki port. Contact: odysseus.culture.gr Prices: Head to the Old Fortress for mesmerising views of the Old Town and the glittering Adriatic Sea - Nick Brundle Photography/Nick Brundle Photography Unearth a rich culinary heritage For an in-depth exploration of Corfus Venetian-influenced culinary heritage, look to island-born and -raised siblings Ariti and Nausica Katsarou, who run engaging small group and private food tours of the Old Town. Down tiny backstreets youll meet gastronomic vanguards who explain how delicacies like cold cut nouboulo, a nod to Italian prosciutto, are produced. Reserve room for tasty meze and sweet delights from an old-school dairy. Insiders tip: If you visit during Easter, the Katsarou sisters will go into detail on the traditions involved in the islands colourful celebrations, such as pot-smashing. While youre there, pick up fogatsa or kolombina, two types of local brioche made for the annual holiday. Contact: corfuwalkingtours.com Prices: Visit a palace built atop an ancient city British Lord High Commissioner Sir Frederick Adam built a palace, later named Mon Repos, in 1831 as a summer residence for his Corfiot wife, Diamantina Palatianou. Today, the neoclassical villa functions as a museum comprising 14 halls, whose key attraction is a bounty of rare finds from the 8th century BC city of Paleopolis, the remnants of which are evident throughout the densely-vegetated estate. Insiders tip: With tall trees for shade, this is the perfect spot for a picnic on a hot summers day. Dont miss the Doric temple of Kardaki, one of Corfus best preserved ancient sites, and seek out the eponymous hidden beach nearby. Contact: odysseus.culture.gr Prices: Mons Repos was built as a summer residence by a 19th-century British governer, and now houses an exquisite collection of ancient artefacts - ankarb North-east Corfu Drop anchor in a secluded bay No visit to Corfu is complete without hiring a motorboat to explore the coastline at your own speed San Stefano Boats is one pick amongst many. The northeastern coast in particular is blessed with endless sheltered beaches, bays and coves, some of which are gloriously only accessible by sea. Find a tranquil location where you can dive into emerald waters before heading for lunch at a waterfront taverna. Insiders tip: Head north to the little-visited, thickly-forested Erimitis headland, an area of outstanding natural beauty. There youll come across a sextet of serene beaches and three small lakes. Keep an eye out for the Kaparelli lighthouse, built on a rocky islet. Contact: sanstefanoboats.com Prices: A motorboat excursion is among the most pleasant ways to explore Corfu's coastline a licence isnt required for vessels of up to 30 horsepower - DAVID C TOMLINSON Hike the Corfu Trail Hilary Paipeti is something of a local legend. In 2001, she established the Corfu Trail, the islands 137-mile (220km) waymarked route, after years spent exploring and discovering the diversity of the island's countryside and coastline. The trail, painstakingly documented in a book, extends from Arkoudilas in the south to Cape Agia Ekaterini in the north. Spring is ideal hiking season in Corfu. Insiders tip: Expert guides Alexandros Gogas and Dimitris Ionas, of Corfu Sea Land Activities, offer varied hiking experiences for all fitness levels. Theyll lead you through olive groves, past chapels, beneath mighty Mount Pantokrator and along cobbled footpaths. Contact: corfuactivities.com Prices: The Companion Guide to the Corfu Trail, ; Corfu Sea Land Activities, Dramatic views are guaranteed should you decide to walk the Corfu Trail - ankarb North-west Corfu Take in heavenly views from a monastery Wherever you stay in Corfu, the leafy resort town of Paleokastritsa is a must-see. Visit its hilltop monastery, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which was built in the 13th century. From there, take in jaw-dropping views of sweeping bays, coves and fertile bluffs that rise up from a turquoise Ionian Sea. There is a museum displaying rare Byzantine icons and relics, and a shop on-site too. Insiders tip: Morning mass, open to the public, is held 7am-8.30am and offers a moment for quiet contemplation before the cruise crowds show up. Wait until the monastery closes at 1pm to access the two main viewpoints, reached by a dirt path. Contact: imcorfu.gr Prices: Free The monastery at Paleokastritsa is a popular spot for its sweeping island views, but it can also provide a space for quiet contemplation - Hans-Georg Roth/Hans-Georg Roth Uncover a hidden lake Take a break from driving the islands winding roads and let Yiannis and Sakis, the guides behind X Adventure Club, show you around the Corfu they know and love on a six-hour jeep tour. Pick the northwest option, which takes in the villages of Lakones and Afionas, views of Paleokastritsa and Porto Timonis twin beaches, along with the dramatic spires of Cape Drastis. Insiders tip: Youll make a brief stop at Kavourolimni (Crab Lake), little known even among Corfiots. Surrounded by tall oak trees, this watering hole for local wildlife is home to freshwater crabs. In Spring the lakes shores are ablaze with wildflowers. Contact: jeepsafaricorfu.com Prices: Dive into living colour Corfu offers some of Greeces most spectacular scuba diving. Newbie and experienced divers will enjoy inspecting various dive sites with operatators such as Achilleon Diving, particularly on the western coast, offering visibility of up to 30 metres. Expect vibrant reefs, soft corals, caverns, caves, canyons, arches, steep drops, shipwrecks and narrow passages. Youre likely to encounter barracuda, moray eels, octopus, shrimp, grouper, crayfish and sea bream. Insiders tip: Dont miss out on Colovri islet with its two remarkable outer reefs teeming with marine life such as tuna, jacks, anthia and nudibranch. There is a precipitous drop, a swim-through and a coral-covered plateau at a depth of 40m. Contact: diving-corfu.com Prices: Varies between dive centres The reefs surrounding Corfu provide some of the very best dive sites in Greece - diving-corfu.com Northern Corfu Witness the beauty of a natural sculpture A 12-minute drive west of Sidari is Cape Drastis, a striking, untouched landscape of sheer sandstone cliffs shaped by the wind and aquamarine waters. Its more impressive than the tourist-clogged Canal dAmour and fewer people know of it or make the trek. Park your car and walk down a rough road to capture this incredible location, which is particularly worth viewing at sunset. Insiders tip: At the end of the road is minuscule Grava Cove, from where you can dive into cool, translucent waters from flat rocks. Alternatively, book a private boat tour with Sidari-based Fortuna Sea Tours, involving swim stops at Cape Drastis and Grava. Contact: fortunaseatours.com Prices: Ride a horse on mountain trails and beaches When it comes to horse riding in Greece, Corfu ticks all the boxes. Routes wind through olive groves, cypress, oak and pine forests and traditional villages down to beaches with sapphire waters. Choose from trail and beach rides, lessons and even swimming with horses. Whether youre a novice or experienced, Arena Horse Riding has a trusty steed at the ready, with names like Hermes and Dias (Zeus). Based near Perithia village, Katerina Maliaki and Ilias Siriotis lovingly maintain a herd of 21 horses, many of them rescues. The couple offers rides of between 10 minutes for young children and a full day. Insiders tip: Five-day horse riding holidays encompass natural horsemanship seminars and, for the advanced, show jumping and cross-country jumping. Contact: horseridingcorfu.com Prices: - The dramatic, sandstone formation at Cape Drastis is one of Corfu's most alluring natural sights - Milena Pigdanowicz-Fidera Southern Corfu Learn the secrets of olive oil Brothers Spyros and George Dafnis have single-handedly put Corfu and its Lianolia olive variety on the extra virgin olive oil map. Book a tasting tour of their estate, The Governor, and see how the third-generation olive oil producers have married tradition and technology to create premium EVOO. Youll visit olive groves, see a 15th-century mill and sample the exquisite golden elixir. Insiders tip: After learning how to recognise great olive oil, you can buy a limited edition early harvest oil, also available from The Olive House in Corfu Town, certified for its health-enhancing properties. Contact: thegovernor.gr Prices: You can book a tour of The Governor olive oil estate to learn more about the harvesting, processing and tasting of extra virgin olive oil East Corfu Follow in the footsteps of the Durrells The Durrells devotees shouldnt miss the opportunity to take in the illustrious filming locations of the much-loved series on a cinematic tour offered on private-basis only by The Corfu Experience. From the Kanoni peninsula, youll see the 17th-century Vlacherna Monastery and Mouse Island. Visualise Countess Mavrodaki strolling around Mon Repos Palace and a young Gerry examining the plant and bird species of Antiniotissa Lake. Insiders tip: Lunch is on the water at the White House in Kalami, where Lawrence Durrell and his wife Nancy resided in the 1930s. Peruse the faded photographs and treasured memorabilia gracing the elegant restaurants indoor section. Contact: thecorfuexperience.com Prices: Follow in the footsteps of the Durrells on Corfu Nearby islands Sail off into the sunset With its protected anchorages and calm waters, the Ionian Sea has long been a magnet for sailing enthusiasts. Schedule a day charter or week-long skippered sailing trip aboard 50-foot Icarus with Celebration Charters, run by Scottish couple Robert and Veronica Queen, and see what its like to cast across the big blue, powered by Aeolus. Insiders tip: The diminutive, lesser-known Diapontia islets of Erikoussa, Othoni and Mathraki, which lie north of Corfu, are a dream sailing destination. Sandy umbrella-free beaches, sleepy villages, herb-scented hills and an exotic aquamarine playground await. Contact: celebrationcharters.co.uk Prices: There's no finer way to visit Corfu's neighbouring Ionian islands than on a sailing cruise - Celebration Charters 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. We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. A good cocktail becomes unforgettable when you infuse it with a little smoke. If you're new to crafting smoke-infused cocktails at home, it's important to know the best spirits to experiment with. To help answer this question, Tasting Table spoke with Jordan Hughes, author of "Twist: Your Guide to Creating Inspired Craft Cocktails" and content creator behind @highproofpreacher. According to Hughes, one of the first steps to making bar-worthy smoked cocktails at home is to start with a matured, high-quality aged spirit. He elaborated, "Various forms of American whiskey, like rye or bourbon, are great for this and tend to be naturally complemented by smoky aromas and flavors." Bourbon, for example, ages in new charred oak barrels and absorbs the smoky flavors from the char. Smoke is naturally one of the 9 most common tasting notes in bourbon. However, Hughes doesn't want you to pigeonhole yourself with your selection of aged spirits. He added, "Feel free to experiment with others like aged rum or even cognac and brandy." If you need a refresher on liquors, we have an explanation and recommendation of the 13 liquors your home bar should have. Read more: The 27 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked Use Aged Spirits, But Avoid Smoking Fruity Or Creamy Cocktails smoked old fashioned cocktail - Marian Weyo/Shutterstock Now that we know we should choose aged spirits to experiment with smoking at home, let's dive into the types of cocktails we can craft with this knowledge. Jordan Hughes wants you to start with spirit-forward cocktails. He recommended, "Think like old fashioneds, Manhattans, or other cocktails that are composed of primarily spirit and don't contain citrus or fruit. This isn't a hard and fast rule, but smoke doesn't always go well with fruit." This makes sense, as a cutesy, sweet, sour, and smoke-infused lemon drop cocktail doesn't sound as sophisticated and appealing as a smoke-infused, spicy, and sturdy Manhattan (here's what's really in a Manhattan). There are certain cocktails Hughes feels you should never smoke. "A more strict guideline would be staying away from creams or cream liqueurs -- smoke really doesn't work for those at all." Now, if you're looking for a place to start smoking your cocktails, we have a smoky French 75 winter cocktail recipe for you to experiment with. Read the original article on Tasting Table Crispy fried chicken, spicy seasonings, and mouth-watering biscuits make it easy to see why people are so enamored with Popeyes. Formed in New Orleans in 1972, this fast food franchise has since expanded to a chain of over 3,000 restaurants across the United States and over 1,000 international locations, too. Popeyes must be doing something right with its menu since it has clearly increased in popularity over the years. But like many other fast food giants, Popeyes has made changes to its abundant menu selections over the years. This includes discontinuing some customer-favorite items that we wish would make a comeback to become a permanent fixture on the chain's menu -- or at least a limited-time offer so we could get a taste once again. Some agree heartily, going so far as to make petitions agitating for the return of some items while arguing for their comebacks on social media and other platforms. These changes are sometimes surprising, too; even the Chicken Po' Boy, based on a New Orleans staple, got 86ed after over a decade on the menu, disappearing from Popeyes locations back in 2019. Here's why we wish this and some other discontinued Popeyes menu items would come back. Read more: Ranking Fast Food Fried Chicken Sandwiches From Worst To First Cajun Rice Popeyes cajun rice - Kiss Your Cravings/Facebook While Popeyes offers a wide variety of side dishes, one used to stand above the rest: Cajun Rice. The rice dish consisted of garlic, celery, bell pepper, and cayenne, along with Cajun and Creole seasonings. People simply could not get enough of it. That's why it was a huge surprise to many when it suddenly disappeared from the menu in 2021 after over a decade there. Popeyes claimed that it was listening to customer feedback and making various changes to its menu, including the removal of a few different sides that apparently included the Cajun Rice. Fans of the missing side dish clearly disagree. In 2023, one even started a petition on Change.org asking the chain to bring the Cajun Rice back as a permanent menu item. The petition eventually garnered over 2,300 signatures, but it did not work as planned and the Cajun Rice is currently nowhere on the menu. At least the restaurant brought the fan-favorite side back for a limited time while celebrating its 50th anniversary. However, shortly after the promotion, it went missing once again. Big Easy Chicken Bowl popeyes storefront - Robert Way/Getty Images Introduced in 2008 for a whopping $3.49, the Big Easy Chicken Bowl was unlike anything else Popeyes then had on its menu. It was effectively a burrito bowl with a Cajun twist, consisting of red beans, rice, shredded cheese, and chicken served in a Cajun-inspired spicy gravy. Sour cream and hot sauce were optional add-ins to top off the meal. As with many other forms of burrito bowls, people could customize their order further to make their tastebuds happy. However, Popeyes discontinued it in 2015 after just a few short years. Why did the seemingly popular bowl go by the wayside? The powers that be are mum as to why the chain decided to remove the Big Easy Chicken Bowl from the menu. Neither does Popeyes seem to be interested in bringing it back anytime soon, even though it was one of the more interesting items offered at the restaurant. Chicken Waffle Tenders Chicken Waffle Tenders - Popeyes/Facebook In the summer of 2013, Popeyes took the quintessential Southern dish of chicken and waffles and decided to combine the two items, introducing Chicken Waffle Tenders to its menu. It was a potentially game-changing dish that customers just had to try. The tenders were no ordinary chicken fingers but were instead boneless chicken strips coated in waffle batter and then deep-fried to crispy perfection. The menu item was served with a honey maple dipping sauce. This was one hybrid food that was both sweet and savory and which people could actually get behind. Sadly, Chicken Waffle Tenders was a limited-time offer that did not last past the summer of 2013, even though a group of vocal customers wanted them to become a permanent fixture on Popeyes' menu. The tenders made a brief celebrity appearance in 2014 before disappearing again. As it stands, it does not look like Popeyes has any plans to bring back this particular discontinued menu item. Chicken Po' Boy Chicken Po' Boy - Underground Retail/Youtube Po' boy sandwiches are pretty synonymous with Louisiana, so it only made sense that Popeyes, a New Orleans-founded chain, once had just such a sandwich on its menu. That would be the Chicken Po' Boy, which came on the scene in 2003 and consisted of fried chicken tenders with pickles, lettuce, and mayonnaise piled into rather crunchy baguette. It was a staple menu item for years, but once the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich came into play, the Po' Boy was pushed to the wayside until it was discontinued altogether. While we must confess that the Po' Boy was pretty much nothing more than chicken tenders on a baguette with some toppings and condiments, the chain's take on a chicken sandwich is a larger chicken breast served on a brioche bun. That apparently intrigued customers quite a bit more So, after decades on the menu, the Chicken Po' Boy saw its last days at Popeyes in 2019. We can't help but think a revamped version of this could be a more unique entry in the ever-present fast food chicken sandwich wars. Garlic Butter Shrimp Guy holding a box of popcorn shrimp - RodrickEats/Youtube Cajun and Creole seasonings are pretty much a given when it comes to the food offered at Popeyes, where customers can expect at least a little spice when they walk away from the counter with a tray of food. Perhaps that's why people were curious (in a good way) when the chain's Garlic Butter Shrimp was introduced in 2011. For a solid $3.99, customers could enjoy deep-fried popcorn shrimp that had been tossed in a garlic butter sauce. It was an entirely different taste, compared to the typical seasoning flair one gets at Popeyes, but what's wrong with a little variation? Of course, it would not have been a Popeyes meal if there had not been some spice included. So, the Garlic Butter Shrimp was typically paired with Cajun fries, lending spice to complement the savory garlic butter sauce. While this particular shrimp dish was popular amongst customers when it was on the menu, it was only available for a limited time. As such, it was rather quickly discontinued, much to people's disappointment, as it was one of the few non-Cajun items available to order. Mardi Gras Cheesecake Popeyes Mardi Gras Cheesecake slice - Bailey Salicos / X With a fancy title like Mardi Gras Cheesecake, it only makes sense that this dessert from Popeyes looked straight out of an advertisement for a Fat Tuesday parade, complete with green, purple, and yellow sugar sprinkles on top and a graham cracker crust laced with nutmeg and ginger. This cheesecake was once a staple of the Louisiana-inspired fast food chain's menu, but it was discontinued around 2019. One X user went as far as to say that they will be mourning the loss of the Mardi Gras Cheesecake for the next few years. Then again, you may not be mourning if you don't have much of a sweet tooth, as other people found the cheesecake to be overly sweet. While the dessert is no longer part of the Popeyes menu, one TikTok user hopes that the restaurant will bring it back for a limited-time only special. We are going to embrace the positivity of that statement and wait for that to become a reality. Green Beans popeyes green beans in container - Kickin' it Keto / Facebook Popeyes delivered a one-two punch in 2021. The chain released a statement on X saying it was discontinuing not only its Cajun Rice but also Green Beans from the menu. The announcement came after Popeyes was put on the spot by emails from food publications, asking why the chain was quietly discontinuing select side dishes. The news that it was all due to customer feedback came as a shock to many since the Green Beans had been a staple side dish for decades, even if it was not as popular as others. Popeyes did not expand on the feedback, only noting that it was making changes to the menu in response. The thing is, these were no ordinary Green Beans. They were tossed in Cajun seasoning and covered in a thick, creamy bacon and ham gravy, something that is not seen in many restaurants. With many copycat recipes floating around, people can try to replicate Popeyes' Green Beans at home, but it may never be quite the same. Onion Rings popeyes onion rings - Andy Fortune / Facebook When it comes to a side dish, onion rings are a pretty safe bet at most restaurants, including Popeyes -- well, when onion rings were on the menu. While there is no definitive answer as to why the fried chicken chain opted to axe this side years ago, some theories are floating around. One is that Popeyes was changing its menu based on its customers' ever-shifting preferences, while another is that the onion rings were difficult to prepare and typically made to order. Internet sleuths agreed, with users noting that making onion rings at the chain was pretty labor-intensive, leading some to conclude that the side went away in favor of easier dishes that can be prepped and made ready to serve. Even so, quite a few were upset the chain discontinued its onion rings and wished the restaurant would bring them back as a permanent fixture on its menu. Bayou Buffalo Wicked Chicken Bayou Buffalo Wicked Chicken - Big J Reviews/Youtube With a name like Bayou Buffalo Wicked Chicken, Popeyes was sticking to its New Orleans roots. The $3.99 meal consisted of strips of juicy chicken prepped in a Buffalo marinade, tossed in Bayou Buffalo sauce, and served with a bleu cheese dip. The meal also included regular French fries and a biscuit. Hector Munoz, then the Vice President of Marketing at Popeyes, told Restaurant News Release in 2014 that the Bayou Buffalo Wicked Chicken "out-buffaloed the buffalo wing," a statement that was bound to get people interested in ordering what was marketed as a limited-time only menu item. Sadly, it was just that, a limited-time offer that people only had the chance to enjoy in January 2014. Since then, the Bayou Buffalo Wicked Chicken has not returned to the Popeyes menu, leaving customers with fond memories and a wish that these spicy wings would make a speedy return. Rip'n Chick'n man holds Rip'n Chick'n - RodrickEats/YouTube In 2011, Popeyes took a chicken breast and cut it into strips. Sounds simply, but the twist is that employees left a little piece attached to the base so customer could rip off portions and dunk them in sauce. Thus, the Rip'n Chick'n was born. This limited-time fried chicken meal was a stellar selling point for those of us who cannot seem to come to a decision on whether or not we should order chicken tenders or a fried chicken breast. The Rip'n Chick'n represented a solid middle ground between two otherwise popular meals. While this particular item was a limited-time deal, it's made a few surprise reappearances on the menu throughout the years. The most recent occasion happened back in 2021, when Popeyes re-introduced the Rip'N Chick'n as part of a $6 Big Box Combo deal, which came complete with two sides and a biscuit. Zatarain's Butterfly Shrimp Zatarain's Butterfly Shrimp meal - BrokenSphere / Wikimedia Commons What happens when Popeyes partners with a leading maker of New Orleans-style food? Delicious cuisine, that's what. In this case, Popeyes partnered with Zatarain's in 2012, a company that sells spices, seasonings, and a wide variety of frozen meals. The partnership between the New Orleans-based company and the fried chicken chain led to the creation of a limited-time Zatarain's Butterfly Shrimp menu item featuring Zatarin's spices on fried butterfly shrimp. The meal came with eight shrimp and served with french fries, a biscuit, and a tangy garlic dipping sauce to round it all out. Unsurprisingly, it became a popular choice for those customers who did not want fried chicken. According to Hector Munoz, Popeyes' Vice President of Marketing, Zatarain's Butterfly Shrimp was so popular that even Popeyes franchises were asking them to bring it back, if only for a limited time (via Nation's Restaurant News). Popeyes once again partnered with Zatarain's to create the popular fried butterfly shrimp dish, bringing it back in 2013 for a brief return. [Featured image by BrokenSphere via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 3.0] Loaded Chicken Wrap Loaded Chicken Wrapw - Popeyes Cayman Islands / Facebook There is nothing quite like the rivalry that happens between fast food joints. In response to a chicken wrap war that was allegedly brought on by fast food giants McDonald's and Burger King, Popeyes responded in 2009. Its entry: a Loaded Chicken Wrap that included chicken strips, red beans, and rice wrapped in a tortilla. Sounds pretty accessible, but the menu item was silently booted from the Popeyes menu. Customers were less than impressed when it happened and some rather loudly argued that this was a menu item that surely deserved being brought back from the dead. Some even enacted a protest of sorts, as when one commenter on Reddit said they stopped going to Popeyes after learning the Loaded Chicken Wrap got the boot. Some started a petition on Change.org to bring the wrap back, though it hasn't gathered much interest, with less than 500 signers. Sweet & Crunchy Tenders Sweet & Crunchy Tenders - Daym Drops/Youtube In what is surely one of its more inventive strategies, Popeyes added Sweet & Crunchy Tenders to its menu for a limited time in 2017. These tenders were unlike anything Popeyes served before (or likely what was on the menu of any fast food restaurant, for that matter). That's because the chicken tenders were breaded in shortbread cookie dough instead of Popeyes' typical chicken breading. They were then paired with a Smokin' Pepper Jam. It represented an interesting proposition for those who wanted a bit of sweetness in their lunch or dinner -- because who said you can't have dessert for dinner? However, reviewers and customers alike noted that the shortbread seasoning was pretty lackluster and didn't contain the sweetness or unique kick that some diners may have wanted. Then again, Popeyes is not exactly known for its healthy food options. Certainly, this 2017 gimmick demonstrates that it's not in the market for a healthier menu anytime soon. Still, we wouldn't mind seeing a revamped version of this bold meal hit the menu again. Read the original article on Mashed Fly into the past in a 1929 Ford Tri-Motor airplane at the Springfield Downtown Airport Passengers look out of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Ford Tri-Motor as it flies over a countryside. Next month, Springfieldians will have the opportunity to fly in an airplane manufactured in the 1920s. The Experimental Aircraft Association, or EAA, is bringing its Ford Tri-Motor Flight Tour to the Springfield Downtown Airport on May 23-26. Community members will have the chance to view and ride in the airplane. Tickets to ride are $99 for adults and $75 for children under the age of 17. Tickets can be purchased on the EAA website. Fewer than 10 "airworthy" Tri-Motors are in operation today, EAA Communications Specialist Drew Stephani told the News-Leader. For years, the airplane has traveled across the country for flight tours. Experimental Aircraft Association passengers enjoy a ride on the Ford Tri-Motor, an airplane manufactured in 1929. As for the flight experience, Stephani said it lasts about 30 minutes, which starts with a walk around the plane and an introduction to the pilot. In Springfield, this pilot will be retired airline pilot Bill Thacker, who has nearly 50 years of flying experience. The flight itself is about 15 minutes. On a good weekend with clear weather, about 50 flights can be conducted over a four-day period, Stephani said. The plane can carry eight passengers. The EAA considers the Tri-Motor to be an easy plane to board, with two normal-sized steps to enter the cabin. Seats are individual and separated by an aisle. Seatbelt extensions are available upon request. What makes a Ford Tri-Motor special? The Experimental Aircraft Association's Ford Tri-Motor flies near its home base in Oshkosh, Wisconsin Industrialist Henry Ford invented the Ford Tri-Motor airplane in the early 1900s. Commonly referred to as the "Tin Goose," the Ford Motor Company produced 199 Tri-Motors between 1926-1933, according to the EAA. The EAA's model 4-AT-E Tri-Motor was manufactured in 1929. Up until this time, commercial aviation in the United States was considered in its infancy and often dangerous, but Tri-Motors changed this. Though the EAA's Tri-Motor can only seat eight passengers, the airplane was considered the first "luxury" airliner with its three radial engines, Stephani said. All of a sudden, Americans were excited to fly. The year EAA's plane was manufactured, 1929, was a busy year for the Ford Tri-Motor. The Transcontinental Air Transport used Tri-Motors to inaugurate the United States' first regular coast-to-coast flight service and the United States military purchased Tri-Motors to use as transport aircraft, according to the San Diego Air & Space Museum. The same year, Commander Richard Byrd conducted the first successful flyover of the South Pole in a modified 4-A Tri-Motor. Along with the Tri-Motor's contributions to aircraft history, its technical specifications are one of a kind. Springfield Downtown Airport flight instructor Izzie Spinelli said in addition to the three radial engines, the airplane uses a tailwheel, meaning the wheel is underneath of the plane's tail. Most commercial airplanes feature two engines and a wheel at the front. Additionally, the gauges on the Tri-Motor are located in a unique spot. While most planes have a dashboard-like system that is similar to a vehicle, the Tri-Motor's gauges are out on the wings, Spinelli explained. Tri-Motors also feature traditional steering wheels, rather than yokes, which are the control columns that are in most modern airplanes. More: New OTC aviation repair program buys three airplanes, one helicopter for student training As for the EEA's 4-AT-E Tri-Motor, the airplane initially was the flagship of the Eastern Air Transport. It then ventured to Cuba, served the Dominican Republic and fulfilled a variety of tasks domestically, including firefighting and crop dusting, according to the EEA. After surviving a large thunderstorm in 1973, the airplane was restored by EAA staff, volunteers and Tri-Motor operators over a 12-year period. The Experimental Aircraft Association's Ford Tri-Motor flies over the fall colors in Wisconsin. The EAA received the airplane in 1985 the same year it returned to the sky. In addition to flight tours across the country, the EAA's Tri-Motor has also been featured in several films, including Jerry Lewis' "Family Jewels" and Michael Mann's "Public Enemies," starring Johnny Depp. During the Ford Tri-Motor Flight Tour, members of the Springfield Downtown Airport flight school will be on-site, showing off their own planes and fielding questions from the public. Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 1929 Ford Tri-Motor airplane to host rides in Springfield next month Way back when my beloved wife, Marsha, and I were very young and just starting our wonderful married life, we had a little gathering with our next-door neighbors in our tiny apartment. We had no money, so we served water and popcorn. A wedding gift, our popcorn popper was a dandy thing. It was a wok-shaped bowl with a heating element in the base. Wed dump a little oil in there, add some popcorn kernels, put the clear plastic cover on and delight in the sound, smell and sight of popcorn popping. Our guests were from Paraguay and spoke no English. My rudimentary skills in speaking and understanding Spanish relied heavily on saying mas despacio (SLOWER!) over and over and clinging tightly to a well-worn English-Spanish dictionary. Jim Whitehouse We had managed to build a friendship mostly without the use of language. This particular evening, however, required more than pointing, gesturing, making faces and guessing at Spanish words. You see, our guests had never seen popcorn being popped before. They had only purchased already-popped popcorn in Paraguay. They could not believe their eyes when I made that first batch. They wanted to know why a corn kernel would suddenly explode into a piece of popcorn. I wore out several pages of that dictionary trying to explain that water expanded 1,600 times when turned to steam, and how the molecular structure of the inside of a corn seed would be converted to a different form, etc. etc., etc. More recently, weve shared some pleasant evenings with a wonderful Brazilian woman named Maria who speaks no English. We speak no Portuguese. Maria radiates warmth, kindness and bakes fine desserts. Who needs to converse when there is a great dessert on the table? When I was in ninth grade, our family hosted a wonderful exchange student from Germany. He was an exceptionally bright guy who later became a college professor. Oddly, he had made the decision before arriving at our home to become as American as possible during his stay, so his European-style haircut, clothing, and glasses disappeared. He, like many young Europeans of that era, had a fascination with the American West, and particularly the cowboy life they saw in movies. By the time he flew back to Germany after a year, his English was perfect and nearly unaccented. He was wearing blue jeans, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. He told me later that he was seated on the airplane next to two attractive German gals his own age. He told them, in English, that he was a wealthy cattle rancher from Texas, even though the closest he had been to Texas was Lake Michigan. It was a long flight and after each bit of conversation, the two lasses would huddle up, giggling, and in German compare notes about their handsome and wealthy young Texan cowboy seat companion. Competition to see which one would end up marrying him was part of the talk. By this time, he was stuck in his lies and had to keep up the charade even though he understood every word of the girl-to-girl conversations. As they got off the plane in Frankfurt, he put on his best version of a Texas drawl and began his farewells. Unfortunately and totally by coincidence, who should be standing there just outside the airplane but his brother who was preparing to fly somewhere himself. The two brothers exchanged excited greetings after a year apart. In German. Two very red-faced girls slunk off through customs, leaving their fake Texas cowboy far, far behind. Jim Whitehouse lives in Albion. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Looking Out: What's popping between cultures, guests Zacapa and Luar designer Raul Lopez have collaborated on a collection that brings together fashion and spirits. Luars Ana bag which won Lopez the CFDA Award for Accessory Designer of the Year and brought Beyonce to the front row of the brands fall 2024 collection at New York Fashion Week inspired the Guatemalan rum brands kit that celebrates the Zacapa XO portfolio, a blend of rums aged 10 to 25 years thats finished in French oak casks. Unlike many rums that are made from molasses, Zacapa rums are made using the first press of sugar cane and fermented using a strain of yeast derived from pineapples, which enhances its aromas and flavors. raul lopez, zacapa, luar ana bag The Zacapa y Luar collection includes a custom shaker, cocktail spoon, linen cocktail napkins, glassware and leather petate coasters. Petate, which covers every bottle, is a woven art tradition in Central America; Zacapa employs over 700 women who produce the bands in Guatemala. The collaboration is available on reservebar.com beginning May 1. The hosting kit is priced at $760 and the decanter at $200. More from WWD raul lopez, zacapa, luar ana bag Zacapa has supported Lopezs talent before. In 2023, the rum brand became a partner of the Latin American Fashion Summit, which recognizes Latin American designers who are changing the face of the industry. Lopez, who is of Dominican heritage, was announced by Zacapa as the winner of the Visionary of the Year award. I am deeply honored to be recognized as the inaugural Visionary of the Year at the Latin American Fashion Summit, and very grateful to Zacapa for giving Latin creatives a new and thoughtful platform to reach new heights, Lopez said. We have exciting things to come and Im looking forward to sharing more with you. This partnership is not only a celebration of culture, but a testament to the power of community inspired by our roots. I cant wait to see our visions from the worlds of high fashion and spirits continue to come to life together. Beyonce attends the Luar fashion show during New York Fashion Week on Feb. 13. Launch Gallery: Celebrities Front Row at Luar Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear Show Photos Best of WWD New Mexicans encouraged to participate in City Nature Challenge ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) The City Nature Challenge has made its way back to the Albuquerque area. Throughout the weekend, the global initiative is calling for people to take photos of plants and wildlife around the city and share them online using the iNaturalist app. Participants are able to upload photos from around Beranalillo, Sandoval, and Valencia Counties. The idea behind the challenge is to collect find and document all kinds of wildlife observations and to help identify sightings from other participants. CDC report sheds light on HIV cases linked to vampire facials at former Albuquerque spa More than 400 cities across the world are participating in the ninth year of the event. The city will be holding a public walk led by UNM Biology at the Alameda Bosque Trail parking lot at 8 a.m. and at the Candelaria Nature Preserve at 1 p.m. Sunday. More information on the event can be found here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. MWCC to host workshop on the Black experience in the outdoor industry - why it's important The first known Black person to hike all 48 of New Hampshire's 4,000-foot peaks in the winter, Mardi Fuller, is returning to Mount Wachusett Community College to guide a discussion on the racist history of the outdoor industry. On Tuesday, April 30, at the MWCC Gardner campus, Fuller plans to talk about her experiences and obstacles she faces as a Black woman in the outdoor industry while creating a safe space for other people of color who enjoy the outdoors to reflect and build a sense of community. The workshop will start at noon and end at 2 p.m. Fuller has been a backcountry adventurer her whole life. She said she had been an avid hiker, skier, climber, swimmer, and outdoors enthusiast. In addition to her personal goals in the outdoor industry, she has intertwined her passion for racial justice by advocating for equitable access to natural spaces for all. Writer, activist, and outdoor enthusiast, Mardi Fuller, is once again invited to lead a workshop on the racist history of the outdoor industry on Tuesday, April 30 at the Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner campus from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Last year, the Black Outdoor workshop led by Fuller had 35 students attend. George LoCascio, an MWCC natural science professor, said the event is not only for environmental studies students but also open to the greater Gardner community. The college invited Fuller again, LoCascio said, because they believe conversations about racial equity should not just be done one-time but should be an ongoing discussion. Fuller said she would never pass an opportunity to educate future leaders and young people who will have careers in conservation, preservation, environmental education, as well as the outdoor industry. "Folks who came to the event last time really enjoyed it because it was eye-opening," He said. "The students really benefited greatly from it and also, it's a perspective that a lot of people might not be privy to." The college student-run club, the Green Society, uses the food and plants it grows in the college greenhouse to host farmer markets and plant sales fundraisers every semester, LoCascio said. The Black Outdoors speaker event is funded and hosted by the MWCC Green Society, International Center for the Promotion of Diversity and Inclusion, Three Pyramids Inc., Gateway to College, City of Fitchburg Human Rights Commission, Heywood Healthcare's DEI Committee, YWCA Central MA, MOC's Race Equity Committee, and CHNA9. What does the event offer? The Black Outdoors workshop will start with a 10-minute documentary called "Mardi and The Whites," which can be streamed for free at the documentary director Paula Champagne's website. The short documentary highlights Fuller's relationship with nature and journey through the White Mountains in NH. After the documentary, the workshop will move to the outdoor classroom space that is on the Gardner campus. Fuller said that is when the discussion and reflection portion of the workshop will be held. On Tuesday, April 30 at Mount Wachusett Community College's Gardner campus, racial justice advocate and outdoor enthusiast Mardi Fuller will lead a discussion on the racist and exclusionary history of the outdoor industry. The workshop will take place from noon to 2 p.m. "Black people and BIPOC people have historically lacked access to outdoor recreation and to participate in the conservation and preservation movements," she said. "This event is also for white people to recognize the racist history and to remind people of color to reclaim our right to feel a sense of belonging in the outdoors." Advice to local leaders and future leaders After students of color attend the workshop, Fuller said she hopes they will seek community in the outdoors through affinity groups like Outdoor Afro or Latino Outdoors. She said it's important for people of color in the outdoor industry to have that community and learn about the history of legacy leaders who have advocated for their right to access of the outdoors. Mardi Fuller, the first known Black person to hike all 48 of New Hampshire's 4,000-foot peaks, was invited to speak on her experiences as a Black woman in the outdoor industry at Mount Wachusett Community College on Tuesday, April 30 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Fuller said that local Greater Gardner leaders should examine their community's demographics and try to get to know those communities and their leaders. She said the key to building relationships with marginalized communities is to ask questions about what they need and learn to listen. "Rather than inviting people into an existing program, local leaders should establish relationships with marginalized communities so they can ask those communities what kinds of support they need to get out in nature," she said. This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Black Outdoor Workshop at Mount Wachusett Community College Celebrity chef Giada de Laurentiis knows a thing or two about Italian cooking. Yet even when cooking the classics, she has a few tricks up her sleeve, like making a chicken parm sans breading or a lasagna without layers. In her recipe for a 20-minute Bolognese, de Laurentiis continues with this tradition. She breaks up whole tomatoes with one common kitchen tool. That tool isn't a knife, nor is it a spoon. Rather, it's scissors, which snip those tomatoes in no time at all. Specifically, de Laurentiis uses baby cherry tomatoes from Southern Italy, which come small, but whole. The kitchen scissors therefore allow her to break each tomato into smaller chunks, helping to consolidate her Bolognese. After all, nobody wants whole tomatoes in what's supposed to be a sauce, so scissors bring the ingredients one step closer to a classic ragu. However, there's yet another reason de Laurentiis specifically uses scissors over other techniques. "Don't knock me; it's tradition," she explains in a Giadzy video. Indeed, scissors are commonly used in Italy. The Romans, for example, often cut pizza with scissors rather than a knife. To embrace the Italian technique for yourself, grab your own pair -- and a wooden mixing spoon. Read more: 26 Types Of Pasta Sauce Explained Scissors Aren't The Only Trick Up Giada De Laurentiis' Sleeve Bolognese sauce in pan and on wooden spoon - Zeljkosantrac/Getty Images Whether or not they're cut with kitchen scissors, canned tomatoes are the key to Giada de Laurentiis' expedited Bolognese. After all, the sauce is generally known to take some time; it's a recipe that requires simmering, and can cook for a few hours. De Laurentiis, however, speeds up this process by using canned cherry tomatoes, which don't require much time to cook. Specifically, she uses the brand Corbara. Once you've acquired your canned cherry tomatoes, you can start cooking. Cook onion, carrot, and garlic in olive oil over medium high heat. After seasoning, add ground beef and use a wooden spoon -- not scissors -- to break up the meat. Once that cooks, you can add your canned cherry tomatoes. Now's the time to use your scissors to break them up. Alternatively, you can use your wooden spoon. That option, however, is less fun though no less Italian. Finally, de Laurentiis seasons her tomato mixture with basil, a parmesan rind, and salt. After just 15 minutes, the sauce will come together -- and you can put your scissors back in the drawer. Read the original article on Tasting Table A few months ago, Tyler Schwab, a 33-year-old Wyoming native, was heading to New York to attend the trial of Angad Amit Beharry. Accused of pedophilia, he had paid a Venezuelan woman for pornographic videos that had been recorded in the Colombian province of Antioquia, in which this mother sexually abused her baby. Libertas International, the NGO that Schwab founded in 2013, was supporting the little survivor and her new caregiver. This is just one of several cases of sexual exploitation that Schwab tracks in Colombia. He gave up his medical studies to dedicate his life to the fight against the sexual exploitation and trafficking of girls in Latin America. In recent years, he has focused his NGOs efforts on survivors in Medellin, a Colombian city where several of his countrymen as he calls them have sexually exploited minors behind the false curtain of tourism. His organization has supported more than 80 girls over the last two years. In addition to providing support to victims, Libertas International applies pressure so that perpetrators especially those from the United States are made to face justice. In a hotel in western Bogota, Schwab speaks with EL PAIS about the scourge of sexual exploitation of minors in Colombia and the fight that lies ahead. Question. How did you learn of the sexual exploitation of minors in Latin America? Answer. When I was 19, I lived in the Dominican Republic as a missionary. There, I saw many girls on the streets with foreigners. At first, I didnt even understand what was happening but those images stayed in my head. I decided to go back. Upon returning, I understood the reality. I went to a brothel, where I found a pimp and a girl who was about 14. I paid to talk to her. She told me that her family was going hungry and that she had accepted a job offer to be a waitress. Afterwards, she was forced to sleep with men, because the pimp threatened to take advantage of her younger sister if she didnt: 80% of the earnings went to that man. I was very shocked and wanted to talk to her the next day, but they had already moved her. I never found out what happened to her. I spent two weeks talking to victims in the Dominican Republic. Some were immigrants, there were trans boys others were from Venezuela, some had their documents taken away. This made me understand what was happening and I decided to change my life. I wanted to try to support them. Q. After those meetings, what did you do? A. I left my medical studies and underwent training on human trafficking. From there, I started working on prevention, then intervention and aftercare. Libertas International was formally born in 2013. I started working in the Dominican Republic. Then, I began to get calls about cases in Guatemala and Peru. An agent from HSI (Homeland Security Investigations, the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, responsible for transnational crime) contacted me. She told me: We have a case and I want to introduce you to a girl. They told me that they had found her in an Airbnb with a guy, who had been sent to prison. The man, Victor Galarza, raped girls, trafficked them and shared their images online. He was convicted in June of 2022. [The girl] was the first survivor I supported in Medellin. When I got there, everything changed. That case made me very angry. I decided that I wanted to dedicate 100% of my time to helping girls in Colombia who have been victims of Americans. Q. What characterizes sexual exploitation in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Colombia? A. Each country has particularities. Theres sexual tourism everywhere although I dont like that term, because theyre not tourists. Theyre criminals pedophiles who travel. In the Dominican Republic, I found many families who were selling their children. That also happens here in Colombia. In Guatemala, there were gangs like MS-13 and Barrio 18, which were selling girls and women. In Colombia, some girls have been victimized by the FARC and the ELN, but in Medellin, we mostly find lots of gringos who take advantage of girls, so that they can rape them. They leave them with sexual diseases, with horrible trauma. The videos [of the rapes] are posted online. Many return to the United States as if nothing has happened. That fills me with anger. The gringos who use Colombian girls who are victimized by my countrymen make me very angry. Q. Your organization has 32 open investigations into Americans who have engaged in acts of sexual exploitation in Medellin. Why do you think theyre coming to the city? A. Its a very good question. Ive thought a lot about that, including last year, when the Colombian [National] Police gave me an award. In my speech, I could only ask for forgiveness [for the crimes committed by] my countrymen. Colombia has suffered from the addictions that gringos have: drugs and sex, including sex with minors. I wonder whats on their mind I really dont know. Theyre pedophiles. I dont think we can get to the point of knowing how a person can travel to another country and think that, just because there are vulnerable people around, he has the right to do whatever he wants with them. Q. Whats your opinion regarding how the authorities and Colombian society have handled this situation? A. Weve had difficulties with some prosecutors. For example, recently, a prosecutor was asking for more victims in a case: we needed five, because four werent enough to open an investigation. That seemed very wrong to me. It was like hearing that, in Colombia, the first four rapes are free theyre on the house while the fifth isnt. Theres a big problem there. One victim is always more than enough. Q. Sometimes theres talk of child prostitution: its believed that minors arent being exploited, because theyre agreeing to have relationships. Do you think that, in Colombia, sometimes the victims arent even recognized? And that theyre even treated as victimizers? A. That happens a lot. Even the girls [who are being exploited] often dont recognize it. But you have to go further you have to open your heart. If a child is having sex, theres something behind it. Thats why we have to change the way we talk about the subject. Q. The Office of the Attorney General of Colombia has records of nearly 8,000 minors who have been victims of crimes related to sexual exploitation in the last five years... A. I think thats a very low figure. We receive a new case every 15 days. In the last two years, weve served more than 80 girls in Medellin alone. Weve also handled cases in Cartagena, Cali, Bogota, La Guajira and Cucuta. Additionally, there are cases of Colombians outside the country. For example, two years ago, in the Dominican Republic, there was a giant operation where 83 Colombian women were rescued. And, last year, there was another large action in Greece. We know of many girls who are exploited by the Tren de Aragua (a major transnational Venezuelan criminal organization). Given this reality, the numbers are low. Q. In most of the cases that Libertas International knows of, American citizens are involved. Why is that? A. First of all, theres widespread sex addiction. Pornography has never been more accessible. In the U.S., its consumed a lot. In addition, there are groups and networks to talk about how to get girls. Its just a matter of time before predators travel to other countries to commit crimes. Many live a double life: there are police officers, teachers, and professionals [who are] pedophiles and abusers. I think racism is also a factor. Many think that a Colombian girl is worth less than an American one. That happened in the case of a teacher from Texas, who had a girl in his house and according to her he had never touched her. [But in Colombia], he used drugs and raped girls he made them feel as if they were going to die. Q. You often attend the trials against these individuals. What do you observe in their behavior? A. Seeing the fear on their faces impacts me a lot. Theyre cowards who look for little girls to exploit. But when those girls have the support of women, journalists, police, or prosecutors, [the abusers] are no longer as strong as they think when theyre taking advantage of those girls. Q. One of your goals is to push for justice for survivors. How does your organization do this? A. Weve found very good police officers in Colombia and the United States who, from time to time, require funds to do their job effectively. For example, if were in Medellin and the police officers we work with are in Bogota, we pay for their trips, so that they can interview the girls and make an arrest. When an interpreter is needed, we pay for this service, so that the arrest is properly done. Mervin, our director of justice, knocks on the prosecutors door here [in Colombia]. In the U.S., we work with the Department of Justice to ensure that the girls are heard in court. If they cant go, they at least write a letter for the judges to read. We also fight for restitution: we want the exploiters to pay for the girls therapy and other expenses they may have. For example, we have a case in which a man tattooed his name on the back of a survivor. We want him to pay to remove that tattoo. Thats very important for victims. Q. How do you ensure that survivors break the chains of exploitation? A. We focus on building and supporting their life projects what they want and what it takes to achieve them. Ninety percent of the girls we support dont return to that life. Those who do break our hearts but theres always the offer that they can come back whenever they want. Q. What changes should Colombia implement to combat the exploitation of minors? A. We must hit the bad guys with very strong sentences, take away all their money and show their faces everywhere. They have to know that the police and the Office of the Attorney General are going to put them in prison even if theres only one victim and that theyre going to be labeled as pedophiles for life. That theyre going to have nothing in their bank accounts and that theyll live in a Colombian prison for 30 years. On the preventive side of things, we need to invest in education. In the United States, we also have to ask ourselves what were doing to prevent this from continuing to happen. Q. What motivates you to continue this fight? A. Sometimes its hard. When we remove one [sexual abuser], two more appear. Im motivated by survivors. Their messages of love and affection show that our work means something. Q. Whats the next step for Libertas International? A. Were going to continue expanding. I want to support those whove been victims of Americans in Cartagena, Cali, Bogota, anywhere. Id also like to reach countries like Haiti and Mexico, but always without neglecting what weve achieved in Medellin. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Shamrocks made by children from a kindergarten hang at the assembly point of the emergency services searching for a missing six year old boy. Daniel Bockwoldt/dpa The largest search operation to date for a 6-year-old boy with autism who went missing in northern Germany nearly a week ago was carried out on Sunday. Police, soldiers, firefighters, members of the THW civil protection agency and hundreds of volunteers banded together to scour an area centred near Bremervorde, a town to the west of Hamburg. In all, about 1,200 people took part in the hunt for the boy named Arian. But by evening there was still no sign of him. Arian left his parents' house alone on Monday evening. A surveillance camera filmed the boy running towards a neighbouring forest. The family home is in Elm, a small outlying community of Bremervorde. The search zone, which had previously focused on the area around Elm, was extended on Sunday to more remote locations. As part of the efforts, a 1.5-kilometre-wide human chain moved from north to south toward Elm. Boats, drones and search dogs were deployed, while the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) and the fire brigade searched ditches and pipes. Around 60 soldiers with night vision goggles also took part. "The large number of forces" that were deployed on Sunday "shows that we still have hope," said a police spokesman. Investigators have said there are no indications of foul play in Arian's disappearance and that the search will continue on Monday. Arian is autistic and his family says he does not always 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. Police divers have also searched the nearby Oste river. Emergency vehicles from the German Armed Forces arrive to continue the search for the missing six-year-old Arian from Elm. Lars Penning/dpa KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Johnson County Sheriffs Office responded to a two-vehicle crash on Sunday morning that left one person dead and another with serious injuries. New Chiefs stadium on the list of options after failed tax vote The crash occurred at 3:15 a.m. on Interstate 35 near Edgerton Road. According to reports from the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2021 Jeep Gladiator with Florida license plates drove in the opposite direction of traffic southbound on the interstates northbound lanes and hit a tractor-trailer head-on. KHP said the driver of the Jeep, 27-year-old Mathew Karabas from Monroe, New Jersey, was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, while the passenger, 22-year-old Eric Diaz from Melbourne, Florida, was killed in the crash. According to KHP, the driver and passenger of the tractor-trailer had no apparent injuries. 2 with non-life-threatening injuries after train derails in KC: police Northbound Interstate 35 was closed for many hours afterward. However, by 12:45 p.m., Johnson County Sheriffs reported it was back open. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. DENVER (KDVR) One person was taken to a local hospital after suffering multiple stab wounds at a bus stop in Commerce City on Sunday at around 7:30 a.m., according to police. The persons injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, and the victim is expected to survive. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather The incident happened in the area of 56th Avenue and Quebec Street. Police confirmed that it happened at a bus stop. Police released photos of a person of interest in the attack and asked for the publics help identifying him. On Monday morning, the Commerce City Police Department provided an update that the person of interest was located and taken into custody. Anyone with information is asked to contact the citys tip line at 303-289-3626. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. A 16-year-old was booked into the Juvenile Detention Center after allegedly shooting 10 people at the Cabana Live restaurant in Sanford, Fla., shortly after midnight on Saturday, the Seminole County Sheriffs Office said. Deputies responded to the restaurant located at 4380 Carraway Place to conduct an area patrol due to the venue hosting a large crowd, SCSO said. Upon arrival, deputies heard multiple gunshots originating from the back of the establishment, prompting the dispersal of the crowd. It was determined that several patrons had sustained gunshot wounds, and a security officer for the business had successfully apprehended the shooter, SCSO said. SCSO said the incident began as a verbal altercation that escalated, leading to the gunfire. It resulted in a total of 10 victims sustaining non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, primarily to their lower extremities. The 16-year-old, whom the Orlando Sentinel is not naming because he was not charged as an adult, was charged with attempted homicide, firing a weapon in public property, use and display of a firearm during a felony and possession of a firearm by a minor. _____ TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Ten people were shot outside a Florida bar early Sunday morning, according to authorities, and a teenager has been taken into custody. Deputies in Seminole County were called to the Cabana Live in Sanford just after midnight for a crowd outside the bar, local outlet WESH reported. A security guard tackled and disarmed the shooter almost immediately, and a second guard handcuffed him until sheriffs deputies arrived, according to an arrest report from the Seminole County Sheriffs Office. A total of 10 people were hurt in the shooting, suffering non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies said most of the victims, treated at a local hospital, were shot in the lower body. A 16-year-old has been taken into custody, according to the sheriffs office. He was charged with attempted homicide, firing a weapon in a public place, using a firearm during a felony, and illegal possession of a firearm by a minor. Climber dies after 1,000-foot fall on Alaska peak Witnesses told law enforcement the shooting started after a fistfight broke out at the venue, about 20 miles north of Orlando. Someone who wasnt involved in the melee drew a handgun and began firing toward a crowd of people, the arrest report said. Two deputies who were assisting private security at the venue arrived soon after and arrested the teenager. The arrest report said they also recovered a 9mm handgun and spent shell casings that matched the bullets in the guns magazine. A post on the Facebook page for Cabana Live said it was holding a private event when the shootings occurred and all of its employees were safe. A woman who answered the phone there Sunday afternoon said no one had further comment. We are cooperating with the Seminole County Sheriffs Office and praying for all those involved, the social media post said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. 16 states and DC have active guaranteed basic income programs that give residents cash, no-strings-attached New York City is one of many areas across the country offering guaranteed basic income to low-income residents. joSon/Getty Images Guaranteed basic income programs can help low-income participants afford necessities like rent. Over 100 US cities and counties have tried GBI, offering cash for housing and groceries. Despite legislative opposition, basic income programs remain active across the country. Ingrid Sullivan, 48, used her cash from the San Antonio guaranteed basic income program to rent a home where her grandchildren can play in the yard. And Atlanta resident Shamarra Woods, 31, used her basic income to pay bills and afford day care for her toddler. For 46-year-old Jennette Fisher, $500 a month allowed her to sign an apartment lease in a quiet Chicago suburb with her daughter. "It took such a weight off," Fisher previously told Business Insider. "If I wouldn't have had that money, I don't know what would have happened." Guaranteed basic income has become an increasingly popular poverty-solution strategy in US cities. Over 100 municipalities have tried the GBI model since 2019, offering low-income participants between $50 and $2,000 a month, no strings attached, for a set time period. What makes basic income different from traditional social services is the element of choice. Participants told BI they spent the money where they needed it most: on housing, groceries, transportation, and debt repayment. Typically, participants fall below the federal poverty line. However, some programs have also focused on specific populations such as new and expecting mothers, households with children, or people experiencing homelessness. Basic income pilots have been completed in cities and counties in Alabama, Virginia, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Oklahoma, and more. GBI continues to face legislative opposition from Republican lawmakers who have called the programs "socialist" and say they discourage low-income people from entering the workforce. For example, Iowa passed a ban on GBI in April, and the Arizona House of Representatives voted to ban basic income in February. On April 23, the Texas Supreme Court placed a temporary block on a Houston-area program that the attorney general called "unconstitutional." Despite these political challenges, basic-income programs continue to be active across the country. Here's a breakdown of states, listed in alphabetical order, where cash payments being offered to low-income residents. California Los Angeles. LPETTET/Getty Location: Los Angeles Program name: Breathe Duration: June 2022 - August 2025 Income amount: $1,000 every month for three years Number of participants: 1,000 low-income households Location: Long Beach Program name: Long Beach Pledge Duration: Spring 2024 - spring 2025 Income amount: $500 a month for 12 months Number of participants: 200 low-income households with children Location: Mountain View Program name: Elevate MV Duration: December 2022 - December 2024 Income amount: $500 a month for 24 months Number of participants: 166 low-income parents Location: Sonoma County Program name: Pathway to Income Equity Duration: January 2023 - January 2025 Income amount: $500 a month for 24 months Number of participants: 305 low-income families Location: Pomona Program name: Pomona Household Universal Grants Pilot Duration: Summer 2024 - spring 2026 Income amount: $500 a month for 18 months Number of participants: 250 low-income families with children under 4 years old Location: Humboldt County Program name: Humboldt Income Program Duration: On a rolling basis, beginning December 2023 Income amount: $920 a month for 18 months Number of participants: 150 low-income pregnant people Previous basic income pilots have been run in Stockton, San Francisco, Marin County, Sacramento, Compton, Oakland, Santa Clara, San Diego, and more. In 2021, the state pledged $35 million for more GBI pilots over five years, and a bill being heard in the California Senate could provide GBI starting in August 2025 for students experiencing homelessness. Colorado Denver. milehightraveler / Getty Images Location: Denver Program name: The Denver Basic Income Project Duration: November 2022 - summer 2024 Income amount: Participants were divided into three groups: One receives $1,000 a month for a year; another receives $6,500 up front and then $500 a month from there; and another gets $50 a month. Number of participants: 800 unhoused individuals Location: Boulder Program name: Elevate Boulder Duration: January 2024 - January 2026 Income amount: $500 a month for two years Number of participants: 200 low-income households Georgia Atlanta. Sean Pavone / Getty Images Location: Atlanta, southwest Georgia, and the City of College Park Program name: In Her Hands Duration: First pilot was 2022 - 2024, second pilot began spring 2024 Income amount: Average payments of $850 a month over 24 months for the first round Number of participants: 650 low-income Black women Illinois Chicago. Allan Baxter / Getty Images Location: Cook County Program name: The Cook County Promise Duration: December 2022 - December 2024 Income amount: $500 a month for 24 months Number of participants: 3,250 low- to moderate-income families Location: Evanston Program name: Guaranteed Income Program Duration: First round ran December 2022 - December 2023, second round begins summer 2024 Income amount: $500 a month for one year Number of participants: 150 low-income families Location: Statewide Program name: Empower Parenting with Resources Duration: fall 2024 - fall 2026 Income amount: Monthly payments for a year dependent on each participant's income and local cost of living Number of participants: 400 families involved in the child welfare system Chicago previously ran the Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot, providing basic income for 5,000 residents, and has set aside $32 million to relaunch the program. Open AI CEO Sam Altman also sponsored a GBI program beginning in 2019 that gave 3,000 Texas and Illinois residents $1,000 a month for three years. Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana Davel5957/Getty Images Location: Indianapolis Program name: Rooted School: $50 Study Duration: Two phases, running fall 2022 - summer 2024 Income amount: $50 a week for the 40-week academic year Number of participants: Over 450 high school students between New Orleans and Indianapolis pilots An earlier GBI program in Indianapolis gave 15 participants $500 monthly for 18 months ending in spring 2022. Iowa Des Moines, Iowa f11photo / Getty Images Location: Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties Program name: UpLift The Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot Duration: May 2023 - spring 2026 Income amount: $500 a month Number of participants: 110 low-income households Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana Peter Unger / Getty Images Location: New Orleans Program name: Rooted School: $50 Study Duration: Two phases, running fall 2022 - summer 2024. The city has set aside funding to expand program over the next three years. Income amount: $50 a week for the 40 week academic year Number of participants: Over 450 high school students between New Orleans and Indianapolis pilots A previous program in Shreveport gave 110 single parents $660 monthly for a year ending in February 2023. The New Orleans Guaranteed Income Program also gave 125 young people disconnected from work or school $350 monthly between spring 2022 and spring 2023. Massachusetts Somerville, Massachusetts. DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images Location: Somerville Program name: The Somerville Guaranteed Basic Income Program Duration: July 2024 - July 2025 Income amount: $750 a month for 12 months Number of participants: 200 low-income families Basic income programs were previously run in Boston, Chelsea, and Cambridge. Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan. pawel.gaul / Getty Images Location: Ann Arbor Program name: Guaranteed Income to Grow Ann Arbor Duration: January 2024 - December 2025 Income amount: $528 a month for 24 months Number of participants: 100 low-income entrepreneurs Location: Flint Program name: Rx Kids Duration: January 2024 - spring 2025 Income amount: $1,500 lump sum, then $500 monthly payments during the first year of a baby's life Number of participants: 1,200 new and expectant mothers Mississippi Jackson, Mississippi SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images Location: Jackson Program name: Magnolia Mother's Trust Duration: 12 months per pilot, ongoing Income amount: $1,000 a month Number of participants: Over 400 low-income Black mothers since fall 2018 Missouri St. Louis. Art Wager / Getty Images Location: St. Louis Program name: STL Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Duration: Fall 2023 - spring 2025, but a lawsuit temporarily blocked payments in July Income amount: $500 a month for 18 months. Number of participants: 540 low-income families with children New York New York. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images Location: New York City, Rochester, and Buffalo Program name: The Bridge Project Duration: June 2021 - ongoing Income amount: Up to $1,000 a month for three years Number of participants: 1,200 low-income mothers Location: Hudson Program name: HudsonUP Duration: Five years, with staggered cohorts launched in fall 2020, 2021, and 2023 Income amount: $500 a month for 5 years Number of participants: 128 households A 17-month program in Ulster County that provided basic income to 100 households ended in September 2022, and another program in Ithaca gave a full year of cash payments to unpaid caregivers through May 2023. The nonprofit Creative Rebuild New York also ran an 18-month GBI pilot for artists impacted by the pandemic, which ended in early 2024. Oregon Portland. David Gn Photography / Getty Images Location: Portland Program name: Black Resilience Fund Duration: January 2023 - spring 2026 Income amount: Up to $2,000 a month for three years Number of participants: 25 Black households in Multnomah county This November, Oregonians will also vote on a universal basic income proposal to give all state residents $750 a year through taxing corporations. Pennsylvania Philadelphia. Jon Lovette / Getty Images Location: Philadelphia Program name: PHILHousing+ Duration: Fall 2022 - spring 2025 Income amount: $89 to $2,079 a month for 30 months, depending on household income Number of participants: 300 renter households from the Philadelphia Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher or public housing waitlist Location: Philadelphia Program name: Philly Joy Bank Duration: Launched summer 2024 Income amount: $1,000 a month for 18 months Number of participants: 250 low-income pregnant people Texas San Antonio. Adam Jones/Getty Images Location: San Antonio Program name: UpTogether San Antonio Duration: Summer 2023 - December 2024 Income amount: $500 a month for 18 months Number of participants: 25 low-income families Location: Harris County Program name: Uplift Harris Duration: Initially scheduled to begin in April 2024, but delayed because of the Texas Supreme Court ruling Income amount: $500 a month for 18 months Number of participants: 1,928 low-income households An earlier San Antonio program offered $5,108 to 1,000 families over a 25-month period that began in December 2020. The Austin Guaranteed Income Pilot also gave participants $1,000 a month ending in May 2023. Additionally, Altman's GBI program that began in 2019 gave 3,000 Texas and Illinois residents $1,000 a month for three years. Virginia Richmond, VA SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images Location: Richmond Program name: Richmond Resilience Initiative Duration: Several cohorts, beginning October 2020 - spring 2025 Income amount: $500 a month for 24 months Number of participants: 94 low-income families with children Location: Alexandria Program name: Alexandria Recurring Income for Success and Equity Duration: Spring 2023 - spring 2025 Income amount: $500 a month for 24 months Number of participants: 170 low-income individuals Washington DC Washington DC. Wasin Pummarin/Getty Images Location: Washington DC Program name: CashRx Duration: November 2023 - fall 2024 Income amount: Participant's choice, an average of $1,400 a month Number of participants: 10 low-income individuals participating in the nonprofit Bread for the City's healthcare program. A previous pilot in DC THRIVE East of the River provided basic income to 500 low-income households between 2020 and 2021. Is there an active basic income program that isn't on this list? Have you benefited from a basic income program? Reach out to this reporter at allisonkelly@businessinsider.com. Correction: April 29, 2024 An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the end date of the Guaranteed Income to Grow Ann Arbor program. Read the original article on Business Insider 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? MADISON, Wis. Thomas Lang, 61, is white, deeply Catholic and opposes abortion. Each one of us has a beginning, and that unique beginning is conception, Lang said. And I would go back to the lack of personhood in slavery and how that personhood can be manipulated. And Im saying, no, that child has rights. And yet we are going to allow for the killing, murder, because of this, this and this. Anti-abortion activists and legal scholars in the U.S. increasingly argue that denying the personhood of all unborn life is akin to slavery. Its a comment that doesnt sit well with the women of color in this room of people with different beliefs about abortion, including some with their own traumatic pregnancy experiences. The women repeatedly point out that white supremacy and racism are well rooted in every aspect of American life, including reproductive health care. Ali Muldrow, who is Black, a mother of three girls, and runs an abortion fund in Wisconsin, told the group that the so-called father of gynecology, J. Marion Sims, invented tools like the speculum and surgical techniques after torturing enslaved women in horse stables. As someone who faced painful and medically complex pregnancies, Muldrow, 36, pointed out repeatedly that Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than white women, and more likely to experience criminalization because of their pregnancies. She said she was temporarily jailed while pregnant with one of her daughters after being beaten by an abusive boyfriend. Muldrows first pregnancy was at 16, and she hired a lawyer to be able to have an abortion as a minor. She said she doesnt regret that abortion or the one she had at 18, or her subsequent decisions to parent despite the varying medical, social, and economic perils she sometimes faced. But shes firm that these were her decisions to make, and rejected Langs personhood argument. Our personhood is invalidated every day, Muldrow said. My health matters, and its a factor throughout the entirety of a pregnancy. My body as a tool for breeding, like a cattle animal that can be bred and forced to have kids, is something Im really against, because Im against slavery. In this room at a historic space in Wisconsins capital city, 14 people from around the state have been recruited to find common ground on abortion amid their deeply divergent stances. The Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being is an experiment designed by Starts With Us, a nonprofit civic organization whose mission is to try to effect change through citizen solutions and show that people on opposite sides of controversial issues can come to a mutual understanding when they engage in guided mediation. Founded in 2021, Starts With Us launched its first project last year on gun rights and safety in Tennessee, following a deadly school shooting in Nashville. KIND Snacks founder and Shark Tank entrepreneur Daniel Lubetzky has said that, as the son of a Holocaust survivor, he was motivated to co-found this nonprofit to address toxic polarization and extremist thinking. Other founding partners include renowned chef Jose Andres, civil rights activist Bernice King, and hip-hop artist will.i.am. 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) 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 Maine Morning Star. Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (3) in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. Dell was among ten people who sustained non-life-threatening injuries in a Florida shooting Saturday night. Photo by John Sommers II/UPI April 28 (UPI) -- A 16-year-old male is in custody after shooting 10 people during an altercation that turned into a shooting at a venue near Sanford, Fla., early Sunday, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office said. An NFL player was among the victims. Police responded to an event venue known as Cabana Live, prompted by a large gathering at the location, according to sheriff's deputies. The NFL's Houston Texas Wide receiver Tank Dell was among those who were injured in the shooting incident, the team said. He was examined at a local hospital and later released, according to the team. Just after midnight, police heard gunshots coming from behind the building and upon investigating found the crowd had been dispersed by the gunshots, but that 10 people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting. Police identified 16-year-old Christopher Bouie Jr., as the suspect and booked him into a juvenile detention center, the sheriff's office said. Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was among ten people who sustained non-life-threatening injuries in a Florida shooting Saturday night. Dell is shown here in a 2023 game against the Bengals. Photo by John Sommers II/UPI Investigators said the event started as a verbal altercation but grew more hostile. Bouie's arrest report said the teen was not originally involved in the skirmish but then "turned around and pulled out a black and silver handgun (9mm) and began shooting towards a crowd of people." Local news media opted to name Bouie, while a minor, due to the severity of the charges. His arrest report said Bouie faces charges of "possession of a firearm by a minor, use and display of a firearm during a felony, firing a weapon on public property, and attempted homicide." The report said the officer who detained Bouie was able to do so almost immediately and quickly disarm him. Several of the people who were shot by Bouie have said they intend to press charges, according to the report. Cabana Live responded on social media. "As most of you have heard, there was an incident outside our establishment last night. We are cooperating with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office and praying for all those involved," a statement on the Cabana Live Facebook page said. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) A prescribed burn is taking place on Sunday in Washington County, Tennessee near the Unicoi County line. James Heaton with the U.S. Forest Service told News Channel 11 that the burn will consist of around 2,000 acres in the Cherokee National Forest on the south side of Washington County near the Unicoi County line. VIDEO: Trio of black bears visits Kingsport home Heaton said residents and drivers will likely see smoke and helicopters in the area all day on Sunday. Prescribed burns help reduce the risk of wildfire by mitigating fuel (leaves, dry foliage) buildup, and enhancing the health of the forest, among other benefits, Heaton said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. 2 dead, 1 hurt after 350,000-pound load detaches from 18-wheeler and pins vehicle in Texas Two people are dead and one person is in critical condition after an oversized load disconnected from an 18-wheeler Saturday and pinned a vehicle beneath it in Temple, Texas. Emergency crews responded to the incident about 90 minutes north of Austin at 11:20 a.m. and found the load which weighed 350,000 pounds on top of a vehicle carrying three people at the intersection of Highway 36 and 317, according to Temple Fire & Rescue's Facebook page. The Temple Police Department was also called to the scene. It took EMS four hours to safely remove the driver of the vehicle. He was then flown to Baylor Scott & White Health with life-threatening injuries, officials told USA TODAY. Police told USA TODAY that an investigation is still underway but declined to comment further. Police ask that anyone with information regarding the incident call the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500 or the Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477, which does accept anonymous tips. Tips can also be sent anonymously through bellcountycrimestoppers.com. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2 dead,1 hurt after 350,000-pound load pins vehicle on Texas highway 2 with non-life-threatening injuries after train derails in KC: police KANSAS CITY, Mo. Early Sunday morning, a Union Pacific Railroad train derailed in Lees Summit, Missouri, leaving two people with non-life-threatening injuries. New Chiefs stadium on the list of options after failed tax vote According to reports from Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte and a news release, officers and the Lees Summit Fire Department (LSFD) were dispatched to a train derailment between Rhinehart Road and northwest Colbern Road near Unity Village. Upon arrival, LSFD found approximately 12-20 rail cars of the 144-car train on their side, the release said. Train Derailment At 12:40am deputies dispatched to a train derailment on 87th street, near Colbern. The engine car pulling the train derailed, with no serious injuries reported. Union Pacific personnel will investigate the incident. @JacksonCountyMO @KansasCity @cityofLS pic.twitter.com/utd9Wu51xf Darryl Forte' (@sheriffforte) April 28, 2024 At the time, no injuries were reported. However, upon further investigation, the release said the engineer and conductor did sustain non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a hospital. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android LSFD said no fire or hazardous materials were present on the scene. After assessing the damage, the fire department left as Unity Village city officials and the Union Pacific Railroad began cleaning up the derailment. According to LSFD, the Carl Chinnery Nature Trail is closed, but all of the Unity Village facilities are open. Update: Train Derailment on 87th street, near Rhinehart. No hazardous materials in box cars. Engineer and conductor sustained minor injuries. Deputies have left the scene. Special agents from Union Pacific will investigate. @JacksonCountyMO @KansasCity @cityofLS pic.twitter.com/PQ6PNXarID Darryl Forte' (@sheriffforte) April 28, 2024 Special agents from the Union Pacific Railroad are currently investigating Forte said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. 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. 4 civilians wounded in Russian attacks on Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts Four civilians were wounded in Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts as a result of Russian attacks. Source: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration on Telegram; Donetsk Oblast Military Administration on Telegram Details: The number of people injured went up after a Russian FPV drone collided with a truck in Vovchansk. Two drivers, aged 53 and 59, were admitted to a hospital. Two persons were injured at Krasnohorivka, Katerynivka, and Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast's Mariinka hromada after being attacked (hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories). In just one day, the Russians fired at Donetsk Oblasts settlements five times. A total of 126 persons were evacuated from the front lines, including twelve children. Support UP or become our patron! 7 stories of children who were kidnapped, survived their abductions and were reunited with their families 7 stories of children who were kidnapped, survived their abductions and were reunited with their families Hundreds of thousands of young children have fallen victim to a kidnapping. In the United States alone, a child goes missing or is abducted every 40 seconds, according to the Child Crime Prevention & Safety Center. About 840,000 people go missing every year, of which 85% to 90% are estimated to be children, according to the FBI. These United States kidnapping cases are stories of individuals who were captured as young children, but eventually found their way back to their families days, weeks, months and years after they were taken. Many of those who were kidnapped as children now, in their adult lives, share their stories with others and are involved in advocacy work around missing children. 4 SHOCKING TRUE CRIME MYSTERIES THROUGHOUT HISTORY, FROM THE ZODIAC KILLER TO THE BLACK DAHLIA Melissa Highsmith was reunited with her family in November 2022 after being separated for over 50 years. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the family had moved to the Fort Worth area and were in need of a babysitter. Highsmith's mother placed an ad in the local paper seeking one. A woman responded to the ad and on August 23, 1971, the babysitter picked up Highsmith from her mother's apartment, where a roommate had been watching her, and she was never seen by the family again, until November 2022. In November 2022, after many efforts by the family to find Highsmith, they submitted DNA to 23andMe, where matches came back of three children of a couple named John and Melanie Brown. Melanie, who turned out to be Melissa, was still living in Fort Worth, Texas. "One of our sisters called her daughter the youngest one and her daughter led us to her mom," Jeff Highsmith, Melissa's younger brother, told Fox News Digital in November 2022. Melissa reconnected with her family after 51 years on Nov. 22, 2022. FOUND: MELISSA HIGHSMITH'S FAMILY OVERJOYED AFTER BEING REUNITED WITH SISTER ABDUCTED IN 1971 Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her family's Salt Lake City home when she was 14 years old on June 5, 2002, by Brian Mitchell. Her sister, Mary Katherine Smart, who shared a room with her, was the only witness to the kidnapping, and woke her parents a couple of hours after the crime was committed when she felt it was safe to do so, according to History.com. When questioned by an officer while out, Smart eventually revealed her identity and was reunited with her family in March 2003. KIDNAPPING SURVIVOR ELIZABETH SMART ON EMPOWERING KIDS FROM PREDATORS: DONT BE AFRAID TO PRACTICE SCREAMING' In 2009, Smart testified that she was drugged, starved, tied to a tree and raped as often as four times a day while she was in captivity. Smart's captor was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted on kidnapping charges. His wife, Wanda Breeze, also went to prison and was released after 15 years. Elizabeth Smart is now an inspirational speaker and an author. Today, Smart is married to Matthew Gilmour and she is a mother of three. She is an inspirational speaker and is a published author with two books, "My Story" and "Where There's Hope." "Your safety should always be a priority," Smart said in an interview with Fox News Digital in December 2022. "And trust your gut. No matter what it is. If it's a party, there will be another party. If it's a date, and you don't feel safe, don't worry about offending your date. Your safety should be a priority. Don't take chances when it comes to your safety." "Make sure you have a plan before you go meet up with someone that you've never met," she continued. "Or maybe you have met someone and something happens. Think about what you would do in different scenarios. Talk about it with your family. Talk about it with your friends. Build your support network. Talk to them about what you're doing. Let people be involved in your life." She also launched the mobile app "Guardian" with the Portland-based tech company Q5id that helps quickly locate missing children and adults nationwide. Jaycee Dugard was held captive for 18 years. When she was 11 years old, she was zapped by a stun gun at a bus stop near her home in South Lake Tahoe, California, in 1991. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X She was taken by Philip Garrido and his wife Nancy. She was held hostage for 18 years, where she was repeatedly raped, according to CBS News. During her time in captivity, she gave birth to two of Garrido's children, one when she was 14 and another when she was 17, according to the outlet. Jaycee Dugard wrote a memoir in 2011 called "A Stolen Life." Phillip and Nancy entered guilty pleas to the kidnapping of Dugard on April 28, 2011, according to the Crime Museum. Phillip, who was a registered sex offender before the kidnapping, received 431 years to life in prison, while Nancy received a sentence of 36 years behind bars. Dugard published a memoir, "A Stolen Life," in 2011 telling her story. In August 1987, when Carlina White was 19 days old, she started to run a fever, so her parents Joy White and Carl Tyson, took her to Harlem Hospital in New York, according to ABC News. A women named Ann Pettway, who was disguised as a nurse, kidnapped the baby and raised her under the alias Nejdra Nance. As the girl aged, she began to become suspicious of her alleged mother. This led her to search the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's website in 2010, where she saw a baby photo similar to her own. She was put in touch with her real mother, Joy White. DNA tests confirmed a match and the two were reunited after 23 years in January 2011. Pettway was sentenced to 12 years behind bars. In 2002, Kara Robinson Chamberlain was abducted by a serial killer named Richard Evonitz. She was playing at a friend's house when she was approached by Evonitz, who put a gun to her neck, telling her to come with him, according to Chamberlain's website. SOUTH CAROLINA KIDNAPPING SURVIVOR KARA ROBINSON REVEALS TIPS FOR ESCAPING ABDUCTION She was held captive and assaulted for 18 hours. She escaped when he was asleep, and went to law enforcement to give the details of the man who took her, according to the site. After a high-speed chase in Sarasota, Florida, Evonitz shot himself, according to People. Kara Robinson Chamberlain was abducted by serial killer Richard Evonitz from her friend's yard in 2002. Today, Chamberlain is married and has two boys. She has done a lot of advocacy work over the years, is co-host of the podcast "Survivor's Guide to True Crime," and was the focus of the 2023 movie "The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story" and the 2021 documentary, "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story." Alicia Kozak Kozackiewicz's case was one of the first widely covered cases involving online predators. SIGN UP TO GET OUR TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER "I met somebody online who I thought was my friend, who could understand me," Kozak recalled during a 2021 interview with Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren during an episode of "No Interruption." "That's what predators do. They look to find vulnerabilities in a child. And the next thing I knew, I was in a car, and this man was squeezing my hand so tightly that I thought he had broken it." Kozak's abductor, whose name she won't speak, according to Fox News Digital, took her from Pittsburgh to his home in Virginia. She was held captive for four days. "He chained me to the floor with this dog collar next to the bed. I was raped and beaten and tortured in that house for four days," Kozak told Fox News Digital in April 2023. Alicia, at 13 years old, was rescued by FBI after four days with her captor. On the fourth day of being held hostage, her attacker told her they were going to "go for a ride." "I knew in that moment there was nothing I could do," Kozak told Fox News Digital. "I knew he was going to kill me." That same day, she heard banging on the door, which turned out to be the FBI. The FBI was brought to the location after someone saw a video of Kozak, which was livestreamed by her abductor, and recognized her from a missing person poster from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. He called the police. "I remember dragging that cold, heavy chain out, and trying to put my hands up but also trying to cover myself at the same time. I had no clothing on. I was staring at the end of a gun," Kozak told Fox News Digital. She was returned to her parents and spent the following years as a motivational speaker and has been an advocate for internet safety. Ben Ownby and Shawn Hornbeck were both kidnapped by the same man, Michael Devlin, who is now serving 72 life terms, according to the Crime Museum. Hornbeck was 11 when he was kidnapped in Missouri while he was riding his bike to a friend's house. He was held captive for four years. While he was missing, his parents set up a foundation to help look for missing children, called the Shawn Hornback Foundation, according to the source. Devlin kidnaped a second child, Ben Ownby, on Jan. 8, 2007, and a neighbor gave the police a description of the suspicious white truck, which took them to the location of both boys, according to the Crime Museum. Both of the children were reunited with their families. The finding of the two boys is referred to as the "Missouri Miracle." Original article source: 7 stories of children who were kidnapped, survived their abductions and were reunited with their families 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 people to choose abortion. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner) Quality Journalism for Critical Times 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 Florida Phoenix. 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. (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. 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 to people choose abortion. The group ultimately could not come to any consensus about abortion itself. But they came very close. 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. 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. 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. (Photo by Sofia Resnick/States Newsroom) 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. 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. (Photo by 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 Iowa Capital Dispatch. KYODO NEWS - Apr 28, 2024 - 21:17 | World, All China said it will resume Taiwan-bound travel for residents of Fujian Province in the country's southeast during a meeting on Sunday with the island's opposition lawmakers. Rao Quan, China's vice culture and tourism minister, made the remarks to Nationalist Party legislators when they met ahead of the May 20 inauguration of President-elect Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing views as a separatist. The vice minister said Beijing will first restart the travel of Fujian residents to Matsu, a remote group of Taiwan islands, and then allow group tours to other parts of the self-ruled territory after resuming ferry services between Pingtan County of Fujian and Taiwan. He also told the group led by veteran opposition lawmaker Fu Kun-chi that Beijing welcomes Taiwan compatriots to visit the mainland for sightseeing and to see the development and changes there, according to the Chinese ministry. The mainland has banned individual Chinese tourists, including Fujian residents, from traveling to Taiwan since August 2019 amid a deterioration of cross-strait ties under the rule of the island's government led by the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party starting in 2016. China's General Administration of Customs also said Sunday it will approve the import of pomelo and other agriculture and fishery products from Taiwan, given that they meet the mainland's quarantine requirements, the official Xinhua News Agency said. The decision came as Zhao Zenglian, deputy chief of the customs authority, met with the 17-member delegation of the Taiwan opposition party, also known as Kuomintang (KMT). Fu expressed hope that products from all industries in Taiwan, especially high-quality agriculture and fishery products, can be successfully marketed to the mainland, Xinhua added. Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of its territory, has treated the KMT favorably while rejecting talks with the DPP government and denouncing Lai as an independence advocate. In the island's parliament, the opposition party now has the largest number of seats. On Saturday, the legislators held talks with Wang Huning, who is ranked No. 4 in the ruling Chinese Communist Party's top leadership. In early April, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT in Beijing. Communist-led China and Taiwan 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: China's No. 4 leader meets Taiwan lawmakers, opposes independence Philippines, France may begin talks on visiting forces deal in May U.S. urges China to stop aiding Russia, agrees to keep exchanges Fourteen Wisconsin residents, brought together to come up with consensus solutions on abortion, sit around a conference table and listen to a speaker's presentation. 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 people to 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. Read Part 1 and Part 2. 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. Participants in the Starts with Us civic experiment discuss their points of view on abortion access. 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) 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, OK, 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. Proposed consensus solutions 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: 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. 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) 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. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post On abortion, advocates and opponents unite on policies to address root causes appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. An alleged Boston sex trafficker is facing new charges after being charged with sex trafficking last month John Jamar Cokley, 38 faces a dangerousness hearing on Monday after he was arraigned in Dorchester District Court on sex trafficking of a person under 18, rape of a child by force, three counts of aggravated statutory rape, posing a child in a state of sexual conduct, two counts of causing a minor to distribute a drug and possession of child pornography. Assistant District Attorney Ashley Polin said Cokley sexually exploited three teens using the app Instagram. Cokley, whose username included the term Hidden, contacted and groomed the teens, officials say. Over several months, he then met with each of them separately. Cokley would pick them up near their house, drive them to locations throughout Boston, and then sexually assault them in his white Honda Accord, the DA said. The man also requested sexually explicit photos and videos from the teens and recorded himself sexually assaulting them, creating child sexual abuse material. In text messages and in person, Cockley pressured and coerced them into sexual acts, including forcible rape of a child and statutory rape, the DA said. Cokley gave two of the victims money and drugs in exchange for sexual activity and encouraged them to sell marijuana to their peers. Cokley collected and profited from the proceeds, a release from the DA said. Cases involving manipulation and sexual exploitation of children are devastating and all too common in todays online world. Members of the Boston Police Departments Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) and our office are focused on stopping exploitation and supporting the victims and families affected by these crimes. The young people in this case should be commended for their bravery after the discovery of this mans actions, DA Hayden said. Cokley was charged in March with trafficking a person for sexual servitude, aggravated statutory rape, and possession with intent to distribute a class D substance. Cokley is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Monday. 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 Voting in NC Regarding NC Republicans want citizens-only voting amendment, (April 23): You dont go through the time and expense to amend the state constitution to make current law crystal clear. You amend the constitution to right a wrong. Theres no wrong here. Non-citizens dont vote. Ive said it before, and regrettably Im saying it again. dont these representatives have better things to do with their time? Are there not real issues that need to be addressed in this state? Brad Bradshaw, Raleigh Labor unions In the 1970s, the textile industry in our nation was under attack by the labor unions. Labor organizers claimed to be looking out for the oppressed employees, but the result was a death blow to free enterprise. The unions came into the textile industry and the industry fled the country. It wont be long until the countrys last existing large manufacturing corporations will be driven from our nation just like textiles and the furniture industries were. Your choice of a career is so much more than how much you are paid. If you dont like what you are making, improve your skill set, dont let the unions upend another industry. Steve Trexler, Raleigh UNC and DEI Regarding UNC System committee approves policy gutting DEI efforts, (April 19) and related articles: In five minutes and without discussion, a UNC governance committee voted to gut DEI programs in the UNC System. We cannot pretend to think that UNC universities will ever recover from the politically motivated and small-minded people on the UNC System boards who thumb their noses at free speech and any attempt to make North Carolina schools fair and just. Steve Ferebee, Rocky Mount UNCs failure Critical race theory asserts that racism is systemic and institutionally entrenched in American culture. Failure by UNC leaders to support and advance diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) as a critically important step in overcoming centuries of historical repression and deprivation based on ones race only tends to confirm the theory to societys loss and detriment. Mac Hulslander, Raleigh GOP and respect Speaker Tim Moore has announced he will support Michele Morrow for N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction despite her poor qualifications, postings that could encourage violence and her extreme views on a variety of issues. Moore and others generally cite their loyalty to the Republican Party as their reason for giving such support. It is shameful that they are inclined to place this misguided loyalty over the welfare of the people of our state and ultimately the future of our country. The Grand Old Party has a noble tradition of producing public servants with outstanding qualifications and enacting legislation that strengthens our democracy and advances human progress. These people need to engage in some serious soul searching. Mutual respect and old-fashioned bipartisanship may eventually prove to be the most productive pathway to serve the people well. Thomas K. Spence Jr., Sanford Raleighs future Regarding A new advocacy group enters debate over how Raleigh should grow, (April 15 Opinion): As someone quoted in this article, I believe its crucial to provide additional context regarding my support for Sustainable Raleigh. My husband and I are proud Southeast Raleigh natives whove invested our lives in this community by raising our family and establishing a small development business that reinvests our profits into affordable housing and diverse development initiatives in Southeast Raleigh. I became a Sustainable Raleigh board member because Raleigh urgently needs a platform where small business owners and operators, community leaders and others can exchange ideas with mutual respect and thoughtful consideration. Sustainable Raleigh seeks to fulfill this need by fostering constructive dialogue, facilitating educational forums and promoting inclusive engagement. This organization holds immense potential to address Raleighs challenges with integrity and innovation. Wonza Montague, Raleigh Anti-Israel agitators flood DC streets, take aim at White House Correspondents' Dinner: 'Shame on you!' Anti-Israel agitators flood DC streets, take aim at White House Correspondents' Dinner: 'Shame on you!' Anti-Israel agitators marched through the streets of Washington, D.C., Saturday to protest American support of the Israeli military, taking aim at members of the media attending the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner. Code Pink, a left-wing activist group, organized a protest through Kalorama Park to the Washington Hilton, where the White House Correspondents' Dinner was being held Saturday night. On its website, the organization accuses the media of "endors[ing]" the White House's support of Israel. "The White House Correspondents' Dinner, traditionally a symbol of journalistic integrity and freedom, has now become a platform that celebrates and endorses the administration's actions," Code Pink argues on its website. UT AUSTIN PROTESTS DESCEND INTO CHAOS, ANTI-ISRAEL STUDENTS YELL AT POLICE: 'PIGS GO HOME!' Demonstrators gather as guests arrive outside the Washington Hilton, site of the Annual White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday in Washington, D.C. "The United States media perpetuates anti-Palestinian narratives and ignores Israeli war crimes. The Correspondents' Dinner is nothing more than a celebration and endorsement of the administration's actions. That is not journalism. That is complicity." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Footage shows crowds of people beating drums and yelling "Shame on you!" to the well-dressed guests walking to the White House Correspondents' Dinner, with many of the men wearing tuxes and women wearing ballroom gowns. ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS CONTINUE NATIONWIDE DISRUPTIONS WITH ESCALATIONS AT USC, HARVARD AND COLUMBIA Many of the demonstrators wore keffiyehs, waved Palestinian flags or held signs mourning the loss of life in Gaza. It is unknown how much the protests will affect President Biden, who was expected to leave the White House at around 7 p.m. He will take the stage at the dinner at around 8 p.m. and is expected to make remarks later Saturday night. Protesters in the street outside the Washington Hilton, site of the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, Saturday, in Washington, D.C. The protests come as anti-Israel demonstrations have surged across the country, with many universities hosting encampment protests. The protests gained steam at Columbia University in New York City, where over 100 students participated in tent demonstrations, and have spread from Massachusetts to California and Texas. Harvard University, the University of Southern California and the University of Texas at Austin have all had intense demonstrations, sparking clashes with police officers and resulting in numerous arrests. Demonstrators try to block arriving guests outside the Washington Hilton Saturday in Washington, D.C. On Saturday, nearly 70 demonstrators at Arizona State University were arrested. Police say most of the protesters were not affiliated with the university. Original article source: Anti-Israel agitators flood DC streets, take aim at White House Correspondents' Dinner: 'Shame on you!' Composite of two women yelling with mouths open to the left and right, and another woman seated in front of a tree pleasantly in the middle. A pro-Palestinian group has filed a federal lawsuit against Columbia University saying anti-Israel protesters with the extremist group Students for Justice in Palestine are the ones being harassed on campus. The complaint comes as Jewish community leaders and Jewish students have spoken out to say they do not feel safe at the Ivy League school with hundreds of protesters camping out in tents on the lawn, prompting university administrators to allow students to take their classes online for the rest of the year. A new complaint calls for an investigation into the universitys handling of alleged discrimination and harassment of pro-Palestinian students. Getty Images But, Palestine Legal which filed the complaint Thursday with the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights said that four pro-Palestinian students and the student group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine are the real victims. The group calls for an investigation into the universitys handling of alleged discrimination and harassment against pro-Palestinian students by Columbia students, professors and administrators under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As a Palestinian student, Ive been harassed, doxxed, shouted down and discriminated against by fellow students and professors simply because of my identity and my commitment to advocating for my own rights and freedoms, said Maryam Alwan, one of the four students represented in the suit. Im horrified at the way Columbia has utterly failed to protect me from racism and abuse, but beyond that, the university has also played a role in this repression by having me arrested and suspended for peacefully protesting Israels genocide in Gaza, she added. Pro-Palestinian students and pro-Palestinian protesters say in a lawsuit against Columbia that they have been targeted. James Keivom The anti-Israel students claim they have been the target of extreme anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab and Islamophobic harassment on campus since Oct. 9, 2023, including receiving multiple death threats as well as being called terrorists and Jew killers.' Plus, the students allege they have been treated differently by high-ranking administrators, including Columbia President Minouche Shafik. Despite students filing dozens of complaints, Columbia has failed to take meaningful steps to end the harassment, prevent it from occurring, or remedy its effects, the complaint said. An example Palestine Legal cites was Shafiks decision to clear a large campus anti-Israel encampment April 18 by inviting the New York Police Department (NYPD) onto campus for the first time in decades, leading to the arrest of more than 100 protesters, the complaint indicates. Palestinian student Maryam Alwan, one of the four students represented in a suit against Columbia University, says she has been doxxed. The Washington Post via Getty Images Meanwhile, Jewish students were outraged Friday as the pro-Palestine student protesters encampment was still there despite Columbias deadline for it to evict the campus coming and going twice. Palestine Legal partnered with the New York City Liberties Union in a March lawsuit against Columbia for what they call the unlawful suspension of its chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace for engaging in peaceful protest. Columbia declined to comment. Palestine Legal didnt immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did DOE. Is new AP African American Studies course too woke? We attended class to find out. LORTON, Virginia Sean Miller quiets the stereo blasting Al Greens Lets Stay Together and begins his lessons for the day, a journey through centuries with improvisational stops along the way. He kicks off with a discussion on Black joy. Todays focus: Olympic gymnast and fellow Virginian Gabby Douglas. Then his roughly two dozen students move on to another topic: Black History Month. Has the yearly event outlived its relevance? Miller asks after playing a video clip about the months origins. No, some say. A teen proposes legislation to mandate its observance. Next the discussion veers to distinctions between slave and enslaved person." One emphasizes a person's status, the other their humanity. Then students analyze sketches of captives from the 1839 Amistad rebellion. By the time class wraps up, Miller has drifted through the good and bad referenced in the Al Green anthem, stringing together topics like a chord progression. "Finding the triumph amid all the challenges and tragedies requires a little bit of creativity," he later explains. Welcome to Advanced Placement African American Studies. The course still in pilot mode has drawn praise from students nationwide but sparked restrictions in Florida and Arkansas amid concerns from conservatives that the curriculum is leftist propaganda and makes white children feel bad about themselves. Teacher Sean Miller leads an AP African American Studies class at South County High School in Lorton, Virginia, on Feb. 15, 2024. AP African American Studies teacher Sean Miller helps students at his Lorton, Virginia, school make connections between the past and present. The course has the rigor of a college-level offering and the interdisciplinary scope of an ethnic studies seminar, comprising four units that extend from ancient African civilizations to modern-day movements. In mid-May, about 13,000 students at 700 schools in 42 states and Washington, D.C., will be eligible to take the AP African American Studies test. High scores could earn students credit at more than 300 colleges that have indicated they'll grant it. While the stakes and the difficulty level are high, students say the material is resonant and accessible. Caury Crusoe, 17, said the class often feels like an hour-and-a-half conversation. In interviews with USA TODAY, students and educators described the course as transformational. Taking it improved their self-esteem and gave them a newfound pride in their ancestors, many Black teens said. Others emphasized the illuminating content and their deeper appreciation for what humans have in common versus what they dont. The immense demand from teens especially Black youth, who participate in AP classes at lower rates than their white and Asian peers suggests many more U.S. schools will pick up the course once it goes live this fall. The AP class could continue to face headwinds in the coming years as proposed bans targeting critical race theory (CRT) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) turn up on legislative agendas. The College Board declined to say which schools are offering the class. But states, districts, universities and local reporters helped USA TODAY identify roughly 370 campuses based in nearly 200 school districts that are offering the class, accounting for more than half the schools piloting it. Some of these campuses, including the only Florida institution piloting it, are private schools. A large majority of the schools and districts offering AP African American Studies are in communities that voted for President Joe Biden in 2020, USA TODAY found. Taken together, those districts also had a greater percentage of Black high school students than the national average. A separate USA TODAY analysis of email correspondence from education officials in some red states revealed staffers hesitancy to embrace the course because of the optics. Theres always a certain amount of fear and anxiety and backlash thats associated with these efforts, said Michael Hines, a Stanford education historian who studies activism in African American communities. Hines foresees an ongoing battle over this course as part of a recurring cycle. AP African American Studies sparks concerns over critical race theory The launch of AP African American Studies is a watershed moment that says "African American history the African diaspora it matters, said Thomas Tucker, the chief equity officer with Kentuckys education department. My hope is that historians will look back on this period to say were finally at a point of helping Americans ... understand the beautiful complexity, the beautiful tapestry, of the long, long history of the African people. In one of their first projects, students in Sean Miller's AP African American Studies In Lorton, Virginia, class made clay figurines and coins representing ancient African civilizations. Caury Crusoe, middle, a student at South County High School, said she loves Sean Miller's conversational teaching style in AP African American Studies. Critics often portray AP African American Studies as a course fixated on division and suffering. That perception nearly deterred two of Millers students from signing up. Renee Prox, 17, wondered whether college admissions officers would look down on her for taking it because of the politics. I wasnt sure if it would look bad on my transcript, said the senior, who is Black. One of Proxs few white classmates, Abigail Plageman, also debated whether to take the course. Plageman said her parents were skeptical because of what theyd heard in the news about CRT. Claims the course would delve into CRT, a graduate-level theory that examines how racism permeates societies and systems, were widespread as the framework underwent revisions. Florida's education department in January 2023 banned the course because it lacked "educational value," and Gov. Ron DeSantis described a draft framework as a "political agenda" that sought to "shoehorn" radical progressive concepts into history instruction. A subsequent version excluded many themes DeSantis called out, prompting critiques from course advocates who accused the College Board of whitewashing content educators had extensively workshopped. Experts last summer convened for another round of edits that led to a version released in December. Some controversial topics like intersectionality were reintroduced, while others like the Black Lives Matter movement remain optional. After DeSantis banned the course, Arkansass education department restricted it, too, and several red states promised to review it. (Ultimately, half a dozen Arkansas campuses opted to pilot it, but, because of the state's stance, participating students cannot earn credit toward graduation. However, now that the framework has been updated, Arkansas students may be able to earn credit next year under the state's graduation requirements, a department spokesperson told USA TODAY.) Explained: Gov. Ron DeSantis' feud with the College Board over AP African American Studies Email correspondence obtained by USA TODAY shows some employees in red states last year were questioning what to do about the class following DeSantiss and others critiques. I am a bit concerned about this course, wrote Davonne Eldredge, North Dakotas assistant director of academic support, in a January 2023 email to a superior about a College Board request that the state adopt it. This is the course that has been in the national news due to critical race theory concerns brought forth in Florida. Given the hot item critical race is within ND, Im not sure how to proceed with this one. My gut says to hold off until the changes are made. The state never formally reviewed the course because no school asked to pilot it, a spokesperson said. In Virginia, another state where officials vowed to review the curriculum, media coverage of the controversy seemingly prompted decision-makers to waffle over their messaging. The state education department concluded that the course complied with Gov. Glenn Youngkins anti-CRT executive order and drafted a related statement to share its conclusion with the public, email records show. The draft included a suggestion that more edits be made to the course, but staffers worried that language would prompt inquiries from reporters. South County High, where Miller teaches, is one of about 16 schools in Virginia piloting the class this school year. In that state, AP African American Studies will remain an elective rather than a social studies course that counts toward graduation. Advanced Placement courses place a big emphasis on primary-source material, and that's especially true in AP African American Studies. During a class on Feb. 15, 2024, South County High School teacher Sean Miller and students discuss sketches from the Amistad rebellion. Despite the revisions, some critics who closely follow the courses development remain concerned. Michael Gonzalez, a fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said CRT and the activist mindset of the Black Lives Matter movement remain prominent in the latest framework even though these topics have been left out or made optional. As long as discussions of systemic racism are included, its still grounded in CRT, in his view. The word oppression, he stressed, is mentioned 19 times. In an interview with USA TODAY, Gonzalez and his colleague, Jonathan Butcher, agreed it's important to teach about the horrors of slavery and Jim Crow. But viewing all history through the lens of racism and oppression, they said, is misleading and incendiary. We want young people to believe that the American dream belongs to them that they do have a future, said Butcher, an education policy research fellow at Heritage. If you, instead, give young people something that they need to resist, to look down upon, youre robbing them of the chance of having something to live up to. Seeing Black history for more than just the bad Over several months and during two visits to Miller's classroom, students told USA TODAY the course broadens their knowledge and instills hope. Plageman, the white student whose parents were skeptical about the course, said shes politically centrist and feels the lessons havent changed her viewpoints. Rather, theyve expanded what she knows about the U.S. AP African American Studies is not CRT, she said, but just another social studies class thats different from what Ive learned before. Prox, the Black student concerned about having the course on her transcript, explained she hasnt looked back since she signed up. Its way more than what its been painted out to be, she said. Its about how the African diaspora has grown and how we started and its just a really good representation of Black people. We were oblivious to how the story of an African past is a glorious one. Its not just a reshaping of the narrative. It is an introduction of a narrative that, for so many of us, simply did not exist." Teresa Reed, a dean and music professor at the University of Louisville, who serves on the courses development committee Black history is under attack: From AP African American Studies to Ruby Bridges Caury Crusoe, left, speaks with her teacher, Sean Miller, during an AP African American Studies class at South County High School in Lorton, Virginia, on Feb. 15, 2024. Crusoe, who described the course as a long conversation, said the knowledge shes gained has made her more ambitious and proud. It inspired her to branch beyond her goal of studying business to explore a humanities discipline with an emphasis on social justice when she attends North Carolina A&T, a historically Black college in Greensboro, next fall. She regularly shares tidbits from class with her mom and is president of her school's Black Student Alliance. Im not a big history person, but (Miller) makes me want to talk about it, she said. Her favorite part, beyond Millers relaxed teaching style, has been learning about the strength of her ancestors. About the ancient African civilizations with legacies far more expansive than she ever knew. About the modern Black heroes whose art touches millions. About the everyday Black people, like her parents and herself, fulfilling the American dream. People just dont really see Black history for more than just the bad, she said. The Heritage scholars said a better strategy for teaching about African American experiences would be to broaden U.S. history education. That way, the history of Black Americans could be woven together with other groups. African American history is my history, Gonzalez said. Students in South County High's AP African American Studies class in Lorton, Virginia, said they love learning about the history of the African diaspora. Students and educators told USA TODAY theres a reason to separate this curriculum: U.S. history classes seldom scrape past the surface of African Americans role in the narrative, beyond slavery and civil rights. Its groundbreaking for an African American studies course like this to come together on a national scale, endorsed by the College Board. It feels like a gap is being filled in my own psyche, said Teresa Reed, a dean and music professor at the University of Louisville who serves on the courses development committee. Growing up in predominantly Black Gary, Indiana, in the 1960s and 70s, Reed didnt learn much about the contributions of her ancestors or the pre-slavery chapters of their story. We were oblivious to how the story of an African past is a glorious one, she said. Thats what makes this course so novel: Its not just a reshaping of the narrative. It is an introduction of a narrative that, for so many of us, simply did not exist." These are people who persevered The interdisciplinary, meandering nature of the South County High classes USA TODAY observed this spring is precisely what developers envisioned when they designed the course. The idea is for students to find connections between the past and present between the Amistad rebellion and Gabby Douglas setting Olympic records. Miller, a former marketing professional who chairs the high schools social studies department, infuses his lessons with guidance on developing real-world skills. During a March class, students broke into groups to plan a podcast project. The final product, Miller told them, should be a neatly structured, professional-quality episode that touches on several topics of their choice from the curriculum. Their grade would count as their test score for the unit. The classroom buzzed as the teens deliberated how to tackle this assignment. Crusoe and her partner designed logos and debated which to use an animated ear against the word Black repeated in rows or a woman in 1950s attire with a TV as a head entitled Shades of History? Across the room, a boy scanned C-SPAN for good clips. In the back, three students discussed themes theyd highlight: Black music, fashion, literature and media representation. Lorton, Virginia, teacher Sean Miller says his goal in AP African American Studies is to provide college-level rigor and leave students with lifelong memories. Miller, who wears gauges in his ears and produces music in his spare time, peppers his lessons with a mix of banter, sarcasm and big words. Students fist-bump him on their way in and out. His mantra is simple: Keep the rigor high, keep the expectations high. But create memories and keep it engaging. Slavery, lynching and segregation are crucial elements of the African American experience, but Miller frames the discussion around resilience rather than bitterness or shame. He strives to frame his instruction around victories over victimization, he said that March day. Wearing a "Built by Black History" T-shirt, he noted, There were some dark days, but there were also some very positive days in response. I want them to walk out the door and say, Wow, these are people who persevered.' Contributing: Doug Caruso, data editor at USA TODAY, analyzed demographic and political trends across districts we identified were piloting AP African American Studies this school year. Also contributing: Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press; Caroline Beck, Indianapolis Star; Jillian Ellison, Journal & Courier; Samantha Hernandez, Des Moines Register; Kelly Lyell, the Coloradoan; Madeleine Parrish, Arizona Republic. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Too woke or a source of hope? We sat in on AP African American Studies Journalists Sergey Karelin and Konstantin Gabov, who worked for the Associated Press and Reuters, have been arrested in Russia. They are suspected of working for the organisation of the late politician Alexei Navalny. Source: Medusa Details: Karelin, a video journalist who has worked for the Associated Press and Deutsche Welle, was arrested in Murmansk on Sunday. He's accused of working for the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). It is unknown under which article of the criminal code the journalist is accused of or where he is located in the region. On 27 April, a Moscow court sent Gabov to a pre-trial detention cell. According to the court press service and Russian state-owned news agency TASS, Gabov is suspected of participating in an "extremist community" by providing photo and video materials for the YouTube channel Navalny Live. The FBK has not yet made statements about the detention of Gabov and Karelin. Previously: Arrests of Russian journalists on suspicions of cooperating with the FBK began in the spring of 2024. On 27 March, Rusnews journalist Olga Komleva of Ufa was transferred to a pre-trial detention facility. Before the FBK was labelled an "extremist organisation," she volunteered at Navalny's local headquarters. Antonin Favorskiy, a Sotavision journalist and photographer, was also arrested in Moscow in March after filming the final footage with Navalny. Support UP or become our patron! BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) Voters in Baker selected Robert Young as their new District 4 council representative on Saturday, April 27. East Baton Rouge Parish residents also OKd two tax propositions. Young got 159 votes or 60%, and their competitor, Toni Jackson, got 106 votes in the runoff election, according to complete but unofficial results on the Louisiana Secretary of States website. Both are Democrats. A 32.52-mill tax supporting Central Community Schools passed with 57% yes votes. A parcel fee continuation for Mayfair Park crime prevention passed with 85% yes votes. Voters across the state decided on tax proposals and determined runoff races, including local and state-level representatives for the Republican and Democratic committees. 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 election 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. The Municipal General Election in Louisiana, which will determine local runoff races, will be held on Saturday, April 27. Latest News For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com. KYODO NEWS - Apr 28, 2024 - 13:10 | All, Japan A Japan-based society for Akita dogs has begun issuing digital pedigree certificates for the highly popular breed in an effort to combat forgery and people losing their paper-form documents. The Akita Inu Preservation Society based in Odate, Akita Prefecture, is employing highly secure blockchain technology to issue pedigree certificates, which until now had only been issued in paper form and had suffered logistical problems, including documents getting lost in transit when being shipped to overseas recipients. According to the society for the northeastern Japanese dog breed, overseas membership increased from about 300 people in 2022 to around 500 in 2023. The society also said it had received a report a few years prior of a forged pedigree document in China. The blockchain pedigree technology was developed jointly by IT firm Meta Akita Inc., based in the prefecture, and U.S. company Heirloom Inc. Blockchain technology is known for its security and is often used for cryptocurrency transactions. The issuing of digital certificates via blockchain also drastically reduces the time it takes for dog owners to receive them as opposed to paper documents sent by mail, which can take over two weeks. Those wishing to obtain a certificate can apply directly from the preservation society's website. The digital certificates are issued via a smartphone app to society members. "In addition to the convenience of digitalization, we hope that owners will also have peace of mind in knowing that their dog is purebred," society board member Yuki Shoji said. Related coverage: FOCUS: Law change puts traditional Japanese daikon farmers in a pickle BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) On Saturday, April 27, voters across Louisiana cast their ballots for parish, city and community tax propositions. Heres how local voters determined tax proposals in Assumption, Ascension, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes. These are complete but unofficial results from the Louisiana Secretary of States website. A tax to support the 18th Judicial Enforcement District, which serves Iberville, Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge parishes passed with 53% of the overall vote. It passed in Iberville with 55% and Pointe Coupee with 63%. In West Baton Rouge, 59% of votes were against the tax. A proposal supporting the Florida Parishes Juvenile Justice District, which serves Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes, passed with 68% support. Every parish included passed it with 63%-77% support. Ascension Parish voters approved a $110 million bond to support public schools, it passed with 79% support. Gonzales voters OKd a property tax to support the fire department with 77% of the vote. Residents of Fire Protection District No. 3 in Ascension Parish also approved a property tax supporting firefighters with 90% of the vote. All tax proposals in Livingston Parish passed. One was for the Walker sewer system, two supported fire protection districts 5 and 10, one supported Recreation District No. 2 and one supported a special taxing district for drainage and flood prevention. In Pointe Coupee Parish, voters supported Fire Protection District No. 5s proposal with 63% support, and No. 3s proposition had 53% support. Fifty-eight percent of residents of Fire Protection District No. 2 voted against its proposal. West Feliciana voters OKd a parishwide law enforcement tax with 75% support. Sixty-seven percent of voters in Gravity Drainage District No. 2 in Assumption Parish OKd an acreage tax. The Open Primary/Presidential/Congressional Election in Louisiana will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5. See detailed descriptions of the tax proposals and detailed election results below. This Week in Louisiana Politics: Lawmakers consider child workers, public records and guns What did the proposals support? 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 therefore, 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. See local election results 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, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington 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. Election Results By Parish Assumption Ascension Livingston Pointe Coupee West Feliciana Multiparish tax proposals The 18th Judicial Enforcement District Proposition (Sales Tax) includes Iberville, Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge parishes. The Florida Parishes Juvenile Justice District Proposition (Millage Extension and Rededication) includes Livingston and St. Helena. Latest News For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com. (KRON) Gavin Newsom officially declared the month of April as Arab American Heritage Month, the governor announced yesterday. California joins the nation in recognizing Arab American Heritage Month and lifting up the profound and wide-ranging contributions of Arab Americans in all facets of society, Newsom said. East Bay police chief attacked by homeless man in Piedmont As home to more immigrants than any other state, California is also home to the largest Arab American population than any other state in the country. Michigan rates the highest by population density. Whether theyve called America home for many generations or arrived more recently, Arab Americans have enriched communities across the country and made an indelible impact, Newsom said. Some of the highest rates of Arab Americans in California are found in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Lebanese-Americans make up the most dense population of Arab nationalities in the country. Syrian and Egyptian-Americans come in second and third place, respectively. We must also recognize the pervasive discrimination and xenophobia the Arab American community faces with many suffering in silence and fear to speak out, Newsom said. This is unacceptable, and our state is leading the charge to protect those under attack for who they are, how they look, or what they believe. Ways the governor and other state officials are combatting discrimination is by bolstering security in places of worship and cultural centers, making available community-based services to support victims of hate, and providing anonymous reporting options for victims and witnesses of hate crimes, Newsom said. During Arab American Heritage Month, we honor the past, present and future of this community in our California story and rededicate ourselves to ensuring the safety and belonging of Arab Americans across our state, Newsom said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Army veteran went missing. Now her HVAC repairman is going to prison, SC prosecutor says A South Carolina man was sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of the murder of a disabled U.S. Army veteran, according to the 8th Circuit Solicitors Office. On Wednesday, following an eight-day trial in a Laurens County courtroom, 49-year-old Timothy Paul Spencer was convicted for the December 2021 murder of Billie Jean Cross, the solicitors office said in a news release. Spencer was then sentenced to life behind bars, without the possibility of parole, according to the release. Missing On Dec. 10, 2021, Cross family members reported the 58-year-old disabled Army veteran missing, the solicitors office said. In a conversation with her mother the previous day, Cross said she was waiting on a HVAC repairman to fix the heat in her cold house and that she would call her mother back when the repairman left, according to the release. Cross mother never received that call. The following day, Cross mother and other family members met detectives at the veterans residence on Fairview Road south of Fountain Inn and they didnt find Cross or any signs of forced entry, the solicitors office said. Investigators did spot several small drops which appeared to be blood on the carpet near a chair where Cross was known to sit, according to the release. Investigators also noted that Cross rolling trash container was missing, the solicitors office said. Cross was listed as missing and possibly endangered by the Laurens County Sheriffs Office. Billie Jean Cross disappeared in 2021, South Carolina officials said. The Investigation Over the course of the ensuing week, investigators were able to use Cross bank records to identify Spencer as the HVAC repairman who went to Cross home, according to the release. Subsequent search warrants for the victims phone data, Spencers phone data, and Spencers truck GPS records led investigators to the repairman, a resident of Anderson County, as being a prime suspect in the case, the solicitors office said. Spencer denied any involvement, but was held on warrants in Greenville County stemming from fraud allegations surrounding his HVAC business, according to the release. Investigators also discovered a transaction using a phone app between Cross personal bank account to Spencers account in the amount of $2,500 the afternoon after she disappeared, the solicitors office said. Spencer appeared to be having financial difficulties after frequent visits to a casino in North Carolina, including one visit to the casino early in the early morning hours before Cross went missing, according to the solicitors office. Later that week, Cross body was found wrapped in a blanket taken from her house in bushes in a rural area about seven miles from Spencers Anderson County residence in the Starr area, the solicitors office said. Her body was discovered by a man and his son who were looking at property they were buying on Cummings Springs Road in Anderson County, The State previously reported. An investigator later searched for and found a trash can that appeared to have been tossed off a bridge into a creek less than a half mile from Spencers home, according to the release. The trash can was identified as the one missing from Cross home and ultimately was found to have blood that matched Cross DNA in the trash can, the solicitors office said. Spencers truck GPS data showed that he was at the victims house, the location where the body was found, and the location where the trash can was found at the bridge on the day Cross went missing, according to the release. Information about a motive for the killing, and Cross cause of death were not available. Horrific Timothy Spencer committed a crime that is as horrific and senseless as I have seen in over two decades in this profession, Solicitor David Stumbo said in the release.. My prosecutors and I were honored to carry this case into the courtroom to make sure justice was done for Billie Jean. Josh Thomas and Jared Simmons led the prosecution for the solicitors office, with assistance from 8th Circuit Investigator Joey Pittman and Sgt. Kendall Cash of the Anderson County Sheriffs Office, and Laurens County Victim Advocate Joy Lindsay. Spencer was represented by 8th Circuit Public Defender Chelsea McNeill, along with attorneys Tristan Shaffer and Joel Broome of the Public Defenders office. The victim Cross grew up in Greenville County, went to Mauldin High School and earned a degree in English and Spanish from Clemson University in 1985, The State previously reported. She served four years in the U.S. Army at Fort Meade in Maryland as an electronic warfare signals intelligence analyst before working a number of office jobs in Greenville and Spartanburg counties. Cross served during Operation Just Cause in Panama, according to her obituary. She married Larry Wayne Cross, a systems analyst and avid parachutist, in 1998, according to The State. They lived in his hometown in Nova Scotia for a few years before he died in 2015. Cross, who was suffering from arthritis and used a walker, came back to Greenville and earned paralegal certification at Greenville Technical College and worked in a law office for a few months, The State reported. AstraZeneca admits its Covid vaccine can cause rare side effect in court documents for first time Jamie Scott was left with a permanent brain injury after having a haemorrhage the day after the Covid vaccine - Andrew Fox AstraZeneca has admitted for the first time in court documents that its Covid vaccine can cause a rare side effect, in an apparent about-turn that could pave the way for a multi-million pound legal payout. The pharmaceutical giant is being sued in a class action over claims that its vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, caused death and serious injury in dozens of cases. Lawyers argue the vaccine produced a side effect which has had a devastating effect on a small number of families. The first case was lodged last year by Jamie Scott, a father of two, who was left with a permanent brain injury after developing a blood clot and a bleed on the brain that has prevented him from working after he received the vaccine in April 2021. The hospital called his wife three times to tell her that her husband was going to die. AstraZeneca is contesting the claims but has accepted, in a legal document submitted to the High Court in February, that its Covid vaccine can, in very rare cases, cause TTS. TTS which stands for Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome causes people to have blood clots and a low blood platelet count. Fifty-one cases have been lodged in the High Court, with victims and grieving relatives seeking damages estimated to be worth up to 100 million. AstraZenecas admission made in a legal defence to Mr Scotts High Court claim follows intense legal wrangling. It could lead to payouts if the drug firm accepts that the vaccine was the cause of serious illness and death in specific legal cases. The Government has pledged to underwrite AstraZenecas legal bills. A 2021 view inside Oxford Biomedica, where the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine was produced - John Lawrence In a letter of response sent in May 2023, AstraZeneca told lawyers for Mr Scott that we do not accept that TTS is caused by the vaccine at a generic level. But in the legal document submitted to the High Court in February, AstraZeneca said: It is admitted that the AZ vaccine can, in very rare cases, cause TTS. The causal mechanism is not known. Further, TTS can also occur in the absence of the AZ vaccine (or any vaccine). Causation in any individual case will be a matter for expert evidence. Lawyers argue that the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is defective and that its efficacy has been vastly overstated claims AstraZeneca strongly denies. Scientists first identified a link between the vaccine and a new illness called vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) as early as March 2021, shortly after the Covid-19 vaccine rollout began. Lawyers for the claimants argue that VITT is a subset of TTS, although AstraZeneca does not appear to recognise the term. The Government has indemnified AstraZeneca against any legal action but has so far refused to intervene. Kate Scott, Mr Scotts wife, told the Telegraph: The medical world has acknowledged for a long time that VITT was caused by the vaccine. Its only AstraZeneca who have questioned whether Jamies condition was caused by the jab. Its taken three years for this admission to come. Its progress, but we would like to see more from them and the Government. Its time for things to move more quickly. I hope their admission means we will be able to sort this out sooner rather than later. We need an apology, fair compensation for our family and other families who have been affected. We have the truth on our side, and we are not going to give up. Patient safety is our highest priority Sarah Moore, a partner at law firm Leigh Day, who is bringing the legal claims, said: It has taken AstraZeneca a year to formally admit that their vaccine can cause the devastating blood clots, when this fact has been widely accepted by the clinical community since the end of 2021. In that context, regrettably it seems that AZ, the Government and their lawyers are more keen to play strategic games and run up legal fees than to engage seriously with the devastating impact that their AZ vaccine has had upon our clients lives. In a statement AstraZeneca said: Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has lost loved ones or reported health problems. Patient safety is our highest priority, and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines. From the body of evidence in clinical trials and real-world data, the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has continuously been shown to have an acceptable safety profile and regulators around the world consistently state that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of extremely rare potential side effects. The company is pointing out that product information relating to the vaccine was updated in April 2021, with the approval of the UK regulator, to include the possibility that the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is capable, in very rare cases, of being a trigger for TTS. The company does not recognise claims it has performed an about-turn in acknowledging that the vaccine can cause TTS in court documents. Independent studies show the AstraZeneca vaccine was incredibly effective in tackling the pandemic, saving more than six million lives globally in the first year of the rollout. The World Health Organisation has said the vaccine was safe and effective for all individuals aged 18 and above and the adverse effect that has prompted the legal action was very rare. The vaccine heralded at its launch by Boris Johnson as a triumph for British science is no longer used in the UK. Boris Johnson praised the vaccine as a 'triumph for British science' - PAUL ELLIS/AFP In the months after the rollout, the potentially serious side effect of the jab was identified by scientists. It was then recommended that under-40s be offered an alternative jab because the risk of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweighed the harm posed by Covid. Lawyers representing families suing the drugs company argue that the vaccine was not as safe as individuals were entitled to expect. They are suing the firm, based in Cambridge, under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. Mr Scotts lawyers have argued that he suffered personal injuries and consequential losses arising out of his sustaining vaccine induced immune thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (VITT) as a result of his vaccination on 23 April 2021, with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination. Official figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) show at least 81 deaths in the UK are suspected to have been linked to the adverse reaction that caused clotting in people who also had low blood platelets. In total, almost one in five people who suffered from the condition died as a result, according to the MHRAs figures. The Government runs its own vaccine compensation scheme but alleged victims claim the one-off payment of 120,000 is inadequate. Figures obtained under a Freedom of Information request show that out of 163 payouts made by the Government by February this year, at least 158 went to recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme gives compensation to those injured by vaccines or to bereaved next of kin. Fewer than five people under the scheme received vaccines other than AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca has previously argued in court papers that claims against the company are confused and wrong in law. In the defence filing, AstraZeneca said the benefit/risk profile of the vaccine was, and remains, positive. AstraZeneca is the second largest publicly listed company in the UK, with a market capitalisation of more than 170 billion. Its chief executive, Sir Pascal Soriot, is the highest-paid boss among FTSE 100 companies, with earnings close to 19 million. 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. Stellar mass black holes, which are significantly smaller than their supermassive cousins, usually weigh in at around 10 solar masses. But the European Space Agency just found thats more than 3 times that size. Located nearly 2,000 light-years away in the constellation Aquila, this black holenamed BH3was discovered when astronomers analyzed the wobbly orbit of its companion star. This makes BH3 the largest known stellar-mass black hole in the Milky Way, supplanting the previous record holder, Cygnus X-1, which weighs only 21 solar masses. There are a few kinds of black holes in the cosmos, and these perplexing celestial objects are categorized by mass. As their name suggests, supermassive black holeslike Sagittarius A*, which lies at the center of the Milky Wayare the big boys of the universe, weighing in at a mind-boggling 4.3 million Suns. On the smaller end of the spectrum (relatively speaking) are stellar black holes. While NASA and other space agencies are actively searching for answers to how supermassive black holes form, stellar black holes typically take shape when stars (that were originally 20 solar masses or more) explode into a supernova. If the star was between 8 to 20 solar masses, it usually condenses down into a neutron star. Our Sun, for what its worth, probably wont share either of these fates, and will instead transform into a white dwarf and, in 10 trillion years, a black dwarf. So, while stellar black holes dont impact the universe quite like their supermassive counterparts, theyre solidly the silver medal recipients when it comes to massive objects in outer space. Most stellar black holes clock in at around 10 solar masses on average, but some impressive outliers do exist. For example, the first black hole ever discoveredCygnus X-1 , which is located 7,000 light-years away from Earthclocks in at an impressive 21 solar masses. But the European Space Agencys Gaia (which is also busy building the worlds largest 3D map of the galaxy ) has now spotted a new heavyweight championa stellar black hole in the constellation Aquila somewhat uninspiringly named Gaia BH3. And the discovery caught the Gaia team completely by surprise. A paper detailing the discovery was recently published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics . No one was expecting to find a high-mass black hole lurking nearby, undetected so far, Pasquale Panuzzo, an astronomer from the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) at the Observatoire de Paris, said in a press statement. This is the kind of discovery you make once in your research life. Buried in the mounds of data that makes up Gaias Data Release 4 (DR4), BH3 is actually in a binary system with a star, which is how scientists detected this well-hidden black hole in the first place. Often, stellar-mass black holes will be only one member of an X-ray binary, where the black hole is slowly consuming its host star and producing X-rays in the process. However, BH3 is too far from its companion to consume material, meaning its dormant. But that doesnt mean it isnt influencing its stellar neighbor. Scientists closely examined the stars wobbling 11.6-year-long orbit, which is an average of 16 times Earths distance from the Sun (though, at its furthest, its about as far from the black hole as Neptune is from our Sun), and determined that there must be a massive invisible partner influencing its trajectory. The team checked its findings using ground-based observatories, including ESOs Very Large Telescope in Chiles Atacama Desert, and confirmed the results. Scientists have previously theorized that stellar black holes form from metal-poor stars, which are stars with only small amounts of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. The thinking goes that these stars lose less mass during their lifetime, so they have more material when they collapse into a black hole. While ESA cant measure BH3 directly, its companion star offers up some clues, as binary stars often share similar compositions. The star appears to be metal-poor, as scientists have predicted, but the team that discovered BH3 cant be sure if it captured this star before or after its formation. What strikes me is that the chemical composition of the companion is similar to what we find in old metal-poor stars in the galaxy, Observatoire de Pariss Elisabetta Caffau said in a press statement. There is no evidence that this star was contaminated by the material flung out by the supernova explosion of the massive star that became BH3. And the best part? ESA describes this discovery as a tasty appetizer for whats ahead, saying the BH3 was so exciting that they decided to spill the details before Gaias official DR4 release. In other words, more amazing space data is on its way. You Might Also Like Atlanta police looking for men who stole beer from convenience store The Atlanta Police Department is searching for three men they say stole from a local convenience store. On Wednesday, police responded to 1981 Flat Shoals Road in reference to a business larceny around 4:30 a.m. When police arrived, they say they learned from the store clerk that three men walked in and took cases of beer without paying. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police say the store clerk was sweeping the floor when three men entered. One of the men took a case of beer then exited the store without paying. A second man entered the store and took a case of beer then walked towards the stores exit. TRENDING STORIES: The employee attempted to block the man from leaving the store and attempted to lock the man inside, however, the man kicked out the glass panel of the door and exited the business. The suspects, police say fled the scene in a black Cadillac Escalade with an unknown tag. Anyone with information on this case can submit a tip anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at (404) 577-TIPS (8477), online at here, or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637). [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 33-year-old woman was arrested and charged with abandoning or endangering a child earlier this week after two children were found wandering the streets in West El Paso County, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office said. On Tuesday, April 23, El Paso County Sheriffs Office deputies met with a concerned citizen at the Northwest Patrol Station about two children, age 2 and 4, who were found wandering the streets and attempting to cross the busy intersection at Westway Boulevard and De Alva Drive in West El Paso County. The concerned citizen tried to find the childrens guardian but did not have any luck, according to the Sheriffs Office. The children were taken to the Northwest Patrol Station, where deputies took custody of them. The aunt of the children, identified as 33-year-old Maria Isabel Elizalde, was arrested and charged with abandoning or endangering a child with intent to return. She was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a $3,000 personal recognizance bond. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. How Berlin's techno scene came to define the post-wall city and earn UNESCO cultural heritage status with a little help from Detroit Tresor is one of Berlin's most iconic techno clubs. Dimitri Hegemann Berlin's techno scene was recently added to the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list in Germany. The German capital is renowned for its intense, hedonistic clubbing scene. Business Insider has looked at how the genre has shaped the city. It is an almost hypnotic experience visiting a techno club in Berlin. Hours, even days, can slip by in a shadowy rush of flashing lights, curling smoke, and trance-inducing rhythms. It is a fierce blend of anonymity and hedonism that has undeniably shaped the city over the years since the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989. The impact on Berlin's identity has been so significant that it has now received official recognition, with the city's techno scene recently added to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list in Germany. To mark that moment, Business Insider has taken a look at how techno has come to define the capital. Origins The vault. Dimitri Hegemann When Dimitri Hegemann first entered the space that was to become the original site of Tresor, now one of Berlin's most iconic techno clubs, he was silent. Just the dim glow of a few cigarette lighters illuminated the cavernous vault of a former Jewish-owned bank that had remained untouched since 1945. The year was 1991, and Berliners were still basking in a newfound freedom following the fall of the Berlin Wall. The new era had ushered in a wave of creative energy, and people were eager for change in all aspects of society, Hegemann told Business Insider. In the world of music, the opportunity for change presented itself in the raw, wordless beats of Detroit techno pioneers such as Jeff Mills and Juan Atkins and Berlin's dark, abandoned buildings. "It was the beginning of this new musical epoch," Hegemann said. A DJ performing during the Rave The Planet techno parade in Berlin, 2023. Rave The Planet is the successor to the Love Parade event. Christian Ender/Getty Images By the end of the decade, techno had taken the capital by storm, with the city's Love Parade, a former annual techno festival, attracting 1.5 million people in 1999. And by 2017, Berlin's nighttime economy was booming, with clubs helping generate almost 1.5 billion euros (around $1.6 billion as of April 2024) in revenue for the city, a Berlin Clubcommission report found. While clubs like Tresor and later Berghain bolstered the city's economy, they also provided a refuge for young people looking to express themselves and push their sensory limits after years of repression. The clubs also acted as "incubators" for creators to foster new ideas, setting the stage for a cultural rebirth that helped transform Berlin into a young, vibrant hub of artists, students, and other creatives, Hegemann told BI. "It changed the DNA of Berlin," he said. Berghain. Nathan Rennolds Polish-born Jennifer Kucza, who has lived in Berlin for many years, told the BBC that the techno scene has become "a haven for those who don't necessarily see themselves being represented in the more traditional facets of the city's identity." "Those involved in the scene have by now reached a status of somewhat of a subculture, with their belonging being reflected not only in the music but also a certain visual identity, lifestyle, and even attitude," she added. The scene has also played its part in making Berlin one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly cities in the world. "Thanks mainly to the queer scene, events are often places of free self-expression, which many perceive as 'safe spaces,'" Rave The Planet, a nonprofit that spearheaded the campaign to get the Berlin techno scene recognized by UNESCO, noted in its application form. "Barriers related to clothing, origin, age, mindset, language, gender, sexual orientation, and income tend to fade away." Berlin today New buildings stand behind a surviving section of the Berlin Wall. Sean Gallup/Getty Images While the core of these ideas remains, gentrification and rising rents have taken their toll on the city's creative power. Berliners enjoyed cheap rents following the fall of the Wall, as the city's population growth did not meet officials' expectations, and a housing surplus persisted for many years. However, that trend has reversed in recent years, with Berlin registering 3.87 million residents in June 2023, according to the city's official website. That was up from around 3.6 million at the end of 2018. As demand for property increased, rents in the capital soared, with the seven years to 2023 seeing a 44% rise in prices and only a 30% rise in the average wage, Reuters previously reported, citing federal and local data. The increased demand has also brought inevitable pressure from real estate investors, which, alongside the high rental costs, has led to the closure of several beloved venues, such as Griessmuehle and Farbfernseher. The problems facing clubs are so severe that Germans even have a word for it "Clubsterben" meaning "club death." The techno scene's addition to the UNESCO cultural heritage list will hence come as a welcome boost to those fighting to preserve the city's clubbing heritage, helping venues access additional government funding and protection under planning laws. Lutz Leichsenring, a board member at the Clubcommission, told BI that the recognition was a "milestone for Berlin techno producers, artists, club operators and event organizers." "Our gratitude goes in particular to bands like Kraftwerk and African-American DJs and producers like Underground Resistance from Detroit, who made a significant contribution to the creation and spread of techno culture," he said. "Our joy is hard to put into words," Rave The Planet added in a statement following the news. "This recognition marks a significant milestone for the entire electronic music culture and has implications far beyond the borders of Berlin." Read the original article on Business Insider Senator Bernie Sanders said Israels treatment of Gaza is ethnic cleansing, calling out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. On CNNs State of the Union, Sanders said that the Prime Minister should be held responsible for the staggering death toll and the displacement of Palestinians the conflict has caused. When asked about the country-wide pro-Palestine protests that have taken over numerous college campuses, and what he thought of Rep, Ilhan Omars remarks last week at Columbia University where her daughter was suspended, he said he understood what Omar communicated. Columbia University has had national attention after hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested earlier this month. CNN played a clip of Omars comments when she visited campus. I think it is really unfortunate that people dont care about the fact that all Jewish kids should be kept safe, and that we should not have to tolerate antisemitism or bigotry for all Jewish students, whether they are pro-genocide or anti-genocide, she said. What I think the essential point that Ilhan made is that we do not want to see antisemitism in this country, Sanders said. And I think the word genocide is something that is being determined by the International Court of Justice. Sanders added that there is no doubt about what Netanyahu is doing: displacing 80% of the population in Gaza is ethnic cleansing. Sanders has repeatedly criticized Netanyahu for the ongoing war in Gaza, and has opposed more U.S. funding to Israel. He also re-upped his calls for an end to U.S. funding to Israels actions in Gaza. MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) April is Second Chance Month, and one man who lives in Muskegon wants to bring light to the importance of giving others a second chance. Terry Johnson has many roles. He is a mentor, justice ambassador and licensed peer support specialist. Today, he uses his experiences in the past to help guide others. Johnson grew up on the east side of Detroit. He said he was involved with drugs and selling and carrying guns when he was younger. When he was 25, Johnson went to prison for his crimes and served 22 years behind bars. He said the experience changed him for the better. He was able to pursue a degree while in jail, learn how to play instruments and began to become a mentor to other inmates. My goal was to make myself better and not bitter, Johnson said. Because thats a long time, and some people come out bitter and dont know how to act and adjust in society. I was like, Come on, Ill do that. Well come out better.' After his release, Johnson moved to Muskegon and decided to give his free time to advocate for second chances. Seventy million people in the United States have criminal histories and more than 650,000 people are released from state and federal prisons every year, according to data from the White House. They need to be given a chance no matter what happened because people can turn around and second chance means if I can turn around, can I have a second chance? Johnson said. He is now a justice ambassador for prison fellowship and was recently in Washington D.C. talking with lawmakers about prison reform and the justice system. Along with being an advocate, Johnson mentors people through the Michigan Department of Corrections. The real miracle is watching a life turnaround because when a persons heart and mind is changed, its like, my God, you are completely different, Johnson said. Being a mentor to me is, its everything, I love it. Besides face-to-face mentoring, Johnson also sends inmates videos to help encourage them and show them that if he can do it, so can they. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. The Biden administration has introduced new regulations intended to increase staffing levels and improve patient care in nursing homes. (Photo via Getty Images) The Biden administration has introduced a controversial set of new regulations intended to increase staffing levels and improve patient care in nursing homes. The new staffing rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has faced fierce opposition from the industry and Republicans in Congress. It establishes for the first time national minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes that collect taxpayer money through Medicare- and Medicaid-funded services. The staffing requirements will be phased in over the next two to five years, and CMS has made provisions to grant exemptions for care facilities in rural areas, where theres a shortage of available caregivers. In a written statement, the administration said it believes that by improving working conditions and wages, improvements in the recruitment and retention of direct care workers will follow, enabling nursing staff to provide safer, higher quality care to all residents. Inadequate staffing has long been considered the single biggest contributor to poor quality care in nursing homes. CMS officials said Tuesday they dont expect the new rule to force any facilities to close, noting that some states have imposed even higher staffing level requirements with no resulting shutdowns. The new rule has been two years in the making, and CMS has fielded more than 46,000 public comments on it from caregivers, residents, industry representatives and resident advocates. Toby S. Edelman, a senior policy attorney for the Center for Medicare Advocacy and a national expert on long-term care, noted Tuesday that the new rule announced this week establishes only the minimum permissible staffing levels care facilities must meet. The rule does not end the discussion about staffing levels, she said. Under federal rules issued earlier, all facilities are also required to conduct, at least annually, a facility assessment. This process requires each facility to determine the actual nursing needs of its own residents and to ensure that it has enough staff and that its staff have the necessary skills to meet its residents needs. Properly implemented and enforced, the facility assessment process will require many facilities to implement higher staffing levels than the minimums announced today. Rule mandates 24-hour nurse availability The specific provisions of the new rule include elements related to staffing, public disclosure and resident assessments: Nursing care: Residents must receive at least 3.48 hours of nursing care per day, which would include at least 0.55 hours of care from a registered nurse per resident, per day, as well as 2.45 hours of care from a certified nurse aide per resident, per day. Around-the-clock nurse availability: All homes must have a registered nurse on site 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The nurse must be available to deliver critical care to residents at any time. Self-assessments: Aside from meeting the new minimum standards, all facilities will be required to perform annual assessments to determine the actual level of staffing needed to meet all residents needs. Those assessments, which will be more detailed than those currently required, are intended to address the fact that many care facilities already meet the new minimum standards but are still failing to meet residents needs due to heightened levels of acuity or the need for one-on-one supervision. Staff retention: Each facility will be required to at least develop a formalized plan to maximize their workforce recruitment and retention efforts. To help ensure compliance, CMS will also be requiring states, to which much of the enforcement efforts are delegated, to collect and report on the percentage of Medicaid payments spent on compensation for direct care workers and support staff. CMS has promised to publicly report the spending data collected by the states, and the states themselves will also be required to report facility-specific data on publicly accessible websites. Special provisions for rural facilities The federal agency has also pledged $75 million to be spent on a national nursing home staffing campaign aimed at increasing the number of nurses working in long-term care facilities. As part of that effort, CMS will be providing financial incentives for nurses to work in nursing homes. In announcing the new requirements, CMS acknowledged that some facilities are experiencing challenges in hiring and retaining certain nursing staff because of local workforce unavailability. To address that, the agency will offer waivers for the rule requiring a nurse to be on site 24-hours per day, and will also offer financial hardship exemptions to the staffing requirement. The facilities that seek such an exemption will first have to show theyre in an area where the supply of nurses at least 20% below the national average as calculated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau. Theyll also have to provide documentation of good faith efforts to hire and retain staff, including the payment of competitive wages, and theyll have to disclose the amount of money spent on nurse staffing relative to the homes total revenue. Facilities that are granted an exemption will then have to post a notice of its exemption status in a prominent, publicly accessible location inside the facility, and will have to provide any prospective residents with written notice of the exemption status. Some homes will not be considered for exemption, including those on CMS list of special-focus facilities that have history of repeat, serious violations, and those recently cited for a pattern of insufficient staffing that has resulted in harm to residents. For most facilities, the new staffing requirements will be phased in over the next two years, but that timeline has been extended to accommodate the needs of rural facilities where the workforce shortage is particularly acute. Rural facilities will have 90 days to meet the new rule on facility assessments. Theyll have three years to meet the requirements on 3.48 hours of total nurse staffing and a 24-hour nurse, and five years to meet the more specific requirements of 0.55 registered-nurse hours per day, per resident. Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter. The post Biden administration unveils new rule on nursing home staffing levels appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. President Biden celebrated a new labor agreement between United Auto Workers union (UAW) and Daimler on Sunday, as the union continues a streak of victories in hopes of expanding in the South. The union and the German truck manufacturer reached an agreement Saturday, avoiding a strike of about 7,000 workers at its North Carolina plant and distribution centers throughout the South. I applaud the UAW and Daimler for reaching a tentative agreement for a record contract, Biden said in a statement. The UAW workers at Daimler are building the trucks and school buses of the future right here in America. This agreement is a testament to the power of collective bargaining and shows that we can build a clean energy economy with strong, middle-class union jobs, he added. UAW President Shawn Fain said the new contract includes wage increases of more than 25 percent over the next four years, including a 10 percent 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. 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 percent of those voting at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., 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, Ala., will vote on UAW representation in May. However, UAWs efforts have sparked pushback from Republican governors and business leaders in the South. The Associated Press contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Joe Biden took aim at Donald Trumps age and legal woes at Saturday nights White House Correspondents Association dinner, an event ultimately overshadowed by Israels war in Gaza. The 2024 elections in full swing and yes, age is an issue, Mr Biden said. Im a grown man running against a six-year-old. The US president has recently ramped up his attacks on Mr Trump, marking a shift in strategy as the November election draws in. Age is the only thing we have in common, Mr Biden, 81, said of Mr Trump, 77. My vice president actually endorses me, he said in a swipe at the former vice president Mike Pences decision not to back Mr Trump. The US president also poked fun at Mr Trumps legal woes despite forbidding his aides from talking publicly about his rivals trials. Donald has had a few tough days lately. You might call it stormy weather, Mr Biden said, referencing the case against Stormy Daniels, who claims to have received a hush-money payment for having sex with Mr Trump in 2006. The annual event is famed for presidents, journalists and comedians taking outrageous pokes at political scandals and each other, and this year was attended by celebrities including DaVine Joy Randolph, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm and Chris Pine. But despite the jest inside the room, the event was overshadowed by the Gaza war, with guests arriving to chants of Shame on you by hundreds of protesters. Demonstrators condemned Mr Biden for his support of Israels military campaign and Western news outlets for what they said was biased coverage and misrepresentation of the conflict. Some protesters wore press vests with the names of more than 100 Palestinian journalists who have been killed in Gaza. Before the event, more than two dozen Palestinian journalists in Gaza released a public letter calling on their colleagues in the US to boycott the dinner. Protesters cried Free, free Palestine and cheered when someone inside the Washington Hilton where the dinner has been held for decades unfurled a Palestinian flag from a top-floor hotel window. Yet, Mr Bidens 10-minute speech made no mention of the ongoing war or the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Joe Biden with host Colin Jost along with Kelly O'Donnell, president of the White House Correspondents' Association - TOM BRENNER/REUTERS The president instead focused on the upcoming election, only striking a serious note to say that another Trump administration would be even more harmful to America than his first term. We have to take this serious eight years ago we could have written it off as Trump talk but not after January 6, he added, referring to the Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol after Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 election. Im sincerely not asking you to take sides, he said to his 2,600 guests. Im asking you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment. Move past the horse-race numbers and the gotcha moments, and the distractions, the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalise our politics and focus on whats actually at stake. Mr Biden also referenced a dispute with the New York Times over his lack of engagement with reporters. The president has refused to give the newspaper a sit-down interview, breaking a long-standing tradition. The New York Times issued a statement blasting me for, quote, actively and effectively avoiding independent journalists. Hey, if thats what it takes to get the New York Times to say Im active and effective, Im all for it, Mr Biden quipped. 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. President Joe Biden isnt backing down on his stance on Israels impending invasion of Rafah. During a Sunday afternoon call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden reiterated his clear position on the looming incursion, according to a readout provided by the White House. Biden last month warned that an invasion in Rafah would be a red line for his administration, pushing Israel not to pursue a military campaign in the region without a credible plan to protect civilians in place. But the recent Iranian missile attack on Israel complicated conversations between the allies, which were scheduled to take place in Washington before Irans attack. According to White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, Israeli leaders have told U.S. officials that such an invasion wont move forward at least until the U.S. has had a chance to weigh in. "They've assured us that they won't go into Rafah until we've had a chance to really share our perspectives and our concerns with them," Kirby said during an interview on ABCs This Week. On the call with Netanyahu, Biden also "reviewed ongoing talks to secure the release of hostages together with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza" and discussed increases in the delivery of humanitarian assistance into Gaza including through preparations to open new northern crossings starting this week, according to the White House. During the interview on ABC, Kirby noted, There are still challenges on the ground in getting [aid] up into the north but that's starting to happen, and the Israelis have started to meet the commitments that President Biden asked them to meet. President Biden brushed off critiques about his age at what could be his last White House Correspondents Association Dinner as the incumbent campaigns for another four years in the Oval Office. The 2024 election is in full swing. And yes, age is an issue. Im a grown man running against a six-year-old, Biden said from behind the podium at the annual event. I really feel great. Im campaigning all over the country Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina. Ive always done well in the original 13 colonies, the president said to laughter. He also took swings at former President Trump, who hes set to go against for a rematch on Election Day this fall. Age is the only thing we have in common. My vice president actually endorses me, Biden quipped with a nod to Vice President Kamala Harris. Former Vice President Mike Pence ran against Trump for the GOP nod this cycle, and has declined to back his former boss. After a slew of jokes targeting Trump, Biden then took a more somber tone to talk about his 2024 rival to the room of journalists, lawmakers and celebrities. The defeated former president has made no secret of his attack on our democracy. He said he wants to be a dictator on day one, and so much more. He tells supporters he is their revenge and retribution. When in Gods name [have] you ever heard another president say something like that? Biden asked, making reference to recent Trump remarks. We have to take this seriously. Eight years ago, you couldve written off [that] it was just Trump talk, but no longer. Not after January 6, Biden said, calling on the audience to move past the horse race numbers and focus on whats actually at stake. Biden and Trump have both scored the delegates they need to win their respective party nominations in this years presidential race, teeing up a repeat of their 2020 showdown. Polling forecasts a competitive fight averages from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ show Trump up less than half a point over Biden, and a handful of key battlegrounds could decide the winner. Trump notably chose not to attend the annual dinner while he was in office. Hes also mired in an ongoing criminal trial, the first of any former president, related to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels amid his 2016 run. That courtroom battle, one of four criminal indictments against Trump and the first to go before a jury, is set to take Trump off the campaign trail four days a week for the next several weeks, which Democrats hope will be a boost for Biden. Ive had a great stretch since the State of the Union. But Donald has had a few tough days lately. You might call it stormy weather, Biden said, making jab at the hush money trial. Comedian Colin Jost followed Bidens remarks at the dinner on Saturday with a roast of the incumbent and other political figures in the room, offering comic relief against a backdrop of congressional tensions and conflict abroad. Demonstrators protested media coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and the administrations handling of the conflict near the Washington Hilton event space and Biden notably didnt make direct reference to the protests or the conflict during his speech. The war has become a political liability for Biden as he tries for another White House term. Cease-fire protestors have interrupted multiple campaign stops and protest vote efforts have cropped up in several state primaries, even scoring some delegates to the Democrats national convention later this year. Biden repeated calls he made during last years dinner for the release of American journalists Austin Tice, who was kidnapped while reporting in Syria in 2012, and Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia. Were not going to give up until we get them home, Biden said. Updated at 11:29 pm EST. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden spoke on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and "reiterated his clear position" on a possible invasion of the Gaza border city of Rafah, the White House said. A statement issued by the White House did not give more details of that part of the conversation. Washington has said that it could not support a Rafah operation without an appropriate and credible humanitarian plan. Speaking earlier, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Israel had agreed to listen to U.S. concerns and thoughts before it launches an invasion. The two leaders last spoke on April 13, after Iran launched missile and drone strikes against Israel. "The President reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to Israel's security," the statement said. The two leaders reviewed talks designed to secure the release of some of the hostages held since the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack coupled with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. They also discussed an increased pace of aid deliveries, including preparations to open new crossings into Gaza. "The President stressed the need for this progress to be sustained and enhanced in full coordination with humanitarian organizations," the statement said. (Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Steve Holland in Washington; Writing by David Ljunggren; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Mark Porter) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden on Saturday used his White House Correspondents' Association dinner speech to swipe at former President Donald Trump, taking shots at the presumptive GOP nominee while highlighting the stakes of the election. Biden cracked jokes at his political rival's expense and tackled age head-on, saying that he was a grown man running against a 6-year-old. The president said later that age was the only thing he and Trump had in common, adding, My vice president actually endorses me, a reference to former Vice President Mike Pence's refusal to say he'll back his former running mate in 2024. But Biden's speech took a serious turn when he discussed the stakes of November's presidential election, echoing themes of his campaign speeches as he highlighted what he called Trump's attack on our democracy. The president urged the press to rise up to the seriousness of the moment. Move past the horse race numbers and the 'gotcha' moments and the distractions and the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics, and focus on whats actually at stake, Biden said. I think in your hearts, you know what's at stake. Biden also highlighted the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned in Russia for more than a year on espionage charges that he and his employer deny. His case has been classified as a wrongful detention by the U.S. The president called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to release Gershkovich immediately, adding that the White House was also doing everything it could to bring home freelance journalist Austin Tice and businessman Paul Whelan. Gershkovichs parents and Tices mother were among the approximately 2,600 guests at the dinner, an estimate provided by NBC News political correspondent Steve Kornacki in a video that played at the event. I give you my word as a Biden: We're not going to give up until we get them home, Biden said. All of them. Biden also highlighted the wrongful detention of Americans abroad, including Gershkovich, at last year's dinner. The president emphasized during last years remarks that journalism is not a crime, noting that a free press is a pillar of a free society. Host Colin Jost, left, President Joe Biden and Kelly O'Donnell (Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP) Celebrities who went to Saturday's event included Scarlett Johansson, who is married to Jost, as well as Rachel Brosnahan and Quavo. High-profile politicians and administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., attended as well. First lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff also attended the event, which took place at the Washington Hilton. NBC News senior White House correspondent Kelly ODonnell is serving as the White House Correspondents Associations 2023-24 president and presided over the dinner. Saturday Night Live cast member Colin Jost was the dinners featured entertainer. He co-anchors the NBC shows Weekend Update segment. Like Biden, Jost cracked several jokes at the former president's expense, including about Trump's criminal trial, starting his remarks by saying how refreshing it is to see a president of the United States at an event that doesn't begin with a bailiff saying, All rise. Jost also targeted Biden at times, comparing the economy to the president ascending Air Force One's steps: It feels like it's stumbling, but there's somehow upward progress. The comedian also told the president that his now-deceased grandfather voted for Biden in the last election because he thought Biden was a decent man. While the dinner, a tradition dating back 100 years, played out inside the ballroom, hundreds of protesters mobilized outside the venue to call for a cease-fire and criticize Biden's response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The protesters chanted, Shame on you! as attendees passed them to enter the hotel. They also yelled criticism of the media, and a large sign read, Stop media complicity in genocide. A Palestinian flag hands out a window at the Washington Hilton hotel during a protest over the Israel-Hamas war, at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday. (Terrance Williams / AP) Every time the media lies, journalists in Gaza die, the crowd chanted, echoing the leader's bullhorn. Later, protesters called for the fall of Western media, chanting, Brick by brick, wall by wall, Western media will fall. U.S. Secret Service chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that attendees can expect layered security and screening at the dinner, adding that there would be intermittent road closures near the venue. In reference to the publicized demonstration, we are working closely with the Metropolitan Washington Police Department to protect individuals' rights to assemble but we will remain intolerant to unlawful behavior, Guglielmi added. After the dinner concluded, two protesters holding a sign saying Stop Israel's genocide entered the hotel's red carpet area as guests were departing. They heckled attendees and were removed by security. Demonstrators protest the Israel-Hamas war outside the Washington Hilton hote (Kevin Wolf / AP) The president has had to contend with protesters demonstrating outside of his official events, with protesters sometimes interrupting his speeches. In response, Biden's team has worked to make the president's events smaller and has withheld their exact locations longer than usual in hopes of cutting back on potential interruptions. Earlier this month, Palestinian journalists wrote an open letter calling on others to boycott the White House correspondents' dinner as an act of solidarity with us your fellow journalists as well as with the millions of Palestinians currently being starved in Gaza, pointing to the Biden administration's support for Israel. CORRECTION (April 28, 2024, 9:49 a.m. ET): A caption in a previous version of this article included an incorrect title for NBC News Kelly ODonnell. She is president of the White House Correspondents Association, not vice president. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com President Bidens reelection campaign faces the difficult task of appealing to moderate Republicans who may feel like they dont have a place to go this election with former President Trump on the ballot. The president has a prime opportunity to peel off some of those voters, which would boost his reelection chances and expand his coalition. Their numbers are significant: Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) snagged 16 percent of GOP voters in last weeks Pennsylvania primary despite dropping her bid against Trump almost two months ago. It requires work, but I think its doable, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told reporters Friday, noting that a large swath of the 35 percent Haley won in his home state say they will not support Trump in November. Kaine also said that simply keeping them out of Trumps column would be a victory in itself. You dont have to win them over if they dont vote for Trump, thats a vote out of Trumps category. Now, I think we are going to win some of them over, Kaine said, adding that he is actively courting them as part of his reelection campaign in the Old Dominion. We are focusing on those folks, and we think we have a chance to get a lot of them and I think President Biden can too. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), whose own run in the GOP presidential primary attracted moderate-leaning Republicans, made headlines last week when he said it was pretty stupid that Biden hadnt reached out to ask directly for his support. Christie has made clear that he would not vote for Trump and said in a conversation Tuesday night hosted at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics that Biden should ask him for his vote and support. The Biden campaign didnt provide a response to why he hasnt reached out to Christie. The decision, though, speaks to the uphill battle Biden faces to appeal to those types of Republicans. Its unfortunate that I think the president is starting from a little bit of a deficit because of the first two years of his administration not really being one that was working on a game of addition, in terms of the electorate. But rather, it seemed in those first couple of years that this White House was much more willing to listen to the professional progressive class, said John LaBombard, former communications director to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). It is easy to forget that voters dont have to pick a choice if theyre dissatisfied with their choices. So disenchanted Republican voters who dont want to support Donald Trump could very easily just leave the presidential line with their ballot blank, he added. Still, the Biden campaign is working to court Haley voters, an effort it launched as soon as Haley dropped out of the GOP primary. The campaign launched a new ad Thursday, aiming to target Haley voters and underscore Trumps insults toward her and her supporters to target disaffected Republicans. The campaign previously released an ad that featured clips of Trump criticizing Haley during the GOP primary, with the warning, If you voted for Nikki Haley, Donald Trump doesnt want your vote. Bidens team has also released a statement arguing that Trump has been clear that voters who arent part of MAGA arent welcome in his camp. I think it is a worthy investment. I think the president has an opening here with moderate, sort of common sense Republican voters, who while they may be conservative, are rightly disenchanted with the chaos around former President Trump and what that might mean for the country under a second Trump term, LaBombard said. Haley had strong showings in other GOP primaries, like in her home state of South Carolina. The former United Nations ambassador also took home primary wins in Vermont and the District of Columbia in March. But its the Pennsylvania numbers that are giving Democrats fresh optimism and causing heartburn for some Republicans given the narrow results that helped hand Trump the presidency in 2016 and took it away four years later. The heart of the 157,000 votes she pulled came in the suburban Philadelphia counties where she won nearly 42,000 votes and hit a high-water mark of 25 percent. In a closed state, that is not an insignificant number, said one Republican strategist, noting that Trump won the state by only 44,000 votes in 2016 before Biden eked it out by 80,000 in 2020. 157,000 in a meaningless primary where everyone knew she had dropped out. Youre talking about razor thin margins in a competitive primary. You do not have a huge margin for error if even half of those voters become Biden voters. As of last month, Trump had yet to reach out to Haley in an attempt to reconcile after the bruising primary battle something that has not changed nearly two months after she ended her campaign. Haley has also declined to offer an endorsement for the ex-president. All of this came after he declared that he TROUNCED her on Super Tuesday in a TruthSocial post before calling on Haley supporters to join the greatest movement in the history of our Nation. Meanwhile, the Biden campaign has made sure to highlight times Trump has pushed away Haley voters, like the various times he called her birdbrain and not presidential material. Theyve also shared a quote from former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, who said on his podcast recently, Screw Nikki Haley we dont need her endorsement. David Thomas, a Democratic strategist and former aide to Vice President Al Gore, noted that Biden has an opening because Trump doesnt seem to be working hard to appeal to moderates. I think that the president is trying to reach out to the moderate middle, moderate Republicans and particularly independents, he said. Thats the coalition hes going to need to win if its going to be this close selection, which we all know it is. Its something that yes, hes doing here, and its something that President Trump decidedly will not do. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. KYODO NEWS - Apr 28, 2024 - 23:00 | All, World, Japan The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Japan PM's LDP set to lose all 3 lower house seats in by-elections TOKYO - Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, headed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, is set to lose three seats in national by-elections Sunday, including Shimane Prefecture, known as a conservative stronghold, exit polls showed, delivering a harsh indictment on the scandal-hit LDP. The leading opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, led by left-leaning lower house lawmaker Kenta Izumi, is certain to acquire all three seats by obtaining support from anti-LDP voters, according to the polls. ---------- 90% in Japan support idea of reigning empress: survey TOKYO - A total of 90 percent of respondents in a recent Kyodo News poll said they would support the idea of a reigning empress as Japan's imperial family struggles with a shrinking number of male heirs. The results of the mail survey, conducted in March and April ahead of the fifth anniversary of Emperor Naruhito's ascension to the throne, demonstrate how the majority of the public approves of expanding the right to rule to women, given imperial succession is currently limited to men from the paternal line. ---------- Japan, EU to boost economic security ties, reduce dependency on China TOKYO - Japan and the European Union will agree to deepen cooperation on economic security, including strengthening supply chain resilience for semiconductors and other critical materials, government sources said Sunday, with the move coming amid efforts to reduce dependency on specific countries such as China. The leaders of Japan and the 27-nation bloc are working toward issuing a joint statement promoting the establishment of transparent, resilient and sustainable supply chains at a Japan-EU High-level Economic Dialogue to be held in Paris in early May, the sources said. ---------- Electric scooter accidents in Japan surge after rules eased OSAKA - The average number of monthly accidents involving electric scooters has shown a six-fold rise in Japan after the country started allowing users to ride the vehicles without a driver's license in July, recent data by the National Police Agency showed. Traffic experts have warned of the risks of fatal accidents as the number of scooter users increases, and public awareness regarding the traffic rules associated with this relatively new form of transport seems to be low. ---------- Japan Akita dog society issues digital pedigrees to combat forgery AKITA, Japan - A Japan-based society for Akita dogs has begun issuing digital pedigree certificates for the highly popular breed in an effort to combat forgery and people losing their paper-form documents. The Akita Inu Preservation Society based in Odate, Akita Prefecture, is employing highly secure blockchain technology to issue pedigree certificates, which until now had only been issued in paper form and had suffered logistical problems, including documents getting lost in transit when being shipped to overseas recipients. ---------- Golf: Katsuragawa storms to victory at Japan-Europe tournament GOTEMBA, Japan - Japan's Yuto Katsuragawa went on a back-nine birdie spree Sunday to win the ISPS Handa Championship, a men's golf tournament co-sanctioned by the JGTO Tour and Europe's DP World Tour. Katsuragawa shot a bogey-free, 7-under 63 to finish with a 17-under 263 total, three strokes clear of Swedish runner-up Sebastian Soderberg, on Taiheiyo Club's Gotemba Course in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan. ---------- Horse racing: T O Royal captures spring Tenno-sho in 1st G1 win KYOTO - Six-year-old favorite T O Royal unleashed a furious sprint around the final turn and the home stretch to win the spring Tenno-Sho in the race's 169th running Sunday. The victory, by two lengths over 3,200 meters on turf at Kyoto Racecourse, was the first Grade-1 win for T O Royal, trainer Inao Okada and jockey Yuji Hishida. ---------- Football: Unbeaten Hiroshima held by Kawasaki, denied J1 top spot HIROSHIMA - Sanfrecce Hiroshima missed a chance to move atop the J-League first division after a pulsating 2-2 draw at home with Kawasaki Frontale on Sunday. The only unbeaten J1 team after 10 games, Hiroshima found Kawasaki keeper Naoto Kamifukumoto in spirited form at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima and settled for a point that moved them to 18 points, one below leaders Cerezo Osaka, and Machida Zelvia. Video: Sakhalin taimen, freshwater fish called ito in Japanese, in Hokkaido river (Bloomberg) -- US President Joe Biden poked fun at Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night, while seeking to portray his Republican rival as a threat to democracy six months before their rematch. Most Read from Bloomberg Bidens remarks touched on many of the central themes of his campaign, including that Americas democratic institutions remain fragile and still under threat from Trump and his supporters. Trump promised a bloodbath when he loses again. We have to take this seriously, the president said. Eight years ago you could have written it off as just Trump talk but no longer, not after Jan. 6. The annual correspondents dinner brings together more than 2,600 lawmakers, journalists and other public figures for one of the capitals biggest events of the year. Comedian Colin Jost of Saturday Night Live headlined the dinner, held at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Administration officials from Vice President Kamala Harris to Secretary of State Antony Blinken were in attendance, as well as celebrities such as Josts wife Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm and DaVine Joy Randolph, the winner of this years Academy Award for Supporting Actress. Bidens remarks come as his general-election rematch against Trump heats up. The president has been visiting key swing states in recent weeks in a bid to reverse polls that show him trailing the presumptive Republican nominee. That travel blitz has come with his rival largely stuck in Manhattan for a criminal trial involving hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels the first of four indictments the former president is facing. Donalds had a few tough days lately. You might call it stormy weather, Biden said at the dinner, often an opportunity for presidents to showcase their lighter side, poking fun at their rivals and themselves. Biden, 81, the oldest US president in history, regularly jokes about his age in effort to defuse anxiety among voters about his fitness to serve a second term in office. The 2024 election is in full swing and yes, age is an issue, Biden said Saturday. Im a grown man running against a six year old. The evenings festivities were clouded by protests over the Israel-Hamas war, with large crowds rallying against the conflict outside the event as Biden and other guests arrived. Posts on social media showed a Palestinian flag unfurled from the Hilton hotel, where the dinner is being held. While the president didnt directly address the conflict or the protests at the event and at college campuses across the country, he paid tribute to reporters who have been killed in the line of duty in Ukraine, the Middle East and elsewhere. He also repeated his call for the release of journalists imprisoned all over the world, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is currently being held in Russia. Journalism is clearly not a crime not here, not there, not anywhere in the world, Biden said. I give you my word as a Biden, were not going to give up until we get them home. All of them home. --With assistance from Jason Scott. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Bilingual clinic gives free healthcare to Spanish-speakers in Concord Multiple health agencies partnered to give a free clinic to the Latino community in Concord. The Community Free Clinic brought health officials from Cabarrus County together to donate their time to provide free services on Saturday. We know here in Cabarrus County about 15 percent of residents dont have insurance, explained Executive Director Laura Milliken. Our provider is bilingual, so were able to provide that level of care that they dont always find in this area. PREVIOUS: Healthcare partners in Cabarrus Co. to host free clinic for Latino community People could get vaccines, ask questions and get referrals in Spanish. Milliken told Channel 9 theyve hosted free clinics for 30 years and will be holding more clinics because of the positive feedback. (WATCH: Says a lot: Dozens of volunteers continue storm clean up in Rock Hill) Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Saudi Arabia next week to discuss cease-fire efforts, the State Department said on Saturday. Blinkens trip on Monday comes as Egypt, Qatar, Israel and Hamas have not managed to reach a cease-fire and the release of hostages over having different demands. Apart from discussions about a cease-fire in Gaza, Blinken will talk about the increased delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the importance of it being sustained. The Secretary 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, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement 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 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, Miller said. U.S. officials are pushing for the release of around 40 hostages held by Hamas of the more than 100 for a six-week cease-fire and freeing Palestinian prisoners. The Secretary will participate in a Ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council to advance coordination on regional security, Miller said. At the World Economic Forums special meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development, the Secretary will coordinate with our partners to ensure continued progress on climate change mitigation and the global energy transition. Blinken previously met with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in March where he discussed the need to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Glen Canyon Dam holds back the waters of Lake Powell, a sprawling recreational reservoir that provides storage and power for residents along the Colorado River. (Brad Poole/Courthouse News) (CN) Conservationists lost an appeal to the Ninth Circuit on Wednesday as they attempted to force the federal government to reconsider climate change studies in managing the Glen Canyon Dam and Colorado River. Save the Colorado, Living River and the Center for Biological Diversity initially asked the U.S. Department of the Interior to consider emerging climate science and the severe potential of climate change in updating its management plan in 2016 for the Glen Canyon Dam on Lake Powell, which has a water level 3,564 feet above sea level. Experts say the dam will lose hydropower if the water level drops below 3,490 feet. During the groups February appeal hearing, Chief U.S. Circuit Judge Mary Murguia and U.S. Circuit Judge Anthony Johnstone, both Joe Biden appointees, questioned whether the Interiors absent response violated the National Environmental Policy Act itself and scrutinized the Interiors historical water flow modeling. However, neither of the judges skepticisms outweighed their conclusion that the Interior did not violate environmental law when developing its 20-year plan for managing water releases from the dam or the plans accompanying environmental analysis. Appellants contend that Interior impermissibly elevated hydroelectric power generation in its purpose and need statement. We disagree, the panel wrote in the unpublished memorandum. The Bureau of Reclamation and the National Park Service, two sub-agencies of the Interior, eventually developed and considered seven alternative plans to manage water releases from Lake Powell through the Glen Canyon Dam. But the agencies ignored alternative proposals that the conservationists say better account for future climate change. The conservationists sued in 2019, four months after sending the Interior a letter detailing new research, which still hasnt been answered. In December 2022, a federal judge sided with the Interior in a summary judgment finding the groups didnt prove the federal agency hadnt analyzed the effects of climate change. U.S. Circuit Judge Michael Hawkins, a Bill Clinton appointee, joined Judges Murguia and Johnstone in denying the groups appeal. The panel found that the Interior selected a management plan that adequately juggled its obligations under the Grand Canyon Protect Act of 1992 with other relevant regulations, such as the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956. The judges explained how the groups proposals would have either reduced or eliminated hydropower generation at the dam or run afoul of the long-term management plans limited purpose: to create monthly, daily and hourly water release schedules. And since the Interiors plan controls the timing of water releases from the dam not the volume of water it must release annually the panel ruled that the Interior reasonably focused its climate-change analysis on comparing the performance and effect of each of the seven alternatives under various climate change conditions, rather than providing a full-fledged assessment of water availability in the Colorado River Basin. By ignoring the groups demand for a supplemental environmental analysis, the panel decided, the Interior made a harmless error. Because there is no indication that the studies contain information not already considered or that would materially affect the substance of [Interiors] decision regarding the timing of water releases from Glen Canyon Dam, no prejudice resulted from Interiors failure to respond to appellants letter. In an email on Wednesday, Center co-founder Robin Silver acknowledged the loss while indicating that the organizations fight against federally operated dams is far from over. Silver wrote, We lost. But operations of Glen Canyon Dam still need to be modified, whether its by prevention of the movement of exotic fish (mostly bass) through the dam, and the dams dysfunction owing to the river outlet works falling apart resulting in the increasing need to use the penstocks which will further increase movement of exotic fish thus jeopardizing downstream native fish further. Stay tuned, he added, there will obviously be more litigation as BuRec continues to ignore River health to provide for subsidized power production. This article was first published by Courthouse News Service and is republished under their terms of use. The post In blow to green groups, Ninth Circuit upholds federal plan for Colorado River dam appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) The body of a 63-year-old man was recovered from the water near Sandy Island on Sunday afternoon, Georgetown County Coroner Chase Ridgeway said on Monday. Ridgeway said an autopsy is planned to determine the cause of death for Irvin Weathers, of Sandy Island. The Georgetown County Sheriffs Office said Sunday authorities responded to reports of a body in a river about 3:45 p.m. Crews were assisted by Midway Fire Rescue, the state Department of Natural Resources and Georgetown County Coroners Office. * * * 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. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) Bishop State Community College will host a conversation and book-signing featuring Dr. Willie H. Clemons and U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop, Jr. UPDATE: Prine rejects Mobiles ultimatum to cut ties with him; presses for investigation According to a press release, the event is scheduled for Friday, May 3, from noon to 2 p.m. at Bishop State Community College. LOCATION: This embedded content is not available in your region. Dr. Willie H. Clemons is an accomplished access broker with vision, experience and relationships to honor and support the mission of institutions and organizations, according to his website. His book, This Is My Story, This Is My Song is about the challenges he faced during the Jim Crow era in Alabama and how he turned those challenges into opportunities. Congressman Sanford Bishop, Jr. is currently serving his 16th term in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Georgias Second Congressional District, according to his biography. Bishop shared the following statement about Dr. Clemonss book, which is seen on Dr. Clemonss website: From his first ones in Mobile, Alabama to those in Atlanta and ultimately to Sarasota, Florida, the steps of Dr. Willie Clemons have been ordered by God. And through his remarkable life journey, he was molded and shaped by historic change-makers who inspired his purpose-driven life for the betterment of others. These pages document for generations yet to come, the story of how an ordinary soul can make an extraordinary impact across the space he travels in this life. Aside from the features of Clemons and Bishop the event will feature a special tribute to Dr. Sanford Bishop, Sr., the founding president of Bishop State Community College, according to the release. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. Ukrainian border guards found the bodies of two men in the Tysa River in Zakarpattia Oblast on the evening of April 27, the State Border Guard Service reported. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, there have been multiple reports of men attempting to illegally flee Ukraine by swimming the Tysa River, which flows along the border with Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. Men of draft age are banned from leaving the country during martial law, with several exemptions. Rescue operations concluded on the morning of April 28 when the bodies of two men were pulled out of the Tysa. The victims are being identified. "Despite the lowering of the water level in the Tysa, it is extremely dangerous to swim across it, especially at night. Sharp stones, roots, tree debris, and the swift and cold stream can pose danger to life and health," the statement read. A total of 24 people have been found dead in the area after trying to cross the Tysa River, the State Border Guard Service said. Law enforcement agencies have uncovered as of mid-March nearly 400 criminal networks that help individuals evade military service by aiding them in fleeing abroad, according to State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andriy Demchenko. Ukraine recently updated the legal framework in order to ramp up mobilization in 2024. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the new law on mobilization on April 16, introducing penalties for those dodging the draft. Another law lowered the minimum age of compulsory military service from 27 to 25, making men eligible for the draft as soon as they turn 25. Read also: Zelensky: Draft age lowered because younger generation fit, tech-savvy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LONDON 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. US-led Gaza humanitarian aid pier comes under fire, UN officials say 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. KYODO NEWS - Apr 28, 2024 - 17:20 | All, Japan A total of 90 percent of respondents in a recent Kyodo News poll said they would support the idea of a reigning empress as Japan's imperial family struggles with a shrinking number of male heirs. The results of the mail survey, conducted in March and April ahead of the fifth anniversary of Emperor Naruhito's ascension to the throne, demonstrate how the majority of the public approves of expanding the right to rule to women, given imperial succession is currently limited to men from the paternal line. In the survey, 72 percent of respondents said they felt a "sense of crisis" regarding the stability of imperial succession. The 1947 Imperial House Law limits heirs to a male with an emperor on his father's side and stipulates that female royals leave the imperial family upon marrying a commoner. But Emperor Naruhito, 64, has only three heirs -- his brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, 58, his nephew Prince Hisahito, 17, and his uncle Prince Hitachi, 88. The emperor and Empress Masako have one daughter, 22-year-old Princess Aiko. In 2021, a government panel tasked with studying ways to ensure stable imperial succession shelved a decision on whether to make women or matrilineal members eligible to ascend the throne. A total of 52 percent of respondents said they agreed with the postponement, while 46 percent said they disagreed. Regarding discussions on succession, 35 percent said the conversation should start as soon as possible. Another 26 percent said the issue should be deliberated carefully into the future, and 19 percent believe it should be held while monitoring the situation surrounding Prince Hisahito. Half of the respondents who supported the idea of a reigning empress stated that gender differences were not important concerning the role. Meanwhile, the most common reason for disapproving of the idea, cited by 45 percent of those against the concept, was the belief that male succession was culturally appropriate. There have been female monarchs in other countries, such as the late Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who abdicated in January of this year. A total of 84 percent said they supported or somewhat supported the idea of an emperor descending from the maternal line. While Japan has had eight reigning empresses from a patrilineal line, with the last occupying the throne in the 18th century, there has never been a single emperor from a matrilineal line among the 126 emperors in history. Meanwhile, 74 percent said they were against or somewhat against reintroducing male members from the former houses of the Imperial Family that were stripped of membership shortly after World War II, an idea that has been floated as a means to maintain succession by a male on the paternal line. The government has established advisory panels to solicit views from experts over the years on the issue of imperial succession. However, talks of a female emperor have stalled despite widespread public approval as the Japanese government and the society are male-centered, according to former Supreme Court Justice Itsuo Sonobe, who headed the panel under the administration of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Sonobe also cited people's disinterest in the imperial system as a reason for the lack of momentum in the discussions, saying even among people who had shown interest, it was difficult to surmise how deeply they thought about the imperial family, its purpose or its relation to the public. The survey showed 67 percent of respondents were somewhat or very interested in the imperial family, down 8 percentage points from the previous survey in 2020. Regarding online criticism and slanderous comments directed at imperial family members, 86 percent said they infringed on their dignity. Last year, the Imperial Household Agency established a formal press relations office to revamp its public outreach and looked at using social media as a communications tool. It opened an official Instagram account on April 1. The move came after the agency struggled with critical, often slanderous, online reactions to former princess Mako's engagement and 2021 marriage to her university sweetheart, Kei Komuro. The latest Kyodo survey targeted 3,000 people aged 18 and older across the country, of which 1,966 gave valid responses. The response rate was 65.5 percent. Related coverage: Japan imperial couple to visit Britain as state guests in June Japan imperial family connects with Dutch counterpart via Instagram Princess Aiko expresses desire to help people in choosing to work (BCN) Backers of an Alameda County sales tax increase to fund child care are celebrating after a ruling by the California Supreme Court has finally validated the measure, four years after voters approved it. April officially declared Arab American Heritage Month Measure C passed with 64% of the vote in 2020 but was challenged by the Alameda County Taxpayers Association and others, who said it needed two-thirds approval because it was a new tax. In a ruling Wednesday, the court said the measure was a citizen-led initiative, not a lawmaker-sponsored ballot measure, and therefore needed only a simple majority to pass. Proponents said in a press conference Friday that the 20-year half-cent sales tax increase is expected to generate about $150 million a year. The measures supporters included First 5 Alameda County, Parent Voices Oakland, the National Union of Healthcare Workers, Service Employees International Union, and other childcare advocates. Clarissa Doutherd, Executive Director of Parent Voices Oakland, said the organization was disappointed that the measure faced a legal challenge right as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It is disheartening that families have had to wait during one of the most traumatic and difficult times, economically, public health-wise, and in our systems, that families and our care workers have had to wait for four years four devastating years because a small group decided to target this initiative, Doutherd said. Doutherd said hundreds of millions of dollars that had been frozen in escrow as the legal challenge unfolded can now be accessed. The money will be divided into two accounts, with 20% devoted to pediatric health care in an account overseen by a citizen oversight committee. The other 80% will be dedicated to child care, preschool and early education, to be administered by First 5 Alameda County. The organization must still choose an oversight board that will establish a spending plan. Access to child care and early care and education is crucial for childrens development, said Kristin Spanos, Chief Executive Officer of First 5 Alameda County. The 2020 measure was the second attempt to pass dedicated funding for child care. In 2018, the measure narrowly failed after receiving 66.2% of the vote, just shy of the 66.67% majority needed because it was placed on the ballot by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. Doutherd recognized the efforts of the late supervisor, Wilma Chan, who championed both measures. Chan died after being struck by a driver as she crossed a street in Alameda in 2021. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. A measure to reform Californias crime referendum that downgrades penalties for petty theft and drug possession will be on the ballot in November after garnering an "unheard of" number of signatures. The 2014 law in question, Proposition 47, reclassified several felonies, including retail and property theft, as misdemeanors. Under Prop 47, petty theft of goods valued under $950 is classified as a misdemeanor, even for multiple offenses. It also took a broad swath of narcotics possession offenses that were previously felonies and converted them to misdemeanors. But a ballot initiative to amend Prop 47, called the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, secured over 900,000 citizen signatures required to put the measure to an official vote in November, far surpassing the roughly 500,000 required signatures. PROGRESSIVE CALIFORNIA MAYORS BACK EFFORT TO AMEND CRIME LAWS AMID 'RAMPANT' DRUGS AND THEFT Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, who supported the effort, said in an interview with Fox News Digital that some Golden State residents waited hours in line to sign the petition. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "That's how, that's how popular it is. That's the sentiment of people, and it's across all spectrums," Ho said. "It cuts across party lines and cuts across racial lines, social and economic lines. Its small businesses, big businesses, everyday people" who are "very passionate" about seeing reforms, he added. Prop 47, enacted in 2014, was an effort to reduce incarcerations. One of the mechanisms for making any changes is that it cant be done through legislation, only through the people's direct vote. "We needed about almost 500,000 signatures in order to get it on the ballot. Instead, we ended up collecting orders and turning over 900,000 signatures. That is unheard of," Ho said. The DA said that while he is in favor of the "spirit" behind Prop 47, the law needs to be changed to stem its "unintended consequences," which he identified as a "fentanyl crisis," a "retail theft crisis" and a "homeless crisis." Ho noted a big-box retailer in Sacramento told him that the region ranks No. 1 in theft for the company, and that one of their stores in the area saw a 253% increase in theft between 2022 and 2023. NEWSOM SENDING 120 CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICERS TO OAKLAND TO CRACK DOWN ON 'ALARMING' CRIME SURGE He also said one mom-and-pop convenience store in the area reported that 6 out of 10 of their customers were committing theft. "And then you talk about fentanyl. We see a true crisis in terms of fentanyl overdoses and deaths. Four hundred people last year died of fentanyl poisoning in Sacramento County. We see the No. 1 cause of death in our homeless population is drug overdose primarily from fentanyl," Ho remarked. Should the initiative pass, it would add fentanyl to the list of hard drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine that are illegal to possess with a firearm and authorizes greater consequences for selling deadly quantities. It would also enable stricter penalties for dealers whose trafficking causes death or serious injury, and warns traffickers of potential murder charges if continued drug trafficking results in fatalities. "So there are a number of things that kind of interplay together here, and I think people see a public safety crisis. And as a result of that, people were standing in line waiting up to half an hour, an hour to sign the petition," Ho said. Two Democratic progressive mayors in two of Californias biggest cities San Francisco Mayor London Breed and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan endorsed the reform campaign earlier this year. Breed, who initially supported Prop 47, said shes now seeing unintended consequences of the measure as she tries to crack down on illegal drugs and theft in her city, the San Francisco Chronicle reported in February. "Our goal is not to keep people locked up," she said. "But when there are no real consequences for crimes that are committed in this city, thats a real problem." NEWSOM RECALLS SEEING BRAZEN THEFT, REFUSES PHOTO AND ASKS FOR MANAGER WHEN WORKER BLAMES HIM: LEAKED VIDEO If passed, reforms to Prop 47 would classify repeated theft as a felony for individuals who steal less than $950 if they have two or more prior theft-related convictions. If passed, reforms to Prop 47 would classify repeated theft as a felony for individuals who steal less than $950 if they have two or more prior theft-related convictions. It would also allow stolen property values from multiple thefts to be combined, so repeat offenders can be charged with a felony if the total exceeds $950. It authorizes judges to impose an enhanced penalty when an offender steals, damages or destroys property by participating in organized theft with two or more offenders or by causing losses of $50,000 or more. The initiative would also enact a new class of crime called a "treatment-mandated felony," where offenders with multiple hard drug possession convictions would be given the option of participating in drug and mental health treatment in lieu of incarceration. It also would allow offenders who successfully complete treatment to avoid jail time and have the charge fully expunged. Among the many signatories are California business owners who are looking for a policy change to curb crime affecting their livelihoods. Tony Konja, owner of high-end liquor store chain Keg N Bottle in San Diego, told Fox News Digital that the opportunity to allow voters to change the crime law gives him and other business owners "hope." "It gives us hope that it's going to change, because something has to happen," he said. "You know, it's hard to make it these days as a small business owner." Konja, who inherited the business from his father, said, "What's insane is just how, before, when some crimes happened, you call the police, and they come, and people were scared to commit crime." But now, he said, "the brazenness of the homeless and the brazenness of the people that come in to steal is insane." Konja said the crimes span all levels of sophistication and happen so frequently that sometimes police dont ever come to the scene. "Police don't even come out sometimes, and it takes too long for them to come out because they know that there's nothing that really can be done," he said. Konja said the success of the ballot initiative is "because it's just such common sense." Fox News Digital reached out to Breed and Mahan for comment. Original article source:California crime reform gets 'unheard of' support from DAs, small businesses, progressive mayors California doctor was suffering delusions when he drove Tesla off cliff with family inside: psychologist California doctor was suffering delusions when he drove Tesla off cliff with family inside: psychologist The California doctor accused of attempting to kill his family by driving his Tesla off a cliff had suffered a major depressive disorder and psychotic features on the day of the 2023 crash, according to a psychologist who testified at a hearing on Wednesday. Dharmesh Patel, a 43-year-old radiologist from Pasadena, was hearing footsteps and having delusions stemming from major news headlines around the time his Tesla plummeted off a cliff while driving on a California highway in January 2023 with his wife and their two children a 4-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl inside the car, psychologist Mark Patterson said, according to the Orange County Register. Patels delusions were driven by the war in Ukraine and the growing fentanyl crisis in the U.S., Patterson said. Patels greatest delusion, according to the psychologist, was his fear that his children could be kidnapped and molested, which appeared somehow connected to his concerns about Jeffrey Epstein, the wealthy financier accused of operating a sex-trafficking ring. Patterson testified at the hearing that Patel is a good candidate for a mental health diversion program since he had shown strong progress over the past year and was a low risk for harming others. DOCTOR ACCUSED OF PURPOSELY DRIVING FAMILY OFF CLIFF ASKS FOR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT INSTEAD OF PRISON "I see him as someone who is very motivated and amenable to treatment," the psychologist said, according to the paper. Patterson added that he believes Patel "has a good capacity" to respond to treatment. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Patterson said he drew his diagnosis after conducting a series of 18 tests and speaking with Patel and his brother and sister. Patel has pleaded not guilty to all charges after being accused of intentionally driving his wife and their two children off a cliff. If a judge grants the request, Patel would take part in the program instead of facing trial on charges of first-degree attempted murder after prosecutors say Patel intentionally drove his car off a 250-foot cliff with his family inside. DHARMESH PATEL: SON OF CALIFORNIA DOCTOR WHO ALLEGEDLY DROVE FAMILY OFF CLIFF HAD NO INJURIES AFTER FALL Patel is seeking admittance to a mental health diversion program instead of prison. Patels wife and 7-year-old daughter suffered serious injuries in the crash, while his 4-year-old son was pulled from the wreckage with no physical injuries, officials said at the time. Patel had initially claimed that he pulled off the road to check a flat tire, according to an affidavit. He was later charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is being held without bail at the San Mateo County Jail. Patels potential treatment would be overseen by James Armontrout, a Stanford psychiatric clinician, and consist of outpatient treatment including therapy, as well as meetings with Armontrout and a psychotherapist, the Register reported. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Prosecutors have opposed the request in court filings, and are expected to begin calling witnesses to testify on May 2. Original article source: California doctor was suffering delusions when he drove Tesla off cliff with family inside: psychologist Donald Trump has fussed about many things during his criminal trial in Manhattan: the judge, prosecutors, their relatives, witnesses, jurors and of course the media, for reporting on the sparse crowds outside. Yet Trump of all people knows that his fellow New Yorkers are proudly blase about celebrity goings-on. It shouldnt be surprising that not much of a crowd forms at the courthouse where the Don has been in the dock. After all, if youve seen one trial of a mob boss in Gotham, youve seen em all. And Trumps trial where he's charged with fraudulently covering up pre-election hush money payments to Stormy Daniels in 2016, to keep voters in the dark about their alleged tryst resembles nothing so much as a prosecution of yet another organized crime figure, even if it is, in fact, unprecedented: The first criminal case against a former U.S. president in history. Lest anyone think the quick-to-complain Trump might grouse about being likened to gangsters, he draws the parallel himself, repeatedly. Ive been indicted more than Alphonse Capone, Trump boasted at a conservative conference in February. ( Fact check : False, but hes close.) He regularly, and admiringly, compares himself to ol Scarface at MAGA rallies. He was seriously tough, right? tough-guy Trump said to Iowa rally-goers in October . Last year on social media, he called Capone the late great gangster. Great? Read more: Calmes: The hush money trial has only just begun, but it's not a good look for Candidate Trump The shtick might be funny if what underlies it werent so serious. As we head into the third week of the People of New York State vs. Donald J. Trump in that dingy courthouse so far removed from the Dons usual gilt opulence, its downright disturbing to contemplate the similarities between his trial and that of a mob boss. How can it be that this man is tied or ahead of President Biden in the polls? I remain confident Trump will pay a political price in time, as the sordidness of all this sinks in. Perhaps the most distressing of the mob comparisons is this: The safety of jurors is a real concern. Their identities are secret to protect against intimidation or harm, and one juror was dismissed after confessing her fear. Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance posted on X that shes seen such trepidation for jurors only in a case involving violent organized crime. Read more: Calmes: Hapless House Republicans weaponized impeachment. It backfired And its not the first time for Trump. The jurors who in January found that he defamed writer E. Jean Carroll after she successfully sued him for sexual assault, also had their identities withheld. After that civil trial, federal Judge Lewis A. Kaplan warned them, My advice to you is that you never disclose that you were on this jury. Chilling. Former prosecutor and FBI general counsel Andrew Weissmann noted on MSNBC that hed last heard a judge similarly caution some jurors decades ago, after they convicted Genovese crime family boss Vincent Gigante. It is remarkable, he added, that that same admonition was said with respect to somebody who was the president of the United States. Its tragic, actually. Trump once swore to uphold the rule of law; now hes making a mockery of it and putting innocents and civil servants at risk. Theres also worry for witnesses. Prosecutors wont share their witness list with Trumps defense team, an act thats typically routine. Read more: Calmes: Donald Trump inspires yet another profile in cowardice Mr. Trump has been tweeting about the witnesses. Were not telling them who the witnesses are, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said. I cant fault them for that, Judge Juan M. Merchan said, dismissing the appeals of Trump lawyer Todd Blanche. Trumps tweets earned him a gag order from Merchan against attacking witnesses as well as prosecutors, court staff and the judges and Dist. Atty. Alvin Braggs families. Such gags are rare, except of course in trials of boorish mobsters. The judge and prosecutors fear Trump will intimidate those hes targeted, and perhaps spur some unhinged supporter to violence. (Its not as if there is no precedent for that!) The threats Trump stokes also explain much of the heavy security around the courthouse. A final mob connection: Trumps demeanor in court the practiced scowls captured in photos and courtroom sketches, and his wise-guy mutterings reported by journalists in the room. His model, Trump told biographer-turned-critic Tim OBrien, is none other than the murderous mafioso John Gotti. The thing he respected about Gotti, OBrien told MSNBC, was that he sat there in court and he looked at the jurors and he looked at the judge with a big F-U on his face. Read more: Calmes: Would you buy a $60 Bible from this man? Trumps mob modeling goes way back. His former lawyer Michael Cohen, a key witness against him, said Trump for decades ran his family company much like a mobster would do. Cohen, a self-described consigliere, admits to intimidating people and lying on Trumps behalf. He doesnt give you orders, Cohen told Congress in 2019. He speaks in a code, and I understand the code. Trump responded to Cohens testimony in mob-speak, natch, tweeting that his former lawyer was a rat. The trials first witness, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, testified last week about his cooperation with Trump in 2016 to catch and kill prurient Trump stories before that years election. He repeatedly described Cohen warning him that the boss would be angry if Pecker didnt hold up his end of the bargain. The mob mentality gives a particularly clear perspective on Trumps claim earlier in 2016: I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldnt lose any voters. Eight years later, hes on trial for something less than murder, yet the upshot is the same: Hes banking that his voters dont care. Hes almost certainly right about most if not all of them. But Trump needs more than just his MAGA loyalists to win. Lets hope this trial, whatever the outcome, leaves everyone else determined not to see a godfather in the White House again. @jackiekcalmes Get the latest from Jackie Calmes Commentary on politics and more from award-winning opinion columnist. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Pro-Palestinian protesters pray near open police vans on the campus of Washington University, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in St. Louis, Mo. Dozens were arrested during the protest. (Christine Tannous/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Protests are roiling college campuses nationwide as schools with graduation ceremonies next month face demands they cut financial ties to Israel because of the Israel-Hamas war. Many campuses were largely quiet over the weekend but protesters on both sides of the issue shouted and shoved each other during dueling demonstrations Sunday at the University of California, Los Angeles. About 275 people were arrested on Saturday at various campuses including Indiana University at Bloomington, Arizona State University and Washington University in St. Louis. The number of arrests nationwide approached 900 since New York police removed a pro-Palestinian protest encampment at Columbia University and arrested more than 100 demonstrators on April 18. Since then, students have dug in at dozens of pro-Palestinian encampments around the country, prompting a range of responses from administrators: arrests and criminal charges, student suspensions or simply continued pleas to leave. The plight of students has become a central part of protests, with both the students and a growing number of faculty demanding amnesty for protesters. At issue is whether the suspensions and legal records will follow students through their adult lives. Faculty members at universities in California, Georgia and Texas have initiated or passed largely symbolic votes of no confidence in their leadership. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said President Joe Biden knows that there are very strong feelings but would leave managing the protests to local authorities. People should have the ability to air their views and to share their perspectives publicly but it has to be peaceful," Kirby said on ABCs This Week. In an interview that aired Sunday, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell called it a dangerous situation and placed the responsibility with college administrators. Theres also antisemitism, which is completely unacceptable. Ive been shocked to see that in this country, he said on NBCs Meet the Press. HOW IT STARTED Early protests at Columbia University in New York City sparked pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country and students and administrators there have engaged in negotiations, the university said in a statement Saturday night. Columbia has set a series of deadlines for protesters to leave the encampment which they have missed but bringing back police at this time would be counterproductive, the school wrote in an email to students. On Sunday, students walked among dozens of colorful tents that continue to stand. CALIFORNIA At the University of California, Los Angeles, police set up barricades before hundreds of demonstrators on both sides joined a growing crowd Sunday near where pro-Palestinian students have been staying around-the-clock in tents. Counter-protesters who organized a Stand in Support of Jewish Students rally said their goal was to stand up against hatred and antisemitism. Across town, the University of Southern California said it was open Sunday after being shut down a day earlier because of what the university called vandalism and disruptions. USC drew criticism after refusing to allow the valedictorian, who has publicly supported the Palestinian cause, to make a commencement speech. Administrators then scrapped the keynote speech by filmmaker Jon M. Chu. Last week the school announced the cancelation of its main graduation event, a day after more than 90 protesters were arrested by police in riot gear. In the northern part of the state, officials on Saturday ordered an enforced hard closure of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. Two halls remained occupied by pro-Palestinian demonstrators. The school said Sunday that the cost of the occupation including damage done by theft, vandalism and graffiti was estimated to be in the millions. MISSOURI Washington University in St. Louis locked some campus buildings and arrested protesters Saturday. Photos showed uniformed police attempting to remove masked protesters as others, also wearing masks, linked arms to thwart the efforts. In a statement, the university said more than 100 people including 23 students and four university employees were arrested on suspicion of trespassing. 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. The universitys statement defended the action and said protesters did not have good intentions on our campus and that this demonstration had the potential to get out of control and become dangerous. Some arrested also face charges of resisting arrest and assault, including for injuries to three police officers, the statement said. Those injuries include a severe concussion, a broken finger and a groin injury. The Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the arrests as heavy-handed. MASSACHUSETTS 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. 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. 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 Boston protest said a counterprotester attempted to instigate hate speech but insisted their event was peaceful. US CAMPUSES AND THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR The nationwide campus protests began in response to Israel's offensive in Gaza. Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel on Oct. 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 local 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. ___ Beck reported from Omaha, Neb. and Thompson from Buffalo, N.Y. Associated Press journalists in various locations contributed, including Christopher Weber, Jacques Billeaud, Aaron Morrison, Stefanie Dazio, Kathy McCormack, Jim Vertuno, Acacia Coronado, Sudhin Thanawala, Jeff Amy, Jeff Martin, Mike Stewart, Collin Binkley, Jake Offenhartz, Jesse Bedayn and Sophia Tareen. NEW YORK (AP) 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. 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 administrations 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 harrassing 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 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 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 universitys 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 schools 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, ASUs 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 Israels offensive in Gaza. Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel on Oct. 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 local 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. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Car flipped, more than 80 arrested at annual Mifflin Street Block Party in Madison Partygoers flipped over a car at the annual Mifflin Street Block Party on April 27, 2024. Police said no one was injured. More than 80 people were arrested Saturday at the annual Mifflin Street Block Party in Madison, where partygoers flipped over a car and a deck failed, according to the Madison Police Department. Around 2:30 p.m., police and the Madison Fire Department responded to a first-floor porch with boards that broke under the weight of the occupants. No one was injured, and the number of people on the porch isn't known. Shortly after, a red car was flipped over, though no one was injured. Another car in the area was also damaged, police said. Crowds thinned after police started clearing backyards after the incident. No other student body gets as nuts as the Badgers do on Mifflin day pic.twitter.com/h5is30ZrRQ Badger Barstool (@badgerbarstool) April 27, 2024 The fire department was also alerted to a downed power line, which Madison Gas and Electric determined was a low-voltage communications wire. In all, more than 80 people were arrested Saturday, mostly for minor, alcohol-related offenses, police said. Six were booked into the Dane County Jail. Police plan to issue final citation numbers later this week. A driver was not cited after hitting an officer who was working a traffic post. The officer was taken to a hospital to be evaluated for minor injuries. EMS responded to 14 medical emergencies, with 11 resulting in transports to the hospital, mostly related to alcohol. The Mifflin Street Block Party, which is held off the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus and is attended mostly by college students, dates back over 50 years. It began as a political protest against the Vietnam War. Officers reported this was the largest year for the block party since the Covid-19 pandemic started. Thousands of people attended the party, which is held along two blocks. The party wrapped up around 5:40 p.m. when rain moved into the area. In 2021, revelers stood on an SUV and smashed through the car's windows, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. And in 2022, a rotted beam caused a balcony collapse that injured three people. Building inspectors checked on houses along the street since February, identifying 24 porches, balconies or other areas that needed repairs. Only a few of those areas still needed repairs two days before the party, police said. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Car flipped, more than 80 arrested at Mifflin Block Party in Madison A car slammed into Dayton Childrens Hospital on Saturday. Around 9 p.m. Dayton police and medics were called to 1048 Valley Street for reports of a car into a building, according to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch. An initial investigation found that a vehicle was driving on SR-4 when it left the roadway, crossed over Stanley Avenue, and hit the Connor Child Health Pavillion, according to Sgt. Jonathan Rudy with Dayton Police Department. >> Smoke pours from large trash fire at Montgomery County waste facility The car also struck a gas meter, which caused a gas leak resulting in police having to shut down roadways in the area. AES crews were later able to shut off the gas. Roadways were opened around 11:10 p.m. Police said the driver suffered minor injuries. Police believe no one was inside the building at the time of the crash. News Center 7 as reached out to Dayton Childrens Hospital to learn the impact this may have on operations at the facility. We are working to learn more. KYODO NEWS - Apr 28, 2024 - 18:56 | All, World, Japan Japan and the European Union will agree to deepen cooperation on economic security, including strengthening supply chain resilience for semiconductors and other critical materials, government sources said Sunday, with the move coming amid efforts to reduce dependency on specific countries such as China. The leaders of Japan and the 27-nation bloc are working toward issuing a joint statement promoting the establishment of transparent, resilient and sustainable supply chains at a Japan-EU High-level Economic Dialogue to be held in Paris in early May, the sources said. Japan has been trying to deepen partnerships with allies and like-minded nations to develop resilient supply chains for critical products in the face of heightened geopolitical and economic security risks, such as Russia's war on Ukraine and China's growing clout. The economic dialogue is scheduled to be attended by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and industry minister Ken Saito, while the EU is expected to be represented by Valdis Dombrovskis, executive vice president of the European Commission for an Economy that Works for People. With China actively expanding its presence in the global market with inexpensive semiconductors, electric vehicles and solar panels, concerns have grown that Beijing could pressure other countries with coercive economic measures. Earlier this month, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in supply chain resilience and other areas in the face of China's ambitions. Related coverage: Military spending at new high in 2023 amid Ukraine war, China tension G7 urges all parties to work to de-escalate Iran-Israel tension G7 eyes sanctions over Iran drone, missile attack on Israel TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A trio was caught on camera stealing American flags from homes in one Pennsylvania neighborhood. The Macungie Police Department shared the video, in hopes of identifying the two males and one female who were last seen in the Lea Street area in Macungie, a town about an hour north of Philadelphia. 10 shot outside Florida bar after argument turns violent, deputies say Officials said the theft happened Saturday night when the group was seen with an armload of flags, laughing as they raced from one home to another, to steal another flag. The video has sparked outrage online among social media users, with some calling for discipline for their parents and for the group to replace all the flags. Police are asking anyone with information to contact Officer Miklich at mmiklich@macungiepd.org. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. The City of Centerville will be holding a blood drive Monday to honor a fallen police officer. The 27th annual Officer John P. Kalaman Memorial Blood Drive will be held Monday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Centerville Police Department at 155 West Spring Valley Drive, according to a Solvita Blood Center spokesperson. >> Car slams into Connor Child Health Pavilion at Dayton Childrens Centerville Police Officer John Kalaman and Washington Township firefighter Robert OToole were struck and killed by a driver on January 12, 1998 while responding to a crash on Interstate 675. Kalamans parents John and Paula Kalaman sponsored the first memorial blood drive in 1998 on his April 27 birthday. Since then, more than 4,544 units of blood have been donated in his honor. Demonstrators greet arriving guests outside the Washington Hilton, the site of the annual White House Correspondents dinner - Kent Nishimura/Getty Images Public discord over the Israel-Hamas war has produced a noisy protest outside the Washington hotel hosting the annual media dinner for President Joe Biden and journalists, celebrities and politicians. Mr Biden, like most of his predecessors, used the glitzy annual White House Correspondents Association banquet to jab at his rival, Donald Trump. He followed the jokes with solemn warnings about what he said would happen if Mr Trump won the presidency again. With hundreds of protesters rallying against the war in Gaza outside the event and concerns over the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the perils for journalists covering the conflict, the war hung over this years event. But speakers inside made only passing mention of the conflict despite some having to run a gauntlet of demonstrators. Mr Bidens speech, which lasted around 10 minutes, made no mention of the ongoing war or the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Shame on you! protesters draped in the traditional Palestinian keffiyeh cloth shouted, running after men in tuxedos and suits and women in long dresses who were holding clutch purses as guests hurried inside for the dinner. Chants accused US journalists of undercovering the war and misrepresenting it. Western media we see you, and all the horrors that you hide, crowds chanted at one point. Other protesters lay sprawled motionless on the pavement, next to mock-ups of flak vests with press insignia. Ralliers cried Free, free Palestine. They cheered when at one point someone inside the Washington Hilton where the dinner has been held for decades unfurled a Palestinian flag from a top-floor hotel window. Criticism of the Biden administrations support for Israels six-month-old military offensive in Gaza has spread through American college campuses, with students pitching encampments in an effort to force their universities to divest from Israel. Counterprotests back Israels offensive and complain of antisemitism. Mr Bidens motorcade on Saturday took an alternate route from the White House to the Washington Hilton than in previous years, largely avoiding the crowds of demonstrators. Mr Bidens speech before nearly 3,000 people was being followed by entertainer Colin Jost from Saturday Night Live Academy Award winner DaVine Joy Randolph, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm and Chris Pines were among other stars. Kelly ODonnell, president of the correspondents association, opened the event by reminding the audience of the important work that journalists do but noting that the dinner is happening at a complex moment for our nation, and in a decisive election year. ODonnell went on to list the scores of journalists who have been imprisoned across the world, including Americans Evan Gershkovich and Austin Tice. The families of those journalists were in attendance as they have been at previous dinners. She briefly mentioned journalists killed in the war between Israel and Hamas. Mr Biden began his roast with a direct focus on Mr Trump, calling him sleepy Don in reference to a nickname Mr Trump had given the president previously. He went on to note that despite being similar in age, the two presidential hopefuls have little else in common. My vice president actually endorses me, Mr Biden said. Former vice president Mike Pence has refused to endorse Mr Trumps reelection bid. The president made a grim speech about what he believes is at stake this election, saying that another Trump administration would be even more harmful to America than his first term. We have to take this serious eight years ago we could have written it off as Trump talk but not after January 6, Mr Biden told the audience, referring to the supporters of Mr Trump who stormed the Capitol after Biden defeated Mr Trump in the 2020 election. Law enforcement, including the Secret Service, have instituted extra street closures and other measures to ensure what Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said would be the highest levels of safety and security for attendees. Protest organisers said they wanted to bring attention to the high numbers of Palestinian and other Arab journalists killed by Israels military since the war began in October. One organiser complained that the White House Correspondents Association which represents the hundreds of journalists who cover the president largely has been silent since the first weeks of the war about the killings of Palestinian journalists. WHCA did not respond to request for comment. According to a preliminary investigation released Friday by the Committee to Protect Journalists, nearly 100 journalists have been killed covering the war in Gaza. Israel has defended its actions, saying it has been targeting militants. 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. CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) A Chesapeake sheriffs deputy was facing strangulation charges after officers responded to a domestic dispute in January, and now could have those charges dismissed. Previous Coverage: Chesapeake deputy charged with strangulation 35-year-old Mervin Culpepper was arrested after officers responded to a home in the 2500 block of Ballahack Road in the southern end of the city around 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6. Culpepper is currently out on bail, and received a deferred disposition. His felony charge of strangulation has been downgraded to a misdemeanor assault and battery charge. After completing supervised probation for a year, he has a possibility of getting his charges dismissed, according to court records. Check with WAVY.com for more updates. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. AMERICAN FORK, Utah (ABC4) The Childrens Justice Center relocated its American Fork center, and hosted a grand opening for its newest location on Saturday. The American Fork location is called the North Utah County Childrens Justice Center, and was relocated from a rental space to a 150-year-old historic home in American Fork that has been renovated. Thinking about giving up your pet in Weber County? Consider this instead The Childrens Justice Center relocated its American Fork center, and hosted a grand opening for its newest location on Saturday, April 27. The CJC offers services to families and children experiencing the physical or sexual abuse of a child. (KTVX/Kayla Baggerly) Heather Allen is the associate director for the American Fork location. She said the historic building was originally purchased in November 2020. However, Allen said there were complications with COVID-19 and with working to make the older home meet modern commercial standards. The CJC has said it is a homelike facility to help families and children who are experiencing the crisis and chaos that accompanies the disclosure of abuse. We provide a warm and comfortable environment so the child can feel safe to disclose what happened to them, Allen told ABC4.com. American Fork Mayor Brad Frost said the building is beautiful and well-planned, with furniture that feels like youre in a home. Theres things in society that we cant control, and there are things that we can, Frost said. A center such like this is something that we can control. Its an environment where children can come, and it doesnt feel like theyre in an institutional environment. On its website, CJC said nearly 2,000 cases of child abuse and neglect are reported in Utah County each year, with nearly 1,200 referrals involving sexual or significant physical abuse. By opening this center, we now have the right facility to better serve the victims that have been affected by abuse, Allen said. There is another location in Utah County a center in Provo that Allen said has been in operation since the 1990s but Allen said the American Fork center is in a more convenient location for people in the northern parts of Utah County, which means families dont have to travel all the way to Provo just for the services. I cant believe were finally here, Allen said. Im so proud of the work that weve done. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. FILE PHOTO: A group of disputed islands, Uotsuri island , Minamikojima and Kitakojima, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China is seen in the East China Sea FILE PHOTO: A group of disputed islands, Uotsuri island , Minamikojima and Kitakojima, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China is seen in the East China Sea BEIJING/TOKYO (Reuters) - China's coast guard confronted Japanese lawmakers in waters claimed by both countries in the East China Sea, China's embassy in Tokyo and Japanese media said on Sunday, the latest in a series of maritime disputes involving China and its neighbours. Chinese vessels took unspecified law enforcement measures, the embassy said in a statement, adding that it had lodged solemn representations for what it called "infringement and provocation" by Japan near tiny, uninhabited islands that Beijing calls the Diaoyu and Tokyo calls the Senkaku. The Japanese group, including former Defense Minister Tomomi Inada, was on an inspection mission organised by the city of Ishigaki in Okinawa prefecture, according to the Chinese embassy and Japanese public broadcaster NHK. Japan and China have repeatedly faced off around the Japan-administered islands. China also has escalating run-ins with the Philippine navy in disputed areas of the South China Sea, where Beijing's expansive maritime claims conflict with those of a number of Southeast Asia nations. Inada's group spent three hours near the islands on Saturday, using drones to observe the area, and the Japanese coast guard vessel sought to fend off the Chinese coast guard, NHK said. "The government and the public are aware of the severe security situation," said Inada, a senior official of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, according to NHK. "The Senkaku are our sovereign territory and we need to go ashore for research." It was the first such inspection trip to the area involving a member of Japan's parliament since 2013, NHK reported. Officials of Japan's foreign ministry were not immediately available for comment outside of working hours. China strongly urged Japan to abide by what it called a consensus reached between the two countries, stop political provocations, on-site incidents and hyping up public opinion, the embassy said. It asked Japan to "return to the right track of properly managing contradictions and differences through dialogue and consultation, so as to avoid further escalation of the situation". (Reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing, Junko Fujita in Tokyo and Beijing newsroom; Editing by William Mallard) China using boiling frog strategy to mask rising aggression in Pacific, says US commander Chinese sailors line up near the navy's missile destroyer, Guiyang, docked at a port in Qingdao in April - Kevin Frayer/Getty China is pursuing a boiling frog strategy to imperceptibly raise its level of aggression in Asia, the outgoing regional US commander has warned. Admiral John Aquilino of the Indo-Pacific Command told the Financial Times that Beijing was slowly and dangerously increasing pressure in the South China Sea. The boiling frog strategy is based on the premise of how a frog reacts to being cooked if its put in boiling water to begin with, it will immediately jump out. However, if the frog is first put in cold water and the temperature then raised it will be unaware of the danger its in until its too late. China had increased its belligerence over the past three years he had been in post, Admiral Aquilino added. Admiral John Aquilino has witnessed a change in China's approach to military power since he first took up post - Tom Williams/Getty Its getting more aggressive, theyre getting more bold and its getting more dangerous. A former top gun pilot, Admiral Aquilino recalled several tense episodes during his time in the post. In particular he cited the furore when Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the House of Representatives, landed in Taiwan. While the visit from the senior Democrat was hailed by all parties in Washington, it infuriated Beijing and there were even calls on Chinese social media to shoot down her plane. People watch footage of Xi Jinping inspecting a Chinese aircraft carrier at the People's Liberation Army naval museum - WANG ZHAO/AFP China regarded the visit as evidence of the Biden administration adopting a more aggressive approach to Beijing. The misinterpretation by the Chinese gave me a concern that they might actually take actions that could be detrimental, the admiral added. Other evidence of increased Chinese aggression includes the coastguard being more active around the Taiwanese islands of Kinmen and Matsu. This is the pressure campaign in action. Ive watched it increase in scope and scale, it is not slowing down, he added. It is only getting more aggressive. Two submarines mark the 75th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army in Qingdao in April - WANG ZHAO/AFP In February 2023 Chinese spy balloons were spotted flying in the US. However, none have flown over the US mainland, Guam or Hawaii since. The admiral also voiced concern over deepening ties between China, Russia and North Korea. His remarks were published days after the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said following a three-day visit to Beijing, that relations between the two countries had improved in recent months despite warning that he had seen evidence of China trying to influence the result of the presidential election. 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 two climbers were attempting to scale Mount Johnson, an 8,400-foot peak in Denali National Park, when they fell on April 25 nps.gov The "Escalator" route on Mount Johnson, according to the NPS One mountain climber is dead and another is injured after the two-person team fell 1,000 feet while climbing in Alaska on April 25. According to a press release from the National Park Service, two climbers identified on April 27 as 52-year-old Robbi Mecus and an unnamed 30-year-old California woman were attempting to scale Mount Johnson, an 8,400-foot peak in Denali National Park, when they fell, resulting in the death of Mecus and the other woman sustaining serious traumatic injuries. According to a previous press release from the NPS, the two climbers were attempting to take a route up the mountain known as "the Escalator" at Preserve's Ruth Gorge, which involved a "steep and technical" 5,000-foot climb amid rocks, ice and snow on the southeastern side of the peak. nps.gov The "Escalator" route on Mt. Johnson. The "X" indicates the approximate location of the rescue of the surviving climber, the NPS said The mountaineers were using ropes and attempting to traverse the route at around 10:45 p.m. when the fall occurred, and another group who witnessed the accident called the Alaska Regional Communication Center to report it. The other group, the NPS said, "descended to the accident victims and confirmed one climber had died in the fall. The responders dug a snow cave and attended to the surviving climbers injuries throughout the night." 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. The next morning at around 7 a.m., the park dispatched a high-altitude rescue helicopter pilot and two mountaineering rangers from the nearby town of Talkeetna to the scene. "Together, the ranger and injured patient were short-hauled out to a flat glacier staging area, and then loaded into the helicopter for the flight to Talkeetna," the release stated. "The patient was transferred to a LifeMed air ambulance at the Talkeetna State Airport for further care." Later on the morning of April 26, a rescue team attempted to transport Mecus off of the mountain, but could not complete their initial attempt due to poor weather conditions, the NPS said. They later went to retrieve Mecus at around 8 a.m. on April 27 after the weather had improved. "We are grateful for the rescue efforts of Denali mountaineering rangers and the two good Samaritans on Mt. Johnson who helped save a fellow climbers life," Denali National Park Superintendent Brooke Merrell said in the follow-up release. "We extend our thoughts and condolences to the friends and family of Robbi Mecus." According to North Country Public Radio, Mecus, of Keene Valley, N.Y., was a renowned climber, an Adirondack forest ranger and an advocate for members of the LGBTQ+ community in the outdoor community, helping to host events like the Adirondack Queer Ice Fest. Per NCPR, Mecus is survived by her daughter and former wife. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Climber dies in 1,000-foot fall from peak in Denali National Park, Alaska rangers say A 1,000-foot fall from a peak at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska killed one climber and seriously injured another, rangers reported. Robbi Mecus, 52, of Keene Valley, New York, died in the plunge from Mount Johnson on the night of Thursday, April 25, the National Park Service said in a news release. Her climbing partner, a 30-year-old California woman, suffered serious injuries in the fall, rangers said. The two roped climbers fell while ascending the Escalator, described as a steep route of mixed rock, ice, and snow on the 8,400-foot peak, rangers said. Another climbing party saw the two women fall and notified authorities around 10:45 p.m., an earlier news release said. The climbers descended and built a snow cave to care for the injured woman while awaiting rescue, rangers said. On Friday, April 26, two mountaineering rangers and a high-altitude helicopter airlifted the injured woman to Talkeetna, where another helicopter took her to an Anchorage hospital, rangers said. The rescuers could not return Friday because of bad weather but on Saturday, April 27, retrieved Mecus body from the mountain. Mecus was a longtime forest ranger and climbing enthusiast in New York, NBC News reported. In 2022, more than 427,000 people visited Denali National Park and Preserve, which covers more than 6 million acres in Alaska, including Mount Denali, North Americas highest peak, according to the park. By Tomoyuki Tachikawa, KYODO NEWS - Apr 29, 2024 - 01:58 | All, Japan Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, headed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, lost three seats in House of Representatives by-elections Sunday, including Shimane Prefecture, known as a conservative stronghold, delivering a harsh indictment on the scandal-hit LDP. The leading opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, led by left-leaning lower house lawmaker Kenta Izumi since November 2021, acquired all three seats by obtaining support from anti-LDP voters. The lower house by-elections were held as the ruling LDP has come under intense scrutiny after some of its factions neglected to report portions of their income from fundraising parties and maintained slush funds for years for their members. The LDP's crushing defeat in Shimane is set to undermine Kishida's political footing and prod LDP lawmakers to attempt to oust him from power before the next general election, making it unlikely he will run in the party's presidential race around September. Seats in Shimane and Nagasaki prefectures, as well as one in Tokyo, were up for grabs in the first national elections since the scandal came to light late last year. The conservative LDP previously held all the vacated seats. LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi, its No. 2 figure after Kishida, told reporters in Tokyo, "We will humbly accept the results" of Sunday's by-elections, adding that the party "needs to work as one to grapple with the challenge." With the scandal eroding public trust in politics and dampening support for the LDP, it did not field candidates in the Tokyo No. 15 and Nagasaki No. 3 districts and focused on defending the seat in the Shimane No. 1 constituency in the western prefecture. Former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Kishida's predecessor, was compelled to give up running for the LDP presidential race after the party lost three by-elections in April 2021, as his leadership was called into question regarding responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. LDP candidates long held power in Shimane. The prefecture is the home territory of former Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita, a legendary LDP kingmaker who exerted a powerful influence on Japanese politics in the post-war era. Approval ratings for Kishida's Cabinet have plummeted to their lowest levels over the slush funds scandal since it was launched in October 2021, falling far below 30 percent, a threshold widely recognized as the "danger level" for a government. The by-election in Shimane, which follows the death of former lower house speaker Hiroyuki Hosoda in November, became a one-on-one battle between candidates from the LDP and the CDPJ. Hosoda, who held the seat in Shimane since the current election system was introduced in 1996, served as leader of the largest faction within the LDP at the center of the latest political funds scandal for seven years from 2014. LDP candidate Norimasa Nishikori, a former Finance Ministry bureaucrat, was expected to fall behind Akiko Kamei, a former lower house lawmaker of the CDPJ and daughter of a former director general of the now-defunct National Land Agency. Despite visiting Shimane twice after official campaigning for the by-elections began on April 16, Kishida was unable to maintain support in the prefecture that has historically backed the LDP, sparking fears about his role as the "face of the election." Yuko Obuchi, the LDP's election campaign chief, said, "I feel more keenly than anyone else the weight of responsibility." Her father is former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, who was one of Takeshita's closest aides and took over his faction in the 1990s. Kamei said her victory in Shimane, called a "conservative kingdom," sends a "big message" to Kishida, who has also been criticized for failing to take effective measures to curb the Japanese yen's 34-year low against the U.S. dollar and achieve wage growth exceeding sharp price hikes. Her father was an LDP member. Kyodo News exit polls of the by-election in Shimane showed that 77 percent of respondents answered that they decided which party to vote for "in consideration of" the slush funds scandal, forcing several ministers and LDP executives to resign. The by-election in Tokyo was due to a separate scandal involving a former LDP lawmaker convicted of a campaign finance offense related to a mayoral race in April 2023. A total of nine candidates threw their hats into the ring. Hirotada Ototake, a Japanese writer born without arms and legs, was defeated in the capital by Natsumi Sakai, a former assembly member of Tokyo's Koto Ward, despite receiving the backing of a regional party founded by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike. The outcome indicated a decrease in Koike's political influence and popularity. Once viewed as a frontrunner to be Japan's first female prime minister, a candidate supported by her party also lost in an April mayoral election in Tokyo's Meguro Ward. Koike, a former lower house lawmaker who was Japan's first female defense minister, is believed to be running for a third term in the gubernatorial election in July. In the by-election in Nagasaki, triggered after an LDP lawmaker stepped down in January over the slush funds scandal, Katsuhiko Yamada, a candidate from the CDPJ, beat his rival from the Japan Innovation Party, another major opposition force. Voter turnout was the lowest on record for all three districts in the lower house by-elections on Sunday, with Nagasaki No. 3 at 35.45 percent, Tokyo No. 15 at 40.70 percent and Shimane No. 1 at 54.62 percent, the election boards said. Related coverage: LDP may lose 3 lower house seats in by-elections Sunday: Kyodo survey LDP dismisses lawmaker's request to review penalty over funds scandal ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A helicopter crew recovered on Saturday the body of a climber who died after falling about 1,000 feet while on a steep, technical route in Alaskas Denali National Park and Preserve, park officials said in a statement. Robbi Mecus, 52, of Keene Valley, New York, died of injuries sustained in a fall Thursday while climbing a route on the southeast face of the 8,400-foot Mount Johnson, the park said. Her climbing partner, a 30-year-old woman from California, was seriously injured and was rescued Friday and flown to an Anchorage hospital, park officials said. These are Americas deadliest national parks: data Another climbing party witnessed the fall and reported it around 10:45 p.m. Thursday. They descended to where the climbers had fallen and confirmed one had died. They dug a snow cave and tended to the hurt climber, according to a statement from the park. Early Friday a rescue helicopter and two mountaineering rangers were able to rescue the injured climber, who was later medevacked for additional care. They returned to the mountain later to recover Mecus body but were forced back by deteriorating weather, the statement said. Improved conditions Saturday morning allowed for the retrieval of the body. In 2021, an Idaho man was killed and a climber from Utah was injured after being hit by a falling block of glacier ice as they were hiking peaks on the southern flank of Denali. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. One climber died and a second was seriously injured after falling 1,000 feet while ascending Mt. Johnson in Denali National Park and Preserve this week. The accident happened in Ruth Gorge, as the teamRobbi Mecus, 52, and her climbing partnertackled a treacherous route known as The Escalator, on the night of April 25. The approximately 5,000-foot route involves navigating a mix of steep rock, ice, and snow, the parks service said. Another climbing party witnessed the roped pair fall, called for help, and then climbed down to attempt a rescue. They determined Mecus had died and then dug a snow cave to shelter the survivor, a 30-year-old woman from California, through the night. The "Escalator" route on Mt. Johnson, Denali National Park and Preserve. The X indicates the approximate location of the rescue of the surviving climbing partner. National Park Service A park helicopter pilot and two mountaineering Rangers rescued the survivor on Friday morning and tried to recover Mecus body but were deterred by bad weather conditions. They returned on Saturday morning and brought her remains off the mountain. Mecus was a firefighter, forest ranger, search-and-rescue professionaland a proud trans woman, according to a YouTube video she madefrom a town in New Yorks Adirondacks region. She was a very experienced climber and said in the video that she used to dream of mountaineering while growing up in Brooklyn. Ive had a crush on Alaska for more than 40 years, she said. She worked there as a forest service employee after college but decided she could not stay because she was concealing her trans identity. She returned to New York, got married, had a childand then in her forties came out as trans. Over the years, she returned to Alaska for expeditions, and her Facebook page shows that last year, she successfully made it up the Escalator. Then two weeks ago, she was back for another go at it. Officially stuck in Talkeetna, AK, waiting for the weather to clear to get into the Ruth Gorge, she wrote on April 12. Luckily, we have the warm and cozy bunkhouse provided by Talkeetna Air Taxi to stay in, and no shortage of food to eat. Its not clear what went wrong on the mountain, but members of the queer climbing community and her friends and colleagues were mourning Mecus. Sean Mahar, interim Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner, said in a statement that she demonstrated an unparalleled passion for protecting the environment and New Yorkers. She exemplified the forest rangers high standard of professional excellence while successfully leading dangerous rescues and complex searches, educating the public about trail safety, deploying out of state for wildfire response missions, and advancing diversity, inclusion, and LGBTQ belonging throughout the agency. 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. CNN anchor Dana Bash decimated her colleague David Urban on Sunday when he insisted that pro-Palestinian protests outside the White House Correspondents Dinner received no cable news coverage. You were inside drinking! Bash shot back after Urban, a CNN senior political commentator, claimed he never saw CNNs reporting on the demonstrations. During Sundays broadcast of CNNs State of the Union, Urban was part of a panel that discussed Saturday evenings dinner, otherwise known as Nerd Prom. At one point in the conversation, the former Trump campaign adviser contrasted President Joe Bidens struggling poll numbers with the specter of liberal elites bashing conservatives at the D.C. gala. The thousands of counties across America that voted for Trump didnt watch that last night. And their sentiments are reflected in that poll. And the Biden Administration and Team Biden, theyre whistling past the graveyard here, Urban stated. So you can have a great night last night, but theyre gonna be back on the trail, and theyre pushing a big rock up a hill in a lot of states. He went on to say it was interesting that no networks showed what was happening outside of the dinners venue, noting that there were tons of protesters that the media seemingly ignored. According to The Daily Beast, roughly 100 demonstrators confronted WHCD guests with chants of free, free Palestine and shame on you while criticizing the press coverage of the genocide in Gaza. We did! Bash objected to Urbans claim, prompting the GOP operative to assert that he missed it and didnt see CNNs coverage on Saturday evening. CNN commentator S.E. Cupp added that she was on the air when the network covered the protests. Bash, meanwhile, reminded him why he likely didnt catch the reports. Because you were inside drinking, the State of the Union host quipped, sparking laughter across the table. After Urban pivoted to complain that the Biden campaign needs to address the border and the economy, S.E. Cupp jumped in to say this was just one evening devoted to comedy and supporting the First Amendment. She added that it wasnt a forum to put out policy like the presidents State of the Union address. It was a night of fun and celebration and we deserve it, Cupp concluded. Journalists deserve it. Joe Biden deserved a night out. And were living in such absurdist times that if the President of the United States did not make fun of his opponent for spending his time on trial for hush-money payments to a porn star, then he is not living in reality! 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. Colleges claim not all protesters getting arrested are part of their school communities: 'Outside groups' Colleges claim not all protesters getting arrested are part of their school communities: 'Outside groups' Colleges across the U.S. are reporting that some of the anti-Israel protesters participating in and getting arrested at demonstrations are not part of the school community and instead are outsiders. Emory University in Atlanta released a statement Thursday that 28 people were arrested during a demonstration at the Emory quad, 20 of whom were members of the school community. In the statement, Cheryl Elliott, the vice president of public safety at Emory University, said a few dozen protesters arrived at campus just before 7:45 a.m. When the protesters arrived, she said, they ignored and pushed past Emory Police Department (EPD) officers stationed at the quad and set up tents in an area where equipment and materials were staged for a commencement ceremony. EMORY UNIVERSITY RIPS ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVISTS DISRUPTING CAMPUS; POLICE USE TEAR GAS, ZIP-TIES DURING ARRESTS Students chant during an anti-Israel protest against the war in Gaza at Emory University in Atlanta on April 25, 2024. "Based on their actions and refusal to confirm their connection to Emory, EPD made the assessment that these individuals were not Emory community members," Elliott said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The Atlanta Police Department and Georgia State Patrol responded to assist with the situation, around which time social media accounts began announcing a protest and occupation at the quad, calling on non-Emory community members to join the protest. The EPD continued to issue warnings to people in the encampment, saying they were trespassing on private property and advising them to leave. EMERSON COLLEGE ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS CLASH WITH BOSTON POLICE; 4 OFFICERS INJURED, OVER 100 ARRESTED Body camera video released Thursday by the Boston Police Department shows officers talking with Emerson College anti-Israel protesters. The warnings were ignored and officers from all three police agencies worked to disperse the crowd and arrest people for trespassing. The events escalated and objects were thrown at officers, Elliott said, adding that one person attacked a non-EPD officer and appeared to have been subdued with an electric stun gun, as seen on video shared on social media. Police then used chemical irritants to control the crowd. "As of this message, we have been notified that 28 individuals have been arrested, including 20 Emory community members, some of whom have been released," Elliott said. COLUMBIA STUDENT BANNED FROM CAMPUS AFTER REMARKS ABOUT MURDERING ZIONISTS Students chant during an anti-Israel protest at Emory University in Atlanta on April 25, 2024. Emory is not the only school to report outsiders participating in protests. On Saturday night, George Washington University confirmed anti-Israel protests included outsiders not affiliated with the school. University officials said there were several nonaffiliated people, or outsiders, who joined the protest. The university has since taken steps to prevent these people from accessing the University Yard. The school was also aware of offensive signs, which GW officials said they did not believe were being held by anyone associated with the university. At Ohio State University, police arrested nearly 40 people over the past two days after breaking up an anti-Israel encampment. Of the 40 people arrested, 18 were students, according to a report from a local ABC station. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACCEPTED TO COLUMBIA SAYING 'NO, THANK YOU' DUE TO ANTISEMITISM: COLLEGE CONSULTANT Mounted police work to contain demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024. Officials at the University of Texas at Austin said nearly half of the people arrested during anti-Israel demonstrations last Wednesday were not affiliated with the university. The university said the protest, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Committee, saw "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," UT Austin said. "Roughly half (26) of the 55 people who violated Institutional Rules and were ultimately arrested were unaffiliated with The University of Texas." Outside agitators also infiltrated protests at Northeastern University in Boston. ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS IN SEATTLE DELAY CAMPUS ENCAMPMENT AFTER BEING CALLED OUT FOR LACK OF DIVERSITY: REPORT "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," Northeastern Vice President for Communications Renata Nyul told FOX 25 in Boston in a statement. "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." Protests continued throughout the week last week at Columbia University in New York City. Columbia President Nemat "Minouche" Shafik issued a statement last week about the protests, saying she was "deeply saddened" by certain actions of agitators who formed an "encampment" on the campus, riling students and faculty with anti-Jewish slogans and chants. "Our bonds as a community have been severely tested in ways that will take a great deal of time and effort to reaffirm," Shafik said before acknowledging the influence of outsiders on the community. "Students across an array of communities have conveyed fears for their safety, and we have announced additional actions we are taking to address security concerns. The decibel of our disagreements has only increased in recent days. These tensions have been exploited and amplified by individuals who are not affiliated with Columbia who have come to campus to pursue their own agendas." USC SPARKS BACKLASH FOR CANCELING MAIN STAGE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY: 'CAVING TO CAMPUS TERRORISTS' The passenger that accosted Adams accused him of leaving the state while anti-Israel agitators were being arrested by police at Columbia University in recent days. Fox News Digital reached out to several colleges and universities Yale, New York University, Harvard and the University of Southern California where anti-Israel protests have taken place over the past week but did not hear back, despite several attempts seeking comment on the influence of outsiders. Still, the New York City Police Department has acknowledged the influence of outsiders, especially at Columbia University. "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," NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said in a post on X. "The NYPD sees these same groups of professional protesters nightly at various demonstrations regardless of the message; sometimes switching sides depending on the week. Those same outside agitators continue to spew hate and antisemitism." "The NYPD has and will always support the right to peacefully protest; however, we stand ready and willing to address whats happening at Columbia University as soon as the university president allows us on their private property," Daughtry added. Fox News Digitals Bradford Betz, Louis Casiano and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report. Original article source: Colleges claim not all protesters getting arrested are part of their school communities: 'Outside groups' The Greeley Police Department responded to a woman screaming on 18 April and helped deliver triplets (Greeley Police Department ) When police officers responded to a Colorado home to investigate reports of a woman screaming, they found the 24-year-old in active labour on her front porch. Four Greeley Police Department officers arrived at around 3.30am on 18 April and jumped into action on the cold and snowy night to deliver what they thought was one baby. The baby boy was born quickly and then suddenly turned blue. One officer located bread ties to tie off the umbilical cord while another ran to nearby homes and collected towels and blankets to help keep the new family warm, the Greeley Police Department said in a release on Facebook. A third officer, who was still with the new mother, then tied off the umbilical cord and cut it. The fourth officer rushed the baby boy back to his patrol where it was much warmer. It was snowing, raining, and approximately 32 degrees outside at this time, police said. While in the patrol car, the baby stopped breathing and an officer had to administer CPR. Medical personnel arrived in the nick of time and were able to help the infant. But the new mother wasnt done yet and told the shocked officers that she was expecting two more babies. While the officers were comforting the mother, a second baby boy was delivered, with the assistance of the officers, the police department said. Officers wrapped this baby up, tied off the umbilical cord, and cut it. Baby number two was also rushed to the ambulance where medical personnel were still tending to the first baby. The mother was rushed to the same hospital as the first two babies and was immediately taken into surgery to deliver the third baby. The three babies, all boys, had strong heartbeats, and are receiving medical care at the neonatal intensive care unit, police said. Police say the woman had gone into labour while home alone. Her phone had died so she tried to make it to her neighbours house but never made it past the front porch. Greeley Police Chief Adam Turk said he was amazed at the teamwork, ingenuity, and care of the officers, who were faced with a lofty expectation. The success of this call is a success in our officers, our training, and our partnerships with other public safety agencies in the area. Americans of all stripes across the political spectrum have been understandably transfixed by the wave of student protests against the Gaza war that has spread from elite Ivy League campuses to numerous other schools, some more surprising than others. Police have been called in to break up student encampments not just at Columbia Universitys iconic Manhattan campus, which was both ground zero and a natural media target, but at USC in Los Angeles (once upon a time a famously white-bread conservative school), Emory University in Atlanta, the University of Texas at Austin, Ohio State, Indiana University and Cal Poly Humboldt in rural Northern California, among other places. I intend to work my way back around to the instructive case of Columbia president Minouche Shafik, who apparently believed she could galaxy-brain her way around the protest crisis and avoid the fate of ousted Harvard president Claudine Gay, among others by capitulating in advance to the House Republicans witch-trial caucus, taking a hard line against alleged or actual antisemitism, and finally calling the cops on her own students. Spoiler alert: None of that was a good idea, and she probably didnt save her job anyway. First of all, its more accurate to say that the media-consuming public is riveted by the contentious political drama surrounding those scenes of campus discord than by the protests themselves, which are a striking sign of the times but hardly a brand new phenomenon. My own college graduation, in the mid-1980s, was disrupted by a student walkout over the universitys involvement in nuclear weapons research and its non-divestment from the apartheid regime in South Africa. Strident moral positions and overheated rhetoric are features of student activism, which is sometimes effective and at other times purely symbolic; every generation, its fair to say, inherits or creates its own iteration. Its also worth noting that Americas extraordinary narcissism another quality shared across the political spectrum creates a global distortion effect whereby the deaths of at least 34,000 people in a conflict on the other side of the world are transformed into a domestic political and cultural crisis. Nobody actually dies in this domestic crisis, but everyone feels injured: Public discourse is boiled down to idiotic cliches and identity politics is reduced to its dumbest possible self-caricature. When the apparent issues are about who has said the most hateful things, who feels more unsafe and in what context, and which political party can get away with twisting events to suit its preferred narrative, then were stuck in the TikTok reboot of Platos cave, staring at flickering shadows long since severed from reality. None of that is the student protesters fault, exactly, although they have played an instrumental role in reprocessing the Gaza war launched, of course, in response to the horrifying Hamas attack on Israel last October as a theatrical spectacle or simulation, full of signs and symbols whose meanings are subject to endless debate. Most of them are expressing genuine (if histrionic) outrage that the U.S. government, self-appointed avatar of democracy and defender of the rules-based order, is funding and supporting Israels campaign of mass killing, wanton destruction and systematic deprivation against a virtually imprisoned civilian population. Exactly how much this student movement has been contaminated by intemperate, hotheaded or outright antisemitic rhetoric is, shall we say, a question of interpretation but not one that can be credibly answered by Bibi Netanyahu, Elise Stefanik or Mike Johnson. As for those who seek to what-about the current wave of protests by observing that worse things have happened in recent history without driving the students of Emerson College to risk mass arrest in the Boston streets, they are correct while deliberately missing the point. Whatever world-historical culpability the U.S. may have had for the genocidal conflicts in Darfur or Rwanda or the former Yugoslavia, for Russias massively destructive war in Chechnya or Chinas brutal oppression of the Uyghurs or whatever atrocity youd like to name, those events were not the direct results of U.S. policy and did not carry the White House seal of approval. The Gaza war is, and does. As New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, a longtime friend and admirer of Joe Biden, wrote last week, Gaza has become the albatross around Bidens neck. It is his war, not just Benjamin Netanyahus. It will be part of his legacy, an element of his obituary, a blot on his campaign, in much the same way as the Vietnam War permanently stained the presidency of Lyndon Johnson, who was undermined by the massive antiwar demonstrations of 1968 including the student rebellion at Columbia, exactly 56 years ago this week, as it happens. Biden made a series of catastrophic miscalculations in the wake of the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, Kristof argues, and the net effect has been to make the U.S. look weak, hypocritical and profoundly cynical. Longtime British politician and diplomat Chris Patten, a pillar of center-right establishment thinking, told Kristof that Biden had made a terrible, terrible error that fed into Chinese and Russian narratives that the West employs double standards and doesnt really care about principles. I would describe Bidens predicament as a symptom of the moral and political failures of liberalism, as well as the peculiar status of the United States, a still-dominant global superpower now in irreversible decline. The president did not or could not grasp how rapidly and decisively world opinion would turn against Israel and the U.S., or how little the world trusts American foreign policy after the last six decades or so of misbegotten wars and disastrous blunders. Furthermore, and this one is amazing too: Neither Biden nor anyone in his inner circle seemed aware that core Democratic constituencies Black voters, younger people, progressives already sympathized with the Palestinian cause and viewed the current Israeli government as a criminal rogue state (or worse). Or perhaps they didn't care: Mainstream Democrats tend to dismiss the significance of the youth vote, assume that Black voters will stick with them no matter what, and are eager to purge or bulldoze the activist left on any available pretext. But those failures, all damaging enough on their own terms, were amplified and undergirded by Bidens inexplicable faith that Bibi Netanyahu would somehow turn out to be a responsible leader and partner in a time of crisis, rather than a power-mad racist zealot with years of experience at manipulating American presidents. This miscalculation may seem mystifying when you consider Bidens long years of public service and his vaunted expertise in foreign policy; Kristof certainly finds it so. It makes more sense if we understand liberalism, of the 21st-century Biden variety, as faith in the power of human reason, and specifically in its power to bridge differences between competing interests and establish common ground for civil discourse and political compromise. If we lived in a world of rational, self-interested beings willing to acknowledge the perspectives of others a world of liberals, in other words that might work out. But we dont, and in the real world Bidens miscalculation regarding Netanyahu was a potentially fatal mistake fatal for Bidens presidency, fatal for Israel, fatal for the future of the Middle East. That brings us back at last to Dr. Renat Shafik, who prefers the nickname Minouche, and whose full title in the British House of Lords is the Right Honorable Baroness Shafik DBE. She arrived at Columbia last July, with no experience in American academic life, touted as a champion of diversity and inclusion. (By birth and parentage, she is both Arab and Muslim.) Less than a year later, she summoned the NYPD to the Morningside Heights campus for the first time since the legendary student takeover of 1968. If Joe Biden represents the tragedy of liberalism in its pathetic form no reasonable person can doubt his good intentions Shafik represents something darker, and almost farcical. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. If you wanted to choose one individual as the face of neoliberalism for an encyclopedia entry, you could do a lot worse. Shafik holds an economics PhD from Oxford and a resume of high-ranking positions at the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of England, three institutions that have been instrumental in driving developing nations into unsustainable debt in pursuit of a disastrously failed model of progress. She came to Columbia after six years of pushing fiscal austerity as director of the London School of Economics, where just last spring she helped defeat a student/faculty strike, reportedly by slashing salary payments and lowering graduation requirements to hustle student protesters out the door. After the Gaza protests erupted at Columbia, Shafik evidently surrounded herself with high-priced lawyers and consultants drawn from the orbit of Bill and Hillary Clinton, who persuaded her that she could save her job by abasing herself before the Republican witch-hunters in Congress and giving them everything they wanted, up to and including confidential university documents they had no right to see. This spectacular abdication of any pretense of academic integrity made her look like a liberal of the most craven and spineless kind, the kind who would rather surrender to a police state than stand up for the frequently uncomfortable principles of free speech. To the surprise of absolutely no one, or at least no one outside Shafiks neoliberal policy bubble, that did nothing to placate Stefanik and Johnson and the rest of the House Republicans, who did not want to be placated and had no interest in reasonable dialogue. They wanted to watch Shafik squirm and grovel and then they wanted her head on a spike, while amplifying a largely invented crisis that delights their base and divides core liberal constituencies against each other. They have already achieved two of those three goals, and after alienating nearly everyone on the Columbia campus through her appalling cowardice, Shafik is surely numbering the days. Given her record, no one could have expected her to behave differently than she did. The real question is what we might learn from Shafiks failure, and from the larger set of cultural and political failures it represents. After this disastrous week, one might be tempted to conclude that the slow, agonizing decline of American higher education has finally reached its nadir, and that American liberals will finally be forced to recognize that reason is useless against the enemies of reason. Im not holding my breath. Columbia Gas is replacing a major pipeline that runs from Tulane Avenue in Clintonville along Weber Rd. to North Linden. Columbia Gas of Ohio will start work in coming weeks on its project to replace a 4.2-mile chunk of a key natural gas pipeline that extends from Clintonville to North Linden. Columbia is abandoning an existing line that runs primarily along Weber Road from Clintonville to North Linden. That line extends mostly from High Street to east of Cleveland Avenue. In its place will be a new line that runs mostly south of the existing pipe, starting on Tulane Avenue west of High Street. The line moves east along several roads, crossing Cleveland Avenue and Joyce Avenue into Linden and finishes on Parkwood Avenue. The exact construction schedule hasn't been determined yet, including when work will start. Separately, Columbia says it finalized arrangement with both neighborhoods on the appearance of the areas that will house regulator stations being built as part of the project. The stations are a series of pipes and valves used to control the pressure of the gas as it moves through the Columbia system and into homes and businesses. The company has bought four parcels of land for the project a four-unit apartment building at 204-210 W. Weber Rd., a vacant house at 476 E. Weber Rd., and a duplex at 480-482 E. Weber Rd. in Clintonville and a vacant lot at 2552 Cleveland Ave. in Linden. Buildings on the sites will be demolished to make way for the regulator stations. Columbia has worked with both communities to come up with designs to make the regulator stations blend in with the neighborhoods. In Clintonville, the concern has been mostly about the appearance of the buildings down to the color of the roof, said Luka Papalko, Columbia's public affairs manager. In Linden, residents want fencing that is consistent with the rest of the neighborhood. There also will be plantings and landscaping at both sites similar to what else is in the neighborhoods, he said. "We've tried to prioritize what both communities want," he said. As far as the construction timeline goes, Papalko said the company is working on final details, including whether the project will start in Clintonville or Linden or on both ends and work toward the middle. Work on the pipeline likely will start in the next month or two, he said. Construction of the regulator stations will start after that. "We're working with the contractor on what the timeline will look like," he said. Columbia has been meeting with community groups about the construction schedule and will be communicating the final details once they're set, he said. As part of the project, Columbia provided 20 trees that were planted in Clinton-Como Park this week. A similar event will happen in Linden this fall at Linden-McKinley High School, according to the company. The trees are meant to replace those that will be cut down as part of the work, he said. mawilliams@dispatch.com @BizMarkWilliams This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Clintonville, North Linden pipeline project to start in coming weeks TechCrunch Lawyers representing Sam Bankman-Fried, the FTX CEO and co-founder who was convicted of fraud and money laundering late last year, are seeking a new trial. Following crypto exchange FTXs collapse, Bankman-Fried was found guilty on all seven counts, then sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to pay $11 billion in forfeiture. Bloomberg reports that Bankman-Frieds appeal focuses on the behavior of U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, alleging that Kaplans rulings were not just erroneous but unbalanced and that the judge continually ridiculed Bankman-Fried during trial, repeatedly criticized his demeanor, and signaled his disbelief of Bankman-Frieds testimony. CANNON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) A power outage that affected some 1,150 customers in the Cannon Township area Saturday has been resolved, according to the Consumers Energy map. The utility says the outage was caused by a tree falling on a power line during a tree removal. It happened on the 5400 block of Myers Lake Avenue NE, near Cannonsburg Road NE, according to the Cannon Township Fire Department. The fire department confirmed to News 8 that a resident and a friend rented a lift to cut down a tree. Firefighters say they lost control of the rope they were using to guide the tree, causing it to fall on a power line. One man was hurt, according to the fire department. He was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, firefighters say. This embedded content is not available in your region. According to the Consumers Energy interactive map, the outage was reported around 4:45 p.m. By around 8:50 p.m., power had been restored. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. 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." A long defunct Neihardt Club at whats now known as Wayne State College helped erect the monument in South Dakota but also this one in a local park in Wayne. (Paul Hammel for the Nebraska Examiner) WAYNE A reveal of what a Nebraska poet hid inside a lonely monument a century ago revealed more of what Mother Nature could wreck over the span of 100 years. John Neihardt Author/poet John Neihardt, the Nebraska poet laureate in perpetuity (Courtesy of John Neihardt State Historic Site) On Saturday, descendants of John Neihardt revealed what theyd found inside an altar to courage that the poet and members of a fan club from whats now Wayne State College planted in the rocky soil of northwestern South Dakota in 1923. The homemade, concrete monument memorialized the courage of mountain man Hugh Glass, who was left for dead in August 1823 after being mauled by a grizzly bear but then crawled and limped 200 miles to get help. Neihardt challenged students from Wayne State (then Nebraska Normal College) to return in 100 years to rededicate and open a time capsule he buried within the monument, which he said contained an original manuscript. Drilled, chiseled into monument His family carefully drilled and chiseled into the thigh-high monument last October after removing it from its location near Lemmon, South Dakota, where Glass was mauled. A fragment of the 1915 book by Neihardt, The Song of Hugh Glass, is among the items that could be retrieved from a monument the poet erected a century ago. (Paul Hammel for the Nebraska Examiner) But on Saturday they revealed that what they could retrieve from inside were still-wet fragments of a special Neihardt edition of a student newspaper, The Goldenrod, as well as pieces of Neihardts book containing his epic poem describing the heroic crawl, The Song of Hugh Glass. Coralie Hughes, a granddaughter of Neihardt, said that despite the lack of a new work from Nebraskas poet laureate in perpetuity, the family had accomplished its goal of fulfilling the challenge to open up the time capsule and not destroying the monument in the process. I was hoping for a personal note to the world from my grandfather, Hughes said. Maybe he did (leave one) because a lot of what we found was unintelligible. The paper fragments, when found inside a tin box imbedded in the concrete, were still wet, which she said may have been the result of several times when the monument was flooded. The monument was originally built on dry, private ranch land near the confluence of two forks of the Grand River, but it ended up on the banks of a federal reservoir that flooded at least four times since 1953. Hughes said the family was told by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which owns the reservoir, that the monument had to be moved if it was to be breached. She said the family proceeded gingerly in drilling into the monument so as not to destroy it. The first thing to be discovered using a snake-like video camera were fragments of a pop bottle that contained a letter from two newlyweds J.T. and Myrtle Young of Lincoln who arrived too late to sign a document Neihardt said was signed by those present and placed inside a tin box. The Neihardt family decided against trying to retrieve the glass fragments or trying to dig out all the paper fragments inside the embedded tin box for fear of destroying the monument, which was relocated to the John Neihardt State Historic Site in Bancroft, Nebraska. Some papers remain inside the tin box, Hughes said, but they are just crumbling pieces. We didnt want to keep going, said Alexis Petri of Kansas City, who produced a short documentary on the familys work to retrieve the monument. Her documentary and the reveal were presented Saturday at the annual spring conference of the Neihardt Foundation held at Wayne State College. Neihardt graduated from the school, then called Nebraska Normal College, at age 15. Wonderful to see something tangible Coralie Hughes, a granddaughter of John Neihardt, displays the fragments of a student newspaper from the Nebraska Normal College and a Neihardt book that could be recovered from inside a concrete altar of courage the poet erected in 1923. (Paul Hammel for the Nebraska Examiner) The event focused on the saga of the almost forgotten monument, the taking up of the challenge by Wayne State professor Joseph Weixelman and his class to rededicate the monument and the eventual decision to relocate the monument to Nebraska. Mary McDermott, who drove from Holdrege with her daughter to view the final chapter in the mystery of the monument, betrayed no disappointment that some rare manuscript wasnt found. Its wonderful to see something tangible from 100 years ago, she said. Im impressed that there was something still there, said her daughter Alizabeth. Marianne Reynolds, the executive director of the Neihardt Center, said the fragments retrieved would be sent to the Ford Conservation Center in Omaha for further analysis. After that, she said, they would be put on display at the center in Bancroft. A kiosk is envisioned so that visitors can play the documentary produced by Petri, Reynolds added. The post Contents of memorial to mountain man Hugh Glass revealed at Neihardt event appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. A long defunct Neihardt Club at whats now known as Wayne State College helped erect the monument in South Dakota but also this one in a local park in Wayne. (Paul Hammel for the Nebraska Examiner) A long defunct Neihardt Club at whats now known as Wayne State College helped erect the monument in South Dakota but also this one in a local park in Wayne. (Paul Hammel for the Nebraska Examiner) WAYNE, Nebraska A reveal of what a Nebraska poet hid inside a lonely monument a century ago revealed more of what Mother Nature could wreck over the span of 100 years. On Saturday, descendants of John Neihardt revealed what theyd found inside an altar to courage that the poet and members of a fan club from whats now Wayne State College planted in the rocky soil of northwestern South Dakota in 1923. The homemade, concrete monument memorialized the courage of mountain man Hugh Glass, who was left for dead in August 1823 after being mauled by a grizzly bear but then crawled and limped 200 miles to get help. Neihardt challenged students from Wayne State (then Nebraska Normal College) to return in 100 years to rededicate and open a time capsule he buried within the monument, which he said contained an original manuscript. Drilled, chiseled into monument His family carefully drilled and chiseled into the thigh-high monument last October after removing it from its location near Lemmon, South Dakota, where Glass was mauled. But on Saturday they revealed that what they could retrieve from inside were still-wet fragments of a special Neihardt edition of a student newspaper, The Goldenrod, as well as pieces of Neihardts book containing his epic poem describing the heroic crawl, The Song of Hugh Glass. A fragment of the 1915 book by Neihardt, The Song of Hugh Glass, is among the items that could be retrieved from a monument the poet erected a century ago. (Paul Hammel for th Nebraska Examiner) A fragment of the 1915 book by Neihardt, The Song of Hugh Glass, is among the items that could be retrieved from a monument the poet erected a century ago. (Paul Hammel for th Nebraska Examiner) Coralie Hughes, a granddaughter of Neihardt, said that despite the lack of a new work from Nebraskas poet laureate in perpetuity, the family had accomplished its goal of fulfilling the challenge to open up the time capsule and not destroying the monument in the process. I was hoping for a personal note to the world from my grandfather, Hughes said. Maybe he did (leave one) because a lot of what we found was unintelligible. The paper fragments, when found inside a tin box imbedded in the concrete, were still wet, which she said may have been the result of several times when the monument was flooded. The monument was originally built on dry, private ranch land near the confluence of two forks of the Grand River, but it ended up on the banks of a federal reservoir that flooded at least four times since 1953. Hughes said the family was told by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which owns the reservoir, that the monument had to be moved if it was to be breached. She said the family proceeded gingerly in drilling into the monument so as not to destroy it. The first thing to be discovered using a snake-like video camera were fragments of a pop bottle that contained a letter from two newlyweds J.T. and Myrtle Young of Lincoln who arrived too late to sign a document Neihardt said was signed by those present and placed inside a tin box. The Neihardt family decided against trying to retrieve the glass fragments or trying to dig out all the paper fragments inside the embedded tin box for fear of destroying the monument, which was relocated to the John Neihardt State Historic Site in Bancroft, Nebraska. Some papers remain inside the tin box, Hughes said, but they are just crumbling pieces. We didnt want to keep going, said Alexis Petri of Kansas City, who produced a short documentary on the familys work to retrieve the monument. Her documentary and the reveal were presented Saturday at the annual spring conference of the Neihardt Foundation held at Wayne State College. Neihardt graduated from the school, then called Nebraska Normal College, at age 15. Wonderful to see something tangible The event focused on the saga of the almost forgotten monument, the taking up of the challenge by Wayne State professor Joseph Weixelman and his class to rededicate the monument and the eventual decision to relocate the monument to Nebraska. Mary McDermott, who drove from Holdrege with her daughter to view the final chapter in the mystery of the monument, betrayed no disappointment that some rare manuscript wasnt found. Its wonderful to see something tangible from 100 years ago, she said. Im impressed that there was something still there, said her daughter Alizabeth. Marianne Reynolds, the executive director of the Neihardt Center, said the fragments retrieved would be sent to the Ford Conservation Center in Omaha for further analysis. After that, she said, they would be put on display at the center in Bancroft. A kiosk is envisioned so that visitors can play the documentary produced by Petri, Reynolds added. This story was originally published by Nebraska Examiner. Like South Dakota Searchlight, its part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Cate Folsom for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com. Follow Nebraska Examiner on Facebook and Twitter. The post Contents of memorial to mountain man Hugh Glass revealed at Neihardt event appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight. We could feel the heat: Large brush fire lights up inside of Space Force Annex in Florida We could feel the heat: Large brush fire lights up inside of Space Force Annex in Florida PALM BAY, Fla. (WFLA) A large brush fire set the inside of the Space Force Annex up in flames, according to Palm Bay Fire Rescue. Crews said the nearly 30-acre fire broke out at around 2 p.m. on Saturday near the intersection of Malabar Road and Babcock Street Southeast. 10 shot outside Florida bar after argument turns violent, deputies say Several nearby homes were evacuated due to the fire threat. I looked out the window, and there was nothing but flames, a lot of smoke, debris in the air, and ashes. We could feel the heat and everything, Carisa Ramirez, one of the evacuated neighbors told NBC affiliate WESH. Another neighbor said his fence and boat were damaged by the fire. He is expecting repairs to cost thousands of dollars but is grateful that no one was injured. Palm Bay Fire Rescue Palm Bay Fire Rescue Palm Bay Fire Rescue Palm Bay Fire Rescue Palm Bay Fire Rescue Palm Bay Fire Rescue The boat is garbage. There are some airboat props that are sitting there that got burned up, the fence, and some other little stuff, nothing major, Jason Cochran told WESH. It could have been worse. The only thing was making sure dogs and kids were safe. We killed him graveyard dead: Polk County deputies hurt, suspect killed in shootout By 8 p.m., the bulk of the fire was put out, as crews shifted their focus to putting out hotspots and small flare-ups, fire rescue said. In an update on Sunday afternoon, Babcock Street was still shut down. Officials said that heavy winds contributed to the spread, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Editors Note: This article was published by the twice-weekly newsletter The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak on April 29, 2024, and has been re-published by the Kyiv Independent with permission. To subscribe to "The Counteroffensive," click here. While most Ukrainians take shelter during Russian attacks, Ukrainian soldier Kostiantyn Chernyshov heads toward the drones. In a war of advanced technology, Kostiantyn's tools would be more at home in World War II: he shoots down Russian drones with a machine gun. "You only have a few seconds to shoot down the drone or damage it as much as possible," he told The Counteroffensive. Kostiantyn, 26, has served in the Ukrainian military's Mobile Air Defense Fire Team's 756th Regiment of the State Special Transport Service for over two years, shooting down Russian Shahed drones. Mobile Air Defense Fire Teams were created before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Instead of using high-tech air defense systems like the Patriot or Iris-T, they use simple military vehicles equipped machine guns to bring Russian drones down. Kostiantyn's team, which consists of four people, helps defend Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv. Read also: Illia Ponomarenko: The story of wartime Kyiv "I am a gunner I load the machine gun and wait for the command to open fire. I also watch the sky," Kostiantyn said. The leader of his team is responsible for the thermal camera, binoculars, and a laser pointer. He gives the order to fire. A driver transports the team to their secret designated locations and lights up the sky with a spotlight. There is also an assistant gunner who guards the group and helps Kostiantyn with ammunition. Kostiantyn's team work virtually 24/7 and can be called to shift at any time. They only have a few minutes to get ready when they receive the order to leave. "We don't know whether it's a training exercise or a combat mission. We treat each of them as a combat mission," the soldier said. From the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022 to the end of 2023, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with nearly 4,000 drones, most of which the Ukrainian military shot down. But Ukraine lacks enough air defense missiles to destroy all of Russia's weapons. Shooting down weapons using modern technology is expensive, after all. A Russian kamikaze drone, like the Iranian-produced Shahed-136, is very cheap to produce, costing between $20,000 to $50,000 the price of a new car in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Patriot air defense missiles used to down the drones are estimated at around $4 million per missile. To maximize Ukraine's air defense capabilities, mobile teams to counter Russian drones have become a vital, low-tech, and low-cost part of the war effort. A Ukrainian soldier poses for a camera next to the wreckage of a Russian kamikaze drone shot down over Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, on March 31, 2024. (Zinchenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) Prior to the full-scale invasion, Kostiantyn served as a border guard. He came to the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a volunteer on March 3, 2022. Kostiantyn, who is a native of Ukraine's Dnipro Oblast, only have two to three days to train as the full-scale war was already in full swing by the time he joined. He was transferred to Chernihiv and later to Kyiv Oblast. "I was told that I would be a gunner, since I already had experience with weapons," he said. His job is hard work. Kostiantyn's longest shift lasted up to nine hours; the shortest, half an hour. Because Russian forces have been launching drones mainly at night, the Mobile Air Defense Fire Teams tend to work in darkness. "We are given a certain amount of time during the day to prepare for night work. During the day we can sleep an extra four hours, and sometimes an extra hour of sleep gives us a lot. The body has already adapted," Kostiantyn said. Read also: Opinion: A look at the drone arsenal Russia uses against Ukraine The first thing these groups receive is an order to go out. Usually, this happens before the air raid alert starts in Kyiv Oblast. Each group is assigned several locations, after which they roughly calculate where to go. If they arrive and this position is inconvenient, they can move. It takes Kostiantyn's group about five to 10 minutes to get to their location from the base. The vehicle is immediately turned off. There must be complete silence so that they can hear the sound of the approaching drone. It makes the sound of a motorcycle and can be heard from around 250 meters away. Everyone immediately begins to do their job. "I set up the machine gun, and my assistant brings in the ammunition. The driver turns on the spotlight at this time to check that everything is working and nothing is out of order Then we put it out until we hear the sound of the Shahed. The whole preparation takes one minute," Kostiantyn said. By day, the team spots the drones through binoculars. Even at night, the Shaheds are clearly visible through a thermal camera because the engine gives off heat. A spotlight illuminates the drones so Kostiantyn can aim. His team is responsible for a small sector. Ukrainian soldiers from a Mobile Air Defense Fire Team shoot down Russian drones at an undisclosed location in Ukraine using guns on April 16, 2024. (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images) "I don't shoot where the spotlight is. I shoot in front of it. You have a few seconds while the drone is in your area, and you need to do as much damage as possible," Kostiantyn said. It's very difficult to shoot down a drone and it often takes several Mobile Air Defense Fire Teams to take down a single one. The key is to hit the drone's engine, propellor, or front end to set it off. "The difficulty is that you can shoot the drone completely, for example, damage the wing, but it can continue to fly," he said, adding that he can hit a drone from a kilometer away. This can complicate the work of one's colleagues: If the target drone starts to sway instead of fly straight, it can be harder to shoot down. The group effort means Kostiantyn cannot count the number of Shaheds he has personally shot down. According to Kostiantyn, a lot depends on the weather. It's much harder to shoot down Shahed drones in fog, rain, or clouds. That the Russian military has also started to paint their drones black has also complicated the work, but Ukraines military is overcoming this problem by illuminating the sky with a laser pointer. The Ukrainian military said it could not tell us how many drones were downed by Kostiantyn due to security concerns. Read also: Opinion: Russias energy infrastructure attacks are depopulating Ukraine On the night of April 23, for example, 16 out of 17 drones were shot down. On the night of April 22, five out of seven drones were shot down. On the night of April 19, Ukrainian air defense and Mobile Air Defense Fire Teams destroyed 14 out of 14 drones. Teams like Kostiantyns are constantly on the move, part of a network of air defense in Ukraine that tries to create an umbrella to protect civilians. And on most nights they are able to shoot down most of what Russia sends their way. Kostiantyn's small team works well together. Everyone knows when to help each other out when they get tired. When the drones are flying, every minute counts, because a Shahed can fly into their zone at any moment. Kostiantyn is already addicted to his work. Although he admits that his "drone hunting" work has become routine, he feels that he is making an important contribution to Ukraine by protecting people. One day, he may stop hearing drones wherever he goes. Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Submit an Opinion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. These are the countries where refugees in Florida are coming from These are the countries where refugees in Florida are coming from TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) While accepting certain refugees has become a controversial topic in the United States and Florida, the country has long been considered one of the top places for those seeking a safer life than where they came from. Within the last five decades, the U.S. has resettled over 3 million people escaping violence, persecution, and war, according to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The Immigration Research Initiative reports over 17,000 refugees have arrived in Florida in the last decade; however, some residents in the state might not know where the refugees originate from. DeSantis says the US should not accept refugees from Gaza at Iowa event According to the latest Stacker statistics, which references data from the Refugee Processing Center, shows that most of the Sunshine States refugees in March arrived from Venezuela and Syria. In Florida, Venezuelan refugees had the highest lead over other countries, with 112 coming to the state throughout March. Meanwhile, 68 Syrians and 28 Guatemalans sought refuge. Below is a list of countries where refugees arrived from last month to Florida: Florida refugee data from March 2024 Venezuela : 112 Syria : 68 Guatemala : 28 Afghanistan : 19 Nicaragua : 10 Congo : 9 El Salvador : 9 Congo : 8 Cuba : 7 Haiti : 7 Honduras : 7 Sudan : 7 Yemen : 6 Pakistan : 5 Ukraine : 5 Central African Republic : 4 Belarus : 2 Cambodia : 1 Myanmar: 1 According to Stackers statistics, Florida was among the top five states that accepted the most refugees in March, falling behind Pennsylvania with 315. States that accepted the most refugees in March Texas : 916 California : 495 New York : 473 Pennsylvania : 346 Florida: 315 For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Editors note: The video above is from March 7, 2024 BABYLON, Long Island (PIX11) A couple accused of hiding body parts at several locations across Long Island is facing more charges in connection to the human remains found in February, according to officials. Jeffrey Mackey and Alexis Nieves will be arraigned Monday for additional charges in connection to Malcolm Brown and Donna R. Conneelys murder, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. Additional details regarding the new charges were not immediately available. More Long Island News Police arrested Nieves, Mackey and two other suspects in early March. All four are accused of scattering the dismembered remains of Brown and Conneely at Bethpage State Park, Southards Pond Park and another wooded area in Babylon. Less than an hour after being charged with concealing a human corpse, tampering with evidence, and hindering prosecution, all four suspects were released without bail. Their release sparked outrage among officials who blamed New Yorks bail reform laws. Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A composite: at left, a pro-Palestinian protester uses a bullhorn during a demonstration in front of Sproul Hall on the UC Berkeley campus; top left, two pro-Israel protestors stand together at a pro-Palestinian encampment on the lawn of Columbia University; bottom right, a male pro-Palestine protestor is arrested at the gates of Columbia. Blame it on Covid. Campus protesters roiling colleges across the nation are part of a generation shaped by the pandemic, who grew up isolated and angered by school shut-downs and social distancing and are desperate to find a connection, community and a voice, experts told The Post. The pro-Palestinian cause allows discontented youth to express long-withheld rage, said forensic psychiatrist Carole Lieberman. It gives them an opportunity to identify with the oppressed against oppressors.' A Pro-Palestine protestor is arrested at the gates of Columbia University on April 22, 2024 in New York City. Getty Images College kids were vulnerable to the pro-Palestinian cause. James Keivom These kids are susceptible to propaganda. People who offer an escape from this confusion, by promoting a direction they claim will lead to happiness and purpose, have found a hungry audience, said Lieberman, a California-based trial expert witness. Protests and encampments ostensibly in solidarity with Palestinians have ramped up in the past week, starting with embattled Columbia University and stretching as far as Texas and Atlanta. Jewish students have reported feeling harassed and unsafe on campus as protesters chant things like, From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. It appears the young demonstrators dont have a full understanding of the movement theyve aligned themselves with, Lieberman said. The worst example of ignorance is that the protesters do not know that terrorists want global jihad not just to destroy Israel, Lieberman added. They also dont know what they are saying, when they chant, From the river to the sea, the psychiatrist said of the death-to-Israel phrase. Some protesters are masking up at demonstrations. Getty Images Isolation and stunted development during the pandemic may have driven young people to seek the comfort of being unified with a common foe. Getty Images Two Columbia students participating in an anti-Israel rally at NYU went viral when footage was shared by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani late Wednesday. They admitted they had no idea what the protest was about, and wished they were more educated. Another relic of the pandemic has become a common sight at protests and college encampments: masks. While most of the country has moved on from Covid-19 protections, protesters are clinging to the facial fashion as a sign of fear of the virus, as well a bid to shield their identities, reported online news outlet Semafor, which noted the prevalence of covered faces in the current wave of demonstrations. Students are releasing anger at protests, an expert said. For USA TODAY To us, the optics are communicating that we deny the Biden administrations narrative about COVID that its no longer a big deal, Olan Mijana, a spokesman for the March on DNC 2024 coalition, was quoted as saying. Its about collective safety, and its also about connecting this COVID neglect to the very issues that were marching on the DNC for. The communal aspect of the demonstrations may also give demonstrators denied socialization at a key point in their lives comfort, said psychologist Jennifer Gittleman. The protesters may feel angry for the pandemic taking away pivotal, highly anticipated experiences for them for example socialization in college and missing graduations and, thus, they are using protesting as a way to release their anger, she said. DENVER (KDVR) Colorado Parks and Wildlife said it is investigating a reported wolf depredation in Grand County on Sunday. If confirmed, it would be the fourth incident in Grand County since wolves were reintroduced to the area in late 2023 and the fifth this year in Colorado. Further details from CPW were not available, but Steamboat Radios Shannon Lukens told FOX31 that this occurred on the same ranch where several calves were killed on April 17. Ranching groups, sheriff call on Colorado to kill 2 wolves behind depredations CPW said it was working to confirm the incident. Further details, including whether the incident involved a reintroduced wolf, were not available. At least four depredation incidents in April According to CPW data, not counting Sundays possible incident, there have been four depredation incidents in the state in April. Three of the confirmed incidents were in Grand County, with a further depredation reported in Jackson County. Colorado to pay rancher after wolf depredation, but will that be enough? CPW has confirmed 17 separate incidents of depredation in the state since 2021. Before April, however, all of the incidents had occurred in Jackson County, and all had occurred before December of last year. The state released 10 wolves into the state in December 2023 to fulfill a voter-approved mandate to reintroduce the species. Colorado gray wolf GPS collar data points to possible breeding pair Many of the previous incidents involved cattle or calves, with some involving sheep or dogs. All four of the confirmed depredation incidents in April involved cattle or calves. CPW said ranchers can submit claims for the fair market value of the livestock lost. According to data, just under $40,000 has been paid out in claims since 2021. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The Tampa Police Department said it is investigating a crash that caused serious injuries early Sunday morning. According to a release, the crash happened at about 3:13 a.m. Sunday on Columbus Drive under Interstate 4. We killed him graveyard dead: Polk County deputies hurt, suspect killed in shootout Officers said the incident caused serious injuries, but they did not say how many people were injured nor how many vehicles were involved. A camera from the Florida Department of Transportation showed at least two vehicles at the crash scene, with one car having heavy damage on the front end. The eastbound and westbound lanes on East Columbus Drive were closed while officers investigated what happened. They have since reopened. 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. Crews carry hikers for nearly two miles after becoming injured at Ga. state park Two hikers are safe after they were rescued at a Georgia state park earlier this week. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Butts County officials said the incident happened Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters were called to help two injured hikers on the High Falls State Park trails. According to authorities, crews carried the injured hikers for two miles to safety. Butts County Fire and Emergency Services did not say what led up to the rescue. TRENDING STORIES: First responders said K9 Flint was also there to help. There is no current word on the hikers conditions. Their ages and identities were not released. The park is located northwest of Macon. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources states High Falls State Park is 1,050 acres and contains the largest waterfall in middle Georgia and a 650-acre lake. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday called on countries to amplify their voice against the crime committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip. Criminal suspects are being recruited in Russia and occupied territories to fight in Ukraine Russian media Representatives of Russias Investigative Committee and other "law enforcement bodies" in Ukraines occupied territories and neighbouring Russian oblasts have started recruiting persons of interest in criminal investigations for the war against Ukraine. Source: Russia media outlet Kommersant, citing sources in the legal system Details: Kommersant found that during and after investigative actions, suspects are being handed documents describing the prospects of military service instead of a prison sentence. Contracts with the new recruits are signed by the military on the investigators recommendation. The document in question, which may be presented to the suspect by the head or deputy head of an investigative body of Russias Investigative Committee, is called a "Razyasnenie" (Explanation). It states the identification data of the person subject to criminal prosecution and notifies them of the particular provisions of the Russian Criminal Code that allow them to avoid criminal responsibility by being drafted into the military during a mobilisation period or by signing a contract with the Armed Forces of Russia. This option is not available to paedophiles, terrorists, saboteurs, traitors, manufacturers of weapons of mass destruction, mercenaries and so on. For any other criminal suspects, the investigation may, with the prosecutors permission, be suspended and subsequently terminated at the request of the command of the military unit in which the suspect is to serve. To shake off a criminal case completely, the suspect must seek dismissal from the armed forces, including on health grounds, or receive a state award, the Explanation says. "However, as a rule, individuals who have been seriously wounded or rewarded [by the state for outstanding performance ed.] are not demobilised, but transferred from the convict units to ordinary units," Kommersant says. After the Explanation is handed to the suspect, the suspect must sign it, specifying whether they want to sign a military contract. The document is then sent on to the military, and if the suspect meets their requirements, the commander of the military unit will request the investigators to suspend the case. According to Kommersants source, this procedure is being used in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine and neighbouring Russian oblasts. It is gradually spreading to other regions as well. Support UP or become our patron! BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) CVS Health announced on Thursday that they have opened a new workforce development and community resource center in Baton Rouge. The facility includes a Workforce Innovation and Talent Center, which provides extensive career skills training and job placement that incorporates a CVS Pharmacy mock store, according to a news release. As a leading health solutions company, we know that there is a strong connection between sustainable employment and health and witness, said Jess Hall, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Louisiana, a CVS Health company. The facility also features a new Community Resource Center, which is supported by Aetna Better Health of Louisiana. Mental health, recreational services aim to help LSU students cope with stress as finals week approaches According to a news release, the CRC will offer the following to the public, members of Aetna Medicaid and workforce program contributors: Help with navigating their health benefits. Access to computers and state-of-the-art teleconferencing. CPR and first-aid training. Onsite health needs assessments and education. Interconnections to a local network of care providers. According to a news release, the merger of WITC/CRC is the first time CVS Health has co-located these critical community resources. With the combined resources of CVS Health and Aetna and our network of community partners, we are uniquely positioned to help the people of Baton Rouge access the career skills training and the health and wellness services they need to overcome barriers to employment, stay healthy and motivated and ultimately succeed in their careers, said Hall. The facility is at 5353 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. Latest News For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com. Leaves gently swayed above Compassion Corner in tune to peaceful chords played Saturday by an accordionist just across the street at Davis Farmers Market. UC Davis students and their parents hurried by, not stopping at the corner featuring the Compassion Bench created to honor 50-year-old David Breaux. Some residents glanced at the memorial on 3rd and C streets where Breaux stood for a decade and asked residents about their definition of compassion but continued on their way. But, occasionally, a person stepped aside from the crowd to gaze at the soft red rock inlaid with handmade tiles. They sat quietly in the sun as sadness crept over their faces. Breaux was killed one year ago Saturday amid a series of stabbings called by the city as one of the most tragic moments in its history A memorial set up at the compassion bench in Davis on Monday, May 1, 2023, remembers David Henry Breaux, 50, who was found stabbed to death Thursday in Central Park. Paul Kitagaki Jr./pkitagaki@sacbee.com I always was so busy with my life, I didnt take time to really get to know him, said Aelric Kofoid, 33, who sat to honor Breaux. And, if I could redo things, I would. You never know when someones just going to go. Breauxs sister, Maria Breaux, swapped stories with the father of Karim Abou Najm, another stabbing victim, on Saturday at Compassion Corner. She recalled David Breauxs warm, loving nature and his humor. My definition (of compassion) has become closer to Davids, Maria said in a phone interview, just recognizing unconditional love. Maria Breaux, the sister of 50-year-old David Henry Breaux who was fatally stabbed last month in Davis, talks to media outside the Yolo Superior Court in Woodland, Calif. on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, after Carlos Reales Dominguez was deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial. Hector Amezcua Abou Najm, a UC Davis student one month away from graduating, was walking home April 29, 2023, when he was killed near Sycamore Park. Kimberlee Guillory, the third and final victim, was repeatedly stabbed two days after Abou Najms death while sleeping at a homeless encampment. Fresh and wilted flowers adorned a Sycamore Park memorial honoring Abou Najm, 20, on Saturday. Birds twittered and flitted through towering trees as bicyclists pedaled nearby. The family of Najm is scheduled to speak Monday while unveiling a bench for him in the park and renaming the bike path. Longtime resident Janet Goldsmith walked her two dogs through the heavily shaded area. She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed a hand to her mouth when asked to reflect over the past year and Najms death. I didnt know him. I dont know the family, Goldsmith said. But, I cant imagine the pain that it must have caused them. Suspect Carlos Reales Dominguez, a former UC Davis student, has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder. His trial could begin in June. No one answered the door at a home Reales Dominguez once lived in with roommates. Neighbor Talia Mickelsen remembers biking home from campus last year and encountering a horde of FBI personnel and police entering the home. It didnt really feel real, she said. The city of Davis rarely has homicides. Last years slayings accounted for all of them, one more than in 2022 for a city that had zero homicides in 2021, according to records collected by The Sacramento Bee. Students remain cautious one year after experiencing fear in the stabbings aftermath, Mickelsen said. I dont think its a distant memory, the 21-year-old UC Davis senior said. It definitely is stained in some peoples memories. Kari Peterson, David Breauxs friend, said he would encourage thoughts of compassion for Reales Dominguez and others. Shes very thankful for knowing Breaux in the past decade. As time has worn on, pain seems to have given way to a commitment to lead with compassion, kindness and love, Peterson said. To somehow be gentler. (Breauxs death) sort of serves as a reminder of that commitment. "The Demon of Unrest": Recounting the first shots of the Civil War The ferry ride to the middle of Charleston Harbor can be a journey back in time. In 1860, Fort Sumter, the federal sea fortress guarding Charleston, became a flash point in the tensions between North and South. "South Carolina saw it as an affront to their sense of honor," said writer Erik Larson. "It was a symbol of everything they felt they were rebelling against." Larson wrote his new book, "The Demon of Unrest," about the events leading up to the bombardment of Fort Sumter by Confederate forces the first shots fired in the Civil War. Larson calls it "the single most consequential day in American history," An aerial view of Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. Built to withstand attack from foreign naval ships, it was nonetheless attacked from the American shoreline, when Confederate forces opened fire on April 12, 1861. / Credit: CBS News Now a national park, Sumter has been altered over the years, but history can still come alive here. With its 50-foot walls, the fort was almost impenetrable. "The idea was, once fully manned with all the gun ports with heavy artillery, that it would be essentially impregnable," said Larson. "It was designed to defend against seaborne attack from a foreign power. Nobody expected that one day this fort would be the target of fellow Americans." Erik Larson, author of : The author of bestsellers like "The Devil in the White City" and "The Splendid and the Vile," Larson became fascinated with the buildup to the conflict. The mood in Charleston, he said, was a city "ready for rebellion." / Credit: Crown Abraham Lincoln had just been elected president of a deeply-divided nation. He'd campaigned to limit slavery, not to abolish it. "The South worked itself up into a condition where they believed that Lincoln represented the apocalypse for Southern culture," Larson said. "They believed no matter what he said, that he was an abolitionist at heart." Charleston, a center of the slave trade, had 32 slave brokerages. Ryan's Slave Mart was the largest. "It had a showroom where the slaves would get up on a platform and walk back and forth while all the potential buyers were judging them," Larson said. Soon after Lincoln's election, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. The president-elect had to sneak into the nation's capital in disguise for his inauguration. "The South was so hostile to Lincoln that there were routine death threats," Larson said. Mason saio, "In terms of the division in society, it's eerily similar to where we are now at times." "In this period that I'm writing about, the two moments of greatest national dread were the count of the electoral vote and the inauguration and doesn't that sound familiar?" Larson said. By the time Lincoln took the oath of office, six more states had seceded. Sumter was, to the South, "a standing menace." The fort, and its 75 men, were commanded by Major Robert Anderson. A Kentuckian by birth, he'd taught artillery tactics at West Point. Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard was put in charge of Charleston's defenses. "Beauregard, actually, had been at West Point, a pupil of Anderson's. And they were actually friends," Larson said. Left: Major Robert Anderson, who was in command of the federal military installation at Fort Sumter. Right: Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard, who would lead the attack on Fort Sumter, starting the Civil War. / Credit: CBS News He built Confederate batteries all around the harbor. Larson said, "These were so close that on still nights you could actually hear the heavy equipment as the Confederates were establishing their batteries to kill them.' According to Larson, Anderson was badly outnumbered, by about 25 to 1. But surrendering Sumter, Lincoln wrote, "would be our national destruction consummated." For three months the tense standoff persisted. Anderson became very frustrated with the communication from Washington. "He was basically left here to determine, frankly, the fate of America," Larson said. At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, Confederate guns opened fire. Over two days, more than 3,300 shells and balls would rain across the harbor. But they never succeeded in actually breaching the walls. Fire ultimately forced Major Anderson to surrender. Remarkably, no one died in the bombardment. But 750,000 Americans would be killed before the Civil War ended in 1865. Four years to the day after Sumter fell, Anderson by then a retired general returned to raise the American flag over the fort. "The North greeted him with adulation; he was an absolute hero," said Larson. That night in Washington, President Lincoln was assassinated. Visitors to the fort today are invited to help raise the flag every morning. A park ranger remarked, "Even though this feels like ancient history, the stuff that started here continues to impact and inform our country today." A reminder of the fragility of a union and the price paid to restore it. Visitors at Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began, raise the American flag. / Credit: CBS News Read an excerpt: "The Demon of Unrest" by Erik Larson For more info: "The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War" by Erik Larson (Crown), in Hardcover, Large Print, eBook and Audio formats, available April 30 via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.orgeriklarsonbooks.comFort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Charleston, S.C.Fort Sumter ToursSouth Carolina Historical SocietyDrone footage by Sumner Crawford of Above All MediaThe Mills House Hotel, Charleston, S.C. Story produced by Jon Carras. Editor: George Pozderec. For more info: The Civil War, 150 years later ("Sunday Morning")Abraham Lincoln and the preservation of democracy ("Sunday Morning")Rooted in history: Gettysburg's "Witness Trees" ("Sunday Morning") Rhona Graff, former Trump assistant, takes the stand at his New York trial Take it easy The importance of being lazy Marla Adams, star of "The Young and the Restless," dies at 85 Demonstrators are protesting media coverage of the Israel-Hamas war at this years White House Correspondents Association dinner attended by President Biden, top government officials and journalists who cover them. Protestors are criticizing President Bidens administrations handling of the Israel-Hamas war and mainstream medias coverage of the conflict. Chants of Free, free Palestine and calls for a ceasefire can be heard near the Washington Hilton where the dinner takes place, according to videos posted on social media. The feminist grassroots group Code Pink plans to shut down the dinner in protest, alleging it has become a platform that celebrates and endorses the administrations actions. The United States media perpetuates anti-Palestinian narratives and ignores Israeli war crimes, the group said. The Correspondents Dinner is nothing more than a celebration and endorsement of the administrations actions. That is not journalism. That is complicity. The Committee to Protect Journalists said that at least 97 reporters and media workers have been killed since the conflict began on Oct. 7 following Hamas terrorist attack on southern Israel. A group of Palestinian reporters penned an open letter in April where they urged reporters to boycott the dinner as an act of solidarity with us your fellow journalists. The White House Correspondents Dinner is an embodiment of media manipulation, trading journalistic ethics for access, they continued. For journalists to fraternize at an event with President Biden and Vice President Harris would be to normalize, sanitize, and whitewash the administrations role in genocide. The dinner has long been criticized for intermixing journalists and people they are tasked to cover. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. DENVER (KDVR) The Denver Police Department is investigating a shooting with two victims Saturday afternoon. Police said the shooting happened in the 8000 block of E. Girard Ave., which is near S. Tamarac Drive and E. Hampden Avenue. One victim self-transported to the hospital, according to police, and another victim was found at the scene. The Denver Police Department is investigating a shooting with two victims on April 27, 2024 in the 8000 block of E. Girard Avenue. (KDVR) The Denver Police Department is investigating a shooting with two victims on April 27, 2024 in the 8000 block of E. Girard Avenue. (KDVR) The Denver Police Department is investigating a shooting with two victims on April 27, 2024 in the 8000 block of E. Girard Avenue. (KDVR) The Denver Police Department is investigating a shooting with two victims on April 27, 2024 in the 8000 block of E. Girard Avenue. (KDVR) The Denver Police Department is investigating a shooting with two victims on April 27, 2024 in the 8000 block of E. Girard Avenue. (KDVR) The Denver Police Department is investigating a shooting with two victims on April 27, 2024 in the 8000 block of E. Girard Avenue. (KDVR) The Denver Police Department is investigating a shooting with two victims on April 27, 2024 in the 8000 block of E. Girard Avenue. (KDVR) No further details were immediately available, but FOX31 has a crew in the area working to get more information. This is a developing story and this article will be updated as more information becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) The bizarre case of the missing Deven children in Fayetteville has taken another strange turn. Cumberland County property records show a domestic limited liability company in New Mexico is the owner of the home that Avantae Deven and her two missing adopted children live in. Nelson & Johnson LLC lists Deven as a member and organizer of the business on the New Mexico business license website. Both Blake, 17, and London Deven, 27, have been missing for several years. CBS 17 obtained a 911 call made by Avantae on Jan. 19, 2024, calling to report Blake missing. She claimed he was a runaway and went to a religious retreat. He told me he was going to a Buddhist retreat and never called back, Deven said. The Fayetteville 911 dispatcher asked, where was the last place he was seen? Oh goodness.. uhh.. I would say a restaurant, Deven said. She told the dispatcher its been so long, and she couldnt remember the restaurant. Then she said shes trying to back-track. Then she said it was a Neighborhood Walmart on Ramsey and Pamalee in Fayetteville. Earlier this month, Fayetteville police and the FBI searched the Devens Berridale home and their old home on Eichelberger Drive. We learned earlier this week through state documents, Blake and London were homeschooled. Deven Academy is registered with the state with the address of the Eichelberger Drive home. The religious homeschool program started in 2007 in Buncombe County. Cumberland County court documents also show that Avantae was in court on April 24 regarding her 95-year-old mother, Leonie Maxwell. The elderly woman suffered from a brain injury while living with Avantae in 2023. She has been in the ICU at the hospital on a ventilator and unable to communicate. Cape Fear Valley Medical Center said in the complaint that Avantae, who is Maxwells caregiver, has not responded to their calls regarding decisions about her mothers health. Police were even sent to her Berridale home to do a wellness check. The Department of Social Services stepped in to file a court petition for a court appointed guardian for Maxwell. Wells Fargo has even frozen the 95-year-olds bank account. DSS felt Avantae was potentially exploiting her ill mother. The Fayetteville Police Department has not released any new information about this case in nearly two weeks. Investigators said human remains were found at an undisclosed location connected to this case. Theyre waiting for the medical examiner to identify the remains. CBS 17 has knocked on the door of Avantae Deven multiple times. While someone was at home, no one answered the door. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) on Sunday announced a host of policies to facilitate residents' overseas trips. Measures include diversifying application channels for exit and entry documents, optimizing the application procedures, and extending the stay period. The measures will take effect on May 6, according to NIA. Under the new policies, residents aged 16 or above (except for civil servants and active military servicemen) in 20 pilot cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, will be able to renew and reissue their passports, as well as travel documents to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions via online platform. Chinese mainland residents who apply for multi-entry to Hong Kong and Macao with business purpose can use smart equipment to get a quick-access endorsement. In addition, the duration of stay for holders of business endorsement to Hong Kong and Macao will be extended from seven days to 14 days. Beijing and Shanghai will be included into the policy of issuing multi-entry endorsements with a validity of one to five years for six designated categories of talent to travel to Hong Kong and Macao, with a duration of stay less than 30 days for each trip. In addition, a new type of multi-entry endorsement will be issued to mainland residents to travel to Macao for purposes of participating at exhibitions, medical treatment and performing arts activities. One to two companions of those who seek medical services in Macao will be eligible for applying the same endorsement. A special endorsement will be issued to Chinese mainlanders in tourist groups traveling in Hengqin and Macao, lifting the restrictions on the number of entries for these groups to Macao via Hengqin port in seven days. The new set of policy is of great significance to improving people's well-being, stimulating market vitality, optimizing the business environment, and helping to shape an open economy at a higher level, according to an official with the administration. Detectives investigating deadly shooting at Fresno home. Police say an arrest was made An homicide investigation is underway Sunday morning after a man was shot and killed. Officers responded at 1 a.m. to Pryor Drive and Richelle Avenue of a shooting victim, Fresno Police Lt. Robert Dewey said. Officers arrived and found a man who was suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The motive to the shooting is under investigation, Dewey said. He added that the victim and the alleged shooter knew each other. The suspect was taken into custody, Dewey said. Officers are investigating witnesses that were at the home visiting. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 559-621-7000. Distillers seeking change in laws that would allow them to sell spirits on Sundays | Opinion Allow Sunday spirits sales Forty-four states allow adult consumers to purchase their favorite spirits products on Sundays, but not South Carolina. While distillers can be open on Sundays, they are unable to sell bottles to consumers. Many distillers make the decision to close on Sundays. And unlike liquor stores, we can only sell the products we make, so the loss of a sales day has a huge impact. For those who stay open, disappointed consumers are forced to go home empty-handed on Sundays. More than 90% of my distillery visitors are from out of town, and turning them away from buying our product not only harms sales, but their overall experience. Fortunately, there are bills moving through the legislature that would allow local communities to vote on seven-day spirits sales. Permitting package stores and distilleries to sell distilled spirits supports local businesses, gives adult consumers more convenience, accommodates tourists and bolsters industries outside of our own as we turn local agriculture products into high-end spirits. Since 2002, 22 states have made the move to allow Sunday sales year-round. Its well past time South Carolina joined them. I urge the legislature to pass HB 4231 and SB 492 in support of local businesses and consumers. Scott Blackwell, Charleston Capacity is the issue Houston, we have a problem. There are too many astronauts in the mission capsule. Imagine spending years and billions of dollars to discover a capacity problem after mission takeoff. How could anyone make such an error? But this is the failure that SCDOT and Beaufort County have made in addressing Route 278 corridor traffic congestion. They have decided to spend $450M to build a six-plus-lane single bridge to Hilton Head Island to reduce traffic congestion without understanding that the island, like the mission capsule, has a capacity limit. The first half of the capacity limit is the many streets one avenue network problem that is displayed in traffic light queuing data. As the current town simulation study shows, the SCDOT proposal, at best, will shave seconds off island workers trips to work. There is no amount of money that can make the island bigger or add parallel north/south avenues to better disperse traffic. Tuesdays Island Packet exposes the other half of the traffic capacity problem -- nowhere to park. If workers dont get there before day-trippers, they cant find a parking space. Case closed. The problem is capacity. Time to tell the Chamber of Commerce to stop turning the crank to get more visitors. They and all the government participants must address tourism in terms of quality/quantity capacity tradeoffs to make the future of tourism viable. Even Disney had to learn this lesson. They manage day-trippers access, closing the door when the magic number of customers is reached. Joseph E Kernan, HHI Naval Hospital honors The 75th anniversary of the Naval Hospital Beaufort was recently celebrated, recognizing the service of the hospitals staff over the years in caring for the active duty, reserve, retired, dependent and VA populations of the Lowcountry. The staff has faced many challenges over the years, including changing support requirements of MCRD Parris Island and MCAS Beaufort, along with deployments and loss of active duty providers. Adapting internally and with the support of the Lowcountry community, the Naval Hospital continued to meet its mission. The Department of the Navy recognized the Naval Hospital Beaufort by awarding the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation in 1989. The Lowcountry community was and continues to be integral to the success of the Naval Hospital. Beaufort Memorial Hospital has always been a critical source of care for active duty and TRICARE referrals as were hospitals in HHI, Savannah and Charleston, using MCAS Helicopters, the medevac services of Memorial Hospital in Savannah and Beaufort County EMS. Support from community physicians permitted the Naval Hospital to maintain and expand its internal services through contracts and partnerships in specialties such as orthopedics, general surgery and radiology in Beaufort, gastroenterology and gynecology from HHI, and family practice from MUSC. It was an honor to serve at Naval Hospital Beaufort with the staff of active duty, reserve, civil service and Red Cross volunteers and to benefit from the wonderful support of the Lowcountry community and its healthcare providers and facilities. Jeffrey W. Baldwin, CAPT, MSC, USN (Ret) CO, NAVHOSP Beaufort, 1986-1989 An Arizona doctor and his wife, a onetime Republican activist, were among three arrested on Friday for allegedly scratching derogatory phrases onto 16 cars that belonged to demonstrators who attended a pro-Palestine protest in January. Matthew Karlovsky and his wife, Lisa Karlovsky, were charged with criminal damage for keying the cars, alongside Bryan Long, according to a press release by the Phoenix Police Department. Damaged cars from pro-Palestine protest on Jan. 28 via Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance. Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance The incident took place on Jan. 28 at a pro-Palestinian protest held near a synagogue, where a fundraising event for the Anti-Defamation League hosted by its CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt was taking place. Court filings cited by AZ Family alleged that surveillance footage showed Matthew Karlovsky acting as a lookout and as he, his wife and Long drove to the protest, where the trio had intent to damage protesters vehicles, according to the outlet. According to a joint statement made by protest organizers and local Jewish and Palestinian community members, the demonstrators had gathered in front of the synagogue to raise awareness of Greenblatts visit to Phoenix and to discredit his genocidal message. Sophie Levitt, a co-founder of Bafrayung Itst (Liberation Now), a Phoenix-based Jewish organization, told AZ Family the protest itself was peaceful, but tensions rose after those who attended the ADLs event started walking out of the synagogue. They began yelling and disrupting and making obscene gestures, saying inappropriate things, Levitt said. Organizers said in their joint statement that there was heavy police presence during and after the protest and officers were seen high-fiving, taking photos with, and fist bumping attendees of the Greenblatt event. In an email to HuffPost on Saturday, Jamil Naser, an organizer with the Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance, shared a statement alleging that police did nothing to prevent the vandalism from happening despite it occurring on the event premises. As this went on, court filings cited by AZ Family allege, CQ that surveillance footage showed Matthew Karlovsky acting as a lookout and as he, his wife and Long drove to the protest, where the trio had intent to damage protesters vehicles, according to the outlet. Long allegedly confessed to using a screwdriver to damage a Subaru and said hewitnessed Lisa Karlovsky damage approximately ten cars, according to the records obtainedby AZ Family.He also said she was out of control, claiming she was spitting towards the Palestinian supporters even as they were walking back. The ADL said in a statement to AZ Family that it had no involvement in the vandalism and that any suggestion to the contrary is both wrong and defamatory. The protest organizers said in their statement that when demonstrators returned to their vehicles, they found defamatory hate speech scratched onto their vehicle, including phrases such as murderer, baby killer and rapist. Rather than confront our protest directly, the perpetrators engraved anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic phrases into several protesters cars, Naser stated in the email. This was a hate crime, plain and simple. Some cars were also etched with the Stars of David. What really stuck out to me, as a Jewish individual, was the usage of the Star of David a religious symbol for us Jews being used as a hate symbol, Levitt told AZ Family. Lisa Karlovsky served as chapter chair of the Arizona Republican Jewish Coalition, according to a 2015 press release on their website. Her husband is a doctor, a neighbor told AZ Family. According to a flyer issued by police, the vandalism caused about $100,000 in damages. Related... Don Lemon Claims DEI Has 'Gone Too Far' In The Media And Has 'Become A Religion' Don Lemon recently offered a shocking criticism of DEI in the media. The former CNN anchor claimed there's a need to "take a look at" DEI and "do some rejiggering." This comes after Lemon made headlines last month following his botched X deal after taping a one-on-one interview with Elon Musk. Don Lemon Says He 'Likes DEI' But It Has 'Become A Religion' MEGA Lemon decried the direction in which the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) crowd is heading, claiming that supporters of the concept may be going too far. He made the comments during an interview on "Real Time" with Bill Maher, likening the idea to a "religion." "There are some great things about DEI, but it's not all roses, and we need to take a look at it and do some rejiggering. It's gone too far. It's become a religion, and if you don't abide by the religion, you get kicked out of the church," Lemon said on the show, per the New York Post. 58-year-old Lemon also weighed in on claims that NPR has become too "woke" after one of its top editors, Uri Berliner, resigned following a five-day suspension without pay by the media organization. Lemon said, "I think a lot of media companies need to do some self-examination about what's happening inside the company." "I am going to get a lot of s--t from liberals for saying what I said," he added. "I like DEI, but when it becomes a religion, it can be used as a cudgel." The Former CNN Anchor's Show Was Cancelled On X MEGA Last month, Lemon had prepared to flag off his "The Don Lemon Show" on both X and YouTube after striking a deal with owner Elon Musk. However, his plans were shortlived as Musk seemingly pulled the plug on the deal after they recorded an interview days before it went live on the platform. Announcing the news on X (formerly Twitter), Lemon noted that Musk had publicly encouraged him to join the platform with a news show, pledging his "full support" and also saying that his "digital town square is for all." Implying that the interview episode, which featured a chat with the Tesla boss, wasn't the problem, Lemon noted that "there were no restrictions" in the interview and that they "had a good conversation," as his questions were "respectful and wide-ranging." He proceeded to subtly shade Musk's "commitment to a global town square," alleging that the tech billionaires' quest to create a space where "all questions can be asked and all ideas can be shared" seemed not to include questions from him. "While Elon goes back on his word, I will be doubling down, I will be doubling down on my commitment to free speech, and I cannot wait to get started," the former CNN anchor concluded. Don Lemon Allegedly Had Outlandish Demands Of X MEGA According to the DailyMail, a source with inside knowledge about the deal claimed that Lemon wanted censorship on the platform and made some outlandish demands from the company. The source said, "If you look through Don's asks, they fluctuate between the luxurious to the far-out to censorship. Luxurious is you're asking for a splashy new car [the Tesla Cybertruck], and you're asking for a $5 million up-front payment." "Far-out is one of his demands was to be the first podcast in space," the source added. Lemon also allegedly asked that X commit to a $10 million annual marketing budget and cover the cost of his studio build-out. He Recently Got Married To His Partner, Tim Malone MEGA Lemon has seemingly left the whole saga behind him as the veteran news anchor tied the knot with his partner, Tim Malone, earlier this month. The couple exchanged their vows in front of about 140 guests at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in midtown Manhattan. Celebrities who attended the wedding included former "Today" show host Matt Lauer, "View" co-hosts Sunny Hostin, Joy Behar, and Ana Navarro, actor Alec Baldwin, record producer Clive Davis, "Real Housewives of New York City" alum Luann de Lesseps, and talk show host, Tamron Hall. Lemon and Malone both wore different shades of velvet tuxedos by Suit Supply. The journalist chose a green color, while his husband wore navy. Don Lemon & Tim Malone Are 'Family Planning' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tim Malone (@timpmalonenyc) Lemon recently told E! News that he and his husband have begun discussions regarding starting a family together now that they are officially married. "We are family planning, I can't tell you when," Lemon told the news outlet at the TIME100 Gala. "We already have three fur babies and I've only been married for three weeks. But yes, we are planning something, and we'll let you know when." He then joked that his 40-year-old husband is "going to have to do it, though, because his body will bounce back." This story was updated with the correct day for the awards dinner. The Cincinnatus Association presents the Ninth Annual Donald and Marian Spencer Spirit of America Awards Dinner, honoring five Cincinnati area nonprofits and businesses that exemplify the true spirit of community service and commitment. Marian Spencer was known for fighting to integrate Coney Island amusement park so her children could swim in the pool. She was the first Black president of the Womans City Club of Cincinnati and the first Black woman elected to Cincinnati City Council. Her husband Donald was the first Black member of the Cincinnati Park Board, the first Black broker on the Cincinnati Board of Realtors and the first Black trustee at Ohio University. Established by the association in 2015, the Spencer awards dinner celebrates the couples achievements and recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the Greater Cincinnati area with a commitment to ensuring greater inclusion and diversity in the community. The awards dinner is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati to celebrate and honor outstanding contributions to the community and acknowledge the honorees' remarkable achievements. WLW-TV anchor/reporter Courtis Fuller will serve as emcee. The Cincinnatus Association is partnering with the Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce and The Cincinnati Enquirer. The 2024 Nonprofit Winners are: Beech Acres Parenting Center Laura Mitchell is president and CEO of the Beech Acres Parenting Center, which has served as a community partner for essential resources, parenting tools and wrap-around care for 175 years. The nonprofit is a 2024 Donald and Marian Spencer Spirit of America Award honoree. (Credit: Provided/Cincinnatus Association) For 175 years, Beech Acres Parenting Center has combined science and compassion to deliver innovative solutions that equip adults to meet childrens needs and cultivate their strengths. Beech Acres is the first agency of its kind in the region to hire a Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and is making a significant investment in this work for the next 3-5 years. Beech Acres serves almost 29,000 individuals each year and believes in expanding impact by supporting a community-wide movement toward strength-based social and emotional well-being for all children in our region. Findlay Market Kelly Lanser is president and CEO of the Corporation for Findlay Market As Ohios oldest continually operating market, Findlay Market is not only a historic and economic asset to the Cincinnati region but exemplifies commitment to diversity and inclusion by prioritizing women and minority-owned businesses when considering vendor applications and food business accelerator applications. The markets programs, Findlay Kitchen and Findlay Launch, support food entrepreneurs with an emphasis on members of underserved communities. Welcoming over one million visitors per year, Findlay Market also partners with assistance programs and organizations to provide a variety of affordable, accessible and healthy foods for all shoppers. Good Samaritan Free Health Center Mark Clement is CEO of TriHealth, which provides the Good Samaritan Free Health Center, a patient-centered medical home for uninsured adults in Hamilton County. The health center is a 2024 Donald and Marian Spencer Spirit of America Award honoree. Located in Price Hill, the Free Health Center was founded in 2011 after a community health assessment revealed that an increasing percentage of the areas population was not receiving proper healthcare. The free health center is a patient-centered medical home for uninsured adults in Hamilton County, fostering ownership of wellness and minimizing emergency room use as primary care. The free health center educates and empowers patients to achieve a higher quality of life. Its services include primary, specialty, nutrition, dental, and mental health care coordinated into a plan tailored for each patient. Since the Free Clinic opened, they have given away almost $40 million of free care. Along with its small core staff, in 2023, its network of more than 130 providers and community members gave over 6,601 volunteer hours of service for an estimated $3.1 million in care donated to the community. SuperSeeds Candice Tolbert is the executive director of SuperSeeds, a nonprofit organization serving schools, youth and families. The nonprofit is a 2024 Donald and Marian Spencer Spirit of America Award honoree. The mission of SuperSeeds is to disrupt the pipeline to prison for youth aged 13-17. Hamilton County Juvenile Court often refers youth to SuperSeeds, where they are treated with a reformative approach to address criminal behavior. Seventy-two percent of youth who have attended SuperSeeds Transformation Camp surveyed after one year post-Camp have stayed out of legal trouble. Parents of youth participants in SuperSeeds report academic improvement, increased school attendance, and no additional behavior issues in school or the court system. From its inception, SuperSeeds has demonstrated its commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, justice, and basic human rights in the population served. The enduring contribution to the community is giving hope, building skills, and empowering justice-involved youth to see a different path forward rather than justice-involved behavior. First Financial Bank Archie Brown is CEO of First Financial Bank. The financial firm is the for-profit 2024 Donald and Marian Spencer Spirit of America Award honoree. First Financial Bank works to eliminate bias and build equality as an employer, attracting, developing and engaging exceptional people. As a financial institution, First Financial delivers financial services and opportunities equally to all community members. It is also committed to investing in products and services specifically designed to help build and repair those who are struggling financially. As a community partner, First Financial works to eliminate bias by supporting organizations and causes that work to serve and uplift underserved people. For more information about the Donald and Marian Spencer Spirit of America Awards and to purchase tickets for the event, please visit the Cincinnatus Association's website. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The Spencer Spirit of America awards dinner is May 21 I have a hard time with small talk, dinner-party phoniness and the whole idea of sucking up to a boss or someone in a superior professional position. The idea of learning how to "network up," which I once taught students in a high school career course I designed, makes me want to vomit. I know it's good advice, because I've seen it work throughout my entire career by people willing to do it. But I cannot do it personally. I have certainly heard the cliche about how we're supposed to treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO. But in practice, I have rarely seen that happen. What has hurt me professionally is that I tend to treat the blue-collar folks with great respect and upper-level professionals with disdain. Too often, I have no respect for these higher-ups because I find many of them to be incompetent suck-ups. "Successful" people often seem to be the type who care more about how they are seen, how much money they make, how big their house is or how much they have traveled, rather than being good people or even good at their jobs. This way of things is part of American professional culture, which I believe is a big part of why so many people in this country feel spiritually empty. Selling your soul for a promotion, a larger home or job protection can never fill that void. This leads me to Donald Trump, Kari Lake and the other so-called Christians who pretended to care about abortion. As I just suggested, there's an important difference between people who are obsessed with how they are perceived and people who are living examples of the beliefs they espouse. Trump and Lake are good examples of the former. Former Vice President Mike Pence, although I believe him to be foolish and wrong-headed, is the latter. You see, Pence truly believes that abortion is murder at any stage, that being gay sends you to hell and should be cured and that a liberal pastor like myself is almost certainly controlled by the devil. All of that is real for Pence, which is why he finds a way to embrace every Republican political agenda that points toward those evangelical goals. From my perspective, it's too bad that Pence has ignored the teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ while professing to follow the true form of Christianity. Still, I give him credit for believing in what he is doing. That idea is a total mystery to Donald Trump. I am just guessing here, but I get the strong feeling that Trump does not believe in anything except punishing his enemies, burnishing his greatness and increasing his wealth.. Did Pence simply not notice when Trump called for him to be killed on Jan. 6, 2021, or any of the many other occasions when Trump proved that he was only pretending to care about the evangelical agenda? Either Pence is really that dumb or he sold his soul to win on the evangelical agenda. Neither of those is a good sign. This brings me back, eventually, to my main point. I can only wonder whether betraying yourself is any amount of money or more political power or greater social status. I have known far too many miserably married couples with kids and a nice house who are secretly, or not so secretly, desperate to get out. They stay in in their unhappy situation for financial security, social acceptance, status, real estate and whatever else. Clearly they have their reasons, but I find it indicative of an American society that cares more about branding oneself than expressing anything authentic. This is why Donald Trump has been so successful in politics. In every public display of American culture, the brand comes first. Trump is a brand far more than a human being, and I am beginning to think that far too many others are as well. Whether in human relationships, politics, the news media or the churches, everything is understood as a public-facing brand. So I am not the least bit surprised that Trump and Lake have changed their tune around abortion. This was always a political game for them and nothing else. You might have noticed that virtually no one in the evangelical movement, other than Pence, has shown any shock or dismay at Trump's reversal again, none of this ever had anything to do with abortion. It was always about power, revenge and money. Abortion was never a core issue for the evangelical movement until it was seen as a political winner. There was no great outcry from the evangelical churches after Roe v. Wade was decided in the early '70s. It was a full decade later or so when evangelicals came to understand how easy it was to raise money and win elections while blaming all of America's social ills on the evil feminists who want to murder their babies. It didn't matter that no honest Biblical theology backs up this position. In fact, it took almost 40 years for them to come up with some precise cherry-picking of scripture they could use to justify banning abortion. Their theology is as weak a faith-based argument as I have ever seen. Using their biblical logic, I could just as easily argue that we should stone to death anyone who looks at porn, feels hatred for others in their hearts or has committed a single sinful act. In fact, it would be easier to make those arguments from the Bible than to argue that abortion is murder. The hard truth here is that the abortion issue was driven by rage against the feminist movement. Many evangelicals were eager to blame feminism for destroying the American family. To be sure, that kind of male rage is not just found within the evangelical church. It is evident throughout American society. I find it odd that under American law, violence against women is not defined as a hate crime. If it were, I think we would conclude that women are targeted for hate crimes more than any group in America. Sometimes branding is important. In any event, we can be sure that Donald Trump never cared about abortion, women's rights, civil rights, workers' rights, the evangelical agenda or anything else with any clarity or consistency. Trump is about Trump and celebrating the Trump brand. Defeating Trump will mean resisting all the small-minded self-branding crap that seems to dominate American behavior. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. The only brand I care about is the working-class poor of all races who can't pay their bills, buy a house or pay their rent, and are working two to three jobs while knowing that their kids have fewer opportunities than their parents. I recently started working some shifts at FedEx, doing overnight package handling. It's a nightly four-hour workout, unloading massive trailers. As hard as the work is, I love my co-workers more than any group of colleagues I've ever had. There is none of the positive-mindset manifestation crap I see on Instagram, and no arrogant claims about personal, political or religious philosophies. It is just a bunch of people working our asses off for not much lmoney and even less respect. There was a time in America when that kind of work was enough to buy a house, raise a family and send your kids to college, but that's no longer the case. Every one of my FedEx co-workers works multiple jobs and is close to the edge of losing everything, and might live long enough to see their kids have even less. The Christian faith should honor hard work and disadvantaged people. It should hear, love and serve the least among us. In fact, we could say that the Christian faith, the American dream and what we used to call blue-collar values need a rebranding, a revaluing and a renewed moral clarity. Perception is seen as everything in America, but perception is not reality. I respect Mike Pence, although I believe he is wrong about almost everything, because at least he believes in what he is doing. It is time to stand up for authenticity, for whatever it is you truly believe in. Stop worrying about your legacy and embrace your truth. We need to reclaim our faith in the American dream, and in ourselves as individuals. As a pastor, I have been by the side of people on their deathbeds. Over and over, I have heard them express regret about the times when they pretended to be something they were not, or were untrue to themselves just to get along and go along. As far as we know we are here on this earth just once, and I pray none of us will spend another minute pretending to be something we are not. Forget the brand and embrace yourself. The more Americans can be true to themselves, the more irrelevant a brand like Donald Trump will become. DENVER (KDVR) A driver was cited for careless driving after crashing into a parked semi, according to police. The Denver Fire Department told FOX31 that the crash happened in the 1200 block of South Vrain Street. DFD said the driver of an SUV struck a parked semi-tractor, and firefighters used extrication tools like hydraulic cutters, spreaders and ram tools to get the driver out of the vehicle. Its hail season in Colorado: How to prevent damage to your car Firefighters used a technique they call batwing to remove the entire side wall of the vehicle. DFD said with this technique, firefighters typically start with the rear door and use a series of cuts and spreads from the back of the vehicle to the front, until both doors and the post in between can be removed. A driver was cited for careless driving after crashing into a parked semi, according to police. The Denver Fire Department told FOX31 that Firefighters used a technique they call batwing to remove the entire side wall of the vehicle. (Photo: Denver Fire Department) A driver was cited for careless driving after crashing into a parked semi, according to police. The Denver Fire Department told FOX31 that Firefighters used a technique they call batwing to remove the entire side wall of the vehicle. (Photo: Denver Fire Department) A driver was cited for careless driving after crashing into a parked semi, according to police. The Denver Fire Department told FOX31 that Firefighters used a technique they call batwing to remove the entire side wall of the vehicle. (Photo: Denver Fire Department) A driver was cited for careless driving after crashing into a parked semi, according to police. The Denver Fire Department told FOX31 that Firefighters used a technique they call batwing to remove the entire side wall of the vehicle. (Photo: Denver Fire Department) The Denver Police Department told FOX31 that the driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was cited for careless driving. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. DENVER (KDVR) The Douglas County Sheriffs Office is reminding drivers to follow the speed limit after several drivers were caught exceeding the posted limit by 20 mph or more within an hour Saturday. One of those drivers was going 58 mph over the speed limit, according to the sheriffs office. Photos: Roads flood across Denver metro area Saturday Saturday is a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day due to soggy conditions in the Denver weather forecast and snow in the mountains. The sheriffs office said one deputy stopped four drivers who were driving at least 20 mph over the speed limit within one hour. DCSO said Deputy Vincent was not tolerating this kind of reckless driving, especially in adverse weather conditions. One driver was traveling at 103 mph where the posted limit was 45 mph, DCSO said. A driver was caught traveling at 103 mph where the posted speed limit was 45 mph on Saturday. (Douglas County Sheriffs Office) The Douglas County Sheriffs Office is reminding drivers to follow the speed limit after several drivers were caught exceeding the posted limit by 20 mph or more within an hour Saturday. (Douglas County Sheriffs Office) The Douglas County Sheriffs Office is reminding drivers to follow the speed limit after several drivers were caught exceeding the posted limit by 20 mph or more within an hour Saturday. (Douglas County Sheriffs Office) The driver seemed surprised, according to DCSO, and said the vehicle was new to him. He was still getting used to the regenerative braking, and said the brake pedal was stiff, according to the sheriffs office. Were still unsure how that impacts the accelerator pedal being pinned to the floor, DCSO posted on X. He was given a mandatory court date for his criminal speed, DCSO said. According to the sheriffs office, 40 mph or more over the posted speed limit carries 12 points assessed against his license if convicted. Additionally, the deputy cited him for careless driving due to the weather conditions, possibly adding another 4 points. Other drivers were clocked going 69 and 72 mph in the 45 mph zone, according to DCSO. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Shen Yiqin, Chinese State Councilor and president of the All-China Women's Federation, attends an award ceremony for young female scientists in Beijing, capital of China, April 28, 2024. An award dedicated to young female scientists was presented to 20 individuals and five teams in Beijing on Sunday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- An award dedicated to young female scientists was presented to 20 individuals and five teams in Beijing on Sunday. Shen Yiqin, Chinese State Councilor and president of the All-China Women's Federation, attended the award ceremony. Shen encouraged female scientists to remain dedicated to science and scale new heights in scientific research. She also called on the talented young minds to play an important role in China's efforts to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, develop new quality productive forces and promote high-quality development. Established in 2004, the award has been given to 204 outstanding women in the science field. Drought devastates crops in southern Africa: 'The grain I have is only enough for the next two months' The Africa hunger crisis, exacerbated by a climate changeamplified El Nino, is reaching a critical point. A recent Reuters report paints a grim picture, revealing that southern Africa is grappling with its most severe drought in several years. What's happening? Earth saw a record $63 billion in damages from weather disasters in 2023. Many of those disasters were made worse by El Nino. Reuters cited a study from October last year that "even suggested that climate change may now be as significant a factor in triggering El Nino conditions as natural causes like sun rays." An El Nino is an unusual warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean along and near the equator. This year's extreme drought has devastated crops, and now millions are hungry in southern Africa. World Vision calls it a "severe food crisis" that is "driving millions of people into a heightened risk of hunger and starvation." The peak of farming season in southern Africa is from October to March. Several weather disasters have struck the region since the end of 2023's season. Tropical storm Freddy destroyed homes in Blantyre, the capital of Malawi, on March 14, 2023. This March, tropical storm Filipo brought devastating floods to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. Drought is impacting this part of the world, with increasing global temperatures exacerbating the problem. The lack of rainfall has decimated maize crops in southern Africa. An estimated 24 million people are impacted by hunger and malnutrition. The soil is normally suitable for maize farming. Seventy percent of southern Africa's maize comes from South Africa. The ongoing drought has led to a 15% drop in the country's maize production for 2023-24 compared to 2022-23. "The grain I have is only enough for the next two months. It is going to be hunger from here on," farmer Mandisireyi Mbirinyu told Reuters. What is being done? African countries have been forced to come up with innovative ways to deal with drought. Some of these approaches include reusing rainwater, preserving humidity in fields, and promoting effective and inclusive consultation. The United Nations Sustainable Development Group suggests several ways that communities can end desertification, including "combatting soil erosion and restoring coastal ecosystems, leveraging innovation, technology, partnerships and private finance, and supporting the livelihoods of people displaced by drought." How can I help? Giving to climate-friendly causes and organizations like World Vision that help communities overcome poverty and injustice are among the ways to help. Learning about the crisis and sharing the information with family and friends on social media can also help by spreading the word. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. NORTH ALABAMA (WHNT) The opioid epidemic continues to grip the nation, but two annual events are working to change that. On Saturday, law enforcement agencies across the Tennessee Valley participated in the Drug Enforcement Administrations (DEA) National Drug Take Back Day. Narcotic divisions with Madison and Jackson County Sheriffs Offices have taken part in the DEAs tack-back day for several years. Its about collecting unwanted, unused, and expired medication to prevent medication misusage and addictions. Russellville PD year-long drug investigation ends in massive bust Jackson County Sheriff Rocky Harnen says this nationwide effort helps combat the opioid epidemic. There are a lot of illegal drugs out there and narcotics that get in the wrong hands of people using them for nefarious reasons, Sheriff Harnen explained. We try to get them off the street and make them unavailable for people wanting to do bad things with them. Sheriff Harnen says theyve seen increases in overdose calls weekly and he explained how fentanyl has played a deadly role in making that a reality. Most of the drugs that were running into now that are bought on the street the meth, marijuana even some of the pills that are supposed to be other things have got fentanyl in them, Sheriff Harnen said. We hope that by getting rid of some of these drugs that people arent using we can at least help take care of that problem. Unused or expired medications? Tennessee Valley authorities taking part in Prescription Take Back Community members in Jackson County like Amanda Harris say they feel compelled to be part of the efforts each year. She says it also helps prevent the impact drugs have on the youth. Its important so that we can keep our children safe, Harris told News 19. Theres a lot of children that have accidental overdoses by getting into medication so locking up your medication is important and then disposing of them. The Jackson County Sheriffs Office says they average over 100 pounds of collected drugs between the two take-back days yearly. It is about promoting safer communities while providing a safe and responsible means of disposing of prescriptions and educating the public about the potential for the abuse of medications. By removing them you remove the risk and by spreading awareness you let it be known that those dangers are out there that maybe people dont think about, Harris said. We all should be a part of the drug takeback. Between both the Jackson and Madison County Sheriffs Offices, nearly 500 pounds of unused and unwanted drugs were collected Saturday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Russian troops have struck Ukraine's thermal power plants almost 180 times since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Dmytro Sakharuk, the executive director of Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK, said on April 28. Moscow has recently intensified its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine's critical infrastructure, launching large-scale attacks on energy facilities across the country on March 22, March 29, April 11, and April 27. In April, DTEK said it needs at least $350 million to recover the lost capacity caused by Russia's attacks on thermal power plants. Sakharuk told Hromadske Radio that DTEK is currently assessing the damages of the April 27 attack. Four stations were damaged severely, according to Sakharuk. Russian forces hit energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv oblasts in a mass attack against Ukraine overnight on April 27 that involved 34 missiles. On April 11, Russia struck the Trypillia Thermal Power Plant in Kyiv Oblast, the main electricity supplier to Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Cherkasy oblasts. Centerenergo, Ukraine's state energy company, later announced that the Russian attack against this plant led to the destruction of 100% of company's generation capacity, as on March 22, Russia also destroyed the Zmiiv Thermal Power Plant in Kharkiv Oblast. In late March, Russia launched another large-scale, significantly damaging one of the two power stations of Zaporizhzhia's Dnipro Dam. 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. Demonstrators supporting and opposing Israel over the war in Gaza clashed in a large and noisy but mostly peaceful assembly at UCLA on Sunday, shouting slogans and pulling at police barricades not far from where pro-Palestinian students have maintained a tent encampment for days. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the grass at UCLAs Dickson Court, waving banners, listening to speeches and sometimes yelling obscenities at one another. Reporters witnessed minor scuffles, but organizers had come armed with private security, and ended the demonstration with a call for attendees to leave peacefully. Campus police showed up at 2:30 p.m. The protest came one day after police were called in at USC, where pro-Palestinian protesters returned with tents and reestablished an encampment in Alumni Park, days after 93 people were arrested in campus demonstrations. Darren Levaton of Las Vegas, holds up a flag as demonstrators rally for Israel as pro-Palestinian supporters surround them at UCLA. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) At UCLA, supporters draped in Israels flag and waving smaller U.S. and Israel flags made their way to the front of a screen set up on the lawn by organizers of the rally, held to protest a similar pro-Palestinian encampment. To one side, group of men and women in kaffiyeh scarves linked arms, attempting to block access to the stage, demonstrators screaming and shouting even as speeches started. Read more: UC rejects calls for Israel-related divestment, boycott driving pro-Palestinian protests Sundays UCLA counterprotest was organized by the nonprofit Israeli-American Council, which on Thursday used social media to denounce pro-Palestinian demonstrations across U.S. campuses. It is utterly unacceptable that any university campus should become a platform for pro-terror and anti-American activities, the statement read in part, calling the protests overtly antisemitic. We demand that university leaders and governing bodies nationwide exhibit zero tolerance for organizations that support terrorism and violence ... [and] take swift and decisive action as permitted by law to halt these violent demonstrations. Read more: Photos: Tensions grow as pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses continue But a representative for the student encampment stressed that their target was not Israel but the university itself. We want UCLA to divest from corporations that are profiting from the genocide in Gaza we are trying to get UCLA to divest because UCLA has blood on its hands," said Kaia Shah, a 2023 UCLA graduate who now works for the university as a researcher. Johanna Israel, daughter of a longtime UCLA professor, shouts during a demonstration in support of Israel. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Shah said the encampment started Thursday with 200 people and has since grown, with no arrests or other physical pushback from the university. UCLA has continued to ignore us," she said, prompting efforts to enlarge the encampment and elicit a university response. She said those behind the plywood barricade sought to remain focused on what was happening in Gaza, not on the campus lawn. Were doing our best to stay levelheaded." At the center of their conflict is the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages, and Israel's retaliatory war on the Palestinian territory. Gaza health authorities say Israeli forces have killed more than 34,000 Palestinians. The United Nations says roughly 2 million civilians in Gaza are now living in near-famine conditions. The conflict has ignited demonstrations at university campuses across the United States in recent weeks, and resulted in the arrests of more than 700 people, according to various news sources. Pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators clash in a demonstration at UCLA. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) At both UCLA and USC, the protests have been organized in support of Palestinians in Gaza, and have drawn counterprotesters to the outskirts of the encampment to rally against Hamas and call for release of the remaining Israeli hostages. "The Jewish students at UCLA are brilliant and resilient and theyre proud and theyre loud, Dan Gold, executive director of the Hillel at UCLA, told demonstrators from the pro-Israeli stage set up on the campus lawn Sunday. We are on the right side of history. A young woman sat shaded by an Israeli flag, blood visible on her scalp, awaiting medical attention after she said she was shoved to the ground by another demonstrator while attempting to retrieve her fallen flag. Private security guards, meanwhile, attempted to restrict access to the pro-Israel rally. Across the lawn, demonstrators carried signs that ranged from a handmade "Free Hugs Jewish Students" to pre-printed "I go bananas for Israel" a taunt aimed at reports of someone with a banana allergy in the pro-Palestinian encampment, now encircled by a protective wall of plywood. Through gaps in the wood, a person waved a large Palestinian flag. When one demonstrator began throwing peanuts at others, UCLA alum Randy Fried stepped in. We make peace when we find the ability to talk to one another. If we want them to listen to us, even if theyre wrong, we have to at least find a way to listen to them, said Fried, who said he belonged to a social justice organization and whose former teacher is among the hostages still held in Gaza. "I would argue that most people on this side of the fence have skin in the game," Fried said, referring to those on the pro-Israel side of Sunday's security barriers. The scene at the dueling UCLA protests was noisy but mostly peaceful. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) After reports that demonstrators were crossing those barriers, a UCLA spokesperson voiced distress. "UCLA has a long history of being a place of peaceful protest," Mary Osako, the vice president for strategic communications, said in a statement released by the university press office. "We are heartbroken about the violence that broke out." The head of the Israeli-American Council, Elan Carr, confirmed Sunday that the group had organized the counterprotest at UCLA, as well as others at demonstrations across the country, and had hired multiple security companies to patrol the Los Angeles event. A GoFundMe campaign that Carr said was not affiliated with IAC purported to support the UCLA counterdemonstration. The campaign had collected some $66,000 by the start of Sunday's demonstrations. Most of the demonstrations, though loud, were peaceful, and large numbers of people left after the pro-Israel event staged by IAC ended at 1 p.m. "We dont want any violence," Carr told the crowd. "Don't engage. You go right to your cars, you move peacefully. Can we agree?" But other demonstrations remained, and along with hurled obscenities, and some scuffles, the day's rhetoric included inflammatory messages. Banners hung along the Palestine encampment read "Jews say no to genocide." On the Palestinian side, a woman in an abaya, mask and keffiyeh on the steps of Royce Hall held up a sign that said "You cannot defeat people who are not afraid to die." Nearly two hours later, campus police showed up alongside officers from Beverly Hills, forming their own bloc. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators then led a slow march away from the police line, with people beating buckets and pans to the chant of "Free Free Palestine." They marched without incident across campus. Others brought more peaceful messages. Both sides have the same history, just different versions of it, said a man holding a Palestinian flag, who gave only his first name, Hamid. At the edge of Portola Plaza, a group of two dozen people in purple T-shirts held signs advocating peace, such as Not One More Drop of Blood. They were representatives from the L.A. chapter of Standing Together, a nonprofit founded in Israel by Arabs and Jews, said member Zahra Sakkejha. There are 7 million Jews, 7 million Palestinians, living in the same tiny piece of land. Nobodys going anywhere. We have to fight for eachothers freedom, equality, justice and safety, Sakkejha said. She gestured to the crowd. People who actually live there are not benefiting from this divisiveness, she said. The director of UCLA's Nazarian Center, a nexus for both social and political Israeli studies, took to X on Saturday to voice support for those who oppose Israel's blockade and destruction of Gaza. But Dov Waxman drew the line at a demand for UCLA to sever connections to Israeli universities and foreign study programs. "The Center is devoted to the academic study of Israel and has no ties to the Israeli government," Waxman wrote. Further, Waxman singled out one of the groups he said is organizing campus protests, Students for Justice in Palestine. Waxman said the group has voiced support for Hamas. "I know that many people in the pro-Palestinian movement dont support Hamas and dont praise the October 7 massacre, but groups like SJP lead the movement on many college campuses, exploiting the sympathy that many students rightly feel for the suffering of Palestinians," Waxman said. "Students and faculty demonstrating in support of Palestinians shouldnt ignore the fact that the organizers of these demonstrations are, in many cases, ideologically committed to eradicating Israel and expelling Israeli Jews, supportive of violence against Israeli civilians, and willing to ignore or even justify Hamas strategy of sacrificing Palestinian civilians for their political ends." Organizers of the UCLA encampment say it is being put on by UC Divest, a coalition that includes Students for Justice in Palestine but also Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Student Labor Advocacy Project. Sherene Razack, a professor of gender studies at UCLA, said students in the encampment have been "extraordinarily disciplined and working extremely hard to keep the camp safe." "They have been trained on de-escalation tactics and have managed to keep things under control," she added. "As a faculty member witnessing their behavior I couldnt be prouder." USC has been roiled by bitter controversy over the rescinding of a graduation speaking slot for valedictorian Asna Tabassum and the subsequent cancellation of the "main stage" commencement ceremony. Los Angeles police arrested 93 demonstrators earlier in the week, and tension was renewed Saturday after pro-Palestinian protesters reestablished a tent encampment in Alumni Park. USC students protesting the war in Gaza at their tent encampment in Founders Park on Saturday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Demonstrators at USC beat drums and put up banners reading Free Palestine, We are all Gaza, and Stop Funding Genocide. According to witness reports and university statements, two structures were vandalized with spray-painted messages the Tommy Trojan statue and a fountain in Alumni Park. The LAPD issued a "tactical alert" Saturday evening, temporarily sending dozens of squad cars to the campus. After police left, students said, dozens of protesters ate dinner and settled into their tents. USC's campus has been closed to the general public since Friday, with access restricted to residents and registered visitors. Further steps were hinted at with the approach of commencement ceremonies starting May 8. The traditional central ceremony has been canceled but separate events for individual schools are still planned. Read more: At USC, arrests. At UCLA, hands off. Why pro-Palestinian protests have not blown up on UC campuses "While the university fully supports freedom of expression, these acts of vandalism and harassment are absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. President Carol Folt has made numerous attempts to meet with the students but they have declined these offers," campus communications vice president Joel Curran said in an emailed statement Sunday. "We are hoping for a more reasonable response Sunday before we are forced to take further action. This area is needed for commencement set up early this week. A campus group, part of the USC encampment coalition, on Sunday disputed the statement, saying that the president's offers to meet have been made on condition of dispersing. "This attempt to meet was clearly an attempt to silence us," USC Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation posted to its Instagram account. At previous UCLA demonstrations, hundreds of students, faculty and alumni gathered without arrests or suspensions. Students in the encampment chanted Free Palestine and other antiwar messages, along with the more controversial intifada and from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. In one case witnessed by The Times, a demonstrator entered the pro-Palestinian encampment and shoved a woman to the ground. UCLA has used private security guards on bicycles and metal barricades to separate the factions. 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, Mary Osako, vice chancellor for Strategic Communications, said in a statement to the campus on Friday. Its also important to note that we are following University of California system-wide policy guidance, which directs us not to request law enforcement involvement preemptively, and only if absolutely necessary to protect the physical safety of our campus community. 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. (FOX40.COM) The El Dorado Transit System recently announced it will add a route to its popular Sacramento Commuter service, including a stop at the largest government office project in Californias history. Beginning on May 6, the El Dorado Transit will extend all its routes to include a stop at the new May Lee State Office, 651 Bannon Street, near the intersection of Richards Boulevard and North 7th Street. The May Lee State Office Complex, a 1.2 million sq. foot office complex located in Sacramentos River District, opened on Wednesday as a part of the Department of General Services plan to renovate state office buildings in Californias capital city. According to its website, the office complex plans to host seven California agencies. Yuba County looks to improve traffic along SR-65 near Wheatland A total of five trips will occur starting on May 6, 2024, in both the morning and in the afternoon, the El Dorado Transit System said. The transportation service added a reminder that its Sacramento Commuter route begins at the Park and Ride locations in western El Dorado County and ends in downtown Sacramento. For state workers who live in El Dorado County, the Sacramento Commuter service is the easy, stress-free way to commute to work, the transit system said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. NEW YORK (WPIX) A Delta Air Lines flight headed to Los Angeles was forced to make an emergency landing Friday morning due to its right-wing emergency slide falling off shortly after takeoff, officials said. Delta Air Lines Flight 520 returned safely to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York around 8:35 a.m. local time on Friday, April 26, after the crew reported a vibration, a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration said. After takeoff, the flight crew received an alert that something was wrong with the right-wing emergency exit slide, according to Delta. They also heard an unusual sound coming from near the wing. The flight crew called air traffic control and declared an emergency landing. The Boeing 767-300ER aircraft landed safely and proceeded to a gate, where passengers deboarded the plane, officials said. New rules require airlines to refund passengers for canceled, delayed flights Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, Delta said in a statement. Delta flight crews enacted their extensive training and followed procedures to return to JFK. We appreciate their professionalism and our customers patience for the delay in their travels. The Boeing aircraft, which had over 150 people aboard at the time of the incident, was removed from service and will be evaluated, a Delta official said. Customers were able to continue their journey to Los Angeles on another aircraft. It was not immediately clear where the emergency exit slide landed or if Delta had recovered it. Last year, the emergency slide of a United Airlines flight from Zurich, Switzerland, fell into the backyard of a Chicago home shortly before the plane landed at OHare International Airport. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Everett Police Department Anti-Crime Team (ACT) and Violent Crime Unit (VCU) arrested two suspects Friday evening, following a drive-by shooting that happened earlier that day in the 9800 block of 18th Avenue West. One of the suspects is facing charges of Drive by Shooting and Assault in the first degree and was booked into the Snohomish County Jail. The other suspect was a juvenile male who was also arrested and booked into the Denny Youth Center for Drive by Shooting. The shooting victim remains hospitalized, and police are continuing to look into the reason for the shooting. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Everett Police Department TIP LINE at (425) 257-8450 or Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS. On Friday evening, members of the Everett Police Department Anti-Crime Team (ACT) and Violent Crime Unit (VCU) made an... Posted by Everett Police Department on Saturday, April 27, 2024 The title of When Evil Came to Rochdale (Channel 5) may have led you to expect a documentary on grooming gangs. Instead, it went back to an earlier scandal: the satanic panic imported from the US that led to children being taken from their homes on the strength of outlandish claims about ritualistic sexual abuse. Social workers are often the scapegoats when child protection goes wrong, according to one of the contributors. Its not the GP, its not the health visitor, its not the police officer its the social worker who carries the can. Maybe so. But in some of the stories highlighted here, the behaviour of social workers was truly shocking. In Rochdale in the early 1990s, a six-year-old boy made claims about ghosts, being locked up, and being given a drink that made him feel that he could fly. This led to 15 children from the same estate being taken into care, many of them seized in dawn raids while still in their pyjamas. Months later, the same happened in Orkney, with nine bewildered children forcibly removed from their parents and flown to the mainland. This time it wasnt ghosts, but witchcraft ceremonies in a quarry. The stories were easily debunked: the six-year-old boy and his sister in Rochdale had been allowed to watch video nasties and their imagination ran away with them. The child who made the original claims in Orkney was from a troubled background. The children in both cases were eventually returned home. But the most disturbing aspect was the willingness of the social workers to believe this stuff, which had begun in the US in the previous decade as fears about heavy metal lyrics and somehow spread to academia. Jean La Fontaine, commissioned by the Government to investigate, concluded that social workers were so convinced of its existence that they were on a crusade. Footage from the interviews in Rochdale was awful: adults asked leading questions as the children cried. This documentary was well-made from one perspective interviews with the lawyers who represented the families and included academics versed in the subject. But no social worker or council leader appeared to explain their actions. The panic has not gone away, but has morphed into something different. These days it is crazy people on the internet who have taken the beliefs and run with them see Pizzagate in the US, an insane case in Hampstead recently covered by a Channel 4 documentary, or one horrendous example featured here in which a child in Wales was kidnapped by vigilantes convinced they were saving the child from harm. 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. BEIRUT, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah announced that it launched on Sunday at dawn an attack with Katyusha rockets on several Israeli settlements. Hezbollah said in a statement that "in response to the Israeli enemy's attacks on southern villages and civilian homes, especially the villages of Qaouzah, Markaba and the town of Sarbin, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance bombed the Meron settlement and the surrounding settlements with dozens of Katyusha rockets." A Lebanese military source told Xinhua that they detected the launching of about 40 surface-to-surface missiles toward northern Israel, some of which were intercepted by Israeli Iron Dome missiles, with several ones exploding above the village of the southeast village of Mays al-Jabal. The sources, who spoke anonymously, said that Israeli warplanes carried out three raids earlier on Sunday on three towns and villages in the eastern and central sectors, while Israeli artillery bombed nine border towns near the border region with about 25 shells. 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. Pedestrians walk on an overpass near skyscrapers at the Central Business District in Beijing (Reuters) - An appliance maker in southern China is finding it hard to ship its products to Russia, not because of any problems with the gadgets but because China's big banks are throttling payments for such transactions out of concern over U.S. sanctions. To settle payments for its electrical goods, the Guangdong-based company is considering using currency brokers active along China's border with Russia, said the company's founder, Wang, who asked to be identified only by his family name. The U.S. has imposed an array of sanctions on Russia and Russian entities since the country invaded Ukraine in 2022. Now the threat of extending these to banks in China - a country Washington blames for "powering" Moscow's war effort - is chilling the finance that lubricates even non-military trade from China to Russia. This is posing a growing problem for small Chinese exporters, said seven trading and banking sources familiar with the situation. As China's big banks pull back from financing Russia-related transactions, some Chinese companies are turning to small banks on the border and underground financing channels such as money brokers - even banned cryptocurrency - the sources told Reuters. Others have retreated entirely from the Russian market, the sources said. "You simply cannot do business properly using the official channels," Wang said, as big banks now take months rather than days to clear payments from Russia, forcing him to tap unorthodox payment channels or shrink his business. GOING 'UNDERGROUND' A manager at a large state-owned bank he previously used told Wang the lender was worried about possible U.S. sanctions in dealing with Russian transactions, Wang said. A banker at one of China's Big Four state banks said it had tightened scrutiny of Russia-related businesses to avert sanctions risk. "The main reason is to avoid unnecessary troubles," said the banker, who asked not to be named. Since last month, Chinese banks have intensified their scrutiny of Russia-related transactions or halted business altogether to avoid being targeted by U.S. sanctions, the sources said. "Transactions between China and Russia will increasingly go through underground channels," said the head of a trade body in a southeastern province that represents Chinese businesses with Russian interests. "But these methods carry significant risks." Making payments in crypto, banned in China since 2021, might be the only option, said a Moscow-based Russian banker, as "it's impossible to pass through KYC (know-your-customer) at Chinese banks, big or small". The sources spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the topic. Reuters could not determine the extent of transactions that had shifted from major banks to more obscure routes. China's foreign ministry is not aware of the practices described by the businesspeople to arrange payments or troubles in settling payments through major Chinese banks, a spokesperson said, referring questions to "the relevant authorities". The People's Bank of China and the National Financial Regulatory Administration, the country's banking sector regulator, did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. SANCTIONS WARNING U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, after meeting China's top diplomat Wang Yi for five and a half hours in Beijing on Friday, said he had expressed "serious concern" that Beijing was "powering Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine". Still, his visit, which included meeting President Xi Jinping, was the latest in a series of steps that have tempered the public acrimony that drove relations between the world's biggest economies to historic lows last year. While officials have warned that the United States was ready to take action against Chinese financial institutions facilitating trade in goods with dual civilian and military applications and the U.S. preliminarily has discussed sanctions on some Chinese banks, a U.S. official told Reuters last week Washington does not yet have a plan to implement such measures. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said, "China does not accept any illegal, unilateral sanctions. Normal trade cooperation between China and Russia is not subject to disruption by any third party." A State Department spokesperson, asked about Reuters findings that Chinese banks were curbing payments from Russia and the impact on some Chinese companies, said, "Fuelling Russias defence industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security, it threatens European security. "Beijing cannot achieve better relations with Europe while supporting the greatest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War," the spokesperson said. Blinken made clear to Chinese officials "that ensuring transatlantic security is a core U.S. interest," the spokesperson said. "If China does not address this problem, the United States will. Nearly all major Chinese banks have suspended settlements from Russia since the beginning of March, said a manager at a listed electronics company in Guangdong. Some of the biggest state-owned lenders have reported drops in Russia-related business, reversing a surge in assets after Russia's invasion. Among the Big Four, China Construction Bank posted a drop of 14% in its Russian subsidiary's assets last year and Agricultural Bank of China a 7% decline, according to their latest filings. By contrast, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the country's biggest lender, reported a 43% jump in assets of its Russian unit. Bank of China (BOC), the fourth-largest, did not give the breakdown. 'CHANNEL CAN BE SHUT' The four banks did not respond to requests for comment on their Russian businesses or the impact on Chinese companies. Some rural banks in northeast China along the Russian border can still collect payments, but this has led to a bottleneck, with some businesspeople saying they have been lining up for months to open accounts. A chemical and machinery company in Jiangsu province has been waiting for three months to open an account at Jilin Hunchun Rural Commercial Bank in the northeastern province of Jilin, said Liu, who works at the firm and also asked to be identified by family name. Calls to the bank seeking comment went unanswered. BOC has blocked a payment from Liu's Russian clients since February, and a bank loan officer said firms exporting heavy equipment face more stringent reviews in receiving payments, Liu said. The manager at the listed Guangdong company said their firm had opened accounts at seven banks since last month but none agreed to accept payments from Russia. "We gave up on the Russian market," the manager said. "We eventually didn't receive more than 10 million yuan ($1.4 million) in payments from the Russian side, and we just gave up. The process of collecting payments is extremely annoying." Wang is also having second thoughts about his Russian business. "I may gradually shrink my business in Russia as the slow process of collecting money is not good for the company's liquidity management," he said. "What's more, you don't know what will happen in the future. The channel can be shut completely one day." (Reporting by China bureau; Additional reporting by Simon Lewis and Vineet Sachdev; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and William Mallard) SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) -Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrived in Beijing on Sunday on an unannounced visit, where he was expected to discuss the rollout of Full Self-Driving (FSD) software and permission to transfer data overseas, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Chinese state media reported that he met Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, during which Li told Musk that Tesla's development in China could be regarded as a successful example of U.S.-China economic and trade cooperation. "Honored to meet with Premier Li Qiang. We have known each other now for many years, since early Shanghai days," Musk posted on social media platform X, as he appeared in a picture with the premier. Tesla reached an accord with Chinese authorities for a plant in Shanghai, its first outside the United States, in 2018. The U.S. electric vehicle maker rolled out FSD, the most autonomous version of its Autopilot software, four years ago but has yet to make it available in China, its second-largest market globally, despite customer demand. Musk said this month that Tesla may make FSD available to customers in China "very soon," in response to a query on X. Equity analysts at Wedbush called the surprise visit "a major moment for Tesla." "While the long term valuation story at Tesla hinges on FSD and autonomous, a key missing piece in that puzzle is Tesla making FSD available in China which now appears on the doorstep," Wedbush said in an emailed company report. Rival Chinese automakers such as Xpeng have been seeking to gain an advantage over Tesla by rolling out similar software. Tesla has since 2021 stored all data collected by its Chinese fleet in Shanghai as required by Chinese regulators and has not transferred any back to the United States. Musk is looking to obtain approval to transfer data collected in the country abroad to train algorithms for its autonomous driving technologies, the person said. Musk's visit to China, first reported by Reuters, was not flagged publicly and the person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with media. Tesla did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV in its report about Musk's meeting with Li did not say whether the two had discussed FSD or data. Earlier in the day, a separate report carried by state radio said Li had visited the ongoing Beijing auto show and had commented about how China's smart new energy vehicle (NEV) sector had gained a leading position in the market and that the country had to work hard and maintain its advantages. Musk also met with Ren Hongbin, a government official who heads the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the organizer of the auto show, state media reported. "It is good to see electric vehicles making progress in China. All cars will be electric in the future," Musk said in a video posted on social media by a user affiliated with state media. Late on Sunday, a top Chinese auto association published a list of 76 car models it said it had tested and found to be compliant with China's data security requirements, among them being Tesla's Model Y and 3 cars. Musk's trip came just over a week after he scrapped a planned visit to India to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing "very heavy Tesla obligations." The company said this month it would lay off 10% of its global workforce as it grapples with falling sales and an intensifying price war for EVs led by Chinese brands. U.S. auto safety regulators said on Friday they had opened an investigation into whether Tesla's recall of more than 2 million vehicles in the United States announced in December to install new Autopilot safeguards was adequate following a series of crashes. Tesla has sold more than 1.7 million cars in China since it entered the market a decade ago and the Shanghai factory is its largest globally. GM'S BARRA VISITED GM CEO Mary Barra made an unannounced visit to the show in the world's biggest auto market on Friday, according to two people with knowledge of her schedule. GM did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Also on Friday, Grace Tao, Tesla vice president in charge of external relations in China, published a commentary on the social media account of state media outlet People's Daily, arguing that autonomous driving technologies would be the new growth engine for EV industry. Tao said Tesla was leading autonomous driving research and development with its "end-to-end neural network" technology and data collected from millions of cars on the road. China's complicated traffic conditions with more pedestrians and cyclists than in many other markets provide more scenarios that are key for training autonomous driving algorithms at a faster pace, according to industry experts. Musk said last week that Tesla would introduce new cheaper models using its current EV platforms and production lines and would offer a new "robotaxi" with self-driving technology. He said on X this month that he would unveil the robotaxi on Aug. 8. Tesla shares have lost almost a third of their value since the start of the year, as concerns have grown about the EV maker's growth trajectory. Last week, Tesla reported its first decline in quarterly revenue since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic slowed production and deliveries. (Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Additional reporting by Liz Lee, Jenny Wang, Daniel Leussink, Alessandro Diviggiano, and Akanksha Khushi; Editing by Jamie Freed, Sharon Singleton and Mark Porter) Who are some of the people and groups involved in US college protests? (Reuters) -In the days since police arrested more than 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia University on April 18, a protest encampment has been re-established on the New York campus and hundreds of protesters have been arrested at schools from California to Massachusetts. The protests over the Israel-Palestinians conflict - and the response from administrators, politicians, faculty and students to the demonstrations - have roiled college campuses and divided the American public. Here is a look at some of the key players. STUDENT GROUPS The protests at Columbia have been organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), which describes itself as a coalition of more than 100 student groups. It was founded in 2016, and unsuccessfully sought to end investments by Columbia in weapons manufacturers and other companies that support Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. Students, including Jewish, Muslim and Palestinian members, "reactivated" the coalition and its divestment demands after the deadly hostage-taking incursion by Hamas militants from Gaza into Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel's fierce response in the Gaza enclave controlled by Hamas. Columbia students have organized both Muslim and Jewish prayers at the encampment, and some have given speeches condemning Israel and Zionism and praising Palestinian armed resistance. The lead CUAD negotiator in talks with university officials is Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian second-year postgraduate student in Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs. Though he often stops by to speak to people at the encampment and to journalists, Khalil has not stayed at the protest camp. Among the lead student groups in the coalition are the Columbia chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace and Students for Justice in Palestine. The two decades-old anti-Zionism advocacy groups that protest Israel's military occupation have chapters across the country that have been key to protests on other campuses. Columbia suspended both groups in November, saying they had helped organize a protest that violated the school's events rules. The students, helped by the non-profit New York Civil Liberties Union, are suing the school, saying Columbia did not follow its own disciplinary procedures and that the punishment is disproportionate. NEMAT MINOUCHE SHAFIK The Egyptian-born international and public affairs professor has been president of Columbia University since last July. She was called to testify before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce about alleged antisemitism on campus on April 17. She told lawmakers: "It is distressing that some in our community have acted in a manner that is inconsistent with our values." The following day, Shafik authorized New York police to enter her campus to clear the protest encampment. A pro-Palestinian U.S. group filed a civil rights complaint against the university over its actions. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE The House of Representatives' committee and its subcommittees have held at least four hearings and events focused on student activity stemming from the conflict in Gaza, with member Elise Stefanik, a top House Republican, playing a key role. Claudine Gay resigned as president of Harvard University and Liz Magill resigned as president of the University of Pennsylvania after being criticized for their testimony late last year before the committee. They had declined to give a definitive "yes" or "no" answer to a question by Stefanik as to whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their schools' codes of conduct regarding bullying and harassment, saying they had to balance it against free-speech protections. Virginia Foxx, the panel's chair, accompanied House Speaker Mike Johnson on a visit to Columbia University on April 24, saying in remarks on campus: "Columbia University is in a freefall ... The inmates are running the asylum." ASNA TABASSUM The University of Southern California selected Asna Tabassum, a biomedical engineering student with a minor in resistance to genocide, to be its valedictorian. Tabassum, who is Muslim and from a South Asian family, had posted a link to a pro-Palestinian page to her Instagram account. On April 15, the school announced it would not be allowing her to deliver the traditional speech at the school's graduation, citing security risks. "I am both shocked by this decision and profoundly disappointed that the University is succumbing to a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice," Tabassum said in a statement. USC announced on April 25 it would be canceling its main commencement ceremony altogether following student protests on that campus this week. (Reporting by Makini Brice in Washington and Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Donna Bryson and Bill Berkrot) Explosion rings out in Zaporizhzhia Oblast On the afternoon of 28 April, an explosion was heard in Zaporizhzhia Oblast during an air-raid warning. Source: Ivan Fedorov, the Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; Ukraines Air Force; Suspilne, Ukraine's public broadcaster Quote: "An explosion in Zaporizhzhia Oblast." Details: Meanwhile, media reports indicate that the explosion also thundered in Zaporizhzhia. Previously, Ukraines Air Force had warned of the Russians' potential employment of ballistic weapons. Support UP or become our patron! Family and friends have honoured the short lives of Tylee Ryan and Joshua JJ Vallow the children of convicted killer Lori Vallow whose remains were found buried on Chad Daybells property nearly a year after they vanished. Mr Daybell, 55, is currently on trial in Boise, Idaho, where many family members and supporters have been filling up the courtroom since the trial started in early April. He faces the death penalty if convicted of murder in their deaths and the 2019 death of his first wife, Tammy Daybell. But dozens of people travelled several hours east to Idaho Falls for the celebration of life service hosted by Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallows grandparents Larry and Kay Woodcock on Saturday. Were not sad today, Mr Woodcock told the attendees. Were honouring those who lost their lives in this. Mr Woodcock, who attended every day of Vallows trial last year and has been a regular at Mr Daybells trial, was one of many who shared his favourite memories of the children at the service. Im gonna start this letter, Mr Woodcock said tearfully. But I want to tell you, Ill never make it through it. I hope you all understand that. Larry Woodcock, grandfather of JJ Vallow, speaks at celebration of life service in Idaho on Saturday 27 April (EastIdahoNews.com) The heartbroken grandfather, who often played JJs favourite song, Queens We Will Rock You on breaks at Vallows trial, noted that he could tell how much the children had an effect on people and how they brought people together. We need to let the world know that there is good in the world, Mr Woodcock said. Theres righteousness in the world and that its not all sadness. The grandparents decided to have the service after the childrens remains were returned to the family in 2023 - more than four years after they were killed. The last several years have been filled with pain and grief as we travelled this long arduous road. We have waited and prayed for this day for so long and are immeasurably relieved that JJ will finally be laid to rest, they said at the time. As we reminisce in the joy that JJ filled our life with, our hearts ache for those that love JJ and share in the immense grief and loss of such a beautiful little man. Our greatest wish is for JJ and Tylee to be celebrated for the joy and love they brought to this world and for them to finally rest in peace. Only then, will our hearts begin to heal. Last year, Lori Vallow was convicted of the three murders and sentenced to life in prison (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The children vanished in the fall of 2019. In October of the same year, Mr Daybells wife Tammy died in her sleep. The otherwise healthy 49-year-old was initially believed to have died of a cardiac event but an autopsy later determined that her cause of death was asphyxiation. Just two weeks later, Mr Daybell married Lori Vallow on a beach in Hawaii. Her children were still nowhere to be found. Nine months later, in June 2020, their remains were discovered buried in the backyard of Daybells Rexburg, Idaho home. Last year, 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. A University of Chicago professor said Sunday that research shows that students on college campuses are more fearful than ever before. Speaking on CBS' "Face the Nation," Professor Robert Pape told host Margaret Brennan: "The big thing we learned is that the feelings of fear on college campuses are more widespread and more intense than we have known." The research at the University of Chicago Project on Security and Threats involved 5,000 students at hundreds of colleges. "Overall, 56% of Jewish students report feeling in personal danger," Pape told Brennan. "Close behind, 52% of Muslim students report feeling in personal danger. And 16% of all students who are not Jewish and not Muslim." Pape said the students were simply reacting to what they're seeing on their campuses. "What they are reporting is," he said. "observing acts of physical violence and intimidation right in front of them. Jewish students are seeing Jewish buildings attacked. Muslim students are seeing people ... counterattack against Muslims. The students that are not Jewish and not Muslim, they're just seeing everybody getting, you know, attacked." He also cited "protest chants." The research was conducted in December-January after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel and the start of the Israeli invasion of Gaza, but well before the latest wave of campus protests connected to the Israel-Hamas war. These recent protests have triggered complaints, particularly but not exclusively by Jewish students, about hateful and intimidating rhetoric. When pressed by Brennan, Pape said that what was needed was an even-handed approach to reducing the ugliness, rather than one-sided political grandstanding by lawmakers. "You need to have a more thoughtful approach to calming tensions that go beyond crowd control, and that are not simply, one side is right, everybody else is wrong," said the professor of political science whose books include works delving into terrorism. He said the Israel-Hamas war clearly caught people in the United States by surprise, so there was no plan really in place to deal with fallout in America. Americans often associate campus protests with the civil rights movement and anti-Vietnam War protests of the 1960s, but Pape noted that the era was long enough ago to not offer a playbook for deescalating tensions at the nation's schools. "Almost no leader who's running either our government or university was involved in the 1960s," he told Brennan. "And the issues we're dealing with today are new. They're not completely new, but I would say, like, 90 degrees new, and that is what we have to come to grips with. And not just assume everything was fine before so they will just fade away and they will be fine again." RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) North Carolina officials say a man convicted of assault with serious bodily injury escaped prison during a family visitation Sunday afternoon until he was caught about five hours later and less than a mile away. The escape took place just after 1 p.m. at Rutherford Correctional Center near Spindale in Rutherford County, about 70 miles west of Charlotte, according to a news release from the North Carolina Department of Corrections. The news release said the escape happened during family visitation at the facility, a minimum-security prison for men nearing the end of their sentences. Roy Steven Buff, 33, is serving about three years for a conviction of felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury following a case in Rutherford County, officials said and prison records indicate. Get crime updates in your inbox Sign up for CBS 17s Crime Tracker newsletter Before his escape Sunday, he was scheduled for release in May 2025, the news release said. The assault took place in August 2022 and his sentence began in mid-December of that year. Roy Steven Buff in a photo from the North Carolina Department of Corrections. Around 6 p.m. Sunday, Buff was captured by K-9 officers and the Prison Emergency Response Team from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, officials said. Buff was caught less than a mile from the prison at a business along Old Ballpark Road in Spindale, according to a 6:30 p.m. news release. He will be returned to a higher security prison facility and will face escape charges, authorities said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. CHICAGO Charges have been filed against a Chicago man accused in two robberies on the citys West Side. According to Chicago police, 43-year-old Rigoberto Estremera, an East Garfield Park resident, is facing several felony charges, including two counts of aggravated robbery, one count of possession of a stolen vehicle, and one count of vehicular hijacking. Gary woman handed 25-year prison sentence for role in deadly bank robbery Authorities say the charges stem from two robberies that allegedly unfolded in Austin and West Town on Wednesday and Thursday. Felony charges filed against man accused in 2 West Side robberies Officers say on Wednesday, Estremera allegedly robbed a 25-year-old man in the 2500 block of West North Avenue. The next day, he allegedly robbed another 25-year-old man inside a business in the 1500 block of North Cicero Avenue, while implying that he was armed with a weapon. Prior to his arrest, Estremera was also allegedly found to be in possession of a car that had been reported stolen from the 1300 block of West Monroe Street. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Authorities located Estremera on Thursday in the 700 block of North Drake Avenue, where he was taken into custody just before noon. Estremera appeared in court on Saturday for a detention hearing. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Fetterman says hes not freaked out that some Republicans like him Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) on Sunday said he is not troubled by some Republicans liking him after he has broken with liberal Democrats on the Israel-Hamas war and the U.S. southern border. In an interview with Fetterman on NewsNations The Hill Sunday, anchor Chris Stirewalt asked the Pennsylvania Democrat if it ever freaks him out that Republicans like him so much. I think that my parents like me, theyve beentheyre lifelong Republicans, Fetterman quipped. And thats the thing, I dont have like a litmus test onits like, Well, I cant like someone if they have different views, and we dont have to agree on everything. Fetterman, who is serving his first term in the Senate, pointed to the recent Congressional foreign aid package to discuss the ability to reach a bipartisan agreement. The package includes long sought funding for Israel, global humanitarian aid for Gaza and other places, Ukraine and U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific. Its very clear that in Washington, you got to work together for whats the right thing. And I was very proud to vote for the gigantic bill just less than a week ago and that was almost 80 votes out of there, Fetterman said, in reference to the final Senate vote of 79-18 for the package. Thats a dramatic statement that we made and the House first standing with democracy and our allies, Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan and also huma aid for Gaza, he continued. And I dont understand why anybody would vote against that, but I can still have a beer with them Its just I dont check and see what letters after someones name [for] whether I can get along with them. Fetterman is a steadfast supporter of Israel in its war against Hamas following the militant groups Oct. 7 attacks and argues the militant group is responsible for Israels counteroffensive in Gaza that has killed more than 34,000 people. It comes as many from the left pull back their support of Israel. POLITICO reported in January that several GOP senators have expressed a liking of Fetterman, which has irked progressives. Stirewalt on Sunday noted Fetterman was once considered a progressive hero, to which Fetterman interjected, With all due respect, I really havent changed on that. And I feel like Ive been very consistent on those things. And then whenIve been saying that for years, like I really dont identify myself as progressive, Fetterman said. And Ive said this before, its not that Ive changed but that word has changed. And Im just a Democrat, and Ive been very clear, and I think consistent. 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 protest against the law on foreign agents in Tbilisi. Photo: Radio Liberty Thousands of people in Tbilisi turned out on Sunday evening to protest against the law On Transparency of Foreign Influence, which jeopardises Georgia's pro-Western policy and aspirations for European integration. A fight broke out with the police. Source: Echo of the Caucasus, a Radio Liberty project; Georgia Online Todays sincere protest of thousands of Georgians against the #Russian #law is another proof that Georgians are already Europeans, #Georgiais already #Europe! The Government must face the reality, avoid any attempt of civic confrontation, withdraw the law, bring Country back pic.twitter.com/7ypakSquRV Giorgi Gakharia (@GakhariaGiorgi) April 28, 2024 Details: The March for Europe, organised by the non-governmental sector and youth movements, was attended by representatives of the opposition, civil society activists and ordinary citizens. A column of thousands of protesters stretched along the main street, Rustaveli Avenue. The protest organisers called on the authorities to cancel the second reading of the draft law On Transparency of Foreign Influence in the legal committee, which is scheduled for Monday. After speeches by the protest organisers and leaders, the protesters headed for the parliament and surrounded the building with a symbolic human chain. Georgia Online reported that the situation outside the parliament has become more complicated. The protesters are trying to get onto a stage that has been set up for a rally by the ruling Georgian Dream party on Monday. The stage is guarded by police. There was a minor scuffle with the police as a result. The protesters removed part of the crowd control barrier installed in front of the building. Most of the protesters are in front of the parliament. Several hundred police officers are there to keep order. They are mainly stationed along the barriers that had been put up for Mondays Georgian Dream rally. The police are not allowing the protesters to approach the stage. Special operations forces are also on duty in the area. The Interior Ministry has issued a statement on its website calling for respect for the freedom of assembly and urging protesters not to break the stage set up in front of the parliament. "Any violation of the law will be immediately curbed by the police," the statement says. Background: Protests outside the parliament in the Georgian capital have been taking place daily since 15 April, but after the first few days, they were mostly small-scale, student-led events. The second reading of the draft law On Transparency of Foreign Influence is scheduled for 29 April. The ruling Georgian Dream party has invited its supporters to a rally on that day. Georgia's Western partners continue to send signals that the draft law is incompatible with the country's pro-Western agenda. This week, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the EU not to start membership talks with Georgia while the controversial law On Transparency of Foreign Influence is in force. The Georgian authorities have expressed outrage at this decision. Support UP or become our patron! Egyptian students taste Chinese tea during a ceremony to celebrate Chinese Language Day in Cairo, Egypt, April 27, 2024. Students studying in Egyptian colleges celebrated Saturday the United Nations Chinese Language Day with a themed event featuring a concert, food and tea tasting, sketch comedy, and art show. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) by Mahmoud Fouly CAIRO, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Students studying in Egyptian colleges celebrated Saturday the United Nations Chinese Language Day with a themed event featuring a concert, food and tea tasting, sketch comedy, and art show. At the event, a traditional orchestra from Nanjing University in southeastern China played melodic music such as "Jasmine" and "Birds Greeting the Phoenix," receiving a thundering ovation from enthusiastic audiences. Li Zhiru, an erhu player at the band who majors in electronic engineering, said he was proud and excited to perform in Egypt and was glad to see the local audience enjoyed the show. The event was held at the Egyptian Chinese University (ECU) in Cairo, with the participation of students and faculty members of universities from the two countries, Arab League representatives, Egyptian officials, and Chinese diplomats. Later, about 20 Egyptian students and Chinese teachers wowed the attendees with a choral song about family ties and connection. Eman El-Sayed, an Egyptian student at Cairo-based Ain Shams University said it's a great pleasure to take part in the event, which offers "many activities, including singing, acting, and many other performances." "I decided to study Chinese because China is a big country with a strong economy and a nice culture and learning Chinese provides many job opportunities in Egypt," she noted. Ahmed El-Sewy, who performs a sketch comedy in Chinese, suggested language learners put what they get from books into good use, spend more time interacting with people, and try out a lot of cultural activities. Hu Die, a Chinese teacher at the Confucius Institute at Ain Shams University, said that it is a great honor to introduce Chinese to more people and see them get interested in the language, adding the number of Egyptian students in Chinese is on the rise. Addressing the event, Lu Chunsheng, minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, said that with the Chinese language as a medium, "we will promote common prosperity between China and Egypt, advance China-Arab ties, and deepen exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations." For her part, ECU president Rasha El-Kholy said that the university has set Chinese as a mandatory course and the number of students enrolling in the schools continues to rise. "The Chinese language is not just a language to study, but it is a language with a very large history and civilization. It connects many peoples and symbolizes civilization, and it is currently linked to technology and progress," the ECU president told Xinhua. The UN observes the Chinese Language Day on April 20 annually to promote multilingualism, cultural diversity, and the use of Chinese as one of the organization's six official languages. Egyptian students enjoy a traditional Chinese musical instrument performance during a ceremony to celebrate Chinese Language Day in Cairo, Egypt, April 27, 2024. Students studying in Egyptian colleges celebrated Saturday the United Nations Chinese Language Day with a themed event featuring a concert, food and tea tasting, sketch comedy, and art show. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) An Egyptian student tries traditional Chinese costumes during a ceremony to celebrate Chinese Language Day in Cairo, Egypt, April 27, 2024. Students studying in Egyptian colleges celebrated Saturday the United Nations Chinese Language Day with a themed event featuring a concert, food and tea tasting, sketch comedy, and art show. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Students and teachers perform a song during a ceremony to celebrate Chinese Language Day in Cairo, Egypt, April 27, 2024. Students studying in Egyptian colleges celebrated Saturday the United Nations Chinese Language Day with a themed event featuring a concert, food and tea tasting, sketch comedy, and art show. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Fire at tire shop leaves 3 first responders injured in Clarksville CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Three first responders were injured fighting a fire that ignited at a Clarksville tire shop Sunday morning, officials said. According to the Clarksville Police Department, the fire was reported shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 28 at the Wheel Shop located in the 1600 block of Wilma Rudolph Boulevard. Have breaking come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts (Source: Clarksville Fire Rescue) (Source: Clarksville Fire Rescue) (Source: Clarksville Fire Rescue) (Source: Clarksville Fire Rescue) (Source: Clarksville Fire Rescue) (Source: Clarksville Fire Rescue) (Source: Clarksville Fire Rescue) (Source: Clarksville Fire Rescue) (Source: Clarksville Fire Rescue) (Source: Clarksville Police Department) (Source: Clarksville Police Department) (Source: Clarksville Police Department) Officials said crews with Clarksville Fire Rescue had to run hoses across Wilma Rudolph Boulevard, which led to a portion of it being shut down to traffic in both directions between Dunbar Cave Road and Old Trenton Road. Motorists were asked to find alternate routes as firefighters including off-duty personnel who were called in to help worked to extinguish the blaze. Just before 6:45 p.m., police announced Wilma Rudolph Boulevard was back open. | READ MORE | Latest headlines from Clarksville and Montgomery County Clarksville Fire Rescue said three firefighters were brought to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries. No additional details have been released about the blaze, the cause of which is still under investigation. 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. Fla. Man Accused of Shooting Family Dog In Face After Infidelity Is Discovered, Authorities Say Farhad Deiham, 41, has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty Lee County Sheriff's Office Louie, the young pitbull mix who authorites claim was shot in the face by his owner. A Florida man was arrested after authorities accused him of shooting his family dog and threatening to shoot others after his alleged infidelity was unearthed. On April 22, the Lee County Sheriffs Office arrested Farhad Deiham, 41, and charged him with aggravated animal cruelty, Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement posted to the agencys Facebook page. Its unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf. Deputies responded to a Lehigh Acres home just after midnight on a report of a disturbance, the sheriff said. They claim Deiham was threatening to shoot everyone inside the home, including two juvenile family members, after being accused of cheating. While speaking with the alleged victims, authorities learned that Deiham had allegedly shot the familys dog, a young pit bull mix, in the face, according to the sheriffs office. They added that the shooting was caught on video. During a search of the home, deputies found the dog named Louie hiding behind a couch and gushing blood from his neck and face, authorities said. The dog was treated at Blue Pearl Pet Hospital and is expected to survive. 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. Even with this life threatening injury, Louie was sweet and loving to everyone that he encountered, the sheriff said in the statement. Veterinarians are saying that Louie will make a full recovery, but will need some time to fully heal. Our friends at Lee County Domestic Animal Services are caring for Louie and are reporting that he is socializing well. Sheriff Marceno added that the dog was in good enough spirits to join the sheriff's offices press conference on the matter but not without a sweet treat. Lee County Sheriff's Office The young pit bull mix joined Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno at a press conference Louie is an amazing dog [and] has a lot of love left to give, the sheriff said. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. What are forever chemicals and should we be concerned about them? (NEXSTAR) Forever chemicals can be found in everyday items, from non-stick cookware to waterproof mascara to tap water. But concern has grown in recent years over their prevalence in the environment, as well as their potential health effects. These synthetic chemicals, also known as PFAS (or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), have been used to make consumer products since about the 1950s. Companies like 3M, DuPont, Chemours and others manufactured PFAS because they were incredibly useful. They helped eggs slide across non-stick frying pans, ensured that firefighting foam suffocates flames and helped clothes withstand the rain and keep people dry. They have since spread into the nations air, water and soil, the Associated Press reported. Consuming hot dogs, takeout and tea could come with a side of forever chemicals While some of the most common types have been phased out of commercial production in the U.S., others remain. An estimated 15,000 PFAS exist today, according to a database maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency. They resist breaking down in the environment and can build up in the body over time, hence their nickname forever chemicals. These things really dont degrade easily, and they hang around, Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, chief medical officer at Chicagos Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, told Nexstars WGN Radio. How many of them actually cause human health problems? We dont know. But we do know enough that certain PFAS have detrimental effects on human health, he said. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, forever chemicals have been linked to a higher risk of certain cancers (such as kidney and testicular), low-birthweight, high cholesterol and pregnancy-induced hypertension. The CDC noted on its website, however, that more research is needed to understand the relationship between exposure to PFAS and human health effects. Dr. Kopin said companies like Quest Diagnostics offer tests that can detect the level of some PFAS in your blood, but not everyone needs to take one. So for example, lets say somebodys drinking water comes from groundwater, or a well, and the well water is tested and theres a very high level of PFAS in it. Those are the kinds of people who certainly should get tested, he said. Just because you have high cholesterol, which is such a common problem, that doesnt mean that you need to get tested only if there theres concern for an exposure. EPA sets first-ever national limits for forever chemicals in drinking water Earlier this month, the EPA set new rules for toxic PFAS in drinking water, marking the first time the agency placed a nationwide limit on the long-lasting substances. Utility companies will now be tasked with reducing PFAS to the lowest level they can be reliably measured. If you want to reduce your exposure to these chemicals, there are some steps you can take, according to the EPA: Reach out to your water provider: Many water utility companies test for PFAS, and you can contact them for the results. Use a water filter: Consider installing an in-home treatment thats certified to lower levels of PFAS in your water. Check your fish: Avoid eating contaminated fish from waterways impacted by PFAS. The EPA has a list of state, territory, and tribal fish advisory contacts that you can use to determine which waterways are of concern. Contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission: The agency can help answer questions about household products in your home. You can call (301) 504-8120, email ConsumerOmbudsman@cpsc.gov, or visit the CSPCs website. The Associated Press Michael Phillis contributed to this story. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Former Florida Judge Jeff Swartz praised ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker as an outstanding first witness in former President Trumps hush money trial, stating he was incredibly credible. I think David Pecker was an outstanding choice for the first witness, Swartz said during a Saturday appearance on CNN. He set the stage and he set the whole scene up for the jury. And he was really very good on cross-examination, he continued. I dont think that he actually got impeached in any really serious way. I think that people are going to look at his testimony and start building around it. I think the jury paid attention to him from all accounts, they paid very close attention to him. And I think he was incredibly credible. And I think that that really went a long way for the prosecution. Swartz, a law professor, applauded Peckers performance during cross-examination, noting that Trumps lawyers did very little to puncture his credibility. But when it got really intense, when it was really down to Trump and Hillary [Clinton], who were running for president, things got really intense at AMI, and they ran a lot of stories beyond what they used to run, Swartz said. I think that that became pretty clear too that this was part of what needed to be done to help the campaign. Pecker was picked as the first witness in Trumps first criminal trial. His testimony this week, which spanned across four days of the trial, shed more light on the National Enquirers role in squashing negative stories about the former president and publishing negative stories about his foes, which oftentimes were not true. Did you suppress the stories to help a presidential candidate? prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked during the redirect examination, with the candidate in reference being Trump. Yes I did, Pecker said. The second witness to take the stand was Rhona Graff, the former presidents longtime executive assistant. As the prosecutors continue to build their case against the former president, Swartz argued they should start dealing with more of the records to help with Michael Cohen. I think that theyre also going to start bringing in other people who work basically on the campaign to set the stage again, for what Mr. Trumps attitude was and his anger that he exhibited, and his fear of things coming out as it related to the campaign and the discussions that took place relating to the campaign that sets the stage for Michael Cohen to finish it off, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt (R) announced Friday that he will run for Congress in a bid to replace outgoing Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.). Schmidt announced his campaign just a week after LaTurner said he will retire from Congress. The three-term attorney general is now gunning for the House after narrowly losing a 2022 gubernatorial bid to Gov. Laura Kelly (D). I feel a calling to serve, so I am excited to announce that I am running, Schmidt wrote in an announcement. I strongly believe that America needs more effective, conservative voices in public service. Kansas 2nd District contains parts of Kansas City and much of rural eastern Kansas. It is considered a safe conservative seat for the general election. Schmidts campaign emphasized his experience as attorney general in being tough on crime and held up his record of arguing against the Obama and Biden administrations in the Supreme Court. Those of us who represent Kansas conservative values need to stand up and fight back, he said in a statement, adding a jab at President Biden. In Congress, I will work to secure our border, fight overreach from the federal government that doesnt understand our way of life and stop the federal government from making daily life increasingly expensive and difficult. His announcement also affirmed his support for former President Trump in 2024. These past four years have made clear that America was stronger when President Trump served in the White House, Schmidt wrote. And I look forward to working with him and others next year yes, to truly make America great again. Schmidt was generally viewed as a moderate during his stint as attorney general, but he embraced far-right positions on vaccines, transgender rights and critical race theory during his gubernatorial campaign. He also faced criticism for embracing election denial rhetoric surrounding the 2020 election, including working with a group that later urged people to participate in what became the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Schmidt also joined a Texas lawsuit attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, which failed. Schmidt is the only GOP candidate who has announced a campaign for the 2nd District seat. The Kansas primary is scheduled for Aug. 6. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NBC4s Colleen Marshall interviews Richard Cordray in 2022 in the video player above. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A former Ohio attorney general announced this week that he will be stepping down from his position in the Biden administration. Richard Cordray wrote in a letter Friday that he would not return for another three-year term as the chief operating officer for Federal Student Aid (FSA), part of the U.S. Department of Education overseeing the governments student loan program. First Amendment professor breaks down rights of protesters A one-time gubernatorial candidate (he lost to Mike DeWine in 2018), Cordray assumed his role with FSA in May 2021, with his time in the position coming to an official end next week. He did state in the letter that he would stay on through June to help with the departments transition. During his time with FSA, Cordray led the department in giving more than 4 million Americans $153 billion in student loan forgiveness and helped set up the departments repayment plan after a 3 1/2-year layoff due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last few months, changes to how FSA allowed students to apply for financial aid have been plagued with delays and technical glitches, causing frustration for students looking to afford college and schools looking to settle their enrollment for the coming school year. The department averages about $1.6 trillion a year in federal student loans. Movies and TV shows casting in Ohio Before joining the FSA, Cordray served as the first director of the newly-created United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2012 and serving until 2017. Cordray was a five-time Jeopardy! champion in 1987 and appeared on the show again during the Tournament of Champions and Battle of the Decades Tournament. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Four plead guilty to stolen mail scheme in St. Charles, Warren counties ST. LOUIS Four people linked to stolen mail in St. Charles and Warren counties have pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges. Two guilty pleas came earlier this week. The four defendants include Elijah Briggs, 42 Jessica Kirkpatrick, 44 Reuben Kim, 36 Holly Naylor, 41 All four have pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud. Briggs also admitted to another count of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, offenses date back to 2019. Briggs admitted to stealing mail from homes, specifically mail with blank checks, while working as a contractor. Sidewalk squatters move up the road after tarp encampment torn down At some point, Briggs was caught with stolen mail belonging to dozens of people, which included more than 30 stolen debit or credit cards and over 100 checks in the names of others. Investigators say the total dollar amount on the stolen or fraudulent checks surpassed $116,000. Briggs also had a notebook containing the names and personally identifiable information of several people. In October 2021, St. Charles officers found Briggs in possession of drugs, blank check paper and stolen or fraudulent checks that totaled $40,000 during a traffic stop. Authorities also learned that Briggs created fraudulent checks that Kirkpatrick, Naylor and Kim later deposited. All three pleaded guilty to cashing in fraudulent checks that Briggs created. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Briggs, Kirkpatrick, Naylor and Kim all face up to 30 years in prison on each bank fraud charge. The Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated this case, along with authorities in St. Charles and Warren counties. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. French Foreign Minister Sejourne checks ''Israeli attacks on Lebanon'' map as he meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Berri in Beirut French Foreign Minister Sejourne checks ''Israeli attacks on Lebanon'' map as he meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Berri in Beirut By John Irish NAQOURA, Lebanon (Reuters) -France's foreign minister said on Sunday there had been progress in discussions with senior officials in Lebanon aimed at easing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel and preventing a war breaking out. France has historical ties with Lebanon and earlier this year Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne proposed Hezbollah's elite unit pull back 10 km (6 miles) from the Israeli border, while Israel would halt strikes in southern Lebanon. The written proposal also looked at long-term border issues and had been discussed with partners including the United States, which has its own efforts to ease tensions and exerts the most influence on Israel. Israel and Hezbollah have traded tit for tat strikes in recent months, but the exchanges have increased since Iran launched missiles on Israel in response to a presumed Israeli airstrike on April 1 that destroyed part of Iran's embassy compound in Damascus killing several Iranian officers. More Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon overnight close to the United Nations' peacekeeping force UNIFIL, according to military officials, just hours before Sejourne visited its headquarters in Naqoura in southern Lebanon. "If I look at the situation today if there were not a war in Gaza, we could be talking about a war in southern Lebanon given the number of strikes and the impact on the area," Sejourne said after speaking to UNIFIL commanders. Speaking after meeting the influential speaker of parliament Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, and the head of the Lebanese army Joseph Aoun, Sejourne said there had been "a lot of progress" over the French proposals. He did not elaborate. The UNIFIL mission, as well as unarmed technical observers known as UNTSO, are stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, known as the Blue Line. France has 700 troops who are part of the 10,000-strong UNIFIL. Hezbollah has said it will not enter any concrete discussion until there is a ceasefire in Gaza, where the war between Israel and Islamist militant group Hamas is in its seventh month. Israel has flagged a potential military operation along its northern front, saying it wants to restore calm on the border with Lebanon so that thousands of displaced Israelis can return to the area without fear of rocket attacks. In a letter addressed to the French embassy in Beirut in March, Lebanon's foreign ministry said Beirut believed the French initiative would be a significant step towards peace and security in Lebanon and the broader region. Lebanese media had reported the government had provided feedback to the French on the proposal but French officials say the responses so far have been general and lack consensus among the Lebanese. Sejourne will discuss Lebanon with Arab and Western states in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday before relaying the latest Lebanese positions in Israel later in the week. (Reporting by John Irish;Editing by Mathieu Rosemain, Elaine Hardcastle and Ros Russell) ISLAMABAD, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Two terrorists were killed in an operation by security forces in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, the military said in a statement. The incident occurred in the Dera Ismail Khan district where the troops conducted the offensive by acting on an intelligence tip-off, the military's media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in the statement. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the killed terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as civilians, said the ISPR. Frank Field, who died last week, wanted to make the shift into work easier for those receiving benefits - David Rose Frank Field is one of the really good men of politics, wrote former environment secretary John Gummer in 1998, just after Field had resigned as Tony Blairs minister for welfare reform. Where Peter Mandelson makes enemies, Frank makes friends, Gummer continued. His intelligence is obvious but never flaunted, his commitment real and not contrived. What Frank Field believes shines through in all he does. Frank is therefore NOT in the Cabinet, while Peter Mandelson is. Despite spending four decades in the House of Commons, Frank Field was in government for little more than a year and was never elevated to high office. Yet the death of the former Labour MP from cancer last week, aged 81, has generated an outpouring of heartfelt tributes, from senior figures across the political spectrum. One reason is that, before he entered Parliament in 1979, representing Birkenhead, Field was a formidable anti-poverty campaigner. While founding director of the Child Poverty Action Group, he then simultaneously established the Low Pay Unit pushing for the introduction of a national minimum wage. Another reason for the widespread tributes to Field is that during his time in Parliament, he displayed detailed policy expertise in difficult, highly contested areas including the welfare state, pensions and tax. His commitment to cross-party collaboration in a bid to get things done has won him admirers including among Conservatives, as the quotation from Lord Gummer above demonstrates. Yet, despite his determination to tackle poverty, Field often offended his own partys tribal sensitivities. During the early 1980s, as a lone, fresh-faced backbencher, he inveigled his way into Number 10 and personally lobbied Margaret Thatcher to award a vital government contract to Cammell Laird shipyard, then a major employer in Birkenhead and across Merseyside. Combining forces with Tory MPs in adjoining constituencies, Fields campaign was successful yet, despite the positive outcome, many in his party chided him for working with an opposition government. Years later, while Field was in government during the first 14 months of Blairs New Labour administration, he was again undermined by the party machine. Powerbrokers such as Peter Mandelson and Alastair Campbell were happy to watch as then-chancellor Gordon Brown spooked by Fields expertise and determined to control all aspects of welfare and pensions from the Treasury drummed the minister for welfare reform out of office. An old-school Christian socialist, Field believed strongly in helping the poor to help themselves by ensuring paid work was available, warning against over-reliance on an ever-expanding welfare state. With his own constituency ravaged by unemployment, he consistently warned that benefit dependency, the sustaining of millions of households entirely on welfare payments in perpetuity, was degrading and economically unsustainable seriously annoying more statist Labour MPs. Field spent brief periods on the shadow front bench during the 1980s, under Labour leaders Michael Foot and then Neil Kinnock but he was too independent and outspoken for the party hierarchy. Instead, he made his mark chairing the Commons social security select committee for a decade from 1987. Combining forensic knowledge with sharp public questioning, Field forced Robert Maxwells estate to pay back hundreds of millions of pounds in employee pension contributions the late tycoon had used in a bid to re-finance his business. Field pulled a similar trick in 2016, again as a select committee chairman, subjecting Philip Green to an extended Parliamentary grilling, with the retail billionaire agreeing to pay over 350m towards the BHS pension deficit. During his long public policy career, Field wrote dozens of detailed books and pamphlets on benefits policy and pensions. Despite so little time as a minister, his influence on these subjects was huge with Field acting as an unofficial adviser to a succession of cabinet ministers working in this area, at their request, whatever their party. Having studied his writing closely, and co-authored books and papers with him myself, I would argue that Frank Field, despite the political brickbats he endured, was probably the UKs most influential welfare policy thinker since William Beveridge who wrote, of course, the famous 1942 report launching Britains welfare state. So what would the UK policy landscape look like had he prevailed and consolidated his power during the New Labour years? Fields principle aim in government thinking the unthinkable, as Blair asked him was to restore the contributory principle, compelling workers to pay into their own individual pension pots run by new mutual societies, on top of the basic state pension. Widely admired by industry experts, these ideas were diluted into todays far less ambitious, employer-based stakeholder pension schemes. Had Field prevailed, perhaps the public finances would now be stronger, with millions of poorer pensioners benefitting from the income-boosting impact of compound interest and long-term investment returns. Perhaps the UK would now have the 10p starting rate of tax which Field designed, helping to ease financial disincentives to work as the low-paid move from benefits into employment. Instead, workers currently pay no tax on earnings up to 12,571, after which they pay 20p in the pound, making the shift into work much harder. For decades, Field warned against Britains sick note culture, with historically high numbers living entirely on benefits, despite a national labour shortage. Existing Tory ministers and their likely Labour replacements are, this very month, worrying aloud about the same thing and the costs and societal impact are only climbing. Field was, in my view, just the first in a string of politicians sacrificed in a bid to contain what were to become the huge, and ultimately enormously destructive tensions between Blairite and Brownite wings of New Labour. While he could certainly be awkward, his overriding instinct was to collaborate, firmly rejecting the party-political point-scoring which too often dominates the UKs policy debate. He believed in, and had the courage to attempt, a more co-operative politics focused on the deep-seated, long-term issues which modern democracy so often finds hard to address. 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. French Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, attends the extraordinary meeting of EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Mario Salerno/EU Council/dpa Those convicted of belonging to organized crime groups in France will face up to 20 years in prison under new criminal statutes being introduced by the government, French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said in an interview with the Tribune Dimanche newspaper published on Sunday. A new specialized national public prosecutor's office will also be created to better coordinate the fight against organized crime, Dupond-Moretti said. He said France should introduce protections and benefits for criminals who turn on their former associates and provide key evidence to help dismantle a criminal network. Dupond-Moretti said French law should be modelled on the "pentito," or penetent, model in Italy that has been extensively used in efforts to undermine the mafia there. He argued that current French provisions for former criminals who agree to cooperate with authorities are inefficient and too narrow. Special courts staffed entirely by professional magistrates, instead of citizen jurors, should be given expanded jurisdiction over cases involving organized crime, he said. Dupond-Moretti's announcements largely correspond to recommendations from French anti-mafia organizations. Dupond-Moretti's main aim with the new measures is to crack down on drug trafficking. In recent weeks, French police have arrested more than a thousand suspects in the drugs milieu in large-scale police operations. Organized crime in France has been a source of concern for the current government. The mafia is active on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, for example. According to an internal report by an anti-mafia unit of the police and the gendarmerie, which was quoted by French media, there are 25 criminal gangs active on the island. TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) Multiple gang members were detained Saturday after they were allegedly pointing a gun at cars passing by in Pixley, according to the Tulare County Sheriffs Office. Deputies say just after 1:30 p.m. they responded to a home in the 500 block of East Joanne Avenue in Pixley after receiving reports of gang members pointing a gun at passing cars. TAGNET Detectives report several gang members in front of the home were detained as a result. TAGNET also served a search warrant at the home where they say they found body armor, several guns, including an AK-47 style rifle, and gang material. Deputies say 25-year-old Cesar Rodriguez-Nambo was arrested and booked under suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, illegal possession of a firearm, and gang enhancement. Anyone with any additional information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Tulare County Sheriffs Office at (559) 733-6218. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47. Georgia man fatally shoots ex-wife before shooting her new husband, himself at shopping plaza: Police Georgia man fatally shoots ex-wife before shooting her new husband, himself at shopping plaza: Police A Georgia man allegedly shot and killed a woman, believed to be his ex-wife, before shooting her new husband and himself at a shopping plaza Saturday night, according to police. A heavy police presence was observed at the Merchants Walk Plaza in Lilburn, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. Lilburn Police said in a news release that the suspect, 62, entered the Tana Food Mart along Lawrenceville Highway with a pistol. The suspect then shot and killed a 57-year-old woman and shot another 62-year-old man in the leg at around 6 p.m. The two victims reportedly worked at the store. NEW EVIDENCE IN GEORGIA COUPLE'S KILLING REELED IN WHILE MAGNET FISHING IN CREEK After shooting the couple, police said the suspect shot himself in the head. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The suspect and the male victim were transported to Northside Gwinnett Hospital for treatment. Police said the suspect was listed in critical condition. The male victim was in stable condition. GOV. BRIAN KEMP SIGNING A BILL TO MAKE SQUATTING A CRIME IN GEORGIA: 'THIS IS INSANITY' None of the three people involved in the incident have been publicly identified by police, pending notification of family members. Investigators said the shooting was a domestic violence incident. The woman is believed to be the ex-wife of the suspect, police said, according to The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Police said preliminary information indicates the three were in an argument before the suspect allegedly shot the couple and himself, according to WXIA-TV. The incident remains under investigation. Original article source: Georgia man fatally shoots ex-wife before shooting her new husband, himself at shopping plaza: Police (Bloomberg) -- Support for the far-right Alternative for Germany slipped two percentage points in a new poll for the European Parliament elections, suggesting allegations of links to Chinese intelligence are damaging the party. Most Read from Bloomberg Maximilian Krah, the AfDs lead candidate for the June vote, said last week hell fire an aide who was detained and accused of spying for China. The man, a German citizen the federal prosecutor identified as Jian G., is suspected of having passed on information about sensitive negotiations and decisions in the European Parliament, and of having spied on Chinese opposition members. An Insa poll published Sunday on the European elections for Bild am Sonntag newspaper put the AfD in second place with 17%, down from 19% two weeks ago. The conservative CDU/CSU leads with 29% support, with Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Social Democrats at 16% and the Greens at 13%. The Chinese espionage allegations are only the latest setback for the AfD. Petr Bystron the partys number-two candidate for the European elections has denied taking money from a pro-Russia media outlet following reports of links to the organization. Bjoern Hoecke, the head of the party in the eastern state of Thuringia, is on trial for using a Nazi slogan at a rally, and the party has also been damaged by revelations about a meeting where mass deportations were discussed that echoed policies pursued by Adolf Hitler. The AfD said Sunday that reports in German media asserting Bystron told party leaders last week hed received packets of cash were false. At the meeting in question, he did not claim to have received or accepted any packages, the party said in an emailed statement. Read more: Germany Arrests Three Suspected of Spying for Chinese State Krah remains the AfDs lead candidate for the time being, but he didnt take part as originally planned in a campaign-launch event on Saturday in Baden-Wuerttemberg with party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. I would like to thank Maximilian Krah for saying: This launch today should not be about Krah, Krah, Krah, Chrupalla said at the start of his speech, according to local media. This is about the AfD today, Chrupalla added. Because we are the party for which Germany comes first, and then the party and then the person. So thank you very much, dear Max, for saying today that this is about the program. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said if the allegations against Jian G. prove accurate, it would constitute an attack from within on European democracy. All connections and background will be investigated in detail, in accordance with the rule of law, Faeser was quoted as saying Sunday by Bild. This is what distinguishes us from the dictatorships that the AfD so reveres. In Insas regular poll for Bild on the national German election, the AfD held steady on 18%, down from a peak of 23% around the turn of the year. (Updates with AfD statement starting in eighth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Nancy Faeser German Minister of the Interior, speaks at a topical hour on "Russia, China and the AfD" in the Bundestag. Jessica Lichetzki/dpa German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called for police to act vigorously if crimes are committed during political demonstrations. Faeser was speaking after a rally by more than 1,000 Islamists in Hamburg on Saturday, which passed off peacefully, but where allegations of anti-Islamic policies and an anti-Islam media campaign in Germany were heard. Some carried posters that read "Caliphate is the solution" or "Germany - a dictatorship of values." "Seeing an Islamist demonstration of this kind on our streets is difficult to bear. It's a good thing that the Hamburg police counteracted crime with a large presence," she said in remarks to the Tagesspiegel newspaper to be published on Monday. The red line at which Germany's protection of the right of assembly and freedom of speech ended had to be clear, she said. "No terrorism propaganda for Hamas, no hate speech directed at Jews. If crimes like this occur, there has to be immediate and forceful intervention at demonstrations," Faeser told the Berlin daily. According to the Hamburg authorities, the people registering the demonstration in advance, as required under German law, are close to the Muslim Interaktiv group, which has been classified by the intelligence services as extremist. The security authorities were monitoring Islamist organizations, Faeser said. Following German bans on the Palestinian organization Hamas and the Samidoun group, which supports Palestinian prisoners, other groups were being monitored, she said. "Other groups that raise emotions, radicalize and recruit new Islamists are also being watched by our security authorities," she said. This included the group at the Hamburg demonstration. Bettina Stark-Watzinger German Minister of Education and Research, answers questions from journalists at a press conference. Stark-Watzinger, has called on universities to scrutinize any joint projects with China in the light of recent arrests over spying allegations. Wolfgang Kumm/dpa Germany's minister of education and research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, has called on universities to scrutinize any joint projects with China in the light of recent arrests over spying allegations. "The arrest of three Germans for suspected espionage once again makes it abundantly clear that we must not be naive in our dealings with China," the liberal politician told German news magazine Wirtschaftswoche. "We need to weigh up the risks and benefits of cooperation even more carefully, especially in science and in universities. This includes reviewing existing cooperative relationships." A week ago, a married couple and another man were arrested in the western German cities of Dusseldorf and Bad Homburg on suspicion of having procured information on military technology in order to pass it on to the Chinese secret service. According to the federal prosecutor's office, they were in negotiations about research projects that could be useful for expanding China's naval combat power. Stark-Watzinger said that support would only be given to projects "that have a clear added value for Germany and Europe." At the same time, she said that Berlin would "continue to support the expansion of independent China expertise." Friedrich Merz, Federal Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany(CDU) parliamentary group in the Bundestag, is waiting at the Federal Constitutional Court for the hearing on the electoral law reform of the traffic light coalition. Several lawsuits have been filed against the latest reform of the Bundestag electoral law, which has been in force since June 2023. Uli Deck/dpa The German government needs to respond to a recent speech on Europe's future given by French President Emmanuel Macron, the head of the largest opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said on Sunday. The challenges facing Europe should not be met with fear and cowardice, CDU chairman Friedrich Merz wrote in his weekly email to supporters. "And for that reason, Macron's speech this week deserves a forceful and convincing speech on Europe from Germany as well," Merz wrote in reference to the French president's keynote speech to the Sorbonne University in Paris on Thursday. "We must realize today that our Europe is mortal, it can die," Macron told his audience. "It depends solely on our choices, but these choices must be made now." Europe had to expand its sovereignty and defend its values in the face of military threats, the competition between the United States and China, and questions being placed over democracy, he said. The speech followed almost seven years after his first speech on Europe at the Sorbonne in September 2017. There was no response from the then German chancellor Angela Merkel, who left office in 2021. Merz came out in favour of improving German-French cooperation. A positive sign in this regard was that the defence ministers of the two countries had made specific plans for the construction of a new battle tank to be used by both, he said. "Battle tanks are, however, only a small part of the broad palette of issues that should bind us more closely to France again and which have remained unanswered by Germany since Macron's first speech," he wrote. Merz is a likely candidate for the German chancellorship when parliamentary elections are held in the second half of next year. Flowers and a small Ukrainian flag are laid at a shopping center in Murnau, Germany, Sunday, April 28, 2024. Police say two Ukrainian men have been stabbed to death in southern Germany and a Russian man was arrested by authorities as a possible suspect in the killings. German news agency dpa reported Sunday that the two Ukrainians, who were 23 and 36 years old and lived in the southern German county of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, were killed on the premises of a shopping center in the village of Murnau in Upper Bavaria. (Constanze Wilz/dpa via AP) BERLIN (AP) Two Ukrainian men were stabbed to death in southern Germany, police said Sunday, and a Russian man was arrested by authorities as a possible suspect in the killings. The two Ukrainians, who were 23 and 36 years old and lived in the southern German county of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, were killed on the premises of a shopping center in the village of Murnau in Upper Bavaria. Shortly after the slayings on Saturday evening, the police arrested a 57-year-old Russian on suspicion of murder, German news agency dpa reported. The names of the victims and the suspect weren't released in line with German privacy rules. The possible motive for the killings wasn't yet known, authorities said. It also wasn't clear if the three men knew each other. More than 1 million Ukrainian refugees came to Germany since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Germany is also home to a significant Russian immigrant community and 2.5 million Russians of German ancestry who mostly moved to the country after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. By Xinhua writer Chu Mengmeng HONG KONG, April 28 (Xinhua) -- During her five-day study trip to central China's Henan Province last April, Chun Wai-wa marveled at the high degree of development of ancient Chinese civilization while exploring the ruins of cities dated from around 2000 years to 4000 years ago. "How can I pass on my deep feeling to the audience in Hong Kong?" pondered Chun, assistant curator of the Hong Kong Museum of History (HKMH), as she and her colleagues crafted plans for the first exhibition of the General History of China Series. One year later, more than 150 sets of cultural relics from 15 institutions in eight cities in Henan have been transported southward to Hong Kong and are now on display in the HKMH from April 3 to July 8, telling the story of Chinese civilization in this international metropolitan. ORIGIN IN CENTRAL PLAINS Titled "Center of the World," the exhibition aims to trace back to the origin of Chinese civilization, focusing on Xia, Shang and Zhou, the three earliest dynasties in Chinese history and collectively referred to as the Bronze Age. But why Henan? According to Hui Siu-mui, curator of HKMH, Henan houses the ruins of the capitals of all three dynasties, and numerous cultural relics were unearthed in the region. The idea from those Hong Kong curators was echoed by their Henan counterparts as soon as the latter had been contacted. "We have always paid great attention to cultural exchanges via relics, as it is a good way to vividly tell the story of Chinese civilization," said Ren Wei, director of the Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, adding that cultural relics from Henan embodied the essence of Chinese civilization and could definitely unleash unique charm in Hong Kong, where diversified cultures exchange and blend among one another. Upon returning to Hong Kong, Chun and others started to go through a large amount of photos, videos and other documents collected during their trip to Henan and pick out the most representative relics that can piece together a holistic picture of China's Bronze Age. Under coordination, 15 institutions finally agreed to offer collections, including large and complete sets of bronze wares, jade wares, potteries, bone wares and oracle bones. Noteworthy, 33 items are grade-one national treasures and about 40 items are on display outside Henan for the first time. As both the Hong Kong and Henan teams hope to display more of the latest achievements in Chinese archaeology, there are 44 items unearthed after the year 2000. A lot of details of the exhibition also demonstrate the joint efforts made by the two sides during a year of intensive cooperation. For instance, to provide high-definition pictures for the catalog, the Henan team made efforts to find a venue suitable to take a group photo for a huge set of bronze ritual objects. CULTURAL RELICS COMING SOUTH After nearly one year's preparation, relics from all over Henan successively arrived at Henan Museum this March, waiting to be transported southward collectively. Many of the exhibits are "popular stars" with a tight exhibition schedule. As a result, the handover was limited to only three and a half days. Experts from both sides checked and recorded every detailed feature of each item in an intense and orderly manner. It was the first time for Wong Yun-Chiu, assistant curator from the Conservation Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, to deal with so many ancient bronzes with his own hands. "I learned some traditional as well as innovative restoration methods from my Henan peers," Wong recalled, adding that chemical analysis was adopted at Henan Museum to reinterpret the bronze-casting techniques of ancient times. To safely ship those precious items, a number of packaging boxes were customized in special sizes and shapes. Every step of the transportation scheme was examined again and again. The lid of the Wangziwu Ding of the Spring and Autumn period, having been evaluated by experts to be in a rather fragile state, was left behind in Henan. "It pained us to make the decision," Chun said, "but the 'blessing in disguise' may be that the audience can view the inscriptions inside the Ding without its lid." The display arrangement also highlights the security of the relics. "Based upon that consideration, we then figured out the best ways that allow the audience to appreciate the time-honored craftsmanship," Wong said. During the exhibition, the condition of the cultural relics is monitored by Wong and his colleagues around the clock, with key indicators including temperature, humidity, the intensity of illuminance and the impurity level of the environment. "The suitable humidity of bronze wares is under 40 percent. As to oracle bones, it should be a little higher than 50 percent," Wong explained, a close attention was paid to this regard as Hong Kong is much wetter than Henan. IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE OF ANCIENT CHINESE CULTURE During the previous year, apart from works related directly to those cultural relics, it had also been a priority for the Hong Kong curators to find simple and interesting ways to illustrate the thousands-years-old history to the audience. The exhibition is supplemented by several multimedia devices in this concern. At the entrance of the exhibition hall, visitors can enjoy a short video summarizing the history of the three dynasties. Cartoons are put up beside certain exhibits to explain their features or related stories. There is even an interactive video game in the display area of some oracle bones that allows people to experience the divination ritual of the Shang Dynasty. On the first two days of the exhibition, the Huaxia Ancient Music Orchestra of the Henan Museum staged an ancient Chinese music show for the Hong Kong audience. Dressed in traditional Chinese clothing, actors played out ancient tones recorded in historical documents with imitative ancient musical instruments. Other fringe programs of the exhibition during the following months include forums, lectures, and handicraft workshops, organized jointly by Hong Kong and Henan. A study trip of some Hong Kong history teachers to Henan is scheduled in June. By April 22, the exhibition has welcomed around 39,000 visitors. Launched by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office of the HKSAR government in collaboration with the HKMH, the exhibitions of General History of China Series will last five years and display historical relics of significant periods in chronological order. A ding of the Western Zhou Dynasty stands out on the exhibition with an old label sticking on it. It has been deliberately kept as a witness of the story of people protecting cultural relics from gunfire during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in the first half of the 20th century. "By the exhibition, we want to show to the audience not only the ancient Chinese civilization, but also its inheritance and transmission," said Hui. (Bloomberg) -- Germany is considering scaling back plans to tighten government screening of Chinese investments, the Wall Street Journal reported. Most Read from Bloomberg A decision to ease back from a planned foreign investment-screening law had become likelier due to fears that scrutiny on Chinese investments could hurt Berlins efforts to revitalize Germanys economy, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the plan who werent identified. The plan for the bill, described in an economy ministry paper seen by the WSJ, proposed giving the government powers to screen foreign investments for security risks. The measure would allow the government to review new types of greenfield investments, including quantum technology, sophisticated semiconductors, artificial intelligence and critical infrastructure, the WSJ reported, citing the document. A spokesman for Germanys economy ministry in Berlin said he couldnt confirm the assertions made in the report. Read more: Germany Arrests Three Suspected of Spying for Chinese State The government has revised and expanded the legal framework for investment screening several times to meet increased security requirements, and the law guarantees the protection of German and European security interests to a high degree without calling into question the nations openness to foreign investment, the spokesman said by email. The changing global security situation and the growing risks of economic dependencies means the law requires revising, and thats an ongoing process, he added, without giving a precise timetable. Germany is participating constructively in discussions about economic security at the European Union level, he said. The WSJ report said that Germanys government also sought to include a provision allowing the screening of cooperation projects between German research institutions and foreign partners in critical areas. A government spokesman declined to comment to the newspaper on the deliberations, but said that investment screening is designed to avoid risks to security and public order in Germany. At the same time, it is important to remain open to foreign investments. --With assistance from Kamil Kowalcze and Iain Rogers. (Updates with German economy ministry comments starting in fourth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Giorgia Meloni accused of stunt as she announces she will run in European elections Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, said on Sunday she would stand in the June 2024 European elections even though the lawmakers are barred from holding ministerial posts. The move appears to be a calculated attempt to boost support for her party at a European level given that if she were elected she would have to resign as prime minister, something she is highly unlikely to do. We want to do in Europe exactly what we did in Italy on Sept 25, 2022, creating a majority that brings together the forces of the Right to finally send the Left into opposition, even in Europe, Ms Meloni said, at a party meeting in the Adriatic city of Pescara. In her closing speech she rallied supporters with her usual fiery rhetoric, touching on themes such as surrogacy, illegal immigration and the right to protect family and Christian values. After speaking for more than an hour, Ms Meloni announced her candidature for the European Parliament. Im doing it because I want to ask Italians if they are satisfied with the work we are doing in Italy and that were doing in Europe, she said, suggesting that only she could unite Europes conservatives. Im doing it because in addition to being president of Brothers of Italy, Im also the leader of the European conservatives who want to have a decisive role in changing the course of European politics, she added. Seat would go to next in line Ms Meloni will be the first name on the ballot for Brothers of Italy in all five of Italys constituencies for the European election. However, she pledged she would not use a single minute of her time as prime minister to campaign. Critics baulked at her decision to stand in the election because she is expected to win a seat but not to take it and remain in Rome as premier. If that happens, her seat would be assigned to the next line in her partys electoral list. It is a pure and shameless electoral move, Wolfango Piccoli, co-president, political risk advisory at Teneo Intelligence, told The Telegraph. Brothers of Italy is seeking to capitalise on Melonis popularity to increase its share of votes in the European elections. Some pollsters believe with Meloni being on top of the list for Brothers of Italy in all five electoral constituencies, her party could gain two to three per cent more, he added. The Brothers of Italy party, which traces its roots in post-fascism, came top in Italys 2022 general election with 26 per cent of the vote and it is now polling at similar levels. 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 local and mayoral elections this Thursday are more than a mere barometer of national sentiment ahead of the general election this year. They are a chance to punish Left-wing politicians who have imposed a pernicious anti-car, pro-crime, anti-growth agenda across swathes of the country and reward those who have resisted it. Nowhere is this clearer than in London, where Sadiq Khans misgovernance, failures on crime, and embrace of authoritarian green measures have turned the capital into a much harder, less pleasant place to live for millions of people. The Ulez extension, the multiplication of 20mph zones, and the spread of low traffic neighbourhoods are causing outrage, but the mayor has refused to compromise. He has done too little to end the scourge of violence, and has failed to hold the Metropolitan Police to account for its appeasement of anti-Semitic hate on the anti-Israel marches. Mr Khan has raised taxes considerably, overseen a disastrous deterioration in Transport for Londons finances, and allowed City Hall staffing costs to surge. His Conservative opponent, Susan Hall, fully deserves Londoners support. She has pledged to scrap the Ulez expansion on day one and refocus attention on the basics like tackling crime. She sensibly wants to cut City Hall staff and TfL perks to fund police officers. She has called on the Met to arrest more thugs at the anti-Israel protests, saying she will support officers to properly enforce the law. For the first time, the London mayoral election is being run on a first-past-the-post basis, meaning that backing any of the other Right-wing candidates would be a wasted vote. Mrs Hall also has a real chance of securing victory despite the limited support she has received from the national party. A strong Tory turnout could make all the difference. The same is true across the country. Andy Street has proven highly successful as Tory mayor of the West Midlands. Ben Houchen has attracted new private sector investment and jobs to the Tees Valley. Tory councils are invariably better-run than their Labour equivalents, demonstrating that it is perfectly possible to have effective public services and lower taxes. Rather than using this weeks elections as a means for expressing dissatisfaction with the Government, we hope voters will see them as a chance to back good candidates who will deliver good governance. That means voting Conservative. 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. At first glance, Caleb Oriets social media accounts seem typical of a young member of the fringe, online right, featuring likes and reposts of far-right influencers and white nationalists expressing incendiary and bigoted views about racial and religious minorities. The account belonging to the 21-year-old Montanan and self-proclaimed Anglo-Saxon Protestant and menace to society liked, for instance, a tweet that refers to Black Americans as the most criminal, dependent, and socially destructive part of the population, and attacks GOP efforts to connect with Black voters. But Oriet isnt just a denizen of the far-right fringes of social media. Hes also a staffer for one of the Republican Partys top candidates to flip control of the U.S. Senate this year. Hes Running for Senate as a Montana Rancher. Hes Skipped Out on the Rancher Taxes. According to Federal Election Commission filings, Oriet is being paid by the campaign of Tim Sheehy, who is running against Sen. Jon Tester (D) in Montana. Since January, he has collected five paychecks, totaling $8,313. Sheehya charismatic former Navy SEAL turned wealthy businessmanis preparing for a bruising face-off against Tester in whats gearing up to be one of the most competitive Senate elections in the country. As Republicans try to retake the Senate majority, top GOP campaign brass is throwing their weight behind Sheehy as their best shot to defeat an incumbent Democrat. Oriets apparent views clearly undercut that mission. Beyond his social media activity, he espoused hard-right, Christian Nationalist views during public presentations, a media interview, and an effusive comment on a book written by a Nazi-supporting Italian fascist thinker. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, for instance, Oriet took aim at the fact that 20.5 percent of Gen-Z says theyre gay in an interview with a local Montana newspaper, given in his capacity as the leader of Montanas chapter of the American Populist Union. (The APU is a group founded by Gen Z conservatives that is openly supportive of the neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes.) The political implications of this are disastrous, Oriet told The Great Falls Tribune of the statistic. As people my age start taking power, its just not going to be a good thing. Oriet may be emblematic of a new breed of very online, very young conservatives who are seeking to push the GOP toward their extreme views by embracing trollish tactics and provocation. But mainstream Republicans have taken pains to reject that movement and its figures, like Fuentes, whom they see as politically toxic. Sheehy has run so far as a mainstream, Trump-allied conservative who is trying to defeat a well-liked, moderate Democrat in a politically idiosyncratic state. White Supremacist Nick Fuentes is Causing Chaos Inside Texas Youth GOP In order to defeat Tester, Sheehy will have to appeal to Montanas MAGA voters while still winning over the states sizable independent population. Not only will this staffers views be seen as offensive in those corners, but his accounts endorsement of racist posts and the writings of a fascist antisemite will force uncomfortable questions for Sheehy and a GOP that is casting itself as a true ally of Jews and a new home for Black voters. Reached for comment by The Daily Beast, the Sheehy campaign confirmed it employed Oriet as a field staffer. Asked if the campaign had previously been aware of Oriets views and social media activity, a Sheehy campaign spokesperson declined to say. In a lengthy statement, the spokesperson instead attacked Tester as Two-Faced and The Daily Beast as a trash New York tabloid that no one readsbut said nothing at all about the far-right content and views linked to Oriet that were brought to their attention. The liberal media is at it again, said the spokesperson. First, they do Jon Testers bidding by attacking decorated combat veteran Tim Sheehy and now they are trying to attack a young field staffer. We get it that Jon Tester doesnt want to talk about his vote against deporting illegal immigrants or why he supports Bidens radical open border agenda or why he votes with Biden over 91 percent of the time but trying to tear down a 21-year-old is just sad. Oriet did not respond to requests for comment sent to his social media accounts. Within an hour of The Daily Beast reaching out to Oriet and Sheehys campaign for comment on Friday, every post on Oriets X account had been deleted. His X and Instagram biographies were also wiped. For all of Oriets employment with Sheehy up to that point, however, his fringe views had been public for all to see. One post liked by Oriets account from an influencer who posts under the pseudonym James Kirkpatrickassociated with white nationalist group VDAREresponded to an April Pew Research Center poll showing that just 12 percent of Black voters are aligned with Republicans. Its strange that theres a perceived moral legitimacy in winning the most criminal, dependent, and socially destructive part of the population, Kirkpatrick said in the post Oriet liked. All of American life revolves around trying to get around them, especially for wealthy white Democrats. A second Kirkpatick post from May 2023also liked by Oriets accountreiterates that racist ideology. All of American life revolves around earning enough money to escape the consequences of the civil rights movement, the May post said. GOP Star Recruit Brags About Rural Upbringing. He Grew Up 15 Minutes From the City. The Kirkpatrick posts are hardly the only eyebrow-raising content Oriets account engaged with on X. Oriet liked another post last year declaring that Muslims bow down to a black box with a space rock inside. And in January 2023 Oriets account shared a post from another user declaring that The West would rather self-immolate than come to terms with the fact the civilisation [sic] is incommunicable and that different groups of human beings are not equal and never will be. But Oriets public-facing social media presence is only one facet of his far-right identity, most of which is readily apparent via a quick Google search. In June 2023, for example, Oriet gave a speech titled The Need for Christian Nationalism at a Montana church to raise money to attend Patriot Academys Leadership Congress, according to a Substack invitation. (Patriot Academy is a Texas-based evangelical nonprofit with the mission to restore our Constitutional Republic.) In May 2022, a user on Audible identified as Caleb Oriet left a comment on a collection of essays called A Handbook for Right-Wing Youth, written by Julius Evola. Evola, a 20th-century Italian fascist who influenced the Hitler-allied dictator Benito Mussolini, has become a trendy thinker in far-right circles, praised by the likes of Steve Bannon. Among many other things, Evola was an admirer of the Nazis and a virulent antisemite; he referred to Jews as a virus and wrote the foreword to an Italian translation of the infamous antisemitic tract, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The user self-identified as Oriet gushed about Evolas work. Fantastic collection of essays from the perspective of the genuine right, he wrote on Audible. Both intelligent and comprehensible. By Saturday, after The Daily Beast reached out to Oriet and Sheehys campaign, the comment had been taken down. During a January 2023 presentation hosted by the World Prayer Networkwhich featured presentations from several young peopleOriet identified as a paleoconservative. He defined the term as a traditional conservative, or what the majority of people in this country believed up until right around like 1960. (Fuentes has embraced the label, as has Tucker Carlson.) During his presentation, which delved into the so-called decline of masculinitya popular right-wing talking pointOriet said no-fault divorce was an unfortunate creation. GOP Star Tim Sheehy Forgot to Mention the Family Money in His Self-Made Success Story Referring again to the statistic that over a fifth of Generation Z identifies as LGBTQ, Oriet said, Thats terrifying to me. Thats terrifying. In the speech, Oriet mentioned that he was working for Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT). At the time, Oriet called Rosendale a great congressman whom hed support as Montana governor or even U.S. president. Ironically, over a year later, Rosendale challenged Sheehy for the GOP nomination for the Senate seat in Montana. Rosendale has since dropped out of the race, but there does not seem to be much love lost between the Montana GOP establishment and Oriets former boss. As for Oriets professional future, he said during that 2023 presentation hes interested in exploring his own foray into politics. When asked by an event moderator if hed consider a run for public office, Oriet said, I say this a lotits semi-joking, semi-notthat the ascent to power is inevitable. Its slow, but were getting there. 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. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin donated a quarter of the governors salary to a Norfolk school. On Tuesday, April 23, the governor and first lady presented a check for $43,750 to the New E3 School. According to their website, the E3 School raises awareness, advocates and creates innovative initiatives to give children equitable access to a high-quality early education. Courtesy of the Governors Office Courtesy of the Governors Office Courtesy of the Governors Office Courtesy of the Governors Office Courtesy of the Governors Office I am proud to support The New E3 School in its mission to uplift Virginias students with a strong foundation for learning, said Governor Glenn Youngkin. E3s commitment to early education, innovative curricula, and giving all students the opportunity for an excellent education is remarkable. This administration remains wholly committed to equipping every young Virginian with the tools they need to succeed and uplifting key partners like E3. Their donation will help fund the schools Lisa Robertson Literacy Lab and Library. The Robertson Family Foundation matched the governor and first ladys donation in honor of the late Lisa Robertson. Robertson was a founding board member and active volunteer at the New E3 School. Too many of Virginias children cannot read proficiently by third grade. The first eight years are a critical time in language and literacy development. The Governor, First Lady and General Assembly have made literacy a top priority to help every child read. E3 is grateful for that commitment, and we look forward to our continued partnership. said President and CEO of E3:Elevate Early Education and The New E3 School, Lisa Howard. Learn more about the New E3 School visit e3va.org. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. When Diane Medina first heard the SUV that plowed through a wall of Newport's Swan Boat Club, she thought it was a bomb. Then she saw the food flying everywhere hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, chili. And finally, Medina felt it, the force of the vehicle as it hit, dragging her all the way to the other end of the room, and the pain that followed. Trapped under debris, Medina, 57, said she couldn't breathe. She thought she was paralyzed. She had never seen more blood than the amount coming from her head. "Somebody's gotta find my grandbabies," Medina managed to repeat, joining the panicked cries of adults as they searched for their young children, all guests at a 3-year-old boy's circus-themed birthday party. Still recovering from significant injuries, Medina on Saturday recounted the April 20 tragedy to the Free Press during an interview from her Toledo hospital bed, including her gratitude that her grandchildren were not injured in the crash that left two young siblings dead and about a dozen other people hurt. Carrie Williams brushes the hair of friend Diane Medina in an undated photo from a Toledo hospital following the April 20 fatal car crash into the Swan Boat Club in Newport where Medina was injured. The details of that afternoon are still hard to comprehend for the Carleton woman, including that her long-time friend someone she has vacationed with is now charged with eight crimes as the driver of a vehicle that plowed through a wall and into the boat club and the celebration happening inside. Just minutes prior to the crash, the group sang "Happy Birthday" and the birthday boy's mother, a friend of Medina, served cake. Medina had just told her three granddaughters, Ella, Evelyn, and Alaina, to go to a bounce house and play. She remembered how excited they were as they ran and the smiles that grew on their faces, painted for the party. What was once the most beautiful and elaborate children's birthday party Medina had ever seen it had all the circus classics, including a stilt walker, a balloon maker, a magician now looked like a tornado had ripped through it, Medina said. Food was strewn everywhere, including the ceilings. Tables and debris scattered. Injured adults and children were lying on the floor. Next to Medina was a father tending to his teenage daughter who was severely injured from the crash. Medina heard more panicked cries, this time from adults attempting to rescue 4-year-old Zayn Phillips. Zayn didnt survive the crash. Neither did his 8-year-old sister, Alanah Phillips. Diane Medina was injured April 20, 2024 when a car crashed into the Swan Boat Club in Newport. Medina couldnt see the siblings' mother, Mariah Dodds, who had been sitting with her three children at the table next to hers. Dodds and her 11-year-old son both survived, but suffered serious injuries and remained hospitalized. But Medina did see the 66-year-old woman who was pulled from the vehicle: her good friend Marshella Chidester, who authorities allege was intoxicated when she slammed the SUV into the birthday party. Her lawyer, Bill Colovos, has said a medical issue, not alcohol, caused the crash. Marshella Chidester leaves the courtroom after being arraigned at First District Court in Monroe on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Medina watched, in shock, as Chidester was walked to a chair and was asked by the mother of the birthday boy: What were you thinking? Chidester replied she didnt know, according to Medina. She looked around the room and she was sitting down with a blank stare on her face, Medina said. She was just staring into la-la land. 'This isn't the woman I know' Medina doesnt like to think about what would have happened to her three granddaughters if she hadnt told them to play in the bounce house, and although they weren't injured, the trauma lingers. The children thought their grandmother was dead. " 'Grandma, I'm too young to see the things that I've seen,' " Medina said Ella, 6, told her the next day. After Medina was rescued from the rubble, she was unrecognizable, she said. She was rushed to a hospital in nearby Toledo, where she was being treated for three breaks in her pelvis, a broken nose, internal bleeding and a head injury. A GoFundMe account was created to help support Medina's recovery. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office confirmed with the Free Press that Medina was among those injured. A hospital spokesperson confirmed Medina was being treated and is in serious condition. Medina was told by her doctors that she can't walk for at least eight weeks. Loved ones have shown support during visits to her at the hospital, and her grandchildren have been dancing for Medina on video calls. But she's still angry. Angry at Chidester. "This isn't the woman I know," Medina said. They met when Medina joined the boat club 10 years ago. Medina said Chidester is a devoted Christian who taught bible school to kids, someone who Medina had vacationed with in Tennessee. "The girl would not hurt a fly. She's the most loving, caring, loyal, sweetest," Medina said. The eight criminal charges Chidester faces include two counts of second-degree murder and another two counts of driving while intoxicated causing death. She was released from Monroe County Jail earlier this past week after posting a $1.5 million bond via a surety company. Colovos has said his client suffers from neuropathy and has "epileptic type seizures" in her legs. He said she had only one glass of wine that day. He has said Chidester "blacked out" from a seizure when her SUV crashed into the boat club and is remorseful. Colovos is waiting on a medical report that would determine his client's blood alcohol level around the time of the crash. Monroe County Prosecutor Jeffery Yorkey has said that a preliminary alcohol breath test was "significantly over the legal limit" but he was not specific. "Im asking everyone to please be patient and dont rush to judgment until all the evidence and the blood test results are received," Colovos said Saturday in a statement. "My client is beyond devastated and prays for the children and all families affected." Medina acknowledged that her friend had medical issues. In the last six months, she said, she witnessed Chidester drinking more than usual. She doesn't think the crash was intentional. But she hasn't forgiven her friend, either. "I was taught never to hate somebody. That's not in my vocabulary. I don't hate her. I'm just angry with what she has taken away from me," which is nothing compared to what Chidester has taken away from Dodds, Medina said. "But I can't wait to see her in court ... I want her to see what she did to me. I want her to see what she did to her friend." Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. She can be contacted at 313-264-0442 or asahouri@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 'Find my grandbabies': Swan Boat Club survivor recounts tragic crash Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the college Gaza war protests for Sunday, April 28. For the latest news on the protests see our live updates file for Monday, April 29. "Physical altercations" occurred Sunday on the UCLA campus when demonstrators breached a security barrier set up to keep people protesting the Israeli war in Gaza separate from counterprotesters, the school said in a statement. The clash came one day after arrests on at least four universities as demonstrations and days-long encampments in opposition to the war swept across the nation's college campuses. Students are calling for a cease-fire and want their schools to stop investing in Israeli firms that are involved with or profit from Israel's war against Hamas. The protesters also want the U.S. to halt military aid to Israel's war effort. UCLA has a long history of being a place of peaceful protest, and we are heartbroken about the violence that broke out, the school's vice chancellor for strategic communications, Mary Osako, said in a statement. Though the Daily Bruin campus newspaper said one of its reporters was hit in the face with a flag, the Los Angeles Times called the demonstrations "large and noisy but mostly peaceful'' as campus police broke up minor scuffles. At the cross-town University of Southern California, the campus remains closed after 93 people were arrested during demonstrations Wednesday. The school has canceled its main graduation ceremony amid the turmoil. Hundreds of protesters have been detained or arrested at more than a dozen schools from New York to California since a protest at Columbia University in New York City 10 days ago. Many school administrations have ordered the demonstrators removed, citing ordinances prohibiting the encampments, infiltration of the encampments by people with no connection to their universities and antisemitic chants that make Jewish students feel unsafe on campuses. Student protest leaders insist the rallies have been peaceful. US has long history of college protests: Here's what happened in the past Developments: President Joe Biden is aware of the campus protests and the strong reactions the war in Gaza has evoked, national security spokesman John Kirby said Sunday on ABC News, adding the administration believes "people should have the ability to air their views and to share their perspectives publicly, but it has to be peaceful." Columbia released a statement late Saturday saying it was a "quiet day on campus" and that talks between university officials and student organizers were ongoing. "There is no truth to claims of an impending lockdown or evictions on campus," the statement said. Portland State University in Oregon will pause seeking or accepting gifts or grants from Boeing pending a review of complaints from "members of the PSU community," school President Ann Cudd said in a statement. Boeing, a major local employee, sells weapons to Israel. Activists rallied outside a hotel hosting the annual White House correspondents dinner Saturday night. They targeted Biden, who spoke at the event, for his support of Israel's military campaign. At Arizona State University, campus police arrested 69 protesters Saturday, most of whom were not students or staff of the school, ASU said in a statement. Protesters and law enforcement officers face off on the Alumni Lawn at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on April 27, 2024. Some punches but no arrests at UCLA protest Pro-Israel counterdemonstrators have become a growing presence on campuses impacted by pro-Palestinian protests, and the two sides traded shoves, insults, and even some punches Sunday at UCLA. The physical nature of the encounters was condemned by the school, which had acknowledged allowing some people from outside campus to participate in the demonstrations. Reuters reported some punches were thrown in the clashes, and that afterward the pro-Palestinian protesters returned to the encampment, which now stretches to the east end of the iconic Royce Hall. According to a campus police representative, no arrests were made Sunday. Green Party presidential hopeful arrested at protest Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein was among scores of protesters arrested Saturday at Washington University in St. Louis Stein posted video on the social media site X of herself being taken into custody. The school's site contained videos and photos of Saturday's Greater St. Louis Marathon. "The demand from the encampment was specifically for the university to divest from Boeing, which manufactures munitions used in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza at their nearby St. Charles facility," Stein said in a statement Sunday. "The Stein campaign supports the demands of the students and their peaceful protest and assembly on campus." McConnell says school presidents, not National Guard, should deal with protesters Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-K.Y., argued Sunday that university presidents should be the first line of defense in controlling the wave of protests against the Israel-Hamas war that have erupted across college campuses in recent weeks. On Sunday's "Face the Nation" on CBS News, McConnell disagreed with some top Republicans on the issue, such as House Speaker Mike Johnson and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who issued calls to bring in the National Guard and local law enforcement to quell the protests. "What needs to happen, at least at the beginning, is these university presidents need to get control of the situation, allow free speech and push back against antisemitism," McConnell said. "Why don't they all sit down and have a civil conversation rather than trying to dominate the talk? Civil discussion is what college education is supposed to be about." Melissa Cruz Northeastern University cites antisemitic slurs at protest Northeastern University said 100 people were detained when an encampment was cleared late Saturday at the Boston school. Those who produced a student ID were released but will face disciplinary proceedings at the school. Those who did not produce a student ID were arrested, the school said. "What began as a student demonstration two days ago, was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern," the school said in a social media post. "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." Video from the scene, however, appeared to show counter-protesters holding Israeli flags and suggesting a "Kill the Jews" chant that never gains traction. 23 arrested at Indiana University The Indiana University police department in Bloomington said 23 protesters were arrested there. At least 60 Indiana State Police armed with riot shields, batons and other riot gear joined several IU police officers in breaking up an encampment the school says was illegal. The Indiana Daily Student said arrested protesters were released without bond after being detained in the jail for about 90 minutes, with charges ranging from criminal trespass to resisting law enforcement. Hours later, nearly 40 people marched to the Musical Arts Center to protest what they said was a donors dinner, the Daily Student reported. Disclose, divest. We will not stop, we will not rest, the group chanted. Not another nickel, not another dime. No more money for Israels crimes. Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Campus protests: Demonstrators breach barriers, clash at UCLA Green Party 2024 presidential candidate Jill Stein was among 100 people arrested Saturday at Washington University in St. Louis, her campaign manager confirmed to Fox News Digital. Stein's campaign manager, Jason Call, said that he, Stein and deputy campaign manager Kelly Merrill-Cayer were all arrested at the encampment on the campus. "The demand from the encampment was specifically for the university to divest from Boeing, which manufactures munitions used in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza at their nearby St Charles facility," Call said to Fox News Digital. "The Stein campaign supports the demands of the students and their peaceful protest and assembly on campus. Student protest for peace and civil liberties has always represented the best part of our collective moral conscience. Solidarity." More than 100 people were arrested at the Washington University anti-Israel protest on Saturday, which is one of many demonstrations taking place this week at college campuses across the country. STUDENTS ARE REJECTING ELITE COLLEGES LIKE COLUMBIA AND YALE TO ATTEND SOUTHERN SCHOOLS LIKE CLEMSON: REPORT "The Stein campaign supports the demands of the students and their peaceful protest and assembly on campus. Student protest for peace and civil liberties has always represented the best part of our collective moral conscience. Solidarity," the campaign's statement READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACCEPTED TO COLUMBIA SAYING 'NO THANK YOU' DUE TO ANTISEMITISM: COLLEGE CONSULTANT Dr. Jill Stein was among 100 people arrested Saturday at Washington University in St. Louis, her campaign manager confirmed to Fox News Digital by email on Sunday morning. Stein's arrest comes amid surging anti-Israel protests across the country, with incidents of antisemitism also on the rise. Stein's arrest comes amid surging anti-Israel protests across the country, with incidents of antisemitism also on the rise. USC has closed its campus to non-residents and canceled on-stage graduations. More than 100 were arrested this week at Columbia University and dozens were arrested at the University of Texas on Wednesday as well. Demonstrations and protests have also taken place at Yale, Harvard, Minnesota, Johns Hopkins and Arizona State University, where 93 people were arrested on Saturday morning. Fox News' Scott McDonald contributed to this report Original article source: Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein among 100 arrested protesting at Washington University GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) Greene County celebrated the 240th anniversary of the State of Franklin on Saturday at Bicentennial Park. In 1784, the State of Franklin was proposed to become the 14th state of the United States. At that time, Greene County was part of North Carolina, but it declared its independence from the state. The following year, in 1785, Greeneville was named the capital of the newly established State of Franklin, named after Benjamin Franklin. Photo: WJHL Photo: WJHL Photo: WJHL While the State of Franklin only existed briefly, it is integral to Greene Countys history and frontier spirit, according to event organizers. A replica cabin sits at Bicentennial Park to reflect the areas appearance in 1785. On Saturday, a presentation about the State of Franklin and a mock governing session was held at the replica building. Guests participated in activities, had lunch and strolled through various table and booth setups. Bicentennial Park is behind the Greeneville/Greene County Library at 203 N College Street. It is often referred to as the Big Spring. For more information about the event or about Greene County, visit the official Greeneville website. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Grizzly bears are set to be reintroduced to Washington state, after years of debate Grizzly bears will be reintroduced to Washington states North Cascades mountain range, the federal government said this week a decision that followed years of bitterly divided debate. But it may still be years before the creatures step foot in the remote and rugged landscape, given that the complicated process requires trapping, trucking and moving bears by helicopter from British Columbia or northwestern Montana. Theres a lot to be done before we could even come up with a timeline, said Jason Ransom, a wildlife biologist at North Cascades National Park. For a project like this to be successful, its really important you get the planning right. The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday that they hope to build a founder population of 25 bears over the next five to 10 years, releasing the animals in remote parts of the forest. The move would restore a keystone species to the North Cascades, which is one of the best-protected landscapes in the U.S. Grizzlies were once found throughout the region, but thousands were killed for their fur. The bears havent been spotted with certainty there since 1996, according to the National Park Service. The two agencies plan to release three to seven bears each year. The goal is a population of 200 bears within 60 to 100 years. The North Cascades is one of six areas where federal agencies are pursuing grizzly restoration. Advocates say the effort will make the overall ecosystem healthier. Our culture had a war on these species and we know better now, and this is a chance for us to tell a different story, said Gordon Congdon, a retired orchardist and conservationist who lives in Wenatchee, Washington, and who has supported the restoration effort. We think by restoring the grizzly bear, that improves the ecology of the environment, which benefits other animals and benefits the diversity of habitat. Ransom said grizzlies turn over soil, spread seeds and can move and thrive in a lot of habitats. As climate change reshapes the environment, bears are expected to fare relatively well. I think their ability to move and the really broad spectrum of foods they need bodes well for them. They can be one of the climate change survivors, Ransom said. Putting back a species like that builds resilience in an ecosystem in the face of change. Opponents, however, worry that bears present a safety risk to people and will stray into lowland areas with farms and livestock. That group includes some farmers and ranchers near the border of the landscape where the bears will make a new home. For more than a decade, Washington state has struggled to keep wolves from killing livestock and prevent people from illegally harming wolves. We already have predator issues in the state. We dont need another apex predator when we cant deal with what we have, said Rachel McClure, a rancher who is the secretary of the Okanogan County Cattlemens Association. Were busy dealing with wolves. We dont need to be thinking about bears. McClure said she suspects grizzlies will wander from the terrain ecologists choose: Theyre not going to stay where they put them. Federal agencies are sensitive to such concerns. But Ransom said release sites would be in high-quality habitat far, far away from everybody. Andrew LaValle, a Fish and Wildlife public affairs officer, said the area of habitat within Washington state is roughly the size of New Jersey, and roughly 85% of it is under federal management. The federal government has also designated the grizzly bears in this project as a nonessential experimental population under the Endangered Species Act, which will give more legal flexibility. People will be allowed to kill grizzlies to protect humans from bodily harm, and federal agencies will be allowed to relocate or kill the bears, if necessary. In limited cases, with government authorization, private landowners will be allowed to kill grizzlies if they get close to livestock and are a threat. But lethal action is not the first tool in the toolbox, LaValle said. The bears will be captured in late summer or early fall, according to Ransom, using whats called a culvert trap, which looks like an elongated steel drum with a trapdoor. Once inside, the creatures will be anesthetized, receive a veterinary exam and get fitted for a radio collar so biologists can track their whereabouts. The bears will be shipped in the traps to staging locations, then helicopters would lift them into the wilderness for release. Joe Scott, the international programs associate director at Conservation Northwest, said grizzly recovery is slow, challenging work. Female grizzlies typically dont reproduce until 5 years of age and rarely wander out of their home terrain. Many cubs dont survive to reach reproductive age. As long as its taken to get here, its just the start of this. The actual implementation is not a slam dunk, Scott said. He added that starting with 25 bears should allow the population to ramp up slowly: It gives a chance for people and bears to get used to each other in a place we havent had them for several decades. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com BANGKOK, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has approved a reshuffle of several cabinet members in the government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, a royal decree said on Sunday. According to the Thai government gazette, former Stock Exchange of Thailand chairman Pichai Chunhavajira is appointed finance minister, taking over the role from Srettha. In the first cabinet reshuffle since Srettha's government took office, six new members are appointed to the lineup and four ministers are removed from the cabinet. Hamas displays two of its surviving hostages in video An image grab from a video shows a man who identified himself as Keith Siegel, one of the hostages abducted during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 - Hamas media office/AFP/Getty Images Hamas released a hostage video on Saturday offering proof of life for two further hostages. The three-minute video features Keith Siegel, 64, and Omri Miran, 46, who identify themselves and say they are hoping for a hostage deal in order to return home. It is not clear when the video was filmed, however, Mr Siegel mentions the Passover holiday, which took place earlier this week, suggesting the footage is recent. Mr Miran says he has been in captivity for 202 days, which would date it to Thursday or Friday. A man, identified as hostage Omri Miran, speaks in a video released by Hamas - Hamas Military Wing/Reuters Both men were kidnapped from kibbutzim during Hamass attack on Israel on October 7. Mr Siegel, a US citizen, was taken captive with his wife Aviva but she was later released as part of the November hostage-prisoner swap. The video shows the men individually, speaking in Hebrew. Both have a blank wall behind them and are wearing black T-shirts. At one point Mr Siegel doubles over crying as he struggles to talk. The footage comes three days after another video featuring Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Israeli officials have described the videos as psychological warfare. Groups representing the families involved say they are evidence that the Israeli government must act quickly to bring the hostages home. 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. It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political discussion on Hancock and Kelley for Sunday, April 28, 2024. Republican consultant Jean Evans (in for John Hancock) and Democratic consultant Michael Kelley discuss the following topics: The Missouri Legislature defunds Planned Parenthood ahead of voters getting a chance to restore abortion rights in the state. The issue of a state-appointed police board taking over the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department just keeps rolling in Jefferson City. The St. Louis Board of Aldermen is proposing a hike in the citys sales tax rate. The city removes a refugee couple and their makeshift shelter from the sidewalk, where theyd been living in front of someones house for more than three years. Universitiesincluding Washington University in St. Louiscontinue to grapple with tent camps and protests against Israels sustained bombing and ground campaign in Gaza in the months following a Hamas-led surprise attack in Israel last October. Former President Donald Trump endures a week of damaging testimony in his New York trial and also argues for immunity before the U.S. Supreme Court. President Joe Biden says he will debate the former president, but hes been saying a lot of things that may not be true. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Harvey Weinsteins 2020 rape conviction was overturned four years after he was found guilty of criminal sexual assault and rape. Weinstein, 72, was first accused of decades of sexual assault and harassment by multiple women in 2017. The disgruntled movie producer vehemently denied all allegations before checking himself into a treatment facility. One year later, Weinstein turned himself into authorities on charges involving actress Lucia Evans and a second unidentified woman. During his February 2020 trial, Weinstein pleaded not guilty to the rape charges. A jury, however, found him guilty and Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Weinstein later stood trial in December 2022 on additional sexual assault charges in Los Angeles, again pleading not guilty. He was found guilty on three charges of rape and assault with a judge sentencing him in February 2023 to 16 additional years in prison. As Weinstein reported to prison, his legal team filed an appeal to the 2020 court verdict. The New York Court of Appeals overturned the ruling 4-3 on Thursday, April 25, claiming that the previous judicial figures had been prejudiced. Hollywoods Sexual Misconduct Scandals Todays decision is a major step back in holding those accountable for acts of sexual violence, attorney Douglas H. Wigdor, who represented eight of Weinsteins victims, told Us Weekly in a statement. 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. Keep scrolling for everything to know about Weinsteins lawsuit verdict being overturned and its implications: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images Why Did Harvey Weinstein Stand Trial in 2020? The 2020 lawsuit was the first sexual assault trial against Weinstein. He was accused of rape but denied the accusations. What Was the Verdict of Harvey Weinsteins 2020 Trial? Weinstein was found guilty of one count of criminal sexual assault in the first degree and one count of rape in the third degree, and sentenced to 23 years in prison. Despite the sentencing, his legal team filed an appeal with the New York Court of Appeals. Scott Heins/Getty Images What Does It Mean That the Verdict Was Overturned? To put it simply, a verdict being overturned is defined as a court disagreeing with the decision made in a lower court. In Weinsteins case, the first verdict was rendered in New Yorks trial court. The appeal took place in a higher court. Stars at Court Why Did the Court of Appeals Vote to Overturn Harvey Weinsteins Conviction? The appeals judges found that the initial judge had egregious and improper rulings, including allowing testimony that wasnt mentioned in the lawsuit. Judge Madeline Singas also explained that the majority was whitewashing the facts to conform to a he-said/she-said narrative and the appeal continued a disturbing trend of overturning juries guilty verdicts in cases involving sexual violence. Spencer Platt/Getty Images What Does the Legal Appeal Mean for Harvey Weinsteins Prison Sentence? Though his 23-year jail sentence was overturned, Weinstein will remain incarcerated since he was convicted by a California court on additional charges in 2022. He could potentially move to a California facility pending a possible retrial. He was transferred from Mohawk Correctional Facility in upstate New York to Manhattan's Rikers Island on April 27, ahead of his May 1 appearance in Manhattan Criminal Court. Weinstein remained in custody when he left the prison two days after his conviction was overturned because he needed to be hospitalized, his lawyer Arthur Aidala explained. His diagnosis was not revealed. They examined him and sent him to Bellevue, Aidala shared with the Associated Press on April 27, noting he needed many tests. 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. When Does Harvey Weinsteins New Trial Start? During a July hearing, the judge shared that the jury selection for Weinsteins retrial will begin November 12. After the court appearance, Weinsteins attorney, Diana Fabi Samson, spoke to reporters outside to update them on their client as he gears up for the new trial. He is anxious to go to trial and prove his innocence, Samson said at the time. Physically, he is not well, and that has affected his mental state." If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). The little neighborhood of Cleveland on Minneapolis' north side experiences big flooding whenever it rains too hard or fast. For decades, neighbors around 35th St. and Xerxes Av. N. have collected photos of themselves standing in waist-high water, with upturned garbage bins floating through the alleys and manhole covers blown off as water rushes downhill through too-small pipes. Their garages and retaining walls are rotting, their sidewalks and yards subsiding. People with multiple sump pumps in their basements say it's still not enough to keep things dry. Some have been complaining to the city since the 1990s, but little has changed. "I have funny videos of the previous neighbor's kids canoeing down the road," said Giovanna Johnson, who lives in a corner house with the front steps hollowed out by repeated flooding. "The bad part is when that happens, all the trash from the trash cans fall over and then goes up into our yards." Finally, help could be on the way. Minneapolis recently updated its flood modeling and has shifted away from a complaint-based system in which the neighborhoods with more wealth and political capital were likely to get help first even if other areas of the city were facing more severe problems. Now, the city's priority list is informed by data that suggest that flood-prone areas of the north Minneapolis neighborhoods of Jordan and Cleveland are in the most critical need of better storm water management. The city's ranking for projects now takes into account the amount of flooding, the potential for water quality improvements, the age of infrastructure and social vulnerability. "I realize that this process took a long time, but it was challenging before we had these metrics," said Paul Hudalla, senior engineer for Minneapolis Public Works. "Now that we have this process, it really helps us to be able to say we're doing this project first because there's a logical order for everything." Public Works has earmarked about $20 million for flood mitigation work around 35th Ave. N. and put in a $5 million grant application with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Planners toured the neighborhood with residents earlier this month and aim to propose storm water management and street reconstruction conceptual designs by this fall. Construction starting in late 2025 may be completed by 2027. Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw said she practically had to swim across Cleveland to do door-knocking during her election campaign. "People were like, 'Now what are you going to do about it?'" she said. "I get it that there's other parts of the city that [are] prioritized ... but people always say things like equity and how we want to do better for the North Side. And it's like, okay, this is one thing you can do better for the North Side." The core reason for 35th Avenue's flooding is a lack of storm water storage. Narrow pipes can't hold enough of the runoff that surges across the densely populated residential neighborhood between 37th Avenue, where Minneapolis replaced paved streets with a greenway and underground basins about 15 years ago, and Robbinsdale's Crystal Lake. The city can't just build a bigger pipe to service Cleveland because that could exacerbate flooding for homes on the edge of Crystal Lake. The neighborhood's limited green space also presents a logistical challenge. Many cities designed their parks to retain storm water, but the nearby Victory Memorial Parkway happens to be a sprawling World War I memorial with its own cultural significance and there could be sensitivities about using it like a glorified retention pond. "A lot of things play into all the decisions," said Bridget Osborn, a water resource engineer with HR Green, a third-party consultant hired to explore different flooding mitigation features that could be built. "So we're trying to figure out what is possible, where can we store water and what locations [are] going to be the most impactful?" It's going to take time to redesign above and below the street, but residents say they are relieved to see the project kick off. Grace Spears said the drought of recent years may have been worrisome for many Minnesotans but was a reprieve for her block. Whenever a heavy storm hits, all the neighbors spring into action, moving their cars up the hill, clearing street drains of debris and shouting at passersby not to drive through the lakes that form in the street because they could get stuck. Once floodwaters recede, the whole neighborhood comes out to collect trash and pressure wash the sidewalks, clearing the mud and leaves that coat everything. "Everybody wants the neighborhood to stay nice and clean, so it's really frustrating when it happens and is just such a nightmare," Spears said. "For the first time ... I actually feel like this is going to get taken care of." The city is now constructing additional flood mitigation work around 27th Av. N., which involves upsizing 2,500 feet of storm sewer pipe between Penn and James avenues. Rachel Riley remembers holidays at her family home always being filled corner to corner with people. Though the Rileys came from a large family, among the many people who would often be in attendance were people in the community who had no place else to go. She recalls how her mother, Joyce Riley, was the patriarch to many unrelated by blood. She loved unconditionally, said Riley who is the sixth born of her mothers 11 children. She was well known in the community because she opened her home to the community and our home was everybodys home. It was from these lifelong acts of kindness that Riley learned the importance of being of service to neighbors and strangers alike. Her mother died March 31 from natural causes, she was 81. The family had been preparing for her death because of years of declining health. Riley said the family is at peace and thankful her mom went without pain. She was truly one of Gods angels, and one of a kind, and God has taken her back to heaven and we are OK with that, Riley said. Her mother, herself one of 11 children, was born in Drew, Mississippi during a time of segregation and hardships for members of the Black community. Being raised in church instilled a deep sense of faith within her mother and helped to build the strong ties to community that reverberated throughout her life. Joyce Riley relocated with her late husband Willie Riley Jr. to Kansas City where they started a family of their own and laid down deep roots in the metro. She worked for General Motors and retied in 1970. Joyce Riley, (center seated) a mother of 11 children, is surrounded by six of her daughters. Riley, a Kansas City native, said her mother was a one-of-a-kind crusader for what was right and just. Rileys son, her mothers grandson, was shot in 2021, which led her mother to form the 24th Street Non-Violent Marchers. The group started as a coalition of community members who were tired of the crime and violence plaguing their neighborhood. Recalling how her mother watched as her once beloved community began to transform into a place where violence was common, her mom decided to stand up for what she believed in. The police told us it was kind of dangerous because we were at actual war with the criminals and drug dealers so they warned us against it, said Riley, who works in the real estate market. We wanted them to know we were here and we are going to interrupt your business every Friday and people would come out with us to march the streets. Because we were fed up and we said we are not going to take it anymore. According to Riley her mother was able to unite civic groups like church members and families of victims of gun violence through the marches, which began to draw media attention and police assistance. Their efforts led the Kansas City Police Department to establish the 24th Street Task Force, which cracked down on crime in the area. Many arrests were made in relation to the crime. The murderer of Rileys son was never brought to justice but she said that her mothers work helped get a lot of bad characters off the streets. Riley said that her mothers work did not simply stop at crime prevention, she also campaigned, to the city, for a community center and rejuvenation projects for local parks. Riley now hopes to petition the city to rename a park in the area for her mother in honor of all of the work she has done in Kansas City. She was quite an amazing woman with an amazing legacy, her love never stopped for her community, says Joyce Rileys daughter, Rachel Riley. She was quite an amazing woman with an amazing legacy. Her love never stopped for her community, she said. Though she is now left without one of her biggest inspirations and mentor, Riley is thankful for the time she was able to spend with her mother and for the good that her mother did. She hopes that people who knew her will take up the torch for good that her mother carried for decades. She never turned away from the work that needed to be done. She really loved her community, Riley said of her mom. She was a servant and she was happiest doing the work she believed God wanted her to do and never stopped asking how she could care more or help more. Joyce Riley is remembered by her children, Willie Riley Jr., Cornelious Riley, Demetrius Riley, Howard Riley, Wilma Winters, Gwendolyn Riley, Rachael Riley, Lisa Green, Zenja Roe, Joanne Riley; siblings, Eugene Williams, Dorothy Hawkins, Katie Carthen, Peggy Brown, Shirlene Williams and Marion Williams; along with a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Other remembrances Russell Avery Sr., father and church usher died March 31. He was 89. Russell Avery Sr. Russell Avery Sr., father and church usher died March 31. He was 89. Avery was born in Kansas City to Floyd and Essie Avery on Jan. 25, 1935. Known as Sonny growing up, he was the seventh born of his parents children and the only boy in the family. As a child Avery joined the Boy scouts where he learned about respect and leadership while developing a love for the outdoors. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1953. Avery was heavily involved with church throughout his life. He attended Morning Star Baptist Church, where he was a member of the usher board for many years. He is remembered by his children. Russell Jr., Sheila Dana, Stacie Minor; sibling, Beverly Hill; along with a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Henry Jones, retired parking control officer, died Dec. 9. He was 62. Henry Jones Henry Jones, retired parking control officer died Dec. 9. He was 62. Jones was born in Kansas City, Kansas on Nov. 2, 1961, to Henry and Loris Jones. He graduated from Bishop Ward High School and later studied agriculture landscaping at Kansas State University. Jones was employed by the Unified Government Parking Control Department as a security guard and later became a parking control officer. He worked in his occupation for 39 years and was awarded a commendation from his employer for his exemplary commitment and integrity to the job. He stayed involved in church throughout his life and attended Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City, Kansas. He will be remembered by his family as an outgoing person who loved the outdoors, traveling, dancing, farming and lawncare. He is remembered by his mother, Loris Jones; along with a host of cousins and friends. Hindu devotees get off from a bus and walk toward a mud volcano, to start Hindu pilgrims religious rituals for an annual festival in an ancient cave temple of Hinglaj Mata in Hinglaj in Lasbela district in the Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province, Friday, April 26, 2024. More than 100,000 Hindus are expected to climb mud volcanoes and steep rocks in southwestern Pakistan as part of a three-day pilgrimage to one of the faith's holiest sites. (AP Photo/Junaid Ahmed) HINGLAJ, Pakistan (AP) The ascent of steep mud volcanoes marks the start of Hindu pilgrims religious rituals in southwestern Pakistan. They climb hundreds of stairs or clamber over rocks to reach the summit, tossing coconuts and rose petals into the shallow crater while seeking divine permission to visit Hinglaj Mata, an ancient cave temple that is the focus of their three-day worship. The dramatic surroundings of Hingol National Park in Baluchistan province are the setting for Pakistans largest Hindu festival, Hinglaj Yatra, which started on Friday and ends on Sunday. Organizers say more than 100,000 Hindus are expected to participate. Muslim-majority Pakistan is home to 4.4 million Hindus, just 2.14% of the population, and Hinglaj Mata is one of the few Hindu sites that continues to draw large numbers of pilgrims every year from across the country. Muslims and Hindus generally live peacefully in Pakistan, from where most of the Hindus migrated to India when it was divided by British colonialists in 1947. But there have been attacks on Hindu temples in recent years as relations between the rivals remain tense. Hindus believe Hinglaj Mata is one the places where the remains of Sati, the goddess of marital felicity and longevity, fell to earth after she ended her life. Maharaj Gopal, the temples most senior cleric, explains why people flock to it. It is the most sacred pilgrimage in the Hindu religion, said Gopal. Whoever visits the temple and worships accordingly during these three days will have all of their sins forgiven. The journeys begin hundreds of kilometres (miles) away, mostly from neighbouring Sindh province. Hundreds of packed buses set off from cities like Hyderabad and Karachi, traveling along the Makran Coastal Highway that hugs Pakistans south and southwest. But theres scant parking and vehicular access to the holy sites, so many pilgrims disembark and complete their travel by walking over parched and rocky terrain, sometimes barefoot and carrying children or luggage. Its a few kilometres (miles) from the main road to the mud volcano and then, from there, almost 45 kilometres (25 miles) to Hinglaj Mata. Winds buffet the desert-like conditions, churning up dust that whips the eyes, nose and mouth. The pilgrims festive cheer and brightly coloured apparel are a contrast to the arid landscape. Strong gusts distort peoples celebratory cries of Jai mata di and Jai shiv shankar. Kanwal Kumar, 28, was visiting the temple for the first time with her husband. We have yet to conceive a child after six years of marriage, so we are hopeful for help from the goddess, she said. We believe that no one returns empty-handed. All wishes are granted by Hinglaj Mata. The Hindu festival brings the Pakistani park to life. Hundreds of stalls spring up to sell snacks, drinks, jewellery, and clothing. Vats of hot food are prepared in the open air or thatched huts. Pilgrims purchase coconuts, sweetmeats, flowers, and incense for their ritualistic offerings. Aloo Kumar, 55, wanted to express her gratitude to Lord Shiva, one of Hinduisms three most important deities. He blessed our family with a grandson, Kumar said, gesturing toward the boy beside her cradling his baby sibling. We prayed for a grandson during last years festival. Hinglaj Mata thrums with activity, even after dark. Fairy lights and other decorations adorn the shrine and pilgrims jostle for position in front of it, sometimes holding up babies so the deities can bless them. Stewards urge them to pay their respects and move along. The parks Hingol River provides Hindu pilgrims with the opportunity for ritual bathing, like the Ganges in India. While there is no ban on Hindu worship in Pakistan, openly practising the faith is not routine as ties between India and Pakistan are broken. Their interactions are riddled with animosity and suspicion after having fought three wars, built up their armies and armed them with nuclear weapons. Travel restrictions and hostile bureaucracies largely keep people from crossing the border for leisure, study and work, although the countries sometimes make exceptions for religious pilgrimages, usually for Indias Sikhs. The decades of political hostility present a challenge for the minority Hindu community, as many in Pakistan equate Hindus with India. The reverse exists in India, where Muslims complain of discrimination. Versimal Divani, the general-secretary of Hinglaj Mata, lamented that only Hindus in Pakistan can attend the festival. We can visit this temple in our beloved country whenever our heart desires, said Divani. But this is not the case for the rest of the worlds Hindus. I would like the Pakistani government to issue them visas so they can come here and take blessings with them. Its good for people-to-people contact and its good for the economy too. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Gov. Eric Holcomb (left), DNR Director Dan Bortner and GSGP Program Director Mike Piskur shovel soil around a newly planted cucumber magnolia tree on Friday, April 26, 2024 on the Statehouse Lawn in Indianapolis. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) The cucumber magnolia tree, freshly planted on the Indiana Statehouses plush green lawn, stands lanky and sparse. But the 12-foot sapling will grow to stand guard outside the capital building for generations to come, Gov. Eric Holcomb said. His administration on Friday celebrated the fulfillment of a four-year-old promise to plant 1 million trees in public lands around the state. Officials marked the occasion with a ceremonial planting of the millionth tree, grown at Clark State Forest. Holcomb made the pledge in his 2020 State of the State speech. Department of Natural Resources Director (DNR) Dan Bortner said his agency knew it would be a massive undertaking but added, Thankfully for all Hoosiers, conservation is a team sport. Bortner lauded a lengthy list of natural resources partners, telling the crowd, Its the people standing here with us today plus many, many more who stepped forward to help us plant trees that one day will tower over our descendants, leaving a legacy that will long outlast our time on this planet. DNR picked trees native to Indiana, including red oak, white oak, bur, chinkapin, swamp chestnut, Shumard, pin, cherry bark oak, and black walnut. They were planted on state forest, state park, fish and wildlife area, and nature preserve land. Millions more trees could be on the way. In October, the leaders of eight states and two Canadian provinces including Indianas Holcomb launched a campaign to plant an additional 250 million trees by 2033. All are part of the Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers (GSGP). Holcomb is term-limited, with eight gubernatorial candidates hoping to succeed him. But Bortner said the change in leadership wouldnt jeopardize the new, higher goal. Indianas next governor, he noted, will be part of the regional group leading the charge. And, tree planting has been a unifying force. Theres no downside to planting trees, Bortner said. Theres different ideas of how to go about it and things like that, but everybody supports putting more trees in the ground. And its good for the environment, its good for for recreation. I mean, theres just so many positives to it. So, you know, all you can do is leave it ready to go. Much of Indianas forested land was cut down in the 1800s for lumber and to open fields for farming, according to Fridays news release. The state created its forestry-focused division in 1901 to conserve state forests. Now, Indiana is home to 4.8 million acres of forestland, including 160,000 acres across state forests, per the release. 2024_Million_Trees_Poster (4) SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Holcomb, nature allies celebrate planting 1 million trees appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle. Homeland Security Investigations, the principal investigative agency within the Department of Homeland Security, launched HSI.gov a website designed to highlight its mission to shield the U.S. from global threats. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< HSI special agents have been working with local agencies across the country to quickly address emerging threats, such as the fentanyl epidemic, surges in organized retail crime, fraud related to global pandemics and child exploitation. The new website is a reflection of HSIs commitment to its mission and core values in fighting global threats and protecting American lives, said HSI executive associate director Katrina W. Berger. With more than 400 criminal statutes to enforce, HSIs broad and diverse criminal investigative mission has an immediate impact on public safety and the security of our communities. From the local and international law enforcement agencies that partner with HSI to combat crime to the nongovernmental organizations that work to help victims of crime, HSI.gov is meant to educate and inform its stakeholders about HSIs organization, mission and capabilities with greater clarity. To learn more about HSI visit HSI.gov. Read: JFRD gives all clear after gas leak on City Station Drive [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. Honored at last: Honor Flight Tallahassee pays tribute to veterans through special trip Veterans who survived the Korean and Vietnam Wars often felt two things forgotten and scorned. But Saturday night, decades after their return, Korea veterans' feeling that they had served in the shadows and Vietnam veterans' recollections of shame melted away as dozens of them stepped off a plane in Tallahassee to be remembered and honored in a way they'll never forget. Nearly 300 people lined the opening of a hangar at the Tallahassee Airport to welcome home 76 veterans who embarked on Honor Flight Tallahassee's 10th annual flight to Washington, D.C. The local branch of the nationwide organization has made it its mission to bring every veteran to see the monuments that were built as a tribute to them and their fallen peers. Family, friends and community members line the runway to greet veterans as they return from their Honor Flight trip, April 27, 2024. "That was great!" Wayne Langston, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Air Force, said with the brightest smile after completing the 17-hour trip. The long, rainy, whirlwind of a day was filled with smiles, tears and salutes, emphasizing that even 76 different men and women with 76 different stories share one thing a pride and love for their country that only those who served would understand. 'I'm just amazed' Jeff Mims, a guardian, and Wayne Langston, a Vietnam War veteran, pose for their picture as they wait for takeoff, April 27, 2024. All travelers had to report to the standalone hangar at 5 a.m., but many veterans fueled by excitement arrived well before then. Countdowns much like the ones they looked to while fighting in Vietnam were kept until the big day. And the first impression did not disappoint. "I'm just amazed by what they've done here," Dave Stewart, a Vietnam War veteran, said over breakfast. An hour later, veterans queued up and boarded the plane, which buzzed with palpable anticipation as veterans and guardians chatted away about their excitement for the trip. Honor Flight veterans and their guardians load the plane to go to Washington D.C., April 27, 2024. Roughly two hours later, the private flight landed, and veterans were greeted by their first surprise of the day. Students from the Naval Academy and other volunteers lined the airport gate exit, equipped with signs, flags and encouraging words as veterans filed out one by one. The kind gesture invoked tears for some, marking the first of many that would be shed throughout the day. Kerry Morgan, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Marin Corp, shakes hands with a Naval Academy student, April 27, 2024. First stop: World War II Memorial For Joseph Williams, the only World War II veteran on the trip, Saturday was a day of firsts. All Honor Flight Tallahassee attendees line up for a group picture at the World War II Memorial , April 27, 2024. Before the trip, the 104-year-old had never seen the memorial dedicated to the war he fought in nor flown in a plane. Williams served in the Philippines in the Navy from 1944 to 1946 after being drafted from Florida. He said he "would've rather stayed home." The memorial, which he was most excited to see, stirred up old memories, specifically of the times he saw Japanese pilots purposefully crash their planes. Joseph Williams, a World War II veteran who served in the Army, poses for his picture in front of the Florida pillar at the World War II Memorial, April 27, 2024. "I thought this would be a very good opportunity to see our pretty country and see things I've never seen before," he said. Second stop: Korean War, Vietnam War and Lincoln Memorials The second stop of the trip was the most anticipated, as the majority of the men and women served in these wars and hoped to find names of lost loved ones etched in the walls of the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials. A veteran searches for a name at the Vietnam War Memorial, April 27, 2024. "That's amazing," Sal Martocci, an 88-year-old Korean War veteran who served in the Navy, said as he stared at the statues of soldiers at the Korean War memorial. "It's almost eerie." For decades after he served in the Army in Vietnam, Lee Skornia, 78, never spoke a word of his time in the war. He was tortured for years by night terrors that replayed memories of exploding landmines and deadly enemy fire. But as he stood in front of the wall that bore the names of his fallen peers, he reflected on just how lucky he was and how he has God to thank. Lee Skornia, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Army, smiles in front of the Vietnam War Memorial, April 27, 2024. Skornia remembers sitting on top of an armored personnel carrier with six other soldiers when it blew up. "Just before the whole incident occurred, I heard a message," Skornia said. "All of a sudden this voice said. 'Get ready.'" Skornia knew it was a miracle from God he survived. A veteran and his guardian scour the names at the Korean War Memorial, April 27, 2024. And as further proof, he said the blast that threw him 30 feet away and killed several others left the Bible that his mother gave him completely unharmed. Third stop: Iwo Jima, the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial Marty Mitchel III, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Marine Corp, and his guardian, Lest Black, pose for their picture at Iwo Jima, April 27, 2024. Mel Topicz, Lynette Haber and Ritaann Schultz all served in the Navy during the Vietnam era, and together they spent the day representing women who served in the war who went even more unrecognized for their service than the men. The three shared their stories in the drizzling rain next to Iwo Jima, the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial. "It's great because we can represent other female veterans," Topicz said. "It doesn't really matter what branch of service, we all served." Because women weren't allowed to serve on the front lines beyond being a nurse, Topicz and Haber both took care of enlisted records and Schultz was an aviation boatswains mate handler, which was a very dangerous job directing aircrafts as they launched and landed. Mel Topicz, Lynette Haber and Ritaann Schultz, who all served in the Navy during the Vietnam era, talk about their memories, April 27, 2024. Haber said the trip was a delight not only because of the people thanking them for their service, but because other tourists visiting the memorials are "obviously benefits of veterans." "I was pretty much choking back tears at the Vietnamese memorial when an Asian gentleman said, 'thank you,'" Haber said. "And I said, 'I bet your story is tougher than mine.'" Fourth stop: Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier A deafening silence hung in the air at the Arlington National Cemetery. A veteran stares out into the sea of tombstones at the Arlington National Cemetery, April 27, 2024. Looking over a sea of headstones, veterans quietly paid their respects to all the men and women who went before them. Just before 4 p.m., veterans and their guardians lined up around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, preparing to watch the changing of the guard, a ceremony that occurs every 30 minutes. Guards perform the changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown, April 27, 2024. The sentinels, those selected to guard the tomb, scuffed their heels against the ground as they paced a silent acknowledgement for the veterans watching them. Fifth stop: Air Force Memorial Veterans unloaded from the bus one last time to crane their necks up at the sky to see the three spires of the Air Force Memorial tower over them. The Air Force Memorial, April 27, 2024. A sense of accomplishment and joy washed over the veterans who made it out to the final stop. "It's been fantastic and a real reward," Jim Rector, a 76-year-old Vietnam War veteran who served in the Air Force, said of the trip as he stood under the looming spires. "I have never had so many thank you's and welcome home's than I have this whole time." The first thing Rector said he did when he arrived back in California from the war was ditch his uniform and find some "civies," or civilian clothes, to hide the fact he fought. The camaraderie and "being with fellow brothers and sisters" who served was an incomparable experience, he said. A veteran poses for a photo at the Air Force Memorial, April 27, 2024. 'Welcome home' Although they were tired and ready to start the trip home, the exhaustion couldn't mask the joyful glow each veteran shared. Fulfillment and gratitude were written on every one of their faces. The plane hummed as veterans and guardians softly shared stories about their experience from the day. But about halfway through the return flight, everyone was interrupted: "Mail call, mail call, mail call," Mac Kemp, one of the trip organizers, said over the flight intercom. A veteran opens his letters on the return flight, April 27, 2024. Just like in the military, Kemp called out each veteran's name and passed out large envelopes stuffed to the brim with letters from friends, family and community members the first surprise of the trip back home. Some received old photographs from their time in the war, one even received a letter his wife wrote to him in the 1960s. Schultz said she cried when see realized the handwriting of one of the letters she was reading was her son's. Ritaann Schultz hugs her grandson as she returns to Tallahassee, April 27, 2024. "My son doesn't do that kind of stuff," Schultz said. "He's 33, he hasn't written me a letter I don't think since he was a child." And the thoughtful surprises didn't end there. Realizing that most of the veterans on the trip never saw any parades or praise when they arrived home, Honor Flight coordinators spared nothing on the fanfare that awaited the veterans. A veteran waves to the crowds of people who lined up to welcome the veterans home in Tallahassee, April 27, 2024. Family members, friends and community packed the hangar waiting to embrace their veterans with open arms, proving a welcome home is better late than never. Breaking & trending news reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Honor Flight Tallahassee celebrates 76 veterans with 17-hour trip Guo Degang (R) and Yu Qian perform Xiangsheng, or crosstalk comedy in London, Britain, April 27, 2024. Thunderous laughter and applause almost blew off the roof of an auditorium in London's ExCeL Exhibition Centre on Saturday night, when a punchline by Guo Degang, a popular Chinese traditional crosstalk comedian, landed with an audience of thousands. Along with Guo and his partner Yu Qian, a handful of comedians from the De Yun She Performance Group performed Xiangsheng, or crosstalk comedy, with both jokes about life anecdotes and traditional crosstalk episodes.(Xinhua/Wu Lu) LONDON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Thunderous laughter and applause almost blew off the roof of an auditorium in London's ExCeL Exhibition Centre on Saturday night, when a punchline by Guo Degang, a popular Chinese traditional crosstalk comedian, landed with an audience of thousands. Along with Guo and his partner Yu Qian, a handful of comedians from the De Yun She Performance Group performed Xiangsheng, or crosstalk comedy, with both jokes about life anecdotes and traditional crosstalk episodes. "Laughter is contagious and that is what makes the art form of crosstalk comedy powerful," said Guo, a leading character in both the performance group and the industry. Guo and his group started their first overseas tour in Australia in 2011. Since then, they have performed in places including the United States, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Japan and Singapore. This was the group's second time performing in London. "The outcome of our years of international tours has made me realize the enduring vitality of traditional art," he said, adding that such performances can help overseas Chinese overcome homesickness through "voices in their mother tongue" and introduce traditional Chinese culture to a broader audience. "Ever since I started learning Chinese, I've been interested in Xiangsheng," Christian Elliott, an audience member who has been learning Chinese for more than five years, told Xinhua. He wanted to see how much of the show he could understand given that there is a difference "between knowing conversational Chinese and knowing 'full' Chinese." Elliott added that such an experience can help him learn more about the Chinese culture, history and the way people from a different background think. Saturday's show was also the first public appearance in London for a few younger-generation performers, among whom was Meng Hetang, who joined the group in 2008. Meng said that young inheritors of time-honored art forms, like himself, need to not only adhere to and promote tradition, but also innovate to keep pace with modern times. He performed his recently-created episode during the show. In recent years, crosstalk comedy is becoming increasingly popular in China, especially with young people. Guo alone currently has over 15 million followers on China's video-sharing platform Douyin, while other fellow performers have several million followers each. With London being the first stop of its Europe tour this year, the group was expected to perform in cities including Glasgow, Paris, Milan and Madrid in the upcoming month. Meng Hetang (R) and Zhou Jiuliang perform Xiangsheng, or crosstalk comedy in London, Britain, April 27, 2024. Thunderous laughter and applause almost blew off the roof of an auditorium in London's ExCeL Exhibition Centre on Saturday night, when a punchline by Guo Degang, a popular Chinese traditional crosstalk comedian, landed with an audience of thousands. Along with Guo and his partner Yu Qian, a handful of comedians from the De Yun She Performance Group performed Xiangsheng, or crosstalk comedy, with both jokes about life anecdotes and traditional crosstalk episodes. (Xinhua/Wu Lu) Audience watch Xiangsheng, or crosstalk comedy in London, Britain, April 27, 2024. Thunderous laughter and applause almost blew off the roof of an auditorium in London's ExCeL Exhibition Centre on Saturday night, when a punchline by Guo Degang, a popular Chinese traditional crosstalk comedian, landed with an audience of thousands. Along with Guo and his partner Yu Qian, a handful of comedians from the De Yun She Performance Group performed Xiangsheng, or crosstalk comedy, with both jokes about life anecdotes and traditional crosstalk episodes. (Xinhua/Wu Lu) Guo Degang (L) and Yu Qian perform Xiangsheng, or crosstalk comedy in London, Britain, April 27, 2024. Thunderous laughter and applause almost blew off the roof of an auditorium in London's ExCeL Exhibition Centre on Saturday night, when a punchline by Guo Degang, a popular Chinese traditional crosstalk comedian, landed with an audience of thousands. Along with Guo and his partner Yu Qian, a handful of comedians from the De Yun She Performance Group performed Xiangsheng, or crosstalk comedy, with both jokes about life anecdotes and traditional crosstalk episodes. (Xinhua/Wu Lu) JERUSALEM Yemens Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed shooting down another of the U.S. 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 Reaper 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. U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bryon J. McGarry, a Defense Department spokesperson, acknowledged to The Associated Press on Saturday that a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 drone crashed in Yemen. He said an investigation was underway, without elaborating. The Houthis described the downing as happening Thursday over their stronghold in the countrys Saada province. US coalition ship shoots down Houthi missile after lull in attacks 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 U.S. military has lost at least five drones to the rebels counting Thursdays downing in 2017, 2019, 2023 and this year. Reapers, which cost around $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. All the Houthi-US Navy incidents in the Middle East (that we know of) The drone downing 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 Oct. 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 U.S. Maritime Administration. Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a U.S.-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 U.S.-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. An excavation crew unearthed human remains from a home in the Hudson Valley last week igniting and quickly destroying a towns hopes to finally solve a decades-old missing persons case, police said Thursday. The skeleton was found April 16 by a crew that was preparing for a new home build in the town of Patterson, according to the New York State Police. The badly decomposed body offered little clues to the persons identity, but investigators confirmed that it was not that of that of Robin Murphy, who mysteriously vanished on April 9, 1995 at age 17. Human remains were found by an excavation crew working on a property in Putnam County last week. Deb Cram / USA TODAY NETWORK The victim had been dead for more than 10 years, troopers said. The announcement initially stirred excitement through Putnam County that the remains could be that Murphy, who was last seen leaving her home to meet her friend at a local restaurant. She went missing right around the same time as 12-year-old Josette Wright, whose remains were discovered in November of that year not far from where the excavation crew found the body last week. Hope to finally put the case to rest was smashed Saturday, however, when troopers confirmed that the DNA sample from the body did not match Murphys profile. Robin Murphy has been missing since April 9, 1995. Robin Frances Murphy/Facebook Her family has been through a lot and it would be amazing to close the case and get some justice, the page administrator for Murphys missing persons Facebook page told Westchester News 12. Howard Gombert, who is serving prison time in Connecticut for rape, has long been suspected of abducting and killing Murphy, but police never had enough evidence to charge him. He was also fingered as Wrights alleged killer by the two men who were charged with her rape and murder and later acquitted. State troopers are still working to identify the discovered remains, stating that the case is in its infancy. The savvy marketers at Boston Dynamics produced two major robotics news cycles last week. The larger of the two was, naturally, the electric Atlas announcement. As I write this, the sub-40 second video is steadily approaching five million views. A day prior, the company tugged at the communitys heart strings when it announced that the original hydraulic Atlas was being put out to pasture, a decade after its introduction. The accompanying video was a celebration of the older Atlas journey from DARPA research project to an impressively nimble bipedal bot. A minute in, however, the tone shifts. Ultimately, Farewell to Atlas is as much a celebration as it is a blooper reel. Its a welcome reminder that for every time the robot sticks the landing on video there are dozens of slips, falls and sputters. Image Credits: Boston Dynamics Ive long championed this sort of transparency. Its the sort of thing I would like to see more from the robotics world. Simply showcasing the highlight reel does a disservice to the effort that went into getting those shots. In many cases, were talking years of trial and error spent getting robots to look good on camera. When you only share the positive outcomes, youre setting unrealistic expectations. Bipedal robots fall over. In that respect, at least, theyre just like us. As Agility put it recently, Everyone falls sometimes, its how we get back up that defines us. I would take that a step further, adding that learning how to fall well is equally important. The company's newly appointed CTO, Pras Velagapudi, recently told me that seeing robots fall on the job at this stage is actually a good thing. "When a robot is actually out in the world doing real things, unexpected things are going to happen," he notes. "Youre going to see some falls, but thats part of learning to run a really long time in real-world environments. Its expected, and its a sign that youre not staging things." A quick scan of Harvards rules for falling without injury reflects what we intuitively understand about falling as humans: Protect your head Use your weight to direct your fall Bend your knees Avoid taking other people with you As for robots, this IEEE Spectrum piece from last year is a great place to start. Were not afraid of a fallwere not treating the robots like theyre going to break all the time, Boston Dynamics CTO Aaron Saunders told the publication last year. Our robot falls a lot, and one of the things we decided a long time ago [is] that we needed to build robots that can fall without breaking. If you can go through that cycle of pushing your robot to failure, studying the failure, and fixing it, you can make progress to where its not falling. But if you build a machine or a control system or a culture around never falling, then youll never learn what you need to learn to make your robot not fall. We celebrate falls, even the falls that break the robot. Image Credits: Boston Dynamics The subject of falling also came up when I spoke with Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter ahead of the electric Atlas launch. Notably, the short video begins with the robot in a prone position. The way the robots legs arc around is quite novel, allowing the system to stand up from a completely flat position. At first glance, it almost feels as though the company is showing off, using the flashy move simply as a method to showcase the extremely robust custom-built actuators. There will be very practical uses for that, Playter told me. Robots are going to fall. Youd better be able to get up from prone. He adds that the ability to get up from a prone position may also be useful for charging purposes. Much of Boston Dynamics' learnings around falling came from Spot. While theres generally more stability in the quadrupedal form factor (as evidenced from decades trying and failing to kick the robots over in videos), there are simply way more hours of Spot robots working in real-world conditions. Image Credits: Agility Robotics Spots walking something like 70,000 kms a year on factory floors, doing about 100,000 inspections per month, adds Playter. They do fall, eventually. You have to be able to get back up. Hopefully you get your fall rate down -- we have. I think were falling once every 100-200 kms. The fall rate has really gotten small, but it does happen. Playter adds that the company has a long history of being rough on its robots. They fall, and theyve got to be able to survive. Fingers cant fall off. Watching the above Atlas outtakes, its hard not to project a bit of human empathy onto the bot. It really does appear to fall like a human, drawing its extremities as close to its body as possible, to protect them from further injury. https://twitter.com/agilityrobotics/status/1644117447098929152 When Agility added arms to Digit, back in 2019, it discussed the role they play in falling. For us, arms are simultaneously a tool for moving through the world -- think getting up after a fall, waving your arms for balance, or pushing open a door -- while also being useful for manipulating or carrying objects, co-founder Jonathan Hurst noted at the time. I spoke a bit to Agility about the topic at Modex earlier this year. Video of a Digit robot falling over on a convention floor a year prior had made the social media rounds. With a 99% success rate over about 20 hours of live demos, Digit still took a couple of falls at ProMat, Agility noted at the time. We have no proof, but we think our sales team orchestrated it so they could talk about Digits quick-change limbs and durability. As with the Atlas video, the company told me that something akin to a fetal position is useful in terms of protecting the robots legs and arms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wapeP93Q5ng&ab_channel=AgilityRobotics The company has been using reinforcement learning to help fallen robots right themselves. Agility shut off Digits obstacle avoidance for the above video to force a fall. In the video, the robot uses its arms to mitigate the fall as much as possible. It then utilizes its reinforcement learnings to return to a familiar position from which it is capable of standing again with a robotic pushup. One of humanoid robots main selling points is their ability to slot into existing workflows -- these factories and warehouses are known as brownfield, meaning they werent custom built for automation. In many existing cases of factory automation, errors mean the system effectively shuts down until a human intervenes. https://twitter.com/bheater/status/1427619080903794703 Rescuing a humanoid robot is not going to be trivial, says Playter, noting that these systems are heavy and can be difficult to manually right. How are you going to do that if it cant get itself off the ground? If these systems are truly going to ensure uninterrupted automation, theyll need to fall well and get right back up again. "Every time Digit falls, we learn something new," adds Velagapudi. "When it comes to bipedal robotics, falling is a wonderful teacher." Law enforcement from several departments across the commonwealth stood by and alongside the body of Sgt. Ian Taylor for a procession from Lahey Hospital to the Medical Examiner in Boston. Hundreds of officers gathered along the street and in the procession roughly 18 miles from Burlington to Boston. The Billerica police officer since 2011 was hit and killed by an excavator while working a detail at a construction site on Boston Road Friday. Taylor was a 21-year law enforcement veteran. Officers from across the state emotionally consoled one another outside the medical examiners office. We have this ceremonial procession as part of our police culture, said Todd McGhee, law enforcement and security expert who served 20 years with the Massachusetts State Police. I hope that never ends. Sgt. Ian Taylor McGhee told Boston 25 hes been a part of multiple processions for officers in his department and many others across New England. He added, The range of emotions are limitless. The emotions you go through are very real. They force you to reflect on your career, on your life. An investigation into the incident on Boston Road Friday is still in the early stages of the investigation. McGhee urged any law enforcement officers struggling as a result to reach out to mental health resources at their respective departments. He finished, This isnt the place emotionally to show bravery. Its about being healthy, being emotionally whole, and being able to sort through those different thoughts and feelings Every police officer has that sense of, Wow, that could have been me. The Billerica Police Department said a public vigil would take place on Sunday in the courtyard of Billerica Memorial High School from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Funeral service arrangements have not been announced. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at campuses as colleges crack down on encampments Students at dozens of universities in the U.S. and Canada continue to protest for Palestinian human rights after months of war in Gaza. Most student organizations participating in protests and encampments on campuses have similar demands of their administrations, including divestment from companies that could be profiting from the war and transparency about where theyre investing their money. Many universities have said that they support freedom of speech and will allow protests on campus but that encampments violate school policy. On Saturday, dozens of people were arrested at colleges that cracked down on encampments, including Northeastern University in Boston, where about 100 people were detained. Here are the most recent updates on what is happening on campuses across the country. George Washington University Administrators at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., said Sunday that protesters who remained at an on-campus encampment would be suspended from school and administratively barred from campus. The encampment was being limited to 20 people, they said. A separate encampment off campus was under the purview of Washington police, the schools top leaders said in a statement Sunday. George Washington University Protesters (Cliff Owen / AP) On Sunday, video protesters posted to social media depicted some clashes with law enforcement on campus. The administrators, President Ellen M. Granberg and Provost Christopher Alan Bracey, earlier acknowledged a lack of violence on campus but singled out messaging deemed "highly offensive to many members of our community," including "hateful language." New Orleans Police said at least 10 people were arrested Sunday night at a pro-Palestinian protest in New Orleans, where students from Loyola and Tulane universities have joined the nationwide student movement. New Orleans police told NBC affiliate WDSU that four officers were injured as police cleared protesters from Jackson Square, which is overlooked by St. Louis Cathedral. UCLA Skirmishes broke out between pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israel counterprotesters at UCLA in the Westwood community of Los Angeles on Sunday. No arrests or injuries were reported as members and supporters of the pro-Israel group Stand With Us rallied on campus and ultimately clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters at their expanding encampment. Stand With Us co-founder Roz Rothstein said on X that 1,000 people joined the counterprotest. Video showed some protesters removing barriers that separated the two sides as fast-moving participants bumped bodies, stood off and yelled at one another. We are heartbroken to report that today, some physical altercations broke out among demonstrators," UCLA's vice chancellor for strategic communications, Mary Osako, said in a statement. Osako said more security personnel and measures were subsequently put in place. University of Southern California Joel Curran, the University of Southern Californias senior vice president of communications, said campus property, including the Tommy Trojan statue, was vandalized Saturday by people who are part of the group that has continued "to illegally camp on our campus." A USC Department of Public Safety vehicle sits next to the base of the Tommy Trojan statue (Jason Goode / AFP via Getty Images) "Despite repeated warnings, this group has also continued to disrupt our campus operations and harass students and others, in violation of numerous university policies," 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 did not say what the alleged acts of harassment were. He said protesters have refused President Carol Folt's numerous attempts to meet with them. "We are hoping for a more reasonable response Sunday before we are forced to take further action. This area is needed for commencement setup early this week," he said. Members of the law enforcement and police officers intervene the Pro-Palestinian student protesters at University of Southern California ( Grace Hie Yoon / Anadolu via Getty Images) Los Angeles police said no one was arrested during a protest on campus Saturday night. USC students started protesting after Muslim student Asna Tabassums valedictorian speech was canceled because of unspecified security threats. Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth said in a statement Sunday that negotiations between student protesters and administrators came to a stalemate when "students made clear on social media that they will not accept anything less than their original demands." "Whats more, despite the fact that the students were engaged with us in what we thought were good-faith discussions, a group of students disrupted another official MIT event this morning," Kornbluth said. "I have long believed that dialogue and mutual understanding are the best way to resolve conflicts. But it is clear that this approach has not allowed the progress we were hoping for." MIT did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what the administration plans to do next. In a video statement published Saturday, Kornbluth acknowledged that the pro-Palestinian protests on campus have been peaceful so far but said the encampment "has been a clear violation of our procedures for registering and reserving space for campus demonstrations." "We are open to further discussion about the means of ending the encampment," she said. "But this particular form of expression needs to end soon." Pro-Palestine demonstrators rally at an encampment in support of Gaza at the University of Southern California (Mario Tama / Getty Images) Emerson College Video from last week showed officers in protective gear moving in on Boylston Place Alley on Emerson's campus in Boston, where an encampment was set up. A total of 118 protesters were arrested as a result, President Jay Bernhardt said in a statement. Bernhardt said that the college "advocated with the City and Boston Police Department for several days to delay the removal of the encampment" and that when it became clear that was imminent, it encouraged protesters to remove tents from the alley. "We know that the events of that night were, and are, emotionally overwhelming for our entire community, especially for the students present at the protest and the staff and faculty who were on site to provide support," he said. Bernhardt said that the college will not bring campus disciplinary charges against the protesters and that it plans to encourage the district attorney not to pursue charges against those involved in the encampment. University of Mary Washington A total of 12 people, including nine students, were arrested for trespassing Saturday after the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, prohibited an encampment on campus because it invited outsiders in, President Troy Paino said in a statement. "We remain committed to working with our campus community members to facilitate peaceful expression, and we welcome individuals and families to our campus for public events, including demonstrations when those activities abide by policies and regulations," Paino said. "Events that do not follow instructions, attempt to disrupt classes or activities, or endanger the health, safety, and security of our campus community will not be allowed." Northeastern University About 100 people were detained at a pro-Palestinian protest at Northeastern Universitys Boston campus Saturday morning, university officials said. 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 was made by a counterprotester holding an Israeli flag, who was met with boos from other protesters on campus. It was not clear whether 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, called the administrations statement false narratives. It accused the administration of implying pro-Palestinian protesters uttered the phrase and of using it as justification to arrest over 100 Northeastern faculty, workers, and students. Columbia University Columbias pro-Palestinian encampment stretched into its second weekend after talks between protesting students and the administration remained at a stalemate. New York police said there were no reports of arrests of students at Columbia University on Friday or Saturday in relation to the encampment. The Reach Education Fund, a U.S. nonprofit group that helps Palestinian students achieve their academic dreams, shared a video of children supporting protesters at Columbia. Pro-Palestinian protesters camp out in tents at Columbia University in New York on Saturday. (AP) "Thank you, the students of Columbia University," a student said. "We respect you," another said. The Palestinian students also showed support for students protesting at Harvard and Yale universities. "We hear you.. students of Yale University," read a sign held by a student. Portland State University On Friday, Portland State University President Ann Cudd announced that the institution will receiving any further gifts or grants from Boeing after it received a letter signed by members of the community. The university group Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights has accused Boeing of being complicit in the occupation and genocide in Palestine, it said on Instagram. A spokesperson for Boeing said it had no comment. Arizona State University At Arizona State University, 72 people were arrested Friday and accused of trespassing related to setting up an encampment, a university spokesperson said. The school said that the encampment was established mostly by people who were not university students or faculty or staff members and that they refused instructions to disperse. Only 15 of the 72 people who were arrested were students, according to the university. Indiana University 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 did not were detained and removed, the university said. The people who were arrested face charges from criminal trespass to resisting law enforcement. It is unclear whether they are affiliated with the university. Dozens of people are arrested by the Indiana State Police riot squad during a pro-Palestinian protest on Indiana University's campus (Jeremy Hogan / Sipa via AP) Washington University At Washington University in St. Louis, more than 80 people were arrested Saturday after a group of students, employees and others not affiliated with the campus refused to leave after they pitched tents and called 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. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com DE PERE, Wis. (WFRV) Hundreds gathered at West De Pere High School to raise awareness for those who have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Whether they were supporting a family member or friends, everyone who walked at the event Sunday morning has somehow been impacted by MS. Cory Kiekhaefer from Reedsville was diagnosed with MS back in 2007. While his journey has come with challenges, he says he would not be anywhere without the support of his family. Howe Community Resource Center hosts seventh annual Rally for a Reason event I appreciate [my family] coming out. I walk around and I look at people and I see that Im fortunate to be where I am and walk with fellow MS peoples, Kiekhaefer says. As a state with one of the highest percentages of people living with MS in the country, the National MS Society hopes walks like these will one day lead to a cure. President of the Wisconsin chapter of the organization Rob Multerer says, Walk MS is all about love and community, and you see that here. There are so many people here for their friends, family members, coworkers, colleagues. Its just so great to see all the support on not the most beautiful of days, but MS is not beautiful either. We have never given up hope: Brown County Sheriffs Office hosts missing person awareness event The hundreds of people at the event were also fundraising for the organization. So far, the organization has raised more than 40,000 toward MS research, with the hope to double the total by the end of September. The Wisconsin chapter will also be hosting another walk in Door County at the end of September. To learn more about the organization, click here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. LOS ANGELES, April 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 69 protesters attending a pro-Palestine protest on Arizona State University's Tempe campus, the main campus of the public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area, were arrested on Saturday for "violating university policy." The protesters were arrested early on Saturday "for trespassing after they set up an unauthorized encampment, in violation of university policy," said a statement released by the university. Demonstrations against Israeli military action in Gaza are spreading on major university campuses across United States with hundreds arrested, as the protracted conflict in Gaza has become a humanitarian catastrophe. On Saturday, at least 22 Palestinians were killed and several others injured due to Israeli airstrikes on central and southern Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. The longtime Florida home of Osama Bin Laden's brother, which had been left abandoned, has been demolished. A Central Florida mansion with a notorious past is facing the wrecking ball. Once owned by Khalil bin Laden, brother to Al-Qaedas co-founder and terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, the Oakland mansion situated just off West Colonial Drive is now undergoing demolition. Reported by NBC affiliate WESH, the history-laden estate was snapped up by Khalil in the 1980s. However, Khalils family swiftly departed the vacation abode in the immediate wake of the 9/11 attacks, leaving the mansion to face its fate. Osama bin Laden. U.S. Department of Justice Residents in the neighborhood have witnessed the mansions transformation over the years. Ive seen it be abandoned, Ive seen it when there were people living in it, I saw it when it was a wedding venue, one neighbor, who only shared her first name as Tara, told the outlet. We were on the lake today, and we saw the crane, we heard the noise and we could just tell that it was finally the day that it was getting torn down, she added. The most notable event occurred on Sept. 19, 2001, when Taras mother saw Khalils family being airlifted out of the mansion, bound for Saudi Arabia. When the bin Ladens were airlifted out of this house, thats when she found out, so we kind of grew up knowing it, Tara said. The bin Laden family fled the home following the 9/11 attacks. WFLA The residence before it was demolished. Tribune News Service via Getty Images An aerial of the demolition process. WFLA Since then, the residence has passed through different hands, remaining vacant and abandoned for years. County records obtained by WESH reveal that the property changed ownership as recently as 2021, when it was acquired by an LLC. This LLC wasted no time in filing a notice in January to commence improvements to the property, signaling the beginning of the end for the infamous mansion. By Wednesday afternoon, approximately one-fifth of the property lay in ruins, scattered with brick fragments and splintered boards. The full demolition of the site is anticipated to span several weeks. Well probably be here about 2 1/2 weeks, Kerry Bazinet from Rock and Roll Demolition told the outlet. Their demolition efforts commenced on Tuesday afternoon, targeting several structures on the premises. You have a garage, then a stable and then the main residence here, Bazinet added. Additionally, theres a compact basement area that resembles more of a secure chamber than a typical cellar. The estate, which sits on 17 acres of land just outside Orlando, has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a carriage house and a barn. mom&paparazzi.com / Splash News It also has a pool, a spa and backs up to a large lake. mom&paparazzi.com / Splash News The home came with a fireplace. mom&paparazzi.com / Splash News The principal at Cornerstone Group, the brains behind the LLC, disclosed to WESH that while formal plans for the space are yet to be submitted, the vision for the property includes a mix of commercial space, preserved lakefront acres and multi-family housing. I know a lot of people say it, Tara said, They dont build houses like this anymore. Meanwhile, another home owned by another one of bin Ladens brothers, Ibrahim bin Laden, has been unable to find a buyer after nearly three years on the market and several price cuts. Located in Bel-Air in Los Angeles, Ibrahim, who has owned the property for nearly four decades, also abandoned the home following the 9/11 attacks. Made up of seven bedrooms and five baths, his home occupies more than 7,100 square feet and stands on more than 2 acres of land. Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. Central Florida has become a top destination for international migrants, with over 32,000 people coming here from other countries in a 12-month period that ended last July. WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS International migration was a large part of the regions population boom, but was beat out by domestic migration in all Central Florida counties but two Orange and Seminole counties, according to the Census data. Read: Local group volunteers to help shelter dogs remain active and adoptable Orange County has international migrators to thank for its modest 2023 year-over-year population growth of 1% as the county was negative 6,560 domestic migrators. Approximately 19,160 international migrators came to the county between July 2022-July 2023. Seminole County was the only other county in Central Florida that had a net negative domestic migration. 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. Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliamentary) Commissioner for Human Rights, has accused the International Federation of the Red Cross of "turning into an advocate for Russian criminals". Source: Dmytro Lubinets on Telegram Details: On 15 March, it was reported that Lubinets had emailed the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) calling for a transparent investigation into the activities of the Russian Red Cross, which is allegedly violating Red Cross principles particularly the principle of neutrality. Lubinets reported in a Telegram post on 27 April that an update on the review of the actions of the Russian Red Cross has appeared on the IFRC website. Lubinets noted that the IFRC website states that the Russian Red Cross has no presence in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, but not a word is said about the fact that the Russian Red Cross does operate in Crimea, even though it stole the Crimean property of the National Red Cross Society of Ukraine. He was also outraged by the IFRC's response to media reports that the Russian Red Cross cooperated with the Artek childrens camp in temporarily occupied Crimea. The director of this camp has been sanctioned for his involvement in the deportation of Ukrainian children. "The Federation's conclusions so far merely say that The RRC partnership with Artek requires a serious review. These words look pathetic: when there are facts, there must be action, not consideration of the situation from different sides," Lubinets writes. He also noted that the IFRC review said some individuals from the Russian Red Cross have made political statements that do not align with the organisations principles. The Russian Red Cross president who signed the agreement with the Artek camp is said to be no longer involved in political organisations in the Russian Federation. Dmytro Lubinets adds: "Leaving an organisation is one thing, but can a person who promoted the war change his views?" "The Federation's statement comes across as an attempt to save the name and reputation of the Russian Red Cross and only shows the impotence and obsolescence of the system," Lubinets said. Quote from Lubinets: "At the same time, it says that the Federation group that has been set up to review the actions of the Russian Red Cross will be delivering its findings over the next four months. I consider the IFRCs actions to be playing along with the Russian Federations aggression. I hope that they will not be so weak and powerless. International organisations cannot tacitly play along with Russian aggression! Otherwise, they do not help the global rule of law, only harm it! I believe that the IFRC a world-renowned organisation has become an advocate for Russian criminals." More details: Lubinets added that the new IFRC president is ready to meet with him, and he plans to raise these issues during their meeting. Support UP or become our patron! Iowa state lawmakers wrapped up their legislative session last week after putting the finishing touches on an $8.9 billion budget About a billion dollars will go to education thats for public schools, higher education and other programs. It amounts to a 2 percent increases for schools and colleges. Other legislation changes the way Area Education Agencies will be funded in the future for providing special education, criticized by opponents as cuts to the agencies. Lawmakers also approved another cut to income taxes. The state will move to a flat tax of 3.8 percent in 2025. Thats a year earlier than scheduled for the flat tax and a 10th of a point less. Two Constitutional amendments related to taxes passed, one to add the flat tax to the state constitution and the other to require a super-majority vote from lawmakers to approve any income tax increases. There was never really any doubt that Republicans would adopt their priorities. Time will tell to see the impact they have in the short and long-term. Host Jim Niedelman gets into that with Iowa State Senators Cindy Winckler and Scott Webster. Webster said education continues to be a priority, and that includes teacher pay. Weve put $223.2 million to K-12 education this year, he said. The one thing that we missed out on, weve cut several million dollars from our Area Education Agencies, which really provided supports for our schools and our students, Winckler said. Hear what else our panelists have to say when you click on the video. Local 4 News, your local election headquarters, is proud to present 4 The Record, a weekly news and public affairs program focused on the issues important to you. Its a program unlike any other here in the Quad Cities. Tune in each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as Jim Niedelman brings you up to speed on whats happening in the political arena, from Springfield, Des Moines, Washington, D.C. and right here at home. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Israel has agreed to listen to US concerns before any Rafah move, says White House (Reuters) -Israel has agreed to listen to U.S. concerns and thoughts before it launches an invasion of the border city of Rafah in Gaza, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Sunday. Israel's military is poised to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah and assault Hamas hold-outs there, a senior Israeli defence official said on Wednesday, despite international warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe. Washington has said it could not support a Rafah operation without an appropriate and credible humanitarian plan. "They've assured us that they won't go into Rafah until we've had a chance to really share our perspectives and our concerns with them," Kirby told ABC. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to visit the region next week and Kirby said he would continue pressing for a temporary ceasefire that Washington wants to last for at least six weeks. A Hamas delegation will visit Cairo on Monday for talks aimed at securing a ceasefire, a Hamas official told Reuters. "What we're hoping is that after six weeks of a temporary ceasefire, we can maybe get something more enduring in place," said Kirby, who also noted that the number of aid trucks into the north of Gaza was starting to increase. "The Israelis have started to meet the commitments that (U.S.) President (Joe) Biden asked them to meet," he said. Earlier this month Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to protect Palestinian civilians and foreign aid workers in Gaza or Washington could rein in support for Israel in its war against Hamas militants. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Mark Porter) Palestinian children in Rafah hold a press conference expressing gratitude to American and European university students for their solidarity with Gaza - Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images Israel has agreed to listen to US concerns before it launches an invasion of Rafah, where more than 1.5 million people are sheltering, the White House has said. They [the Israelis] have assured us that they wont go into Rafah until weve had a chance to really share our perspectives and our concerns with them, so well see where that goes, said John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson in an interview with ABC. It comes after the Palestinian president urged Joe Biden to intervene, saying that he expects Israel to attack the southern city in the coming days. Israel has long threatened to attack the city the only part of Gaza where it has not sent troops drawing intense opposition from Israels allies who say it would cause thousands of civilian casualties. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said four brigades of Hamas fighters are hiding there and must be tackled. Earlier on Sunday, the IDF chief of staff and chief of the Southern Command approved battle plans for the continuation of war, signalling that it plans to push ahead with its Rafah ground operation. Mr Abbas has warned an attack on the city would be: The biggest catastrophe in the Palestinian peoples history. Mr Biden has previously warned that Israel should not go into Rafah without credible plans to protect civilians. 05:00 PM BST Thats all for today Thank you for following our live coverage. The key developments were: The IDF chief of staff and chief of the Southern Command approved battle plans for the continuation of war, signalling that it plans to push ahead with its Rafah ground operation. Israel agreed to listen to US concerns before it launches an invasion of Rafah, where more than 1.5 million people are sheltering, the White House has said. The Palestinian president urged Joe Biden to intervene, saying that only the US could prevent the attack. The White House has said that a US-made pier meant to boost aid to Gaza will become operational in a few weeks but cannot replace land routes with trucks as the best way to feed people in the territory. US secretary of state Antony Blinken flew out Sunday to Saudi Arabia on a new bid to work with Arab leaders to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as public pressure grows. A senior Qatari official urged Israel and Hamas to show more commitment and more seriousness in cease-fire negotiations. Hamas said it would deliver its response to Israels latest counterproposal for a Gaza ceasefire on Monday in Egypt. Frances top diplomat urged calm in Lebanon during his second visit to the country since cross-border tensions with Israel flared on the back of the war in Gaza. A US presidential candidate was arrested at a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Washington University as campus protests intensify across the country. 04:35 PM BST At least two children in Gaza have died due to the heat, says UNRWA The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said it received reports that rising temperatures in Gaza have led to the death of at least two children. As temperature rises, life conditions in Gaza worsen. Displaced people have access to less than 1l of water per person per day for drinking, washing & bathing, against the 15l minimum according to @SpherePro Standards. Children pay the highest toll: we need a #CeasefireNow. pic.twitter.com/F3JIRKYjzp UNRWA (@UNRWA) April 28, 2024 04:13 PM BST Gaza aid pier ready in two to three weeks The White House has said that a US-made pier meant to boost aid to Gaza will become operational in a few weeks but cannot replace land routes with trucks as the best way to feed people in the territory. It will take probably two to three weeks before we can really see an operation, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Sunday on ABC News. Mr Kirby said the floating platform to bring more food and other essentials into Gaza will help, but has its limits. Nothing can replace, quite frankly, nothing can replace the ground routes and the trucks that are getting in, Mr Kirby said. Plans for the pier were first announced by president Joe Biden in early March, as Israel was being accused of holding up aid deliveries on land. 03:41 PM BST Key mediator Qatar urges Israel and Hamas to do more to reach a cease-fire deal A senior Qatari official has urged Israel and Hamas to show more commitment and more seriousness in cease-fire negotiations in interviews with Israeli media, as pressure builds to reach a deal that would free some Israeli hostages and bring a cease-fire in the nearly seven-month-long war in Gaza. Qatar, which hosts Hamas headquarters in Doha, has been a key intermediary and was instrumental, along with the US and Egypt, in helping negotiate a brief halt to the fighting in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages. But in a sign of frustration, Qatar this month said it was reassessing its mediator role. An Israeli delegation is expected in Egypt in the coming days to discuss the latest proposals in negotiations, and senior Hamas official Basem Naim has said in a message that a delegation from the militant group will also head to Cairo for talks. He did not elaborate, but Egypts state-owned al-Qahera TV said the delegation would arrive on Monday. 03:26 PM BST US senator questions whether State Dept properly assessing Israel conduct A Democratic senator has questioned whether the Biden administration was properly assessing whether Israel was complying with international law, following a Reuters report that some senior US officials did not find that countrys assurances credible. This reporting casts serious doubt on the integrity of the process in the Biden administration for reviewing whether the Netanyahu government is complying with international law in Gaza, senator Chris Van Hollen said in a statement. The Reuters report found that some senior State Department officials have advised secretary of state Antony Blinken that they do not find credible or reliable Israels assurances that it is using US-supplied weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law. Mr Blinken must tell Congress by May 8 whether he finds Israels assurances credible. According to an internal State Department memo, several bureaus within the agency did not find Israels statements credible, citing military actions that raised questions about potential violations of international humanitarian law. Van Hollen said the Reuters report had found that the recommendations of those bureaus were swept aside for political convenience. 03:22 PM BST Israel will invade Rafah in next days, says Palestinian president The Palestinian president said he expects Israel to attack the southern city of Rafah where more than 1.5 million people are sheltering in the coming days. Speaking at a conference in the Saudi capital, Mahmoud Abbas said: What will happen in the coming few days is what Israel will do with attacking Rafah because all the Palestinians from Gaza are gathered there. He added that only a small strike on Rafah would force the Palestinian population to flee the Gaza strip. The biggest catastrophe in the Palestinian peoples history would then happen, he said. A child mourns the death of people killed in overnight Israeli bombardment, in the front of the morgue of a hospital in Rafah - AFP Israel has long threatened to attack the city, drawing intense opposition from Israels allies who say it would cause thousands of civilian casualties. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says four brigades of Hamas fighters are hiding there and must be tackled. Mr Abbas pleaded with the US to stop the attack. We call on the United States of America to ask Israel to not carry on the Rafah attack. America is the only country able to prevent Israel from committing this crime, he said. 02:42 PM BST Israel has agreed to listen to US concerns before any Rafah move, says White House Israel has agreed to listen to US concerns and thoughts before it launches an invasion of the border city of Rafah in Gaza, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Sunday. Mr Kirby, speaking to ABC, also said Israel has started to meet the commitments it made to president Joe Biden on allowing aid into the north of Gaza. 02:21 PM BST Blinken heads to Saudi Arabia on Gaza truce bid US secretary of state Antony Blinken flew out Sunday to Saudi Arabia on a new bid to work with Arab leaders to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as public pressure grows. Antony Blinken departs Joint Base Andrews for Saudi Arabia - Reuters Mr Blinken will meet Monday with leaders of Gulf Arab states including Qatar, which along with Egypt has been mediating a plan to halt the Gaza war and release hostages, with Hamas promising a response on Monday. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Mr Blinken will work on ceasefire efforts but added: It is Hamas that is standing between the Palestinian people and a ceasefire. 01:54 PM BST Pictured: Remains of Irans missile strike Orthodox Jewish men inspecting an intercepted Iranian ballistic missile - AP Photo/ Ohad Zwigenberg The apparent remains of a ballistic missile - REUTERS/Amir Cohen 01:12 PM BST Hamas official says delegation to respond to Gaza truce plan in Egypt Monday A senior Hamas official told AFP on Sunday that the group would deliver its response to Israels latest counterproposal for a Gaza ceasefire on Monday in Egypt. A Hamas delegation headed by Khalil al-Hayya will arrive in Egypt tomorrow... and deliver the movements response to the Israeli proposal during a meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials, said the official who declined to be named. 12:57 PM BST IDF chief-of-staff approves Southern Command battle plans The IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi approved battle plans with the commanders of divisions and brigades at the Southern Command headquarters in Beersheba earlier today, according to the Times of Israel. The IDF said the meeting and approval of plans for the continuation of the war, was attended by the chief of the Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, and the heads of all of the commands divisions and brigades. 12:27 PM BST Frances top diplomat in Lebanon in push for calm with Israel Frances top diplomat has urged calm in Lebanon during his second visit to the country since cross-border tensions with Israel flared on the back of the war in Gaza. Israel and Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah group have exchanged near-daily fire since Hamass unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 sparked the war in Gaza. Fighting has intensified in recent weeks, with Israel striking deeper into Lebanese territory, while Hezbollah has stepped up its missile and drone attacks on military positions in northern Israel. Lebanon's parliament speaker Nabih Berri (R) speaks with France's Stephane Sejourne in Beirut - AFP via Getty Images France has for months sought to de-escalate the cross-border tensions, presenting to both Lebanon and Israel an initiative in January seeking to end hostilities. During a visit to the headquarters of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, French foreign minister Stephane Sejourne reiterated that Paris has been making proposals to avoid war in Lebanon. I will head to Beirut to meet political authorities to... make proposals, he added. Our responsibility is to mitigate escalation, and that is also our role in UNIFIL. We have 700 soldiers here. A French diplomatic source told AFP that the volume of cross-border attacks had doubled since April 13. 12:07 PM BST Watch: Chants of shame on you greet guests at annual White House media dinner 12:02 PM BST Pelosi says Netanyahu couldnt have done things worse Nancy Pelosi, former speaker of the US House of Representatives, has said Benjamin Netanyahu couldnt have done things worse with regard to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Speaking on BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Ms Pelosi said Mr Netanyahu has never been an agent for peace and she is not a big fan of the Israeli prime minister. When asked for her opinion on the student protests against the war happening across the US, she said: Israel has the right to defend itself the manner in which they are doing it is really challenging because Netanyahu has never been an agent for peace. Im not a big fan of his, but he couldnt have done things worse than tens of thousands, whatever the figure may be, of people dying, children malnourished, and the uncertainty that is there, and thats what people are speaking out about. 12:00 PM BST Saudi warns of economic fallout from Gaza war Saudi Arabia has called for regional stability, warning of the effects of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war on global economic sentiment at the start of a summit attended by a host of Gaza mediators. US secretary of state Antony Blinken, Palestinian leaders and high-ranking officials from other countries trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are on the guest list for the summit in Riyadh, capital of the worlds biggest crude oil exporter. The Gaza war along with conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere put a lot of pressure on the economic mood, Saudi finance minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said at one of the first panel discussions of the two-day World Economic Forum special meeting. I think cool-headed countries and leaders and people need to prevail, Jadaan said. The region needs stability. 11:22 AM BST US presidential candidate arrested at pro-Palestinian protest A US presidential candidate has been arrested at a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Washington University as campus protests intensify across the country. Jill Stein, a Green Party candidate, attended the St Louis protest to support students calling for the university to divest from Boeing military equipment over its sale of arms to Israel and boycott Israeli academic institutions. Were going to stand here in line with the students who are standing up for democracy, standing up for human rights, standing up to end genocide, Ms Stein said. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, center, at the pro-Palestinian protest - Christine Tannous/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP David Schwab, her communications director, said Ms Stein had attempted to de-escalate the situation between protestors and police Saturday afternoon, but that the police were not responsive and began arrests shortly afterward. Her arrest comes as pro-Palestine protests sweep university campuses in the US. Demonstrators are calling for Israel to end the war in Gaza and for the US to sanction Israel. 11:10 AM BST Hamas delegation to visit Cairo on Monday for Gaza ceasefire talks A Hamas delegation will visit Cairo on Monday for Gaza ceasefire talks, a Hamas official told Reuters, adding that the delegation will discuss a proposed ceasefire offered by mediators as well as Israels response. 10:50 AM BST Watch: Jewish students confront extreme anti-Semitism at Columbia protest camp 10:48 AM BST 34,454 Palestinians killed in Gaza war At least 34,454 Palestinians have been killed and 77,575 others injured in Israels military offensive on Gaza since Oct 7, the Hamas-run health ministry said in a statement on Sunday. Some 66 have been killed and 138 others wounded over the past 24 hours, the ministry said. 10:17 AM BST Palestinian president says only US can stop Israeli assault on Rafah Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Sunday said the United States is the only country capable of stopping an Israeli invasion of Rafah, saying it would be the biggest disaster in the history of the Palestinian people. We appeal to the United States of America to ask Israel to stop the Rafah operation because America is the only country capable of preventing Israel from committing this crime, Mr Abbas said at a global economic summit in the Saudi capital. 09:57 AM BST Pictured: Protests in Israel A demonstration calling for the resignation of Benjamin Netanyahu's government - Saeed Qaq/Anadolu via Getty Images Police intervene as relatives of hostages stage a protest against the Israeli government - Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images 09:50 AM BST Blinken flies to Saudi as window shrinks on Middle East mega-deal Washingtons top diplomat will travel to Saudi Arabia on Sunday as the deadline approaches on a landmark and, analysts say, long-shot deal that would see the kingdom recognise Israel. In September, before Hamass October 7 attack on Israel sparked the war, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Fox News that every day we get closer to a deal that could also bolster the Washington-Riyadh security partnership. However Prince Mohammed, Saudi Arabias 38-year-old de facto ruler, also said the Palestinian issue was very important for Riyadh, and Saudi officials have reiterated their insistence on recognition of an independent Palestinian state. While it is no surprise Saudi Arabia would link ties with Israel to a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the price for normalisation, especially on the Palestinian front, has certainly gone up, said Saudi analyst Aziz Alghashian. The US State Department said that Blinken will discuss a pathway to an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel, during talks in Riyadh on Monday and Tuesday. 09:36 AM BST Houthi claim to shoot down US drone Yemens Houthi rebels have claimed shooting down another of the US militarys MQ-9 Reaper drones. The Houthis said they shot down the Reaper 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. A defense department spokesperson acknowledged to The Associated Press that a US Air Force MQ-9 drone crashed in Yemen. He said an investigation was underway, without elaborating. 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 the recent shootdown in 2017, 2019, 2023 and this year. 09:32 AM BST France to make proposals in Lebanon to prevent war between Hezbollah and Israel Frances foreign minister said that he would make proposals to Lebanese officials on Sunday aimed at easing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel and preventing a war breaking out. If I look at the situation today if there was not a war in Gaza, we could be talking about a war in southern Lebanon given the number of strikes and the impact on the area, Stephane Sejourne said after visiting the United Nations peace keeping force in Naqoura, southern Lebanon. I will pass messages and make proposals to the authorities here to stabilise this zone and avoid a war. 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. We have been here before, but Israel woke up on Sunday to renewed hope that a ceasefire could be brokered with Hamas and the remaining 139 hostages returned. Talks have been deadlocked for months over Hamass demand that any deal lead to an end to the conflict and Israels refusal to countenance anything but total victory. But late on Saturday night, it was reported that a new Israeli proposal, brokered by Egypt, includes a willingness to discuss the restoration of sustainable calm in Gaza after an initial release of some 20-30 hostages. The phrasing mirrors the Islamic concept of hudna - an extended peace or calm - and may prove therefore acceptable to both sides as it falls short of final peace. The last Israel-Lebanon war of 2006 was wrapped up on similarly ambiguous terms. The Israeli proposal is understood to deal with other sticking points: it reportedly allows for Gazans to return to their homes in the north and for the withdrawal of IDF troops from Gazas central corridor. It was previously reported that the number of hostages Israel is asking Hamas to release in the initial phase of a ceasefire has also been reduced. Yet it is the proposal for an extended peace that is likely to make or break the new proposal, which the Hamas leadership is now considering and is expected to respond to in the next few days. IDF troops continues with their aim to eliminate terrorists in Khan Yunis - IDF The proposal includes a willingness to discuss the establishment of a sustainable ceasefire as part of the implementation of the second phase of the deal, which would take place after the release of hostages on humanitarian grounds, reported the Axios news site on Sunday, quoting Israeli officials. Hamas should understand that it is possible that if the first stage is implemented, it will be possible to advance to the next stages and reach the end of the war, they added. The reported shift in the Israeli position sparked anger from sources close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night who, playing with words, said Israels war aims remained unchanged - something the new formulation allows for. Nevertheless the new deal - if accepted by Hamas - could spark a political crisis in Israel. The extreme Right-wing parties that Netanyahus finely balanced coalition relies on have long said they will pull out if he stops the war before Hamas is wholly defeated. These parties, however, represent only a handful of seats and the opposition Yesh Atid party has said it will step in and support the government if it can secure a deal which sees the return of the missing 139 hostages. The new offer comes at the end of a week in which Israel has been talking up preparations for a military push into Rafah in the south of Gaza where Hamass last four battalions are thought to be dug in. The threat of an Israeli invasion of Rafah remains real and may pressure Hamas to engage constructively with the new deal, say analysts. Israel is also feeling the heat from the US and other allies who have been ratcheting up the pressure ever since intervening decisively to protect Israel from the Iranian missile barrage two weeks ago. Relatives of hostages protest against the government of Benjamin Netanyahu and demand an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza - Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu In addition to pushing home Israels dependence on western military aid, talk of sanctions and action by the International Criminal Court in the Hague have been growing steadily louder. Only this week, the UK demanded and secured permission from Israel to inspect the makeshift prisons in which it is detaining Hamas suspects from Gaza. Carrots are also being offered to the Israeli leadership and defence establishment. Some say the US is essentially offering Mr Netanyahu the chance to become the face of a new alliance against Iran - something he has long talked of. A historic decision point - every decision the Israeli government makes will have far-reaching consequences for its strategic situation for many years to come, tweeted Shay Har-Zvi, a Senior fellow at the Institute for Policy and Strategy and a former official in the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, as news broke of the new offer. He added that a deal may pave the way for the advancement of the wider US peace plan for the region, including the rebuilding of Gaza and formation of a coalition against Iran. On the other hand, another failure could lead to a wide multi-arena escalation, he said. Although there is cause for hope, the chances of success remain slim based on recent performance. Every time we get close to a deal there is sabotage taking place from both sides, said a top Qatari official in an interview with the newspaper Haaretz on Saturday. 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. Israel will scale up amount of aid going into Gaza, military says A truck carrying humanitarian aid bound for the Gaza Strip drives at the inspection area at the Kerem Shalom crossing JERUSALEM (Reuters) -The amount of humanitarian aid going into the Gaza Strip will be ramped up in coming days, Israel's military said on Sunday, citing new corridors that use an Israeli seaport and border crossings into the Palestinian enclave. After closing off access to Gaza following the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that set off the war, Israel has since allowed in aid convoys amid growing international pressure to boost the amount of supplies to feed Gaza's 2.3 million people. A spiraling humanitarian crisis has prompted calls from Israel's Western and Arab partners to do more to facilitate the entry of aid to the enclave, where most are homeless, many face famine, and where civilian infrastructure is devastated and disease widespread. The United States said earlier this month it welcomed Israel's latest efforts to allow in more humanitarian aid, but success would be measured in results in improving the situation on the ground. "Over the last few weeks, the amount of humanitarian aid going into Gaza has significantly increased. In the coming days, the amount of aid going into Gaza will continue to scale up even more," spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a statement. "Food, water, medical supplies, shelter equipment and other aid - more of it is going into Gaza than ever before," Hagari said. Separately, U.S.-based charity World Central Kitchen said it would resume operations in the Gaza Strip on Monday, a month after seven of its workers were killed in an Israeli air strike. Hagari said the aid increase is a result of using Israel's Ashdod port, as well as a new crossing into northern Gaza and increased aid from Jordan entering through the Kerem Shalom border crossing at the southern tip of Gaza. Israel is also working with U.S. Central Command to construct a "temporary maritime pier," which will allow ship-to-shore distribution, Hagari said. "Getting aid to the people of Gaza is a top priority because our war is against Hamas, not against the people of Gaza," he added. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Ros Russell and David Holmes) Israeli minister will bring down Netanyahu if Rafah is not invaded Then Israel's Minister of Transportation Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a press conference on "Channel 12". Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Hardline Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned on Sunday that he would bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government if a planned military ground assault on Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip is called off. Smotrich's warning came amid attempts in Egypt to secure a fresh ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by the militant Palestinian organization Hamas. "Agreement with the Egyptian deal is a humiliating capitulation and grants the Nazis a victory on the backs of hundreds of heroic soldiers who have fallen in the battle," Smotrich said in a video post on social media. The finance minister regularly refers to Hamas as "Nazis." Agreement to the deal would represent a "death penalty for the hostages and immediate existential danger to the state of Israel," he said. Should Netanyahu surrender and withdraw the order to invade Rafah, a government headed by him would "no longer have a right to exist," Smotrich said. Taking Rafah was essential for the destruction of Hamas, the restoration of security along the Israeli-Gaza border and the return of the hostages, he added. He termed the time a "fateful moment for the Israeli people" and called on Netanyahu to show courage. Netanyahu's government is undertaking a last-minute attempt to agree a ceasefire with Hamas along with the release of hostages before ordering troops into Rafah. A Hamas delegation is expected in Cairo on Monday to discuss details. A high-ranking Hamas official said it would examine the latest Israeli proposal in a post on Telegram on Saturday. Israel is expecting a response by Monday, according to a report on Israeli television, which added that Foreign Minister Israel Katz had said Israel was prepared to postpone the military assault on Rafah if a hostage deal was agreed. The deal is reported to be limited to women, the aged and the sick among the hostages. Teachers and students of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music visited the Conservatory Center built by a Chinese company on April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) BEIRUT, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Teachers and students at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music expressed enthusiasm about the new music school, a China-funded conservatory project, during a visit on Saturday. President of the conservatory Hiba Kawas said the new conservatory is a landmark in the region, which will encourage Lebanese musicians to deliver great performances and witness "musicians from all over the world visit Lebanon." As one of the biggest construction projects in Lebanon undertaken by China, it features teaching rooms, a library, lecture and auditorium halls, and a theater hosting up to 1,200 people, according to the constructor China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (CSCEC). Kawas said that new teams will then work at the conservatory with a new curriculum, enabling teachers to devise innovative teaching methods. Started constructing in December 2020, the project, with a cost of 62 million U.S. dollars and covering an area of 39,000 square meters, is currently in the decoration phase and will be completed soon, according to CSCEC. Teachers and students of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music visited the Conservatory Center built by a Chinese company on April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Huang Shuai, project manager from CSCEC at the conservatory, said the project aims to strengthen ties between Lebanon and China, and promote bilateral cultural communication by boosting exchanges between music teachers and students from the two countries. "The construction was smooth and supported by various parties," he added, noting that the project has received wide attention from the Lebanese government, the Chinese embassy and Lebanese musicians. Meanwhile, Lebanese music students expressed their enthusiasm about the new project, hoping to be able to access the facilities that are comparable to those in other countries. "I am very excited about this new conservatory, and hope to play in the new halls," Joseph Rechdan, a drum student and player, told Xinhua. Lea Chemali, also a drum student, said the new conservatory, with better facilities and services, will encourage more foreign artists to come and perform in Lebanon. For Mira Zantout, a piano teacher, the new conservatory will enable students to stay in Lebanon, as students could enjoy the advanced services it offers instead of leaving the country for better opportunities and facilities elsewhere. "This new facility will also boost cultural exchange between Lebanon and China, which is of great importance to our country," she said. By Giulia Segreti ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Sunday she will be a candidate at June's European elections in a bid to boost support for her Brothers of Italy party, though she will not take up a seat if elected. The June 6-9 European Parliament vote is a key test of strength for her 18-month-old rightist coalition. "We want to do in Europe what we did in Italy... create a majority that brings together the centre-right forces and send the left into opposition," Meloni told cheering party faithful at a party conference in the coastal city of Pescara to set out EU policies and launch the campaign. Meloni, whose party traces its roots to Benito Mussolini's Fascist group, called for Italy to leave the euro zone when in opposition and her 2022 election raised concerns in some European capitals. However, she has followed a broadly pro-European, orthodox line in office, particularly on foreign policy matters such as Ukraine and the Middle East. Her party is Italy's most popular with 27% of support, according to recent polls, ahead of the opposition Democratic Party (PD) on around 20% and the left-leaning 5-Star Movement on 16%. Meloni will be the first name on the ballot for Brothers of Italy in all five of Italy's constituencies for the EU election, but pledged she would not use "a single minute" of her time as prime minister to campaign. PD leader Elly Schlein announced last week she would also run, as did Antonio Tajani, head of the centrist Forza Italia party which is in the ruling coalition. All three leaders hope to win votes of people who take little interest in politics but are attracted by names of party chiefs on the ballot. Assuming they are elected, Meloni, Schlein and Tajani are expected to give up their seats, making way for runner-up candidates. (Reporting by Giulia Segreti, editing by Gavin Jones and Andrew Cawthorne) The Italian government stated that the country has refused Russian natural gas and would not object to the proposed package of EU penalties on liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is being reviewed by the European Commission. Source: Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italian Ministry of Energy, writes Politico Details: At the time of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Italy was one of the countries most reliant on Russian gas supply. However, it has demonstrated astonishing speed and flexibility in diversifying its supply sources, constructing a pipeline from Algeria, and increasing LNG import capacity. Russia supplied fewer than 5% of Italy's total gas imports last year, up from 43% in 2020, according to official estimates. "Italy is right now in a condition to even do without Russian gas altogether," the minister said. Pichetto Fratin pointed out that Italy has sufficient gas reserves "to be relaxed". Therefore, according to the minister, Italy "has no reason to oppose a process of new sanctions" against Russian LNG. Earlier, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said that the new EU sanctions package against Russia will impose limits on the shadow fleet of tankers delivering Russian oil. Before that, Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice President of the European Commission, confirmed that the EU started working on the next 14th sanctions package against Russia due to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to media sources, the limits should apply to the shadow fleet of tankers transporting Russian oil despite sanctions. Support UP or become our patron! Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks during the Programmatic Conference of the Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy). Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Sunday she will be her right-wing party's lead candidate in June's European elections, but will not move from Rome to Brussels if elected. "I have decided to run in order to lead the lists of the Brothers of Italy in all constituencies," said Meloni at a major campaign rally in the Adriatic coast city of Pescara. Meloni hopes her presence on the ballot will mobilize party supporters in the elections to choose new members of the European Parliament (MEPs), even though she will not take up her seat if successful. Other Italian parties have taken the same approach. Opposition leader Elly Schlein of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani of the conservative Forza Italia are also running as top party candidates - without being expected to become MEPs. The former president of the European Commission, the veteran Italian politician Romano Prodi, has sharply criticized the practice. In a poll published in the newspaper La Stampa on Sunday, Meloni's Brothers of Italy received the support of more than 27% of respondents. Forza Italia, founded by the late media mogul Silvio Berlusconi, achieved 8.7% and the right-wing Lega of Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini got 8.5%. In Pescara, Meloni said the left would be sent into opposition at the European level - just as she had accomplished in Italy in 2022. Since she came to power, Italy has once again become a "protagonist in Europe" and, for example, has had a significant influence on migration policy. Meloni also pledged to continue supporting the Ukrainian people "against Vladimir Putin's neo-Soviet imperialism." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks during the Programmatic Conference of the Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy). Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks during the Programmatic Conference of the Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy). Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan sentenced 44-year-old Michael A. Crider of Jacksonville to 2 and-a-half years in federal prison for escaping from custody. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Crider entered a guilty plea on Jan. 3. According to court documents, in 2018, Crider was found guilty and sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] In January 2023, while Crider was completing that term of imprisonment, the Bureau of Prisons transferred him into the custody of Bridges Federal Reintegration Centers Jacksonville, a residential re-entry center or halfway house. While in custody there, Crider was subject to drug testing. On the evening of April 11, 2023, Crider was provided a copy of an incident report documenting a recent positive test for cocaine. Later, around midnight, a halfway house staff member noticed that Crider was not in his assigned dormitory. Staff members searched the facility but could not find Crider. A month later, on May 13, 2023, at around 6:00 a.m. in St. Augustine, a police officer saw a minivan (which Crider was driving) traveling at over 100 miles per hour, running red traffic lights and weaving in and out of traffic. When the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Crider refused to pull over and a chase ensued. Crider eventually crashed the minivan and was arrested. Read: Deputies: 10 injured, 16-year-old in custody after shooting at Sanford event venue At the crash scene, the officer smelled marijuana coming from the minivan. Crider initially refused to identify himself, but he eventually stated that he knew there was a warrant for his arrest. In the backseat of the minivan, police found a backpack, which contained several documents bearing Criders name, a scale and a dose of buprenorphine 8mg, a synthetic opioid and Schedule III controlled substance. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Coolican. Read: Send Ben: Local woman charged for medical care due to hospital, insurance communication failure [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A Jan. 6 rioter who filmed the insurrection at the Capitol, including the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt, was sentenced on Friday to six years in prison. John Earle Sullivan, 29, was convicted in November on charges that include felony obstruction of an official proceeding and civil disorder. His sentenced also includes 36 months of supervised release and an order to pay $2,000 in restitution, according to the Justice Department. Sullivan had claimed he was a journalist when he joined and filmed rioters who breached the Capitol and wreaked havoc inside the building. His most notorious recording includes the moment a Capitol police officer shot and killed Babbitt, an Air Force veteran, as she was participating in the insurrection. Sullivan made approximately $90,000 from selling the footage of Babbitt's shooting to news outlets, including NBC News. Prosecutors later confiscated the money from him. Sullivan testified during his trial that he was "only observing." I followed the crowd. Im there to document, he said. But his own recordings painted a different story. Prosecutors said Sullivan recorded himself egging on the crowd to breach the Capitol and shouting things like, "I brought my megaphone to instigate s---." As his video of Babbitt would suggest, he was among the rioters who gathered outside the House chamber while lawmakers, their staff and members of the press were barricaded inside, and he told the others that he was "ready" because he had "been in so many riots." Sullivan also filmed himself encouraging a mob to break the glass windows on the door of the House Speakers Lobby. Babbitt was shot as she climbed through the broken glass on the door. Prosecutors portrayed Sullivan as a chaos agent. According to the Justice Department, he was filmed saying that he supported anyone who wanted to take the system down. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) on Sunday criticized the Biden administration for its tone towards Israels wartime efforts in Gaza, arguing the U.S. is more focused on micromanaging Israel than securing the release of the hostages still held by militant group Hamas. If you want to get these hostages released, youve got to, first of all, enable Israel to actually finish the job, Vance said in an interview on Fox News Sunday. And second of all, put Americas diplomatic weight behind and on Hamas, right? Pressure Hamas to release these hostages; dont use Americas leverage to effectively cause the Israelis to pull back here. Hamas took an estimated 250 people hostage during its Oct. 7 surprise assault against Israel, which left about 1,200 others dead and sparked the nearly seven-month war in Gaza. About 100 of these hostages were released during a week-long cease-fire late last year and Israel claims more than 130 hostages remain, a quarter of whom are believed dead. A top Hamas official told the Associated Press last week the militant group does not know exactly how many hostages remain in Gaza and are still alive. I think its really shameful and shows frankly, that a lot of folks dont respect the United States of America that we still have citizens that are being held hostage, Vance said. And our president, instead of focusing on getting those hostages back is focused on micromanaging one of our allies war efforts. The White House has been advocating for a cease-fire in Gaza that would allow the release of hostages still being held in the region and would allow additional humanitarian aid to surge into the area. Biden administration officials have been heavily involved in trying to negotiate a deal, but those talks have stalled in recent weeks. President Biden was among a group of 18 world leaders to call on Hamas last week to release the remaining hostages. We call for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza now for over 200 days. They include our own citizens, the leaders wrote in a statement last Thursday. The fate of the hostages and the civilian population in Gaza, who are protected under international law, is of international concern. The statement was released a day after Hamas released a video showing Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American man who was among those taken by Hamas. It was not clear when the video was made. While calling for the release of hostages, the Biden administration has also shifted its tone towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the rising death toll in Gaza and asked Israeli forces to take more caution in preventing civilian deaths. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since early October, according to local health authorities. The Hil reached out to the White House for comment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. New Jersey still allows smoking in casinos; CEASE is working to change that Reg Wydeven Last fall, five buddies and I went to Las Vegas to celebrate us all turning 50. We had an absolute blast, including having fun in the casinos. When entering the casinos, I was on sensory overload from all the bright, flashing lights and loud sounds. I was then immediately overwhelmed by the smell of smoke. Wisconsin banned smoking in public buildings in 2010, so I had almost forgotten what it was like to be engulfed. Thankfully, after having some great luck at the craps table, due in large part to Timmy, our mathematical genius friend, we forgot about the smoke. That is, until we got back to our hotel room and realized that we smelled like a chimney. We only had to endure the smoke for one weekend. Casino employees, however, cant escape it. Thats what caused Pete Naccarelli and Lamont White to co-found Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE). They formed the grassroots coalition in New Jersey in 2021 to end smoking inside casinos. After unsuccessfully working for more than three years to get lawmakers to ban smoking in Atlantic City casinos, CEASE and the United Auto Workers filed a lawsuit last month in New Jersey Superior Court claiming casino smoke violates the states indoor clean air law. In 2006, New Jersey passed legislation banning smoking in enclosed indoor spaces and workplaces. Casinos, however, were exempted from the laws protections, with smoking allowed on 25% of the casino floor. The lawsuit names Governor Phil Murphy and Dr. Kaitlan Baston, the states acting health commissioner. Murphy has indicated that he would sign a smoking ban into law if state lawmakers would pass one. This legislation was supposed to protect everyone from the dangers of secondhand smoke. But somehow, our casino workers have been asked to roll the dice, all in the name of corporate greed, UAW President Shawn Fain said. Every worker deserves safety on the job, and every person deserves equal protection under the law. By leaving out casino workers, the state of New Jersey isnt holding up its end of the bargain. Joseph Vitale, a New Jersey state senator, released a statement in support of the lawsuit, saying, The state of New Jersey has failed casino workers in Atlantic City for 18 years. We let a false argument about economics subjugate our duty to protect the people we serve and in doing so, we allowed corporations to poison their employees for nearly two decades. UAWs region 9 represents workers in New Jersey, including more than 3,000 in the Ballys, Caesars and Tropicana casinos in Atlantic City, many of whom have suffered, and continue to suffer severe health problems as a result of having to work in secondhand smoke, according to the complaint. Casino workers have cancer and other diseases related to smoking, although they dont smoke, the document stated. The Casino Association of New Jersey, a trade group that represents all nine Atlantic City casinos, has opposed the smoking ban. They argue that such a prohibition would put them at a disadvantage in competing with casinos in the 20 other states that allow smoking, some of which border New Jersey. According to a 2022 report from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, 26 states had commercial casinos employing more than 745,000 people. Of those, 22,796, or 3%, worked in New Jersey. However, casino employees in Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and even Nevada are also working to ban smoking. I hope CEASE has better luck than I did betting on horse racing. I bet on a horse at 10 to 1; he crossed the finish line at quarter after 3. Reg Wydeven is a partner with the Appleton-based law firm of McCarty Law LLP. He can be reached at pcbusiness@postcrescent.com. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: New Jersey has clean air law that fails to protect casino workers Alabama Reflector photo Just a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel from New Orleans to Ukraine through my advocacy work. I rode trains throughout Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe. As I traveled from city to city, I carried Eli Wiesels powerful Holocaust-related book Night, and imagined what my fellow European Jews had lived through 80-plus years ago when forced into cattle cars on their arduous and final journey to death camps most had never heard of. Now we know they will never be forgotten: Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor, Treblinka, Majdanek, and of course Auschwitz-Birkenau. I imagined the horrors of arriving at one of these camps in the middle of the night with dogs barking and Nazi officers shouting out cruel instructions. Innocent men, women and children, totally fatigued, hungry and thirsty, wondering what they had done wrong to be brought to this hell. I imagined the horrors of being separated from their spouses, children and other loved ones, and forced to go through a selection process, where a Nazi doctor determined who shall live and who shall die. I imagined the horrors and indignity of being told to strip naked so you could enter what the Nazis claimed were only shower rooms. I imagined the fear and horrors of the doors being closed and locked behind you, people crying and praying as lethal poisonous gas, not water, came out of the shower heads. People fighting for a last gasp of air, knowing that this was the end of life for you and others you so dearly loved. And, finally, I imagined the inhumanity and evil perpetrated upon these gassed victims whose only sin was to be Jewish as they were immediately carried away to the nearby crematoria for incineration. For at least 3 million Jews, this was reality and the result of the Final Solution determined by Hitler and other Nazi leaders at the infamous Wannsee Conference in 1942. For the Nazis, it was not enough to just mass shoot Jews and other so-called undesirables by the Einsatzggruppen as happened throughout most of East Europe. Nor was it enough to later kill Jews through experimental gas vans designed for mass killing. No, the Nazis needed a way to kill Jews faster and to kill more of them: and thus the creation of gas chambers at the death camps. It is hard for people of good conscience to even imagine today that such evil could exist amongst mankind. How could human beings perpetrate such evil upon other human beings? But, sadly, all of this madness occurred. Yet, despite their best efforts to totally destroy the Jewish people, we survived and made new homes in Europe, South America, Australia, Israel and America. Many of these survivors coming to America made their way to New Orleans and elsewhere in the great state of Louisiana. They became leaders in their communities, adding a cultural richness wherever they lived, and contributing to all that makes Louisiana so great. Indeed, the bond and history between Louisiana and its Jewish communities has always been strong and a source of pride for all of us! It is because of this historical bond that we believe using nitrogen or other forms of gassing should forever be removed as a method of execution. It is not only unnecessary but, for survivors and all Jewish people, brings back images of evil and horror which should never again see the light of day. As a country founded upon the principles of democracy, we can freely debate the wisdom of bills coming from our legislative halls. But, as it relates to the topic of gassing as an allowed method of execution, there should truly be no debate in removing it from our current laws. Gov. Landry and the Louisiana Legislature, please do what is right, not only for Jews but for all the good people of our great state. Kein Yhi Ratzon. May it be Gods will. The post For Jews, Louisianas nitrogen gas execution law recalls the terrors of the Holocaust appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. Joe Biden Stings Trump At White House Correspondents Dinner: Donald Has Had A Few Tough Days Lately. You Might Call It Stormy Weather Joe Biden got in a few zingers at his rival Donald Trump, but he devoted a large part of his remarks to the serious threat to democracy. Donald has had a few tough days lately. You might call it stormy weather, Biden quipped, referencing Trumps current hush money trial. More from Deadline The president also riffed on reports that Trump dozed off during his trial, calling him sleepy Don. Trumps speech was so embarrassing, the statue of Robert E. Lee surrendered again, he said. The president, though, devoted a large chunk to his speech to warning of the threat to the democracy and the presss role in a free society. RELATED: White House Correspondents Dinner 2024 Photos: Best Of The Red Carpet The stakes couldnt be higher, Biden said. Every single one of us has a role to play, a serious role to play, in making sure democracy endures. American democracy, Biden said. In an age of disinformation, credible information people can trust is more important than ever. That makes you, and I mean it from the bottom of my heart, that makes you more important than ever. With a far slicker production than the WHCD has seen for several years, tonights gathering went fast for the laughs. Leaning into Josts day job, a SNL sizzle reel of POTUS over the decades garnered huge laughs from the well-heeled crowd. A by-the-numbers video visit from Steve Kornaki explained how many people were in the ballroom, how how many potatoes were consumed and how much scholarship money was being handed out by the WHCA this year. It was an even bigger hit in the room than the SNL collection. Impersonator Matt Friend had more of a mixed reception with his Trump voiced references to the man who lit himself on fire outside the former presidents NYC hush money trial earlier this month. If that joke bombed, a follow up about South Dakota Governor and potential VP pick Kristi Noems recent revelation of killing her dog and other animals crashed with groans from the audience. Taking on his rematch rival Trump and his age head on from the get go, Biden got a rousing round of applause for pointing out that age is the only thing we have in common. My vice president actually endorses me. But in shorter than usual remarks, the presidents praise of Josts Weekend Update co-host Michael Che drew one of the biggest laughs of the night. Biden also referenced the many SNL performers who have portrayed him. Lorne is a great friend who has eight comedians play me. Who the hell says I am not a great job creator? Michaels was president at the dinner. Biden also addressed the press corps complaints of access, in particular a statement from The New York Times from last week. The New York Times blasted me for actively actively and effectively avoiding independent journalists. Hey, if that is what it takes to get The New York Times to state that I am active and effective, I am for it. As was expected, he also got in a dig at Fox News. To all my friends in the press, and Fox News Some of you complain that I dont take enough of your questions: No comment. Watch Bidens address above. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. South Africa and China bolster growing bilateral ties across multiple sectors: South African Ambassador 13:34, April 27, 2024 By Kou Jie ( People's Daily Online Dr Siyabonga Cwele, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to China. (Photo/ South African Embassy in China) Bilateral relations between China and South Africa are seeing significant advancements in various domains, according to Dr. Siyabonga Cwele, South Africas Ambassador to China. In a statement to Peoples Daily Online, Dr. Cwele highlighted the dynamic cooperation under the frameworks of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and BRICS, which he believes will enhance global opportunities, especially for developing nations. "Our country's thriving relationships are based on a solidarity foundation of political trusts and economic cooperation. China has remained South Africa's largest trading partner since 2009, and South Africa has been China's largest African trading partner since 2010. Our bilateral trade grew from $1 billion in 1998 to $56 billion in just 25 years," said Siyabonga in Beijing during the South Africa National Day event. "Our embassy in Beijing and our two consulates in Shanghai and Hong Kong will spare no effort in implementing the programmes of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China and further strengthen our political, economic and people-to-people exchanges between our two friendly nations," he added. The Ambassador also thanked China for supporting South Africa in hosting the 15th BRICS summit last year, adding that through the BRICS leaders wisdom, more and more developing nations are willing to join the organization, which will bring more opportunities for the growth of those countries. The Ambassador also praised the Belt and Road Initiatives, claiming that the BRI has brought African nations affordable and accessible infrastructure, reflecting a broader appreciation for Chinas role in regional development. "China has been doing great in building infrastructure for African nations most affordably. We hope that African nations and China can join hands to build infrastructure across the African continent," added the Ambassador. The Ambassador also dismissed "unfounded accusations of China's debt trap", stressing that most African nations' debt is not from China. "Such accusations are unfounded, and I can say that South Africa will strengthen the cooperation between our two nations under the framework of the BRI, which is in line with South Africa's development programs," said the Ambassador. The Ambassador also paid a special word of appreciation to the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people for their special role in strengthening the bilateral ties between China and South Africa. "We are very interested in Chinese culture as well, and I hope we can have more people-to-people exchanges in the future," he added. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chengliang) BANGKOK, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara on Sunday announced his resignation from the ministerial post, the official Thai News Agency (TNA) reported, citing his resignation letter sent to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The resignation came as Parnpree was removed from his position as Deputy Prime Minister following a reshuffle of several cabinet members in the Srettha government, as endorsed in the Royal Gazette on Sunday. Emphasizing the importance of the Deputy Prime Minister position for Thailand's foreign policy, Parnpree told the TNA that without the dual role, his ability to effectively advance the kingdom's foreign policy interests may be hampered. Traditionally, Thailand's Foreign Minister meanwhile holds the Deputy Prime Minister position, enhancing their stature and facilitating smoother negotiations during overseas engagements, he was quoted as saying. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) A Marion man accused in the March 15 killing of New Mexico State Police officer Justin Hare will go to trial this summer, according to federal court records. Jaremy Smith, 33, pleaded not guilty April 18 to charges including carjacking resulting in death, causing death by the discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, kidnapping resulting in death and interstate transport of a stolen vehicle. Jury selection and a potential start to the trial is slated for June 10 at the Pete V. Domenici United States Courthouse in Albuquerque. Body camera video shows pursuit, capture of Marion man accused of killing New Mexico State Police officer Smith will remain in custody until the trial begins. If convicted, he faces a mandatory life sentence or death for the kidnapping resulting in death charge, and any number of years up to life or death for the carjacking and discharge of firearm offenses. He could also face state charges in New Mexico, according to previous remarks made by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez. He was arrested March 17 by Bernalillo County sheriffs deputies in an Albuquerque neighborhood, who shot him several times following a brief foot pursuit. Smith is also facing 17 charges in the death of Pee Dee paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore. Timeline: Whats happened so far in the case of slain Pee Dee paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore Warrants show that between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on March 13, Smith allegedly entered a residence on Wildwood Loop in Marion County with a Taurus handgun and kidnapped Machado-Fore. Smith is accused of taking her vehicle, a 2001 BMW, and driving it to Jones Drive in Dillon County where he allegedly shot her in the back of the head. * * * 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. Group Captain Keith Mossman, who has died aged 96, served in a wide variety of air defence posts as a pilot, controller, and commander at the height of the Cold War. The son of a First World War veteran, George Keith Mossman was born on October 10 1927 and educated at Bishop Veseys Grammar School, Sutton Coldfield. He trained as a pilot at the RAF College Cranwell in the first post-war entry in 1947, winning the Groves Memorial Trophy for the best pilot on his course. He also won Victor Ludorum, establishing record times for sprinting and excelling at rugby, which he went on to play for the RAF. He converted to the Meteor day fighter before joining 63 Squadron at a time when there were 45 fighter squadrons in Fighter Command. On one occasion he ferried a Meteor F8 from Chivenor to Singapore, where it was to enter service with the Royal Australian Air Force, in a 16-leg journey staged across RAF occupied bases in the Mediterranean, Middle East, India and the Far East, over 21 hours. After training at the Central Flying School (CFS), Mossman returned to Cranwell as a flying instructor on the Harvard. Within 18 months, he was back at CFS to join the staff and train future instructors on the Vampire. Following a tour at the MoD in London managing the careers and appointments of junior pilots, Mossman returned to the air defence world when he completed the guided weapons course. He served at HQ Fighter Command as the plans officer for the development of the Bloodhound surface-to-air missile to be deployed to protect the V-bomber bases. In 1959, Mossman returned to flying and, after completing the all-weather conversion course, he joined 25 Squadron at Waterbeach, near Cambridge as a flight commander to fly the Javelin. At the time, deployments to Cyprus were a regular activity for the squadron before it moved to Leuchars where it maintained a quick reaction alert (QRA) capability to scramble in minutes if the Soviets threatened to enter UK airspace, an activity that became very familiar to all fighter aircrew during the Cold War. He was then posted to the Central Fighter Establishment to command the All-Weather Fighter Combat School at West Raynham, Norfolk. His career took a very different turn in 1962 when he sailed for Malaya on a three-year secondment to the Royal Malayan Air Force based at Kuala Lumpur. The young air force was equipped with the piston-engine Provost, the Pioneer and the Twin Pioneer; Mossman converted to all three, allowing him to fly into jungle outposts and landing grounds. With the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in September 1963 tensions with Indonesia increased and there was an uprising in Brunei. Mossman made frequent visits to Borneo flying a newly acquired de Havilland Dove aircraft. He developed a keen interest in butterflies and, in the jungle, discovered a new species which was named after Ypthima doherty mossmani in his honour. In 1965 he returned to the UK and was posted to the master radar air defence station at Patrington, near Hull. This was followed two years later with promotion to wing commander and a posting to take command of No 260 Signals Unit in Cyprus. The main control room was based at Cape Gata near Akrotiri with a long-range early warning radar mounted on Troodos mountain at 6,400 feet, which extended the range of the radar considerably. The air defence of Cyprus was provided by a Lightning squadron and a Bloodhound guided missile squadron. Lightnings were scrambled frequently to intercept both Soviet and Egyptian Air Force Tupolev 104 long-range bombers, which often tried to enter Cypriot air space. At the time, there was considerable air traffic from the Soviet Union to Egypt and 280 SU provided the necessary control for 56 Squadrons Lightnings which were scrambled to intercept. At the end of his tour, Mossman was appointed OBE. After attending the Air Warfare Course at Manby, Mossman remained on the staff for 18 months before he took command of RAF Buchan in Aberdeenshire. This large air defence early warning radar station provided the crucial cover for the airspace north of Scotland and into the Norwegian Sea. Outlying radar stations were based in the Shetlands and the Western Isles. The interception of Soviet bombers of the Northern Fleet by Phantoms and Lighnings were a common occurrence and QRA was kept busy. Mossman maintained close liaison with adjoining air defence regions and made regular visits to Norway and Denmark to co-ordinate operations. In addition to airborne interceptions, there were numerous large-scale NATO maritime exercises. On one memorable New Years Eve party in the officers mess, he dressed up as an oil-rig worker in a long wig and a clack lace shirt. No-one recognised him and he maintained that he learnt a lot about his station that night. For his services at Buchan, Mossman was advanced to CBE. Mossmans final appointment in the RAF was in MoD where he was the Deputy Director of Air Defence responsible for the many aspects of air defence of the UK including fighters, missiles, airborne early warning, and the early warning radar units. He was also responsible for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. He chaired a NATO tri-service group on air defence, requiring regular visits to Brussels. After three years, Mossman decided to retire from the RAF and took up an appointment with the Sultan of Omans Air Force, overseeing the installation and commissioning of an Integrated Air Defence System, which had been purchased from British Aerospace. On retirement, he became head of the Emergency Planning Office for Cumbria County Council. He had a wide variety of interests as a fisherman, clock maker and repairer, and beekeeper. He and his wife travelled widely, including a special visit to Hawaii where he attended a family reunion with the Hawaiian descendants of James Mossman, a sea captain who had settled there seven generations before. Keith Mossman married Vivian Talamo in 1952. She and their four children survive him. Keith Mossman, born October 10 1927, died February 14 2024 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. White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said Sunday that the United States remains hopeful for "six weeks of peace" with a hostage deal that "Hamas has not fully rejected." Speaking with host George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week," Kirby said Israel assured the Biden administration that the Jewish state will not launch a campaign in the final Hamas terrorist stronghold of Rafah in the Gaza Strip "until we've had a chance to really share our perspectives and our concerns with them." "If we're able to get this hostage deal in place, we are still working at that. Hamas has not fully rejected it," Kirby said. "They are considering this proposal on the table. If we can get that in place, then that gives you six weeks of peace. It gives you no fighting for six weeks, and that includes no fighting in Rafah. And what we're hoping is that after six weeks of a temporary cease-fire, we can maybe get something more enduring in place." Hamas said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a planned Israeli ground offensive in the southern city of Rafah. Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya gave no details of Israel's offer but said it was in response to a Hamas proposal two weeks ago, the Associated Press reported. ISRAEL DEBUNKS 'HAMAS LIBELS' ABOUT MASS GRAVE SPREAD BY MEDIA FOR INTERNET CLICKS, SAYS NETANYAHU SPOKESMAN John Kirby is the White House national security communications adviser. Negotiations this month centered around 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. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP A separate Hamas statement said leaders from the three main militant groups active in Gaza discussed attempts to end the war, which began on Oct. 7 after Hamas launched a bloody incursion into southern Israel and killed some 1,200 people. It didn't mention the Israeli proposal. The statement came hours after an Egyptian delegation ended 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 the AP. Kirby also addressed the planned deliveries of aid to flow into Gaza from an offshore pier now under construction by the U.S. military. "The Israelis have started to meet the commitments that President Biden asked them to meet," Kirby said. "This pier is now being constructed. It will take probably two to three weeks before we can really see it in operation. I mean, it's a fairly complicated procedure to get that in place. And we're working closely with the Israelis about how the operation of the pier would work." UN, HUMAN RIGHTS, MEDIA GROUPS RELY ON HAMAS DEATH TOLL IN 'SYSTEMATIC DECEPTION': EXPERT People walk in a camp for displaced people in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip by the border with Egypt on April 28, 2024. Stephanopoulos also pressed Kirby on the anti-Israel protests festering with antisemitism unfolding at American college campuses and specifically about bringing in police to break up demonstrations. "The president knows that there are very strong feelings, George, about the war in Gaza," Kirby said. "He understands that, he respects that. And as he has said many times, we certainly respect the right of peaceful protest. People should have the ability to air their views and to share their perspectives publicly. But it has to be peaceful. We'll leave it to local authorities to determine how these protests are managed." Palestinians thank U.S. students for their support for Gaza by writing on the tents in which they live in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on April 28, 2024. "But we want them to be peaceful protests," he added. "And obviously, we don't want to see anybody hurt in the process of peacefully protesting. But again, the president understands that. We absolutely condemn the antisemitism language that we've heard of late, and we certainly condemn all the hate speech and the threats of violence out there in these protests. We understand they're important, but they do need to be peaceful." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Kirby: US remains hopeful for '6 weeks of peace' with hostage deal that 'Hamas has not fully rejected' By Dan Peleschuk and Tom Balmforth KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's top commander said on Sunday Kyiv's outnumbered troops had fallen back to new positions west of three villages on the eastern front where Russia has concentrated significant forces in several locations. The statement by Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi reflected Ukraine's deteriorating position in the east that Kyiv hopes it can stabilise once it takes delivery of U.S. weapons under a $61 billion aid package approved this week. "The situation at the front has worsened," Syrskyi wrote on the Telegram app, describing the "most difficult" areas as west of occupied Maryinka and northwest of Avdiivka, the town captured by Russian forces in February. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a fresh plea to international partners to speed arms deliveries so Kyiv could maintain its positions and disrupt Russian plans. He said he spoke on Sunday with U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and "underscored that Patriot systems are needed, and as soon as possible." Syrskyi said Kyiv's troops had taken up new positions west of the villages of Berdychi and Semenivka, both north of Avdiivka, and Novomykhailivka, further south near the town of Maryinka. "In general, the enemy achieved certain tactical successes in these areas, but could not gain operational advantages," he said, adding that Russia had committed four brigades to the assault. Freshly rested Ukrainian brigades were being rotated in those areas to replace units that had suffered losses, he said. His statement did not mention the status of Novobakhmutivka, another village near Berdychi, that Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday its forces had captured. Moscow's troops have been slowly advancing since capturing the bastion town of Avdiivka, taking advantage of Ukrainian shortages of artillery shells and manpower. Online battlefield maps produced by open-source intelligence analysts suggest they have advanced more than 15 km (9.5 miles)in the direction of the village of Ocheretyne since capturing Avdiivka. Further up the front, the Kyiv-held town of Chasiv Yar is a key emerging battleground because of its position on elevated ground that could serve as a gateway to the cities of Kostiantynivka, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Syrskyi described Chasiv Yar and the village of Ivanivske to its northeast as the "hottest spots" on that part of the front. Russia's defence ministry said it had repelled Ukrainian counter-attacks near Chasiv Yar. KHARKIV BUILDUP In what could prove a worrying development for Ukraine, Syrskyi said his forces were closely monitoring an increase in the number of Russian troops in the area of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city. The northeastern city of 1.3 million just 30 km from the Russian border has been hammered by airstrikes in recent months in what Kyiv has said is a deliberate effort by Moscow to make Kharkiv uninhabitable. Syrskyi said there were so signs that Russia was directly preparing for an offensive in the north of the country. "In the most threatening directions, our troops have been reinforced by artillery and tank units," he said. Ukraine is currently expecting a long-awaited a shipment of U.S. military aid which officials say is critical to holding off Russia's two-year-old invasion. Zelenskiy said Ukrainian and U.S. teams were working on a "specific text" of a 10-year security agreement that would include weapons and other support. A Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters this week that Russia was conducting airstrikes on Ukrainian rail lines to disrupt the delivery of U.S. weapons to the front and to complicate military logistics. (Reporting by Dan Peleschuk and Tom Balmforth in Kyiv; Additional reporting by Elaine Monaghan in WashingtonEditing by Alexandra Hudson and Ros Russell) Voter turnout so far appears to be a little above average 12 days into early voting at Lake Countys 11 vote centers, according to election officials. We always like to see growth, Fajman said. The government center site in Crown Point tends to be the busiest through the early voting period and has the most machines set up for voters. There have not been lines, she said. Fajman said it is difficult to compare this years early voter turnout with the 2020 presidential election cycle because of the pandemic caused by COVID-19. With COVID, we only had early voting seven days before the election, Fajman said. The travel board was not being utilized as much as usual since people did not want strangers coming into their homes, and mail-in absentee ballots surged in 2020 since no reason was needed to request one due to the pandemic. At the same point in 2020, the office had mailed out 27,406 absentee ballots and had received 16,265 back. In comparison, right now, in 2024, we have sent out 2,669 with a return of 1,513. Its apples to oranges here a totally different type of election, Fajman said. Jumping back to 2016, the last presidential election conducted prior to the pandemic, 3,172 absentee ballots were requested at the same point, which was the last day to request absentee ballots, and 1,746 had been returned. Absentee ballots must physically be received in the Board of Eections office by 6 p.m. May 7. Voters who requested an absentee ballot can choose instead to vote in person or can deliver the ballot to the office if they fear it will not arrive in time by mail to meet the 6 p.m. deadline. Fajman said right now 5,091 people have voted early. At this point in 2022, 3,364 people had voted early, and in-person early voting in 2016 was at 3,915. So we are above that, Fajman said, adding that while in overall scale early turnout actually seems small it is higher. Even though the presumptive presidential nominees for each party already have been decided, Fajman said there are still candidates down ticket who have opposition and need the support of voters in order to move on to the general election in the fall. She encouraged people to take advantage of the early voting sites because you never know what may come up on Election Day. Its extremely important to show up for those candidates, Fajman said. Randy Niemeyer, chairman of Lake Countys Republican Party, said unfortunately many people just are not voting in the primaries, which can pose challenges for party chairmen like himself and Jim Wieser, his Democratic counterpart. As someone who has been a loyal voter all my life, primaries always been important for me, Niemeyer said. The primary gives party members a chance to choose their slate for the general election. Republicans in Lake County this year have a contested county-wide race to decide as well as a hotly contested governors race. Niemeyer, who himself is also running to represent the party in the first Congressional District, faces two challengers Mark Leyva and Ben Ruiz. What people often do not understand about primaries in Indiana is declaring a party in the primary is the first step toward becoming active in local government for those who may be interested, Niemeyer said. Whether you pull an R or a D (lever) determines whether you can be considered for certain boards and commissions. Municipal government boards that require political balance (and) require you to be identified in the party, Niemeyer said, adding not voting in the primary takes away your ability to participate in government on some levels. Certain political balance requirements are enshrined by Indiana statute. We all know when governmental balance is out of whack, a lot of time it loses accountability to the people, he said. Niemeyer said he is hopeful to see voter turnout pick up for this primary election cycle with a robust turnout on Election Day itself. As party chairman, I want to have a database of people, that when these boards of commissions come up for consideration, we can put good people in who want to serve, Niemeyer said. Wieser, Chairman of Lake Countys Democratic Central Committee, said too often in Indiana the general election is the big election with a much lower turnout for the primary election, and like Niemeyer agrees the parties need their voters to come out and declare. For those of us in the process, the primary is important, Wieser said. Along with deciding a handful of county races, the primary is where party delegates are chosen. Delegates to the state convention make the partys selection for who will run in the attorney general and lieutenant governors race. The party also approves its platform during the convention. Its an important thing to me, the turnout, he said. In an election year that has few races that attract a lot of attention county offices such as sheriff or clerk, it can be challenging to get people out to the polls. Democrats have contested county races for the surveyor, coroner and District 3 commissioners seat. It doesnt generate as much energy or enthusiasm, Wieser said. cnapoleon@chicagotribune.com The Los Angeles Police Department issued a city-wide tactical alert in response to a disturbance at the University of Southern California campus Saturday night. The school issued a statement at 8:15 p.m. saying the University Park campus was temporarily closed to everyone except for residents. A growing number of protestors continued to increase the size of the encampment, where pro-Palestinian demonstrators are voicing their opposition to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Protestors are calling for a ceasefire after roughly 34,000 people have been killed, according to Gazas Hamas-run Health Ministry. Much of the campus was on lockdown, with the LAPD enforcing the closure to non-residents. KTLA 5s Chris Wolfe received reports that there was some vandalism at the school on Saturday. USC has seen increased tensions in recent weeks due to pro-Palestinian protests in response to the war in Gaza. A group called the Peoples City Council used social media to call for protestors to continue to arrive on the campus. On April 15, USC canceled its Class of 2024 valedictorians speech due to safety issues after pro-Israel groups accused her of being antisemitic. Asna Tabassum was scheduled to speak at the commencement but has since been told that USC will not allow her to do so due to safety concerns. A social media post from a group called the Peoples City Council calls for protestors to continue to arrive at the University of the Southern California. The pro-Palestinian demonstrations continued on April 27, 2024. (X) A social media post from a group called the Peoples City Council calls for protestors to continue to arrive at the University of the Southern California. The pro-Palestinian demonstrations continued on April 27, 2024. (X) Campus safety officers try to confiscate tents from pro-Palestinian demonstrators at USC on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Group of protestors leaving USCs campus and continuing to march down surrounding streets on April 24, 2024. (KTLA) Group of protestors leaving USCs campus and continuing to march down surrounding streets on April 24, 2024. (KTLA) Dozens of demonstrators being detained and arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest at USC on April 24, 2024. (KTLA) Dozens of demonstrators being detained and arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest at USC on April 24, 2024. (KTLA) Police in riot gear dispersing pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the University of Southern California on April 24, 2024. (KTLA) Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the University of Southern California on April 24, 2024. (KTLA) A University of Southern California protester is detained by USC Department of Public Safety officers during a pro-Palestinian occupation at the campus Alumni Park on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) A University of Southern California protester is detained by USC Department of Public Safety officers during a pro-Palestinian occupation at the campus Alumni Park on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) Asna Tabassum, USCs 2024 valedictorian seen in a personal photo. (Asna Tabassum) Hundreds of students and community members marched through USCs campus in support of Asna Tabassums right to speak on April 18, 2024. (KTLA) Asna Tabassum, USCs 2024 valedictorian seen in a personal photo. (Asna Tabassum) Nearly 100 protestors were arrested at USC on April 25 in relation to pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The school elected to cancel its main graduation ceremony due to safety issues because of the increased protests. Colleges across the country have seen increased tensions as students and protestors continue to voice their concerns with the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and are demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. At Least 5 People, Including a Baby, Dead After Tornadoes Hit Oklahoma and Iowa The tornadoes and heavy storms ravaged several states on April 26 and 27 KOCO via AP Crews clear debris caused by a tornado in Sulphur, Okla., on April 28 At least five people are dead, including a baby, after tornadoes ravaged parts of Oklahoma and Iowa on Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27. Four deaths have been reported in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported two deaths in Holdenville and one fatality on Interstate 35 near Marietta, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management confirmed in a statement. The fourth Oklahoma death occurred in Sulphur, which Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced on Sunday, April 28, the statement added. At least 100 injuries have been reported throughout the state, including 30 falls, 25 cuts/pierces and 17 transportation-related injuries, among others. One of the Holdenville victims was a 4-month-old baby, according to reports from The Washington Post and local station KOCO. One more death was reported in Minden, Iowa, after a person died from injuries sustained on Friday, per Omaha ABC affiliate station KETV. Related: Rescue Video Shows Rush to Save Woman Trapped in Car That Flipped Over When Tornado Struck KOCO via AP The damage in many counties across the state is severe, with local authorities reporting power outages, power lines down, damages to homes, overflowing creeks, overturned vehicles and more. Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management is asking residents impacted by the storms to report damages to their property at damage.ok.gov, the department wrote in a statement. Reporting damage helps local and state emergency managers better coordinate response and recovery efforts. The town of Sulphur received some of the most severe damage, according to reports from Murray County Emergency Management, with Gov. Stitt declaring a State of Emergency in Murray and 11 other counties on April 28, according to FOX23. Related: 1 Dead in Mississippi as Storms Sweep Across the South, Bringing Tornadoes and Extreme Rain Brian McDaniel, the head of emergency management for Murray County, told the Post that a tornado touched down in Sulphur that caused significant damage and more than 30 injuries have been reported there. You just can't believe the destruction, Stitt told AP. It seems like every business downtown has been destroyed. Organizations such as Red Cross Oklahoma and Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief have opened reunification center and shelters, and they are expected to provide food assistance as well as to help clear debris across Sulphur, Holdenville, Marietta and other nearby towns. The Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. said in a press release that around 24,000 customers are without power due to disruptions from the storms. Stitt said in a video on X (formerly Twitter) that he will be visiting Sulphur and Holdenville, where crews are now working to clear debris and assess damage. My prayers are with those who lost loved ones as tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma last night, Stitt added in a statement to KOCO. Thank you to Oklahoma Emergency Management and those who have worked through the night to keep Oklahomans safe and have worked to clear debris and assess damage. 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. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 3 (out of 5) risk of severe weather for the still-progressing stretch of severe storms traveling east toward parts of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, and a Level 2 risk has been issued for other parts of Texas and Missouri, per the Post. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Dr Dan Poulter, sitting with Ellie Reeves MP, signs his membership of the Labour Party after defecting from the Conservative Party - PA SIR The most telling aspect of the defection of Dr Dan Poulter the former Tory minister who crossed the floor on Saturday to join the Labour Party, mere days before the country votes in local elections is that it demonstrates that there is now little difference between the Conservative and Labour parties. His judgment that Labour is more committed to socialist policies is undoubtedly correct, but it does not disguise the bald truth that the Tories have abandoned Conservatism. None of this helps me decide who to vote for in the forthcoming election. The Conservatives are a spent force, while the Labour Party would take us back to a 1970s Britain of union power stifling nationalised industries, which would be in further decline because the Labour Treasury would deny them funds to invest. The illiberal and undemocratic Liberal Democrats cannot be forgiven for proposing to ignore the result of the referendum and cancel Brexit, and Reforms naive policies would reduce taxation but increase government spending. I feel that the party also carries a nasty vein of populism. Help! Andrew Dyke London N21 SIR While I agree with much of Lord Frosts article (British politics as we know it is broken. Heres how we Conservatives must rebuild it, April 27), I think hes over-optimistic if he believes that the Tory party can ever revert to true Conservative principles. I am considering switching my vote to Reform UK, and would encourage true Conservatives to do the same for both the upcoming council elections then the general election later. The modern Tory party appeals to no one as its become little more than a machine for attaining power and now the machine is itself broken. A party with no basic principles does not deserve to survive. Stephen Phillips London W11 SIR When will Conservative backbenchers learn that the cycle of replacing their leader (Tory rebels on warpath after MP defects to Labour, report, April 28) will fail to win over the British electorate, as it shows that they have no concept of the importance of loyalty? Hon Ian MacGregor London N2 SIR Dan Poulter is now a Labour MP, representing a constituency in which 35,000 voted for the Conservative Party, with a majority of more than 23,000. There is not long to go before the next general election, which will provide the good folk of Suffolk Central and Ipswich North, Dr Poulters constituency, an opportunity to once again be represented by the party for which they voted. Surely it is time the situation that allows MPs to change allegiance should be repealed. Denis Kearney Lostwithiel, Cornwall Defence commitment SIR While the Prime Ministers announcement to increase defence spending by 75 billion is welcome (Letters, April 28), if the polls are to be believed it is unlikely that he will be in a position to implement it. Words come cheap, actions are much more expensive. If we are to increase defence expenditure to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, we now need Sir Keir Starmer to commit the Labour Party to the same course of action. Unless that happens, it is just more rhetoric. Gp Capt G R James (retd) Duquesa, Malaga, Spain SIR I am not the least surprised that there is a serious shortfall in the number of people applying to join our Armed Forces (Letters, April 25). The recruitment system is abysmal and needs a complete overhaul. Having waited six months for an interview, which was held online by an outside agency, my grandson who is highly qualified and from a family of servicemen was turned down by the Royal Navy. Whatever happened to in-person interviews, where candidates can be properly assessed? Hilary C Young Hadleigh, Suffolk Ofsted rulings SIR Ofsted, despite much evidence and advice, has decided to retain one-word inspection judgments (Letters, April 27). Any school is, by its very nature, a complex organisation, and it is insulting and misleading to sum up an inspection in one word. I was a headteacher for 20 years and in that time I experienced many inspections (all of them successful). Never did I feel that one word was sufficient to adequately sum up the inspectors findings. Under these circumstances, it is no wonder that there is a shortage of teachers in this country. Mike Aston Stourbridge, Worcestershire Rail closures SIR John Turner (Letters, April 27) refers to the Tory closure of far too much of the network. Harold Macmillan was the villain who commissioned Richard Beeching to write a report on railway closures, which ultimately saved just 30 million. However, it was Labours Barbara Castle who closed more than 2,000 miles of railway, including the Varsity Line against the advice of Dr Beeching. It is now sensibly being reinstated as East West Rail. Rodney Enderby Kings Sutton, Northamptonshire Rum memories SIR When we were young, my ex-Navy fathers remedy for flu was two extra blankets on the bed, a hot-water bottle and a glass of hot milk and rum (Letters, April 27). This worked well as a cure, but I still have a deep hatred of even the smell of rum. James Rand Lancing, West Sussex SIR My family lived in Kenya when I was a child, where many items were difficult or impossible to obtain, and this included most standard medical items. I was therefore treated with a combination of Cointreau for all conditions from the naval upwards, and brandy for anything from the waist downwards. I suffered no ill effects, but I was a little surprised by the reaction of the school nurse I told when we returned to the UK. Susan Dudley-Smith Wheldrake, North Yorkshire Classical dilemmas SIR In an age where attention spans seem to be getting ever shorter, as technology distracts us more and more from focusing on the task in hand, I would question the wisdom of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) in allowing the use of phones to photograph and record its concerts (report, April 26). This will undoubtedly disturb seasoned concert-goers and professional musicians, as was proved by tenor Ian Bostridges recent refusal to continue to sing amid the distractions. It should instead hold a series of short, introductory concerts, specially designed for those unfamiliar with the world of classical music. The performers could explain the instruments, how they work, and the background to the pieces and their composers in interesting ways than could be related to everyday life. Surely this would be preferable to turning a concert into something more resembling a press conference. In doing so, the CBSO will lose the loyalty of its regular punters and possibly even the newcomers who, with the highlights captured on their phones, may well not see a need to return. Ros Groves Watford, Hertfordshire SIR The obituary of Michael Tanner (April 24) mentions that he eventually came to detest the Hallelujah Chorus of George Frideric Handels Messiah. Many will share his feelings. Quite by chance, on the same day recently the excellent Bach Before Seven on Radio 3 broadcast Johann Sebastian Bachs Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden BWV 230 (Praise the Lord, all ye nations). The hallelujah chorus there, which dances along beautifully, is to my ears far more attractive. I seem to be continuing the debate initiated by Samuel Butler more than a century ago as to which of these composers was superior. Bernard Richards Brasenose College, University of Oxford Murderously good SIR At dinner parties, we often play can you name a film that is better than the book. It is surprisingly difficult, probably because the director visualises it differently to readers, who invariably have strong feelings about how the characters look and act. Hopefully this will not be the case with Richard Osmans bestseller The Thursday Murder Club (report, April 24), which is being made into a star-studded film. David Acklam Totland Bay, Isle of Wight People will always pay to visit La Serenissima Reflected glory: a gull paddles in the acqua alta (high water) on St Mark's Square in Venice - Antonio Violi/Alamy SIR Venice is trying to discourage visitors in high season by introducing a 5 entrance fee for day-trippers, a move a former mayor described as absurd (Ex-mayor urges tourists not to pay fee to enter Venice, report, telegraph.co.uk, April 24), as they are already overcharged for restaurants and public transport. More than 30 years ago, sitting at a table in St Marks Square, I paid 7 for a coffee in Caffe Florian. I would have paid double to have soaked up the history of what is the oldest coffee house in Italy, with its glorious interior, not to mention the perfect views of St Marks Basilica. There was even a member of our Royal family sitting at the next table. Financial penalties will not stop the flow of tourists to this unique Unesco World Heritage Site, which everyone should visit once in their lifetime. There is no high season. Martin Henry Good Easter, Essex Its not just the elderly who miss public lavatories SIR Judith Woods is right to bemoan the lack of public lavatories (Letters, April 24), but this has a negative impact on a wider cross-section of the populace than merely the elderly. In London, the shortage is a major issue for taxi drivers, plumbers, carpenters, delivery drivers and countless others who work hard for the benefit of the population. It is also a source of distress for people with health problems, pregnant women and those with small children. Where public lavatories are available, the dismal state of some of them can be exceedingly unpleasant. It is hard to believe that local councils cannot spare some pennies in order to allow others to spend theirs. Frances Luczyc Wyhowska London SW11 SIR I have just returned from Japan, where the first surprise was the heated seat in the airports facilities. We found that free public lavatories were everywhere, all scrupulously clean and every one had a heated seat. There was even an occasion when the seat cover lifted itself on my entering the cubicle, almost as a form of welcome. I wonder what Japanese visitors think of our disappointing facilities? David Jones Barrington, Cambridgeshire SIR My great-grandfather, John Palmer Wallis, was instrumental in the provision of ladies lavatories in central London, doubtless encouraged by his wife. My mother was told that prior to this a ladys only option was to approach a policeman and say: Officer, lend me your cloak. She could then squat and modesty would be preserved. Bill Marsh Bicester, Oxfordshire Letters to the Editor We accept letters by email and post. Please include name, address, work and home telephone numbers. ADDRESS: 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0DT EMAIL: dtletters@telegraph.co.uk FOLLOW: Telegraph Letters on Twitter @LettersDesk NEWSLETTER: sign up to receive Letters to the Editor here 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. LI cops scour woods for clues in decades-old serial killer case not tied to Gilgo slayings The extensive police search of a remote area on Long Island is not tied to suspected Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann but to another possible serial killer, police sources told The Post. Cops are looking for new evidence related to the 1993 murder of Sandra Costilla and they are hoping to finally tie the case to convicted killer John Bittrolff, according to sources with knowledge of the Suffolk County case. Cops have also shifted their focus from the woods in Manorville to North Sea, a hamlet located within Southampton Town. The NYPD canine unit along with the Suffolk County and State Police search a wooded area in Manorville. Dennis A. Clark State Police K-9 unit searches a wooded area along River Road in Manorville this week. Dennis A. Clark Imagery from a 2014 police press conference showing headshots of Tangredi and McNamee. VICTORALCORN.COM Thats where Costilla, 28, of Queens, was found savagely beaten and strangled by hunters on Nov. 20, 1993. Bittrolff, who is in prison after being convicted of killing two other women on Long Island, was previously named as a suspect in Costillas murder, but has never been charged. Authorities on Saturday continued combing through the dense North Sea woods, including with cadever-sniffing dogs. It was unclear what new information led detectives back to both locations or if they have found anything pertinent during the searches, the sources said. Bittrolff, a 57-year-old former carpenter, lived in Manorville, not far from where cops were conducting their search this past week. He was arrested in 2014 for the murders of two women: Rita Tangredi, 31, a known sex worker found dead November 2, 1993, in East Patchogue, and Colleen McNamee, 20, who was found killed on January 30, 1994, in a wooded area along William Floyd Parkway in Shirley. In 2017, jurors found Bittrolff guilty of second-degree murder in both cases. He is now serving 50 years to life. John Bittrolff was convicted of killing two other women, Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee, in 2017. He is serving 50 years in prison. James Carbone It is unclear what, if anything, the search this week in Manorville turned up. Dennis A. Clark Another aerial view of the search area. Dennis A. Clark Investigators have never been able to pin Costillas unsolved murder on Bittrolff. Multiple police sources confirm Bittrolff was, for years after his arrest, the lead suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders investigation. After his sentencing, Suffolk County prosecutors revealed Bittrolff was also suspected in at least one of the 10 murders attributed to the Gilgo Beach killer. Sandra Costilla was found brutally beaten and strangled in the woods outside North Sea in The Hamptons. Cops from Suffolk County, the New York State Police, the NYPD and other agencies were spotted in the woods near Manorville, New York, this past week. Dennis A. Clark The torsos of two of the Long Island Serial Killers victims, Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack, were found in Manorville three miles from Bittrolffs residence. Police have noted Tangredis adult daughter said she was best friends with Melissa Barthelemy, one of the first victims discovered at Gilgo Beach. Prior to disappearing, police said Barthelemy made several calls to a Manorville number. Police have never said who the number was registered to. Sources confirmed police ended up dismissing Bittrolff as a Gilgo Beach suspect months before arresting Heuermann for four of the grisly murders, including Barthelemys. Rex Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to charges in the Gilgo Beach serial killer case. Getty Images Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney later publicly said Bittrolff was not involved in the Gilgo Beach serial murders. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to the four charges of murder he faces. Visitors look at seafood at the 22nd Madrid Fusion in Madrid, Spain, on Jan. 30, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua) "The first time we came there were 20 companies (from China) but this year we have 281, so there has been very rapid growth," said Sun Yaling, deputy secretary general of the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance (CAPPMA). BARCELONA, Spain, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese exhibitors at the Seafood Expo Global in Spain this week are eager to showcase their newest delights to European seafood enthusiasts. "We make frozen oyster products, and we want to sell the product to the whole of Europe," Wang Lingling, director of the Chinese Lighthouse Jellyfish company, told Xinhua at the fair held in the northeastern city of Barcelona, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. "Most people don't even know that in China we have these types of products, that's why we come here: we want to show the product to all the Europeans," Wang said, placing her hope on the event, which brought together 2,244 companies and attracted 35,000 buyers and distributors from around the world. Along with Wang's company, nearly 300 Chinese firms participated in the event, with many voicing their eagerness to tap the European market. This is the first time for Wang's company, based in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong, to participate in the fair, through which it hopes to publicize their products and expand their market. A vendor arranges seafood at the Fushansuo Market in Shinan District of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) According to Fu Wenyang, general director of the Frosista Caviar company, based in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan, "Europe is a very important market for us, since it represents 40 percent of all our production." "We want to meet more and more new customers because this is an expanding market and the caviar from China is very good and increasingly popular, so we want to introduce Chinese caviar to more markets," he told Xinhua. A total of 68 national and regional pavilions were present this year at the fair, where they showed off their latest innovations in frozen, fresh or preserved seafood, including innovations such as salmon sweets, shrimp lollipops and fish French fries. "The first time we came there were 20 companies (from China) but this year we have 281, so there has been very rapid growth," said Sun Yaling, deputy secretary general of the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance (CAPPMA), which has organized the Chinese pavilion at the fair for the past 18 years. This year's edition, she added, has seen an increase in aquaculture and logistics technology companies, as well as large buyers from the retail, food service and distribution sectors. "In the coming years, I believe that Chinese companies will continue to expand their business, not only in terms of export but also in import of seafood from all over the world," the deputy general director of Chinese company Hainan Excellence Import and Export Trading, Yun Tianwei, told Xinhua. Fishery workers harvest golden pomfrets from a deep sea net cage in an aquafarm of Xilian Township of Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) Although China is still a growing market in the sector, said the director of the company based in the southern island province of Hainan, the development of the Asian country "means that its consumers are increasingly looking for healthy foods such as seafood." The international event brought together companies representing all sectors of the industry, from packaging materials and machinery, refrigeration equipment and supplies, to hygiene and quality control services. The European Union (EU) is a world leader in the import and export of seafood in terms of net value, at more than 31 billion euros (33.17 billion U.S. dollars), and Spain is the bloc's leading importer ahead of Sweden and Denmark, according to data from the European Commission. Despite being the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) seems unconcerned with the legal troubles facing presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump. Graham appeared on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday morning, where he was asked by host Dana Bash about the various developments in the cases against Trump, from the ongoing Manhattan hush-money trial to the Supreme Court hearing Trumps arguments for presidential immunity. When Bash asked Graham about former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testifying he used to catch and kill potentially damaging stories about Trump to help his presidential run, Graham brushed it off as a common media strategy. You know, apparently a lot of people do this: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods, Graham said. I think the whole thing is a crock. Bash responded by joking that Woods is not running for president. DANA BASH: David Pecker testified that he paid to catch and kill stories about Trump specifically to help his presidential campaign. You don't have any concerns about that? LINDSEY GRAHAM: You know, apparently a lot of people do this. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods, I think pic.twitter.com/cdCyF7WKLp Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 28, 2024 Graham echoed Trumps attacks on the trial, calling it a political hit job, and he criticized the motives behind the cases as selective prosecution. The case was brought about by a grand jury last year that resulted in 34 counts of falsifying business records stemming from hush-money payments made to former porn star Stormy Daniels. Bash asked Graham if he would still support Trump if he was found guilty in any of the four ongoing criminal cases against him, to which he doubled down. If hes convicted in any of these trials, would it change my view? No, Graham said. When discussing Trumps claims of presidential immunity, the pair reached a consensus that it appeared likely the Supreme Court would hand the decision back to a lower court, a result which would likely be viewed as a win by the Trump camp as any decision would likely come after the November general election. "If he's convicted in any of these trials, would it change my view? No." .@LindseyGrahamSC tells @DanaBashCNN that he will vote for Donald Trump even if he is convicted. pic.twitter.com/MtcMBjxTTR State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) April 28, 2024 Graham seemed skeptical of the effect it would have against Trump, citing a CNN poll released Sunday morning found Biden trailing Trump 43-49 in a two-way race, and falling further behind Trump at 33-42 in a multi-candidate race. I think most Americans are not going to decide how to vote based on Trumps legal troubles but the troubles they face, Graham said. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) Three Northeast Tennessee lawmakers publicly called for the end of the states certificate of need certificate of need law, after passing reforms this legislative session. State Representatives David Hawk (R-Greeneville), Timothy Hill (R-Bloutnville) and Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport) answered healthcare policy questions as part of an Americans for Prosperity-hosted panel Saturday. The event focused primarily on the certificates of need (CON) process, a state review pipeline that is required to open most healthcare facilities in the state. Opening the event, Hawk highlighted both the CON reform the legislature passed this session and his hopes for the policys future. Former JCPD officers lawyer: Public corruption investigation claims utterly baseless For our region of Tennessee, its critically important that the certificate need be scaled back and eventually be repealed because there are some lack of services, there are some thoughts that we need other options in our region and the ability to to find care, Hawk said. The legislature is already working to scale back the CON process, passing a bill that will allow some medical facilities, including certain satellite emergency departments, to open without receiving a CON. An earlier version of the bill would have loosened those rules making it easier for competitors to open hospitals in Ballad Healths services area. That portion of the bill was eliminated prior to its passage. Ballad leaders told News Channel 11 in a statement that they were pleased with the version of the bill that passed. Ultimately, the legislature has, for multiple years, debated and passed thoughtful reforms to CON, all with our support, said Ballad CEO Alan Levine. We were happy to support this years changes, and we think the legislature thoughtfully considered what would happen in rural regions if safety net hospitals were to fail. Hawk and his colleagues argue that ending CON entirely would improve healthcare in the region by making room for more competition. We need some changes across the state of Tennessee in the way the certificate of need is drawn to allow our citizens with their health care patients to go see their doctors in whatever hospital setting may they desire necessary, Hawk told News Channel 11. Ballad has successfully lobbied the state for the ability to oppose new healthcare facilities as part of the CON process; however, Levine said in an email that no organizations have applied to build a new hospital since it was granted a monopoly in 2018. When asked whether the system would approve a total repeal of the CON process, Levine said, in part: As with any proposed legislation, we would have to make sure the public understands the benefits and possible consequences of whatever is proposed. One thing we do know is that our communities would prefer to see their hospitals remain open. And we would support efforts to make sure that happens. Alan Levine, CEO, Ballad Health Neither Hawk nor Hulsey called for a complete end to Ballads COPA, despite their assertions that healthcare in the region could be improved. Ballads monopoly was granted through a Certificate of Public Advantage (COPA), which shielded Ballad from federal antitrust lawsuits provided that it met certain conditions. I want Ballad to succeed because I dont know what our alternatives are, Hulsey told the crowd. Still, Hawk asserts that creating room for competition is the path to improvement. In theory, if you disband the COPA today, you might have no hospital to go to tomorrow, Hawk said. So there needs to continue to be a safety net there, but also the ability to allow other health care professionals to come into the region, start a hospital, or start one of these hospitals or medical services. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Take a look at the revolutionary housing developments Canada's First Nations are building on ancestral land Canada's First Nations are constructing dense new housing in the country's most expensive city. Canada faces a severe housing affordability crisis and the projects aim to help solve it. Take a look at three of the ground-breaking developments. Canada's First Nations are breaking new ground with several major housing developments in the city of Vancouver. Like the US, Canada is facing a severe housing affordability crisis, in large part driven by a shortage of homes and Vancouver has some of the highest housing costs in the country. These projects represent major strides in addressing disproportionate housing burdens on Canada's Indigenous communities, as Business Insider recently reported, as well as efforts to build generational wealth for tribe members. One project minutes away from downtown Vancouver, being built by the Squamish Nation, will include 11 towers and 6,000 housing units. The Nation won back the 12 acres of land the project sits on about 20 years ago after their ancestors were forced off the land in the early 20th century. In another set of projects, three First Nations - the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples - have come together to develop six pieces of land in Vancouver and its surroundings. Acquired over the past decade, the value of the land sits at $4 billion, according to Brennan Cook, vice president of the MST Development Corporation, the real-estate company representing the three First Nations. "What they're doing here is groundbreaking, it really hasn't been done elsewhere," Cook recently told Business Insider. Take a look at these projects and the future of housing in Vancouver. This rendering of the Senakw development under construction in Vancouver shows what it'll look like when completed. The Senakw development in central Vancouver Courtesy of the Squamish Nation The first three towers in Senakw are scheduled to be completed by November 2025. The Senakw development in Vancouver Courtesy of the Squamish Nation Altogether, the development will have 11 towers with 6,000 housing units. The Senakw development in Vancouver Courtesy of the Squamish Nation As the land belongs to the Squamish Nation, rather than the Canadian government, speedier permits were granted for construction. The Senakw development sitting across the city's False Creek Courtesy of the Squamish Nation The 12 acres the development sits on originally belonged to the Squamish Nation, before they were driven off the land in 1913. View of the Senakw development across the Burrad Street Bridge Courtesy of the Squamish Nation Source: CBC News The Squamish Nation won the land back in 2002. The Senakw development in central Vancouver Courtesy of the Squamish Nation Mindy Wight, the CEO of the Squamish development group, described the project as "a modern Squamish village." The Senakw development in Vancouver Courtesy of the Squamish Nation Jericho Lands is another First Nations-led housing development being planned in Vancouver. Jericho Lands development Courtesy of MST Partnership and Canada Lands Company The 90-acre development is slated to house up to 18,000 people. Jericho Lands development Courtesy of MST Partnership and Canada Lands Company The building process will occur in phases and is expected to take 20-30 years. Jericho Lands development Courtesy of MST Partnership and Canada Lands Company Jericho Lands will be situated in Vancouver's West Point Grey neighborhood, known for its mountain views and popular beaches. Jericho Lands development Courtesy of MST Partnership and Canada Lands Company Source: Vancouver.ca Heather Street Lands is another development led by the MST Partnership between the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Heather Street Lands Courtesy of MST Partnership and Canada Lands Company The project sits on 21 acres and will have 2,600 homes. Heather Street Lands Courtesy of MST Partnership and Canada Lands Company Heather Street Lands will be located near Queen Elizabeth Park, the highest point in Vancouver. Heather Street Lands Courtesy of MST Partnership and Canada Lands Company Source: Vancouver.ca The development will offer 99-year leases, instead of selling any property outright. Heather Street Lands Courtesy of MST Partnership and Canada Lands Company With that strategy, the hope is for Heather Lands to be an "economic engine" for the tribes leading development, explained Brennan Cook, the vice president of the MST Development Corporation. Heather Street Lands Courtesy of MST Partnership and Canada Lands Company Read the original article on Business Insider PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) What do a tank, the Ghostbusters and dragon dancers have in common? If you said they were all part of the 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade, youre right. The 18th annual parade began at Eastport Plaza and continued to Yamhill Street and brought together parts of the community up and down that stretch. Yelp highlights Portland arcade bar as best in the nation I love this parade, attendee Shane Reaney told KOIN 6 News. It brings so many neighborhoods all together all up and down 82nd. Weve been loving this parade for years. Parade organizer Nancy Chapin said the communitys interest is a very special part of this parade. She noted dozens of volunteers made this parade come to life. Her goal for 2025 is to raise enough funds so she can livestream the parade for those who cant make it. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. French President Emmanuel Macron said he was open to discussing the use of French nuclear weapons as part of a "reliable European defence" against Russian threats. Source: Macron in an interview with French regional media, writes AFP, as reported by European Pravda Details: Macron noted that he was ready to "open a discussion" about the role of nuclear weapons in pan-European defence. Quote: "I am in favour of opening this discussion, which should include missile defence, means for long-range strikes, nuclear weapons for those who have it or who have American nuclear weapons on their territory," the French president said. "Let's put it all on the table and see what really protects us in a robust way," he added. According to Macron, "France will retain its sovereignty, but is ready to make a greater contribution to the protection of European land." After the United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union, France remained the sole member with its own nuclear weapons. On Thursday, Macron told students at Sorbonne University in Paris that Russia's aggression posed an existential threat to Europe. He urged the continent to develop a "robust" military posture that is less reliant on the United States. "To be dependable, you must also have long-range missiles to deter the Russians. Also, nuclear weapons France's doctrine states that we can use them if our vital interests are threatened. I've already stated that these fundamental interests have a European component," Macron said. Building a uniform European defence policy has long been a French objective, but it is opposed by other EU members, which believe NATO's defence architecture is stronger. However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as the possible return of Donald Trump's to the US presidency, have reignited calls for more European defence autonomy. Support UP or become our patron! ANTWERP TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) A motorcyclist was killed in a Saturday evening crash near Paw Paw. Around 11 p.m., deputies with the Van Buren County Sheriffs Office were sent to County Road 653 near 52nd Avenue SE for a motorcycle crash. Responding deputies learned that a 47-year-old Paw Paw man had been riding southbound on County Road 653 when the motorcycle drifted onto the shoulder. The motorcyclist hit a mailbox, causing him to fall off the bike. The sheriffs office said that he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and was found unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital where he died, the sheriffs office said. Anyone with information is asked to call the Van Buren County Sheriffs Office at 269.657.3101, Crime Stoppers at 1.800.342.7867 or Silent Observer at 269.343.2100. This embedded content is not available in your region. The crash remains under investigation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. A British holidaymaker found himself 7,000 in debt after arriving in Thailand to discover the hotel he had booked didn't exist. Glen Parke, 30, had paid 282 for a 59-night stay at Lek Lek Residence, advertised on Booking.com as a "one-bedroom house". However, upon arrival, he found only a small roadside shop and no sign of his accommodation, leading him to spend an additional 3,044 on alternative lodgings booked online. To add insult to injury, when he arrived at this second hotel, it was fully booked, forcing him to shell out another 3,579 on a third hotel. He claims that Booking.com assured him they would cover the costs of both hotels as an apology for the initial non-existent booking. READ MORE: ITV News presenter Rageh Omaar issues statement after falling ill live on air Read today's top Manchester Evening News stories Stressed-out Glen got the money for this first and second hotel within a week - but didn't receive a refund for the third hotel until April 18 when Booking.com were approached for comment. Booking.com said have now apologised to Glen and said they did not handle the refund of the alternative accommodation as swiftly as they would have liked. Glen, a construction worker, from Bishop's Stortford, Herts, said: "For the whole trip I expected to spend two or three grand but within the first two nights I'm spending 7,000. I was trying and trying to get my money back for months. "The first couple of days I wanted to go home. I'd had enough. Getting the money back from the invoice for the third hotel was a real palaver. "I'd been on the phone with Booking.com all week and had been told there was no complaints department. They told me to send a bank statement with the payment for the hotel and told me to call them back and they'd refund me on the phone. "I did that and called them back and they said they couldn't do anything with it and they don't know who authorised that decision. The trip was good other than the fact that I was thousands of pounds down than what I expected to be." What Glen saw when he arrived at 'Lek Lek Residence' -Credit:Google / SWNS Glen touched down in Koh Samui on January 1, 2024 and had booked his 282 hotel a year in advance. He said: "I got off the plane in Thailand and followed the map to where the hotel should be and it was just a small market stall - it just didn't exist. I told Booking.com that it didn't exist." Glen was offered another hotel in and around his 300 price range but on the island of Koh Phangan - a 50-minute boat journey away, so he refused. Instead, the online travel agency allowed Glen to sort his own room up to a price of 3,196.89, as per an email from the company. He booked one costing 3,044.62. He said: "I got there and they said they were fully booked and Booking.com said they'd refund it. "They did refund that but it took a week to get back. They told me to book another hotel up to 3,196.89." Glen eventually found his third and final hotel - also authorised by Booking.com up to a price of 3,196.89 - where he spent the remainder of his 57 days in Thailand. He found a hotel for 3,579 and decided to cover the 382.11 difference. However, Glen was left out of pocket and said he wasn't refunded for the final hotel until Booking.com were approached for comment. He said: "They told me to send them an invoice and they'd pay it, but then they moved the goalposts about. Booking.com kept asking for changes to be made on the invoice before they could pay out. "The hotel was booked through my brother and Booking.com knew this. This initial problem with the invoice was 'no balance shown', then it needed a price break down, then it needed to show the number of guests, then it became an issue about it being in my name, then they promised to solve it if I sent a statement that correlated with the invoice, so I did. "So I got a friend in Thailand to keep going to the hotel to ask them to change the invoice to send it to Booking.com but every time I did they would say it's not right. All of these different stipulations mentioned separately. Basically I can see the issue with it being in a different name which is why I confirmed with them so many times. "I was struggling for money. I really needed that three grand back sooner." A spokesperson for Booking.com said: "We're sorry to hear of the issues that this customer encountered with his recent reservations. Having investigated, we can see that we did not handle the refund of the alternative accommodation booked as swiftly as we would have liked. "As this is clearly not the sort of experience that we want for anyone using our site, we have refunded the customer in full and apologise for the inconvenience. Ensuring that our platform is safe, secure and trustworthy for our customers and partners is our top priority, and every week, we facilitate millions of stays with the vast majority taking place with absolutely no problems. "We are constantly optimising the robust security measures we have in place to protect them, and take the process of verifying accommodation listings extremely seriously, including checks performed by our security, local partner services and customer service teams and issues with accommodations occur very rarely." 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. As more information comes out about Fridays narcotic warrant that ended with a man being killed and three people behind bars, WREG spoke with someone who said some of the information released by police was incorrect. On Friday, Shelby County deputies fatally shot a suspect accused of driving towards deputies, which sparked an investigation. The shooting happened on Barron Avenue near Inman Road. According to Sheriff Floyd Bonner, deputies with the sheriffs office SWAT team were serving a high-risk narcotics warrant in the area at 3:30 p.m. Court documents say the property where the incident happened is being used as a base for a drug trafficking operation. Deputies fatally shoot suspect, TBI investigating However, the man leasing the property told WREG that that wasnt true. Im saying theyre a lie, he said. The man didnt want to be identified but told WREG that he was leasing 3119 Barron Avenue. Court documents say detectives determined that this location is utilized as a base of operation for numerous people involved in a drug trafficking organization. Another statement the man claimed wasnt true. My grandchildren be up here. You think Im going to let somebody do something to hurt my grandchildren? No, he said. According to the Sheriffs Office, detectives have seen multiple unknown men conduct narcotic hand-to-hand transactions with vehicles pulling into the lot. The man leasing the property says the building is next to a convenience store and people often park on his lot when hes not there. As far as any drugs or any of that type of mess, I dont know nothing about none of it, he said. I dont deal with drugs. I dont smoke drugs. He says he uses the building to store his tools. He even allowed WREG to look inside. Exterior of the Barron Avenue property. Broken door at the Barron Avenue property. Inside the Barron Avenue property. Backyard of the Barron Avenue property. However, deputies say they found several high-capacity guns and drugs around the party. When asked about that, the man said he didnt know anything about that. He told WREG that the day of the search, an unknown vehicle parked on his lot. I told them I said, Stay off my lot. I done told yall stay off my lot. Period. he said. So, I went in there, got what I needed, my shovels and stuff, and went back to my job. Police locate Shannon Scott, still looking for her abductor Hours later, he said he received word that law enforcement was conducting a search warrant. Court records say that as SWAT closed in, four people ran to the back of the building and through an open section of a fence. Quentavious Johnson, Willie Hampton and Christian Mull were arrested near the front of the building. The incident also resulted in the death of 30-year-old James Hampton. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says Hampton was shot and killed by deputies after he allegedly drove a speeding vehicle toward them. The man we spoke to says he does not know the men arrested and has no knowledge of a drug trafficking operation. He says he only wants to use his property to help the community. Thats all I do is barbeque and go in my building and cook and bring stuff out here and give it away free out of my pocket, he said. I work and pour concrete and try to do right by people. The man also tells WREG he has not been questioned by authorities or charged in the incident. The officer-involved shooting is still being investigated by the TBI. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Man sexually assaults girl who got separated from group at Chicago museum, cops say A 10-year-old girl was sexually assaulted at a museum in Chicago and authorities are searching for the man who they say did it, Illinois police told news outlets. The girl was at the Museum of Science and Industry, on the citys south side, when the assault happened, police told WLS. Investigators say she was visiting the museum with a group on Thursday, April 25, but became separated from them some time in the later morning or early afternoon, according to the outlet. Thats when police say a man approached her, offering to help. At one point, he took her to the second floor and she asked to use the bathroom, police told WMAQ. She went into a stall and the man entered the restroom after her, crawled under the stall door and touched her genitals, police told the station. She fought back and kicked the man, causing him to run away, officials say. Police are searching for the man, who is believed to be between 30 and 40 years old, WBBM reported. He was described as having a light complexion with a beard, curly brown hair and a tattoo of a lion on his neck, the outlet reported. Hes at least 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 160-180 pounds, police told the station, adding that he was wearing a blue shirt, vest and jeans and gym shoes. Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 312-492-3810. Woman asked for apartment lock repair before stranger assaulted her, Texas suit says Missing woman found dead in vacant building, family says. Drove past her every day Ex church youth leader, 76, seen molesting girl at restaurant, Pennsylvania cops say Cop accused of raping baby girl tried blaming dog for her injuries, PA officials say WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a man was shot and killed in Northeast D.C. on Sunday morning. Man arrested in connection to road rage shooting in Fairfax County Police said they were dispatched to the intersection of 30th Street and Bladensburg Road for the report of a shooting. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man who had been shot. He died at the hospital. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Man took uncles body out of Fresno County cemetery in back of SUV. He had a good reason After more than 80 years buried alone, a Fresno County teen was recently exhumed and set off on a 1,700-mile journey to be buried with family a better ending to a tragic story. The family of Eric Cummings, who was killed in 1941 in Sanger, set out about six years ago to move the long-dead teenager from Sanger Cemetery to be buried with his parents near Everton, Missouri. It wasnt an easy task, they said, between restrictions in California over COVID-19 and the Sanger Cemeterys rules about exhumations. Eric Halbert Cummings, 18, was buried Jan. 15, 1941, three days after he was found dead near Mount Campbell between Sanger and Reedley, according to Fresno Bee archives. Law enforcement officers at the time determined the Sanger High senior had been shot to death while out on a walk, archives showed. Erics parents, Roy and Minnie Cummings, could not make it to the funeral in 1941 because they didnt have the money. Eric had moved to Sanger with his sister and brother-in-law because times were hard and they were looking for opportunity, said Barry Cummings, Erics nephew. Sanger High students attended the funeral, archives say. Cummings earlier this month drove out to pick up the uncle he never met and transport the remains to Liberty Cemetery near Everton, Missouri, to be buried with the teens parents and some other family. Its just thats where he belonged, and even though it doesnt in the big scheme of things it doesnt matter. You know, hes just bones, (but) hes not there, Cummings said. A Sanger High School yearbook photo shows Eric Cummings before he was tragically killed in a shooting accident in 1941. His nephew Barry Cummings had Erics remains exhumed and will be transporting him to a family cemetery in Everton, Missouri. What happened to Sanger teen found dead? Eric Cummings went out on a walk on Jan. 12, 1941, a Sunday, but didnt come home, Bee archives and Cummings family members said. Initially, investigators thought he suffered a hemorrhage, but an autopsy turned up a bullet wound. Investigators in 1941 told The Fresno Bee evidence at the scene showed Cummings appeared to be sitting on a rock while wearing a neutral-colored moleskin jacket and shirt, which could have made it difficult to see him. Cal Self, a 66-year-old stableman, was in the area around Campbell Mountain from about 10 a.m. to noon on the day of the shooting while looking to hunt coyotes, he told police. He said he did not see Cummings before or after firing a single round. I only fired one shot and that was at a hawk, he said, according to the Jan. 14, 1941, edition of The Bee. If that shot hit the boy, I didnt know anything about it because I didnt have any idea there was anyone on the mountain. A photo of Cal Self, 66, appeared in the Jan. 14, 1941, edition of The Fresno Bee. Self admitted to firing a rifle in the area where Eric Cummings was struck by a stray bullet. Investigators said they linked the bullet to Selfs rifle. Investigators said Cummings was not killed instantly, but rather the bullet appeared to have entered just below his chin, struck a vertebrae and came to rest in his left shoulder. He searched for a way to climb down the rock but ultimately jumped down, police said evidence showed, before he walked about 50 feet and collapsed. He died of shock and blood loss, the coroner at the time found. A search party found him after the teen was reported missing. Self, the stableman, participated in that search before he was publicly noted to be involved in the shooting, according to a Bee article. Ann Hasenbalg, a niece to Eric and sister to Barry Cummings, said the family in Missouri received a letter from the man who fired the rifle. He put in an envelope $5, and said he was really sorry but thats all he could pay, she said in a phone interview. Its just a tragic story. Recklessly discharging a weapon was apparently an issue at the time, leading law enforcement officials to call for potential legislation. Cummings was the second person killed by an errant bullet in Fresno County that week after 11-year-old Robert Rowland was killed in Worthan Creek Bed in Coalinga four days earlier by an apparent stray bullet. Barry Cummings of Molt, Montana gets ready to transport the remains of his uncle Eric Cummings to a family cemetery in Everton, Missouri after having the body exhumed on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Eric Cummings died in a tragic shooting accident in Sanger in 1941 and had been buried at the Sanger Cemetery ever since. Moving remains from the cemetery Moving a body at the Sanger Cemetery on Rainbow Route is rare, according to Ken Sonksen, the general manager. He estimated it has happened on 10 occasions at the graveyard where he has worked since 1998. That has included moving a body from Sanger to another burial place in Fresno County or even across Rainbow Route, which bends to the south and splits Sanger Cemetery in two. Cummings said he started trying to get his uncle moved about six years ago and over the years saw a series of fits and starts. He said he got his sister Ann involved and she started making calls. I dont know if thats why it started going. She can be scary, he said. She scares me and Im fearless. I dont know if thats (why). It certainly didnt hurt. Hasenbalg said she had become frustrated by the process with the cemetery that did not seem complicated. Theyre nice and decent and we have been to them, but its been some time, she said. We just want to bring him back. The Fresno County Public Health Department said through a spokesperson they only require a $12 fee and an application for approval to remove remains. Assuming the paperwork is filled out correctly, the permit is typically granted the same day. The Sanger Cemetery generally does not do an exhumation during the heat of the San Joaquin Valleys summer, according to Meggin Boranian, an attorney for the Sanger/Del Rey Cemetery District. Disinterments are also a lower priority than burials and other cemetery needs. She pointed to COVID-19 as an unusual circumstance the cemetery was dealing with in recent years. They did their best to accommodate the family, she said. There was a time during COVID they didnt do disinterments. The weathered headstone that rested above Eric Cummings grave sits in the back of Barry Cummings SUV before being transported to a family cemetery in Everton, Missouri on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Eric Cummings died tragically in 1941 and has been buried at the Sanger Cemetery ever since. His nephew, Barry Cummings came up with the idea of having the body moved to Missouri, which his family agreed with. How do you transport remains? Cummings said on the day he picked up the remains he got a call the previous week to come get his uncle. Retired from his technician job in telecommunications, Cummings left to make a drive that took about three days from his home in Molt, Montana, he said. He said he did not expect to be carrying a casket with the intact skeleton of his uncle in the back of his SUV. He had envisioned moving cremated remains or whatever smaller amount of remnants that had not decomposed. Staffers at the cemetery told him not to expect much to remain after 83 years. But, then he learned days before his trip to Sanger that Erics intact skeleton wearing a his dress suit had been exhumed all the way down to his finger bones and still-combed hair. A comb remained in his shirt pocket. When they dug him up, hes intact no smell, no nothing. So hes intact now still, Cummings said. So he did his part to stay together, so we will do our part keeping him together. After all that time (to) grind him up and burn him its not right. So Eric was placed inside of a new casket and loaded into Barry Cummingss Chevrolet Suburban for the trip to his final resting place. Cummings said on April 16 his trip east went smoothly aside from the hot coffee he spilled in his lap while driving. The crew in Missouri had started digging before he arrived and his uncle was buried next to his parents the previous day. As well as visiting family along the way, he said he stopped at two cemeteries in Kansas where Erics brother (Barrys dad) and his grandparents are buried. Family and friends have already been asking if he peeked inside the coffin he didnt and if the trip with remains in a casket was creepy. It wasnt at all. It was very comforting right off the bat, he said. Being around him, it just seemed very peaceful. This embedded content is not available in your region. Barry Cummings of Molt, Montana looks over the former grave of his uncle Eric Cummings at the Sanger Cemetery after having the remains exhumed more than 80 years after Eric Cummings death, on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Barry Cummings is transporting the body back to a family cemetery in Everton, Missouri. Sanger Cemetery on Rainbow Route in Fresno County on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A man in a wheelchair was hit and killed in Henderson early Sunday morning, according to police. Around 3:50 a.m., Henderson police responded to the area of Lake Mead Parkway and Cornelius Kelly Avenue after a report of a crash involving a pedestrian. Police said a Toyota SUV was driving westbound on Lake Mead Parkway when a 71-year-old man in a wheelchair outside of a marked crosswalk entered the road into northbound traffic. The man was hit by the SUV and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The driver of the SUV stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. CBS News anchor Margaret Brennan on Sunday pressed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on how he plans to handle former President Trumps opposing views if he is reelected, given the two Republicans differences on Ukraine aid. Brennan, speaking with McConnell in an interview airing Sunday on Face the Nation, pointed to CBS polling that found 79 percent of self-identified Republicans said the source of information they most trust on Ukraine and Russia is Trump. She then asked McConnell, a staunch supporter of U.S. aid to Ukraine, how he plans to counter this. Look, what I want to do and what Im focused on is not the presidential race but getting the Senate back. Ive been the majority leader, Ive been the minority leader, majority is better, McConnell answered. Brennan noted her question is not about the race, but persuading public opinion, to which McConnell said, Let me finish. I think the single most important thing I can do is make sure my successor is the majority leader, no matter how the presidential election comes out. I havent been entirely satisfied with this administration. I think the fact that our nominee basically decided not to continue whipping people against the package was a good sign, and Im going to be advocating increasing the defense budget no matter who gets elected and preparing ourselves for the long term, which is China, Russia and Iran, he continued, discussing later the Biden administrations budget for defense. The Kentucky Republican was referencing Congresss recently passed foreign aid bill that includes funding for Ukraine, Israel, global humanitarian aid and U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific. Trump has expressed hesitation about the U.S.s continued aid to Ukraine, arguing support for the country is not a vital American interest. In February, he directed GOP senators to vote against a bipartisan package that included border security provisions and would have unlocked aid for Ukraine. Brennan then asked McConnell how he will stop Trumps vow to quickly end the Russia-Ukraine war and cease funding to Kyiv. What Im doing is trying to change the Senate so that we have a majority and trying to [convince] a majority of the importance of defense spending, no matter who wins the presidential election, McConnell responded. I cant control that. I have some influence here in the Senate. I intend to use it no matter who gets elected president to increase our defense budget and get ready for the challenges that we have ahead of us, rather than just looking backward, he added. Brennan interjected, suggesting McConnell might need to be a firewall against the GOP and its potential leader. Ive been willing to do that. I had something to do with changing opinion in the Senate on this issue, and I think a lot more of my members now understand the importance of it, the senator said. The two later discussed McConnells opposition to the isolationist movement, and Brennan suggested he might share a view that is closer to President Biden than Trump. Youre more aligned with Joe Biden than Donald Trump in your view of Americas role in the world, it would seem, Brennan said. McConnell responded by pointing to his differences with the Biden administrations policies. Despite McConnell endorsing Trumps reelection bid, longtime tensions remain between the two Republicans. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Republicans grew more focused on the foreign aid package after seeing no solutions for the border. McConnell recounted on CBSs Face the Nation how some Republicans changed their minds on the foreign aid package that was signed by President Biden after passing through Congress last week. CBS host Margaret Brennan asked him what he believed changed the minds of his colleagues on aid for Ukraine. The actual facts. Once we realized we were not going to get a border result, I think our members really started focusing on the package. It was clear that it was not going to have a border provision attached to it. And there are almost no good arguments against this, McConnell said, adding that every argument made by opponents of the package was provably wrong. And the facts, I think, were convincing for a number of our members, and they changed their minds, he added. McConnell celebrated the passage of the foreign aid package shortly after it was approved by the Senate last week but warned that the delay may have hurt Ukraines chances of defeating Russia. He also said in his interview that he apologized to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for any role Congress may have played in delaying the aid to the embattled country. I apologized for how long it took Congress to do its part, but we finally did. And he was also impressed by the fact that Republican support grew in the Senate substantially, substantially, he said. Biden signed the aid package last Wednesday, which includes roughly $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel and global humanitarian aid, and $8 billion for Taiwan and other U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Birders are crowing over an extremely rare bird sighting in Oregon last week. Photographer and Vancouver resident Michael Sanchez told Nexstars KOIN that he was at Hug Point State Recreation Site on April 21 at sunrise when he noticed a little bird near the shoreline. I happened to look behind me toward the ocean and saw this cute little bird standing on the sand, Sanchez said. The sun wasnt fully up yet, so to my eyes, it looked like a little black bird. It posed for me for a minute or two, and then it flew up to the rocks. It stayed there for another moment or so, and then it flew away toward the east. I didnt think much more of it than that. Sanchez was unaware that he had photographed what appears to be the first known blue rock thrush sighting in U.S. history. Returning home to review his pictures, Sanchez noticed that that little black bird was much more colorful than he realized. This led him to post his photos (seen below) on social media, where they shocked the local birding world. Photos of the ultra-rare blue rock thrush sighting captured at Hug Point on April 21, 2024. (Michael Sanchez) blue rock thrush blue rock thrush blue rock thrush I noticed the bird wasnt black at all, but it was a pretty blue and chestnut-colored bird, he said. I posted it on social media for some help identifying it and a friend of mine passed it along to one of her birding friends. He let me know that this was an extremely rare bird in this part of the world. According to experts, the blue rock thrush sighting is the second unofficial sighting in the documented history of North America. Oregon Birding Association member Nolan Clements, who is also a Ph.D. student with Oregon State Universitys Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, told KOIN the blue rock thrush is native to Europe and Asia and is not known to inhabit any part of North America. VIDEO: Killer whales seen hunting near the mouth of the Columbia River There has been only one report ever in North America, Clements said. In 1997, one was photographed in British Columbia. However, many birders were skeptical of the origins of this bird, thinking it may have been an escaped caged bird or perhaps accidentally transported across the Pacific on a cargo ship. Ultimately, the 1997 BC record was written off. Birders have flocked to Hug Point in recent days in an attempt to find Sanchezs blue rock thrush. However, no other sightings have been reported. While Sanchezs sighting is still under review by experts, Clements said that the bird seen in the photos is definitely a blue rock thrush. The report has not passed the scrutiny of the Oregon Bird Records Committee or the American Birding Association Records Committee, both voting bodies that adjudicate natural history records, and so is not an official record yet, Clements said. I am currently a voting member of the OBRC and I suspect there will be lengthy discussions about this bird, but my guess is that ultimately this report will be accepted. Semiprecious stone shaped like human heart found on the Oregon Coast Clements said that its unclear how the bird may have arrived in the U.S., but added that a similar species, the rufous-tailed rock thrush, was also photographed in northern Alaska in 2021. The Alaska sighting was the first known record of the species in North America. It seems possible that the bird hitched a ride on the ship, but it may be unlikely, he said. If this bird were in Astoria or Portland, Id say it was much more likely to be ship-assisted. Its really hard to know for sure with occurrences like this. Sanchez said that hes working with the Oregon Bird Records Committee to provide as much info about the sighting as possible. KOIN will continue to monitor the story for the committees final ruling on the sighting. The American Birding Association reports that a few days after Sanchezs sighting, researchers on Southeast Farallon Island in San Francisco photographed what appears to be a blue rock thrush. Its unclear if that bird, found roughly 500 miles from Hug Point is the same one spotted by Sanchez. Now that I know just how rare of a sighting this is, I wish I would have captured more pictures of it, he said. However, Im happy with the photos that I was able to get, and I hope this brings new interest in the fascinating world of birdwatching. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Birders are crowing over an extremely rare bird sighting in Oregon last week. Photographer and Vancouver resident Michael Sanchez told Nexstars KOIN that he was at Hug Point State Recreation Site on April 21 at sunrise when he noticed a little bird near the shoreline. I happened to look behind me toward the ocean and saw this cute little bird standing on the sand, Sanchez said. The sun wasnt fully up yet, so to my eyes, it looked like a little black bird. It posed for me for a minute or two, and then it flew up to the rocks. It stayed there for another moment or so, and then it flew away toward the east. I didnt think much more of it than that. Sanchez was unaware that he had photographed what appears to be the first known blue rock thrush sighting in U.S. history. Returning home to review his pictures, Sanchez noticed that that little black bird was much more colorful than he realized. This led him to post his photos (seen below) on social media, where they shocked the local birding world. Photos of the ultra-rare blue rock thrush sighting captured at Hug Point on April 21, 2024. (Michael Sanchez) blue rock thrush blue rock thrush blue rock thrush I noticed the bird wasnt black at all, but it was a pretty blue and chestnut-colored bird, he said. I posted it on social media for some help identifying it and a friend of mine passed it along to one of her birding friends. He let me know that this was an extremely rare bird in this part of the world. According to experts, the blue rock thrush sighting is the second unofficial sighting in the documented history of North America. Oregon Birding Association member Nolan Clements, who is also a Ph.D. student with Oregon State Universitys Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, told KOIN the blue rock thrush is native to Europe and Asia and is not known to inhabit any part of North America. VIDEO: Killer whales seen hunting near the mouth of the Columbia River There has been only one report ever in North America, Clements said. In 1997, one was photographed in British Columbia. However, many birders were skeptical of the origins of this bird, thinking it may have been an escaped caged bird or perhaps accidentally transported across the Pacific on a cargo ship. Ultimately, the 1997 BC record was written off. Birders have flocked to Hug Point in recent days in an attempt to find Sanchezs blue rock thrush. However, no other sightings have been reported. While Sanchezs sighting is still under review by experts, Clements said that the bird seen in the photos is definitely a blue rock thrush. The report has not passed the scrutiny of the Oregon Bird Records Committee or the American Birding Association Records Committee, both voting bodies that adjudicate natural history records, and so is not an official record yet, Clements said. I am currently a voting member of the OBRC and I suspect there will be lengthy discussions about this bird, but my guess is that ultimately this report will be accepted. Semiprecious stone shaped like human heart found on the Oregon Coast Clements said that its unclear how the bird may have arrived in the U.S., but added that a similar species, the rufous-tailed rock thrush, was also photographed in northern Alaska in 2021. The Alaska sighting was the first known record of the species in North America. It seems possible that the bird hitched a ride on the ship, but it may be unlikely, he said. If this bird were in Astoria or Portland, Id say it was much more likely to be ship-assisted. Its really hard to know for sure with occurrences like this. Sanchez said that hes working with the Oregon Bird Records Committee to provide as much info about the sighting as possible. KOIN will continue to monitor the story for the committees final ruling on the sighting. The American Birding Association reports that a few days after Sanchezs sighting, researchers on Southeast Farallon Island in San Francisco photographed what appears to be a blue rock thrush. Its unclear if that bird, found roughly 500 miles from Hug Point is the same one spotted by Sanchez. Now that I know just how rare of a sighting this is, I wish I would have captured more pictures of it, he said. However, Im happy with the photos that I was able to get, and I hope this brings new interest in the fascinating world of birdwatching. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. GAZA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip from ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 34,454, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Sunday. The ministry said in a press statement that the Israeli army killed 66 Palestinians and wounded 138 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 34,454 and injuries to 77,575, since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023. Meanwhile, Israeli state-owned Kan radio on Sunday reported that Israel is awaiting the response of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to a proposal for a ceasefire in the territory. 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. 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. 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. Melania Trump's former aide, Stephanie Grisham, has given her two cents on the latest development emerging from Donald Trump's New York hush money trial. Grisham said that Melania is "not happy about" the "new details" recently shared in the trial, claiming that as her former aide, she was also not in the know of them. Melania Trump Is 'Not Happy' About 'New Details' In Donald Trump's Trial MEGA The former press secretary during the Trump administration sat down with CNN's Erin Burnett for a chat. During the conversation, she revealed that Melania is closely following her husband's hush money trial and is not happy with the new revelations that have come to light. "The fact that [Trump] asked about her in the White House, the fact that some White House staff got on the phone with David Pecker to talk about keeping this secret even further. Those were new details to me, and so I know they were new details to [Melania], and I'm sure she's not happy about it," Grisham shared, per The Hill. "Now, make no mistake, she's not sitting at home, you know, crying over this, but you know, like anymarried woman or woman in a relationship, it's not fun to hear these details," Grisham added. Donald Trump Had Stories About Playboy Model Karen McDougal 'Killed' MEGA It comes after former magazine executive David Pecker shared new details with jurors about former adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who both alleged that they had an affair with Trump. Pecker discussed his role in killing stories about McDougal and Trump, noting that the billionaire politician was worried that they would make their way back to his wife. He also reportedly notified Trump about Daniels' intentions to sell a story about a sexual encounter with the billionaire. Pecker has since made several other revelations in court, including churning out negative stories about Trump's political opponents at the time, including Hillary Clinton, and Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, being "under pressure" to "bury" stories that could mar his campaign. Trump is presently on trial for allegedly falsifying company records to cover up a payment to Daniels in a bid to buy her silence over an alleged affair. Donald Trump Laments Missing Melania Trump's Birthday MEGA In court yesterday, the former president decried how his trial had prevented him from spending time with his wife on her birthday. An opportunity to celebrate her publicly would later present itself when Trump addressed reporters outside the court, also stating that the case was a "rigged trial." "I want to start by wishing my wife Melania a very happy birthday," Trump told reporters. "It would be very nice to be with her, but I'm in a courthouse for a rigged trial." Trump's message to Melania was criticized online for being "awkward" due to the circumstances surrounding why he couldn't be with her full-time on her birthday. Melania Trump May Take A Step Back From Campaigning MEGA Recently, Melania sparked curiosity and anticipation in the hearts of many Republicans after organizing a fundraiser for the Log Cabin Republicans at her Mar-a-Lago home. At the time, many fans had speculated that she was set to join him on the campaign trail, but a source has now played down those chances, disclosing that the mother of one is seemingly uncomfortable with campaigning. "It's just not her comfort space," a source close to Melania told The Hill. "And I think it's a real loss, because first ladies are typically helpful on the campaign trail with women, with undecideds, and she has a very compelling story and she's good at telling it." The source then said, "I respect her for not doing something she doesn't want to do, but you have to look at it as a detriment to her husband's campaign." Another insider shared, "The campaign doesn't ask her to be out there because they know she dislikes it. She's a very private person." Does The Former First Lady Want To Return To The White House? MEGA Melania recently attended billionaire John Paulson's fundraiser for the presumptive Republican party nominee, Trump, where they raised over $50 million. Sources at the event told Page Six that the Slovenian-born former model played a major role in the event. "Melania Trump emerged as the main star at the Republican fundraiser at John Paulson's $100 million house in Palm Beach," a source told the news outlet. They continued, "The former first lady, who usually appears quite serious in photographs, seemed to never stop smiling Saturday night and was charming and talkative to all the guests . . . She's ready to be first lady again and clearly enjoyed the evening." "Melania enjoys being a hostess . . . She's very supportive of her husband's campaign and as we get closer to the final months, you can expect to see her more at key events," the GOP tipster added. CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) The owner of a suburban Detroit business that caught fire and exploded, killing a man, was arrested at a New York airport as he was preparing to depart for Hong Kong on a one-way ticket, authorities said Friday. U.S. Customs and New York Port Authority personnel arrested Noor Noel Kestou, 31, on Saturday at John F. Kennedy International Airport. He was brought back to Michigan on Wednesday. Kestou, of Commerce Township, was arraigned Thursday on an involuntary manslaughter charge. FILE In this frame grab taken from video provided by WXYZ, firefighters battle an industrial fire in the Detroit suburb of Clinton Township, March 4, 2024. Noor Noel Kestou, a suburban Detroit businessman, was charged with involuntary manslaughter Thursday, April 25, in connection with an explosion at the building he owned in which a nitrous oxide cannister propelled through the air, striking and killing another man. (WXYZ via AP, File) The March 4 fire and explosion occurred in a Clinton Township building that housed a distributor for the vaping industry called Goo. More than 100,000 vape pens were stored on-site. Authorities have said a truckload of butane canisters had arrived at the building within a week of the explosion that sent cannisters soaring up to 2 miles (3.2 kilometers), and more than half of that stock was still there when the fire began. Turner Lee Salter, 19, was about a quarter of a mile (0.40 kilometers) away when he was struck by a nitrous oxide cannister that was propelled through the air by the explosion. Salter later died. Authorities said they were given information on April 20 that Kestou was trying to fly to Hong Kong. We dont know what his ultimate goal was, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido told reporters Friday. Was it to stay out of the country with a wife and child here? Nobody has a crystal ball to determine who is a flight risk. He was a suspect from the beginning, being the owner of this business, Lucido added. Anyone that owns a business and something like this happens has to be considered a suspect. Lucido said involuntary manslaughter is the highest charge his office could bring, at this time, based on information and evidence in the case. Goo had received a township occupancy permit in September 2022 for the 26,700-square-foot (2,480-square-meter) building as a retail location for a smoke shop/vape store that would sell paraphernalia for vape products, Clinton Townships Building Department has said. Clinton Township Fire Chief Tim Duncan said Friday that a cause for the fire has not yet been determined, but investigators believe the blaze started in the southwest corner of the building. Kestou has been released from jail after posting a $500,000 bond. Lucido said authorities have his passport and that a condition of bond is that Kestou has to wear a GPS tether. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for May 7 in Clinton Township District Court. The Associated Press left messages Friday seeking comment from Kestous attorney. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Back in 1969, approximately 11 million believers belonged to the United Methodist Church, making it the third-largest religious body in the United States after Roman Catholics and Southern Baptists. Yet over the following decades, the denominationlike many others in Americadwindled. Then, between 2019 and 2023, the church split, largely due to disputes over its teachings on gender and sexuality. Leaders of the United Methodist Church are gathering this week and next in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the international General Conference. They will almost certainly liberalize the churchs teachings on the very topics that led to its schism. But while it will continue to lose members, the decline of the United Methodist Church isnt just indicative of trends in American liberal Protestantism. Rather, its a telling sign of a wider institutional demise of denominationalism across the nation. For decadesas mainline Protestant denominations like the Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA) liberalized their policies to affirm same-sex marriage and gay clergyUnited Methodist traditionalists won all the legislative votes regarding its teachings on sexuality. But their victory was in part due to their churchs unique international membership: Delegates from growing congregations in Africa consistently sided with U.S. traditionalists. In 2019, at a special governing General Conference, 53 percent of United Methodist delegates reaffirmed the churchs affirmation of sex only within marriage between a husband and a wife. Those legislative wins did not change the overwhelmingly progressive bent of the United Methodist leadership, including among bishops, church agencies, seminaries, and most clergy. So after the 2019 General Conference victory, traditionalists realized their best option was to take advantage of a temporary policy allowing them to leave the church after a two-thirds congregational vote and an often-hefty exit fee. Then in December 2023, the United Methodist Church concluded a four-year process that allowed conservative congregations to quit the denomination without forfeiting their property (which the denomination typically holds). Over 7,600 congregations25 percent of the U.S. total, or about 1.5 million membersleft. When taking their departure into account, the United Methodist Church now likely has approximately 4 million members. With many, if not most, U.S. conservatives gone, the present United Methodisms governing international General Conference will likely shift the church sharply to the left. Teachings and policies affirming traditional Christian teaching on marriage and sex will easily fall. A legislative committee has even removed adultery as a chargeable offense for clergy. Perhaps personal pronoun identification will be expected among the delegates. Land acknowledgments and how to conduct them have already been discussed. The denomination may revert to its 1970s hardline abortion rights advocacy. (In 2016 the church finally withdrew from the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice it had helped found in 1973.) Many remaining U.S. United Methodist conservatives will be aghast as they read reports, but there will be little they can do besides quit the denomination or tolerate it becoming increasingly progressive. Thats not to say theres no dissent to the denominations leftward swing. United Methodisms only growing regions are in Africa, where the churches are overwhelmingly conservative. African church members outnumber U.S. church members, but the delegate formula assigns Africans only 34 percent of the total. Africans also face travel hurdles, with dozens of delegates typically failing to get U.S. visas. This year, over 70 out of 278 African delegates, or 25 percent, failed to get visas, more than twice the usual rate in the past for such delegates. Though Africans will vote nearly unanimously against changing the churchs teachings on sexuality, they will have far fewer U.S. allies this timeand theyll lose as a result. Will they march out of the General Conference in protest? Will they quit United Methodism altogether? U.S. church officials are pushing a regionalization plan that would omit Africa from U.S. church liberalization. Many African bishops, who depend on U.S. dollars, support it. But I doubt most Africans will be persuaded. Ultimately, millions of Africans will likely quit United Methodism, leaving the denomination as a near U.S.-only progressive rump. Dwindling membership will also raise financial challenges for the denomination. The typical U.S. United Methodist, as with other mainline Protestant denominations, is an older white person. A 2015 Pew Research Center study found 96 percent of United Methodists are white and 62 percent are over age 50. Although many aging church members have financial means and are generous, the denomination is preparing for a sharp financial downturn. Originally church officials expected that a $604 million quadrennial budget would be approved at the General Conference. But now the proposal is reduced to $346.7 million, or a 43 percent cut. National church agencies will be slashed. The church is considering eliminating 17 out of 66 international bishop slots. Even these sharp cuts might not sufficiently account for the unfolding tsunami in church demographics, compounded by the pandemics impact on church attendance and collapsing denominational loyalties even among churchgoing Americans. Many Methodists (myself included) descend from generations of Methodist ancestors. But Americans under the age of 60 are increasingly indifferent to where their grandparents worshipped. Nearly all denominations in America are declining, liberal and conservative, although the liberal ones have declined far longer and more dramatically. Even some denominational congregations, especially if successful with younger members, hide their denominational affiliation. The only major growth area in American Christianity is among nondenominational churches. Which raises the question: What will happen to the over 7,670 U.S. churches that quit United Methodism? Over 4,000 have so far joined the new Global Methodist Church (GMC), which is committed to traditional Christian theology and ethics, including sexuality. Perhaps as many as 5,000-6,000 churches ultimately will join the GMC, whose convening General Conference will meet in San Jose, Costa Rica, this September. (International delegates will have an easier time getting visas to Costa Rica than to the U.S.) There, delegates will set the rules governing the new denomination. But the GMC will be a different kind of denomination. Under rules likely to be ratified, congregations will own their church property, have more authority over their pastoral appointments, and have small payments to the denomination. The GMC wont have big church agencies or its own seminaries. Congregations will support their own mission projects. Synced with trends in American Christianity, the GMC will be more of a network of churches instead of an old-style denomination. The old style of U.S. Protestant denominations included at least hundreds of thousands of members bound in a common intergenerational subculture. They were supported by mission agencies, book publishers, journals, seminaries, colleges, political lobby offices, and national church leaders who were often renowned beyond their own community. Whether United Methodist or Southern Baptist, this concept of denomination is fast fading. Growing nondenominational Christianity in America, by contrast, is comprised of independent congregations, founded by entrepreneurial pastors who pick their own study materials, church governing mode, and theological emphases. They are usually contemporary in worship, having praise bands instead of choirs and hymns. Their prayers are spontaneous rather than liturgical. They quote the Bible but maybe not the ancient church creeds or the Lords Prayer. Their sermons are often long and very practical. They stress the Bible but often pretend that church tradition is not important. These nondenominational churches fill an urgent spiritual need in America. However, they often depend on charismatic pastors and struggle to survive pastoral successions or congregational controversies. They surround most cities, often building massive suburban buildings and parking lots. But can they survive their first and second generations, in the way that denominational churches often survived for centuries? Methodism has endured nearly 300 years, starting with the revivals led by Church of England evangelist John Wesley. It surged to become Americas largest church early in the 19th century and, like United Methodism or predecessor bodies, it remained Americas largest Protestant church for most of the 20th century. Its demise, along with the rest of liberalized mainline Protestantism, was mostly self-inflicted. Liberal theology and politics displaced orthodox doctrine, evangelism, and exacting spiritual standards. Conservative denominations, like the Southern Baptists, displaced the old liberal denominations, but now they are stalled or declining. The new Global Methodist Church might, if successful, offer a new model of church network with accountability and community without stifling, sclerotic bureaucracy. Most nondenominational Christianity today is Calvinist and/or Baptist in theology and ethos, believing in some form of predestination and rejecting infant baptism. Methodism has its own distinctions, which include Arminian theology (salvation available to all who ask), infant baptism, liturgy, a stress on personal holiness, an egalitarian spirit, optimism, and a preference for practicality over abstract doctrine. In the marketplace of religious ideas in America, Methodism should be able to hold its own. Methodisms role in Christian political witness and activism, long dominated by Baptist-inclined evangelicals, might also be important. Whether liberal or conservative, Methodism dating to John Wesley has always stressed reforming society. Care for the nation is embedded into Methodisms DNA, thanks to its roots in the Church of England and its prominence in shaping early American democracy. Methodist perfectionism can lead to fruitless political crusades like Prohibition. But the best of Methodist social engagement and political theology might offer a calming sensibility to frenetic evangelical political engagement. Methodism usually tends towards practicality, moderation, optimism, and patience. In polarized America, a renewed Methodism thats confident about America, and even more confident in God, would be much welcome. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. Military drones are swarming the skies of Ukraine and other conflict hot spots and anything goes when it comes to international law Loud explosions rock the evening sky. Streaks of light appear like comets. Missiles rain down. Below, people scramble for cover. The injured are taken on stretchers the dead, buried. That is daily life in Ukraine, where pilotless vehicles known as drones litter the sky in an endless video gamelike but actually very real war with Russia. Both Russia and Ukraine are using drones in this war to remotely locate targets and drop bombs, among other purposes. Today, drones are used in various other conflicts, but are also used to deliver packages, track weather, drop pesticides and entertain drone hobbyists. Welcome to the world of drones. They range from small consumer quadcopters to remotely piloted warplanes and all types are being used by militaries around the world. As a scholar of public diplomacy and foreign policy and a former United States under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs I know how important it is for people to understand drones and their proliferation, given the risks of war, terrorism and accidental drone clashes in the world today. A Ukrainian soldier launches a drone from his hand in November 2022 in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Elena Tita/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images A buying spree The U.S. is among more than 100 countries using drones in times of conflict. Terrorists have also been known to deploy drones because they are relatively low-cost weapons with high degrees of civilian damage. Consumer drone shipments, globally, topped 5 million units in 2020 and are expected to surpass 7 million by 2025. Sales of drones globally were up 57% from 2021 to 2022. With the exponential rise in drone purchases, there are few constraints for buyers, creating a wild, wild west of uncontrolled access and usage. Each country is free to decide when and where drones fly, without answering to any other country or international authority governing drones. The skies are often filled with drone swarms, with little on-the-ground guidance on the rules of the sky. Different purposes Each country has a unique interest in getting and using drones. China is increasingly using sophisticated drones for covert surveillance, especially in international waters to patrol the disputed islands in the South China Sea. Its expanding drone program has influenced other countries like the U.S. to also invest more in the technology. Turkeys military has a highly sophisticated drone, the Bayraktar TB2, which is capable of carrying laser-guided bombs and small enough to fit in a flatbed truck. The United Arab Emirates imports drones from China and Turkey to deploy in Yemen and Libya to monitor warlords in case conflict breaks out. And South Korea is considering starting a special drone unit after it failed to respond to a recent North Korean drone incursion. When North Korea deployed five drones towards it southern neighbor in December 2022, South Korea had to scramble its fighter jets to issue warning shots. No rules in the air The countries with armed drones are individually navigating their own rules instead of an international agreed-upon set of regulations. International law prohibits the use of armed force unless the United Nations Security Council authorizes an attack, or in the case of self-defense. But short of launching a full war, drones can legally be deployed for counterterrorism operations, surveillance and other non-self defense needs, creating a slippery slope to military conflict. Figuring out the national and international rules of the sky for drone usage is hard. For 20 years, experts have tried to create international agreements on arms and some countries supported an informal 2016 U.N. agreement that recommends countries document the import and export of unmanned aerial vehicles. But these efforts never evolved into serious, comprehensive standards and laws that kept pace with technology. There are several reasons for that: To protect their national sovereignty, governments do not want to release drone data. They also want to avoid duplication of their technology and to maintain their market share of the drone trade. A MQ-9 Reaper drone awaits its next mission over the U.S.-Mexico border in November 2022. John Moore/Getty Images US and drones For decades, the U.S. has wrestled with how to balance drone warfare as it became involved in overseas operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and other conflict zones. The U.S. killed a top al-Qaida leader with a drone strike in Afghanistan in 2022. But there have been other instances of drone strikes that resulted in unintended casualties and damage. In 2021, The New York Times reported that a U.S. drone strike on a vehicle thought to contain an Islamic State bomb resulted in the deaths of 10 children not three civilians, as the U.S. said might have happened. There is scant public opinion research on how American feel about the use of drones overseas, which makes building public support for their military use difficult. Drone dangers Drone dangers are real. Many drone experts, including myself, believe it is unsafe for each countrys military to make its own decisions on drones with no rules guiding drone transfers, exports, imports and usage and no major forum to discuss drones, as the technology continues to evolve. Multiple drones can communicate with each other remotely, creating shared objectives rather than an individual drone path or pattern. Like a swarm of bees, these drones form a deadly and autonomous aerial army ripe for accidents. With the advent of artificial intelligence and more sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles, drones can change speed, altitude and targeting in seconds, making them even more difficult to track and investigate. Attacks can happen seemingly out of the blue. In my view, the world needs new and consistent rules on drone usage for the decade ahead better international monitoring of drone incursions and more transparency in the outcome of drone attacks. Information about the impact of military use of drones is not just important for historical purposes, but also to engage societies in action and temper the impulse to engage in conflict. It is time to talk seriously about drones. 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: Tara Sonenshine, Tufts University Read more: Tara Sonenshine 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. Two diesel locomotives have been destroyed in Russia over the past few days, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) reported on April 28. A diesel locomotive was set on fire in Orenburg, 1,100 kilometers east of the Ukrainian border, by "unknown persons" on April 28, according to HUR. Another diesel locomotive was destroyed in a fire in the Russian city of Vladikavkaz overnight on April 26. While Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for the locomotives' destruction, HUR commented in a Telegram post that destroying Russian locomotives reduces their logistical capabilities. No further information was provided. Russian authorities have yet to comment on the fires. Read also: The US weapons making their way to Ukraine right now Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The president of MIT is calling for the end of the pro-Palestinian encampment on campus. Days after over 100 students were arrested at Emerson College and Northeastern University, President Sally Kornbluth released a video saying the encampment on Kresge Lawn is in violation of school rules. Out of respect for the principles of free expression, we have not interfered with the encampment, but it is creating a potential magnet for disruptive outside protesters. It is commandeering space that was properly reserved by other members of our community, and keeping the encampment safe and secure for this set of students is diverting hundreds of staff hours around the clock, away from other essential duties, said Kornbluth. We have a responsibility to the entire MIT community, and it is not possible to safely sustain this level of effort. We are open to further discussion about the means of ending the encampment, but this particular form of expression needs to end soon. MIT, like several other Boston-area colleges, began demanding their schools call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas following the protests at Columbia University last week. Emerson College, MIT, Tufts students start pro-Palestinian camps inspired by Columbia protests While there has been no violence, MIT police have been at the scene of the encampment since Monday. Kornbluth has not provided a timeframe for the dismantling of the encampment but says she is disturbed by pointed chants. I believe these chants are protected speech under our principles of free expression. But as Ive said many times, theres a distinction between what we can say, what we have a right to say, and what we should say as members of one community. But this is what makes this situation different from past protest movements and uniquely difficult. The fact of two opposing groups on campus, both grieving and both painfully at odds with one another. These opposing allegiances extend to faculty and staff as well. As youd expect to avoid any further escalation. Were working closely and constantly with our student life team, with the faculty members who are advising the students and with our own campus police, Kornbluth said. Saturday morning more than 100 people were arrested on the Northeastern University campus when Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police, and campus police surrounded the encampment before moving in and zip-tying protestors hands behind their backs. Hundreds detained as police continue to break up pro-Palestinian protests at Northeastern 108 people were arrested after Boston police clashed with protesters and tore down an encampment at Emerson College during the early morning hours on Thursday. 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 Mitch McConnell says he doesnt currently see a path forward for national abortion ban Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-K.Y., said on Sunday that he does not believe a nationwide ban on abortions would pass in his chamber, but McConnell declined to comment on whether he would personally support such a measure. I don't think we'll get 60 votes in the Senate for any kind of national legislation, McConnell said on NBCs Meet the Press" when asked whether he would back a federal abortion ban if it came to a vote. It's going to be sorted out at the state level, McConnell, 82, said. A number of states across the country have passed legislation around abortion access since the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that had provided the nationwide right to an abortion. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) walks to the Senate Chambers as the Senate takes up a $95B foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. More than a dozen predominantly red states have enacted near total bans on abortions, while a handful of blue states including Oregon and Vermont allow abortions regardless of the gestational period, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. Abortions late in a pregnancy remain rare and are typically due to medical concerns. Abortion rights have become a major rallying cry for Democrats up and down the ballot in 2024. This year, voters in nearly a dozen more states will weigh in on ballot initiatives related to abortion access, including in Maryland and New York. National Republicans, meanwhile, are split over how to approach the issue. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has proposed a national abortion ban after 15 weeks (about 3 and a half months) of pregnancy with exceptions for rape, incest and life-threatening medical emergencies. Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee, has expressed opposition to such a measure, arguing that it would hurt Republicans in the general election. McConnell affirmed on Sunday that he was not advocating for Graham's proposal or any other legislation restricting abortion at the national level, despite his track record of bringing anti-abortion measures to a vote. In 2020, when McConnell was the majority leader, he brought to two abortion-related bills to the Senate floor, even though they lacked the 60 votes needed to pass. The bills included measures that would have prohibited abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and required doctors to attempt to save the life of an unborn fetus after an abortion procedure. This election year, McConnell plans to avoid such a vote. Im not advocating anything at this level, the Kentucky Republican said in the interview that aired Sunday. I think it's going to be sorted out all across the country, and be very different in different states. As for how Republicans will campaign on the issue of abortion in 2024 elections, McConnell suggested a cohesive party message isnt likely. We get elected by states, he told NBC. My members are smart enough to figure out how they want to deal with this very divisive issue based upon the people who actually send them there. McConnell plans to step down from his leadership position in November, though he will serve the rest of his Senate term. Contributing: Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mitch McConnell says he doesn't see path for national abortion ban More than 50-year-old New York City cold case victim identified after DNA matched with 9/11 victim More than 50-year-old New York City cold case victim identified after DNA matched with 9/11 victim Patricia Kathleen McGlone went more than 20 years without a name and for more than 50 years she was missing after being murdered and left inside a building on 46th Street in Manhattan, the NYPD confirmed to Fox News Digital. She was known after her remains were found in 2003 as the "Midtown Jane Doe." "When knocking through a concrete floor, a skull rolled out," Detective Ryan Glas of the NYPDs cold case unit told WNBC-TV. "She was hogtied with [an] electrical cord and the remains that were found were exactly how she was, she was in the fetal position." McGlone was finally identified this year when a genealogy tree led to a match with a relative who was killed on 9/11. COLD CASE SUSPECT MAKES DEATHBED CONFESSION IN MURDERS OF CHILD AND HER MOTHER 24 YEARS AGO The NYPD cold case unit has identified a 16-year-old girl whose remains were found in 2003. She is believed to have been killed in 1969. "We were able to match that they were from the same family," Glas explained. "Detective Gerard Gardner was the case detective that caught the case. He did a tremendous amount of work." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP McGlone was 16 at the time she was killed in what investigators believe was 1969 and left where a rock star-frequented nightclub used to stand. The NYPD cold case unit will now focus on finding Patricia Kathleen McGlone's killer. "She was Catholic and she lived in Sunset Park," Glas said of McGlone. "She was baptized, she received communion and ultimately had confirmation. She went to public school and she went to Catholic school. She went to Charles Dewey Middle School in Sunset Park." BABY MARY MOM CAUGHT LIVING SUBURAN FAMILY LIFE 40 YEARS AFTER LEAVING NEWBORN TO DIE IN WOODS Glas told the station the unit will now focus on finding her killer. "The first thing you need to have is a name to the victim because it gives you a starting point," he explained. McGlone's DNA was matched to a relative who died on 9/11. McGlone also had a ring inscribed with her initials on her body a silent cry for identification. "PMcG matches to her name. Patricia Kathleen McGlone," Glas told the station. She also had a toy solider on her, which may have belonged to a baby she had, investigators speculate. Original article source: More than 50-year-old New York City cold case victim identified after DNA matched with 9/11 victim Mortuary Worker Admits Selling 24 Boxes of Body Parts that She Took from Cadavers Candace Chapman Scott, 37, pleaded guilty to transporting body parts across state lines and conspiring to commit mail fraud Pulaski County Jail Candace Chapman Scott A former mortuary worker in Arkansas has pleaded guilty to selling stolen body parts. Candace Chapman Scott, 37, pleaded guilty to transporting body parts across state lines and conspiring to commit mail fraud, the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas announced Thursday. Scott was initially charged in April 2023 with six counts of wire fraud, four counts of mail fraud, and two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property. Authorities said Scott was working at a mortuary service provider that transported, embalmed and cremated remains for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, which received donated cadavers through the Anatomical Gift Program. Authorities said that Scott, while working at the mortuary, contacted a Pennsylvania man on a Facebook group about oddities on Oct. 28, 2021. According to a plea agreement obtained by PEOPLE, Scott introduced herself as a mortician at a trade service mortuary, explaining that the mortuary was contracted through UAMS in Little Rock to cremate medical cadavers." 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. Scott then asked the man if he knew anyone interested in purchasing an embalmed human brain, per the plea agreement. Authorities said the two then negotiated the purchase of human body parts that Scott stole from UAMS. In total, Scott shipped 24 boxes containing stolen body parts from Arkansas to Pennsylvania through the U.S. Postal Service from Oct. 31, 2021, to July 15, 2022, per the plea agreement. She received $10,625 in payment for the remains. The FBI executed a search warrant on Scotts Little Rock home on July 13, 2022 and found numerous stolen body parts in boxes and trash bags, including a human brain, heart, skullcap, kidneys, livers, hands and a female pelvis with femurs. Scott admitted to agents that she received the payments for the body parts through PayPal. She has yet to be sentenced. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- MMG Limited, a subsidiary company of the mining giant China Minmetals Corporation, has finalized the acquisition of a large-scale copper mine in southern Africa's Botswana. Located in southern Africa's Kalahari Copper Belt, the Khoemacau copper mine has copper reserves of over six million tonnes and mining rights covering an area of more than 4,000 square km. The Khoemacau copper mine was put into operation in June 2021, targeting an annual output of 60,000 tonnes of copper and 1.6 million ounces of silver, according to the MMG. It added that the long-life mine has both the cost-competitive advantage and rich potential of mineral resources. The company clinched the mine with a deal worth 1.875 billion U.S. dollars in November 2023. The acquisition is a critical move amid the company's resolve to improve its ability to ensure the supply of strategic resources and vigorously promote the increase of reserves and production, according to the company. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said he thinks Florida is in play for President Bidens reelection campaign this November because of the abortion ballot initiative that could drive voter turnout. Earlier this month, the Florida Supreme Court issued two rulings upholding the states 15-week abortion ban while also approving a ballot measure that would protect abortion access if voters pass it in November. In upholding the current ban, the Florida high court ruled that the states constitutional right to privacy does not include abortion, and, therefore, paved the way for the separate six-week ban in the state to go into effect on May 1 banning abortion before many women know they are pregnant. In an interview on MSNBCs This Weekend, Moskowitz said he expects voters to turn out to weigh in on the ballot initiative. I think it is in play because of the ballot initiatives. Make no mistake about it, without those ballot initiatives, I dont think Florida is in play, he said. I think Florida is now a red state. I mean, youre talking about four years ago, Democrats had about a 200,000, you know, voter difference, more registered Democrats and Republicans. Now its 900,000 Right, and so Republicans have invested a ton of money. This is what happens when youre in the minority in the state and leadership for, you know, 35 years. It has repercussions. Theyve gerrymandered the seats. And so they control everything. The House, the Senate, the whole Cabinet, he continued. Moskowitz said he thinks the extreme six-week ban was a mistake strategically for Republicans. But theyve made a mistake with the six-week ban. I mean, theyre to the right of Donald Trump, right, on the six-week ban. Right, like, who are they appealing to? The flat-earthers? I dont understand who that was for, the six-week ban, he added. The Biden campaign also said it viewed Florida as winnable following the courts decision, and said it aimed to invest heavily in flipping the state. Floridas new law will be one of the most restrictive in the country, and advocates say it will effectively amount to a complete ban: Six weeks gestation is before many women know they are pregnant, and the state will still require two in-person visits with the abortion provider 24 hours apart. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Moskowitz slams Greene: We wont even let her name a post office. Were not going to let her take out the Speaker Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said Sunday that he thinks Democrats would be inclined to save Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) from a potential ouster threat if Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) forces a vote on his removal. In an interview on MSNBCs The Weekend, Moskowitz reiterated that Democrats would ultimately take their cue from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and took multiple shots at the Georgia congresswoman. I mean, look, obviously well wait for our Leader Jeffries to figure out that solution, Moskowitz said. But Ive said this before, and I think there are other members who feel the same way: The idea of allowing Marjorie Taylor Greene, someone who literally, you know, would let the world burn, you know, with her isolationist foreign policy, who has talked about states seceding from the union, right? The idea of letting her sit in the peoples house, in the well of Congress, giving a speech, removing any Speaker and having that powerful moment. There is just no way Democrats are going to let her do that. Im not going to let her do that, he continued. We wont even let her name a post office. Were not going to let her take out the Speaker, Moskowitz said. President Biden signed a $95 billion emergency funding package this past week that includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $15 billion in military aid for Israel, $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and other war-torn areas and $8 billion in security assistance to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific. Johnson moved forward with the legislation, despite threats from Greene to force a vote on his ouster. The Hill has reached out to Greenes office for a response. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MPD: 5 more teens arrested in connection to CVS robbery in Navy Yard WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said five more teens were arrested in connection to a robbery at a CVS in Navy Yard. Police said that on April 16 at about 8:45 p.m., a group of people went into a CVS in the 1100 block of New Jersey Avenue and took items without paying. Video shows Navy Yard CVS being ransacked; customers call for change When a security guard confronted the group, one of the suspects threw them a bottle. On Saturday, police arrested the following teens from Southeast D.C.: A 15-year-old girl was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, Burglary, and Conspiracy to Commit Theft. A 15-year-old girl was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, Burglary and Receiving Stolen Property. Both of the girls were also charged with assault in connection to the incident that happened on the National Mall before the retail theft at about 8:15 p.m. A 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged with Burglary, Theft and Conspiracy to Commit Theft. Two 14-year-old boys were arrested and charged with Burglary, Theft and Conspiracy to Commit Theft. On Saturday, April 20, 2024, police arrested and charged a 16-year-old boy from Southeast with Burglary Two, Theft and Assault on a Police Officer. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. A funeral is held for 20 Cambodian soldiers killed in an arms depot explosion at an army base In this image from a video, smoke rises above a distant base, seen from Chbar Mon district in Kompong Speu province, Cambodia Saturday, April 27, 2024. An ammunition explosion at a base in southwestern Cambodia on Saturday afternoon killed multiple soldiers and wounded several others, Prime Minister Hun Manet said. (Chim Sothea via AP) CHBAR MON, Cambodia (AP) A funeral was held Sunday for 20 soldiers who died at an army base in southwestern Cambodia in a huge explosion of stored munitions that also wounded several others and damaged nearby houses. There has been no public explanation of what caused the Saturday afternoon blast at the base in Kompong Speu province, though there were no suggestions it was triggered deliberately. Defense Minister Tea Seiha, representing Prime Minister Hun Manet, presided over the Buddhist funeral ceremony, which was attended by relatives of the victims and fellow soldiers. Cambodian flags covered the wooden coffins. A villager living nearby told The Associated Press on Sunday that he trembled after hearing the blast because he had never before experienced such a loud explosion. When the explosion happened, I was fixing my house with some construction workers, said Chim Sothea. Suddenly there was a loud explosion, causing my house to shake and breaking tiles on my roof. They fell down but luckily they didnt fall inside the house. Images showed several badly damaged buildings on the base, at least one with its roof blown off, and soldiers receiving treatment in a hospital. Other photos showed nearby houses with holes in their roofs. Four buildings on the base three for storage and one work facility were destroyed and several military vehicles damaged, Col. Youeng Sokhon, an army officer at the site, said in a report to army chief Gen. Mao Sophan. Another villager, who asked to be named only as Sophal, said the military closed the road to the base and villagers were in a panic, seeking a safe place. He moved his family to his parents home, farther away from the base. When he returned to his own house hours later, he found it undamaged but other villagers houses had broken windows, doors and roofs, he said. Cambodia, like many countries in the region, has been suffering from an extended heat wave, and the province where the blast took place registered a high of 39 C (102 F) on Saturday. While high temperatures normally cant detonate ammunition, they can degrade the stability of explosives over a period of time, with the risk that a single small explosion can set off a fire and a chain reaction. In March 2005, a nighttime blast at an arms depot in the northwestern provincial town of Battambang triggered an hourslong spray of shells and bullets, killing at least six people and causing panic. A 2014 report by the Swiss-based group Small Arms Survey highlighted the dangers of poorly stored or mishandled munitions, calling it a global problem. It noted that from 1979 through 2013 there were more than 500 incidents involving unplanned explosions at munitions sites. Nashville crews search for person in the water at Percy Priest NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) First responders spent several hours searching Percy Priest Lake for a person who went into the water Saturday evening. Metro Nashville dispatch said multiple units from the Nashville Fire Department were sent on a water rescue operation after a potential drowning was reported by Goose Island shortly before 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. Woman rescued from burning Murfreesboro home According to the Nashville Office of Emergency Management (OEM), an adult jumped in to rescue a child who went under the water. Even though the child was reportedly saved, crews spent Saturday evening looking for the adult, dealing with the challenges of choppy water due to the strong winds. (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) A member of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) told News 2 that multiple officers were on scene near Nashville Shores for an individual missing in the water. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Shortly before 8:30 p.m., officials told News 2 the search was about to wrap up for the night, but personnel from Nashville OEM and the TWRA are set to resume their efforts at 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 28. No additional details have been released about the circumstances surrounding the incident that led to the search. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Nashville crews have recovered the body of a man who drowned after saving someone else in Percy Priest Lake Saturday evening, according to authorities. Officials said units were called to the 3800 block of Bell Road on Sunday, April 28 after receiving reports about a body that was seen in the water. The Nashville Fire Department told News 2 shortly before 8:30 a.m. that crews were working to recover the individual who was found, adding that the body will be turned over to the medical examiner for further identification and investigation in conjunction with MNPD. PREVIOUS: Nashville crews search for person in the water at Percy Priest First responders spent several hours searching the lake Saturday for a person who went underwater. In that incident, the Nashville Office of Emergency Management (OEM) told News 2 that an adult jumped in to rescue a child who went underwater on Saturday, April 27. The child was reportedly saved, but crews were unable to locate the adult. First responders from the Nashville Fire Department, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) and Nashville OEM all responded to the scene. Racer dies during St. Jude Rock n Roll Running Series in Nashville The TWRA confirmed to News 2 that the person whose body was found Sunday morning was the subject of the search that started Saturday evening. According to MNPD, 34-year-old Harold L. Tomlinson drowned at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Saturday after he jumped out of a rented pontoon boat to help a member of his party from drifting away in the water. After successfully helping the other individual, Tomlinson reportedly began to struggle. Tomlinson and his friends were enjoying an evening at the lake. Several children were swimming from the vessel near the area of Nashville Shores and Tomlinson jumped into the water without a personal floatation device, according to a TWRA release. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Due to windy conditions, the TWRA reported the the water had become rough and the vessel drifted away. Witnesses said Tomlinson called for the boat to come closer but they were unable to locate him. Tomlinsons body was recovered around 8 a.m. on Sunday near the dam in Percy Priest Lake. His death is the first boating related fatality on J. Percy Priest for the year and the third boating related fatality on Tennessee waterways. No additional details have been released about this incident. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. UAW President Shawn Fain addresses workers in Statesville on April 27th after reaching a deal with Daimler Truck averting a major strike. (Screengrab from UAW livestream) Governor Roy Cooper is praising a tentative agreement between United Auto Workers and Daimler Truck. The UAW struck a four-year deal late Friday avoiding a potential strike that could have impacted more than 7,000 workers. Cooper took to social media on Saturday to call the deal a great win for hard working NC UAW members and their families. Cooper also expressed his appreciation to UAW and Daimler leadership for staying at the negotiating table until the deal was done. Attorney General Josh Stein, who is running for governor this year, echoed that sentiment saying North Carolina workers deserve a fair shake that honors the work they do every day to provide for their families and keep our state strong. The agreement, which still must be ratified, includes raises of more than 25%, the end of wage tiers, the introduction profit-sharing, and Cost-of-Living (COLA) for the first time since Daimler workers first organized with the UAW. Daimler Truck North America builds well-known brands like Freightliner trucks, Western Star trucks, and Thomas Built Buses. Wearing shirts with the slogan Tick tock, workers had been prepared to walk off the job when their contract expired at 11:59pm on Friday. UAW Local 3520 President Corey Hill told union members in Statesville on Saturday it was a historic win that would mean job security for workers. When we said, when we said well keep jobs in America, thats exactly what were doing. We said an example for the entire South, said Hill. UAW Local 3520 President Corey Hill told called it a historic win that would mean job security for workers. (Screengrab from UAW livestream) Tanya Hendrix, who has worked for 27 years at Daimlers plant in Cleveland, NC, said bargaining was different this time around with workers unwilling to accept concessions. We wanted big raises and we won. We wanted a cost-of-living increase and we won, said Hendrix. The UAW said over the past six year, Daimlers profits had increased by 90% while the buying power of their workers had fallen by 13%. Daimler Trucks reported better than expected earnings in 2023 with a robust outlook for 2024. UAW President Shawn Fain said once the deal is ratified, workers will receive an immediate 10% raise. The lowest paid workers at Thomas Built Bus, headquartered in High Point, will see raises of over $8 an hour, according to Fain. As early as [Friday], this company was still pushing huge hikes in your healthcare premiums until the final hours of bargaining. We told them, hell no, and we won, Fain told UAW members Saturday. Fain said for the first time UAW members came to the bargaining table to talk about their inability to make ends meet with their current wages. You got members that are living in their f car because they cant afford to live. And when they came in and they talked, let me assure you one thing, we put the beat down on that company, Fain said. The new agreement also calls for workers who make heavy trucks for Daimler and workers who make Thomas Built Buses to get equal pay for equal work. MaryBe McMillan, North Carolina AFL-CIO President, said the historic agreement signified a new day for workers who are willing to stand together. Workers here are tired of being the lowest paid, least unionized, most exploited workers in the country. And this victory makes it clear. We will not settle for crumbs when what we deserve is a much bigger piece of the pie, said McMillan. One week earlier, Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee voted to join the United Auto Workers. Of the 3,613 votes cast, 73% voted Yes for representation. Next month, workers at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama will cast their vote starting May 13 on whether to join the UAW. Together we are going to unionize workers across the South, said McMillan. And we are going to win justice for workers everywhere. MaryBe McMillan, North Carolina AFL-CIO President addressed union members in Statesville. (Screengrab UAW livestream) The post NCs governor praises weekend deal that averts major strike at Daimler Truck appeared first on NC Newsline. QUEENS (PIX11) Its often called the most famous bar youve never heard of. Neirs Tavern opened in Woodhaven, Queens, in 1829, and many say its the oldest bar in New York City to operate continuously in the same location. This time, the Neir community celebrated its Queensmark designation from the Queens Historical Society. They were once popular social media sites what happened? This 195-year-old tavern, arguably the oldest continuing tavern in the country, may have been where Mae West first performed. A bar scene from the mob classic Goodfellows was shot here. Owner Loycent Gordon, a Jamaican immigrant and a lieutenant in the FDNY, saved Neirs Tavern from going under in 2020. Neirs tried to get city landmark status, and we hope this will help, Rob MacKay, Board President of the Queens Historical Society, told PIX11 News. This is a historic gem worth saving. Theres no other place like it in Queens, he added. The Queens Historical Society says were choosing you. You are important enough. You are significant enough, Loycent Gordon, the owner of Neirs, told PIX11 News. At a block party hosted by Neirs, there was a bouncy castle for the kids and CPR instructions for adults, part of Loys mission to always give back to the Woodhaven community. It starts with helping someone. We all have something to offer, Gordon told PIX11 News. My service was to save one of Americans oldest taverns as an immigrant, he added. Both first-time customers and long-time regulars say they love the taverns history and sense of community. I love the history of it. I was up on it, one new diner from Queens told PIX11 News. I cant believe it took me so long to come here., she added. I love anything that is historical. Especially buildings and the fact that a scene in Goodfellas was shot here, Tom Rucci, another first-time diner, told PIX11 News. Richie Salmon, president of whats called The Ambassador Club, to spread the word about Neirs Tavern. Its fun here, Salmon told PIX11 News. The staff makes you want to come back, he added. The 195th celebration will be in the fall, so stay tuned in five years for the Big 200th anniversary party in 2029. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Elon Musk, CEO of the U.S. electric carmaker Tesla, in Beijing, capital of China, April 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Elon Musk, CEO of the U.S. electric carmaker Tesla, in Beijing on Sunday, promising that China's market will always be open to foreign-funded firms. Calling Tesla's development in China a successful example of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation, Li said the facts have proved that cooperation featuring equality and mutual benefits serves the fundamental interests of both countries, and meets the common expectations of the two peoples. It is hoped that the U.S. will work more with China to follow the strategic guidance of the two countries' heads of state and promote the sustained and stable development of bilateral ties, so as to bring more benefits to the people of both countries and the world, Li said. Noting that foreign-funded enterprises are indispensible participants in and contributors to China's development, the premier said that China's vast market will always be open to them. China will act on its words and intensify its efforts in expanding market access and enhancing services, among other areas, to offer a more favorable business environment and stronger support for foreign enterprises, he said. Musk said that Tesla's Shanghai gigafactory is the company's best-performing factory, thanks to the diligence and wisdom of its Chinese team, and Tesla is willing to deepen cooperation with China to achieve more win-win results. Niece of Israeli hostage says Biden administration has shown unwavering and relentless commitment to her family The niece of an Israeli American hostage being held by Hamas militants in Gaza said President Bidens administration has shown it is committed to getting the hostages home. What I know is that the Biden administration has shown unwavering and relentless commitment to my family and the families of all of the hostages, and I know that it is their priority to bring all hostages, including the Americans home, and so I know that they are doing absolutely everything that they can, Hanna Siegel told CBSs Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation. Hanna Siegel is the niece of Keith Siegel an American Israeli hostage who has been held for more than six months. Keith Siegels wife, Aviva Siegel, was also captured by Hamas but was released during a temporary cease-fire agreement last year. Hamas released a video of Israeli hostages over the weekend, multiple outlets reported. One of the hostages in the video appeared to be Keith Siegel, according to CBS. Hanna Siegel, who was wearing a sticker that had 205 written on it to represent the days since Keith was taken, said it was surreal to see him in the video. Weve always believed that hes alive. We have to believe that hes alive, she said. But this is the first time that were seeing him, that were hearing him, its its surreal, she added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The North Thurston Public Schools board voted 4-1 Sunday to name longtime administrator Troy Oliver the next superintendent of the countys largest school district. The board voted Sunday morning because they were unable to reach a decision Thursday night. Director Esperanza Badillo-Diiorio cast the sole vote against Oliver. Oliver, who has spent 27 years with the district and is the current assistant superintendent of operations, starts July 1. He is set to earn $330,000 a year, according to previous job posting information. He will replace current district leader Debra Clemens, who announced her retirement earlier this year. On behalf of the board, I thank Troy for accepting this role, said NTPS School Board President Gretchen Maliska in a statement. Troy has served this district extremely well for more than two decades and was an exceptional candidate in our superintendent search. He knows the staff, the community, and is himself the parent of two NTPS graduates. He is a leader who will support staff and work with the community in service to our students. The path to hiring Oliver was not a smooth one. The district offered the job to Alaska school administrator Justin Ainsworth on April 10 and Ainsworth had accepted the job and signed his contract, according to district information. But on April 23, Ainsworth announced his resignation, citing family concerns. That prompted the school board to meet Thursday night to re-interview the two finalists who had been considered with Ainsworth: Oliver and Thu Ament of the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District. The board spent three hours in executive session but by 11 p.m. had not reached a decision. They agreed to meet again Sunday morning. I have been proud to work in this dynamic and student-focused district for so many years and am honored to be its next leader, Oliver said in a statement. I look forward to working with our staff, families, and community to continue the NTPS legacy of empowering all students for success. Oliver attended Whitworth University in Spokane, where he earned an undergraduate degree in history. He later returned to Whitworth and earned a masters of education in educational administration in 1995. Prior to the board offering the job to Ainsworth, all three finalists addressed a community gathering on April 10, answering prepared and submitted questions. Here is some of what Oliver said: On things the district can be better at: The adults in front of our students need to be more consistent with our student population. Our staff does not look like our student population. We are whiter than our student population. Its certainly an area for us to improve, and we have made some strides in this area, but we are nowhere near where we need to be. On controversy: We had a student strike at River Ridge High School. It was difficult and I was very involved in it. One of the things I have come to understand is that students engage in that activity when they dont feel their voices are being heard. If you can listen and authentically interact with students and give them the opportunity for their voices to be heard and act in a way that benefits and is important to them, you are going to have more success. It was disruptive to school and it was hard on the River Ridge community and parents. All of it was unfortunate, but students felt it was necessary. On the critical issues facing education the next five years: School funding. We have bigger aspirations than the funding coming into the system. How do we support students in a social media environment that is increasingly complex and more ubiquitous? Some of it is positive and some of it creates a lot of angst and anxiety for students. And how do we as a system embrace and channel artificial intelligence? How do we raise critical thinkers and discern between factual and not factual information as they (students) grow up and navigate and be successful? And the mental health of students. I do think our society and school systems are in a better place to talk about it and bring it out of the shadows. The North Thurston Public Schools board voted 4-1 Sunday morning to name longtime employee Troy Oliver the next superintendent of the countys largest school district. The board voted Sunday morning because they couldnt previously come to a decision Thursday night. Director Esperanza Badillo-Diiorio voted against Oliver. Oliver, who has spent 27 years with the district and is the current assistant superintendent of operations, starts July 1. He is set to earn $330,000 a year, according to previous job posting information. He will replace current district leader Debra Clemens, who announced her retirement earlier this year. On behalf of the board, I thank Troy for accepting this role, said NTPS School Board President Gretchen Maliska in a statement. Troy has served this district extremely well for more than two decades and was an exceptional candidate in our superintendent search. He knows the staff, the community, and is himself the parent of two NTPS graduates. He is a leader who will support staff and work with the community in service to our students. The path to hiring Oliver was not a smooth one. The district had previously offered the job to Alaska-based school administrator Justin Ainsworth on April 10 and he had accepted the job and signed his contract, according to district information. But on the afternoon of April 23, he announced his resignation, citing family concerns. That prompted the school board to meet Thursday night to re-interview the two remaining finalists: Oliver and Thu Ament of the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District. The board spent three hours in executive session but by 11 p.m. had not reached a decision. They agreed to meet again at 8 a.m. Sunday morning. I have been proud to work in this dynamic and student-focused district for so many years and am honored to be its next leader, Oliver said in a statement. I look forward to working with our staff, families, and community to continue the NTPS legacy of empowering all students for success. Oliver attended Whitworth University in Spokane, where he earned an undergraduate degree in history. He later returned to Whitworth and earned a masters of education degree in educational administration in 1995. Prior to the board offering the job to Ainsworth, all three finalists addressed a community gathering on April 10, answering prepared and submitted questions. Here is some of what Oliver said: On things the district can be better at: The adults in front of our students need to be more consistent with our student population. Our staff does not look like our student population. We are whiter than our student population. Its certainly an area for us to improve, and we have made some strides in this area, but we are nowhere near where we need to be. On controversy: We had a student strike at River Ridge High School. It was difficult and I was very involved in it. One of the things I have come to understand is that students engage in that activity when they dont feel their voices are being heard. If you can listen and authentically interact with students and give them the opportunity for their voices to be heard and act in a way that benefits and is important to them, you are going to have more success. It was disruptive to school and it was hard on the River Ridge community and parents. All of it was unfortunate, but students felt it was necessary. On the critical issues facing education the next five years: School funding. We have bigger aspirations than the funding coming into the system. How do we support students in a social media environment that is increasingly complex and more ubiquitous? Some of it is positive and some of it creates a lot of angst and anxiety for students. And how do we as a system embrace and channel artificial intelligence? How do we raise critical thinkers and discern between factual and not factual information as they (students) grow up and navigate and be successful? And the mental health of students. I do think our society and school systems are in a better place to talk about it and bring it out of the shadows. On what should police and prosecutors focus? Or, put another way: Who should law enforcement actually police? The straightforward answer enforce all the laws equally and fully prosecute all wrongdoing isnt practical, politically workable or even moral. Its impractical because there arent enough police to do so. Its politically unworkable because the taxes required to get to that level of policing are unacceptable. And its immoral because, frankly, police should focus more on Kansas Citys raging homicide issue than, say, jaywalking. If we make choices about those things, who makes them? And what do those choices mean for our safety? For example: In early July, 2021, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker wrote a letter to the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, asking them to stop sending her office nonviolent drug offenses and instead focus on violent crime. The letter included: Our analysis found that around 75% of drug cases had no discernible connection to violence. The vast majority of suspected drug users and dealers didnt have guns at the time of arrest and a majority didnt have prior violent convictions. The letter also makes the point that with limited resources, the prosecutors office will focus more keenly on violence. (The office will take nonviolent cases where there is a documented nexus to violence or community concerns about a dangerous situation such as a drug house.) Since then, the Kansas City Police Department has recorded more than 460 homicides. Jackson County saw a 23% increase in drug overdoses from 2021 to 2022, totaling 553 for both years. While 2023 overdose data isnt yet available, its likely those numbers are up again. Maybe its time to start prosecuting nonviolent drug offenses. In a 2018 essay for City Journal, Rafael Mangual cited a Chicago police study which found, Over 87 percent of suspects arrested for murder that year had prior arrest histories. Manguals own analysis confirm that the most serious crimes are mostly committed by repeat offenders whom the criminal-justice system has failed to obstruct. A 2018 story in The Baltimore Sun cited police data in concluding, The average homicide suspect, meanwhile, had 9 previous arrests on his record. About 70 percent had drug arrests, and nearly half had been arrested for a violent crime. We cant be sure how many homicide offenders in Kansas City have nonviolent drug convictions. Chicago and Baltimore data suggest it may be substantial. In response to Baker, the Platte and Clay county prosecutors issued their own letter to the KCPD. They asserted: The illicit drug trade and violence go hand-in-hand. For this reason, to us, it only makes sense to do everything we can to intervene before violence occurs, not only after. They asked the KCPD to continue referring drug cases to their offices. Prosecutors point to the success of drug treatment courts, citing a 2019 study that concluded drug courts are effective in reducing recidivism and drug use. Because only nonviolent offenders are eligible to participate in drug courts, Jackson County is missing an opportunity to intervene. Leaving offenders to their own devices risks worse outcomes later. Being a county prosecutor is a tough job. On top of the usual stresses of protecting us from ourselves, state and county legislatures have made their jobs more difficult by lowering standards for self-defense and failing to provide adequate jail cells. Prosecutors need the benefit of the doubt in specific cases. But the Jackson County prosecutors policy of not pursuing nonviolent drug offenses needs to end. The policy denies prosecutors prior conduct information they need to make important decisions, obscures defendants true criminal past, and pretends that large swaths of crime our communities struggle under just dont exist. Drug possession in Missouri is and always has been a felony, the only exception being possession of less than 35 grams of marijuana. Prosecutors dont need to lock those offenders up, but they should make use of diversion programs such as drug courts. Not only can these actually help those involved, but it would help future prosecutors and judges understand what they are dealing with should the person re-offend. Patrick Tuohey is co-founder of Better Cities Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on municipal policy solutions, and a senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to Missouri state policy work. An upstate sicko secretly recorded women and girls using the bathroom in the Putnam County park where he worked for 20 years, federal authorities said. An upstate sicko secretly recorded women and girls using the bathroom in the Putnam County park where he worked for 20 years, federal authorities said. John Towers, 54, of Mahopac, allegedly planted hidden cameras in the ladies room of the public park which authorities refused to identify to record women and young girls in various stages of undress, according to a Manhattan federal complaint. Towers had 10 spy cameras in the Locust Hill Road home he shares with his dad, including three that looked like ballpoint pens, authorities said. John Towers, 54, of Mahopac, allegedly planted hidden cameras in the ladies room of a public park which authorities refused to identify to record women and young girls in. FBI Towers had 10 spy cameras in the Locust Hill Road home he shares with his dad, including three that looked like ballpoint pens, authorities said. amazon.com Investigators also recovered a hard drive with more than 800 videos of women and girls using a bathroom about 78 of which had file names including the misspelled term yung, prosecutors alleged. This is quite shocking its like something you would see on Law & Order, not something you would expect to happen here, in this idyllic setting, one Putnam County mother of two told The Post. The woman, who asked for anonymity, slammed authorities for refusing to identify the park, calling it disturbing. What is the reason for keeping that information from parents? she fumed. Towers allegedly planted hidden cameras in the ladies room of a public park which authorities refused to identify to record women and young girls in various stages of undress, according to a Manhattan federal complaint. waranyu stock.adobe.com I feel we have the right to know. The US Attorneys office; the Putnam County District Attorneys office, and the Putnam County Sheriffs office all refused to reveal the name of the green space which they described as a privately-owned, public park Tucker allegedly stalked. It is not known if the suspect worked at Clarence Fahnestock State Park, which includes a privately-owned 3,800-acre area. The land was purchased in 1991 by a conservation group and made into an extension of the state park. The feds would not address why they got involved or if they found and notified unsuspecting victims. Towers is charged in the federal complaint with sexual exploitation of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years. AP Towers, who worked at the unnamed park from 2004 until March, was out on bail on child porn possession charges when he was collared on the federal charges, authorities said. The feds believe the hidden cameras were in the bathroom from at least July 24, 2018 up to Dec. 9, 2019. John Towerss alleged disturbing conduct violated the publics trust by placing hidden cameras in a public bathroom and using those cameras to capture sexually explicit images of children, US Attorney Damian Williams said after the complaint was unsealed last week. Towers is charged in the federal complaint with sexual exploitation of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years, and possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Towers, who worked at the park from 2004 until March, was out on bail on child porn possession charges when he was collared on the federal charges, authorities said. REUTERS Authorities were hot on the trail of Towers beginning in February. The Putnam County Sheriffs Office began an investigation after getting a tip that a local possessed images of child sex abuse. Towers had DVDs containing video files he downloaded from the internet depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexual activity, the feds said. He was taking his own videos and downloading others, said Nicholas Biase, spokesman for the US Attorneys Office. He was arrested and charged in Carmel Town Court with two counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child under the age of 17, three counts of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, the documents said. Anyone who may have relevant information regarding Towers is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324). Towers father, Donald, hung up the phone on a Post reporter seeking comment. NEW YORK (PIX11) New York City Comptroller Brad Lander sat down with PIX on Politics host Dan Mannarino to share his insights on the pick for the top NYC lawyer position and the $111.6 billion budget plan recently unveiled by Mayor Eric Adams. In my time in the New York City Council, no one even came close to being so disrespectful of the Council as an institution as Randy Mastro, Lander said of the candidate. Watch the video player for more on this story. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Oakland gunshot victim walks into hospital and dies, police say (BCN) A gunshot victim walked into a local hospital and died Saturday, Oakland police said. Officers were dispatched just before 1:30 p.m. to the 6900 block of Hamilton Street after activation of the citys ShotSpotter gunfire detection system. 1 person shot in Oakland early Saturday morning Officers located a shooting scene and a vehicle that had been struck by gunfire, but werent able to locate a victim, police said. While at the scene, police were notified that a person with a gunshot wound had walked into a local hospital and was declared dead shortly afterward. The victims identity was withheld pending notification of their family. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oakland Police Departments Homicide Section at (510) 238-3821 or the tip line at (510) 238-7950. Copyright 2024 Bay City News, Inc. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Rev. Gina Stewart preaches during church service at Rankin Chapel, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Washington. Throughout its long history, the Black Church in America has, for the most part, been a patriarchal institution. Now, more Black women are taking on high-profile leadership roles. But the founder of Women of Color in Ministry estimates that less than one in 10 Black Protestant congregations are led by a woman. I would hope that we can knock down some of those barriers so that their journey would be just a little bit easier, said Stewart. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams) No woman had ever preached the keynote sermon at the Joint National Baptist Convention, a gathering of four historically Black Baptist denominations representing millions of people. That changed in January when the Rev. Gina Stewart took the convention stage in Memphis, Tennessee, the Southern city home to Christ Missionary Baptist Church where she serves as senior pastor and delivered a rousing message, asserting that Jesus not only included women in his ministry, but identified with their suffering. But what happened next put a spotlight on the obstacles women in Christian ministry continue to face as they carve out leadership space within the patriarchal culture of the Black Church in America. Several women pastors told The Associated Press that it should serve as the breaking point. This is an example of no matter how high you rise as a woman, youre going to meet patriarchy at the top of the hill, said Martha Simmons, founder of Women of Color in Ministry, which helps women navigate the process of getting ordained. The next Norton Anthology of African American preaching is probably 20 years away, but that sermon will be in there. Despite the enthusiastic reception for Stewart, the original recording of her historic sermon disappeared from the conventions Facebook page, setting off a social media firestorm driven mostly by women protesting its removal. A recording of the sermon later appeared, but it was followed by accusations the convention edited her closing remarks, which challenges the four allied denominations to support women in ministry. National Baptist Convention, USA, President Jerry Young did not reply to requests from The Associated Press for comment. He said at another January meeting that he believed the Facebook page had been hacked and he planned to involve the FBI. I still dont know what happened with the sermon, but what is clear is that this was a form of erasure, Stewart said. I was just as shocked, stunned and surprised as everyone else. It is symptomatic of a larger problem, according to several Black women pastors interviewed by the AP. They emphasized how they were worn down by the physical and psychological toll of working in a male-dominated culture. In some denominations, women have made progress. The African Methodist Episcopal Church estimates that one-fourth of its total staff are women, including 1,052 ordained ministers. In the Black Church as a whole, male pastors predominate, though theres no comprehensive gender breakdown. Simmons estimates that less than one in 10 Black Protestant congregations are led by a woman, even as more Black women are attending seminary. The conditions arent new, but the public discourse over womens equality in ministry has rapidly gained ground due in large part to the bullhorn social media provides, said Courtney Pace, scholar-in-residence with Memphis-based Equity for Women in the Church. Pace noted how Facebook afforded Eboni Marshall Turman a venue to publicly share her grievances before filing a gender discrimination lawsuit in December against Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York. The late theologian and civil rights activist Prathia Hall underscores this dynamic, said Pace, who wrote Freedom Faith: The Womanist Vision of Prathia Hall. In the book, she details how Hall was a key inspiration for Martin Luther King Jr.s The kind of thing that happened to Gina Stewart happened a lot to Prathia Hall, Pace said. When she was doing her work, we did not have social media, or cell phones with voice recorders and cameras in every hand. So who knows what the response to Prathia would have been with an empowered public like we have today. Hall was born in Philadelphia in 1940, the daughter of a Baptist preacher. As a youth, she took part in local speech competitions where she melded folk religion and liberation theology. But not all of Halls relationships within the insular preaching fraternity of the National Baptist Convention were as collegial as her relationship with King, whom she said in later years did more with I have a dream than she could have. Many theologically conservative Christian churches, including some Black Protestant denominations, prohibit women from preaching. They frequently cite certain biblical passages, including one they interpret as saying women ought to be silent in churches. Even in denominations without explicit bans, women with leadership aspirations often must contend with a patriarchal culture. Last month, the audience was dotted with young Black women at an event hosted at the Howard Divinity School in Washington. A group convened a panel about the evolution of Black womens role in the church. Inside the cavernous Dunbarton Chapel that Howard Divinity shares with the Howard School of Law, a half-dozen Black women representing a range of independent churches and Black Protestant denominations spoke about persevering through instability and transition. Their current duties, some of the women said, left them exhausted and unable to grieve the members they lost to COVID-19. One speaker was the Rev. Lyvonne Briggs. In 2019, she was being overworked and underpaid as an assistant pastor of a large Baptist church in California. Her marriage dissolved. She restarted her life in Atlanta. During the lockdown one Sunday morning in her apartment, Briggs went live on Instagram and held a self-styled worship space for 25 people to share their experiences. It became known as The Proverbial Experience, which Briggs describes as an African-centered, womanist series of spiritual gatherings to nourish the soul. In two years, Briggs grew her church into a digital community of 3,000. She also wrote Sensual Faith: The Spiritual Art of Coming Back to Your Body, a treatise on liberation from the sexual politics and objectification of Black womens bodies in the church setting. I dont ascribe to this idea that the Black Church is dead, Briggs told the AP. But I do acknowledge and promote that we have to eulogize what it used to be so that we can birth something new. One preacher who fashions himself an expert on the topic of womens role in the church, Walter Gardner of the Newark Church of Christ in Newark, N.J, sent a video link of one of his lectures when queried by the AP about his beliefs. At the end of one session, Gardner suggested that women, overall, ignore Scripture and are incapable of being taught. Thats a mindset Gina Stewart would like to change, on behalf of future generations of Black women. I would hope that we can knock down some of those barriers so that their journey would be just a little bit easier, said Stewart, who has continued to charge forward. In a given week, her preaching schedule can take her to multiple cities. As an example, she traveled to Washington earlier this month after accepting a sought-after invitation to preach at Howard Universitys Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel. Stewart's goals mesh with those of Eboni Marshall Turman, who gave the Martin Luther King Jr. Crown Forum lecture in February at Martin Luther Kings alma mater, Morehouse College. In December, after not being named a finalist, she had sued Abyssinian Baptist Church and its pulpit search committee for gender discrimination over its hiring process for its next senior pastor, an assertion the church and the committee disputed. No woman has ever held the post. A former Abyssinian assistant minister, the Rev. Rashad Raymond Moore, said in an email to The Associated Press that of the several dozen applicants for the senior pastor job, none were more exciting, promising and refreshing than Eboni Marshall Turman. Added Moore, who now is pastor of New York Citys First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, Pastoral searches in Black congregations, historically socially conservative, are often mired in the politics of discrimination, including biases based on gender, sexual orientation, marital status and age. Marshall Turman, a Yale Divinity School professor, offered pointed critiques in her first book at what she deemed the inherent patriarchy of Morehouses social gospel justice tradition. She adapted her recent lectures title from the last speech ever given by King, the all-male colleges most famous alumni. The title was blunt: Im Not Fearing Any Man. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Ohio father arrested after allegedly leaving 10-month-old child in car alone while at casino An Ohio father was arrested after police say he left his young child in a car alone while inside a nearby casino. Cleveland officers found the 10-month-old girl in a parking garage at 2151 Ontario Street, WOIO reported. Officers say the girls father left her alone for over an hour and a half while he was inside the JACK casino. >> Students fractured neck sparks bullying conversation at an Ohio school district once again Police arrested the 27-year-old man on suspicion of child endangerment and permitting child abuse, WTOL reported. He was not formally charged as the incident remains under investigation. The child was transported to a hospital for a precautionary checkup before releasing her to her family, according to WTOL. The family of an Ohio man who died while in police custody has retained legal representation as bodycam footage of the incident has been released to the public. The last words Frank E. Tyson uttered are eerily similar to those of George Floyd when he was killed by police in 2020 "I cant breathe. Trending Tyson passed away on April 18 following his interaction with members of the Canton police force. Officers were called to the American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 124 social club after reports that the local resident had fled the scene of a crash. He is alleged to have knocked down a nearby utility pole. During an attempt to apprehend him, the man was involved in a scuffle with the arresting officers. In the footage, the man was heard yelling Theyre trying to kill me and call the sheriff before he was handcuffed and pinned face down on the ground. He repeatedly told the men, I cant breathe and youre on my neck as one law enforcement member was shown kneeling on his upper body. Once subdued, the 53-year-old cried out I cant breathe once more and was told, Youre fine. Shut the f**k up. The bodycam then captured the officers speaking with bar patrons about the mans single vehicle crash as well as their tussle. Ive always wanted to be in a bar fight. I dont know if this counts, said one of the policemen. When another officer asked, Did he calm down? he was told, Yeah, he might be out. According to WKYC, Tyson laid there motionless for five minutes before authorities checked for a pulse. The unresponsive man was commanded to stand up and then rolled over to his side as an officer shook him to get him to move. When both efforts were unsuccessful in getting the man to respond, another attempt at locating a pulse was made before multiple officers began CPR. The recording also revealed that Tyson had been dosed twice with Narcan, an emergency medicine to reverse an opioid overdose. He was declared dead shortly after at a local hospital. On Friday (April 26), attorney Bobby DiCello, who is representing the Tyson family, issued the following statement: The death of George Floyd traumatized and galvanized the American people it led to a decisive call for change and an end to systemic police violence against Black men. It's an unimaginable tragedy, that only four years later history repeats itself. Why tackle him? Why kneel on him? How could you know he lost consciousness and then do nothing? These questions demand answers. And so, we will get those answers for Frank and the whole Tyson family in this time of pain, grief and disbelief. Canton Mayor William Sherer II confirmed that he met with the mans loved ones. As we make it through this challenging time, my goal is to be as transparent with this community as possible, he said in a released statement. The officers involved, Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch, were placed on administrative leave, and the case was moved to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Any forthcoming charges related to the use of force will be determined by the Stark County Prosecutor's Office. You Might Also Like BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A nationwide anti-bullying campaign will be launched in China, among wider efforts to ensure the safety of students across primary, middle schools and kindergartens, according to authorities. A comprehensive investigation focusing on bullying cases will be conducted in all primary and middle schools, according to a joint meeting of the education and public security ministries, as well as fire and rescue administration. The meeting stressed the significance of educating teachers, students and parents on the rule of law, alongside efforts to improve the accountability system. The meeting also highlighted the need to improve mental health monitoring among students, calling for solid action to alleviate the excessive burden of homework and off-campus tutoring on students in compulsory education. Efforts will be made to improve security measures, particularly in rural and boarding schools, with actions taken to ensure the safety of school buildings, fire prevention and food safety, according to the meeting. It added that a special drowning prevention campaign will also be launched, with a focus on the management of water areas and providing swimming lessons, as well as training for self-rescue and mutual rescue. Okla. Man Attacked Woman While She Was Pregnant with Their Son. Now, He Is Charged with Killing the 9-Month-Old Baby The infant suffered internal bleeding in his brain and hemorrhaging behind his eyes Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation/Facebook Hunter Allen Smiley An Oklahoma man who previously pleaded guilty to assaulting his child's mother has now been arrested for allegedly killing the 9-month-old. Hunter Allen Smiley, 25, of Newcastle was arrested this month after the infant died in the hospital, according to a news release from Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). On April 10, officers from the Newcastle Police Department responded after they received a call reporting that a 9-month-old was unresponsive at a home. Upon arrival, the officers found the infant in Smileys care. Shortly after, the baby was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, where he suffered internal bleeding in his brain and hemorrhaging behind his eyes, local outlets KFOR and KOKH-TV reported. The infant died two days later on April 12. An exact cause and manner of death have not yet been made public. Prior to the babys death, the Newcastle Police Department requested the help of the OSBI to investigate potential child abuse, and OSBI special agents spoke with Smiley. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation/Facebook Hunter Allen Smiley Based on the information gathered during the investigation, which is still ongoing, Smiley was then arrested on April 15, three days after the infants death, the OSBI said. He was charged with first-degree murder and booked into McClain County Jail that evening. According to court records obtained by KFOR, Smiley has a previous history of abuse with the babys mother. In January 2023, he was arrested for domestic assault and battery against her while she was pregnant with their son, the outlet reported. He ultimately pleaded guilty to hitting her with pieces of a door that he had broken during a fight while drunk. According to Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn, Smiley was arraigned on April 25, KFOR and KOKH-TV reported. His bond was set at $5 million with no contact with the victims family. If allowed out on bond, Smiley will be required to wear an ankle monitor and have no access to weapons. 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. In a statement provided to both KFOR and KOKH-TV, Mashburn said, It is tragic when a life is taken so early. We will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law to be the voice of this victim who is unable to speak for himself, he continued. Thank you to the Newcastle Police Department and the OSBI for your hard work on this case so we may seek justice for B.S. The OSBI told PEOPLE on April 28 that there are no updates in the case. Mashburn did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. It was not immediately clear if Smiley has legal representation to comment on his behalf. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. TechCrunch The dispute between WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg and hosting provider WP Engine continues, with Mullenweg announcing that WordPress is forking a plugin developed by WP Engine. Specifically, Advanced Custom Fields a plugin making it easier for WordPress users to customize their edit screens is being taken out of WP Engines hands and updated as a new plugin called Secure Custom Fields. The Advanced Custom Fields team responded on X, describing this as a situation where a plugin under active development has been unilaterally and forcibly taken away from its creator without consent, which it said has never happened in the 21 year history of WordPress. One dead in shooting in Germany's Dusseldorf Two men secure traces and evidence next to a covered corpse outside a pub in Dusseldorf. One person was killed by gunfire in Duesseldorf on the early hours of 28 April. David Young/dpa One person was shot dead in the western German city of Dusseldorf in the early hours of Sunday morning. A suspect was detained after the shooting at about 2:45 am (0045 GMT), a police spokesman told dpa. It was not clear whether there were any other people involved. The police were investigating in coordination with the public prosecutor's office, the spokesman said. An empty shell casing from a firearm lies on the sidewalk outside a pub in Duesseldorf. One person was killed by gunfire in Duesseldorf on the early hours of 28 April. David Young/dpa One seriously injured in shooting near Redwood Rd., SLCPD investigating SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) One person was hospitalized with serious injuries after a shooting in Salt Lake City Saturday night, according to Salt Lake City Police. The shooting occurred on the 1600 block of West Wright Circle, near Redwood Rd. and 500 South, police said. Vernal Police officer shot multiple times by intoxicated suspect, flown to hospital Details on the shooting are limited at this time, but paramedics took one person to the hospital with serious injuries after the incident. The circumstances to the shooting are unclear at this stage in the investigation, SLCPD said. No arrests have been at this time. The investigation into this incident is ongoing. No further information is currently available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Its been one year since Samantha Miller was hit and killed the night of her wedding in South Carolina. Miller had just married Aric Hutchinson in Folly Beach. After the Charlotte couples reception, they got in a low-speed vehicle to head to their apartment nearby. PREVIOUS: They were hit by a car going 40 miles over the speed limit. Miller died in the crash, and Hutchinson and another passenger in the low-speed vehicle were hospitalized. The driver, Jamie Lee Komoroski, had a blood alcohol level three times over the legal limit. When she hit the newlyweds, she was driving 65 mph in a 25 mph zone. Komoroski is charged with three counts of felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury or death and one count of reckless homicide. Shes under house arrest until her trial. According to WCIV, Hutchinson filed a wrongful death claim against Komoroski and the establishments that served her the night of the collision that May. The settlement led to a legal battle between Hutchinson and Samantha Millers mother, Lisa Miller, who challenged the validity of the marriage. WCIV reports that Hutchinson offered to pay half of what he received from the lawsuit, Lisa Miller has argued she should be the sole beneficiary of her daughters estate. (WATCH: Bond set for suspect in SC DUI crash that killed bride on wedding night) Amid growing discontent about America funding Israels bombing of Gaza, President Joe Biden is set to give the commencement speech at Morehouse College on May 19. Morehouse, a 157-year-old historically Black college in Atlanta, extended the invitation to Biden in September, the month before Hamas launched a deadly attack in Israel and took hostages. But news of the presidents scheduled address wasnt announced until last week, when anti-war protesters on college campuses across the country were demonstrating against Israels brutal response in Gaza. Morehouses announcement that Biden would be giving the schools commencement address justifiably ignited anger among students, staff and alumni. As reported by Capital B Atlanta, during an April 23 town hall with Morehouse President David Thomas, students expressed concern about Biden not only being the speaker, but also receiving an honorary degree from the institution. How are you going to justify what youre going to bestow on [Biden] on our behalf when hes basically a war criminal at this point? one student asked in reference to the honorary degree. I want to know if youve been paid to provide Biden a platform to address the student body, another student asked, a claim Thomas forcefully denied. I have not been paid. I have not been bought, Thomas responded. That question is an insult, but because you are a student here, I owe you the opportunity to do it. But Im going to call it out. This countrys historically Black colleges and universities have long been bastions of protest. For decades, HBCU students have risked everything from expulsion to incarceration to fight for social justice and to stand for the oppressed. Many Black Americans, these Morehouse students included, see a clear connection between Black peoples plight in the United States and the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza. That makes Thomas vow not to replace Biden as the commencement speaker even more upsetting. Ive spoken with several faculty members who say under no conditions are they going to sit on a stage with Joe Biden, Andrew Douglas, a political science professor at Morehouse, told NBC News. Its on everybodys mind, he said. Douglas, whos been at Morehouse for 13 years, joined 14 other members of the faculty council in writing a letter to Thomas expressing their disappointment at the schools choice to bring Biden to campus at such a fraught moment. In a separate letter to Thomas, obtained by The Associated Press, some Morehouse alumni refer to Martin Luther King Jr., a Nobel Peace Prize-winning alumnus of Morehouse. In inviting President Biden to campus, those alumni wrote, the college affirms a cruel standard that complicity in genocide merits no sanction from the institution that produced one of the towering advocates for nonviolence of the twentieth century. King, who embraced nonviolence as a political strategy, won the award in 1964 for his civil rights advocacy, but he said winning the peace prize was a commission that compelled him to oppose the Vietnam War in particular and militarism generally. If the college cannot affirm this noble tradition of justice by rescinding its invitation to President Biden, then the college should reconsider its attachment to Dr. King, those alumni wrote. Some current students agree, with one telling The Guardian its absolutely unacceptable for an HBCU that prides itself on social justice to invite a president whose administration supports, to an extent, the war in Gaza, to their campus. However, Provost Kendrick Brown told NBC News that having Biden speak is something that is in line with Morehouses mission and also with this objective of being a place that allows for engagement of social justice issues and moral concerns. He added, We certainly encourage our students, our faculty, our staff, to form strong opinions and to come together peacefully and engage in that. So the way I see this is, this is certainly an opportunity for our community to engage with the president to express the range of views that exist on the present issues, certainly in Israel and Gaza. One hopes Biden will be open to hearing concerns about Gaza from Black students, a constituency essential to his re-election campaign. But Morehouses attempt to connect this invitation to the colleges storied history of encouraging protest is both bewildering and disingenuous. Holding on to the choice of Biden as speaker also defies the will of some students many of whom attend college to better understand their place in the world and some faculty, who are tasked with guiding those students toward that understanding and toward their purpose. In the 1960s, students at multiple HBCUs, including Morehouse, were integral to the fight to desegregate public and private facilities and increase access to the ballot box. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a historic collective of activists, was formed at a conference at Shaw University, while students from Bennett College (my HBCU) and North Carolina A&T were the architects of a sit-in movement that spread to colleges across the country. Thomas said he has decided not to reverse course on Bidens invite. He said Biden's "body of work" over 50 yrs merits an honorary Morehouse degree and the world wont see that as the school being complicit with the atrocities that the Israeli military are committing in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/FfKDxpOupR Chauncey L. Alcorn (@CLamontLives) April 25, 2024 That spirit of protest hasnt died; in fact, as multiple social issues have presented themselves, HBCU students have risen to the occasion. As the #MeToo movement gained prominence, students at Spelman College, which shares the Atlanta University Center campus with Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse, protested the schools treatment of sexual assault survivors, leading to the formation of an anti-assault task force. After a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer fatally shot Michael Brown in 2014, HBCU students across the country, Atlanta students included, protested the killing and a grand jurys decision not to indict that officer. Of course HBCU students, who believe it is important to face injustice head on, would be organizing pro-Palestinian marches. In fact, doing so aligns with what HBCU students, myself included, have been taught: You dont just need to find a career, as the late Howard University graduate Chadwick Boseman said during his commencement speech there in 2018; you should find a purpose, one that transcends a paycheck. If that purpose includes fighting for social justice as it should and as so many HBCU students and alumni pride themselves on then why would Morehouse students stay quiet when their schools administration invites Biden to step into their sacred space and deliver a commencement speech right now? Ziora Ajeroh, a student at North Carolina A&T who started the schools first chapter of Dissenters, an anti-war youth organization, told Reckon, As Black people, we arent new to violence. Weve experienced violence our whole lives and for generations. So when other people are experiencing violence, we feel its our duty to stand in solidarity with them and not because they have also stood in solidarity with us, but because its the right thing to do. There are Dissenters chapters on other HBCU campuses, including Hampton University and Xavier University of Louisiana, demanding that their college presidents issue statements calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. Thus far, no HBCU has risen to that challenge, but with a tradition that includes training activists to change the literal course of history, I am hopeful that Morehouse and other colleges will heed that call. While the aggrieved Morehouse students, faculty and alumni have not made such a public demand the goal is that the invitation to Biden be rescinded may the president respond to their discontent by standing up for innocent people in Gaza and refusing to fund the bombs that are killing them. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com In late January 2019, Jennifer Ash Rudick, a documentary film producer, was granted an in-person meeting at the Manhattan offices of American Media Inc. with Dylan Howard, then editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer. Rudick had been following up on a monthslong email trail of requests seeking the participation of Howards boss, AMI CEO David Pecker, for a feature-length documentary on the origin, evolution and impact of his most infamous publication. The meeting was brief, and as Rudick would recall to our team afterward, centered on a single question: How much of the film will be focused on Donald Trump? (In true Enquirer fashion, readers will be shocked to learn that AMI declined all requests to have any of its staff participate in the film, in order to protect the confidential investigative reporting process of our journalists and editors.) At the time of that reply, our team had already spent months researching the outlet, interviewing two former Enquirer editors-in chief, a former Los Angeles bureau chief, a former senior photo editor, and over a dozen former editors and reporters, all of whom willingly and in great detail shared many specific practices and tactics of their former employers reporting process. Those processes were put under a microscope this past week as part of the alluring reality show unfolding in a lower Manhattan courtroom, the People of the State of New York v. Donald Trump. For multiple days, David Pecker testified about his tabloids habit of buying stories and sometimes burying them. But putting aside why Stormy Daniels might need to be paid hush money, why would Trump care about the editorial stratagems of a trashy supermarket tabloid in the first place? This was a magazine whose arguably biggest claim had been scoring the only photo of a dead Elvis lying in his coffin, which sold millions of papers in 1977. Trump and the AMI CEO were indeed symbiotic bedfellows. But before there was David Pecker, there was Generoso Pope Jr. Pope fashioned the National Enquirer back in the late 1950s as a gore rag featuring block headlines that barked news items like MAN DRILLS HOLE IN HIS HEAD FOR KICKS, with full-page, blood-soaked photos designed to grab attention and drive newsstand sales. But by the late 1960s, those newsstands were gone, and Pope did a full editorial makeover on his paper so he could sell it in the one place where he knew millions of Americans go: the supermarket. By the early 1970s, Pope had brokered deals to place racks he had designed at the front end of checkout lines in thousands of grocery stores across America, effectively guaranteeing that the covers of his tabloid would be seen by millions of enquiring minds every week. Popes former employees told us that his real genius was a keen understanding of the mind of the typical Enquirer reader, a fictional archetype he called Missy Smith from Kansas City. Pope and his editorial team closely monitored which stories drove the most sales, and ascertained that Missy Smith preferred a perfect blend of celebrity gossip, health tips, UFO encounters, predictions, human interest stories, and photos of adorable puppies. Iain Calder, who worked for the Enquirer from 1964 to 2000, largely as editor-in-chief, put it this way in our film: We were Missy Smith in Kansas City, we were Missy Smith in Yonkers. We were Missy Smith in California. We were Missy Smith everywhere. This is relevant to why David Pecker and Donald Trump are sitting in the same lower Manhattan courtroom last week. When Pecker took charge of the Enquirers parent company, AMI, in 1999, he inherited that precious, eye-level, front-of-the-checkout-line real estate that Pope had secured years earlier. Pecker also inherited a tradition of having a vast spy network of unconventional, paid sources across Hollywood, Manhattan, Vegas, D.C., London, Monte Carlo and points beyond, whom his reporters would rely on for salacious information about celebrities and politicians. According to several former Enquirer employees we talked to for our film, one of the best sources for gossip that the paper had in the 1990s, long before he was a political candidate, was Donald Trump. And a reporter named Larry Haley was assigned to be the full-time Trump editor. As Haley pointed out in our documentary, Trump was a New York guy that the Enquirer wanted salacious stories from, because they sold a lot of papers. And, Haley says, Trump saw the National Enquirer as a megaphone to an audience that he did not have. Pecker also had a pattern of aligning himself with powerful politicians on the rise, regardless of party affiliation. This is the man who, in 1995, as president of a division of Hachette Filipacchi, cozied up to John F. Kennedy Jr. to announce the launch of George, a celebrity-driven glossy magazine with a fresh, non-partisan perspective. This is also the man who in 2002, as CEO of AMI, would acquire Weider Publications, publisher of the nations most widely read muscle and fitness magazines. Pecker would forge a valuable alliance with Weiders most prominent board member, Arnold Schwarzenegger and enthusiastically back him in a successful 2003 bid to become the Republican governor of California. Standing in grocery checkout lines in the months leading up to the 2016 election, I often felt like I was in a scene from The Manchurian Candidate. Unless you stared at the ceiling or down at your feet it was impossible to miss the perfectly placed Enquirer cover in its new role as political advertisement. One week Hillary Clinton was IN JAIL! A trip for milk would reveal she had SIX MONTHS TO LIVE! with a photo of her on deaths door. Other weeks the covers were bright, with headlines as big and bold as the ones about the guy who drilled a hole in his head. One standout issue promised to tell me and everyone else in line that day all about THE DONALD TRUMP NOBODY KNOWS! We did not know at that time any of the details of the deal-making that had transpired between Trump and Pecker. We did not know then that information potentially damaging to the Trump campaign would be acquired by Enquirer staffers, doing what Enquirer staffers have done for years as de rigueur for the job, and buried so as never to reach the public. What we did discover was that Pecker had successfully test-driven his skill for catching and killing negative stories on powerful allies with political aspirations years before he and Trump would go into business together. For more on that you might watch a documentary about the National Enquirer. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com A senior with memory loss and no family members to help gave control of her finances to a younger woman. In short order, the younger woman sold the elderly womans home and depleted her life savings while neglecting her medical care. In broad strokes, this tale from Miami-Dade County resembles the elder abuse case now ensnarling suspended Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill. And there is one additional, critical element, common to the two cases and dozens more elder-abuse actions across Florida: The alleged misuse of a powerful but little-regulated legal mechanism called power of attorney. Power-of-attorney agreements are intended to help vulnerable people who can no longer manage their own finances hand control to someone who can. But experts in elder affairs say seniors frequently end up exploited by the very people they appoint to care for them. The United States has an epidemic of people abusing power-of-attorney agreements, said Roberta Flowers, a professor of law at Stetson University and director of the colleges Center for Elder Justice. They are an amazing tool, Flowers said. They are also the easiest way for people with nefarious reasons to take power away from an elderly person. Last month, a grand jury indicted Hill for her alleged activities after gaining power of attorney over an elderly constituent. Prosecutors say Hill drained the womans bank accounts as she treated herself to a facelift, expensive perfumes and IV vitamin injections. Hill maintains she loves the woman like her own family and committed no crime. In the Miami case, investigators say the younger woman withdrew $400 in cash on the same day her newly-established power of attorney gave her authority over the elderly womans bank account. She eventually took another $200,000, using the older womans credit card to order dozens of items from Amazon, including jewelry and shoes, investigators say. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle recounted that story in December as she was discussing her offices Elder and Vulnerable Adult Exploitation Task Force, drawing comparisons between the countys large population of seniors and victims of human trafficking. They share these vulnerabilities and theyre just targets for all of the criminals that are out in our community, Fernandez Rundle told reporters. Orphaned adults Like the Miami woman, the elderly woman that Hill is accused of stealing from was especially vulnerable: She suffered from memory loss, had no living relatives and had become increasingly isolated as she aged. When code enforcement officers visited the womans home in early 2021, she was living in deplorable conditions. The roof on her Lake Mann Estates home was collapsing and floors were drenched with cat urine and feces. Shortly after being told of the situation, Hill led efforts to fix up the womans home on Mahalia Drive, enlisting the help of volunteers to replace her roof and soiled carpet and clean the inside of the home. But Hill also swiftly established power of attorney completing the process within just 45 days of meeting the woman, investigators say. Recent court filings suggest the woman did not understand how much authority she was handing to Hill. In Florida, people do not need to enlist help from a lawyer to take control over someone elses finances they only need to obtain signatures from the account holder, plus two witnesses and a notary. They can copy and paste sample language that is widely available online. In Hills case, the document used generic language. But one of the witnesses who signed the form is a local attorney. Some states do not even require these documents to be signed by witnesses or notaries. Once the document is signed, the person granted power of attorney can present a copy of the record to banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions to gain access to the persons accounts. And unlike court-appointed guardians, who face a raft of reporting requirements, people with power of attorney do not typically have to justify their spending to anyone else. Thats what makes these agreements such low-hanging fruit for thieves, experts say. This happens way more often than I think people want to believe, said Jeff Harvey, the CEO of Community Legal Services, the nonprofit that represented Hills elderly constituent. You can effectively just print out a form and as long as you have a notary stamp and witnesses youre good. But power-of-attorney agreements can also be quite worthwhile when used appropriately, financial planning experts say, urging people to assign power of attorney to someone they trust while they are mentally sharp. Common in estate planning, the agreements are intended to allow a reliable third party to pay bills and manage savings and retirement funds if and when the account holder is no longer able to do so because of their age, an accident or an illness. Ive told clients before that your power-of-attorney document can be more important than a will, said Andrew Boyer, a board-certified elder law attorney based in Sarasota. Darby Jones, whose St. Petersburg-based firm Professional Fiduciary Services provides those services for people who dont have a family member or friend to fill the role, agreed. One of the most important documents that everyone should have is a power of attorney, she said. The challenge is finding someone to serve in that capacity. Jones said Florida has a large population of what she calls orphaned adults who dont have living family members or close friends. Those people, she said, are especially vulnerable to exploitation. While its not unusual for people to grant power of attorney to a friend, clergy member or someone else who isnt related to them, it should be someone they know well, she said. There are no indications that the elderly woman in Orlando had assigned that responsibility to anyone else before Hill took over her finances three years ago. Adriane Alexander, the family friend who has since wrested power of attorney away from Hill, has acknowledged she lost touch with the woman during the pandemic. Sometimes, even choosing a family member doesnt protect seniors from abuse. The Sentinel reviewed more than a dozen recent Florida cases and many involved a person accused of stealing from their parent or grandparent. Last summer, a Winter Haven teacher pleaded no contest to charges she used her grandmothers money to pay her car loan and gym membership and opened several credit cards in her name. Over the course of a year, she stole $66,000 from the 83-year-old woman, investigators say. In 2022, a Pinellas County attorney was disbarred after an Iowa court found he looted more than $380,000 from his mothers estate, spending roughly $300,000 to purchase and furnish a waterfront home for himself. And earlier this month, an Escambia County man was arrested on accusations he stole $17,000 from his 82-year-old grandfather, using the money to pay for personal bills and purchases from Netflix, DoorDash and Amazon. A wrong turn At least initially, Hill seemed to act in the elderly womans interests. A short time after meeting her, Hill appeared prominently in an episode of the TV series, Dirty Rotten Cleaners, which documented efforts to make the home livable again. I am a city commissioner here in Orlando. My main focus here is making sure the constituent here in this home has quality of life, public health and public safety, Hill said at the start of the show. The woman, who does not appear in the episode, was not living in the home at the time. Aside from cleaning up the home on Mahalia Drive, Hill completed an extensive renovation on a second property owned by the woman a short distance away, according to an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which also said Hill lived there at one point. But at some point that has not yet been detailed in court filings, Hill allegedly started to use the womans finances for personal gain spending her money on expensive bottles of perfume, a car rental, a facelift, dental surgery and a stay in a Miami Hotel room on New Years Eve. She also used another legal document that investigators say was forged to purchase a third home together with the elderly woman, which Hill listed as her home address on records she submitted to the Orange County Supervisor of Elections. Again, the document required just a notary and two witnesses, with no other oversight. Jones said its not uncommon for people who abuse power-of-attorney agreements to start out trying to help the person who signed it. I think people who may have started out with good intentions maybe take a wrong turn at some point and start to take advantage, she said. But experts say theres no easy way to prevent people from exploiting vulnerable people after theyve gained control of their finances. A responsible attorney will make sure the elderly person understands what they are signing and that their memory is sound, said Sherrille Akin, a DeLand-based attorney whose practice includes estate planning and elder law. I insist on at least two meetings with the senior, sometimes three, Akin said. Still, meeting with an attorney isnt necessary to complete the needed documents, and some experts say it wouldnt be practical to require that. I think that it would be difficult to justify having an attorney as a gatekeeper, said Larry Frolik, a professor emeritus in the University of Pittsburghs School of Law and nationally recognized expert on elder law issues. Requiring a court to review how the elderly persons money is disbursed may not be practical either, given the time and expense required and the large number of power-of-attorney agreements in place. And some seniors might chafe at the notion that their trusted person needs someone looking over their shoulder. Folks in one group might say thats far too much oversight; I dont want to pay for that extra oversight, Boyer said. I dont have any issue with appointing my son or daughter why do we need big brother looking over us? anmartin@orlandosentinel.com rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com NEW MEXICO (KRQE) New dashcam video shows the dramatic explosion after a train derailed at the New Mexico-Arizona border Friday afternoon. Officials say they dont know what caused the explosion yet, but they do know a total of 35 train cars belonging to BNSF were involved in the crash- according to the McKinley County Fire & Rescue. There was a report, that initially, there was a large explosion, explained Lawrence Montoya Jr., Fire Chief for McKinley County Fire & Rescue. When we got on scene, you could see a large plume of smoke. Six of those train cars were carrying propane. As a result, much of I-40 was closed down for the last couple of days as state, county, tribal, private, and federal agencies responded. For Gallup and Window Rock, its just been massive traffic, said New Mexican Senator George Munoz. I mean, one trailer came unhitched in the middle of town and that just made it even worse. Albuquerque man, arrested for 4th DWI, asks to return to work as bartender Both lanes going east and west bound on Interstate 40 have since reopened following the derailment, and the evacuation status in the area has changed. A two-mile evacuation order was put in place just after the incident. It has since been lifted. We have teams working to clear the wreckage and the Debris, said Fire Chief Montoya Jr. We have teams that are isolating really important materials that need to be identified and examined during the course of this investigation. In their most recent update, officials say there are currently controlled fire happening at the location, due to leaking propane. The expect all fires to be put out by tomorrow- but it could take longer. Cleanup and a full investigation into the cause of it all will follow soon. All trains traveling along that stretch have been rerouted or halted since the derailment. Officials say BNSF will be responsible for getting the tracks open again. Authorities are still monitoring the area, holding briefings every two to three hours with agencies involved. They stated, that right now, there isnt any concerning air quality. Theyve been testing the air quality, theres no issue with air quality, Sen. Munoz added. Officials say it could be a few weeks before the cleanup is totally complete. We ask the public to be patient and we ask them to be patient when passing through, and to be safe so that way nobody gets hurt, Fire Chief Montoya Jr. added. We thank the public for their patience and will continue to post updates on the McKinley County Fire and Rescue Facebook page, reads a release from officials. A hotline for those affected can be reached at 1-866-243-4784. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Pembroke police are searching for a missing 16-year-old who may have taken a rideshare vehicle. Jaylanna Curtin-Green was last seen on Country Club Circle around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, police say. Jaylanna Curtin-Green. A black Honda CRV was seen parked in the area of her residence shortly after she was last seen. Police believe the car may have been obtained through a ride-sharing app. She was last seen wearing a fluorescent (orange) top, a black shirt, and black pants, Pembroke police say. She is approximately 52 inches tall and 156 lbs. She has previously lived throughout the South Shore with ties to the Metro-Boston area. The Pembroke Police Department is concerned for her well-being. Anyone with information is asked to Pembroke Police at 781-293-6363 or by calling 9-1-1. 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 BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- In front of the centennial lecture hall of Peking University in Beijing, students queued up to watch the three films vying in the main competition unit of the 14th Beijing International Film Festival. Among the crowd stood Wu Jingfeng, a junior majoring in environmental science. He had chosen to watch the French sitcom "A Real Job," which in his opinion, depicted intriguing stories between the substitute teacher and students and offered a vivid portrayal of the classroom environment and the daily lives of teachers and students in France. Films serve as an excellent window to enhance mutual understanding between different countries, said Wu. "I hope there will be more films or academic exchanges between China and France so that we can gain a comprehensive understanding of French society and culture." The 14th Beijing International Film Festival, which concluded on Friday, attracted the attention and participation of numerous filmmakers and movie enthusiasts. The event featured over 240 domestic and foreign film masterpieces and more than 100 activities. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, as well as the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. Multiple cinemas in Beijing showed 30 French films, including "A Real Job" during the film festival, providing an opportunity for movie lovers to explore French cinema. During the launch ceremony of the French film week at the festival, Myriam Pavageau, minister counsellor of French Embassy in China, stated that this year holds special significance for both countries, with numerous cultural activities planned to enhance cultural connections and cooperation between the two countries' film industries. French films enjoy great acclaim among Chinese audiences, and the selected films showcased during French film week exemplify the diversity and vitality of French cinema. It is hoped that Chinese audiences will have the opportunity to see more French films in theaters, thus fostering increased cooperation between China and France in the film industry, she said. "From French films, I have seen different groups and aspects of French society. I feel that French filmmakers have a particularly strong sense of social responsibility in promoting social development through their creative expression," said Gao Yuan, a graduate student at the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences of Peking University. Gao, a 25-year-old film enthusiast, recently visited major cinemas in Beijing to watch 13 films showcased at the Beijing film festival. She also participated in a French film exhibition jointly organized by Peking University and the French Embassy in China, contributing to the overall planning and writing of promotional materials. "I hope for more cooperation and exchanges between China and France in the fields of art and education. I also look forward to more high-quality French films coming to China to present a more diverse and charming image of France," Gao said. Peking University hoped to use films as a medium to enhance the artistic literacy of young audiences and lay a solid foundation for future cultural exchanges between China and France, said Zhou Yuanyuan, deputy director of the centennial lecture hall. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Officials at American University said a dangerous subject was arrested on campus Saturday night for threatening a student. An American University Police Department (AUPD) officer was approached by a student at 5:45 p.m. to report that someone pulled out a weapon and threatened her while they were on the campus shuttle bus. Witnesses on the bus confirmed the report. Police: Man arrested in connection to fatal stabbing near Audi Field The suspect began walking toward campus, and police initiated a lockdown. AUPD sent the following message to students, faculty and staff at 6:10 p.m.: Urgent AU Alert: Dangerous subject on or near campus. If outside, leave campus immediately. If inside, hide in a secure location, lock doors, avoid windows. MPD soon found the person and took them into custody and charged them with Felony Threats. Officers did not find a weapon. The campus lockdown was cleared shortly after. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. FORT SCOTT, Kan. (KSNW) Kaleb Bailey, with Bailey Drone Services, shared photos of the aftermath of severe weather in Fort Scott. Fields, gas stations, parking lots, parks and roadways are flooded. Courtesy: Bailey Drone Services Courtesy: Bailey Drone Services Courtesy: Bailey Drone Services Courtesy: Bailey Drone Services Courtesy: Bailey Drone Services Courtesy: Bailey Drone Services Gunn Park (Courtesy: Bailey Drone Services) Gunn Park (Courtesy: Bailey Drone Services) The National Weather Service in Springfield, Missouri, has issued a flood warning for the Marmaton River, which runs through Fort Scott. The warning will remain in effect until early Wednesday morning unless otherwise noted. Storm Reports: Tornadoes touch down in south-central Kansas The NWS said Sunday morning that at 47.0 feet, flood waters begin to spill over the bridge deck at the Marmaton River, along North National Avenue. This embedded content is not available in your region. Turn Around Dont Drown. For more safety precautions to take during a flood, visit weather.gov/safety/flood. Do you have photos of the aftermath of Saturdays severe weather? Email them to connect3news@ksn.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Pillen confirms no loss of life in NE from Friday storms, but hundreds lost homes Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen speaks to reporters about state and local efforts to recover after tornadoes hit parts of several eastern Nebraska counties. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) OMAHA Gov. Jim Pillen joined leaders from the Omaha, Bennington, Elkhorn and Waterloo areas in thanking Nebraskans for listening to weather forecasts that warned them to take shelter during Fridays storms. It is an extraordinary miracle that weve had this kind of a cell come through, and no categories (of serious injuries), and no loss of life, he said. Pillen offered an update Saturday on the state and local storm response with Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, Waterloo Fire Chief Travis Harlow, Bennington Fire Chief Dan Mallory and more. He said he missed a call Saturday from President Joe Biden, who left a message offering whatever assistance Nebraska needs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency as officials prepare to declare a disaster. Well be having the declaration soon, so well make sure that were helping everybody, Pillen said. Omaha Fire Chief Kathy Bossman, Mallory and Harlow said rescue crews had moved in quickly after the storm and finished checking for potential injuries and fatalities by late Friday evening. Still surveying the damage State and local emergency management officials were still surveying and documenting losses to Fridays tornadoes they said did the most significant damage in Douglas, Lancaster, Saunders and Washington Counties. Erv Portis of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said the state did not yet know the full scope of homes and businesses lost, but said that Douglas County had already tallied more than 150. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen visits with people in Douglas County who had homes damaged by the tornadoes that hit the area Friday. (Courtesy of the Governors Office) Pillen, Hanson and State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan toured neighborhoods in the Elkhorn area and in Bennington at midday Saturday, hours after the federal delegation visited homeowners near Waterloo and in west Omaha. He said he spoke with Nebraskans who lost their homes and belongings, including a family that had just moved to Douglas County from Kentucky and another that had been in their new home two months. Jill Martin of the Nebraska chapter of the American Red Cross said her group had worked with other local nonprofits to set up a community shelter in the Elkhorn area and Blair. Pillen: Report major home damage Pillen urged Nebraskans who suffered damage to their homes and businesses to notify their local county emergency management agency. He said doing so could help Nebraskans qualify for additional federal aid. State and local governments and public power districts have already likely suffered enough damage to qualify for FEMA disaster aid called public assistance, which is basically aid for government agencies. Nebraska Adjutant Gen. Chris Strong speaks about state and local recovery efforts in the Omaha area. He leads the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) Individual home damage amounts could also unlock federal assistance for individual assistance, which is a federal aid program to help homeowners pay for some of the costs not covered by insurance. Business owners who lost property could also become eligible to pursue government-subsidized, low-interest small business loans from the Small Business Administration to help recover from losses. The state could end up qualifying for all three, officials said, given how much of eastern Nebraska got hit by tornadoes on Friday the National Weather Service is still trying to confirm how many. Airport update Omahas Eppley Airfield offered a clearer picture of the millions of dollars in damage it sustained from a tornado that destroyed a pair of hangars on the private aviation side of the airport. Private aircraft in both hangars suffered significant damage, but the main equipment used to get private planes and people in and out of Eppleys General Aviation were up and running again hours later. Damage at one of Eppley Airfields hangars is shown. (Courtesy of Omaha Airport Authority) Airport Authority Chief Executive Officer Dave Roth said he expects the airport to be ready to welcome Berkshire Hathaway Days next week, a major celebration of Warren Buffetts company that draws tens of thousands from around the world. He said the tornado had done little to no damage to the commercial side of the airport or to the new construction taking place on the commercial side. Powerful storms Chris Franks of the National Weather Service said the strength of the tornado that hit Lancaster and Douglas Counties looked like an EF-3, with winds of 135 mph to 165 mph. He said the Omaha airport tornado looked closer to an EF-2, with winds of 110 mph to 135 mph. He warned Nebraskans to pay attention again to predicted storms predicted for later Saturday. Stothert praised the work of local first responders and others who helped Omaha police and fire. Both agencies confirmed they had officers and firefighters who lost homes to the storms. A tornado touches down near the edge of northeast Lincoln, near 84th Street and Cornhusker Highway. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) Stothert said she would be signing an emergency declaration Saturday to get the ball rolling on unlocking state and federal emergency assistance to help pay for mounting costs of responding to the storms. It will be a very expensive event that the city will put in a lot of money to make sure that we recover the way that we need to be recovering, she said. Major storms often cost cities and other political subdivisions, including public power utilities, hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars for rescue crews, cleanup and power restoration. Utility work ongoing Omaha Public Power District said it was still working to restore power Saturday to more than 4,000 customers across its service area. The utility lost major transmission lines and neighborhood lines. Metropolitan Utilities District told Douglas County Emergency Managements Paul Johnson that local drinking water remained safe after the storm, but it was still repairing some damaged gas lines. Pillen said he was not yet deploying the National Guard to help with disaster response, but that he would be sending local law enforcement agencies some backup from the Nebraska State Patrol. Hanson and Schmaderer urged people who dont own property in the affected areas to stay away and avoid the temptation to go see the damage first-hand. Hanson warned potential looters that they would be arrested. Dont do it, he said. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Pillen confirms no loss of life in NE from Friday storms, but hundreds lost homes appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. Poisoned cheesecake used as a weapon a first for NY investigators This story was originally posted on June 3, 2023. In his 20-year career as a New York police detective, Kevin Rodgers says he never met the likes of Viktoria Nasyrova. Det. Kevin Rodgers: She is a very colorful criminal Det. Kevin Rodgers: Extremely brazen. Diabolical. Even the street smarts of a career cop left him unprepared for what he says she did. Kevin Rodgers: I've never dealt with a case where cheesecake that's laced with poison is utilized It started on Sept. 2, 2016, with what seemed like a routine call. Det. Kevin Rodgers: It was a call from patrol stating that we have a a woman advising that there are items missing from her bedroom. The woman was a beauty stylist named Olga Tsvyk, who did eyelash extensions at a nearby salon. Patrol officers told Rodgers she'd reported items, including purses, had vanished from her home. Det. Kevin Rodgers: I grab my partner and we headed out to this, uh, woman's house. She told Rodgers she had just returned home from the hospital, where she said she'd been in and out of consciousness with severe dizziness and nausea. When he got to the scene, Olga, a Ukrainian immigrant, still seemed a bit woozy. Peter Van Sant: Can you remember at all the police asking you questions? Olga Tsvyk: (Sighs) No, I don't remember. She says the only thing she remembered was that a frantic client from the salon had come to her house a Russian woman named Viktoria Nasyrova, who had wanted her eyelashes extended in a hurry. Det. Kevin Rodgers:" I need an emergency eyelash repair done. Please, please, please." Olga said, "I never have done that before every bit of work I do is in my salon." Olga had told her client she had no appointments available. But she says Viktoria was in the habit of being pushy she'd repeatedly suggested they spend time together outside of work. Olga Tsvyk: She starts acting like she's my friend, you know? Feeling uneasy, Olga had refused Viktoria's offers to hang out. And she noticed something else about Viktoria something visually unsettling: an uncanny physical resemblance. Olga Tsvyk: I thought she looked like me. Lookalikes Olga Tsvyk, left, and Viktoria Nasyrova. / Credit: Olga Tsvyk/Viktoria Nasyrova/Facebook While Olga had turned down socializing with Viktoria, she relented to her pleas for eyelash help and told her to come over. Olga's uneasy feeling returned when Viktoria showed up at her door with three small slices of cheesecake. Olga Tsvyk: It's from, like famous bakery, like famous cheesecake. Olga says Viktoria quickly gobbled up two of the slices, and then insisted Olga try the last one. Peter Van Sant: Did you eat the entire piece? Olga Tsvyk: Yes, it's like small piece. Peter Van Sant: And what happened? Olga Tsvyk: I got sick. She said she threw up violently. Peter Van Sant: And? Olga Tsvyk: Then after that, I don't remember anything. Peter Van Sant: So, she tells you this story, what are you thinking? Det. Kevin Rodgers: I am suspicious. With Olga acting woozy, Rodgers wondered if she was a drug user. Det. Kevin Rodgers: I said to her, I says, Olga, I said, I want to believe you, however, this doesn't add up. But she was adamant, adamant. This 100 percent happened, and this woman is up to something. In the garbage, Rodgers did see something. The cheesecake container retrieved from Olga Tsvyk's garbage was taken into evidence. / Credit: Queens District Attorney's Office Det. Kevin Rodgers: I walked over to the wastepaper basket and right there was this plastic container with what appeared to be the remnants of pastry, something that looked good. Olga identified it as the cheesecake box. Rodgers told his evidence team to bag it and tag it. Whatever had been in that box, Olga said it had made her very sick. Peter Van Sant: You almost died. Olga Tsvyk: Yeah, I was in coma 34 minutes. But Olga admits doctors didn't find anything suspicious in her system. Still, she told Rodgers she was hospitalized twice. He called the hospitals to confirm but says they wouldn't divulge patient information. Det. Kevin Rodgers: Which again led me to believe that maybe she wasn't telling the truth. Rodgers did try to find Viktoria Nasyrova but couldn't. Peter Van Sant: It sounds like at that point this case is almost over. Det. Kevin Rodgers: Dead. But a few months later, the case came back to life when Rodgers found a new witness: a neighbor of Olga's, who reported seeing a woman visiting her the day after the alleged cheesecake incident. Det. Kevin Rodgers: He told me that a woman had come and gone a few times. The neighbor said the mysterious woman had told him Olga was sick. And when he went to check on Olga he walked into a surreal scene and called an ambulance. Her room was like a sauna. Someone had turned the heat on full blast even though it was a hot August day. And Olga was passed out in the bed, barely dressed. Det. Kevin Rodgers: When she is discovered she is discovered in this sort of racy lingerie. Olga was stunned by this detail because she had been wearing sweatpants. Peter Van Sant: So, someone changed you. Olga Tsvyk: Yeah. Peter Van Sant: Changed your clothes. Olga Tsvyk: Yeah. And there was more. Pills were strewn all over the floor. Rodgers wondered: had someone tried to kill Olga and then staged the scene to make it look like a suicide? Rodgers realized that Olga had probably been telling the truth all along. Det. Kevin Rodgers: I do have to make that sort of uncomfortable apology to her of, I'm truly sorry for not believing you 100 percent at first. Rodgers now turned his attention again to finding the suspect in this case Olga's client, Viktoria Nasyrova. But where was she? Rodgers had no way of knowing that someone else was also trying to find her. His name is Herman Weisberg. He's a private eye and a retired New York City detective. Weisberg was tracking Viktoria through ads on Russian dating sites and social media, where he says some of her outreach seemed designed for a niche audience. Herman Weisberg: She was advertising her services as a dominatrix slash escort. He believed Viktoria was using online ads to commit crimes of opportunity. Herman Weisberg: She would knock out with knockout drugs taking money, watches, jewelry, whatever she could get. And he suspected Viktoria had done something much worse. OLGA TSVYK FINDS SHE IS NOT ALONE With the fog of her mysterious illness behind her, Olga Tsvyk says she went back to work, sharing the story of her harrowing ordeal. That's when another client told her something she never expected to hear. Olga Tsvyk: She said, "you know, one of my husband friend, I think somebody also drug him his name is Ruben." The client put Olga in touch with the other drugging victim a man named Ruben Borukhov. About two months before Olga ate that cheesecake, Ruben, who ran a nearby dry-cleaning business, met a woman on a Russian dating site. Her name? Viktoria Nasyrova. Ruben Borukhov: She said she's a good cook and I said I love to eat. The two arranged to meet at her place for dinner. Ruben Borukhov: I just took one bite of fish, and I was out of it in five minutes. Ruben says he passed out, and Viktoria allegedly went on a shopping spree. Ruben Borukhov: She took, like, $800, maybe $1,000 in my all together in cash, $2,400 in American Express. Peter Van Sant: So, she's livin' high on the hog on your money. Ruben Borukhov: Absolutely. And then she brought me here (walks over to a chair in his store and sits down). Two days later, Ruben had still been out of it when Viktoria literally took him to the cleaners. One of Ruben's employees recorded video. Ruben Borukhov: She is walking here and there and making some stories to my workers. "Oh, we had wine! He drank two bottle of wine." I don't remember nothing. As Viktoria talks to the workers, the camera catches a glimpse of her sitting in the boss's chair. FEMALE VOICE ON VIDEO: Maybe he take pill or something, right? Ruben Borukhov is seen being taken out of his business by paramedics. / Credit: CBS News Luckily, Ruben's sister called an ambulance. Viktoria would flee the scene before it arrived, but not before cleaning him out Ruben Borukhov (shows Van Sant the inside of a safe): I have some money in the basement, couple hundred here, she took it, she took the watch. And Ruben believes Viktoria nearly took a lot more than that. Peter Van Sant: Did you almost die? Ruben Borukhov: I think so that's how I was. Herman Weisberg: Oh. He was a sick man. But private eye Herman Weisberg says when it to comes to Viktoria Nasyrova, Olga and Ruben may have been the lucky ones. In 2017, Weisberg began working with Nadia Ford. Nadia said her mother Alla Alekseenko, with whom she was very close, had gone missing back home in Russia. Peter Van Sant: And, so, every day you would talk to her? Nadia Ford: Every day. Nadia says before her mother disappeared, she had mentioned making a new best friend. The friend's name? Viktoria Nasyrova. Before Viktoria came to New York, she was living in Russia, and had become Alla's neighbor in the apartment next door. Peter Van Sant (holding up photos): Here is your mother standing next to you. And here is Viktoria. And they seem like an odd couple. Nadia Ford: Right. Peter Van Sant: You just wouldn't think they'd hang out with each other. Nadia Ford: She was always trying to be very friendly with her. You know, and my mom, she trust everyone. In the fall of 2014, Alla had told Nadia she would be sending her daughter special gifts. Her new best friend Viktoria would bring them. Viktoria would be carrying $6,000 in cash and other valuables, including two fur coats, to be hand delivered to Nadia. But Viktoria never showed, and on October 5, Nadia tried to call her mother but couldn't reach her. Peter Van Sant: How many times did you call your mother that day, October 5th? Nadia Ford: Oh, a lot. A lot. Like a hundred. Peter Van Sant Really? A hundred times? Nadia Ford: At least. At least. I tried everything. Peter Van Sant And she would not answer? Nadia Ford: No. Peter Van Sant: So, what are you thinking? Nadia Ford: I got afraid because for eight years she never happened that she didn't answer the phone. Never. Nadia says she had found Viktoria's sudden friendship with her mom suspicious. And that suspicion only grew when she accessed her mother's cellphone records online. Peter Van Sant: I saw the last person who called her. It was Viktoria. The call had come in at 11 p.m., and there were no other calls after it. Nadia Ford: And that's it. And then my heart dropped. I just cried. I just left everything. Nadia left everything in her Brooklyn apartment and headed straight for the airport. Nadia Ford: I just started to have this feeling that something happened. Something terrible. Peter Van Sant: Something terrible happened. Nadia Ford launched her own investigation into her mother's disappearance. / Credit: CBS News About two years later, "48 Hours" brought Nadia back to her hometown of Krasnodar, about 800 miles south of Moscow near the Black Sea, to show us how she launched her own investigation into her mother's disappearance. First, Nadia convinced Viktoria to meet her outside her mom's apartment building, where she confronted her. She says Viktoria loudly insisted Alla was alive. Nadia Ford: And then she ran up the stairs and then I'm like, "Where are you going?' Why are you running?" Peter Van Sant: And she runs up here, are you chasing her? Nadia Ford: Exactly, yeah. Nadia told us she notified police and took them inside her mother's apartment. She quickly realized the place had been looted. Nadia Ford: (going through drawers): So, when I walk into the apartment nothing. Peter Van Sant: Credit cards gone? Nadia Ford: Nothing. Nothing. Family heirlooms and expensive jewelry gone. And whoever did this also stole most of her mother's life's savings: $40,000 Alla kept in a secret hideaway. Nadia Ford: And if you take this off and it's right over there. (shows Van Sant the area where her mother had hidden the cash) It was gone. And as far as Nadia could tell, so was Viktoria. Peter Van Sant: What are the police and the district attorney and what are these people saying to you? Nadia Ford: Just wait She's gonna come back. Undaunted, Nadia carried on her search, crisscrossing the country posting flyers. She pleaded with Viktoria by text. Nadia Ford: "Listen, I give you everything. My apartment, money, you name it. Please just give me my mom back." Nadia feared she was getting nowhere when she had an idea. Peter Van Sant (in car with Nadia): Nadia, where are we right now? Nadia Ford: We're on a highway that Viktoria had my mom. She'd noticed that most main roads had traffic cameras. What if one of them had photographed Viktoria the night Nadia's mother went missing? Peter Van Sant: But you gotta get access to these photographs. How do you do that? Nadia Ford: It's Russia. You buy things. You have money. You buy things. She checked every camera around town and circled outward. About 100 miles from the apartment. Nadia hit paydirt. Nadia Ford: (pointing to traffic camera): That's the camera, you see, right there. That's the camera that showed my mom was with Viktoria. The pictures look blurry, but Nadia was certain that Viktoria Nasyrova is behind the wheel and her mother was in the passenger seat. / Credit: Nadia Ford Pictures from that traffic camera changed everything. The pictures look blurry, but Nadia was certain that Viktoria Nasyrova is behind the wheel and equally sure she knew who is sitting in the passenger seat: her mom. Peter Van Sant: No doubt in your mind? Nadia Ford: No. Peter Van Sant: And what's the date that this picture was taken? Nadia Ford: October 5th in the morning. Ten o'clock. Peter Van Sant: October 5th. The day that you lost all communication with your own mother. If the picture could be believed, it meant her mother could still be alive. Nadia Ford: This camera gave me hope. Nadia called Russian police about the pictures and was shocked at their response. Peter Van Sant: What does the detective say? Nadia Ford: He said, "I know. I have these pictures." With investigators now working the case, Nadia says they confirmed that Viktoria rented the car with plates matching what was seen on the traffic camera. They tracked her down and brought her in for a lie detector test. But before the results could come back, unbeknownst to the cops, Viktoria caught the first flight out of Russia. ON THE TRAIL OF A FUGITIVE Nadia Ford: She cannot get away with this. With Viktoria on the run, Nadia desperately continued her search for her mother hoping against hope to find her alive. Nadia Ford: I dedicated my life to that. I quit everything and everyone. I didn't believe that my mom is not alive. Nadia Ford and her mother Alla Alekseenko. / Credit: Nadia Ford But hope turned to heartbreak in April 2015 when she got a disturbing phone call. Charred human remains had been found in a remote area about a two-hour drive from Alla's apartment. Authorities called Nadia in to make an identification. Nadia Ford: I said, "No. That's not her. No. It's it's just remains." And then a few minutes later, I started looking at her teeth. Peter Van Sant: And you knew. You knew it was your mother. Nadia Ford: Yeah. And yeah. So, I basically recognized my mom by her teeth. The Russian town of Armavir is about 110 miles from Krasnodar. It's important to this case because it's where Viktoria Nasyrova grew up and where Alla's body was dumped. Nadia Ford: The body was here. Nadia Ford: Viktoria took everything from me. My family, my life, my mom, my everything. An international warrant was issued for Viktoria Nasyrova's arrest. By this time, Interpol already had issued an international arrest warrant for Viktoria Nasyrova in Alla's murder. Nadia went home to Brooklyn determined as ever to track down Viktoria Nasyrova. On a whim, she turned to Facebook. And you'll never guess whose face popped up on the screen. Nadia Ford: Viktoria was posting pictures all over the Facebook. Checking in at this place and that place. Beautiful life. she flew to Mexico. Peter Van Sant: Having a great time. Nadia Ford: Yeah. And from Mexico she flew to New York. Nadia reported all this to U.S. police and immigration officials. But they couldn't find Viktoria. That's when Nadia started working with private investigator and former New York City detective Herman Weisberg. He combed through Viktoria's Facebook profile with an experienced eye for detail. Herman Weisberg: I never look at what people want me to see on these sites. I'm used to looking at everything except for what's supposed to draw your attention in. Late at night, Weisberg meticulously studied every photograph and made a remarkable discovery right on Viktoria's face. Herman Weisberg found an important clue in this photo of Viktoria Nasyrova. Other photos posted to her Facebook page would reveal even more clues. / Credit: ViktoriaNasyrova/Facebook Herman Weisberg: (pointing to a photo of Viktoria): This particular picture was the most beneficial. She's wearin' the Ray-Ban sunglasses that are mirrored, and she took a great picture for us to to see the dashboard of the car. But more importantly, the stitching on that back headrest. Peter Van Sant (pointing to the stitching in the photo): This right here? Herman Weisberg: Yes, this black leather with a light gray stitching on it. I decided the next morning, I was going to be at a big parking lot at a train station. He walked row after row of vehicles, peering into windows, hoping to find the make and model that had that stitching. Herman Weisberg: And it's a big hub for the railroads. Peter Van Sant: Hundreds of cars in here. Herman Weisberg: Yeah. Probably thousands all over the place. So, it's real easy to look for the kinda detail I was looking for. Then, a Chrysler sedan caught his eye. Peter Van Sant: So, you look inside the car and what do you see? Herman Weisberg: All right, it's got the same stitching. Peter Van Sant: And show me on your phone. There's her mirrored sunglasses. Herman Weisberg: Yup. The stitching over here. It turns out that only a Chrysler 300 had the stitching and dashboard layout. Now, the hard part: finding the specific car Viktoria was driving. Herman Weisberg: Again, this was such a wild goose chase at this point. But Weisberg saw that a series of likes on Viktoria's Facebook page were clustered around Sheepshead Bay, a Russian neighborhood in Brooklyn. Peter Van Sant: So, you sent some of your investigators to look for one of these Chrysler 300s. Did they have any luck? Herman Weisberg: Well, yeah. We found a bunch of them. And the next day I had somebody run the license plates and, luckily, we found one that came back to a Russian sounding name. Weisberg took our "48 Hours" crew into the area he searched and called Van Sant to the scene when he again found the Chrysler 300 at the heart of this investigation. Peter Van Sant: This is it. Herman Weisberg: Yeah. Peter Van Sant: This is the car. Herman Weisberg: This is the car, yeah. Peter Van Sant: Take a look inside. You see the stitching? Herman Weisberg: Yeah. Hard to miss now. Peter Van Sant: There it is. Herman Weisberg: Now you see how unique it is, right? Peter Van Sant: Yeah. This is only an area of 8.5 million people. And you found the car. Herman Weisberg: It wasn't a needle in a haystack. You had to find the haystack first. And when Weisberg went to the address connected to that car, the building looked familiar. Weisberg had seen it before in another one of Viktoria's selfies. / Credit: CBS News Herman Weisberg: When you look at it and you see that that telephone pole and the location of that manhole cover and that manhole cover If you look over there, you've got the telephone pole and you've got the two manhole covers. Peter Van Sant: This is brilliant, Herman. Through that reflection in her in her glasses, you figure out this is the apartment building where the man who owns that Chrysler 300 lives. And with Viktoria in the picture, you thinking she might be living with this guy? Herman Weisberg: Itshe it looks like she took a selfie there. And it and it all starts to make sense. Amazingly, the woman Russian authorities wanted for the murder of Nadia's mother, was now living with her boyfriend in Nadia's own backyard. Nadia Ford: Four or five blocks away. Peter Van Sant: You gotta be kidding me. Nadia Ford: No. Peter Van Sant: Did you try to go find her? Nadia Ford: No. Peter Van Sant: Why? Nadia Ford: 'Cause I would kill her. Herman Weisberg: We got lucky early on. And we spotted Viktoria and her boyfriend out here. The boyfriend was the owner of the Chrysler 300 and lived in that apartment building. That boyfriend told "48 Hours" that he eventually became one of Viktoria's victims himself. He says not only did she steal from him, but that she killed his beloved beagle "Joey." Herman Weisberg: Apparently Viktoria got very jealous of the dog getting all of the spotlight in that house, and decided to poison the beagle, allegedly on the beagle's birthday. I'm a dog lover, so that's tough. And Joey the beagle's demise didn't sit well with Viktoria's neighbors, either. Karen Hill: She killed his dog, that bitch. She killed his dog. Herman Weisberg: Every time you learn something else about this woman, you realize that if she was left un-arrested, this coulda really ended poorly for Brooklyn (laughs). But now Weisberg knew the hunt was finally over. He says he called Interpol and Homeland Security but neither one agreed to take action. So, he alerted the NYPD and on March 20, 2017, the police made their move. The woman who had once posed as a dominatrix, suddenly found herself in handcuffs. Viktoria Nasyrova is arrested by authorities on March 20, 2017. / Credit: Gregory P. Mango Nadia Ford: I just cried. I I couldn't believe that it's actually happened. It's a miracle. Detective Kevin Rodgers couldn't believe it when his phone rang. Det. Kevin Rodgers: Brooklyn advises us they had this woman, Viktoria Nasyrova, in their custody. Rodgers says the cheesecake case suddenly started making sense. Det. Kevin Rodgers: Olga had something that Viktoria wanted, and it wasn't money. And it wasn't handbags. He says the instant he started reviewing police evidence photos he saw something that made it clear exactly what Viktoria was after. An ID of Olga's was found in Viktoria's apartment the picture looked eerily similar to Viktoria herself. During a search of Victoria Nasyrova's apartment, investigators found an ID card belonging to Olga Tsvyk. Investigators were convinced Nasyrova had intended to kill Tsvyk in order to assume her identity. / Credit: Olga Tsvyk | ViktoriaNasyrova/Facebook Det. Kevin Rodgers: I think she wanted to kill this woman and assume her identity. To back up his theory, Rodgers knew he would need to prove that Olga's cheesecake had been poisoned. When he sent the container from Olga's home to a lab, they found nothing. But when Rodgers decided to send it for more extensive testing, he got a hit. Det. Kevin Rodgers: Phenazepam is a sedative primarily used at the time in Russia. Peter Van Sant: It makes you sleepy? Olga Tsvyk: Sleepy, then coma, then death. Rodgers learned that Phenazepam is especially dangerous in a hot environment. Remember, the heater in Olga's room had been left on high. And Viktoria's DNA was on the cheesecake box. Peter Van Sant: All these pieces of the puzzle. Det. Kevin Rodgers: Puzzle. Peter Van Sant: They've come together. Det. Kevin Rodgers: Absolutely. Peter Van Sant: And, so, you think this was this was a planned murder. Det. Kevin Rodgers: Absolutely. Viktoria was charged with attempted murder for the attack on Olga, assault and grand larceny. Before trial, she agreed to sit down with "48 Hours" at New York's Rikers Island Jail. VIKTORIA NASYROVA COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH "48 HOURS" AND A JURY We'd heard cruel and colorful stories about Viktoria Nasyrova for months, so in 2017, when "48 Hours" interviewed her in jail as authorities investigated her for attempted murder in Olga's case, we weren't sure what to expect. Peter Van Sant (holding photo of Nadia and Alla): Would you look at this. Viktoria Nasyrova: Yeah. Peter Van Sant: This is Alla. Viktoria Nasyrova: Yes. She insisted she had nothing to do with the disappearance of Nadia's mother Alla. Peter Van Sant: Viktoria, did you kill Alla? Viktoria Nasyrova: No. Peter Van Sant: You did not. Viktoria Nasyrova: No. Peter Van Sant:There's a woman named Olga who looks a lot like you who claims that you tried to kill her by giving her a piece of poisoned cheesecake. You wanted her dead so you could steal her identity. Viktoria Nasyrova: I know whom you mean. I know this young woman. I can tell you that I did not force her to eat it. Peter Van Sant: You're telling me all of these accusations against you all of that is false? Viktoria Nasyrova: No. I admit doing a part of it, but I will only talk about it at the trial. Viktoria Nasyrova would be in custody for nearly six years, as the pandemic caused delays, before she stood trial for the poisoning of Olga Tsvyk. When the case went to court in January 2023, the media were watching. Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: There are elements in this case you won't find anywhere else. The beautician, the cheesecake Peter Van Sant: In all the evidence you have in this case, what is the most important in your opinion? Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: We're looking at it right here. It's this container The cheesecake container / Credit: CBS News The cheesecake box from Olga's garbage still has crumbs left inside. Outlandish as it is, prosecutor Litourgis tells jurors in opening statements they should see it as a potential murder weapon. PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court): This is not a joke. It's not just a story. This defendant intended to kill this woman and steal her identity. He calls Olga first, to highlight the human consequences. PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court): And she's going to explain to you everything that happened to her. Everything that she can remember, of course. Prosecutor. Dino Litourgis: She was poisoned with something that impacted her memory. Cameras were not allowed to record witness testimony. Olga makes it clear that talking about the details of her ordeal is still like reliving a bad dream and testifying in front of her alleged attacker traumatizes her all the more. Peter Van Sant: Was she looking at you? Olga Tsvyk: Uh, yeah, she looked at me. Peter Van Sant: What did you see on her face, in her eyes? Olga Tsvyk: Um, you know, she's smiling. The state also calls Nadia Ford. Nadia Ford: She was smiling. She was smirking. Nadia Ford: I was trying to get get her look, look at me. Look at the person who mother you killed. Look look into my eyes, remember them for the rest of your life. The judge has strictly limited prosecutors from going into specifics about the murder charges facing Viktoria in Russia, so they're hoping Nadia can finesse the details and still get the point across. Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: I'll tell you it was a risky strategy. Peter Van Sant: What has she told them that you think helps your case? Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: What she told the jury is that something serious happened in Russia. It's one thing for me to say the crime was serious and it's another thing for a witness to come in and show with her body language, with her eyes, with her overall demeanor, that this was an incredibly serious crime that Viktoria Nasyrova was wanted for. Nadia Ford: I was staring at her. I just her to look at me. She didn't look at me once. Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: I was almost certain in the beginning of the trial that Viktoria was going to testify. I know that she likes to talk. Viktoria Nasyrova spent nearly six years in custody, waiting for her trial through pandemic delays. The case of the poison cheesecake went to court in January 2023. / Credit: CBS News/Liz Caholo As it turned out, Viktoria declined to testify and answer questions. But something she did say made it into the trial. Something she said to Peter Van Sant in a part of her "48 Hours" interview published online. PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court): It's in evidence. Peter Van Sant asked this woman in English. "There's a woman named Olga who claims that you tried to kill her by giving her a piece of poisoned cheesecake." Litourgis has someone read her answer into the record. VIktoria Nasyrova (replying to Peter Van Sant) I know whom you mean. I know this young woman. I can tell you that. but I did not force her to eat it. Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: For me as an individual she's guilty with that statement. He points out to the jury that nowhere in Victoria's answer to does she actually deny poisoning the cheesecake. DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court): Ms. Nasyrova is not guilty of these charges! But defense attorney Christopher Hoyt doesn't call a single witness to help him prove it. Instead, he argues the spectacle of this case obscures the specifics: details that amount to reasonable doubt. DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court): There is no direct evidence of anyone seeing Viktoria Nasyrova putting Phenazepam in cheesecake. He reminds the jury Olga's doctors didn't find anything unusual in her system. And he says there was nothing particularly unusual about Viktoria's life in New York, either. DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court): She's been just living in the U.S. using her normal name That's just the point, says the prosecutor. Victoria's US visa was set to expire. She was scared of facing charges in Russia and needed a new identity to help her hide. PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court): There's only two categories of people that need someone else's ID you have college kids under the age of 21 who want to borrow their buddies' ID to go drink and then on the other hand, you have international fugitives who need someone's ID as a lifeline to stay in this country and not go back to Russia. DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court): This is not a case about what happened in Russia And the defense insists that even if Viktoria poisoned the cheesecake, it's not enough to prove she wanted Olga dead. DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court): I submit to you that they have not proven that intent. PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court): This case has more than you need to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that this defendant is guilty. But will the jury agree? VERDICT: WERE POISON CHEESECAKE & JUSTICE SERVED? Peter Van Sant: When this jury goes out to deliberate, what's going through your mind? Prosecutor Melinda Katz: What's going through my mind is that they understand the diabolical calculation that occurred for this crime. Prosecutor Dino Litrougis' boss, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz says Viktoria Nasyrova is a lot smarter and more committed than the average criminal defendant. Prosecutor Melinda Katz: It takes patience, and it takes planning. But it takes the jury in her trial only an hour-and-a-half to reach a verdict. MAN IN COURT: How say you in count number one of the indictment charging the defendant Viktoria Nasyrova with attempted murder in the second degree guilty or not guilty? JUROR: Guilty. Guilty of attempted murder in the second degree. Peter Van Sant: Were there tears? Olga Tsvyk: Yes. At sentencing, Olga tells the court her suffering went on long after Viktoria's attack. Olga Tsvyk, center, and Nadia Ford, right, react to the guilty verdict. / Credit: CBS News/Liz Caholo OLGA TSVYK (in court): She caused me to lose trust in people. I have difficulty to trust people and I cannot know for sure what their true intentions are. I am grateful that this person will be punished for what she did to me. The maximum punishment is 25 years in prison. But at sentencing, Judge Kenneth Holder gives her less. JUDGE KENNETH HOLDER: You are an extremely dangerous woman. I sentence you to 21 years in jail. With credit for time served, Viktoria may be out in 15. Even so, she has some choice words for the court as she is led away, barely audible under her mask. VIKTORIA NASYROVA: F*** you. Herman Weisberg: She's a narcissistic, homicidal maniac. That's what narcissistic, homicidal maniacs say when they something everything goes bad for them. Victoria's time behind bars has already been rough. In 2018 at Rikers Island jail in New York, she was assaulted by fellow inmates and suffered multiple injuries to her face. And when she's done serving her time in America, Viktoria faces deportation and murder charges back in Russia. Peter Van Sant (to Nadia after sentencing): I know there's great satisfaction for you that Viktoria's finally going to prison. But it's not for what she did to your mom. Is that still an emptiness inside for you? Nadia Ford: I feel better. at least I know, now for next 15 years, she's not going to hurt anyone. Two of the people Viktoria has hurt most have resolved to draw strength from each other. Since tragedy unexpectedly brought them together, Nadia and Olga have become the best of friends. Olga Tsvyk: When we met, I feel like I I knew Nadia all my life. Nadia Ford: She's very kind, very nice, open hearted, like, you know, Kind of reminds me of my mom. Olga Tsvyk: Nadia ... She went through hell. They seem to know it takes one victim of Viktoria Nasyrova to truly understand another. Peter Van Sant: Do you think the two of you will be friends for life? Olga Tsvyk: I think, yes. In 2018, Viktoria Nasyrova sued New York City for negligence in the Rikers Island jail attack. The city settled the case, paying Nasyrova $325,000. Produced by Josh Yager. Stephen A. McCain is the development producer. Richard Barber is the producer-editor. Morgan Canty is the associate producer. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. 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 The Polish military leadership is preparing a reform that will involve the formation of a large "active military reserve". Source: Polish news outlet Onet, as reported by European Pravda Details: Poland's Defence Ministry is considering creating an "active reserve" of about 150,000 military personnel by 2039. This reserve will include individuals who have undergone training, sworn an oath, and are under the age of 55, or 63 for officers. Within the framework of the reform under discussion, the Polish Armed Forces aim to shift the focus to forming an active reserve of military personnel who will be attached to specific units and update their skills together with them while significantly improving the quality of training and equipment. "We are now convinced that the possible war will be long and bloody, and most of the regular military will not see its end... It will be ended by the reservists," said General Wiesaw Kukua, Chief of Poland's General Staff. "There will be major changes in this area in the next 2-3 years... We want to shift the focus from a 'passive reserve' to an active reserve that is constantly in touch with specific units, participating in their daily routine... This will also mean changes in the quality of training and equipment availability," he added. The general explained that inclusion in the "active reserve" will be voluntary. Background: Romania's president has recently suggested that the country needs more reservists. Denmark plans to expand conscription to women and extend the enlistment period. Support UP or become our patron! Polands Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski has said that he "wont be surprised" if the Russian Federation attacks Poland, though he thinks that in this scenario, Russia would lose. Source: Radosaw Sikorski in an interview with Bild, as reported by European Pravda Quote from Sikorski: "Russia attacked Poland many times throughout the 500 years of our history. So we wont be surprised. But in this scenario, Russia will lose, because we, the West, are a lot stronger than Russia. Ukraine is not fighting alone. In contrast to what often happened in the past, we wont be fighting alone." Details: When asked whether Russia might attack a NATO country, Sikorski said that German politicians "seem to accept that Russia would only be ready in four or five years and by then, Germany would also be ready". "But the thing is, before Russia gets to Germany, it has to go through several other countries," Sikorski added. Background: Radosaw Sikorski, Polands Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that it was not certain that Donald Trump would strip away all aid for Ukraine and support the Kremlin if he is elected the president of the US. Sikorski also said that he finds no reason to be concerned about Russia using nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) El Paso Police are investigating a crash with serious injuries that happened early Sunday morning, April 28 in West El Paso, they said. The crash happened at Mesa and Castellano, police said. Police sent out an alert to media at about 3:30 a.m. but did not say when the crash happened. Fire dispatch said that two vehicles were involved in the crash that happened at about 1:15 a.m. At least two people were transported Code 3 (serious injuries) Police said the Special Traffic Investigations Unit responded and is looking into what caused the crash. This is a developing story and we will update it when we learn more. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Police looking for person who broke into Northeast business WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said they are looking for a suspect who broke into a Northeast D.C. business. MPD: 5 more teens arrested in connection to CVS robbery in Navy Yard MPD said that on April 27 at about 6:40 a.m., the man entered through a window of a business in the 1200 block of H Street, Northeast and stole items before leaving. The suspect was seen in this surveillance footage: Credit: MPD Anyone with information can call police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the Departments TEXT TIP LINE at 50411. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. FILE - Police tape cordons off the scene of a crime in Levittown, Pa., Saturday, March 16, 2024. Police departments reported a year-over-year increase in sworn officers in 2023 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began and since the 2020 police killing of George Floyd spurred nationwide protests and increased scrutiny of police, according to a survey released by the Police Executive Research Forum. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) PHILADELPHIA (AP) Police departments across the United States are reporting an increase in their ranks for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 killing of George Floyd, which led to a historic exodus of officers, a survey shows. More sworn officers were hired in 2023 than in any one of the previous four years, and fewer officers overall resigned or retired, according to the 214 law enforcement agencies that responded to a survey by the Police Executive Research Forum, or PERF. Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers spurred nationwide protests against police brutality and heightened scrutiny of law enforcement. As more and more officers left, many of the departments had to redeploy stretched resources by shifting officers away from investigative work or quality of life issues such as abandoned vehicles or noise violations to handle increases in crime and, in some cases, the shortages meant slower response times or limiting responses to emergencies only, police officials say. I just think that the past four years have been particularly challenging for American policing," said Chuck Wexler, executive director of PERF, a nonprofit policing think tank based in Washington, D.C. "And our survey shows were finally starting to turn a corner. Individual departments are turning that corner at different rates, however, according to Wexler, who noted many are still struggling to attract and keep officers. As a whole, the profession isn't out of the woods yet, he said. The Associated Press left phone and email messages with several unions and police departments to ask about increased hiring. The survey shows that while small and medium departments had more sworn officers than they did in January 2020, large departments are still more than 5% below their staffing levels from that time, even with a year-over-year increase from 2022 to 2023. The survey also showed smaller departments with fewer than 50 officers are still struggling with a higher rate of resignations and retirements. The survey asked only for numbers, Wexler said, so it's hard to say whether those officers are leaving for larger departments or leaving the profession altogether. He also said smaller departments, which account for 80% of agencies nationwide, were underrepresented in the responses PERF received. Many larger departments have increased officer pay or started offering incentives such as signing bonuses for experienced officers who are willing to transfer, something smaller departments can't really compete with. At least a dozen smaller departments have disbanded, leaving the municipalities they once served to rely on state or county help for policing. But even some of the highest-paying large departments are still struggling to get new hires in the door. I dont think its all about money. I think its about the way people perceive their job and feel they are going to be supported, Wexler said. You have West Coast departments that are paying six figures, but still seeing major challenges in hiring. In addition to pay and bonuses, many agencies are reexamining their application requirements and hiring processes. Wexler believes some of those changes make sense, including allowing visible tattoos, reweighing the importance of past financial issues and processing applicants' background checks faster. But he cautioned that PERF does not support lowering standards for training or for applicants. Maria Maki Haberfeld, chair of the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, says departments have been too focused on officer numbers. She worries some are lowering education requirements and other standards to bolster numbers instead of trying to find the best people to police their communities. Policing is a real profession that requires more skills and more education than people can understand," she said. "Its not about tattoos or running a mile in 15 minutes. Its really more about emotional intelligence, maturity and making those split-second decisions that dont use deadly force. Haberfeld also cautioned that any staffing gains made through incentives could easily be erased, especially as officers, including some in riot gear, have been seen breaking up protests against the Israel-Hamas war at universities across the country. In policing, it takes decades to move forward and a split second for the public attitude to deteriorate, she said. PERF's survey showed a more than a 20% drop in resignations overall, from a high of almost 6,500 in 2022 to fewer than 5,100 in 2023. They are still up over early pandemic levels in 2020, however, when a few more than 4,000 officers resigned across all responding departments. As with the hiring increases, the rate of decrease in retirements tended to depend on the size of the departments. There were fewer retirements in 2023 than in 2019 at large departments, slightly more retirements at medium departments and elevated retirements at small departments. The survey found a steep drop in resignations at large agencies with 250 or more officers and medium-size agencies with between 50 and 249 officers. In addition to pay and benefit increases, the improved retention can be partly attributed to a shift in how some public officials view their public safety departments, Wexler says. We went from having public discourse about defunding the police just a few years ago to public officials waking up to the fact their workforce is leaving, he said. I don't think theres any question that there has been a sea change among political leaders. GAZA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday warned of a possible Israeli attack on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, expressing his fear of the displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank to Jordan after the end of the conflict. Abbas said in a speech during a special meeting of the World Economic Forum hosted by Saudi Arabia, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. "If Israel invades the city of Rafah, where most of the people of the Gaza Strip gather, the biggest catastrophe in the history of the Palestinian people will occur, and they will be displaced outside the Gaza Strip," stressed the president. "We called for an end to the aggression and to supply the population with the humanitarian supplies they need, and under no circumstances will we accept the displacement of Palestinians, whether from Gaza or the West Bank outside their homeland," he added. Abbas also called on European countries to recognize the State of Palestine and recognize it as a full member state of the United Nations. "There must be a political solution that brings together the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Jerusalem in an independent Palestinian state through an international conference. This is what we have called for since October 7 (last year) until this day," he added. He noted that "while Israel has the right to obtain security, Palestinians also have the right to obtain the right to self-determination, an independent state like the rest of the peoples of the world." Meanwhile, Abbas expressed his fears that Israel would displace Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan after the end of the Gaza conflict. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a plan for the ground operation in Rafah but did not allow the army to move yet, according to Israeli media. Rafah has become the last refuge for more than 1.4 million Palestinians after their displacement from the northern and central Gaza Strip in light of the ongoing violence between Hamas and Israel for more than six months. Israel launched 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Five years after a murder on the East Side, police are still searching for leads. On May 5, 2019, Columbus police received a 911 call, advising there was a body next to a fence in the alley behind the 1300 block of Gault Street, in the Driving Park neighborhood. Officers and Columbus Division of Fire personnel arrived to find Jayelin Wilson dead from a gunshot wound. This embedded content is not available in your region. A preliminary investigation that Wilson, 23, was engaged in a gun battle with at least one other person. At around the same time, two people of interest walked into Grant Medical Center with gunshot wounds, but no arrests have been made. Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is asking anyone with information about this crime to call 614-461-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrime.org and submit your tip. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Polish FM: Trump's stance on Ukraine is 'not as black and white' Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's attitude towards Ukraine is "not as black and white as some people think," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in an interview with Axel Springer media company, published in Politico on April 28. Trump has said he would not commit to providing Ukraine with defense assistance if he won the 2024 election. Trump's sway over the party has contributed to the six-month deadlock of the $61 billion in U.S. aid for Ukraine. Trump also described Russian President Vladimir Putin's move to launch the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as "genius" and "savvy" in 2022. Sikorski, in turn, reminded that Trump sent Ukraine anti-tank missiles before the full-scale invasion "when others were not doing it," referring to the Javelin anti-tank missiles, first supplied in 2018. "Donald Trump was right in urging us all in Europe to spend more on defense," the minister said. Read also: Sikorski: We want to help Ukraine, but you must decide how long you are ready to go on The Polish Foreign Minister also said he "did not hear any protests from Trump" over the $61 billion package for Ukraine. "So, I hope that candidate Trump has seen that this opposition to helping Ukraine is not actually popular in the United States, that it is harming his chances (to be re-elected)," he added. Trump met with Polish President Andrzej Duda in New York on April 17. The parties discussed Russia's war against Ukraine, among other issues. After the meeting, the former U.S. president said both Ukraine's "survival and strength" was important for the U.S. and that he was "behind Poland all the way." Read also: Trump reportedly thought Ukraine must be part of Russia as president Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Polish foreign minister does not believe that Putin will use nuclear weapons against Ukraine Radosaw Sikorski, Foreign Minister of Poland, finds no reason to be concerned about Russia using nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Source: Bild, as reported by European Pravda Quote: "We have no evidence that he [Putin] is preparing to use nuclear weapons," Sikorski said. The Polish minister pointed out that the Russian ruler cannot single-handedly decide to launch a nuclear strike. "He cannot utilise this weapon by just clicking a button. The standard line of command from the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff applies to its use. As a result, he must persuade his generals to obey such an order. These generals understand that obeying such an order entails becoming a war criminal. At this point, they will have to choose between fulfilling such an order and getting rid of Putin," Sikorski said. Furthermore, he claims that the US has "very decisively" informed Russia that it will use conventional weapons "to destroy any Russian target in the occupied territories of Ukraine" if the Russian Federation launches a nuclear strike. "I think this is a strong deterrent," Sikorski added. Sikorski previously warned against assuming that if Donald Trump wins the US presidential election, he will abandon Ukraine and play into the hands of the Kremlin. He also expressed confidence that the United States' decision to give Ukraine with ATACMS long-range missiles will persuade the German chancellor to provide Ukraine with Taurus missiles. Support UP or become our patron! Pope Francis waves to faithful at the end of a mass in St. Mark's Square. Alessio Marini/LPS via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Pope Francis has warned against the excessive commercialization of art and the destructive impact of the market on creativity during a speech to artists at the Venice Art Biennale. "Certainly, the market promotes and canonizes, but there is always the risk that it 'vampirizes' creativity, robs innocence and ends up deciding coldly what is to be done," the leader of the Catholic Church said in a speech on Sunday. "Today it is more necessary than ever to make a clear distinction between art and the market." Shortly beforehand, Pope Francis met with around 80 prisoners in the women's prison on the island of Giudecca in the Venetian lagoon, where he sought to highlight the problem of overcrowding in many prisons. The Holy See set up the Vatican Pavilion at the Biennale, one of the most prestigious events on the art world's calendar, inside the prison. The works of art on display in the Vatican Pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale were created in dialogue with the imprisoned women. Entitled "With My Eyes," the pavilion focuses on the themes of human rights and people on the margins of society, Vatican News reported. In his remarks to the prisoners, the pontiff also emphasized the opportunities that imprisonment offers for a new beginning. "Paradoxically, a stay in a prison can be the beginning of something new, the rediscovery of unsuspected beauty in ourselves and others, as symbolized by the artistic event that you are hosting and to whose project you are actively contributing," said the pope. Anyone wishing to visit the Vatican's pavilion at the prison must register via a website; four groups of 25 people are to be admitted each day. Sunday's visit was be the first time that a pope has attended the major exhibition of contemporary art, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every two years. The 60th edition opened on April 20 and runs until November 24. The 87-year-old pontiff flew from Rome to Venice by helicopter in the morning. After visiting the prison, he took a motorboat to the main island of Vencie. He plans to celebrate a holy mass on St Mark's Square in the city. Pope Francis waves to faithful at the end of a mass in St. Mark's Square. Alessio Marini/LPS via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) Portsmouth Police are responding to an incident after a vehicle crashed into a building on the 3100 block of London Boulevard Saturday night. WAVY-10 is on the scene to get more information. No information regarding injuries have been officially released by police. Check back for updates. If you have any information about this case, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, downloading the P3 tips app to a mobile device, or visiting www.P3tips.com and submitting a tip. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Protests amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at the UCLA in Los Angeles Protests amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at the UCLA in Los Angeles By David Swanson and Rich McKay LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Protests at U.S. universities showed no sign of slowing over the weekend, with more arrests on campuses across the country and skirmishes between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators at UCLA, where a tent encampment was set up last week. As the size of the pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California at Los Angeles expanded in recent days, counter-protesters have become increasingly vocal and visible on the campus, although both sides remained peaceful until Sunday. That changed when some demonstrators broke through a barrier that the school had set up to separate the two factions, Mary Osako, UCLA's vice chancellor for UCLA strategic communications, said. Members of both factions shoved one another and shouted slogans and insults, and in some cases traded punches. Pushing and shoving persisted for some time among pockets of demonstrators, but campus police armed with batons eventually separated the sparring groups. "UCLA has a long history of being a place of peaceful protest, and we are heartbroken about the violence that broke out," Osako said in a statement. Chanting had ceased by around 3:30 p.m. local time and pro-Palestinian protesters trickled back to the encampment, according to the Reuters photographer at the scene. Los Angeles police were not involved in quelling the disturbance, a representative of the campus police said, and no arrests had been made. The dueling demonstrations on the UCLA campus involved at least some people from outside the university, according to an earlier statement by the university, which said it had allowed two groups on campus to express their views. Members of the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice planned to support the right of students to protest, according to the statement, while Stand in Support of Jewish Students, in partnership with Israeli-American Council, planned to oppose hatred and antisemitism on campus. NATIONWIDE PROTESTS In the past two weeks, pro-Palestinian protests have spread to college campuses across the U.S., triggered by the mass arrest of over 100 people at Columbia University more than a week ago. Since then, hundreds of protesters from California and Texas to Atlanta and Boston have been arrested as they emulated the encampments used by Columbia students to call attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Administrators, including those of Columbia, have said the protests, as unauthorized, break school rules, disrupt learning and have fostered harassment and antisemitism. Protesters are demanding a ceasefire in the war with Hamas and the divestment of university assets in companies involved with the Israeli military, and an end to U.S. military assistance to Israel. Student leaders have acknowledged that isolated incidents of antisemitism and harassment have occurred but blame outsiders they say have sought to hijack their movement. The Columbia campus was peaceful on Saturday, a school spokesman said, but crackdowns took place at a handful of other campuses. More than 200 people were arrested at a handful of schools, including Washington University in St. Louis, where 2024 Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. "They are sending in the riot police and basically creating a riot in an otherwise peaceful demonstration. So this is just shameful," Stein said in a statement. Washington University said in a statement that those arrested would face trespassing charges. 'STRONG FEELINGS' The nationwide protests have caught the attention of President Joe Biden. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on ABC News on Sunday the president acknowledges that many Americans have strong feelings about the war in Gaza. "He respects that and as he has said many times, we certainly respect the right of peaceful protest," Kirby said. "People should have the ability to air their views and to share their perspectives publicly, but it has to be peaceful." At the same time, Kirby said, the president condemns antisemitism and condemns hate speech. At USC, the administration last week canceled the main commencement ceremony after a decision to call off the valedictorian speech by a Muslim student, who responded by saying she was being silenced by anti-Palestinian hatred. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said on Sunday she believed that cancelling the commencement, with 65,000 people expected to attend, was a decision that USC "had to make." "They just did not feel that it was going to be safe," Bass said on CNN's "State of the Union." (Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta and David Swanson in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Maria Caspani in New York; Editing by Frank McGurty, Matthew Lewis and Diane Craft) Tianshui carved lacquerware is a time-honored traditional skill of China's Gansu. It's also a national intangible cultural heritage. A Kazakh student visits a carved lacquerware store in Tianshui to explore this folk handicraft. More than 2,500 gambling websites that had operated without a license were blocked in Ukraine as of April 27, the Prosecutor General's Office reported. The negative impacts of gambling, especially on the Ukrainian soldiers, have recently become a topic of public discussion in Ukraine as a petition demanding restrictions on online gambling reached the president's table in March. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on April 20 approving restrictions on online gambling and banning it for the military while martial law remains in force. Law enforcement officers are investigating over 450 criminal offenses related to the illegal organization of gambling as of late April, according to the statement by the Prosecutor General's Office. A total of 21 people were notified of suspicion, and 72 were indicted. A total of 169 such criminal offenses were registered in 2023, with 74 people being notified of suspicion, the Prosecutor General's Office said. Subscribe to Ukraine Daily newsletter News from Ukraine in your inbox Subscribe Several large companies are under investigation in relation to online gambling. In one of the cases, prosecutors are investigating the legalization of Hr 4.8 billion ($1.2 billion) in profits from illegal online gambling. Ukraine's parliament supported in the first reading on April 24 a bill strengthening the state's oversight over the gambling business. The bill proposes to abolish the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries and pass its responsibilities to the Digital Transformation Ministry. Other measures included further restrictions on online gambling, including a ban on advertising, finding tools to safeguard particularly vulnerable categories of the population, and tightening business control measures. In the first two months of 2024, gambling business in Ukraine paid Hr 2.2 billion ($56 million) in taxes, and Hr 10.4 billion ($267 million) in 2023, according to Danylo Hetmantsev, the chairman of the parliamentary Finance Committee. Read also: Zelensky says government to tighten control over online gambling Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. People gathered in Hamburg to demonstrate against Islamophobia, with some calling for a caliphate - Axel Heimken/Avalon More than 1,000 people marched through Hamburg on Saturday calling for a caliphate in Germany. Protesters gathered in the northern city for a mostly peaceful demonstration against Islamophobia, but among the masses were calls for an Islamic state. Joe Adade Boateng, leader of Muslim Interaktiv which organised the march, said in a speech at the march that Germany needed a righteous caliphate to remedy the misrepresentation Muslim groups have faced in the media. He was greeted with cheers of Allahu akbar, or God is great, by a mostly male crowd, some of whom were holding up signs reading Caliphate is the solution and Stop the media hate. People were also holding up copies of the local tabloid newspaper, Bild, with stories about Islam that had been smeared with red paint. Since war broke out between Israel and Hamas, Muslim groups have criticised Germanys strong support for Tel Aviv. At times that criticism has led to calls for more radical action, with Islamist groups flourishing on German social media. Muslim Interaktiv, a group under investigation by Hamburgs domestic intelligence for extremism, has grown to 24,000 followers on TikTok. Leader Boateng calls himself Raheem Boateng online and posts videos explaining why homosexuality is a sin. The group had previously organised a demonstration of 3,500 people against the public burning of the Koran in Sweden in February last year, and held an anti-Israel demonstration following the Hamas attacks on October 7. Crowds gathered in Hamburg to demonstrate against Islamophobia, with some calling for a caliphate - Axel Heimken/Avalon More than 1,000 people attended the protest in Hamburg organised by Muslim Interaktiv - Axel Heimken/Avalon Speaking earlier this month, Andy Grote, the Hamburg interior senator from the Social Democratic Party, singled out Muslim Interaktiv as he called for hard and decisive action to be taken against Islamic extremists. Lamya Kaddor, a Green MP, described the group as not only very dangerous, but also a completely marginal group among Germanys Muslims that have taken advantage of the Gaza issue. Volker Beck, the president of the German-Israeli Society, asked why the group had not been banned for their connections with Hizb ut-Tahrir. The calls for the government to take action against the group comes as politicians have been reluctant to soften support for Israel despite other world leaders saying that its army has been too aggressive in its war in Gaza and has caused a humanitarian disaster. Germany has been accused of suppressing free speech and imperilling democracy with bans on protests since October 7. Yanis Varoufakis, the outspoken former Greek finance minister, and Ghassan Abu Sittah, a doctor who was in Gaza for the first few months of the war, said Germany risked damaging its reputation internationally. Mr Varoufakiss lawyer said he has documents that show his client has been banned from Germany after he was due to speak at a pro-Palestine congress in Berlin that was cancelled by authorities. The German ambassador to Pakistan was greeted by protests on Saturday, with demonstrators 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. Earlier this month Nicaragua asked the UNs International Court of Justice to stop German weapons sales to Israel, claiming Berlin had breached the UN genocide convention with its supply of arms. 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. Pro-Palestinian protesters confronted guests arriving at the Washington, D.C. hotel where President Joe Biden is set to speak at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday evening, criticizing what they say is media complicity in the genocide of Gaza. With about 100 demonstrators in attendance, many of them dressed in Palestinian keffiyehs and watermelon symbols, they chanted free, free Palestine outside of the Washington Hilton, videos posted to social media show. Guests in evening wear could be seen passing protesters as they made their way toward the venue, with some of the demonstrators confronting them and chanting, Shame on you! Protestors lined the railing outside the Washington Hilton, which is hosting the White House Correspondents Dinner tonight. pic.twitter.com/k1OHrXnbTF Corbin Bolies (@CorbinBolies) April 28, 2024 We demand coverage! the protesters chanted at one point, holding signs that said Free Palestine and waving Palestinian flags. A large Palestinian flag could be seen hanging from the window of a room on the top floor of the Hilton, where the event will take place several stories below. Protestors wearing navy blue shorts which read PRESS are walking with White House Correspondents Assn. Dinner attendees, yelling shame on you and criticizing U.S. journalists coverage of war in Gaza. For @TheEagleOnline pic.twitter.com/dYdjIfT44W Owen Auston-Babcock (@foiafiend) April 27, 2024 According to the organizers, the demonstrations are meant to draw attention to the medias coverage of Israel and Gaza in addition to criticizing the Biden administrations handling of the conflict. The dinner, typically meant to honor journalists with a presidential roast, became a target of pro-Palestinian boycott in April, when several Palestinian journalists issued an open letter criticizing the event for its display of luxury while scores of media workers who have died covering Gaza are ignored. Not Just Columbia: Pro-Palestine Protests Roil Campuses Nationwide The White House Correspondents Dinner is an embodiment of media manipulation, trading journalistic ethics for access, the letter reads. For journalists to fraternize at an event with President Biden and Vice President Harris would be to normalize, sanitize, and whitewash the administrations role in genocide. Bidens motorcade will pass the demonstrators, who are protesting along the planned arrival route, before he arrives at the event. Hes scheduled to speak before a crowd of 3,000 this evening. 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. JOPLIN, Mo. A little more than two years have passed since Clesslynn Crawford was killed during a shootout between her father and the police. Today, family and community members held a demonstration, in hopes others would join in on the battle to get the name of the officer who shot her. When I found out about it, I was outraged, said Austin Hagston, protest organizer. Joplin resident Austin Hagston first heard about the Clesslynn Crawford case from a radio program last month around the anniversary of her death. Being that its been two years and I had heard nothing about it, it was just terrible to me, said Hagston. He organized this protest for two-year-old, who died during a hostage situation in Baxter Springs in March 2022. More details emerge in Baxter Springs shooting Clesslynns father, Eli Crawford, killed her mother, Taylor Shutte, in front of officers and then proceeded to fire hundreds of rounds at police officers. Officials say after Clesslynn was shot in the head, Crawford then killed himself, ending the hours-long standoff. The investigation revealed a JPD officer who has only been referred to as Sniper One fired the fatal shot. Joplin officer cleared in toddlers death The officer whos been unnamed fired the fatal shot at 9:35 on March 26, 2022, said Hagston. Hagston, along with several others, want Sniper Ones identity revealed. Legal battle over Sniper One identity intensifies The officer filed a lawsuit to keep his name out of all the reports in the case. Theres no accountability being held for this loss, said Hagston. The group says it would be justice for Clesslynn. You cant sweep something like this under the rug. You cant take a child away from a family and then pretend like it never happened, said Hagston. The protest eventually moved to 7th and Range Line, but organizers hope to hold another demonstration to draw more attention to the case. This event, it happened in my own backyard. I have a daughter whos the same age practically, and its just I couldnt sit this one out, you know, I had to stand up for this one, said Hagston. Billboard at 20th and Range Line, in Joplin. Joplin police issued a statement on the protest saying, We respect everyones right to peacefully protest as long as they maintain and adhere to pedestrian and traffic laws so as not to impede the transit of pedestrians and motorists not involved in their exercise of free speech. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Protesters in Germany call for Islamic fundamentalism: 'Caliphate is the solution' Protesters in Germany call for Islamic fundamentalism: 'Caliphate is the solution' More than 1,000 protesters gathered in Hamburg, Germany to take part in an Islamist demonstration over the weekend, German media reported. According to German newspaper Die Welt, the demonstration took place in the Steindamm neighborhood of Hamburg on Saturday afternoon. Muslim protesters carried a variety of signs in support of Islamic fundamentalism. One of the signs read "Kalifat ist die Losung," which translates to, "Caliphate is the solution." The protesters also yelled "Allahu Akbar," meaning "God is great," in Arabic. Hamburg police told Die Welt that there were roughly 1,100 participants. ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS FLOOD DC STREETS, TAKE AIM AT WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER: 'SHAME ON YOU!' Participants in an Islamist demonstration hold up a poster with the slogan "Caliphate is the solution." The protest was reportedly organized by a group called Muslim Interaktiv. According to the organization's social media, the protest was meant to stand against the "demoniz[ation of] all Islamic life in Germany." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "We will raise our voices together, inshallah," a translated post on X read. "Together against Islamophobic reporting, both in recent weeks and in recent months." The Hamburg protests came as anti-Israel protests have intensified across the world, while the Israel-Hamas war inches towards its eighth month. In the U.S., protesters at Columbia University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin and other schools have set up tents on their universities' quads as a sign of solidarity with Palestinians. ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS CONTINUE NATIONWIDE DISRUPTIONS WITH ESCALATIONS AT USC, HARVARD AND COLUMBIA Participants at an Islamist demonstration hold up a poster with the slogan "Andersdenken? Not in Germany" in the air. The war began on October 7, when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. Around 1,200 Israeli civilians were killed, igniting a fierce response from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Israel's military response has been criticized by anti-war groups for exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which IDF supporters have blamed on Hamas. In December, police in Berlin banned a pro-Palestinian rally planned for New Year's Eve out of fear of potential chaos and crimes. "The situation is emotional," Berlin police chief Barbara Slowik said at the time. "An influx of troublemakers is to be expected who could use the meeting to commit crimes. No meeting leader could keep such a development under control. That's why the police banned the demonstration." Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report. Original article source: Protesters in Germany call for Islamic fundamentalism: 'Caliphate is the solution' Hollywood stars, journalists and prominent politicians were met with a crowd of protesters of the Israel-Hamas war outside Saturdays White House Correspondents Dinner. There has been growing public discord over the war and President Joe Bidens handling of the conflict, as well as mainstream medias coverage of it. More from The Hollywood Reporter This years event at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. where the dinner has been held for decades is headlined by Saturday Night Live star Colin Jost, with several stars also in attendance, including Chris Pine, Molly Ringwald, Questlove and Rachel Brosnahan. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are also at the dinner. However, attendees were greeted by demonstrators holding banners and chanting Free, free Palestine and calls for a ceasefire as they arrived, according to videos posted on social media. At one point, protesters also dropped a Palestinian flag out of one of the Washington Hiltons windows. Biden reportedly avoided the large protest at the front of the hotel by arriving through a back entrance. But other attendees were seen in social videos walking through the demonstrations. Currently happening outside of the White House Correspondents Dinner: pic.twitter.com/Pz1tcyWWWx philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 27, 2024 The Associated Press reported that local law enforcement and the Secret Service arranged extra street closures and other measures to ensure the highest levels of safety and security for attendees, according to Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. Guglielmi added that the agency was working with local police to protect demonstrators right to assemble, however, we will remain intolerant to any violent or destructive behavior. The latest demonstrations came after student protesters took to college campuses across the country this week to express their discontent of the Israel-Hamas war. The protests led to multiple arrests at Emerson College in Boston and the University of Southern California after university officials called police to end the demonstrations and make arrests. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Protests in support of prisoners of war are held in Ukraine's largest cities photo Protest in the city of Lviv on 28 April. Photo: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War Protests in support of prisoners of war and the defenders of the city of Mariupol missing under special circumstances were held on 28 April in the cities of Kyiv, Lviv and Kharkiv. Source: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War 28 , : Protest in the city of Lviv on 28 April. Photo: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War Details: The representatives of the headquarters participated in the protests. Reportedly, thousands of people gathered in the streets of the largest Ukrainian cities. Friends and family of Ukrainian prisoners of war and the defenders missing under special circumstances, as well as volunteers and regular city residents with flags and posters with words of support formed symbolic human chains. 28 , : Protest on 28 April. Photo: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War In the city of Lviv near the monument of Taras Shevchenko, the families of defenders of Mariupol were joined by the wives and mothers of soldiers from other military units captured by Russians or missing under special circumstances. 28 , : Protest on 28 April. Photo: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War In the city of Kharkiv hundreds of people gathered near the Universitet metro station with posters about their loved ones held captive by the Russians. Support UP or become our patron! Two men secure traces and evidence next to a covered corpse outside a pub in Dusseldorf. One person was killed by gunfire in Duesseldorf on the early hours of 28 April. David Young/dpa A pub landlord was shot and killed outside his pub in Dusseldorf in the early hours of Sunday, prosecutors and police in the western German city said. According to the initial investigation, the shooting followed a dispute between the landlord and a man, which moved to the street outside the pub at around 2:45 am (0045 GMT). According to the police report, the man fired several shots at the landlord before re-entering the pub. A police patrol arrived soon after the incident and arrested an armed man in front of the pub. He did not offer any resistance. Attempts were made to resuscitate the 38-year-old landlord, but he died at the scene. The arrested man is reported to be a 52-year-old Kosovar who is resident in Germany. Whether the arrested man was the gunman remains under investigation. Police are investigating whether the assailant and the landlord knew each other previously. An empty shell casing from a firearm lies on the sidewalk outside a pub in Duesseldorf. One person was killed by gunfire in Duesseldorf on the early hours of 28 April. David Young/dpa Georgia Power received approval April 16 from state regulators for its revised source plan that included the construction of three methane gas turbines at Plant Yates in Coweta County. The Georgia Public Service Commission will hold a July 24 hearing on the certification for the Yates fossil fuels expansion, which several clean energy groups contend is costly, public and environmental threat. Grant Blankenship/Georgia Public Broadcasting The Georgia Public Service Commission is charged with ensuring that Georgians have access to safe, affordable, reliable electricity. They hold the key to our clean energy future, which is critical to our health and safety. Just five people regulate Georgia Powers monopoly of electricity generation for most of the nations eighth-largest state. In a time when the worldwide medical and scientific community is calling for rapidly eliminating the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation, Georgia Power and the PSC staff have agreed to new methane gas turbines and extended use of coal, which will emit dangerous air pollution associated with heart attacks and other heart disease, asthma and emphysema, and other lung diseases, dementia, strokes, cancer, and premature birth. As pediatricians, we recognize that phasing out the burning of fossil fuels is critical to protecting the health of todays children. We have spoken at several hearings in the last few years to educate PSC commissioners about the health effects of climate change and air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels like coal. During those hearings, we have heard many Georgians express their concerns about climate change. Weve seen mothers tear up with worry about their kids future, citizens concerned about soaring electricity costs, and young people express unease about bringing children into this world because they are fearful about the future. Despite the fact that the PSCs function is to ensure safe and reliable power for Georgians, and public hearings are an opportunity for them to hear from their constituents, these commissioners have openly and repeatedly responded during the public comment period by discrediting the very people they are sworn to protect. Citizens requests to require more renewable energy over fossil fuels have been met with deflection, disparaging comments, and disrespect. This is all a matter of public record. Through their questions, commissioners insinuated that the constituents concerns were invalid and irrelevant, when nothing could be further from the truth. Climate change is considered the greatest threat to human health, and youth especially will be forced to bear the health consequences over their lifetime in a warmer and more erratic climate. Youth deserve to be concerned and heard, because decisions made today will affect their safety and health over their lifetime. Already, the current generation is faced with a higher lifetime risk of extreme weather exposure from climate change. Survey data indicate that most Georgians are, in fact, concerned about a changing climate and think the governor and local officials should do more to address climate 73% believe that carbon dioxide emissions should be regulated as a pollutant. PSC commissioners are supposed to be guarding the safety of the sources of electricity for the public interest. In fact, however, they openly minimize and dismiss constituents legitimate concerns, allowing Georgia Power to make record profits at the expense of all of our health. For the safety of all Georgians, it is imperative that our Public Service commissioners heed the medical and scientific community in saying that fossil fuels are not safe for human health. They should include climate scientists and health experts on their staff to address one of their core missions, which is to ensure that Georgians have safe electricity sources. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Putin likely didnt intend for Navalny to die in February, US intelligence agencies assess: report Putin likely didnt intend for Navalny to die in February, US intelligence agencies assess: report Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didnt order the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny when the 47-year-old collapsed and died in February at an Arctic penal colony, U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded, according to a report. While the U.S. has concluded that the Kremlin attempted to kill Navalny in 2020, when he was poisoned by a Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent, and Putin has culpability in his death earlier this year, agencies like the CIA, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Department have assessed that Putin likely wouldnt have wanted him killed at that moment, according to the Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the matter. One factor among many in the assessment was that Navalnys death when he collapsed after a walk at the prison overshadowed Putins reelection, sources told the Journal. The U.S. increased sanctions on Russia after Navalnys death. "Make no mistake. Putin is responsible for Navalnys death," President Biden said earlier this year. A WINDOW INTO ALEXEI NAVALNY'S MIND BEFORE HIS DEATH Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didnt order the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny when the 47-year-old collapsed and died in February at an Arctic penal colony, U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded, according to the report. Former President Trump told Fox News in March that he thought Putin was "probably" to blame for Navalny's death after "Media Buzz" host Howard Kurtz asked him if he thought the 71-year-old leader bore "some responsibility." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "I dont know, but perhaps, I mean possibly, I could say probably, I dont know," Trump said. "Hes a young man, so statistically hed be alive for a long time so something happened that was unusual," Navalny had been in prison since 2021, after he returned to Russia from Germany where he had been in a hospital recovering from his poisoning. ALEXEI NAVALNY'S DEATH REPRESENTS MAJOR BLOW TO POLITICAL DISSENT IN RUSSIA After his death, the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District in Russia put out a statement that said: "On Feb. 16, 2024, in penal colony number 3, convict Navalny A.A. felt unwell after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness. "The medical staff of the institution arrived immediately, and an ambulance team was called. All necessary resuscitation measures were carried out, which did not give positive results. Doctors of the ambulance stated the death of the convict. The causes of death are being established." His cause of death has not been determined by the U.S. Russian media reports have claimed it was a blood clot. Navalny was Putin's most prominent opposition leader in Russia. Navalnys allies have called the U.S. assessment naive, and some European countries are skeptical that it wouldnt have been directed by Putin. Navalnys ally Leonid Volkov said in a statement that anyone claiming Putin didnt order his death, "clearly do not understand anything about how modern day Russia runs. The idea of Putin being not informed and not approving killing Navalny is ridiculous." Slawomir Debski, of the Polish Institute of International Affairs, said the chances of Navalnys death being unintentional were small. "Navalny was a high-value prisoner, politically, and everybody knew that Putin was personally invested in his fate," he said, according to the Journal. "The chances for this kind of unintended death are low." Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation has also said that Putin ordered his death to prevent his release in a potential prisoner swap with the U.S. Putin said in March that the two agreed to the swap. Original article source: Putin likely didnt intend for Navalny to die in February, US intelligence agencies assess: report BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A visiting Chinese Kuomintang party (KMT) delegation led by Fu Kun-chi on Sunday met with representatives of Taiwan businesspeople and youths on the mainland in Beijing, discussing topics such as the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, economic cooperation, and youth exchanges. During a meeting with representatives of Taiwan businesspeople, Fu said that the purpose of the KMT delegation's visit is to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. Lauding Taiwan businesspeople's contribution to the development of the Chinese nation, Fu said that facing the future, the Chinese nation needs to work together and forge ahead to ensure that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share peace and prosperity. Attending the meeting, Lee Cheng-hung, president of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland, said that the people of Taiwan yearn for peaceful development, and the majority of Taiwan businesspeople hope that cross-Strait exchanges can be restored to normal. Noting that mainland relevant departments on Sunday announced new measures concerning travel by mainland residents to Taiwan and confirmed the resumption of entry of agricultural and fishery products from Taiwan to the mainland, Lee called on Taiwan authorities to earnestly research and respond positively. When meeting with representatives of young people from Taiwan, Fu said that it is a valuable opportunity for young people from Taiwan to come to the mainland for development, pledging more encouragement and support for them. PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico It took Ana Elizabeth Melgar four tries to reach the U.S. border. Each time she made her way north, Mexican immigration authorities caught her and bused her south not to her home country of El Salvador but to a city in southern Mexico. "If you catch me and I am a migrant, send me back to my country," she said, while resting in a Catholic shelter in this Mexican border town across from Eagle Pass, Texas. "I get it: I don't belong here. But what is this nonsense that you're sending me south in Mexico? It's illogical." The Biden administration and Texas are taking credit for an unusual springtime lull in illegal border crossings, with the White House touting its legal pathways and Gov. Greg Abbott championing his troops and concertina wire. But analysts, immigrant advocates and migrants themselves say it's Mexico blocking the path north. Skirting Mexico's immigration checkpoints, hundreds of migrants arrived on a cargo train in Ciudad Juarez on April 24, 2024. The migrants said they boarded the train in Mexico state outside Mexico City and used four different trains to arrive to the border across from El Paso, Texas, where they intended to cross in the coming days. Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's immigration agency has intensified a busing program that aims to hurt migrants' chances of reaching the U.S. border or at least delay their arrival by apprehending them on highways, train routes and airports and shipping them to the southernmost part of his country. Lopez Obrador is likely motivated by economic interests. Last fall, a surge of hundreds of thousands of migrants flooding the U.S. Southwest created a hurdle to trade between Mexico and the U.S., its largest trading partner by far. Immigrant advocates say the policy drives vulnerable people into the arms of smugglers. Migrants report being extorted on routes north only to be intercepted at checkpoints and returned to southern Mexico to do it all again. "The Mexican government is busing people in circles," said Andrew Selee, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Migration Policy Institute. "The numbers aren't down because of busing in Texas," he said. "The numbers are down because of busing in Mexico." A Mexican immigration officer leads a migrant on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez to the tent where migrants are processed before being bused to the interior of Mexico on April 24, 2024. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported fewer than 189,372 migrant encounters in March, down slightly from 189,914 in February, during a time when migration typically starts to spike. Encounters were lower than normal through the first 10 days of April, too, according to congressional testimony. The drop bucked historical, seasonal trends and was "only the second time this century that encounters declined from February to March," said Adam Isacson, director of defense oversight for the Washington Office on Latin America. Mexico cracks down on migrants: 'more checkpoints, more buses' The busing program is a response, analysts say, to the surge in migrants arriving from Venezuela and other countries where Mexico, like the U.S., can't easily return people. Mexico's foreign ministry, interior ministry and immigration agency, the Instituto Nacional de Migracion, didn't respond to requests for comment. Mexico's crackdown is evident in the number of migrant encounters resulting in a person being detained or placed in a shelter but not deported. These encounters ballooned to more than 726,000 in 2023, according to Mexico's interior ministry, from fewer than 179,000 in 2021. In January and February alone, Mexico reported more than 230,000 encounters with migrants who were placed in detention or shelters and then released. Melgar was among them. On a recent Tuesday in April, while migrants milled about the shelter or ate breakfast, she sat alone on a courtyard bench and smiled. After more than four months of trying, she had made it to the U.S. border. It took Ana Elizabeth Melgar four tries to travel across Mexico to reach the U.S. border. She was staying at a Catholic migrant shelter in Piedras Negras in April while she decided what her next move was. While Melgar rested, the nun in charge, Sister Isabel Turcios, led a group of American women on a tour. Medical volunteers set up an outdoor clinic in the courtyard. There were 108 migrants sheltered that day hardly any compared with last year, Turcios said. In December, thousands had arrived daily in Piedras Negras and other points just south of the border. That month, on the U.S. side, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported its highest-ever one-month tally of migrant encounters: 301,981. That same month, presidents Biden and Lopez Obrador had a phone call in which they discussed "additional enforcement actions," and Biden dispatched a high-level team of negotiators to Mexico City. By mid-April, the checkpoints had multiplied. Mexican authorities had set up at least six immigration checkpoints between Monterrey and the border at Piedras Negras, according to Turcios' conversations with migrants. It had become onerous even for her, a nun from El Salvador, to travel overland. Sister Isabel Turcios, who runs a Catholic shelter in Piedras Negras, has seen the number of migrants arriving at her shelter decrease from the high numbers in December of 2023. "The authorities got together and decided: more checkpoints, more buses to take the migrants south," she said. "The numbers started to go down for that reason and because they were rounding them up. Texas' numbers haven't been going down "because of the barbed wire," she said. The migrants who make it through Mexico's checkpoints "keep passing under the wire." Texas border czar says 'tactical infrastructure' deters crossings That same day, across the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, the state's first "border czar" Mike Banks climbed up the sloped river bank to address his troops in Shelby Park, the city park that has become ground zero in the state's public battle with the Biden administration over border enforcement. Banks shouldered past reams of concertina wire and got nicked on the way. The three tiny cuts on his upper forearm were evidence, he said, of the difference between "concertina" wire that grabs the skin and "razor" wire that slices through it. It was a lesson in the "tactical infrastructure" that he says is deterring illegal border crossings in Texas. Texas Border Czar Mike Banks navigates in the Rio Grande past a group of migrants on the northern bank of the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas during his visit to Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas on April 16, 2024. "I will tell you that, right now, if it wasn't for what we are doing in the state of Texas, you wouldn't see our numbers the way they are," Banks told USA TODAY. Texas is taking credit for the dip in migration along the state's 1,254-mile border with Mexico. Banks, a former Border Patrol agent, and his boss, Gov. Greg Abbott, say the state's $11 billion Operation Lone Star is working, and the numbers prove it. Texas registered a sharper drop in migrant crossings in the first three months of the year than the border did as a whole, according to CBP statistics, while California saw crossings increase. "This entire sector is averaging a couple of hundred (migrants) a day versus 4,000 to 6,000 just in this park" last year, Banks said, referring to Border Patrol's Del Rio Sector. "So the deterrence is working and, look, Texas is going to protect Texas." Other Republican-led states are pitching in: 16 states have sent troops or law enforcement officers to support Operation Lone Star, according to a spokesman for the governor's office. The state has also aimed to export the border crisis across the country: Abbott's Operation Lone Star has bused more than 112,700 migrants to Democrat-led cities nationwide. In Texas, migrants are offered the bus rides and go voluntarily. In Mexico, authorities give them no choice. A Texas National Guard soldier puts up infrastructure in El Paso, Texas on April 26, 2024. During his recent visit to Eagle Pass, Banks, who advises the governor, addressed a circle of camouflage-clad agents of Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He joked with a group of Texas highway patrolmen as they took a break from the heat in a shade tent where two stray dogs napped. The river was quiet but for two Honduran men who had been at Turcios' shelter earlier that day. They waded along the U.S. bank looking for a spot to clamber up through the concertina wire. 'Cold, heat, hunger, thirst' Melgar, a mother of three, worked as a seamstress in Costa Rica for years, making money she couldn't earn in El Salvador. But she returned to her country when work dried up. In December, under pressure to pay for her now-teenage children's education, she left for Mexico with her sights set on the U.S. Mexican immigration agents clad in brown uniforms first picked up Melgar in the colonial city of Puebla, in southern Mexico, she said. The second time, they intercepted her in the northern factory town of Torreon. The third time, they caught her in Monterrey, a wealthy business hub south of Texas. Each time, she was bused back to a migrant detention center in southern Mexico, held for a few days and then released, she said. Migrants walk in the dry bed of the Rio Grande between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas on April 25, 2024. Despite the infrastructure put in place by the Texas National Guard, migrants who make it to Mexico's northern border are breaking through the concertina wire in hopes of turning themselves in to Border Patrol for processing. On her fourth attempt, she skirted multiple Mexican checkpoints by riding atop a cargo train and walking for miles through arid desert. She spent "days and days and nights of cold, heat, hunger and thirst," she said. Melgar said she applied for an appointment to cross the border lawfully, via the CBP One app, but she hasn't received one yet. "I'm waiting," she said in a WhatsApp message last week, while still at the shelter. "God willing, it will come soon." How long will Mexican enforcement last? Mexico's immigration crackdowns rarely last as long as they have this time. "The reality is that Mexico has made it harder for people to get to south Texas," said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council. "Its this broad shift as a result of Mexican enforcement one we might see breaking down." Already there are signs of a breakdown along the U.S.-Mexico border, nearly 500 miles northwest of the Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras crossing. Migrants have been reaching Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso, Texas, in larger numbers in recent days, and tension at this border crossing has grown. The El Paso Border Patrol Sector has seen average daily migrant encounters tick up slightly from 940 earlier this month to 1,025 as of Friday. Earlier this month, more than 140 migrants breached reams of concertina wire on the El Paso side of the Rio Grande and confronted Texas troops. A local grand jury indicted the migrants on misdemeanor riot participation charges, according to the district attorney. Then, last week, a cargo train hailing from the outskirts of Mexico City rumbled into Ciudad Juarez with hundreds of men, women and children atop its boxcars. If the train stopped at the military and immigration checkpoint outside the city at all, the authorities let it go. Adults held fast to the children or shaded them under blankets until the train slowed, and the migrants climbed down, blocks from the U.S. border, to decide their next move. Contributing: Omar Ornelas, El Paso Times Lauren Villagran can be reached at lvillagran@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mexico's migrant busing operation makes US border harder to reach The year began with nationwide conservative efforts to shrink abortion access. Advocates for the procedure hope to end 2024 by reversing some of these restrictions, via the ballot box. And the outcome of their efforts could have major implications for something opponents have long waged war on interstate abortion travel. With ballot initiatives underway in nearly a dozen states to let voters weigh in on where to set the limits, the success or failure of these measures will have impacts beyond state lines and on regions broadly, advocates told USA TODAY. Acting as a sort of sanctuaries for neighboring abortion access deserts, states with more liberal abortion laws have seen an influx of out-of-state patients since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case guaranteeing a constitutional right to the procedure. And a slew of proposed abortion-related constitutional amendments in 2024 could add to the map. How many people got abortions in 2023? New report finds increase despite bans Unless there's a national right to abortion care, we're absolutely doing it state by state, community by community as best as possible, said Adrienne Mansanares, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. Abortion travel escalated post-Roe After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and decades of federal abortion precedent in June 2022, decisions around the procedure and any limits or exceptions returned to states, creating a nationwide legislative patchwork. Over a dozen predominantly red states have implemented near total bans on abortions, while a handful of blue states including Oregon and Vermont allow abortions regardless of the gestational period, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. Some states restored an abortion limit similar to that of Roe. The varying laws have led to a rise in patients traveling between states seeking an abortion, Mansanares said. Planned Parenthoods health centers in Colorado, a state with wider abortion access, saw a tenfold increase in patients seeking care from nearby Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona between 2020 and last year, according to the organization's records. In October 2020 through September 2021, their Colorado health centers saw 374 of these out-of-state patients; from October 2022 through September 2023, the clinics served approximately 3,800 patients from the same three states. Over 75% of these women scheduled appointments for abortions. The bulk of women came from the Lone Star State, where the procedure is almost completely banned. "When state bans go into effect, they impact the entire country, Mansanares said. This year, voters in at least three states will decide whether to enshrine abortion access in their constitution. And there are still ongoing initiatives to add such a decision to the ballot in about a dozen more states, including Colorado. If passed, these referendums could cement some states statuses as abortion access points, while opening new points of access in others. Women travel both to and from Florida for abortions Sitting in the southeast where some of the countrys tightest abortion laws are concentrated, Florida has been a relative haven for patients in the South in the wake of Roes overturning. But with the states current 15-week limit about to drop to six weeks, after a recent state Supreme Court ruling, women in Florida and the surrounding region could face a shortage of care, said Serra Sippel, interim executive director of The Brigid Alliance, a group that provides resources for abortion travel. Anti-abortion activists (R) protest near the "Rally for Our Freedom" to protect abortion rights for Floridians, in Orlando, Florida, on April 13, 2024. Florida Rising, Floridians Protecting Freedom, and coalition partners officially launched the "Yes on 4" campaign. Florida's Supreme Court on April 1, 2024, paved the way for a ban on abortion after just six weeks of pregnancy, even as it allowed Amendment 4, protecting abortion rights, to be on the ballot in the November 2024 election. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / via Getty Images) Already, Florida is among The Brigid Alliances top states from which they help patients travel, often seeking abortions in D.C. or Maryland, Sippel said. And she said the group is bracing for this need to grow after May 1, when the six-week limit is set to go into effect. November ballot measure could change Florida yet again The Florida Supreme Court at the same time cleared the way for a measure protecting abortion through viability, often around 24 weeks, to appear on Novembers ballot. Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the 100% pro-life" group North Carolina Values Coalition, said she is worried about the effects of both Florida court decisions in her own southern state. ABORTION CLINIC PROTEST--Flip Benham, director of Operation Save America, raises his Bible and bows his head as the Rev. Ronnie Wallace (second from right) of Charlotte North Carolina, leads a group of Pro-Life supporters in prayer during a rally Saturday outside the sole abortion clinic life in Jackson, MS, the Women's Health Organization in Jackson. Photo by Barbara Gauntt, The Clarion-Ledger. All states in the South, once Florida's heartbeat bill goes into effect, will have either a heartbeat bill or a gestational limit at conception, Fitzgerald said. And so that means North Carolina's 12-week limit on abortion will cause women to flood across our borders, again, to obtain abortions. Along with Virginia, which allows abortion through 26 weeks of pregnancy, North Carolina has some of the lowest restrictions on the procedure compared to the rest of the south. Even after the state legislature last summer lowered the limit from 20 to 12 weeks, with exceptions, North Carolina saw one of the highest number of out-of-state patients in 2023, behind Illinois, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Fitzgerald said she wants a limit like other southern states for the Tar Heel State and is concerned about referendums like Florida's. It should be a concern for everyone who believes in the sanctity of human life, she said. Travel for abortion care is 'not ideal' Still, abortion access advocates say interstate travel is an imperfect solution. It is not ideal," said Tara Romano, executive director of Pro-Choice North Carolina, because not everyone can leave the state to access abortion. And this is really just how chaotic it's been since (Roe was overturned). If you're in a state where you cannot access abortion, being able to get to another state is going to be really critical, she added. It's just that it's not going to be able to help everyone, including patients in emergency situations, Romano said. Jan. 30, 2024; Bristol, VA, USA; Karolina Ogorek, Administrative Director of Bristol Womens Health goes through patient paper work during her shift. The medical facility specializes in abortion care and reproductive services, near the state line of Tennessee where abortions are illegal. Mandatory Credit: Megan Smith-USA TODAY For those seeking an abortion, Mansanares said considerations range from travel costs to finding somewhere to stay in a different state, along with taking time off work and, for the many women who are already parents, finding childcare. It's a huge financial burden. And then the act of traveling out of your home state for care has a tremendous psychological impact as well, Mansanares said. Our patients are very fearful. They experience a deep amount of shame or stigma. Many of them feel terrorized." And aid from organizations like The Brigid Alliance are being stretched to the max, Sippel said. I want to emphatically say that it's a good thing that this referendum will be on the ballot, Sippel said of Florida. If it's passed, that is excellent news for Florida. And then, of course, it won't be enough. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abortion travel could get harder, easier with these ballot measures Journalist Gustavo Gorriti poses for a portrait at his home in Lima, Peru, Friday, April 26, 2024. Gorriti, 75, is one of Latin Americas most storied journalists with more than four decades of investigative reporting that exposed high-level abuse of power in Peru and abroad. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) LIMA, Peru (AP) At age 75, one of Latin Americas most storied journalists had been looking forward to weaving into books the fragmented threads of more than four decades of investigative reporting that exposed high-level abuse of power in Peru and abroad. In an illustrious career, Gustavo Gorriti has endured death threats from drug traffickers, survived Peru's harrowing Shining Path insurgency and a kidnapping by silencer-toting military intelligence agents during a 1992 presidential power grab. Then an aggressive lymphatic cancer struck, wasting the former five-time national judo champion's robust physique. Diagnosed in August, Gorriti was in the final drips of two months of chemotherapy in December when a different kind of body blow landed. A smear campaign amplified by complicit, cowed or indifferent broadcast and print media portrayed the self-styled intelligence agent for the people as Public Enemy No. 1, a ruthless, egotistical victimizer of innocents. Gorriti is clear on who is behind it: A cabal of kleptocrats in Peru's political and business elites who are in prosecutorial peril due in large part to his crowning gumshoe achievements. Their aim: to liquidate all gains in the war on corruption." With his hair gone from the chemo, his trademark white beard down to like three hairs," Gorriti said he "looked like a pathetic Fu Manchu. He was so debilitated I only wanted to sleep, he said in an interview on the terrace of his Lima apartment. But indignation stirred the pugilistic reporter to action, marshaling his team at IDL-Reporteros, an online news site, to mount a vigorous, detailed defense. You dont get to choose when you go to war, he said. Then it got worse. By March 27, Gorriti was facing a criminal investigation in a bizarrely framed bribery case, accused of favoring" two anti-corruption prosecutors with publicity. Of course it's not true, one of the prosecutors cited, Jose Domingo Perez, told The Associated Press. This is a blatant attempt to muzzle one of Latin Americas best investigative reporters, the outlet that he has founded, and, by extension, any journalist who would dare to speak truth to power in Latin America," The Washington-based National Press Club said in a statement co-signed by seven press and human rights groups. The Committee to Protect Journalists and France-based Reporters without Borders also protested. The case could hurt prosecutions in an epic bribery scandal implicating five former presidents and Keiko Fujimori, the eminence grise of Peruvian politics and a perennial presidential candidate who came within a hair of winning the job in 2021. Her trial is set for July 1. It was Fujimori's father, Alberto, whose agents kidnapped Gorriti to silence him as the autocrat shuttered Congress by force in a 1992 presidential power grab. An international outcry got the reporter promptly released. The prosecutor now targeting Gorriti has demanded his communications with Perez and fellow anti-corruption prosecutor Rafael Vela from 2016-2021. Gorriti is refusing, citing reporter's privilege, but fears he could get a judicial order. After years of democratic backsliding, a loose coalition of corrupt actors" has captured enough institutions that referee Peruvian political life to weaponize them against rivals, said Steven Levitsky, co-author of How Democracies Die and a Harvard professor. And thats exactly whats happening with Gustavo. Its straight out of the authoritarian playbook battering democracies and imperiling reporters globally. Regional examples include Venezuela, Nicaragua and Guatemala, where the journalist Jose Zamora is imprisoned on what press freedom groups call a trumped-up money laundering conviction designed to muzzle him. Another emblematic case: Nobel Peace Prize-winning Filipino journalist Maria Ressa. Gorriti's enemies have been trying to discredit him including with claims he sympathizes with leftist terrorists since he began unmasking politicians bribed by the Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht in Latin America's biggest corruption scandal ever. Dubbed Lava Jato after a Brazilian car wash, it saw roughly $788 million in bribes associated with more than 100 public works projects paid in 12 countries including Argentina, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Guatemala and Venezuela; $29 million went to Peruvian officials from 2005-2014, according to the U.S. Justice Department. To unearth its machinations outside Brazil, Gorriti recruited reporters from multiple countries and personally traveled there. Ensuing prosecutions have varied by country. If not for pressure from Gorritis team and other journalists, the Peruvian cases might have faltered, said Perez, the anti-corruption prosecutor. In 2017, the chief prosecutor's office didn't want to investigate Keiko Fujimori, he added. Gorriti won hero status, standing ovations at book fairs and hugs in the street. But with Lava Jato cases now coming to a head every elected 21st-century Peruvian president is implicated gatherings outside Gorritis home and IDL Reporteros offices have taken on a different, sinister tone: Street toughs hurling insults and even bagged excrement. The probe of Gorriti was solicited by an unusual alliance of the party of Keiko Fujimori and its longtime nemesis, that of former President Alan Garcia. Ensnared in the Odebrecht scandal over rail projects, Garcia shot himself in the head in 2019 rather than surrender to police after Uruguay's embassy denied him refuge. His loyalists claim Gorriti and the anti-corruption prosecutors "criminally entrapped him. That's absurd, says Gorriti. After the suicide, reporters determined that Garcia told friends and family he would take his life to avoid the public humiliation. The frenzy of demands for Gorritis head flow from unsubstantiated tales slung by Jaime Villanueva, a former adviser to a suspended chief national prosecutor. Villanueva unleashed the accusations after coming under investigation for alleged crimes including bribery and influence-trafficking and agreed to testify against his former boss in exchange for favorable treatment. Neither he nor the prosecutor who launched the investigation against Gorriti, Alcides Chanchay, responded to AP interview requests. After working with then-chief prosecutor Patricia Benavides to try to choke anti-corruption efforts, Villanueva counseled lawmakers on crippling judicial independence, Gorriti says. The guy had a trajectory Judas Iscariot would have envied. Gorriti has a knack for stirring hornet's nests. While exiled in Panama, then-President Ernesto Balladares tried to expel Gorriti in 1997 after investigations he led at the local newspaper La Prensa uncovered high-level corruption including trafficking in Chinese workers. Generally, Latin politicians dont care if you call them thieves, tyrants, shameless, Gods punishment, whatever," Gorriti told the AP at the time. "What matters a lot to them is substantive journalism. Theyre not accustomed to it. In the citation for a 1998 press freedom award, the Committee to Protect Journalists called Gorriti Latin America's top investigative reporter. International pressure could certainly help now. Gorriti is regaining strength after good results from immunotherapy begun in February. His hair has mostly grown back. But the relative silence of Peruvians worries him. They generally despise the president, Dina Boluarte, and Congress. Polls show more than nine in 10 want them gone. But political gridlock has delayed new elections. Pedro Castillo, the last elected president, was impeached in 2022 for trying to dissolve Congress. Troops then killed at least 40 people in ensuing protests. Peruvians are demoralized by all the corruption and still addled from the COVID-19 pandemic, Gorriti says. No country suffered a higher per-capital death rate. And they've had six presidents in six years. Gorriti, who published a book about the Shining Path insurgency in 1990, believes that just as Peruvians have failed to reckon with the group's rise so have they avoided examining their inadequacies in confronting the pandemic. In the late 1990s, they rallied to drive a disgraced and discredited Alberto Fujimori into exile. He and his intelligence chief, Vladimiro Montesinos have since been convicted of multiple felonies including in the 1992 Gorriti abduction. If Gorriti were to wind up jailed, perhaps Peruvians might again be stirred to action. Suppressing an intermittent cough, Gorriti expressed hope his case can mark a milestone for freedom of expression and democracy. As he told Colombian journalist Maria Jimena Duzan in a recent podcast, If I need to do battle in my old age, well, so be it. Old folks can fight, too. ___ Frank Bajak was APs chief of Andean news from 2006-2016. ___ Associated Press writer Franklin Briceno contributed to this report. Brian Jack listens at the Congressional District 3 (Republican) Debate during the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen) ATLANTA (AP) Brian Jack sought to make a Sunday debate among Republican candidates for an open Georgia congressional seat all about his close ties to former President Donald Trump, while the other contenders ignored Trump's endorsement of Jack. Five Republicans running for their party's nomination in Georgia's 3rd Congressional District met in an Atlanta Press Club debate. Besides Jack, who was Trump's political director during his administration and worked for then-U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, they included former state senators Mike Crane and Mike Dugan, former state Rep. Philip Singleton and party activist Jim Bennett. They're seeking to replace Republican U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson, who is stepping down. The district hugs the Alabama border from Carrollton to Columbus and swings east into the Atlanta suburbs of Newnan and Peachtree City. Jack repeatedly referenced his work in the Trump administration, promising that in Congress he would continue that work. To sell myself, I think that I will look at the record of accomplishment and success that we had and we delivered in that administration, Jack said. Others largely passed on the chance to attack Jack, although Crane suggested that McCarthy is the one trying to anoint Jack, asking voters who should choose their representative. Do you want to take responsibility for that vote or do you want to let Washington, D.C., insiders do what theyve done for the last several cycles, and that is choose the next representative for the 3rd District? Crane asked. But attacks on Jack, the fundraising leader in the race, were mostly muted. Crane, Bennett and Singleton staked out more conservative positions, with each saying they would join the Freedom Caucus if elected. Singleton was often at odds with GOP leadership during his time in the state House, attacking then-Speaker David Ralston's leadership, with top Republicans then drawing Singleton into a majority Democratic district. Singleton, though, said he's not an oppositional guy." You go and you fight for the principles that you believe in, you stand for," Singleton said. "Im not someone that fights against people. I fight for good policy. When asked about whether human embryos should have the same rights as people, Jack echoed Trump's position that restrictions on reprodutive rights should be left to the states. Dugan noted he voted for Georgia's current abortion restrictions, which ban abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected. That's typically after about six weeks, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. But Dugan said restriction of in vitro fertilization was a deeper question," not saying clearly how he would vote. The other three, though, voiced no doubts about implementing a legal standard that could lead to a total ban on abortion in Georgia and a ban on in vitro fertilization as currently practiced. I'm against recreational abortion, Bennett said. I believe that life does exist from the moment of conception. Theres no wiggle room for me. All of the candidates, in a show of hands, said they believed Trump was the rightful winner of Georgia's 16 electoral votes in 2020, despite no reliable evidence to contradict Democrat Joe Biden's win. Several said they believed Republican-backed changes to Georgia's election laws since then made them more at ease, but Bennett attacked the continued use of Dominion ballot marking devices, echoing a common belief among Republican activists that all voting machines should be distrusted. All of the candidates voiced support for more restrictions on immigration, with several including Jack saying they support mass deportations of people who have entered the country illegally. Jack said he would have voted against the recent foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel and others until he was satisfied on border security. Dugan said he believed Republicans were right to reject a proposed bill on border security that the Biden administration had backed. I dont think anybody trusted Joe Biden to secure our southern border, Dugan said. NC budget surplus The writer is a retired N.C. principal. Recent news reports indicate a state budget surplus of $1.4 billion, and with the deluge of TV commercials promoting gambling, there is sure to be even more revenue coming into state coffers. Simultaneously, there is a severe teacher shortage. Teacher pay and per pupil spending in our state are near the bottom nationwide. A good public school education is required in our constitution and is a pillar of democracy. Shame on state leaders. It is past time for the N.C. General Assembly to target these and other needs that affect our citizens. We owe this to our children and to the new employers who need an educated workforce to fill new jobs. Scott Padgett, Concord College protests As an American who is also Jewish, I am appalled at the mood in our country. What is taking place on some of our prestigious universities has gotten out of control. It started as a sore that was left untreated, and now it has grown into a cancer that is running rampant through the body of America. Phil Levine, Charlotte War protests The protests on university campuses are not antisemitic, they are anti-war. I dont recall any university presidents being fired or resigning because of the Vietnam War protests. I do recall that in 1970 four students were killed at Kent State University by the National Guard during a war protest. Students today should be allowed to peacefully protest the senseless slaughter of over 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Hamas should release the hostages and be brought to justice for its heinous acts, but not at the cost of 34,000 innocent men, women and children as collateral damage. Kirsten Horsley, Charlotte Biden debt relief I understand anger at the student loan forgiveness program, but I dont agree. I paid for my college, my husband had a partial scholarship, and we paid for our two sons degrees. But that was before tuition and room and board at even state institutions cost almost $40,000 a semester. Too many families simply cannot afford this. And too often, when students graduate, they dont make enough to pay off the loans. Many of those wholl benefit from Bidens relief programs have been paying these loans for decades because of the interest. Some may have repaid the original loan many times. Many are the teachers, medical personnel and caregivers we all depend on. Lets give them some relief. Rosalie Spaniel, Charlotte RINOS in Congress Regarding Senate approves, Biden signs $95B foreign aid package, (April 25): House Speaker Mike Johnson relied on Democrats to approve $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Several months ago, Johnson declared he would never allow a vote until his partys border demands were met. He reneged on his promise and threw ultraconservatives under the bus. All the Freedom Caucus and others wanted was a stop to illegal immigration at our southern border as part of the war funding package for our allies. When it comes to negotiating legislation, the RINO Republicans always cave and the Democrats win every single time on important votes. We worked hard to elect Republicans, but if they cant vote to secure our southern border, is there anything in the world they will fight for? Trigg Cherry, Charlotte A seditious act Every law-abiding American owes it to our republic to pause and consider Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos comments during oral arguments in Trump v. United States of America. Alito expressed concern that allowing a former president to be indicted and prosecuted criminally could open the door to future attempts to manipulate the criminal justice system for political gain. For the first time in our 235-year history, a sitting president attempted to subvert the will of the people by inciting an angry mob and sending it to the Capitol for the express purpose of preventing the peaceful transfer of power in accord with the will of the voters. There is no lawful excuse for that behavior. It is easily the most outrageous, seditious act in presidential history. William Sitton, Charlotte Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. responded to former President Trump's allegations he is a "Democrat plant" and would be a "wasted protest vote," challenging the presumptive Republican presidential nominee to a debate. "When frightened men take to social media they risk descending into vitriol, which makes them sound unhinged," Kennedy wrote in an X post on Saturday afternoon. "President Trump's rant against me is a barely coherent barrage of wild and inaccurate claims that should best be resolved in the American tradition of presidential debate. President Trump, who has proven himself the most adept debater in modern American political history, should not be panicked to meet me on that stage." RFK Jr. said he will prove Trump "betrayed the hopes of his most sincere followers," arguing the former president "promised to end the Ukraine war and then colluded with Speaker Johnson and President Biden to fund it." Kennedy Jr. also said Trump "let Big Pharma and his corrupt bureaucrats run roughshod over him as President," and "promised to cut the deficit and ran up the biggest debt in history." "He promised to run the government like a business and then closed down our businesses. He promised to drain the swamp and then filled his administration with swamp creatures," RFK Jr. said. "He promised to protect our rights and then torpedoed the Constitution." TRUMP ACCUSES RFK JR. OF BEING A 'DEMOCRAT PLANT' AND 'WASTED PROTEST VOTE' "Instead of lobbing poisonous bombs from the safety of his bunker, lets hear President Trump defend his record to me mano-a-mano by respectful, congenial debate," Kennedy concluded. Trump's 2020 campaign notably called out Biden's "bunker" strategy, condemning how the Democrat largely stayed away from the campaign trail and ducked the public eye while running for president. Kennedy's challenge came after Trump blasted the independent presidential candidate on TRUTH Social. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "RFK Jr. is a Democrat Plant, a Radical Left Liberal whos been put in place in order to help Crooked Joe Biden, the Worst President in the History of the United States, get Re-Elected," Trump wrote in a series of posts earlier Saturday. "A Vote for Junior would essentially be a WASTED PROTEST VOTE, that could swing either way, but would only swing against the Democrats if Republicans knew the true story about him." Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. hugs Nicole Shanahan as she becomes his vice presidential running mate in Oakland, California, March 26, 2024. RFK JR.'S RUNNING MATE AN 'UNKNOWN QUANTITY' WITH 'DEEP POCKETS' AS GOP, DEMS FEAR SPOILER CAMPAIGN: EXPERTS Trump charged that RFK Jr. "is totally Anti-Gun, an Extreme Environmentalist who makes the Green New Scammers look Conservative, a Big Time Taxer and Open Border Advocate, and Anti-Military/Vet." "His Radicalized Family will never allow him to be a Republican, and his Chief Funder is the V.P. Candidate that nobody ever heard of, except her ex-husband, whos been stripped of a big chunk of cash," Trump continued, taking a swipe at Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan. Former President Trump exits Trump Tower in New York City, Monday, April 15, 2024. Trump said that while living in New York at the same time as Kennedy, he watched the former Democrat convince former Gov. Andrew Cuomo "to make environmental moves that were outright NASTY," noting that upstate New York "was not allowed to drill or frack as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and others ripped off New York Energy," causing energy costs in upstate New York and New England to skyrocket. "His Views on Vaccines are FAKE, as is everything else about his Candidacy. Let the Democrats have RFK Jr. They deserve him!" Trump said. Original article source: RFK Jr. challenges Trump to debate after 'Democrat plant' accusation (Bloomberg) -- Joe Bidens allies are racing to blunt the presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., casting his third-party effort as a stalking-horse bid designed to boost Donald Trumps chances even as his wide-ranging policy positions make him a threat to both. Most Read from Bloomberg Kennedy injected new urgency into the Democratic effort this month by securing a spot on the ballot in Michigan, a swing state vitally important to Bidens victory plans. Trump narrowly won the state in 2016 and Biden nabbed it back in 2020. If Kennedy draws more votes from one or the other, he could flip the states 16 Electoral College votes and maybe the election. Both sides are racing to define Kennedy. For Democrats, hes a fringe conspiracy theorist not even backed by his own siblings in the famed political dynasty, a vaccine skeptic who has waffled over prosecutions of Jan. 6, 2021 riot participants. Trump most recently called him an environmental extremist and open-border advocate unworthy of a protest vote against Biden, though he has also touted Kennedys Democratic roots to try to hurt the president. Kennedys rise, from unsuccessful primary challenger to mystery-box third party contender, illustrates the volatile nature of the 2024 campaign, with polls showing voters wish they had a choice other than the Biden-Trump rematch. Kennedy, 70, is viewed favorably by 29% of swing-state voters who opted for Biden in 2020, but viewed favorably by 50% of voters who selected Trump that year, according to the latest Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll, with similar numbers in Michigan. He is a challenge for both sides, said Jim Messina, who managed Barack Obamas 2012 reelection bid. But on the Democratic side, I feel comfortable that, once we get education, we can drive his numbers through the floor. Trumps top campaign adviser, Chris LaCivita, quickly shut down rumors that the former president was considering Kennedy as a running mate, writing on social media that Kennedy was a leftie loonie that would never be approached to be on the ticket. Kennedy Donors Kennedys biggest donors come from the world of Trump backers. Timothy Mellon gave $20 million to American Values 2024, Kennedys allied super political action committee, and has also given $15 million to a group backing Trump. Leila Centner, an anti-vaccine activist, gave $1 million. Venture capitalist David Sacks and Jacqueline Sacks donated $93,400 to American Values 2024 through their own political action committee. Kennedys running mate is also a big contributor. Nicole Shanahan, a prominent investor in Silicon Valley whose ex-husband is Sergey Brin, co-founder of Alphabet Inc.s Google, has given $6.5 million, including $2 million she donated directly to Kennedys campaign in March. Candidates can spend their own money without limits to run for federal office. She also gave $4 million to American Values 2024 to pay for a Super Bowl ad that mimicked a John F. Kennedy 1960 campaign ad that offended the family. Anti-Establishment Kennedy is a chimera-like candidate who could pull from Trump or Biden supporters on any given day. Hes pledging to make 3% mortgages available to first-time homebuyers and to further curtail American military interventions abroad. Yet despite his long-standing environmental activism, environmental groups this month called him a dangerous conspiracy theorist and science denier. Hes pledging to end the chronic disease epidemic, by studying the role of ultra-processed foods, electromagnetic pollution and pharmaceuticals. On abortion rights, a key issue for Bidens victory, Kennedy only says he wants to give more choices than they have today, including by advocating for widespread daycare subsidies, while also hoping to see a lot fewer abortions. Hes pledging to use technology to tighten control of the US border. Kennedy has also promoted conspiracies about vaccines and questioned their efficacy. That could sap support from Trump, who as president at the height of the pandemic, criticized government-mandated vaccines. Hes a frequent guest on right-leaning podcasts. I dont think anyone really knows what he does here. I think theres likely an anti-establishment group of Republicans that would be interested in Kennedy in a way that there just isnt in the Democratic Party, Messina said. What we need to do is just explain who he really is and use his own comments. Trump is trying to keep his supporters in his camp, labeling Kennedy as a radical leftist, and the Biden camp is leaving little to chance. Biden allies have formed the Clear Choice political action committee to counter third-party candidacies. The Democratic National Committee has also mustered a team aimed at ensuring candidates are lawfully on the ballot and taking direct aim at Kennedy. The DNC erected two billboards in Arizona, where Kennedy held a fundraiser last week, emblazoned with Kennedy in a Make America Great Again hat and a slogan: RFK. Jr.: Spoiler for Trump. There will be a clear choice facing voters this November, and the more they learn about him, the more were confident that theyll recognize that a vote for him is a vote for Donald Trump, DNC spokesman Matt Corridoni said. Traditional Liberal Kennedy himself has characterized himself as neither right nor left wing. I consider myself a traditional liberal, which was somebody who was for free speech, somebody who was for the Constitution, somebody who supported an idealistic vision of America, he said in a recent podcast. Trumps main super-PAC also launched a website that highlights Kennedys environmentalist views and his opposition to voter ID, a favorite GOP issue. Trump himself posted a video this month saying Kennedys candidacy was great for his movement. I guess that means hes going to be taking away votes from Crooked Joe Biden and he should because hes actually better than Biden, Trump said in the video. If I were a Democrat Id vote for RFK Jr. every single time over Biden because hes frankly more in line with Democrats. Michigan Effort The Kennedy campaign is confident it will get on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, an official familiar with the campaigns plans said. The official downplayed questions about his candidacys impact in swing states, saying a three-way race gives otherwise uncompetitive states a choice. How much of a threat Kennedy poses to either major-party candidate depends on how successful that effort is. In Michigan, hes running on the Natural Law Party ticket. The party was formed in 1992 and advocates solving problems with transcendental meditation, said Doug Dern, the state chair. It also advocates national organic farming, a flat tax, limiting unwanted pregnancies and responsible gun use, he said. Dern described the party as a kind of freestyle independent party where we will accept anybody and predicted Kennedy would carry Michigan. About 40% of the population are just sick of the two-party system. They dont like the Democrats and the Republicans telling them how to think, Dern said. Kennedys going to fix it. Richard Czuba, an independent pollster in Michigan, said Kennedy could capitalize on Bidens weakness among Independent voters. I dont think independents are going to look at Kennedy as he is anti-vax or he is a conspiracy theorist. Theyre going to look at him as: is he our opportunity to deliver a message? We dont like our choices. Thats where particularly Biden can be hurt, Czuba said. Kennedy is banking on that dissatisfaction. You can tell that neither of the establishment parties understand whats happening here, Kennedy said in a recent advertisement, appealing for donations to fund ballot-access efforts. The Kennedy-Shanahan ticket is neither right nor left. --With assistance from Bill Allison and Stephanie Lai. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called for donations to stop and for resignations of officials at Columbia University amid protests gaining steam at college campuses around the nation. If youre a donor to Columbia University, stop, Scott said in an interview that aired Sunday on radio show The Cats Roundtable with hosts John Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby. If youre a board member, if youre not gonna hold your administration accountable, you should resign. Protests focused on Palestinian human rights and the dire humanitarian aid situation in Gaza have sprung up at college campuses across the country, most notably at Columbia. The Columbia protest has faced accusations of antisemitism, which protest leaders have pushed back on. We are frustrated by media distractions focusing on inflammatory individuals who do not represent us, Columbia protest leaders wrote in a statement last week. Columbia has also banned a student protest leader who said Zionists dont deserve to live from the campus, a university spokesperson confirmed to The Hill Friday. Khymani James, the student, said in a video that recently resurfaced from earlier this year that people should be grateful that Im not just going out and murdering Zionists. Scott also went after his colleague Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), saying that he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the elected leader of the only democracy in the Middle East, should be kicked out of office. Last month, Schumer called for new elections in Israel and said that Netanyahu has lost his way. He also said that [a]s a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7. The world has changed radically since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past, Schumer continued. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Joe Biden made a number of jabs at Donald Trump before shifting his tone to address what journalists have to take seriously about the former president at the White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday. Biden toward the end of his speech to the D.C. crowd reflected on his address marking the 3rd anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack where he noted that Americans must answer whether democracy is still Americas most sacred cause this year. The defeated former president has made no secret of his attack on our democracy. He said he wants to be a dictator on day one, and so much more. He tells supporters he is their revenge and retribution. When in Gods name you ever heard another president say something like that? Biden said. He continued, And he promised a bloodbath when he loses again. We have to take this seriously. Eight years ago, you couldve written [it] off as just Trump talk but no longer. Not after January 6. Im sincerely not asking you to take sides, but ask you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment. Move past the horse race numbers, the gotcha moments. Biden brings up January 6 and Trump's vow to become a dictator and implores journalists at the WHCA to "take this seriously ... I'm asking you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment. Move past the horse race numbers and the gotcha moments." pic.twitter.com/w0uVtAoC4t Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 28, 2024 The president who spoke at the event as pro-Palestinian protesters greeted attendees on their way in made light of his predecessor on a number of occasions, labelling him sleepy Don and mocking debate around his age ahead of the election in November. Im a grown man running against a six-year-old. Well, I feel great, I really feel great, Im campaigning all over the country: Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Ive always done well in the original 13 colonies, quipped Biden before the D.C. crowd. He went on to tackle Trumps take on the Battle of Gettysburg, which Trump described as unbelievable as well as so much and so interesting and so vicious and horrible and so beautiful in so many different ways. Quote, Gettysburg, Wow, exclaimed Biden as the crowd giggled. Trumps speech was so embarrassing, the statute of Robert E. Lee surrendered again. Biden would later give thanks to members of the press as he referred to Trump attackingjournalists using his enemy of the people label. Thats wrong and its dangerous, you literally risk your lives doing your job, you do, said the president, who later called for the return of journalists Evan Gershkovich and Austin Tice along with former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. You can check out Bidens full remarks in the video below. Related... New road appears on side of Candy Mountain. Why Benton County shut it down Excavation for a road on the northern flank of Candy Mountain near West Richland is stopped for now. But in the future, the road rising at an angle from Kennedy Road could serve new homes while doubling as a trail head for a future extension of the wildly popular Candy Mountain hiking trail. Benton County officials ordered a neighboring property owner to halt the road excavation work after the Tri-City Herald asked about the unexpected appearance of graders on a strip of land owned by the Kennewick Irrigation District this spring. Several curious residents in the area asked the Herald whats going on through our Whats being built there? feature. Benton County ordered a Candy Mountain land owner to stop excavation work along Kennedy Road near West Richland until he secures permits. Work began after the Kennewick Irrigation District provided an easement across its property to give the property owner access to his site and to serve as a future extension of the Candy Mountain hiking trail. The site is in unincorporated Benton County, but is in plain view of the West Richland city shops on Belmont Drive. The excavation work apparently began after March 4, when KID granted an easement across its property to a Richland resident who owns 10 acres that are landlocked by other owners. The landowner stated the excavation is to provide an access road to multiple parcels that are to be sold with the potential for future residential construction. There is currently no planned development of these properties, Glenn Vaagen, Benton County spokesman, told the Herald. Vaagen said the owner was told to halt work until they received the proper permits. Work stopped several weeks ago, but at least three pieces of heavy construction equipment remain on the site. Benton County property records identify David St. Hilaire as the legal owner of the 10-acre parcel. The KID property serves as a barrier between his land and Kennedy Road. St. Hilaire could not be reached this week by the Herald. Benton County ordered a Candy Mountain land owner to stop excavation work along Kennedy Road near West Richland. Future homes, hiking trail KID granted an easement to St. Hilaire and two relatives in early March, according to a document recorded by the county auditors office. Seth Defoe, the irrigation districts land water resources manager, said the easement was meant to serve twin purposes. First, it would give its neighbor access to Kennedy. Second, it would serve as a corridor for the future extension of the Candy Mountain Preserve hiking trail. Defoe said KID expects that any development on the easement across its property to comply with legal development requirements. The only route to the Candy Mountain summit is an out-and-back trail that starts at a trail head off Dallas Road on the opposite side of the hill. The only route to the Candy Mountain summit is an out-and-back trail that starts at a trail head off Dallas Road near West Richland. Friends of Badger Mountain, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving public access to local ridges, hopes to push the trail over the summit and down the north flank toward Kennedy. It would turn along a canal and head west from there, said Bob Bass, president. Bass noted that its project doesnt require a full road, just enough to accommodate a trail with a minimum width of 5 feet. 8-year effort Friends of Badger Mountain has been working to secure easements on Candy Mountains north side on and off for about eight years, Bass said. The trail will descend from the summit along an undetermined route across mostly private land. Friends of Badger Mountain is finalizing an easement deal with Ramer B. Holtan Jr., a Mercer Island attorney who owns hundreds of acres on Candy Mountain. Holtan told the Herald he initially invested in Candy Mountain more than 20 years ago, anticipating it would develop in the future, Over time, hes come to view it more as a preservation project. Last August, he sold 40 acres near the 1,400-foot summit to Friends of Badger Mountain. Bass said a supporter who wanted to stay anonymous funded the purchase. County records show the price was $720,000. Bass said the agreement with Holtan included the right to negotiate an easement to bring the trail down the northern face across his property. The trail could be rerouted if needed to accommodate future development. We said, well put a trail in and if you want us to move it, well move it. The only thing you have to guarantee is well have a route through that meets our grade and width specs, he said. Hes optimistic the trail extension and possibly even a new trail head could be ready for hikers in two years. It will be neat trail. Theres some neat gullies going through there, he said. Sign Up: Boom Town Tri-Cities Stay up to date on Tri-Cities growth and development with our weekly business newsletter. Get the latest on restaurant and business openings and closings, plus the regions top housing and employment news. Click here to sign up. In your inbox every Wednesday. BEIRUT, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Teachers and students at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music expressed enthusiasm about the new music school, a China-funded conservatory project, during a visit on Saturday. President of the conservatory Hiba Kawas said the new conservatory is a landmark in the region, which will encourage Lebanese musicians to deliver great performances and witness "musicians from all over the world visit Lebanon." As one of the biggest construction projects in Lebanon undertaken by China, it features teaching rooms, a library, lecture and auditorium halls, and a theater hosting up to 1,200 people, according to the constructor China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (CSCEC). Kawas said that new teams will then work at the conservatory with a new curriculum, enabling teachers to devise innovative teaching methods. Started constructing in December 2020, the project, with a cost of 62 million U.S. dollars and covering an area of 39,000 square meters, is currently in the decoration phase and will be completed soon, according to CSCEC. Huang Shuai, project manager from CSCEC at the conservatory, said the project aims to strengthen ties between Lebanon and China, and promote bilateral cultural communication by boosting exchanges between music teachers and students from the two countries. "The construction was smooth and supported by various parties," he added, noting that the project has received wide attention from the Lebanese government, the Chinese embassy and Lebanese musicians. Meanwhile, Lebanese music students expressed their enthusiasm about the new project, hoping to be able to access the facilities that are comparable to those in other countries. "I am very excited about this new conservatory, and hope to play in the new halls," Joseph Rechdan, a drum student and player, told Xinhua. Lea Chemali, also a drum student, said the new conservatory, with better facilities and services, will encourage more foreign artists to come and perform in Lebanon. For Mira Zantout, a piano teacher, the new conservatory will enable students to stay in Lebanon, as students could enjoy the advanced services it offers instead of leaving the country for better opportunities and facilities elsewhere. "This new facility will also boost cultural exchange between Lebanon and China, which is of great importance to our country," she said. State Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins is lost in Yonkers. The woke pol, who is in lockstep with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie on soft-on-crime and defund-the-police policies, has seen mayhem spike in her hometown, according to data obtained by The Post. Robberies this year have surged 63% and burglaries have ballooned 33%, Yonkers Police Department stats show. Felony assaults rose 8% and auto theft is up 2%, the figures reveal. Two years ago a shocking video showed four brazen thieves use a sledgehammer to smash a Yonkers jewelry store window then steal an estimated $100,000 worth of merchandise. NYPD There have been two murders so far this year, up from zero in the same period a year ago. Its crucial that . . . Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins reconsider bail reform laws for the safety of her community, Frank McDonald, head of the Yonkers Police Benevolent Association, told The Post. Public safety should be paramount, and measures must be taken to break the cycle of repeat offenders that threatens the well-being of residents in Yonkers and all of New York state. The priority should be to ensure the communitys safety, not to cater to the whims of habitual criminals, he added. Heastie, and lawmakers like Stewart-Cousins, are facing pressure to address a rise in violent crime in New York. The two Democratic leaders were leading advocates of the states controversial 2019 criminal justice reforms, which eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent felony charges and created a revolving door for released felony suspects. The Speakers Bronx district is currently dealing with massive surge in rape and robbery. Stewart-Cousins proclaimed to reporters in March 2023:Our bail reforms have no correlation with an increase in crime. NEW YORK POST Stewart-Cousins is in lockstep with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (above) on soft-on-crime and defund-the-police policies. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Shutterstock Yet Stewart-Cousins proclaimed to reporters in March 2023:Our bail reforms have no correlation with an increase in crime. Tell that to Yonkers residents. Two years ago a shocking video showed four brazen thieves use a sledgehammer to smash a Yonkers jewelry store window then steal an estimated $100,000 worth of merchandise. Its crucial that . . . Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (above), reconsider bail reform laws for the safety of her community, Frank McDonald, head of the Yonkers Police Benevolent Association, told The Post. AP The priority should be to ensure the communitys safety, not to cater to the whims of habitual criminals, said Frank McDonald, head of the Yonkers Police Benevolent Association. Yonkers PD The broad daylight snatch-and-grab at Golden Square Jewelry on May 12, 2022, happened a little over a mile from Stewart-Cousins house. A car chase and manhunt ended with three of the thieves in cuffs, cops said. This is the Democrats, a Golden Square Jewelry employee, who declined to give his name, said about the spike in crime. Whatever I say, do you think we can change anything? Yonkers is still struggling with post-Covid lawlessness, according to Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza. Stewart-Cousins and Heastie (above) have been joined at the hip on bail reform and all of the changes to the New York state criminal justice system, said Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant. AP Heastie, and lawmakers like Stewart-Cousins, are facing pressure to address a rise in violent crime in New York. ASSOCIATED PRESS We dont believe in small crimes here in Yonkers. We believe that every crime is important. Weve seen that small crimes turn into bigger crimes, he told Fox News Digital in January, adding that bail reform and raising the age of criminal liability make it harder to do our job and keep people in jail. Stewart-Cousins and Heastie have been joined at the hip on bail reform and all of the changes to the New York state criminal justice system, said Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In the face of adversity, they have both continued to deflect and gaslight. Its also not a surprise that both of their districts are awash in mayhem you reap what you sow. WEST SENECA, N.Y. (WIVB) Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaigned Saturday in West Seneca, speaking to people about several issues and what he would do for America if elected. This has always been an important region for my family. Really the reason I wanted to come here is its one of the first campaign stops that I made for my dad, Kennedy said. Nearly 300 people came out to hear what Kennedy had to say about a variety of topics. Kennedy spoke for roughly 40 minutes. His main points included his solutions to end Americas chronic disease epidemic and criticism of the countrys response to COVID-19. When asked to comment on prior comments about not trusting what experts on COVID-19 say, Kennedy said, Im not saying that people shouldnt listen to the wisdom of the experts. Thats critically important. But what we shouldnt do is put our governance into the hands of a technocracy. Another point of his trip was getting on the ballot in New York. Its a generally difficult task for independent candidates such as Kennedy, as the state requires a minimum of 45,000 signatures. Kennedys are due by May 28. Kennedy said he believed this region was a vital part of this race and wanted to lay out his plan in person if elected. Im going to meet with a group of economic advisers to figure out all the best that we can hope to get American kids and this new generation into homes so that we can continue to be an ownership society rather than a rental society, Kennedy said. Im going to ask an age to redirect the scientific funding to try to identify the source and the origins of the chronic disease epidemic and Im going to begin the process of unraveling the war machine. A recent Quinnipiac University poll of registered voters shows support for Kennedy at 16%, with Trump and Biden stalemated at 37% each. Still, local Democrats and Republicans say RFK Doesnt pose a threat of siphoning voters from either Joe Biden or Donald Trumps campaigns. I dont think Kennedy is up for that, his behavior and things that he says, I think when people see that theyre going to not take him seriously, said Erie County Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner Jeremy Zellner. When you really peel back RFK, youll see he is a radical liberal who opposes fossil fuels. He called the NRA a terrorist organization and he wants to raise taxes on already suffering Americans, said Trump campaign surrogate Stefan Mychajliw. Former President Trump even took to social media Friday saying a vote for Kennedy would be a wasted protest vote. RFK Saturday shrugged off the jabs from both sides. In a head-to-head race, I beat President Trump. In a head-to-head race I beat President Biden, Kennedy said. Latest Local News Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. At the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night, President Joe Biden took the stage to make some self-deprecating jokes and a few more at Donald Trump's expense. Of course age is an issue. Im a grown man, and Im running against a 6-year-old, Biden said, invoking concerns about his age to jab at Trump. Age is the only thing we have in common; my vice president actually endorses me! Biden made a reference to Trump's ongoing hush money trial "Stormy weather" and joked that Trump's odd remarks about Gettysburg were "so embarrassing [that] the statue of Robert E. Lee surrendered again." Biden also joked about Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert being booted from a "Beetlejuice" musical in September. "We're here as a reminder that folks think what's going on in Congress is political theater. Thats not true. If Congress were theater, they would've thrown out Lauren Boebert a long time ago," he said. Biden's speech took a more serious turn toward the end. He spoke about the importance of a free press and the stakes in this year's presidential election. "I'm sincerely not asking you to take sides. I'm asking you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment," he pleaded. This is the second White House Correspondents' Dinner that Biden has attended as president; the first two were canceled due to the pandemic. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Three Russian journalists were arrested Friday and Saturday and detained, as Russia continues a crackdown on media inside the country. Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin were charged with extremism on Saturday, The Associated Press (AP) first reported. They stand accused of working with a political group associated with the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died earlier this year in prison. The pair will be held in custody for at least two months before trial. The charges carry a sentence of two to six years in prison, if convicted. Forbes Russia journalist Sergei Mingazov was also arrested Friday, his lawyer told the AP, on charges of spreading misinformation. Prosecutors said he was jailed for reporting about alleged Russian war crimes in the Ukrainian city of Bucha. The three journalists jailed in recent days are all Russian citizens. Karelin holds dual Israeli citizenship, and previously worked as a cameraman for the AP and the German outlet Deutsche Welle. The Associated Press is very concerned by the detention of Russian video journalist Sergey Karelin, the AP said in a statement. We are seeking additional information. Mingazov worked as a freelance reporter for Reuters, Deutsche Welle and other outlets. Russian prosecutors said the two reporters worked with the Anti-Corruption Foundation, a watchdog group associated with Navalnys political opposition. Russian critics and the U.S. government have accused Russian leaders of being responsible for Navalnys death. The arrests come as the Russian government cracks down on dissent as the invasion of Ukraine drags into a third year. In the wake of the war, the government has passed laws criminalizing what it deems false information about the military, or statements seen as discrediting the military, effectively outlawing any criticism of the war in Ukraine or speech that deviates from the official narrative. Among the journalists detained in Russia is an American, The Wall Street Journals Evan Gershkovich. Gershkovich marked one year in prison last month, charged with espionage. The Journal and State Department have blasted the charges as false, and the Biden administration has committed to pursing a prisoner exchange to free him. Gershkovich has yet to face trial and will remain in custody pending a trial until at least June. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Russian forces attacked 10 communities along the Sumy Oblast border on April 27, causing 112 explosions throughout the day, the regional military administration reported. The communities of Khotin, Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Nova Sloboda, Esman, Seredyna-Buda, Znob-Novhorodske, Mykolaiv, and Hlukhiv were targeted. Throughout the day, Russian forces assailed the Sumy border with various weapons, including mines, artillery, mortar, and grenade launchers. At least 16 mines were dropped on the community of Krasnopillia. No casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure were reported. Nova Sloboda, with a population of about 1,500 residents, experienced the bulk of the attacks, with 31 explosions reported in the area. The town is located a mere ten kilometers from 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. An attack on Sumy Oblast earlier this week killed two people and injured five others. Several residential homes were also reportedly damaged. 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. Russian forces attacked ten border areas and settlements of Sumy Oblast on April 28, firing 35 times and causing at least 127 explosions, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported. The communities of Khotin, Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Esman, Shalyhyne, Seredyna-Buda, Shostka, and Novo Sloboda were targeted. No casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure were reported. The Russian military struck the communities using artillery fire, multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), FPV drones, and mortar shelling, while also dropping mines. The town of Velyka Pysarivka experienced the most attacks, with 25 explosions recorded in the area. Located directly on the Russia-Ukraine border, this town has become a main target of attack for Russia. Residents in Sumy Oblast have been experiencing daily threats of shelling, but attacks have intensified in recent weeks, prompting large-scale evacuations from the region. Read also: Russian attacks in Kharkiv Oblast injure 2 civilians Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian forces shot down 17 Ukrainian drones over its territory overnight on April 28, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed. According to the ministry, Russian air defense shot down two drones over Belgorod Oblast, three over Kursk Oblast, three over Kaluga Oblast, and nine over Bryansk Oblast. Vladislav Shapsha, governor of Kaluga Oblast in Russia, claimed that three drones "fell down" near an oil depot in the town of Lyudinovo. No casualties or damages were reported. Ukrainian officials did not comment on these claims, which cannot be verified independently. 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. One of the oil refineries was targeted in Kaluga Oblast in mid-March in an attack reportedly carried out by Ukraine's military intelligence agency. In one of the latest strikes, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) struck with drones two oil refineries and a military airfield in Russia's Krasnodar Oblast on April 27, hitting "key technological objects," according to the Kyiv Independent's source in the security and defense forces. Strikes against Russian energy targets have prompted criticism from U.S. officials, who have made it clear that Washington does not support Ukraine's campaign against 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. Russia detains 2 journalists on 'extremism' charges, accuses them of having worked with Navalny Two Russian journalists were detained on "extremism" charges in Russia on April 28 for having allegedly worked for a group founded by the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Russian authorities have accused Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin, Russian citizens, of producing content for Navalny's YouTube channel, NavalnyLIVE. The Kremlin has deemed Navalny, who died in northern Russia in February, and organizations affiliated with him as "extremist." Gabov, who Moscow's Basmanny District Court called a producer for the news agency Reuters, allegedly helped prepare "photo and video materials" for the YouTube channel. He will remain detained until June 27. In a statement after Gabov's arrest, Reuters clarified that Gabov is a freelance journalist "who in the past occasionally contributed to the Reuters news file," but who "does not do any work for Reuters at this time." Deutsche Welle (DW) said Gabov is its Moscow correspondent. Karelin, who has worked with outlets like the Associated Press (AP) and Deutsche Welle in the past, is accused of having participated in an "extremist organization." He was arrested in the northwestern city of Murmansk. The recent detentions come amid a crackdown on journalists and Kremlin critics in Russia. Forbes journalist Sergey Mingazov was put under house arrest on April 27 in Russia for having allegedly "produced fakes" about the Russian military. 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. BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Residents of east China's Fujian Province are expected to be the first to resume visits to Taiwan's Matsu, a senior official of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said on Sunday. According to Rao Quan, vice minister of culture and tourism, Fujian residents will also be able to participate in group travels to Taiwan following the resumption of direct sea passenger routes from Fujian's Pingtan to Taiwan. Rao made the remarks while meeting a visiting Chinese Kuomintang party delegation led by Fu Kun-chi in Beijing. Noting the ministry's consistent support for cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including tourism, Rao said it welcomed compatriots from Taiwan to visit and experience the Chinese culture and the changes taking place on the mainland. Russia plans to introduce drone classes in schools in occupied territory, Ukraine alleges. A Ukrainian official said the courses will cover UAV design features and assembly. Drones have played a crucial role for both Russian and Ukrainian forces in the war. Russia will introduce drone training sessions to schools in occupied areas of Ukraine from September, alleged Ukraine's governor of the Zaporizhzhia region. "On September 1, 2024, a new subject will be introduced in schools in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine a course on the management of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)," wrote Ivan Fedorov on Telegram. "Officially, they may call it 'training,' but in reality, they are preparing young people for murder," he continued, adding that it was "a blatant violation of international law." It follows a February report by the National Resistance Center of Ukraine, which was set up by Ukraine's Special Operations Forces in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, which said Russia planned to teach children in Ukrainian territories "technologies, design features and assembly of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military purposes." Fedorov said the Russian plan was to send drones and military personnel to schools to assist with the training. It is not clear if the potential training sessions would be for all children or for specific age groups. International humanitarian law prohibits recruiting and using children under the age of 15 in armed conflicts, and doing so is considered a war crime, according to the UN's Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. Drones have played a crucial role for both the Russian and Ukrainian militaries in the war so far, and they have been used for a wide variety of operations, including reconnaissance, guiding artillery, and carrying out airstrikes. Defense One reported that Russia had set up a training center in occupied Ukraine to train both Russian military and civilian drone operators for combat. Civilians who undergo training at the center in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine do not officially join the military, it noted, citing the Russian newspaper Argumenty i Fakty. A 2023 report by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab found that at least 6,000 children from Ukraine had been put through what it called Russian "re-education" camps that aimed at making them "more pro-Russia in their personal and political views." The report said that children at some of the 43 camps had been given firearms training, although there appeared to be no evidence that the children had been sent to fight. Read the original article on Business Insider Vladimir Putins forces have made further gains in at least three locations along the eastern front in Ukraine including for the first time in several months an advance in the northern Kharkiv region highlighting again Kyivs need for ammunition and weapons from the United States and other allies. Russias tactical advances are now daily and reflect the new tempo on the battlefield since the fall of the industrial town of Avdiivka in February. The gains are generally modest - from a few hundred meters of territory to perhaps a kilometer at most but they are usually taking place in several locations at once. Meanwhile, Ukraines losses are being accompanied by criticism from influential military bloggers and analysts of the armed forces official battlefield updates. One of Russias main efforts is in the Donetsk region. Ukraines DeepState monitoring group, which updates daily changes in frontline positions, shows Russian forces pushing forward in eight different locations along 20-25 kms of frontline in one 24-hour period. Military bloggers on both sides have reported that Russian forces have crossed a water course and taken control of the settlements of Semenivka and Berdychi which Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed in a post on Telegram on Sunday. Russia had deployed up to four brigades in offensive operations in the area, Syrskyi said. A few kilometers to the north, Soloviove is now also reported to be in Russian hands, and the tiny settlement of Keramik at least partially so as well. The withdrawal in the Donetsk operational zone continues, the Ukrainian military blogger Myroshnykov wrote. Slightly further south, Russian forces are also making headway in the industrial town of Krasnohorivka, entering from the south and the east. Fierce fighting has been reported around the towns large brick factory. One Russian military blogger wrote of the battles importance: The liberation (sic) of the refractory plant would actually mean the fall of the Krasnohorivka fortification, as the northern outskirts of the settlement are private buildings, which will be too difficult to defend if the plant is lost. Elsewhere, about 180kms (112 miles) to the north, Russias forces have also achieved their first successes in almost three months along that part of the frontline that cuts into Kharkiv region. A Ukrainian army spokesman described Russian forces there as having become significantly more active over the past day, while DeepState assessed a Russian advance of between one and two kilometers into the village of Kyslivka. Overall, the frontlines in this region have been among the most stable since Ukraine recaptured a large swath of territory in Kharkiv region in late summer of 2022. Utility workers clean up the aftermath of an overnight Russian rocket attack in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on April 27. - Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images Criticism of military communications With withdrawals and losses accumulating, military bloggers such as Myroshnykov and the DeepState site have both taken aim at official Ukrainian communications, accusing the armed forces of increasingly unrealistic updates from the battlefield. DeepState, in a post on Telegram, published a graphic video of a Russian soldier being killed in a drone strike in the village of Soloviove but used the clip to argue that isolated incidents can mask the bigger picture, which it accused the military of doing as well. You can watch with pleasure forever the video of a Russian (soldier) being torn to pieces, DeepState wrote, but nearby there is another location that requires attention: Muscovites calmly moving around the village, keeping it under control. The (Ukrainian) Defense Forces inflict fire damage on them, and one can repeat at least a billion times (on national television) that two-thirds of the village is under the control of the Ukrainian military, but the picture of reality is completely different. Destroyed buildings in Ocheretyne, near Avdiivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region. - Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty Images That assessment that two-thirds of Soloviove village was under Ukrainian control was made by Nazar Voloshyn, spokesperson of the Khortytsia operational-strategic group, on Ukrainian TV on Saturday. Nearby Ocheretyne was also still two-thirds controlled by Ukraine, which had things in hand, he said. For its part, DeepState sees it differently, assessing that Russian troops have been in control of the center of Ocheretyne village, including the railway station, for at least three days. Last week, the monitoring site made a similar complaint against the military accusing some spokespersons of incompetence. Ukrainian army chief Syrskyi appeared to address those concerns in his Telegram post on Sunday suggesting that misunderstandings were due to the fluidity of developments. There is a dynamic change in the situation, some positions change hands several times a day, which give rise to an ambiguous understanding of the situation, he wrote. But he also acknowledged Ukraines overall situation had deteriorated. The situation at the front has escalated. Trying to seize the strategic initiative and break through the front line, the enemy has concentrated its main efforts in several directions, creating a significant advantage in forces and in means, he added. Ukrainian servicemen on an armored carrier return from the Semenivka battlefield near Avdiivka on March 4. - Narciso Contreras/Anadolu via Getty Images Russia last made small gains in the region in late January and early February, but DeepState assesses a new advance of between one and two kilometers into the village of Kyslivka. Overall, the frontlines in this region have been relatively stable since Ukraine recaptured a large swath of territory in Kharkiv region in late summer of 2022. Russian forces are also making headway west of Donetsk city, entering the industrial town of Krasnohorivka from the south and the east. Fierce fighting has been reported around a large brick factory. One Russian military blogger wrote of the battles importance: The liberation (sic) of the refractory plant would actually mean the fall of the Krasnohorivka fortification, as the northern outskirts of the settlement are private buildings, which will be too difficult to defend if the plant is lost. Local residents sit at the entrance of an apartment building destroyed by shelling in Ocheretyne on April 15. - Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty Images More short-term setbacks Many Western analysts, along with Ukrainian officials, see Russias current stepped-up tempo as a precursor to a major offensive attempt later this spring. It is also assumed Moscow wants to take advantage of its significant advantage in ammunition before US supplies greenlit last week after six months of political stasis get to the frontlines. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assesses that there will be more short-term setbacks for Ukraine, though without major strategic defeats. Russian forces will likely make significant tactical gains in the coming weeks as Ukraine waits for US security assistance to arrive at the front but remain unlikely to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses, it wrote. Ukraines other major quantitative weakness, which also helps explain recent battlefield trajectories, is manpower. A new mobilization law comes into effect next month, which is expected to improve conscription processes. But Kyiv has proved highly reluctant to say clearly how many more soldiers it needs, while Moscow keeps increasing numbers. The quality (of Russian fighters) of course varies, but the quantitative advantage is a serious problem, Rob Lee of Foreign Policy Research Institute, posted on X. Without (its) manpower advantage, Russias artillery and airpower advantage would not be sufficient for Russia to make gains on the battlefield. The relative manpower situation is likely the most important factor that will determine the wars trajectory, particularly if Russia can sustain recruiting 20-30k a month, Lee adds. Yulia Kesaieva, Maria Kostenko and Victoria Butenko contributed to this report For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Russian troops struck the cities of Kupiansk and Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast on April 28, injuring two people, local authorities reported. Kupiansk, a crucial logistics juncture that was temporarily occupied by Russia in 2022, has recently been under heavy attacks as Russia intensified its offensive efforts in the area. Russia carried out an attack on Kupiansk at 10:50 a.m. local time, reportedly using a Grad multiple rocket launcher, according to the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office. The munition hit the house directly, blocking a 36-year-old woman under the rubble. She was released before the emergency services came and was provided with medical care at the scene. A 52-year-old man got a stomach injury due to the attack. He was hospitalized, the Kharkiv Oblast military administration reported. Russia also attacked the city of Vovchansk, 90 kilometers north of Kupiansk, on the same morning. The strike happened at 9:50 a.m. local time and damaged two houses. Casualties were not reported. The day prior, a Russian drone attack injured a 52-year-old truck driver near Vovchansk. Settlements like Vovchansk in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv Oblast are subjected to regular Russian attacks due to their proximity to the front line and the border with Russia. Read also: ISW: Russia attempting to create outsized panic in Kharkiv, force mass exodus of civilians Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian media outlet Vazhnye Istorii (Important Stories) has reported that the Russian authorities are forcibly deporting incapacitated people from the occupied territories, and the Kremlin's children's ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova and the foundation where almost all of her relatives worked are involved in the deportation. Source: Vazhnye Istorii (Important Stories); Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza Details: The Russian authorities noted that as of July 2023, at least 700,000 children have been deported from Ukraine to Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion. International law prohibits the displacement of the population from the occupied territories such actions can be considered a war crime. That is why the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova and Russian ruler Vladimir Putin in March 2023. Vazhnye Istorii, together with The Reckoning Project, a project to investigate war crimes in Ukraine, has found out that Lvova-Belova was involved in the forced deportation of not only children but also adults who have been declared legally incapacitated by the courts. The ombudsman's sister, Sophia Lvova-Belova, head of the Kvartal Louis Foundation (Louis Quarter Foundation), which is supported by government officials and businessmen close to the Kremlin, is also involved in the deportation of incapacitated Ukrainians. Vazhnye Istorii found out that the Russian authorities had taken four residents from the Oleshky orphanage for children with special needs in Kherson Oblast Oleksandr Danylchuk, Anastasiia Mamotiuk, Victoriia Markeliuk and Anastasiia Yavorovska to the city of Penza. The town of Oleshky has been occupied by Russian troops since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. All four residents are adults who have been declared legally incapacitated and deprived of parental care. Both Ukrainian and Russian law does not allow them to dispose of their property and money independently, to marry or to go to court. The incapacity of these orphans may indicate that they were involuntarily transferred to Penza, Vazhnye Istorii notes. At the same time, Gleb Bogush, an international law expert and lawyer, explains in a commentary to the publication that international law prohibits the transfer of people from occupied territories, regardless of age or legal capacity. Forcible transfer of civilians without good reason can be considered a war crime and under certain conditions a crime against humanity, Bogush says. These four people were transported to Penza on the eve of the opening of a special residence called Novye Berega (New Shores), a place for people with disabilities and orphanage leavers with physical and mental disabilities. The residence is a project of the Penza-based charity organisation Kvartal Louis, which was created by Maria Lvova-Belova. Initially, the ombudsman headed Kvartal Louis and Novye Berega herself, but in the spring of 2023, her younger sister Sofia, who had previously worked there as an architect and designer, became the head of the foundation. Vazhnye Istorii notes that almost all of Maria Lvova-Belova's relatives have worked for the organisation at different times: her father, Alexei Lvov-Belov, husband Pavel Kogelman, and brothers Pavel and Fyodor (they work at the Kvartal Louis branch in Krasnodar). The Novye Berega project was supported by Vladimir Putin and high-ranking officials, including then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Head of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, Penza Oblast Governor Oleg Melnichenko, Patriarch Kirill and other government officials (the Federation Council is the upper chamber of the Russian parliament ed.). More than US$2.2 million were spent on the construction of the residence money was donated by entrepreneurs close to the government, including Roman Abramovich, Vladimir Potanin, and the foundations of Konstantin Malofeev and Gennady Timchenko. The project also received presidential grants. It was the children's ombudsman's sister, Sophia Lvova-Belova, who met the children from the Oleshky Orphanage in Penza. Together with them, six people with mental disabilities from the Shakhtarsk orphanage from the territory of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic were placed in the Novye Berega. Prior to this, the authorities of the annexed territories thanked Maria Lvova-Belova for her close cooperation in organising the deportation. The opening of the Novye Berega in November 2023 was attended by the head of Penza Oblast, Oleg Melnichenko, and Sergey Novikov, the Head of the Presidents Administration's Department for Public Projects - Medusa's sources called him the chief censor of Russian culture. Vazhnye Istorii managed to talk to one of the orphans taken from Kherson Oblast, 27-year-old Oleksandr Danylchuk. He said that he had been warned about his transfer to Penza only the day before his departure (at the same time, Maria Lvova-Belova said that she had invited the children to Novye Berega back in September 2023). Danylchuk said they were not asked if they wanted to move, and Russian passports were already issued in the occupied territory. In Ukraine, Danylchuk still has friends and foster parents, with whom he was forced to part ways after the war broke out the family moved to Romania. However, the possibility of returning to Ukraine is out of the question now, Danylchuk says. Sophia Lvova-Belova denies that any of her new wards want to return to their homeland. According to the law, the organisation where the person lives becomes the guardian of the incapacitated person, and Lvova-Belova, as its head, has the right to manage the money and property of the wards (including their pensions), as well as to represent their rights in court. An international arrest warrant has already been issued against Maria Lvova-Belova. It was issued in March 2023 by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which suspected Lvova-Belova and Vladimir Putin of illegally deporting children from the occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, as Lvova-Belova said in July 2023, more than 700,000 children have been taken from Ukraine to Russia. The Children of War project reports that more than 19,500 minors have been forcibly deported from Ukraine. More than a thousand Ukrainian children were placed under preliminary guardianship by the Russian authorities, Vazhnye Istorii wrote. In addition, in April 2024, Vazhnye Istorii and Vershka found profiles of at least 285 children taken from Ukraine to Russia in the all-Russian database of orphans. Most of the questionnaires state that the children can be adopted, although Maria Lvova-Belova claimed that children from the occupied territories are placed in foster care rather than adoption, as it would be easier to return them to their blood relatives. Journalists suggest that Russian families have adopted at least 76 of the 285 children. On 27 April, Dozhd, an independent Russian television channel, learned about the adoption of a six-year-old boy from Ukraine by a Russian family. The new family changed the child's surname, patronymic and place of birth. The channel's journalists found out that the boy's mother had been deprived of parental rights under the laws of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. He had brothers and a sister, but nothing was known about his father and other relatives. Read more: Ukrainska Pravda identifies the overseers of abduction of Ukrainian children Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces attack 13 Ukrainian oblasts, including Kyiv, Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi, over past 24 hours Ukraine's Defence Ministry has reported that Russian troops attacked 13 Ukrainian oblasts on 27 April. Source: Military Media Center under Ukraine's Defence Ministry Details: The ministry noted that 119 settlements and 87 infrastructure facilities had been targeted. Russian soldiers used various types of weapons, including mortars, artillery, tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems, air defence missile systems, strategic and tactical missile systems, and strategic and tactical aircraft. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces hit private house in Kupiansk, woman freed from rubble Russian troops attacked Kharkiv Oblast on the morning of 28 April, leaving civilians injured. Source: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration Details: The Russians struck the town of Vovchansk, Chuhuiv district, at 09:50, damaging two private houses and leaving no casualties. Later, Russian soldiers attacked the town of Kupiansk, hitting a private house. A woman, 36, was freed from the rubble before the emergency workers arrived. A man, 52, has also been injured in the attack and hospitalised with a stomach wound. Support UP or become our patron! BEIRUT, April 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were injured on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike on Lebanon's southern town of Sarbin, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. The sources, who spoke anonymously, said that an Israeli warplane targeted a house in Sarbin with two air-to-surface missiles weighing 1,000 pounds each, leading to its destruction and causing heavy damage to neighboring houses. According to the sources, members of the Civil Defense, the Islamic Health Authority, and the Islamic Message Scouts Association rushed to the scene and transported the wounded to the Tebnine government hospital in the central sector of southern Lebanon. Earlier Saturday, Hezbollah announced that it launched an attack with drones and guided missiles on the Israeli military command headquarters in the Al-Manara settlement and the position of the Golani Brigade's 51st Battalion "in response to the enemy's attacks on villages and civilian homes." A Lebanese military source told Xinhua that around ten surface-to-surface missiles and several drones were launched from southern Lebanon toward northern Israel, some of which were intercepted by Israeli Iron Dome missiles, and several exploded in the airspace of the Kafr Kila region and the Marjayoun Plain in southern Lebanon. The sources added that Israeli warplanes carried out three raids on three towns and villages in the eastern and western sectors while Israeli artillery bombed seven border towns and villages in the western, central, and eastern sectors of the border region. Meanwhile, Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) chief, expressed his deep concern about the ongoing intense fire exchange across the Blue Line, saying that it has caused severe damage to the lives and safety of civilians and has destroyed their livelihoods. The Blue Line, established by the UN in 2000, spans 120 kilometers and serves to verify the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. It is a temporary demarcation line until the two countries officially establish their land borders. Lazaro made the remarks during a meeting with seven mayors in the Arqoub villages. He stressed that UNIFIL would continue to play its role in facing challenges and supporting communities in southern Lebanon by meeting their immediate and urgent needs and restoring calm and stability to the region. 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. Russians claim to have shot down 17 UAVs over Russia, some near oil depot The Russian Defence Ministry has claimed that 17 Ukrainian UAVs were shot down and intercepted by air defence systems on the night of 27-28 April. Source: Russian Defence Ministry; Vladislav Shapsha, Kaluga Oblast Governor Details: The local authorities stated that at 03:40, three UAVs crashed near the oil depot in the town of Liudinovo. It was reported that there were no casualties or damage. The Russian Ministry of Defence counted 17 UAVs, all of which were allegedly shot down, including nine over the territory of Bryansk Oblast, three over Kursk Oblast, two over Belgorod Oblast and three over the territory of Kaluga Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! Russians decide to do without Victory Day celebrations in occupied territories Ukraine's National Resistance Center (NRC) has reported that the Russians have decided to cancel the Victory Day celebrations in temporarily occupied territories (TOTs) of Ukraine [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May ed.]. Source: NRC Details: The resistance said the Russian occupation authorities had made this decision likely due to fear of "provocations". Quote: "Actually, the celebration in the TOTs would not take place without the extras. And after the inauguration of international criminal Vladimir Putin and further plans for mobilisation, it would risk turning into protests. So it [the celebration] has been abandoned. This clearly reflects the real level of support for the invaders in the TOTs." Background: Russia has decided to cancel the traditional Immortal Regiment propaganda march in 2024, usually held on Victory Day. Support UP or become our patron! BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) on Sunday announced a host of policies to facilitate trips of mainland people to Hong Kong and Macao. Measures include diversifying application channels for exit and entry documents, optimizing the application procedures, and extending the stay period. The measures will take effect on May 6, according to NIA. Iraq has passed a new law that penalizes same-sex relations with up to 15 years in prison, a move condemned by rights advocates as the latest attack on the countrys LGBTQ community. The Iraqi parliament on Saturday passed a bill amending a 1988 anti-prostitution law to cover acts including promoting homosexuality now punishable with up to seven years in prison and biological sex changes based on personal desires and inclination. Transgender individuals and doctors who perform gender reassignment surgery face up to three years in prison under the new law, though it excludes cases of medical intervention to treat birth defects to affirm the sex of the individual following a court order. The punishments are less severe than those originally sought by Raad al-Maliki, the independent Iraqi lawmaker who introduced the bill in August 2023. He had sought to impose penalties of life imprisonment and death for same-sex relations. However, the vast majority of the 170 lawmakers who attended the parliamentary session Saturday out of a total of 329 were in favor of adopting the bill with the reduced sentences. Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, the acting parliamentary speaker, said the new legislation was aimed at protecting the moral fabric of society. There is no place for homosexuality in Iraq, the land of prophets, pure imams, and righteous saints, Al-Mandalawi said in a statement on Saturday. Id rather die than stay in Iraq Samar, a member of Baghdads LGBTQ community, said the legislation was unfair and part of a wider trend toward homophobia in the country. Samar, who is only going by her first name for safety reasons, told CNN she and her friends had suffered multiple crimes against them due to their sexual orientation. She said one friend, a woman from Al-Diwaniah, had been poisoned by her own family after they found out she was a lesbian. Many in the LGBTQ community, including herself, are now desperate to leave the country, she added. I have my own business, which I started a long time ago, gathering money so I can leave Iraq, whether legally or illegally. From the amount of pressure I face, Ive reached a stage of despair. Let it be illegal migration; Id rather die on the way than stay in Iraq, Samar said. Samar also claimed the vote on the bill had been delayed so that it came after the recent meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and US President Joe Biden. Samar called on the US and other countries to put diplomatic pressure on the Iraqi government to revoke the law. I want to voice a demand from the queers in Iraq, not only to the American embassy in Iraq but to all embassies of countries that put human rights as a priority, that they intervene against this law and use diplomatic pressure to end the crimes that are going to happen because of it. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US Department of State, expressed deep concern over the new legislation, saying it could severely restrict free speech and expression, hinder NGO activities, and diminish Iraqs appeal to foreign investors by undermining human rights and economic diversity. He warned that international business coalitions have already signaled that such discriminatory practices could negatively impact Iraqs economic growth. Respect for human rights and political and economic inclusion is essential for Iraqs security, stability, and prosperity. This legislation is inconsistent with these values and undermines the governments political and economic reform efforts, Miller said on Saturday. Sarah Sanbar, Human Rights Watchs Iraq researcher, described the new law as 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 tweeted. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A San Diego woman was sentenced in federal court Friday to more than a decade in prison for selling fentanyl that led to the death of a man. Megan Rae Bowman, 25, of San Diego, was sentenced in federal court to nearly 12 years in prison for providing the fentanyl that resulted in the 2022 death of 35-year-old Michael Raymond Kuch, of Ramona, the Office of the United States Attorney Southern District of California announced. Deputy caught with 100 pounds of fentanyl was working for El Chapos cartel, report says Bowman pleaded guilty in November 2023, admitting she sold Kuch a gram of fentanyl, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. According to court documents, Bowman and Kuch met at a motel in Old Town on December 3, 2022, to complete the deal. Kuch was found dead of an overdose in his trailer at 10:54 a.m. on December 5, after consuming the fentanyl he purchased from Bowman. According to the governments sentencing memo, which quoted a victim impact statement from his family, Kuch was described as a father to a baby boy who shared deep bonds with his family members. His San Diego friends called him Boston Mike because of his Gloucester, Massachusetts accent. He liked to work on car stereos and the interior designs of cars in his free time. Four sentenced for felony drug crimes impacting unhoused San Diegans: DA Dealers are well aware the fentanyl they are selling is a ticking time bomb with a blast radius inflicting injury across our communities, said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. Today our system held another dealer accountable for her role in spreading this deadly poison. The San Diego County Sheriffs Department is committed to investigating suspected Fentanyl overdose cases throughout the County of San Diego, said Sheriffs Lt. Chris Katra of the Narcotics and Gang Division. We are dedicated to identifying and holding accountable those responsible for supplying the deadly Fentanyl. We will continue to collaborate with our Federal, State, local and legislative partners to accomplish this mission. Man stabbed while walking along San Diego street; no arrests made The senseless death in this case is one that has impacted not just his family but the San Diego community, said Christopher A. Davis, Acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Diego. The investigation of this case was one of detailed and thorough work by HSIs FAST team and partnered agencies. The defendant now must live with knowing she is responsible for taking a life while sitting in prison. This should be a lesson to drug dealers that prison may be your future. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Gordon and Shivanjali Sewak. Homeland Security, San Diego County Sheriffs Department, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and San Diego Imperial Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (SDI HIDTA) assisted in the case. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Saudi Arabia wants big spenders for the first part of its Neom megaproject Saudi Arabia plans to open the first part of its Neom megaproject this year. Sindalah, an island resort, is aimed at a luxury clientele and the global yachting community. Saudi Arabia is pushing to distinguish itself in the high-end luxury market to compete with Dubai. Saudi Arabia plans to open the first region of its Neom megacity by the end of the year. The island of Sindalah will provide the first physical glimpse into the ambitious desert project, which has reportedly been scaled back from its initial plans due to financial struggles. Developers say they want the island to be an "exclusive gateway to the stunning Red Sea," adding that they planned to cater to luxury clientele and the global yachting community. Neom recently ended investor roadshows in China by confirming the luxury island resort would open this year, Arab News reported. It's set to have three luxury hotels, a golf course and sports club, beach club, marina, and dozens of restaurants and shops. In January Marriott International said it had signed an agreement to bring Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy to Sindalah. Chadi Hauch of the hotel operator said the concept was a "great fit" for the island and reflected a "growing desire for premium and luxury apartment-style accommodation" from travelers. The following month Saudi music entertainment company, MDLBEAST, announced it would operate the Sindalah Beach Club on the island. Vives, Neom's chief urban planning and islands officer, said in a press release that Sindalah will be a "new model for luxury travel and living." Capturing the luxury tourism market The Saudi government's focus on the luxury market is an attempt to distinguish itself from nearby Dubai, part of the United Arab Emirates. "Dubai goes for the mass market of people wanting to go and have fun in the winter," Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a fellow for the Middle East at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, told Business Insider. "The Saudis are increasingly pushing themselves toward a high-end luxury market, which is what Sindalah and, to some extent, some of the other Red Sea projects are going to cater for," he said. Saudi Arabia hasn't been shy about its tourism aspirations, claiming it aims to attract between 100 million and 150 million visitors by 2030. However, Dubai is a formidable competitor. It already has a 20-year head start in the tourism race, both in terms of infrastructure and aspirational appeal. It also has Emirates, the popular long-haul airline that brings tens of millions of people through Dubai annually. If Neom's ambitious plans become a reality, the Saudis are betting that their megaprojects can attract some high-end travelers from the glitz and glamor of its neighbor. Managing ambition Developing luxury resorts like Sindalah may also help Saudi Arabia encourage tourism sooner by starting smaller. Sindalah is one of the more realistic elements of Neom's futuristic plans. It pales in comparison to structures like the mirrored "horizontal skyscraper" known as The Line. "It's less ambitious in scope and scale," Ulrichsen said. "That might mean that it's more realistic to open first." A rendering of The Line, part of the Neom project planned by Saudi Arabia. NEOM Recent reports have indicated the Saudis may be facing a harsh reality when it comes to financing some of the megaprojects included in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 project . Previous deadlines have already been pushed back for some of Neom's more ambitious projects. Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that the Gulf Kingdom had reduced estimates for the number of people expected to live in The Line . The report said the realities of some of the trillion-dollar investments included in the Vision 2030 project were starting to cause alarm at the highest level of the country's government. Neom did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider (WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com) The population of sea lampreys in the Great Lakes could increase significantly in the next year or two, and its currently unclear how quickly the population can be culled back. They latch on with an alien, grotesque, teeth-filled suction cup mouth Thats how Dr. Marc Gaden, the communications director and legislative liaison of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission describes the sea lampreys. Theres no love lost there. You only have to look at a picture to know that Ive undersold just how grotesque the really are, he adds. Ugly though they may be, theyre not a direct danger to humans. Nor are they a danger to dogs that swim in the Great Lakes. Sea lampreys feed on cold-blooded animals. If they attach to a human, theyre just hitching a ride, Gaden said, and theyll detach within a moment (theyll be attached maybe long enough for a photo that can be ominously posted to the Internet, for example). Long-distance swimmers who have crossed Lake Ontario have complained about having to pick sea lamprey off as they swim. Again, theyre just hitching a ride, and if youre not swimming across Lake Ontario, you dont need to worry about it, Gaden said. Otherwise, theyre terrified of you, and they wouldnt feed on you because youre warm-blooded. In this photo taken July 16, 2010, a scientist with the Hammond Bay Biological Station near Huron Beach, Mich., holds a female sea lamprey. The lamprey uses its disk-shaped mouth and sharp teeth to fasten onto fish and suck out their bodily fluids. (AP Photo/John Flesher) But sea lampreys are a nightmare for fish. They attach with their suction cup mouths and then use a spiny tongue to drill into the side of the fish. They feed on the fishs blood and body fluids. Theyre vampires, Gaden said. Impact and lifecycle Each sea lamprey can kill more than 40 pounds of fish during its lifetime. Before scientists developed chemicals and tactics to control the lamprey population, they were killing 110 million pounds of fish per year. Thats much larger than the commercial catch rate was at the time sea lampreys were taking more fish than humans when the control efforts started, Gaden said. And, man, can they breed. A single female lamprey can lay up to 100,000 eggs. Add that to the fact that fish in the Great Lakes were sheltered from sea lampreys throughout their evolution and therefor never developed the ability to fight them off. Its not difficult to understand why sea lamprey have had a dramatic impact on the native fish populations ever since they made their way into the Great Lakes in the late 1800s. By 1939, Gaden said, sea lamprey were all the way to Lake Superior, and by the 1940s everybody began to realize how dire the situation was. Fishermen and other stakeholders lobbied their respective governments in the United States and Canada, and mitigation efforts got underway. Scientists sought a way to remove the populations. Its easy to kill fish with a common piscicide (fish poison), but we only use that as a last resort, Gaden said. Dumping piscicide into a water system kills all the fish sea lamprey, lake trout, walleye, etc. Say you have a pond full of snake head fish, you can do it, but youll essentially reset the pond. In the Great Lakes system, that cure would be worse than the disease. Michigans Three Free weekend June 8-9 It wasnt until 1957 that scientists used a pickle jar test to discover a lampricide (lamprey poison). Gaden said scientists would put a couple trout and a couple lamprey in the same jar, introduce a chemical, and then come back to check the result in the morning. More often than not, both the fish and the lampreys had died. Occasionally, just the fish had died. Finally, after some 7,000 chemicals were tried, they found just the right chemical to kill the lamprey and only the lamprey (the lamprey is a primitive fish and cant metabolize the chemical in the lampricide like the other fish can, Gaden explained). Sea lampreys spawn in rivers. The eggs are laid upstream in rocky areas, and the hatched larvae then swim downstream where they embed themselves in silty, sandy river bottoms. They live there for about four years before maturing and undergoing metamorphosis, becoming the parasitic form thats so devastating to the great lakes. Pandemic slows mitigation Because the sea lampreys spawn in rivers, a quick solution was building dams. Some 400 or 500 streams in the Great Lakes system are suitable for sea lamprey spawning. About 70 dams have been purposely built to curb lamprey spawning. Other dam were built for other reasons but theyre still effective in preventing sea lamprey spawning, Gaden said. That still leaves a lot of streams for spawning. And thats where the lampricide becomes key. The lampricide is applied to the streams, killing the larvae hidden beneath the sand. It kills some 98% of the larvae. Since the larvae spend about four years in the streams (essentially harmless to the ecosystem at that stage of their lifecycle), the Great Lakes Fishery Commission treats 25% of the streams each year. In doing so, theyre killing four year classes at once, Gaden explained. That works out to about 100 to 120 streams that are treated with lampricide each year. Leading up to 2020, the commission had noticed an uptick in lamprey numbers throughout the Great Lakes, so it had ramped up its treatments. But then came the pandemic. Pandemic restrictions meant teams couldnt venture into the field to treat the streams, and that had definite impacts to the treatment schedules. In 2020, the commission only was able to treat about 25% of the streams it had planned to treat by the time the pandemic restrictions went into effect. When the pandemic restrictions eased in 2021, the commission treated about 75% of the streams it had planned to treat in 2021. Now in 2022, Gaden said the commission plans to complete its full schedule of stream treatments. Good news, bad news That brief lapse in treatments is bad news for the Great Lakes. Those lampreys have had that much time to develop and swim into the lakes where fish cant shake them off and theyll eventually return to lay 100,000 eggs each. Were not going to really know until probably late this year or next year the (lamprey) coming back in 2022 were survivors of the 2020 field season. We have biologists out there monitoring the spawning rate, Gaden said. Lampreys are spawning into late June, so we will know later this year how 2020 shook out. Its reasonable to see a spike after having to defer most of the treatments. The good news, Gaden added, is that teams already had ramped up treatments the year before the pandemic. Temporary closure coming to Miners Castle We serendipitously have never been better placed to weather something like a severely displacing pandemic, Gaden said. It could be the difference between setting us back a couple of decades as opposed to maybe a blip where we can get aggressive over the next couple of years to drive that down. Were cautiously optimistic that itll be a blip. Sea lampreys prefer cold water, Gaden said. But if it seems like climate changes warming temperatures are good news in the fight against sea lampreys, think again. Sea lampreys do well in cool water, and they get by in warm water, Gaden said. In Lake Superior, in some of those cold streams in the middle of nowhere, they live as larvae for up to 17 years before going through metamorphosis. In some lakes, like Lake Erie, theyre more frequent because of the warmer environment there. Already, the commission had been considering upping its treatment schedule by 30% due to warming temperatures. Staying at least a step ahead of the sea lampreys is imperative. If they bounce back, theyll wipe you out and it will take a very long time to get it back, Gaden said. But Gaden was remaining cautiously optimistic. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Search underway for man missing from home on Northwest Side CHICAGO A search continues on Saturday afternoon for a man who police say is missing from his home on the citys Northwest Side. According to Chicago police, 23-year-old Chilel Frank has been missing from his home in the 3300 block of North Kilpatrick Avenue, in Portage Park, since Sunday. Frank may be in the vicinity of Cicero Avenue and West Division Street, police said. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Officers say the missing man, who stands 5-foot-6 and weighs around 135 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes. 23-year-old Chilel Frank has been missing from his home in the 300 block of North Kilpatrick Avenue, in Portage Park, since Sunday. Police were not able to provide a description of what the missing man was last seen wearing. Authorities notified the public about Franks disappearance in a news release on Thursday afternoon. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Anyone with information on the whereabouts of 23-year-old Chilel Frank is asked to contact CPD Area Five Detectives at 312-746-6554 or dial 911. Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Makenzie Huber, reporter for South Dakota Searchlight, addresses the crowd April 26, 2024, at the South Dakota NewsMedia Association convention in Huron while accepting the 2023 Outstanding Young Journalist award from the association's executive director, David Bordewyk. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) Makenzie Huber, reporter for South Dakota Searchlight, addresses the crowd April 26, 2024, at the South Dakota NewsMedia Association convention in Huron while accepting the 2023 Outstanding Young Journalist award from the association's executive director, David Bordewyk. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota Searchlight won 11 awards in its division of the South Dakota NewsMedia Associations 2023 Better News Media Contest, including the Outstanding Young Journalist award for Makenzie Huber. Awards were presented Friday in Huron during the associations 141st annual convention. The association, based in Brookings, represents more than 100 members from newspapers and digital news outlets in South Dakota. The Outstanding Young Journalist award honors the work of journalists under the age of 30. Its chosen from nominations by supervisors and portfolios of the nominees work. The other awards earned by Searchlight were: Searchlight competed in the division for news outlets that publish multiple days per week. The top newspaper awards in the division went to the Rapid City Journal, which won the General Excellence award, and the Mitchell Republic, which won the Sweepstakes award (honoring the newspaper that garners the most points for awards in all categories). In the weekly divisions, the Outstanding Young Journalist award went to Emelia Enquist, a journalist for the Grant County Review in Milbank. The Hamlin County Republican, in Castlewood, won the General Excellence and Sweepstakes awards for weeklies with circulations under 1,300 copies. In the division for weeklies with circulation greater than 1,300, the Fall River County Herald Star, of Hot Springs, was the General Excellence winner, and the Brandon Valley Journal was the Sweepstakes winner. Members of the Wyoming Press Association judged the contest entries. A complete list of results is available at www.sdna.com. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Searchlight wins 11 awards, including Outstanding Young Journalist for Huber appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight. TEHRAN, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel on Saturday held a phone talk on developments in the Gaza Strip, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website. In the phone conversation, Amir-Abdollahian strongly urged an end to Israel's "war and genocide" in Gaza and respect for the oppressed Palestinian people's rights, deeming Israel "the root cause" for all regional tensions. Rangel, for his part, stressed the need to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, adding his government supported the formation of an independent Palestinian state. He called for efforts by all regional countries to reduce tensions in West Asia. The two officials also discussed bilateral relations and other regional issues of common interest, with Amir-Abdollahian speaking highly of "good and long-standing" ties between the two countries. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, they also exchanged views on issues concerning the Israeli-linked Portuguese-flagged container ship MSC Aries seized on April 13 by the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps near the Strait of Hormuz. The statement said Amir-Abdollahian has told Rangel that Iran paid serious attention to the humanitarian issue of releasing the ship's crew members, and "we have announced to their ambassadors in Tehran access to consular services, release and extradition." Palestinians search for belongings from their destroyed tents following Israeli airstrikes in town of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip on Monday, April 22, 2024. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI April 28 (UPI) -- U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed his "ironclad support" for Israel's security in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday, according to a statement from the White House. Biden made his comments in light of a largely failed Iranian strike on Israel that featured up to three hundred drones and missiles earlier this month. Nearly all of them were intercepted which Biden had told Netanyahu that Israel should consider a success. "They also reviewed ongoing talks to secure the release of hostages together with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza," a statement from the White House said. "The President referred to his statement with 17 other world leaders demanding that Hamas release their citizens without delay to secure a ceasefire and relief for the people of Gaza." Biden and Netanyahu also discussed bolstering humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza, transporting it through new crossings in the northern part of the country, through the construction of a pier, according to the White House. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will push for a cease-fire during a trip to the war-torn region this week. Israel has continued to threaten that its next incursion to take control of Gaza will happen in the city of Rafah. Smoke and flames rise from an Israeli air strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on Monday, April 22, 2024. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI "We want it to last for about six weeks," White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said Sunday on ABC This Week. "It will allow for all those hostages [held by Hamas] to get out and, of course, to allow for easier aid access to places in Gaza, particularly up in the north. So, he's going to be working on that very, very hard," Kirby said of Blinken. Kirby said Blinken will also be trying to get a better feel for exactly what Netanyahu is planning for in Rafah. Netanyahu has said occupying and controlling that city is key to making inroads against Hamas, which prompted the latest spasm of violence in this historical war when its militants made a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 people at an outdoor music festival. A Palestinian man hugs the lifeless body of his child killed in an Israeli attack on Ridwan family house, at Al-najar Hospital in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Saturday on April 20, 2024. An Israeli attack on Ridwan family house, leaving many injured and at least 9 dead including 6 children and tow women, Medical sources said. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI Upwards of 34,000 Gazans have died in reprisal attacks, according to Gazan health officials, though the exact numbers have been hard to pin down. Netanyahu maintains taking control of Rafah and destroying the remaining Gazan resistance battalions is paramount to taking control of the region and defeating Hamas, which he has vowed since Oct. 7 to do. Gazans counter that such a move would be catastrophic on a humanitarian level. Kirby said Sunday that the U.S. does not have a firm grasp on what Israel plans in Rafah and when they may plan to launch attacks. "We have to have a better understanding from the Israelis about what they want to do," Kirby said, adding, "They've assured us they won't go into Rafah until we've had a chance to really share our perspectives and concerns with them. So we'll see where that goes." Blinken said recently called an Israeli incursion into Gaza is a "mistake" and said it is "something we can't support." During the Biden-Netyanhu conversation Sunday, "the leaders discussed Rafah and the President reiterated his clear position," the White House statement said. The American news media, as an institution, has mostly failed to rise to the challenge of the Age of Trump even after more than 8 years of experience. But, there are some bold and brave voices who stand out for their truth-telling and role-modeling of pro-democracy journalism and how their peers in the media should be responding to the crisis. For example, in an excellent critical review and essay at The Philadelphia Inquirer about Alex Garland's new film Civil War, Will Bunch highlights how its main characters are emblematic of the failures of the American news media: The zeitgeist underlying Civil War reminded me of how the five leading TV news networks recently put aside their competitive rivalries to write a rare open letter that revealed the one thing newsroom leaders care passionately about: begging Trump and President Joe Biden to stage televised debates in the fall. Thats because even with Garlands vision of dystopia too close for comfort, TV bosses still only care about ratings and a showcase for both sides, even when one side is a lying, three-term-president-in-waiting. Like Civil Wars Joel, they just want to get that quote, nothing more. While the major news outlets continue to obsess on both-sidesing a five-alarm fire for the American Experiment, aided by reporters seeking to find the fun in politics even when our politics feel like 1861, there are some folks who do get it. In a much-discussed new essay in his newsletter, Chris Quinn, Editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, declared his unapologetic and unqualified commitment to pro-democracy journalism and the truth, an approach that does not engage in false equivalency or fake balance between Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. In a subsequent interview with Dan Froomkin at his site Press Watch, Quinn elaborated on why he is not afraid to make the historically accurate comparison between the MAGA movement and the rise of Nazism and the Third Reich: But you know, I spent most of my life wondering how a country could go down the path Germany went down. It just seemed unfathomable growing up when I did that a country could do that. And then came Donald Trump. And you realize: Wow! Thats exactly how it happens. You demonize the media. You create these phony divisions. You dehumanize groups of people. With Donald Trump its not Jewish people, its immigrants. Hes basically treating them like theyre nonhuman. Were following the exact path. And I think a lot of people see that but theyre afraid to say it because they dont want to be vilified for using the suffering of millions of people to push a cause. But the reaction I got to that was a whole lot of people that said: Im so grateful youre doing this. Ive long studied what happened in Germany. Thats exactly whats happening now. We are on the edge. If he gets elected, hes not even being secretive about what he wants to do. I dont think we can draw those parallels enough, because I think right now in America we are on that edge. And a whole lot of people seem to agree. Quinn offered these insights into why his fellow editors and other senior decision-makers all too often default to obsolete norms of bothsideism and so-called balance when covering Trumps dangerous and aberrant behavior behavior that is without equal in American history: I think theyre afraid of that pushback. I think that the same reason that youll see a half dozen stories about Joe Bidens mental state in the Washington Post and New York Times is it bleeds in, and theyre not setting their own agenda. I wish they would." His advice for other editors: I think the false equivalence has got to go, because thats not what this is anymore. I have been publicly chronicling the Age of Trump on an almost daily basis since 2015. I was also one of the first public voices to warn about Trumps likely victory in 2016. For months, I also tried to desperately warn the American public about the increasing likelihood that Trump would attempt a coup instead of leaving office after his defeat in the 2020 election. I too have some hard-earned insights and suggestions about the American mainstream news media in the Age of Trump and beyond that I have been meditating on for some time. We must use accurate and direct language to describe the democracy crisis, its historical antecedents and origins, global connections, and what may happen next based on the evidence. To fail to do so is to aid and abet right-wing authoritarianism and other enemies of real we the people democracy. We should not assume that everyone knows that Donald Trump, the MAGA movement, and other right-wing malign actors are an existential threat to American democracy, freedom, and society. Most Americans are disengaged, uninterested, ignorant, largely uninvolved, with and unsophisticated in their knowledge of politics and current events. Thus the demand to repeatedly, with examples and explanations, show and demonstrate what Trump and his forces believe and plan to do if they take power. The Fourth Estate are supposed to be the guardians of democracy. This responsibility is even greater in the Age of Trump. Reporters, journalists, and others with a public platform must proceed from a position of moral clarity, a commitment to the truth, and not be afraid to take a stand on questions of right and wrong. We should seek out real experts and quote them, interview them in long-form, and more generally provide them with a platform. Dont forget the basics and common sense and what should be standing order number one for reporters and journalists: If someone says it's raining and another person says it's dry, it's not your job to quote them both. Your job is to look out of the window and find out which is true." To reiterate what New York University journalism professor Jay Rosen has so wisely commanded, it is the stakes not the horserace. We must consistently tell the public why this all matters. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is the ability to follow through, persist, and succeed in the face of fear. The Age of Trump and what it has wrought and unleashed upon the country and world are very frightening, if not terrifying. Donald Trump and the other American neofascists have repeatedly called reporters, journalists, and the news media as a whole (if they are not sufficiently compliant and quislings) enemies of the people (Hitler and the Nazis used the slur lugenpresse). The American news media needs to dedicate itself to pro-democracy journalism not out of idealism but out of self-interest and self-preservation. Journalist Masha Gessen wisely told us to Believe the autocrat.The best predictors of autocrats and aspiring autocrats behavior are their own public statements because these statements brought them to power in the first place. Americas mainstream news media needs to stop seeking alternate explanations for Trumps words and those of his propagandists, allies, and followers. There is little there to be translated. The ugliness is raw, plain and in its own foul way, refreshingly honest. Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday he would like to help the White House achieve a high-stakes normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel and urged officials to act, saying, Were running out of time. If we can get a deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, it ends the Arab-Israeli conflict, it isolates the Iranians, it creates some hope for the Palestinians, it provides security in a real way to Israel, the South Carolina Republican told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union. I dont think anybody on the Republican side is going to undercut the deal, added Graham, who has become an unlikely diplomatic ally to White House officials negotiating with Saudi leaders. Graham said he has spoken twice about the issue with President Joe Biden and has worked alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan to help them normalize Saudi Arabia and Israel. Blinken is traveling this week to Saudi Arabia to meet with regional partners while hostage negotiation and ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas remain stagnant. Graham, who embarked on his own trip to Saudi Arabia last month, called on administration officials to get on with closing the treaty for a mutual defense agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Without the treaty, MBS (Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman) cannot recognize Israel, and part of the deal will be coming up with a solution to the Palestinian problem, he continued, adding, Without this deal, there is no solution to the Palestinian problem. In a meeting with the crown prince last month, Graham and MBS spoke with former President Donald Trump in a roughly five-minute-long, generally casual phone call, CNN previously reported. Normalization talks were not discussed, CNNs sources said. Asked about CNNs reporting on the call and the shadow Trump could cast upon or use to undermine a potential deal, Graham said the former president wants the killing to end and wants to see peace reign. Were going to have an election here in November, but can we save some lives before November?, he asked. Im confident that the Abraham Accords put in place the possibility of this deal. Speaking directly to the White House, Graham said, If you can land this deal, I think youll have a lot of Republican support in the United States Senate for a treaty between Saudi Arabia and the United States. He also said that Trump will get his fair share of credit if the deal is built upon the foundation of the 2020 Abraham Accords, which led to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recognizing Israels sovereignty. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) on Sunday advised against sending the National Guard onto college campuses to quell the pro-Palestinian protests occurring across the country, calling the prospect a very, very bad idea. I think calling in the National Guard to college campuses for so many people would recall what happened when that was done during the Vietnam War, and it didnt end well. The National Guard going to college campuses, Kent State and elsewhere, did not end well, Kaine said Sunday on NBC Newss Meet the Press. And I think that would be a very, very bad idea. I think there are other ways using campus security, but also again, offering students more opportunities to have dialogue that is civil and constructive, where people hear one another, he continued. Some GOP lawmakers have suggested the White House should send in the National Guard as protests over the Israel-Hamas war roil college campuses across the country. Several schools authorized local and state police to break up the protests, and hundreds of students have been arrested as a result. The White House last week shut down Republicans calls for the National Guard, and White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre maintained the issue is not up to the president, but rather the governors. Protests have continued for more than a week, many of which are reported to be peaceful. Concerns have been raised, however, about the spread of antisemitic rhetoric and the safety of Jewish students. Other lawmakers have voiced concerns about the National Guard coming onto campus, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who argued college presidents should be the first line of defense. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Sunday argued the rights of those participating in peaceful pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses should be protected, pointing to the countrys history of multi-day demonstrations. Asked on Fox News Sunday about the GOP calls for the Biden administration to be more forceful in quelling the protests, Murphy said, We should all speak out, right? When [a] protest crosses a line, when it becomes violent or when theres hate speech. But 95 percent of the young people who are on these campuses are there because they believe there is a fundamental injustice being perpetrated in Israel, and we should protect their right to peacefully protest, he continued. And, you know, we also have a history of overnight, multi-day protests in this country. Protests calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and a halt in U.S. military aid to Israel have lasted for more than a week at a series of college campuses across the country. Some schools called in local and state law enforcement to break up the protests, leading to the arrests of hundreds of students. Many of the protests have been reported to be peaceful, but concerns have been raised over the safety of students and the proliferation of antisemitic rhetoric. Many protest groups have rejected the characterizations of their recent demonstrations as antisemitic. I dont think theres anything wrong with protecting the ability of peaceful protests to last beyond a handful of hours, Murphy said. Yes, there is a point at which these protests are going to get in the way of the efficient operation of a campus. But I am not criminally offended by the fact that some of these protests go on for multiple days. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) last week visited Columbia University, the first school to launch a major protest, and suggested President Biden call in the National Guard to stop the demonstrations, describing them as dangerous. Fox News Sunday anchor Shannon Bream then pressed Murphy if his believes of the use of law enforcement change in the case of threats against students. In some of these campus protests, there have been legitimate threats to students on campus. And I think in those instances, campus police or local police can and should handle those threats, Murphy said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- US senators dismissed House Speaker Mike Johnsons suggestion to send the National Guard to college campuses to quell growing protests against the war in Gaza and US support for Israel. Most Read from Bloomberg I dont know if you need to call in the National Guard, maybe you just call in the police, said Senator JD Vance, an Ohio Republican and one of several lawmakers from both parties expressing reservations. Vance spoke on Fox News Sunday. Sending the National Guard to campuses would evoke painful memories of the violent era of campus protest against the Vietnam War, specifically at Kent State University, Senator Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, said on NBCs Meet the Press. In 1970, the National Guard shot into a group of protesters at Ohios Kent State, killing four students. I think that would be a very, very bad idea, Kaine said of deploying the National Guard. There are ways to manage the protests using campus security, Kaine said, and also by offering students more opportunities to have dialogue that is civil and constructive where people hear one another. Lawmakers said that control of demonstrations should start with local police or school officials, while others added that universities should encourage constructive dialogue among students. Last week, Speaker Johnson condemned pro-Palestinian protests during a visit to Columbia University, saying that there would be an appropriate role for the National Guard if the demonstrations were not quickly contained. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have intensified as criticism of US support for Israels military campaign in Gaza grows. Protesters are gathering across college campuses across the country, setting up encampments on school grounds and demanding the administrations divest from entities that support Israel and the war. Some colleges have responded by bringing in police, at times arresting demonstrating students and professors. The University of Southern California canceled its main commencement ceremony last week because of safety concerns amid escalating protests. Green Party candidate Jill Stein was arrested while supporting a protest at Washington University in St. Louis. Read more: Harvard, Yale Students Shout Divest at Unyielding Colleges A pro-Palestinian crowd demonstrated outside the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington on Saturday night, shouting at lawmakers and journalists who attended the annual black-tie gala. Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, said most of the young people protesting on campuses are there out of conviction against the war and that the US should protect their right to peacefully protest. In some of these campus protests, there have been legitimate threats to students on campus. And I think in those instances, campus police or local police can and should handle those threats, Murphy said on Fox News Sunday. Asked if he would endorse sending in the National Guard, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said hed turn to the school administrations first. Lets see if these university presidents can get control of the situation. They ought to be able to do that, McConnell said on CBS Face the Nation. Civil discussion is what college education is supposed to be about. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. After a protest that lasted hours Sunday afternoon, students at UNC-Chapel Hill reerected tents they had agreed to take down on Friday, in apparent violation of university policy. Students started putting the tents back up, which had been dismantled and left flattened on Polk Place on campus, just before 7 p.m. This followed hours of protests and a march involving several hundred people through the main campus, during which student organizers called on UNC to disclose and divest from its investments in Israel, echoing similar protests that have broken out at universities across the country. The rally began at 3 p.m. in front of South Building, with a large crowd of students, faculty, community members and entire families with young children filling Polk Place, the main quad on campus. Speakers led the crowd in songs, prayers, and many different chants including free, free Palestine, from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, Gaza you are not alone, and globalize the intifada. Rally organizers also repeated chants of BDS now, referring to the international movement to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel. Students at UNC began pitching tents on campus on Friday, creating a Gaza Solidarity Encampment. Encampment organizers reached an agreement with UNC officials Friday afternoon to take down the poles of their tents, but left the flattened tents on the quad, which is where they remained during Sundays rally until they decided to put them back up. Flattened tents on Polk Place, the main quad on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill, during a rally in support of Palestine on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Students at many colleges, including at UNC Charlotte are protesting the ongoing Israel-Hamas War, which began Oct. 7, the Charlotte Observer previously reported. Thats when Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, launched a terrorist attack that killed more than 1,200 Israeli civilians, with 240 hostages being taken. Since then, Israel has dropped thousands of bombs in Gaza. More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed since October, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. During the rally, speakers criticized UNC and other universities for their response to the encampments, and claimed that UNC officials were stopping trash collection and blocking access to restrooms and campus buildings over the weekend. Marchers have been expressing solidarity with other protests across the country including at NYU, Columbia, and elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/78VMws7pJh Avi Bajpai (@avibajpai_) April 28, 2024 Students from other Triangle universities including N.C. State attended Sundays rally as well. On Instagram, the chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine at N.C. State said it was encouraging its members to come out to the Triangle Region encampment at UNC. The entire UNC system has extremely insidious and deep rooted investments in the Zionist occupation, and we must tackle that one school at a time, which is why we need to show out united and strong in Chapel Hill, the N.C. State SJP chapter said in a post before the rally on Sunday. DENVER (KDVR) A shelter-in-place was issued for a short time due to a disturbance in Windsor early Saturday morning. The Windsor Police Department said in a press release that there was a reported disturbance at 2:27 a.m. near Steeplechase Drive and Ward Avenue. Driver caught going 103 in 45 mph zone in Douglas County: DCSO Initial reports indicated that a person may have been in danger in one of the apartments, according to police. However, police said the apartment was empty. A shelter-in-place order was sent to residents nearby through the Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority out of an abundance of caution, police said, and it was lifted a short time later. One person was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and WPD said an active investigation is underway as detectives look to find those who were involved. Police said there is no public safety risk. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Erika Nestor at 970-674-6400 or enestor@windsorgov.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. DENVER (KDVR) No serious injuries were reported after a shots-fired call led to a shelter-in-place order on the University of Colorado Boulder campus early Sunday morning. According to police, at around 3 a.m., officers responded to reports of a noise complaint at Weber Hall on the CU campus. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather As police were breaking up a large party, there were reports of shots being fired in a parking lot outside. Officers identified two suspects and took them into custody. A shelter-in-place order was given to students at 4:24 a.m. and lifted an hour later at 5:25 a.m. The CU Police Department is investigating the incident. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- More and more Chinese car buyers, especially young people, are turning their attention and giving more budget to new energy vehicles (NEVs), which, from my observation, have fancy looks, smart functions, reliable endurance, and cater to the increasingly popular low-carbon lifestyle. In addition to leading NEV manufacturer BYD and domestic up-rising stars such as Li Auto, NIO and Xpeng, a newcomer born from China's smartphone maker Xiaomi has stirred up a new wave of NEV frenzy. At the Xiaomi automobile plant in the suburb of Beijing, highly automatic machinery is seen roaring at full steam. Every 76 seconds, a unit of Xiaomi SU7 rolls off the production line. The gigantic modern factory also encompasses display and experience centers as well as area for test drives, including autonomous driving. On an ordinary weekday, I saw flocks of fanatic customers, mostly young fashion followers, come to experience the car. The delivery counter was even especially moved closer to the door for the convenience of owners who cannot wait to drive the car home. "I like the color very much, and it is so nice that many design details are special for female drivers," said a Xiaomi fan surnamed Wang who purchased one in the violet color scheme. Since its official market launch at the end of last month, the NEV newcomer has garnered much attention and popularity. Four minutes after its smash-hit release conference, over 10,000 orders were placed. Orders are still rising. As of April 24, over 75,000 customers had confirmed their orders. A member of the company's PR team told me that they are sparing no effort to further expand their capacity, because the market performance has exceeded far beyond their expectations. Seeing from Xiaomi's successful debut in the NEV sector, I feel huge potential of a highly tight market, which is spurred by evolving AI-empowered technologies, improving batteries and, most importantly, rigid consumption demand. China is already the largest market in the sector, with domestic sales reaching 8.29 million units last year and NEV ownership 20.41 million by the end of 2023. A development roadmap of automobile industry set a goal for the market to achieve a 60-percent penetration rate by 2030 in the country with 486 million car drivers. The 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, with 278 types of NEVs on display, offers another window to observe the vitality and undercapacity of this sector. I have browsed floods of short videos about the bustling exhibition on video-sharing and social media platforms these days. A video clip circulating on the Chinese version of TikTok said the event attracted potential customers from the Republic of Korea and some European countries. A visitor was carefully measuring the size of a car wheel while several vehicle technical staff from Belgium were on all fours to take pictures of an automotive chassis. Consumers have the final say. Taking Xiaomi SU7 as an example, although it is priced below 300,000 yuan (about 42,220 U.S. dollars), the car is by no means low-end. Price competition is just one form of industrial rivalry; what matters most is the product itself. China's NEV manufacturers have attached great importance to independent technological progress and have gradually accumulated their competitive edge. Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun said the company spent 19.1 billion yuan on R&D last year and pledged another 24 billion for this year. As charging facilities steadily improve, more and more NEVs are now racing on the streets across the country, whether in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai or in second- and third-tier cities. Driving NEV is no longer the last choice for Chinese consumers with a limited budget, but a demonstration of personal style. The visit to Xiaomi's automobile plant also reminded me of the fact that China's vehicle manufacturing has bid farewell to the labor-intensive and energy-consuming traditions. At the assembly workshop, more than 700 robots are operating around the clock. Featuring sustainability and eco-friendliness, the plant is equipped with roofs made of solar panels and renewable production materials, and all its inferior-quality products can be recycled and reused, a PR staff introduced. As China pursues high-quality development, the burgeoning green industry satisfies the need to cut carbon emission and accomplish carbon peak. I am sure that it will absolutely be a good thing for the world when the carbon neutrality goal is reached in the country with nearly one fifth of the global population. Is That a Siren or a Cicada? Police in South Carolina Say They've Gotten Lots of Confused Calls "People were curious and did not know who else to call," Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster tells PEOPLE Chip Somodevilla/Getty Cicadas The cicada apocalypse that was promised to invade the U.S this spring courtesy of a rare double brood has caused so much literal commotion in South Carolina that residents have started calling the police. In Newberry County, residents are calling authorities to complain that the influx of cicadas is so loud that it mimics a "noise in the air that sounds like a siren, or a whine, or a roar, according to a message posted to the Newberry County Facebook page. Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster confirms to PEOPLE that residents have "called about the noise in the air." And while some people did think it sounded like a siren, others had no idea what was going on. So, it's been up to police to inform them. "People were curious and did not know who else to call," Foster says. "We did not mind telling them what was going on." Related: Billions of Cicadas Are Coming amid Rare Double Brood See Where the Bugs Will Be This Spring The sound is cicadas. Cicadas are a super family of insects that appear each spring. The nymphs have lived underground for 13-17 years and now this time they are hatching," the department said in their social media post. Foster goes on to explain that now that they've "started hatching from the ground" they're re-locating to "bushes and trees" while "singing their song." The good news? "Although to some, the noise is annoying, they pose no danger to humans or pets," police explained on social media. 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. The cicadas that have emerged this year are Brood XIII a group of 17-year periodical cicadas and Brood XIX a group of 13-year periodical cicadas. For the first time in 221 years, the two broods will be above ground at the same time, and the groups will also overlap geographically. Markus Frenzel/Getty Cicadas PEOPLE previously talked to two bug experts about the emergence of the two cicada broods, Dr. Gene Kritsky the professor emeritus of biology at Mount Saint Joseph University and Steve Nicholls, an entomologist and wildlife filmmaker. Related: Two Cicada Broods Are Emerging at Once and They 'Will Pee in Jets' on Everything, Study Finds Dr. Kritsky explains that now is the time that the cicadas will emerge in droves. "We're expecting the periodical cicadas to start emerging in the last week of April at the southern end of their distribution, which is across Northern Louisiana, Northern Mississippi, Northern Alabama, and Georgia. That could happen as early as the last week of April into the first week of May," he said. According to Nicholls and Dr. Kritsky, the temperature of the soil determines when cicadas will emerge. When soil temps reach 64 degrees Fahrenheit, thats when the cicadas begin to emerge from the ground. Added Kritsky, "And the emergence, it's not like all or none; it takes two weeks for all the cicadas to come out in a given location." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Smokey Bear, the U.S. Forest Services long-standing fire-prevention symbol, turns 80 years old this year. And to celebrate, the Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan, New Mexico, will be hosting a special two-week exhibit of the paintings done by Rudy Wendelin, who is credited with bringing the Smokey Bear campaign to life. The exhibit will be on display at the park from Wednesday, April 30 until May 10. Capitan is about 9 miles northeast of Ruidoso. Smokey Says Prevent Wildfires, 1993, Rudy Wendelin. Courtesy of NM Forestry Division Rudy Wendelin, holding one of his works. Photo by: USDA National Agricultural Library Wendelin was a U.S. Forest Service draftsman and illustrator dating back to 1933. Under Wendelins direction, Smokey assumed the human-like characteristics for which he is best known wearing a solemn expression, dressed in a forest rangers hat and jeans, and carrying a shovel, a news release stated. Largely through Wendelins work, Smokey Bear became the symbol of the Forest Services wildfire prevention program. The advertising campaign began in 1944 and is considered the longest-running public service announcement campaign in U.S. history A real-life Smokey Bear was found burned and clinging to a tree near Capitan after a large fire in 1950. The real-life Smokey was later sent to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. and when he died in 1976, Smokeys remains were returned to Capitan and he is now buried at the park. Thanks to Wendelins art, Smokeys message, Only YOU can prevent wildfires has prevailed through generations, the news release stated. On loan from the USDA National Agricultural Library, this traveling exhibition of 19 replica paintings were completed by Wendelin from 1977-1995 and remain the most famous depictions of Smokey Bear. Smokey Bear Historical Park admission is $2 for adults, $1 for kids ages 7-12, and children 6 and under are free. Park hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (last entry 4:15 p.m.). For more information, click here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. A San Gabriel Valley woman has admitted to defrauding the U.S. Postal Service of more than $150 million. Lijuan Angela Chen, 51, of Walnut, carried out the scheme by using counterfeit postage to ship tens of millions of packages, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. From November 2019 to May 2023, Chen and her accomplice, Chuanhua Hugh Hu, 51, owned and operated a package shipping business in the City of Industry. Deputy caught with 100 pounds of fentanyl was working for El Chapos cartel, report says The company provided shipping services for China-based logistics businesses. To save money, Hu created fake postage stamps to ship packages by printing duplicate and counterfeit Netstamps, which are stamps purchased online from third-party vendors and printed onto adhesive paper. In November 2019, authorities became aware of the counterfeit operation and Hu fled the country and moved to China where he continued making counterfeit postage, officials said. Chen remained in the U.S. to oversee the warehouses that she and Hu were using to ship their packages during the scheme. In 2020, the pair began using the counterfeit labels to send mail through the United States Postal Service. They would receive parcels from vendors and apply fake shipping labels before arranging for the items to be transferred to USPS facilities. The shipping labels were fraudulent and frequently included, among other red flags, intelligent barcode data recycled from previously mailed packages, according to court documents. Intelligent barcode data is used in some postage shipping labels to evidence the payment of required postage for the shipped item. From January 2020 to May 2023, Chen and Hu mailed over 34 million packages with counterfeit postage and shipping labels, officials said. This scheme caused more than $150 million in losses to the USPS. Chen pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of the use of counterfeit postage. She has been in federal custody since her arrest in May 2023. As part of her plea agreement, Chen also agreed to forfeit funds that authorities seized from her bank accounts, insurance policies, and real estate in several cities including Walnut, Chino, Chino Hills, South El Monte, Diamond Bar, and West Covina. Hu remains a fugitive believed to be residing in China. He was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., three counts of passing and possessing counterfeit obligations of the U.S., and one count of forging and counterfeiting postage stamps. A sentencing hearing for Chen is scheduled for Aug. 2. If convicted, she could face up to five years in federal prison for each count. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and IRS Criminal Investigation teams. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Spain's Socialist leader and prime minister Pedro Sanchez looks on as his wife Begona Gomez votes during the general snap election in Madrid in July 2023 - Nacho Doce/REUTERS Spains Socialist prime minister will reveal whether he intends to resign or stay in power and face down accusations of corruption against his wife, on Monday. In a letter to citizens last week, Pedro Sanchez, who leads a Left-wing coalition government, framed his decision as one between his political future and the desire to protect his spouse, Begona Gomez, from what he described as political mud-slinging. Last week a judge agreed to consider a criminal complaint against Ms Gomez based on newspaper reports that she used her influence as the prime ministers wife to further her own professional interests. Commentators on Sunday said it was not clear which direction Mr Sanchez would choose, amid furious speculation following five days of silence from the prime minister. If he stays, he will increase his wifes pain, which, according to his letter, is what he wishes to avoid above all else, Lucia Mendez wrote in El Mundo. Holed up in his Moncloa prime-ministerial mansion, Mr Sanchez will have had to consider that Ms Gomezs professional dealings could face increased scrutiny in the weeks to come. A demonstration by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party in support of Pedro Sanchez in Madrid on Saturday - Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images Apart from the judicial proceedings, the opposition Peoples Party (PP) has threatened to call Ms Gomez to testify before a parliamentary commission investigating corruption. Ms Gomez has been accused of influence-peddling after a private university study centre she ran was sponsored by a conglomerate whose airline subsidiary received emergency funds during the pandemic. She also signed documents in support of a consortium seeking to win government contracts for work-training schemes. Ms Gomez has been contacted for comment. Mr Sanchez said he needed time alone with his wife to reflect on whether his job remained worth it in the face of what he described as a Right-wing plot to attack his leadership. In an emotional tone, Mr Sanchez said he was a man deeply in love with his wife, who he said is the victim of unprecedented slander and harassment from the Right and far-Right. Emotions continued to run high as thousands of government supporters thronged the streets outside Mr Sanchezs Socialist Party headquarters in Madrid on Saturday, pleading for the prime minister to stay on. Pedro, youre not alone, chanted many of the 12,500 people in the street as inside, Socialist chiefs from around Spain met without Mr Sanchez present. Prime minister, we are with you to show our love and gratitude, said Maria Jesus Montero, deputy prime minister, finance minister and a likely candidate to take over if Mr Sanchez decides to walk away. A demonstrator holds a placard with a picture of Spain's prime minister reading "Pedro Sanchez to jail" during a protest against the government, near the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party headquarters in Madrid, on Friday - OSCAR DEL POZO/Getty Images If Mr Sanchez does resign, Spains king will consult with parties and designate a new candidate, who must win the support of the Congress lower house of parliament. If Ms Montero were to be nominated and win parliamentary support in case of Mr Sanchez resigning, she would become Spains first woman prime minister. But many are sceptical that Mr Sanchezs threat to resign over love for his wife is genuine. Lluis Orriols, a political analyst from Madrids Carlos III University, said the five-day delay to a possible resignation could be a tactical ploy to push the focus onto the use of so-called lawfare against Left-wing and separatist politicians in Spain. If Mr Sanchez decides to continue, the government could call a confidence motion vote to pressure its fragmented majority base in Congress, including Catalan separatist parties, to fall into line behind Mr Sanchez. Mr Sanchez has increasingly become a hate figure for Spanish conservatives over the concessions he has handed out to Catalan forces in order to keep his minority government afloat. Thousands of people gathered in front of the headquarters of the Spanish Socialist Workers party to support Pedro Sanchez on Saturday. A meeting of the party's Federal Committee was being held inside the building at the same time - David Canales/SOPA Images/Shutterstock Mr Sanchezs government this year passed an amnesty aimed to cover anyone convicted or accused of criminal acts related to the 2017 illegal secession bid led by Catalonias government, despite consistently arguing in the run-up to last years general election that such a law would be unconstitutional. The prime ministers three administrations since 2018 have also raised the national minimum wage by two-thirds, introduced special taxes for energy companies and banks, and brought in a raft of woke reforms including a controversial transgender law which allows citizens to self-identify their official gender. 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. MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is set to announce on Monday whether he plans to stay on or quit the premiership, days after saying he was considering resigning. Supporters in his Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) have urged Sanchez to stay since he said last week he was stepping back for a few days to decide his future and would announce his decision on Monday. He spoke on the same day a court launched a business corruption probe into his wife's private dealings. Sanchez denies the allegations against his wife, Begona Gomez, which he called part of a sustained campaign of mud-slinging against him and his wife by political opponents. No time has been given yet for when Sanchez will make his decision known on Monday. He could resign, or carry on as prime minister, or he could submit to a parliamentary vote of confidence and resign only if he lost the vote. Another option would be to call a snap election on July 21, the earliest day allowed by the constitution. Thousands of supporters held rallies in Madrid at the weekend calling on Sanchez to stay on. The prime minister, 52, first came to office in 2018 and secured another term for the Socialists last year as leader of a minority coalition government. Opposition parties have condemned Sanchez's move. "Spain does not have a problem, the one who has a judicial problem is Sanchez, his government, his party and his circle. Let them solve it, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the conservative People's Party, told a meeting in the eastern city of Tarragona on Saturday. (Reporting by Graham Keeley; Editing by Frances Kerry) Rep. Summer Lees primary victory over a more moderate Democrat in Pennsylvania this week offered a jolt of momentum for progressives and dialed up the urgency for those targeting the Squad. It was a promising result for fellow Squad members, especially Democratic Reps. Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) and Cori Bush (Mo.), who are both trying to fend off formidable primary threats of their own amid an influx of spending by pro-Israel groups looking to topple them. I expect were going to see a doubling down on some of the races theyve already invested in, Matt Duss, a former senior foreign policy adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), said of organizations targeting the Squad. And were going to see progressives doubling down to defend. The Israel-Hamas war has highlighted significant divides within the Democratic Party as progressives demand a cease-fire and criticize both Israel and the Biden administrations handling of the crisis. Lee, one of the first lawmakers to call for a cease-fire, fended off a challenge on Tuesday from Edgewood Councilmember Bhavini Patel with an edge of roughly 20 points, according to Decision Desk HQ. Patel, a more moderate Democrat who accused Lee of antisemitism, was backed by billionaire GOP donor Jeffrey Yass, but Lee had amassed a sizeable war chest of her own. It is a clear indication that progressives who can put together significant money and significant ground operations can win races against almost anybody, said Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf, who argued Lees win stokes urgency and intensity for those who want to keep the Squad going. The question then becomes is the campaign in Pittsburgh an indication of where this is going to go? Its one instance, Sheinkopf said. Progressives should see Lees primary win in Pennsylvania as a good sign heading into elections, said Democratic strategist Michael Starr Hopkins. If youre Bowman, youre feeling a lot better the day after the [primary] election than you were the day before. But while Lees win is an overall boost for liberals, its no guarantee that her fellow Squad members will coast to victory. One win or one loss does not signal a trend, said Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau. Each of the Squads districts are different. Summer Lees district is nothing like [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs (D-N.Y.)] district, and its nothing like Cori Bushs district, and so on and so forth. Notably, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a top pro-Israel group, didnt wade into Lees primary race this year though it invested heavily to back her Republican rival when she first ran for the seat back in 2022. The group has endorsed challengers in key Squad races and reportedly plans to spend $100 million to target progressive candidates. The United Democracy Project, AIPACs super PAC, raised more than $49 million in the first quarter of this year, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. In New Yorks 16th Congressional District, Bowman faces Westchester County executive George Latimer, and in Missouris 1st, Bush is up against St. Louis County prosecuting attorney Wesley Bell. AIPAC is backing and contributing to both challengers. Extensive polling hasnt been done on those races, but some results signal potential trouble for the progressive incumbents. One February survey conducted by a Republican firm showed Bush down 22 points. And a March survey conducted by Democratic pollster Mark Mellman for the Democratic Majority for Israel showed Bowman down 17. AIPAC is also currently evaluating other primary races involving detractors of the U.S.-Israel relationship, spokesperson Marshall Wittmann told The Hill in an email. We will be engaged in races where our involvement can have the greatest impact. The stakes are enormous in the upcoming election, and the voice of the pro-Israel movement will be heard, Wittmann said. The group has notably spent $4.6 million, filings show, to oppose California state Sen. Dave Min, whose campaign to replace Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) in the House was backed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Min has reportedly been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but has not called for a permanent cease-fire. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D) also faces a primary challenge in Minneapolis, part of Minnesotas 5th Congressional District, from moderate Democrat and former City Council member Don Samuels, who she beat back in 2022 by just 2 points. Omar was one of the original members of the Squad, while Lee and Bowman were later additions; the group is an informal label for roughly eight House progressives. Despite the energy behind those who would oust the Squad members, strategists underscored that its tough to beat incumbents. Sheinkopf noted that Bowman and Bush are both running in areas with significant minority communities. Lee made reference to her imperiled fellow progressives during her acceptance speech on Tuesday night. Im unapologetic when people say, Are you in the Squad? Whatever, yes. Those are my people. We got this victory here in Pittsburgh, but this is just the first step. This was the first race. So we gotta make sure that we have the same energy and we pick it up and we take it over to New York next, Lee said. And when were done with Jamaal Bowman, were heading over to St. Louis, where well make sure Cori Bush gets over the finish line. A coalition of progressive groups launched a Reject AIPAC campaign last month, aimed at protecting targeted lawmakers. After failing to find a candidate corrupt enough to run on their agenda, and seeing how connected Summer Lee is to the community, AIPAC stayed out of this election. Now, were ramping up to take on AIPAC in Jamaal Bowmans race, said Michele Weindling, political director for the Sunrise Movement, one of the groups in that coalition. Bowmans primary in New York will take place in mid-June, and Bushs Missouri race will fall in early August. Foreign policy is often shrugged off in presidential cycles, but tensions around the war in Gaza and U.S. support for Israel appear poised to bleed into races up and down the ballot. President Biden has faced significant protest votes and boycotts at the ballot box in several state primaries, making the war a political liability that could complicate his run in a tight rematch with former President Trump. The incumbent has also been interrupted at multiple campaign stops by pro-Palestinian protestors some organized by the Abandon Biden movement, which hopes to punish the president by withholding votes on Election Day, even if it means clearing the way for Trump to take the Oval Office. I think its true that foreign policy rarely plays a major role in elections or in voters decisions. But I do think this issue the issue of Israel, Palestine, the issue of Palestinian rights and Gaza, especially resonates because its seen as not just a foreign policy issue. Its an issue of social and racial justice, Duss said. I think with the level of outrage were seeing its really something that the party is going to have to contend with in a better way than they have up until now. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Mike Kennedy, running for the 3rd Congressional District, 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 State Sen. Mike Kennedy won the crowded 3rd Congressional District Republican Party convention nomination on Saturday after six rounds of voting. Kennedy, who received 61.5% in the final round, will advance to the GOP primary election on June 25 as the official party nominee. Utah Young Republicans chairman Zac Wilson, a convention-only candidate like Kennedy, came in second with 38.5% and was eliminated from the race. Kennedy will appear on the primary ballot along with four candidates who qualified via signature gathering. With Rep. John Curtis launching a Senate campaign in January, Utahs 3rd District became an open seat for the first time in seven years. Nine Republicans jumped in the race despite the shortened timeline for fundraising and delegate outreach. Kennedy, a state senator who won among delegates against Sen. Mitt Romney in 2018, scored a large plurality of votes in the first round, with 36% of the vote. The next highest vote getter in the first round of voting was Roosevelt Mayor JR Bird, who netted 18%. The other seven candidates all had below 10%. Kennedys message emphasized his conservative voting record in the state legislature and his commitment to delegates as one of three convention-only candidates seeking a path to the June 25 GOP primary. Unite behind me, a convention-only candidate. The rest of these candidates gathered signatures, or tried to. They dont need your vote, I do, Kennedy said. Kennedy, a family physician in Utah County, touted the bill he introduced at the state Capitol to ban transgender surgeries for Utah children and teens as well as his votes against COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Our country needs real solutions. Its time for Washington to stop complaining and pointing fingers. And its beyond time to solve these problems, Kennedy said. After the third round of voting, two candidates former state lawmaker Chris Herrod and state auditor John Frugal Dougall endorsed Wilson. The subsequent boost in support carried Wilson to a second-place finish strengthened by Birds endorsement after the fifth round. Wilson emphasized his familiarity with fiscal issues and his ability to connect with young voters to counter a growing progressive movement among American youth. Its time to send a young conservative voice back to Washington, D.C., Wilson said. One of the candidates in this race recently said I view Zac Wilson as the future of this party. ... And to you the delegates I say, the future is now. Before endorsing Wilson, Bird highlighted his varied background as a rural mayor, business owner and agricultural producer. He has already qualified for the primary ballot after gathering 7,000 signatures and investing more than $1 million of his own money. Are you tired of people in Massachusetts and Vermont telling us to how to live our lives and how to use our lands in Utah? Bird said. Send Washington the bird. In addition to Bird, Dougall, Sky Zone founder Case Lawrence and commercial litigator Stewart Peay have already qualified for the primary via signature gathering. Five candidates will now appear on the primary ballot to represent the sprawling 3rd District which includes south Salt Lake County, most of Utah County and all of eastern Utah. Correction: This article previously stated that 3rd District Candidate Zac Wilson would advance to the primary election, but he did not secure enough delegate votes and did not gather certified signatures, so he was eliminated from the race. JR Bird, running for the 3rd Congressional District, 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 Lucky Bovo, running for the 3rd Congressional District, 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 Zac Wilson, running for the 3rd Congressional District, 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 John Frugal Dougall, running for the 3rd Congressional District, 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 Case Lawrence, running for the 3rd Congressional District, 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 Kathryn W. Dahlin, running for the 3rd Congressional District, 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 Mike Kennedy, running for the 3rd Congressional District, waves 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 Kathryn W. Dahlin, running for the 3rd Congressional District, 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 Stewart Peay, running for the 3rd Congressional District, 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 Stewart Peay, running for the 3rd Congressional District, hugs his daughter after she introduced him 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 Zac Wilson, running for the 3rd Congressional District, 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 Chris Herrod, running for the 3rd Congressional District, 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 The Post Building has always been a retail magnet. In 1848, Henry and Anna Post and Henry's youngest brother Hoyt arrived from Vermont via Allegan at the behest of Albertus Van Raalte to help the newly arrived Dutch immigrants build an economy. With Van Raalte, the Posts took advantage of West Michigans wooded wilderness by starting a potash, soap, and baking soda factory named Post and Co. While living on the northwest corner of Eighth Street and River Avenue, where the Tower Clock building is today, the Posts temporarily housed immigrants. They also opened a store on the northeast corner. Holland prior to the Great Fire of 1871, looking north on River Avenue toward Eighth Street. To supply their store, Hoyt made use of Hollands other natural advantage water to transport merchandise from Allegan, Chicago, Grand Haven, Richmond and Singapore. Here's what historian Robert Swierenga said about the business: At Post and Co, one could purchase familiar imported items like tea ... and dry goods like nails, cotton and calico. By 1852, medicines on hand included quinine to fight malaria and sulfate morphine, a pain-relieving narcotic. In regard to medicine and drugs, Post had no qualms selling any item that promised to put hair on your head or prevent stomach worms, so long as he saw profit in it. "But Post had not befriended the Hollanders to abuse them; he was in business for the long haul. ... Post and Co. had to compete with specialty stores ... including the bakery of Johannes Jan Visser and the butter creamery of Klass and William J. Mulder. "By 1859, it was not uncommon for Pieter Pfanstiehls general store to take in 300-400 pounds of fresh-made butter per day. His cool storage room sometimes held twice that amount. In 1854, Henry and Anna had a son named John. In 1861, Anna purchased property at 80 W 11th St. where the Posts built a home. Then came the Great Fire of 1871, changing the face of Holland forever. In 1887, Hoyt erected the Post Building, present-day home of the Apothecary Gift Shop. He also constructed a home at 70 W. 13th St. In 1885, O.E. Yates and P.W. Kane operated a drug store in half of the Post Building at 35 W. Eighth St. In 1890, Sue A. Martin, Hollands first known female druggist, and Albert J. Huizenga took over the drug store. Martin bought out Huizenga in 1899. To supplement her work as a druggist, Martin sold books, cigars, periodicals and stationery. In the summer months, she also offered the best ice cream sodas in the city in season. Meanwhile, Peter Steketees grocery store occupied the rear of the building with access from River Avenue, and his brother Bastian Steketee a dry goods store in the other half of the building at 33 W. Eighth St. In 1888, Bastian bought Peter's business. It flourished into the 1920s. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage In 1906, G.T. Haan, after operating a drug store on the corner of Michigan Street and Monroe Avenue in Grand Rapids, acquired the Post Building. Haan renamed the drug store the Model Drug Store. One of his big sellers was old stock cigars, which he sold in bundles of five for 25 cents, instead of the going rate of 10-15 cents per cigar. According to Swierenga: In the first six months of 1921, he sold half a million cigars. On one Saturday, he sold 9,400 cigars of one brand. Although not as fresh as newly rolled cigars, Hollanders jumped at the bargain." The March 8, 1923, edition of the Holland City News claimed The Model Drug Store is one of the best-known retail business places in Holland and particularly well known to resorters. Model Drug Store in the late 1930s. In 1923, two of G.T. Haans employees, Henry Wilson and James Yonkman, purchased the Model Drug Store. That same year, Jake Haan partnered with Peter Houseman of Grand Rapids to move Haans pharmacy from 6 E. Eighth St. to 194 River Ave. (present-day home to Reader's World). They spent $6,000 refurbishing their establishment. The Holland City News claimed Mr. Haan bought the "most beautiful soda fountain in Ottawa County." But then, because River Avenue and Eighth Streets were main thoroughfares, both businesses soon hosted unsightly billboards on their roofs. We'll learn more about Post Building history next week. Steve VanderVeen is a resident of Holland. You may reach him at skvveen@gmail.com. His book, "The Holland Area's First Entrepreneurs," is available at Readers World. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland History: The Post Building was a retail magnet WASHINGTON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- A recently released report showed that defense spending by the United States -- the world's largest military spender -- accounted for nearly 40 percent of world's total military expenditures in 2023. In the latest move of aggressive U.S. military spending, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a 95-billion-USD foreign aid bill, which includes more military aid for Ukraine and Israel. With its skyrocketing military spending and unabated appetite for global hegemony, the United States continues to fuel chaos around the world. ROCKETING SPENDING Military spending by the United States rose 2.3 percent to reach 916 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, representing 68 percent of total North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military spending, according to a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report. Peter G. Peterson Foundation, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to addressing the U.S. long-term fiscal challenges, noted that the U.S. defense spending increased by 55 billion dollars from 2022 to 2023 in part due to additional military aid for Ukraine. In the bill newly signed by Biden, more than 60 billion dollars goes to Ukraine while 26 billion goes to Israel despite international criticism over the civilian casualties the Israeli army caused in Gaza. The United States has provided Ukraine with massive military aid especially since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, as part of its strategy to counter its strategic rival, Russia. As Israel's largest military supplier, the United States is complacent in the humanitarian crisis and regional insecurity of the Middle East. In 2023, most European NATO members increased their military expenditure partly due to the two conflicts, the SIPRI report showed. The total European military spending in 2023 has seen a 16 percent year-on-year increase to 588 billion dollars. Estimated military expenditure in the Middle East increased by 9.0 percent to 200 billion dollars in 2023, the highest annual growth rate in the region seen in the past decade. Israel's military spending grew by 24 percent to reach 27.5 billion dollars in 2023. PURSUIT OF HEGEMONY The SIPRI report showed that the United States spend more on defense than the next nine countries combined. Meanwhile, led by the United States, total military spending by NATO members reached 1.3 trillion dollars last year, accounting for 55 percent of global military spending. The United States has decided to "shift its focus away from counterinsurgency operations and asymmetric warfare to developing new weapon systems that could be used in a potential conflict with adversaries with advanced military capabilities," according to the report. Analysts believe that this shows that the United States is trying to eliminate all potential enemies, which embodies the Cold War mentality and hegemonic thinking. "Really what American foreign policy is about is promoting American power: ensuring that America remains the hegemonic dominant power of the international system and minimizing any source of threat to America's geopolitical dominance," U.S. political scholar Christopher Layne said in a discussion last year. Igor Korotchenko, a Russian military expert and the editor-in-chief of National Defense magazine, pointed out that the large number of U.S. military bases and aircraft carrier formations around the world serve its ambition to expand global military influence. Huge U.S. military spending is not only an important indication of Washington's pursuit of an aggressive foreign policy but a cause of instability and chaos across the world, Korotchenko told Xinhua in an interview earlier. Washington's attempt to maintain global hegemony by trying to divide the world is "a strategy that is very dangerous and misguided," said Jeffrey Sachs, economics professor at Columbia University. WIN OR LOSE The United States' enormous military expenditure and ongoing provision of foreign military aid clearly show its priorities. In the newly released first quarter financial results, U.S. military giant Raytheon saw sales of 19.3 billion dollars, up 12 percent from a year earlier, and net income of 1.7 billion dollars, up 20 percent from a year earlier, which both beat expectations. Raytheon's order backlog is a record 202 billion, with massive orders in the defense and commercial aerospace sectors, reflecting strong revenue potential in the future. Lockheed Martin, meanwhile, reported first-quarter sales of 17.2 billion dollars, up 14 percent from a year earlier. The recent passage of the foreign aid bill may increase orders for F-35 fighter jets, which could mean additional revenue for Lockheed Martin, according to a report by Bloomberg. "It's past time to break the grip that the U.S. military-industrial complex has on our politics, policy, and collective thinking. For the military-industrial complex, no amount is too much to spend on Pentagon contractors," Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization headquartered in Washington. D.C., said in a statement earlier this week. "For those of us in the real world, a dollar spent on killing machines is a dollar that we can't spend on daycare, expanding Medicare, or other human priorities," said Weissman. A growing number of Americans are discontented with the continued consumption of national resources by the military-industrial complex, while crucial areas of people's livelihood receive insufficient attention. Earlier in April, people held a rally protesting America's defense policies in Renton, a city in the northwestern U.S. State of Washington, according to a report by Renton Reporter. "I would like to see the money being spent on the military being spent on healthcare, education, saving the planet, transportation, light rail, bicycle infrastructure, and things like that. Good things for human beings," Mona Lee, 85, who led the protest. A week after beloved emotional support alligator, Wallygator was stolen from his pen while visiting friends in Georgia, his owner Joie Henney shared an alarming update. Henney recently shared the news that Wally was gator-napped last Sunday, and just a day after asking for help from the public, he has an update about the gator's possible whereabouts. Joie Henney Shared A Grim Update About Wallygator Facebook | Wallygator A Facebook post shared on Sunday morning, a week after Wally was taken from his pen while visiting friends in Georgia, tells a disturbing story about Wally's whereabouts. "Wally was stolen by some jerk who likes to drop alligators off into someones yard to terrorize them. Once discovered they called DNR, DNR then called a trapper. The trapper came and got Wally and dropped him off in a swamp with about 20 other alligators that same day," Henney wrote. "The swamp is very large and the trapper said the chances of them finding Wally is slim to none." The Facebook post went on to say that Henney and some friends are headed to that swamp and will continue to search daily. And while they are not releasing the location of the swamp at this time, they are asking anyone who wants to help in the search to contact Henney for more details. "Please continue to pray because we need a miracle," the Facebook post concludes. "Thank you all for your love and support." Wally's Fans Are Worried For His Safety Facebook | Wallygator After seeing the update shared on Sunday morning, tons of Wally's loyal fans and followers took to the comments to share their concerns. "Oh nooo, people are terrible! What in the world, my poor buddy is probably so freaking scared!" one person shared in the comments. Another person wrote, "Thats a special kind of evil to do that to an alligator that has only ever known quality care and has never known the wild! I hope he is found safely Im so sorry that some could be so heartless!!" One other person said, "This is unbelievable. I dont have any words as to how or why this could have happened." And another fan of Wally's shared, "This is so heartbreaking!! This guy needs to be charged, no doubt about that!! Wally is a special gator and so loved by so many!! Hopefully, he will hear Joie's voice and come up!! Praying that the journey to the location is easygoing and no bad vibes!!! Wally, we love you, buddy, you did not deserve this!!" Another Update Was Shared Sunday Evening On Facebook That Gives Hope! Facebook | Wallygator As The Blast was writing about the Sunday morning update, another update was shared on Facebook. This one gives hope that Wally could be found and returned to Henney. "A positive update is that Paul Benard from Gatorboys has offered his help in finding Wally and we are very grateful. We have been unsuccessful as of yet getting even an approximate location where Wally was released by the trapper, Paul has left a message so we are hoping to hear something soon," the update reads. "All we know is that it was private property, not the swamp area we were originally told. I know everyone wants to help and I wish I could tell you how you can but we are currently in a waiting game." The update also asks that Wally's fans help to make this information "viral" to hopefully better the chances of finding him. Joie Henney Shared His Plea For Help In Finding Wally On TikTok On Saturday In addition to sharing that Wally was taken on Facebook, Henney also took to TikTok to tell the story of his pet gator being taken. "Between 4:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., someone came in and stole Wally. He is missing. He was taken out of his enclosure while visiting friends in Georgia," Henney said. "We need all the help we can get to bring my baby back." Henney showed the pond enclosure where Wally was taken and explained that they know he's nearby and "supposed to be in somebody's house." Many followers shared their positive thoughts and prayers for Henney and Wally in the comment section of the video. Wally Is Known For Spreading Joy Wherever He Visits! Facebook | Wallygator The 8-year-old American alligator, adopted by reptile enthusiast Henney in 2016, is a licensed emotional support animal. Henney often shares photos and videos of Wally meeting his fans. Wally's Facebook and TikTok pages collectively have more than 100,000 followers smiling at the kind and gentle alligator's adventures. In November, Henney shared a video of Wally tailgating with Philadelphia Eagles fans. Wally had hugs for everyone! "So I guess he is a professional 'tailgator'," one person jokingly wrote. Another said, "One of these days my dream will come true and Ill get to hold Wally." This commentary was written by Trevon Bosley, the co-chair of March For Our Lives. My voice is hoarse in saying it, but it bears repeating. America is faced with an unprecedented epidemic, coupled with unparalleled hypocrisy. Gun violence is the issue of our time. There have been more than 120 mass shootings in 2024, and nearly 5,000 people killed. Hundreds of children and teenagers killed, and over a thousand injured. You probably arent surprised. Gun violence is likely ever present for you; on your mind when you turn on the news, walk into a movie theater, have family night at the bowling alley, travel through your community, or drop your kids off at school. Maybe especially when you drop your kids off at school. In my case, its any time I enter a church. My brother was shot and killed right outside church before band rehearsal when he was just 18. I was seven. I wish I could say my story is unique, but its not. Our politicians love to address this epidemic reactively, peddling the same talking points about law and order, and thoughts and prayers, after every mass shooting, buying just enough time for the new cycle to end. Some folks bring up common-sense solutions, like universal background checks that we know will save lives. Other folks want to add more fuel to the fire, like the Tennessee and Iowa lawmakers who just voted to turn schools into war zones by arming teachers. Sometimes, folks will meet in the middle and vote for armed guards and school hardening, things we know just fuel the school-to-prison pipeline, and that we know does little to nothing to reduce violence. Meanwhile, people keep dying. We need a new strategy. My generation is tired of the ignorance, stupidity, and insanity of this cycle. We are losing friends, classmates, and hope. But we havent lost all hope yet. Poll after poll shows that gun violence is motivating for us to make change, and drives whether or not well support political candidates. The old playbook of thoughts and prayers, rinse and repeat, isnt working anymore. And young people are bringing to the table a new energy to the fight. We can come back from the brink. Young people like me might be relatively new to the scene, but weve grown up in the shadow of gun violence in a way no other generation has. Weve injected new energy and momentum to the fight for gun safety. And we believe in another way to safety. Thats why when young people talk about gun safety, were not just talking about background checks and conceal carry permits even though those are important. Were demanding that gun violence be stopped at its roots, a systemic change. We are calling to abandon the world that allows for gun violence to happen in the first place, and embracing a world where people are cared for. Its no coincidence that just as Americas gun violence epidemic has worsened in recent years, homelessness has hit a record high, child poverty has doubled, household income has fallen for the last three years, and we also have the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world. It is a fact that these social and economic inequities directly contribute to our gun violence epidemic and that more economic hardship leads to more gun violence. But it doesnt have to be this way. Covid-19 revealed how crucial Americas social safety net is to peoples well-being and success, with pandemic aid programs helping to keep 53 million people above the poverty line and bringing the poverty rate to its lowest level on record in 2021. Many of the lifesaving programs were only a short-lived lifeline, as Republicans in Congress refused to renew many of them before they could have a long-lasting impact causing five million more children to fall into poverty. Just this year, Republican governors in 15 states rejected a federal program that would have given food assistance to hungry children in the summer overall denying benefits to 8 million children across the country. As our kids suffer, the right would rather ban drag shows and books and spend more money on our defense budget than the next 10 countries combined, than address social inequity. Enough is enough. We cannot end gun violence while continuing to support a system that ignores social inequality and leaves our kids hungry. We cannot have one without the other. Thats why when young people say we want gun safety, we also mean universal health care and mental health services, economic opportunity, an end to the carceral system and an investment in community programs, funding for our schools and children, and a safety support network that doesnt let people fall through the cracks. When we invest in these social programs, were investing in our people and in our communities, making them more prosperous and safer. We also need a robust investment in the things that communities around the country need in order to live in safety, including community-based violence reduction programs, suicide prevention programs, domestic violence prevention programs, and mental and behavioral health care programs. Our leaders cant continue to throw money at a carceral and police system that doesnt work, costs more money, and destroys lives, especially those in Black and brown communities. This is the youth agenda to end gun violence. This is how we will make long-lasting change and end this epidemic. And this is how, once again, March For Our Lives and young people across the country will demand systemic change to save lives. As we enter a crucial election year, we wont settle for less, and we wont stop until we have a country free of gun violence and economic and racial injustice. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone "If I can ride a horse at the age of 91, you can pass a bill!" Thats the message on the card that 93-year-old US veteran Vytautas Packauskas has been giving out at meetings on Capitol Hill to show that he stands with Ukraine. Vytautas has travelled with his daughter from Michigan to DC to advocate for Ukraine. Nadija Packauskas and her 93-year-old father Vytautas Packauskas are Lithuanian by heritage. Vytautas is a US veteran who survived a concentration camp during World War II. He was deported to Germany, then Siberia, and he arrived in the United States in 1947. A year later, he joined the Army National Guard, primarily to learn English. He was a tank radio technician and later joined the US Air Force. Nadija Packauskas and her 93-year-old father Vytautas Packauskas Photo provided by the author "So to my family growing up, we knew very well that the Russian, the Soviet occupation was harmful, deadly, and full of horror," Vytautas says. Vytautas Packauskas voice as a 1950s US war veteran is sounding strong in the US Congress, and he is giving all the strength he has to continue to support Ukraine. "At 93, he's still powerful in fighting for Ukraine every single day and with the voice of us together, we will win. We will have complete victory, a free independent powerful rebuild of Ukraine, when this is done," Nadija says. Rallying for Ukraine When the full-scale war came, all the Packauskas family were glued to the news. Filled with horror as the Russians declared that Kyiv would fall, Vytautas sat on the sofa weeping with such pain in his heart that he could barely breathe. It was hard for him to imagine how something like this could be happening 80 years later. Vytautas daughter Nadija initially suggested going on a march somewhere in Chicago, which has a large Ukrainian and Lithuanian population. But Vytautas insisted on holding a rally in Houghton, Michigan. So they went to let the police know about their plans to organise a walk across the bridge in support of Ukraine. Then they had the task of finding enough blue and yellow fabric to reach their goal of 100 handmade flags to give out to people. Vytautas and Nadija even drove 200 miles to source all the material. PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR "Women and men were sewing for us through the night. The first march we had, we had 100 flags handmade for Ukraine on Sunday, following the full-scale invasion," Nadija says of those days. It was minus 17 degrees Celsius when the first group of marchers walked across the bridge in Houghton, Michigan. And theyve repeated the march every single week since then. "Well, I wanted to support Ukraine because we had a similar situation in Lithuania back in World War II. Of course, we feel that we are brothers and sisters of Ukraine, and that's why we started informing people about what's happening in Ukraine, the history of Ukraine, and participated in any support that we could attend. Wherever there were demonstrations, we demonstrated also," Vytautas says. Since the full-scale war broke out, Vytautas has taken part in over 130 marches and more than 100 speeches, workshops and collaborative demonstrations with people from all over the world. "Theyve gone to the VFW the Veterans of Foreign Wars here in the United States. We've gone to the American legions. Anybody that would listen to the story of Ukraine, we have tried to share that story with them," Nadija says of her fathers experience over the past two years. Lithuanians have been standing steadfastly with Ukraine since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and invaded Donbas. When the full-scale war started, they felt they had to play their part in telling Americans Ukraines story. "This was a sovereign country brutally invaded by Russia without any provocation and for no reason," they say. PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR Welcoming heroes While on their visit to DC to advocate for Ukraine, Vytautas and Nadija had the blessing of welcoming two wounded Ukrainian defenders who had flown in from Ukraine. "I saw the two soldiers coming in at the airport. And I cried because of fear in them. I still do. They each lost one leg in Ukraine, and of course I hugged them and they hugged me. Their coats are all veterans," Vytautas remembers. Nadija Packauskas and Vytautas Packauskas welcome Ukrainian defender in Washington PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR "I think we are on the right path by supporting Ukraine here, and especially by giving them arms. And we do hope and wish that they will become free as a result of our support from the United States. And yes, it may not happen soon, it may take some time, but I think eventually Ukraine will be free, and we'll enjoy the freedom of Ukraine. And we won't stop until that happens," says Vytautas. When Vytautas turned 93, some members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine sent him a flag they had all signed. Vytautas always has this flag with him when he goes to meetings and marches. "Some of the men on this flag that's so sacred to us are no longer with us. As Zelenskyy said, they're unseen now. But their names live on, and their fight for Ukraine lives on. So that's why this flag is so very important to our family," Nadija says. Vytautas and Nadija brought the flag to DC and took it with them to all of their meetings with members of Congress and senators. They have pledged to continue cherishing every single defender of Ukraine. And Vytautas brought the message on his card to the Hill, too: "If I can ride a horse at the age of 91, you can pass a bill. The world is watching. Thank you so much." The card from Vytautas Packauskas PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR Vytautas read the card out to us. He then revealed that he hadn't ridden a horse in over 50 years, but he got on a horse for an hour during one of the demonstrations. He used a photograph of himself on the horse to create the card. "I cannot think of anything that is singularly more important right now, for the world and for the United States, than to support Ukraine. And for me, as the daughter of a beloved father and a very proud Lithuanian-American and a Lithuanian by heritage, this fight for Ukraine is the single most important thing we can do," says Nadija. By Uliana Boichuk Students and children in Gaza thank pro-Palestinian protesters at US college campuses Dozens of Palestinian students and children staged a display of solidarity at a demonstration in southern Gaza on Sunday to express gratitude for the support seen on US college campuses in recent weeks. Video from the Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah shows children holding banners with messages that read: Students of Columbia University, continue to stand by us and, Violating our right to education and life is a war crime. The students gathered around makeshift tents near a school that now serves as a shelter for Palestinians displaced from northern Gaza. Footage shows people spray-painting messages of gratitude on the fabric of the tents. Thank you, students in solidarity with Gaza. Your message has reached (us), says one of the messages. Takfeer Abu-Yousuf, a displaced student from Beit Hanoun in Northern Gaza, told CNN from the camp he felt it was necessary to thank the students in the US who supported us with their humanity. Those are thank you messages on our tents, those tents that dont protect us from the heat or cold. The least we can do is thank them. We cant write these thank you messages on the walls of our homes because we have no homes. They have been destroyed on top of our children, elders, and women, he said. A man in Rafah, Gaza, writes a message of thanks to student protesters in the US on April 27, 2024. - AFP/Getty Images Eighteen-year-old Rana Al-Taher pointed to the school in the camp, telling CNN that what should have been a place for learning and education has become a place for sheltering. That means that we have lost our education. We have lost our only hope in Gaza and we want it back. Were here to ask for it back. Its our right to have it back thats why were here, she said. According to the UN, there have been direct hits on more than 200 schools in Gaza since Israels bombardment began. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has said that no education is happening in Gaza at all for nearly six months. In a recent report, UN experts decried the systemic obliteration of Gazas education system. The persistent, callous attacks on educational infrastructure in Gaza have a devastating long-term impact on the fundamental rights of people to learn and freely express themselves, depriving yet another generation of Palestinians of their future, the experts said. First-year university student Bayan Al-Fiqhi told CNN she has not been able to attend her classes at her university in Cairo since the war in Gaza began and was very appreciative to students in the US for staging their solidarity protest. We hope they add pressure on Israel and the US to stop the bloodbath that is taking place in the Gaza Strip and to prevent the invasion of Rafah, she added. The fate of Rafah has been hanging over the 1.3 million Palestinians displaced there. There have been weeks of speculation around when Israel might begin its anticipated military operation in the city. The UN has repeatedly warned against an Israeli ground invasion, saying an offensive could lead to slaughter in the southern region. Palestinians at a demonstration in Rafah, Gaza, on April 28, 2024. - Tareq Alhelou/CNN Twenty-one-year-old Nowar Diab told CNN she lamented the impact Israels bombardment of Gaza has had on her academic pursuits. I was supposed to be a graduate this year. I studied English and French literature at Al-Azhar university, but Al-Azhar university got bombarded this war stood like a border between me and my dreams and the beginning of my career, she said. Today I am standing here to tell the whole world that we, Gazan students, go through pain and we suffer every single day, she added. Diab said that despite the brutality of Israels war, the resilience and determination of Gazan students to persevere was clear for the world to see. Prayers for peace Elsewhere in Gaza, dozens of Palestinian Christians celebrated Orthodox Palm Sunday by attending mass at the Church of Saint Porphyrius, the oldest in Gaza City, and praying for peace. Videos show men, women, children, and the elderly singing prayers inside the church, asking for peace to prevail over Gaza. Children are seen dressed up, carrying flowers and candles, and playing in the churchyard decorated with palm trees. Gaza City resident Khader Nasrawi, who attended the church celebrations, told CNN he is hoping for a better tomorrow. We are celebrating the holiday this year while there is a lump in our hearts and wounds for the loss of our loved ones and our homes throughout this brutal warWe are asking for the world to give us peace because we are peace-loving people. Jesus Christ called for peace and love, as did all other religions, he added. Another resident, Ihab Ayad, told CNN he was injured by an Israeli airstrike that hit the churchs campus in October last year. Ayab said despite what hes been through, he remains united and steadfast with his Palestinian community. This holiday is different for us, because of the tragedy of the war that the Palestinian people have suffered from, whether they are Christian or Muslim. The occupation doesnt distinguish between Christian or Muslim, it is a criminal assault, he said. Not too far away from the church, residents and eyewitnesses told CNN an Israeli airstrike Sunday hit a four-story residential building in the Yarmouk neighborhood in Gaza City. They said the Israeli military gave them a warning before the strike, and there were no casualties. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Study: Louisiana on list of top US states with the most dangerous bridges BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) A new study showed that Louisiana is among the top states in the United States to have the most dangerous bridges. High Rise Legal Funding, a legal funding firm, looked at the number of bridges in each U.S. state that are in poor condition, based on statistics from the Bureau of Transportation. Louisiana was ranked as the No. 7 U.S. state with the most dangerous bridges. According to the study, the Pelican State had 6,662 of 51,538 bridges rated in poor condition. Bridges in this condition need rehabilitation to avoid injury, loss of life, or property damage, and pose a significant risk without intervention, said Journo Research in a news release. Louisiana ranked as third-highest resignation state in US Rhode Island ranked as the top U.S. state with the most dangerous bridges. Around 700 of its 3,114 bridges were found to be in poor condition, according to the study. On the other hand, Texas was determined to have the safest bridges in the U.S. Check out the top 10 U.S. states that have the most dangerous bridges, according to the study: Rhode Island West Virginia Iowa South Dakota Pennsylvania Maine Louisiana North Dakota Oklahoma Michigan Latest News For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com. Summer Lee on Netanyahu remarks on college protests: This idea that every criticism of Israel is antisemitic is dangerous Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) took aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for weighing in on the pro-Palestinian protests that have broken out on college campuses across the country. CBS host Margaret Brennan asked Lee on Face the Nation on Sunday what her response was to Netanyahu condemning the pro-Palestinian protests that have engulfed colleges and universities throughout the nation. She said that Netanyahu does not want to hear the messages those students are calling for, noting that he has not talked to any of those students. His number one goal is, you know what hes doing over there and anything that harms or helps or makes it harder for him to achieve that goal, hes going to distract from. But this idea that every criticism of Israel is antisemitic is dangerous, she told Brennan. Netanyahu condemned the protests last week, saying the demonstrations are antisemitic mobs targeting Jewish students and faculties. So whats happening on Americas college campuses is horrific. Antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities. They call for the annihilation of Israel; they attack Jewish students, and they attack Jewish faculty. This is reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s, Netanyahu said. Most of the demonstrations have been calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war as large numbers of students set up encampments on their respective college campuses. Most of the protests have been reported as peaceful so far, but concerns have been raised about antisemitic rhetoric and the safety of students. Many student protesters have already been arrested for participating in the demonstrations, while others face suspension. The demonstrations have been continuing for more than a week across the country. Lee said on CBS that she was not surprised by Netanyahus remarks, noting that students of numerous different backgrounds are calling for the same thing during the protests. When youre on the ground, you see that all of those students have been working together or have been learning and educating together, and they are all in one voice crying for a difference in direction, particularly from Benjamin Netanyahu. So, Im not shocked that he would want to cast them as evil, cast them as in the wrong. Thats been his MO, she said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- Rishi Sunak has spent 18 months as prime minister fending off internal Conservative Party criticism and rumors of plots to oust him. So far its come to nothing though his team is taking nothing for granted this week. Most Read from Bloomberg His critics on the Tory right have spent months gearing up for Thursdays local and mayoral elections across England as their final chance to oust Sunak. If the party suffers a bad result it trails Keir Starmers Labour by about 20 points in polls they will use it to try to persuade colleagues that only a change of leader can prevent a wipe out in the UK-wide vote expected in the autumn. Its a threat Sunaks senior ministers are taking seriously. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps told the Times newspaper on Saturday Tory MPs should let the prime minster get on with the job, while Sunak himself told Sky News on Sunday that local elections are always difficult for incumbent parties. Speaking to the Sunday Express, the premier again promised tax cuts if voters give him another term. To be sure, the prevailing view in Westminster is that Sunak will lead the Conservatives into the general election, in part because there are no obvious unifying candidates and because most Tories fear their support will erode even further if they appoint another leader without giving voters a say. Sunak is the third prime minister since the 2019 election, after Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Read More: Operation Save Rishi Aims to Get Leader Through Key Vote But Conservative Party rules mean Sunak cant take that for granted. The rebels only need just over 50 letters from Tory MPs to trigger a no-confidence vote in the party leader. Those plotting to oust him have said they are stepping up their whipping operation ahead of the local elections, though given the numbers required, its also possible for the threshold to be hit without such coordination. The risk for Sunak is if the Tories perform so badly that the wider party loses any remaining hope of staying in power after the general election. Critics have loosely defined that as losing about half the local council seats the Tories are defending, but more importantly, if they fail to hold onto two mayors Andy Street in the West Midlands and Ben Houchen in Tees Valley in northern England who represent the partys ability to compete in Labour-facing areas. Though polling for local and mayoral elections is less intensive than for national votes, surveys show both mayoralties in play with days to go. Houchen has held the post since 2017 and won with 73% of the vote the last time Tees Valley was contested in 2021, which explains why losing it would be such a bombshell for the Tories. Streets challenge was expected after Sunak canceled a high-speed railway link from Birmingham to Manchester last year. Ahead of the elections, the government has noticeably ramped up the pace of announcements including promising to boost defense spending. Sunak is also talking up his flagship policy to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda, and the Guardian newspaper reported Sunday that the Home Office will begin detaining migrants sooner than expected this week to prepare for the flights. Allies of the prime minister described last week as his best in office and that Sunak had entered campaign mode ahead of the general election. There has been intense speculation that he may even announce a date on Monday though his office has tried to play that down. Speaking on Sky News, he refused to confirm when the vote would be held. Home Office minister Chris Philp told the BBC the general election will be most likely in the autumn and predicted Tory support would rise beforehand. People do feel grumpy with the government, he said. But as we get closer to an election, its not so much a referendum on grumpiness. It becomes actually a choice who do you want to run the country? But Sunaks problem is his failure to put a dent in Labours poll lead, while his own approval ratings are at a record low. Criticism of him from the Tory right even on policies like Rwanda deportations that they support isnt going away. A few symbolic flights is not a deterrent, Robert Jenrick, a prominent Tory rebel who resigned as immigration minister last year, told GB News on Sunday. Sunaks other major problem is that since becoming premier, hes struggled to maintain a positive news cycle for any length of time. What his aides called a good week came to an abrupt end over the weekend when Dan Poulter, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich since 2010 who also works in the National Health Service, announced he was quitting the Tories to join Labour. Poulter, who is due to appear with Starmer on Monday, said being a Tory MP meant he found it increasingly difficult to look my NHS colleagues in the eye. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Supporters of Spain's prime minister rally in Madrid to urge him not to quit MADRID (Reuters) - On the eve of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's dramatic announcement about his future, thousands of Socialist Party supporters rallied in Madrid on Sunday to ask him to stay on after he stunned the country this week by saying he might quit. Sanchez said on Wednesday he would step back "for a few days" to decide whether he wants to continue leading the government after a court launched a corruption investigation into his wife's private dealings. He said this was part of a sustained campaign of slander against him and his family by political opponents. Sanchez denies the allegations made against his wife, Begona Gomez, and said he will announce his decision on his future on Monday. Carrying posters reading "Don't give in" and "For the love of democracy", about 5,000 of Sanchez's supporters marched to the Spanish parliament to urge the prime minister to stay, according to an estimate by the Spanish government. "I have come to demonstrate because of all the media pressure that is being put on the government and because of the fraudulent use of the judiciary in a case involving the president's wife where there is still not enough basis to start a trial," Marcos Riera, 34, a university lecturer, told Reuters. Opposition parties said the reputation of Sanchez, who came to power in 2018, was already in tatters. "I don't know what he's going to say tomorrow, but whatever he says, he will be forever marked by the decadence he has brought to our country," Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the leader of the opposition conservative People's Party, said on Sunday at a meeting in Lleida, in Catalonia. Madrid's prosecuting authority said on Thursday it was appealing the decision by a city court to look into the private complaint laid by an activist group against Gomez over alleged influence peddling and business corruption. (Reporting by Graham Keeley; Editing by Ros Russell) The curtain was pulled back last week for the first time in years on the Mississippi Legislatures often mysterious conferencing process. A conference committee consists of three representatives and three senators appointed to try to reach agreement when the two chambers pass differing versions of the same bill. Last week, a conference committee formed to try to reach agreement on Medicaid expansion caused a stir by meeting in a public setting. Even though the joint rules of the Mississippi Legislature call for an open conferencing process, the conferees seldom meet in public. They usually meet and negotiate their differences near the end of the session behind closed doors. That was not always the case. For a period in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Legislature, under intense pressure from the Mississippi Press Association, made open conference committees the norm. Some major issues have been played out in public conference committees. Notable open conferences include: The infamous, excruciatingly long special session in 2002 where businesses received more protection from lawsuits. Budget fights when Haley Barbour was governor when legislators often would reach an impasse in the negotiations process and spend the bulk of their time talking about their cars and eating candy. The major rewrite of the states economic development package under then-Gov. Ronnie Musgrove called Advantage Mississippi. The Mississippi Adequate Education Program, which for decades has provided the states share for the basic operation of local school districts. It was hammered out in an open conference process in 1997 even before the joint rules mandated the open process. Then-state Sen. Musgrove and former House Speaker Billy McCoy deserve credit or blame, according to ones perspective, for proving the open conference process could work. When they chaired their respective chambers education committees, they insisted on having an open conference process. But in more recent years, open conference committees have been few and far between. The joint rule has been largely ignored. The fact that the three House and three Senate conferees agreed to meet at least once in public on Medicaid expansion one of the most pivotal issues facing the Legislature in recent years drew considerable attention. If nothing else, the open conference committee provided a raw and unedited view of how far apart the two chambers were at the time on an issue that would provide additional health care coverage to primarily the working poor. The House wanted to provide coverage to those earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or about $20,000 annually for an individual, while the Senate had proposed providing coverage to those earning less than 100% of the federal poverty level, or about $15,000 per year. According to various experts, the House plan would provide coverage to many more working Mississippians and cost less to the state to do than would the Senate plan. The reason for the lower cost to the state is that when expanding to 138%, the federal government will pay 90% of the costs and provide the state an additional roughly $700 million over two years as an enticement to expand. Under the House plan, the federal government will pay 77% of the cost and offer no incentives. It is important to understand that in the expensive world of health care, the difference in 77% of the cost and 90% means tens of millions to Mississippi state coffers. The House conferees repeatedly pointed out those numbers their plan covering more at less cost during last weeks open conference committee. One of the reasons legislators through the years have not been enamored with an open conference process is that it has often turned into efforts by the negotiators to sell their position to the public. Once the open conference process starts, the side that feels the most comfortable with its position wants to meet more often in full view of the public to make sure the public understands where each side stands. For whatever it is worth, the House conferees were more enthusiastic about continuing the open process after the initial Medicaid expansion conference committee. And after that initial open conference, the Senate offered a compromise to cover those earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level just as the House proposed. This analysis was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics and culture. Bobby Harrison is Mississippi Todays senior Capitol reporter. The Riverside County Sheriffs Department has made an arrest after a man was found dead on Monday. Authorities responded to a call around 6:54 p.m. on April 22 in the area of Winchester Road and Thompson Road in Winchester. When deputies arrived, they found a man suffering from a possible stab wound. The victim identified as 29-year-old Boris Stepanyuk of Winchester died at the scene. Investigators arrested 60-year-old Joseph Mokate of Hemet in connection with the homicide. No further details have been provided about the incident or a possible motive. Mokate has been charged with murder. There are no outstanding suspects in this investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Anderson with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-9551700 or Investigator Gasparini with the Southwest Sheriffs Station at 951-6963050. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. TEHRAN, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Saturday strongly condemned the sanctions recently imposed by the United States, Britain, and Canada on a number of Iranian defense-related individuals and entities. He made the remarks in a statement after the three countries imposed Thursday new sanctions on several Iranian individuals and companies, mainly targeting the country's drone and missile industries, as a response to Iran's massive retaliatory action against Israel earlier this month. Kanaani also condemned the claims made by the European Parliament against Iran in a resolution it adopted on Thursday and blamed certain European countries for following the U.S. lead in adopting a "cruel approach" towards Tehran. In the resolution, the European Parliament slammed Iran's drone and missile attack on Israel and called for further sanctions against Tehran. Kanaani stressed that Iran's military capacities were in proportion to its needs to guarantee its national security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as its right to self-defense against any foreign threat and aggression. He underscored that Iran is among the international community's important partners in ensuring regional and global peace and security. The spokesman said the sanctions failed to affect the determination of Iran to strengthen its national power to "legitimately and decisively" defend the country and its people. He also severely slammed the European Parliament for its double standard on Israel's deadly attack on April 1 on the Iranian consulate in Syria's capital Damascus and Tehran's defense against it. Kanaani said the European Parliament was turning a blind eye to the main source and cause of the tension and insecurity in the Middle East, referring to "Israel's occupation, criminal approach in killing Palestinians and frequent violations of international laws." The spokesman denounced the attempts of the U.S. and certain European countries to "fan the flames of conflicts instead of helping stop them." Atlanta Police are looking for three suspects accused of stealing multiple items from mailboxes at the Peachtree Place of Brookhaven condos, officials say. On Wednesday, police responded to a burglary call at 3777 Peachtree Road. When police arrived, they spoke with a security guard who told them that the suspect vehicle came onto the property by ramming the security gate, giving them access. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Cameras on the property showed at least three suspects entering the mailroom on the property. They were also seen on video stealing items from several mailboxes inside the mailroom. Property management say the suspects fled the complex in the same vehicle they entered onto the property with. The footage shows the getaway vehicle to be a newer model four door Jeep Wrangler that was last seen heading North on Peachtree Road. TRENDING STORIES: Anyone with information on this case can submit a tip anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at (404) 577-TIPS (8477), online at here, or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637). [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Editor's note: The article was updated on April 29 with additional information on developments in Kherson Oblast. Ukrainian troops have retreated west from the villages of Berdychi, Semenivka, and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast, the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on April 28. Berdychi, Semenivka, and Novomykhailivka villages are located in the Pokrovsk District in the western part of Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast, which remains one of the hottest sectors of the front line as Russia continues its offensive. The Khortytsia Group of Ukraine's Ground Forces reported on April 27 that Russian forces managed to break in and gain a foothold in a part of Ocheretyne, a front-line village nearly 10 kilometers from Berdychi and Semenivka. Syrskyi described the situation in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors as "the most difficult one" now. According to the commander-in-chief, Russia is involving up to four brigades (from 8,000 to 32,000 personnel) to conduct assault operations in the direction of the cities of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove west of Avdiivka, which was captured in February. Subscribe to newsletter War Notes Subscribe "In general, the enemy has succeeded tactically in these directions but has failed to achieve an operational advantage," Syrskyi said in a statement shared on Facebook and Telegram, adding that Ukraine will do unit rotations in this sector of the front. Syrskyi stressed that Russian troops were attacking the entire front line. The situation is changing "dynamically," he added. Russian forces continue their offensive operations in the directions of Kupiansk and Lyman settlements in Kharkiv Oblast, as well as in the Siversk, Sloviansk, and Kramatorsk sectors in Donetsk Oblast, according to the commander-in-chief. Syrskyi said that the situation in the south also remains "intense" as Russia tries to advance near the village of Krynky in Kherson Oblast, Robotyne and Verbove villages in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and Staromayorske in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian forces reportedly achieved some success in Kherson Oblast, establishing control over the island of Nestryha, which lies in the Dnipro River delta and has been long considered a "gray zone." Kyiv's troops also advanced in the Veletenske area, Syrskyi said. Read also: Military denies Russia gained foothold in Robotyne Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Foreign Ministry of Tajikistan recommended its citizens refrain from traveling to Russia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on April 27. Racial discrimination, particularly targeting Central Asians living in Russia, have been on the rise since the March 22 terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in Moscow that killed at least 137 people. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. Earlier this week, Russia detained a 12th suspect in connection with the attack. The court claimed that the man, Dzhumakhon Kurbonov, a Tajik citizen, 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. 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. Within a week of the shooting, authorities in Turkmenistan began working to repatriate Turkmen students living in Russia for fear of reprisals. Exactly how many Turkmen students currently study at Russian universities is not known but 2022 figures put the number at 30,600. Kyrgyzstan also advised its citizens not to travel to Russia in the wake of the attack. The Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin said this month that an "ill-conceived information campaign" in Russia was creating a "negative perception of citizens of Tajikistan and Tajiks." The Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reported mass refusals of citizens to enter Russia, largely discriminating against young men, according to eyewitnesses at Russian border crossings. 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: Ethnic tensions on the rise in Russia, as government attempts to divert attention from war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. After the recent death of former congressman, senator and Arkansas Gov. David Pryor his loss is being felt across the Natural State. Talk Business & Politics host Roby Brock talked with long-time Pryor friend and former Clinton School of Public Service Dean Skip Rutherford about his first-hand accounts of watching Pryors political career from Arkansas to Capitol Hill. Former Sen. Mark Pryor, Clinton administration officials remember late Gov. David Pryor during memorial at Arkansas Capitol Roby then talks with Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority CEO Jean Block about a recent settlement and how water infrastructure is advancing on the city and state levels. Talk Business & Politics airs Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on FOX 16. For more coverage, head to TalkBusiness.net. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com. Its no secret that Americas teaching pool is a fraction of the size it once was 15 years ago, hard hit by the Great Recession and mostly shrinking since. But new federal data has given researchers some cause for optimism, suggesting efforts to make teaching more financially viable with strategies such as paying student teachers have helped to move the needle. From 2018 through 2022, enrollment in teacher preparation programs grew 12% nationally, or by about 46,231 more candidates, according to a March report on Title II data from Pennsylvania States Center for Evaluation and Education Policy Analysis. Help fund stories like this. Donate now! Nine states lead the pack with notably higher bumps in teacher prep programs in recent years: Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Ohio, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina and, with the highest average growth, Maryland. The modest upswing, seen both in enrollment and completion rates, during some of the most strained years in American education, has surprised experts. It was encouraging to see at the height of the pandemic, it certainly was not what we were expecting, said Jacqueline King, research and policy consultant with the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Only 11 states saw continued enrollment declines in the prep programs during the last three years, among them Montana and Minnesota. I think that all the work that weve been doing around grow your own, apprenticeships and residencies to open up more affordable pathways into teaching are starting to bear some fruit, which is amazing and fantastic, King added. Contributing factors also include federal pandemic relief funds and new laws in states such as Colorado and Michigan that pay student teachers. In Maryland, for instance, some candidates earn a $30,000 living stipend during their year long teaching residency. Related Wrong Ideas about Teacher Pay, Happiness May Keep Students from the Profession Its real, said King. Its enough money that youre not thinking, how am I gonna do student teaching and have a part time job? Still, researchers caution, the growth is not nearly at the pace required to match hiring demand. Teacher shortages are concentrated in the south and midwest, and in key areas like special education and math. Enrollment in teacher preparation programs declined 45% in just one decade about 300,000 fewer teachers are prepared annually. Compounding social, political and economic strains fueled the decline, including a major recession and education reform efforts that negatively impacted public perception of teaching and Americas schools. By 2021, only five areas had bucked the overall trend, with more enrollees than a decade prior: Arizona, Mississippi, Texas, Washington and Washington, D.C. Texass growth can be attributed to rapid expansion of a particular alternative program, Teachers of Tomorrow, now under accreditation scrutiny by the state. Over the last seven years, were kind of treading water in terms of the number of teachers, said Ed Fuller, education professor at Pennsylvania State University and author of the most recent analysis. We dont need to be where we were in 2010 because we dont have as many students, but we need to be a lot closer to that than we are now. About 1.2 million fewer students enrolled in K-12 public schools nationwide in 2022 than before the pandemic. The steepest drops are in the younger grades, partially a result of declining birth rates. On the whole, districts did not pump the brakes on hiring teachers because of the alarming 2% drop in student enrollment. Flush with expiring pandemic relief funds, schools added 15,000 teaching positions last school year. Even as full-time school staffing reached an all time high, a quarter of districts had fewer teachers per student than they did in 2016. The demand for teachers is far from met, with about 55,000 teaching jobs open nationwide. Since 2008, the decline of teachers in training has impacted schools in every corner of the country. Related Another Year of School Staffing Gains in 9,500 Districts as Fiscal Cliff Looms Even places like Pennsylvania, whose supply of teachers historically was so abundant that many newly-credentialed teachers were sent out of state, are bearing the brunt of a shrinking teacher workforce. Its surplus has gradually disappeared over six years. People werent paying attention, said Fuller, who recommended that public figures talk up the professions value and that the legislature take on teacher scholarships to tailor recruitment for local needs. Scholarships could be earmarked for teachers of color, math educators, or those serving high-poverty schools, for example. But if districts and states, tasked with building diverse, robust teaching pools, are focused solely on producing new candidates, King cautioned efforts would be in vain, akin to using a hose to fill a leaky bucket with water. By the end of the 2021-22 school year, 10% of teachers left the profession nationally, 4% more than before the pandemic, according to the RAND Corporation. Experts point to job dissatisfaction, political polarization and exhaustion. In Florida, one of the nine states that saw a higher enrollment bump than most, more than 5,000 teaching positions are vacant, the highest in the country. The job has gotten harder, too remaining educators teach more students per classroom than they did before the pandemic. While the enrollment data suggest a move in the right direction, it will take years for todays teachers in training to enter its workforce. Weve really got to think more about the job of a teacher and how we make it more sustainable financially, from the perspective of work-life balance, and giving people opportunities for growth, King said. We need to look at teaching and why its such a difficult job to sell. Thousands of people gather in Downtown Orlando for the annual Puerto Rican Parade Channel 9 saw lots of island pride and spectators at the 2024 Puerto Rican parade and festival. The sounds of bongos, claves, and timbales echoed through the streets of Downtown Orlando on Saturday; from the professionals to the spectators, it was hard to resist moving to the beat. This year, the Puerto Rican parade and festival were dedicated to Juncos, a tiny town on the east side of the island. Read: Busy day in Orlando: Puerto Rican Parade, Magic Playoff impact downtown traffic Juncos mayor Alfredo Alejandro Carrion told Channel 9 his heart was full watching Puerto Ricans in Orlando honor his town of about 40 thousand. Today, about 400 thousand Puerto Ricans live in Central Florida, many of whom still feel a strong connection to the island. Read: Watch the Florida Puerto Rican Parade on Channel 9 This year, the parade theme was civic engagement and responsibilities. Parade organizers want the thousands of spectators in this crowd to get involved in their community and use their voices. Marcos Vilar was the parade godfather, and he said its his personal mission to get the community together. SEE: 2024 Florida Puerto Rican Parade For years, we have been working to get the Puerto Rican vote out and the Latino vote out Vilar said. The organizers are already planning for next years parade, which will also happen in Downtown Orlando. One of the biggest celebrations of Puerto Rican pride happened on Saturday in downtown Orlando. One of the biggest celebrations of Puerto Rican pride happened on Saturday in downtown Orlando. One of the biggest celebrations of Puerto Rican pride happened on Saturday in downtown Orlando. One of the biggest celebrations of Puerto Rican pride happened on Saturday in downtown Orlando. One of the biggest celebrations of Puerto Rican pride happened on Saturday in downtown Orlando. One of the biggest celebrations of Puerto Rican pride happened on Saturday in downtown Orlando. One of the biggest celebrations of Puerto Rican pride happened on Saturday in downtown Orlando. One of the biggest celebrations of Puerto Rican pride happened on Saturday in downtown Orlando. One of the biggest celebrations of Puerto Rican pride happened on Saturday in downtown Orlando. 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By Felix Light TBILISI (Reuters) - Thousands of Georgians marched through the capital, Tbilisi, on Sunday, as protests built against a bill on "foreign agents" that the country's opposition and Western countries have said is authoritarian and Russian-inspired. Georgia's parliament said it would hold the bill's second reading on Tuesday, with opposition parties and civil society groups calling for mass protests against its expected passage. If passed, the draft law would require organisations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as "foreign agents" or face fines. Protester Nika Shurgaia said he feared many non-government organisations would be shuttered because of what he called "the Russian law". This label has been adopted by the opposition to compare the bill to a law used to crush dissent in Russia. "There are hundreds of such NGOs who have done so much good for Georgia and now they face being stigmatised and possibly shut down," Shurgaia said. The EU and Western countries have warned that the bill could halt Georgia's integration with the EU, which granted Georgia candidate status in December The bill must pass three readings in parliament to become law, as well as overcome a veto by Georgia's figurehead president, who opposes it. Groups opposed to the bill have protested nightly outside parliament for over a week, since the legislature, which is controlled by the Georgian Dream ruling party, approved its first reading. Thousands of student demonstrators have blocked Tbilisi's central Rustaveli Avenue, facing off against riot police. Opponents of the bill who called the mass protests on Sunday have also called for protests against its second reading on Tuesday. The government has called a demonstration in support of the bill for Monday. (Reporting by Felix Light in Tbilisi; Editing by Elaine Monaghan and Ros Russell) Sen. Ted Cruz has sought to soften his image as a conservative hardliner and recast himself as a lawmaker unafraid to reach across the aislebut one of the top figures hes recruited for his Democrats for Cruz group has been accused of crossing far more serious lines. Cruz (R-TX), facing a tougher-than-expected re-election struggle against Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), lit up social media last month with ads and public appearances featuring supporters from the other side of the partisan divide. And none has featured more prominently, whether on Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube, than U.S. Hispanic Business Council President Javier Palomarez. In a recorded event with Palomarez, the business booster sat alongside the senatorfamous for his first-term filibuster anticsas a true bipartisan problem solver. I happen to know a different Ted Cruz, the Ted Cruz that never, never gets mentioned in our national media, Palomarez said at the event. The Ted Cruz that collaborated with me, a known and lifelong Democrat." The shared recording cuts out what Palomarez said they collaborated on: temporary visas for foreign-born tech workers. It also omits some of the less choice commentary and actions the Democrats female subordinates claimed he subjected them to at two different employers. A spokesperson for Cruz did not respond to repeated requests for comment. As The New York Times first reported in 2018, a lower-ranked colleague of Palomarez alleged in court in 1996 that he made suggestive comments and kissed and touched her on a work trip. The matter was ultimately settled, an attorney for the alleged victim told the Times. A more explosive case arose more than two decades later, when Palomarezs chief of staff at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce claimed she was subjected to discrimination on the basis of their gender, sexual harassment, and a generally hostile work environment, in a lawsuit against the business advocacy group. Her complaint alleged that under Palomarez, then the organizations president and CEO, she had suffered remarks about her appearance and clothing in the presence of other employees, as well as inappropriate, unwanted, and unconsented to touching. The suit also raised the aides concern that Palomarez used to deliberately play into and perpetuate rumors the two of them were having an affair through his handsy and flirtatious behavior. She also accused him of referring to her and other female workers as fucking bitch. The former chief of staff also shared with the Times an email, which she sent to a friend describing an incident in which Palomarez expressed an interest in being with her and attempted to kiss her. The woman and the chamber agreed to drop the matter in 2019, court records show. Palomarez resigned his role at the chamber but denied the allegations, and told the Times that they represented a kind of political reprisal for his cordial relations with former President Donald Trump. But he also filed a lawsuit against a Dallas businesswoman and chamber board chair, claiming she conspired with his chief of staff and other women to besmirch his reputation after he terminated a relationship with her. Palomarez requested the court allow him to personally depose the businesswoman on a wide range of subjects before the two settled the case in 2019. Palomarezs attorney told the Dallas Morning News he and his client were not at liberty to comment on the resolution at the time. But in a statement to The Daily Beast, a lawyer for the U.S. Hispanic Business Council, Palomarezs current group, maintained the advocate had experienced nothing short of total vindication. To this day, none of the historically old and discredited allegations you are contacting the USHBC about were proven true in any civil, criminal or administrative proceeding, attorney Tony Rawlins wrote in an email to The Daily Beast. Not one allegation. Not one case. Not one substantiated finding made by any adjudicative body at any level. 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. UNITED NATIONS, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Saturday expressed concern over the growing tensions and military operations around El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state in Sudan. In a press statement, the members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern over an imminent offensive by the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias against El Fasher, which is sheltering hundreds of thousands of people who have fled violence elsewhere. They called on the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces, which have been fighting each other since April 15, 2023, to end the build-up of military forces around El Fasher and take steps to de-escalate the situation while complying with their obligations under international humanitarian law. The council members repeated their calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities. They urged all UN member states to refrain from external interference and instead to support efforts for a durable peace. They reminded all parties to the conflict and UN member states to adhere to their obligations concerning the arms embargo. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly warned against an attack on El Fasher, a critical UN humanitarian hub. BEIRUT (AP) French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne arrived in Lebanon on Sunday as part of diplomatic attempts to broker a de-escalation in the conflict on the Lebanon-Israel border. Sejourne met with United Nations peacekeeping forces in south Lebanon and with Lebanon's parliament speaker, army chief, foreign minister and caretaker prime minister. France is refusing to accept the worst-case scenario" of a full-scale war in Lebanon, he told journalists after the meetings. In southern Lebanon, the war is already here, even if it's not called by that name, and its the civilian population whos paying the price, he said. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has exchanged near-daily strikes with Israeli forces in the border region and sometimes beyond for almost seven months against the backdrop of Israels war against Hezbollah ally Hamas in Gaza. Israeli strikes have killed more than 350 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters with Hezbollah and allied groups but also including more than 50 civilians. Strikes by Hezbollah have killed at least 10 civilians and 12 soldiers in Israel. Tens of thousands are displaced on each side of the border. A French diplomatic official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists said the purpose of Sejournes visit was to convey Frances fears of a war on Lebanon and to submit an amendment to a proposal Paris had previously presented to Lebanon for a diplomatic resolution to the border conflict. Western diplomats have brought forward a series of proposals for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Most of those would hinge on Hezbollah moving its forces several kilometers (miles) from the border, a beefed-up Lebanese army presence and negotiations for Israeli forces to withdraw from disputed points along the border where Lebanon says Israel has been occupying small patches of Lebanese territory since it withdrew from the rest of south Lebanon in 2000. The eventual goal is full implementation of a U.N. resolution that brought to an end a brutal monthlong war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006. The previous French proposal would have involved Hezbollah withdrawing its forces 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border. Hezbollah has signaled willingness to entertain the proposals but has said there will be no deal in Lebanon before there is a cease-fire in Gaza. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have said that a Gaza cease-fire does not automatically mean it will halt its strikes in Lebanon, even if Hezbollah does so. Sejourne declined to provide more details about the latest version of Frances proposal ahead of his planned trip to Israel on Tuesday. He said he will have consultations with Israeli authorities to move toward an agreement. The French foreign minister also pushed for the Lebanese political factions to come to an agreement on a candidate to fill a year-and-a-half-long presidential vacuum. Sejourne said that Lebanon needs a president in place in order to be invited to the negotiating table and to be able to implement any agreement that might be reached on the border issue. During the talks, Lebanese officials also raised the issue of the ongoing presence of more than 1 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, which has become an increasingly contentious issue. Lebanese officials have increasingly called for Western countries to facilitate their return to Syria. Sejourne acknowledged the burden placed on Lebanon by hosting such a large number of refugees, and said that "all concerned parties must work to make this return possible in a voluntary, dignified and safe manner in accordance with international law." ___ Associated Press writers Ali Sharaffedine in Beirut and Sylvie Corbett in Paris contributed to this report. 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 reportedly 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. 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 said to be charged in Arizona fake elector scheme appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Violent offenders sentenced to less than four years in jail are eligible for the early release scheme - PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo/ALAMY The Government has been accused of a cover up for refusing to publish details on the number of violent criminals being released from prison early to deal with an overcrowding crisis. Shabana Mahmood, Labours shadow justice secretary, said that ministers stonewalling over the early release scheme was nothing short of a scandal and that they had a moral responsibility to come clean. In October, the Justice Secretary Alex Chalk announced that hundreds of prisoners would be freed up to 18 days before their scheduled release date halfway through their sentence to alleviate pressure on the most overcrowded jails. In March, the end of custody supervised licence scheme was expanded to enable prisoners to be freed up to 60 days early. Violent offenders sentenced to less than four years in jail are eligible for the scheme, as are burglars, thieves, shoplifters and fraudsters serving any length of fixed-term sentence. Sex offenders, convicted terrorists, category A prisoners and all violent offenders serving four or more years are excluded. Shabana Mahmood accused ministers of "stonewalling" - Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock/SHUTTERSTOCK Labour have asked at least 14 parliamentary questions requesting data on the scheme, such as how many criminals are being released early and the breakdown by different offences. However, the Ministry of Justice has refused to comply, saying that it cannot release figures intended for future publication and that statistics will be based on one years worth of data and published on an annual basis. Labour say this is despite the MoJ releasing weekly prison statistics and quarterly figures on a range of other measures. Ms Mahmood suggested that the Government was motivated by political reasons and that the eventual data dump could come after the general election. She told The Telegraph: They should level with the public about the sort of people that they are releasing early. Theyre just stonewalling and saying theyll do it on an annual basis, which, luckily for them, takes it past the next general election, which I think is nothing short of a scandal. She said those eligible for release include violent offenders, domestic abusers, stalkers. Alex Chalk said hundreds of prisoners would be freed early - PAUL COOPER/PAUL COOPER One of the reasons why I want to see the data, and I believe they have a moral responsibility to share the data, is because theyve increased the pressure on the probation service. You are potentially loading more pressure on that service, mistakes can and might happen, so I want to see the data so we can take a proper sense of whether the probation service can cope. While Labour introduced its own 18-day early release scheme to deal with overcrowding when it was in government in 2007, Ms Mahmood said the big difference was we released data, we replied to parliamentary questions. She added: We were just upfront, and it was a much more transparent scheme, whereas this government just isnt giving any data at all. Ms Mahmood said that prison capacity was a national emergency because the Government just havent built enough prison places. Terrible option When you run out of prison places, of course, every option youve got is a pretty terrible option, she said. Describing the state of the prison estate as horrendous, she said jails had become drug-addled, rat-infested colleges of crime which march to a drumbeat of violence and misery. She said that if Labour wins the general election it would immediately press the button on prison building by getting rid of the blocks in the planning system, although she admitted you cant build a prison overnight. Asked whether new prisons would be a tough sell to local communities, Ms Mahmood pointed out that she had a prison HMP Birmingham in her own constituency. Generally speaking, once prisons are built they become part of the fabric of a local area, in that they are a good source of jobs, she said. That can be a real positive for a local economy. And also, if youre running your prisons properly and theyre not overcrowded, the threat of escape is very, very minimal. Annual figures An MoJ spokesman said: We make no apology for ensuring the data we release is accurate and quality assured which is why figures on ECSL which began in October 2023 will be published on an annual basis, in line with other comparable statistics. A Government source accused Labour of pure hypocrisy for running an early release scheme of over 80,000 prisoners between 2007 and 2010 which had fewer safety checks and restrictions in place. They added: Labour has also not said if they would [end] ECSL because they know it is necessary to alleviate the unprecedented pressure on our prisons following the pandemic and barristers strike, a pressure which has been seen in prisons around the world. 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. In this photo provided by China's Xinhua News Agency, an aerial view shows damaged buildings in the aftermath of a tornado in Guangming Village of Zhongluotan Town, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Sunday, April 28, 2024. Aerial photos posted by Chinese state media on Sunday showed the wide devastation of a part of the southern city of Guangzhou after a tornado swept through the day before, killing and injuring dozens of people and damaging over a hundred buildings. (Deng Hua/Xinhua via AP) BEIJING (AP) Aerial photos posted by Chinese state media on Sunday showed wide devastation in part of the southern city of Guangzhou after a tornado swept through the day before, killing five people, injuring dozens others and damaging more than 140 buildings. As businesses and residents began cleaning debris, the images showed block upon block of devastation in the hardest-hit areas with a few clusters of buildings standing amid the destruction, a truck overturned on its side and cars crushed by rubble. The sheet metal roofs on some buildings were torn off. The tornado Saturday also injured 33 people and knocked out power in the area. The tornado, which struck during an afternoon thunderstorm that also brought hail, damaged 141 factory buildings, according to authorities. Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong province and a manufacturing hub near Hong Kong. They said no homes were destroyed, though a news website under the Southern Media Group reported that some had broken windows. The tornado hit several villages in Guangzhou's Baiyun district. In one, packing material known as pearl cotton hung from buildings and trees, a report on the Southern Media website said. It blew into the compound of a nearby furniture company, where workers took shelter in a private home after the metal roof was ripped off their building, the news website reported. Workers were rolling up the material to be carted away for disposal on Sunday. The disaster hit one week after heavy rains and flooding killed at least four people in Guangdong province. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited Guangzhou during an official visit to China earlier in the month. The city, formerly known as Canton, also recently held the Canton Fair, a major export and import exhibition that draws buyers from around the world. In September, two tornadoes killed 10 people in Jiangsu province in eastern China. At least 3 dead in Oklahoma tornadoes as severe storms threaten Missouri to Texas At least 3 dead in Oklahoma tornadoes as severe storms threaten Missouri to Texas Numerous tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma and other parts of the Midwest over the weekend, leveling homes and buildings as severe storms continue to threaten the region. Dozens of tornadoes began Friday in at least six states, with twisters hitting multiple parts of Oklahoma, including Davenport and Sulphur late Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla. The tornadoes brought strong winds, large hail and excessive rainfall on Saturday, leaving downed power lines and chunks of concrete in the roadways, local officials added. At least three people died in the storms, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management confirmed to The Hill. Images and videos of the damage circulated on social media Sunday morning, showing a series of destroyed buildings and flooded roads scattered with bricks and wooden beams. An estimated 11,300 power outages were also reported Saturday night, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management added. Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company said on Sunday that about 28,000 customers were without service. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said other injuries were reported, though the number of individuals impacted remains unclear. At least two vehicle accidents occurred, officials added. By about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, the primary threat shifted from tornadoes to flash flooding and drivers were advised to avoid flooded roadways, the National Weather Service said. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Sunday said he issued an emergency disaster declaration and said he will tour the storm damage in the cities of Holdenville and Sulfur. Tornadoes and severe weather also touched down in Iowa and Nebraska over the weekend while millions in parts of Texas, Kansas and Wisconsin were in the path of severe storms, NBC News reported. The storms were expected to push eastward across the southern Plains overnight Sunday, CNN reported. More than 7 million in an 800-mile stretch from Texas to southern Wisconsin were under tornado watches early Sunday, the outlet added. Updated at 1:56 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 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. As tourists move in, Italians are squeezed out on holiday island of Capri By Crispian Balmer CAPRI, Italy (Reuters) - Famed for its blue seas, breathtaking views and cove-studded coastline, the Mediterranean island of Capri has been a tourist haven since the early years of the Roman empire. Unlike in the imperial heyday, when emperors made it their exclusive playground, Capri now attracts visitors from around the world, clogging its narrow alleys, packing the piazzas and blocking the beaches during the hot summer months. As many as 16,000 tourists a day pour onto the rocky isle in peak season, outnumbering the 12,900 residents. Most are day trippers, but increasing numbers stay the night as ever more homes are given over to holiday lets, bringing its own problems. "Capri is becoming a dormitory for tourists," said Teodorico Boniello, head of the local consumers' association. "There are more people coming than we can cope with and families can't set down roots because they can't afford to stay." Capri is a microcosm of many European holiday hotspots. Locals depend on visitors for their livelihoods, but the advent of mass tourism risks turning their picture-perfect beauty spots into blobs of shuffling humanity. Some Italian towns and islands are starting to push back, albeit gently. Venice last week became the first city in the world to introduce an entrance fee for visitors in peak periods, Florence has banned new holiday lets in the city centre and the Cinque Terre park on the Italian Riviera started charging 15 euros for access to a popular coastal footpath to tackle overcrowding. Capri has doubled its own visitors' fee from 2.5 euros to 5 euros, which outsiders pay when they catch a ferry from nearby Naples or Sorrento from April through to October. "We are looking to persuade more people to visit during winter," Capri Mayor Marino Lembo told Reuters, sitting in his office with the smog of Naples hanging far in the distance. But such a fee looks unlikely to dissuade tourists from travelling to an island which has more than four million tagged photos on Instagram, drawing in an endless flow of visitors eager to add the same views to their social media pages. Moreover, locals say it will do nothing to help ease the housing crisis, which forces many essential workers, including teachers and medics, to live on the mainland. EARLY STARTS Antonio De Chiara, 22, wakes up every morning at 5.20 a.m. in his hometown near Naples in order to be sure to catch the 7.00 a.m. ferry, which takes 50 minutes to reach Capri. Around 400 other commuters join him on the ride across the bay. Barely out of Naples, those on a tight schedule start queuing in the aisles to ensure they are first off the boat to grab a seat on one of a handful of small buses that head up the hill to town. Stragglers risk a lengthy wait. "It would be lovely to live in Capri, but it is very difficult. Even if I could find a place, the rent would take up all my salary," said De Chiara, who recently got a job as a child therapist on the island. Stefano Busiello, 54, teaches maths in a Capri high school but lives in Naples and has commuted back and forth for 20 years. "I have never even tried to find a house here. I could never afford one and things are getting harder." Only 20% of staff in his school actually live on Capri, he said, with everyone else arriving on the ferries -- a daily grind that means most of his colleagues stay no more than two or three years before seeking a transfer to mainland schools. Roberto Faravelli, who runs a Bed and Breakfast near the port, says people like himself might be willing to rent their properties to workers if the region offered incentives to close the gap on lucrative holiday lets. "The government needs to encourage homeowners to offer long-term rents. What we lack is anyone trying to resolve these problems," he said. But mayor Lembo did not expect the authorities to intervene. "It is unfortunate, but this is the market economy at work." POST-COVID SURGE Vacation rental platform Airbnb lists more than 500 properties on Capri against around 110 in 2016. This is just the tip of the iceberg, with local families renting out their properties during the summer months on unregulated portals. "This short-term rental market is chaotic. There are no controls," said Lembo. Despite obvious resentment over the lack of viable housing, Capri has not yet witnessed the sort of protests seen elsewhere -- such as Spain's Canary Islands, where thousands took to the streets this month to demand limits on tourist arrivals. The end of the COVID pandemic has seen tourism surge across Europe as global travellers seek to make up for lost time. Italy had near record overnight stays in 2023, according to data collated by the Florence centre of tourism studies, and was the 5th most visited country in the world in 2023, with tourists drawn to its quaint villages and culture-rich cities. But none were built for mass travel. In the morning during high season, a fleet of ferries disgorge up to 5,000 visitors into Capri's tiny port in just two hours. Everyone wants to head up to the town of Capri and the smaller Anacapri, but the buses can only carry 30 people at a time and the funicular 50. "You can easily wait two or even three hours to get up the hill in summer. The quays get packed. Noone can move," said Boniello, flicking through videos on his phone of people crammed one against the other. Lembo acknowledges the problems, but denies tourism is ruining an island his ancestors have lived on for centuries. "I don't agree with nostalgics who say Capri was more beautiful 100 years ago. There was misery and poverty back then. Now there is wealth, and that is thanks to tourism." ($1 = 0.9381 euros) (Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Toby Chopra) A traffic stop turned into a drug bust and a South Carolina man was charged with multiple crimes, the Lexington County Sheriffs Department said. Stewart Jamaul Stroman, a 34-year-old Irmo resident, was charged with multiple counts of trafficking meth greater than 400 grams, trafficking fentanyl and criminal conspiracy among other drug charges, the sheriffs department said Friday in a news release. Stroman was wanted on previous drug charges when he was stopped Wednesday on a section of Interstate 20 that runs through Lexington County. A deputy pulled Stroman over on I-20 near Exit 55 (the South Lake Drive exit) and once he confirmed his identity, the deputy detained Stroman because there were multiple warrants for his arrest, Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said in the release. The deputy conducted a probable cause search of Stromans vehicle and found more than 1,000 grams of meth. A thousand grams of meth has a street value of about $6,000, according to Koon. Information about why the deputy originally pulled over Stroman was not available. Stroman was arrested on the side of the interstate and transported to the Lexington County Detention Center, Koon said. A magistrate judge denied him bond. NEW YORK (PIX11) A subway ride turned bloody for a commuter who was assaulted Saturday morning in Manhattan. A 39-year-old man was punched in the face by a transgender woman, police said. The incident left subway riders concerned about transit safety. Earthquake rattles New Jersey It has been like people getting attacked by random people, said Ruben Morales, who has been riding the subway since he can remember. His reaction was the same as many other riders on the No. 7 line at Grand Central station, where police say a man was left bleeding from the forehead after a transgender woman first menaced him with a shoe and then punched him in the face. Police officers and EMS were on the train platform with the man after he was attacked around 6:30 in the morning. It is New York, and you just gotta stay safe, no matter where you are. Just be vigilant of your surroundings, stated subway rider Chris J. According to NYPD data, crime on subways is down more than 23% in March. Mayor Adams previously attributed this to the addition of 1,000 police officers to the system. They are more worried people hooping the train instead of people getting attacked here. So, they all stay near the upstairs instead of coming down coming down, being around the people, said Morales. The victim was loaded into an ambulance and taken to NYU Langone in stable condition. According to the NYPD, the attacker fled the scene, and no one was arrested. It remains unclear what led to the attack. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. The Shenzhou-17 taikonauts handed over control of the Tiangong space station to the newly arrived Shenzhou-18 crew on Sunday, said the China Manned Space Agency. #XinhuaNews Trent Staggs, who is running for U.S. Senate, 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 State delegates chose Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs as the state Republican Party convention nominee to replace Sen. Mitt Romney after he was endorsed by former President Donald Trump on Saturday. Staggs won the crowded convention competition for Utahs junior U.S. Senate seat with 69.7% of the vote after delivering a series of fiery speeches to persuade state GOP delegates he was the figure most likely to disrupt the Washington, D.C., establishment and support Trumps America First policy agenda. 3rd District congressman John Curtis finished in second with 30.3% of the vote. The final vote count was not completed until just before midnight on Saturday after more than 12 hours of party proceedings. Staggs, one of a handful of convention-only candidates, will now advance to the June 25 primary election where he will face off against those who qualified by gathering 28,000 certified signatures. Signature-gathering candidates include Curtis, former state House Speaker Brad Wilson and Moxie Pest Control CEO Jason Walton. Staggs had a strong start, receiving 42.6% of support from the more than 3,500 delegates present in the first round of voting. Curtis came in second, trailing with 21.7% of the vote. Political adviser Carolyn Phippen, also a convention-only candidate, received 13% in the first round. As candidates dropped out or were eliminated, the support of delegates, who tend to be a more ideologically active electorate, consolidated around Staggs. Former President Donald Trump shook up the U.S. Senate race just hours before the convention when he put his thumb on the scale for Staggs in a last-minute endorsement. Several Republican hopefuls had constructed campaigns geared toward receiving the endorsement of Trump or Utahs senior senator, Mike Lee, with candidates debating over which of them was best positioned to overhaul the status quo in Washington, D.C. What an honor to get a phone call this morning at 6:30 from President Trump telling me he has endorsed me totally and unconditionally, Staggs shouted to the delegates during his first-round remarks. Since becoming the first candidate to officially announce his intentions to run against Romney in May 2023, Staggs has done everything he can to carve out a lane as the most Trump-aligned candidate, receiving the endorsement of Trump surrogates like former Republican presidential nominee Vivek Ramaswamy, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake. Lets replace Joe Bidens favorite Republican with Donald Trumps favorite Republican in Utah, Staggs said during his last opportunity to address the audience, gathered at the Salt Palace convention center in downtown Salt Lake City. Delegates, who were elected during Super Tuesday party caucus meetings, clapped, cheered and stood up for Staggs significantly more than any other candidate. Staggs criticized fellow campaigns for disbursing negative attack ads against him and committed to follow through with his campaign promises. Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, who is running for U.S. Senate, 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 Trent Staggs, who is running for U.S. Senate, 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 Trent Staggs, who is running for U.S. Senate, hugs his wife, Alisha Staggs, 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 Jeremy Lewis Friedbaum, who is running for U.S. Senate, 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 Attendees laugh as Brian Earl Jenkins, who is running for U.S. Senate, comes out dressed as Abraham Lincoln 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 Brian Earl Jenkins, who is running for U.S. Senate, speaks dressed as Abraham Lincoln 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 Brent Orrin Hatch, who is running for U.S. Senate, 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 Carolyn Phippen, who is running for U.S. Senate, 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 Josh Randall, who is running for U.S. Senate, 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 Attendees applaud as Trent Staggs, running for U.S. Senate, takes the stage 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 Chandler H. Tanner, who is running for U.S. Senate, 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 Brad Wilson, who is running for U.S. Senate, 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 Jason J. Walton, who is running for U.S. Senate, walks out with his wife, Kristen Peterson Walton, 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 Staggs committed to pass a balanced budget amendment, never vote yes on an omnibus spending package, vote to defund NATO and eliminate the Department of Education. A small town mayor had enough courage to say enough is enough, Staggs said, railing on Ukraine foreign aid, liberal Supreme Court justices and a massive national debt. Staggs voice strained as he shared a populist message, promising to bring Utahns voice to the halls of the nations Capitol. Because of us everyday Americans we will drain the swamp. Because of us everyday Americans we will turn the Washington, D.C., establishment obsolete, Staggs said. Lets send a message to the D.C. establishment that we the people, everyday Americans, are the rightful rulers of America and by electing me today were going to send a warrior to D.C. that will tear them down and return to a government by, for and of the people. Curtis maintained a distant second place throughout the multiple rounds of voting. He emphasized the importance of a measurable return on investment over rowdy rhetoric. It seems like everyone is willing to fight for a win, but can anyone deliver a win?, Curtis asked. Youve heard the naive and eager promises today. ... But lets be honest, youre tired of broken commitments. Curtis, who has represented Utahs 3rd Congressional District since 2017, listed a litany of policy wins delivered to rural Utah and the country as a whole. During his 3 1/2 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Curtis said he had transferred more land from federal ownership to the state than anyone in the states history. The congressman also emphasized his expertise in energy policy and his aggressive stances on foreign policy in relation to China. Wilson, Walton, Phippen, and five other candidates, including attorney Brent Hatch, were eliminated over the course of three rounds of voting. Staggs, Curtis, Wilson and Walton will appear on the June 25 primary ballot unless they choose to drop out before the ballots are finalized early next week. The GOP nominee who emerges from the primary will face off against the nominees from other registered political parties in the Nov. 5 general election. The Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Utah is mountaineer Caroline Gleich. The war of words between Robert F Kennedy Jr and Donald Trump has escalated in recent days - Pool/ADAM DAVIS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock;Mark Peterson-Pool/Getty Images Donald Trump has accused Robert F Kennedy Jr of being the most Left-wing of all the US presidential candidates - as recent polls show the independent threatening his campaign. The war of words between the two men has escalated in recent days, with the 70-year-old nephew of President John F Kennedy accusing Mr Trump of being frightened and unhinged. Mr Kennedy, who is running as an independent, appears to be taking more votes away from Mr Trump than Mr Biden. An NBC poll last week showed Mr Trumps two-point lead over Mr Biden in a head-to-head race would be reversed if Mr Kennedy and Left-wing candidates Jill Stein and Cornel West entered the fray. According to Politico, Mr Kennedy is also attracting more interest from former Trump donors than those who previously supported Mr Biden. Against this backdrop, Mr Trump has intensified the attacks against his rival on his Truth Social channel. On Friday, he described Mr Kennedy as a Radical Left Liberal whos been put in place to help Crooked Joe Biden, the Worst President in the History of the United States, get Re-Elected. Mr Trump continued the attacks on Sunday. He said Mr Kennedy was far more LIBERAL than anyone running as a Democrat, including West and Stein. Mr Trump added: So now, Juniors a so-called Independent, but hes not, hes a Radical Left Lunatic ... No Republican can vote for this guy. It marks a sharp turn in Mr Trumps approach to the Kennedy family scion, who he previously privately considered as a pick for his vice president, according to the New York Times. In turn, Mr Kennedy accused Mr Trump of lobbing poisonous bombs from the safety of his bunker. He added: When frightened men take to social media they risk descending into vitriol, which makes them sound unhinged. President Trumps rant against me is a barely coherent barrage of wild and inaccurate claims that should best be resolved in the American tradition of presidential debate. Robert F Kennedy Jr campaign merchandise on sale at an event in Michigan - Emily Elconin/Bloomberg The son of Bobby Kennedy, who was assassinated in June 1968 while running for president, Robert Kennedy Jr has the advantage of name recognition. However, he has been disowned by the rest of his wider family, who are backing Joe Biden. An environmental lawyer, Mr Kennedy has been accused of promoting conspiracy theories. He was caught on a microphone saying Covid-19 targeted Caucasians and Black people and the people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese. Mr Kennedy is regarded as an anti-vaxxer, an allegation he denies, insisting he has only demanded additional safety trials and for parents to be allowed to decide whether they wanted to inoculate their children. His other policies include breaking up major banks and monopolies. Mr Kennedy has said he would bring peace to Ukraine by withdrawing US troops and missiles from Russias borders - which in turn would result in Moscow ending its invasion. Supporters of Joe Biden hold up signs outside a Robert F Kennedy Jr campaign event earlier this month - Emily Elconin/Bloomberg Robert Shapiro, Professor of Government at Columbia University, told The Telegraph: Somehow Trump, either based on his campaign polling or other information or on his own perceptions, now thinks RFK [Mr Kennedy] can hurt him in the election overall or in the key states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, [and] Wisconsin. So Trump is attacking him to try to keep the support of voters who prefer or are leaning toward or might vote for RFK. He added: Trump thinks he does best against Biden in a two-candidate race or just with Jill Stein and Cornell West taking votes from Biden. It is also a way for Trump to keep the media focused on his campaign and not on him in the trial in New York City. Robert F Kennedy Jr, pictured in Texas last week, accused his rival Donald Trump of "lobbing poisonous bombs" - ADAM DAVIS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Prof Shapiros analysis was borne out in Michigan, where Mr Kennedy recently hosted a comedy benefit night. Mike Panza, 44, who voted for Mr Trump in 2020, said he was veering towards backing Mr Kennedy. Id like a return to the middle of the road, he told the BBC. His stance on health care is really appealing. Kennedy wants to make people healthy, he wants to make the country healthy. Corwin Smidt, a politics professor at Michigan State University, added: Given the status of politics in Michigan right now, I would say hes probably more damaging to Trump. Jeff Lord, who served in Ronald Reagans White House, said he believed the attacks from the Trump camp had been inevitable. He told The Telegraph: In my lifetime George Wallace, the governor of Alabama, ran in 1968 and did some real damage to the Democratic candidate Hubert Humphrey. How much damage Kennedy he will do it is hard to tell. The fact that Trump is taking time to attack him [Mr Kennedy] shows he doesnt want him to get any traction. I cant blame him for that. 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. Trump praises great meeting with DeSantis in Florida their first conversation since governor dropped out of GOP primary Former President Donald Trump on Monday said he and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had a great meeting in Florida on Sunday. The meeting their first conversation since DeSantis dropped out of the GOP primary in January was arranged through Steve Witkoff, Trumps longtime friend and luxury real estate developer, at the request of DeSantis, according to a source close to Trump. It was first reported by The Washington Post. DeSantis was playing golf at the Shell Bay Club and agreed to have breakfast with Trump, according to a source familiar. We had a great meeting yesterday, arranged by mutual friend Steve Witkoff, at his beautiful Shell Bay Club in Hollywood, Florida, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday. The conversation mostly concerned how we would work closely together to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. The presumptive GOP nominee noted he was very happy to have the full and enthusiastic support of the Florida governor. Witkoff is hosting a fundraiser in Miami for Trump next Sunday, according to a copy of the invite obtained by CNN. DeSantis told donors and supporters at an appreciation retreat earlier this month that he would help fundraise for Trump, two sources familiar with the details told CNN. I think his finance committee certainly will follow his lead and his donors will, DeSantis supporter and Texas businessman Roy Bailey said Monday. So, I think you can create a lot of value for the Trump campaign. Following his failed White House bid, DeSantis endorsed Trump in the Republican primary, but he has not appeared with the presumptive GOP nominee at any campaign events since. As CNN reported in February, DeSantis has made a concerted effort to keep in touch with the people who supported his presidential campaign, including donors and leaders in the early nominating states as he eyes a 2028 bid. I havent ruled anything out, he said in a private conversation with supporters at the time, according to multiple outlets that reviewed a leaked recording and confirmed to CNN by three individuals who listened to the call. He also said on that call he has no intention of serving as vice president. CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated to clarify where in the Miami metro area Trump and DeSantis met on Sunday and to include Trumps reaction. CNNs Steve Contorno and Alayna Treene contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com From Biden's age to Trump's legal woes, nothing was off limits. President Biden and comedian Colin Jost took aim at Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) It seems there were two standup comedians at the 2024 White House Correspondents Association Dinner on Sunday: Saturday Night Live writer Colin Jost and President Biden. Since 1921, the dinner celebrating freedom of the press brings together journalists and politicians for a night of friendly jabs and to raise money for scholarships. Roughly 2,600 people attended the annual event this year at the Washington Hilton Hotel, while outside protesters against Israels war in Gaza chanted Shame on you! and "Free, free Palestine!" Inside, though, all eyes were on Biden and Jost, who largely took aim at former President Donald Trumps legal woes. Heres everything you need to know about this years event. Biden poked fun at Trump and himself In a speech lasting roughly 10 minutes, Biden, 81, acknowledged the frequent criticisms about his advanced age while poking fun at his opponent. The 2024 elections in full swing and yes, age is an issue. Im a grown man running against a 6-year-old, Biden joked. Of Trump, 77, he said, Age is the only thing we have in common. My vice president actually endorses me. The president also referenced Trumps ongoing trial in New York City involving alleged hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It was notable given that hes forbidden his aides to publicly speak about Trumps legal battles, according to an article in the New York Times. Trump is so desperate he started reading those Bibles hes selling, he said. He got to the first commandment: You shall have no other God before me. Thats when he put it down and said, This book is not for me. Trump wasnt Bidens only target. The president also mocked Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, who was escorted out of a theater for unruly behavior last year. If Congress were theater, they would have thrown out Lauren Boebert a long time ago, he said. Jost called out the differences between Biden and Trump Host Colin Jost speaks at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo) As the emcee for the night, Jost highlighted the differences between Biden and Trump, saying that nothing about the 2024 presidential election makes sense anymore. The candidate whos a famous New York City playboy took abortion rights away, and the guy who is trying to get your abortion rights back is an 80-year-old Catholic, Jost said. In the end, the SNL star offered a heartfelt endorsement of the current president with a tribute to his late grandfather, who supported Biden in 2020. The reason that he voted for you is because youre a decent man, Jost said. My grandpa voted for decency, and decency is why were all here tonight. Protests outside the venue Outside the Washington Hilton Hotel, hundreds of protesters condemned Biden for his support of Israel; they also criticized members of the press for what they believe to be misleading coverage about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A White House Correspondents' Association Dinner attendee is confronted by a pro-Palestinian demonstrator on Saturday. (Terrance Williams/AP) They also aimed to bring attention to the dozens of Arab journalists killed in Gaza since the latest conflict began on October 7, 2023. According to the Associated Press, someone inside the hotel at some point unfurled a Palestinian flag from a top-floor window. Also, some protesters reportedly chased guests as they hurried inside for the event. Who was there? The audience comprised a whos who of media, Hollywood and political luminaries, including Caitlyn Jenner, Jon Hamm, Questlove, Chris Pine, Molly Ringwald, Rosario Dawson and Lorne Michaels. Also in attendance were recent Academy Award winner DaVine Joy Randolph, comic actress and SAG president Fran Drescher and Josts wife, Scarlett Johansson. Top journalists were also in the mix, such as The View co-hosts Alyssa Farah Griffin and Sunny Hostin as well as Lester Holt, Savannah Guthrie and Gayle King. Trumps take Trump didnt attend Saturdays dinner, continuing a tradition that began during his presidency. The last time he was at the dinner was in 2011, when then-President Barack Obama made a joke about his reality TV celebrity status. Some reports claim that this was the moment that spurred Trumps decision to run for president in 2016. The former president did weigh in, however, posting on Truth Social that The White House Correspondents Dinner was really bad. Colin Jost BOMBED, and Crooked Joe was an absolute disaster! he wrote. Doesnt get much worse than this! Trump took his opinions about Saturday's event to his social media platform, Truth Social. (Truth Social) Is Trump guilty as charged? Just watch his behavior and he will tell you | Opinion Trumps behavior speaks It sure seems to me that defendant Trumps behavior is not that of someone who really believes hes not guilty as charged. Daniel Lea, Fresno On teaching reading Regarding the letter, Fresno Unified teacher casts doubt on science of reading: Excellent article. During my 36 years in education I also have watched money spent on programs that are rarely used and gather dust. As for the teaching of reading, I was fortunate to have attended elementary school when the look-see (or some such name) was popular rather than phonics. Years later, during one of our mandated in-services I learned I am phonics deaf.. Everyone learns differently and it is important to keep that focus. Sharon Darnell, Prather Jewish students civil rights I am extremely disappointed that the civil rights of Jewish students are being violated and no one is held accountable. In regard to the mobs rioting on campus, where is the Department of Justice? These thugs are not only violating Jewish civil rights by obstructing Jewish student movement, but also inciting violence. They are openly declaring themselves to be terrorists. Opinion Dont patronize me that this is complicated. Call in the feds to escort these students to class. Meanwhile, call up the National Guard to remove the tent city and post 24-hour watch to prevent them from moving back in with tents. It does not take an Ivy League scholar to plan this operation; a junior enlisted Marine NCO could figure this out. Robert Havay, Clovis No turning clock back The far right want to turn the clock back to an illusionary past. They think that life could be better if only we could live back in 1955 America. The problem is, it is nothing more than an illusion. Yes, times were better for some, but not for very many others. That is the problem with the far right. They seem to not care about the others. They want to live in a privileged white past. Another problem with their illusion is there is no going back. There never has been and there never will be going back to a past you think was ideal. They need to face reality and move on. Its the only way to live a complete and fulfilling life. Acceptance of others is not as bad as you think it is. It can actually enhance your life, if you just let it happen. Gary Dashjian, Clovis Border is not 100% open I am tired of hearing open borders and close the border. First, the Mexico-US border is not wide open try walking from Mexico into San Diego, Calexico, Nogales, El Paso and other crossings, as well as flying from Mexico into Fresno or any other American city, and you have to show your passport. Not just anyone can cross into many crossings along the border. Yes, there are holes and openings where people come illegally, but it it is not 100% open. Many people seem to think illegals got here by running through the border, but many of those flew on an jet here on a tourist, work or student visa and never went back. Many people are begging to shut down the border with Mexico, when Mexico grows lots of the food we eat and manufactures vehicles and parts as well. Many of the border cities and towns depend on the amount money that is spent by people on both sides . Again many folks just do not understand the border and illegal immigration. Steve Trevino Jr., Clovis Cut the jokes, just give the news Maybe its just me but Im annoyed with the laughing, joking and silliness when listening to the news, weather and sporting events on TV. I think the producers of these shows want the audience to feel that they are a part of what is happening. I just want the simple facts. Maybe Im just becoming a grumpy old woman. Ha ha ha! Doris Myers, Fresno Will the Supreme Court help Trump avoid his election trial by siding with him on presidential immunity? Whats happening In an effort to get out of the many criminal and civil cases pending against him, former President Donald Trump has taken to arguing in the words of his predecessor Richard Nixon that when the president does it that means that it is not illegal. So far, every court that has heard Trumps argument for absolute presidential immunity has rejected it. But now the conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court seems ready to lend the former president a helping hand. On Thursday, the justices held a nearly three-hour hearing on whether Trump can be held criminally liable for trying to undo his 2020 election loss or for anything else he did during his presidency. Previously, three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected Trumps central claim that presidents are forever shielded from prosecution unless Congress impeaches and convicts them first. At bottom, former President Trumps stance would collapse our system of separated powers by placing the President beyond the reach of all three Branches, they wrote. We cannot accept that the office of the presidency places its former occupants above the law for all time thereafter. The D.C. decision extended Trumps unbroken losing streak on the immunity issue in the Georgia election interference case; in his New York defamation case; and previously in this same case, for federal election interference. But then the Supreme Court stepped in. Part of Trumps strategy in appealing to the justices for immunity was to hope they end his legal troubles by saying he wasnt subject to prosecution in the first place. The other part of Trumps strategy is to stall his trials until after the 2024 election at which point he could, if victorious, have most of them dismissed. The court seemed skeptical Thursday of Trumps absolute immunity argument. Yet several conservative justices appeared open to the idea that at least some presidential actions so-called official ones could be considered immune. The trouble is determining which acts qualify as official and which acts do not. If most of the justices coalesce around a rule that would give presidents some level of immunity for their official actions but not necessarily for their personal conduct, it could take awhile for the justices to figure out where to draw the line and even longer if they decide to send the case back to lower courts for new hearings. Already, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the federal election trial, has been forced to postpone its March 4 start date until the former president exhausts his avenues for appeal. So any further delay is a win for Trump, regardless of the ultimate ruling. Why theres debate Presidential immunity isnt a myth. It has just never been applied in anything like the manner Trump is proposing. As law professor Kate Shaw recently explained, the current understanding of presidential immunity is as a set of pragmatic protections that attach to the president under certain circumstances. They are grounded not in constitutional text or history but in the needs and demands of the contemporary presidency, according to Shaw. The most common of these circumstances (as established in 1974 in United States v. Nixon) is when executive privilege is required to shield certain information such as candid advice from advisers from being revealed in court. Less common (but established in Nixon v. Fitzgerald) is the idea that presidents are immune from civil damages for official acts because the constant fear of lawsuits could distract a president from his public duties. Meanwhile, the Department of Justices Office of Legal Counsel has taken the position that presidents are protected from federal criminal prosecution so long as they are still actively serving as president. But never before has any branch of government said that a former president like Trump cant face criminal charges for acts committed while in office particularly if those acts fall outside his official duties. As the Supreme Court itself explained in 1974, no constitutional principle supports an absolute, unqualified presidential privilege of immunity from judicial process under all circumstances. Yet Trump keeps swinging for the fences by claiming his plan to overturn the 2020 election was an official presidential act; that prosecuting him for it would set a dangerous precedent for future presidents; and that if Congress didnt already impeach and convict him for it, a court cant convict him either. Whats next Legal merits aside, Trump will succeed with an assist from the Supreme Court if he prolongs these immunity deliberations past the point where his federal election trial can take place before Election Day. Special prosecutor Jack Smith has repeatedly asked the court to decide the immunity question on an expedited schedule. Instead, the justices refused to review the case in December, which caused a two-month delay as it went before the D.C. panel. Then, in late February, they finally agreed to hear oral arguments but didnt schedule them until the last day of the term, in late April. According to CNN, the Supreme Court is so far running at slower than half the speed with which it moved to ensure Trump was on the ballot after Colorado challenged his eligibility for the presidency under the 14th Amendments insurrection clause. In contrast, the court issued its 2000 decision in Bush v. Gore which awarded the presidency to George W. Bush the day after hearing arguments. If the justices were to rule quickly and decisively against Trump say, before May 20, on par with their pace in the Colorado case his federal election trial could still restart in August and wrap up prior to the election. But if they take longer, or kick the case back down to lower courts, all bets are off. Perspectives Theres no need to rush the Jan. 6 case Trumps critics are putting partisan considerations (the belief that a trial in and of itself and, even more so, a conviction, will hurt Trump politically) and their hatred of Trump and his postelection conduct before everything else in their demand for the fastest possible ruling most damaging to Trump. This is a very bad impulse when asking the Court to create a precedent that will affect all presidents going forward. If timing was such a worry (and Trumps criminality so obvious), the Justice Department could have appointed Jack Smith much sooner, and Smith could have indicted Trump much faster. Rich Lowry, National Review Actually, there is The justice system is doing its job by trying to hold to account a former president for subverting the last election before he runs in the next one. That is a very important job! And yet the right-wing justices are saying, essentially, not so fast and maybe not at all. The threat is not what some hypothetical future commander in chief might do, but what the defendant in this lawsuit has already done, and has openly promised to do again. Jesse Wegman, New York Times If the justices rule quickly and narrowly, its not too late for a pre-election trial The justices need to confine themselves to deciding this case, about attempting to use immunity to shield clearly political conduct even up to the point of ordering the assassination of a political opponent. They need not wander afield into deciding other, harder questions about more legitimate assertions of presidential immunity. The court also needs to focus on the fact that the case is limited to a former president. Whatever other conundrums regarding the limits of immunity for a sitting president there may be, with harder potential cases on issues closer to official duties, this is not one of those cases and the court need not waste time by going there. Norman Eisen, CNN Absolute presidential immunity has next to nothing to support it in doctrine or in history Theres a reason, after all, that Nixon required a pardon from Gerald Ford, and that Bill Clinton gave up his law license as part of a deal to avoid prosecution following his perjury scandal. This makes sense: A presidents duties will never require him to break the law, much less to do so intentionally. Editors, Washington Post Prosecuting Trump for official acts would open a Pandoras box It would authorize, for example, the indictment of President Biden in the Western District of Texas after he leaves office for mismanaging the border, allegedly. ... Could George W. Bush be prosecuted for obstruction of an official proceeding for allegedly giving false information to Congress, to induce the nation to go to war in Iraq under false pretenses? ... Could President Obama be potentially charged for murder for allegedly authorizing drone strikes targeting U.S. citizens located abroad? Trump attorney John Sauer, arguing Jan. 9 before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit But not everything a president does like, say, trying to win an election counts as an official act When a sitting President running for re-election speaks in a campaign ad or in accepting his political partys nomination at the party convention, he typically speaks on matters of public concern. Yet he does so in an unofficial, private capacity as office-seeker, not an official capacity as office-holder. And actions taken in an unofficial, private capacity cannot qualify for official-act immunity. U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in Blassingame v. Trump Trump doesnt even believe his own immunity claims Trumps legal claim rests on the premise that whatever Trump could have immunity to do, Joe Biden could too. ... If he were really worried that Biden was abusing his official position and directing shadowy and improper investigations against his political rival, the former president wouldnt simultaneously be arguing that Biden could and should be able to do so consequence-free. Editors, New York Daily News Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will vote for the man he holds personally responsible for leading a violent insurrection at his workplace, the US Capitol, Congresss senior Republican declared on Sunday. It was an affirmation of both previous statements the senator has made as well as the modern state of the GOP: utterly loyal to the man who, three years ago, he and others were roundly denouncing after a violent assault on the seat of American democracy left dozens of cops wounded and several dead including members of law enforcement and rioters. The statement was also a fitting end to the career of Mr McConnell, 82, who will be replaced as head of the Senate Republican caucus in the months ahead after he steps down in November. A persistent ideological check to the former president within the Republican Party, the Senate GOP leader has like his colleagues been forced to continue publicly supporting a candidate now facing 88 felony counts and set to be the first nominee of a major party to be under threat of prison time. Mr McConnell explained his upcoming vote during an interview that aired Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press. You have said that you endorse former president Trump. Are you gonna vote for him? asked Kristen Welker. I said three years ago, shortly after the assault on the Capitol, that I would support the nominee of the party, whoever that was, and I do, he replied. WATCH: You said you endorse Trump. Are you going to vote for him? @kwelkernbc asks.@LeaderMcConnell (R-Ky.): I said three years ago I would support the nominee of the party and I do. Welker: That includes voting for him? McConnell: I said it three years ago. pic.twitter.com/DwAvT78rJJ Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) April 28, 2024 The remark showed Mr McConnells unflinching loyalty to party over all, and is particularly revealing given that, as an oft-critic of the former president, Mr McConnell has not minced words or sought to rewrite history surrounding the January 6 attack, as some of his conservative colleagues have done to defend their top ally. In 2021, the GOP leader made clear what had transpired on Jan 6: It was a violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election from one administration to the next. Now, Mr McConnell is confirming that he will vote for the man who sought to prevent the peaceful transfer of power and led a violent insurrection to do so, for one reason: hes not a Democrat. While he may show unwavering loyalty to the former president, it is far from reciprocated. Mr Trump is known to hold a grudge against Mr McConnell especially after the latter whipped votes against efforts to interfere in the certification of the 2020 election on January 6, and in 2022 the former president backed Florida Senator Rick Scott (a first-term senator) for Mr McConnells position over the incumbent GOP Senate leader. His loyalists in the House of Representatives, meanwhile, have already ousted one GOP leader in the past year and seem poised to try it again. Mike Johnson, the speaker of the House, may well end up relying on the support of Democrats to save himself from a rebellion led by Trumps acolytes. Mr McConnells latest interview comes after the Senate, with his support, finally sent a national security funding package to the presidents desk with funding for military assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after months of delay. The Senate had come together in bipartisan fashion around the legislation, and Mr McConnell himself led the GOP pressure campaign against Mr Johnson in the House as his colleagues in the lower chamber pumped the brakes on the bill. (Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met on Sunday to discuss the possibility of tapping DeSantis donor network, according to a person familiar with the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg The Miami meeting is a sign of rapprochement between the former president and his one-time opponent after a period of rocky relations, heightened by Trumps attacks on DeSantis during the Republican primaries. DeSantis, once considered a potent candidate, dropped out in January. Reaching into DeSantis donor pipeline could shore up funds for the presumptive Republican nominee as Trump faces a cash drain from the legal costs of his array of court cases. At the same time, President Joe Bidens campaign widened its fundraising lead over Trump in March, raising more than $90 million. As of April 21, Trump had just $6.8 million in the accounts hes been using to fund his lawyers. That could drive him to tap funds from other sources to cover upcoming bills and bankroll his campaign. Trump and his campaign are expected to hold a retreat in Palm Beach, Florida, this week with about 400 donors and several vice presidential hopefuls. Trumps campaign and DeSantis office didnt immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday. DeSantis has proven fundraising power with a network that includes hedge fund billionaires Ken Griffin and Paul Tudor Jones. In 2022, he raised more than $217 million for his gubernatorial reelection, a record, according to OpenSecrets. Aerospace and real estate entrepreneur Robert Bigelow was the biggest donor to both DeSantis gubernatorial and presidential campaigns. He gave $5 million to Trumps allied super-PAC in March. DeSantis fundraising connections also include members of a national finance board he announced in late 2023 such as Roy Bailey, CEO of Bailey Deason Capital Interests LLC and a former national co-chair of Trumps 2020 presidential campaign. The Trump-DeSantis meeting was first reported by the Washington Post. The Florida governor and Trump were allies before their competing presidential bids. After DeSantis dropped out of the presidential race, he endorsed Trump and described him as the preferable candidate. Trump then said he would retire the nickname DeSanctimonious, one of the go-to insults he used during the campaign. --With assistance from Bill Allison. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. How Trumps second term could be different from his first Former President Trumps pursuit of a second term in the White House could lead to an administration stocked with loyalists who are laser-focused on implementing Trumps agenda and are willing to cater to his whims. Critics, including some who have worked closely with Trump, have expressed concerns that a second Trump administration would have fewer officials willing to act as guardrails and would enable the former president to act more impulsively, in part because of his lame duck status. That is one of my biggest concerns about a second Trump administration, is there would be no guardrails, said Sarah Matthews, a former Trump spokesperson who has become a critic of the ex-president. I think there were a lot of people in the first Trump administration who were very skeptical of him but believed it was their duty to serve, so they went to go work for him to try and, I think, guide him and put him on a better path. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who backed Trump in 2016 and 2020 before running a primary campaign against Trump in the 2024 race, told The Washington Post the prospect of a vendetta tour was his greatest fear about a possible second Trump term. Therell be no one around to put guardrails up, and he will be on the vendetta tour against all enemies that he perceives, Christie said. And thats a scary thing for the country. Trumps first administration was stocked with more traditional Republicans who were seen as a bulwark against the then-presidents impulses and more controversial ideas. Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis navigated Trumps off-the-cuff remarks on torture, key alliances and global conflicts. Former chief of staff John Kelly sought to control the flow of information to Trump. Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley pushed back on Trumps calls for military crackdowns on protesters during civil unrest in 2020. And former Vice President Mike Pence refused Trumps pressure campaign to reject the 2020 election results. Miles Taylor, a former Trump administration staffer, in 2018 wrote an infamous and initially anonymous op-ed in The New York Times describing coordinated efforts from staff to thwart Trumps worst instincts. But with Trump fully in control of the Republican Party, the former president and his team appear poised to fill a possible second administration with more loyalists who have fully bought into Trumpism. Conservative groups in Washington, D.C., are already working to identify potential staff for a second Trump administration, as seen most prominently in the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 initiative, which is being led by former Trump White House officials Paul Dans and Spencer Chretien. But the Trump campaign has sought to maintain its distance from outside groups putting forward policy or personnel proposals during the campaign, instead insisting Trump himself would make the final decision on senior leadership and other decisions when the time comes. There has been no discussion of who will serve in a second Trump administration. President Trump will choose the best people for his Cabinet to undo all the damage Crooked Joe Biden has done to our country, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement to The Hill. Donald Trump Jr., the presidents oldest son, is expected to take a more active role in vetting potential staffers for a second administration, though a source familiar with the matter said Trump Jr. would not be running a potential transition or handling day-to-day staffing efforts. Trump Jr. told the New York Post in a March interview that John Ratcliffe, former director of national intelligence, and former Trump White House aide Cliff Sims were among the people he envisioned leading a transition. There are so many great people to choose from now with the first four years of the administration, you have a good understanding of who would be great and loyal and implement the America First policies, Trump Jr. said. Some former aides have expressed a willingness to return to a potential second administration. John McEntee, former director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office who oversaw a brief effort at the tail end of the Trump administration to undermine the civil service system, is among those working on Project 2025. McEntee was tapped to lead the projects bid to collect resumes for the next administration, a process in which the organization is embracing the motto personnel is policy. Meanwhile, Trump has said he would once again try to roll out the Schedule F order overseen by McEntee that would subject more civil service positions to swift firing, saying he would wield that power very aggressively. Trump could also allow more of his top officials to serve in an acting capacity sidestepping Senate confirmation in a legally dubious move. Stephen Miller, the architect of many of Trumps hard-line immigration policies, has been active in laying out a vision for a second term, outlining even more restrictionist approaches the former president could take if reelected. Miller told The New York Times last year that Trump would rely on his executive authorities to implement the most spectacular migration crackdown and pledged that they would blitz immigration attorneys. Tom Homan, Trumps former Immigration and Customs Enforcement chief, also said he was willing to come back for a second Trump administration to help organize and run the largest deportation operation this countrys ever seen. Jeffrey Clark a former Justice Department attorney who is facing charges in Georgia after he was prepared to launch a baseless investigation of the states vote totals on Trumps behalf is also involved in Project 2025. A collection of Trumps comments from the campaign trail and reports on GOP organizing, assembled by Just Security, details other plans for a reelected Trump to more robustly use his power. Former Attorney General Bill Barr in a December Fox News interview similarly predicted the lack of potential electoral consequences could make Trump less likely to be swayed by advisers. During his first term, the main way that could be done is by pointing out to him how this would hurt his prospects for a second term, he said. Once he wins a second term, I dont know, you know, what considerations can be used to push back against bad ideas. Barr this week said he would support the Republican ticket in Novembers election. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. YANGON, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Today's youths in Myanmar are increasingly gravitating towards learning Chinese through video-based methods. This shift is driven by easy access to online language-learning resources, Nanda, while enrolling his children in the Tat Thit Sa Chinese school in Yangon, told Xinhua. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and various video sources provide endless possibilities for the learning. People can study anytime, anywhere, taking advantage of the time they spend on their phones. Learning languages through visual media like videos can be highly effective for them, he said. Aung Thiha Han, 17, said, "I have been studying Chinese since the age of six. In addition to attending Chinese language courses, I supplement my learning by watching YouTube videos and reading." "I particularly enjoy watching videos because they allow me to observe Chinese pronunciation, speech patterns, and cultural aspects," he said. "Being surrounded by friends who speak Chinese at school has also motivated me to learn the language," he added. Khin Khant Khant Khin, aged 9, who is attending the Tat Thit Sa Chinese school, said, "I began learning Chinese when I was five years old. I enjoy watching videos so that I can easily pick up some new words from them." Htain Htain, 23, said, "I started learning Chinese during the COVID-19 outbreak. My interest in Chinese language, fueled by admiration for Chinese idol Wang Yibo, motivated me to dive into the language." "I initially learn Chinese through diverse media like watching TikTok and YouTube short clips, and indulging in Chinese animation, alongside Chinese classes," she said. "Preferring modern movies over traditional martial arts films, I focused on contemporary language for everyday use," she added. Chuu Thanthar Han is also attending the Tat Thit Sa Chinese school. "I began learning Chinese at the age of seven. I prefer learning Chinese by watching short videos on TikTok. I am inspired by my older brother's dedication to learning Chinese and I am motivated to follow in his footsteps," the 13-year-old said. In today's world, Nanda believes it's crucial for young people to go beyond their mother tongue and English. Learning an extra language, he said, like Chinese, may open countless opportunities for the people, no matter they're studying abroad or working at home. SEMMES, Ala. (WKRG) Semmes Police are investigating after an early morning police chase ends in a rollover crash. Police say it started on Moffett Road before dawn Saturday morning when police attempted to pull a vehicle over. The driver then led police on a high-speed chase that ended when the vehicle flipped in a ditch near the Mississippi state line on Alabama Highway 158 and Grant Road. Police say the driver, 23-year-old Ian Angles, was arrested and charged with assault, reckless endangerment, marijuana possession and attempting to elude. Police say he also had a stolen rifle that was taken from his grandfather in Mississippi. Police arrested one passenger, 21-year-old Jacen Carter, and charged him for outstanding warrants. One passenger was taken to medical care and is in stable condition. A third passenger was flown by helicopter to University Medical Center for treatment, a 20-year-old woman. Her condition is not known this morning. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. MADISON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WCMH) Two people were injured, one critically, in a traffic accident Sunday afternoon near the south side of Columbus. According to Madison Township Fire Chief Howard Hahn, first responders were dispatched to the area of Ebright Road and Blair Avenue at approximately 12:17 p.m. for a report of a two-vehicle crash. Former Ohio governor candidate leaving Biden administration This embedded content is not available in your region. Both of the victims, one in critical condition and the other in a stable condition, were taken to Mount Carmel East. Details as to what caused the crash have not been released. Ebright Road was closed between Bixford Avenue and Bixby Road for safety reasons because the crash involved two side-by-side telephones being hit and damaged, Hahn said. AEP repaired the poles and the road is expected to reopen by approximately 5 p.m. Sunday. The Madison Township Fire Department was assisted at the scene by Columbus Division of Fire. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Two Russian journalists arrested on extremism charges, accused of working for Navalny group A pair of Russian journalists have been detained on extremism charges and face accusations of working for a group founded by the late Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny. Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin are accused of producing content for Navalnys prominent YouTube channel, NavalnyLIVE, which publishes videos investigating corruption in the Kremlin that have amassed millions of views. Russian authorities have designated Navalny, who died in an Arctic prison in February, and his organizations as extremist. Members of his team have previously been imprisoned and many live in exile. Gabov was allegedly involved in the preparation of photo and video materials for the YouTube channel, Moscows Basmanny District Court press service said. He was arrested Saturday and will remain in detention until June 27. The court said Gabov is a producer for Reuters news agency, which has continued to operate in Russia since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. CNN has asked Reuters for comment. Journalist Sergey Karelin appears in court in Russia's Murmansk region, April 27, 2024. - AP Karelin was arrested in Russias northwest Murmansk region on Saturday and is accused of participation in an extremist organization. He previously worked for a number of outlets including the Associated Press (AP) and German publication Deutsche Welle (DW), until DW was banned in Russia in 2022. An AP photo showed Karelin, who has dual Russian-Israeli citizenship, sitting in a glass cage in a Murmansk court on Saturday. The pairs detention comes amid a heightened crackdown in Russia on journalists and Kremlin critics, as President Vladimir Putin has sought to stifle dissent more fiercely than before the invasion of Ukraine. Forbes journalist Sergey Mingazov was also placed under house arrest Saturday after he was detained for allegedly spreading fake news about the Russian army, state media RIA Novosti reported. Navalny was Putins most formidable political opponent before his death in a penal colony, where he was serving a more-than-30-year sentence on extremism charges. Navalnys family and supporters have accused Putin of being responsible for his death, a claim rejected by the Kremlin. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Photo by Robert Leonard) Iowa Writers 'Collaborative. Linking Iowa readers and writers. In April of 2022, coming home from a meeting in Storm Lake on a Sunday afternoon, my truck busted down on Interstate 35 north of Roland. I called Kenny my mechanic, described the symptoms, and he said, Probably the fuel pump better get-r towed to the shop. Kenny knew the truck well; he sold it to me in 2018 or 2019 and its the best $2,000 I have ever spent. The truck is now 24 years old with only 175,000 miles on it most of them put on by me. I thought about getting a tow to Ames, finding a mechanic, spending the night in a hotel room and the mess that might come from not knowing a good mechanic or hardly anyone in Ames, and then maybe towing it again in the morning to a mechanic, and so I decided to have it towed to Kennys shop in Knoxville about 90 miles away. The tow bill was $700, and I swore next time I went very far from home I would park my truck and get a rental car. So I was at the car rental shop in Pella about 9 a.m. Thursday a week ago to pick up a rental car to drive to an event in Iowa Falls. I figured I would rather pay 70 bucks for a rental car than potentially another $700 tow bill. A sign on the door said, back in 5 minutes. I didnt mind because it gave me some time to look for fossils in the landscaping gravel by the store. A few minutes later, two women drove up in a black SUV and got out. I guessed one was in her 60s or 70s and dressed in gray from her hair to her running shoes. She was lean and hard like a desiccated leather rope. When I told her the attendant at the shop would be back in five minutes, she got mad and started cussing at me and the general wider world before she backtracked after realizing I wasnt the problem. She explained she was angry because they were late and had somewhere to go right now. Someone else might have been offended by the tongue-lashing but I found it fascinating. The younger woman was maybe 35-40 with pretty red hair and freckles and was in pajamas. I guessed the older woman was her mom as they acted as if they were kin. The younger woman had looked at me with kindness and compassion in her eyes while the older woman had scolded me. Maybe 10 minutes later, a young man chewing on a Caseys breakfast burrito walked up, apologized for taking so long, and welcomed us in. The old woman gave him an earful as he helped me fill out my paperwork as I had been first in line. After a few minutes, I walked out into the parking lot with my keys to a Kia which looked like a toy. It was so low to the ground that I feared I would wear out the seat of my pants on the asphalt before I had driven a mile. When I came out, the younger woman was still looking at the gravel. Find anything good? I asked. She gave me a big smile and said, Can I show you? Sure! She jogged over to me holding several rocks and said, I just look for the pretty ones! As she put the rocks in my hand she told me they were visiting from Arkansas. Oh, these are pretty, I said, turning them over in my hand. All quartz. Her eyes grew big and she cocked her head at me looking puzzled. Whats quartz? she said. How do you know that? I was taken aback. How did I know that the rocks were quartz? How does anyone know a rock is quartz? How could she not know what quartz was? I learned it in school, I guess. Its a crystalline igneous rock mostly formed in volcanoes. She gave me a look of astonishment and picked up another rock and showed it to me. Whats this? Its another kind of igneous rock chert. It has a tight molecular structure and was used by cultures all over the world to make stone tools in the past. You can bust it up with a harder rock and shape it into an arrowhead, spear point or other sharp tool. Her jaw dropped. She looked at me like I was saying brilliant, amazing things. How do you know that? I didnt know how to answer. But I knew she was eager to learn, so I started picking up random rocks and figuring them out. Look at this its petrified wood, I said as I handed it to her. How do you know that? You can see it looks just like the physical structure of the inner part of a tree. See the rings? Over millions of years, it turned into a fossil. How does that happen? There are minerals in water and over millions of years the minerals replace the cellular structure of the plant, turning it into a rock. She looked at me like I was the smartest person in the world and I had just described something as significant as the origins of the universe. While my knowledge seemed mundane to me, to her it was wonderful. Actually, what I had said was indeed wonderful, in that knowledge passed down to me had been created by scientists and other scholars working and learning for generations, but we dont often think of that. That goes for everything we know, and we should probably appreciate it more. Behind me I heard the door of the rental car agency open and out came her mom in a kerfuffle. Lets go, she shouted, walking angrily away toward her rental car. The younger woman started pulling away from me, walking backwards toward her mom and the car she was getting into. Can I keep these rocks? Sure! How do I learn more? she asked, almost in desperation. By now she was 20 feet away from me, still retreating, and she cried again, How do I learn more? She reached her hand out to me, even as she continued to retreat. Get in! her mom yelled. I reached my hand out in return into the space between us, almost as I was trying to rescue her from drowning in a raging river, but in vain. So much came to mind to tell her. Textbooks, fossil field guides, college classes, the internet; it all swirled in my head as I sought the right thing to say to someone so eager to learn. I fumbled for the right answer in those seconds, but finally, it came to me. Go to a library! I shouted. Any library! The librarians will help you learn! They will be happy to teach you! They know how! Ask a librarian! She gave me a big smile, got into the car with her mom, rolled her window down, stuck her head out of it, and continued to smile and wave to me until the car was out of sight. As I drove to Iowa Falls, I contemplated how a person who was clearly curious and intelligent could know so little about rocks and fossils and how to learn about them. I realized that she had likely never been exposed to a public education. That her mother had cruelly isolated her. I know people who homeschool their children and they do a great job. Their kids are well-educated and integrated into the community. Im not worried about these kids. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republican legislators have been working hard to dismantle Iowas public schools in favor of private schools with vouchers that put public money into private schools. Out-of-state online companies have popped up that will provide homeschooling curriculum in exchange for voucher payments. I hope Im wrong, but perhaps the next step is for Reynolds to cut a check directly to those who are homeschooling their children with no oversight. Unlike my friends who do a great job homeschooling their kids, I think many will see it as Reynolds giving them thousands of dollars per kid as an incentive to keep them home. Some of these children will likely be abused and neglected with no oversight, and we will have more children like Natalie Finn and Sabrina Ray. Others will most certainly enter the juvenile justice system. And a great many children who will not meet their full potential, like the woman I met from Arkansas. Robert Leonards column appeared originally at Cedar Creek Nature Notes. It is republished here through the Iowa Writers Collaborative. Editors note: Please consider subscribing to the collaborative and its member writers to support their work. The post Two women from Arkansas and the importance of public education appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. Two women escape sexual assault attempt by same man just minutes apart, cops say An Illinois man was arrested after police say he tried to sexually assault two women in the same night. Jeremy Mack, 28, was charged with attempted sexual assault, aggravated battery and public indecency, WGN reported. Around 9 p.m. April 22, a 25-year-old woman was walking when Mack grabbed her from behind, told her he had a gun and not to turn around, according to an April 23 news release from the Chicago Police Department. Mack then tried to sexually assault the woman, but the woman began to scream and nearby residents helped stop the attack before Mack took off, police said. Minutes later, around 9:10 p.m., a 23-year-old woman was walking when she heard someone walking behind her. Police say Mack grabbed the woman and took her to the ground. Mack got on top of the woman and made sexually explicit statements to her, according to police. But she was able to fight him off, authorities said. Mack was arrested April 25, according to WBBM. Attorney information for Mack was not available. Fake chiropractor sexually assaults women during treatment at his home, MA cops say Catholic school teacher sexually abused teen over months after firing, Michigan cops say 2 women sexually abused inmates while working at Nebraska prison, cops say TxDOT to host public meetings for new corridor study in East El Paso County EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Texas Department of Transporation (TxDOT) El Paso District will be conducting public meetings for its Border Highway East Corridor Study and is asking for the publics comments, TxDOT announced in a news release. The 20-mile corridor study extends from Loop 375 (Americas Avenue) in El Paso to FM 3380 (M.F. Aguilera Road) near Tornillo. The study analyzes the benefits and challenges of improving mobility in the study area, read the news release. TxDOT says there are multiple goals. Among them are to alleviate traffic congestion and improve mobility safety. Additionally, the study has not identified any projects and no funding for construction has been secured, according to TxDOT. TxDOT will conduct a virtual public meeting with two in-person options. Virtual meeting: Will consist of a pre-recorded video presentation including audio and visual components. The presentation will be posted online by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1. To access the virtual public meeting, go to www.txdot.gov and search Border Highway East Study. The virtual public meeting will remain available for viewing until Wednesday, May 16 at 11:59 p.m. In-person meetings: From 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 1 at Clint High School, 13890 Alameda Ave. From 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 2 at Western Tech College, 2nd floor, 9624 Plaza Circle. Will be held in open house format and no formal presentation will be given. Each meeting will contain the same content. Spanish-speaking team members will be available at the open house. Public comments are requested and may be submitted by mail to the TxDOT El Paso District Office, Attention Gus Sanchez, 13301 Gateway Blvd. West, or by email to BorderHighwayEast@txdot.gov. Verbal comments may be recorded by calling (844) 243-3325. All comments must be received on or before Thursday, May 16. Responses to comments will be available online at www.txdot.gov once they have been prepared. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. UAW Wins Big At Volkswagen In Tennessee Its First Victory At A Foreign-Owned Factory In The South This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPMs home for opinion and news analysis. It was originally published at The Conversation. A decisive majority of the Volkswagen workers employed at a factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee cast their ballots in favor of joining the United Auto Workers union, the German automaker announced on April 19, 2024. Persuading any Southern autoworkers to join a union had long been one of the U.S. labor movements most enduring challenges, despite persistent efforts by the UAW to organize this workforce. To be sure, the UAW already has members employed by Ford and General Motors at facilities in Kentucky, Texas, Missouri and Mississippi. However, the union had previously tried and largely failed to organize workers at foreign-owned companies, including Volkswagen and Nissan, in Southern states where about 30% of all U.S. automotive jobs are located. It was the UAWs third election at the same factory since 2014. The prior two ended in narrow losses. The victory follows the UAWs most successful strike in a generation against Detroits Big Three automakers, through which it won higher pay and better benefits for its members in 2023. Volkswagen said it will await certification of the results by the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency responsible for enforcing U.S. workers rights to organize. As long as neither side challenges the results within five business days, the NLRB will certify them greenlighting the start of bargaining over a contract. The union has already scheduled another election that will occur less than a month after the Volkswagen vote. More than 5,000 workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Alabama, will have their say on whether to join the UAW in a vote that will run May 13-17, 2024. CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE APRIL 19: United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain speaks at a UAW vote watch party on April 19, 2024 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. With over 51% of workers voting yes the UAW won the right to form a union at the plant. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images) $40 million campaign The UAW has pledged to spend $40 million through 2026 to expand its ranks to include more auto and electric battery workers, including many employed in the South, where the industry is quickly gaining ground. Based on my five decades of experience as a union organizer and labor historian, I anticipate that, recent momentum aside, the UAW will face resistance from the other foreign automakers that operate in the South. The pushback is also coming from Southern politicians, many of whom have expressed concern that UAW success would undermine the regions carefully crafted approach to economic development. But the outcome of this first election among Volkswagens more than 4,300 workers in Tennessee who were eligible to vote represents an impressive first step in the unions ambitious campaign to organize foreign-owned automakers in the South and other nonunion factories across the country. With about 73% of the workers who voted choosing to say yes, according to the company and additional sources, I believe that this historic victory will boost UAW organizing in the South and will likely inspire other workers seeking to unionize their workplaces. CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE APRIL 19: People celebrate after the United Auto Workers (UAW) received enough votes to form a union at a UAW vote watch party on April 19, 2024 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Since Wednesday workers have been voting on whether to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images) Lauding the perfect three-legged stool After the regions formerly robust textile industry imploded in the 1980s and 1990s because of an influx of cheap imports, Southern business and political leaders revived the regions manufacturing base by successfully recruiting foreign automakers. The strategy of those leaders reflects what the Business Council of Alabama has described as the perfect three-legged stool for economic development. It consists of an eager and trainable workforce with a work ethic unparalleled anywhere in the nation, accompanied by a low-cost and business-friendly economic climate, and the lack of labor union activity and participation. The prospect of a low-wage and reliable workforce has lured the likes of Nissan, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Honda, Volkswagen and Hyundai to the South in recent decades. Although many of those companies negotiate constructively with unions on their home turf, the lack of union membership and the protections that go with it have proved a draw for them in the United States. Blaming unions for bad job prospects One way automotive employers in the South have blocked unions is by portraying them as outdated institutions whose bloated contracts and rigid work rules destroy jobs by making domestic auto companies uncompetitive. Automotive executives in the South argue the region has developed an alternative labor relations model that provides management with flexibility, offers wages and benefits superior to what local workers have earned previously and frees employees from any subordination to union directives. Automakers with plants in the South also draw on another powerful resource in resisting the UAW: public intervention by top elected officials. Aerial view of a Volkswagen automobile assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. Making dire warnings With the UAW ramping up its organizing efforts again, Southern governors are sounding alarms once more. On the eve of the Volkswagen election in Chattanooga, six of these governors issued a joint statement denouncing the UAW as a special interest that would threaten our jobs and the values we live by. They asserted that a vote for the UAW would undermine their ability to attract auto manufacturers and stop growth in its tracks. The UAW counters that union membership means workers will get predictable raises, better benefits and improved workplace policies. Although these arguments from anti-union politicians havent changed much over the years, the context certainly has. The UAWs big wins on pay and benefits resulting from its 2023 strike against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis have increased its clout and credibility. Many automakers with a U.S. workforce not covered by the UAW including Volkswagen, Honda, Hyundai and other foreign transplants responded by raising pay at their Southern plants. The union justifiably describes those raises as a UAW bump. The UAW is citing these pay hikes in its outreach to workers at Tesla and other nonunion companies. Nonunion autoworkers are being left behind, the UAWs recruiting website warns. Are you ready to stand up and win your fair share? The pitch continues: Its time for nonunion autoworkers to join the UAW and win economic justice at Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Tesla, Nissan, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, Volkswagen, Mazda, Rivian, Lucid, Volvo and beyond. Some Southern autoworkers, meanwhile, have been expressing concerns over scheduling, safety, two-tier wage systems and workloads that they believe a union could help resolve. Its also clear theyve been emboldened by the gains they have seen UAW members make. Revving up The UAWs campaign is just starting to rev up. And the timing is ideal. A 2023 National Labor Relations Board ruling provides unions with additional leverage in this process. If management refuses to grant the unions request for recognition, the employer would then be required to seek an NLRB representation election. To win, unions normally need a majority of those voting. But in accordance with the new ruling, if management is found to have interfered with workers rights during the election process, it could then be required to bargain with the union. The UAW says its waging organizing campaigns at more than two dozen other nonunion plants, including factories run by Hyundai in Montgomery, Alabama, and Toyota in Troy, Missouri. I believe that the stakes are high for all workers, not just those in the auto industry. As D. Taylor, the president of Unite Here, a union that represents workers in a wide range of occupations, recently observed: If you change the South, you change America. This is an updated version of an article published on March 8, 2024. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Conversation The University of California has rejected calls to divest from Israel, a demand driving student protests at UCLA and other campuses across the nation. (Ringo Chiu / For The Times) The University of California won't divest from firms that do business with Israel or boycott academic exchanges with the country, rejecting demands that are driving the pro-Palestinian protests sweeping campuses across the nation. "The University of California has consistently opposed calls for boycott against and divestment from Israel," UC said in a statement posted 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." UC also said that no tuition or fee revenue is used for investment purposes. Instead, tuition and fees serve as the "primary funding sources for the University's core operations," according to the statement. That appeared to address a central demand of the UC Divest Coalition: that student tuition dollars not be used to make investments that support war and weapons manufacturing including firms that supply arms and services to Israel. The university's $169-billion investment portfolio includes funds for its retirement plan, endowment and working capital. No estimate was available for how much of that portfolio is invested in firms that do business with Israel. Divestment proponents have taken particular aim at BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager. Others have targeted Amazon and Google for their $1.2-billion artificial intelligence and cloud-computing services contract with the Israeli government. Sit-ins at a number of Google offices led the company to fire 28 employees who participated in the protests this month. Read more: Pro-Palestinian protests grow at California campuses as opposing demonstrators clash at UCLA Student organizers of the divestment campaign against UC said the university's position would not deter them from continuing to organize. The UC Divest Coalition includes chapters at UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara and UC Santa Cruz. "We understand these investments are profitable for UC. War is profitable," said one UCLA divestment campaign organizer, who asked for anonymity to protect their personal safety. "It just means we have to keep organizing." The organizer said the campaign's goal was to redirect UC investment dollars from firms that promote "mass violence being perpetrated against people all over the world" through weapons manufacturing, for instance, or surveillance technology. Instead, UC funds should better support students, staff and faculty battered by unaffordable housing, low wages, college debt and other financial hardships. In 2020, UC became the nation's largest university to divest from fossil fuels, a five-year effort undertaken to fight climate change by shifting funds into more environmentally sustainable investments, such as wind and solar energy. UC sold more than $1 billion in fossil fuel assets from its pension, endowment and working capital pools and surpassed its five-year goal of investing $1 billion in clean energy projects. Read more: Photos: Tensions grow as pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses continue UC also joined the anti-apartheid divestment campaign against South Africa in the 1980s, after thousands of student protesters boycotted classes, erected shantytowns to dramatize the plight of Black South Africans and prompted a police crackdown and arrests at UC Berkeley. UC had held investments of more than $3 billion in firms that owned plants, had employees or did business in South Africa. But it will be more difficult to persuade UC to divest from Israel, which has fierce and powerful supporters. University leaders already have spoken out against targeted action against Israel, including in a 2018 statement by all 10 campus chancellors that rejected an academic boycott and endorsed continued engagement with both Israeli and Palestinian colleges, universities and colleagues. A boycott would pose "a direct and serious threat to the academic freedom of our students and faculty, as well as the unfettered exchange of ideas and perspectives on our campuses, including debate and discourse regarding conflicts in the Middle East," said the statement, which was reaffirmed in 2023. Read more: 13 days that rocked USC: How a derailed commencement brought 'complete disaster' One member of the UC Board of Regents said Saturday the anti-Israel campaign would go nowhere. "We're never going to divest," said the regent, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The regent was not in favor of moving to dismantle protest encampments, saying escalation would be unwise, but added that board members planned to have discussions this summer about what should be the proper time, place and manner of protests. UCLA student organizers said the divestment effort would take years the anti-apartheid campaign lasted more than two decades before it succeeded and that the recent wave of student protests would only get stronger. 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. UCLA administration addressed violence on campus on Sunday morning as pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters clashed amid growing tensions as the Israel-Hamas War continues. In a statement, Mary Osako, vice chancellor of UCLA Strategic Communications, confirmed that altercations occurred on campus Sunday morning. This morning, a group of demonstrators breached a barrier that the university had established separating two groups of protestors on our campus, resulting in physical altercations, Osako said. UCLA has a long history of being a place of peaceful protest, and we are heartbroken about the violence that broke out. Law enforcement officials barricaded areas near the encampment early Sunday in anticipation of an organized counter-protest by a pro-Israeli group. Flyers advertising the counter-protest said the demonstration would be peaceful. As of Sunday afternoon, there was no indication on how the physical altercations were started, or which groups were involved. Social media posts from UCLAs campus after 11 a.m. showed skirmishes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters, though they appeared to be isolated and between small amounts of people. One protesters livestream showed people wrapped in flags, carrying signs and speaking into megaphones around 1:30 p.m. as many protesters began to lock arms and form a wall. Logan Hall of Spectrum News 1 reported that officers with the Los Angeles Police Department were on campus in riot gear around 2:30 p.m. According to the Daily Bruin, UCLAs student-run newspaper, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups chanted at each other after the counter-protest began. The Daily Bruin also said at 1:41 p.m. that one of its reporters overheard Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck discussing the potential disbursement of the counter-protesters and the encampment. The counter-protest, according to reporting by KTLAs Rachel Menitoff, was organized by the non-profit group the Israeli-American Council, who wrote on social media that encampments like the one at UCLA are overtly antisemitic. The nonprofit added that its utterly unacceptable that any university campus become a platform for pro-terror and anti-American activities. In the meantime, leaders of the encampment say have no plans to leave and are demanding that the UC system divest from companies that do business with Israel and for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Earlier this week, the University of California rejected calls to divest from companies that do business with Israel. Many of those in the encampment said that they felt that the counter-protest was provocative. The Zionist side is very violent, but the other people are camping, sleeping, just protesting peacefully, one Palestinian demonstrator at UCLA told Menitoff. Thats what I see, they have been attacking us, have been pushing us and we are trying to keep our cool and control ourselves, not respond because the goal they use is to provoke us. A pro-Israel demonstrator, Stephanie Praw, told KTLA that she hopes a dialogue can be reached and that the loss of life on both sides is heartbreaking, but added that she feels there are some issues that are not being addressed. The 133 [Israeli] hostages are not being spoken up for in a loud enough way, she said. According to reporting by the Daily Bruin, no arrests were made as of 3 p.m. and that just a half hour later, all that remained in Dickson Plaza was the encampment and several bystanders. The stage and screen featured in the Israeli American Council counter-protest is being dismantled and loaded onto a truck in Portola Plaza, the outlet said on X. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The growing encampment on the campus of UCLA one of many that have sprung up at colleges across the country continues to be a point of contention between anti-war protesters, university officials and law enforcement. A counter-protest in support of Jewish students scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday could escalate tensions even further, and a GoFundMe called Bruins for Israel has raised over $64,000 to bring a huge screen and big, loud speakers to Dickson Plaza for the demonstrators, according to the Daily Bruin more than double the fundraisers goal of $26,000. UCLA taking hands-off approach to pro-Palestinian encampment Video sent to KTLA by a UCLA student shows protesters chanting and expanding the encampment at Dickson Plaza late Saturday night; counter-protesters have been active on and off at the encampment since it was erected Thursday. Law enforcement officials were seen adding new barricades near the encampment Sunday morning ahead of the planned demonstration, which according to a flyer promoting the counter-protest, will be a peaceful gathering. KTLA 5s Omar Lewis attempted to speak with residents of the encampment early Sunday, but they declined to comment. Southern California woman defrauded over $150 million from U.S. Postal Service Students at the University of Southern California have also been staging protests after it was announced that class valedictorian Asna Tabassum would not be giving a graduation speech due to pro-Israel groups accusing her of being antisemitic. Since then, several demonstrations have taken place on campus some of which resulted in dozens of arrests and encampments have popped up, however unlike UCLA, tents are illegal on USCs campus. Since the cancelation of Tabassums speech, USC canceled all speeches at graduation before completely calling off the entire main ceremony. A city-wide tactical order was issued Saturday night by the Los Angeles Police Department as the USC protests continue. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. PHNOM PENH, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Ministry of Health on Sunday called on people to minimize direct exposure to the sun, as temperature can reach 43 degrees Celsius these days. "People should avoid staying out in the sun for too long without sunshades," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry also advised people to drink plenty of water, at least two liters a day, although they are not thirsty. According to the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology's weather forecast, temperature in some provinces in the northern, northeastern, northwestern, central and southern parts of the country will reach 43 degrees Celsius from April 28 to 30. Chan Yutha, a spokesman and secretary of state for the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, said on Thursday that the maximum temperatures in Cambodia these days are the highest-ever recorded in about 170 years. He said temperatures will start to drop in early May, as rainfall is predicted. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The University of Florida threatened student protestors with suspension and even banishment if they violated rules surrounding protest conduct, according to a letter sent to students. As with other college campuses across the nation, the University of Florida has been the site of pro-Palestinian student protests. I will kill you: Delirious woman stabbed man with Wawa deli knife, Pinellas Park police say Due to the conflicts between students and law enforcement at other colleges like Columbia University and the University of Southern California, the University of Florida released a set of rules of allowable and prohibited protesting actions. While students are allowed to free speech and holding signs, the university has banned specific actions like using sound amplifiers like blowhorns, littering, building structures, or leaving unmanned signs. However, one rule is more vague, prohibiting disruption without exactly defining what constitutes the violation. The full list of prohibited activities and items is below: No amplified sound No demonstrations inside buildings No littering No sleeping No unmanned signs No blocking ingress/egress No building of structures (chairs, stakes, benches, tables) No camping, including tents, sleeping bags, pillows, etc. No disruption No threats No violence No weapons Any other items and/or activities deemed to be non-compliant with policy and regulations by university officials. The university said if a student violates the rules, they would face suspension and a three-year trespass. University employees who commit these violations will also be trespassed and fired. In a statement to 8 On Your Side, the university said it supported free speech but would not allow unlawful conduct. The University of Florida will always protect speech and uphold the law, the statement reads. Peaceful protests are constitutionally protected. Camping, putting up structures, disrupting academic activity, or threatening others on university property is strictly prohibited. The University has clearly communicated this to our students and explained that they can exercise their free speech rights but breaking the law will result in an immediate trespassing order from UFPD and an interim suspension from Student Life. When asked about the restrictions, a student protestor told WUFT the rules would not stop the demonstrations. My one message is we will not be intimidated, the protestor said. We know our rights, and we are simply protesting. We are exercising our First Amendment right. We have every right to be here, and we will be here as long as we can. WUFT contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. The UK Defence Intelligence believes that Russia's next postponement of the yearly Immortal Regiment march on 9 May, the Victory Day in Russia, could reflect worries of an emergency, and that large gatherings may become a source of discontent as a result of the war in Ukraine. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May ed.]. Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 28 April, as reported by European Pravda Details: Intelligence reports that Russia has postponed the Immortal Regiment march; as an alternative, photos of deceased relatives are being offered to hang on automobiles and in public places from 1 to 11 May. Carrying images of the relatives who served in the Red Army and lost their lives in WWII is a custom among Russians on the Victory Day, their way to pay tribute to these people. In addition, Victory Day parades in five Russian oblasts Bryansk, Pskov, Belgorod, Ryazan, and Kursk have been cancelled, most likely due to concerns about potential attacks by Ukrainian drones. In this context, they recalled last year's event, which occurred a week before 9 May, when an unknown drone detonated above the Kremlin, prompting Russia to blame Ukraine. Quote: "This is the second year in a row that the Immortal Regiment March has been cancelled and Victory parades curtailed on security grounds. This year, President Putins inauguration precedes Victory Day, taking place on 7 May. The potential for protests and discontent over the Ukraine war are also likely to have influenced the calculus of the Russian leadership." In 2023, the Russian authorities also cancelled the Immortal Regiment march, most likely to avoid emphasising the scale of their losses in the war in Ukraine. Earlier, UK agencies estimated that Russia has lost about 450,000 personnel and over 10,000 armoured vehicles in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. Support UP or become our patron! UK estimates Russia's losses in killed and wounded in Ukraine at 450,000 UK agencies have estimated that Russia has lost about 450,000 personnel and over 10,000 armoured vehicles in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. Source: UK Defence Journal, a UK portal specialising in military topics, citing Leo Docherty, Minister for the Armed Forces, as reported by European Pravda Details: The minister gave these estimates in response to a question from opposition Labour MP John Healey, who asked for detailed estimates of Russian losses in Ukraine, both in regular forces and private military companies. "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," Docherty said. He added that the number of deaths among mercenaries of Russian private military companies is unknown. "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 (type not specified ed.), 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 (war ed.)," the minister said. These estimates of Russian personnel losses are close to Ukraine's official estimates, but the figures for most types of equipment differ significantly. Background: Support UP or become our patron! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (centre) and army commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky (right), who says Russia has 'a significant advantage in forces and means' - AFP via Getty Images Ukraines army leader admitted on Sunday that Kyivs position on the battlefield has worsened after Russian forces captured another village in the east, pressing their advantage in manpower and ammunition. Russias troops are advancing in the eastern Donetsk region as Kyiv awaits the arrival of much-needed US weapons that it hopes will stabilise the fragile front lines. The situation at the front has worsened, Oleksandr Syrsky, the Ukrainian commander-in-chief, said in a Facebook post. Ukrainian troops had retreated westwards to new defensive lines in a section of the front that runs past the city of Donetsk, controlled by pro-Russian forces since 2014. Russia has a significant advantage in forces and means and had been able to notch up advances amid heavy fighting, General Syrsky said. In some sectors the enemy had tactical success, and in some areas our troops managed to improve the tactical position, he added. Small handmade multiple launch rocket systems being prepared for firing toward Russian troops near a front line in Zaporizhzhia - Reuters Russias defence ministry earlier on Sunday claimed its troops had captured the village of Novobakhmutivka in the eastern Donetsk region - around 10 kilometres (six miles) north of Avdiivka, which they seized in February. The stark assessment of the picture facing Ukrainian troops comes at the end of a week of ups and downs for Kyiv. The United States finally approved a $61 billion package of financial aid after months of political wrangling, unlocking much-needed arms for Ukraines stretched troops. But on the battlefield Russia chalked up more successes. Its troops managed to make rapid advances in a narrow column to the northwest of Avdiivka. In the village of Vozdvyzhenka, some eight kilometres (five miles) from the fighting in Ocherytne, AFP reporters saw civilians loading a small truck with furniture and belongings on Sunday. Were going a long way from here... I dont have time to talk because of the shelling, one of them told AFP, before climbing into the vehicle and speeding out of the village. Soldiers on the side of a road in the woods said they had originally been sent to build defensive lines. But the situation has changed. We were told not to take the shovels but to stay and wait for orders. The Russians are attacking and advancing, one said speaking on condition of anonymity. Ukrainian soldiers on an armoured personnel carrier near Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region on Saturday - GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images Ukrainian artillery soldiers in Kherson relax while waiting for a combat mission - Vlada Liberova/Libkos/Getty Images) General Syrsky confirmed on Sunday that Russia had made some tactical progress in that part of the front, but said Moscow had not yet achieved what he called an operational advantage. He also said additional units were being deployed to replace those that had sustained heavy losses. The recent setbacks have prompted rare criticism from Ukraines military bloggers. The (Russian) breakthrough near Ocheretyne revealed a number of problems, the Deep State Telegram channel, with close links to the Ukrainian army, said in a post on Wednesday. It said leaders of the 115th mechanised brigade, which is fighting in the area, were responsible for the collapse of the defence in the entire sector, allowing significant losses. Kyivs forces are outnumbered across the battlefield, with the country struggling to recruit enough soldiers to replace those who have been killed, wounded or exhausted by the war, now in its third year. Leaders in Kyiv have warned the military outlook could worsen in the next few weeks, while shipments of US weapons are making their way to the front lines. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraines head of intelligence at the ministry of defence, said this month that the battlefield situation would likely be at its most difficult in mid-May to early June. 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. Recent breakthroughs in U.S.-China ties are already starting to fray over Beijings support for Russia in Ukraine. Despite renewed communications between Washington and Beijing, championed since late last year, the U.S. is angry about Chinas growing role in the Russia-Ukraine war, specifically its commercial support of Moscows military production. The Biden administration is now looking to use new sanctions as diplomatic leverage to stop China from giving Russia drone and missile technology, satellite imagery and machine tools aid that bolsters the Kremlins war machine more than two years after its invasion. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the midst of a three-day diplomatic trip to Beijing, set to wrap up Friday, where he was expected to deliver a staunch message to the world superpower: Cut ties with the Kremlin or be prepared to suffer the consequences. Given the Chinese Communist Partys extensive support for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin before and after his invasion of Ukraine, including their direct help in reconstituting Russias military industrial base, U.S. diplomatic channels must be used to apply much-needed pressure on Beijing, said Jonathan Ward, a senior fellow at Hudson Institute think tank in Washington, D.C. Were going to need to apply significant economic pressure on China, and if his counterparts in Beijing need to hear this first, then Secretary Blinken needs to deliver that message, he added. Blinkens visit follows a November meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Woodside, Calif., where the two committed to communicate more regularly between each other and between their senior officials. The two also spoke over the phone earlier this month. That new line of dialogue was on display last week when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Chinese counterpart, the first such top-level military communications between Washington and Beijing in nearly two years. A senior Defense official told reporters the call was meant to ensure competition with China doesnt veer into conflict. That followed a visit to Beijing in early April 24, 2024, by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who led an economic delegation that was lauded by Chinese state media. But the administration earlier this month began calling out Chinas exports of military equipment to Russia, making clear that aiding Putins war in Ukraine is a red line for the U.S., akin to how China feels about Taiwan, an independent island that Beijing views as its own territory. Weve told China directly, if this continues, it will have an impact on the U.S.-China relationship. We will not sit by and say everything is fine if Russias offensives continue and they gain territory in Ukraine, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said during a town hall hosted by the National Committee on U.S-China Relations earlier in April. While theres not yet evidence of China providing weapons to Russia, Beijings support for Moscow includes nonlethal equipment such as drone technology and supplies including gunpowder ingredients, machine tools, microelectronics and nitrocellulose, which can be used as a propellant, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith told Politico. Such dual-use technology can be applied in both civilian and military arenas and is helping Putins army, she said. China so far has claimed its exports are in accordance with international laws and regulations. Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told The Hill that Chinas right to conduct normal trade and economic exchanges should not be interfered with or disrupted. China is neither the creator of the Ukraine crisis nor a party to it. We never fan the flames or seek selfish gains, and we will certainly not accept being the scapegoat, Liu said in a statement. The United States keeps making groundless accusations over the normal trade and economic exchanges between China and Russia, while passing a bill providing a large amount of aid for Ukraine. China firmly rejects this. Ahead of his trip, Blinken previewed his talks with China, telling reporters that when it comes to Russias military industrial base, the primary contributor in this moment to that is China. If China purports on the one hand to want good relations with Europe and other countries, it cant on the other hand be fueling what is the biggest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War, Blinken said after a meeting of leading world economies in Italy. U.S. officials have also warned of crippling sanctions on Chinese companies should they keep sending the nonlethal supplies to Russia. Blinken last visited China in June, following nearly a year of silence between U.S. and Chinese officials that began when former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) visited Taiwan in August 2022. Blinken had intended to make the trip earlier, but it was canceled when a Chinese spy balloon floated across the United States days ahead of his departure, once again upending dialogue between the two nations. The relationship has since grown more stable in the five months since Biden and Xi met, with China dialing down military drills around Taiwan. Ward said Washington must back up its threats if it wants to see China change its behavior toward Russia. Insofar as there is going to be a dialogue, it cannot shy away from the real-world issues of U.S.- China global competition, not least of which is the need to explain to them and to be able to deliver real effects if they continue to support Putin, which they almost certainly will, Ward said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Key developments on April 27-28: Syrskyi: Ukrainian forces retreat from 3 villages in Donetsk Oblast Military: Russia gains foothold in Ocheretyne in Donetsk Oblast Politico: Zelensky told Johnson Ukraine could only hold on until 'March or April' without US aid Ukraine strikes oil refineries, airfield in Russia Russia attacks Ukraine's gas infrastructure Japan, Norway, Belgium, Spain pledge aid to Ukraine Ukrainian troops have retreated west from Berdychi, Semenivka, and Novomykhailivka villages in Donetsk Oblast, the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on April 28. The villages sit in the Pokrovsk community in the western part of Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast, which remains one of the hottest sectors of the front line as Russia continues its offensive. The Khortytsia Group of Ukraine's Ground Forces reported on April 27 that Russian forces managed to break in and gain a foothold in a part of Ocheretyne, a front-line village nearly 10 kilometers from Berdychi and Semenivka. Syrskyi described the situation in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors as "the most difficult one" now. According to the commander-in-chief, Russia is involving up to four brigades (from 8,000 to 32,000 personnel) to conduct assault operations in the direction of the cities of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove west of Avdiivka, which was captured in February. "In general, the enemy has succeeded tactically in these directions but has failed to achieve an operational advantage," Syrskyi said in a statement shared on Facebook and Telegram, adding that Ukraine will do unit rotations in this sector of the front. Syrskyi stressed that Russian troops are attacking throughout the entire front line. The situation is changing "dynamically," he added. Russian forces continue their offensive operations in the directions of Kupiansk and Lyman settlements in Kharkiv Oblast, as well as in the Siversk, Sloviansk, and Kramatorsk sectors in Donetsk Oblast, according to the commander-in-chief. Syrskyi said that the situation in the south also remains "intense" as Russia tries to advance near the village of Krynky in Kherson Oblast, Robotyne and Verbove villages in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and Staromayorske in Donetsk Oblast. Read also: I still imagine being there: A trip through memories of Ukrainian cities in tatters from Russias war Politico: Zelensky told Johnson Ukraine could only hold out until March, April without US aid President Volodymyr Zelensky told U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson in December 2023 that, without American support, Kyiv could only fend off Russian attacks until March or April of 2024, Politico reported on April 26, citing undisclosed sources. At the time of the alleged conversation, U.S. aid for Ukraine had been blocked in Congress for three months. The Ukraine aid bill has since been 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. According to Politico, Zelensky provided Johnson with a "deadline" for how long Ukraine could hold out without Washington's backing. 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. Johnson's team then drafted 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 Ukraine hits oil refineries, military airfield in Russia 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. 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 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. 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 Russia attacks Ukraine's energy infrastructure Russia's attack against Ukraine early on April 27 targeted gas infrastructure facilities of the Naftogaz Group, the company's press release said. Moscow's troops launched yet another aerial attack on Ukraine's critical infrastructure in the early hours of April 27, hitting energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv oblasts. The Naftogaz Group did not specify in what oblasts the targeted gas facilities were located, nor what the full consequences of the attack were. "Fortunately, no one was hurt. The attack will not affect the provision of services to Ukrainian consumers and clients of the Group," the company said. "Our employees and relevant services are dealing with the consequences of the attack." After Ukraine went through the winter with a relatively stable situation in the energy sector, Russia began attacking the country's gas infrastructure with the arrival of the spring months. Two of Naftogaz's underground storage facilities were targeted on April 11. The company's sites were also attacked during strikes on March 24 and 29. Meanwhile, Russian troops have struck Ukraine's thermal power plants almost 180 times since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Dmytro Sakharuk, the executive director of Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK, said on April 28. Moscow has recently intensified its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine's critical infrastructure, launching large-scale attacks on energy facilities across the country. Read also: Naftogaz CEO: Ukraine has to become an energy-independent state Shmyhal: Ukraine has received $12 billion in international aid this year to help cover budget deficit Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced during a government meeting that Ukraine has received approximately $12 billion in external financing since the beginning of the year to help address the budget deficit. In an address to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund forum last October, Shmyhal noted that Ukraine would require nearly $42 billion in economic assistance in 2024 to offset the deficit. According to Shmyhal, the deficit will make up as much as 21% of Ukraines GDP this year. He highlighted the recent receipt of 1.5 billion euros from the EU, and noted that nearly $8 billion would come from the U.S. aid package that passed this week. Shmyhal emphasized that these funds are crucial for financing medical services, salaries for healthcare workers and teachers, and social programs. "We are grateful to our allies and partners for their support," Shmyhal said. The U.S. House of Representatives finally passed a foreign aid bill amounting to $60.84 billion on April 20, after months of political infighting. The aid package became finalized after the U.S. Senate approved the bill and President Biden signed it. 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. Belgium will pledge 200 million euros ($213 million) for the German-led air defense initiative and supply Ukraine with rockets, Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder announced on April 26 during the press conference, according to the Belgian channel RTBF. Ukraine is facing a shortage of air defense systems amid an uptick in Russian attacks on population centers and energy infrastructure. U.S.-made Patriots are highly effective at intercepting Russia's ballistic and cruise missiles. Berlin is reportedly pressuring NATO and European allies to send their systems to Kyiv rather than keeping them unused. Dedonder noted that Belgium would provide Ukraine with additional rockets from its own military stocks for the air defense systems. The Belgian Defense Minister did not specify the number or the type of weaponry to be sent to Kyiv. Meanwhile, Spain will provide Ukraine with Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced on April 26 at the Ramstein-format summit. Her confirmation follows media reports emerged saying Spain would send "a limited number" of such missiles, as the country only has around 50 total in reserve. Robles did not say how many of the systems Madrid will deliver. 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: The US weapons making their way to Ukraine right now Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, stated that the situation at the combat zone has intensified, and Russia is actively attacking throughout the entire line of contact, with tactical gains in some directions. As a result, the Defence Forces established new positions west of Berdychi, Semenivka and Novomykhailivka. Source: Syrskyi on Telegram Quote: "The most severe situation is on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhivka fronts, where violent fighting continues. The enemy in these areas fielded up to four brigades, attempting to launch an offensive west of Avdiivka and Marinka, eventually reaching Pokrovsk and Kurakhivka. To protect our defenders' lives and health, Defence Force units were deployed to new frontiers west of Berdychiv, Semenivka, and Novomykhailivka. Overall, the adversary earned some tactical success in these regions, but little operational benefit was gained. Ukrainian troops inflict maximum casualties on the enemy, both in personnel and military equipment. Brigades are being transferred to restore combat capabilities and boost the defence in certain areas by replacing units that have suffered losses. The situation remains severe in the south, particularly in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts. On the Novopavlivka front, the enemy is attempting to advance in vicinity of Staromaiorske; on the Orikhiv front, in the vicinity of Robotyne and Verbove; and on the Kherson front, the enemy is continuing attempts to push our troops out of Krynky. They have not been successful on any of these fronts. Furthermore, on the Kherson front, our soldiers marched into Veletenske and seized the island of Nestryha." Details: In addition, as the general highlights, the situation is dynamic; individual positions move "from hand to hand" multiple times throughout the day, resulting in an imprecise view of the situation. According to Syrskyi, the primary lines of concentration of Russian forces on the Kupiansk front are the villages of Stelmakhivka and Berestove. Also, the Russians continue to attack the settlement of Terny on the Lyman front, attempting to drive Ukraines Defence Forces across the Chornyi Zherebets river, with no success. According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Russians are advancing on the Siversk front around Bilohorivka and Rozdolivka, attempting to break through and block Siversk to establish conditions for continuing their advance on Sloviansk. On the Kramatorsk front, Ivanove and Chasiv Yar remain the most contentious areas. In addition, the Russians are attempting to retake Klischiivka and approach the front lines via the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal. Quote: "In addition, Ukraine's Defence Forces improved their tactical position in and around Synkivka (Kupiansk front) and the Serebrianka forest (Lyman front). In Ukraines north, the enemy continues to bombard border settlements in Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts, as well as undertake sabotage and reconnaissance operations. There is no evidence of the enemy directly preparing for offensive operations in the North. Simultaneously, we watch the increase in the number and regroupment of enemy soldiers on the Kharkiv front. Artillery and tank units are deployed in the most intense sectors to support our troops." Previously: On Saturday 28 April, it was reported that the Russians established a foothold in part of the village of Ocheretyne in Donetsk Oblast. At the same time, DeepState analysts reported that the village of Berdychi in Ocheretyne hromada had been captured [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories ed.]. Support UP or become our patron! GAZA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- An official of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said on Sunday that the movement will not accept any agreement with Israel that does not include a cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip. Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, said in a statement that the movement "will not accept any agreement that does not include a cessation of war in Gaza." Abu Zuhri added that Israel's response, which reached the movement through mediators, is under study, and that it is too early to reach a decision regarding it. A Hamas delegation is scheduled to visit Cairo on Monday, to deliver the movement's response regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and to negotiate a hostage-for-prisoner swap deal with Israel, according to a source from the movement. The source, who preferred not to mention his name, added that the delegation is headed by Khalil Al-Hayya, the Hamas deputy chief in Gaza. Earlier in the day, as reported by Israeli public radio, a senior Israeli official described the current development as "decisive moments in the efforts to reach a new hostage deal with Hamas." The official added, "We are awaiting the response of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar," expecting it to be made "within the next 48 hours." He noted that Israel has expressed readiness to make "very significant concessions" regarding the return of displaced persons to northern Gaza. On Saturday, Hamas announced that it had received Israel's official response to the movement's position on the Gaza ceasefire, which was submitted to the mediators Egypt and Qatar on April 13. At the time, Hamas reiterated its demands, including "a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of the (Israeli) army from Gaza, the return of the displaced to their areas and places of residence, the increase of relief and aid for the strip, and the start of its reconstruction." Abu Zuhri noted in the Sunday statement that Hamas would study the new Israeli proposal, and upon completion, it would hand over its response to the mediators. The movement's announcement came after Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel recently arrived in Israel in an effort to broker a ceasefire deal between the conflicting parties. Kamel held a series of meetings with Israeli security officials on the potential military operation in Rafah and the release of detainees, according to Israeli media outlets. 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. Israel estimated that there were still about 134 Israelis held hostage in Gaza, whereas Hamas announced that 70 of them had been killed 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 last October, resulting in deaths among them, according to Palestinian organizations concerned with prisoners. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has confirmed the information that the two Ukrainians killed in Germany were soldiers undergoing treatment in Bavaria after being injured in the combat zone. Source: European Pravda with reference to the comment of Ukraines Foreign Ministry for the media Details: A high-profile double murder was committed on 27 April in the city of Murnau-am-Staffelsee, where two Ukrainian men aged 37 and 23 were found on the territory of a shopping mall with fatal stab wounds. Quote: "Early reports say that the deceased citizens were soldiers undergoing medical rehabilitation in Germany. The Ukrainian consuls are specifying the units in which the victims served, and are getting in touch with their families." More details: Diplomats also confirmed that the Russian man suspected of committing this murder had been detained. The press service of Ukraines Foreign Ministry added that Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba ordered to pay special attention to the case and "remain in constant contact with German law enforcement so that the murderer is punished to the fullest extent of the law". He also expressed his gratitude to German law enforcement for the quick arrest of the suspect. Background: The report of two men critically injured in Murnau was received at around 17:20 on Saturday (27 April). By the time paramedics arrived, one man had died. The second man, who also had severe injuries, died in hospital shortly afterwards. A 57-year-old Russian man suspected of the murder was arrested in the city of Murnau in Germany. Support UP or become our patron! Welcome to your governors race edition of our Under the Dome newsletter. Im Dawn Vaughan, Capitol bureau chief at The News & Observer. For the past few newsletters, Ive shared the latest information about the troubled nonprofit Balanced Nutrition Inc., which is run by Yolanda Hill, Republican gubernatorial candidate and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinsons wife. There have been more developments in the past few days between Balanced Nutrition and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, which is reviewing the group even as it will close down April 30 that helps child care centers get food from government programs. According to records obtained by The N&O through a public records request, at a meeting this past week at the offices of Balanced Nutrition, Hill did not provide all the documents DHHS requested, so another meeting is being scheduled. Hills attorney also detailed how and why Hill thinks she is being targeted because of Robinson, and disputes the characterization that Hill refused to participate in a previously scheduled meeting. The attorneys letter mentions a February request from Balanced Nutrition to meet with DHHS about concerns related to Hill being targeted because of Robinson. It also says that members of the media contacted some of Hills partner facilities, causing the facilities to fear being doxed or worse. Since Balanced Nutrition is a nonprofit that is overseen by a state government entity, DHHS, and receives government funds, many related documents are public records. B. Tyler Brooks, Hills attorney, wrote that Balanced Nutritions compliance review has strangely suspicious timing and speed given that the demand for the review came within days of our February 23 complaint of discrimination to you, and goes on to request a meeting before DHHS Child and Adult Food Care Program review meeting so that you can evaluate for yourself the evidence of discrimination and take appropriate action. DHHS lawyer countered that Balanced Nutrition had more opportunities for meeting dates that didnt pan out, and warned that: As this is now the fourth attempt by NCDHHS to complete the federally required compliance review, failure to fully cooperate in the compliance review may result in the State agency issuing a notice of serious deficiency. The next compliance review meeting for Balanced Nutrition is now May 6. DHHS did not say what the repercussions would be for a serious deficiency notice, and Balanced Nutrition is set to close permanently this week. Steins budget priorities The Democratic candidate, Attorney General Josh Stein, weighed in on Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers budget proposal to state lawmakers. We need to do more to keep our towns and cities safe, Stein said in a statement, thanking Cooper for proposing funding of a Fentanyl Control Unit. The unit, Stein went on to say, would allow Attorney Generals Office prosecutors to work with district attorneys to tackle these complex cases and get the dealers and traffickers peddling these deadly drugs off our streets. Our ability to prosecute more of these cases will save lives. Stein also supports Coopers pitch for additional funding of job training and apprenticeship programs and teacher raises of 8.5%. New podcast and live podcast Dont forget to follow our Under the Dome tweets and listen to our Under the Dome podcast to stay up to date. Our new episode posts Monday morning. The General Assembly session is underway, and we tell you what you need to know about Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers budget proposal and chances of Republicans listening, plus the chances for legislation on elections and guns. Im joined by state politics reporters Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram. We also hope to see you on Tuesday for our first Under the Dome: Live! free event at the N.C. Museum of History. Well do a live recording of Under the Dome with Republican Sen. Vickie Sawyer and Democratic Sen. Natalie Murdock. Register at underthedomelive.eventbrite.com for the event at 5 p.m. Tuesday, with the recording to begin at 5:30 p.m. The location is especially convenient if you work downtown and in the state government complex. You can sign up to receive the Under the Dome newsletter at newsobserver.com/newsletters. Want your friends to get our email, too? Forward them this newsletter so they can sign up here. How universities are cracking down on a swell of tension months into student protests over Israels bombardment of Gaza With tension mounting over an encampment in support of Palestinians at New Yorks Columbia University, police strode onto campus this month and arrested more than 100 demonstrators. On the cusp of the close of the academic year, university communities across the nation remain on edge, not only over flares of political action but also what response, if any, it might compel. Soon, dozens more students protesting the monthslong assault on Gaza were arrested at New York and Yale universities. At the University of Texas at Austin, police in riot gear and on horseback moved to disperse a like-minded demonstration, while nearly 100 at the University of Southern California also got arrested. Then at Emory University in Atlanta, law enforcement deployed pepper balls to break up a pro-Palestinian action, arresting 28, including several professors. At Bostons Emerson College, another 108 protesters were arrested, with four officers hurt. And 91 people 54 of them students were arrested and charged with trespassing overnight into Monday at Virginia Tech after they refused police orders to disperse, the university said. While the latest run of arrests has commanded outsized attention, US colleges have been using law enforcement along with academic suspensions and, for at least one school, expulsion to try t o bring to heel student demonstrations since Hamas October attack on Israel left more than 1,200 dead and dozens taken hostage. Israels devastating counterpunch in Gaza with more than 34,000 Palestinians killed, according to its health ministry has further fueled deeply held views of students and faculty on all sides. Amid US students broad insistence their tactics are peaceful, administrators often have decried campus protests as disruptive, with some including at Indiana University, George Washington University and California State Polytechnic Universitys Humboldt campus employing school rules governing use of public spaces to threaten or enact discipline or call for police backup. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators face off Wednesday with state officers at the University of Texas at Austin. - Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg/Getty Images Implicit in the crackdowns is a built-in tension of higher education: balancing the role of campuses as bastions of free speech while ensuring the safety of students, including those who are Jewish and have expressed concern for their well-being in the face of antisemitism thats surged nationally since October 7 and has occasionally been seen at or near or conflated with pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations. Administrators lately have seemed quicker to levy consequences against campus demonstrators than they were six months ago, according to Zach Greenberg of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, or FIRE, a non-partisan, non-profit civil liberties group defending free speech with a focus on colleges. But, he said, calling in police carries risk. It is a drastic action that should be reserved for only the most direct and severe threats to campus safety, Greenberg said. Further, doing so threatens to erode the trust between universities and students, who may see police officers in riot gear arresting their classmates, maybe their professors. In many ways, its a dark time for college campuses that may have to do that. College officials responses to Israel-Hamas war protests also have unfolded against a global debate over the US role in the conflict, as well as an intensifying race for the White House and control of Congress thats seen elite college presidents hauled to Capitol Hill and even forced out of their jobs as the major parties jockey for moral and political ground. To some, the surge in universities reliance on police to break up the protests illustrates an unwillingness by officials to truly engage with students and their demands, which usually include pulling institutional investments from companies whose work directly or indirectly supports Israel or its military apparatus, or profits from the war. Instead of engaging (protesters), they are cracking down, said Dima Khalidi, executive director of Palestine Legal, which has for months represented students in disciplinary hearings brought by their universities. She called the police response across many campuses a concerning and problematic escalation of repression and state violence against students peaceful protests against an ongoing genocide. All of this is a distraction to take our eyes away from Gaza, where mass graves are being found, where people are being starved to death, where 35,000 Palestinians have been killed, she said. Thats what students are trying to bring attention to. At the same time, the power of civil disobedience a long tradition among American college students is derived, at least in part, from protesters willingness to accept the consequences, Greenberg said. Many times, the severity of the consequences adds to the persuasive power of the protest, he said. Ready to put our bodies on the line Many students seem prepared to accept consequences. Standing outside an encampment last week at Brown University in Rhode Island, Arman Deendar their neck draped in a keffiyeh told CNN, Were out here and were ready to risk suspension and arrest to put our bodies on the line because we believe that this moment is truly going to change. At Deendars side was Rafi Ash, a sophomore and member of Jews for Ceasefire Now, who stressed the protest is not new at Brown, which in recent days doubled down on its commitment to enforce its Green Space Usage policy with discipline up to and including separation from the institution as well as law enforcement response and arrest. Ash told CNN he was one of 20 students arrested following a sit-in on November 8. The charges were later dropped, according to the Brown Daily Herald, but 41 students arrested the following month in similar circumstances still face charges, which protesters now want dropped. We had the same demand now as we did then, which is divestment from companies that are complicit in the genocide in Gaza, Ash said, echoing the wider demands. A University of Southern California protester, right, confronts a University Public Safety officer at the campus' Alumni Park during a pro-Palestinian occupation Wednesday in Los Angeles. - Richard Vogel/AP Beyond criminal charges lies the ultimate academic punishment: expulsion. It was levied on Jack Petocz, a 19-year-old freshman, and others who were kicked out of Vanderbilt University in Nashville after more than two dozen students affiliated with the Vanderbilt Divest Coalition staged a 21-hour sit-in at an administrative office, he told CNN and the group has said. The demonstration was prompted by the universitys cancellation of a vote on an amendment to the student government constitution to prohibit that groups funds from being spent on targets of the worldwide Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, Petocz said. Students were denied access to food, water, bathrooms and medical attention over the course of the sit-in, which concluded with some arrested, including Petocz, he told CNN. All who participated, Petocz said, were issued interim suspensions removed from campus and denied access to their dorms and dining halls. Within days, after a disciplinary hearing at which Petocz claims he was wrongfully accused of assaulting an administrative staff member he faces a misdemeanor assault charge the university expelled him, he said. At least two others were expelled, another suspended and more than 20 students put on probation, Vanderbilt Divest Coalition said. Its incredibly jarring, Petocz said, noting he has appealed. I would be the first person in my family to have a bachelors degree from Vanderbilt University, of all places. It meant a lot for me to go to a college like this. Vanderbilt University declined to discuss disciplinary actions taken against students, citing federal privacy laws and directing CNN to earlier statements about the incident. Students forcibly entered the administrative building on March 26, those statements said, and three faced misdemeanor assault charges for pushing a Community Service Officer as well as a staff member who offered to meet with protesters. Separately, the referendum on the BDS resolution did not move forward because of potential conflict with federal and state laws, the university told CNN in a statement. Petocz has experience with institutional repression, he said: In high school, he was a prominent opponent of his home state of Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay bill and was suspended after distributing Pride flags at his high school, he said. Its because of his history as an activist that he believes he was admitted to Vanderbilt in the first place, and he feels the university wants to make an example out of me. Well do what we have to do Other schools that reportedly have suspended students in response to their protests over the conflict in Gaza include Barnard College in New York, Harvard University near Boston and Pomona College, one of Southern Californias seven Claremont Colleges where at least 19 people were arrested following an early April sit-in. Protests had gone on this academic year largely without administrators interfering with Pomona Divest from Apartheid, a coalition of student groups demanding the college disclose and divest its $2.8 billion endowment from all weapons manufacturers and all institutions that aid the ongoing occupation of Palestine. But the tenor changed April 3, when Pomona Colleges president sent a message to the university community, decrying the harassment targeting visitors to our campus and telling students continued violation of the student code is subject to disciplinary action. Masked student protesters refusal to identify themselves also was unacceptable, it said. Then school staff and security on April 5 began dismantling an apartheid wall where pro-Palestinian demonstrators had gathered, said Samson Zhang, a student journalist at Pomona College. Soon after, the sit-in happened at Alexander Hall, recalled nearby Pitzer Colleges Mita Banerjee, a member of Faculty for Justice in Palestine who said she saw the arrests. Banerjee had never seen this kind of militarized police force used against students and against student protesters who were not a threat, she told CNN. It was understood that this was legitimate protest and that you negotiate, and you have conversations, and thats how you resolve things. Claremont Police confirmed 19 people were arrested for trespassing at the request of school administrators, with one other arrested for obstructing/delaying an officer. Arrestees enrolled at Pomona College were suspended, and while several have successfully appealed their suspension orders, others remain suspended, Banerjee told CNN, which has reached out to Pomona College. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather Thursday at a George Washington University encampment. - Natascha Tahabsem/Cover Images/AP Other US universities, meanwhile, have levied community-level consequences tied to pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The University of Southern California canceled its main commencement ceremony in May days after it canceled the commencement speech of its Muslim valedictorian, citing security concerns. University of Michigans president admonished protesters who in March interrupted the 101st Honors Convocation, saying in a statement the school is reevaluating rules, seeking feedback on a new draft policy about disruption of university operations, including academic and social activities, among other events. Thats done little, though, to deter student activists with the Transparency, Accountability, Humanity, Reparations, Investment and Resistance, or TAHRIR, Coalition, the group that led the demonstration at the honors event, demanding the University of Michigan divest from all companies and entities that support Israels military and economy. Its horrifying to see what is happening, said Shubh Agrawal, a spokesperson for the group that has been holding demonstrations since last fall, including one at which students were arrested during a sit-in Agrawal said was aimed at demanding a meeting with school officials about divestment. Police then were aggressive, Agrawal told CNN. Forty people were arrested for trespassing after forcing entry to a locked building, said university spokesperson Colleen Mastony, noting demonstrators were warned repeatedly before being arrested; two police officers were injured, she said. Still, the group persists: Last week, about 100 students set up an encampment on campus and plan to stay there until the university divests, Agrawal said, committed to staying here for the long haul. Well do what we have to do. Students take very seriously their role Civil liberties groups have urged universities to be measured in response to protests, underscoring demonstrators rights to free speech: In response to arrests at New York University last week, the New York Civil Liberties Union said, City and campus officials should take great care to distinguish between controversial speech, which helps students and society develop, and actual threats. Officials, the organization said, should not conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism or use hate incidents as a pretext to silence political views they oppose. There are, of course, limits to free speech, which ends at violence, said Greenberg, noting schools have an obligation to preserve security and safety. It ends at true threats, serious intent to commit unlawful violence, it ends at discriminatory harassment, he said, and potentially at disruption. Law enforcement intervenes Wednesday in a Pro-Palestinian student protest in Los Angeles. - Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Still, some question whether all pro-Palestinian protesters are interested in honest dialogue. Adam Lehman, the president and CEO of the Jewish campus organization Hillel International, called the free speech argument a red herring. Unfortunately, a lot of students who understandably want to think about and express compassion toward Palestinians hopefully they think the same towards Israelis, the victims of 10/7 and others whove been so adversely impacted theyre getting, in my view, co-opted into a political movement that, as we have seen, has been marked by hateful, discriminatory and violent speech and actual harassment and violence spawning from those protests, Lehman told CNNs Dana Bash. But the suppression of dissent on campus and the continued US military aid sent to Israel sends a signal to Palestinian students and their allies that they dont matter, Palestine Legals Khalidi said. Still, they remain undeterred, because they understand whats at stake here. They understand that they are morally in the right, she said. They understand that they are in a long tradition of crucial student activism for justice from the anti-Vietnam War movement to the civil rights movement and beyond. We see that students take very seriously their role, their moral obligation to speak out and to mobilize their own communities, to speak out against injustice, Khalidi said. And I think history will judge them kindly. Correction: A previous version of this story included the wrong pronoun for Arman Deendar, who uses they/them. CNNs Nicquel Terry Ellis, Chelsea Bailey, Isabel Rosales and Devon Sayers contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com US buys 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Russia's ally costing on average less than $20,000 each, report says The US has purchased 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan, a report from the Kyiv Post says. Kazakhstan, a historic ally of Russia, is engaging more with Western nations. The planes could be used for spare parts or as decoys in conflict regions, the Kyiv Post reported. The US has acquired 81 obsolete Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan, a report from the Kyiv Post says. Kazakhstan, which is upgrading its air fleet, auctioned off 117 Soviet-era fighter and bomber aircraft, including MiG-31 interceptors, MiG-27 fighter bombers, MiG-29 fighters, and Su-24 bombers from the 1970s and 1980s. The Kyiv Post reported that the declared sale value was one billion Kazakhstani tenge, or $2.26 million, equalling an average value for each plane of $19,300. The outlet cited reports from the Ukrainian Telegram channel Insider UA and the Russian news site Reporter saying the US purchased 81 of the aged, unusable warplanes. The Kyiv Post reported that the motive behind the US purchase remained undisclosed but that the aircraft could be used in Ukraine, where similar aircraft are in service. The Russian site Reporter said the sale was made through offshore companies. But Kazspetsexport, Kazakhstan's state-owned weapons importer and exporter, denied selling military airplanes to Ukraine in a statement, saying that foreign companies were not allowed to bid. The Pentagon didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Given Ukraine's continued reliance on Soviet-era weapons, the aircraft could either serve as a source of spare parts or be strategically deployed as decoys at airfields, the Kyiv Post reported. The Mikoyan MiG-31 is a supersonic interceptor that was designed to defend Soviet airspace, according to Airforce Technology. It played a critical role during the Cold War. Derived from the MiG-23, the MiG-27 was a ground-attack aircraft and saw action in conflicts such as the Soviet-Afghan War. The MiG-29 excelled in air-to-air combat. It was widely exported and remains in service with some air forces. Despite its age, the Su-24 an all-weather tactical bomber remains in service with several air forces, including the Russian Aerospace Forces and Ukrainian Air Force. MiG-31 Russian Defense Ministry Kazakhstan, formerly part of the Soviet Union, has maintained close ties to Russia and historically was one of its strongest allies. But the relationship has shifted since Russia invaded Ukraine, with Kazakhstan aligning itself more with the West, drawing the fury of some in Russia. The Kyiv Post reported that the Central Asian country's efforts to upgrade its military capabilities seemed to coincide with its increasing engagement with Western nations, signaling a shift away from historical ties with Moscow. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan, on February 28, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool Photo via AP Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, visited Kazakhstan in February 2023, where he said that the US strongly supported "its independence, its territorial integrity," according to Agence France-Presse. Some of Russia's outspoken propagandists have suggested that Russia should look to Kazakhstan following its invasion of Ukraine. One Russian TV commentator, Vladimir Solovyov, said his country "must pay attention to the fact that Kazakhstan is the next problem because the same Nazi processes can start there as in Ukraine." Agreements on trade, education, environment, and mineral supplies reflect the deepening ties between Kazakhstan and Western nations as it navigates geopolitical challenges posed by neighboring countries such as Russia, China, Afghanistan, and Iran. Correction: April 28, 2024 An earlier version of this story misstated the currency conversion rate of the Kazakhstani tenge to the dollar. One billion tenge is worth $2.26 million, not $1.5 million. Read the original article on Business Insider US has long history of college protests: Here's what happened in the past Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have taken over parts of college campuses across the U.S., the latest in a decades-long string of protests ignited by political activism some of which have spiraled into violence amid police crackdowns. In the past, free speech sit-ins quickly escalated into massive rallies, Vietnam War college demonstrations turned deadly and U.S. civil rights protests ended in mass arrests. The circumstances of each protest were different, but the story is familiar: Young people demanded changes on their campuses or in the world and their impassioned demonstrations often escalated amid clashes with authorities. Columbia, the university at the center of the current wave of protests, has even seen similar protests before, including during the Vietnam War in 1968. Demonstrations led the university to end classified war research and stop military recruitment, among other changes, wrote Rosalind Rosenberg, a professor of history at Barnard College, for Barnard Magazine. Today's demonstrators also have specific changes in mind, often involving divestment from Israel, citing the deaths of more than 34,000 Palestinian people who died in Gaza amid Israel's bombardment and ground assault. That military campaign was triggered by Hamas' incursion into southern Israel on Oct. 7, when about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and more than 240 people were taken hostage. But as campus authorities react swiftly, citing safety concerns and calling in police to break up encampents, it's unclear if or how the current protests will influence the Israel-Hamas war. USA TODAY revisited four monumental campus protests to explain how college protests have become a staple of American life and often influence the outcomes of political strife. Here's a look at how previous campus protests unfolded and whether they were successful in their causes. University of California, Berkeley: Free Speech in 1960s At the University of California Berkeley starting in 1964, students protested the university's limits on political activities and free speech during the civil rights movement and Vietnam-war era. "In the wake of McCarthyisms anti-Communist sentiments during the 1950s, public universities in California had enacted numerous regulations limiting students political activities," wrote Karen Aichinger for the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee University. "At the University of California, Berkeley, student groups taking part in any on- or off-campus political activities were banned from campus." What transpired were "small sit-ins and demonstrations" that "escalated into a series of large-scale rallies and protests demanding full constitutional rights on campus," reads the UC Berkeley website. Nearly 800 students were arrested by local police as a result. The students' protest ultimately worked in their favor. The university eventually overturned policies that would restrict the content of speech or advocacy, according to the college. "Today, the Movement stands as a symbol of the importance of protecting and preserving free speech and academic freedom," reads the UC Berkeley website. Kent State University in Ohio: Vietnam War in 1970 The most prolific university protest of the Vietnam War happened at Kent State University in Ohio in May 1970. Students started protesting the Vietnam War and the U.S. invasion of Cambodia on their campus on May 2. Two days later, the National Guard opened fire into a sea of antiwar protesters and passerbys. The soldiers killed four young people Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Knox Schroeder and injured several others with their violence. "The impact of the shootings was dramatic," wrote Jerry Lewis and Thomas Hensley in an article for Kent State University. "The event triggered a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of colleges and universities to close." Ohio National Guardsmen head back toward Taylor Hall and the Pagoda after stopping on a practice field near the Prentice Hall parking lot on May 4, 1970 in Kent, Ohio. The shootings also influenced national politics, Lewis and Hensley wrote. "In The Ends of Power, (H.R.) Haldeman, (a top aide to President Richard Nixon), states that the shootings at Kent State began the slide into Watergate, eventually destroying the Nixon administration," the article reads. Today, the protest and shootings "certainly come to symbolize the deep political and social divisions that so sharply divided the country during the Vietnam War era," Lewis and Hensley wrote. Jackson State College in Mississippi: Racial Injustice in 1970 Days after the shootings at Kent State, police opened gunfire at a college dormitory Jackson State College in Mississippi, a school with a predominantly Black student population. Black students there were protesting racial injustice, including how they were treated by white drivers speeding on campus, according to the university. Police received a call that Black young people were throwing rocks at white drivers near the campus. Police arrived at the scene and shot hundreds of bullets into Alexander Hall, according to an FBI report, NPR reported. Police killed two students Phillip Lafayette Gibbs and James Earl Green and injured 12 others. The college also canceled its graduation due to the killings and unrest. At a 2021 commencement ceremony, the university honored 74 of the students who were unable to walk the stage in 1970, NBC reported. At the commencement ceremony, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said police unjustly gunned down two innocent young Black men, terrorized and traumatized a community of Black students and committed one of the gravest sins in our citys history," NBC reported. The killings at Jackson State College and Kent State University national sparked outrage. College students across the nation protested on their campuses, according to the Zinn Education Project, a collaboration of historical content from the groups Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change. "The spring of 1970 saw the first general student strike in the history of the United States, students from over four hundred colleges and universities calling off classes to protest the invasion of Cambodia, the Kent State affair, the killing of two black students at Jackson State College in Mississippi, and the continuation of the war," wrote Howard Zinn in the book "You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train." Angus Johnston, an adjunct assistant professor at Hostos Community College of the City University of New York and a historian of student activism, said after both events: "There was a period of about 30 years or so where it tended to be fairly unlikely that campuses would respond with mass arrests even in the case of admin building occupations." Nationwide: South Africa anti-Apartheid protests in 1985 Another form of popular college campus protest occurred in the 1980's. Students across the country wanted their colleges to cut ties with groups that supported from the South African apartheid. "Under apartheid, race restricted every aspect of life for South Africans who were Black, Indian and colored a multiracial classification created by the government," The New York Times reported. "There were strict limits on where they could live, attend school, work and travel. Columbia University was at the center of the movement. Students led by the Coalition for a Free South Africa at Columbia University "blockaded Hamilton Hall, the universitys administrative building, leading to the first successful divestiture campaign at the university," reads a summary of the events from the Zinn Education Project. There was less pushback for protesters during this time, due to a certain embarrassment among elites in the United States that there was complicity with South Africas white government, said Daniel Farber, a history professor at the University of Kansas who has studied American activism, reports Vox Media. Columbia University was one of the first colleges to divest from doing business with South Africa and 155 universities followed suit. U.S. Congress also passed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act in 1986, which aimed to prevent new trade and investment between the nation and South Africa. What is the future of college protests in America? Free speech experts told USA TODAY that students should continue to peacefully protest in open campus spaces to avoid conflict. Alex Morey, the director of campus rights advocacy for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, encourages universities to remain neutral in times of unrest and not to call in authorities unless a demonstration turns violent. The national nonprofit defends Americans rights to free speech and thought. "Peaceful protest is a hallmark of a healthy speech climate on American college campuses and it has been for decades whether it's the Berkeley free speech movement, or students protesting the Vietnam War era or civil rights," Morey said. "Generations of students have felt passionately about certain issues and the open air places on campuses are great places to support their views." Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@usatoday.com. Follow her on X at @kaylajjimenez. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US has long history of college protests: What happened in the past? By Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A Democratic senator on Sunday questioned whether the Biden administration was properly assessing whether Israel was complying with international law, following a Reuters report that some senior U.S. officials did not find that country's assurances credible. "This reporting casts serious doubt on the integrity of the process in the Biden administration for reviewing whether the Netanyahu government is complying with international law in Gaza," Senator Chris Van Hollen said in a statement. The Reuters report found that some senior State Department 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. Blinken must tell Congress by May 8 whether he finds Israel's assurances credible. According to an internal State Department memo, several bureaus within the agency did not find Israel's statements credible, citing military actions that raised questions about potential violations of international humanitarian law. Van Hollen said the Reuters report had found that the recommendations of those bureaus "were swept aside for political convenience." "The determination regarding compliance with international law is one of fact and law. The facts and law should not be ignored to achieve a pre-determined policy outcome. Our credibility is on the line," he said. Van Hollen and some other Democratic lawmakers have pressed President Joe Biden to impose conditions on military assistance to pressure Israel to limit civilian deaths in the Gaza conflict. So far, the administration has not done so. The war, now in its seventh month, was triggered by an attack by Hamas militants that left approximately 1,200 people in Israel dead and where 253 hostages were taken. Israel has responded with a military operation that has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health authorities. The war has displaced most of the 2.3 million people who called the area home and has laid to waste much of the densely populated enclave. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Mark Porter) After a brief closure overnight due to what the university called a disturbance, the University of Southern California reopened its main campus Sunday morning though not in full. In a post to X, formerly Twitter, USC said two entrances, the McCarthy and McClintock gates, were open for students, staff, faculty and registered guests. Those looking to register a guest can do so online, and then check in with security at one of those gates. USC initially announced the closure of the University Park campus to the public at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday. While the university wasnt specific in what the disturbance on campus was referring to, a growing number of protesters have taken to the school in recent days to voice their opposition to the Israel-Hamas War. Group of protestors leaving USC's campus and continuing to march down surrounding streets on April 24, 2024. (KTLA) According to KTLAs Chris Wolfe, there were reports of vandalism on the campus Saturday. Demonstrators have constructed an encampment in the middle of campus as they call for a ceasefire in Gaza, where roughly 34,000 people have died from the violence. The protest joins many others on college campuses across the country, including nearby UCLA where a pro-Israeli counter protest was scheduled for Sunday. USCs handling of the pro-Palestinian protests and advocates has come under scrutiny in recent weeks. On April 15, the university canceled the Class of 2024 Valedictorians speech at the then-upcoming main commencement due to safety issues. Asna Tabassum, who was scheduled to give the speech, had a pro-Palestinian website linked in her Instagram biography, and was accused of antisemitism from pro-Israeli groups. Earlier this week, USC opted to cancel the main commencement in whole, once again citing safety issues. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. USP Thomson went on lock-down Friday because of an influx of contraband including drugs and cell phones made its way into the prison. Union representatives are calling for Congress to pass legislation to protect staff from contaminated contraband. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Utah Democrats endorse Brian King for governor, Caroline Gleich for Senate at state convention Gubernatorial candidate Brian King speaks during the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott Thousands of Utah Democrats gathered Saturday at Cottonwood High School to choose their candidates for the November ballot. The Democratic Party state convention was an opportunity for delegates to hear from gubernatorial candidate Brian King, a longtime state representative who recently released a digital advertisement appealing to Utah voters of faith. The delegates also officially chose Caroline Gleich as their U.S. Senate candidate. Here are the candidates who will move forward from the Democratic convention. State Rep. Brian King will face Republican gubernatorial candidate in November Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brian King, a state lawmaker representing Salt Lake City and former state House minority leader, was uncontested at the Democratic state convention, and will face the Republican gubernatorial candidate in November, likely Gov. Spencer Cox. The governor will face an opponent, state Rep. Phil Lyman of Blanding, in the June 25 primary. In the days leading up to the convention, King released an ad where he called on Utahns not to cast their ballot based on voting tradition. Im a Democrat because of my faith, not despite it, King said at the beginning of the video. Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Democrat makes me a maverick. When he announced his run for governor in December, King told the Deseret News, We simply deserve better in Utah than our current state of politics. Im running to offer an alternative for the better of the people in the state of Utah a government that prioritizes public good over personal interests, that delivers results rather than just rhetoric and that reflects and displays courage and character, rather than just fighting with each other and going to our corners, he said. Caroline Gleich wins Democratic Senate nomination to run for Utah Sen. Mitt Romneys seat Mountaineer and environmental activist Caroline Gleich became the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Mitt Romney, a Republican. Gleich, who is also a social media influencer, advances to the June 25 Democratic primary, where she will not face any opponents. At a relatively young 38 years old, Gleich was able to raise almost $400,000 in the first few months of this year, while spending almost $300,000 of that money. She will face the Republican nominee who wins the partys primary, and several third-party candidates. Senate candidate Caroline Gleich speaks during the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott In a statement released after the Democratic convention on Saturday, Gleich said she was honored to officially accept the Democratic nomination to be Utahs next Senator. Were running a historically strong campaign focused on our families, our freedom, and our future, Gleichs statement continued. As your nominee, Im excited to take our message directly to Utahns as we move into the general election. As a ski mountaineer who has climbed the highest mountains in the world against all odds, Im no stranger to a tough challenge and am ready to take this campaign to the summit in November. Im asking Utahns who are looking for a different kind of leader in Washington to join me. U.S. House Democratic nominees in Utah The Democratic nominees who will advance to the general election for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives include: Utahs 1st District Democratic nominee is Bill Campbell . The Republican incumbent is Rep. Blake Moore. Utahs 2nd District Democratic nominee is Brian Adams . The Republican incumbent is Rep. Celeste Maloy. Utahs 3rd District Democratic nominee is Glenn Wright . This is an open seat after Rep. John Curtis decided to run for Senate. Utahs 4th District Democratic nominee is Katrina Fallick-Wang. The Republican incumbent is Rep. Burgess Owens. Utah attorney general Democratic nominee The convention delegates chose Rudy Bautista ahead of David Carlson to run in Utahs open attorney general race. Bautista will face a Republican and third-party nominees in November. The incumbent attorney general, Republican Sean Reyes, is not running for reelection. An attendee carries signs during the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News Senate candidate Caroline Gleich checks into the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News Jared Price wears a Make America Smart Again T-shirt during the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News Attendees of the Utah Democratic Party state convention visit campaign tables at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News From left, Ann Silverberg Williamson, Brian King, Arthur Douglas and Scott Howell listen during the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott Senate candidate Caroline Gleich converses with convention attendees during the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott Attendees listen to the invocation during the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott Gubernatorial candidate Brian King speaks during the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott Attendees recite the Pledge of Allegiance during the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott A Biden-Harris campaign sign is held up during the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott Senate candidate Caroline Gleich speaks during the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott Attendees listen during the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News An attendee walks into the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News Gubernatorial candidate Brian King speaks during the Utah Democratic Party state convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray on Saturday, April 27, 2024. | Marielle Scott Correction: An earlier version of this article said Caroline Gleich is 39. She is 38. BEIRUT, April 28 (Xinhua) -- French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne on Sunday called on Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel to avoid escalation, reaffirming France's ongoing efforts to prevent the expansion of conflict between the two sides. "We reject the worst scenario in southern Lebanon, and it is in no one's interest for the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel to expand," Sejourne was quoted by Lebanese TV channel Al-Jadeed as saying. Sejourne made the remarks after his meeting in Beirut with senior Lebanese officials, during which they discussed solutions to the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. "We have presented proposals to all partners, considered Lebanon's response, and will wait for Israel's response on Tuesday. An agreement must be reached in the end," he said. Sejourne emphasized France's commitment to safeguarding Lebanon, stressing the importance of restoring stability in southern Lebanon by sending the Lebanese army to the area. He said that Paris would continue to support the Lebanese army, pointing out the "decisive role" of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in "avoiding the worst scenario," and urging all parties to allow UNIFIL to carry out its tasks. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said during his meeting with Sejourne that "the French initiative constitutes a practical framework for implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701," according to a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers. Mikati said Lebanon was committed to its full implementation, and demanded Israel to honor its commitments and stop its destructive aggression in southern Lebanon. During the meeting with Sejourne, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib also underlined the importance of implementing Resolution 1701 to achieve stability. The resolution was adopted in August 2006 to seek a full cessation of hostilities shortly after a month of deadly warfare between Israel and Hezbollah ended with a fragile truce. 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. Utahs primary election stage is set: Lyman vs. Cox, the race for Romneys seat and more Republican candidate for Utah governor Rep. Phil Lyman gives a speech at the Utah Republican Party's 2024 nominating convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City on April 27, 2024. (Katie McKellar / Utah News Dispatch) Utah Republicans now know who they will see on their ballots for the states June 25 primary. In the race for governor, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox will face Rep. Phil Lyman, who got the Utah Republican Partys convention nomination. For outgoing Sen. Mitt Romneys seat, there will be a four-way Republican contest between hardcore former President Donald Trump supporter Trent Staggs, Rep. John Curtis, former Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson and Jason Walton. For Utahs 3rd Congressional District, Utah Sen. Mike Kennedy secured the partys convention nomination, but he will join a crowded primary ticket of five with Utah Auditor John Dougall, Case Lawrence, JR Bird and Stewart Peay who all qualified for the June primary by signature gathering. For Utahs 2nd Congressional District, Rep. Celeste Maloy will face Colby Jenkins. For Utahs 1st Congressional District, Rep. Blake Moore will face challenger Paul Miller. Those are some of the decisions thousands of Utahs most ardent Republicans made (at least in part) when they spent all day Saturday packed into the Salt Palace Convention Center for their state nominating convention. The convention spanned a grueling 16 hours, from dawn until midnight running hours over schedule thanks to multiple rounds of slow voting and no shortage of boos, especially for Cox, the sitting governor. More than 3,850 delegates cast votes that solidified which candidates will and wont be on the June primary ballot, but in many cases candidates who didnt clinch the party nomination had already secured their place on the primary ballot by gathering signatures. The dual path to the primary ballot is thanks to a 2014 law, SB54 a measure thats long been hated by Utahs most far-right conservatives who believe party candidates only path to the ballot should be through convention. Republican delegates applauded their candidates of choice, with a majority backing candidates that framed themselves as purist conservatives who detest SB54 and painted themselves as fighters rather than compromisers. Many delegates also favored candidates who proudly aligned themselves with Trump, in both style and policy. They also cheered rhetoric around securing the southern border, tamping down federal spending, and draining the swamp, a term Trump has used for disrupting what he and his supporters call establishment Washington, D.C., elites. Here are the highlights from Saturdays convention, and which candidates will be advancing to the June 25 primary: Utah governor Results: Rep. Phil Lyman got 67.5% of the Utah Republican vote, securing the convention nomination, while Gov. Spencer Cox got 32.5%. However, Cox qualified for the primary by gathering signatures, so they will face off again June 25. Republican candidates Sylvia Fisk , Carson Jorgensen and Scott Robbins were eliminated in the first round of voting. Cox by far caught the brunt of the Utah Republican Partys vitriol. He was booed from the moment he took the stage, though many of his supporters twirling green Cox for Governor shirts in the air did their best to challenge the sea of jeers with cheers. Cox met the boos with smiles, and told the crowd, I love you guys. He said its not the first time Utah Republican Party delegates have booed a sitting governor pointing to his predecessor and former boss, Gov. Gary Herbert, among others and noted convention outcomes often dont mirror primary election results. There are a whole bunch of people out there who want to get rid of this, Cox said, referring to the convention. Theyre telling us that the caucus convention system has been hijacked by extremists who dont represent the real Republicans in our state. I hope that were not giving them more ammunition today. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, to the right of the podium, appears on stage with supporters at the Utah Republican Partys 2024 nominating convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City on April 27, 2024. (Katie McKellar / Utah News Dispatch) Throughout Saturdays convention, Lymans supporters also cheered criticisms of Coxs disagree better campaign, meant to discourage tribalism and political hatred. Cox questioned why members of his own party, at least those representing the far-right wing of the party that tend to participate in the state convention, were booing him. Maybe youre upset that I signed the largest tax cut in Utah history, Cox said, listing off other highlights of his administration over the boos. Maybe you hate that we stopped DEI and ESG and CRT. Or maybe its something much more simple. Maybe you just hate that I dont hate enough. Lyman, who took the stage to wild cheers, framed himself as a bulldog Republican ready to take on federal overreach while parading his 10-day stint in jail for leading an illegal ATV ride in protest on federally protected lands in 2014. In 2020, Trump pardoned Lyman for the conviction. All of us have a feeling of what its like to be in prison, Lyman said, referencing the states 2020 COVID-19 restrictions. He said the business lockdowns felt like a prison to me. I dont want to build prisons in Utah, Lyman said. I want to build roads. Roads that bring us opportunity. Characterizing his contest with Cox as David vs. Goliath, Lyman garnered cheers while criticizing Cox and the Utah Legislatures four years of tax cuts, asking delegates if theyve felt any difference in their pocket books. They shouted No! He asked if theyve felt rising property taxes, which was met with shouts of Yes! Lyman also criticized SB54 and signature gatherers as a strategy for well-resourced candidates to subvert the will of delegates. Elections should be a way for us to control the government, not for wealthy people to control us, Lyman said. Lets get rid of the prison sentence that started with SB54. .@phil_lyman comes back on stage to lots of cheers, asks delegates if theyve felt the big tax cut. They shout no. He asks if delegates have felt property tax increases, they shout yes! #utpol Youre being fed a lie about tax cuts, he says pic.twitter.com/WkJ8x62PBB Katie McKellar (@KatieMcKellar1) April 27, 2024 Sen. Mitt Romneys open U.S. Senate seat Results: Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs won the Republican convention nomination with over 69% of the vote to Rep. John Curtis 30.26% after several rounds of voting. Staggs was met with wild cheers and applause when he walked out onto the stage. He started his speech by saying he received a call from Trump at 6:30 a.m. to let him know hed given Staggs his endorsement. Im honored to have the endorsement of Donald Trump! pic.twitter.com/Ry2n1mS9rE Mayor Trent Staggs (@MayorStaggs) April 27, 2024 It was news that likely buoyed Staggs, a longtime Trump supporter, over the crowded field of candidates. Staggs called himself a fighter someone who wont model outgoing Sen. Mitt Romneys moderate style. Lets replace Joe Bidens favorite Republican in Utah with Donald Trumps favorite Republican, Staggs said, referring to Romney, to cheers. Though Curtis didnt receive as many boos as Cox, he did confront his fair share when he took to the stage. Curtis addressed them head on. Your message is clear, he told delegates. Your trust is broken. Curtis argued Republicans had heard naive and empty promises throughout the convention from candidates that will make noise rather than work on solutions to fix Congress dysfunction. If you send me to the Senate, you know what youll get, Curtis said, promising weight and substance, not hollow echoes. Utah Congressional District 1 Results: Rep. Blake Moore (45%) and Paul Miller (54.9%) both advanced to the Republican primary. Derek Draper was eliminated in the first round of voting. Moore received some boos, though he urged Republicans to stick together this election in order to galvanize support for GOP candidates during the general election. Lets sweep the country in November, Moore said. Miller took a hardline position as a staunch conservative. He criticized Republicans who agree to negotiate with Democrats. Im sick of seeing Republicans always compromising, Miller said. Compromising is morally and financially bankrupting our nation. Utah Congressional District 2 Results: Incumbent Rep. Celeste Maloy (43%) and Colby Jenkins (57%) both advanced to the June 25 primary. In a twist days before Saturdays convention, Sen. Mike Lee snubbed Maloy and endorsed her challenger, Jenkins. Lee joined Jenkins on the stage when he gave his speech, parading his military background and promising to crack down on federal spending. Maloy said she hears delegates frustrations. You are sick and tired of overreach from the federal government. So am I, she said to cheers. Maloy got cheers when she briefly addressed Lees endorsement of Jenkins by saying she would not bow down to anyone. to the party, to leadership, to the media, or to a senator. Maloy did not gather signatures so she was relying on delegates to keep her on the ballot. She narrowly avoided losing her seat by getting 43% of delegates vote, just 3% away from Jenkins securing the nomination if he won over 60%. U.S. Congressional District 3 Results: Utah Sen. Mike Kennedy secured the official party nomination by winning 61% of the vote after six lengthy rounds of voting that spanned over two hours. Kennedy urged delegates to support him as a convention only candidate who didnt gather signatures. He drew on his background as a physician, and told delegates he doesnt give up on his patients and I wont give up on America. We can and will heal America, Kennedy said. Kennedy also garnered applause when he pointed to his bill from the 2023 Utah Legislature that restricted transgender surgeries and medications for minors. Delegates participate at the Utah Republican Partys 2024 nominating convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City on April 27, 2024. (Katie McKellar / Utah News Dispatch) Attorney General Results: Frank Mylar narrowly missed clinching the nomination by getting slightly less than 60% of the vote, with 59.8% to Rachel Terrys 40.2%. Derek Brown and Trent Christensen were eliminated in the first round of voting, but Brown qualified for the primary by gathering signatures. Brown, Mylar and Terry will be on the June primary ballot. State Auditor Results: Weber County Clerk/Auditor Ricky Hatch led with 51.3% of the vote to Tina Cannons 48.7%. Both will advance to the June primary. State Senate State House Many Utah House races are uncontested or already decided on the county nominating level, but several multi-county races have drawn a field of Republican candidates. They include: District 12: Incumbent House Speaker Mike Schultz won the Republican nomination with 72% of the vote. His challenger, Korry Green was eliminated. Schultz already guaranteed his place on the ballot by gathering signatures. District 66: In the race to replace outgoing Rep. Steven Lund, Troy Shelley got 58% of the vote to Brian Nielsons 42%. Both advance to the June primary. Linda Hanks was eliminated. District 67: Thomas Hansen got the Republican nomination with 87.7% of the vote to incumbent Rep. Christine Watkins 12.3%. Both will advance to the June primary because Watkins secured her spot on the primary ballot by gathering signatures. District 68: Incumbent Rep. Scott Chew got the Republican nomination with 72% of the vote. His challenger Kenyen Wilkins was eliminated with 28%. District 69: For Rep. Phil Lymans open House seat, Lynn Jackson got 59.42% of the vote to Logan Monsons 40.6%. Both advanced to the June primary. Jackson had already qualified for the primary ballot by gathering signatures. Douglas Heaton was eliminated in the first round of voting. State School Board District 3: Incumbent Brent Strate could have lost his seat had he not gathered signatures. He got only 24.5% of the vote to his challenger Rod Halls 75.48%. Both will face off again in June. District 10: Incumbent Matt Hymas got 47.8% of the vote to his challenger Monica Wilbur, who got 52.2%. Both advance to the June primary. Camille Knudson was eliminated. District 12: Incumbent James Moss was defeated by challenger Cole Kelley, who got 74% of the vote. Moss did not gather signatures and was eliminated. District 15: Incumbent Kristan Norton lost to challenger Joann Brinton, who got 84.7% of the vote. However, Norton gathered signatures, so they both advanced to the primary. Utah Democratic Party primaries The Utah Democratic Party also held its nominating convention on Saturday though it was over much quicker and with far less drama than the GOP. The results for contested races: U.S. Senate: Caroline Gleich won the Democratic nomination with 795 votes to Laird Fetzer-Hamblins 48 votes and Archie Williams IIIs 16 votes. Congressional District 4: Katrina Fallick-Wang won the nomination with 117 votes to Jonathan Lopezs 59 votes. Attorney General: Rudy Bautista won the nomination with 511 votes to David Carlsons 282 votes. Utah House District 1: Claudia Bigler won with three votes, beating Chris Reid who didnt get any votes. Utah House District 23: Hoang Nguyen and Jeff Howell will both advance to the primary, since both submitted signatures. But Nguyen got 39 votes to Howells 29 votes. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Utahs primary election stage is set: Lyman vs. Cox, the race for Romneys seat and more appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A Vancouver man was arrested after a traffic stop turned into a police chase spanning multiple Oregon counties early Saturday afternoon. Just after 1 p.m., a Lincoln County Sheriffs deputy spotted a minivan speeding and driving recklessly on Highway 20 near Crystal Creek Loop in Eddyville. The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the van, but officials say the driver left the vehicle, refused to comply with the deputys orders. The deputy then used a taser on the driver. Cats dead, kittens rescued after separate fires break out in Gresham However, the driver returned to the minivan and fled from the deputy east on Highway 20. The driver threw multiple items from the vehicle as the pursuit went east from Lincoln County into Benton County. Although spike strips were deployed, the driver swerved around them, authorities say. Once across the county line, Benton County Sheriffs deputies took over the pursuit. But as the chase led to Philomath, authorities say the van turned around towards Highway 20 back into Lincoln County. Once again, Lincoln County Sheriffs deputies pursued the driver, this time assisted by Oregon State Police. OSP officers managed to deflate the vans tires with a spike strip deployed on the highway near Pioneer Mountain Loop. Former Clackamas County Sheriff seeks to unseat chair Tootie Smith Once the van was stopped, the driver, later identified as 33-year-old Gregory Noll, refused to leave the vehicle. But after a short time, deputies took Noll into custody at the Lincoln County Jail on charges of reckless driving, attempt to elude, DUII, reckless endangering, interfering with a police officer and offensive littering. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. VERNAL, Utah (ABC4) A Vernal Police officer was shot multiple times Saturday night while responding to a report of an intoxicated individual brandishing a firearm, according to the Uintah County Sheriffs Office. At around 11:20 p.m. on April 27, police responded to a report of an intoxicated male threatening a neighbor with a gun at 750 North and approximately 400 East in Vernal. Man arrested for brutal hatchet murder of father in West Valley City Upon arrival of law enforcement, the suspect opened fire on police and sheriff vehicles, police said. A Vernal Police officer was reportedly struck multiple times as he attempted to get out of his vehicle. That officer and responding deputies then returned fire, striking the suspect, a press release states. The suspect briefly fled, but was apprehended and taken into custody near the scene shortly after, police said. The officer that was shot reportedly drove himself to a local hospital and was later flown to a hospital on the Wasatch Front for further treatment. The suspect was also taken to the hospital and later flown to the Wasatch Front for treatment. Additionally, a sheriff deputy sustained minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital before being released. The Utah State Bureau of Investigations is investigating this incident. No further information is available at this time. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Washington chooses its wars; Ukraine and Israel have made the cut despite opposition on right and left Washington chooses its wars; Ukraine and Israel have made the cut despite opposition on right and left Washington, D.C., chooses its wars. And, for now, leaders in Washington have decided the U.S. has a vested interest in the war in Ukraine. After months of consternation, lawmakers eventually approved $62 billion for Ukraine to fight Russia in recent weeks, with most Democrats endorsing American assistance. But Congress only dislodged the money after a lengthy push by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. President Biden, McConnell and others finally pushed House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to support the aid, even though most House Republicans opposed it. The Senate OK'd a combination foreign aid package a few days later, 79-18. Only 31 of the Senates 49 GOP members voted yes. Tucked into that package was money for Israel, another conflict in which the U.S. has infused itself, thanks to the votes of bipartisan lawmakers. THE HOUSE IS PRACTICALLY FUNCTIONING AS A PARLIAMENT, WITH MIKE JOHNSON AS ITS 'PRIME MINISTER' Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the U.S. Congress as Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., hold a Ukrainian national flag Zelenskyy gave them at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Dec. 21, 2022. A not-so-subtle reminder of how Washington immerses itself into overseas conflicts came the other day following the death of Alfonso Chardy. Chardy was a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the Miami Herald and helped untangle and expose the Iran-Contra Affair in the mid-1980s. That was a decision by the Reagan administration to involve itself in proxy wars in Central America under the guise of fighting the spread of communism during the Cold War. There was worry about increasing Soviet influence in the Western Hemisphere. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Leftist Sandinistas grabbed power in Nicaragua in the late 1970s. Congress sent money to the Contra rebels to support them in the civil war. But lawmakers began restricting money to the Contras in the early 1980s before eliminating all funding. Reagan administration officials found a creative albeit illegal way to go around Congress. The U.S. would covertly sell weapons to Iran in an effort to curry favor with Tehran to release western hostages held in the Middle East. The proceeds from those arms sales benefited the Contras to wage their battles against the Sandinistas. Congress may have decided against getting involved in Nicaragua. But Washington as a whole picked that particular fight, making sure the U.S. was fighting through a proxy in Central America. Fast-forward several decades, when the U.S. made a decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003. Congress voted in the fall of 2002 to approve the operation, but few lawmakers defend the entirety of that conflict today. That was the thesis of a floor speech from Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, perhaps the most ardent opponent in Congress against sending assistance to Ukraine. "In 2003, I was a high school senior and I had a political position," declared Vance, speaking about his time finishing high school in Middletown, Ohio, and enlisting in the Marine Corps. "Back then, I believed the propaganda of the George W. Bush administration that we needed to invade Iraq." Vance later said arguments about helping Ukraine "sound familiar." TRUMP DEMANDS EUROPE COUGH UP MORE CASH FOR UKRAINE, SAYS WAR WITH RUSSIA WOULDNT HAVE HAPPENED ON HIS WATCH "Its the same exact talking points 20 years later with different names," said Vance. "I saw when I went to Iraq that I had been lied to. That the promises of the foreign policy establishment of this country were a complete joke." Vance called the push for war in Iraq "perhaps the most shameful period in the Republican Partys history of the last 40 years." Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, has long been critical of the aid the U.S. has provided to Ukraine. Vance added that his "excuse" for backing the war in Iraq "is that I was a high school senior. What is the excuse of many people who are in this chamber or in the House of Representatives at the time and are now singing the same song when it comes to Ukraine?" The answer is that Americas leaders are committed to helping Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. BUTTIGIEG DEFENDS BIDEN CONFUSING UKRAINE AND IRAQ TWICE IN 2 DAYS: 'VERY FOCUSED ON DETAILS' History will bear out who is right or wrong on this front. Just the same as history has judged U.S. involvement in Central America against Soviet influences or by seeking war in Iraq. Remember that the foreign aid package includes money for Israel. Congressional Republicans were more comfortable assisting Israel than some liberals. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was one of the most outspoken opponents of sending U.S. dollars to Israel. "Put simply, we are deeply complicit in what is happening. This is not an Israeli war. This is an Israeli-American war. Most of the bombs and most of the military equipment the Israeli government is using is provided by the United States and subsidized by American taxpayers," said Sanders. "We are aiding and abetting the destruction of the Palestinian people." Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., also opposed the legislation in the House. SQUAD DEMOCRATS PUSH ISRAEL AID PACKAGE AMENDMENT IN FAILED CEASE-FIRE EFFORT: 'DEATH WARRANT ON PALESTINIANS' "This bill passed today is a death warrant. A death warrant on Palestinians," said Bush. "Apparently, it means that Palestinians are not as valued. That their lives are not as valuable as Israeli lives. And I have to say this, for those that feel that way, shame on you." Back on Ukraine, it was clear McConnell prevailed. Perhaps it's one of his last major policy achievements as Republican leader. McConnell didnt call out Vance by name. But it was clear who he was targeting in an impassioned floor speech. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have both backed funding for Ukraine and Israel. "So much of the hesitation and shortsightedness that has delayed this moment is premised on sheer fiction," said McConnell. "I take no pleasure in rebutting misguided fantasies. I wish sincerely that recognizing the responsible ideas of American leadership was the price of admission for serious conversation about the future of our national security." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., echoed his counterpart. "Getting this done was one of the greatest achievements the Senate has faced in years. Perhaps decades. A lot of people inside and outside the Congress wanted this package to fail," said Schumer. "I think weve turned the corner on the isolationist movement," observed McConnell. "You could argue that this is a more challenging time right now than it was leading up to World War II. I dont want it to take something like the Pearl Harbor attack to get our attention." The U.S. sat on the sidelines as Adolph Hitler ran roughshod through Europe in the 1930s and early 1940s. The U.S. only got involved after the Japanese bombed Pearl Habor and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made a plea to America during a Joint Session of Congress just after Christmas in 1941. America chooses its wars; America has chosen its wars in Ukraine and Israel. History will judge whether those were the right decisions. Original article source: Washington chooses its wars; Ukraine and Israel have made the cut despite opposition on right and left President Joe Biden called out Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday in Washington D.C., making fun of the former Presidents legal troubles and both of the 2024 election candidates ages. Biden is 81 and Trump 77, making them the oldest major party presidential nominees in history. Both men are battling public perceptions about their age and competencyand seizing upon one anothers weaknesses in the race for the White House. Biden began by mocking Trump after journalists reported that the former President appeared to fall asleep last week in Manhattan court during a criminal trial against him. Trump is facing felony charges that he falsified business records to cover up a hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Sleepy Don, I kind of like that, I may use it again, Biden quipped. Biden went on to mention the 2024 election and acknowledged: And yes, age is an issue. Im a grown man running against a six-year-old. Trump has similarly mocked Bidens age over the years, calling the President Sleepy Joe because of Bidens verbal blunders. Biden in the past called himself a gaffe machine, but has forcefully pushed back against a characterization of him in a special counsel report in February as a well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory. Age is the only thing we have in common, Biden said about his opponent in his speech Saturday. My Vice President actually endorses me, he quipped, referencing how former Vice President Mike Pence, who did not support Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, is not endorsing Trump in 2024. Biden said he has had a great stretch since his State of the Union address in March. Trump, however, has had a few tough days lately. You might call it stormy weather, the President remarked, in reference to the name of the adult film star whose accusations are the center of the ongoing criminal trial against Trump. In the rest of his speech, Biden called on the media to move past distractions during election coverage, said journalism was not a crime, and promised that the U.S. was doing everything it could to free Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is classified by the U.S. as wrongfully detained in Russia. There are some who call you the enemy of the people, Biden said, in reference to Trumps previous attacks on journalists using the phrase. Thats wrong and thats dangerous. You literally risk your lives doing your job. Its tradition for the President to attend and speak at the annual dinner for the White House Correspondents Association, which represents hundreds of journalists covering the White House, although Trump did not do so when he served as President. This year, amid the Israel-Hamas war, around 400 protesters gathered outside the dinner to protest the Biden Administrations position on the war and media coverage of it, according to a coalition of activist groups who organized the protest. The war has killed 1,200 people in Israel, according to the Israeli government, and more than 34,000 Palestinians, per Gazas health ministry. The death toll includes at least 97 journalists, 92 of them Palestinian, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Video provided by the organizers shows protesters marching into the Washington Hilton hotel, where the event was held, chanting Media, media, when you lie, journalists in Gaza die and carrying a banner that read Bidens legacy is genocide. The protest followed a group of journalists in Gaza releasing an open letter on April 15 calling for the media to boycott the event. As Palestinian journalists, we urgently appeal to you, our colleagues globally, with a demand for immediate and unwavering action against the Biden Administrations ongoing complicity in the systematic slaughter and persecution of journalists in Gaza, the letter read. Journalist Mehdi Hasanwho recently left MSNBC after his show was canceled and started his own media organization Zeteoheeded the call to boycott, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that although he had attended the dinner for the past two years, he would not do so this year in solidarity with Gaza journalists. Contact us at letters@time.com. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein was arrested alongside nearly 100 other protesters partaking in the pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Washington University in St. Louis on Saturday. She was the latest high-profile figure to join the student movement sweeping the nations college campuses. In a dramatic video shared to social media, 73-year-old Stein can be seen among the group of protesters shoved backwards by police officers, who used a bike to force them back. Stein, her campaign manager, and deputy campaign manager were all arrested by officers, her team said in a statement. Police shove a bike against 73-year-old Presidential Candidate Jill Stein before dragging her out of the Washington State University student encampment and arresting her pic.twitter.com/9FJZV8l2bx Mnar Adley (@MnarMuh) April 28, 2024 Footage from the scene showed the shocking degree of violence used in the arrests. A combined police force that appeared to consist of campus, local, and state officers could be seen violently tearing protesters away from the crowd, sometimes dragging them by their legs and feet, and zip-tying them as they lay face down on the ground. Wash U in STL. Im loving all these vids. More! More! pic.twitter.com/xL6lOdYesJ Jo Thomas (@rthomas86) April 28, 2024 The demand from the encampment was specifically for the university to divest from Boeing, which manufactures munitions used in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza at their nearby St. Charles facility, Steins campaign said. The Stein campaign supports the demands of the students and their peaceful protest and assembly on campus, the campaign added, calling student protests the best part of our collective and moral consciousness. The universitys divestment from Boeing was one of five stated demands protest organizer Resist Wash U, which also included an academic boycott of Israel and a public condemnation of the ongoing genocide in Palestine, according to a statement made Saturday. The university said that around 80 demonstrators were arrested, including students, faculty, and outsiders not affiliated with the university. They said the group had violated campus policy and were forcefully removed after being asked to leave multiple times and refusing. Cop Slammed Emory Professors Head Into Concrete, Then Charged Her With Battery It quickly became clear through the words and actions of this group that they did not have good intentions on our campus and that this demonstration had the potential to get out of control and become dangerous, the university statement reads. All will face charges of trespassing and some may also be charged with resisting arrest and assault, including for injuries to police officers. It was unclear which exact police forces had been called in to assist in the arrests. A spokesman for the St. Louis Police Department said all arrests had been made by campus police and deferred comment there. Representatives for the university declined further comment. As of Sunday morning, Stein and more than 65 protesters had been released from custody, according to her campaign and Resist Wash U. The protests have roiled college campuses and garnered criticism for what some see as an excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrations. Some university administrators, fearing the possibility of physical violence by protesters, have called in armed police to shut down the encampments. Pro-Israel Agitator Shouts Kill the Jews, Gets Everyone Else Arrested At the University of Southern California on Saturday night, police cars flooded the streets and officers gathered in a huge group as the Los Angeles Police Department issued a city-wide tactical alert related to the campus pro-Palestine demonstrations. It was unclear what exactly caused the mass alert, as no arrests were reported Sunday morning. However, a statue of the schools mascot Tommy the Trojan was later found defaced in the center of campus, its base covered in graffiti with the words Say No to Genocide. The protests have also been a source of concern among leading officials, some of whom have roundly condemn the protests as antisemitic. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), appearing on CBS Face the Nation on Sunday, called on university leaders to crack down on protesters. University presidents need to get control of the situation, allow free speech and push back against antisemitism, he said. Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), who is Jewish, rejected the idea that college protests were motivated by antisemitism. Appearing on CNNs State of the Union Sunday, he doubled down on his earlier statement that it was not antisemitic to hold the Israeli government accountable for its actions in Gaza, and turned the focus back to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Right now, what Netanyahus right-wing, extremist, and racist government is doing is unprecedented in the modern history of warfare, Sanders said, floating the death toll of more than 33,000 Palestinians in the last 6 months and the devastation of Gazas housing and health infrastructure. The progressive senator said it was tantamount to bring the focus back to Gaza, echoing a common demand of student demonstrators. We do have to pay attention to the disastrous and unprecedented humanitarian disaster taking place in Gaza right now, he said. 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. This Week in Louisiana Politics: Constitutional convention, teacher pay, and summer EBT This Week in Louisiana Politics: Constitutional convention, teacher pay, and summer EBT BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) On This Week in Louisiana Politics, Gov. Jeff Landry gives some reasons why he wants to hold a constitutional convention. There are still many questions on everything he wants the Legislature to accomplish. A Louisiana lawmaker wants to add protection to doctors performing their duties to help people become pregnant. Voters in the Florida parishes were asked if they wanted to renew the three-mill property tax which covers the Florida parishes juvenile justice district. The House advanced the state budget with cuts to the early childhood education fund, but there is still a chance of it being restored. Also, the Attorney General took a tour of a crime lab in north Louisiana. April 27 election: See how voters decided local tax propositions for schools, law and fire protection The Environmental Protection Agency issued new rules that would reportedly reduce air pollution. Latest News For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com. Weekend reads: New session, new poll, recordkeeping discrepancies, and Dukes new carbon plan North Carolina State Capitol Photo: Clayton Henkel NC General Assemblys short session convenes The Legislative Building The North Carolina Legislative Building in downtown Raleigh (Photo: Clayton Henkel) By Staff The North Carolina General Assembly returns to Raleigh today for the 2024 short session a session that figures to feature debates over familiar topics like public and higher education and funding for state agencies, as well as new proposals to expand legalized gambling and to further restrict access to certain substances linked to drug abuse. Big ticket budget items As NC Newsline reported last week, the session will convene at a time in which the state faces big challenges in meeting its obligations and commitments for providing core public services. [Read more...] Bonus read: NC Gov. Cooper presents his budget as the legislative short session begins New poll shows AG Josh Stein widening gap over Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in NCs governors race Attorney General Josh Stein (L) leads Lt. Governor Mark Robinson (R) in the latest Meredith College poll. (Courtesy photos) By Clayton Henkel With six and a half months before Election Day, the latest Meredith College poll shows Democrat Josh Stein gaining a bit more ground over Republican Mark Robinson in North Carolinas gubernatorial contest. Stein now leads Robinson 45%-36% up from a five percentage point advantage in February. [Read more] DHHS cites nonprofit operated by Lt. Governors wife for recordkeeping discrepancies Yolanda Hill Robinson with husband Lt. Governor Mark Robinson Yolanda Hill Robinson with husband Lt. Governor Mark Robinson celebrating his primary victory on March 2, 2024. (Screengrab from Robinsons campaign YouTube channel) By Ahmed Jallow Documents obtained by Newsline show that Balanced Nutrition was cited for failing to properly track subsidized meals provided to childcare centers Balanced Nutrition, Inc., a nonprofit operated by Yolanda Hill, the wife of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, failed to properly track the number of subsidized meals it provided to its participating childcare centers, according to a 2023 review by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and obtained by Newsline. Earlier this month Hill informed clients that she was shutting down her nonprofit because of her husbands campaign for governor, as reported by The Assembly, saying the demands of the campaign have become impossible for her to continue operating the nonprofit.[Read more...] Duke Energy feeling the heat as public hearings continue this week on carbon plan By Lisa Sorg While monthly average carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere reached a record high of 425.4 parts per million last month, Duke Energys proposed carbon plan could delay legally required greenhouse gas reductions, rely on the expansion of natural gas, and burden low-income households with higher monthly energy bills as much as 73%. [Read more] NC meets goal for zero-emissions vehicle registrations, falls short on energy usage in buildings Electric car charging station (Getty Images) By Lisa Sorg In the time it takes to bake a potato in an oven about an hour the state of North Carolina spends $40,000 on energy costs for all of its 4,400 buildings. When the clock strikes midnight, the state will have run a $960,000 tab. Now repeat those totals. Every day.[Read more] After complaint filed with HUD, owners of heirs property prevail in dispute with ReBuild NC Seventy-four hurricane survivors are now eligible for homeowner recovery funds, according to a settlement between Legal Aid and ReBuild NC. (File photo: Lisa Sorg) By Lisa Sorg and Greg Childress ReBuild NC erroneously disqualified 74 hurricane survivors from its Homeowner Recovery Program because they could not prove they owned a share of heirs property, but those applicants are now eligible for assistance under an agreement announced April 25. Legal Aid of North Carolina, which represented a homeowner whose application had been rejected, reached a conciliation and voluntary compliance agreement with the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, also known as ReBuild NC. The agreement includes new rules to address challenges owners of heirs property face when applying for recovery assistance.[Read more...] Anti-poverty advocates call on lawmakers to change course during legislative short session NC Poor People's Campaign supporters NC Poor Peoples Campaign supporters march to the Legislative Building on April 24, 2024. (Photo: Greg Childress) By Greg Childress On Wednesday, nearly 200 supporters of the North Carolina Poor Peoples Campaign traveled to Raleigh to remind lawmakers returning for the legislative short session that low-income voters make up more than 41% of the states electorate. If low-income eligible voters voted at the same rate as higher-income voters, campaign leaders warned, they could control the outcome of elections.[Read more.] Three thousand people were released from NC prisons to homelessness last year Photo: Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector By Kelan Lyons About one in six people released from North Carolina prisons in 2023 were homeless, according to figures provided to NC Newsline a rate the state hopes to cut in half by 2030. That goal is one part of an executive order issued by Gov. Roy Cooper in January to improve reentry supports for people getting out of prison. In issuing that mandate, Cooper set a series of ambitious goals, enrolling North Carolina in a national initiative known as Reentry 2030.[Read more...] Gun rights group calls on lawmakers to further loosen state firearm regulation A woman holds a handgun in a fIrearms training class. Gun advocates are urging Republicans in the supermajority to adopt permitless or constitutional concealed carry of handguns in North Carolina. (Photo of gun training by George Frey/Getty Images) By Clayton Henkel Members of Grass Roots North Carolina will be lobbying lawmakers on the opening day to pass constitutional carry for North Carolina. The gun rights group has been working behind the scenes, collecting signatures and on Wednesday will deliver a hand truck with thousands of petitions to Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger urging him to support a proposal to enshrine the freedom to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. In the last legislative session, lawmakers repealed North Carolinas longstanding pistol purchase permit requirement and were quick to override Governors Roy Coopers veto of Senate Bill 41.[Read more] Bonus read: Advocates rally for gun safety measures at the General Assembly When conservatives balk at scrutinizing public spending (commentary) Benjamin Franklin's eyes peer through a trio of $100 bills Conservatives who normally favor fine tooth oversight of public expenditures are taking a different stance in a couple of recent North Carolina cases. (Getty Images) By Rob Schofield Robinson nonprofit, crisis pregnancy centers resist oversight of how state dollars were spent For many years, its been a mantra on the political right that state government should be run like a business a business thats lean and efficient, and in which any hint of waste and self-dealing must be aggressively investigated and rooted out. Several years back, a Raleigh conservative think tank railed repeatedly against the states K-12 school lunch program on the grounds some children were receiving free or reduced-price school meals even though their parents had perish the thought managed to bump their household incomes above the rather pathetic eligibility threshold.[Read more] The post Weekend reads: New session, new poll, recordkeeping discrepancies, and Dukes new carbon plan appeared first on NC Newsline. BAGHDAD, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi security forces detained the former chief of the so-called "Islamic Police" in Mosul affiliated with the extremist Islamic State (IS) group, the Iraqi military said on Sunday. Based on intelligence reports and continuous tracking, the security forces spotted the terrorist nicknamed Abu Saqr in Mosul, the capital of the northern province of Nineveh, following his entry into Iraqi territory, and arrested him, according to a statement from the Security Media Cell, a media outlet affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command. The arrested terrorist had been carrying counterfeit identity documents since his entry into Iraq, according to the statement. It noted that he served as the head of the "Islamic Police" in Mosul when the city was occupied by the IS group. An officer from Nineveh Operations Command, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that the arrested terrorist was behind dozens of arrests and killings that targeted members of the security forces and civilians, stressing that he was among the most wanted by the security forces. In July 2017, Iraq declared the liberation of Mosul, some 400 km north of Baghdad, from the IS, which took control of the city in 2014. The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have sneaked into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. CAPTION: Milly Gonzales, who works with domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking survivors, supports abortion rights. She said the repeal of Roe v. Wade in 2022 was devastating. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner) 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. 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. Milly Gonzales, who works with domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking survivors 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. 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) 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. 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) I am deeply troubled by this idea that providing an abortion and ending the life of a child is a way to stop domestic violence, Klingele told the group. As someone whos experienced that, whats harmful is the treatment of being abused. Whats harmful is that theres insane wait lists for domestic abuse survivors housing. But my sons were not the problem here. Her life experience has brought her to the opposite conclusion to other participants who work with domestic and sexual violence survivors, like Monique Minkens and Milly Gonzales. In 2022 I could see both perspectives, especially as a person of faith, Gonzales told the group. But it scared me when Roe v. Wade was repealed. It was devastating, especially in my work, seeing how it affected women and all persons that are able to have children. Sometimes we dont think through decisions that people have to make and how those decisions impact the babies that are being born. Meanwhile, Halama, who said she has counseled patients facing crisis pregnancies, began to grapple with the idea that maybe the hardline anti-abortion stance doesnt reduce the most amount of harm. Am I coming from a place of pride? Am I coming from a place of rigidity and not loving compassion? Halama told the group on the third day. This is just like to challenge maybe us pro-lifers, but I dont know, are we working so hard to eliminate this harm, and harming women who are in these positions of domestic violence, and in these positions of discrimination, when we know that we have a merciful God? I dont know what to do with that because its so hard for me to concede on something that in my mind is harming, [but] I dont know if having this harsh black-and-white stance on [abortion] is the right way to do it. Back in video village, the sometimes chatty or snacking Starts With Us staff are rapt looking at the screens. Someone whispers: Wow. Theres also an understanding reached between Klingele and Ali Muldrow, a Black abortion fund director, where Muldrow agrees with Klingele about treating people with disabilities with compassion and not suggesting that they should not be born. I want you to know with my whole heart and soul that I dont think we should be universally killing people with Down syndrome, Muldrow told Klingele. A variety of health factors inform why people terminate pregnancies, and to suggest that people simply dont want children with disabilities is insensitive to the complexity of information people obtain about the health and quality of life that factor into peoples decisions around pregnancy, Muldrow later clarified to States Newsroom. I think folks who are anti-abortion access take disability into consideration when youre talking about the fetus, but they dont seem as willing to acknowledge disability as a factor for the pregnant person. Unlikely partnership On the second day, during breakouts, Klingele smiles kindly at Lyerly and explains that the intentional ending of a pregnancy should not be legal. I think there should be no criminal charges on women for seeking that, Klingele said. But with regard to providers, I think there should be penalties. So, I want to look at you when I say this because I value you and I care about you and I know you care about your patients and about their children. But poisoning them and pulling them out of the womb and vacuuming, whatever terms you want to use, destroys their dignity. I appreciate your perspective, Lyerly replied. The next day she addressed some of the participants notions of her work. I sit here with people who might be shouting at me as a doctor entering an abortion clinic. Someone who yesterday essentially said I should be in jail. Im a murderer, right? But every time that I trust women and understand that they know whats best for them, every time I perform an abortion for someone, we acknowledge that theres a life there. And we honor that life. And I know that that sounds crazy. But we do the best that we can under every circumstance. And these are hard, hard decisions and everybody is different. But I would offer to you that we do love them both. And thats the next point of common ground: Klingele clarifies that she doesnt believe abortion providers should be incarcerated, which as Lyerly points out, they could have been under Wisconsins temporary abortion ban that went into effect after the Dobbs decision. Klingele ultimately cant answer what it means for abortion providers if termination is illegal; she said shes more concerned about making it easier for people to give birth and parent safely. I dont have all the laws or regulations, she told Lyerly. But I see ending a life as wrong and there are consequences for doing something thats wrong. But the two found that they agree on a lot more outside of abortion. Lyerly told States Newsroom that the two have agreed to work together in some capacity. Starts With Us head of programs Ashley Phillips told States Newsroom she was heartened but not surprised to see participants agree and connect. Its hard to hate up close, Phillips said. And when you have the opportunity to sit for three days across the table from one another and have nuanced discussions about both your lived experience and the issue at hand, its not surprising that youre able to humanize and learn and grow. And its still beautiful to see. The post Where is the common ground for abortion-rights opponents and supporters? appeared first on Michigan Advance. 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) a banner reads The Abortion Experiment 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 Facilitating these sessions were Mariah Levison and Kelly Wilder from Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that for about a decade and a half has helped opposing groups in the public and private sectors find consensus on a range of policy issues like education, poverty, and health care. But what typically takes Convergence at least a year for each project, Starts With Us has asked them to do in three days (they will eventually add a fourth day in early April). This is the same methodology like on steroids, Levison, Convergences CEO and president, told States Newsroom. The Minnesotan said she has worked in dispute resolution her whole career, but abortion is a new topic for both her and Convergence, which facilitated Starts With Uss inaugural session, about gun rights and safety in Tennessee; a third session on immigration is being planned for later this year. Beyond agreements on policy proposals, Levison said the larger goal is to help people build trust and understand each other. And its the role of Starts With Us as a civic engagement nonprofit to elevate these examples of understanding and agreement and try to change the narrative that issues like abortion and guns and immigration are intractable. For the first three days of the session last December, camera operators filmed the participants, while the rest of the team watched in a makeshift video village in a drafty hallway space. In the months since, theyve used the footage to help tell the groups story and to give Wisconsin residents (and those in other states) a different option on abortion policy that isnt just relegated to ban vs. no ban. They invited States Newsroom to observe the December sessions, though everything said was initially off the record unless participants gave permission to be quoted. Levison told the participants they must find OPTIONS: Only proposals that include others needs succeed. She had them consider the example of a neighbor complaining about the others constantly barking dog. A real consensus solution, she explained, goes beyond keeping vs. getting rid of the dog. And she instructed them not to compromise; if a proposal would cause anyone heartburn, it didnt go on the final list. As in a jury, even one dissenting vote can tank a proposal. In the group, the biggest sticking points are: fetal health; maternal health that might not be immediately life-threatening; and sexual and domestic violence and whether someone should be forced to procreate with an abuser. The teams are broken into two groups to facilitate better discussion. By the end, participants will raise their voices, burst into tears, slam a folder. Kai Gardner Mishlove, the executive director at Jewish Social Services, quickly becomes the groups emotional stabilizer, guiding them through deep breathing during tense moments. But they keep showing up, and listening. Walls coming down Heading into the cold December night after the second day of heavy discussions, Thomas Lang told States Newsroom that his wife knows the very night their eldest of three was conceived. The 61-year-old property manager grinned as he remembered her reciting a prayer before being intimate on their honeymoon. There is a purpose and meaning of sexual intimacy, said Lang, who supports the teaching of natural family planning as opposed to artificial birth control. Hes very much in love with Amy, whos 11 years younger and whom he met on the dating site Ave Maria Singles 15 years after a divorce and annulment from a relationship with which he shares three adult children. One of the basic principles behind the proper use of NFP is that married couples should always have an openness to life. Of the 14, Lang is among those on the most restrictive end of the spectrum, a stance informed by his deep Catholic faith, his mothers abortion regret, his six living children, as well as two miscarriages and a stillbirth. To support his position, he repeatedly cites the 1968 papal encyclical Humanae Vitae and the legislative director of Pro-Life Wisconsin. And unlike some of the other abortion opponents in the group, Lang is comfortable using the word murder to describe what Lyerly does for a living. He doesnt expect to connect with her. Throughout the initial three-day session, the OB-GYN from Green Bay patiently answered medical questions, described abortion procedures, and explained how she views abortion morally. My obligation to my patients is to make sure that Im helping them with the right thing for them, Lyerly said. If Im taking care of a woman from the Jewish faith, they have a very different perspective than my Catholic patients than my agnostic or atheist patients. So my job is to understand where theyre coming from and to make sure that they feel fulfilled and well taken care of and have what they need to be able to live their lives according to their morals. At one point Lyerly obliged Lang when he asked her to switch from clinical language (fertilization, products of conception) to his preferred terms (conception, baby), a move that frustrated several of the abortion-access participants but endeared her to him. I would have been repulsed to have met an abortionist before this meeting, Lang told Lyerly on the second day of the session, but I cant tell you how much you enamor me with regards to the way you put yourself in your patients shoes. I would love you to be my wifes doctor. (He later acknowledged to States Newsroom that this could never happen because Lyerlys compassion is incoherent without principled procreative and life ethics.) With Lang and Lyerly at opposite ends of the spectrum, the 14 were able to come to only small agreements about when abortion should be legal and accessible, but found more common ground on how to mitigate some of abortions root causes, which many of the participants have experienced. Kateri Klingele, 25, a white mental health professional and co-founder of Wisconsin Student Parents Organization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has two children. Not only was Klingele navigating poverty and school during her two unplanned pregnancies, but she was also incredibly sick. She was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, which resulted in her being fed intravenously during both pregnancies and delivering both her children early due to malnutrition. She said she also experienced partner abuse and was on every social support available, living in constant terror of falling off the so-called benefits cliff. But shes firm that abortion should rarely ever be an option because she believes that ending the life of a child is wrong and does not end other issues, like abuse and poverty. I am deeply troubled by this idea that providing an abortion and ending the life of a child is a way to stop domestic violence, Klingele told the group. As someone whos experienced that, whats harmful is the treatment of being abused. Whats harmful is that theres insane wait lists for domestic abuse survivors housing. But my sons were not the problem here. Her life experience has brought her to the opposite conclusion to other participants who work with domestic and sexual violence survivors, like Monique Minkens and Milly Gonzales. In 2022 I could see both perspectives, especially as a person of faith, Gonzales told the group. But it scared me when Roe v. Wade was repealed. It was devastating, especially in my work, seeing how it affected women and all persons that are able to have children. Sometimes we dont think through decisions that people have to make and how those decisions impact the babies that are being born. Meanwhile, Halama, who said she has counseled patients facing crisis pregnancies, began to grapple with the idea that maybe the hardline anti-abortion stance doesnt reduce the most amount of harm. Am I coming from a place of pride? Am I coming from a place of rigidity and not loving compassion? Halama told the group on the third day. This is just like to challenge maybe us pro-lifers, but I dont know, are we working so hard to eliminate this harm, and harming women who are in these positions of domestic violence, and in these positions of discrimination, when we know that we have a merciful God? I dont know what to do with that because its so hard for me to concede on something that in my mind is harming, [but] I dont know if having this harsh black-and-white stance on [abortion] is the right way to do it. Back in video village, the sometimes chatty or snacking Starts With Us staff are rapt looking at the screens. Someone whispers: Wow. Theres also an understanding reached between Klingele and Ali Muldrow, a Black abortion fund director, where Muldrow agrees with Klingele about treating people with disabilities with compassion and not suggesting that they should not be born. I want you to know with my whole heart and soul that I dont think we should be universally killing people with Down syndrome, Muldrow told Klingele. A variety of health factors inform why people terminate pregnancies, and to suggest that people simply dont want children with disabilities is insensitive to the complexity of information people obtain about the health and quality of life that factor into peoples decisions around pregnancy, Muldrow later clarified to States Newsroom. I think folks who are anti-abortion access take disability into consideration when youre talking about the fetus, but they dont seem as willing to acknowledge disability as a factor for the pregnant person. Unlikely partnership On the second day, during breakouts, Klingele smiles kindly at Lyerly and explains that the intentional ending of a pregnancy should not be legal. I think there should be no criminal charges on women for seeking that, Klingele said. But with regard to providers, I think there should be penalties. So, I want to look at you when I say this because I value you and I care about you and I know you care about your patients and about their children. But poisoning them and pulling them out of the womb and vacuuming, whatever terms you want to use, destroys their dignity. I appreciate your perspective, Lyerly replied. The next day she addressed some of the participants notions of her work. I sit here with people who might be shouting at me as a doctor entering an abortion clinic. Someone who yesterday essentially said I should be in jail. Im a murderer, right? But every time that I trust women and understand that they know whats best for them, every time I perform an abortion for someone, we acknowledge that theres a life there. And we honor that life. And I know that that sounds crazy. But we do the best that we can under every circumstance. And these are hard, hard decisions and everybody is different. But I would offer to you that we do love them both. And thats the next point of common ground: Klingele clarifies that she doesnt believe abortion providers should be incarcerated, which as Lyerly points out, they could have been under Wisconsins temporary abortion ban that went into effect after the Dobbs decision. Klingele ultimately cant answer what it means for abortion providers if termination is illegal; she said shes more concerned about making it easier for people to give birth and parent safely. I dont have all the laws or regulations, she told Lyerly. But I see ending a life as wrong and there are consequences for doing something thats wrong. But the two found that they agree on a lot more outside of abortion. Lyerly told States Newsroom that the two have agreed to work together in some capacity. Starts With Us head of programs Ashley Phillips told States Newsroom she was heartened but not surprised to see participants agree and connect. Its hard to hate up close, Phillips said. And when you have the opportunity to sit for three days across the table from one another and have nuanced discussions about both your lived experience and the issue at hand, its not surprising that youre able to humanize and learn and grow. And its still beautiful to see. Tomorrow: A doctor gets heartburn. The post Where is the common ground for abortion-rights opponents and supporters? appeared first on NC Newsline. 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) 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. Can a group of strangers find common ground on one of the most divisive issues in America? 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. 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) 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. 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) At one point Lyerly obliged Lang when he asked her to switch from clinical language (fertilization, products of conception) to his preferred terms (conception, baby), a move that frustrated several of the abortion-access participants but endeared her to him. I would have been repulsed to have met an abortionist before this meeting, Lang told Lyerly on the second day of the session, but I cant tell you how much you enamor me with regards to the way you put yourself in your patients shoes. I would love you to be my wifes doctor. (He later acknowledged to States Newsroom that this could never happen because Lyerlys compassion is incoherent without principled procreative and life ethics.) With Lang and Lyerly at opposite ends of the spectrum, the 14 were able to come to only small agreements about when abortion should be legal and accessible, but found more common ground on how to mitigate some of abortions root causes, which many of the participants have experienced. Kateri Klingele, 25, a white mental health professional and co-founder of Wisconsin Student Parents Organization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has two children. Not only was Klingele navigating poverty and school during her two unplanned pregnancies, but she was also incredibly sick. She was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, which resulted in her being fed intravenously during both pregnancies and delivering both her children early due to malnutrition. She said she also experienced partner abuse and was on every social support available, living in constant terror of falling off the so-called benefits cliff. But shes firm that abortion should rarely ever be an option because she believes that ending the life of a child is wrong and does not end other issues, like abuse and poverty. I am deeply troubled by this idea that providing an abortion and ending the life of a child is a way to stop domestic violence, Klingele told the group. As someone whos experienced that, whats harmful is the treatment of being abused. Whats harmful is that theres insane wait lists for domestic abuse survivors housing. But my sons were not the problem here. Her life experience has brought her to the opposite conclusion to other participants who work with domestic and sexual violence survivors, like Monique Minkens and Milly Gonzales. In 2022 I could see both perspectives, especially as a person of faith, Gonzales told the group. But it scared me when Roe v. Wade was repealed. It was devastating, especially in my work, seeing how it affected women and all persons that are able to have children. Sometimes we dont think through decisions that people have to make and how those decisions impact the babies that are being born. Meanwhile, Halama, who said she has counseled patients facing crisis pregnancies, began to grapple with the idea that maybe the hardline anti-abortion stance doesnt reduce the most amount of harm. Am I coming from a place of pride? Am I coming from a place of rigidity and not loving compassion? Halama told the group on the third day. This is just like to challenge maybe us pro-lifers, but I dont know, are we working so hard to eliminate this harm, and harming women who are in these positions of domestic violence, and in these positions of discrimination, when we know that we have a merciful God? I dont know what to do with that because its so hard for me to concede on something that in my mind is harming, [but] I dont know if having this harsh black-and-white stance on [abortion] is the right way to do it. Back in video village, the sometimes chatty or snacking Starts With Us staff are rapt looking at the screens. Someone whispers: Wow. Theres also an understanding reached between Klingele and Ali Muldrow, a Black abortion fund director, where Muldrow agrees with Klingele about treating people with disabilities with compassion and not suggesting that they should not be born. I want you to know with my whole heart and soul that I dont think we should be universally killing people with Down syndrome, Muldrow told Klingele. A variety of health factors inform why people terminate pregnancies, and to suggest that people simply dont want children with disabilities is insensitive to the complexity of information people obtain about the health and quality of life that factor into peoples decisions around pregnancy, Muldrow later clarified to States Newsroom. I think folks who are anti-abortion access take disability into consideration when youre talking about the fetus, but they dont seem as willing to acknowledge disability as a factor for the pregnant person. Unlikely partnership On the second day, during breakouts, Klingele smiles kindly at Lyerly and explains that the intentional ending of a pregnancy should not be legal. I think there should be no criminal charges on women for seeking that, Klingele said. But with regard to providers, I think there should be penalties. So, I want to look at you when I say this because I value you and I care about you and I know you care about your patients and about their children. But poisoning them and pulling them out of the womb and vacuuming, whatever terms you want to use, destroys their dignity. I appreciate your perspective, Lyerly replied. The next day she addressed some of the participants notions of her work. I sit here with people who might be shouting at me as a doctor entering an abortion clinic. Someone who yesterday essentially said I should be in jail. Im a murderer, right? But every time that I trust women and understand that they know whats best for them, every time I perform an abortion for someone, we acknowledge that theres a life there. And we honor that life. And I know that that sounds crazy. But we do the best that we can under every circumstance. And these are hard, hard decisions and everybody is different. But I would offer to you that we do love them both. And thats the next point of common ground: Klingele clarifies that she doesnt believe abortion providers should be incarcerated, which as Lyerly points out, they could have been under Wisconsins temporary abortion ban that went into effect after the Dobbs decision. Klingele ultimately cant answer what it means for abortion providers if termination is illegal; she said shes more concerned about making it easier for people to give birth and parent safely. I dont have all the laws or regulations, she told Lyerly. But I see ending a life as wrong and there are consequences for doing something thats wrong. But the two found that they agree on a lot more outside of abortion. Lyerly told States Newsroom that the two have agreed to work together in some capacity. Starts With Us head of programs Ashley Phillips told States Newsroom she was heartened but not surprised to see participants agree and connect. Its hard to hate up close, Phillips said. And when you have the opportunity to sit for three days across the table from one another and have nuanced discussions about both your lived experience and the issue at hand, its not surprising that youre able to humanize and learn and grow. And its still beautiful to see. Tomorrow: A doctor gets heartburn. The post Where is the common ground for abortion-rights opponents and supporters? appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. Where Are Jaycee Dugard and Her Daughters Today? A Look at Their Lives After Abduction Jaycee Dugard and her two daughters were rescued in 2009 after 18 years in captivity ABC News Jaycee Dugard during an interview with ABC News. Jaycee Lee Dugard was just 11 years old when she was abducted on her way to school in 1991 not to be seen again for 18 years, when she was finally rescued in 2009. The story of how Jaycee was snatched in broad daylight, just steps from her South Lake Tahoe, Calif. home, captivated the nation in 1991. The community rallied in support of Jaycee and her family holding fundraisers, passing out flyers and hanging pink ribbons throughout the town (in honor of Jaycees favorite color, pink). Meanwhile, her mother, Terry Probyn, constantly wished to see her daughter again. As long as Jaycee is alive, theres hope, Terry said in 1991. As the years passed, however, a positive outcome seemed less and less likely. That is, until Aug. 27, 2009, when Jaycee resurfaced after 18 years in captivity. Im not aware of any other stranger-abduction case where a child has been recovered after 18 years, Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, told PEOPLE at the time. Its amazing and its horrendous, but the most important thing is that Jaycee is alive. Following her rescue, horrifying details of what happened to Jaycee since that fateful day in 1991 began to emerge. She had been kidnapped by Phillip Garrido, a convicted sex offender, and his wife, Nancy, and held captive in a series of tents and dilapidated sheds in their Antioch, Calif. backyard. ABC News Jaycee Dugard during an interview with ABC News. Phillip repeatedly raped Jaycee over the years and fathered two daughters with her when she was just 14 and 17 years old. Despite Phillip being on parole for a 1976 kidnapping conviction, Jaycee and the girls went undetected until August 2009 when he visited a college campus with his two daughters and a campus police officer grew suspicious. The intuition of that officer is what led to Jaycees rescue, nearly two decades after she first went missing. Since being reunited with her family, Jaycee and her two daughters have been working on rebuilding their lives and achieving a sense of normalcy. From her initial abduction to her shocking rescue and beyond, heres everything to know about Jaycee Dugard and her post-kidnapping life. Who is Jaycee Dugard? Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times/Getty Jaycee Dugard in a photo dated about 1990. Jaycee Lee Dugard was born on May 3, 1980, in Anaheim, Calif., the result of a brief fling between her mother, Terry, and Kenneth Slayton, who was not involved in her upbringing. When Jaycee was 7 years old, her mother married a carpet contractor named Carl Probyn. The couple welcomed a daughter, Shayna, together in 1989. In September two years later, the young family relocated from a suburb of Los Angeles to South Lake Tahoe, Calif., seeking a safer environment for the girls. The mountains and the clean air and a small town somewhere where wed be safe, Carl said about South Lake Tahoe in Lost and Found: The True Story of Jaycee Lee Dugard by John Glatt. Where the kids would be safe. Moving to Tahoe felt like freedom and safety, Terry added. And Jaycee was blossoming. What happened to Jaycee Dugard? Kim Komenich/Getty Jaycee Dugard smiling as she stands next to her baby half-sister Shana. On the morning of June 10, 1991 less than a year after the family had moved to South Lake Tahoe Jaycee was kidnapped by convicted sex offender Phillip and his wife, Nancy, as she walked to the school bus stop. According to interviews later given to police, Phillip and Nancy purchased a stun gun before heading to the South Lake Tahoe area. As Jaycee walked towards the bus stop, the Garridos drove up alongside her and used the stun gun on her. Nancy then snatched Jaycee into the backseat of their gray car, hiding her under a blanket and speeding off. I heard voices in the front, and the man said, I cant believe we got away with it, and he started laughing, Jaycee testified about her kidnapping in 2010, according to The New York Times. Jaycees abduction was witnessed by her stepfather, Carl, and some of her classmates, who were waiting at the bus stop, according to Lost and Found: The True Story of Jaycee Lee Dugard. Carl took off after the car on his bike and when he couldnt keep up, he ran into a neighbors house to call 911. I heard Jaycee scream, and she was gone, Carl told PEOPLE in 1991. The Garridos drove Jaycee to their home in Antioch, Calif., a Bay Area suburb about 120 miles from South Lake Tahoe. There, the 11-year-old girl pleaded with her kidnappers to return her to her family. I just wanted to go home, Jaycee stated in her 2010 grand jury testimony, according to The New York Times. I kept telling him that, you know, I dont know why youre doing this. If youre holding me for ransom, my family doesnt have a lot of money. The Garridos would not let Jaycee return home. Instead, they held her captive in a series of tents, shacks and sheds behind their home. What happened to Jaycee Dugard after she was kidnapped? Justin Sullivan/Getty Tarps, tents and a wooden structure are seen in the backyard of alleged kidnapper Phillip Garrido on August 28, 2009. Upon bringing her to his backyard compound, Philip kept Jaycee naked and handcuffed, she recounted in her 2011 memoir, A Stolen Life. Shortly after her kidnapping, Phillip raped Jaycee and would continue to do so for years. In addition to the sexual assaults, Phillip forced Jaycee to dress up and put on makeup for his personal fantasies, she later revealed. He explains to me he has a sex problem and that he took me so I could help him with his problem so he wouldnt have to bother anyone else with his problem, Jaycee wrote in A Stolen Life. He says it consumes his mind and that by me giving him an outlet I am saving others. The rapes continued weekly until August 1994, when Jaycee gave birth to her first child, the Los Angeles Times reported. She was beautiful. I felt like I wasnt alone anymore. [I] had somebody else who was mine. I wasnt alone, Jaycee told Diane Sawyer on ABC News in 2011. Following her birth, the frequency of the rapes slowed down but still continued. The final assault came in 1997 when Jaycee became pregnant with her second child. She gave birth to another daughter in November of that year. The girls grew up knowing Phillip was their father but believed Nancy was their mother and Jaycee, their older sister. They were never taken to a doctor or allowed to attend school, but Jaycee did her best to homeschool them in the backyard, she wrote in A Stolen Life. I had the girls to take care of, Jaycee wrote. But I wanted them to have a better life. How were Jaycee Dugard and her daughters rescued? Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty A team of FBI investigators prepares to search a home for clues in the 18-year-old kidnapping case of Jaycee Dugard in Antioch, California. Jaycees 18 years in captivity came to an end in August 2009, after Phillip took their daughters (who were 15 and 11 at the time) to the University of California, Berkeley campus in search of an event permit to distribute religious flyers. A campus police officer became suspicious of Phillip during the visit and requested that he return the following day. He was clearly unstable," Lisa Campbell, the UC Berkeley manager of special events, said about Phillip. Before he came back to UC Berkeley on Aug. 25, 2009, Officer Ally Jacobs ran a background check on him and discovered he was a convicted sex offender. When he did return to the campus with his two daughters, Campbell and Jacobs were both concerned about the girls appearance and behavior which Jacobs described as extremely pale, with lifeless eyes and no emotion. Im a mother, so police mode turned into mother mode, Jacobs said. Since Campbell and Jacobs had no way of holding Phillip, they contacted his parole officer after he left campus to express their concern about his two daughters. The parole officer informed them that, to their knowledge, Phillip did not have any daughters. The following day, Aug. 26, 2009, Phillip was summoned to his parole officers office and brought Nancy, Jaycee (whom he called Allissa) and their two daughters. There, he eventually admitted that he had kidnapped and raped Jaycee. Phillip and Nancy were both taken into custody, and Jaycee was reunited with her mother, Terry, and step-sister Shayna, on the morning of Aug. 27, 2009. To hug that girl after 18 years and touch her hair and run my fingers down her back and separating the strands of hair, it was just the best feeling in the world, Jaycees aunt, Tina Dugard, told PEOPLE after the emotional family reunion. Did Jaycee Dugard have Stockholm Syndrome? Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic Jaycee Dugard attends the 3rd annual Diane Von Furstenberg awards on March 9, 2012 in New York City. Following Jaycees rescue, there were theories that she had Stockholm Syndrome (a condition in which victims develop positive feelings towards their abuser or captor as a coping mechanism, according to the Cleveland Clinic). These theories developed after it was revealed that Jaycee had never tried to escape the Garridos during her 18 years of captivity and even refused to tell the authorities her true identity when she was initially questioned. Jaycee only properly identified herself after Phillip confessed. She later testified that, though she longed for freedom, she never attempted to escape because of her two daughters. I couldnt leave. I had the girls, she said in her testimony, per The New York Times. Jaycee has also strongly refuted that she ever had Stockholm Syndrome. Its degrading having my family believe that I was in love with this captor and wanted to stay with him, she told ABC News in 2016. I mean, that is so far from the truth that it makes me want to throw up. Its disgusting. I adapted to survive my circumstances. Theres just no other way to put it. Jaycee continued, He was always my captor. I never forgot that. Never. What happened to Phillip and Nancy Garrido? Randy Pench/Sacramento Bee/Tribune News Service/Getty Phillip Garrido sits in his chair in El Dorado Superior Court in Placerville, California on December 11, 2009. Following Jaycees rescue, Phillip and Nancy were arrested and charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment, as well as multiple counts of rape, lewd conduct with a minor and child pornography, CBS reported. Despite his initial confession, Phillip originally pleaded not guilty to the charges in April 2011. However, later that same month, both Phillip and Nancy pleaded guilty to kidnapping and rape charges, The New York Times reported. In June 2011, Phillip was sentenced to 431 years in prison while Nancy received a sentence of 36 years to life. Both waived the right to appeal as part of their sentences but they are eligible for parole as early as 2034. I hope the justice system understands who they have in prison and will not let Phillip Garrido out as they did last time he was in prison for rape and kidnapping, Jaycee told PEOPLE in 2016 of her captor's 1976 conviction for kidnapping a casino worker. He was serving life plus 50 [years] and was paroled in 11 years. He then took me captive for the next 18 years of my life. She added, He belongs in prison where he cannot hurt anyone else. Where are Jaycee Dugard and her daughters now? Following her rescue, Jaycee and her two daughters moved in with her mother, Terry, in an undisclosed location in Northern California. Jaycee retained custody of her two daughters, and the trio attempted to achieve a new sense of normalcy following their years of captivity. Im so happy to be back with my family, Jaycee told PEOPLE in October 2009. Nothing is more important than the unconditional love and support I have from them." Slowly, Jaycee and her daughters worked to rebuild their lives. Jaycee learned to drive, adopted her own pets and began checking items off of a bucket list she had drafted while being held hostage by Phillip including swimming with dolphins, riding in a hot air balloon and traveling to see pyramids in Belize, ABC News reported. In the years since her rescue, Jayce has also written two books about her experience the 2011 memoir A Stolen Life and 2016s Freedom: My Book of Firsts and founded The JAYC Foundation, which helps families recovering from abductions or other traumatic events. In 2016, Jaycee revealed that her two daughters were attending college. However, shes largely kept information about their personal lives private only praising them for their resilience and strength. Im so excited for them and so proud of all the challenges they have overcome, she told PEOPLE. Jaycee elaborated in Freedom: My Book of Firsts, writing, I am so proud of who they are growing up to be. Ive done my best to protect them over the years, just like any other mother would do for her kids. Jaycee also explained why she hadn't shared more about her daughters' lives. You might wonder why not more of this book is about them since they are such a big part of my life. I have chosen it to be this way for the simple reason that I believe they deserve the right to their own stories," she wrote. "One day if they want to, they can write them their way. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. With this years White House Correspondents Dinner being held during the ongoing military conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the event at the Washington Hilton. Protesters said they were there to protest media complicity in genocide by Israel and to uplift calls from Palestinian journalists to boycott the event, the Intercepts Prem Thakker reported. Attendees were seen in suits and gowns making their way past and through the protest to enter the event. BREAKING: A Palestine solidarity demonstration gathers outside the entrance of the White House Correspondents Dinner, confronting celebs and high-profile guests as they arrive. pic.twitter.com/hfHyjdkijD BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) April 27, 2024 Banners held by protesters included Stand with press in Gaza and Stop media complicity in genocide. Among other words, protesters chanted shame on you at members of the media and others entering the event, as seen in video shared by PBS NewsHour correspondent Lisa Desjardins. In honor of Palestinian journalists whove died covering the war, protesters laid out faux bloody press vests outside the dinner. Others laid on the ground to evoke the bodies of journalists whove been killed. bloody press vests laid outside the white house correspondents dinner for all the palestinian journalists killed pic.twitter.com/hAJl3mb80Y emilie frank (@emiliepfrank) April 27, 2024 Controversial feminist activist group CodePink was among those who shared video from the protests with the message, Every time the media lies, a journalist in Gaza dies. It also noted that protesters draped a Palestinian flag out the window of a top-floor room at the hotel where the dinner is being held. One protester yelled at the camera the Genocide Joe nickname for the president that some liberal protesters have used in recent weeks, as well as asserting that he was responsible for 30,000 Palestinian deaths. Caitlyn Jenner was confronted by demonstrators on video as she made her way into the event. Caitlyn Jenner confronted by protestors at White House Correspondents Dinner. Theyre here to protest media complicity in genocide & uplift calls from Palestinian journalists to boycott the event as they are being targeted & killed for doing their jobs, with full US backing. pic.twitter.com/OG7QLhl8zM Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) April 27, 2024 One protesters sign featured a New York Times masthead with Times crossed out and replaced by War Crimes. Other signs took shots at news networks by switching up their acronyms, including Criminal News Network, Cable Bull St and All Bullst Constantly. While former MSNBC anchor Mehdi Hasan has attended the dinner for the past two years, he noted that he decided not to attend this years event in solidarity with under-fire Palestinian journalists in Gaza who have called for a boycott. Hasan joined with Cynthia Nixon, Greta Thunberg, W. Kamau Bell, Bassem Youssef, Spencer Ackerman, Viet Thanh Nguyen and others this week to read the words of Palestinian journalists killed in the war. "We stand in solidarity with our fellow journalists in Gazathe question is: where's everyone else?" For Zeteo, me, @gretathunberg, @NaomiAKlein, @fbhutto, @byoussef & a host of Zeteo contributors read out the words of Palestinian journalists killed by Israel in Gaza. Watch: pic.twitter.com/yfDLwgkgLC Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) April 26, 2024 The White House Correspondents Dinner has frequently drawn protests over the years for a variety of issues, such as climate activists protesting Biden outside last years event. However, the protests usually are not as large and dont include the same intensity as those seen outside this years event. The post White House Correspondents Dinner Draws Israel-Hamas War Protesters appeared first on TheWrap. "Saturday Night Live" cast member Colin Jost headlined the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night, and like some of the comedians before him, he delivered some jokes that were perhaps slightly too edgy for the crowd in Washington, D.C. "We're all here tonight at nerd prom. Well, Matt Gaetz is at regular prom," Jost said, in a not-so-subtle reference to allegations that the Florida Republican had sex with a 17-year-old (Gaetz has vehemently denied the allegations, and the Justice Department closed its investigation without filing charges). The comedian made some gentle barbs at President Joe Biden and the media, and then some more about Trump, joking that both presidential candidates are so old that "Jimmy Carter is out there thinking, 'I could maybe win this thing.'" Jost also brought up Trump's legal troubles and touched on the differences between the two candidates. "The Republican candidate for president owes half a billion in fines for bank fraud and is currently spending his days farting himself awake during a porn star hush money trial, and the race is tied?" Jost asked incredulously. "The candidate who is a famous New York City playboy took abortion rights away, and the guy who's trying to give you your abortion rights back is an 80-year-old Catholic. How does that make sense?" Lara Trump, the recently minted Republican National Committee co-chair who was in attendance, was also singled out. Jost joked about her cover of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down," saying, "I cant believe Im saying this to a member of the Trump family, but maybe stick to politics." Jost did inject some earnestness into his speech at the end, telling Biden that his late grandfather had voted for him "because you're a decent man." Jost follows a long line of comedians who have roasted the president at the annual dinner. Not everyone has the stomach for it, though. Former President Donald Trump, who attended the dinner as a guest in 2011, was mocked so ruthlessly by then-President Barack Obama that it "accelerated his ferocious efforts to gain stature within the political world," The New York Times reported in 2016. Trump never attended the event as president the only president to do so since Calvin Coolidge though he was still brutally roasted in absentia. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Protesters attempted to shame journalists and politicos heading to the White House Correspondents Association Dinner on Saturday into skipping the event in solidarity with the many journalists who have lost their lives in Gaza since Israel began its war on the territory. For some attendees, the protests on the way in may have been the only time they heard about those journalists killed in Gaza unless they were listening very closely. The slain journalists in Gaza were mentioned one time on stage, according to transcripts of the event, when NBC News Senior White House Correspondent Kelly ODonnell said, Since October, about 100 journalists have been killed, most of those deaths in Gaza, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. That was it. Since Hamas Oct. 7 attack, Israel has laid siege to Gaza, killing 34,000, displacing millions, and leaving the population at imminent risk of famine. At least 97 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, the Committee to Protect Journalists wrote on Friday. President Joe Biden, who has steadfastly supported Israels war, did at one point acknowledge the dangers journalists face. You literally risk your lives doing [the] job you do, covering everything from natural disasters, to pandemics, to wars, and so much more, Biden said. And some of your colleagues have given their lives. And many have suffered grievous injuries. Other reporters have lost their freedom. The White House Correspondents Dinner is Washington, D.C.s event of the year the night where the Beltways top journalists, politicians, celebrities, and clingers-on party with White House staff. The president attends every year (except Donald Trump) to make jokes and also submit to a roast. That role was performed Saturday by Saturday Night Lives Colin Jost, who did not mention Gaza. The White House Correspondents Association announced four awards. An award for overall excellence in White House coverage went to Axios political reporter Barak Ravid for his reporting on Israels war in Gaza, including his Oct. 9 story headlined: Scoop: Netanyahu tells Biden we have to go into Gaza. Barak Ravids reporting displayed deep, almost intimate levels of sourcing in the U.S. and abroad that produced stories closely aligned to the events that subsequently transpired, the association wrote. His stories put the reader into the room as decisions were being made in the tumultuous aftermath of the Oct. 7 raids. An award for excellence in presidential news coverage under deadline pressure went to New York Times Chief White House Correspondent Peter Baker. The association wrote that his coverage of President Joe Bidens visit to Israel just days after the Oct. 7 attacks, filed on deadline from Tel Aviv, combined a comprehensive recounting of that whirlwind trip with expert, reporting-driven analysis of the presidents messaging and priorities at a fraught global moment. An award for courage and accountability, named after the late former Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, went to the Post for its coverage on how AR-15 rifles destroy bodies an important story, to be sure. In the lead-up to the event, MSNBC Daily columnist Dean Obeidallah said on MSNBC, I hope they bring up the number of journalists killed in Gaza. The fact that being a journalist in Gaza could mean your life is taken away just doing your job, camera people, reporters on the ground, covering it war time correspondents and [they are] killed a lot of times with U.S. weaponry, to be blunt. And so I hope that they are acknowledged for their sacrifice, just trying to get the story out to the world. That did happen. Once. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Why do our noses get snotty when we are sick? A school nurse explains the powers of mucus Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question youd like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Why do our noses get snotty when we are sick? Veronica P., age 5, Panama City, Florida Not many things are as uncomfortable and annoying as a runny or congested nose when youre sick. Constantly blowing your nose and not being able to breathe through it may leave you wondering: Why does this happen? Im a nurse practitioner who works with kids every day and also teaches nursing. The answer is pretty simple. Mucus or snot is one of the ways your body helps keep you healthy. Mucus lines your nose, throat, lungs and other parts of your body to protect it from bad bacteria, viruses and other particles. Your body continuously creates mucus to fight off germs and help get rid of them. When youre sick, your immune system ramps up to produce extra mucus to flush out germs. While it might seem gross, mucus is also pretty amazing. Slimy protector Your body creates mucus out of a combination of water, proteins and salts. Its sticky consistency traps bad microorganisms and other unwanted particles, like dust, pet dander and mildew, so they cant get farther into your system. Some components in mucus stop bacteria from banding together and becoming more dangerous. Other elements can actually kill the invaders that are trying to make you sick. And though scientists dont completely understand how, the proteins and genes in mucus seem to work together to make it thicker and stickier if necessary. Once germs or other potentially damaging particles are trapped and neutralized, your bodys way of getting rid of them altogether is to make so much mucus that you have to blow, sneeze or cough them out. You might have noticed that sometimes when youre sick, your nose can get red too. This is because your immune system, in addition to making mucus, also sends extra white blood cells to the source of an infection. As they rush to the scene to help fight infection, the extra white blood cells expand the blood vessels in the area, making your nose look red. All the wiping and blowing can make it red, too. Snot can come in a rainbow of yucky colors. When white blood cells are fighting an infection, they release chemicals that may turn your snot yellow. When more of those cells are needed to get the job done, mucus can even turn green. Typically, after a few days, colored mucus changes back to clear and your stuffy nose will go away. Not just in your nose Mucus isnt found just in your nose and lungs. Your eyes also have a thin layer of mucus that helps protect them from particles in the air. When you get sick or get an eye infection, eye mucus can act the same way it does in your nose catching and killing germs. Eye mucus can also sometimes turn thick and yellow. If that happens, youll want to call your health care provider. Dont ever touch your eyes with your fingers. That can introduce more germs. Your stomach and intestines also have protective mucus. If youve ever had an upset stomach that led to diarrhea, the mucus in your intestinal track was working overtime to help flush out bad bacteria. Thats why your normal poop goes from a solid mush to something more slimy. There are other reasons you can have stomachaches like stress, constipation or food allergies but if you have diarrhea, your mucus is definitely hard at work. Animals have it too Humans arent the only animals that use mucus. For example, dogs and cats have mucus too. Some fish use mucus for protection while sleeping. RobertoCostaPinto/WikiMedia Commons, CC BY-SA Parrotfish, wrasses and other sea creatures produce mucus cocoons to help protect them from predators at night. Chameleons use the sticky mucus on the end of their tongues to reel in their prey. Earthworms secrete mucus to help them move through the soil, which in turn benefits the soil. In humans, mucus helps neutralize and eliminate the microbial bad guys. So the next time you reach for a tissue to blow your nose, remember: Your bodys natural defenses are doing their best to keep you healthy or make you better. Just think of all that snot as one of your bodys superpowers. Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question youd like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live. And since curiosity has no age limit adults, let us know what youre wondering, too. We wont be able to answer every question, but we will do our best. 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: Kristin Ahrens, Purdue University Read more: Kristin Ahrens is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN). Seldom have I read anything more demoralizing than Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Harts recent interview with Todd Dorman in The Cedar Rapids Gazette. While Hart yet again wanted to wax nostalgic about her compelling experiences gathering rocks on an eastern Iowa farm, Dorman deftly put her between a rock and a hard place by asking about Iowa water quality within the context of corn grown for ethanol. Around 20% of Iowas land area is used to grow corn for fuel ethanol, a significant driver of water pollution in our state. Harts response: Our economy depends so much on agriculture, and these are not easy solutions to come by. You know, youre talking to a farmer here. I think, again, you know, the Democratic Party is a big tent and, and theres lots of room for lots of different opinions on how to go about this. Translation: Ethanol > Water Quality. One solution that would be easier (in my opinion) than what politicians want to admit is regulation of the pollution. You know, the way we regulate the pollution from pretty much every other industry in the country. Hart on that: Regulation is possible, but only if done in cooperation. Presumably in cooperation means with Republicans, who, last time I checked, are about as fond of regulation as me listening to another sad, sappy ballad from Rita and the Rock Hounds. So anyway, easy out on regulation for Rita and the rest of the lionhearted minority under the golden dome of the Iowa State Capitol. Nicely done, Rita. Ive said many times that you dont exterminate the entirety of nature in a state without the complicity of both political parties. Their positions on water pollution (and agriculture in general) are certainly similar the major differences are in the messaging. Republicans proudly flaunt their environmental policies as if they were Randy Bobandys beer gut on Trailer Park Boys. Democrats like Hart, however, knowing their voters are repulsed by such vulgar exhibitionism, try to be a little more subtle about it. I just dont get Democrats on water quality and other environmental issues. Ethanol. Carbon pipelines. Water quality. Do you ever hear them talk about these topics with anything resembling a passionate voice? Do you ever hear them talk about them at all? Do they ever challenge Agriculture Secretary Status Quo, Tom Vilsack? Sure, a few have picked up on the cancer stories, but is that what it takes human bodies on the curb? Its disgraceful (and immoral, in my view) that we cant act on pollution until it comes to that. Watch how many of them will take Big Ag donor money in the upcoming election. Reducing ethanol, regulating agriculture are popular Im still doing a lot of programs for groups, including county-level Democratic gatherings. While talking about these issues ethanol must die, we need more parks, regulate agriculture and so on audience heads eagerly nod up and down like a kindergarten class at a yo-yo demonstration. But Ive had to listen more than once afterward to an elected Rock Hound or somebody from the donor class tell me that I need to tone down my rhetoric, or that my ideas are unrealistic, or some other cowardly nonsense that makes me wonder what the heck is going on. I also tell people at these events not to think voting the correct way will somehow, someday, solve our environmental problems. In his classic 1985 book Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman wrote: You may cast a ballot for someone who claims to have some plans, as well as the power to act. But this you can do only once every two or four years by giving up one hour of your time. Voting, we might even say, is the next to last refuge of the politically impotent. The last refuge is, of course, giving your opinion to a pollster. You know who isnt politically impotent? Farmers and agribusiness. Rita Hart and a large portion of the Democratic Party trip over themselves just for a chance to brush up against King Farmers royal robes. The electoral math of this just doesnt add up to me. There are about 85,000 farmers in Iowa, and assuming 70% of them vote, they made up about 3.8% of the total Iowa vote in the 2020 election. Considering the demographics of farming (old, wealthy, white, male) these are not people likely to vote for Democrats under any circumstance unless of course their daughter and son-in-law are trying to conceive by IVF. And even then, its a long shot. Joe Biden couldve gotten every farmers vote in 2020 and still would have lost Iowa, by a lot. Why oh why this Democratic political preoccupation with farmers? Why are farmer votes more valuable to them than, say, a nurse or a waitperson or a student or a hairdresser who wants to take his or her family to a state park beach on a summer weekend, but cant because the contaminated beach is closed? I just dont get it. Clean water, fresh air are middle-class issues Since 1932, the Democratic Party has tried to position itself as the party of the middle class, and a longtime electoral strategy has been to expand the middle class, however it might be defined. This has meant an embrace of people of color, women, LGBTQ people, Jews and others, and rightfully so. I submit to you that issues of environment clean water, fresh air, clean and abundant parks, and other similar outdoor amenities are middle-class issues. Greasing the skids so billionaire businessmen can lay pipe for government handouts, and so millionaire farmers arent annoyed by reasonable regulation, are not. Last time I checked, there were plenty of advocates on the R side, at least in Iowa, to help with that stuff. A few weeks ago, I was a speaker at a fundraiser for the Nahant Marsh, a 305-acre ecological feature in Davenport. I must tell you I was shocked by the (large) amount of money people were willing to donate so they could enjoy nature close to home. Really shocked. Since the dawn of civilization, people have craved communion with the natural world, and this craving has always been, for obvious reasons, more intense for people living in cities. I am bewildered how our political leaders, and especially those on the left, leave this ripe peach hanging on the tree. What can they be thinking? What am I missing here? Are they really that obtuse, or are they privy to super-secret polling data from some D.C. consulting firm telling them they need to kiss farmers rears? I want to finish up by circling back to the Dorman/Hart interview, in particular Harts comment, You know, youre talking to a farmer here. Of course, I cant know the complete context or tone she used. But if Rita Hart were sitting here next to me, I would say: You know, youre talking to a non-farmer here. And my vote and my rights and my dignity are every bit as important as the farmers you and the rest of the Democratic Party desperately swoon over. But hey, who am I? Enjoy your irrelevance, Rita. Chris Jones is a retired research engineer from the University of Iowa where he studied the environmental outcomes of production agriculture. He is the author of The Swine Republic: Struggles with the Truth about Agriculture and Water Quality and lives in Iowa City, Iowa. A version of this commentary originally appeared on his Substack at riverraccoon.substack.com JOHANNESBURG, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The South African government on Sunday assured its citizens that the upcoming national and provincial elections will be conducted in a safe and secure environment, with just one month to go before South African voters head to the polls. "As the government, we want to issue a stern warning to anyone with the intention of disrupting the elections that law enforcement officers will deal with them decisively and put them behind bars," Minister of Defense and Military Veterans Thandi Modise said in Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital, while briefing the media on crime prevention and security preparedness for the elections. Modise said they will rely on coordinated and intelligence-led planning and operations before, during, and after the elections. "We have put measures in place to protect all public facilities that will be used for voting, including national key points and other essential infrastructure that might be targeted by criminal elements. Any person who tampers with or damages essential infrastructure is guilty of a criminal offense, and can be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years if found guilty," said Modise. Prosecutors also stand ready to prosecute offenses such as electoral fraud and corruption, interference with the duties of electoral officials, and forcing anyone to vote, said Modise, who warned the public against spreading false and unverified information, rumors, and threats. The minister added that the security plan will be constantly reviewed as the situation changes and will be adapted as necessary. According to South Africa's electoral management body, the 2024 elections are expected to be the most competitive in the country's history, with more than 14,000 candidates vying for 887 seats in national and provincial legislatures. South Africa will hold the national and local government elections on May 29. When Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago, Vladimir sent his ex-wife and their four-year-old son abroad for safety. Like most Ukrainian men, he stayed behind, barred from leaving by martial law. But after two years alone, and having been declared medically unfit to serve, he decided to join the family in Germany. A child needs a father, he said. Now, he could be stranded after a controversial law stripped fighting age men abroad of consular assistance. Those between 18- and 60-years-old will only be able to replace their passports in the Ukraine, meaning they will have to return to the country - and risk the draft. The move, designed to help plug a dire manpower gap in the countrys armed forces, addresses long-running tensions over men who managed to evade a ban on foreign travel for the duration of the war. But critics, including some serving soldiers, have warned it may be unconstitutional and will simply encourage those who are already overseas to stay away. Poland has suggested it could even deport Ukrainian men back to their home country for conscription. For his part, Vladimir, 39, will not be heeding the call and returning: It was morally difficult [to leave] but I decided my family needs me. I dont feel any kind of pressure from family or friends to go back. My mates all understand my situation. Units undermanned Ukraines military commissariats, or local recruiting offices, were overwhelmed with volunteers in the first months of the invasion. But ebbing enthusiasm and high casualties over the past two years have left many units dangerously undermanned. Ukrainian and Western military planners have identified the manpower shortage as one of three critical issues that must be addressed if Ukraine is to resist the current Russian offensive and eventually regain the initiative. The immediate focus has been on munitions, especially air defence artillery, on fortifications, which includes proper defensive lines, and thirdly, on this question of manpower, one Western official said of recent talks with Ukraine. As far as putting people on planes goes, we have not been asked about that and I dont imagine being asked about it either, the official added when asked if his government would send Ukrainian men home. The Ukrainian government has taken a number of measures to raise new recruits, including lowering the draft age from 27 to 25. But Wednesdays announcement appears to have caused some confusion within the Ukrainian government. One Ukrainian official told the Telegraph that they were not entirely sure how the law would work because issues like exemptions for those legitimately unable to fight - such as Vladimir - do not seem to have been addressed. Dmytro Lazutkin, press secretary of the Ukrainian ministry of defence, said there were no plans to issue conscription notices overseas - Volodymyr Tarasov/Future Publishing Dmytro Lazutkin, the press secretary of the Ukrainian ministry of defence, said there were no plans to issue conscription notices overseas. The ministry of defence cannot comment on the actions of the foreign ministry. I think its pretty unrealistic, he told Radio Free Europe. It has also drawn a mixed reaction from Ukraines allies. Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Polands defence minister, said Ukrainian citizens have obligations towards the state, and that Warsaw would help in ensuring that those who are subject to compulsory military service go to Ukraine. German authorities have said some Ukrainian men will be able to extend their residency in the country even if their passports expire as long as there is some way to identify them. Men between the ages of 18 and 60 have officially been banned from leaving Ukraine since the president Volodymyr Zelensky introduced martial law on the first day of the Russian invasion in 2022. In practice, many were able to obtain exemptions, either by being declared unfit for military service, having three or more children, or by gaining special permission to travel from the government. Others have tried to leave illegally, some by smuggling themselves across Ukraines western borders. Mr Zelensky cracked down on officials abusing exemptions to travel last year. The bar for being passed fit to serve has also been lowered. The European Unions statistics agency, Eurostat, says 4.3 million Ukrainians are living in EU countries, 860,000 of them men 18 years of age or older. The British government says it has issued 256,200 visas under its scheme for Ukrainian refugees. It is not clear how many of them were for fighting age men. Ukrainian men living abroad told the Telegraph they had no plans to return to fight and considered the law unfair. The law is not fair My passport is still valid, 39-year-old Vladimir said, but I think for many people who came here from occupied areas like Mariupol, the situation is a bit insulting. Russia destroyed their homes, and now their own country is taking a stick to them. Volodymyr, a builder from Western Ukraine who has been living and working in the Czech Republic for most of the past eight years, said: The law is not fair. And all my Ukrainian friends from the Czech Republic, Lutsk and Kyiv think so. Nobody is happy with it. The government is forcing us, and with such laws we will step away from them. We will take citizenship in other countries. People wont return. The longer the war goes on, the more laws like this are passed, the more people hate Ukraine and the government. Why should I return to fight? For what? Why didnt the government care about labour migrants like me before the war? Every day we have less and less territory and fewer and fewer people. Some have been killed, others swam the Tisza river just to escape. The Tisza, a tributary of the Danube, marks a 10-mile stretch of Ukraines border with Hungary. The law has drawn criticism from some serving soldiers - Wojtek Radwanski/Getty One man, who admitted leaving the country illegally and is currently in Indonesia, said he felt no obligation to fight for the country and considered himself an observer rather than a participant in the war. Perhaps surprisingly, the law has even drawn criticism from some soldiers. I absolutely agree with them, said Nikita Ruzhenko, a recruiting sergeant with Ukraines Kharkiv-based 113th brigade, when asked what he thought of their opinions. To tell them they left Ukraine so they are not Ukrainians any more is not normal. We need to invite people back, to greet them gladly, and not tell them they are not Ukrainians. Its bulls***. This law wont work properly. It is a political compromise and no one wants to take responsibility. It is not good for the military and it is not good for civilians. It is for everyone and no one. Sgt Ruzhenko, who lost an eye in the first year of the war but like many wounded is still deemed fit for service and cannot demobilise, admits current recruitment is dire. While his ideal soldier would be 27- to 30-years-old, the average candidate is around 45 or 50, from the social and economic margins of society, and often in poor health. The doctors pass them as capable. When they get to their units the commanders see people who are tired, with bad health, some with chronic diseases, he said. The fix, he argues, is not threatening people overseas, but allowing people to choose their units. No one has listened to the military. The military wants straight recruitment to the brigades without going through the commissariats. It will be much more effective and much fairer. This will lead us to victory and the people will serve where they want, how they want, and with people they want, he said. Lots of people want to serve, they just dont want to be assigned to a meat brigade, he said, using soldiers slang for units where low level commanders and high level commanders dont give a f*** about their people. He refused to give examples, but said all soldiers knew who the good and bad units and commanders were. Brigades who understand people are very valuable and naturally expand and grow stronger. Bad brigades will wither and eventually disappear and Ukraine would end up with a more efficient and professional military. It would be like free market recruitment - and now we have the USSR. 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. Why do royal fans think Meghan Markle and Buckingham Palace are in a battle over jam? Here's the drama, explained. Meghan Markle's lifestyle brand, American Riviera, unveiled its first product: strawberry jam. Buckingham Palace advertised its strawberry preserve on Instagram on Wednesday. Some royal fans think Buckingham Palace's post might be a subtle jab against Markle. Some royal fans think the Duchess of Sussex and Buckingham Palace are in a jam specifically strawberry. Speculation that Buckingham Palace and Meghan Markle might be battling it out via fruit preserves began on Wednesday. Buckingham Palace. SOPA Images/Getty Images The tumultuous relationship between Markle and members of the British royal family became a hot topic after she married Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, in May 2018. Reports about tensions between Markle and members of the British royal family have quieted down, but some online users think Buckingham Palace might have thrown a subtle jab. Here's what happened. Markle debuted a lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard in March and later unveiled its first product Markle launched the official website and Instagram for American Riviera Orchard in March. Neither the Instagram account nor the website have additional product details, but celebrities and influencers began touting the brand's strawberry jam in April. Fashion designer Tracy Robbins and photographer Delfina Blaqier were the first to show off the strawberry jam samples on Instagram Stories, according to Variety. Chrissy Teigen took it a step further by sharing a video on Instagram of her using the jam for a recipe. "This might have been one of the best bites we've had all year," she wrote in the caption. The outlet reported that celebrities like Mindy Kaling and Tracee Ellis Ross were also among the recipients. Buckingham Palace recently advertised its own strawberry preserve on Instagram The official Buckingham Palace Shop Instagram account shared an advertisement for its strawberry preserve on Wednesday, about one week after people began receiving samples from America Riviera Orchard. "Our Strawberry Preserve is made using only the finest berries and is delicious served in a variety of ways," the caption read. It didn't take long for online users to draw comparisons between Buckingham Palace and American Riviera Orchard. Some suggested that Buckingham Palace might have been shading Markle and her brand. "Did the Palace just subtly troll Ms. Montecito?!" one person wrote. "I'm dying at the timings of this ad," another added. Some users criticized Buckingham Palace, with one person writing: "Poor taste. In many aspects." American Riviera Orchard and Buckingham Palace haven't commented on the speculation Representatives for Markle and Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. They also haven't publicly addressed the speculation. More recently, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III is preparing to return to public-facing royal duties following his cancer diagnosis in January. The 75-year-old is expected to visit a cancer treatment center with Queen Camilla on April 30 and host Japan's royals in June. Read the original article on Business Insider A woman was killed and another was injured in shooting in Winton Hills Saturday afternoon. A woman was killed and another was injured in a shooting in Winton Hills on Saturday afternoon. Officers responded to the report of a shooting in the 6300 block of Center Hill Avenue at approximately 2:44 p.m., according to Cincinnati police. When they arrived, they found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Cincinnati Fire Department personnel determined that one of the victims, 40-year-old Leah Choma-De Jimenez, was dead at the scene. The second victim was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in stable condition. Police have not said what led to the shooting as the investigation is still ongoing. They have also not released any information on suspects at this time. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Cincinnati Police Department Homicide Unit at 513-352-3542. Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided the photo for this story. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Woman dies, another sent to hospital in Winton Hill shooting Woman uses private area to smuggle crystal meth into Georgia jail: Deputies A Calhoun woman is facing a list of charges after allegedly trying to smuggle illegal drugs into a jail. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Last Tuesday, Floyd County deputies were called to a home on Chatillon Road in Rome just before 9:30 p.m. When authorities arrived, they learned Brandi Zelinka Dodds allegedly hit her boyfriend on the forehead between his eyes, causing him to bleed. The sheriffs office said the incident occurred in front of a 10-year-old child. TRENDING STORIES: Dubbs was arrested and charged with simple battery, cruelty to children and possession of a controlled substance. While being searched at the Floyd County Jail, deputies reportedly found 77.6 grams of crystal meth hiding in Dubbs private area. Shes now added trafficking illegal drugs and crossing guard lines with illegal drugs to her list of charges. She was booked into the Floyd County Jail. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: World Central Kitchen announced that it will resume operations in Gaza on Monday, almost one month after seven of its aid workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the enclave. The U.S.-based nonprofit group, founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, suspended operations in Gaza for four weeks after the workers were killed on April 1, according to a statement. The organization identified the aid workers as Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, a 25-year-old Palestinian; Lalzawmi (Zomi) Frankcom, a 43-year-old Australian; Damian Sobol, a 35-year-old from Poland; Jacob Flickinger, a 33-year-old dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada; and security team members John Chapman, 57, James (Jim) Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, all from the United Kingdom. Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his countrys forces had unintentionally hit innocent people in the Gaza Strip. The IDF took full responsibility for killing the aid workers, saying it was the result of soldiers mistaking them for Hamas gunmen. A car used by the World Central Kitchen that was hit by an Israeli strike the previous day in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, on April 2, 2024. (AFP - Getty Images file) Before halting operations, the organization had distributed more than 43 million meals in Gaza and accounted for 62% of all international NGO aid, WCK said in a statement. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, said Erin Gore, the nonprofits chief executive officer. We are restarting our operation with the same energy, dignity, and focus on feeding as many people as possible. WCK has 276 trucks carrying almost 8 million meals that are ready to cross into Gaza via Rafah, and will send trucks into the enclave via Jordan too, it said in a statement. The organization is also continuing to explore delivering food with the help of Open Arms, a Spanish humanitarian organization, and the United Arab Emirates. WCK is also opening a third high production kitchen, named Damian's Kitchen after Damian Sobol, a kitchen builder who was killed in the April 1 attack. Damians Kitchen is in Mawasi and adds to WCKs 68 other community kitchens in Gaza, including two other high production kitchens in Rafah and Deir al Balah, the organization said. Western employees of international aid organization killed in Israeli attack on Gaza (Ali Jadallah / Anadolu via Getty Images file) The organization is continuing to call for an impartial and international investigation into the Israeli attack that killed the aid workers, who were hit as their vehicle was leaving a warehouse in the Deir al-Balah area of central Gaza. The charity said its team had coordinated its movements with the Israeli military and that it was traveling in a deconflicted zone in two armored cars branded with the World Central Kitchen logo and a soft-skin vehicle. While the IDF has taken responsibility for the attack and publicly stated they changed their rules of operations, WCK is seeking answers and advocating for change to better protect all NGO workers bravely serving in Gaza, the organization said. Gore, the charity's chief executive officer, says WCK was forced to make a decision: Stop feeding altogether during one of the worst hunger crises ever or keep feeding knowing that aid, aid workers and civilians are being intimidated and killed. These are the hardest conversations, and we have considered all perspectives when deliberating, Gore said. Ultimately, we decided we must keep feeding, continuing our mission of showing up to provide food to people during the toughest of times. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com World Central Kitchen will be resuming operations in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli strike killed seven of its workers earlier this month, the nonprofit organization announced Sunday. The nonprofit organization, founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, had paused its operations in Gaza after the strike on April 1. World Central Kitchen (WCK) CEO Erin Gore said in a message that the organization will continue to get as much food into Gaza, including northern Gaza, as possible. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. We are restarting our operation with the same energy, dignity, and focus on feeding as many people as possible. To date we have distributed more than 43 million meals and we are eager to deliver millions more. Food is a universal right and our work in Gaza has been the most life-saving mission in our 14-year organizational history, Gore said in the statement. The organization has 276 trucks that are equivalent to about 8 million meals ready to enter through the Rafah crossing, according to the statement. It also plans to send trucks with meals through Jordan and is looking into how they can deliver food through the Port of Ashdod. Gore also noted that Israel has apologized for the attack that killed their aid workers, saying that the Israel Defense Forces have changed their rules of operations. WCK said earlier this month that Israels military had taken important steps in the wake of the attack but that systemic change was needed. At the time of the attack, WCK also demanded an independent investigation into the attack that killed the workers. While we have no concrete assurances, we continue to seek answers and advocate for change with the goal of better protecting WCK and all [nongovernmental organization] workers serving selflessly in the worst humanitarian conditions. Our demand for an impartial and international investigation remains, Gore said in the Sunday statement. Gore did not give an exact date for when the organization will restart operations but said they will return soon. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An employee at EcoCare's Corona Test Center in the Tango Terminal at Hamburg Airport holds a test stick for a nasopharyngeal swab. A planned international accord on how to limit deaths and coordinate international action during a pandemic is in the balance ahead of talks at the World Health Organization (WHO). Christian Charisius/dpa A planned international accord on how to limit deaths and coordinate international action during a pandemic is in the balance ahead of talks at the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO's 194 member states are aiming to reach agreement in Geneva from Monday. "It will be difficult," said one negotiator. In the struggle to reach an agreement, the negotiators have presented a radically shortened draft compared to a proposal from before Easter. It now runs to 23 pages. Numerous controversial provisions have been omitted. The international agreement is intended to save lives in the event of a future pandemic and ensure less chaos than during the coronavirus pandemic. It is to be adopted at the next WHO annual meeting in Geneva at the end of May and beginning of June. The aid organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said that the treaty must regulate global health and justice issues, and not just protect the interests of the industry. Melissa Scharwey, MSF's expert on global health, told dpa that Germany must advocate for government investment in research and development to be conditional on equitable access later to medical products for people all over the world. One controversial issue in the accord is whether and how pharmaceutical companies should be obliged to share expertise and make a portion of their products available to poorer countries free of charge or at low cost. MSF is also calling for binding rules to ensure that vaccines can be produced in many countries in future. EAST FLATBUSH, Brooklyn (PIX11) A 24-year-old was shot multiple times Saturday night in East Flatbush, according to the NYPD. Police put two people in custody related to the shooting around 8:45 p.m. after the man was found shot in the abdomen near 54th Street and Church Avenue, police said. Baby dies at Staten Island hospital, parents charged with reckless endangerment: NYPD The man was rushed to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead, police said. Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered local news for years. She has been with PIX11 since 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the global majority can and should make Russia restore a just peace, and Ukraine Peace Summit in June might lay the foundations for this. Source: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video address on 28 April Quote from Zelenskyy: "We continue preparations for the first inaugural Peace Summit in June, and our team, along with our key partners teams, is working to make the Summit truly global. We can say for sure that every continent will be represented different parts of the world, different views on global developments. But all of them share the same recognition that the UN Charter and basic international conventions are binding documents for every country in the world, including a country like Russia, where madness prevails. The world majority must force Russia into peace and it can do this. It is in June that the path to a just peace can begin." Details: In his address, Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine has fulfilled all the conditions necessary to begin negotiations on its accession to the European Union, and now "it is up to the EU side to fulfil its obligations". "We are also preparing for the NATO Summit to be held this summer. A strong political signal is needed the Alliance should not be afraid of its own strength or shy away from its own foundations every country that shares common values and is willing to actually defend them deserves an invitation to join the Alliance," Zelenskyy said. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine is awaiting a shipment of weapons and ammunition from the United States and is also working alongside the US to develop the security agreement that Ukraine expects to be the strongest among such agreements it has reached with other countries. Source: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video address on 28 April Quote from Zelenskyy: "We are still waiting for the supplies promised to Ukraine we expect the type and amount of supplies that can change the situation on the battlefield in Ukraines favour. And it is important that every agreement we have reached is implemented everything that will yield practical results on the battlefield and boost the morale of everyone on the frontline." Details: Zelenskyy said that he spoke with Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the Democrats in the US House of Representatives, on Sunday, 28 April. During their conversation, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine urgently needs Patriot air defence systems. "We are [working] with our partners at all levels to achieve the level of efficiency in assistance that is needed not only to hold our positions, but also to disrupt Russias war plans," Zelenskyy said. He added that Ukraine and the US are currently working "on a specific text" for a bilateral security agreement between the two countries. Quote from Zelenskyy: "Our goal is to make this agreement the strongest of all. We are discussing the practical foundations for our security and cooperation. We are also working on [setting out] the specific levels of support for this year and for the next 10 years, including [military], financial, and political [assistance], and joint arms production. The agreement should be truly exemplary and reflect the strength of American leadership. I am grateful to both our team and the team of the American side for the progress [we have made] in drafting the agreement." Support UP or become our patron! Zombie-looking Sex offender Nearly Snatches Boy, Secret Service For VP Allegedly Has Violent Meltdown, Black Tax Is Real and More News Screenshot: Aurora Police Department Colorado police say a man was arrested after allegedly attempting to abduct a little boy from school property. And thats not even the worst part: Police say the suspect in question has a criminal background and a history of sex crimes. - Kalyn Womack Read More Screenshot: St. Louis County Jail, Facebook St. Louis police placed a man in custody after he was seen on video weeks ago in a World-Star-worthy brawl at a McDonalds, leading an employee to be hospitalized with serious injuries. - Kalyn Womack Read More US Vice President Kamala Harris makes her way to board Air Force Two at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, on June 6, 2021, traveling to Guatemala. - Kamala Harris leaves for Latin America on Sunday on her first foreign trip to Guatemala and Mexico as Vice President. - Photo: Jim WATSON / AFP (Getty Images) An incident at Joint Base Andrews involving a U.S. Secret Service agent assigned to Vice President Kamala Harris is causing quite the stir. On Wednesday, TMZ reported that a Secret Service agent assigned to Harris allegedly attacked his supervisor at the Maryland air base and was removed from the her detail. On social media, people instantly began to raise concerns about the Vice Presidents safety and the vetting of her secret service. - Jessica Washington Read More Screenshot: Cook County Sheriffs Office, NBC 5 Chicago Two years ago, a white woman was found in pieces, stuffed in the freezer of a Chicago home. Police later confirmed she was the landlord of the building, and now her tenant is being held criminally accountable for her killing. - Kalyn Womack Read More Woman paying bills using her laptop at her kitchen table - Photo: MoMo Productions (Getty Images) Theres a good chance youve heard the term the Black Tax used to describe the idea that Black Americans have to work ten times as hard for half as much. But did you know theres a much more literal meaning? - Jessica Washington Read More Screenshot: Facebook A Los Angeles woman returned home one evening back in 2021 to an absolute horror scene: her mother and four children shot to death. Investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department responded to a call reporting a deadly shooting at a Lancaster home the night of Nov. 28, 2021. Neighbors reported hearing commotion outside, seeing a woman yelling outside her front yard: My babies are gone! Theyre all dead! - Kalyn Womack Read More Photo: Dia Dipasupil (Getty Images) There have been a disturbing number of lawsuits coming to light lately. At this point, we might be better off listing the celebrities who havent been accused of mistreating former employees. It seems like a lot of these artists dont know how to handle the the transition from regular person to superstar. - Stephanie Holland Read More Screenshot: KCUR A crooked prosecutor from Kansas temporarily handed over her law license following a damning probe from the Department of Justice that revealed she intentionally sent a Black man to prison for no reason. - Kalyn Womack Read More Screenshot: WGRZ A 12-year-old boy in Buffalo, N.Y. told his family on August 4, 2020 that was just going up the street to the grocery store. However, he never returned. After four years, police are now opening a homicide investigation into the boys disappearance. - Kalyn Womack Read More Photo: Akron Police Department Ohio teenager Tavion Koonce-Williams is lucky to be alive. He was allegedly pointing a very real-looking toy gun at houses as he walked through Akrons Goodyear Heights neighborhood on April 1. Police officer Ryan Westlake responded to a call shot and wounded the 15-year-old boy with seemingly little warning. - Nigel Roberts Read More For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. No details of what Mr Musk and Chinese premier Mr Li discussed have been made public - Wang Ye/Xinhua Elon Musk has jetted into Beijing for a surprise visit as Tesla grapples with a global slowdown in electric car sales and cutthroat competition from cheaper Chinese rivals. The billionaire chief executive on Sunday met with premier Li Qiang, Chinas premier and second-most powerful politician, in a reported effort to unlock his companys bid to deploy fully driverless car technology. Analysts framed Mr Musks move as an attempt to secure a game changer for his company as it faces a series of seemingly existential challenges that have dragged its share price down by a third already this year. It came just days after Tesla reported a fall in first quarter sales and profits amid a cooling of demand for electric cars around the world. The US company is also being squeezed in China its second biggest market by domestic champions such as BYD which are engaged in a brutal price war. This challenge was underlined over the weekend as those same rivals lined up to show off a raft of new electric car models at the annual Beijing auto show, which opened on Thursday. Tesla itself was absent from the show having no new models to unveil but has vowed to bring forward more affordable cars next year. The company has a major factory in Shanghai, where it produces cars for sale both in China and in export markets such as Europe, but saw its Chinese market share fall from 10.5pc to 6.7pc during the course of 2023. Against that backdrop it further slashed prices in China last week, cutting the cost of the Model 3 to 231,900 yuan (25,850) and the Model Y to 249,900 yuan. Mr Musk arrived at his meeting with Mr Li in a black Tesla Model X and was greeted by Ren Hongbin, a government official who heads the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. No details of what the pair discussed were made public. However, footage released by Chinas state broadcaster showed the premier hailing Tesla as a successful example of Sino-American economic and trade cooperation. Mr Musk is reportedly seeking permission to move driving data collected by his company in China out of the country so it can be processed in the US, where Tesla keeps its most sensitive and cutting-edge autonomous driving technology. This would allow Tesla to better train its autopilot driverless car software, potentially meaning it could deploy the full self-driving version for use in China. At the moment Chinese laws forbid domestic data being transferred out of the country and full self-driving autopilot has not been enabled there. Removing this barrier is seen as a vital step for Tesla, given China is the companys second-biggest market, and that it is being outflanked by Chinese rivals that have already rolled out their own competitor softwares. Story continues Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, said: If Musk is able to obtain approval from Beijing to transfer data collected in China abroad this would be a game changer. We also believe this trip will be significant for Tesla and Musk, further strengthening its EV footprint within the Chinese market at a pivotal time. Tesla's Gigafactory in Shanghai opened in 2019 - Liu Ying/Xinhua On his way into the meeting on Sunday, Mr Musk was overheard telling journalists: Its good to see electric vehicles making progress in China. All cars will be electric in future. He later tweeted a picture of himself and Mr Li with the caption: Honored to meet with Premier Li Qiang. We have known each other now for many years, since early Shanghai days. The post is a reference to Mr Lis previous role in helping Tesla secure permission for its first Chinese factory in Shanghai, its first outside the US, back in 2018. The Chinese politician, who is now the second-most senior member of the countrys Politburo leadership committee, was previously the communist partys secretary in Shanghai from 2017 to 2022. 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. SpaceX knocks out 1st of pair of Space Coast launches for the weekend SpaceX sent up one rocket Saturday and has one more set for Sunday from the Space Coast. First up was a Falcon 9 on the Galileo L12 mission carrying global navigation satellites for the European Commission from Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39-A at 8:34 p.m. The first-stage booster flew for a record-tying 20th time, but was expended getting the payload to medium-Earth orbit. The second launch this weekend is planned for Sunday when a Falcon 9 carrying 23 Starlink satellites aims to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex 40 targeting the opening of a four-hour window from 5:50-9:50 p.m. with a backup Monday during a four-hour window that opens at 5:25 p.m. The first-stage booster is flying for the 13th time and will attempt a recovery landing downrange on the droneship These mark the 31st and 32nd launches of 2024 from the Space Coast, all but two of which have been by SpaceX. United Launch Alliance flew the other two, with the first ever Vulcan Centaur launch in January and the final Delta IV Heavy launch earlier this month. It has its third lined up for May 6, though, and with its third different rocket when an Atlas V is slated to launch Boeings CST-100 Starliner at 10:34 p.m. from Cape Canaverals Space Launch Complex 41 with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station. The pair arrived to KSC on Thursday to prepare for what will be the first crewed mission of Starliner, which is aiming to join SpaceXs Crew Dragon as one of two spacecraft under NASAs Commercial Crew Program to provide ferry service to and from the ISS. SpaceX launched a rocket into space from Florida Saturday evening and it was visible in the sky over Myrtle Beach as it streaked across the atmosphere. The Elon Musk owned company set off a rocket around 8:30 p.m. that will bring a European satellite into space, Space.com wrote. It will work similarly to a GPS satellite. People across the Grand Strand shared photos and videos of what they saw. Dan Caskie shared a high quality photo of the Falcon 9 spacecraft he took in Murrells Inlet. The Ocean Isle Beach Pier, located north of Sunset Beach, North Carolina, shared a video of the rocket flying through the sky over the pier. Ed Piotrowski explained the rocket was visible due to the angle of the sun. Although the sun had set by time the rocket was in the Myrtle Beach vicinity, the sun was still able to illuminate the spacecraft, making it visible in the sky. Jasper Kenzo Sundeen's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. MOGADISHU, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Sunday that about 88,000 people were internally displaced in Somalia in the first three months of 2024. The UNHCR said the displacement was mainly caused by conflict or insecurity and the long-term effects of flooding, which occurred between October and December 2023. "Clan conflicts and political differences within the federal member states (FMS) as well as between the Somali government and the FMS further threaten the fragile security situation," the UNHCR said in its latest update released in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The UN refugee agency noted that the security situation in the country remains tense, with ongoing military operations to reclaim territory from al-Shabab, which has been responsible for multiple indiscriminate attacks, often causing harm to ordinary Somalis. The indiscriminate reprisal attacks against the non-state armed group have resulted in the deaths and displacement of innocent bystanders, the UNHCR said. Meanwhile, decades of conflict and insecurity, political tensions, clan dynamics, and climate change have resulted in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, according to the UN agency. "The heavy rains and flooding subsided by the end of 2023, but the climate crisis persists in Somalia. The residual effects of the floods and drought continue to displace many Somalis," the UNHCR said. It said finding durable solutions for refugees and asylum-seekers, refugee returnees, and internally displaced persons in cooperation with the government, federal member states, and development and humanitarian partners remains one of its top priorities in Somalia. Encounter Marco Polo, explore Guangdong 2024-04-28 19:51 Lingnan: Beauty Beyond Borders | As May approaches, consider an exciting new option for your visit to #China, especially if you are attending the Canton Fair: experience a grand drama, exquisite #cuisine, and rich #Lingnan culture of Guangdong. On May 3 and 4, the original Chinese opera "Marco Polo" will be staged at the #Guangzhou Opera House, coinciding with the 700th anniversary of this legendary #Italian traveler's passing.#SplendidLingnan New Delhi: The famous Indian spice producer, MDH has issued a statement on Saturday. The company has reassured consumers about the safety of its products. The statement by MDH dismissed allegations from food regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore regarding the presence of pesticides, according to PTI. Earlier, Hong Kongs Center for Food Safety (CFS) has taken action against well known brands of India, MDH and Everest. This comes after alleged detection of carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide in several spice mixes. (Also Read: Bank Holidays Alert: Banks To Remain Closed On THESE Dates In May 2024) The CFS advised consumers against purchasing and traders against selling of MDHs Madras Curry Powder, Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder and MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder. (Also Read: Mehul Prajapati Did Nothing Wrong By Using Food Bank Help: Here's Why) MDH clarified in their statement that they haven't been contacted by food safety regulators in Hong Kong or Singapore, as reported by PTI. They also addressed allegations about the presence of ETO (ethylene oxide) in some of their products stating that these claims are untrue and lack supporting evidence. Moreover, they emphasized about not receiving any communication from regulatory in Singapore or Hong Kong. The spice producer has highlighted its commitment to health and safety standards both locally and globally. The company emphasized that its tagline 'Asli Masale Sach Sach, MDH MDH' and 'Real Spices of India' reflect its genuine dedication to providing customers with authentic high-quality spices. Following Hong Kongs directive the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) also ordered a recall of imported Everest Fish Curry Masala. India Holds the title of being the worlds largest producer, consumer, and exported spices worth nearly Rs 32,000. Major spices exported include chilli, cumin, spices exported include chilli, cumin, spice oil, oleoresins, turmeric, curry powder and cardamom. JEE Advanced 2024: IIT Madras begins JEE Advanced 2024 registrations today at the official website. The JEE Advanced registration link is active 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, 2024. 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. JEE Advanced 2024: Registration Direct Link 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: The National Testing Agency (NTA) will soon release the exam city intimation slip for the Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduate (CUET UG) 2024 exam on the official website - exams.nta.ac.in. Candidates will able to download their CUET UG-2024 city intimation slip from the official website by May or earlier. The CUET-UG 2024 admit cards will also be available to download in the second week of May. Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) took to his official X handle wrote, "The National Testing Agency is likely to announce the City of Examination information for CUET-UG by 5th May or earlier. Downloading Admit Cards from the NTA website will begin in the second week of May 2024." The (CUET UG) 2024 will be conducted between May 15 and May 31, 2024. The National Testing Agency is likely to announce the City of Examination information for CUET-UG by 5th May or earlier. Downloading Admit Cards from the NTA website will begin in the second week of May 2024. pic.twitter.com/4ADFQgXOHK Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) April 28, 2024 Steps To Download CUET-UG 2024 Admit Card Once released, candidates will be able to download the CUET-UG admit card from the official website following the simple steps give below Step 1: Visit the official website- exams.nta.ac.in Step 2: On the homepage click on the link that reads CUET UG 2024 Step 3: Now Click on the link that reads CUET UG 2024 Admit Card Step 4: In the newly opened tab, enter your application number, and date of birth and enter your security pin Step 5: Click on the 'Submit' button and your CUET UG 2024 Admit Card will appear on the screen Step 6: Now download the admit card and take a printout for future reference UBSE Board 2024: The Uttarakhand Board of School Education (UBSE) is set to release the Uttarakhand Board Results 2024 on April 30. At 11:30 am, following a press conference, the official link for the UK Board results will become active. During the press conference, Uttarakhand board officials will also announce the state toppers, pass percentage, and other pertinent details. The exams for UK Board's 10th and 12th grades were held from February 27, 2024, to March 16, 2024. With over 2 lakh students eagerly awaiting the UK Results, the official website - ubse.uk.gov.in will be the primary platform for result checking. Students will need to log in using their roll number to access their results. Additionally, alternative methods for result inquiry will also be provided on the website. UBSE Board Result 2024: Steps To Check Scores Step 1: Go to the official Uttarakhand board website. Step 2: Find and click on the link for Uttarakhand 10th and 12th results. Step 3: Log in using your roll number and other required credentials. Step 4: The result mark sheet will be displayed on the screen. Step 5: Download the mark sheet for future reference. Uttarakhand Board 2024: Result Date And Time Class 10 Result Date: April 30 Class 12 Result Date: April 30 Result Time: 11:30 am Uttarakhand Board 2024: Exam Date The Class 10 and Class 12 board exams for 2024 took place from February 27 to March 16. Last year, the UK Board released the results for both classes on May 26. According to official records, the passing percentage for Class 10 was 85.17%, and for Class 12, it stood at 80.98%. New Delhi: The AAP claimed the Tihar jail administration has denied permission to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita to meet him on Monday. Tihar jail official sources said that the permission has been given to Delhi minister Atishi who had applied last week to meet Kejriwal on April 29, while Sunita's application was received earlier in the day. "Sunita has been meeting Kejriwal and there is no question of denying permission to her. We have to follow protocols and preparations have already been made for the Atishi's meeting," said a Tihar jail source. However, AAP sources rejected Tihar jail administration's claim. "The names of Sunita Kejriwal and Atishi were sent to the Tihar administration on April 27 for meeting the chief minister on Monday (April 29). The prison administration informed us just now that they would not allow Sunita Kejriwal to meet the CM on Monday. They will only allow Atishi," a party functionary said. In a post on X in Hindi, the party alleged, "At the behest of the Modi government, the Tihar jail administration cancelled Sunita Kejriwal's meeting with her husband Arvind Kejriwal. The Modi government is crossing all limits of inhumanity." "Sunita Kejriwal was supposed to meet him tomorrow (Monday) but the Tihar administration has denied permission. The jail administration has not cited any reason for denying the permission," the party said. "An elected chief minister is being treated like a terrorist. The Modi government should tell the people of the country as to why it is not allowing Sunita Kejriwal ji to meet her husband Arvind Kejriwal ji?" it said. As per jail manual, an inmate can meet his visitors twice a week and two of them can meet at one time, another Tihar jail source said. In this case, permission for Atishi's meeting had been applied at least a week ago but permission for Sunita's meeting was applied earlier in the day, the official source told PTI. "The token number and other formalities for Atishi have been finalised. Sunita can meet later," the official source added. The source also said security arrangements and protocol for Delhi minister Atishi and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who are meeting Kejriwal on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, are different from other common visitors. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 in connection with excise policy linked money laundering case. He is in judicial custody till May 7. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the ruling party in Karnataka and questioned the public he was addressing in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada if Congress can provide safety to the girl in the state. PM Modi attacked Congress over the recent murder of a Hubballi student, Neha Hiremath, at her college premises that created "sensation" in the country, he said, the family sought action, but the Congress government gave priority to appeasement. "For them, the lives of daughters like Neha have no value, they think only about their vote bank. Can Congress ever provide safety to your daughters? In a college campus, in daylight, such dare, they who committed crime know that those hungry for vote bank will save them in a few days." #WATCH Uttara Kannada, Karnataka: PM Narendra Modi while addressing the public meeting in Sirsi says, "A few days back, what happened to a daughter in Hubballi, the entire nation is worried about it... In a college campus, in daylight, such dare, they who committed crime know pic.twitter.com/Gze3YFHUoW ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2024 "Even when there was a bomb blast in a Bengaluru's cafe, the Congress government did not take it seriously initially; they even termed it a cylinder blast initially. "Why are you -- Congress -- lying to the people of the country, if you can't, leave and go home," Modi said. The Congress for the sake of votes is taking support of banned PFI -- the anti-national organisation that supported terrorism. "To win one seat in Wayanad, are you surrendering to them? BJP has banned PFI and has put its leaders behind bars." he said. Kashmir: Unemployment is one of the biggest challenges that society is facing nowadays. A new concept to boost the young talent who wants to get self-dependent, the Chamber for Commerce and Industries Kashmir (CCIK) provided a platform by exhibition for the budding start-ups in the Valley. Its not just an exhibition; its a platform where young, educated talents come up with dreams of a bright future. Those young entrepreneurs who were until now able to sell their unique products through social media are provided a platform for a better quality of life. The Chamber for Commerce and Industries Kashmir (CCIK), providing a helping hand to the hidden talent of Kashmir who want to be self-dependent, gave a platform to around fifty start-ups to publicize their products to people through a 3-day exhibition. Adnan Shah, Secretary General of the of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir, said, As the resolution for 202425 of CCIK is to encourage entrepreneurship and promote start-ups, we decided to have an exhibition for young entrepreneurs. Our focus on providing a platform for the young entrepreneurs of the valley is to give them exposure to offline selling. These start-ups are mostly online, and most of them have not had any exposure to the offline retail marketing concept. We also picked up 46 women out of a total 50 stalls to give the women entrepreneurs an edge to showcase their talents. Some of these start-ups are doing well online, and for some of them, its time to shift to offline as well. At Chamber, we always strive to help these budding entrepreneurss." Among the fifty start-ups, forty-six were businesses run by women. From calligraphy art to resin art, handmade soaps, perfumes, spices, sanitary pads, clothing labels, bags, Pashmina, and home decor, creativity was on display. The exhibition also witnessed the amazing talent girls from the Kashmir Valley have. A girl from North Kashmir has started manufacturing pure cotton sanitary pads, which are organic and skin-friendly and claim to maintain hygiene without any side effects. We have launched our products here at the exhibition for the first time. By giving us this stall, we have been given a platform to promote our sanitary napkins. We are producing these sanitary pads and manufacturing them in North Kashmir, Kupwara. A lot of ladies keep having infections and issues after using pads that have plastic and nylon in them, and thats why we got the idea to make something very skin-friendly and hygienic. We sometimes use products that we have no idea what they are made from. Thats why I wanted to start this, and its a request for the ladies to check before buying a product, said Sauleh Nisa. Manufacturer: Sanitary Napkins. The exhibition will be for three days, and upon the response of the public, the CCIK will decide to hold many such exhibitions for the youth of the Valley and will provide help to the startup that will emerge best during the exhibition. New Delhi: Billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday arrived in Beijing after receiving an invitation from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. There is speculation coming on the way that Musk may unveil Tesla's autonomous driving technology in the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) market in China. During his China visit, Musk is expected to meet senior Chinese officials at the State Council. Musk Tesla became a popular EV in China when it started its production in 2020 after setting up a USD seven billion factory in Shanghai, China. Earlier, Elon Musk was scheduled to visit India to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Musk is now scheduled to visit later this year. "Unfortunately, very heavy Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed, but I do very much look forward to visiting later this year," Musk wrote on microblogging site X. On April 10, Musk informed his India visit to meet Prime Minister Modi. "Looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India." the post read. It was reported that the CEO was likely to announce investment in India, especially for building a new factory. Musks recent trip to China coincides with the 2024 Beijing Auto Show. CEO Elon Musk is likely to discuss the rollout of Ful-Self Driving (FSD) software with Chinese officials. This discussion may lead to obtaining approval to transfer data collected in a country abroad, Reuters reported. Eaelier, the CEO has announced the layoffs that could impact more than 14,000 people came two weeks after the electric automaker reported its first year-over-year drop in sales in three years. "As part of this effort, we have done a thorough review of the organization and made the difficult decision to reduce our headcount by more than 10 per cent globally. There is nothing I hate more, but it must be done. This will enable us to be lean, innovative and hungry for the next growth phase cycle," he said, PTI reported. New Delhi: Sanatan Pandey, the candidate representing the Samajwadi Party in the Ballia Lok Sabha constituency, has been charged by the police for purportedly inciting hostility and intimidating the district election officer, reported PTI quoting police officer. In the conversation with reporters, Pandey is heard stating that he had emerged victorious in the previous election, but administrative actions prevented him from securing the win. "I accepted my loss because I didn't want to challenge the Election Commission," he told the media. As per PTI, Superintendent of Police Dev Ranjan Verma said an FIR has been lodged against Pandey under sections 171 F (exercising undue influence in elections), 189 (threatening a public servant), 186 (obstructing a public servant in public work), 505 (2) (spreading hatred and animosity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Representation of the People Act on the basis of a complaint filed by Sub Inspector Makhan Singh in Ballia city. He claimed that during the previous elections, individuals affiliated with the government attacked him outside the counting center, resulting in damage to his vehicle. Pandey said that he would not allow anything of such kind to happen this year. Pandey further conveyed that he had taken an oath this time, stating that if the people of Ballia wished to defeat him, he would acknowledge it. However, if they desired to elect him as the winner, then neither the local administration nor the BJP could prevent him from being victorious. He added that "If they do so, either my body or the collector's body will come out. A video clip of the statement has gone viral on social media. In his remarks on Saturday, Pandey, while discussing the current administration's tenure and achievements, was accused of inciting discord, promoting hatred, and threatening the district election officer. Pandey ran as a candidate for the Samajwadi Party in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but was defeated by the BJP's Virendra Singh Mast by 16,000 votes. This time around, he is competing against former Ballia MP Neeraj Shekhar of the BJP. Ballia is scheduled to vote in the final phase on June 1. GABORONE, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Botswana is stepping up its marketing efforts to attract more Chinese tourists, President Mokgweetsi Masisi said Saturday. During the official opening of the Motse Wa Setso cultural festival in Francistown, Botswana's second largest city, Masisi said that Chinese travelers rarely visit the southern African country, despite its many attractions for them. "Botswana has a lot to offer to Chinese tourists," Masisi said at the cultural festival, whose name means "the village of culture." Botswana, through the Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO) under the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, is planning to host Chinese tourism professionals in the near future, Masisi said. Additionally, the country is preparing to participate in several business expos in China this year to promote Botswana as a desirable destination. Highlighting Botswana's unique attractions, Masisi emphasized the country's abundant wildlife, diverse landscapes and rich culture, which set it apart from other tourism destinations. Despite receiving 248,220 international tourists in the second quarter of 2022, only 189 were Chinese visitors, according to Statistics Botswana, the country's statistical agency. Masisi highlighted China's large population and expanding middle class, which has a growing interest in travel and significant purchasing power. Increased Chinese tourism to Botswana is expected to create additional job opportunities for the country's young population, which constitutes 60 percent of its estimated 2.3 million people. New Delhi: A 25-year-old engineering student met a tragic demise in the early hours of Friday, after allegedly shot dead by the father of a woman he was romantically involved with in Ghaziabad. The accused, Rajesh Kumar Singh, is a former BSF (Border Security Force) personnel. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rural) Vivek Chandra Yadav told PTI that the victim, identified as Vipul was a BTech student. He fell victim to the fatal incident within a flat in the Crossing Republic area at about 3:30 am. As per reports, the suspect summoned the victim to his daughter's apartment, where, amidst a heated argument, he fired several rounds at him. The suspect then called the police himself to report the incident. Singh, presently employed in a private security capacity, reportedly engaged in a verbal dispute with Vipul upon arriving at the location. The fight ended with Singh firing five rounds at Vipul. The victim was allegedly in a relationship with the daughter of the accused, reported PTI quoting the officer. Yadav said that the body has been sent for post-mortem and an investigation is underway. Kerala police on Saturday apprehended a Kochi resident for a seemingly innocuous Facebook post. The poster, which purportedly offered "condolences" to India's Election Commission, sparked heated debate and legal action. On Friday, authorities filed a case against Mohammed Shaji, a Kakkanad resident, for sharing the controversial poster on social media. The post, made on election day, drew the attention of law enforcement due to its unusual content, news agency PTI reported. The case pertains to two critical sections of the Indian legal framework: Section 153 of the Indian Penal Code addresses wanton provocation, specifically the intent to cause riots. Shaji is accused of inciting conflict and animosity by sharing the post. Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act addresses the promotion of enmity between different classes in relation to elections. The authorities believe that the post was intended to cause division within society. The case was registered yesterday," said the police. Shaji was arrested immediately but released on bail the same day. The investigation is ongoing as authorities look into the motivations behind the seemingly innocuous message. The general election for Kerala's 20 Lok Sabha seats, which took place on April 26, served as the backdrop for this controversy. Sambhal/Moradabad: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday claimed the BJP will not win any seat in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls and that the ruling party misunderstood the direction of the wind when it made its slogan of "400 paar". Addressing a rally in Sambhal, Yadav also said the Samajwadi Party had an advantage in the third phase, saying that elections on May 7 will be held between Sambhal and his home in Etawah and Mainpuri. "BJP people did not know the direction of the wind, so they kept saying 400 'paar' (winning over 400 seats) and when they realised the public sentiment after the two phases of the election, BJP forgot its slogan, the former UP chief minister said. "The wind that came from the west (western UP) in the first phase will change the BJP government. The similar trend was seen in the second phase also. People are not accepting the BJP, the SP chief said. It is now your responsibility in the third phase, he added to those gathered for the rally taken out in support of party candidate Zia ur Rahman Barq. Later while speaking to reporters in Moradabad too, Yadav said the BJPs language has changed from 400 paar to issues of the PDA, his coinage for pichhde (backwards), Dalits and Adivasis. "These elections are being held from this part till our home. Netaji (SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav) has also been an MP from this area (Sambhal). Voting is going to take place from here to Mainpuri. I can say that the BJP is not going to open its account in any Lok Sabha seat here, Yadav said in Sambhal. Mulayam Singh, an ex-CM and the SP chief's father, was elected an MP from Sambhal Lok Sabha constituency twice in 1998 and 1999. "Next to you, Samajwadi Party is winning in Rampur and Moradabad and if all the Lok Sabha seats nearby are winning, then will the people of Sambhal be left behind? When the seats where BJP loses with the highest number of votes are counted, the name of Sambhal Lok Sabha should be included in it," he further urged the voters. Yadav also said the election in Sambhal is an opportunity to pay tribute to party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq, who was declared as the SP candidate but died earlier this year. After his death, his grandson, Zia ur Rahman Barq got the party ticket. We gave the ticket to the very popular Shafiqur Rahman Barq Saheb but he is no longer with us. This is an opportunity to pay tribute to him. He always stood for the rights of his people, he said. The SP chief also said that the Lok Sabha polls are a fight between those that want to abolish the Constitution and the INDIA bloc and the socialists who want to protect the Constitution. "Bharatiya Janata Party is conspiring to abolish the Constitution and take away our and your right to vote. So this is an election to save the Constitution and our rights, he said. Those who are out to change the Constitution will be changed by the public, the SP leader said. Asserting that the BJP has insulted the farmers, Yadav said, "The INDIA alliance government will waive off the loans of farmers. We will provide facilities to farmers.We will guarantee MSP for crops. He added that the BJP betrayed the youth just like the farmers. It was promised to provide two crore jobs every year to the youth. Ever since BJP came to government, papers of every recruitment exam are being leaked, the SP leader said. Yadav said that the BJP government has "abolished permanent recruitment in the Army" and "introduced the Agniveer scheme and made it a four-year job". Yadav said he was worried that under the current government, even policemen may be asked to serve for only three years like the Agniveer. Later, when asked by reporters in Moradabad district about the FIR against Sanatan Pandey, SPs candidate from Ballia, Yadav said registering a case against Pandey is natural based on the remarks he made. Pandey could have expressed his feelings in some other way, he added. On Saturday, Pandey was booked for allegedly spreading enmity and threatening the district election officer. This was in connection to his remarks that he was winning the elections last time, but the administration cost him his victory. "Cases should also be registered against those who, from big stages, are making comments on the country's Constitution, the 'Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb' and brotherhood. Will the Election Commission take action against them?" Yadav asked. "We witnessed in the last polls that in Saharanpur, Bijnor and (neighbouring) Rampur, the administration snatched votes by deploying the police. If he (Pandey) said this, then he must have some suspicion because he had lost by a very small margin last time (2019 Lok Sabha elections)," he added. Pandey contested the Lok Sabha elections on a Samajwadi Party ticket in 2019, losing to the BJP's Virendra Singh Mast by 16,000 votes. Moradabad district consists of Kundarki and Bilari assembly segment of Sambhal Lok Sabha seat. When asked about former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contesting the Lok Sabha polls, Yadav said, "If they are contesting, it is a good thing." In Uttar Pradesh, voting took place on eight seats in the first phase on April 19 and eight seats in the second phase on April 26, and most of these seats were in Western Uttar Pradesh. In the third phase, voting will be held on 10 seats in Sambhal, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Budaun, Aonla and Bareilly on May 7. Voting is scheduled to be held in all seven phases on 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh. New Delhi: The Bahujan Samaj Party on Sunday declared three more candidates from Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha elections, fielding Ravi Prakash Maurya from Amethi constituency. According to a party statement, Syed Danish will contest from Sant Kabir Nagar parliamentary seat, while Sabiha Ansari has been fielded from Azamgarh constituency. This is the ninth list of candidates released by the Mayawati-led party. With this, the party has declared its candidates for 71 seats out of total 80 parliamentary seats in the state. Voting will be held in all seven phases for a total of 80 seats in UP. New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has nullified the voting results for phase 2 at six polling stations in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency. Fresh voting has been scheduled for April 30. This isn't the first instance where the ECI had to void the voting; earlier, during phase 1 of the elections, violence at numerous polling booths compelled the ECI to declare repolling at 11 stations. The repolling was ordered as unidentified persons damaged the EVMs and VVPATs before the completion of votes at four of these six polling stations on April 26. At one station, the voting machine had some problems, and at another, the voting couldn't be finished due to threats and intimidation by unknown miscreants. Voting at four polling stations in the Ukhrul assembly segment and one each in the Chingai assembly seat in Ukhrul and Karong in Senapati was deemed invalid. Poll boycott In Manipur Citing the unsettled dispute as a failure of government authorities, several civil society organisations and groups representing the Kuki-Zomi community announced their decision to boycott the Lok Sabha elections with a "no justice, no vote" principle. The state has been ablaze with ethnic clashes since May 2023. This violence has torn through Manipur, pitting the state's two main ethnic communities, Meiteis and Kukis, against each other. So far, over 200 lives have been lost, and more than 60,000 individuals have been displaced from their homes as mobs have swept through villages, setting houses on fire. Re-elections In Manipur After Lok Sabha Elections Phase I After the reports of violence at almost 11 of Manipur's nearly 3,000 polling stations, re-polling was declared for these booths within the I-Inner Manipur Constituency. Allegedly, some armed men damaged election machines during the first day of voting in national elections. Fresh voting took place at these 11 polling stations on April 22, just four days prior to Phase 2. An official notice issued by the Chief Election Officer of Manipur stated that the voting conducted on April 19 was invalidated, leading to the decision to hold re-elections. Voter Turnout In Phase II Around 76.06% of the 4.84 lakh eligible voters cast their votes during the polling conducted in 13 out of 28 assembly segments within the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency on April 26 (phase 2). Lok Sabha Elections 2024 The electoral process for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be done in seven phases, with the first phase concluding on April 19, encompassing voting in 102 constituencies across 21 states. Phase 2 followed on April 26, involving voting in 89 constituencies spread across 13 states. Moving forward, the third phase is scheduled for May 7, where voting will take place in 94 constituencies spanning 12 states. The final step in this democratic exercise will be the counting of votes and the declaration of results, slated for June 4, 2024. New Delhi: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi in a public meeting commented that Muslims are the most frequent users of condoms. Owaisis statement came in response to the recent remark by PM Narendra Modi in Rajasthan rally. Owaisi on Sunday shared the video of his speech on the social media platform X. Narendra Modi is spreading fear among Hindus, suggesting that Muslims will soon outnumber them. How much longer will this fearmongering about Muslims persist? Our faith may differ, but we are all citizens of this nation. the AIMIM leader said in a rally. He further said that the fertility rate in the Muslim women is declining, Owaisi added that the source of this information is the Modi government's data and not him. Citing this data he said, how is it possible for the Muslims to become a majority in India? Why propagate the notion that Muslims have higher birth rates? According to data from the Modi government, the population growth among Muslims has decreased. It's a fact that Muslims use condoms the most, and I have no shame in stating this, Owaisi said. Earlier, during a Lok Sabha Election campaign rally in Rajasthans Banswara, Prime Minister Modis statement sparked a political firestorm. PM said, The Congress manifesto states their intention to assess the gold holdings of mothers and sisters, gather information about it, and distribute that property. To whom will they distribute it? The government under Manmohan Singh had asserted that Muslims hold the first right on the nation's assets. Previously, during their tenure in power, the Congress party stated that Muslims hold primary entitlement to the country's resources. This implies that the distribution of these assets would favor those with more kids. PM alleged that these assets would go to infiltrators. Opposition parties, including the Congress, lodged a complaint against PM Modi with the Election Commission of India. The commission instructed BJP president JP Nadda to ensure that his party adhere to the high standards of political discourse in the country. New Delhi: Union Home Minister and BJP senior leader Amit Shah hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday for misleading the people and spreading lies about the BJP. While RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also addressed the same issue and said that the Sangh has always supported reservations as per the Constitution. Shah said that 'Rahul Baba' is spreading lies in the name of backward classes and claiming that the BJP will remove reservations in the country. While addressing the public rally in Kasganj, Shah slammed Congress MP and said, "Rahul Baba is spreading lies in the name of backward classes. He says that if BJP wins 400 seats, BJP will remove reservations in the country." #WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Addressing a public rally in Kasganj, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "Rahul Baba is spreading lies in the name of backward classes. He says that if BJP wins 400 seats, BJP will remove reservation in the country. He doesn't understand, that we had two pic.twitter.com/iFXLuNC14w ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2024 The BJP leader further added that there are two terms with the absolute majority to remove reservation, but PM Mosi is a supporter of reservation. "He doesn't understand, that we had two full terms with an absolute majority to remove reservation, but Narendra Modi is a supporter of reservation. Today I will give you a Modi Guarantee that the SC, ST, and OBC reservation will neither be removed by the BJP nor will we let anyone else do that," Shah said. on the other hand, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that the Sangh has been a supporter of all reservations that come under the Constitution. "A video is being circulated that RSS is against reservation and we cannot speak about this outside. Now this is completely false. The Sangh has been supporting all reservations as per the Constitution since the beginning..," Bhagwat said. #WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says, "A video is being circulated that RSS is against reservation and we cannot speak about this outside. Now this is completely false. The Sangh has been supporting all reservations as per the Constitution since the https://t.co/lGju5pukHj pic.twitter.com/crS5FORdv1 ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2024 Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked RSS and the saffron party while addressing a public rally in Daman and Diu, which is going to polls in phase 3 on May 7. 'RSS and BJP are forming a gang of anti-reservation leaders and if they come to power again, they will end reservation. BJP people are attacking reservation and the Constitution and are trying to destroy it. This is absolutely wrong and we will never let this happen," Gandhi said. On Saturday a Congress leader shared a post on microblogging site X and said that the BJP wants to remove the reservation. "...BJP wants to snatch away the reservation of Dalits, backward classes and tribals and end their participation in running the country. But to protect the Constitution and reservation, Congress is standing like a rock in the way of the BJP. As long as Congress is there, no power in the world can take away their reservation from the deprived people," Gandhi wrote in Hindi. Ramesh Awasthi Inspirational Story: How A Common Man From Kanpur Became Top Journalist, And Is Set For Lok Sabha Ramesh Awasthi, a renowned journalist and editor, has recently been fielded as a Lok Sabha candidate from Kanpur by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a move that has taken many by surprise. The decision underscores a significant strategic shift within the party, aiming to leverage Awasthi's commendable reputation and his deep connections within the media and public spheres. The top brass of the BJP, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, and senior leader Sunil Bansal, have expressed robust support for his candidacy. Awasthi's transition from journalism to the political arena is not just a personal achievement but also represents a broader phenomenon where individuals with substantial societal influence are seen as valuable assets in governance. His candidature is particularly noteworthy given his extensive background in media and his role as a voice for public issues through platforms like Sahara Samay and the National Media Club of India. This background is likely what the BJP is tapping into, aiming to strengthen its outreach and consolidate its communication strategies. The strong backing from figures such as Amit Shah and Keshav Prasad Maurya highlights the party's intent to not only win a seat but also to enhance its engagement with the intellectual and cultural discourse of the country. Awasthi's involvement in the Hindi Rajbhasha Advisory Committee and his initiatives in organizing events like 'Atal Kavyanjali' in memory of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee speak to his deep-rooted nationalistic and cultural commitments, aligning well with the BJP's broader ideological framework. Moreover, Awasthi's story is an inspirational tale for many aspiring politicians and public figures in India, showcasing how a steadfast commitment to ones profession and public welfare can lead to recognition and roles in higher echelons of power. His entry into politics is also seen as a positive development for enhancing the representation of professional journalists in Parliament, providing a nuanced perspective on policy issues related to media and communication. However, his candidacy also comes at a time when the BJP is looking to revitalize its connections with the urban middle class and intellectuals, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, a state crucial for national political dynamics. By choosing a candidate like Awasthi, the party is likely aiming to appeal to a broader electorate, including those who value educational and professional excellence in their political representatives. The journey from a journalist in Kanpur to a potential lawmaker in the Lok Sabha embodies not only Awasthis personal ambitions but also reflects the evolving nature of Indian politics where diverse backgrounds contribute to the democratic process. As the elections approach, it will be interesting to see how Awasthi leverages his media expertise and public respect to navigate the complex landscape of Indian politics, and how his story will inspire others from similar backgrounds to participate more actively in governance and public service. New Delhi: Realme has launched the Realme C65 5G smartphone in the Indian market. The 4G variant of the same model was introduced in select Asian countries earlier this month. The newly launched smartphone comes with an AI Boost Engine. It comes in two colour options: Feather Green and Glowing Black. The Realme C65 5G is offered in three variants with different storage and RAM configurations: 4GB RAM+64GB, 4GB RAM+128GB and 6GB RAM+128GB. The Chinese manufacturer claims that the phone has an AnTuTu score of more than 400,000. Notably, the 4G variant of the Realme C65 model was introduced in select Asian countries earlier this month. The company offers 2 years of OS updates and 3 years of Android security patches. (Also Read: Lenovo Launches IdeaPad Pro 5i Laptop In India With TUV Eyesafe Certification; Check Price, Specs) Realme C65 5G Price, Availability And Bank Discount: For the base 4GB+64GB model, the smartphone is priced at Rs 10,499. The 4GB RAM+128G variant is available at Rs 11,499, while the 6GB+128GB model carries a price tag of Rs 12,499. Consumers can buy the Realme C65 5G smartphone via Realme website and Flipkart. Moreover, the smartphone is also available from April 26 to April 30. Consumers can avail up to Rs 1,000 discount via HDFC, Axis, SBI and other cards. Tap, unwrap and unwind the future of global tech with the champion! The #realmeC65 5G is here Know more: https://t.co/eeFQOQS5lC pic.twitter.com/wSrL8iYsop April 27, 2024 Realme C65 5G Specifictions: The smartphone features a 6.67-inch HD+ display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 625nit. The phone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 15W fast charging support. The IP54-rated smartphone ships with Android 14-based Realme UI 5.0. It is powered by a 6nm octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 6300 paired with an Arm Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. For Connectivity, it supports 5G, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, and a USB Type-C port for charging. (Also Read: Realme Narzo 70, Narzo 70x 5G Launched In India With Android 14; Check Price, Specs And Early Bird Offers) In the camera department, the handset packs a dual-rear camera system with a 50MP Samsung JN1 main sensor, which is assisted by an auxiliary sensor. For selfies and video chats, there is an 8MP OmniVision sensor for selfies and video calls. U.S. President Joe Biden will deliver an election-year roast on Saturday (April 27) night at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, amid protests over his support for Israel's war against Hamas, news agency Reuters reported. The protesters confronted guests arriving for the event by chanting slogans, holding banners, and reenacting executions. Hundreds of protesters urged journalists to boycott the event and confronted administration officials as they arrived. Biden avoided the large protests in front of the hotel by entering through a back entrance, where he was met by smaller groups of protesters calling for a cease-fire, Reuters said. At the century-old event, known as Washington's "nerd prom," hundreds of journalists, politicians, and celebrities mingle in a massive hotel banquet hall. A Palestinian flag has been deployed from the top floor of the Washington Hilton hotel where the White Hoise correspondents dinner is taking place. #WHCD #Gaza pic.twitter.com/h0QMUdjafH Adam Eidinger (@aeidinger) April 27, 2024 It frequently includes friendly jabs from the president in a closing speech directed at reporters and other guests in the audience. This year's host will be Colin Jost from Saturday Night Live. Israel's six-month war against Hamas in Gaza, which began in response to the militant group's attack in southern Israel on October 7, has killed over 34,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials, and has caused a humanitarian disaster for the enclave's more than 2 million residents. NEW DELHI, April 28 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people were killed and about 20 others injured when the bus they aboard collided with a truck in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, a local police officer said. The mishap occurred in the Unnao area of Uttar Pradesh. The injured were admitted to a local hospital, with some reportedly in critical condition. New Delhi: 73-year-old veteran politician and Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was appointed the country's deputy prime minister on Sunday. According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, the appointment was made by Prime Minister Sharif "with immediate effect and until further orders". The announcement comes at a time when both Pak PM Sharif and Dar are away in Saudi Arabia to attend a World Economic Forum's moot. Dar who is a member of Shehbaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party has served as finance minister in two previous governments. He was the party's go-to person for all economic problems, serving as finance minister for the fourth and last time in the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government. Despite being the party's finance expert for decades, surprisingly, Dar was appointed as the foreign minister when Shehbaz Sharif established his cabinet in March. Dar also shares close ties with former premier Nawaz Sharif as his son is the son-in-law of the elder Sharif. Dar was expected to be appointed chairman of the Senate, the upper house of the Parliament. However, he lost the race last month when the PML-N struck a deal with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, to secure its support for the coalition government. The party consented to allocate the positions of president and chairman of the Senate to the PPP, leaving Dar with no alternative but to accept a different role within the government. The PML-N and the PPP agreed on a power-sharing deal to form the coalition government even though the former prime minister Imran Khan-backed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed independents won majority seats at the 266-member National Assembly. It is not the first time a deputy prime minister has been appointed. Chaudhry Parvez Elahi served as Deputy Prime Minister during the tenure of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) from June 25, 2012, to June 29, 2013. His role at that time was mostly symbolic as he was rewarded by then-President Asif Ali Zardari for supporting the PPP government. TOKYO, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida lost all three lower house seats on Sunday, as the country's main opposition party won big by sweeping victories in three key by-elections. The Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) of Japan emerged victorious in three crucial by-elections, including a closely watched race in Shimane Prefecture, traditionally considered a conservative stronghold, long dominated by the LDP. The by-elections, the first elections since the LDP's slush fund scandal surfaced late last year, were held in Shimane and Nagasaki prefectures, as well as one in Tokyo. The seats were previously held by the conservative LDP before they became vacant. Local analysts pointed out that the public's dissatisfaction with the ongoing scandal within the LDP was much underscored by the CDP's wins in the Shimane No. 1 district, the Nagasaki No. 3 district and the Tokyo No. 15 district, while recent polls showed record-low support rates for the prime minister. "We faced political headwinds throughout the election campaign," LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi told the press, citing fierce backlash from the public. Members of Kishida's party had warned before Sunday's by-elections that voter anger could result in a change of government after the next general election, which must be held before Oct. 30, 2025, but could be called much earlier, the Japan Times reported on Sunday. Sunday's results now mean Kishida could face stronger interparty resistance if he seeks re-election as LDP president, with his term due to finish this September, the paper added. At the end of last year, in the wake of the unfolding scandal where five major factions were suspected of paying kickbacks to member lawmakers who sold fundraising party tickets above their quota without recording the amount as revenue in its political fund reports, over 10 senior officials or heavyweight lawmakers have stepped down from their positions in Kishida's cabinet or in the LDP. ESSEN, Germany, April 27 (Xinhua) -- A concert celebrating the 10th-anniversary of the German Burg Chinese Chorus took place on Saturday in the western German city of Essen, presenting an audio-visual extravaganza that blended Chinese and German cultures. During the concert, the chorus performed a repertoire of 12 songs, ranging from Chinese classics such as "My Classmate" to popular tunes such as "Chengdu." The beautiful singing earned resounding applause from the audience. Huang Wei, an official with the Chinese Embassy in Germany, lauded the choir in his address, declaring it "a splendid emblem of China-German friendship." "Over the past decade, the choir has achieved a remarkable success, gracing numerous significant diplomatic events between China and Germany, and making valuable contributions to the cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries," he said. "Music is the universal language that brings joy and fosters harmony among people," said Olaf Millmann, chairman of the Burg Chinese Chorus association. "Over the past decade, the Burg Chinese Chorus has exemplified this notion repeatedly, and one might even say it lives by this principle." The Burg Chinese Chorus is a non-profit organization, offering the "Learn Chinese by Singing" program for German youths. To foster people-to-people exchanges between China and Germany, the choir has been actively engaging in strengthening the friendship between the two countries through language and cultural initiatives. Anna Blumek, a 23-year-old student who participated in the performance, said that she began learning Chinese in 2016 and has been a chorus member for eight years. "I've made many new friends here, and singing together can always make me happy," she said. "My Chinese has also improved significantly." Blumek said she has visited China four times. "In the future, I will further my Chinese studies and explore more places in China." Speaking about Saturday's performance, Zhang Yungang, leader of the chorus, said that the concert was "not only a reflection on the past decade but also harbors hopes for the future, symbolizing a fresh beginning." by Xinhua writer Wang Xinyi BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Harassment, doxxing, death threats, stereotyping, unequal treatment ... And then there was tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets, all fired at student protesters across the United States. Campuses have been torn apart this week as pro-Palestinian protests roiled U.S. colleges and escalated over more forceful and violent countermeasures by administrators and police. Footage showing police beating protesters, dragging students to the ground and carrying them off in handcuffs flooded social media in a fray going from merely demanding ceasefire and divestment to lodging legal maneuvering and civil rights claims. Hundreds of students and faculty members were arrested. Now the drama goes on as more colleges on Friday joined in Columbia University's lead in a coast-to-coast protest. The Ivy League school has been the epicenter of student protests for over a week. Perhaps a much heavier blow than a forced switch to remote learning, delayed classes, canceled commencement ceremonies and disrupted graduation plans is a dangerous encroachment on academic freedom and a painful disillusionment with the American system. Peaceful student demonstrators were framed by armed police and U.S. media as "perpetrators" deserving "crackdown." Capitol Hill elites were fast enough to define this protest as "anti-Semitic," bashing the students for incorrectly associating the civil rights movement with what is going on in Palestine and suggesting external tinges as behind the protest without producing a single shred of evidence. "Arrests being made right now & will continue until the crowd disperses," Governor of Texas Greg Abbott wrote Thursday on X. "These protesters belong in jail. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period. Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled." While our memory may wane, the Internet has it intact. In 2019, Abbott proudly tweeted "I just signed a law protecting free speech on college campuses," in stark contrast with his hardline take this time. For him and the like, these encampments on campuses are clearly not "a beautiful sight to behold." Not in the slightest when they appear on U.S. soil. Influencers and politicians on the far-right portrayed the protesters as "violent, dangerous and intent on taking over the country," USA Today observed in a report on Friday, saying "the claims were similar to what happened after mostly peaceful protests against police brutality in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd." This distorted portrayal not only serves to demonize the protesters but also perpetuates a narrative that undermines the legitimacy of their grievances. Nearly four years after the Floyd tragedy, real change in policing remains elusive, despite outcries triggered by one nationwide protest after another. Or perhaps, deep down, U.S. politicians know what it is, they just play dumb at home with filibusters and play the judge abroad whenever they feel their geopolitical interests at stake or whatchamacallit "a national security threat". And when necessary, they blur the lines between rights and crimes. Because in the end, they reserve the right to explain, designate and interpret such terms as democracy, civil rights, national security, or whatsoever. As the world watches in horror at the footage of U.S. police viciously suppressing student protests, it becomes painfully evident that America's espousal of free speech is a sham. This appalling display of state-sponsored violence lays bare the hypocrisy of a nation that prides itself on democracy while trampling on the very principles it claims to uphold. 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. Description The Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Lords Entrance into Jerusalem will be celebrated on Sunday, April 28 at 9:30 AM at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 369 Green Avenue, East Meadow. The service will be conducted in English. An outdoor procession (weather permitting) and Lenten luncheon will follow the service. Services are also streamed on https://www.facebook.com/htocem. The full schedule for Orthodox Holy Week can be found on the parishs homepage at www.htocem.org. For more information, contact us at 516-483-3649 or htocem@gmail.com. Holy Trinity parish, founded in 1924, is the first Orthodox Christian parish in the Nassau/Suffolk area and centrally located in mid-island East Meadow. Holy Trinity is a diverse community of Orthodox Christians who come from all walks of life and ethnicities, gathering in the oneness of Faith to worship God in the fullness of the Churchs liturgical life. The parish also has a strong commitment to serving others through various charities. We welcome all people seeking a community rooted in the oldest Christian Church with an emphasis on Holy Scripture, Holy Tradition, sacraments, prayer, fasting, philanthropy, and traditional Christian values. In this article, we will take a look at the 15 most conservative states in the US. If you want to skip our discussion on the conservative ideology, you can go directly to the 5 Most Conservative States in the US. Conservative politics involves advocating for a smaller and less regulated government, upholding the ideologies and laws outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and preserving traditional values often rooted in religious beliefs, such as those expressed in the Bible. Conservatives typically exhibit resistance to rapid societal change and prioritize the maintenance of established norms and customs. States that are considered conservative are typically characterized by a majority population that holds conservative beliefs and consistently votes for legislation that aligns with those beliefs. These states often have certain characteristics, such as lower tax rates, higher levels of religious participation, and minimal business regulations. They are commonly referred to as "red" states due to their association with the Republican Party, which is widely recognized as the conservative political party. Some of them, such as West Virginia or Arkansas, have quite a low cost of living, making them the most affordable conservative states to live in or the best conservative states to retire. According to Gallup, in 2022, there has been a small shift in the political ideology of Democrats. The percentage of Democrats identifying as politically liberal has increased by four percentage points, reaching 54%. This increase in liberal identification is a change from the previous years when the percentage hovered around 50%. In contrast to the shifts in Democratic ideology, Republicans' political views have remained relatively stable in 2022. The majority of Republicans, 72%, continue to identify as conservative, similar to the year prior, where 74% held this view. A significant portion of Republicans, 22%, still identify as politically moderate, while a small percentage, 5%, consider themselves liberal. Moreover, the research indicates that nearly equal proportions of adults in the United States identify as conservative and moderate at 36% and 35%, respectively. Meanwhile, about a quarter of the population identified as liberal (26%). These figures are consistent with the annual averages since 2015, where the gap between moderates and conservatives has not exceeded two percentage points, and liberal identification has ranged between 24% and 26%. Influence of Conservative Values in Corporate America Historically, corporate America has shown a tendency to align with the Republican Party due to shared fiscally conservative values. A study conducted by Harvard Law School and cited by S&P Global Inc. revealed that during the period of 2000-2017, more than 60% of CEOs of S&P 1500 companies contributed higher amounts of money to the GOP compared to the Democratic Party. Some notable conservative companies include Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU), Dillards Inc. (NYSE:DDS), and Arch Resources, Inc. (NYSE:ARCH). Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU) is recognized as one of the conservative companies in the United States, particularly within the energy and coal mining sector. In 2022, Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU) allocated 85.33% of its total political donations to the Republican Party. Moreover, in 2016, a report by The Guardian alleged that Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU) had provided funding to approximately two dozen right-leaning groups. These groups were known for promoting skepticism regarding the connection between human activity and climate change. This doesn't necessarily reflect conservative view points. We'd like to point out, however, that this does not necessarily reflect on established conservative views. Dillards Inc. (NYSE:DDS) stands as one of the notable retail giants in the United States. Dillard's offers a massive selection of products, including apparel, jewelry, and accessories for men, women, and children. Apart from its fashion offerings, Dillard's Inc. (NYSE: DDS) also provides customers with home improvement and decor products from various well-known brands. The stock offers a dividend yield of 0.22% as of April 26. Arch Resources, Inc. (NYSE:ARCH) is a prominent company primarily involved in coal mining and processing. The company is based out of St. Louis, Missouri. In terms of political involvement, Arch Resources, Inc. (NYSE: ARCH) made a political donation of $25,000 to the GOP during the 2022 election cycle. This contribution accounted for 83.33% of the company's total political donations for that period. You can check out some of the 15 Most Conservative Companies in the USA here. 15 Most Conservative States in the US Alexandru Nika/Shutterstock.com Our Methodology We have shortlisted the 15 most conservative states in the US based on data from Gallup and The Cook Political Report. Rankings in our list are based on the Cook Partisan Voter Index (Cook PVI) score. This score is calculated on the basis of the results of the two most recent elections in the United States. The last score was calculated on the basis of the 2020 and 2016 election results. The weightage given to the results of the 2020 and 2016 election results is 75% and 25%, respectively. The score is written as D+(Number) or R+(Number). A score of R+10 indicates that the state or district performed approximately ten points more Republican in terms of the two-party vote share than the nation as a whole in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. The states have been ranked in ascending order of the Republican votes percentage as of 2020. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. 15 Most Conservative States in the US 15. Kansas PVI Score (2022): R+10 Republican Votes Percentage (2020): 56.2% Kansas has a strong Republican following with conservative values at heart. In the 2020 Presidential elections, Kansas came in at the 15th position on the list of most conservative states, with 56.2% of Kansas having voted for the Republicans chosen candidate Donald Trump, while 41.6% voted for the Democrats Joe Biden. Kansas still continues to follow its conservative trend to date. 14. Indiana PVI Score (2022): R+11 Republican Votes Percentage (2020): 57% Indiana has a strong history of supporting the Republican party and scores an R+11 on the renowned Cook Partisan Voting Index, strongly indicating a conservative hold in the state. In the 2020 elections, the Republicans outnumbered the Democrats by clinching 57% of the votes, compared to 41% of the votes secured by the Democrats. 13. Mississippi PVI Score (2022): R+11 Republican Votes Percentage (2020): 57.9% Mississippi, located in the Southeastern region of the United States, stands as a state known for its conservative political leanings. It holds a prominent position among the states, with a significant majority of self-identified conservatives outnumbering self-identified liberals by over 30 percentage points. The Republican lean of the state is obvious in the PVI Score (2022), with R plus 11 points. In the Trump-Biden face-off of 2020, the conservatives outclassed the liberals 57.9% to 41.1%. 12. Louisiana PVI Score (2022): R+12 Republican Votes Percentage (2020): 58.5% Like many southern states, Louisiana currently depicts a predominantly Republican political landscape. The 2020 presidential election results clearly demonstrate this, with Donald Trump securing a victory over Joe Biden by a margin of nearly 20%. These results, where Republicans obtained 58.5% of the votes compared to Democrats' 39.9%, suggest an established trend of Louisiana being a deep-red state. This idea is also reflected by the state's PVI score of R+12, which shows a strong Republican advantage. Furthermore, both of Louisiana's U.S. Senators are Republicans, reflecting the party's influence and representation at the federal level. 11. Nebraska PVI Score (2022): R+13 Republican Votes Percentage (2020): 58.8% Nebraska, situated in the Midwestern region of the United States, is a landlocked state bounded by three sides. It holds the distinction of being the 16th largest state in terms of land area, spanning just over 77,220 square miles. Nebraska is majorly Conservative, with the Republicans always securing the top spot, as was seen clearly in the 2020 elections, where the Republicans led by obtaining 58.8% of the votes. In 2022, and even today, Nebraska has maintained its Conservative stand. 10. Tennessee PVI Score (2022): R+14 Republican Votes Percentage (2020): 60.7% Tennessee, a landlocked state located in the Southeastern region of the United States, is recognized for its conservative political orientation. It holds the tenth position on the list of the most conservative states in the US. This conservative leaning is evident in the state's voting patterns, with a significant majority of 60.7% consistently supporting the Republican presidential candidate in the last 2 elections. The state's PVI score also shows its conservative stance, with an R+14 rating. 9. South Dakota PVI Score (2022): R+16 Republican Votes Percentage (2020): 61.5% South Dakota, situated in the North Central region of the United States, is a landlocked state known for its conservative political landscape. It holds the position of the ninth most conservative state in the country, with nearly half of its voters identifying as conservative. In the 2016 presidential election, 61.5% of South Dakota voters cast their ballots for the Republican candidate, creating a lead of 29.8% over the 31.7% who voted for the Democratic candidate. This trend continued in the 2020 election, with the same proportion of 61.5% of voters choosing the Republican candidate. 8. Alabama PVI Score (2022): R+15 Republican Votes Percentage (2020): 62% In Alabama, 62% of the state voted for the Republicans in the 2020 presidential elections, with the same percentage having voted for the Republicans in the 2016 presidential elections as well. Alabama has preferred voting only for a Republican president in the last eleven presidential elections. Most of the residents of Alabama are also staunch churchgoers, which matches with conservative values. The state recorded a PVI of R+15 in 2022. 7. Kentucky PVI Score (2022): R+16 Republican Votes Percentage (2020): 62.1% Kentucky demonstrates a strong inclination towards conservatism. The state has consistently shown staunch support for conservative ideologies. This is evident in the backing received by Donald Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 US presidential elections, with 62.5% and 62.1% of the states votes, respectively. The state has not chosen a Democratic presidential candidate since 1996, showing a clear preference for conservative leadership. This trend showcases Kentucky's increasing conservatism over time. 6. Arkansas PVI Score (2022): R+16 Republican Votes Percentage (2020): 62.4% The "Natural State," Arkansas, is a landlocked state in the South-Central US. The state has turned conservative over time. Around 62.4% of the state voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 US presidential elections, while 34.8% voted for Joe Biden, showing its conservative lean. It has continued to show its conservative trend in the Partisan Voting Index with a PVI score of R+16 points. Arkansas holds the 6th position in the list of the most conservative states in the US. Click to continue reading and see the 5 Most Conservative States in the US. Suggested articles: Disclosure: None. 15 Most Conservative States in the US is originally published on Insider Monkey. In this article, we will take a look at the 20 states with highest Hispanic population growth rates. If you want to skip our discussion on the distribution of the Hispanic population, you can go directly to the 5 States with Highest Hispanic Population Growth Rates. In 2020, the Diversity Index for the entire population in the US stood at 61.1%. This indicated a likelihood of 61.1% that two randomly selected individuals represented different racial or ethnic communities. This figure marked an increase from the Diversity Index of 54.9% in 2010. Some of the major ethnic and racial groups that make up Americas culturally diverse population include Hispanic, Latino, White, Black/African American, Native, American Indians, Asian, and Hawaiians. According to the Census Bureau, there were about 63.7 million Hispanics in the US in 2022, making it the largest minority group and comprising nearly 19.1% of the total population. This demographic prominence is one of the reasons why Spanish is the second most common language spoken in the US. While the Hispanic population is spread out across different states in different ratios, there were 13 states in the country that were home to more than 1 million Hispanics as of 2022. Some of the top 10 states with the highest Hispanic population include California, Florida, and Texas. In 2022, California had the highest Hispanic population, while Texas was home to the second-largest Hispanic population. In contrast, Vermont was the state with the lowest Hispanic population, home to only around 15,000 Hispanics. Amongst the cities, New York had the highest Hispanic population, with nearly 2.5 million people. Around 29.1% of the citys population is of Hispanic origin. Following New York is Los Angeles, with a Hispanic population of over 1.8 million. According to estimates by Instituto Cervantes, 27.5% of the US population will be of Hispanic origin by the year 2060. According to the research, there has been a shift in the origin of Hispanics in America. The number of Mexican immigrants in the country is dropping, but there is a noticeable increase in immigrants from Venezuela, Guatemala, and Honduras. Despite the changing patterns of the Hispanic population, the top three Hispanic origin groups in America are Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Salvadorans. Mexicans make up the largest Hispanic-origin group in the US, with 37.2 million people. There are about 8 different Hispanic origin groups that had at least a million people living in the US in 2021. Despite not being in the top five Hispanic groups, Venezuelans are the fastest growing Hispanic origin group in the US, with a population growth of 169% in 11 years. Story continues Although the Hispanic population in the United States of America is now getting older, they are still relatively younger than the American population. As of 2022, the median age of the Hispanic population was 30.7, while the median age of the US population was 38.9 years. Corporate Support for Hispanic Community Development Many companies and organizations across the country have invested in the development and growth of the Hispanic community. One such company is Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX), a multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) has established the Chevron Latino Executive Association to support Hispanic and Latino employees. Similarly, Sempra (NYSE:SRE) has achieved recognition as the leading utility company in the United States for diversity. Sempra (NYSE:SRE) secured the first place on DiversityInc's Top Utilities list for 2023. Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) is another energy company that has strong ties to the Hispanic community in America. As of 2022, around 37% of Valero Energy Corporations (NYSE:VLO) workforce in the United States comprises individuals who identify as Hispanic or Latino, Asian, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or of two or more racial backgrounds. The company shared a financial update in its Q4 2023 earnings call: "We are pleased to report strong financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year. With the exception of our 2022 results, we delivered the highest fourth quarter and full year adjusted earnings in companys history in 2023, demonstrating the earnings capability of our portfolio. Our refining system achieved 97.4% mechanical availability in 2023, which is our best ever. We also set a record for environmental performance and matched our previous record for process safety, illustrating the benefits from our longstanding commitment to safe, reliable and environmentally responsible operations. Now through organic growth of our wholesale system, we set an annual record for sales volume in 2023 at approximately 1 million barrels per day, demonstrating the strength of our branded and wholesale marketing network. We continue to pursue strategic projects that enhance the earnings capability of our business and expand our long-term competitive advantage. The DGD Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF project at Port Arthur remains on schedule to completion expected in the first quarter of 2025 for a total of $315 million." 20 States with Highest Hispanic Population Growth Rates Our Methodology To shortlist the 20 states with highest Hispanic population growth rates in the United States, we used data from the US Census Bureau. To calculate the population growth rates, we extracted Hispanic population data for the years 2021 and 2022 for each state and calculated the year-on-year (YoY) growth rates. The states have been ranked in ascending order of the YoY population growth rates as of 2022. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. 20 States with Highest Hispanic Population Growth Rates 20. Georgia Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 3.2% Georgias Hispanic population grew by 35,000 people between the years 2021 and 2022, leading to a 3.2% growth rate within the community. The state has a total population of almost 11 million, and the Hispanic population makes up around 10.5% of the population. 19. Missouri Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 3.3% With a population of around 6 million, Missouri is home to Hispanics from different origins. Currently, Hispanics make up 4.8% of the population of Missouri, with a total of 298,000 Hispanics living in the state. 18. Utah Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 3.4% Utah is home to a diverse population, including nearly 500,000 Hispanic people. This ethnic group makes up around 15% of the state's total population. The Hispanic community in Utah has been growing rapidly, with an increase of almost 17,000 individuals in recent years. This growth is due in part to the state's strong economy and high quality of life, which have attracted many people from diverse backgrounds to live and work in Utah. 17. Ohio Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 3.4% Ohio is among the top states with highest Hispanic population growth rates. With a growth rate of 3.4%, Ohio is home to 525,000 Hispanics. In 2022, Ohio experienced an increase of 17,000 Hispanics in its population. 16. Oklahoma Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 3.4% Around 12% of Oklahomas 4 million population consists of Hispanics. With a Hispanic population growth rate of 3.4%, Oklahoma is home to around 480,000 Hispanic people. In 2022, Oklahoma witnessed an addition of 16,000 Hispanic people to its population. 15. Vermont Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 3.5% Vermont has a population of around 647,000, of which, 2.3% are Hispanics. Vermont saw an increase of 3.5% in the Hispanic population in 2022. 14. North Dakota Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 3.6% North Dakota has a total population of around 780,000 as of 2022. Around 4.6% of this population consists of Hispanics coming from different origins. In 2022, North Dakota saw an increment of 1,200 Hispanics in its population, leading to a population growth rate of 3.6%. 13. Delaware Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 3.6% With a population of just 1 million, Delaware is home to almost 100,000 Hispanics, making up 10% of the states population. The state recorded a Hispanic population growth rate of 3.6%, which led to an additional 3,600 Hispanic people in 2022. 12. Arkansas Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 3.6% Arkansas has a population of over 3 million, of which 8.5% are Hispanics. This amounts to about 260,000 Hispanics in the state. The Hispanic population in Arkansas recorded a growth rate of 3.6% in 2022, making it secure the twelfth position on our list of states with the highest Hispanic population growth rates. 11. Kentucky Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 3.7% Kentucky has a total population of 4.5 million, out of which 4.3% are Hispanics. Between the years 2021 and 2022, Kentucky saw a rise of 3.7% in its Hispanic population, amounting to an addition of 7,000 Hispanics to the state. 10. Idaho Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 3.8% Idaho has a population of almost 2 million, with the Hispanic community making up 13.5% of the total population. The states 3.8% Hispanic population growth rate led to an increase of 9,600 people in 2022. 9. Alabama Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 3.8% With a Hispanic population growth rate of 3.8%, Alabama is home to over 250,000 Hispanics. This figure rose from 241,000 in 2021 to 250,000 in 2022, signifying an addition of 9,000 Hispanics to the population. Hispanics currently make up 4.93% of the state population. 8. North Carolina Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 3.8% North Carolina is amongst the few US states with over 1 million Hispanic people. Around 10% of North Carolinas population is Hispanic. In 2022, North Carolina experienced a surge in its Hispanic communities, leading to an addition of 41,500 Hispanic people in the state. 7. New Hampshire Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 4.9% In 2022, New Hampshire saw an increase of nearly 3,000 Hispanics in its population, raising the total Hispanic population from 61,000 to 64,000. This represents a growth rate of 4.9% for the Hispanic population in New Hampshire. 6. West Virginia Hispanic Population Growth Rate = 5.0% In 2022, West Virginia experienced a 5% growth in its Hispanic population, bringing the total number of Hispanics in the state to approximately 37,000. While they constitute only 2% of the state's total population, West Virginia's increase in Hispanic population growth rate is among the highest in the country. Click to continue reading and see the 5 States with Highest Hispanic Population Growth Rates. Suggested articles: Disclosure: None. 20 States with Highest Hispanic Population Growth Rates is originally published on Insider Monkey. Income investors can be growth investors, too. Granted, it's not always easy to find stocks that pay generous dividends and offer solid prospects of share price appreciation. However, such stocks exist. Here are three high-yield dividend stocks that could soar 22% to 49% over the next 12 months, according to Wall Street. 1. Pfizer Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) stock has been on a downward trajectory for nearly two and a half years. Blame it mainly on declining demand for the company's COVID-19 vaccine and oral antiviral drug Paxlovid. However, Pfizer also faces the looming loss of exclusivity for multiple products. Despite this bad news, analysts remain perhaps surprisingly bullish about Pfizer. The average analysts' 12-month price target reflects an upside potential of around 22%. Not everyone on Wall Street is enamored with Pfizer. One analyst surveyed by LSEG in April recommended selling the stock. But over half of the analysts polled rated Pfizer as a buy or a strong buy. I don't know if Pfizer will hit the 12-month price target. However, I agree with the overall optimism about the stock over the long run. The drugmaker's launches of new products should generate more than enough additional revenue to make up for the sales losses stemming from its patent cliff. Pfizer's wheeling and dealing should also pay off handsomely with promising new products added to its lineup thanks to shrewd acquisitions. The stock's valuation doesn't reflect Pfizer's better-than-meets-the-eye prospects. Pfizer's shares trade below 11.9 times forward earnings. By comparison, the forward earnings multiple for the S&P 500 healthcare sector is 18. Income investors should love Pfizer's juicy dividend yield of nearly 6.6%. I expect the company to continue increasing its dividend payout over the next several years. 2. Brookfield Infrastructure Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIP) (NYSE: BIPC) is another high-yield stock that some investors seem to have given up on. Units of the limited partnership (LP) trading under the BIP ticker and shares of the corporate entity trading under the BIPC ticker are both down significantly over the last 12 months. Analysts haven't thrown in the towel on Brookfield Infrastructure, though. Seven of the nine analysts surveyed by LSEG in April rate the stock as a buy or strong buy. The consensus 12-month price target is roughly 39% higher than the current price. Will Brookfield Infrastructure jump that much? Maybe, maybe not. Wall Street is right to be upbeat about the stock overall, though, in my opinion. Story continues Brookfield Infrastructure owns a diversified portfolio of infrastructure assets, including utilities, rail, toll roads, terminals, pipelines, data centers, and cell towers. Its strategy of acquiring top assets, improving them, and selling mature assets to invest in new opportunities should enable the company to grow funds from operations (FFO) per unit by 10% or more annually. I like that Brookfield Infrastructure is committed to growing its distribution by 5% to 9% each year. That's especially great considering the LP's distribution yield tops 5.9% and the yield for BIPC is over 5.1%. 3. Brookfield Renewable There's another Brookfield that income investors and growth investors should find attractive. Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEP) (NYSE: BEPC) is a sibling of Brookfield Infrastructure: Brookfield Asset Management is the parent for both companies. Like Brookfield Infrastructure, Brookfield Renewable trades under two tickers -- one for its LP (BEP) and another for its corporate entity (BEPC). Analysts are especially enthusiastic about BEPC with the consensus 12-month price target reflecting an upside potential of 49%. As with the other stocks on the list, I'm uncertain if Brookfield Renewable will manage to hit Wall Street's price target. However, I'm on the same page as analysts about the company's long-term prospects. Brookfield Renewable owns hydroelectric, wind, solar, and distributed energy facilities across the world. The company expects to invest at least $7 billion in new renewable energy assets over the next five years. It should benefit from tailwinds including aggressive carbon emissions reduction targets and the increasing demand for electricity. This renewable energy leader has increased its distribution by a compound annual growth rate of 6% over the last 20 years. Brookfield Renewable intends to grow its distribution by 5% to 9% annually. With its yield currently topping 6%, this stock looks like a great pick for income investors who also seek growth. Should you invest $1,000 in Brookfield Renewable Partners right now? Before you buy stock in Brookfield Renewable Partners, 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 Brookfield Renewable Partners 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 Keith Speights has positions in Brookfield Infrastructure, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Renewable, Brookfield Renewable Partners, and Pfizer. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Brookfield Asset Management, Brookfield Renewable, and Pfizer. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and Brookfield Renewable Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 High-Yield Dividend Stocks That Could Soar 22% to 49%, According to Wall Street was originally published by The Motley Fool zoom-zoom / iStock.com The feeling of big bills in your wallet is something thats hard not to think about. When traveling around the world or even in your own backyard the thought of a ton of cash in your pocket can cause some serious anxiety. But sometimes its necessary especially when youre on vacation. But not all locations are created equal. Some are far riskier when it comes to carrying around cash. Check Out: 10 Best US Vacation Destinations for Retirees on a Budget Read Next: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy GOBankingRates spoke with several travel safety experts to identify the most dangerous places to walk around with $100 bills in your wallet. From bustling city streets to popular tourist attractions, here are the 12 riskiest places to walk around with $100 bills in your pocket. Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief. Tijuana, Mexico According to Tim Hentschel, CEO and co-founder of HotelPlanner, Tijuana can be particularly dangerous for tourists, especially at night. There are countless incidents where taxi drivers or other bad actors forced a tourist to get money out of their ATM, were then beaten up and had to walk back to the San Ysidro border crossing on foot, he said. Northern Coast of Peru Zach Lazzari of Cross Border Coverage, who has traveled extensively in Latin America, warns about the risks of carrying large bills on the northern coast of Peru. The entire region is a bit on the sketchy side. Beautiful but the odds of getting robbed are pretty dang high, he said. Carry multiple small bills so it looks like more money than it actually is and hide the big bills. Give up your small bills with zero resistance! Learn More: 9 American Travel Brands To Stay Away From Caracas, Venezuela Alex Cornici, CEO and founder at The Traveler, highlights Caracas as a high-risk area due to its economic instability. Caracas has a very high crime rate, and significant risks originate from economic instability. Such instability magnifies the likelihood of theft and robbery. Visible amounts of cash make you a prime target, he said. Paris, France Norman Bour, owner of TravelYounger, shares a personal experience of being pickpocketed on the Paris Metro. I can tell you one place you dont want to have anything of value in your pocket, and that is on the Metro from De Gaulle airport in Paris to the main train station, Gare du Nord, he said. We have been nomadic since 2019 and in country No. 43, Malaysia, and I never had a theft until last summer when I got pickpocketed by some real pros, a team of about four or five people. Story continues New Orleans, United States The French Quarter in New Orleans is a notoriously good time and a notoriously good place for petty theft, according to Hentschel. It is not uncommon for people to be pickpocketed or accosted, especially late at night, he said. Naples, Italy Cornici identifies Naples as a city with a high risk of petty theft, particularly in busy markets and tourist spots. A city with a difference, but just as beautiful in its own right, Naples is undoubtedly home to some dodgy suburbs ripe for petty theft, namely pickpocketing. The worst of it is its busy markets and tourist haunts, he said. Other High-Risk Areas Our experts also mentioned several other locations where carrying large sums of cash can be risky, including: Chiapas, Mexico Quito, Ecuador Baltimore, United States Times Square in New York City, United States Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy Eiffel Tower in Paris, France La Rambla in Barcelona, Spain Minimizing Risk To reduce your chances of being robbed, our experts recommend being aware of your surroundings and avoiding showing off wads of cash while youre out and about. Always be mindful of your environment, and do not expose large sums of money in public, shared Cornici. Wear a money belt or hidden pouches instead of a wallet. When traveling to unfamiliar cities, Hentschel suggests getting directions or consulting maps in safe spaces like coffee shops, restaurants or stores instead of doing it out in the open. If you need to look at a map or get directions, go into a local coffee shop, restaurant or store rather than draw attention to yourself on the public streets where muggers are waiting, he said. By being cautious and following these expert tips, travelers can reduce their chances of becoming targets for theft and enjoy their adventures with peace in their minds and cash in their pockets. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Riskiest Places To Walk Around With $100 Bills in Your Wallet City of London The Big Four auditors have been asked to explain what measures they are taking to prevent professionals from using ChatGPT and other AI tools to cheat on exams. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has quizzed Britains biggest auditing firms and professional accountancy bodies amid fears that rule-breakers could use AI to cheat the system. The UK accounting watchdog said that it continues to work closely with these organisations to ensure they have robust systems in place to detect, monitor and combat any cheating which could undermine the quality of audits. It is understood KPMG UK now warns employees before and during mandatory audit training that cheating using AI is not tolerated and rule-breakers are at risk of losing their jobs. Deloitte UK also tells students that using AI tools during exams is not permitted and will be considered gross misconduct. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), said it proactively works with regulators to monitor exam malpractice risks on an ongoing basis. The 144-year old organisation, which has more than 208,000 members, said that audit exams are completed in a fully-invigilated environment meaning candidates could not cheat using AI chatbots without being detected. An ICAEW spokesman added: However, we are constantly monitoring the use of AI and the risk that it poses. The professional body, which was established by a Royal Charter in 1880 and supervises around 11,500 firms, is now investigating how AI can be used to enhance the exam experience in the future as the technology is used more in the workplace. Our exams are always moving towards replicating the skills required in the current and future professional accountancy environment, an ICAEW spokesman added. Concerns around AI follow a string of embarrassing cheating scandals within the accounting sector in recent years. In 2022, the FRC ordered the UKs top auditors to crack down on cheating after discovering that dozens of employees shared answers when completing online tests introduced during the pandemic. The regulator found that trainee accountants exchanged answers by email or messaging platforms such as WhatsApp on a number of occasions. The FRC launched the investigation following reports of widespread cheating across the Big Fours operations in US, Canada and Australia. Earlier this month, KPMG Netherlands was fined a record $25m (20m) by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board after hundreds of employees including senior partners and managers were found to have cheated on their ethics exams. 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. Bank of Georgia Group (LON:BGEO) Full Year 2023 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: GEL2.42b (up 30% from FY 2022). Net income: GEL1.39b (down 3.4% from FY 2022). Profit margin: 57% (down from 77% in FY 2022). The decrease in margin was driven by higher expenses. EPS: GEL31.30. BGEO Banking Performance Indicators Net interest margin (NIM): 6.50% (up from 5.40% in FY 2022). Cost-to-income ratio: 29.8% (down from 32.0% in FY 2022). Non-performing loans: 2.27% (down from 2.74% in FY 2022). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Bank of Georgia Group Revenues Beat Expectations, EPS Falls Short Revenue exceeded analyst estimates by 1.4%. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates by 1.7%. The primary driver behind last 12 months revenue was the Retail Banking (Excl. BNB and SME Banking) segment contributing a total revenue of GEL1.23b (51% of total revenue). The largest operating expense was General & Administrative costs, amounting to GEL635.2m (65% of total expenses). Explore how BGEO's revenue and expenses shape its earnings. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 12% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 3.8% growth forecast for the Banks industry in the United Kingdom. Performance of the British Banks industry. The company's shares are up 11% from a week ago. Risk Analysis You should learn about the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Bank of Georgia Group. 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. Investors often like to follow the investment advice of billionaires. The moves of such famous investors as Warren Buffett receive significant press coverage and can sometimes be a helpful source of stock ideas. However, investing is not so simple, and Bill Ackman's top two investments serve as an example. In his fund, Pershing Square Capital Management, Ackman invests 36% of his portfolio in two well-known restaurant stocks. Yet, each has followed its own path and may serve different purposes -- which investors should understand. The top two positions The top two holdings of Pershing Square are Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG), accounting for 18% of the portfolio, and Restaurant Brands International (RBI) (NYSE: QSR), which is about the same percentage. The massive position in Chipotle will likely not surprise most investors. The fast-casual restaurant chain has risen approximately 135-fold since its 2006 IPO. It pulled off its regional-to-international expansion by offering healthy, delicious food at an affordable price. Ackman's fund first bought this stock in the third quarter of 2016. If one assumes Pershing Square paid about $400 per share for the stock, its value has increased by around 7.5 times during that time. Hence, analysts are less likely to question this investment decision. However, the position that may bring more questions from some investors is Pershing Square's choice of Restaurant Brands' stock. It encompasses four well-known chains -- Burger King, Popeye's, Firehouse Subs, and Tim Horton's. This is a longer-term holding for Pershing Square, which bought these shares in the fourth quarter of 2014, around the time of its IPO. Investors may wonder why Pershing Square continues to hold it since it has underperformed the S&P 500 during the 2020s. Remember that the top restaurant chains are often popular investments. Investors have long sought safety, returns, and dividend income in such names as McDonald's and Starbucks. Restaurant Brands also outperformed the S&P 500 for most of the 2010s. Considering that past performance, it likely built loyalty among some investors, including billionaires like Bill Ackman. Nonetheless, considering that it has yielded lower returns more recently, one might wonder why Ackman's fund continues to hold. Why Restaurant Brands in 2024? The answer may lie in investment goals. Wealthy investors place a greater emphasis on investing to preserve wealth. From a middle-class perspective, a bank account insured up to $250,000 through the FDIC might meet this requirement. However, when one has billions to manage, insured bank accounts are not much of an option. Story continues Hence, one might turn to stocks, real estate, art, commodities, and other investments. In this case, Restaurant Brands stock serves this purpose well. Even if it fell short of some benchmarks, investors should remember that the stock has risen over time. From an overall perspective, it is also not far behind the S&P 500's total return. QSR Total Return Level Chart Furthermore, RBI pays an annual dividend of $2.32 per share. That 3.25% dividend yield is well above the 1.4% S&P 500 average return. Since the payout has risen every year since it began the dividend in 2015, the rising cash return amounts to a significant bonus for staying in RBI stock. Should I invest like Bill Ackman? Investors should invest like Ackman only if they share his goals. Like Ackman, most investors want growth, and in that vein, a large position in Chipotle makes a lot of sense. However, wealthy investors also have an impulse to preserve wealth, and their vehicles for that purpose differ from those of the middle class. Hence, growth investors are right to look at the investment choices of Bill Ackman and other billionaires, but they should keep their own needs and goals in mind before seeking to copy them. Should you invest $1,000 in Chipotle Mexican Grill right now? Before you buy stock in Chipotle Mexican Grill, 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 Chipotle Mexican Grill 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 Will Healy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill and Starbucks. The Motley Fool recommends Restaurant Brands International. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Billionaire Bill Ackman Invests 36% of His Portfolio In This Industry was originally published by The Motley Fool Bob Bakish is expected to resign as Paramount Global CEO amid merger talks heating up with Skydance, IndieWire has learned and according to multiple media reports. Its expected that Bakish, who has been with the company since 1997, could step down as early as Monday, which would be ahead of the companys earnings call on Monday afternoon. He was named CEO in 2019 back when the company was called ViacomCBS. More from IndieWire Reps for Paramount Global declined comment. Its a shocking move that comes just as Skydance is closing in on its acquisition of Shari Redstones National Amusements, the theater company that holds 77 percent of the controlling shares of Paramount Global. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that a Bakish ouster was a possibility, with some board members reportedly souring on his leadership, and CNBC first reported Saturday that his exit could be as soon as Monday. The WSJ says that Paramount is expected to put in place an Office of the CEO made up of the companys various division heads who will lead the company on an interim basis, and CNBC reported that Bakishs exit was accelerated due to being opposed to the Skydance merger. Its expected once a merger between Skydance and Paramount closes, David Ellison would become CEO, and theres been no illusion that Bakish would have a role in the new company. Bakish does however have a golden parachute in place worth up to $50 million. Bakishs recent tenure has been marred by not pursuing a potential $3 billion sale of Showtime, the legacy networks such as CBS, MTV, VH1, BET, and Nickelodeon have continued to suffer in a declining market for linear TV, its credit rating was reduced to Junk, and Paramount+ remains far from profitability, with some analysts wondering if Paramount would have been better off not entering streaming and instead becoming an arms dealer licensing its content to other streamers. In 2019, Paramounts market value was $25.3 billion but is now just $8.4 billion. Looming over Bakishs potential ouster is Paramounts negotiations with Charter on a new deal, which proved contentious when Disneys deal expired with the cable provider and led to a radical new arrangement between the two companies back in September. Skydance entered into exclusive negotiations with National Amusements on April 3, though talks are expected to extend past the 30-day window. However, Sony alongside Apollo Management Global are waiting in the wings to make their own offer after Redstone passed on Apollos offers for both the individual Paramount film and TV studios and Paramount Global as a whole. Story continues Additional reporting by Tony Maglio. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. In 2023, bilateral trade between Mexico and China was around $130 billion; compared to trade between the U.S. and Mexico, which totaled $798 billion. (Photo: FreightWaves) Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: China boosts its Mexico investments as nearshoring opportunities grow; Realterm acquires truck terminal in El Paso, Texas; Horton Automatics opens plant in Matamoros, Mexico; and Schunk invests $7 million to expand in Queretaro, Mexico. China boosts its Mexico investments as nearshoring opportunities grow Alberto Garcia-Jurado was recently touring the Mexican city of Queretaro when something immediately jumped out to him. Garcia-Jurado is the CEO of San Antonio, Texas-based InZynch LLC, a collaboration system performance firm. He also served for six years as president of the Gulf Chapter of the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce. One of the things that shocked me was the huge Chinese presence I saw in Queretaro, such as 60% of the new car dealerships are Chinese General Motors, Ford, theyre disappearing, Garcia-Jurado told FreightWaves. But its not only car dealerships, most of the new industrial parks that are being set up are being set up for Chinese companies. It was shocking. Garcia-Jurado was traveling through Queretaro for a cross-border business event he helped organize in Mexico called How to take Advantage of the Texas Moment. He said everywhere he went, local business people told him they were seeing a surge of companies from China arriving in Mexico. On the one hand, I think it has to do with the trade war between the U.S. and China, and all the bad political blood and everything, Garcia-Jurado said. Chinese companies are finding it harder to get into the U.S. But if they set up shop in Mexico, then they can come from the south, access the U.S. market through Mexican ports. The U.S. cant afford to become complacent in trade relations with Mexico just because they are neighbors, Garcia-Jurado said. Chinese businesses are actually displacing a lot of traditional U.S. companies, Garcia-Jurado said. I think that the problem is that in the U.S., we became complacent, because Mexico has always been in our backyard, and the dominant entity for business in Mexico has always been the U.S. Recent data shows that Mexico is becoming an increasingly popular destination for Chinese companies looking to serve both local markets and possibly the U.S. According to Mexicos Secretary of the Economy, there were 378 foreign direct investments (FDI) announcements totaling over about $6.4 billion last year. Private sector businesses from the U.S. were the top investors in Mexico, accounting for 38% of FDI. China was ranked second in FDI at 12%, followed by Denmark (9%), Australia (7%) and South Korea (6%). Story continues The investments are expected to create 234,725 jobs, with almost 50% of the FDI announcements related to the automotive industry. Other manufacturing sectors benefiting from FDI investments include steel and iron manufacturing), electronic components and the food and beverage industry. The Mexican states that received the highest FDI from China last year were the northern states of Nuevo Leon and Coahuila; and the central states of Guanajuato and Queretaro. Along with Queretaro, the Mexican city of Monterrey has been another big beneficiary of Chinese investments, such as the development of a $5 billion factory from the China-based Lingong Machinery Group that was announced in October. Victor Cadena, vice president of the Mexican Chamber of Commerce in China (MEXCHAM), said the two countries have a long history of trade relations. MEXCHAM was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Beijing, China. The organizations goal is to strengthen trade between Mexico and China. Mexico and China have 52 years of diplomatic relations, Cadena told FreightWaves. Bilateral trade last year between Mexico and China was around $130 billion. Chinese FDI in Mexico is also growing, especially over the last few years due to the nearshoring effect. Cadena said the automotive industry is one of the key sectors for China-based investors in Mexico. Certainly the automotive industry is a key industry in Mexico, as Mexico is the seventh-largest carmaker globally and one of the main suppliers to the North America market, Cadena said. Companies such as Audi, BMW, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, KIA, Mazda, Nissan, Mercedes Benz, Toyota and VW, all have manufacturing plants in Mexico, all together 25 automobile plants in Mexico. Several Chinese car makers have announced their intention to set up a plant in Mexico in the near future too. Other manufacturing sectors in Mexico drawing interest from Chinese investors are electronics, such as home appliances, TVs and personal computers, which have deep roots in the country as well, and the supply chain is also well developed, Cadena said. In recent months, some trade experts have alleged that China-based companies and their sourcing partners are bypassing U.S.-based tariffs by bringing goods into Mexico before sending them across the border, essentially making them Mexican imports. Since the beginning of March, import container bookings from China to Mexico have increased over 130%, according to FreightWaves Inbound Ocean TEUs Indices (IOTI). The index measures bookings of twenty-foot equivalent units on a 14-day rolling average based on departure date from the port of lading. FreightWaves SONAR Inbound Ocean Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) Volume Index shows that imports from China to Mexico (IOTI.CHNMEX) have increased over 130% since the beginning of March. To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here. With a sizable portion of these goods likely being trucked into the U.S., it gives rise to the possibility that Chinas increase in trade with Mexico is being used to circumvent tariffs placed on imports from China to the U.S. as part of the ongoing trade war, Xeneta chief analyst Peter Sand wrote in a recent blog post. U.S. authorities have pressured Mexico to end tax breaks and other incentives for Chinese companies in recent months, according to Reuters. Last week, Mexican authorities announced they would halt incentives to Chinese electric vehicle makers. Cadena said while Mexico and China have strong economic ties, the U.S. will likely remain Mexicos strongest trading partner because of geographic proximity. In 2023, the U.S. traded $798 billion with Mexico, hence Mexico became the largest U.S. trading, taking over the position from China, Cadena said. Certainly, in some extension this is due to the nearshoring effect. Companies manufacturing in China relocated or are relocating in Mexico. The upgraded USMCA is also a very mature instrument. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade pact (USMCA), formerly known as the North American Free Trade Agreement, was established 30 years ago and its foundations and regulations provide solid bases and certainty for doing business within the North America region, Cadena said. Latin America and the Caribbean is not as homogeneous as people would believe, there are more than 30 countries, really different in territory, population, gross domestic product, roles of central banks, exports and imports diversification, competitive advantages, etc., Cadena said. Certainly, China became the largest trading partner of several Latin American countries, but that is not the case of Mexico, even though China is the second largest trading partner of Mexico, the U.S. is still the largest. To put it into context, trade between the U.S. and Mexico is about six times the size of the trade between China and Mexico, so its not really comparable. But Mexico and China are complementary economies. Garcia-Jurado, who travels frequently in Mexico, said he would like to see more U.S. companies take interest in doing business in cities across the country. We better start more proactively reaching out and closing those ties with many Mexican cities and towns and areas where theres a ton of opportunity before the Chinese settle down there and become the overwhelming, most important presence, Garcia-Jurado said. We need to reestablish the conversation, talk to companies in Austin or Dallas, and let them know how much money can be made in [Mexican] cities like Queretaro, Monterrey and Puebla. Realterm acquires truck terminal in El Paso, Texas Realterm announced Thursday it has acquired a 20,000-square-foot truck terminal in El Paso, Texas, according to the American Journal of Transportation. The facility includes 22 doors for tractor-trailers and a 4,036-square-foot maintenance shop. The property is fully leased to DC Logistics, an asset-based transportation and logistics provider. Our expansion into El Paso underscores our commitment to acquiring unique properties tailored to the demands of high flow through tenants, Ed Brickley, managing director, senior fund manager at Realterm, said in a statement. Annapolis, Maryland-based Realterm is a global investment manager focused on the transportation industry. Horton Automatics opens plant in Matamoros, Mexico Corpus Christi, Texas-based Horton Automatics recently opened a $20 million manufacturing facility in Matamoros, Mexico. The 200,000-square-foot facility will manufacture automatic doors for businesses, institutions and transportation systems. The new facility, which replaced two existing plants in the same city, will employ more than 200 direct and indirect workers. Founded in 1960, Horton Automatics designs, manufactures and sells automatic and manual doors. In January, the company ceased production operations at its longtime plant in Corpus Christi and laid off 63 workers. Schunk invests $7 million to expand in Queretaro, Mexico Manufacturing company Schunk recently announced plans to expand its factory in Queretaro, Mexico. The $7 million expansion will create an additional 250 jobs and expand manufacturing capacity, according to CEO Kristina Schunk. The company produces toolholding, gripping technology and automation technology for various industries. We started in Queretaro in 2000 and seven years ago we decided to make a larger investment, Schunk told El Economista. We have decided to make another very large investment in our plant, where we have different disciplines, from engineering to sales and production, we decided to invest again The company did not provide a timeline for the expansions completion. Heuchelheim, Germany-based Schunk has more than 3,500 employees in nine plants and 34 subsidiaries around the world. More articles by Noi Mahoney Truckstop CEO: Industry uniting in fight against load board fraud Borderlands Mexico: US-Mexico trade rises to $67B in February Samsara opens new office to focus on expanding cross-border trade The post Borderlands Mexico: China boosts its Mexico investments as nearshoring opportunities grow appeared first on FreightWaves. Key Insights The projected fair value for abrdn European Logistics Income is UK0.68 based on Dividend Discount Model abrdn European Logistics Income's UK0.61 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate abrdn European Logistics Income's peers are currently trading at a premium of 127% on average How far off is abrdn European Logistics Income plc (LON:ASLI) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's 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. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. See our latest analysis for abrdn European Logistics Income Crunching The Numbers As abrdn European Logistics Income operates in the real estate sector, we need to calculate the intrinsic value slightly differently. In this approach dividends per share (DPS) are used, as free cash flow is difficult to estimate and often not reported by analysts. Unless a company pays out the majority of its FCF as a dividend, this method will typically underestimate the value of the stock. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a company's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In this case we used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.6%). The expected dividend per share is then discounted to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.8%. Relative to the current share price of UK0.6, the company appears about fair value at a 10% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) = 0.06 / (8.8% 1.6%) = UK0.7 dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. 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 abrdn European Logistics Income 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 8.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.304. 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. Story continues SWOT Analysis for abrdn European Logistics Income Strength Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market. Weakness Interest payments on debt are not well covered. 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 ASLI's earnings prospects. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Dividends are not covered by cash flow. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation 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. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For abrdn European Logistics Income, we've compiled three additional aspects you should further examine: Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with abrdn European Logistics Income , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! Other Top Analyst Picks: Interested to see what the analysts are thinking? Take a look at our interactive list of analysts' top stock picks to find out what they feel might have an attractive future outlook! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every British stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Image source: Upsplash/The Motley Fool It's true that if you're a frequent flyer who spends a lot on premium travel rewards credit cards, you can get some fun perks and sweet upgrades. But some of the best airline experiences I've ever had were the times when I spent the least money. On a recent trip to Europe, I got a super cheap airline ticket for $570 (round-trip). It ended up being one of the happiest, most comfortable trans-Atlantic flights I've ever had. The flight was nearly empty! I had a whole row of basic economy seats to myself! I was able to stretch my legs (I'm 6'3) and take up all three seats, and use all the overhead compartment space I wanted. Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards Want to see how I got a cheap, comfy airline experience without having elite status or upgrading to business class or using a premium travel credit card? It's all about being flexible (with dates, airlines, and flight times). Here's how you can recreate this cheap flight hack for your next international vacation. 1. Start with Google Flights There are a lot of great flight search tools to find cheap airfares, like Skyscanner and Kayak. But personally, I prefer Google Flights. I use Google Flights as the home base and starting point for all of my air travel bookings. Here are a few reasons why I love Google Flights. Convenient "date grid" for flexible pricing Google Flights has a "date grid" that shows you different airline ticket prices based on flexible dates. This makes it easy to see how much you save if you fly out a few days earlier, or come home two days later. Search multiple airports It's easy to use Google Flights to search for flights from multiple airports in different cities (for your departure and/or your destination). Where I live in the Midwest, sometimes I can save hundreds of dollars on flights by driving three hours to fly into and out of a different airport. And sometimes you can get cheaper flights by searching for destinations across multiple cities, if you're flexible about where to land and begin your trip. For example, if you want to fly to Europe, you could search for flights arriving in Paris or Amsterdam or Frankfurt. Filter by airline (and more) Google Flights also has easy-to-use search filters so you can sort by airline or by airline alliance. You can even zero in on details like "which fares will give me a free carry-on bag" (not all airlines offer this anymore). 2. Be flexible on (almost) everything I got my cheap flight to Europe by using Google Flights' flexible price "date grid" to find the lowest-cost airfares from my home city of Des Moines to Munich, Germany (where one of my best friends lives). Story continues For this trip, I was flexible on most things. I was flexible about dates; I would happily stay in Europe for a few days longer if it meant a cheaper fare, because I was going to stay with my friend for free. I didn't search multiple airports on this trip, because I just wanted to fly out of my home airport in Des Moines without having to drive to Chicago or Minneapolis. And I was also flexible about airlines -- I'll fly on almost any international airline, as long as the price is cheap and the connections are doable. I chose an airfare that required me to switch airlines between United Airlines and its partner, Lufthansa -- but it was no big hassle. When I saw the Google Flights airfare price results come up, I was shocked to discover a $570 round-trip fare -- and I immediately grabbed my credit card to book it. If you want to fly from the Midwest to Europe, that's a really cheap price; I don't even think my first-ever flight to Europe 24 years ago was that cheap. But because I was flexible about (almost) everything, I got a great deal. 3. Go when (and where) other people aren't Why was my plane ticket so cheap? For one thing, I was traveling to Europe during an off-peak travel season. I've also had good luck in the past getting cheap trips to Europe at unpopular times; for example, I once had a great three-week trip to Europe in February, for $720 round-trip, because most international tourists don't want to travel there during winter. But you know what? Europe in winter is still Europe -- even if it's cold and gray, you can go to museums and coffee shops and bars, and have lots of fun indoors. And Europe's winters are milder than the frigid cold and life-threatening blizzards of my home city in the Midwest. Traveling during off-peak tourist seasons makes me feel like I'm beating the system. I also snagged a cheap airline ticket because I was traveling at unpopular times, on less-crowded flights. Not everyone wants to fly out of Des Moines at 6:30 p.m. on a weeknight, apparently -- or connect through Chicago in only 45 minutes. But I made it work! It's part of the adventure! I love racing through the airport for a can't-miss flight connection -- it makes life feel more urgent, more focused, more vibrant. Bottom line The more flexible you can be with your travel plans, the more money you can save on airline tickets. If you want to get a great price on international airline travel especially, it's often worth using some extra paid time off so you can fly out earlier -- or come home later. Be willing to try different international airlines, accept an overnight stopover or long layover at exotic new airports, and fly at times of day (and seasons of the year) when most other people don't want to travel. Alert: our top-rated cash back card now has 0% intro APR until 2025 This credit card is not just good its so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a lengthy 0% intro APR period, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This Cheap Flight Hack Felt Better Than Business Class was originally published by The Motley Fool Chipotle chicken al pastor - Chipotle / Facebook When California's new Fast Food Wage legislation went into effect on April 1, there was little doubt that fast-food and fast-casual restaurants would compensate for the hit. Tightening purse strings can take various forms, including worker layoffs, reduced shift hours, efficiency measures, store automation, and more. But perhaps one of the quickest ways to recoup significant cost increases is to raise consumer prices. That's exactly what Chipotle chose to do when the $20 per hour minimum wage for fast food workers went into effect. The rise in the California minimum wage from $16 to $20, which only affects fast food workers, equates to about a 20% jump for Chipotle labor costs in the state. To counteract lost profit margins, Chipotle raised menu prices by 6% to 7% in its roughly 500 California restaurants, compared to 2023 prices. The uptick affects menu-wide items and does not apply to Chipotle restaurants outside the Golden State. California labor-cost increases, and subsequent higher menu prices, seem minimally impactful for Chipotle, considering its recent earnings report for the first quarter of 2024. The company revealed increased comparable restaurant sales of 7%, with a total revenue increase of 14.1%. The chain also opened 47 new fast-casual locations in that quarter alone, with plans for up to 315 more by year's end. Nonetheless, Chipotle didn't let California Assembly Bill 1228 take effect without a fight. Read more: 19 Popular Pizza Chains, Ranked From Worst To Best Chipotle Joined Fast-Food Giants In Opposing California Wage Increase Chipotle workers in San Francisco - David Tran/Getty Images Increasing fast-food minimum wages was a long time coming for California. Governor Gavin Newsom initially signed a law called the Fast Recovery Act in 2022, establishing a fast-food council with the authority to increase wages and set worker conditions, with planned implementation on January 1, 2023. The industry fought back, citing, among other things, unfair treatment because the increase applied only to workers in a single retail food segment, rather than restaurants across the board. Chipotle jumped squarely into the fray. Along with fellow fast-food icons such as McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, In-N-Out Burger, and the owner of KFC, Chipotle joined a Save the Restaurants coalition, with a $1 million donation from each brand. They weren't alone in the fight, joined by wide-ranging groups with a stake in outcomes, including business groups, franchisees, and even unaffected smaller businesses that would not be subject to the wage increase requirement. Chipotle and its fast-food cohorts across the state successfully obtained a ballot referendum for 2024, raising $71.8 million, partially in loans by outside interests. However, an eventual compromise evolved into the new AB 1228 legislation, which includes the $20 minimum fast-food wage and the establishment of the Fast Food Council. The law is now officially in effect, resulting in an estimated overall increase of& 10% in menu costs, and counting, across dozens of California fast-casual chains. That comes on the heels of a reported 29% rise in fast food prices nationwide over four years since 2019. Read the original article on Tasting Table DataHorizzon Research The chrome plating market size was valued at USD 17.8 Billion in 2023 and is expected to reach a market size of USD 26.9 Billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 4.6%. Fort Collins, Colorado, April 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Benefits of chrome plating to drive more growth in the coming years. The chrome plating market is encountering promising prospects driven by the emergence of innovative and eco-friendly alternatives to conventional hexavalent chromium plating techniques. Among these alternatives, trivalent chromium plating stands out, utilizing a less hazardous chromium form while delivering multiple benefits, such as diminished environmental footprint, heightened worker safety, and enhanced process efficiency. Furthermore, integrating advanced automation and digitalization into plating procedures has unveiled fresh opportunities for heightened efficiency, consistency, and quality control. Automated plating systems have the potential to refine precision, curtail human errors, and optimize resource allocation, thereby fostering cost reductions and bolstering the competitiveness of chrome plating enterprises. Despite robust demand, the chrome plating market encounters significant constraints stemming from stringent environmental regulations governing hexavalent chromium, a toxic substance prevalent in traditional chrome plating processes. Heightened concerns regarding potential health hazards and ecological repercussions linked to hexavalent chromium have spurred tighter regulations and restrictions across various regions. For instance, the European Union's implementation of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation aims to phase out hexavalent chromium usage in specific applications. Similarly, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has instituted stringent guidelines governing the handling and disposing of hexavalent chromium compounds, thereby imposing substantial compliance costs on chrome plating enterprises. Request Sample Report: https://bit.ly/3Wkkx62 Segmentation Overview: The chrome plating market has been segmented into type, application, and region. Automotive plating is the largest application segment, leading the market growth. The automotive industry was the largest segment in the chrome plating market in 2023 based on market segmentation by application. Chrome plating is extensively used in various automotive components, such as bumpers, grilles, wheels, and interior trim, for decorative and functional purposes. Hard chrome plating is the leading segment and retains a large market share. Based on market segmentation by type, hard chrome plating was the largest segment in the chrome plating market in 2023. This type of plating is widely used in various industrial applications, such as machine tools, hydraulic cylinders, and automotive components, due to its exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and durability. Story continues Ask For Discount https://bit.ly/4a6YaEN Chrome Plating Market Report Highlights: The chrome plating market growth is anticipated at a CAGR of 4.6% by 2032. High demand from the automotive and manufacturing industries drives the industry growth. Asia-Pacific is the leading region for the chrome plating market and is projected to lead in the forecast period. Some prominent players in the chrome plating market report include Atotech, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, Interplex Industries, Allied Finishing, Peninsula Metal Finishing, Kuntz Electroplating, Asterion LLC, Electro Chemical Finishing, Enesol Inc., Suburban Plating Co., Inc., and Uyemura International Corporation. Looking Exclusively For Region/Country Specific Report? https://bit.ly/4aZIaVQ About DataHorizzon Research: DataHorizzon is a market research and advisory company that assists organizations across the globe in formulating growth strategies for changing business dynamics. Its offerings include consulting services across enterprises and business insights to make actionable decisions. DHRs comprehensive research methodology for predicting long-term and sustainable trends in the market facilitates complex decisions for organizations. Contact: Mail: sales@datahorizzonresearch.com Ph: +1-970-672-0390 Website: https://datahorizzonresearch.com/ Follow Us: LinkedIn Recent Publications Calcium Propionate Market Marine Biotechnology Market Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) Market Pharmaceutical Alginates Market HDPE Pipes Market Analysis CONTACT: Mail: sales@datahorizzonresearch.com Ph: +1-970-672-0390 Website: https://www.datahorizzonresearch.com Shutterstock.com Its a story thats becoming increasingly too common. A 60-year-old warehouse worker named Renato Calalang received an email notification informing him that a distant relative, a cousin in Calalangs native Philippines, had passed away and left him a significant inheritance. Find Out: 6 Reasons the Poor Stay Poor and Middle Class Doesnt Become Wealthy Read Next: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy The emailer, who claimed to represent the owner of a bank in the Philippines where the money was being kept for Calalang, supplied intricate details as proof. He even provided all the documents in relation to who he said was my cousin. There was a death certificate and everything. I have a cousin named the same as the person in the documents, so it seemed legitimate. Unfortunately, the documents, the inheritance and everything else about the emailers story turned out to be false. Keep reading for a look at this devastating story of how an unsuspecting husband and father who had worked hard all his life to provide for his family and save for retirement is now left with no savings and also find out what you can do to avoid being taken in by a similar scam. Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity. The High Cost of Falling for an Email Scam Calalang had his lifes savings drained from his bank account before he realized he was being conned. He had emigrated to Australia in 1986 and pursued work as a laborer and in different professions for the last 40 years, living there with his wife and children and steadily setting money aside for his retirement. He had seen some measure of success and had set aside nearly $150,000, which he counted on as a nest egg to care for his family and himself after retirement. Now, after all that work, Calalang has almost nothing to show for it. He still has extensive family ties in the Philippines, so he wasnt suspicious when he received an email from someone calling themselves Steve Golds who claimed to be the owner of a bank in the Philippines where the money, 3.8 million over $400 million was being held for him after the death of a cousin who had named Calalang as a benefactor in his will. The emailer said there was one condition Calalang had to fulfill in order to receive the money. He had to open an account at the bank and deposit funds into it. Check Out: Shark Tank Star Kevin OLeary: My Morning Habit That Keeps Me From Losing Money 100% of the Time Story continues Failing To Recognize Red Flags of Financial Fraud Steve Golds told Calalang that he couldnt make the transfer from his existing bank account but instead had to work with an agent of the Philippines bank to facilitate the process. The scammer provided intricate details like a copy of a death certificate as proof of the legitimacy of the inheritance. The con artist instructed Calalang to open a second account at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, where Calalang already had his hard-earned money deposited in a savings account. This was the first red flag that Calalang, and many others like him, failed to notice. Calalang made the required transfer of funds, feeling secure that since he was already a customer of the same bank, he could turn to CBA for assistance. This made me feel like nothing bad could happen, and if something were to go wrong, I thought I would be able to chase up Commonwealth Bank for help. Over the next few months, Calalang continued to deposit money into the account as instructed and even spoke with Steve Golds at a number in the Netherlands. There were several red flags here that may have helped Calalang realize he was being defrauded had he recognized them in time. Too Little, Too Late Looking back, Calalang said he now sees the obvious signs of a scam, but at the time, he felt secure in working with the soft-spoken, apparently sincere Golds in recovering his unexpected windfall inheritance. He thought the money would give him and his family a comfortable, worry-free life. Calalang expected the $400 million to be transferred into the second CBA account he had opened, but it never happened. When the scammer had all but drained his account and the inheritance funds had yet to start arriving from the bank in the Philippines, Calalang realized he had been tricked. He notified the police, an Australian organization called Scamwatch, and most importantly, his bank. I was devastated, Calalang said. I went to the Commonwealth Bank for help in September 2023 and told them what happened, and they investigated the case. After two months, they told me I had been scammed. CBA could do nothing to retrieve the funds Calalang had deposited into the new account they were gone, along with most of his life savings. They said they could not recover the funds because the overseas bank would not cooperate. Now, at an age when many people look forward to retiring and enjoying time with their families, Calalang is left to start over with significantly depleted savings. At this point, my family really is the only thing that is keeping me going. Protecting Yourself From Financial Fraud A recent Citibank survey showed that while 90% of those surveyed felt confident they could spot the signs of a financial scam, almost one-third of those respondents had reported being victimized by such schemes. Like so much in these kinds of cases, the numbers dont add up. To protect yourself from similar scams, its important to know a few crucial facts. You should never share personal or financial information with anyone you dont know, and keep information like PINs, Social Security and drivers license numbers safe, secure and private. Always use long passwords that have a combination of letters, numbers and symbols, such as an exclamation point, to make these passwords harder to crack. Shred any documents containing this type of information, never enter personal information on a computer that anyone you dont trust can access and use two-factor authentication or biometric logins, such as fingerprint identification or facial recognition, to secure all of the accounts you access from your phone or other personal devices. Trust Your Instincts Most importantly, realize when a situation seems sketchy. If a stranger contacts you by email claiming to represent the estate of a relative you havent spoken with in a long time, chances are its a fraudulent scheme waiting to happen. To prevent this, contact relatives directly, call the main number of the bank scammers claim to be representing and, most importantly, trust your instincts. If sudden news of a surprise inheritance sounds too good to be true, thats usually because it is. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: A Devastating Click: How an Email Scam Can Cost You Your Life Savings In this article, we will discuss dividend stocks for regular income. You can skip our detailed analysis of dividend stocks and their historical performance, and go directly to read Dividend Stock Portfolio For Income: Top 5 Stocks. It is generally believed that dividend stocks are primarily suitable for people approaching retirement. However, this is far from the truth. Dividend stocks have been favored by both seasoned and retail investors alike, as all types of investors seek to generate regular income from their investments. According to a survey conducted by investment platform Magnifi, 49% of Americans mainly invest to earn additional income, exceeding the percentage of those who invest for retirement, which stands at 42%. Dividend companies, unlike growth companies, share a portion of their profits with shareholders. Though dividend investing seems very straightforward on the surface, implementing this strategy effectively demands thorough and detailed research. Michael Dinich, a financial advisor, spoke about investing in dividend stocks in his interview with Business Insider. Here are some comments from the analyst: "While low-cost index funds provide easily diversified exposure to the market with minimal effort, selecting individual dividend payers demands continued research to find suitable candidates." He further said that dividend stocks are a valuable source of income, which can be reinvested to compound returns or utilized as cash for various purposes. This makes them particularly beneficial for young individuals who are new to investing, as they provide an opportunity to learn about the market while earning income from their investments. This statement of Mr. Dinich aligns with the significant role played by dividend income in the markets overall returns over long periods. In our article titled 16 Best Passive Income Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds, we reported that from 1926 to July 2023, dividend income accounted for 32% of the monthly total return of the S&P 500, while the remaining portion was attributed to capital appreciation. Investors can achieve more consistent dividend income by concentrating on companies that have established a history of regularly increasing their payouts over time. These dividend growth stocks have shown strong performance in the past. The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrat Index, which tracks the performance of companies with at least 25 consecutive years of dividend growth, returned 10.68% from its inception in 2005 through December 2023, as we reported in 14 Dividend Growth Stocks with Highest Growth Rates, citing data from ProShares. During this period, the S&P 500 underperformed dividend aristocrats and returned 10.05%. Moreover, dividend aristocrats exhibited a lower volatility of 15.30%, compared with a 16.24% volatility of the benchmark. Nuveen also reported that dividend growth stocks have provided excess returns during periods of market volatility. The report further mentioned that dividend income can be a valuable addition to capital appreciation strategy, helping to reduce volatility and enhance overall returns. While market downturns can lead to price swings in a portfolio, investing in financially stable companies that can sustain dividend growth can help lessen risks. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), and Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) are some of the best dividend growers to generate regular income as these companies have raised their payouts for decades. Moreover, these companies have solid balance sheets with strong financials, which indicate a potential for dividend growth for years ahead. In this article, we will further discuss income companies for a dividend stock portfolio. Our Methodology: For this list, we first used a stock screener to pick companies that have raised their dividends for at least 10 consecutive years or more. From that list, we narrowed down our options to companies with dividend yields of at least 2% as of April 28, demonstrating robust financial standings and consistent cash flow, which are indicative of their ability to sustain reliable dividends for passive income. From these companies we picked 15 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, using Insider Monkey's database of 933 hedge funds and their holdings as of Q4 2023. Hedge funds top 10 consensus stock picks outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Dividend Stock Portfolio For Income Photo by nick chong on Unsplash 15. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 46 LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) is a multinational chemical industry company that specializes in the production of plastics, chemicals, and refining products. The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $1.25 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.90%, as of April 28. It can be added to a dividend stocks portfolio as the company has been growing its dividends for the past 13 consecutive years. At the end of Q4 2023, 46 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported having stakes in LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB), growing from 36 in the previous quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is nearly $520 million. Among these hedge funds, AQR Capital Management was the company's leading stakeholder in Q4. 14. Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 54 Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) is a New York-based manufacturing company that deals in multinational consumer products. On March 14, the company declared a 4% hike in its quarterly dividend to $0.50 per share. This marked the company's 62nd consecutive year of dividend growth, which makes CL one of the best stocks for a dividend stocks portfolio. The stock has a dividend yield of 2.20%, as recorded on April 28. As of the close of Q4 2023, 54 hedge funds in Insider Monkey's database held stakes in Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL), up from 52 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a collective value of over $2.8 billion. 13. 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) is next on our list of the best stocks for a dividend stocks portfolio. The Minnesota-based multinational conglomerate currently offers a quarterly dividend of $1.51 per share for a dividend yield of 6.58%, as of April 28. The company's dividend growth streak currently spans over 66 years. 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) reported an operating cash flow of over $6.7 billion in FY23 and its free cash flow came in at $6.3 billion. During the year, the company returned $3.3 billion to shareholders through dividends. The number of hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owning stakes in 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) grew to 32 in Q4 2023, from 54 in the previous quarter. The overall value of these stakes is more than $1.75 billion. With over 3.1 million shares, Balyasny Asset Management was the company's leading stakeholder in Q4. 12. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62 An American multinational beverage company, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) offers a quarterly dividend of $0.485 per share, having raised it by 5.4% in February this year. Through this increase, Warren Buffett's favorite company achieved its 62nd consecutive annual dividend hike, which makes KO one of the best stocks for a dividend stock portfolio. As of April 28, the stock has a dividend yield of 3.14%. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) was a part of 62 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q4 2023, up from 58 in the previous quarter, as per Insider Monkey's database. The stakes owned by these hedge funds have a total value of nearly $27 billion. Berkshire Hathaway owned 400 million shares in the company in Q4, becoming its top stakeholder. 11. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 63 Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is an American multinational telecommunications company that offers a wide range of related services and products to its consumers. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.665 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.70%, as of April 28. It is one of the best stocks for a dividend stock portfolio as the company has been growing its dividends for the past 17 years. According to Insider Monkey's database of Q4 2023, 63 hedge funds held stakes in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), up from 61 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a total value of over $2.6 billion. 10. Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 68 Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) is one of the largest tobacco companies in the world that specializes in the manufacturing of cigarettes and other tobacco-related products. The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.30 per share on March 7, which fell in line with its previous dividend. Overall, it has raised its payouts for 14 consecutive years, which makes PM one of the best dividend stocks on our list. The stock has a dividend yield of 5.47%, as of April 28. Insider Monkey's database of Q4 2023 indicated that 68 hedge funds held stakes in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM), up from 62 in the previous quarter. These stakes are collectively valued at over $5.5 billion. With over 15 million shares, Fundsmith LLP was the company's leading stakeholder in Q4. 9. The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 70 The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) is an American home improvement company that specializes in related tools and services for its consumers. The company's dividend growth streak currently comes in at 14 years and it offers a quarterly dividend of $2.25 per share. As of April 28, the stock has a dividend yield of 2.69%. In FY23, the company remained committed to its shareholder obligation, returning over $8.3 billion to investors through dividends. At the end of December 2023, 70 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey invested in The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD), compared with 76 in the previous quarter. The stakes held by these hedge funds have a total value of nearly $6 billion. 8. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 71 An American energy company, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is next on our list of reliable stocks for a dividend stock portfolio. In FY23, its cash position remained strong as the company paid nearly $11 billion to shareholders in dividends. In addition to this, it has been growing its dividends for the past 37 years consistently. The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $1.63 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.93%, as recorded on April 28. As per Insider Monkey's database of Q4 2023, 71 hedge funds held stakes in Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX), down slightly from 72 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a total value of over $21.6 billion. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway was the company's leading stakeholder in Q4. 7. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 71 The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) is an Ohio-based consumer goods manufacturing company. It announced a 7% increase in its quarterly dividend on April 9 to $1.0065 per share. This marked the company's 68th consecutive year of dividend growth, which makes PG one of the best stocks for a dividend stock portfolio. The stock's dividend yield on April 28 came in at 2.50%. With a collective stake value of roughly $6 billion, 71 hedge funds in Insider Monkey's database held positions in The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), compared with 75 in the preceding quarter. 6. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 76 AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) ranks sixth on our list of the best stocks for a dividend stock portfolio. The company currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.55 per share and has been growing its payouts for 51 consecutive years. The stock supports a dividend yield of 3.88%, as of April 28. The number of hedge funds holding stakes in AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) grew to 76 in Q4 2023, from 73 in the previous quarter, as per Insider Monkey's database. These stakes are collectively valued at over $3.5 billion. Among these hedge funds, Marshall Wace LLP was the company's leading stakeholder in Q4. Click to continue reading and see Dividend Stock Portfolio For Income: Top 5 Stocks. Suggested articles: Disclosure. None. Dividend Stock Portfolio For Income is originally published on Insider Monkey. svetikd / Getty Images Earnings calls allow publicly traded companies to discuss their performance with investors and analysts. They provide a platform to discuss performance and dive deeper into the numbers. Analysts and investors can also ask the executive team questions during earnings calls. Check Out: If You Bought $1K of Elon Musks Favorite Crypto 5 Years Ago, Heres How Much You Would Have Now Read Next: Owe Money to the IRS? Most People Dont Realize They Should Do This One Thing Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity. What is an Earnings Call? Earnings calls typically occur quarterly after a public company releases its earnings results. These calls are a way for management to explain the previous quarters results, what drove the numbers, and what investors can expect over the next quarter and the rest of the fiscal year. While the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) doesnt require companies to have an earnings call, its become somewhat customary. What Happens on an Earnings Call? Earnings calls are usually conducted by the chief executive officer (CEO) and chief financial officer (CFO). Occasionally, they will also include the chief operating officer (COO) and others from the senior-level management team. The calls will typically start with someone from the investor relations team giving a safe harbor statement that helps protect the company from liability if the actual results differ from whats discussed on the call. From there, the CEO usually gives an introductory statement about the companys performance in the previous quarter. Then, alongside the CFO, they will provide financial results and earnings guidance. Once the scripted remarks are made, they will open things up to questions from investment analysts who cover the company and investors. How Analysts and Investors Use Earnings Calls Earnings calls are an excellent way for analysts and investors to understand a companys financial health better. Based on the outlined results, analysts ask leading questions that help them understand the numbers better. The answers they get from executives can help them provide more accurate estimates on what they expect over the next quarter or the remainder of the year. As an example, assume a company reported a huge revenue gain over the quarter. An analyst will probably want to investigate the cause. Was it a product launch? Was it entering a new market? They want to find out if this increase in revenue is sustainable or short-lived. Story continues On the other hand, investors use information from earnings calls to make more informed investment decisions. Earnings usually create a good amount of volatility for a company. Traders can use that to their advantage to generate a profit. However, long-term investors could use a pullback as an opportunity to buy at a more attractive price. The Bottom Line Learn More: 13 Cheap Cryptocurrencies With the Highest Potential Upside for You Earnings calls are a way for publicly traded companies to keep their investors and analysts up to date on the companys financial health. These calls can be used to examine earnings to better understand what everything means going forward. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Is an Earnings Call? Heres What New Investors Should Know Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks during a press event on the Tesla Gigafactory site. Patrick Pleul/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa Billionaire Elon Musk unexpectedly landed in Beijing aboard a private flight on Sunday. Musk, who runs leading electric vehicle company Tesla among other ventures, will reportedly meet Ren Hongbin, president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), for negotiations during the visit, according to Chinese state television. His visit also coincides with the Beijing Auto Show, China's largest automotive industry event, although it remains unclear whether Musk plans to visit the trade fair. China remains the second-largest market for Tesla vehicles, and is also a major production hub for the company. Tesla's largest factory is located in Shanghai. Tesla has been mired in a business slump, exacerbated by a general downturn in the market for electric cars and tough competition from cheaper Chinese-made vehicles, which have significantly improved in quality over recent years. Tesla announced earlier this month that it would cut more than 10% of all jobs worldwide. zhaoliang70 / Shutterstock.com Youve probably come across terms like ETF (Exchange-traded funds) and ETP (Exchange-traded products) when deciding where to invest your money. These dont sound very different from each other, but its important to familiarize yourself with both so that you understand whats best for you. This is especially important because ETFs are the most popular kind of ETP which often leads to some confusion. Check Out: Im a Self-Made Millionaire: 5 Stocks You Shouldnt Sell Read Next: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity. ETP vs ETF Exchange-traded products (ETPs) are securities that are traded in a national stock market during the trading day, just like stocks and bonds, an index or other financial products. The price of an ETP tracks the performance of the underlying securities when they do well, the ETP is worth more and vice versa but as an investor, you do not own the underlying securities themselves. There are other types of ETPs that fulfill other purposes, like exchange-traded notes (ETNs) and exchange-traded commodities (ETCs). Exchange-traded funds (ETFs), on the other hand, are a specific type of ETP. ETFs are a collection of securities that are bought and sold like individual stocks within the fund. Investors do not hold individual positions in the securities in the ETF. Also, ETFs are not mutual funds, so youll want to take the time to understand the distinction and performance expectations between ETFs and mutual funds. As for ETPs and ETFs, the fundamental difference is while every ETF is an ETP, the inverse cannot be said. Advantages of ETFs When youre considering an ETF, you can generally count on the advantages inherent that confer on ETFs as a type of ETP. While not stocks, ETPs and ETFs grant investors the liquidity of stocks plus the advantage of pooled investments, and trading on the exchange in real time. Compared to other investing in other options like mutual funds, with ETPs and ETFs tend to be more cost-effective with investors benefiting from lower management fees and expense ratios, better tax efficiency and oftentimes, commission-free trading. ETPs and ETFs perform much like indexes, sectors or commodities while allowing investors to tap into specific industries or entire markets without requisite ownership of the actual assets. When it comes to the performance of ETFs versus other ETPs, there are a number of reasons why they are the most popular type. Story continues Learn More: 10 Valuable Stocks That Could Be the Next Apple or Amazon ETFs usually have lower fees than other ETPs. They have better liquidity in two ways: Through their higher daily trading volume, which essentially means that there are a lot of shares being traded daily. Their tighter bid-ask spread, or how disparate a buyers highest bidding price is from a sellers lowest asking price. ETFs are tax-efficient because of their minimized capital gains distributions, while other ETPs do not necessarily share their degree of tax efficiency. Because of that, its important to research your investments fully to determine how distributions are taxed. ETFs have a lot to recommend them as investments. Its worth considering how you might use them in your portfolio. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: ETF vs. ETP: Heres the Difference and What To Know Before Investing Energy stocks have gone on a tear over the past two months, and ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) is one company benefiting. Oil prices have risen amid geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, but is it too late to buy the stock? Here are some things you'll want to consider if you're buying ExxonMobil today. ExxonMobil's integrated business model and its growing dividend payout ExxonMobil is one of the world's largest oil and gas companies. It has a long history of strong capital management and has managed to reward investors across the heavily cyclical energy business, as evidenced by its 41-year history of raising its dividend payout. Its steady performance is possible because of its integrated business model across the energy supply chain. Oil and gas companies typically operate in the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments. Upstream activities, also known as exploration and production, include drilling, exploration, and extraction. Midstream activities include processing, storing, and transporting oil and gas, while downstream operations include refining crude oil into gasoline, natural gas liquids, or other energy sources. Image source: Getty Images. Integrated oil companies can weather oil and gas price fluctuations better than peers focusing only on one activity. That's because these activities are highly dependent on market conditions. For example, upstream activities benefit from higher crude oil and gas prices. However, if the price of oil plummets, so do an upstream operator's profits. That's where the midstream and downstream business comes into play. Transporting and refining oil and gas can be a more reliable source of income and balance out fluctuations in the price of oil and gas. That's because its refinery business benefits from lower oil prices because of lower input costs. Many of the largest oil and gas companies are integrated for this reason, making them dependable dividend stocks. Robust cash flows and an improving balance sheet ExxonMobil has benefited from high oil prices over the past few years, which has enabled it to shore up its balance sheet, pay off debt, and pay shareholders through dividends and stock buybacks. XOM Total Long Term Debt (Quarterly) Chart Over the last two years, ExxonMobil has generated a staggering $98 billion in free cash flow. The company has used a big chunk of this to pay down long-term debt, which ballooned to nearly $70 billion during the pandemic. The company has paid down nearly half of this and has around $38 billion in long-term debt today. Not only that, but it has also raised its dividend payout for the 41st consecutive year. It raised its dividend payout by 4.4% and yields investors over 3% annually. It has also increased its share buybacks substantially. In 2023, the oil and gas giant repurchased $17.4 billion in shares and plans to ramp that up to $20 billion once its merger with Pioneer Natural Resources is completed. Story continues This could be a tailwind for ExxonMobil's business Investing in the oil and gas industry isn't without risks. Despite the integrated business model, these companies can be vulnerable to swings in commodity prices. Supply and demand shocks can help and hurt these companies, so they could experience more volatility than the broader market. For example, oil prices plummeted in 2020 amid the pandemic-induced economic slowdown, and many of these stocks took almost a year to recover. However, the outlook today appears to favor oil and gas giants. Occidental Petroleum CEO Vicki Hollub told CNBC in an interview that the world is failing to replace crude reserves fast enough. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is an emergency supply of crude oil maintained by the United States Department of Energy. In March 2022, the Biden administration began releasing reserves to cap oil prices, which were rising following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The SPR is down 38% since February 2022 and has reached its lowest level in 40 years. US Crude Oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Stocks Chart In addition, according to the hedge fund Citadel, as reported by The Financial Times, oil markets are set to become "extremely tight" in the second half of the year. The highly successful hedge fund said that OPEC+, which has cut production to boost global oil prices over the past year and a half, has "regained control" of the oil markets. Tight supplies and strong demand from countries replenishing crude reserves could keep a floor on oil over the next few years. Buy, sell, or hold ExxonMobil? ExxonMobil has several things going for it: an improving financial position, capital return to shareholders through growing dividends and share repurchases, and ongoing tightness in the oil and gas markets. Given this backdrop, I think ExxonMobil is a solid stock to buy today and hold for the long haul. Should you invest $1,000 in ExxonMobil right now? Before you buy stock in ExxonMobil, 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 ExxonMobil 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 Courtney Carlsen has positions in ExxonMobil and Occidental Petroleum. The Motley Fool recommends Occidental Petroleum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. ExxonMobil: Buy, Sell, or Hold? was originally published by The Motley Fool Investors are often guided by the idea of discovering 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without any revenue, let alone profit. But as Peter Lynch said in One Up On Wall Street, 'Long shots almost never pay off.' While a well funded company may sustain losses for years, it will need to generate a profit eventually, or else investors will move on and the company will wither away. If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Foraco International (TSE:FAR). While profit isn't the sole metric that should be considered when investing, it's worth recognising businesses that can consistently produce it. View our latest analysis for Foraco International Foraco International's Improving Profits Foraco International has undergone a massive growth in earnings per share over the last three years. So much so that this three year growth rate wouldn't be a fair assessment of the company's future. As a result, we'll zoom in on growth over the last year, instead. Foraco International's EPS shot up from US$0.20 to US$0.29; a result that's bound to keep shareholders happy. That's a fantastic gain of 45%. Top-line growth is a great indicator that growth is sustainable, and combined with a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin, it's a great way for a company to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. The good news is that Foraco International is growing revenues, and EBIT margins improved by 4.0 percentage points to 18%, over the last year. That's great to see, on both counts. The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart. You don't drive with your eyes on the rear-view mirror, so you might be more interested in this free report showing analyst forecasts for Foraco International's future profits. Are Foraco International Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? Many consider high insider ownership to be a strong sign of alignment between the leaders of a company and the ordinary shareholders. So as you can imagine, the fact that Foraco International insiders own a significant number of shares certainly is appealing. Actually, with 36% of the company to their names, insiders are profoundly invested in the business. This should be a welcoming sign for investors because it suggests that the people making the decisions are also impacted by their choices. With that sort of holding, insiders have about US$111m riding on the stock, at current prices. That should be more than enough to keep them focussed on creating shareholder value! It means a lot to see insiders invested in the business, but shareholders may be wondering if remuneration policies are in their best interest. Well, based on the CEO pay, you'd argue that they are indeed. For companies with market capitalisations between US$100m and US$400m, like Foraco International, the median CEO pay is around US$737k. The Foraco International CEO received US$513k in compensation for the year ending December 2022. That seems pretty reasonable, especially given it's below the median for similar sized companies. While the level of CEO compensation shouldn't be the biggest factor in how the company is viewed, modest remuneration is a positive, because it suggests that the board keeps shareholder interests in mind. Generally, arguments can be made that reasonable pay levels attest to good decision-making. Does Foraco International Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist? For growth investors, Foraco International's raw rate of earnings growth is a beacon in the night. If you need more convincing beyond that EPS growth rate, don't forget about the reasonable remuneration and the high insider ownership. This may only be a fast rundown, but the key takeaway is that Foraco International is worth keeping an eye on. It's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Foraco International , and understanding it should be part of your investment process. There's always the possibility of doing well buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But for those who consider these important metrics, we encourage you to check out companies that do have those features. You can access a tailored list of Canadian companies which have demonstrated growth backed by recent insider purchases. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. 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. You've probably seen this before: An under-the-radar company reports good news, and all of a sudden its shares soar by double digits in one trading session. Day traders who happen to get in on the stock cheer as they sell and lock in gains. And so you may be tempted to give day trading a try, with the goal of building a fortune. But things don't always work out that way in the world of day trading, the high-risk business of buying and selling a stock within a period of hours. Sure, you could score some victories, but you're likely to face losses too -- and they could be devastating. Day trading isn't the surest way to riches for most investors. I have some good news for you, though: There's another path to wealth, and it's much more secure. Long-term investing offers you many opportunities to grow wealth over time, and one of these strategies involves buying exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In fact, one ETF in particular could offer you all of the elements you need to significantly boost your portfolio over the long run. So, forget day trading and give the following asset a try. Image source: Getty Images. A way to invest in many stocks First, some quick notes on ETFs. These funds include a variety of stocks revolving around a particular theme -- for example, they can focus on growth or on an industry, or even track an index. The funds are traded like stocks, with prices fluctuating daily, so you can purchase shares of them just as you would a stock. One thing to keep in mind before diving in is that ETFs involve some level of management, so they come with fees. In order to minimize your expenses and maximize your gains, you'll want to look at a fund's expense ratio and only consider buying if it's less than 1%. There are many advantages to buying an ETF and holding on for the long term, versus trying to pick today's stocks-on-the-move and then selling them a few hours later. You don't have to identify one winner, because the ETF offers you exposure to many players -- and that increases your chances of winning. It also means you don't have to devote time daily to research and to following the market's and the economy's every move. This investment over time allows you to benefit from companies' growth over a period of years -- which could amount to a greater return than a day trade. And all of this comes without the stress of day trading, so you can sleep at night. Many ETFs offer great long-term opportunities today, but one I would zero in on for growth is the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: SCHG). That's because this fund offers you all of today's top growth players, those that have driven the S&P 500 index into a new bull market. At the same time, the ETF has outperformed the S&P 500 over the past year. Story continues Investing in the "Magnificent Seven" Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth's top five holdings are Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta Platforms. And with Alphabet in the sixth position, the fund is heavily invested in most of the stocks known as the "Magnificent Seven," a reference to the 1960 Western; these players have reported solid earnings growth in recent times, and their stock performance has followed. The fund also has a significant position in Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical company that has stood out over the past year thanks to its top-selling weight loss drugs. Right now, Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth favors information technology, consumer discretionary, communication services, and healthcare stocks -- they all have double-digit percentage weightings in the fund. But down the road this could change, depending on which industries and stocks are growing the most. So, by investing in this fund, you'll always be betting on the market's highest-growth players -- and you won't have to lift a finger. On top of this, Schwab Large-Cap Growth's expense ratio is only 0.04%, making it a low-cost way to potentially achieve financial freedom. Now, with a market environment favoring growth, is the perfect time to add such a fund to your portfolio -- and kick-start your effort to build wealth. Should you invest $1,000 in Schwab Strategic Trust - Schwab U.s. Large-Cap Growth ETF right now? Before you buy stock in Schwab Strategic Trust - Schwab U.s. Large-Cap Growth ETF, 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 Schwab Strategic Trust - Schwab U.s. Large-Cap Growth ETF 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 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. 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. Adria Cimino has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. 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. Forget Day Trading: This Growth ETF Is a Better Way to Grow Wealth Over Time was originally published by The Motley Fool The Federal Trade Commissions decision this past week to outlaw nearly all noncompete agreements is a high-stakes shift in US law that could restructure the balance of power between businesses and workers. The rule means it will become easier for millions of US workers to leave their existing jobs to work for a competing company or start their own. Companies say it will become harder for them to protect trade secrets and confidential information. A legal battle is already underway to decide whether this change will be allowed to take effect at the end of August or early September. "If the rule is permitted to stand, it will mark a significant departure from hundreds of years of jurisprudence and law in the US," Alston & Birds labor and employment law head Chris Marquardt told Yahoo Finance. Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (Drew Angerer via Getty Images) The rule applies to employees and independent contractors across industries, from doctors and engineers to fast-food workers and salespeople. With few exceptions, it also applies retroactively. There are some exceptions. One is for noncompete employment agreements already reached with company CEOs, presidents, and senior business executives who have "policy making" authority and are paid more than $151,164 per year. But new agreements with those executives will not be permitted in the future. "That's a really narrow exception to the rule it is only going to apply to a handful of people, probably within large organizations," Marquardt said. Not all industries will be subject to the rule, however. Some banks, certain nonprofits such as healthcare providers, and stockyards will not have to comply. On Wall Street, that could mean traditional banks might be able to maintain more control over departing workers than, say, private equity firms or hedge funds. A street sign for Wall Street is seen outside the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo (REUTERS / Reuters) A different exception permitted by the FTC allows the use of noncompete agreements to protect a companys interests in the event that the company is sold. Bosses are not letting the rule go through without a fight. In the days following the FTCs announcement, there were two lawsuits filed in Texas federal district court, including one by the US Chamber of Commerce. They argue that the FTCs nonelected commissioners, who voted 3-2 down party lines to approve the rule, had no authority to strip workers and companies of contractual rights. Instead, they argue, only states are empowered to regulate such agreements between those parties. Some states have banned them altogether. California, for example, outlawed noncompete agreements based on concerns that they prevent worker mobility and keep people from innovating and from leaving companies to start their own. Story continues Studies to determine whether that's true "are not fully baked," said Kate Perrelli, co-chair of Seyfarths national trade secrets, computer fraud, and noncompetes practice group. The Chamber claims the FTC rule will force businesses and workers into pricey and ineffective court battles. A view of the California state capitol building in Sacramento, Calif. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for National Urban League) (Arturo Holmes via Getty Images) Employers, it says, will sue to protect their confidential information, and highly skilled workers may claim the agency illegally usurped their right to bargain for increased compensation in exchange for noncompete agreements. James Witz, co-chair of Littlers unfair competition and trade secrets practice group, said his business clients have expressed concern that the rule will put their most valuable know-how at risk, along with their ability to protect their investment in employees. Witzs co-chair Melissa McDonagh added that clients are also worried the rule is too ambiguous about whether alternative trade secret protections like nonsolicitation and nondisclosure agreements are legal if the FTC deemed them overbroad. Those and other so-called restrictive covenants can dissuade workers from sharing secret company information with competitors. Perrelli said she would not be surprised if a judge temporarily blocks the rule from taking effect while the challenges play out in court. "And then it will make its way up and probably end up at the Supreme Court," Perrelli said. Either way, employment attorney Roger Feicht said the rest of the business world needs to start rethinking their employment agreements. "Regardless of the size or sector, businesses must be ready to comply with the rule if it survives legal challenge, he said. Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Gas Malaysia Berhad's (KLSE:GASMSIA) investors are due to receive a payment of MYR0.0862 per share on 13th of June. This means the dividend yield will be fairly typical at 4.0%. See our latest analysis for Gas Malaysia Berhad Gas Malaysia Berhad's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage We like a dividend to be consistent over the long term, so checking whether it is sustainable is important. Prior to this announcement, Gas Malaysia Berhad's dividend made up quite a large proportion of earnings but only 61% of free cash flows. This leaves plenty of cash for reinvestment into the business. Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 8.7%. Under the assumption that the dividend will continue along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 75% which would be quite comfortable going to take the dividend forward. Dividend Volatility The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. Since 2014, the annual payment back then was MYR0.137, compared to the most recent full-year payment of MYR0.143. Dividend payments have been growing, but very slowly over the period. It's encouraging to see some dividend growth, but the dividend has been cut at least once, and the size of the cut would eliminate most of the growth anyway, which makes this less attractive as an income investment. Gas Malaysia Berhad Might Find It Hard To Grow Its Dividend Growing earnings per share could be a mitigating factor when considering the past fluctuations in the dividend. We are encouraged to see that Gas Malaysia Berhad has grown earnings per share at 16% per year over the past five years. The payout ratio is very much on the higher end, which could mean that the growth rate will slow down in the future, and that could flow through to the dividend as well. Our Thoughts On Gas Malaysia Berhad's Dividend Overall, it's nice to see a consistent dividend payment, but we think that longer term, the current level of payment might be unsustainable. The payments haven't been particularly stable and we don't see huge growth potential, but with the dividend well covered by cash flows it could prove to be reliable over the short term. We don't think Gas Malaysia Berhad is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus. 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 Gas Malaysia Berhad that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Is Gas Malaysia Berhad not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Key Insights Significantly high institutional ownership implies Breville Group's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions A total of 6 investors have a majority stake in the company with 54% ownership Analyst forecasts along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business If you want to know who really controls Breville Group Limited (ASX:BRG), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 42% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). And things are looking up for institutional investors after the company gained AU$161m in market cap last week. The one-year return on investment is currently 25% and last week's gain would have been more than welcomed. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Breville Group. View our latest analysis for Breville Group What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Breville Group? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. We can see that Breville Group does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Breville Group's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Breville Group. The company's largest shareholder is Premier Investments Limited, with ownership of 25%. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 9.4% and 5.8% of the stock. We did some more digging and found that 6 of the top shareholders account for roughly 54% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Story continues Insider Ownership Of Breville Group 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. Our information suggests that Breville Group Limited insiders own under 1% of the company. We do note, however, it is possible insiders have an indirect interest through a private company or other corporate structure. It is a pretty big company, so it would be possible for board members to own a meaningful interest in the company, without owning much of a proportional interest. In this case, they own around AU$34m worth of shares (at current prices). Arguably, recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 27% stake in Breville Group. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Private Company Ownership Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 4.6%, of the company's shares. 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 26% of the Breville Group shares on issue. We can't be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together. 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. I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can access this interactive graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow, for free. But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Key Insights The considerable ownership by individual investors in Bathurst Resources indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy A total of 7 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership Insider ownership in Bathurst Resources is 13% To get a sense of who is truly in control of Bathurst Resources Limited (ASX:BRL), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are individual investors with 43% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Meanwhile, institutions make up 31% of the companys shareholders. Large companies usually have institutions as shareholders, and we usually see insiders owning shares in smaller companies. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Bathurst Resources, beginning with the chart below. Check out our latest analysis for Bathurst Resources What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Bathurst Resources? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. We can see that Bathurst Resources does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. 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 Bathurst Resources' earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Bathurst Resources is not owned by hedge funds. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Republic Investment Management Pte. Ltd. with 21% of shares outstanding. Talley's Group Limited is the second largest shareholder owning 11% of common stock, and VP Fund Solutions (Luxembourg) SA holds about 8.9% of the company stock. Additionally, the company's CEO Richard Tacon directly holds 0.8% of the total shares outstanding. We also observed that the top 7 shareholders account for more than half of the share register, with a few smaller shareholders to balance the interests of the larger ones to a certain extent. 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. As far as we can tell there isn't analyst coverage of the company, so it is probably flying under the radar. Story continues Insider Ownership Of Bathurst Resources While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. It seems insiders own a significant proportion of Bathurst Resources Limited. Insiders have a AU$21m stake in this AU$163m business. It is great to see insiders so invested in the business. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying recently. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 43% stake in Bathurst Resources. 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 12%, 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 Bathurst Resources better, we need to consider many other factors. Take risks for example - Bathurst Resources has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. 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. As you might know, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (NASDAQ:KALU) just kicked off its latest first-quarter results with some very strong numbers. The company beat forecasts, with revenue of US$738m, some 6.0% above estimates, and statutory earnings per share (EPS) coming in at US$1.51, 126% ahead of expectations. Following the result, the analysts have updated their earnings model, and it would be good to know whether they think there's been a strong change in the company's prospects, or if it's business as usual. With this in mind, we've gathered the latest statutory forecasts to see what the analysts are expecting for next year. Check out our latest analysis for Kaiser Aluminum Taking into account the latest results, the consensus forecast from Kaiser Aluminum's two analysts is for revenues of US$3.10b in 2024. This reflects an okay 2.9% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are forecast to reduce 5.1% to US$3.33 in the same period. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analysts had been anticipated revenues of US$3.18b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$7.05 in 2024. The analysts seem less optimistic after the recent results, reducing their revenue forecasts and making a pretty serious reduction to earnings per share numbers. The analysts made no major changes to their price target of US$72.75, suggesting the downgrades are not expected to have a long-term impact on Kaiser Aluminum's valuation. These estimates are interesting, but it can be useful to paint some more broad strokes when seeing how forecasts compare, both to the Kaiser Aluminum's past performance and to peers in the same industry. It's pretty clear that there is an expectation that Kaiser Aluminum's revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues to the end of 2024 expected to display 3.9% growth on an annualised basis. This is compared to a historical growth rate of 21% over the past five years. By way of comparison, the other companies in this industry with analyst coverage are forecast to grow their revenue at 4.9% per year. So it's pretty clear that, while revenue growth is expected to slow down, the wider industry is also expected to grow faster than Kaiser Aluminum. The Bottom Line The most important thing to take away is that the analysts downgraded their earnings per share estimates, showing that there has been a clear decline in sentiment following these results. Unfortunately, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and our data indicates underperformance compared to the wider industry. Even so, earnings per share are more important to the intrinsic value of the business. 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 Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. We have analyst estimates for Kaiser Aluminum going out as far as 2025, and you can see them free on our platform here. Plus, you should also learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Kaiser Aluminum . 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 board of Leong Hup International Berhad (KLSE:LHI) has announced that it will pay a dividend of MYR0.013 per share on the 27th of May. Based on this payment, the dividend yield on the company's stock will be 4.2%, which is an attractive boost to shareholder returns. See our latest analysis for Leong Hup International Berhad Leong Hup International Berhad's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings While it is great to have a strong dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is sustainable. Before making this announcement, Leong Hup International Berhad was easily earning enough to cover the dividend. As a result, a large proportion of what it earned was being reinvested back into the business. The next year is set to see EPS grow by 1.6%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 5.0% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward. Leong Hup International Berhad's Dividend Has Lacked Consistency Even in its relatively short history, the company has reduced the dividend at least once. If the company cuts once, it definitely isn't argument against the possibility of it cutting in the future. The dividend has gone from an annual total of MYR0.016 in 2019 to the most recent total annual payment of MYR0.024. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 8.4% over that duration. It's good to see the dividend growing at a decent rate, but the dividend has been cut at least once in the past. Leong Hup International Berhad might have put its house in order since then, but we remain cautious. We Could See Leong Hup International Berhad's Dividend Growing With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. Leong Hup International Berhad has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 8.6% per annum. Leong Hup International Berhad definitely has the potential to grow its dividend in the future with earnings on an uptrend and a low payout ratio. We Really Like Leong Hup International Berhad's Dividend Overall, we like to see the dividend staying consistent, and we think Leong Hup International Berhad might even raise payments in the future. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. All in all, this checks a lot of the boxes we look for when choosing an income stock. Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For example, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Leong Hup International Berhad that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. A firefighter battles the Saddleridge fire in Porter Ranch on Oct. 11, 2019. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) To the editor: I purchased my home in the San Gabriel Mountains community of Wrightwood in 2017. Since then, I've been insured through AAA. ("Amid homeowner insurance crisis, consumer advocates and industry clash at hearing," April 24) Last week, I received notice of non-renewal because of wildfire risk. I've paid my policies in full each year and never had a claim. It was suggested that I try the FAIR plan, California's insurer of last resort. I contacted the California Department of Insurance, figuring it would want to know Im not being renewed, and it would need information for its records so it could keep track of the insurance catastrophe in the Golden State. The department, however, wasn't interested. Since then, I've contacted a broker through the FAIR plan. My insurance premium will be increasing by more than 46%. Please, lawmakers, for the sake of this state and its residents, represent your citizens' interests and not those of the behemoth insurance companies. The "algorithms and artificial intelligence" that the insurance companies want to use aren't the answer to this problem good government is. Jonathan Lewis, Wrightwood, Calif. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Key Insights The projected fair value for Sheffield Green is S$0.24 based on Dividend Discount Model Current share price of S$0.20 suggests Sheffield Green is potentially trading close to its fair value Sheffield Green's peers seem to be trading at a higher discount to fair value based onthe industry average of 48% How far off is Sheffield Green Ltd. (Catalist:SGR) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Sheffield Green Crunching The Numbers As Sheffield Green operates in the professional services sector, we need to calculate the intrinsic value slightly differently. In this approach dividends per share (DPS) are used, as free cash flow is difficult to estimate and often not reported by analysts. This often underestimates the value of a stock, but it can still be good as a comparison to competitors. We use the Gordon Growth Model, which assumes dividend will grow into perpetuity at a rate that can be sustained. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a company's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In this case we used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.1%). The expected dividend per share is then discounted to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.2%. Compared to the current share price of S$0.2, the company appears about fair value at a 18% 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. Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) = US$0.007 / (6.2% 2.1%) = S$0.2 dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. 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 Sheffield Green 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 6.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.892. 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. Story continues SWOT Analysis for Sheffield Green Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Professional Services market. Opportunity Current share price is below our estimate of fair value. Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine SGR's earnings prospects. Threat No apparent threats visible for SGR. Moving On: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching 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 Sheffield Green, we've put together three further factors you should look at: Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for Sheffield Green (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! Other Top Analyst Picks: Interested to see what the analysts are thinking? Take a look at our interactive list of analysts' top stock picks to find out what they feel might have an attractive future outlook! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Singaporean stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. It's difficult to overstate the impact artificial intelligence (AI) will have on the world in the coming years. While AI has been around in one form or another for decades, the latest developments have the potential to move the needle in ways we can't yet imagine. Generative AI has demonstrated the ability to create original text, images, and audio, but its potential goes far beyond that. When properly trained, these systems can summarize and draft emails, create presentations, search for and compile data, and even draft and debug complicated computer code. Goldman Sachs Research has crunched the numbers, and its estimate is jaw-dropping. As AI works its way into business systems and society in general, it could be worth as much as $7 trillion over the next 10 years. While there are bound to be many beneficiaries, one company well-positioned to reap its portion of this AI windfall is Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). Image source: Getty Images. A prescient pivot To understand how the company got to where it is today, it's important to take a step back. Nvidia originally made its fortunes by pioneering the graphics processing units (GPUs) that created lifelike images in video games, revolutionizing the industry. The underlying technology that made this possible is parallel processing, which can process a magnitude of mathematical calculations simultaneously by breaking big jobs into smaller, more manageable bits. Nvidia began to see the potential and quickly adapted this process to other applications. The humble GPU has evolved far beyond video games. It now speeds data through the ether, processes information in data centers and cloud computing, and enables the latest advances in AI. Nvidia's market opportunity is growing by leaps and bounds, increasing with each new use case. Early last year, management estimated the company's total addressable market at about $1 trillion -- and that was before the adoption of generative AI really kicked into high gear. This suggests that the number is even higher now. The need for data centers that can harness the power of AI has caused a building boom that's only just begun. Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi suggests that the AI server market will grow 75% annually over the next three years, calling the buildout "unprecedented." This robust demand is clear in Nvidia's results. In its fiscal 2024, revenue soared 126% year over year to $61 billion, while its diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $11.93 marked a 586% surge. Nvidia's data center segment, which includes chips used for cloud computing and AI, was the star of the show -- generating record revenue of $18.4 billion, a 409% increase. Story continues For its fiscal 2025 first quarter, which ends April 30, Nvidia is forecasting record revenue of $24 billion, up 234% year over year. Management was clear that it was the rapid expansion of generative AI was driving the growth. Just last month, Nvidia unveiled its latest AI workhorse -- The Grace Blackwell GB200, which it called the "world's most powerful chip" for AI. It offers five times the performance of the H100 and cements Nvidia's technological lead in the space. Given Nvidia's technology forms the foundation of AI processing, the company is fueling the AI revolution. Competing from a place of strength One of the biggest risks the bears cite is the coming competition, but Nvidia's relentless pace of innovation has kept its rivals at bay. The company has an estimated 95% share of the data center market, according to CFRA Research analyst Angelo Zino, so Nvidia has a strong foothold. Furthermore, data center demand is expected to double by 2030, according to a report by commercial real estate advisory firm Newmark Group. Estimates suggest it took more than 10,000 Nvidia chips to train Chat-GPT in 2022, and newer versions will require even more. This illustrates why demand for Nvidia's gold-standard AI processing chips should remain high. Nvidia is also the undisputed leader in machine learning, an earlier and well-established branch of AI. Nvidia controls roughly 95% of the market, according to data compiled by New Street Research. Data centers are inextricably entwined with AI technology, and Nvidia has a commanding lead in both. While there's always the potential a rival could develop a more powerful or cost-effective AI solution, Nvidia's years of experience suggest it will be difficult to dislodge. You get what you pay for Another issue raised by Nvidia bears is the company's valuation. The stock is selling for 68 times earnings and 33 times sales (as of this writing), which will likely cause some investors to balk. However, the company's long track record of growth and future expectations should be considered. Nvidia stock is currently selling for 32 times forward earnings, only a slight premium to the multiple of 27 for the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC). Despite its recent pullback, Nvidia is still up nearly 200% over the past year and that's no anomaly. The stock has gained 1,600% over the past five years and 16,910% over the past 10 years. While investors shouldn't expect that level of gains over the coming decade, one thing is for sure: Nvidia is well-positioned to reap the ongoing windfall resulting from AI and represents a once-in-a-generation investment opportunity. Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now? Before you buy stock in Nvidia, 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 Nvidia 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 Danny Vena has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Goldman Sachs Group and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. A Once-in-a-Generation Investment Opportunity: 1 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Growth Stock to Buy Now and Hold For a Decade was originally published by The Motley Fool Many of the world's best fund managers recognise it as a great company - Jason Alden/Bloomberg News A successful long-term investing strategy has been to buy and hold the shares of dominant, growing companies. These are rare beasts that can meet their customers needs better than anyone else and keep it that way. They have what Warren Buffett calls an economic moat which keeps competitors at bay while delivering high levels of profitability. Combine a moat with a strong growth market and you have all the ingredients of a great investment providing you can buy the shares at the right price. When it comes to making semiconductors, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has many of the hallmarks of a great company. Many of the worlds best fund managers recognise it as such. Of these investors each among the top-performing 3pc of the 10,000 equity fund managers tracked by the financial publisher Citywire 34 own shares, which can be bought through most UK brokers as American depository receipts. That results in its top AAA rating from Citywire Elite Companies, which rates companies based on their backing by the best-performing fund managers. The manufacturer and supplier of high-performance microchips to Apple, Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), dominates its markets and has delivered exceptional returns to its shareholders. Its shares are up by 46pc over the last year and by 715pc over the last decade, dwarfing the returns of former industry leader Intel. TSMCs dominance is founded on the leadership it has built through investment in cutting-edge technology and manufacturing processes. When combined with huge economies of scale on its investment in big factories (known as fabs) it offers the best chips at the lowest cost. This means that its fabless chip customers can get on with designing their chips confident that TSMC will give them what they need. And because TSMC only makes chips for third parties, customers can be secure in the knowledge that it will not compete against them. Rivals, such as Samsung Electronics and Intel, manufacture their own chips designs as well as those of third parties. It is this bond of trust that TSMC has built up with its customers over the years that is arguably its greatest competitive strength. It goes a long way to explaining why TSMC chips dominate the offerings from AI leaders such as Nvidia and AMD. The outlook for TSMC looks to be very rosy. The companys products are very well placed to exploit the strong growth of three megatrends: the continued rollout of 5G mobile networks, the growth in high performance computing and the development of artificial intelligence (AI). Story continues It is currently scaling the rollout of three nanometer (N3) chips to be followed by N2 chips in 2025. They offer the very high computing power and levels of energy efficiency demanded by these three key markets. Despite talk of increasing competition, TSMCs technology remains some way ahead of rivals and is offering its customers products that should have a long shelf life. After a difficult 2023 when the semiconductor industry suffered from excess stocks and lower sales, 2024 is looking good. Recovering demand is expected to be driven by high performance computing and the continued growth of generative AI applications. Recent first quarter sales were up by more than 16pc and were better than investors expected. Not even the recent earthquake in Taiwan has put the company off course, as it has retained its guidance for revenue growth of more than 20pc this year. However, it is the potential political earthquake of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan which continues to unnerve some investors and keeps them away from TSMC shares. This threat is nothing new and while worries may be justified to some extent, a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would blow a hole in most global share prices, too. TSMC is diversifying its chip production footprint and is developing new fabs in Japan, the US and Germany. These will not be as cheap to build as the ones in Taiwan, but the company believes it can maintain its high returns on investment when production volumes scale up. It is also true that even with the growth of AI, TSMC is still going to be a cyclical business and will experience ups and downs in demand going forward. That said, with its shares trading on 19.4 times next years forecast earnings per share (EPS) and medium term profits growth of around 20pc, a lot of risks are more than priced in. The shares look far too cheap for a dominant global leader in a growing market. Questor says : Buy Ticker: NYSE:TSM Share price at close: $138.30 Read the latest Questor column on telegraph.co.uk every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8pm Read Questors rules of investment before you follow our tips 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. Andrii Dodonov / Getty Images/iStockphoto Real estate investment trusts (REITs) often pay high dividend yields and offer diversification from typical stocks. Check Out: 7 Best Stocks To Buy Under $1 Read Next: 6 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work) In fact, one study of investment portfolios from 2000-2020 by the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America found that REITs helped improve risk-adjusted returns. But do REITs also come with tax benefits? Keep the following in mind before investing. Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity. No Corporate Taxes As a general rule, REITs dont pay separate corporate income taxes. That helps prevent returns from being diluted by taxes. To qualify for this exemption, they must pass along at least 90% of their profits to investors in the form of dividends. Dividends Are Taxable Like all stocks and funds, dividends on REITs are taxable as regular income. Sort of. You can of course avoid taxation on them by holding your REITs in a Roth IRA or Roth 401(k). But REITs come with a few less common tricks up their sleeves. Return of Capital Real estate investment trusts can categorize some of their dividend payments as return of capital, rather than taxable distributions. In this case, you pay no taxes on that portion of the dividend income. However the return of capital reduces your cost basis, setting you up for higher capital gains upon sale. But Uncle Sam charges lower rates for long-term capital gains taxes, which sets you up for a win. And you can pull other trick plays like tax loss harvesting to offset capital gains taxes. TCJA 20% Pass-Through Deduction The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) created a 20% deduction for qualified business income. That deduction reduces your taxable dividend income by 20%, with no wage restrictions. It also doesnt require you to itemize deductions. That said, the tax changes created by the TCJA sunset at the end of 2025. Congress may or may not vote to extend them, but for now dont count on them past 2025. Final Thoughts Real estate investment trusts come with their share of advantages. They remain one of the only liquid ways to invest in real estate a notoriously illiquid asset. But you should only invest in REITs if they make sense for your investing goals and risk tolerance. Dont invest for the tax benefits alone. Learn More: Retirement Savings: I Lost $400K in a Roth IRA As you explore passive ways to invest in real estate, consider real estate crowdfunding platforms and private equity real estate investments (such as syndications) as well. While they dont offer the liquidity of REITs, they come with less volatility and often better tax benefits. Story continues More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Do REITs Offer Tax Benefits? Heres What Investors Should Know Sarawak Plantation Berhad (KLSE:SWKPLNT) Full Year 2023 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: RM570.7m (down 20% from FY 2022). Net income: RM64.4m (down 33% from FY 2022). Profit margin: 11% (down from 14% in FY 2022). The decrease in margin was driven by lower revenue. EPS: RM0.23 (down from RM0.35 in FY 2022). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Sarawak Plantation Berhad EPS Beats Expectations Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) surpassed analyst estimates by 1.0%. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to stay flat during the next 2 years compared to a 4.1% growth forecast for the Food industry in Malaysia. Performance of the Malaysian Food industry. The company's shares are down 1.3% from a week ago. Risk Analysis Before we wrap up, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Sarawak Plantation Berhad that you should be aware of. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday afternoon. Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Xi said over the past 45 years, the relationship has gone through wind and rain, and the two sides can draw a few important lessons. China and the United States should be partners rather than rivals; help each other succeed rather than hurt each other; seek common ground and reserve differences rather than engage in vicious competition; and honor words with actions rather than say one thing but do another. Xi said he proposed mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation as the three overarching principles for the relationship, which are both lessons learned from the past and a guide for the future. Xi emphasized that in his phone call with President Joe Biden three weeks ago, he shared his thoughts on how to stabilize and develop China-U.S. relations in 2024, and underlined that the two sides should value peace, prioritize stability, and uphold credibility. "The finer details will fall into place when they are aligned with the bigger picture," Xi said he once stressed. The world today is undergoing transformation not seen in a century. How to respond to it is a question of the times and of the world. Xi said his answer is to build a community with a shared future for mankind, which has become a flag of China's foreign policy and has been welcomed by many countries. Planet Earth is only this big, and humanity is faced with so many common challenges. As an old Chinese saying goes, "Passengers in the same boat should help each other," he said. "Today, as I see it, dwellers of the same planet should help each other. We live in an interdependent world and rise and fall together. With their interests deeply intertwined, all countries need to build maximum consensus for win-win and all-win outcomes. This is the basic starting point for China to view the world and the China-U.S. relationship," Xi said. Xi underlined his view that major countries should behave in a manner befitting their status and act with broad-mindedness and a sense of responsibility. He said China and the United States should set an example in this regard, undertake responsibilities for world peace, create opportunities for the development of all countries, provide the world with public goods, and play a positive role in promoting global unity. Xi underscored that in his meeting with President Biden in San Francisco, he proposed five pillars for China-U.S. relations, namely, jointly developing a right perception, jointly managing disagreements effectively, jointly advancing mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly shouldering responsibilities as major countries, and jointly promoting people-to-people exchanges. They should serve as the underpinning for the mansion of China-U.S relations. When the overarching principles are established, specific issues will become easier to address, Xi said. "China is willing to cooperate, but cooperation should be a two-way street. China is not afraid of competition, but competition should be about progressing together instead of playing a zero-sum game," Xi said. China is committed to non-alliance, and the United States should not create small blocs. While each side can have its friends and partners, it should not target, oppose or harm the other, he added. "China welcomes a confident, open, prosperous and thriving United States, and hopes the United States will also look at China's development in a positive light," said the Chinese president. Xi stressed that as a Chinese saying goes, "No progress means regress," it also applies to China-U.S. relations. Noting that the stabilizing trend in China-U.S. relations did not come by easily, Xi said it is hoped that the two teams will continue working actively to follow through on the San Francisco vision he and President Biden reached, so as to truly stabilize, improve and move forward the bilateral relations. Secretary Blinken conveyed President Biden's greetings to President Xi. He noted that since President Biden and President Xi met in San Francisco, the United States and China have made good progress in their cooperation in such areas as bilateral interactions, counter-narcotics, artificial intelligence and people-to-people exchanges. Blinken said the multiplicity and complexity of the challenges the world faces require the United States and China working together, adding that the Americans from all walks of life that he met during the visit all expressed the hope to see U.S.-China relations improve. The United States does not seek a new Cold War, does not seek to change China's system, does not seek to suppress China's development, does not seek to revitalize its alliances against China, and has no intention to have a conflict with China, said Blinken. The United States adheres to the one-China policy, Blinken said, adding that the United States hopes to maintain communication with the Chinese side, follow through on what the two presidents agreed in San Francisco, seek more cooperation, avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations, responsibly manage differences, and achieve stable development of U.S.-China relations. President Xi asked Secretary Blinken to convey his regards to President Biden. Wang Yi participated in the meeting. Quite a few insiders have dramatically grown their holdings in Sovereign Cloud Holdings Limited (ASX:SOV) over the past 12 months. An insider's optimism about the company's prospects is a positive sign. Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. View our latest analysis for Sovereign Cloud Holdings Sovereign Cloud Holdings Insider Transactions Over The Last Year In fact, the recent purchase by Catherine Reid was the biggest purchase of Sovereign Cloud Holdings shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$0.029). While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. 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. While Sovereign Cloud Holdings insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! Sovereign Cloud Holdings is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insiders At Sovereign Cloud Holdings Have Bought Stock Recently Over the last quarter, Sovereign Cloud Holdings insiders have spent a meaningful amount on shares. In total, insiders bought AU$2.4m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any sales whatsoever. That shows some optimism about the company's future. Insider Ownership I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. From our data, it seems that Sovereign Cloud Holdings insiders own 13% of the company, worth about AU$4.8m. Whilst better than nothing, we're not overly impressed by these holdings. What Might The Insider Transactions At Sovereign Cloud Holdings Tell Us? It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchases. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. But we don't feel the same about the fact the company is making losses. We would certainly prefer see higher levels of insider ownership but analysis of the insider transactions suggests that Sovereign Cloud Holdings insiders are expecting a bright future. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for Sovereign Cloud Holdings (of which 2 are concerning!) you should know about. Story continues Of course Sovereign Cloud Holdings may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions 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. Key Insights The considerable ownership by sovereign wealth funds in Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy 54% of the business is held by the top 4 shareholders 37% of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad is held by Institutions A look at the shareholders of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (KLSE:AIRPORT) can tell us which group is most powerful. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 39% to be precise, is sovereign wealth funds. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). While sovereign wealth funds were the group that benefitted the most from last weeks RM551m market cap gain, institutions too had a 37% share in those profits. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, beginning with the chart below. View our latest analysis for Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Khazanah Nasional Berhad with 33% of shares outstanding. With 7.7% and 7.2% of the shares outstanding respectively, Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia and Kumpulan Wang Persaraan are the second and third largest shareholders. On looking further, we found that 54% of the shares are owned by the top 4 shareholders. In other words, these shareholders have a meaningful say in the decisions of the company. 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. Story continues Insider Ownership Of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. 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. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our data cannot confirm that board members are holding shares personally. It is unusual not to have at least some personal holdings by board members, so our data might be flawed. A good next step would be to check how much the CEO is paid. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 22% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: 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. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Are you having second thoughts about opening a small business? A new study revealed the best and worst states for small businesses in 2024. And yes, the Lone Star State is among the best ones. To establish the best and worst states to start a business, the research team at LLC Geek evaluated 20 relevant factors spread across the following categories: business costs; workforce; business environment; infrastructure; and economical conditions. According to the study, each factor was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the best conditions for small businesses. The top five results were the following: Rank State Total score 1 South Dakota 50.56 2 Texas 49.90 3 Ohio 49.43 4 Colorado 49.04 5 Florida 48.90 South Dakota takes the top spot on the list as the best state for small businesses, but Texas comes second on the list. Here are some of Texas key points as provided by the study: With a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 7.7 percent and the second highest GDP in the country, Texas economy offers highly lucrative opportunities for entrepreneurs, also reflected by its lack of income and corporate taxes. Over 4,000 new small businesses received Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, and the state clearly wants to push its industry further as it ranks third for the highest investment in research and development (R&D). These factors further point out to Texas stability, but also to the many opportunities it offers for businesses to grow. The working age population is the fifth highest in the US, at 66.1 percent, offering a larger workforce than most states and a healthy growth of consumer spending, at almost 10 percent. Texas is a good state for small businesses due to its robust GDP growth, lack of income and corporate taxes, and proactive support for entrepreneurs. With a sizable working-age population and strong consumer spending growth, Texas offers good business growth and success opportunities. Now, this year, National Small Business Week takes place from Sunday, April 28 to Saturday, May 4. It is the perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to launch a small business to finally do it. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. In our weekly list of business people on the move, we highlight Palm Beach County professionals who are making a difference. These are people from across the spectrum of public and private endeavors, those working in charities, court houses, private practices and beyond. They are moving up within their industry, advancing their careers and standing out for their services within our community. Here are this week's professional standouts: Jessica Cecere joins Center for Child Counselings board The Center for Child Counseling board of directors recently voted in Jessica Cecere as a returning member to contribute her expertise in continuing to move the mission of the non-profit agency forward. Cecere is the former chief executive officer of Nonprofits First, Inc. and has more than 35 years of nonprofit leadership experience. Center for Child Counseling has been building the foundation for playful, healthful, and hopeful living for children and families in Palm Beach County since 1999. Jessica Cecere Center for Child Counseling names senior director Center for Child Counseling recently announced that Ljubica Jibby Ciric, has joined as senior director. She will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the strategic direction of the Palm Beach County-based nonprofit, including a focus on organizational and program development, expansion, and funding. Ljubica Jibby Ciric Worth Ave. jewelry, art shop appoints managing partner In a move to elevate the luxury retail experience, Eric Gantwarg has been appointed the managing partner of Provident Jewelry & Fine Art boutique in Palm Beach. The location opened in early November on Worth Avenue, and is designed to provide an immersive experience where jewelry intertwines with fine art. Eric Gantwarg Palms West Hospital adds two to board Michael Mickey Smith and Dr. Deborah Loney have been elected to the board of trustees of HCA Florida Palms West Hospital. Smith has been practicing law for more than 40 years and has been a shareholder in Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC, a local personal injury law firm, since 2004. Loney is a head and neck surgeon who has treated patients at Palms West Hospital 2010. She is a certified diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology. Michael Mickey Smith Dr. Deborah Loney Caron Treatment Centers appoints vice president to Caron Florida Caron Treatment Centers, a nonprofit behavioral healthcare leader for almost 70 years and dedicated to treatment, research, prevention and addiction medical education, recently appointed Javier Ley, executive vice president, Caron Florida, and a member of Carons executive leadership team. Caron Treatment Centers is an internationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to addiction and behavioral healthcare treatment, research, prevention, and addiction medicine education. Story continues Javier Ley County education group adds two to board of directors The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, which serves as a nexus between the countys public schools, the private sector and the community, has announced that Ruth Guerra and Erica Whitfield have joined its board of directors during the Foundations 40th anniversary year. Guerra is currently part of Amazon's public policy team where she leads economic policy in Canada and Latin America. Whitfield is Palm Beach County School Board member, representing district 4. Formed in 1984 and based in Boynton Beach, the foundation is a philanthropic partner to the school district, and works to facilitate student achievement by supporting high-quality public education through partnerships and community collaborations, grants, events, scholarships, and public awareness. Ruth Guerra Erica Whitfield Quantum Foundation bolsters board with addition The Quantum Foundation board has appointed Bradley Hurston to its board of directors. Hurston currently serves as the director of wealth management at Krusen Capital Management, LLC. He holds a bachelors degree in Family Financial Management from The Ohio State University and completed his masters degree at the University of Miami. Quantum Foundations mission is to inspire and fund initiatives that improve the health of Palm Beach County residents. Bradley Hurston West Palm firm adds workers' comp attorney Nicholas Latour joins Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa Attorneys at Law as a workers compensation attorney representing injured workers. Latour graduated from Florida International University and received his Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law. He began his legal career as an assistant state attorney where he litigated trials to bring justice to victims of crimes. Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa has offices in West Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie. Nicholas Latour If you are looking for more insight into the movers and shakers operating in the Palm Beaches, subscribe to our real estate newsletter, The Dirt, keep an eye out for stories and perspective from veteran reporters Kimberly Miller and Alexandra Clough. If you have an announcement for Business People on the Move, please send it to Pbbusiness@pbpost.com. Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best businesses, professionals, business people in Palm Beach County If you want to get the biggest Social Security check possible, you'll likely have to wait until you turn 70 years old. The program rewards participants who wait to start collecting their benefits by offering them up to 8% for each year they delay past their full retirement age. Benefits top out at 70, and more often than not, waiting until that age to claim maximizes someone's lifetime income from Social Security. But delaying benefits until 70 comes with some serious costs too. And sometimes, it doesn't make sense to wait that long at all. Here's the unfortunate truth about claiming Social Security at age 70. Image source: Getty Images. You're taking a risk Though the data says delaying until 70 is the best choice on average, not everyone is going to maximize their lifetime Social Security income by waiting. Some people will live long enough to more than make up for the benefits they gave up in their 60s, and some won't. Unfortunately, there's no way to know which group you'll fall into. But you can make a good guess. If you've taken care of your health, have no concerning family history, and your doctors consistently tell you things are looking great, your best bet is to wait. But if you're in poor health or have a family history of premature death, you may want to consider claiming earlier. That may give you the cash you need to manage your health issues in the present so you can live a more enjoyable life. You might have already maxed out your benefit Not everyone maximizes their monthly benefit by waiting until age 70. If you were the lower-earning spouse and you plan to take spousal benefits, you may want to claim your benefits once you reach full retirement age since that's when your benefits max out. You may also receive the full spousal benefit earlier if you're caring for a qualifying child of your spouse. Spousal benefit recipients get up to one-half the benefit their partner is entitled to at full retirement age. If you earned far less than your spouse, that could be a bigger benefit than you'd receive based on your own earnings record, even if you waited until age 70. There is a catch, though: To receive spousal benefits, your spouse must have already applied for Social Security benefits too. Even if your spouse is still waiting to claim benefits, it often makes sense to claim your own benefit at full retirement age and then switch to your spousal benefit later. That should maximize your lifetime income from Social Security. You'll have to pay for Medicare out-of-pocket If you're no longer working and receiving employer-sponsored health insurance, you'll need to sign up for Medicare at age 65. Story continues Most Medicare participants automatically enroll in the government program upon reaching age 65. That's because they've already signed up for Social Security. The government also automatically deducts Medicare Part B premiums from their Social Security check. But since you won't be collecting Social Security at age 65, you'll have to enroll manually. What's more, you'll need to find the money in your budget to pay your premiums. Medicare Part B premiums start at $174.70 per month. That number will climb if you have an adjusted gross income above $103,000 (or $206,000 for a married couple). Those premiums can be a big drag on your monthly retirement budget if you're not prepared to pay them. Make sure you plan for that monthly expense if you're delaying your Social Security benefits beyond age 65. 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. The Unfortunate Truth About Claiming Social Security at Age 70 was originally published by The Motley Fool The fact that many investors underperform the S&P 500 is often a poorly understood part of investing. Although stocks like Nvidia and Tesla have experienced massive market-beating returns, numerous others underperform the index, and some lose value. Thus, investors who can meet that index benchmark are doing well. However, some exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have beaten the S&P. Moreover, they do not have to buy stocks on a long-shot hope to find the next Nvidia. One of these ETFs focuses on semiconductor stocks, and considering its investment mix, investors have a tremendous incentive to outsource the heavy lifting of investing to these funds' managers. What is this fund? This market-beating fund is the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SMH). It contains 26 companies that together cover all aspects of semiconductor design and manufacturing. VanEck established this fund in December 2011, and its history over more than 12 years is long enough that its track record includes a few of the cyclical downturns that have always plagued the industry, reinforcing the fund's strength. Furthermore, the industry has changed since 2011, with the growing importance of smartphones and the emergence of chip-enabled technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). Through that technological change, the ETF has typically outperformed the S&P 500 by a significant margin. Of course, S&P 500 funds involve less risk since they invest in the 503 holdings across numerous industries mirroring the S&P itself. Nonetheless, taking a chance has paid off in the case of the VanEck Semiconductor ETF. Over the last year, its total returns are nearly triple that of the index, which reflects a recent sell-off in chip stocks. If you extend the timeline back 10 years, the VanEck ETF outperforms by an even wider margin. SMH Total Return Level Chart Why the VanEck Semiconductor ETF outperforms The secret to the ETF's success (besides active, disciplined management) is likely its comparatively aggressive investments in a small number of companies that boost user productivity. Not surprisingly, its largest position is Nvidia, making up just over 20% of the fund. Nvidia dominates the market for AI-enabled chips, enabling it to deliver triple-digit revenue growth in recent quarters, a benefit that trickles down to VanEck's shareholders. The second-largest position is with Nvidia's primary manufacturer, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. TSMC makes the world's most advanced chips for its clients. Its third-party manufacturing market share, which is 61%, according to TrendForce, gives it tremendous influence within the industry. Story continues The third-largest holding in the ETF is Broadcom, at 8%. Broadcom and other companies held by the ETF, including Qualcomm, AMD, and Intel, are also major TSMC clients. Moreover, VanEck's investing discipline arguably makes the fund worth its cost. Its annual ETF expense ratio is 0.35%, well above those of S&P 500 ETFs like the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF Trust. These funds charge expense ratios of 0.09% and 0.03%, respectively. Nonetheless, VanEck's cost closely approximates the 0.37% average expense ratio determined by Morningstar in 2022. Given its considerably higher returns, this expense should probably not deter prospective shareholders. Consider the VanEck Semiconductor ETF Ultimately, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF offers market-beating returns without outlandish costs or excessive risks. Admittedly, a fund of 26 stocks in one industry is more risky than a generalized fund with hundreds of stocks, like an S&P 500 ETF. However, the chip industry has built a long-term track record of high returns, and the fund's 26 stocks significantly reduce the risks involving large stakes in individual companies. Thus, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF is one investment where adding a little bit of risk could continue to bring considerably higher returns. Should you invest $1,000 in VanEck ETF Trust - VanEck Semiconductor ETF right now? Before you buy stock in VanEck ETF Trust - VanEck Semiconductor ETF, 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 VanEck ETF Trust - VanEck Semiconductor ETF 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 Will Healy has positions in Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, and Qualcomm. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tesla, and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and Intel and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $45 calls on Intel and short May 2024 $47 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Want to Outperform the S&P 500 With Minimal Risk? Buy This ETF. was originally published by The Motley Fool ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) recently reported rather lackluster first-quarter earnings. The oil giant's adjusted earnings declined by 29% to $8.2 billion, or $2.06 per share. That fell a bit short of the analysts' consensus estimate of $2.19 per share. The energy giant battled headwinds from lower natural gas prices and refining margins. However, while the first quarter was a little underwhelming, ExxonMobil's future remains bright. Here's a closer look at the energy giant's recent quarterly results and why investors shouldn't miss the forest for the trees. Drilling down into ExxonMobil's first-quarter earnings results Exxon's earnings declined from the fourth quarter and the year-ago period, down over $1.7 billion and $4 billion, respectively. However, it was going up against challenging comparable periods as natural gas had been well above its historical averages: Image source: ExxonMobil. Natural gas has since moved back to a more normal level. The company also went up against a tough comparable period for refining margins, which were well above the historical average in the year-ago period. Viewed through this lens, "We delivered a strong quarter," commented CEO Darren Woods in the earnings press release. He noted that the company saw "continued growth in advantaged assets, such as Guyana, where production continues at higher-than-expected levels." The company and its partners achieved gross quarterly production of over 600,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d) in Guyana, powered in part by the recently completed Payara development reaching its nameplate capacity ahead of schedule. They also approved their sixth major development project and continued discovering more oil. Exxon's product solution business also delivered a strong performance. It grew its performance chemicals sales volumes and delivered record first-quarter refining throughput. A bright future awaits the oil giant CEO Darren Woods commented in the first quarter earnings press release, "We're making great progress on our plans to grow the earnings power of our existing businesses from investments in advantaged assets and higher-value products and further reduce structural costs." The company spent nearly $6 billion on capital and exploration projects in the quarter. Those investments will drive high-margin production growth in areas like Guyana, Brazil, the Permian Basin, and LNG while increasing earnings from its product solutions. Meanwhile, it has now reached $10.1 billion of structural cost savings after capturing an additional $400 million in the first quarter. It expects to deliver $15 billion of cumulative cost savings through 2027. ExxonMobil expects its strategy to continue paying off for shareholders. That's driving it to continue investing in its advantaged assets. The company and its partners recently approved the development of Whiptail in Guyana. The project will add about 250,000 BOE/d of capacity when it starts up in 2027. Exxon and its partners also remain on track to complete Yellowtail next year and Uaru in 2026. The company is also investing heavily in the Permian Basin. It has a potentially massive growth catalyst on the horizon from its pending $64.5 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources. Adding Pioneer would more than double Exxon's output in the region to 1.3 million BOE/d. Meanwhile, it will give it the fuel to grow its production to 2 million BOE/d by 2027. Exxon's strategy has it on track to more than double its earnings by 2027 from its 2019 base level. It's roughly halfway there. The company's growing earnings will enable it to return even more cash to shareholders. Exxon distributed $6.8 billion in the first quarter, paying $3.8 billion in dividends and repurchasing $3 billion of shares. Exxon had to briefly pause share repurchases during the period because of its pending Pioneer acquisition. However, after closing that deal, it expects to accelerate the buyback to a $20 billion annual pace. In addition, it should be able to continue increasing its dividend, which it has done for a peer-leading 41 straight years. A top-tier oil stock Exxon's earnings came in a little light during the first quarter due to lower natural gas prices and refining margins. However, the oil giant's future remains bright. Its investment and cost-savings strategy should help fuel an additional 50% of earnings growth over the next few years compared to its 2019 baseline. That should give Exxon more money to return to shareholders through a growing dividend and meaningful repurchase program. Add in its elite, cash-rich balance sheet, and Exxon is one of the lowest-risk ways to invest in the energy sector these days. Should you invest $1,000 in ExxonMobil right now? Before you buy stock in ExxonMobil, 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 ExxonMobil 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 Matt DiLallo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Pioneer Natural Resources. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. While ExxonMobil's Profit Is Plunging, Its Strategy Could Pay Big Dividends in the Coming Years was originally published by The Motley Fool Tim Cook is seen as the architect of Apple's 'made in China' strategy - NG HAN GUAN/AFP Eight words were stamped on the back of every iPhone for years: Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China. The slogan illustrated the tech giants two power bases: its headquarters in Silicon Valley, and the manufacturing colossus it had become in the worlds factory. Apple no longer features the words on the back of the iPhone. When the company launched a new supplier transparency website earlier this month, the phrase received an update: Designed by Apple in California. Made by people everywhere. Apple is gradually weaning itself off China as a longstanding and mutually-beneficial relationship between the corporate giant and the country begins to fray. Data released by the company last week, which outlined its relationships with hundreds of component and material providers, showed that while China remains the tech giants biggest single source of suppliers it is slowly turning elsewhere. Last year, 156 of 465 manufacturing sites used by Apple suppliers were in China 33.6pc. This was down from 35.2pc and 36.4pc in 2022 and 2021 respectively, and 46pc five years earlier. The company is relying more heavily on supply chains in countries such as Vietnam, Taiwan and South Korea. The huge factories where those parts are turned into finished Apple products are largely based in China. But that too is changing. In 2022, Apple assembled just 5pc of iPhones and other gadgets outside China, according to JP Morgan. However, the company reportedly hopes to make a quarter of iPhones in India as soon as next year. Last years new iPhone models were the first manufactured in both India and China from launch day. Apple is not alone in seeking to move production away from China. Extended Covid lockdowns there during 2021 and 2022, as well as political pressure, have pushed manufacturers to look elsewhere. The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai found that last year that a fifth of US firms operating in the country were seeking to move manufacturing abroad, and two fifths were looking to redeploy investments originally planned for China. But Apples move is symbolic. The company has been a totem of made in China for almost a quarter of a century and Tim Cook, its chief executive, has been seen as the architect of that strategy. The shift is not just about manufacturing: Apple also faces growing concerns about its own business in the country. According to figures from research company Counterpoint, Apple lost its position as market leader by smartphone sales in China in the first quarter of the year, falling to third place behind domestic manufacturers Vivo and Honor. Story continues Its share of the Chinese smartphone market fell by 19.1pc to 15.7pc its lowest since 2020. The company has been squeezed by a resurgent Huawei, whose smartphone business came close to death but which has become a national champion after overcoming US sanctions to develop advanced microchips. Apples position has not been helped by Beijing telling government workers not to use iPhones and other foreign devices. On Thursday Apple is expected to report quarterly results confirming the concerns. Analysts forecast the company will report sales of $15.9bn (12.8bn) in China, down 11pc year-on-year and the third consecutive quarterly drop. Concerns about Apples travails in China have seen the tech giants share price fall around 11pc so far this year, wiping more than $300bn off its market value. There are further clouds on the horizon. China is becoming an increasingly assertive online regulator, ordering Apple to remove WhatsApp and Metas Twitter rival, Threads, from its App Store in the country earlier this month. A US bill to ban the Chinese-owned app TikTok, signed by President Joe Biden last week, may increase pressure on Beijing to respond accordingly, perhaps by punishing an American company like Apple. Donald Trump, meanwhile, has said he will impose more tariffs on Chinese imports if he wins next years election. Those iPhones still assembled in China risk falling foul of those rules. If pressure builds on Apple to shift overseas more rapidly, it would not be easy, says Mark Zetter, an electronics industry consultant. Theres nowhere else on earth currently that has the dynamics and the supply chain infrastructure that China has. For one destination to compete with China, I just dont see that happening in my lifetime, he says. Cook, for his part, has sought to keep the peace. Theres no supply chain in the world thats more critical to us than China, he told the state-owned China Daily newspaper on a recent trip to the country. That will continue to be the case. But bit-by-bit, Apple is chipping away at its dependence on China. 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 parallel session of the 2024 Zhongguancun (ZGC) Forum in Brussels drew nearly 150 Chinese and European government officials, industry leaders, scholars and entrepreneurs. BRUSSELS, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Brussels hosted a dynamic Chinese tech forum on Friday, spotlighting vibrant discussions on eco-friendly collaboration between China and the European Union (EU). A parallel session of the 2024 Zhongguancun (ZGC) Forum in Brussels drew nearly 150 Chinese and European government officials, industry leaders, scholars and entrepreneurs. They held extensive discussions on green economy, innovative technologies and new energy vehicles. Zhongguancun, a major tech hub in Beijing, is home to more than 17,000 high-tech enterprises. Beijing Vice Mayor Tan Xuxiang presented the ZGC forum as a high-profile platform for global scientific and technological innovation exchange and cooperation. Delivering a welcome speech via video, Tan stressed the city's dedication to collaborating with European partners to advance research and applications in green technology and energy conservation. Zhu Jing, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Mission to the EU, highlighted the strong consensus between China and Europe on green and low-carbon development, pointing to substantial opportunities for collaboration in technology research and development, standardization, and industrial development. Zhu called for efforts from both sides to uphold market principles, oppose decoupling and disruption of supply chains, and enhance the ability to manage risks through cooperation. Salvatore Majorana, vice president of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation, told Xinhua that he was thrilled by China's tremendous move from being a "quantity player" to a hub of high-quality manufacturing. He noted that while China was once an importer of knowledge in the 1980s, it could now bring knowledge back to Europe. Founded in 2007, the ZGC Forum, with its enduring focus on innovation and development, has evolved into a national-level open innovation platform and an international forum. For more than three decades the annual Gazette Charities Foundation Best and Brightest Scholarship Program has recognized 20 local high school students for their outstanding academic achievements, leadership and contributions to their community. Rumors that a busload of Venezuelan immigrants from the southern border recently were dropped off in Cripple Creek arent true, according to P News columnists Tom Cronin and Bob Loevy write about Colorado and national politics. Some of the ideas in this column are adapted from Cronin's earlier writings about politics and leadership. A yearling and a heifer were killed in Grand County over the weekend, with evidence both died from wolf attacks, despite claims by a Colorado Parks and Wildlife official that the agency's non-lethal efforts to stop the killing have "ceased depredation." The heifer, a young female that has not yet calved, was on the same ranch that lost four yearlings about 10 days ago, according to Steamboat Radio. Rancher Conway Farrell said Sunday they've been working with the local Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff. "The game wardens are out here. Theyre working their butts off trying to do everything they can to do their job," he said. "We went to the higher-ups. We tried telling the guys the problems that were seeing on the everyday level right here. With the game wardens doing their job, theyre not focusing on their actual wildlife management now," Farrell added. The situation means game wardens arent out counting sage grouses, catching the shed hunters that are trespassing or running elk and deer, he said. "They didnt sign up for this to come skin beef cattle and look around and try to find wolf tracks in cattle, and then watch cattle at night," the rancher said. "Whats happened is that they took the local game wardens away from their normal duty to have to go start doing this and patrolling cattle." That's not right, Farrell said. "Weve tried working with the higher-ups, meeting with these guys and telling them all this, and telling them how big a problem were having, and theyre so worried about the activists side coming at them if they remove one of these wolves. And it needs to be done," he said. In a letter to Middle Park Stockgrowers on April 23, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis said wildlife officers have been "working with the landowner to do night patrols, as well as to deploy some conflict minimization tools in this area." "Since those tools have been deployed, depredation has ceased, at least for the time being," Davis said. That lasted five days Grand County Commissioner Merrit Linke told Colorado Politics on Sunday that a yearling, cattle under a year old, also was killed by a wolf over the weekend. The deaths of livestock in Grand and Jackson counties, which Wild Earth Guardians has called "harvesting," brings to eight the number of young cattle, either calves, heifers or yearlings, killed in April by wolves. That's on top of at least 16 other kills of cattle, sheep and working cattle dogs in Jackson County by wolves that migrated into Colorado from Wyoming. Ranchers believe there are more attacks than what had been reported. Featured Local Savings The state released 10 wolves into Grand County last December. The killings began just as calving season was getting underway for many ranchers on the Western Slope. Davis told the stockgrowers group that CPW will not take any lethal action against the wolves, claiming two are "denning" meaning in preparation for birth. Once those pups are born, they would not be collared and their locations would not be tracked once they learn to hunt. The wolves, which came from Oregon, have a recent history of attacking livestock. Colorado's wolf plan said it would not take wolves with a history of "chronic depredation" of livestock, but Davis pointed out that the state wolf management plan did not include a definition of chronic depredation, which he said was deliberate. The agency has since said its commission, which has recently added members tied to animal rights groups, would consider a definition of chronic depredation in its summer meetings. In the meantime, the agency advised ranchers to use non-lethal methods to scare off wolves. Ranchers said wolves can adapt to these methods and they no longer work. Colorado Parks and Wildlife's responses have caused significant damage to its relationship with private landowners, including ranchers, as the agency relies on private landowners for wildlife conservation, and access to private lands for recreation, according to livestock growers and others. That led led ranchers in four counties, as well as wool growers and the Grand County sheriff, to pen letters pleading for help. In Yuma County, stockgrowers have already cut off access to CPW staff. In his letter, Davis acknowledged the damage the wolf kills have done to critical relationships between the agency and ranchers. "Its not lost on me that these very tense times are putting a great deal of strain on our relationships," he said. But, he added, "we hope that no matter what, we can continue to work together to successfully avoid and minimize impacts on the agricultural industry while restoring wolves to Colorado." One of the 10 wolves released in December was found dead in Larimer County last week. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service indicated the death is due to natural causes but an investigation is underway. Colorado wolf dies in Larimer County, as more call on wildlife officials to adopt lethal management A state complaint has prompted Academy District 20 to address the special education program at one of its schools following instructional losses and staff turnover over the past two school years. The complaint alleged that D-20 denied a student their right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) by failing to implement their individualized education program (IEP) while they attended an unnamed elementary school in the district. Dwindling staff, abuse by a teacher and an unsafe environment making instruction nearly impossible were detailed in an investigation conducted by the Colorado Department of Education in response to the complaint. The district must now enact a number of changes to address each violation identified at the school over the next year. The investigation, which includes interviews with parents, staff and teachers, along with district documentation, ultimately found that D-20 had violated state and federal law by failing to implement or revise multiple students individualized education programs (IEP). In sum, despite a high level of support provided by the District, this time period from the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year to October 10 posed, by all credible accounts, a great challenge to adequately addressing the SSN program Students needs, state complaint officer Nicholaus Podsiadlik wrote in the state's decision. The significant support needs (SSN) program refers to the program in place at a school for students with a number of greater needs including cognition, communication, movement, and social and emotional abilities. Students in these programs may also have health, sensory, physical, or behavioral disabilities. An IEP is a document unique to every student who attends a public school and receives special education in compliance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and state Exceptional Childrens Education Act (ECEA). The primary reason for failing to meet these needs was reportedly due to a lack of needed staff. 2022-23 The parents of a student at the school alleged it failed to implement the student's IEP during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. The loss of learning is traced back to Nov. 1, 2022, when the complainants students full-time SSN teacher went on anticipated leave through Feb. 20. This led to instructional inconsistencies for the 10 students in the program that year. Challenges included a long-term substitute teacher resigning, hiring multiple short-term substitutes without special education endorsements and a fluctuating number of paraprofessionals. When necessary, other staff at School would also help supervise the SSN program, Podsiadlik said. The teacher prepared learning arrangements for each student and their IEP, but this ultimately proved to be unsuccessful due to a lack of consistency. Upon her return, she noted the students showed some regression but were able to recover by the end of the school year. Parents, however, reported behavioral loses over this period that were never recovered. 2023-24 The teacher informed the district they would not return to the program for the 2023-24 year. This vacancy wasnt filled by the start of the year and the program now had five paraprofessionals and 13 students with significant medical, behavioral, and academic needs. Featured Local Savings The schools principal emailed D-20s Executive Director for Special Education on Aug. 11 to express concern that support was insufficient going into the year. We need immediate assistance in SSN. Our paras are not in a good spot and may quit if attention is not given, he wrote. The tutor that was sent had no idea how to support SSN and no one else has been here We dont have any support in setting up our schedules and more students are being added to our caseload. Eleven short-term substitutes were hired over this time before a new full-time SSN teacher was eventually hired in October, leading to further inconsistency and aggressive behavior by students. One students gastronomy tube was pulled out multiple times, while others hit staff and attempted to elope. On Sept. 26, one student, who required adult supervision and support throughout the school day to ensure safety, was found inside a closed dryer in a locked bathroom. Two paraprofessionals resigned during this time and, following the dryer incident, the principal would also leave the school. D-20 officials would then become involved in the SSN program and provide supplemental staff with varying credentials along with greater expert support to relieve staff and continue program operation. Even the service providers the physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech-language pathologist pitched in during their visits to supervise the children and give the paraprofessionals a break, Podsiadlik said. There were, at times, no teacher in the room, as few as one or two paraprofessionals, and daily schedule and routine changes due to a revolving door of substitute and district staff supporting in the classroom. When the new teacher was hired in October, struggles continued, both in educating students and supervising their behavior. Instructional time was largely spent responding to unsafe behaviors, tending to students' hygiene and helping students eat, drink, and use the bathroom. The new teacher would also resort to physical intervention and verbal outbursts toward students out of frustration. Parents around this time consistently expressed concerns over the students' safety and regressing academic and functional performance. They began transferring their children from the program and, by the time the new teacher resigned on Feb. 12, only seven students were enrolled in the program. A new licensed teacher was then hired by the district March 11, but the state of the program by that point still made meeting each childs IEP needs a challenge. The SCO finds that the opportunity for instruction was minimal, no expert was able to provide individualized adjustments to match the childrens performance, and the environment diminished Students ability to learn, Podsiadlik said. Going Forward The state concluded that D-20 didnt implement the specialized instruction and curriculum modifications required by the students IEPs, monitor or report their progress, resulting in a denial of FAPE. To resolve these violations, the CDE ordered the district to submit a corrective action plan that addresses each violation noted in the complaint along with 64 hours of compensatory education for students during the summer to meet each students IEP goals, in addition to speech-language therapy, occupational therapy and behavioral education as compensatory services. All hours are to be completed ahead of the 2024-25 school year, but parents may opt out of some or all of this education. The services must be completed within the year without exception. D-20s communication department provided a statement to the Gazette confirming its work on resolving all the findings through a corrective action plan. Although we will not expressly comment on individual claims associated with this complaint, D20 is committed to working with all of our families to ensure the success of each and every student, the statement read. The district went on to say they have met with each family to ensure their needs are met, began offering compensatory services and added efforts and leadership in the school and program mentioned in the complaint. 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. 6G to be commercially available by about 2030: experts Xinhua) 08:39, April 28, 2024 This photo shows the Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, new venue for Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, April 24, 2024. Themed "Innovation: Building a Better World," this year's ZGC Forum is to be held at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center for the first time in Beijing from April 25 to 29. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- By about 2030, 6G will be commercially available in areas where infrastructure conditions are met, including China, according to panelists at a Saturday forum on 6G innovation and development, which ran parallel to the ongoing 2024 Beijing Zhongguancun Forum. Dai Xiaohui, secretary-general of the China Communications Standards Association, said that 6G has higher speeds, extremely low latency and greater connection density, and can realize the deep integration of artificial intelligence, intelligent perception and other technologies. Huang Yuhong, general manager of the China Mobile Research Institute, said that 6G provides not only communication services but also services such as perception and computing, expanding the mobile communication network into a mobile information network. Gao Tongqing, deputy general manager of China Mobile Communications Group, said that "6G will promote changes in lifestyles, production methods, and innovations in social governance." "Beijing has taken the lead in building a public test platform and has started constructing a 6G open test network," said Xu Xinchao, deputy secretary-general of the Beijing municipal government. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The Chang'e 6, China's next robotic spacecraft to the moon, has been scheduled to set out on its journey in the coming days, tasked with bringing back samples from the silver celestial body's little-known far side, according to the China National Space Administration. A Long March 5 carrier rocket, with the 8.2-metric-ton Chang'e 6 probe on top of it, was vertically moved on Saturday morning to its launch service tower at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, the administration said in a news release, noting the flight will take place in due course in early May. The Chang'e 6 was transported to the launch center in January, while the Long March 5 rocket arrived in March. They were assembled and tested at the spaceport. In the next few days, engineers will conduct final functional examinations and pump propellants into the rocket, the release said. If everything goes according to plan, after entering its moon-bound trajectory, the Chang'e 6 will make a series of flight maneuvers and finally land in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the lunar far side. Like Chang'e 5, its predecessor, the Chang'e 6 spacecraft is a product of the China Academy of Space Technology in Beijing and also consists of four components: an orbiter, a lander, an ascender and a reentry module. After collecting dust and rocks on the moon, the ascender will transport the samples to the lunar orbit for transfer into the reentry module, which will carry them to Earth. Meanwhile, scientific instruments on the lander will continue to perform their operations as long as they have sufficient power. The United States, the former Soviet Union and China have brought lunar samples to Earth, but none has ever obtained soil from the far side of the moon. Although the far side had been previously photographed by spacecraft, no probe had ever touched down on it until China's Chang'e 4 mission, which landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin in January 2019. Pius Kamau, M.D., a retired general surgeon, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships; co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group and an activist for minority students STEM education. He is a National Public Radio commentator, a Huffington Post blogger, a past columnist for Denver dailies and is featured on the podcast, Never Again. Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics. Nephi Cole is the director of government relations state affairs for NSSF, The Firearm Trade Industry Trade Association. Several agencies are overseeing what they say is a first-of-its-kind community health survey in an area that spans Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, Powell, Broadwater and Meagher counties. And volunteers are needed to help. Scheduled for late June, the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response or CASPER survey will be in neighborhoods around the five-county area, according to Lewis and Clark Public Health Officer Drenda Niemann. Niemann said its meant to provide a snapshot of communities on several health conditions, behaviors and social determinants of health, including cancer, heart disease, substance use, mental health, housing, child care, food security and more. Agencies participating include Lewis and Clark Public Health officials, in collaboration with PureView Health Center, St. Peters Health, United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area, Rocky Mountain Development Council, and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. According to United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area Executive Director Emily McVey, 30 two-member survey teams will visit neighborhoods, going door to door and locating seven respondent households within each census block. McVey said team members will wear bright vests and carry identification cards. Visit https://form.jotform.com/Clark_Lewis/CasperVolunteerSurvey2024 to fill out a volunteer application form. The deadline to apply is June 17. Survey results will be included in the 2024 Community Health Report, published by the Healthy Together Steering Committee every three years. County residents interested in community health work are encouraged to apply, McVey said. Formalized in 2017, the Healthy Together Steering Committee is an ongoing partnership among agencies in Lewis and Clark County that are concerned with improving population health. That report will then form the basis for the Community Health Improvement Plan, which will be developed and released in 2025 and help determine public health priorities to improve health outcomes for residents of the county. Niemann, who is overseeing the local work, said among its many benefits, the CASPER survey allows local, state and federal agencies both government and nonprofit - to connect with residents and hear firsthand their thoughts about the overall health of the community. The door-to-door survey will be 2:30-7:30 p.m. June 25 in Lewis and Clark County with team visits in Helena, Lincoln, Augusta and the surrounding areas. Survey team members will include a volunteer pool of college students and athletes, community health workers, civic groups, hospital, clinic and public health employees, state public health personnel and concerned residents. They will not be collecting any personal information and will only do the work during the daytime, no later than 7:30 p.m. The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete at the residents doorstep, after which they will be entered to win a $500 Visa gift card. The CASPER Survey is a quick and reliable series of questions that provide leaders with household-based information about a community, strengthening the county's public health response and resilience. Those with questions about the CASPER survey should email publichealth@lccountymt.gov. If you are interested in volunteering, call Lewis and Clark Public Health Prevention Program Supervisor Julie Bir at 406-457-8979 or email her at jbir@lccountymt.gov. GUANGZHOU - As of 4 pm 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. Phaneendra Bulusu is about to be in pretty rarefied air. The Harris Road sixth-grade student will be competing against the best spellers from across the country in next months Scripps National Spelling Bee. Bulusu, who won the Cabarrus County Schools District Spelling Bee in January, claimed second place in the Carolina Panthers Regional Spelling Bee last month, which featured around 60 students. During the competition at Bank of America Stadium, Bulusu, 12, correctly spelled words that most people have likely never heard of, including conteur (storyteller), ithagine (blood pheasant), unary (consisting of or involving a single component or element) and limacine (resembling a slug). Bulusu will be one of six students who qualified for the National Spelling Bee out of the 65 competing school districts across North and South Carolina. Scripps National Spelling Bee, which first began in 1925 and is held in National Harbor, Maryland, will kick off May 26. I feel kind of nervous, but Im also kind of excited because its my first time, Bulusu told the Independent Tribune during a recent interview. Harris Road is very proud of Phaneendra and his accomplishments, said Principal Steven Bookhart. It is not every day we have one of our own compete at the national level, so we are excited to watch him go against the best spellers in the country. Our whole school community is behind him and will be cheering him on. To prepare for the national competition, Bulusu has been busy spelling more than 1,000 words a day through the SpellPundit software, which is used by many students who participate in Scripps. The software, which also helps Bulusu with vocabulary, root words and homonyms, is dedicated to provide excellent vocabulary and spelling bee word lists for school, district/county, regional and spelling bee competitions, according to its website. Bulusu estimates the most words he has spelled on a given day has been roughly 4,000. Like any skilled speller, Bulusu appreciates the importance of understanding proper prefixes and suffixes and the origins of words. Those context clues can often be the difference in correctly spelling really difficult words. During the Regional Spelling Bee, for example, Bulusu worked with a word he was familiar with, plenipotentiary, to help decipher how to correctly spell unary. He was in the third grade at W.R. Odell when he said he first discovered his knack for spelling. Bulusu won spelling bees at the school and district level last year before falling short at the regional level. The loss motivated him to do even better during this years competitions. Bulusu, who has been watching the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2019, is excited to tour the White House and Lincoln Memorial, among other highlights that will be part of the trip. He is also looking forward to meeting Jacques Bailey, the longtime official pronouncer for Scripps National Spelling Bee. As a first-time participant, Bulusus goal is at least to make it to the semifinal round. He hopes to have the chance to compete again next year and during his eighth grade year. It'd be too easy to say when it comes to video conferencing Neat is pretty neat! However, the Neat platform is packed with quality-of-life features to bring your conversations to life, focus on individual speakers, and genuinely enhance collaboration and understanding in your hybrid or virtual meetings. Neat regional director ANZ Jason MacBride explains how Neat is addressing pain points for ANZ and global businesses. iTWire previously demoed a Neat video bar and was majorly impressed. If you've had your fair share of Teams, Zoom, WebEx, Meet, Chime, BlueJeans, and other kinds of virtual meetings, you know how difficult engagement can be. This is especially the case when you're on the not-in-office side of the call. Imagine your typical conference room with a single camera focused on a meeting table that has people near and far, talking over themselves, talking to themselves, and you are trying to keep track of who's speaking. Neat solves this with impressive software smarts. Its camera automatically picks up individual people and places them in their own focused split-screen, instead of simply displaying the entire room. It will focus on the active speaker or speakers. It will detect when people leave or enter the room and adjust its split screen to suit. It really is very clever, and makes a huge difference in running meetings where people are engaged and conversing and collaborating, vs. a meeting where those in the room are leaving the remote viewers behind. Neat regional director ANZ Jason MacBride spoke to iTWire to explain what else Neat is doing to remove pain points for companies large and small, national and worldwide. MacBride joined Neat at the end of 2023, but has been in unified communications for a decade, and in IT generally for twice that. He's worked with Poly, Nexon, Dell, and other big names. However, despite this extensive heritage and experience, he explains he was "hugely excited to join the Neat organisation." "What I see Neat's products doing, and bringing to market, is fresh and new, and well overdue. What they've done over the last four years is absolutely incredible," he said. As iTWire readers well know, many organisations are bringing people back to the office, including hybrid capacities. Some companies are more successful than others in this endeavour. "It's a real challenge for a lot of organisations right now," MacBride said. "After so much flexibility people realise they have a choice in how and where they work. Companies see they have to up their game and are challenged by how to provide a high-quality experience in the office space. It's no longer acceptable to think you can just throw a camera in a room, and say 'close enough is good enough'." "The actual quality of the experience is important," he said. "Organisations must redesign and rethink their office footprint, and importantly, the spaces and what to do to give staff the right experience." One of Neat's global customers is none other than Atlassian, themselves. "They use the whiteboarding facility heavily," MacBride said. "Atlassian see themselves as a collaborative company, and by leveraging Neat's all-in-one Neat Board they have the flexibility and freedom to whiteboard and have high-quality video conferencing in one device." The issue of cramped meeting rooms with large tables is only one pain point; "the requirement for video conferencing is not bound by any specific sector or vertical. Almost all companies are using video nearly on a daily basis," he said. "On any given day, someone is joining remotely because they're sick, or working from home, they're travelling in a car ... using video is absolutely ingrained in us and is here to stay." Additionally, "audio is the most common pain point," MacBride said. "Poor audio is a real killer. And poor video - where you can't see people, their facial expressions, and who's at the end of the table - is unengagning." By contrast, "the Neat philosophy is all about keeping it simple. We want the out-of-box experience to be pleasant, and the in-room experience to be fantastic. And the device management needs to be fantastic too," he said. This is where Neat excels; while it's possible to speak in terms of hardware specs (12 megapixels, 120-degree field of view, 4x-8x digital zoom, 5 microphone array, even air quality sensors) it would be a mistake to compare Neat's video bar and board against other hardware vendors, spec-by-spec. It can hold its own, of course, but the important thing to note is Neat is not simply hardware; it's also simple device management and smart built-in software that gets to the heart of why people video-conference to ensure communication, collaboration, and engagement all take place. "Hutt City Council in New Zealand recently redesigned their offices with a full refit," MacBride said, "and they selected Neat, partly because of the simplicity of the solution." Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is a hot topic everywhere, and Neat is no different. "A recent statistic I came across was companies using collaboration tools with AI are over 50% more productive," MacBride said. "Neat absolutely leverages AI hugely. Our symmetry software uses AI to help us frame participants. Whether you are at the front or back of the meeting room, our tech can frame you and represent you in your own tile. It makes for a more inclusive meeting, and everyone is able to communicate." This is, of course, the split-screen smarts referred to earlier. However, Neat has continued to build on the smarts and the experience here. For one, the company has a Neat Centre which sits in the middle of the room with 360-degree cameras. When the conversation is among people around a table, the camera will frame them - giving people on the far side a front view of the speaker's faces. However, if everyone starts looking at the screen then the camera in the front of the room detects this, and frames from the front camera. This is a huge departure from the typical webcam-experience where remote participants only see the side of heads when the room is speaking amongst itself. Additionally, the evolving Neat AI can leverage overlapping cameras to ensure nobody is ever out of focus or split in half. "The most powerful thing, I think," MacBride said, "is it knows the difference between a 2D and 3D person. The camera will not frame those people - it knows they not a human." - meaning, for instance, Neat won't devote a split screen or tile to photographs on the wall, even lifesize cutouts you might have for marketing or promotional purposes. "Neat is the first to market with this." Further, when you're standing at the front of the room and are standing by the screen, or showing content next to the screen, the camera can frame you at the front. "The ability for people to see you is a real common challenge. People want to see the presenter at a Town Hall." iTWire thinks Neat is neat, and if you use it yourself, you will also. If your business is focused on what it needs to do to bring people back into the office, you know the importance of having people together. As tremendous as remote working is, there's no substitute for in-person experiences. To this end, the biggest trend MacBride is seeing across Australian and New Zealand businesses is office redesign. "Companies are rethinking footprint in terms of how much square footage they have, and how to leverage space in a better way. We're seeing a huge explosion of focus rooms and one- to two-person quiet sanctuaries, along with increased four-to-six person meeting rooms." "When you come to the office, if you can't get a room, if you can't use tech to remain productive, people just won't come back," MacBride said. "It needs to be all about making sure you have the right fit-for-purpose solution." "There are a lot of competitors out there, but not all are created equally," he said. In other news, MacBride says Neat has released a 50" version of its existing 65" Neat Board. "What's unique is the screen has an anti-weight mechanism due to its lighter nature. It can slide up and down on a wall or trolley. As it's lighter on the trolley, it's super easy to move on wheels too. The height-adjustable screen can go quite low if you're at a desk; it's great for education and whiteboarding. And it's made from 70% recyclable materials. It's great engineering and has been well received for its short time out on the market." If you're keen to test Neat for yourself, MacBride says you can contact the company for a demo using a Neat Centre, or have an in-person demo. Alternatively, the company has a trial program so you can test the unit for 30 days in your own environment. At the end of the 30 days you can either purchase it, or box it all back up and let Neat collect it. "We give customers a whole bunch of different options to see it, experience it, touch it, and to see the management platform," he said. AI is a continually evolving, highly complex field with millions of use cases many of which are still unknown. While the industry is making progress and finding new and innovative ways of using the technology, the regulation around how the technology is used is still evolving. AI can give businesses a competitive advantage if utilised in the right way. It can transform solutions by taking in telemetry data to create better products, operational data to make more efficient operations, use employee inputs to better the experience for workers and use customer signals to create deeper relationships with customer contacts. When talking about AI regulations, it is important to remember businesses will find it critical to infrastructure modernisation and creating data driven value. A key area that must be decided is who is accountable for decisions AI systems make at the moment this is a somewhat of a grey area and it needs some clarification. We understand and support the need of ethical responsibility to ensure AI is being used in the right way, supporting privacy and security of people and customers and end users. To read more from the Australian Financial Review. Generative AI is already having a profound impact on the corporate landscape and is set to revolutionise how we work. Accenture's research indicates that 45% of working hours in Australia are in scope for automation or augmentation. The age of generative AI will be defined by not only productivity gains, but also by enhanced human creativity and the potential to shape more innovative employee and customer experiences. However, the technologys impact on work will depend on how it is implemented and businesses are not currently placed to reap the rewards, with only 9% of organisations currently leading the way in reimagining their capabilities to make the most of generative AI. Business leaders need to prioritise human-centred change efforts and scale the technology responsibly, creating value and ensuring that work improves for everyone. This means setting and guiding a vision for how to reinvent work, reshape the workforce and prepare workers for a generative AI world, while building a resilient culture to navigate continuous waves of change. Invest in people to reinvent work Generative AI represents an enormous opportunity to deploy technologies that are human by design. Research indicates that when used in conjunction with human skills, generative AI could unlock over $10.3 trillion in additional economic value by 2038. However, leaders will need to shift from solely seeing this technology as a tool to increase productivity. Instead, they need to assess how it can impact processes across the value chain, helping them to foster more creative and meaningful work for people. Generative AIs effectiveness hinges on human input to drive quality outputswhether theyre straightforward, like the draft of an email, or complex, like a financial forecast. This shift will lead to a reinvention of work with more human-centric processes across the entire value chain. By synthesising data, comprehending natural language and converting unstructured data into actionable insights, generative AI is democratising business process redesign, empowering everyone to reshape their own workflows. It can also bring workers closer to their customers. Imagine a banking scenario where generative AI transforms the customer experience; from using AI-powered analytics to gain a comprehensive view of customer needs, to customising financial products and services based on those needs. This end-to-end change not only streamlines operations; it also helps bankers know their customers better, identify new products and improve experiences for both customers and employees. All these outcomes positively impact the bottom-line. Establishing a workplace culture where it seamlessly becomes part of the organisation ensures that generative AI's transformative abilities are maximised, setting the stage for success in the ever-changing technological landscape. Bridging the crucial trust gap Generative AI possesses the capability to accelerate economic value, boost productivity for business expansion and foster more creative and meaningful work experiences for individuals. But unless leaders can communicate how they are ensuring positive outcomes for everyone, will they be able to unlock its true potential. While 95% of workers see the value in working with generative AI, it is important to remember there are a host of ethical and societal concerns, including job displacement, data privacy, protection of intellectual property, bias and the responsible use of AI. This is feeding into a notable trust gap between employees and organisations when it comes to the implementation of the technology. More than half (59%) of workers feel generative AI could potentially increase their job insecurity, compared to only 28% of CxOs. Leaders can bridge this gap by explaining the development process and reasons behind generative AI systems, ensuring workers have confidence they will be beneficial and operate within acceptable values. Training will also play a crucial role. While 94% of workers express a willingness to learn new skills for generative AI, only 5% of organisations are actively reskilling their workforce at scale. Without a proactive approach to upskilling, workers will remain resistant to the change generative AI is ushering in and organisations wont be able to deliver on the transformation they desire. The Path Ahead As we navigate the era of generative AI revolutionising companies, there is a heightened pressure on leaders to keep both the business and its workers satisfied. The investment in people, coupled with reskilling initiatives, is crucial to unleashing the full potential of this technology and realising its substantial economic value. As companies embark on this transformative journey, embracing generative AI as an integral part of the organisational culture will pave the way for sustained success. Laura Stonebank, Talent and Organisation lead for Accenture in Australia and New Zealand The China Wildlife Conservation Association and the San Diego Zoo in the US have recently signed an agreement for giant panda conservation, selecting a pair of giant pandas to be sent to the San Diego Zoo for a 10-year international conservation partnership. To ensure the well-being of the giant pandas in the US, in March, experts from the China Wildlife Conservation Association traveled to the US to engage in in-depth discussions and technical exchanges with the San Diego Zoo regarding panda care, living environment, and health requirements. In line with the agreement, both parties are actively progressing with the preparations for the pandas' journey to the US. China has selected a pair of pandas, Yun Chuan (male) and Xin Bao (female), from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, and has arranged for experienced caretakers and veterinarians to accompany them to the US. The US is currently renovating and upgrading the panda facilities to provide a larger and more comfortable living environment. Additionally, the zoo has assembled a professional team with expertise in panda care, daily nursing, and related scientific research, acquired through study and exchange programs in China. The San Diego Zoo is one of the world's top five zoos. In 1996, the two parties officially commenced panda cooperation, with Bai Yun and Shi Shi from the CCRCGP becoming the first pair to reside at the San Diego Zoo. Over the past 23 years, the two sides have engaged in extensive collaborative exchanges in various fields, including wild panda ecology, behavior, genetic structure, monitoring techniques, captive breeding, disease prevention and control, nutrition, companion species research, and public education. They have jointly solved a series of technical challenges, including important discoveries in key areas such as panda breeding, habitat protection, and panda supplemental nutrition. This collaboration has cultivated a group of outstanding professionals, resulting in the publication of over 30 professional books and more than 100 academic papers, effectively enhancing the level of panda conservation research. The pandas Hua Mei and Mei Sheng, bred by Bai Yun, Shi Shi and Gao Gao, during their stay at the San Diego Zoo, are not only the result of China-US giant panda research cooperation but also adorable ambassadors promoting friendly exchanges between the two countries, making a positive contribution to enhancing friendship between the peoples of China and the US. In late January 2009, Tonya Ford was a 29-year-old graphic designer in Lincoln when she got a call from her mother. There'd been an accident, Cindy Malley said frantically into the phone. Cindy's brother, Robert Fitch or Uncle Bobby, as he was known to Tonya had been killed on the job at an Archer Daniels Midland plant in southwest Lincoln. Fitch, 51, fell more than 80 feet from a belt-operated man lift device at the plant, where he worked with Dave Malley, Cindy's husband and Tonya's father. Fifteen years later, it's fair to say that was a seminal moment in Tonya Ford's life. A fuse had been lit. Her uncle's death has since become a focal point and a cautionary tale with one stated goal: "How do I prevent this from happening to my dad?" she asked. Two years ago, Dave Malley retired healthy and happy. Mission accomplished. However, by then, Ford's task had become so much bigger. She'd embraced a national organization United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities and would eventually become its executive director. She'd become an advocate not just for her own family, but for all families who'd lost a loved one on the job. "This is my passion," Ford said. "This is where my heart is. ... I'm here to make a difference. I'm here to connect with families, in their time in need." And that caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration. "She became known nationwide for helping families navigate these kinds of situations," said Rhonda Burke, deputy director of public affairs for the U.S. Department of Labor. OSHA recognized her passion for the cause by naming her its first National Family Liaison in 2022. "I can now connect with more families and offer them support and guidance and resources at a time of need," she said. "I was blessed and honored to be able to fill this position for OSHA and really help families across the U.S." In her role, she offers support, guidance and resources to thousands of U.S. families directly affected by workplace tragedies, illness and disease. On Sunday, Ford will commemorate April 28 Workers Memorial Day with a ceremony on the steps of the Nebraska state Capitol building, where Nebraska's fallen workers will be remembered. Sunday's remembrance follows days of networking events, recognition ceremonies and testimony in Washington, D.C., where families of people who died on the job gathered for support and to remind America's decisionmakers that workplace safety needs to be a priority. This past week was Ford's second event in the nation's capital, and she has an expectation that it will continue to grow, while continuing to recognize the fallen and also educating workers about on-the-job safety. Workers Memorial Day When: 7 p.m. Sunday Where: Nebraska state Capitol About: The day has been recognized every April 28 since 1970. Families will gather on the steps of the Capitol for a ceremony that recognizes those who lost their lives on the job. "I send out letters inviting the families not only from that year that were impacted by such a loss, but the previous years," Ford said. "I wanted them to know no matter if it was last year, this year or 10 years ago, we are going to recognize and honor all of our fallen workers. "That's very important, to me, to do that." When the nation first observed Workers Memorial Day on April 28, 1970, an estimated 38 U.S. workers suffered fatal on-the-job injuries each day, according to U.S. Department of Labor Statistics. In addition, many more workers endured debilitating respiratory diseases and other life-altering illnesses related to workplace exposures. More workplace regulations have caused fewer casualties, but accidents and tragedies will never be completely eradicated, Ford said. There were 5,486 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2022, a 5.7% increase from 5,190 in the previous year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Nebraska, 13 people lost their lives on the job in the 2023 fiscal year. Two worked in the agricultural sector, five in construction, five in general industries and one in a warehouse. Colton Schoenrock was a 23-year-old rod buster someone who cut and shaped reinforcing bars and mesh so that they can be installed in concrete forms working a job in Kansas. He was killed in August 2013 when he fell asleep while driving home to Fairbury from his job, veered off the road north of Manhattan, Kansas, and rolled several times before striking a tree. He died on impact, said Lurri Schoenrock, Colton's mother who still lives in Fairbury and believes her son's death could have been prevented. Colton Schoenrock had been working the day shift. However, he was forced to work on a Thursday night with little to no sleep for what amounted to a 15-hour shift. "What I would like to see changed is the number of hours required off the job between work shifts," she said. "People die of fatigue and that's what happened here. I think the federal labor laws need to be changed." Burke said that unlike all workplace deaths, OSHA did not investigate Colton Schoenrock's automobile accident because it officially took place off the job. "The roadway death does not meet the OSHA jurisdiction as he was not on duty at the time," she said. Lurri Schoenrock has testified in front of the National Safety Board. In addition, she has gone back to school to become trained in workplace safety by earning a master's degree in occupational safety. She is currently working on her doctorate. "That's how I give back," she said, adding that it's how she remembers her son. Ford, a Waverly High School graduate, said a ceremony will be held on the Capitol steps on Sunday. OSHA does not officially have a role in the events, which will be hosted by United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities. Her seat on the board of that organization, which she resigned when she went to work for OSHA, is now filled by her daughter, Faith Ford. "She has stepped into my shoes to continue the Nebraska tradition," Tonya Ford said. Workplace fatalities on the rise: These are the top 10 most dangerous jobs in America Workplace fatalities on the rise: These are the top 10 most dangerous jobs in America On-the-job deaths on the rise after dropping during pandemic Truck driving and construction are dangerous jobs but logging is the most hazardous Construction workers see highest increase in fatal injury rate since 2017 WIND POINT In middle school, Riley Saenim often had her head in a book. In recent years, her love of reading has expanded to include poetry, and that fondness has paid off with consecutive Poetry Out Loud state titles. Saenim, a sophomore at The Prairie School, recently won the Wisconsin Poetry Out Loud competition for the second straight year after reciting three poems from memory. She will soon compete in Washington, D.C. at the Poetry Out Loud national semifinals against high schoolers from around the country. On May 1, Saenim will take part in the second national semifinal, beginning at noon central time, which can be seen through a one-time-only webcast at arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud. Nine students will advance to the finals on May 2 to compete for the national title and a $20,000 grand prize. Saenim feels nervous about the highly competitive national contest but said she will be more comfortable after participating last year. I know that I deserve to be there, Saenim said. In 2023, Saenim did not make it out of the semifinals, and she aims to do better this year. To prepare for state, Saenim recited her poems in front of a mirror at home for about 20 minutes most days, and she is doing the same to get ready for nationals. Learning about poetry When her name was announced as state champion in March, Saenim felt extremely happy, incredibly relieved. Nyimah Zavaleta, a sophomore at The Prairie School, placed second at state and won $100. As state champion, Saenim received $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to compete in Washington. She plans to spend that $200 to help fix her car. The Prairie School, 4050 Lighthouse Drive, will receive $700 total $500 for Saenim placing first and $200 for Zavaleta taking second to purchase poetry resources. Poetry Out Loud is an English class unit at The Prairie School, which could partly explain why the school had the top two state finishers this year. As part of the unit, students must memorize and recite one poem in class. Matt Peterson, Prairie School English teacher and Poetry Out Loud advisor, said the school really seizes the value of poetry and performance, and I think Poetry Out Loud is a terrific platform for it. POL was a unit for freshmen last school year and sophomores this year. Next school year, it will be a unit for freshmen and sophomores, according to Peterson. There are local and district Poetry Out Loud competitions before state, and Peterson said about 60 Prairie students participated at the local level this year. More than 800 Wisconsin students took part in POL contests this year, according to a press release. Performing poetry Poetry Out Loud was a new experience for Saenim last school year, one that she greatly enjoyed. I loved every aspect of it: the analysis and taking apart the poem in order to put it back together in a way that the audience would understand, Saenim said. Peterson called it a terrific privilege to see students like Saenim encounter something seemingly ineffable that has been given form and language through poetry and try to convey that meaning through performance. Its such a thrill to see what different students select, and for those that really risk their vulnerability in performance, to see what it is that they bring to life, Peterson said. They come to a much more sensitive, nuanced understanding of what the poem is attempting (It) really helps students tap into the musical qualities of language that all poets are conscious of but not all readers are aware of. At state this year, Saenim recited Vixen by W.S. Merwin, Thoughtless Cruelty by Charles Lamb and Among Women by Marie Ponsot. She will perform the same three poems in Washington. Saenim randomly chose Vixen from the list of POL options, and she liked its luxurious language. She selected Thoughtless Cruelty after a national judge last year said it was a favorite. Saenim chose Among Women because it is a social commentary poem whose themes she could illuminate. I felt that, as a young woman myself, maybe I could shed some light on it and really bring my own experiences to the table and be a vessel for a poem, Saenim said. Vixen contains her favorite line from the three poems: on the breathless night on the bridge with one end I remember you. It has a lot of nostalgia packed into it, and it has a lot of longing for the subject in the poem, Saenim said. Theres just so much emotion. Hidden talent In addition to practicing at home, Saenim often meets after school with Peterson. They discuss different line readings and how to perform a poem in a comprehensible way that resonates with people. Peterson said it is exciting to see what Saenim can incorporate into her performances. As she learns the poem by heart, she discovers new possibilities that the poem offers and then explores how to manifest that meaning in her inflection, her pause, her stress, her volume, Peterson said. There were times during practice when Saenim felt she wasnt performing a poem how she conceived of it in her mind, but that improved with repetition. Hard work is the key, she said. Just keep working at it, and its starting to show itself. Im getting there. Peterson said that with effort and intention, high schoolers can learn a poem and perform it well. Students are generally more capable than they at first realize, Peterson said. They have wells of understanding that are waiting to be discovered, waiting to be explored. That is certainly true for Saenim, who developed a passion for performing poetry last school year. I just discovered something that I love, a kind of hidden talent, Saenim said. Im incredibly grateful for my teachers for encouraging me to move forward with it, because otherwise I would never have done anything with it. Five photos from The Prairie School's 2023 graduation Poses Getting ready Salute Leading the way Thumbs up 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 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 Its terrifying to think about: Youre driving down the road, and suddenly another vehicle is speeding right at you in your lane. You might have seconds to swerve, or maybe its already too late. Wrong-way crashes kill innocent people with startling frequency in Wisconsin. Our state has the highest rate of wrong-way driving fatalities in the nation, and simple things are not being done to prevent it, such as more conspicuous signs with flashing lights at confusing highway ramps. Wisconsin leads the nation in fatal crashes involving wrong-way drivers. Wrong-way crashes killed 484 people in Wisconsin over a decade, which is nearly 1 in 10 of all fatal crashes and more than twice the national average, according to Headed the wrong way, a powerful series by State Journal reporter David Wahlberg and photographer and videographer Amber Arnold. Drunken drivers cause most of these crashes. They need to sober up and face tougher restrictions and penalties before they kill somebody. They also need treatment for alcohol abuse and strict testing if they want to drive again. Far too many Wisconsin families have lost loved ones to these horrific head-on collisions. Paulina Gonzalez and stepfather Kurt Schilling lost four children Daniel, 25, Fabian, 23, Lilian, 14, and Daniela, 9 in December when a pickup driver and repeat drunken driver went the wrong direction on Highway 10 near Weyauwega, slamming into the familys SUV. Kristin and David Peterson lost their son Grant, 20, in a wrong-way crash a year earlier on Interstate 90-94 near Wisconsin Dells. The driver of a pickup with a blood alcohol level at twice the legal limit drove west in the eastbound lanes, striking the vehicle Grant was riding in near the exit to Mt. Olympus Resort. That could have been any one of us in the path of that oncoming wrecking ball on wheels. Wisconsins scourge of drunken driving is largely to blame for wrong-way crashes. The Legislature still hasnt increased the penalty for a first offense of operating while intoxicated. Instead of a traffic ticket, first-time drunken drivers should be charged with a misdemeanor crime. Wisconsin is the only state to go so soft. The Legislature still hasnt required first-time violators to spend a night in jail. The Legislature still hasnt forced everyone convicted of operating while intoxicated to install ignition locks on their vehicles. The devices prevent a vehicle from starting without a clean breath test. As Headed the wrong way reports, ignition locks have stopped inebriated people from starting their vehicles 357,946 times from 2006 to 2020 in Wisconsin. That was second only to the much-bigger state of Texas. Yet many first-time offenders arent required to breathe into a tube before starting their car. And for those drivers who are forced to install ignition locks, repeated attempts to drive impaired should extend how long the devices must stay installed. Wisconsin doesnt allow sobriety checkpoints like most states. Nor has it joined a national compact to treat out-of-state violations as if they occurred here. That needs to change. Yet some of the blame for wrong-way crashes falls on traffic engineers. Poorly designed ramps have confused even sober motorists as they turn onto ramps leading to major highways. In too many cases, the entrances and exits are next to each other, which can fool people, especially at night. Simply enhancing and increasing wrong way signs will help save lives. Lawmakers and state transportation officials must respond to the findings of Headed the wrong way with serious investment. Wrong-way driving isnt a fluke. Its becoming more prevalent and demands greater attention and technology to deter. Iowa reduced wrong-way driving incidents by 94% at confusing intersections with better and more strategically placed signs, Wahlberg reported. Everybody should do this, an Iowa traffic safety engineer said. Everybody must include Wisconsin. A Brown Deer company near Milwaukee makes a promising alert system to detect a driver who turns onto a highway the wrong way. Wisconsin started using the technology in Milwaukee County in 2012 and 2016 but hasnt expanded or evaluated the effectiveness of the systems. Like Wisconsin, Florida has lots of older people and tourists more prone to becoming disoriented. Florida has installed better signs and pavement markings at nearly all freeways. Arizona is using thermal cameras to detect drivers who head the wrong way and alert authorities and other drivers to the danger. Just a few million dollars can go a long way in the right direction. State leaders need to hit the brakes on wrong-way driving and turn this dangerous trend around. Editor's note: This story is one of the winning entries from the "Teach Us about Ukraine" writing contest sponsored by VOA Learning English and GoGlobal. About 300 kilometers west, away from the crowd and the noise of the capital city of Kyiv lies the historic and picturesque town of Berdychiv. It is a place where the sound of birds singing blends with the morning mist at sunrise. Nobody hurries here. Life goes on in Berdychiv. The town in northern Ukraine was founded in 1430. It is a place where three world cultures, Polish, Ukrainian and Jewish, meet and are preserved. Britannica Dictionary says the town started as a Lithuanian fortress before turning into a Polish city from 1569 until 1793. At one point, it was the fourth-largest city in Ukraine with a large Jewish population. Overlooking the Hnylopiat River is the ancient monastery fortress of the Barefoot Carmelites, known as the Sanctuary of the Mother of God of the Holy Scapular. The complex was built in the 16th century by the Janusz Tyszkiewicz family. The Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine says the complex, along with a school and publishing house, turned the city into an important Polish religious center. The complex is popular with visitors who take pictures of its magnificent buildings and lifelong residents who take part in life ceremonies like weddings and graduations. Across the Catholic church in the same complex is a museum to celebrate the life of Joseph Conrad. The English writer was born in 1857 in Berdychiv to a family of Polish patriots who fought against Russian rule. They were arrested and exiled to northern Russia where Conrad first learned English at the age of four. Conrad left Russia and traveled the world as a mariner before starting his writing career. Down a narrow path near the complex is an old building on the river banks. It is an art school where Ukrainians study to become designers, artists, and photographers. It is a place where many modern Ukrainian artists come from and a place filled with great works of art. In the city center is an art installation: Suit from Berdychiv. Here visitors often take pictures, eat pizza, and sit in a cafe with a view of the center. Not far from the city center is the Berdychiv Historical Museum. Founded in 1926, the museum has a collection of valuable fabrics and paintings. Berdychiv is known for one event related to the world of literature. The well-known French writer Honore de Balzac married Eveline Hanska, a Polish countess, in 1850 in St. Barbaras Church after an 18-year courtship. Some believe they chose the church for its beauty and history in a city of writers, and a city of love and culture. Oleksandra Kravchenko wrote this essay. I'm Anna Matteo. ____________________________________________ About the Writer Oleksandra grew up in Berdychiv (Zhytomyr region). She credits her caring teachers in Berdychiv ity lyceum No. 15 for fostering her love of the English language and learning in general. Oleksandra obtained her advanced educational degrees in the capital of Ukraine. For more than eleven years, she has been working as an English and German teacher at college of Economics and Law and Kyiv Cooperative Institute of Business and Law and enjoys it greatly. She has written grammar books and an English Song Book. She is also an English teacher on TikTok. Her mission is to create inspiring educational materials so that studying and learning is a wonderful and unforgettable experience for everyone. Teaching people foreign languages through fascinating real life stories and amazing facts about the world is my professional direction. ________________________________________________ Lesson Plan Download the lesson plan for activities and ideas for teaching this story. A new study suggests ancient corals found deep in the ocean were the first animals to glow in the dark. To glow means to shine a steady light. Many animals, insects and sea life have the ability to glow. But a study from biologists based in the United States suggests corals started glowing 540 million years ago. Andrea Quattrini is curator of corals at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. She was one of the writers of the study. Quattrini said the ability to light up helps creatures living in the deep-sea to communicate. Its very important in deep waters, Quattrini said. The new study recently appeared in the publication Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Scientists know about many ocean animals that light up, including fish, squid, octopus, jellyfish and even sharks. The ability to glow is called bioluminescence, it comes from a chemical reaction. Some animals use the light as protection. Others use it to find a mate. Steven Haddock is another study co-writer. He is a marine biologist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California. He explained that scientists used a paintbrush attached to an underwater vehicle to lightly touch the luminous coral. Haddock said the coral, when touched, begins to glow pink, orange, white, blue and purple. Danielle DeLeo is another study co-writer and a marine biologist at the Smithsonian. She said in some kinds of coral, the whole body glows. In others, only parts of their branches will glow, she said. Scientists do not fully know the function of the glowing for coral. They do not know if it is meant to attract or keep away certain organisms, or possibly both. But DeLeo said the fact that corals light up so often means that the glowing serves a critical function. It is one thing to try to learn about why the corals light up. But how did the researchers determine that coral had been glowing for over 500 million years? To answer the question, the scientists built a family tree using genetic data from 185 species of glowing coral. They decided the common ancestor of all the glowing coral lived 540 million years ago and could glow just like the current coral. Before this research, marine scientists believed the earliest example of a glowing sea creature was a shrimp that lived about 270 million years ago. Coming up with an age of the earliest glowing coral helps add more information to the timeline of the development of life on Earth. The oldest glowing coral is now placed in the time of the Cambrian explosion, when life on Earth developed quickly. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by The Associated Press. _____________________________________________ Words in This Story curator n. a person who watches over something or keeps things in order branch n. the part of a plant or tree growing off the main stalk or trunk determine v. to think about something in order to reach a conclusion We want to hear from you. Have you seen glowing sea life? Where were you? Scientists are seeking to find out what is producing the slow release of methane gas on Mars. Methane often results from biological processes. On Earth, most of the gas comes from living creatures. For this reason, the American space agency NASA has been investigating methane levels on Mars in a search for signs of current or past life. So far, no evidence has been found. But a new study is providing fresh details about methane on Mars. NASAs Curiosity explorer, or rover, has repeatedly measured methane levels on the Martian surface. The rover arrived on Mars in 2012 and has been exploring areas around Gale Crater. This area is believed to have contained a lake at one time and has also shown other evidence of flowing water in the past. NASA says Gale Crater is the only place where methane has been discovered. Even a spacecraft sent to collect data on the Martian atmosphere has not identified the presence of methane. That spacecraft, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, is operated by the European Space Agency. In addition to only being discovered, or detected, around Gale Crater, the observations of methane happen only at night, NASA researchers recently reported. Levels also go up and down during different seasons and at times, rise sharply for short periods. The mysterious methane releases leave scientists considering a lot of plot twists, said Curiosity project leader Ashwin Vasavada. But a NASA research group recently proposed a possible explanation for how the gas behaves on Mars. The researchers theorize that all detected methane could be trapped, or sealed, underneath hardened pieces of salt in Martian regolith. Regolith describes soil that contains rock and dust that sits on or below the surface. The scientists say increases in temperature might explain the differences in gas release. During certain seasons or times of day warmer temperatures could weaken the seal on the methane, causing gas to be released. NASA said the research was led by Alexander Pavlov, a planetary scientist at the agencys Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. He said small amounts of methane could also be released when the regolith seal is broken by weight from above, for example, when the Curiosity rover drives over the area. Pavlov said this theory could help explain why methane levels have only been discovered in the Gale Crater area. It is the only place on Mars where NASAs Curiosity rover is currently active. NASA has another rover working on Mars, Perseverance. But it has been exploring the Jezero Crater area on another part of the planet. Jezero Crater is also believed to have contained large water bodies in the distant past. But Perseverance is not equipped with a methane-detecting instrument. Pavlov noted that the latest theory came from his memories of an unrelated experiment carried out in 2017. The experiment involved growing microorganisms in a simulated Martian environment that included frozen soil that contained salt. During that experiment, researchers observed that the collection of soil on top formed an icy, salty crust. Changes in conditions caused the ice to melt, turning the solid material into a gas and leaving the salt behind. Pavlovs team tested five samples of frozen soil containing different kinds of salt material commonly found on Mars. A new set of Earth-based experiments was carried out in which the frozen material was exposed to different temperatures and air pressures inside an environment at Goddard that was designed to be like Mars. The team was able to repeatedly copy the salt sealing process in Mars-like conditions during laboratory testing. The researchers said they plan to keep carrying out experiments under different conditions and using salt minerals to confirm their theory. But the researchers noted that to carry out more detailed methane investigations, they will likely need a whole new generation of sensitive instruments. These would be designed to measure methane continuously from many places on Mars. Im Bryan Lynn Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning Englis, based on reports from NASA and the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. Quiz - Why Is Methane Gas Coming Out of the Ground on Mars? Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _____________________________________________ Words in This Story plot twist n. an unexpected development that happens in a play, movie, etc. simulate v. to do or make something that behaves or looks like something real, but which is not crust n. the hard, dry layer on the surface of something expose v. to remove what is covering something so that it can be seen About 10,000 students clogged an artery in the heart of Downtown on Saturday, marking 55 years of the Mifflin Street Block Party with the legally ambiguous nonsense for which the event has become infamous. For more than half a century students have turned the typically quiet thoroughfare into a second free zoo for the community. The music is loud, the pavement sticky. The event began in 1969 as an unsanctioned street dance party and its original date, May 3, was chosen to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the French student rebellion of 1968. Over the years, though, the jubilee has shifted away from political protest in favor of an unofficial action against peace and quiet and drinking laws. More than 80 people were arrested Saturday, mostly for alcohol offenses. Six people were booked into the Dane County Jail, according to Madison Police, who said more citations are possible in the next week. An officer received minor injuries when she was hit by a vehicle while directing traffic. The driver was not cited. The Madison Fire Department, which had two ambulances and a team of two EMTs walking the party, responded to 14 medical emergencies, most for alcohol-related illnesses and injuries. Eleven people were sent to the hospital. At 2:35 p.m., fire crews responded to a first-floor deck failure. Nobody was injured. Fire crews evacuated the decks on the first and second floor of the house. Five minutes later, there was a low-voltage communication line down at 518 W. Dayton St. Madison Police said a car overturned at 2:40 p.m. in the 500 block of Mifflin Street and another car was damaged. After Fridays rain, the precipitation held off on Saturday. Many celebrants didnt even feel so much as a breeze, shielded by the standstill foot traffic between the roadblocks. Bedsheets and bare limbs dangled from aging balconies. Beer funnels, some with multiple spouts, hung limply off shoulders like snakes, giving a Medusa effect to their co-ed carriers. Bucky bared his teeth at passersby from cut-off T-shirts and temporary tattoos, mascot of UW-Madisons highly unofficial drinking team. No can or bottle was safe. By noon, the most mangled of the metal casualties had been steamrolled into the pavement by so many filthy pairs of sneakers. At the corner of Mifflin and Bassett streets, away from the red-and-white mob, UW-Madison junior Kate Pehkonen held court with a group of friends, a true ambassador of UW-Madison pride. Last year was her first block party, a more muted event by her standards. This year, she said, was much better. The vibe here is extravagant. We love the people here, she said. You need to let loose. If youre uptight, youre not gonna have fun. Pehkonen and company arrived around 10 a.m., and the gang seemed to be holding their own three hours later. In constant competition with the music was the song in her heart On Wisconsin. The 21-year-old English literature and classics major is a Badger through and through. We love this university, she said. Everyone is dressed up, everyone is showing out, everyone is showing their school pride. Many celebrants declined to speak to the State Journal on the grounds of intoxication, privacy concerns and the classic my mom doesnt know Im here. Some followed officers through the crowd, frat boys deploying their debating skills in unsuccessful efforts to talk the police out of confiscating liquid contraband. No such luck for these young would-be freelance attorneys by noon an extra lakes worth of alcohol had been poured into the citys garbage cans and stormwater drains. Police drones buzzed overhead, on the lookout for potential fights and other nefarious activity. About 150 officers patrolled the festivities on foot, bicycle and horseback. Editor's note: This story was updated on June 11, 2024, to correct information about the origins of the Mifflin Street Block Party. Mini-grid provider Advantec Philippines plans to invest $1.2 billion to $2 billion in building the first of a series of micro-solar power grids within economic zones starting with an industrial zone in Pampanga provinces. Advantec Philippines president Noriaki Sanada said the company is expanding its footprint in the Philippines after cornering a specific market in Japan. - Advertisement - Were working on a micro-grid project in Pampanga. This is renewable energy proposal utilizing solar power. Since solar cannot supply power in the nighttime, we will provide power options though battery systems, he said. The company is equipped to provide power source to companies and locators inside the economic zones that are working on 24-hour shifts. Advantec said it is also prepared to ramp solar power capacities up to 2,000 megawatts, aligning iterations with the increasing number of locators and their power requirement. Sanada said the company was encouraged by a slew of benefits offered by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to locators and technology providers. The company is particularly interested in the tax incentives given to companies locating in the ecozones, the abundance of hardworking young workforce who are English literate and the Philippines proximity to Asian countries including Japan. Its parent company in Japan has more than 20 years experience in constructing mega solar farms. Its key technologies for net zero energy building includes solar systems, energy management systems, battery systems, emergency back-up systems and micro-grid smart city. Advantec and PEZA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in October 2023 for power supply to PEZA ecozones. Advantec will move on to Cavite, after Pampanga, for another micro power grid project to power industries in Cavite economic zones. Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio Pidi F. Barzaga Jr. passed away at the age of 74 on Saturday (Philippine time) in California in the United States, his family confirmed. He is survived by his wife, Dasmarinas City Mayor Jenny Austria-Barzaga, as well as his sons BM Kiko, Third, and Enzo. - Advertisement - Throughout his life, Cong. Pidi dedicated himself to serving the people of the Province of Cavite and the City of Dasmarinas with unwavering commitment and passion, Austria-Barzaga posted. His dedication to education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation transformed lives and shaped the future of his constituents. He will be remembered for his compassion and relentless pursuit of justice, she added. Austria-Barzaga likewise solicited prayers and support for their family. As we mourn his loss, we find solace in the countless lives he touched and the enduring impact of his work. We humbly ask for your prayers and support during this difficult time, she posted. Among those who have since expressed their condolences in light of Barzagas passing is Cavite 1st District Rep. Jolo Revilla III. The late congressman previously had to undergo open-heart surgery, as announced in October 2023. After days of heavy El Nino torrential rains across East Africa, flooding and landslides in Tanzania has killed at least 155 people, the countrys prime minister said, while at least 13 persons have died in neighboring Kenya. The East African region has been pounded by heavier-than-usual rainfall during the current rainy season. In an address to Tanzanias parliament earlier this week, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said that the flooding and landslides have impacted 200,000 people, killing at least 155 persons and injuring 236 others. Floods also caused significant damage to homes, infrastructure and crops in parts of the country. Meanwhile, overflowing rivers have also caused severe damage in parts of neighboring Kenya and Burundi, submerging entire houses, businesses, along with critical infrastructure. Authorities in Kenya have reported at least 35 fatalities and thousands who have been forced to evacuate their homes after flash floods hit the capital city of Nairobi, with the numbers expected to increase as torrential rains continue across the country. In Burundi, one of the worlds poorest countries, around 96,000 people have been displaced by months of relentless rains. Heavy storms in Uganda have caused riverbanks to burst, with two fatalities confirmed and several hundred villagers displaced. With the Gu rains (from April to June) intensifying in Somalia, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned this week that floods reported in the Horn of Africa country since 19 April are set to continue. Russia is reportedly looking to establish a new embassy in Equatorial Guinea as part of Moscows bid to strengthen its African ties and counter Western influence, which comes as Russia and China surpass the United States in approval ratings on the continent. Equatorial Guinea will get a Russian embassy in the coming weeks, according to the information confirmed by sources from the Russian Foreign Ministry, as part of Russias plan to boost its presence in Africa. We have already opened our embassy in Burkina Faso not so long ago. In the coming weeks, our diplomatic mission in Equatorial Guinea will start its work, a senior diplomat told Russian newspaper, Sputnik. Russia reopened its embassy in Burkina Faso in December last year after it had been closed for 32 years. The move was hailed as a significant milestone in the relationship between the two countries. The embassy was closed in 1992, owing to Russias disinterest in the continent at the time, following the end of the Cold War. It comes as a recent survey conducted by the US consulting agency Gallup revealed that, in 2023, the approval ratings of China (58%) and Russia (64%) have surpassed the approval ratings of the United States (56%) in Africa. The United States lost its place as the most influential global power in Africa last year as its star status dimmed and other countries China in particular gained fans, Gallup says in an article titled US Loses Soft Power Edge in Africa. The approval rating of the US has dropped by 29% in Uganda, by 21% in Gambia and by 14% in Kenya, while Libya and Somalia had the lowest scores, with 23% and 25%, respectively. On the other hand, in Cote dIvoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mauritania, Mozambique, Senegal, and Tunisia, USs approval ratings increased. In recent months, Russia has sought to boost its influence on the continent, with a focus on West Africa. Experts attribute Russias increasing popularity particularly to arms sales, military training, and economic initiatives in Africa. If you ask Al-Wadood Jabbar, the only one who can tell him to stop his mission of sponsoring prison inmates with wisdom and personal charity is the one who gave him the task in the first place: God. It has never been easy work, Jabbar says. But he can remember at least a dozen men whom he has helped build successful lives after being released from prison, across the three decades of volunteering stretching back to 1985 when he worked for R.J. Reynolds in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The work takes place in long conversations on the phone, in sit-down meetings, in Bible studies, in restaurants, and even sometimes in Jabbars own home. The goal is to help men develop a plan for life on the outside, which can be often difficult to understand after being in prison for years. As the president of the Winston-Salem chapter of the NAACP during a time in which prisons and the criminal justice system have come under increasing public scrutiny, Jabbar feels that his God-given assignment is more important than ever. The work that I have been assigned has been assigned by God, Jabbar said. To be in a position at my age at 76 years old, to apply some wisdom and knowledge to young men who have not been afforded it in the past. It should be looked on as an opportunity to keep guys from that revolving door in the prison system. But Jabbars willingness to help isnt always being seen that way anymore. As of January, prison officials at the Forsyth Correctional Center have banned him from volunteering as an inmate sponsor, stating that he has recently attempted to undermine the operations of the facility and shed a negative light on the prison. Now the future of Jabbars work is in question. In a letter sent on Jan. 30, prison staff gave Jabbar 30 days to appeal the revocation of his volunteer privileges. But because of the unexpected death of his daughter, Jabbar missed the deadline and his appeal to the prison has gone unanswered. One question Weeks before he was banned, Jabbar was looking forward to the release of Mack Morris, who was up for parole after having served more than 30 years for second-degree murder. Jabbar had met Morris, who could not be reached by the Journal for comment, in one of the prisons Bible studies. When he took him on trips outside of the prison, Jabbar said he could tell that Morris was one that was willing to follow the process of rehabilitation. In order to get access to social security benefits and a job after being released, inmates need their social security card. They also need money earned from work release programs, which allow inmates at minimum security prisons to leave each day and work a job earning at least a minimum wage to save up money for when they are released. On Jan. 15, the day of his release, Morris, 69, received neither from the prison. When Morris told Jabbar, he was troubled. Usually, they have your money there waiting for you, Jabbar said. And they didnt have his money when he was released. So, you put that burden on someone whos been in prison for 30 years to come out and find avenues to get this taken care of when you were the one who lost it in the first place. Although Morris received his Social Security card and work release money weeks later from prison officials, Jabbar had already begun asking about the missing items. In addition to asking staff at the prison, Jabbar went to officials with the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the regional offices of the DAC with his concerns. Eventually, a letter came from staff at the prison, sent by the coordinator of the community volunteer program, Nichol Barnes. This letter is to regretfully inform you that after much discussion and consideration your privileges as a community volunteer sponsor at Forsyth Correctional Center are being revoked, Barnes wrote. It was brought to our attention that you involved yourself with release procedures of an offender by inquiring of Mack Morris Social Security card and his work release monies that he is set to receive upon his release. The letter accuses Jabbar of undermining the operations of the facility by contacting the regional prison offices and the SBI with "inaccurate information" in an attempt to shed a negative light on the prison. It is further noted that we have spoken to you several times about contacting staff and arguing with them about procedures and operations of the [center], which are not up for discussion with you as it relates to the custody and control of the facility, Barnes wrote. When asked about prior arguments with prison staff, Jabbar said that he doesnt remember having arguments with anyone. I think I have a reason as a taxpayer that I can ask a question, especially when it pertains to someone getting unfair treatment, Jabbar said. I had asked them, Does my behavior say that you dont want me up here? And they constantly said no. In an email response to questions about Jabbar, Brad Deen, a communications officer for the DAC, said that Jabbars privileges were revoked for repeated failure to follow guidelines established for community volunteers. When asked which specific guidelines Jabbar violated, and if the prison had lost Morris social security card and work release money, Deen said that no additional information could be provided about Jabbar or Morris. In a phone interview with the Journal, Charles Mautz, the prisons director of rehabilitation services, said that prison staff take pride in the steps they go through to make sure their services are enacted consistently and fairly. Community volunteers are carefully screened and monitored, Deen wrote in an email to the Journal. Serving as a community volunteer or community leave sponsor is a privilege. Noncompliance with the programs rules and expectations can endanger the integrity of the program, as well as the safety and security of the offender and the volunteer. According to Deen, there are more than 200 community volunteers who work with the Forsyth Correctional Center and are involved either on an individual basis or through membership in a nonprofit group. The spirit and purpose of the program are that these are activities that will assist in reintegrating the individual back into society, Mautz said. When asked if a community volunteer had been banned from the prison before, Mautz did not answer the question but responded by referencing the prisons guideline to deal with such cases. Why dont we do everything we can to make them successful? This is far from the first struggle Jabbar has had with enforcers in the criminal justice system over the years, and he does not think it will end what he believes is his advocacy for the voiceless. God never loses the war, Jabbar said. You might win a battle but hes going to win the war. I know that hes going to do whatever is necessary to put me where I need to be to continue this work for him. The Rev. Tembila Covington, who is the president of the Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity, has worked with Jabbar as first vice president of the citys NAACP and says that his actions exemplify his dedication to serving others, especially those who are disenfranchised. When it comes to those who are incarcerated in the prison system, Covington said. Theyre not being seen as those who can add value to the community. He has always found a way to provide encouragement to them. State officials have started a similar effort to look at those who have been in prison differently than they have in the past. On Jan. 29, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order instructing the states department of adult correction (DAC) to lead a coordinated effort with all cabinet agencies to expand housing, economic mobility, education and technical training opportunities for formerly incarcerated people while ensuring those in prisons can get on Medicaid once they are released. Our states correctional facilities are a hidden source of talent: people with diverse experiences and skills who really want to change their lives, said Cooper in an Executive Mansion ceremony. Jabbar can remember his relationship with a former inmate named Norman Bishop as an example of what could be accomplished by spending countless hours counseling men in prison. Bishop, who could not be reached for comment, was originally convicted for robbery with a dangerous weapon in 1975. Jabbar, who had spent a significant amount of time helping Bishop, had to tell him that he would not get parole because his crime was too fresh. When Bishop later escaped from prison in 1990, Jabbar said he had come to conclusions about Bishop. I was trying to help him, but it seemed like he didnt want to be helped, Jabbar said. Jabbar had settled with his disappointment until 2011, when he heard that Bishop was incarcerated in the Piedmont Correctional Institution in Salisbury, North Carolina. Jabbar said that something in his spirit told him that he had to go visit Bishop. Even more than a decade later, Jabbar can remember walking through a series of doors in the maximum-security prison and watching Bishop come around the corner. This guy is close to breaking, Jabbar remembers thinking to himself when he saw Bishop. Jabbar said he recognized that Bishop had reached the moment at which inmates realize they dont want to spend the rest of their lives in prison. Soon after the visit, Jabbar talked with Earline Parmon, a former state senator and the first Black senator from Forsyth County, about Bishop. Eventually, Parmon was able to get Bishop on a 36-month MAPP (Mutual Agreement Parole Program) contract, which prepares selected inmates for release if they accomplish every guideline on the contract within the established timeframe. In 2012, Bishop was transferred to the minimum-security prison in Winston-Salem and was granted parole in 2014. Upon his release, Bishop had to learn some of the most essential things about living life as an adult, Jabbar said, such as staying ahead of health issues. The average guy at a prison doesnt know what a PSA number is, Jabbar said. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test measures the level of PSA in the blood and can detect signs of prostate cancer. There is no specific normal or abnormal level of PSA in the blood, according to the National Cancer Institute, but the higher a mans PSA level, the more likely it is that he has prostate cancer. Bishop had a PSA level of 80 upon being released and had to have his prostate removed, Jabbar said. Just think about the number of men in prison dying every day because they have prostate cancer and it wasnt detected early on, Jabbar said. But people dont really care about people like that. Jabbar says his mission is to use everything he can to help men like Bishop. While sponsoring him, Jabbar said, his family changed their entire holiday routine so they would have Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas at one house so that Bishop could be part of their environment. Jabbar was often allowed to take Bishop out on six-hour outings, which he would regularly spend during holiday celebrations and weekly Sunday dinner with Jabbars family. The point of hosting Bishop, Jabbar said, was so he could learn about the kind of family life he could move into after his time in prison. Theyve made mistakes; we all make mistakes, Jabbar said. Some of them made mistakes that are worse than others. But once you say that they arent prepared to come out, why dont we do everything we can do to make them successful? I have to complete the assignment Despite missing the deadline to appeal the revocation of his volunteer privileges, Jabbar sent a message to prison officials on March 18 requesting that his privileges be restored. My inquiry about Mr. Morris Social Security card and his work release monies stemmed from a genuine desire to ensure that formal release procedures established by the [DAC] were being followed properly, Jabbar wrote in an email to DAC officials. It was never my intention to disrupt or challenge the authority of the staff at Forsyth Correctional Center. Jabbar added that accusations that he had contacted regional DAC offices and the SBI with inaccurate information were categorically untrue and that as a dedicated volunteer with a vested interest in the success of the facility, he would never engage in such behavior. Jabbar told the Journal that even though his appeal and messages to prison officials have gone unanswered, he still desires to continue his work with the incarcerated. When God gives me an assignment, I have to complete the assignment, Jabbar said. Now when he says this is as far as I want you to go, I stop. But he has not said that yet. The food on your table, brought to you by prison labor The food on your table, brought to you by prison labor As per The Hollywood Reporter, Weinstein's lawyer, Arthur Aidala, confirmed his client's hospitalization, stating that Weinstein "needs a lot of help, physically" and is undergoing various medical examinations. According to Frank Dwyer, a spokesperson for the NYC Department of Correction, Weinstein remains in custody while receiving medical treatment. His prison consultant and DOC liaison, Craig Rothfeld, expressed gratitude for the care provided by the NYC DOC. Weinstein's legal troubles intensified after news broke on Thursday that his rape conviction in New York had been overturned with a 4-3 ruling by the appeals court. The decision cited prejudicial rulings during the trial, including the admission of testimony about allegations not included in the initial case. The court ordered a new trial, scheduled for May 1. Judge Jenny Rivera, in the ruling, emphasized the importance of upholding the accused's rights, regardless of the nature of the crime or public pressure to convict. Weinstein, previously found guilty of criminal sexual assault and rape, was sentenced to 23 years in prison in February 2020, based on testimonies from Miriam Haley and Jessica Mann. Despite the reversal of his New York conviction, Weinstein's legal battles are far from over. In December 2022, he was convicted of rape in Los Angeles, ensuring that he will remain incarcerated even if a new trial is initiated in New York. Plans are underway to transfer him to a California prison to serve his sentence, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (ANI) Actor Sahil Khan was brought to Mumbai from Chhattisgarh on Sunday after being arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch's SIT in connection with the Mahadev Betting app case. "I believe in the judiciary of the country," Khan told reporters as he was escorted by security officials. Mumbai Police has also seized actor Sahil Khan's passport as part of ongoing legal proceedings.Khan was apprehended on Saturday from Chhattisgarh, where he had reportedly been evading authorities for nearly 40 hours. His attempts to secure a pre-arrest bail failed as the Bombay High Court rejected his plea. Khan had fled Mumbai, constantly changing his location to evade authorities. The actor stands accused of running a betting site and promoting illegal betting activities. His name surfaced during the investigation of the Mehadev betting app case by the Matunga Police in Mumbai. The Bombay High Court had granted him anticipatory bail on the condition of cooperation with police interrogation, which Khan failed to comply with, leading to this development. The Mumbai Crime Branch's Special Investigation Team (SIT) tracked down Sahil Khan in Chhattisgarh, where he was subsequently apprehended. Officials from the Mumbai Crime Branch revealed that Sahil Khan was not cooperating with the interrogation process. The case, initially registered at Mumbai's Matunga Police Station, involves over 38 individuals, including Khan, embroiled in a betting scandal. The alleged size of the scam is estimated to be around Rs 15,000 crore, as per the first information report (FIR) filed in the case. Among those implicated in the FIR are names like Mustakim, brother of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, Saurabh Chandrakar, Ravi Upal, Shubham Soni, and several others. Notably, chief accused, Ravi Uppal, was detained in Dubai last year by local authorities. According to the sources, the arrest was made by Dubai police based on a red corner notice issued by Interpol at the behest of ED. Sahil Khan, known for his roles in films like 'Style' and 'Excuse Me', has transitioned into the fitness industry in recent years. Initially handled by the local police, the matter was later transferred to the Crime Branch's cyber cell for further investigation, eventually leading to the formation of the SIT. (ANI) As per Variety, the ceremony unfolded at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with Kidman's esteemed colleagues and friends, including Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Reese Witherspoon, and Naomi Watts, joining in to celebrate her unparalleled contributions to the world of cinema. Draped in a resplendent gold sequin gown, Kidman was greeted with a thunderous standing ovation as she made her entrance, accompanied by the timeless melody of 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend.' https://www.instagram.com/p/C6SaXzqLvsP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== The evening kicked off with a lighthearted video featuring Morgan Freeman, playfully spoofing Kidman's recent AMC Theatres ad campaign, emphasizing her ability to infuse even the most sombre moments with a sense of joy, as per Variety. Freeman, a recipient of the same honour in 2011, took to the stage to extend his heartfelt congratulations to Kidman, reminiscing about his admiration for her work, particularly her role in the beloved musical 'Moulin Rouge'. He serenaded Kidman with a poignant rendition of Elton John's 'Your Song', encapsulating the sentiment of the evening. Naomi Watts, Kidman's longtime friend and fellow Australian, fondly recalled their enduring bond, describing Kidman as "the sister I never had". Watts praised Kidman's generosity and unwavering support throughout their careers, lauding her as a beacon of strength and resilience in the industry, Variety reported. Bob Gazzale, President of AFI, hailed Kidman as a paragon of Hollywood's golden era, embodying the timeless allure and romance of the silver screen. Throughout the evening, Kidman's illustrious career was showcased through a montage of her most memorable performances, ranging from the enchanting showgirl Satine in 'Moulin Rouge' to her haunting portrayal of Virginia Woolf in 'The Hours', which earned her the coveted Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002. In receiving the AFI Life Achievement Award, Kidman stands among the pantheon of Hollywood legends, a testament to her enduring legacy and indelible mark on the world of cinema. (ANI) Hyderabad police arrested two persons in two separate drug peddling incidents and seized narcotic substances along with mobile phones and a two-wheeler on Saturday. In the first case, the police seized 4 kg of Ganja chocolates along with a two-wheeler and a mobile phone from Hafeez Baba Nagar in Hyderabad. The accused has been identified as Mohd Majid (33), a Pan Maker and a resident of Mallapur, Balapur, Hyderabad. "On credible information the sleuths of the Commissioner's Task Force, South-East Zone team, Hyderabad along with the staff of Kanchanbagh PS intercepted a two-wheeler at Hafeez Baba Nagar, Hyderabad under the limits of Kanchanbagh Police Station and apprehended one person by name Mohd Majid. He was in possession of contraband i.e. Ganja Chocolates," Hyderabad police said in a press release. The police seized 18 packets of Ganja chocolates of approximately 4 kg. The police seized a two-wheeler and a mobile phone along with Ganja chocolates total amounting to Rs 1,50,000. According to police, "On April 25 at about 1000 hrs, on credible information Commissioner's Task Force, South-East Zone Team along with Kanchanbagh Police intercepted one two-wheeler in front of his house at C-Block, Hafeez Baba Nagar, Hyderabad under the limits of Kanchanbagh Police Station and apprehended one person in possession of a large quantity of Chocolates containing contraband Ganja." On enquiry, he revealed that he procured 4 kgs of the above Ganja Chocolates for Rs. 8,000 from one person named Rajan Singh, a resident of Uttar Pradesh through courier and kept in his two-wheeler and sold each chocolate for Rs. 40 for needy customers and earning money illegally. In another case, Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing (HNEW) along with Madhuranagar Police on credible information apprehended one local Ganja peddler who was in possession of 2 kgs of Ganja under section 8(c), 20(b) (ii), (B) NDPS Act 1985 of Police Station Madhuranagar, Hyderabad. The accused has been identified as B Satya Sai (27) resident of Madhavaram Nagar Colony, Kukatpally, Cyberabad. According to police, "The Ganja Peddler hails from Kukatpally, later he shifted to Madhuranagar, Hyderabad and was addicted to Ganja consumption. He used to visit Palavancha(v), Badradri Dist, where he noticed that one person named Vinod was selling the Ganja and earning easy money. Since 2022, he has been involved in the consumption of Ganja. Later he started to procure the same from the known person and sold it to the needy consumers of Hyderabad at a high price to earn easy money." The police seized Ganja weighing 2 kg and a Mobile phone. (ANI) President of All Indian Cine Workers Association, Suresh Shyamlal Gupta appealed to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of Delhi to expedite the resolution of the missing case of Actor Gurucharan Singh (Sodhi) from the serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Gupta shared a self-made video in which he stated that the entire Bollywood and Indian Film Industry stand with the family of Gurucharan Singh. "Actor Gurucharan Singh, known for his role as Roshan Singh Sodhi in the popular Bollywood serial "Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah," has been Missing since April 22, 2024, from Delhi Airport. His father has filed a missing case at Palam Police Station in Delhi. The entire Bollywood and Indian Film Industry stand with Gurucharan Singh's family at every step," Gupta said. "All Indian Cine Workers Association appeals to the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Delhi to expedite the resolution of the missing case of Actor Gurucharan Singh (Sodhi) and ensure justice for his father, Hargit Singh, and take strict action against the culprits," he added. Earlier, Rohit Meena, DCP South West Delhi, told ANI, "Gurucharan's family registered a complaint that he has been missing since April 22. He was supposed to go to Mumbai, but he didn't. We have registered a case under Section 365 of the IPC. We have put together a team to probe the matter and our technical team is also working on the case. We are in the process of going over the CCTV footage where he is seen walking by himself." The actor's father, deeply distressed, filed a complaint with the Delhi Police, detailing his son's sudden disappearance since his departure for Mumbai. Despite efforts, Singh, aged 50, has neither reached Mumbai, where he works for a living, nor returned home. His phone remains unreachable, exacerbating the worries of his family. Assuring a prompt and time-bound inquiry, a Delhi Police officer said, "We are looking into the matter and a probe was instituted since we received a complaint." Asserting that his son wasn't in a state of mental distress, Gurucharan's father couldn't explain his disappearance. Gurucharan, who became a household name with his comic turns in 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,' bid adieu to the show a few years ago. (ANI) Senior BJP leader and Minister Ratan Lal Nath has predicted that the BJP will win East Tripura with whopping margins of three to four lakh votes and West Tripura with six to seven lakh votes. The BJP leader has also predicted a series of defections from the opposition Congress and CPIM after June 4--the day of the Lok Sabha polls results. Speaking to ANI, Nath also claimed that the Congress which now has three legislators will be left with one lawmaker and a good number of CPIM MLAs are also willing to join the BJP. "After the elections are over, the Congress will have only one MLA. He will also try to switch sides but the BJP will not accept him. The CPIM, which now has strength of 10 MLAs, will see its numbers dwindling in the state assembly. Two to three MLAs of the Left party are also willing to join the BJP," the Minister told ANI stating that even the post of Leader of Opposition is at stake. Hitting back at Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman and other INDIA bloc leaders who claimed that they would win both the seats if fair polls were conducted, Nath said, "Sudip has said that; I heard. Now he is a gone case. I share a very sweet relationship with him but he always fails to assess the situation. Every time, he takes stands that give him temporary benefits. The Congress and CPIM have completely surrendered. They didn't even field polling agents. Elections come and go. But, the way Congress and CPIM backtracked from the battlefield is unacceptable. I received a phone call from Animesh Debbarma on the day of the poll and he told me that the opposition is nowhere in the field." Slamming the Left for failing to deliver for the poor and needy, Nath said, "The situation has turned completely hostile for the Congress and CPIM. Be it houses, be it other basics; nothing was done when the Left was in power. We are not claiming that we have settled all problems but the intent is clear. Within two years, the housing problem of people will be solved." "A similar time frame may be required for addressing the drinking water woes in the remote interiors. Based on the present scenario, I can tell you for the next 20 to 30 years no political force can defeat the BJP. There are possibilities of the emergence of a new political party which might gain some momentum but the fact CPIM and Congress can never defeat BJP here in Tripura," he added. Predicting that BJP will win East Tripura with whopping margins of three to four lakh votes and West Tripura with six to seven lakh votes, the Minister said, "The present Congress leaders have a history of making wild guesses that later turn out to be wrong. I have been an MLA for the last 32 years including six years of being a minister in the BJP government." "I have served in the Congress as well. I can very well say that BJP is an exceptional party and the kind of development this government could deliver in this short span of time is unprecedented. So far my calculation goes, we are winning East Tripura with a margin of three to four lakh votes while in West Tripura the lead will be in the range of six to seven lakh votes," he added. (ANI) Union Minister and BJP candidate from the North Mumbai parliamentary seat, Piyush Goyal embarked on a morning walk, engaging locals in conversation and joining them in a yoga session at Poinsur Gymkhana in Mumbai on Sunday. Expressing confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Goyal assured residents of addressing drainage issues and enhancing Mumbai's infrastructure to global standards. "We are getting the blessings for the work and leadership of PM Modi and the way he has made India proud on the global stage. This is a matter of pride for us. Drainage issues will now be resolved... Finally, Mumbaikars are delighted that Mumbai is getting the global level infrastructure," Goyal said. Speaking to ANI, the Union Minister further said, "Our country has a large number of women...Who can forget those days when our mothers, sisters, daughters-in-law, and daughters had to defecate in the open? Who can forget those days when half of the country's population didn't have LPG gas connections and they had to wait for 15 days to refill the cylinders?" Speaking about drainage and water-related issues, he said, "Significant progress has been made to readdress water shortage problems. For the last 40 years, I have been listening that drainage problems will be solved but nothing has been done. Now, the orders have been issued regarding cleaning under the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Mumbai is now getting first-class infrastructure." On his candidature from the Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat, Goyal said, "We all are party workers. We get to perform different duties from time to time. This is the strength of the BJP that we all are the workers of the party. The party will decide the further contributions of Gopal Shetty (sitting MP from Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat)." Voting in Mumbai North for Lok Sabha polls will be held on May 20. Gopal Shetty is a two-time MP who has represented Mumbai North constituency in 2014 and 2019. Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second-largest after Uttar Pradesh. The first and the second phases of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections are over. While the first phase took place on April 19, the second phase was conducted on April 26. Next, the elections in Maharashtra will be held on May 7, May 13, and May 20. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 out of 25 contested seats, while the undivided Shiv Sena secured 18 out of 23 seats. The undivided NCP, part of the opposition alliance, contested 19 seats and won four. Following the split in the Shiva Sena 2022, the Eknath Shinde faction aligned with the BJP. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI) Telangana's Senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao on Sunday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the PM is worried about the ideologies of Congress' Rahul Gandhi. He said, "...Rahul Gandhi's ideology gives more importance to the majority population, that belongs to the weaker section, SCs, STs, and OBCs. That's why he (PM Narendra Modi) is worried... And he is attacking Rahul Gandhi." Rao also praised Priyanka Gandhi and said, "I also want to congratulate Priyanka Gandhi. On the slogan of 'Abki Baar 400 paar,' Priyanka has given a good statement of 'Abki Baar, Janta ka Sarkar.'" Rao further added, "Rahul Gandhi said that when we will come to power, we will conduct a caste-based census. Not only that. We will give more positions to the weaker section. That's why Narendra Modi is worried about Rahul Gandhi's ideas and thinking... In 10 years, he could not do anything, whatever the promises you made, you were not able to fulfill it. That's why he is worried." A day before, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a swipe at the Congress and INDIA bloc saying that the Opposition alliance is mulling a one-year Prime Minister formula. Modi also attacked the INDIA bloc and said that if their government is formed, they will abrogate the CAA. Addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Kolhapur, PM Modi had said, "They (Congress and INDIA bloc) are saying that if their government is formed, they will abrogate the CAA. Will the county allow them to do this? If in case they try to do so they know what they have to face?" "Those who cannot win Lok Sabha seats in 3-digit numbers, can the INDI alliance even reach the door of forming a government. Their formula is 'Ek Saal, Ek PM'... And if they stay in power for five years, then five prime ministers. The Congress and INDI alliance are making speeches in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu demanding a separate country. Can the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ever accept this?" PM Modi had said. In 2019, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) won nine seats in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured four seats. The Indian National Congress (INC) obtained three seats. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) won one seat. Polling for 17 parliamentary constituencies in Telangana is scheduled to be held in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 13. The counting for all seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls will be held on June 4, 2024. (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut expressed confidence in the Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) prospects of victory in the Lok Sabha elections, particularly in the seat where Ujjwal Nikam, the renowned 26/11 prosecutor, has been fielded by the BJP. Raut, while commenting on Nikam's candidature from Mumbai North Central as a BJP candidate, suggested that Nikam should have contested from Jalgaon, his hometown. "MVA will secure victory in the constituency where Ujjawal has been nominated to contest. We are confident of a 100 per cent win," Raut said. The Shiv Sena leader asserted that a lot of leaders of the Mahayuti declined to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Mumbai North Central seat. "Many leaders of Mahayuti have declined to contest in that seat. No one is prepared to compete from that area of Mumbai. Ujjawal Nikam should have contested from Jalgaon, his hometown, but he chose to contest in Mumbai. There will be a good fight there, I believe," Raut asserted. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), part of the Mahayuti alliance, has fielded Ujjwal Nikam, who was a special public prosecutor in the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack case, from Mumbai North Central in the Lok Sabha elections. Nikam was special public prosecutor in several high profile cases including the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and the trial of Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist caught after the 26/11 attacks. He is pitted against Congress' Mumbai unit chief and Dharavi MLA Varsha Gaikwad.The BJP decided to drop sitting MP Poonam Mahajan, the two-time party MP from the Mumbai North Central seat.In his first response after the BJP announced his candidature, Ujjwal Nikam called it the "second inning in the new temple of democracy".The 26/11 prosecutor also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president JP Nadda and party leaders in Maharashtra for vesting in him the 'responsibility' of contesting and winning the Mumbai North Central seat."Indeed, it was a very pleasant and surprising moment for me. All my life, I have practised law to bring criminals to justice. Now, God has given me an opportunity to start my second inning in the new temple of democracy--the Parliament," Nikam told reporters following the BJP's announcement on Saturday. (ANI) Odisha is being run by 'PANN' (Pandian, Amit Shah, PM Narendra Modi and Naveen Patnaik)," said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday, claiming that Bharatiya Janata Party and Biju Janata Dal have "married" each other in the state. Last October, former IAS officer and Odisha CM Patnaik's close aide V K Pandian was appointed Chairman 5T (Transformational Initiatives) with the rank of cabinet minister. Wayanad MP said, "You (people) have eaten enough PANN, now it is the time for the Congress government in Odisha." "BJP-BJD have married each other in Odisha. They have given PANN to everyone. PANN here means (V K)Pandian, Amit Shah, Narendra Modi and Naveen Patnaik. PM Modi runs government for 22-25 people, in a similar manner Naveen Patnaik also runs for a few selected people. All profit goes to these few selected people. These people have stolen all your wealth, mining scam happened here, and the lands of farmers have been grabbed. We will return all your wealth looted by these parties once we form government in Delhi," Rahul Gandhi said at an election rally in Kendrapara. Similarly, the BJP had "married" to BRS in Telangana, and the result was, the BRS lost and Congress formed the government. "In Telangana, BJP and BRS got married. Every day there was some drama. The Congress party showed in Telangana that BJP and BRS are one and if anyone is doing the work of the opposition then it is the Congress party. We gave 5 guarantees which gave money directly to the poor people of Telangana in their bank accounts. The leaders of BRS gave full benefit to the selected people. We went there and said that BRS gave the same amount of money to the rich people of Telangana which the Congress party will give to the poor people of Telangana. The result was BRS lost and Congress won the Assembly elections and formed the government," he said. Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases, starting from Phase One on May 13, Phase Two on May 20, Phase Three on May 25 and the final Phase on June 1. The results will be announced on June 4. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) got the maximum number of seats (12), followed by the BJP (8) and the Congress just one. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday assured that benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh will provided to all elderly people above the age of 70 years under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The Chief Minister said, "Citizens above 70 years of age, of any caste, age and group will get the benefit of Ayushman Yojana. Lakhs of elderly people will be benefited." "Our government will also provide the facility of air ambulance under this. There is no other country in the world that has provided this facility," he added. He further urged people to vote in maximum numbers. "Madhya Pradesh will grow under the double-engine government," he added. Earlier on Saturday, a former MLA of the Congress Party Kunal Choudhary came down heavily on the 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. In 2014, they (BJP) made fake promises like two crore jobs, bringing black money, depositing Rs 15 lakh in people's bank accounts, reducing LPG cylinders 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." Notably, polling for the Lok Sabha in Madhya Pradesh is scheduled to be conducted in four phases. Voting in the Madhya Pradesh Lok Sabha constituencies has been completed on April 19 and 26. The two remaining phases are scheduled for May 7 and May 13. The counting of votes has been scheduled for June 4. Madhya Pradesh has a total of 29 Lok Sabha constituencies, making it the sixth-largest state in terms of members it sends to the Lower House. Of these, 10 seats are reserved for SC and ST candidates, while the remaining 19 are unreserved. (ANI) Taking a jibe at the Congress party over Supreme Court's judgement on EVM, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the apex court has given a 'tight slap' after which the party doesn't even have 'excuses' to make after losing elections. He further said that the Congress party is in "panic" mode after the voting in Karnataka during the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 26. Addressing a public meeting in Karnataka's Davanagere, PM Modi said, "The state of Karnataka has created a panic in the Congress party with the voting on April 26...they are very frustrated. Congress is working with all might to ensure that something happens on May 7, and they are at least able to open their accounts...this huge gathering is clearly showing that people of the state will punish Congress for its sins." "The day is not far when all the internal battles within Congress party will come out on roads. Everyone will be putting the blame of the loss on each other. Earlier, they used to put the whole blame on EVM. They start chanting 'EVM EVM' as soon as election comes. But, now the Supreme Court has given such a tight slap, that even this excuse can't be given," he added. Supreme Court last week rejected petitions seeking 100 per cent verification of votes cast on EVMs with paper slips generated through VVPATs (Voter-verified paper audit trail. The apex court also rejected the plea of petitioners to return to ballot paper voting on April 26. The two-judge bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta delivered a unanimous verdict. Prime Minister Modi also attacked the Karnataka government and accused them of giving 2.5 years of chief ministership to its leaders. It was a veiled jibe at CM Siddarmaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. "Congress in Karnataka isn't addressing the public but they are trying to see how number one will defeat the number two. Due to their factionalism, nepotism and wrong policies, Congress is playing with the future of the youth, farmers and common people," PM Modi said. "In Karnataka, they have not told the public, but have decided one will sit for 2.5 years and other for the next 2.5 years. Now, if they create a system like this, won't the two sabotage each other?" he added. He also slammed the INDIA bloc stating that the whole alliance doesn't have any face for the Prime Minister and he leaders will be made PM for one year each. "When people choose a leader for five years, they do so after much deliberation...I asked INDI Alliance, which face they have, whom the country can bestow the responsibility upon? If they do anything like this in dark, will you accept it?...So to take everyone into confidence, they (Congress) have decided that every leader will get one year of PMship," he further stated. Earlier in the day, PM Modi held a rally in Belagavi and attacked the Siddaramaiah government over the Hubballi murder incident. He said that the whole nation is worried about the law and order situation in Karnataka, adding that the Congress party is desperate to "destroy" the state. "The entire nation is worried about what happened to one of the daughters in the state. They are worried about law and order situation in Karnataka. Parents are worried about their daughters residing in Karnataka. This is due to the sins committed by Congress. How can someone get the guts to murder someone on a college campus? They who committed crime know that those hungry for vote bank will save them in a few days," he said. "The Congress government is busy destroying Karnataka. Instead of controlling crime, Congress is promoting an anti-social and anti-national mindset," the Prime Minister added. Polling was conducted on Friday in 14 parliamentary constituencies of Karnataka during the second phase of the Lok Sabha election. The remaining seats will go to the polls on May 7. The counting of votes will take place on June 4. In 2019, the BJP almost swept the state by winning 25 out of 28 seats in Karnataka. While, Congress and JD(S) -- who were in coalition government in the state -- could only win a seat each. (ANI) Sunita Kejriwal's meeting with her husband and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to be next week, the jail sources said on Sunday. According to the jail authorities, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Atishi and Bhagwant Mann were scheduled to meet with the party supremo on April 29 and 30 accordingly. The AAP leaders had sought permission beforehand. The jail authorities further said that the permission to visit is given in the same order in which it is sought and Sunita Kejriwal has not sought permission earlier. According to the jail rules, the visits are allowed only twice a week and the upcoming week is booked for two days. Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe relating to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22. (ANI) Sunita Kejriwal was scheduled to visit CM Kejriwal in Delhi's Tihar Jail on Monday. The party sources further said that the jail authorities have not given the reason for cancelling Sunita Kejriwal's visit. Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe relating to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22. (ANI) Supriya Das Datta, the elected head of Sepahijala Zilla Parishad (District Council) received a formal invite to attend a United Nations Population Fund-organized event in the USA on the role of women in local governance in India. She would be a part of the three-member Indian delegation that comprises two women elected representatives from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Zilla Parishad or district council are the elected bodies that act as the supervising authorities of all smaller elected bodies in the three-tier Panchayat system of a district. According to the invitation letter, the permanent mission of India and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) are jointly organizing the side event in collaboration with the United National Population Fund (UNFPA) on May 3 at the UN secretariat building based in the USA. The side event is being organized as a part of the Commission for Population and Development (CPD). The theme of the event has been finalized to be, "Localizing the SDGs: Women in Local Governance in India, Lead the Way". The invitation letter was signed by Andrea M Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative and Country Director Bhutan. After receiving the invitation, she left for New Delhi on Sunday for the necessary preparations before leaving for the United States. Speaking to media persons before leaving for New Delhi, she attributed the invitation from such a coveted institution as an outcome of the work she was able to do after being elected to the post. "Ever since I have assumed the charge of office, I have been working tirelessly to ensure proper education to the school-going girls. We have taken multiple initiatives to improve the participation of women in the rural economy through schemes like the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission and so on. I am extremely grateful that I have been offered the opportunity to be a part of the Indian delegation at the UNFPA conference. Two more women representatives from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh will also travel with me as a part of the delegation that will represent India on the global platform," Das said. She said she will leave for New Delhi on Sunday as some prior preparations are required before leaving for the United States. (ANI) The law threatens constitutionally protected human rights and fundamental freedoms in Iraq. "The United States is deeply concerned by the Iraqi Council of Representatives' passage of an amendment to existing legislation, officially called the Anti-Prostitution and Homosexuality Law, which threatens constitutionally protected human rights and fundamental freedoms," the US State Department said in a release. Moreover, the law will limit the rights of certain individuals in a society, undermining the rights of all. "The law bans same-sex relations with steep fines and imprisonment and punishes those who 'promote homosexuality.' Limiting the rights of certain individuals in a society undermines the rights of all," the release added. Further, the amendment can also be used to hamper free speech and expression and inhibit the operations of NGOs across the country. "This amendment threatens those most at risk in Iraqi society. It can be used to hamper free-speech and expression and inhibit the operations of NGOs across Iraq." The legislation also weakens Iraq's ability to diversify its economy and attract foreign investment. "International business coalitions have already indicated that such discrimination in Iraq will harm business and economic growth in the country, it stated. The US State Department highlighted that respect for human rights and political and economic inclusion is essential for Iraq's security, stability, and prosperity. This legislation is inconsistent with these values and undermines the government's political and economic reform efforts, it added. (ANI) A Taiwanese angler from the outlying island of Kinmen held for over a month by China could be freed if he is discharged from the military, a Taiwanese lawmaker said, reported Taiwan News. Hu, 25, along with another man from Kinmen, set off on a fishing trip on March 17, but as fog closed in, they strayed into Chinese waters and were later detained by China's Coast Guard. While the other man was allowed to return to Kinmen almost a week later, Hu was forced to stay as China accused him of hiding his identity as an active-duty officer, Taiwan News reported. Legislator Chen Yu-jen, who represented Kinmen at the Legislative Yuan, said that a procedure had started for Hu to leave the military. Chen, who was speaking in Beijing, was on a visit as part of a 17-member delegation of opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers. As Hu would soon no longer be a member of the Armed Forces, his status would change, defusing the situation, she said. According to Chen, she would also speak to Chinese officials about Hu's fate during her stay in Beijing and communicate with his relatives after her return to Taiwan. For the past 40 days or so, Hu had been held on board a Chinese coast guard ship, but he had been able to contact his family, the lawmaker added, reported Taiwan News. Last week, Taiwan's spokesman Jan Jyh-horng expressed hope that the Chinese authorities would honour their promise and send the two men back as quickly as possible. Apparently, China intends to return the two individuals through non-official channels, he added. Meanwhile, Kinmen County Magistrate Chen Fu-hai also called on China to send the two anglers back home as soon as possible, saying the county government has a fishing boat ready to pick them up any time, as reported by Focus Taiwan. (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], April 28 (ANI/WAM): The World Economic Forum, together with the Ministry of Economy and Planning of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will host an Open forum in parallel to the Forum's Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development, taking place in Riyadh on April 28-29. This public event aims to facilitate dialogue between thought leaders and the broader public on a range of topics, including environmental challenges, mental health, digital currencies, artificial intelligence, the role of the arts in society, modern-day entrepreneurship, and smart cities. It will provide an opportunity for students, entrepreneurs, young professionals and the general public to discuss these critical issues. "Under Saudi Vision 2030, Riyadh has become a global capital for thought leadership, action and solutions, fostering the exchange of knowledge and innovative ideas," said Faisal F. Alibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning for Saudi Arabia. "Hosting this year's Open Forum in Riyadh is a testament to the city's growing influence and role on the international stage and will help build on, and elevate, the Open Forum's 20-year legacy." "We look forward to welcoming and convening thought leaders and entrepreneurs to engage with the public on future-oriented themes, which Riyadh is uniquely positioned to do as a global focal point for innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable development," he said. Michele Mischler, Head of Swiss Public Affairs and Sustainability at the World Economic Forum, added: "Including the Saudi public in Open Forum sessions fosters diverse perspectives, enriches global dialogue, and empowers collective solutions for a more inclusive and sustainable future." Following the success of the Open Forum at the Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, the Forum is bringing its publicly accessible, open-debate format to Saudi Arabia for the first time. Since 2003, the Open Forum has brought together leaders from all walks of life: government officials, artists, civil society leaders, entrepreneurs and chief executive officers of multinational companies. The sessions are designed to engage a diverse global audience and facilitate the exchange of a wide range of ideas, experiences and stories on pressing and controversial issues. The Open Forum Davos was founded in 2003, when a series of public sessions was co-organized by the World Economic Forum and civic society groups, including churches, fair trade organizations and the Swiss Red Cross. Today, the Open Forum Davos remains a key platform for all of society to share thoughts and experiences on pressing and controversial issues. For further information, click here. The Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development will enable comprehensive dialogue on leveraging global cooperation for economic development, promoting a global energy transition that underpins sustainability. For further information, click here. (ANI/WAM) Through a press release on Saturday, the UN body said 23.7 million people in Afghanistan will need humanitarian aid this year. About 15.8 million people in Afghanistan would experience food insecurity crises and emergency levels, according to UN estimates. Significantly, to meet the basic needs of people in Afghanistan, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has sought a budget of USD 3.6 billion, according to Khaama Press. Meanwhile, there were reports of forced deportations from nearby countries such as Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis that the country has been grappling with for some time. There are several obstacles that Afghan refugees face when they return home, including the dearth of basic supplies such as clean water, a place to live, jobs, and medical care. Due to the extreme weather conditions these refugees are living in, there is an urgent need for both local and international organisations to provide immediate help and support in light of the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan, according to the report. (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], April 28 (ANI/WAM): Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, held a bilateral meeting with Tiit Riisalo, Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology in the Republic of Estonia. The meeting explored the possibilities for expanding cooperation in key sectors between the two countries, including the new economy, entrepreneurship, tourism, aviation, technology, artificial intelligence, transportation, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Bin Touq highlighted that the UAE and Estonia have established robust and advanced relations across various sectors thanks to a shared aspiration to foster and advance economic cooperation with the unlimited support of both leaderships. He said, "The economic ties between the two countries continue to expand across different activities and sectors. We are committed to enhancing these relations and propelling them to new levels, offering more opportunities for partnerships at the private sector level. This meeting marks a significant milestone in further strengthening our economic partnership, particularly in new economic sectors that hold immense potential for creating a more prosperous and advanced future." Bin Touq emphasised the UAE's journey in transitioning to a more diversified new economic model, highlighting its efforts in fostering sustainable and holistic economic development. The non-oil sectors now contribute 73 per cent to the national economy, a testament to the successful implementation of the country's economic strategies and policies, under the wise leadership's directives. He also discussed several initiatives that bolster the nation's transition towards new economic sectors, such as the Future 100, Investopia, and The Entrepreneurial Nation. In this particular context, Bin Touq emphasised the opportunity for the Estonian private sector to capitalise on the growth enablers offered by the UAE's business environment and its promising economic prospects. He also highlighted the country's flexible and competitive economic regulations and policies that facilitate the establishment of a wide range of entrepreneurial activities and foster the growth of startups. These include the amendment made to the Commercial Companies Law to permit foreign investors to have 100 per cent ownership of their companies in the UAE. This amendment has resulted in the addition of over 275,000 new companies in the country in just one and a half years. As of the end of 2023, there are more than 788,000 active economic licences in the UAE. Furthermore, he noted that the country has attained the highest global ranking for the number of new business ventures launched, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2023-2024 report. The UAE and Estonian sides discussed the significance of enhancing joint efforts in the tourism and aviation industries. They explored innovative strategies to boost air connectivity and facilitate the exchange of tourism flows. These efforts will foster new prospects for cooperation and investment in these pivotal sectors. The UAE and Estonia experienced a significant increase in non-oil trade exchange in 2023, with a growth rate of 76.2 per cent compared to 2022. Additionally, the UAE's re-exports to Estonia saw a notable rise of 66.3 per cent in 2023. (ANI/WAM) The decision was announced through a notification released by the Cabinet Division. The development marks a strategic move within the government's leadership hierarchy, Samaa TV reported. The decision was announced while Shehbaz Sharif is on a visit to Saudi Arabia to attend the World Economic Forum. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ishaq Dar is currently serving as Pakistan's Foreign Minister. He has been also included in the Council of Common Interests (CCI). Earlier in March, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the reconstitution of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), replacing the finance minister with the foreign minister, Geo News reported. The president, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, established the eight-member CCI in accordance with Article 153 of the Constitution, as stated in a notification. The CCI, chaired by Shehbaz Sharif, comprises all four chief ministers alongside other council members. The notification also confirms the inclusion of Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Safron Minister Amir Muqam, according to Geo News. The Council of Common Interests holds significant authority as the primary decision-making body in the nation. It adjudicates various matters, including the distribution of natural resources, especially in cases where disputes arise between the central government and provincial authorities, according to Geo News report. Dar served as the Pakistan's Finance Minister during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government that came to power after Imran Khan's ouster in 2022. (ANI) Former Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that he had opposed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party's decision to choose "power politics at all costs." Expressing his disagreement with the policies of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the ruling party's former leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said he opposed PML-N's decision to choose "power politics at all costs". In his remarks on Geo News program "Jirga", Abbasi said, "PML-N chose politics of power at all costs." The PML-N leader said that he was no longer a member of the ruling party, adding that he had resigned from the party. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi resigned from the party office soon after Maryam Nawaz was appointed as PML-N senior vice president and chief organizer in 2023. In response to a question, former Pakistan PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that he had informed PML-N leadership in 2023 that he would not contest the next election from Shehbaz Sharif's party. Responding to a question, Abbasi said that he had informed the PML-N leadership a year ago that he would not contest the next election from the platform of the Sharifs' party. Abbasi said, "I did not attend any PML-N meeting after tendering my resignation from the party." He said that he had never approached the establishment. He further said, "We contested the 2002 elections against the establishment." He expressed ignorance over reports that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif went abroad and returned to Pakistan under any deal. Earlier this month, Abaasi who was Pakistan's PM from August 2017 to May 2018, approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the registration of a new political party. He submitted relevant documents to the electoral watchdog's office for the registration of a new political party. Speaking to reporters, Abbasi had said he provided relevant documents to the electoral watchdog for his new political party which would be registered under the Election Act 2017. He also announced that he would participate in the next elections under the banner of his new party. (ANI) Mir Junaid, a political leader from Srinagar, delivered a powerful message of global unity during his address at the BRICS Forum held in Grozny, Russia. Junaid's statement unequivocally rejected all forms of cross-border terrorism, violence, external aggression, and discord, advocating instead for a larger vision of peace and prosperity. The BRICS meeting saw the attendance of numerous global leaders, diplomats, government officials, and cultural influencers. As the president of the Jammu Kashmir Workers Party, Junaid emphasized the strength of diversity and syncretic cultures in overcoming adversity. In his address, Junaid remarked, "I am the son of India, a precious gem in its diverse mosaic. For centuries, this region has been a melting pot of diverse religions, ethnicities, and cultures coexisting peacefully. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Buddhists have not only shared neighbourhoods but also celebrated each other's festivals and mourned each other's losses. This is the sacred culture of Kashmir, where mosques and temples often stand side by side, echoing a harmonious symphony." "India is a nation rich in cultures, religions, and languages, akin to a family with abundant variety, and Kashmir is undeniably an integral and cherished part of it, boasting a rich history and peaceful coexistence," Junaid added. Commending the leadership of both India and Russia, Junaid lauded the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Vladimir Putin, and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov in fostering inclusivity and unity within their respective territories. Drawing parallels between the resilience of Kashmir and Chechnya, he emphasized that peace is not just an aspiration but a tangible outcome of determination and national loyalty. Addressing the challenges posed by external aggression and cross-border terrorism, Junaid criticized neighboring countries' actions that have sought to destabilize Kashmir's fabric of tolerance. He called upon the international community to take a firm stance against entities propagating violence, terrorism, and discord, which undermine regional and global stability. Mir Junaid said, "As we convene in this forum dedicated to international cooperation and development, we must glean insights from the experiences of Kashmir and Chechnya," stated Mir Junaid. "It is imperative for global platforms like BRICS to recognize and support societies defending their cohesion against divisive external forces." Junaid called for an international commitment to cultural diplomacy as a strategic tool against intolerance and extremism, urging attendees to harness the collective power of diverse cultures to forge a more peaceful and prosperous world. "In the richness of diversity lies the strength of nations," he asserted. "We must cherish, protect, and celebrate this diversity, not merely as heritage but as the very foundation of our global future," he concluded. (ANI) Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Rajesh Kumar Singh, India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, and Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Vladimir Ilyichev attended the first India-Russia Investment Forum. The event was organized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Indian Embassy in Moscow and Invest India. More than 270 Indian and Russian business representatives, entrepreneurs, financial institutions, industry associations and government officials engaged in the Investment Forum. In a post on X, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated, "@DPIITGoI in collaboration with @IndEmbMoscow & @InvestIndia organised the first India-Russia Investment Forum, featuring addresses from Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Secy, DPIIT, Ambassador @vkumar1969 & Mr. Vladimir Ilyichev, M/o Economic Development." "Over 270 Indian and Russian business representatives, entrepreneurs, financial institutions, industry associations & Govt. officials engaged in the Investment Forum. This was succeeded by a B2B session between the Indian delegation led by @FollowCII & their Russian counterparts," it added. On April 26, the 7th session of the Working Group on Priority Investment Projects under the IRIGC-TEC mechanism, Co-Chaired by Rajesh Kumar Singh and Vladimir Ilyichev was held in Moscow. Taking to X, the Indian Embassy in Moscow stated, "The 7th session of the Working Group on Priority Investment Projects under IRIGC-TEC mechanism, Co-Chaired by Mr. Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (DPIIT) and Mr. Vladimir Ilyichev, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, was held in Moscow today. The sides discussed several ongoing and prospective projects for investment." Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Rajesh Kumar Singh has said that Russia's pivot to the East is "very profitable" for both nations keeping in view the high consistency of the two economies, Russia-based TASS reported. Speaking at a forum in Moscow, Rajesh Kumar Singh said, "Russia's pivot to the East is very profitable for both countries considering high consistency of our economies when we speak about resources and technologies. And it is coherent with our focus on support of national producers and India's self-sufficiency." He noted that Russia's focus on building closer economic and political ties with Asian nations will allow an increase in the volume of bilateral investment and more efficient creation of joint enterprises. The official said, "We use strong points of the two countries for developing innovations, improving competitiveness and boosting trade volume," TASS reported. Calling Russia India's "long-standing and reliable partner," he stated that the relations between the two nations are "based on the solid foundation of common interests and common values." Earlier in 2023, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the West's intractability and deceit boosted Russia's resolve to give priority to the southern and eastern vectors of its foreign policy, according to TASS report. Russian Foreign Ministry made the statement on the results of Moscow's diplomacy for 2022. It said, "It has been clear to us for a while that the very existence of Russia as one of the basic systemic elements in the expansive Eurasian space is a problem for our opponents," TASS reported. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated, "However, history teaches again and again that any attempts to subvert Russia's statehood, to split society, moreover, to infringe on the country's territorial integrity only help to consolidate our people, encourage the continued course toward sovereignizing the key spheres of life. Meanwhile, the West's inability to negotiate and deceitfulness are being confirmed which boosts our resolve to prioritize the development of the southern and eastern vectors of foreign policy." (ANI) The leaders of the ruling coalition government in Pakistan slammed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for announcing to hold talks with the Pakistan military establishment and termed the decision a "double standard", Geo News reported on Sunday. This comes as PTI senior leader Shehryar Afridi on Friday said that his party will hold talks with the military establishment instead of the government. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart Khawaja Saad Rafique said the PTI should not cry for civil supremacy when it wished to hold negotiations with the military leadership. Rafique said that the PTI leader's comments on negotiations had spilt the beans, adding that this was "Imran Khan's traditional behaviour pattern is that his one hand is on their neck and the other on their feet", Geo News reported. "He cries outside that he is the flag bearer of freedom and begs for negotiations behind the door," said the PML-N leader, adding that the politicians would have to communicate with each other anytime later, if not sooner, Geo News reported. Taking a dig at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for expressing his desire to occupy Islamabad, Rafique demanded him to take back his statement. The politico said that the threats and arson had no place in democratic politics and that the PTI had talked about threats and attacks to such an extent that it ended up in carrying out May 9 violent incidents. On the other hand, during an appearance on the Geo News show "Naya Pakistan", PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said that the PTI's mindset was not political since it aimed to seize power via the establishment. The difficulties would be resolved, according to Sanaullah, if political parties united and decided that each institution should be restricted to its constitutional mandate. He also asked why anybody would oppose if political stability returned to the nation. "They [PTI] say they will negotiate with them [the establishment], but when it comes to blaming they mud sling on us [the government] for everything," said Sanaullah. (ANI) Yemen's Houthis have struck again, with reports emerging of an oil tanker damaged and a US drone shot down amid escalating tensions over Israel's offensive in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. In his latest televised address, the Houthis' military spokesman, Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for targeting the "British oil ship Andromeda Star" in the Red Sea with naval missiles. The vessel sustained minor damage, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), but is continuing its journey unimpeded. There were no injuries reported among the maritime military coalition deployed in the area to counter such attacks. Saree also announced the downing of a MQ-9 Reaper drone operated by the US military, stating it was shot down while conducting hostile missions in the airspace of Yemen's Saada governorate. The US military has yet to comment on the incident, but CBS News confirmed the crash of an MQ-9 inside Yemen, sparking an ongoing investigation, according to Al Jazeera. This marks the third US drone shot down by the Houthis since the outset of the conflict in Gaza, with previous incidents occurring in November and February. Despite this, the Houthis have remained silent on further attacks against vessels in nearby waters, although the US military reported anti-ship missiles being fired at the MV MAISH, a vessel flying the Antigua/Barbados flag. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed two attacks on a vessel, likely the MV Andromeda Star, near al-Mukha (Mocha) in Yemen. The first explosion occurred in close proximity to the vessel, followed by a second attack involving two missiles, resulting in damage. The Houthi military's recent activity follows their claim of targeting the "Israeli ship MSC Darwin" in the Gulf of Aden and launching missiles and drones at targets in Israel's southern port city of Eilat. Prior to this, they had attacked the US-flagged Maersk Yorktown and the Israeli-linked MSC Veracruz, prompting defence responses from US and UK warships. Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, the group's leader, dismissed suggestions of diminished military capabilities, asserting that more attacks are imminent. Addressing demonstrators in Sanaa and beyond, he declared a new theater of confrontation, targeting ships in the Indian Ocean as well, as reported by Al Jazeera. The Houthis have vowed to cease their attacks on one of the world's busiest maritime routes if Israel halts its offensive in Gaza. These attacks have not only disrupted global trade but also impacted traffic at Israel's Eilat port. In Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, large-scale protests have been a weekly occurrence since the conflict began, expressing solidarity with Palestinians and condemning Israel and its allies. Initially focused on Israeli-linked ships in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, the Houthis have since broadened their targets to include US and UK vessels following military actions by Washington and London in Yemen. Houthi-run media reported millions more joining demonstrations across Yemen, highlighting the widespread support for their cause, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday primarily discussed the release of hostages in Gaza, a source familiar with their phone call said. A White House readout of the call earlier Sunday said Biden had reiterated his clear position on a potential Israeli invasion of Rafah. While that was part of the call, which lasted just under an hour, the source said the focus was mostly on the talks to release hostages held by Hamas. The two leaders discussed the videos released last week of two Americans held hostage as well as Bidens rare joint statement with leaders from 17 other countries, urging Hamas to accept the terms of the ceasefire and hostage deal, the source said. The White House also highlighted the two leaders conversation about humanitarian assistance. The President and the Prime Minister also discussed increases in the delivery of humanitarian assistance into Gaza including through preparations to open new northern crossings starting this week, according to the readout. The White House added, The President stressed the need for this progress to be sustained and enhanced in full coordination with humanitarian organizations. The leaders discussed Rafah and the President reiterated his clear position. The Biden administration has made clear to its Israeli counterparts that it wants to see a clear and actionable plan on how they would protect civilians in Rafah. Israel has told its US counterparts that it wont launch an invasion where more than 1 million people are sheltering in the Gaza Strips southernmost city until the Biden administration can share its concerns, White House National Security communications adviser John Kirby told ABC on Sunday. Kirby said the US is still working on reaching an agreement that would include a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages. If were able to get this hostage deal in place and we are still working at that, Hamas has not fully rejected it, they are considering this proposal on the table. If we can get that in place, then that gives you six weeks of peace. It gives you no fighting for six weeks, and that includes no fighting in Rafah, Kirby said on ABCs This Week. And what were hoping is that after six weeks of a temporary ceasefire, we can maybe get something more enduring in place. We want to see an end to the conflict as soon as possible, he added. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be in the region this week to discuss with leaders the ceasefire and hostage talks between Israel and Hamas that remain stalled despite months of mediation by Qatar and Egypt. During his conversation with Netanyahu on Sunday, Biden also reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to Israel. The call took place just days after Biden signed into law an aid package that includes $26 billion for Israel. The package also includes nearly $61 billion in aid to Ukraine and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific. The President reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to Israels security following the successful defense against Irans unprecedented missile and drone attack earlier this month, according to the White House. In a phone call between the two leaders earlier this month, Biden told Netanyahu that the overall humanitarian situation in Gaza is unacceptable and warned Israel to take steps to address the crisis or face consequences a stark statement from Israels staunchest ally. This story and headline have been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The family of a woman and a 4-year-old child who were murdered in Dover says they want the suspect in their deaths to be executed. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc, 31, stabbed his girlfriend Amalia Cuc-Choc, 36, and her daughter Estrella Pec-Choc, 4, to death on Wednesday. Court documents reveal possible motive in gruesome Dover double murder case On Thursday, Sheriff Chad Chronister said his deputies arrested Cuz-Choc after a manhunt that ended near an abandoned farmhouse on Glen Harwell Road. He may have been able to outrun the visual sight of the deputies that were out here, but he couldnt outrun the scent of this K-9, Chronister said. The K-9 took us right to him. In an interview with 8 On Your Side, Amalias sister, Dolores Choc, who resides in Guatemala, said Cuz-Choc kept her sibling from speaking to her family. Victim Amalia Cuc Choc holding her daughter Estrella in a photo taken before their deaths (UGC) Dolores even accused Cuz-Choc of threatening Amalia and her family when she went to the police for help and tried to get away from him. A man called me telling me tell your sister to come back with me because if she doesnt come back then shell see its not the first time Ive killed people I already have people Ive killed in Guatemala, he told me, the victims sister said. Dolores and another woman who knew Amalia and Estrella both said the child told them about the abuse. I looked at her and saw that she had bruises, said the local woman, who wanted to stay anonymous. Her eyes were also very purple. Dolores said she wants Cuz-Choc to face the full punishment of the law for their deaths. Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc (Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office) Death penalty and justice for the girl, because the girl has nothing to do with anything he did, she said. A child is sacred. He doesnt have to mess with the girl. Dolores said she and her family want to go to Florida to lay Amalia and Estrella to rest, but they dont have enough money at the moment. To get there at this moment we have no capital, she said. We do not have anything. Yes, we need fundraising help for her because it is too much. It will cost $12,400. the funeral home is telling me something like that. Cuz-Choc was set to make his first court appearance on charges of first degree murder and kidnapping Friday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. icon Semafor Signals Supported by Microsoft logo Insights from Foreign Affairs, Times of Israel, and The Wall Street Journal Arrow Down Title icon The News Israel is preparing to defy widespread international opposition to carry out a military offensive in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza that Israeli officials say is the last remaining stronghold for Hamas militants. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Reuters that Israel is moving ahead with a ground operation in the south of the conflict-ravaged enclave, despite Rafah being a refuge for more than half of Gazas population seeking shelter from violence. More than a million Gazans have fled to the city since the start of the conflict, leading to concerns that an offensive could lead to extensive civilian casualties. We cannot support a major military operation in Rafah, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week, citing the difficulties of protecting civilians. Egyptian officials met Wednesday with Israeli officials to discuss the possible operation, raising concerns that an offensive would cause thousands of Palestinians to flee across the border into Egypt, Axios reported. icon SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Israel believes attacking Rafah is key to destroying Hamas Source icon Sources: Foreign Affairs, Times of Israel, The New York Times Israeli officials have long stressed the need to attack Rafah, the only corner of Gaza not to have seen aggressive ground combat, saying that a military operation is necessary for a total victory over Hamas. If there is no Israeli attack on Rafah, Hamas will survive, Elliott Abrams, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations wrote for Foreign Affairs, citing the need to destroy the militant groups remaining battalions and leadership. Israeli officials told The Times of Israel on Wednesday that Israel will start evacuating civilians shortly as the first stage of the operation. Satellite images have shown tents being set up close to Rafah, but the humanitarian zones around the Gaza Strips southernmost city are already overflowing with displaced Palestinians, The New York Times reported. Where do these million people go? a former Palestinian Authority official asked. Rafah offensive could imperil Israels alliances Source icon Sources: The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal Israels allies in the Middle East and the West have become increasingly vocal in their opposition to a full-scale attack on Rafah. US officials have repeatedly pushed for more targeted operations in the city to avoid the kind of full-scale urban warfare that has led to heavy civilian casualties in Gaza. Unless Israel can limit the number of civilian deaths, this could be a grand strategic disaster for Israel and create one of the leading stressors on the bilateral relationship that weve seen for years, Bradley Bowman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told The Wall Street Journal. Egyptian officials have also warned that if Israeli troops enter Rafah, the peace treaty between the two countries could be suspended, the WSJ reported. Semafor Logo Mark Meadows asked the Supreme Court to recognize his 'just following orders' defense. A right-wing justice wasn't buying it. Mark Meadows has asked the Supreme Court to recognize immunity for the president's subordinates. He's criminally charged alongside Donald Trump for a plot to erase Biden's electoral win in Georgia. One of Trump's own Supreme Court appointees seemed to disagree with Meadows. Before the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in former President Donald Trump's immunity case, Mark Meadows tried to get his foot in the door. The high court had agreed to decide whether former presidents could enjoy legal immunity from criminal charges for actions taken during their presidencies. Trump hoped that a decision would scuttle the indictment against him over his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election a result that now seems unlikely, even though the trial will likely be delayed until after the 2024 presidential election. Meadows, a former Republican member of Congress, served as Trump's chief of staff in the final year of his White House administration. He was criminally charged alongside Trump in a separate case, brought by the Fulton County district attorney's office in Atlanta, over a plot to erase now-President Joe Biden's electoral victory in Georgia. Judges have denied Meadows' attempts to move his criminal case to federal court, which could be more favorable legal territory. His lawyers have leaned on the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, which protects the federal government from the meddling of state-level officials. Despite the lower-court losses, Meadows nonetheless asked the Supreme Court to recognize that the president's subordinates should have immunity from criminal prosecution in both federal and state cases because they were just doing their job by following the president's instructions. His lawyers said the court should recognize immunity for Meadows even if Trump himself didn't have immunity. "If the Court addresses or resolves the question whether a president may act in a non-official capacity while in office and thereby lose the protection of presidential immunity, the Court should make clear that its ruling does not reach the conduct of subordinate federal officials who, like Meadows, generally assisted the former President as part of their federal roles," his lawyers wrote in an amicus brief to the Supreme Court. A Trump appointee had the opposite approach In Thursday's hearings, the Supreme Court didn't directly take up the issue. But Justice Neil Gorsuch a Trump appointee to the court seemed to draw the opposite conclusion. In a series of questions to Trump's lawyer John Sauer, Gorsuch indicated he believed that subordinates' liability was a helpful deterrent that would thwart presidents from committing crimes. "If the president gives an unlawful order, call in the troops, all the examples we've heard, every subordinate beneath him faces criminal prosecution, don't they?" Gorsuch asked Sauer. Sauer, citing historical arguments from the Constitutional Convention, agreed that "coagitators" of the president "could be prosecuted" as long as the conduct fit a criminal statute. "Oh, we've got lots of statutes," Gorsuch replied. "The criminal-law books are replete. But, I mean, do you agree? Is that one check that's available?" As the thinking goes: Since the president's employees don't want to go to jail, it's hard for presidents to commit crimes because their subordinates would refuse to do their unlawful bidding. "The idea is, generally, if a president is doing something criminal, they're doing it through some kind of principal-agent relationship. They're not doing the deed themselves," Anthony Michael Kreis, a constitutional-law professor at Georgia State University, told Business Insider. "And so probably more often than not, there's going to be some kind of conspiracy-based crime." George Terwilliger, an attorney representing Meadows, told BI that Gorsuch was speaking about "orders from the president that could be discerned as unlawful on their face," which he said wasn't relevant to the amicus brief. He pointed to a different exchange from the hearing, between a Justice Department lawyer, Michael Dreeben, and another Trump appointee, Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Barrett said there could be form of immunity that would protect former presidents from state prosecutions, rather than leaving too much discretion at the hands of the Justice Department. "A lot of the protections that you're talking about are internal protections that the federal government has, protections in the Department of Justice, which obviously are not applicable at the many, many, many, many state and local jurisdictions across the country," Barrett said. Trump and Neil Gorsuch. Carolyn Kaster/AP The issue came up a few other times in Thursday's hearing all in instances where the justices seemed unsympathetic to the idea that government employees would have immunity for breaking the law. They discussed a hypothetical scenario where a president ordered the military to assassinate a rival politician. Sauer said the president could be immune from criminal prosecution in such cases a scenario the justices seemed uncomfortable with. Justice Samuel Alito, another conservative appointee, said that SEAL Team Six would be "bound" by military rules "not to obey unlawful orders." "One might argue that it is not plausibly legal to order SEAL Team Six and I don't want to slander SEAL Team Six because, seriously, they are honorable," Alito said. Fulton County prosecutors have alleged that Trump, Meadows, and more than a dozen other political allies played parts in a far-reaching conspiracy to persuade Georgia state officials to hand Trump a false victory in the 2020 election. The indictment specifically alleges that Meadows met with Georgia state and Republican Party officials and Trump campaign lawyers while planning to stop the certification of Biden's win. On one day, Meadows even traveled to Georgia to observe an audit even though the process was closed to the public, the indictment says. A few days later, he texted an election official, offering the assistance of the Trump campaign, the indictment adds. In the US Constitution, the president has no role in certifying electoral votes. And by appearing to act on behalf of the Trump campaign rather than the White House Meadows seemed to be acting in a private capacity, rather than in his role as chief of staff, Kreis said. Kreis told BI that Meadows' request for "trickle-down immunity" was inconsistent with precedent, and with past cases where employees in the Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan administrations were criminally convicted for actions they took while in office. "I think as a society generally, too, we don't find it consistent with the rule of law to just say, 'I was just following orders. I didn't know,'" he said. "That's just not consistent, again with the rule of law, but it's also not consistent with past practices in history." Read the original article on Business Insider Mississippi one of only four states that still celebrates Confederate Memorial Day. Why? State offices throughout Mississippi will be closed Monday in recognition of Confederate Memorial Day, and state employees will receive a paid day off. Mississippi is one of four states to still celebrate the holiday, which was established in 1886 following the end of the American Civil War. Other states including Alabama, South Carolina and Texas also still celebrate the day in some fashion. Confederate Memorial Day is also part of Confederate Heritage Month, which is traditionally celebrated in April. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves even signed a proclamation on April 12 to recognize both the month and the day in honor of the fallen confederate soldiers and the nation's past. "Whereas, as we honor all who lost their lives in this war, it is important for all Americans to reflect upon our nations past, to gain insight from our mistakes and successes, and to come to a full understanding that the lessons learned yesterday and today will carry us through tomorrow if we carefully and earnestly strive to understand and appreciate our heritage and our opportunities which lie before us, the proclamation read. Now, therefore, I, Tate Reeves, Governor of the State of Mississippi, hereby proclaim the month of April 2024 as Confederate Heritage Month in the State of Mississippi. Others do not share Reeves' enthusiasm for the holiday celebrating the Confederate States of America, or the legacy it left behind. Jefferson Davis' legacy: Confederate monuments: Jefferson Davis, CSA president who didn't want to secede but wanted to keep slavery The Mississippi State Capitol ceiling featuring a painted medallion with a Confederate flag in Jackson on Feb. 22. Mississippi will yet again celebrate Confederate Memorial Day on Monday, and several Democratic lawmakers said it is long since overdue to rid the state of the holiday. Mississippi House Rep. Chris Bell, D-Jackson, and Sen. Derrick Simmons, D-Greenville, both said the holiday is nothing more than a reminder of slavery and the institutions that fought to keep Black people without rights as citizens. "This is a day to celebrate treasonous individuals who promoted slavery or those who were in favor of slavery," Bell said. Simmons told the Clarion Ledger that he even introduced legislation this year to end Confederate Memorial Day, something he has done almost every year since entering office. However, that bill died in the Senate Rules Committee without ever being considered. "I think it's the policy of the state of Mississippi for us to move away from our dark paths, and move into a bright future being more inclusive," Simmons said. "It's just the right thing to do." Simmons added that every year since the Legislature voted to change the state flag in 2020, which previously featured a confederate symbol, to a magnolia flower, he has been hopeful to see movement on the legislation. "I really thought we would get the momentum after the 2020 session, after we change the state flag to move completely away from all of those images or symbols that represent a day in time when Mississippi really, really had a dark past, and we just haven't been able to get the legislative wheel to do the right thing," Simmons said. Simmons added that he believes Republican leadership should do its part to move the state away from Confederate holidays and symbols. "We should be moving forward to the day that the governor claims that he wants to have where he represents all of Mississippi," Simmons said. "He can start by not signing the proclamation every year for this holiday, and he can start with the leadership in trying to work with our legislative leaders on getting this bill passed out of the legislature and to him for his signature." Bell said that he and many others simply do not recognize the holiday. "I don't view this as a holiday for me or any of the members of Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, or any individual of color," Bell said. He added that he doesn't think he or other lawmakers could sway more of the Legislature until certain members are voted out of office in the next election cycle. "Unfortunately, it starts at the at the ballot box," Bell said. "Those individuals who believe in such are the ones that are the problem. When you have leadership that doesn't understand the importance of the divisiveness of these images and symbols, that just needs to change. The only way we'll be able to change that is to have some of these individuals voted out of office." Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Confederate Memorial Day opposed by black legislators in Mississippi An influential Delaware County Republican Party operative whom police stopped on suspicion of impaired driving last week asked Genoa Township police to call her friend, a Genoa Township trustee, as she was being handcuffed. A motorist called Genoa Township police just after 10 p.m. April 19 to report seeing a reckless driver "cross into the left of the two turn lanes (along Home Road) and almost hit another driver who laid on their horn to alert them," according to the man's written statement. The car repeatedly crossed the center lane lines and at one point drove into oncoming lanes, the witness reported. Genoa Township police located and followed the GMC Yukon, which they learned was driven by Catherine Nelson, into Lewis Center where it continued to swerve and alternately speed and slow, according to a police report. Genoa Township police body camera video shows Catherine Nelson before officers arrested her April 19, 2024, on suspicion of impaired driving. Police stopped Nelson and said they noticed a strong smell of alcohol from the SUV and on her breath. They asked her at least three times if she'd had anything to drink, according to both the police report and body camera video of the traffic stop. The first time she answered, "absolutely not." A few minutes later, the officer again asked her, and she admitted to having a drink at 3 p.m. that day. The third time she said she'd had a glass of wine during dinner. Nelson, 68, said more than once, "I don't drink." Police found a bottle of liquor in her vehicle's back seat, according to video. Asked if she had taken any medication, she paused and told them she was taking generic codeine for a procedure she had undergone that morning. Codeine is a Schedule 2 narcotic; its use is illegal while driving. After refusing to take an alcohol breath test, records indicate Nelson failed a field sobriety test. At the same time, officers found a loaded 9 mm Ruger handgun in Nelson's driver side door. Ohio law prohibits motorists from carrying a firearm in a vehicle if they are driving drunk. Shortly after they were arresting her on suspicion of drunken driving, she asked them to "Call Renee Vaughan. You know Renee Vaughan. She's my best friend," according to the video. The officers said they knew the Genoa Township trustee but told Nelson they would not be calling her. On Friday, Nelson declined to speak with a Dispatch reporter for publication. GOP leaders: Catherine Nelson had 'grenade thrower' influence in Delaware County politics Nelson has for years been a force in Delaware County politics, organizing fundraisers, helping select candidates and choosing opponents for those not aligned with her ideology, Republican party sources said. She has not held public office. Those who know her describe her as hardworking and extremely effective at directing and molding party direction and leadership. Earlier this month, seven of 10 Delaware County Republican County Party executive committee leaders were voted out of their positions. Nelson, they say, coordinated much of the housecleaning. Shawn Parker, the party's outgoing chairman, said he worked hard to pull factions of the party together, only to see his work be undone by a new, more conservative leadership. "I've spent two years trying to pull together our moderate and ultra-conservative Republicans," he said. "The ultra right-wring Republicans organized. And that was their goal to get control of the party," he said. He said that Nelson had much to do with the transformation. Karl Gebhardt, party chairman from 2018-2020, calls Nelson "kind of a grenade thrower" who "likes to create controversy." The tactics are effective, Gebhardt said, because "logical people want to avoid conflict. And that leaves her in charge and all alone." The leadership sweep comes amid a growing county population, especially in the southern townships including Concord, Genoa, Liberty and Orange. And while there's a 2-to-1 ratio of registered Republicans to Democrats, almost two-thirds of the county's registered voters have no party affiliation. Both incoming and outgoing leadership cite their "Big Tent" approach to expanding the party, especially with a national election six months away. Voters in Delaware County approved in November two major social issues many Republicans opposed: abortion rights by 60% and marijuana legalization by 55%. "We are a political party," said outgoing chairman Parker, "and political parties need to be open and welcoming to everyone who is living in the county." He said he's been reluctant to criticize the new leadership because he still has a role in it. "I still believe that I have influence to make this party wider and broader and to make it palatable to the independent voters to come our way," he said. Democrats cite the Republican Party's shift toward Evangelicalism as dangerous and unwelcoming. "They're pulling toward the extreme right," said Peg Watkins, chairwoman of the Delaware County Democratic Party. Nelson faces a pre-trial hearing on the DUI. A Delaware County grand jury is expected to hear the gun charge, improper handling of a firearm, and decide whether she'll be indicted on the fifth-degree felony. Her attorney, Elizabeth Gaba, has not returned calls from The Dispatch. Attorney W. Martin Midian, who specializes in impaired driving case said those responsible for prosecuting her, all of whom in Delaware County are Republicans, may have conflicts of interest. A special prosecutor and judge could be used. "More than likely, they'll know her personally," Midian said. "She's awfully close to the powers that be." Nelson's arrest shared with township administrator Genoa Township police were so alarmed at Nelson calling on Trustee Vaughan for help that they emailed the township's administration. "While she was being arrested, (Nelson) made a comment that she knew and was good friends with Renee Vaughan and she requested we call Renee for her to figure things out. We did not oblige this request but thought it best to send an email in case Renee does contact us and ask about the incident. (Nelson) made other comments that she is 'in politics,' but none of us were aware of her other than that she sometimes makes comments at township meetings." Administrator Paul Wise said he forwarded the email to other officials in the township "as an FYI." Those emails likely were shared with other party insiders, many of whom had heard about the incident. Outgoing Republican Chairman Parker said neither party can afford such self-inflicted missteps. "Both parties have to behave themselves," Parker said. "We've got to police ourselves and manage ourselves with honor. The party brand has to have integrity." dnarciso@dispatch.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Influential Republican Party operative faces DUI, gun charges Workers use a tabulator machine to count ballots during the Sioux Falls city and school board election on April 9, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Workers use a tabulator machine to count ballots during the Sioux Falls city and school board election on April 9, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Three South Dakota counties will ask voters during the June 4 primary if they should ban the use of tabulator machines in future local elections. If the measures pass, the auditors offices in each county would have to hand-count ballots in the Nov. 5 general election and thereafter. The votes in Gregory, Haakon and Tripp counties were forced by citizen-initiated petitions at the county level. Petitioners say they want to ban tabulators because theyre concerned about election security and integrity. State law allows citizens to petition their local governments to put a proposed law to a public vote. The petitions require signatures from 5% of registered voters in a jurisdiction. The auditors in each county are now working to educate their citizens on the election process, including the accuracy and safety of tabulators, and highlighting the potential financial consequences of hand-counting ballots. More than anything, I want my county to be educated about how our elections run, said Stacy Pinney, Haakon County auditor. Tabulator scans ballots during the Sioux Falls city and school board election on April 9, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) A tabulator machine scans ballots during the Sioux Falls city and school board election on April 9, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Similar petitions are circulating in 35 counties, according to South Dakota Canvassing, the nonprofit that helped organize the statewide effort. Petitions have been rejected in counties including Lawrence and McPherson, where some county officials cited legal problems with the petition language. Meanwhile, Fall River County is the only county in South Dakota that will hand-count ballots during the primary election. In Haakon County, Pinney plans to hold three town halls ahead of the June 4 primary to answer county residents questions. The final town hall will coincide with her statutorily required public test of the tabulator machines. Shell also present to the local high schools senior government class about the election process. Pinney said many county residents dont know theres a resolution board that handles votes cast aside by a tabulator when those votes need further study for voter intent. She added that some people arent aware they can ask for a new ballot if they make a mistake. In Haakon County, the cost of the general election without hand-counting will already be about $10,000 to $15,000, Pinney said. If the ballot initiative passes, Pinney expects shell need 10 extra people to hand-count ballots. That can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 more, she estimates. Julie Bartling, Gregory County auditor, said if her countys tabulator ban passes, shell have to break up the south-central countys three precincts into six or 10 precincts to have manageable ballot amounts for hand counters. That will cost the county $5,000 to $8,000 more assuming she can convince poll workers whove already been working 12-hour days to stay longer and hand-count ballots. A lot of people think hand-counting is cheaper, but it really isnt, Bartling said. Bartling said some people think different ballots can be used, but, by law, the county has to use the same ballot whether it hand-counts or uses machines. For Gregory, the tabulator machines cost less than $2,000 each election to use, Bartling said. Barb Desersa, Auditor for Tripp and Todd counties in south-central South Dakota, will hand count an estimated 1,050 ballots from Tripp County in the 2022 election. Barb DeSersa, auditor for Tripp and Todd counties in south-central South Dakota, prepares for an election in 2022. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) Tripp County Auditor Barb DeSersa said shell have to find another 65 people to hand-count ballots if the measure passes. DeSersa oversaw Tripp Countys 2022 general election hand-counting effort, when it was the only county in South Dakota to hand-count all its ballots. DeSersa was awake for 40 hours straight between Election Day and the day after in 2022, with a significant amount of that time supervising volunteers hand-counting ballots. Several races had to be recounted by volunteer counting boards sometimes three or four times that night. If the ban passes, she wont have poll workers hand-count, and shell have five hand-count volunteers per precinct rather than three. The extra two will be onlookers to ensure everything is done correctly, DeSersa said. Haakon County plans to audit more than the state-required 5% of ballots after the primary. Tripp and Gregory counties will each conduct a post-election audit of all cast ballots after the primary. Im anxious for the post-election audit because I want people to know that their automated counting machines are accurate, Bartling said. Theyre counting correctly and the post-election audit will show that and prove it. EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated since its original publication with additional information about Haakon Countys post-election audit plan. The post Three counties will vote on banning ballot tabulator machines, requiring hand-counting appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight. UK troops could be sent to Gaza to help deliver aid 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. 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. BEDFORD Town of Bedford residents can expect their real estate tax rate to remain the same in the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1. Bedford Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to keep the towns tax rate at 28 cents per $100 of real estate value, the same as the current rate. Council also held a public hearing Tuesday on other measures that included consideration of an additional $20 vehicle license fee and a possible change to the Business Professional and Occupational License in 2025. The current BPOL tax is 10 cents per $100 gross receipts for retail businesses exceeding $3 million per year. Council is considering dropping the threshold to $2 million per year, but Black said that is still under discussion and a decision hasnt been reached. Nancy Leighton, a town resident, was the only citizen to speak during Tuesdays hearing. She said residents are being priced out with soaring gas prices and other costs rising. We are slowly being strangled. I understand that budgets are tight in town, but they are also tight for our retirees and people on fixed income, Leighton said. Leighton said she has a friend who is considering leaving the country because that persons pension cannot keep up with rising costs. Town Manager Bart Warner said the towns real estate assessment recently increased 1% primarily because of new construction. The total increase was $8.4 million and $4.8 million was due to new construction, according to Warner. The tax revenue from that figure, without changing the real estate tax rate, is $23,679, Warners report states. Bedford Countys real estate tax rate of 41 cents per $100 assessed value will also stay the same in fiscal year 2025, the county board of supervisors unanimously decided Monday. Council also approved a 100% personal property tax relief rate for fiscal year 2024-25. We were able to keep that intact this year, Black said. Thats a good thing for citizens to continue to provide that extra relief. In a separate matter, Black addressed a town residents complaint on a recent decision by the town police chief, Ronnie Lewis, to no longer have In God We Trust wording on police vehicles. Councilor Robert Carson said some residents asked him to remove the wording. His decision wasnt made lightly, Carson said. Black said he has thought about the issue and spoke with Lewis, Warner, the town attorney and all six other council members. The town never had an official policy requiring the wording on police vehicles and council agreed not to institute a new policy overriding the chiefs decision. Ive been a Christian my whole life. I trust in God, Black said. But our police department is here to serve every citizen in this community, whether theyre Christian, Jewish, Muslim, a non-believer, it doesnt matter. They are here to protect and serve every single one of them. For us to sit up here and overrule a decision we give to our department heads to make, that is really not our role. Black said the town government procedures include department heads reporting to the town manager, who reports directly to council. Ive got the utmost trust and respect for Chief Lewis for the job he is doing for our community, Black said. Black said town police officers show Christian compassion and love on a daily basis, stating a recent example where a woman was released from jail and was homeless, and an officer secured her some food and shelter. Town police also on a regular basis do all they can to help citizens overdosing on narcotics, Black said. Its example after example, day after day, whether In God We Trust is on that police car or not, that is whats happening in this community, Black said. I know the character of that department and the chief is doing everything he can to serve every citizen in this community. Vice Mayor C.G. Stanley, who is retired, said one of his jobs while employed was inspecting the vehicle fleet to make sure no religious or political statements were on them. Black said unless any other councilor brings it up the matter is considered closed. There was so much good news the week of April 14 that it almost seemed like the end of one of those Hollywood movies where all sorts of problems get resolved at once. Aid to Ukraine Lets start with how the House of Representatives finally overcame the dangerous blockade of aid to Ukraine. Speaker of the House Michael Johnson defied the Putin wing of the Republican Party and allowed the House to pass the aid package that American national security urgently requires. Johnson appealed to the judgment of history, and defied the Republican extremists who have dominated the House, which also means defying Donald Trump, which means also defying the threat of being ejected from his Speakership. Persuaded by his briefings that aiding Ukraine serves vital American interests, Johnson took the patriotic position that his own hold on power mattered much less than doing what America requires. A huge bipartisan majority passed that aid to Ukraine, which has been giving the United States and NATO more bang for the buck in terms of American security that can be had anywhere else (by making the major enemy of the U.S. Putins Russia fail in its aggression). (And that same bipartisan majority will likely rescue Johnson if the likes of Marjorie Taylor Green follows through in her threat to punish him.) Acting in a bipartisan way has long been dangerous for Republican leaders, but Johnson has done what every recent Republican Speaker of the House has been forced to do to get anything important done such as keeping the government running, raising the debt limit to avoid default working with the peoples representatives from the other party. Good news indeed both that Ukraine will again have the weapons they need to defend their nation, and that sanity and decency finally prevailed over the small group of Republican extremists who want the Russian dictator and war criminal to succeed. Avoiding a Regional War in the Middle East Good news also from the Middle East, where the week began with an Iranian attack on Israel that threatened to ignite the whole region in the level of regional war that American diplomacy has continually been striving to prevent since Iranian-backed Hamas began the cycle of violence with its assault on Israeli citizens. Israel had chosen escalation by attacking the Iranian embassy in Syria, from which it can reasonably be concluded they were inviting such that (likely disastrous) wider war with Iran. And it is reported that, indeed, the most extreme elements of Israels ruling coalition reportedly wanted Israel to launch a massive air attack on major targets within Iran. But Israel decided instead on a path that seems to have brought this crisis to a quiet conclusion: they made a merely symbolic strike on Iran itself. (It demonstrated that Israel can hit Iranian targets at will, in sharp contrast with how Israel and its allies fended off almost all the Iranian drones and missiles.) And then the Iranians cooperated in stepping back from the brink, as they acted almost like nothing had happened. No all-out regional war is big, but theres additional good news, as was well-explained by the Washington Posts David Ignatius: this confrontation with Iran has helped Israel recover somewhat from the isolation (and disgrace) Israel brought upon itself by resulting from its ugly response to the Hamas attack. Iran is the bigger problem in world politics and a threat to Arab powers so Irans attack enabled Israel to regain standing with both Western allies and important neighboring Arab nations. Israels response to the Hamas attack had utterly derailed Israels progress toward peaceful integrations into the Arab region derailed especially the incipient breakthrough of normalization with Saudi Arabia. But the attack by Iran the bigger enemy they have in common reconnected Israel with both Western allies and important Arab neighbors, who aided Israel in downing the Iranian drones and missiles. Good news, for those who care about Israel (unless the Israelis squander this gain by resuming its ugly and blundering approach in Gaza, refreshing the reputational damage Israel has inflicted upon itself). A trial reveals damaging truths Some have wondered if Trumps Manhattan trial might fortify him politically. But the early days suggest that even if these are not the most profound crimes for which he has been indicted this trial will damage Trump in the eyes of the nation. Some of that damage will doubtless be from the picture it will present Trump as a habitual cheater cheating not only on his wife, but also conspiring to cheat the American people of the information to which they were entitled in the 2016 presidential election. But more important may be Trumps conduct in court where, in the first week, he showed himself incapable of coping with a situation he does not control. Already, the trial looks likely to erode the image Trump has cultivated of being powerful and commanding. Already the trial looks likely to show how seriously limited weak, even defective a person Donald Trump is. Which given all that Trump has told the nation about his dictatorial intentions if this falls election gives him again the powers of the presidency is good news for those who care about the survival of American democracy. TOKYO, Apr 29 (News On Japan) - Novelist Hitoshi Mayama explores a groundbreaking next-generation aquaculture technology at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology with Professor Goro Yoshizaki. This innovative method allows desired fish species to be bred by transplanting their reproductive stem cells into surrogate fish. Mayama interviews pioneers who started the startup "Fish Dream" last July, discussing the technology's current status and its business potential. In the heart of Tokyo lies a university that conducts cutting-edge fisheries research. "Initially, I was skeptical about the idea of mackerel producing tuna, but after talking to them, I realized it all comes down to human ego, how we manipulate nature, and the importance of passion in these endeavors," Mayama reflected during his investigation. As black tuna faces extinction, the potential of reviving extinct fish species or radically changing current aquaculture practices grows. The key lies in mysterious objects contained within small tubes, where essential cells sleep, potentially reshaping the history of the fisheries industry. "We're making a surrogate fish that can produce the offspring of another species," explains Yoshizaki, who has been researching fish farming techniques for over 30 years. This surrogate parent technology could lead to the creation of completely new fish from existing species. Yoshizaki's work at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology involves developing technologies that are closely watched worldwide. He has achieved a first in the world by increasing reproductive cells in the lab, aiming to solve significant issues like the potential extinction of Pacific black tuna by letting mackerel produce tuna. The challenges are complex, involving the creation of sperm and eggs from different fish species, a process taking two decades. Yoshizaki humorously notes, "We always say 'another five years,' but its not a joke; its about how we foresee the timeline for our experiments." This pioneering journey continues as they aim to revolutionize aquaculture by turning ideas once considered impossible into reality, navigating uncharted scientific territories without a map. Source: BIZ Chinese expert expresses doubt about Russia's ability to sustain its war effort in Ukraine due to various internal and external factors. The US threat of secondary sanctions against enablers of Russian sanctions-busting, especially China, is showing signs of crimping the Russian economy. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken began a three-day visit to China on April 24 with a stern warning for Beijing: the United States is ready to play hardball to prevent the continuing supply of equipment to Russia that aids the Kremlins war effort. China has denied accusations that it is supplying arms to Russia. Nevertheless, Beijing appears to be taking preventative steps to assuage US concerns. The Russian media outlet Izvestia reported earlier that some major Chinese banks have imposed restrictions on Russian wire payments. The situation with payments from Russia to China deteriorated sharply at the end of March. About 80 percent of transactions were returned, Izvestia reported, citing a business community source. Today sending yuan to China is a big problem. Because of this, importing equipment in April was very difficult, and this will continue in May, the outlet cited the source as saying. Chinese exports to Russia in March of this year were down 15.7 percent compared to the same month in 2023, Bloomberg reported. Russian imports from all sources fell by 18 percent this March. Other nations are taking note of the secondary sanctions threat, Russian bankers say, adding it is becoming much harder for Russians to move money around. The situation is developing dynamically and, unfortunately, is not very encouraging, the Russian media outlet RBC quoted Andrei Kostin, the head of VTB bank, who himself is the subject of US sanctions, as saying. The number of foreign banks that are ready to continue working with us is constantly decreasing. At least one Chinese expert is voicing doubt about the Kremlins ability to maintain its war effort and achieve its goals in Ukraine. The Moscow Times published on April 15 a summary of an interview with Feng Yujun, the director of the Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, who said multiple factors were working against Russias war effort. Among the factors listed by Feng were: the cohesiveness of Ukrainian society in maintaining its war effort; ongoing Western support for Ukraine; Russias difficulties with command and control of military operations; flaws in Russian intelligence gathering; and an information bubble in the Kremlin that hinders sound decision-making. The Moscow Times goes on to cite Feng as saying that Russia at present is fertile ground for all kinds of black swans, that is, various unpredictable events that the Russian government has already faced and will continue to face. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Indonesian student designs a life in fashion Xinhua) 09:03, April 28, 2024 Yusuf Maulana Firdaus (Front R), an international student from Jakarta, Indonesia, poses for photos with his teacher Huang Yanbing (Front L) among fashion models in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, June 17, 2023. (Xinhua) NANNING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- At a graduation show in Guangxi Arts University in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, students stop in their tracks, enthralled by the beauty of five blue and white patchwork outfits that blend Indonesian batik patterns with traditional Chinese Peking Opera elements. The collection was created by Yusuf Maulana Firdaus, an international student from Jakarta, Indonesia. Yusuf says he dreams of a future in fashion and makeup artistry, but in reality, this life is already well within reach. Since he was a child, he has lived and breathed fashion, and his work has won many awards in Indonesia. Yusuf's journey in China began in 2020, when he started studying character design as an undergraduate student at Guangxi Arts University. In recent years, Guangxi has been actively engaged in educational cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, making it one of the provincial level regions with the highest number of ASEAN students studying in China. "I prefer designing unique or exaggerated costumes for stage performances. All designs will be handmade by myself," said Yusuf over the hum of his sewing machine. While Yusuf initially learned costume design on his own in Indonesia, studying in China exposed him to new and exciting subjects and approaches, from makeup to clothing. In his spare time, Yusuf can be found in his studio, deep in the creative process. With an ardent passion for creation, he has invested nearly all his scholarships and competition winnings into materials and cosmetics. With his deft makeup skills and keen fashion sense, he quickly won admiration from his classmates. In various artistic performances and professional activities, he is often invited to help in the makeup or costume departments. Combining Chinese and Indonesian culture, his unique fashion and makeup styles have made him famous in just a few years, and his activities have also moved from campus to the international stage, participating in many cultural exchange activities between China and the ASEAN. "During my study abroad, many teachers helped me professionally, teaching me how to create good designs, match colors, and select materials. I have gained a lot from this experience," said Yusuf, expressing his deep gratitude for the enriching experience of studying in China. "In my 30 years of teaching, this is the first time I have had in-depth contact with international students from different cultural backgrounds. Yusuf's diligence, eagerness to learn, and talent make me cherish this teacher-student relationship," said Huang Yanbing, his teacher. Apart from professional studies, his passion for Chinese culture also solidified his determination to study in China. "Coming to China for schooling, learning about fashion design and makeup-related professional knowledge, can greatly help me fulfill my dreams," Yusuf revealed. Yusuf hopes that after graduation, he will be accepted on a master's program in character design in China. In the future, he will work hard to further his studies and create more excellent works. Reflecting on what is yet to come, Yusuf gazed out the window, and said with determination, "I also want to use my actions to promote exchanges between China and Indonesia, and between China and ASEAN countries. I want to bring Indonesian culture to China, and when I return to Indonesia with achievements, I also want to bring more Chinese culture to Indonesia." Yusuf Maulana Firdaus, an international student from Jakarta, Indonesia, works on his graduation projects in a studio in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The Medicare bills were startling and suspicious. Late last year, officials with Nebraska groups that manage care for seniors began noticing a sharp increase in billings to Medicare for urinary catheters, a relatively inexpensive medical device made for home use. Quarterly Medicare data for Lincoln-based OneHealth Nebraska indicated that spending on the devices on behalf of their patients was up an average of $60 a patient, totaling more than $1 million, according to Dr. Bob Rauner, the organizations former chief medical officer. Similarly, number-crunching by the Omaha-based Nebraska Health Network showed its catheter claims jumped from $269,000 in 2022 to more than $4 million in 2023, said CEO Lee Handke. Concerned, the Nebraskans and leaders of other accountable care organizations across the United States alerted their national group to the suspicious billings. An analysis of Medicare data by the National Association of Accountable Care Organizations and the Institute for Accountable Care found that Medicare payments for two catheter billing codes had increased from $153 million in 2021 to $3.1 billion in 2023. Some states officials also noticed suspicious billings. In early March, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General issued a consumer alert to warn the public about a fraud scheme involving durable medical equipment, specifically urinary catheters. A group of U.S. House Republicans, meanwhile, has demanded answers from leaders of the federal agency and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. They want to know when officials were alerted to the increase in catheter billing, who perpetrated the alleged fraud and how they plan to recoup the losses. Seniors unlikely to face harm; not clear if care organizations will The fallout from the scheme isnt yet clear. Seniors in whose names the catheters were billed, including some in Nebraska, reportedly never ordered them and never received them. So far, there is no evidence they face any financial harm. But local officials say Medicare beneficiaries still should be alert to suspicious billings and report them if they see them. The issue could impact the ACOs, groups of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers who agree to provide coordinated, high-quality care to Medicare patients. If they meet goals, they can share in any cost savings with CMS. Some ACOs, however, also agree to repay the agency if they miss their goals. Rauner, who left OneHealth in February to focus on other initiatives, said it will be up to CMS to decide whether to apply the suspicious charges to the ACOs bottom lines. To me, the simple thing is to say, This is fraud and it shouldnt go on your budget, he said. Were focused on quality and cost, said Handke, whose network includes doctors and hospitals from Nebraska Medicine, Methodist Health System and Fremont Health. When you see something like this impacting your total costs, it starts to negate some of the good work youve done. Clif Gaus, NAACOS president and CEO, said the organization has asked CMS not to hold ACOs accountable for fraud. The organization has met with federal officials to share its concerns and is monitoring the situation. Medicare ACOs cover more than 13 million Medicare beneficiaries and represent more than 600,000 physicians and other providers. We remain concerned that ACOs will be hurt financially by this apparent fraud and hope CMS will act to mitigate the impact, he said in a statement. Robert Mechanic, executive director of the Institute for Accountable Care, said ACOs are evaluated according to their spending trends. An increase in billings could spike the organizations costs and cause them to miss out on shared savings or, in some cases, owe money to CMS. ACOs typically receive a financial reconciliation for the previous years claims in August, he said. Based on that schedule, ACOs would expect a reckoning for 2023 to arrive late this summer. It was because they closely monitor Medicare cost and quality data that officials with some of the groups began noticing the increases in catheter billing last year. Last winter, some began posting on an internal listserv. Rauner, who serves on NAACOS board, was among those leading the charge, according to Handke and Mechanic. Said Rauner: Having these ACOs across the country looking at this is kind of handy. Members brought their concerns to the national group, which took them to news media to raise their profile. The Washington Post and the New York Times reported on the uptick in billing for catheters in early February. Newly created suppliers boosted billings Mechanic said the institute identified a number of suppliers of medical equipment that hadnt previously billed CMS but had begun charging at suspiciously high levels. The institute is a nonprofit, independent research and policy group that has an agreement with CMS that allows it to look at agency data for research purposes. Nearly all of the increase was due to billings by 10 suppliers that hadnt existed two years prior. More than 40,000 patients were billed for catheters in 2021. Last year, that number climbed to nearly 550,000. How the suspicious suppliers got beneficiaries Medicare numbers, however, is not known, Mechanic said. In analyzing the data, the researchers found considerable geographic variation, with little increase in billings in some states and ACOs and a lot in others, he said. Nebraska was among nearly two dozen states where the increase in billing for the devices across all beneficiaries between 2022 and 2023 topped 1000%. Handke said he has never seen anything on the scale of the suspicious catheter billing. There are always cases of fraud and abuse, he said. But this seems to be a very coordinated effort to defraud Medicare, and seeing this level of increase was really startling. Some Nebraska Medicare patients also noticed and a few, like the ACOs, have reported their concerns. But the catheter scheme isnt the only one officials been noticing, which emphasizes the need for beneficiaries to know what to watch for and what to do if they encounter something suspicious, according to Jonathan Burlison, administrator of the Nebraska State Health Insurance Assistance Program and the Senior Medicare Patrol. Nebraska SHIP began receiving calls from Medicare patients about catheter billing as early as last June, Burlison said. The federally funded programs, housed within the Nebraska Department of Insurance, provide assistance to Medicare beneficiaries. Since the beginning of the year, he wrote, the program has helped 10 Nebraskans who had reported concerns about catheter billing submit evidence to investigating agencies. Many people affected by the scheme, however, may not be aware. Beneficiaries should review those documents and look for billings for services or items they havent received as well as for billings from doctors they dont recognize. They should report any suspected Medicare fraud, error or abuse to Nebraska SHIP and SMP at 1-800-234-7119. If their Medicare number has been compromised, they can request a new number be issued through those programs or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Other recent scams, Burlison said, involve phone calls in which a caller claims to be with Medicare and offers a piece of medical equipment, such as a knee or back brace; a new plastic Medicare card, sometimes claiming the card has a chip for security; and testing, usually either at-home COVID-19 test kits or at-home genetic test kits for cancer or cardiovascular risks. Currently, the catheter scam seems to be the flavor of the month, Burlison wrote. But we do see other scams occurring in our state that unfortunately dont seem to stop. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of April 2024 You might notice a traffic squeeze on Interstate 29 north of Omaha and Council Bluffs the next few weeks. Engineers say its to make the road safer. Over the next four weeks, workers will be installing a cable barrier in the I-29 median between Exit 56 (North 16th Street) and Exit 61 (Interstate 680/Old Mormon Bridge Road). Work is scheduled to wrap up May 30. The barrier is designed to dramatically reduce the threat of head-on collisions by crossover drivers, said Austin Yates, southwest Iowa district engineer for the Iowa Department of Transportation. To safely accommodate the construction, the inside traffic lane will be closed in both directions for nearly the entire five miles of freeway. We have the left lane closed so the trucks can have ready access to the median, Yates said. Head-on crossover collisions on divided highways can be devastating because of the high speeds involved, he said, and Iowa DOT has been installing them around the state for at least a decade. This is one of the last few stretches in southwest Iowa without median barriers, Yates said. It was left until the end because of its relatively light traffic load. About 17,000 vehicles a day travel through the highway segment. Iowas Interstate-highway medians are typically about 30 feet wide much less than the 80-foot buffer that is typical on Nebraska highways, he said. Thats why there arent any on this side of the Missouri River. At least not yet. Yates said the Nebraska Department of Transportation has plans to install median barriers along Interstate 80 southwest of Omaha, from Nebraska Highway 370 to the Platte River. A collision there in May 2019 took the life of a 4-month-old baby. The work on I-29 isnt connected to road and shoulder repair taking place on I-680 from Exit 61 west to Exit 1 (130th Street). The left lanes are also closed along that stretch. The massive $1.5 billion reconstruction of I-29 and I-80 in Council Bluffs, begun in 2008, is now essentially complete, except for one remaining project, Yates said. Thats the complete reconstruction of the I-80 Madison Avenue interchange, on the citys east side. Yates said it involves lots of grading straightening curves and flattening hills, as well as widening and cleaning up Madison Avenue. Both shoulders are closed on I-80 through July 12, and lane and ramp closures will continue until the project is finished in June 2026. NDOT meeting to lay out plans for Nebraska 50 in Douglas, Sarpy Commuters can get a look at whats to come during the unfolding construction project along Nebraska Highway 50/South 144th Street in Douglas and Sarpy Counties at a public meeting Tuesday in Millard. The project stretches 5 miles, from just south of Nebraska Highway 370 to U.S. Highway 275/L Street. Construction started last month with repairs on Millard Avenue at Q Street, and with lane closures at the Highway 370 interchange. The $7.1 million project includes patching, overlays, shoulder work, concrete repair, milling and repaving, and will continue until fall 2025. Work in 2024 will include major bridge repairs to spans crossing West Papillion Creek and South Papillion Creek, less extensive repairs to bridges at Interstate 80 and Highway 370, and the expansion of turn lanes on the east side of the intersection of South 144th and Harrison Streets. Concrete and shoulder repairs also are planned south of I-80. Next year, everything north of I-80 to the West Papillion Creek will be milled and repaved. The meeting will take place from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Millard Social Hall, 10508 S. 144th St. A formal presentation is planned at 5:15 p.m. Thoughts about Cornhusker Road traffic or Bluffs bridge work? Planners want feedback The Omaha-based Metropolitan Area Planning Agency wants to know what you think of six projects it has added to its Transportation Improvement Program for the 2024 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. These are amendments to the original program approved by the agency's board in June 2023. All are paid with a combination of federal and local funds. The added projects include: City of Bellevue, Cornhusker Road Corridor Study, 36th Street to Fort Crook Road $100,000. Vehicle purchases for Nebraska agencies providing paratransit services $539,551. Vehicle purchases for Iowa agencies providing paratransit services $225,000. City of Council Bluffs, Ninth Avenue Bridge Replacement $1,500,000. Iowa DOT, lane striping along Interstate 29 from Missouri border to U.S. Highway 34 $1,008,000. Iowa DOT, lane striping along Interstate 680 from Missouri River to I-29 $90,000. MAPA covers a six-county region that encompasses Douglas, Sarpy, Cass and Washington Counties in Nebraska, and Mills and Pottawattamie Counties in Iowa. More information on the program is available at: Mapacog.org/projects/tip/. Comments may be submitted until Thursday by emailing: Transportation@mapacog.org, or by mail to: MAPA, 2222 Cuming St., Omaha, NE 68102. New road construction around Nebraska South 60th Street between Harrison and Q Streets will be closed at the BNSF railroad bridge for utility work beginning Monday until May 13. South 60th Street at Interstate 80 will be restricted to one lane southbound for road repair in the curb lane until Monday. will be restricted to one lane southbound for road repair in the curb lane until Monday. South 72nd Street between Pine and Hickory Streets will have lane restrictions southbound because of utility work in the inside lane until Saturday. The intersection of F Street and John F. Kennedy Freeway/U.S. Highway 75 will have varying lane restrictions for bridge repair until Tuesday. O Street between South 13th and South 18th Streets will be closed to through traffic for street repair until Tuesday. Cass Street between North 33rd and North 35th Streets will be closed to through traffic for sewer repair until Monday. North 30th Street between Lincoln Boulevard and Cass Street will be restricted to one lane northbound for gas utility work in the outside curb lane until Monday. Leavenworth Street east of South Sixth Street 350 feet east to the roundabout will be closed for street improvements until June 22. North 52nd Street between Grand Avenue and Fort Street will be under flagger operations for sidewalk replacement until May 6. South 60th Street will be restricted to one lane southbound at Center Street for fiber-optic installation in the inside lane until Monday. Hartman Avenue between North 54th and North 52nd Streets will have lane restrictions eastbound because of street repair until Tuesday. The intersection of 10th and Dodge Streets will have varying lane restrictions because of fiber-optic relocation until May 6. I Street between South 108th and South 102nd Streets will have varying lane restrictions for utility work until Monday. Lane restrictions are in place on North 35th Street at Avenue F in Council Bluffs because of concrete repairs until Friday. Lane restrictions are in place on South Eighth Street at First Avenue in Council Bluffs because of sewer repairs until Tuesday. because of sewer repairs until Tuesday. Avenue G between North 30th and North 32nd Streets in Council Bluffs will be closed for resurfacing from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. Road construction around Omaha Northwest (north of West Dodge Road and west of I-680) The 192nd Street interchange on the West Dodge Expressway is being rebuilt as a diverging diamond interchange. Periodic lane closures and some overnight ramp closures can be expected through the end of 2024. is being rebuilt as a diverging diamond interchange. Periodic lane closures and some overnight ramp closures can be expected through the end of 2024. State Street west of North 252nd Street near Valley will be closed for bridge construction until August. will be closed for bridge construction until August. State Street from Kilpatrick Parkway to HWS Cleveland Boulevard, and 168th Street from Rachel Snowden Parkway to Reynolds Street are closed for grading, paving and reconstruction of the 168th and State intersection until December 2024. are closed for grading, paving and reconstruction of the 168th and State intersection until December 2024. North 108th Street between Burt Circle and Decatur Street will be closed with local access only for street widening until July 31. will be closed with local access only for street widening until July 31. Fort Street between 183rd and 186th Streets is closed because of grading and paving of the three-lane roadway until June 1. Northeast (north of Dodge Street and east of I-680) North 72nd Street between Bedford Avenue and Pratt Street will have various lane restrictions for utility work because of a water-main break until May 8. will have various lane restrictions for utility work because of a water-main break until May 8. North 72nd Street between Dodge Street and Western Avenue will have varying lane restrictions because of street repairs until June 3. will have varying lane restrictions because of street repairs until June 3. The intersection of North 60th and Ohern Streets will have various lane restrictions for utility work until Friday. will have various lane restrictions for utility work until Friday. Traffic is restricted in the eastbound curb lane of Dodge Street between Saddle Creek Road and 44th Street because of water main repair until Wednesday. Westbound Dodge Street between North 38th and North 40th Avenues will be restricted for building construction in the outside curb lane until Aug. 30. will be restricted for building construction in the outside curb lane until Aug. 30. Forest Lawn Avenue between North 36th Street and Craig Avenue will be closed for a CSO sanitary sewer separation project until June 8. will be closed for a CSO sanitary sewer separation project until June 8. North Ridge Drive between Hanover Circle and North 34th Street is closed for CSO sanitary sewer separation until May 27. is closed for CSO sanitary sewer separation until May 27. The intersection of North 33rd Street and Forest Lawn Avenue will be closed for CSO sanitary sewer separation until May 29. will be closed for CSO sanitary sewer separation until May 29. North 30th Street between Hanover and Ernst Streets will be restricted to one lane southbound for a CSO sanitary sewer separation project until May 21. Ernst Street between North 30th and North 33rd Streets is closed until May 22 as part of the same project. will be restricted to one lane southbound for a CSO sanitary sewer separation project until May 21. is closed until May 22 as part of the same project. The intersection of North 28th and Weber Streets is closed for street repair until Thursday. is closed for street repair until Thursday. The Bristol Street bridge spanning the North Freeway between 27th and 28th Streets will be closed for bridge repairs until June 16. will be closed for bridge repairs until June 16. Lake Street between North 20th and North 22nd Streets is restricted westbound between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. for sewer repair until Tuesday. is restricted westbound between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. for sewer repair until Tuesday. Capitol Avenue between North 19th and North 17th Streets will have varying lane restrictions in place for utility improvements until Friday. will have varying lane restrictions in place for utility improvements until Friday. North 18th Street between Grace Street and Willis Avenue will be closed for CSO sanitary sewer separation until June 25. will be closed for CSO sanitary sewer separation until June 25. North 16th Street will be closed at various points between Pinkney and Clark Streets for CSO sewer separation improvements through Aug. 31 will be closed at various points for CSO sewer separation improvements through Aug. 31 North 16th Street between Binney and Locust Streets will be closed for CSO sewer separation improvements until July 11. will be closed for CSO sewer separation improvements until July 11. North 16th Street between Corby and Locust Streets will be closed for utility improvements until May 7. will be closed for utility improvements until May 7. North 16th Street between Binney and Spencer Streets will be closed for CSO sewer separation improvements until June 30. will be closed for CSO sewer separation improvements until June 30. Because of construction at the Kiewit corporate campus, North 15th Street between Mike Fahey and California Streets will be restricted southbound, and Mike Fahey between North 16th and North 15th Streets will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane until Thursday. Traffic will be restricted southbound on North 16th Street between Cuming and Mike Fahey Streets until May 15. will be restricted southbound, and will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane until Thursday. Traffic will be restricted southbound on until May 15. Florence Boulevard between Read Street and Sharon Drive will be restricted northbound because of a sewer separation project until Tuesday. will be restricted northbound because of a sewer separation project until Tuesday. The intersection of 12th and Dodge Streets will have varying lane restrictions for utility work until Saturday. will have varying lane restrictions for utility work until Saturday. Nicholas Street between North 11th and North 12th Streets will be restricted to one lane westbound for sewer repair in the outside curb lane until Tuesday. will be restricted to one lane westbound for sewer repair in the outside curb lane until Tuesday. Abbott Drive between Pratt Court and East Carter Boulevard will be restricted to one lane northbound for Eppley Airfield improvements in the outside curb lane until Tuesday. Southwest (south of West Dodge Road and west of I-680/80) South 222nd Street (Skyline Drive) from I Street to south of Q Street is closed for reconstruction of the roadway and construction of a new roundabout at 222nd and Q Streets until fall. is closed for reconstruction of the roadway and construction of a new roundabout at 222nd and Q Streets until fall. South 168th Street between Q Street and West Center Road will have lane restrictions for street widening until December 2024. will have lane restrictions for street widening until December 2024. South 145th Street between Grover Street and Industrial Frontage Road will be closed for sewer work until May 20. Southeast (south of West Dodge Road and east of I-680/80) Southbound traffic on Beverly Drive at Farnam Street will be shifted to the center lane because of utility work until Wednesday. will be shifted to the center lane because of utility work until Wednesday. The northbound lanes of South 72nd Street between F Street and Interstate 80 are closed for bridge repair until Dec. 8. are closed for bridge repair until Dec. 8. Northbound traffic in the outside lane of South 72nd Street between Mercy Road and Cedar Street will be restricted for utility work until May 8. will be restricted for utility work until May 8. South 44th Street between Douglas and Farnam Streets is restricted to one lane in each direction due to construction on an adjacent property through May 7. is restricted to one lane in each direction due to construction on an adjacent property through May 7. The eastbound curb lane on Douglas Street will be closed between 44th Street and Saddle Creek Road for construction through May 2025. will be closed between for construction through May 2025. Varying lane restrictions are in place at the intersection of Saddle Creek Road and Leavenworth Street because of utility work and intersection improvements until Dec. 13. because of utility work and intersection improvements until Dec. 13. Harney Street between South 38th Avenue and South 37th Street is restricted to one lane eastbound for building construction until May 13. South 37th Street between Farnam and Harney is closed, and Farnam between South 38th and South 37th Streets as part of the same project. is restricted to one lane eastbound for building construction until May 13. is closed, and as part of the same project. Eastbound traffic on Farnam Street between South 37th and South 33rd Streets will be shifted to the center lane for utility work to accommodate the new streetcar line until May 20. will be shifted to the center lane for utility work to accommodate the new streetcar line until May 20. L Street between South 26th and South 24th Streets will be restricted to one lane eastbound for building construction in the outside curb lane until June 23. will be restricted to one lane eastbound for building construction in the outside curb lane until June 23. N Street between South 23rd and South 24th Streets will be closed to through traffic for utility work until April 30. will be closed to through traffic for utility work until April 30. Traffic in the east curb lane is restricted on South 24th Street between Landon Court and Howard Street due to building construction until April 29. due to building construction until April 29. South 22nd Street between St. Mary's Avenue and Landon Court is closed for fiber-optic installation until Wednesday. is closed for fiber-optic installation until Wednesday. Howard Street between South 22nd Street and South 21st Avenue will be restricted eastbound for utility work until Wednesday. will be restricted eastbound for utility work until Wednesday. 14th Street is closed between Farnam and Douglas Streets, and curbside lanes are closed on Farnam, Douglas and 15th Street because of construction of the new Mutual of Omaha tower until early 2026. is closed and curbside lanes are closed on because of construction of the new Mutual of Omaha tower until early 2026. The southbound outside lane is restricted on South 13th Street between William and Pine Streets because of road construction until Sept. 6. Road construction in Sarpy & Cass Counties 180th Street is closed for a half-mile south of Highway 370 near Valas Pumpkin Patch for replacement of a culvert and reconstruction into a three-lane road until summer 2024. is closed for near Valas Pumpkin Patch for replacement of a culvert and reconstruction into a three-lane road until summer 2024. One eastbound lane of Nebraska Highway 370 near 180th Street in northwest Sarpy County is closed for construction until May 6. in northwest Sarpy County is closed for construction until May 6. Lane restrictions can be expected on U.S. Highway 34/75 from Nebraska Highway 1 to Oak Hill Road in Plattsmouth through November 2024 to allow for road construction. through November 2024 to allow for road construction. The right lane is closed northbound on U.S. 34 between Bay Road and Platte River Drive south of La Platte to allow for construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Platte River. No completion date is listed. to allow for construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Platte River. No completion date is listed. The intersection of 204th Street and Capehart Road in Gretna is closed as part of the Gretna Crossing Park construction project until Wednesday. is closed as part of the Gretna Crossing Park construction project until Wednesday. 204th Street from Platteview Road to the creek south of Interstate 80 in Gretna will be closed for construction of a sanitary sewer extension until June 2. Road construction around Nebraska Head-to-head traffic is limited to 55 mph on U.S. Highway 30 between North Ridge Road and County Road 8 six to 18 miles west of Fremont until fall 2024. six to 18 miles west of Fremont until fall 2024. Traffic is restricted to one lane in each direction on the Broad Street Viaduct (old U.S. Highway 77), from West Jensen Street to West Fourth Street in Fremont over the Union Pacific railroad tracks for renovation of the bridge deck and sidewalk and repair of bridge joints until June. over the Union Pacific railroad tracks for renovation of the bridge deck and sidewalk and repair of bridge joints until June. Varying and intermittent lane closures can be expected on U.S. Highway 275 eastbound between B Road (5 miles east of West Point) and Pebble Street (1 mile west of Scribner), using flaggers because of road and bridge construction through summer 2024. using flaggers because of road and bridge construction through summer 2024. A lane is closed intermittently on U.S. Highway 275 between Nebraska Highway 32 and Garfield Street in West Point due to road construction. due to road construction. Intermittent lane closures can be expected on Interstate 80 between Exit 388 (Crete) and Exit 395 (Northwest 48th Street) west of Lincoln while the highway is widened to six lanes and the Pleasant Dale interchange is reconstructed through November. The right lane is closed and traffic is reduced to two lanes head-to-head on U.S. 30 between 30th and 14th Avenues in Columbus while the road is being constructed through fall 2024. while the road is being constructed through fall 2024. Width restrictions and overnight lane closures may occur on a 7-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 77 between I-80 and Warlick Boulevard near Lincoln until June while workers lay asphalt and install bridge joints, pavement markings and rumble strips. until June while workers lay asphalt and install bridge joints, pavement markings and rumble strips. Traffic will be limited to a single lane on U.S. Highway 77 between Winnebago and Walthill while workers install culverts and lay new asphalt, until midsummer. Traffic will be maintained with signals and a pilot car. while workers install culverts and lay new asphalt, until midsummer. Traffic will be maintained with signals and a pilot car. Traffic will run head-to-head and width restrictions will be in place on I-80 between mile markers 254 and 263 near Lexington and Kearney until spring 2026 while workers completely reconstruct the roadway, widen and rebuild four bridge decks, and replace ramps at the Elm Creek interchange. Work will take place in the eastbound lanes during 2024 and the westbound lanes during 2025. until spring 2026 while workers completely reconstruct the roadway, widen and rebuild four bridge decks, and replace ramps at the Elm Creek interchange. Work will take place in the eastbound lanes during 2024 and the westbound lanes during 2025. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction and run head-to-head in the westbound lanes of I-80 between Exits 237 (Lexington) and 248 (Overton) while the eastbound lanes are rebuilt through September. Road construction in Council Bluffs & Iowa Avenue L between North 27th and North 28th Streets in Council Bluffs will be closed because of a storm sewer rehabilitation project until Nov. 30. will be closed because of a storm sewer rehabilitation project until Nov. 30. The Benton Street bridge over Indian Creek between Kanesville Road and East Broadway in Council Bluffs will be closed for rehabilitation and repair until July 31. will be closed for rehabilitation and repair until July 31. Perry Road at Birdsley Road in Council Bluffs is limited to a single lane with alternating two-way traffic until June 28. is limited to a single lane with alternating two-way traffic until June 28. Fifth Avenue between South Sixth and Pearl Streets is closed because of contractor repairs until Wednesday. is closed because of contractor repairs until Wednesday. Head-to-head traffic is in place on Interstate 29 from Exit 1 (Iowa Highway 33 East) and Exit 10 (Iowa Highway 2) north of Hamburg because of road construction until Aug. 1. Iowa Highway 333 from I-29 to 274th Street near Hamburg also is closed for road construction until Aug. 15. because of road construction until Aug. 1. also is closed for road construction until Aug. 15. The left lane of Iowa Highway 92 between County Road L55 and County Road M16 1 to 2 miles east of Treynor is closed for road construction until May 30. is closed for road construction until May 30. U.S. Highway 59 from Iowa Highway 48 and County Road J14 near Shenandoah is closed for road reconstruction until Aug. 1. LINCOLN Two attorneys, a retired executive and the founder of a nonprofit organization are vying to become the next state senator from one of Nebraska's most diverse districts. They are Tracy Hightower-Henne, Nick Batter, Matt Clough and Ashlei Spivey, all making their first bids for elected office. The four will compete for the District 13 seat in the May 14 primary election, with two advancing to the November general election. The winner will replace State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, who is barred by term limits from seeking reelection. The northeast Douglas County district stretches from the Missouri River west to North 132nd Street at the Washington County line and includes the Ponca Hills and Lake Cunningham areas. It also includes part of northeast and north-central Omaha, dipping as far south as Pratt Street and curving around Carter Lake on the east to Eppley Airfield. The district's residents vary widely, both racially and economically, and the district includes rural and urban areas. When it comes to politics, Democrats account for about 48% of the district's registered voters. Republicans and nonpartisan voters account for nearly equal portions of the rest. Hightower-Henne is the best-funded of the group, having raised more than $113,000 for her campaign through April 9. That includes more than $16,000 that she and her husband, Tom, have donated and $10,000 from the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys. She co-founded and is a partner in a private law firm. She also has been active in working for equal access to justice and for reproductive rights. Her advocacy work has included serving as executive director of the Nebraska Innocence Project, which works on behalf of wrongly convicted people, and board chair of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska. She said she is running because of her experiences trying to work with poorly written laws. She listed her priorities as making sure public schools have the resources they need and that people have access to health care, particularly reproductive care. She also said she wants to use her education in tax law to undertake a comprehensive approach to tax reform. "We are at a critical juncture in our states history," she said. "It is time for new leaders to step up and fight for the future of our communities and our neighbors, to ensure that every Nebraskan has the opportunity to thrive and experience equality before the law." Batter has the next-highest level of funding. He reported raising $32,330 through April 9, with $15,000 coming from his employer, Hawkins Construction Company, and $10,000 from Amanda Batter. He works as corporate counsel for Hawkins, negotiating infrastructure projects and resolving construction challenges. He served 8 years previously as an engineer with the U.S. Army and founded a nonprofit organization to help rebuild communities in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that hit the coasts of several south and southeast Asian countries. He is also on the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Board. Batter said he got into the race out of concern about the problems he sees in northeast Omaha neighborhoods, including limited access to health care and emergency care, lack of investment in infrastructure and traffic safety and the state's failure to go after all of the federal funding available to ensure that work pays. His priorities include discouraging slumlords by taking away their ability to get property tax relief and fixing the district's infrastructure, including modernizing its roadways and replacing aging water lines. "I am running to help make LD 13 an affordable, safe, and thriving place to live and work," he said. Clough and Spivey have the smallest campaign war chests. Clough reported donations totaling $16,449 through April 9, while Spivey had raised $12,240 over the same period. Clough's total included $5,500 in loans and $5,000 from Bradley Focht. Spivey's largest donation was $5,000 from Mike Cassling. Clough has held leadership positions with a manufacturing company, an insurance agency, a consulting firm, a hospital and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, where he was named chief operating officer under former Gov. Dave Heineman. He also has served on the YMCA board and been a teacher for the Hope Center for Kids and the Abide Network. He said he decided to run because of his interest in politics and to provide a conservative option for district voters. His campaign website touts him as the candidate for "Teamwork. Civility. Results." and "The Way Forward." Clough said voter priorities differ by area, but the most common concern has been rising property taxes. He said he believes the property tax problem needs to be more thoroughly studied before adopting changes. In the eastern part of the district, he said affordable housing and economic opportunities are priorities. Spivey is the founder and executive director of I Be Black Girl, a reproductive justice organization, and has spent her last eight years lobbying for public policy changes. She is on the board of the Women's Funding Network and is former board president for ACLU of Nebraska. She said her decision to run was the natural next step in her work to affect policy and create change. She said she would bring a collective impact approach to developing policy that would bring together experts and constituents affected by a concern. Her three priority issues include inclusive economic prosperity, meaning better wages and workforce opportunities, support for home ownership and help for business startups. Health care access and equity involves addressing environmental problems and prioritizing well-being, while vibrant communities involves strong public schools, parks and businesses. "At the heart of my decision-making approach are the people our neighbors, family and colleagues," Spivey said. "I believe that effective transformative policy is driven by the solutions, ideas and leadership of those most affected, not the other way around." May 14 primary election Nebraskas primary election will be held Tuesday, May 14, although early voting started on April 15. Voters can cast ballots in their partys primary for president, Congress and other offices, as well as in various races for nonpartisan offices. Nonpartisan voters can vote in nonpartisan races and may also request a congressional ballot for one of state's political parties. In some cases, a party may open its full ballot to nonpartisan voters. Coronavirus: Six-Week Old Baby Becomes Youngest Nigerian Infected A six-week old baby has become the youngest Nigerian, to test positive to the coronavirus. This was confirmed by President Muhammadu Buharis Special Assistant on New Media, Tolu Ogunlesi, via his verified Twitter page. Five new cases confirmed by the Federal Ministry of Health on Wednesday. Giving a break down of that number, Ogunlesi said 3 arrived from the US (2 of them Nigerians, a mother and her 6-week old baby), 2 arrived from the UK (both Nigerians) 4 of them Nigerians (one a 6-week old baby youngest victim so far), fifth one a foreign national who came in through the land border, the first case of infection via land border in Nigeria. Four of the patients are in Lagos, while one is in Ekiti state. According to him, all are being followed up and supported by State Health Authorities and The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka on Sunday described the arrest of activist, Omoyele Sowore by the Department of State Security, DSS, as a travesty and violation of the fundamental rights of citizens to congregate and make public their concerns. Soyinka said the young politicians never engaged in any treasonable act as being claimed by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu. Operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, in the early hours of Saturday arrested Sowore, who is also the convener of #RevolutionNow protests. Sowore posted a distress tweet at exactly 1:25am with an eyewitness confirming that his phone was forcefully taken from him. Reacting, Soyinka, in a statement, titled: Surely, Not Again!!!, said the deployment of alarmist expressions such as treason, anarchist, public incitement and so on by security forces had become so predictable and banal that they have become meaningless. He said beyond the word revolution, another much mis-used and misunderstood word, nothing that Sowore had uttered, written, or advocated suggested that he was embarking on, or urging the public to engage in a forceful overthrow of government. Nothing that he said to me in private engagement ever remotely approached an intent to destabilize governance or bypass the normal democratic means of changing a government. I therefore find the reasons given by the Inspector-General, for the arrest and detention of this young ex-presidential candidate totally contrived and untenable, unsupported by any shred of evidence. His arrest is a travesty and violation of the fundamental rights of citizens to congregate and make public their concerns. This is all so sadly deja vu. How often must we go through this wearisome cycle? We underwent identical cynical contrivances under the late, unlamented Sani Abacha, when he sent storm-troopers to disrupt a planning session for a similar across-nation march at Tai Solarin School, Ikenne. This was followed up by a personalized letter that was hand delivered by the State Security Services to me under their summons, at their Abeokuta so-called Annexe with near identical wording to the threats contained in todays release from the desk of the Chief of Police. At least, I was summoned, not subjected to a terrorist midnight arrest. Some irony! The same pattern Pavlovian conduct manifested itself under yet another supposed democratic ruler who personally declared that the gathering of civilians to deliberate on, and propose a constitution for the nation was high treason, and would be resisted by the full rigour of state power if we persisted. The Inspector-General of Police mobilized his forces and issued inflammatory proclamations, but PRONACO went ahead despite all the thundering from Aso citadel. Can the police ever learn anything also their tear-gassing and brutalizing of grieving mothers who marched peacefully to protest the deaths of their children in a plane crash inferno? Their mission, under that same regime, which was simply to deliver a letter to government house in Lagos, demanding greater safety in airline operations, yet such a rational intent, born of traumatic circumstances, was quashed on the sidewalks of a supposed twentieth century nation. And yet again, even a faceless cabal under yet another civilian regime refused to be left out of the insensate play of power. A march on Aso Rock calling for an end to governance by a ghostly entity was slated to be crushed, but fortunately, a conflicting balance of interests decided in favour of a reduced trajectory of protest. And so on and on and on, in a nation which continues to speak at once through both sides of the mouth, spewing out the same Treason monotone, as if this was a magic incantation that could substitute for the venting of mass feelings, even as collective therapy, he said. Soyinka urged the Inspector-General to wade through the daily journals of the past few weeks and months, read and digest the calls by numerous sectors of society across professions and national groupings for demonstrations against the parlous conditions of society, all identifying ills to which attention must be drawn, and urgently, through mass action. According to him, demonstrations and processions were time honoured, democratic ways of drawing not only the attention of government to ills, but of mobilizing the public towards a proactive consciousness of their condition, and thereby exhorting civil society also to devise means of ameliorating their condition through their own efforts. Religious bodies have urged such remedies, so have civic associations. The ready recourse to arrests, incarceration and threats to civilians are ultimately counter-productive. They alienate the citizens, erode their confidence in governance responsiveness, and thereby advance the very extremist nightmare that security agencies believe they are acting to thwart. If we cannot learn from the histories and experiences of other societies, let us at least learn from ours. Freedom is not so glibly qualified. It cannot be doled out like slops of charity from soup kitchens. Let the Police stick to their task of protecting and managing protests, not attempt to place their own meaning and declaration of intent on bogey words like revolution, Soyinka stated. For the umpteenth time throughout last week, thousands of black Africans and other strangers from Asia living in South African townships doing businesses came under highly coordinated premeditated violent attacks from black South Africans who killed, maimed and looted the property and business premises of these unfortunate Africans and strangers in South Africa. Sadly, these latest rounds of attacks are not the first. South Africans have unleashed xenophobic attacks on other black Africans living in South African townships for over a dozen times with hundreds of deaths recorded and still several hundreds of persons of black African origin killed and slaughtered by their fellow black Africans whose only reason for doing these atrocious and unlawful acts is their common hatred for strangers of black colour living amongst them and seemingly doing well economically in the midst of pervasive and intolerable mass poverty amongst black South Africans brought upon them by their successive inept and ineffective administrations since the end of White minority rule many years back. For instance the last President of South Africa Jacob Zuma spent years in office amassing illicit wealth and has come under a string of prosecutions for corruption related allegations whilst in office. But rather than focus on mounting pressures on their local administrators made up essentially of African National Congress which has the clear majority in the Parliament of South Africa, these black South Africans have diverted their angst against other Blacks living in South African townships. In the previous cases, not much fuss was made by global leaders which is why the attacks seems to be unending. These attacks are also motivated by some rhetorical statements by some top South African politicians including the current President Cyril Ramaphosa who was seen on television accusing hundreds of thousands of Black non South Africans of setting up unregistered businesses. One of the cabinet level ministers in South Africa was also quoted as accusing non South Africans especially Nigerians living in South Africa of engaging in hard drugs. These kinds of wrong xenophobic statements from South African ministers and the President of South Africa are the elements that fuel the persistent xenophobic violence against Blacks in South Africa who are not indigenous to South Africa. There are some 800,000 Legal residents of Nigerian origin and most of them are married to South African women and are engaged in legitimate businesses in South Africa. Sadly, these constant xenophobic attacks have led to the destruction of lives and property of Nigerians and other black non South Africans living in South African townships. The United Nations and the African Union have failed to take concrete actions by way of sanctions to get the government of South Africa to carry out its international obligations to stop any forms of genocide or XENOPHOBIC attacks. At best the African Union only made some weak responses by way of press statements. The African Union ought to send African Military peace keepers to protect the victims of Xenophobic attacks in South Africa since this has become a pattern amongst black South Africans and it is now as clear as the daylight that the South African government officials are enjoying the attacks since these attacks are clearly transferring aggression of the people of South Africa away from the non performing political elite to the strangers and Africans of non South Africa origin who in most cases struggle to make ends meet and only a little fraction are really into crimes and hard drugs. An expert of Nigerian origin recently wrote a well researched piece whereby he made it clear that Nigerians are not the ones controlling the criminal enterprises in South Africa. I will highlight this study of this Nigerian who schooled and settled in South Africa before concluding this reflection. The nearest to the remedial measures and actions which have so far emerged as one of the law based responses from corporate bodies and governments of nations whose citizens are under attacks in South African townships is the decision of the Privately owned air liner- Air Peace to airlift Nigerians back to Nigeria. The magnanimous and phenomenal decision of the leading Nigerian commercial air liner Air Peace to freely air lift Nigerians from South Africa to escape the violent xenophic attacks has been described as the true manifestation of the Nigerian core value of humanitarianism and mercy in times of need. There is also the urgent necessity to call for the setting up of an economic restoration trust fund of N10 billion to be managed by credible Nigerian Statesmen/Women by the Nigerian government and prominent multinational companies and wealthy Nigerians so those Nigerians returning from South Africa can be supported with financial assistance to be able to immediately resume their legitimate businesses which have now been destroyed by black south Africans. The Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives Demi Gbajabiamila who convoked emergency plenary session of the house also spoke along this line. The donation of free air tickets and planes to fly in Nigerians by Air Peace is also a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari. It is not out of place to describe Air Peace as an excellent corporate citizen/Ambassador of Nigeria and one of those companies that have identified positively with the president Muhammadu Buharis interventions to save the lives of Nigerians endangered by the widening spectre of violent xenophobia in south Africa. The free air lift of Nigerians from south Africa by Air Peace is the most practical steps of advancing the Right to life of the Nigerian citizens enshrined in section 33(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended). The writer is hereby asking president Muhammadu Buhari to confer a national honour to Air Peace on behalf of all Nigerians to encourage the company to continue to implement pro-poor corporate social responsibility and to motivate other Nigerian and multinational firms doing legitimate businesses in the country to place the highest value to the respect of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians. The fact remains that generations yet unborn will remember this good gesture of Air Peace with nostalgia and will similarly remember that the Country was under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari when a commercial air liner called Air Peace came forward to offer free air lift of Nigerians who are subjected to bloody violence by their hosts in South African townships. As one concerned about the well being of Nigerians and as a stakeholder in the project Nigeria i will say that the entire organized civil rights community received the news that Air Peace has volunteered to send planes to freely air lift Nigerians to escape the bloody attacks in South Africa with overwhelming excitement. This show of solidarity with president Buhari and the Nigerian people by the Air Peace commercial company is a demonstration of the rare quality of hospitality and excellent corporate social responsibility. Also, the Nigerian government seems happy about the gesture. The Nigerian government had advised its citizens to inform their relatives in South Africa to take advantage of a free return trip to Nigeria. Recalled that this is because Air Peace, a Nigerian airline, volunteered to send an aircraft to South Africa to bring back Nigerians willing to return. This gesture of Air Peace was announced by Ferdinand Nwonye, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on Thursday. It is indeed a notorious fact that many Nigerians in South Africa have suffered from the latest xenophobic attacks with many businesses destroyed and looted. Although at least five people have been killed in the attacks targeting foreigners of African descent, the Nigerian government has said no Nigerians were killed. Another interesting dimension in the whole issue of a clear law based response to the renewed Xenophobic violence can be contextualized under the insistence by the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffery Onyeama, who said on Wednesday last week that Nigeria would not cave in on its two demands from South Africa, which are compensation for Nigerians whose properties were destroyed and provision of adequate security for Nigerians in South Africa. We commend the government for using the instrumentality of The foreign affairs ministrys statement on Wednesday to suggest that the government was encouraging Nigerians in South Africa to return. The statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that informed the general public that following the recent unfortunate xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians in South Africa, the Proprietor of Air Peace Airlines Chief Allen Onyema, has volunteered to send an aircraft from Friday 6th September 2019 to evacuate Nigerians who wish to return to Nigeria free of charge remains a phenomenal show of solidarity and the greatest manifestation of the African cultural value system of hospitality and respect for the sanctity of life. The air lift was moved to this week because majority of those to be brought back have invalid travelling papers which are being updated. It is appropriate to reecall that the general public was clearly advised to inform their relatives in South Africa to take advantage of this laudable gesture of Air Peace and return to Nigeria. May I used this medium to join the government to say that Interested Nigerians are therefore advised to liaise with the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria and the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg for further necessary arrangement. As aforementioned the recent xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other nationals in Johannesburg, Pretoria and other cities have left at least five people dead and businesses and private properties burnt. Several others have been injured. The South African President claimed that 10 deaths have so far been recorded and as at the Weekend the attackers were going around the townships killing and destroying business premises of foreigners in South Africa and the South African police and government have not succeeded in stopping these attacks. It is therefore shocking and disappointing that the South African authorities say they are responding promptly to curb the violence. More than 70 persons have been reportedly taken into custody since Monday. Nigerians have expressed outrage about the attacks, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to take decisive measures against South Africa. The Nigerian president announced on Tuesday last week that he was sending a special envoy for an on-the-ground assessment of the situation. The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was also scheduled to attend the World Economic Summit in Cape Town, has now boycotted the event. He rather jetted off to Ghana to attend another event. The attacks in South Africa boiled over in Nigeria and other African countries whereby South African owned businesses were also attacked in retaliation. On his part, President Buhari appealed to Nigerians looting shops, others to stop. He spoke through Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama: Mr. President he said is particularly distraught at the act of vandalism that has taken place here in Nigeria, in retaliation of what is happening in South Africa. The government believes that we have to take the moral high ground on this matter. We are victims here and have made that position clear to the international community and to the South African government. We in Nigeria must not fall into the temptation of also resorting to the acts that we are condemning in others. So, Mr. President has pleaded and he is likely to make a statement on this, addressing the Nigerian people to please desist from acts of vandalism and aggression, destroying properties. Now, these businesses- Shoprite, MTN and others, yes there are South African but these are subsidiaries in Nigeria owned by Nigerians. So, as attacks are made against shoprite and other such institutions, it is actually the property owned by Nigerians within Nigeria and the people working there are Nigerians. The foreign minister said too that So the people that will suffer from those acts of vandalism and aggression are not South Africans or anyone else but Nigerians. But morally, it is wrong not even because of who will suffer and not suffer. Mr. President is appealing to Nigerians, the government is acting, we cannot state everything out in public domain with regards to what we are doing obviously, but we want to assure all Nigerians that this government is determined that the redline has been drawn and we will not give in on this occasion and that the South African government has to assumed its responsibilities and do the right thing. Protect Nigerians and other Africans I might say, in South Africa and we have to hold them to count. Full compensation has to be paid because as we have discovered from previous experience, a lot of these Nigerians loss their property and it is a long drawn out process and very often are not compensated for it. But on this occasion, the Nigerian government is going to fight for full compensation and hold the government of South Africa to count. And we are going to consider other options to ensure that the message gets across to the government of South Africa. It is not a question of weakness or anything of the sort but we have to move decisively and that is precisely what the government is going to do. We have all the options on the table and on the return of the special envoy, we will all sit down and look at all the options and assess the report. And there is no measure that we consider to be appropriate that we will shrink from taking. We will take whatever and all measures necessary to ensure that never again are we going back to this whole issue of Nigerians being attacked and properties destroyed and in some cases killed in South Africa. He said too that It is an ongoing story, we will keep you informed but the important message is that Mr. President is fully engaged in this process, he is being briefed on an hourly basis and we are not going to shrink from taking all the necessary steps to make it the last time this kind of thing will happen. But I sincerely think that these responses by Nigerian government are few and far between and not strategically coordinated. Nigeria ought to show that it means what it has said and not present a graphic impression of a government that lacks coordination and coherence. Why will this government give out an information that it will recall the Countrys Ambassador in South Africa only to footdrag and then stampede itself into a public denial? It would seem that the present administration is weak, indecisive and lacks patriotism. People are even beginning to read Ethno religious meanings into these clearly uncoordinated responses of President Muhammadu Buhari to the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians with some persons saying that Buhari could have acted swiftly if the victims of the xenophobic attacks are from his Northern region and are MOSLEMS. Those saying this may have a valid point because this President was proactive in getting the Kano born youngster sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for drugs to be set free through a well coordinated internal propaganda which in a way convinced the Saudi government that the girl sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for trafficking in hard drug was innocent. Why then is President Muhammadu Buhari prevaricating on what strong diplomatic steps to adopt to stave off the XENOPHOBIC violence against Nigerians and other non South African blacks living in South African townships? Is Nigeria not a big player in the African Union anymore? Is Nigeria not a big player in the United Nations anymore even when the Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed from Gombe state a Fulani served the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration as Environment minister before the current Secretary General of the United Nations Mr Gutteress made her his adviser. Speaking about Nigeria, Drug Cartels And Xenophobia In South Africa a graduate of the University of the Witwaterstrand now University of Jounesbourg faulted the South African ministers for linking Nigerians with drugs and then XENOPHOBIC attacks. Ifeanyi Amadi was reported as stating that he has a lot of problem with the authenticity and accuracy of these stories. Im a graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand, now University of Johannesburg, I am married to a South African, I worked for the African union from inception until 2009, when I decided to relocate, so, from 1996-2009, that would be 13 years of living in South Africa, by virtue of having studied and worked in South Africa and speak Zulu fluently. Also, due to the nature of the work, it afforded me the opportunity to travel extensively within South Africa and Africa generally. So I can conveniently and confidently say that, I know South Africa and its people, very well. Now, the issues raised in this write up concerning drugs is untrue, yes, some Nigerians are involved in drugs, but they didnt start it nor are they even in the majority, neither are they the kingpins of drugs, but the thing is Nigerians in South Africa are like the children of the Third Reich, damned for what they are and damned for what theyre not. Encapsulating the drug business in South Africa and prostitution, it would be wise to recognise that drug business was going on before the earliest Nigerians settled in SA, in Cape town, gang wars started in Cape flats amongst the colored people long before Nigerians got there, in Durban, there was drug trade by Indians from Pine town to the Promenade long before Nigerians saw the Indian Ocean in Kwazulu Natal,( note Durban is not a capital city like JHB. Pietermaritzburg is the capital city) He wrote too that: Now, in JHB, drug business by Nigerians are heavily situated in places like, Hillbrow, Berea, Yeovil, Orange grove, Ellis park, Rossettenville. These are areas heavily populated by foreigners of diverse origin. Let me also shine some light on Prostitution before I conclude. Prostitution is a right of passage of 90% of South Africans, white, black, Indian, colored, the remaining 10% are Khoisan. An average South African girl of 15 years already has a child before the family will now aid her to move from the locations to JHB, Durban, Port Elisabeth, East London, Cape town or Tswane, which is by the way, the real name of Pretoria. According to him: Native South Africans are extremely poor and as as a result crime and prostitution thrive in the Locations ( informal settlements) like Soweto, Alexandra, Tembisa, Lenasia and Eldorado park in Gauteng province, with JHB as capital city. Lamontville, port Shepstone, Umlazi, Umtata, Bluff, and other locations spread out in the Zululand, feed the crime and whore needs of Durban KZN. While in the Cape town is fed by, Gugulethu, Kylitsha, cape flats and neighbouring East London and Port Elizabeth. The other provinces, like Bloemfontein, Limpopo and basically all of the former Northern Transvaal, Boputhatswana, flock to JHB, supported by migrating prostitutes from Namibian, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and a smattering handful from Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Angola, not forgetting assassins from Mozambique and Zimbabwe. These completes the Violent crimes and Prostitution ring in South Africa. Looking at drugs holistically, Nigerians, Tanzanians, Indians, Pakistanis Italians and the Boer South Africans are indictable here, but in different categories. So, in conclusion he submitted that, Nigerians are not as was described in that write up, but they have simply constituted themselves into a nuisance in South Africa by their show-off. If they were the biggest drug dealers in South Africa, they would all be in prison by now. The biggest barons are big South Africans and are known to the government, thats why they are untouchables. Dont regard all their blame-shifting There are lots of Nigerian professionals living and working in South Africa, even the face of Vodacom the largest telecom service provider is a Nigerian. Many small and medium scale businesses in South Africa are established and run by Nigerians. They create several jobs for South Africans. There are so many Nigerian Doctors, lecturers, business men , Engineers holding places in the economy of South Africa . Nigeria must make hay whilst the sun shines. *Emmanuel Onwubiko was a Federal Commissioner of the National Human Rights commission of Nigeria and now heads Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA). President of the College of Counselling and Psychology (CCP), Rev. Prof. Samuel Oheneba-Dornyo has admonished graduands to go out there to heal a hurting world. In a speech he delivered at the 9th Graduation Ceremony, themed "Healing a Hurting People: The Role of Professional Counsellors and held at Haatso, Accra, Friday, 26th April, 2024, he noted that the world is in a difficult state and the cardinal merit of training counsellors is to provide healing and direction for a hurting world. The College President shared that the vision of the college is to be a world-class institution for training Professional Counsellors who can heal a hurting world with a mission to educate and develop the talents and skills of individuals to become Professional Counsellors, emphasising the use of modern scientific tools and cutting-edge innovative training in a traditional lecture form, distance learning, a virtual campus model and practical attachment under supervision. In recounting the historical trajectory of the school, he noted that it started at Cantonments in Accra as International Theological Seminary in 1998, training Ministers of the Gospel and Christian Counsellors. In 2004, the school initiated the journey towards accreditation from the National Accreditation Board (NAB) of the Ministry of Education (GES). "Accreditation is a long process of meeting stringent requirements for educational assurance, quality, and high standards of excellence," stated Prof. Oheneba-Dornyo, highlighting that in 2013 they received institutional authorization and were asked to seek affiliation. "We gained affiliation with the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon in the year 2014," emphasized the President of CCP. Currently, according to Rev. Oheneba-Dornyo, the school has received Accreditation and submitted the Post Graduate Diploma and a Master of Arts in Counseling Programs to the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC). The College is awaiting certification for these programs to roll soon. "This is how far God has brought us," stated an elated school President. In order to push the school to the next level, it continues to subscribe annually to the world's most exhaustive E-Library, where students have access to over 5000 uploaded books, articles, and journals in Counselling Psychology as well as other related fields of study. Since the year 2014, according to Prof. Oheneba-Dornyo, the College has trained at the Executive Certificate level, over 1000 Counsellors at the Lay and Para-professional levels. "The cream of our students are Evangelicals, Catholics, Pentecostals, Charismatics, and Muslims, cutting across different professions such as Ministers of the Gospel, Medical Doctors, Human Resource Managers, Engineers, Soldiers, the Police, Immigration, Fire Service, and Customs etc." The President of CCP revealed they have students in all the regions of Ghana as well as those coming from other countries including Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda, Gambia, USA, UAE, Uganda, UK, and Canada, among others. In examining the legal framework that governs counselling in Ghana, Rev. Oheneba-Dornyo hinted that, with the passage of Act 857 of the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act 2013 by the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, it established the Ghana Psychology Council (GPC) with its mandate of supervising the practice of applied psychology/Counselling. Since the year 2016, the College of Counselling and Psychology has received its accreditation from the GPC to run its courses. The special guest of honour for the occasion was Okatakyie Ababio Boakye Danquah II, Honorary Consul, Consulate of Jamaica, Managing Partner, Minka-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline & Partners and current Chairman of National Communications Authority. The other special guests included, the Rev. Prof. Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, President, Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon; Dr. Sampson Atiemo, Chairman of the Governing Council and Members of Council, the College of Counselling and Psychology; Dame (Dr) Mrs. Mary Anane-Mensah, Ag. Registrar of the College of Counselling and Psychology (CCP); Ms. Anna Plange, Ag. Registrar of the Ghana Psychology Council (GPC) and Mr. Frank Owiredu-Yeboa, the Executive Secretary of Ghana Academy of Christian Counsellors (GACC) were present to grace the occasion. 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 Ghana Post is set to launch a new post stamp designed and dedicated to the Asantehene,Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. The Asantehene Commemorative Stamp, created in collaboration with Manhyia Palace and with the support from the Ministry of Communication, commemorates the 25th anniversary of Otumfuo's ascension to the Golden Stool. Speaking to the media, Ghana Posts Managing Director, Bice Osei Kuffour, said the stamp transcends the role of postage instrument and stands as a powerful symbol of Ghanas deep reverence and admiration for the Asante Kingdom and its esteemed leader. Through visionary initiatives like the Otumfuo Education Fund and the Otumfuo Charity Foundation, Otumfuo has positively impacted the lives of numerous Ghanaians. His leadership has catalysed an era of remarkable progress and development for the Asante Kingdom, illuminating a path of hope and inspiration for all, he explained. This commemorative stamp, meticulously crafted by skilled artisans with the guidance of the stamp advisory committee at Ghana Post, embodies our collective national pride and identity. It stands as a poignant reminder of the unbreakable bond between our cherished traditional values and our forward-looking aspirations, Mr Osei Kuffour added. Among other things, Asantehene Commemorative Stamp holds both cultural and educational value. Through the dissemination of historical information and imagery, these stamps contribute to the enrichment of Ghana's educational curriculum and promote cultural awareness and appreciation. It offers insights into the nation's history, culture, and traditions and serves as a valuable resource for future generations, ensuring that the legacy of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the Asante Kingdom is preserved and passed down to generations. The Ghana Post MD hopes that this inspires pride and a deeper appreciation for Ghanas culture. Our rich cultural heritage serves as the bedrock upon which our nations promising future is constructed. Let this stamp be a testament to the indomitable spirit of our forefathers, a symbol of our resilience, and a reminder that our roots are the foundation upon which our future is built, Mr Osei Kuffour noted. On his part, Mr. Alexander Afful, who represented the Minister of Communications and Digitalisations, emphasized the stamps role in reflecting Ghanas national pride and identity. "This stamp bridges our traditional values with modern aspirations, reminding us that our rich cultural heritage is fundamental to the nation's future," he stated. He also praised Ghana Post for its commitment to cultural preservation and noted that the stamp would provide educational value, offering insights into the nation's history, culture, and traditions. The event promises to gather dignitaries from the Royal family, government officials, corporate organisations, community leaders, and members of the diaspora. The Minister for Communications and Digitalization will deliver the keynote address at what is expected to be a grand event. The official launch of the Asantehene Commemorative Stamp will take place on the 4th of May,2024, in the magnificent Manhyia Palace with cultural performances, speeches, stamp unveiling ceremony and the exhibition of historical artefacts. The launch of this visionary project will be a multifaceted celebration, with the Manhyia Palace unveiling serving as the centerpiece. However, the festivities will extend beyond the borders of Ghana, as the United Kingdom is set to host its own launch in a date later to be announced, solidifying the stamp's international reach and cementing Ghana's status as a custodian of cultural richness. Complementing these grand events, an essay writing competition will be announced for students aged 9 to 15, challenging young minds to reflect on Otumfuo's enduring impact and his role as a catalyst for positive change. This visionary commemorative stamp initiative, spearheaded by Ghana Post in collaboration with esteemed partners such as GCB Bank, Ghana Gas, and GOIL, transcends mere philatelic interests. As the world's gaze turns towards Ghana, this stamp will serve as a powerful reminder of the nation's resilience, its unwavering commitment to preserving its cultural identity, and its readiness to embrace the future while honoring the lessons of the past. 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 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The largest set of interconnected pedigrees reconstructed in RK and the cemetery map highlighting the burial location of related individuals. Credit: Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07312-4 An international team of archaeologists and archaeogenetics specialists, working with the Hungarian National Museum, has discovered a network of Avar pedigrees and community social practices after conducting a DNA study of the remains of people who once lived in what is now a part of Hungary. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes how they used genetic sequencing and special software to learn more about Avar society and their reproductive practices. Lara Cassidy, with Trinity College Dublin has published a News and Views piece in the same journal issue, outlining the work done by the team on this new effort. Prior research has shown that a society known as the Avar once lived in what is now the Carpathian Basin, beginning in the mid-sixth century. Not much is known about them, however, because they did not leave behind any written documentation. What is known is that they began their existence as a nomadic people, and then sometime during the seventh century, they began to build settlements. As part of such settlements, they also began burying their dead in cemeteries. Over the past several years, the remains of the people in several of them have been unearthed. The team involved in this new research studied the skeletons using both genetic and software tools to learn more about their kinship lineages. In their work, the team studied the genes of 424 skeletons found in four cemeteries and discovered that 298 of them were biologically related. They also used special software called yHaplo, to determine the degree of relatedness of the remains. This allowed them to find patterns that revealed most people of the time were buried near relatives along a male-centered line. Also, males in the society tended to stay in their village. To prevent inbreeding, women left their villages to partner with men in other villages. The researchers also found that some partners were buried together. The research team also found evidence that it was common for women to have children with more than one member of the same family; a father and son, for example, or with two or more brothers. Such findings, they note, suggest that the Avar had similar reproductive practices as other early Eurasian steppe people. More information: Guido Alberto Gnecchi-Ruscone et al, Network of large pedigrees reveals social practices of Avar communities, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07312-4 Lara M. Cassidy, Ancient DNA traces family lines and political shifts in the Avar empire, Nature (2024). www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01020-9 Journal information: Nature 2024 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. But over the last four years, even as the hole has shrunk it has persisted for an unusually long time. Our new research found that instead of closing up during November it has stayed open well into December. This is early summerthe crucial period of new plant growth in coastal Antarctica and the peak breeding season for penguins and seals. That's a worry. When the ozone hole forms, more ultraviolet rays get through the atmosphere. And while penguins and seals have protective covering, their young may be more vulnerable. Why does ozone matter? Over the past half century, we damaged the earth's protective ozone layer by using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and related chemicals. Thanks to coordinated global action these chemicals are now banned. Because CFCs have long lifetimes, it will be decades before they are completely removed from the atmosphere. As a result, we still see the ozone hole forming each year. The lion's share of ozone damage happens over Antarctica. When the hole forms, the UV index doubles, reaching extreme levels. We might expect to see UV days over 14 in summers in Australia or California, but not in polar regions. Luckily, on land most species are dormant and protected under snow when the ozone hole opens in early spring (September to November). Marine life is protected by sea ice cover and Antarctica's moss forests are under snow. These protective icy covers have helped to protect most life in Antarctica from ozone depletionuntil now. Unusually long-lived ozone holes A series of unusual events between 2020 and 2023 saw the ozone hole persist into December. The record-breaking 20192020 Australian bushfires, the huge underwater volcanic eruption off Tonga, and three consecutive years of La Nina. Volcanoes and bushfires can inject ash and smoke into the stratosphere. Chemical reactions occurring on the surface of these tiny particulates can destroy ozone. These longer-lasting ozone holes coincided with significant loss of sea ice, which meant many animals and plants would have had fewer places to hide. What does stronger UV radiation do to ecosystems? If ozone holes last longer, summer-breeding animals around Antarctica's vast coastline will be exposed to high levels of reflected UV radiation. More UV can get through, and ice and snow is highly reflective, bouncing these rays around. In humans, high UV exposure increases our risk of skin cancer and cataracts. But we don't have fur or feathers. While penguins and seals have skin protection, their eyes aren't protected. Is it doing damage? We don't know for sure. Very few studies report on what UV radiation does to animals in Antarctica. Most are done in zoos, where researchers study what happens when animals are kept under artificial light. Even so, it is a concern. More UV radiation in early summer could be particularly damaging to young animals, such as penguin chicks and seal pups who hatch or are born in late spring. As plants such as Antarctic hairgrass, Deschampsia antarctica, the cushion plant, Colobanthus quitensis and lots of mosses emerge from under snow in late spring, they will be exposed to maximum UV levels. Antarctic mosses actually produce their own sunscreen to protect themselves from UV radiation, but this comes at the cost of reduced growth. Trillions of tiny phytoplankton live under the sea ice. These microscopic floating algae also make sunscreen compounds, called microsporine amino acids. What about marine creatures? Krill will dive deeper into the water column if the UV radiation is too high, while fish eggs usually have melanin, the same protective compound as humans, though not all fish life stages are as well protected. Four of the past five years have seen sea ice extent reduce, a direct consequence of climate change. Less sea ice means more UV light can penetrate the ocean, where it makes it harder for Antarctic phytoplankton and krill to survive. Much relies on these tiny creatures, who form the base of the food web. If they find it harder to survive, hunger will ripple up the food chain. Antarctica's waters are also getting warmer and more acidic due to climate change. An uncertain outlook for Antarctica We should, by rights, be celebrating the success of banning CFCSa rare example of fixing an environmental problem. But that might be premature. Climate change may be delaying the recovery of our ozone layer by, for example, making bushfires more common and more severe. Ozone could also suffer from geoengineering proposals such as spraying sulfates into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight, as well as more frequent rocket launches. If the recent trend continues, and the ozone hole lingers into the summer, we can expect to see more damage done to plants and animalscompounded by other threats. We don't know if the longer-lasting ozone hole will continue. But we do know climate change is causing the atmosphere to behave in unprecedented ways. To keep ozone recovery on track, we need to take immediate action to reduce the carbon we emit into the atmosphere. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP The Goodwill in the Cardiff Plaza Shopping Center is set to reopen next week after a fire in the middle of January closed the store for nearly four months. The store at 6701 Black Horse Pike will open at 9 a.m. May 2, the company said in a news release. We are excited to be reopening our Cardiff Plaza store, President and CEO Mark B. Boyd said. We are incredibly grateful to the local community for helping us rebuild our inventory through their generous donations. Shoppers are in for a real treat. The Cardiff location, which opened March 1997, has been closed since the fire, but the donation center at the back of the building has remained open. Its hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The store was open when the fire, which originated in the childrens section by the front window, broke out in the early afternoon Jan. 15. The fire was deemed suspicious. Firefighters prevented the blaze at the 20,000-square-foot store and donation center from spreading to neighboring businesses in the plaza, though the Amerikick EHT karate dojo next door experienced some water and smoke damage. It is open. Egg Harbor Township police still investigating Goodwill fire Egg Harbor Township police are still investigating the fire that has kept the Goodwill in the Cardiff Plaza Shopping Center closed since the middle of January. As a result of the smoke and water damage from the sprinklers, all inventory in the main part of the store was lost, carpet tiles and flooring needed to be ripped up, some walls had moisture in them and needed to be taken down, and all of the ceiling and insulation needed to be taken down and replaced. As for inventory, items in the donation center the day of the fire were not affected. Neither were the items in the three or four trailers usually out back holding excess donations. The 30 employees who worked there were reassigned to other Goodwill locations or worked on site at the donation center. They will return to the Cardiff location, said Juli Lundberg, director of corporate communications for Goodwill. Goodwill praised the many donation drives that popped up after the closing, including from Hard Rock Cafe in Atlantic City, AAA of South Jersey and Miss Coastal Shore Ashley Campbell, a Bridgeton resident and student at Rowan University who held multiple drives in February. The only lead police had since the Jan. 15 fire was a person of interest they had released photos of days after the incident. In an email in late February, police said they found and interviewed the person. It was not substantiated that he was involved with the incident, police said. At this time we have no further leads or information. Police are still investigating, Capt. Cherie Burgan said in an email Friday morning. Anyone with information is asked to contact township police. BRIGANTINE Erosion at the Cove due to strong coastal storms over the past year has caused the beach to lose more than 900 square feet of sand, limited 4-by-4 vehicle access and led residents living along the South End beach to look into building bulkheads to protect their homes. In an effort to better address the issues, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state Department of Environmental Protection, Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management and state officials visited the beach last week to survey the beach. The situation there is creating a great concern to property owners in the area, as you can witness some waves impacting homes on calm weather days. We are only six short months away from hurricane season, and its important for us to work with all stakeholders including the NJDEP and NJDOT to identify resources so that we can build up and protect the island from any future storms, said state Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic. Just as important as the emergent issue to protect against property damage is to identify the reason for the significant erosion over the last few months. Some have raised concerns about whether the dredging done for offshore wind has impacted the area, so we will request that our regulatory agencies investigate whether the dredged channel is being filled in with the sand eroding in Brigantine as part of the work. Over the past couple weeks, state and federal officials have explored what they could do to help the Cove. One short-term option under consideration was the implementation of sandbags, but after visiting the island last week, the Army Corps said that was no longer viable. After we analyzed the different circumstances of the problem, we realized sandbags werent a real option, Ed Voigt, government affairs officer for the Army Corps Philadelphia District, said Tuesday. Brigantine, Ventnor respond to offshore wind lawsuit dismissal A lawsuit filed by eight shore towns against the Atlantic Shores offshore wind project was dismissed in court Thursday due to a lack of standing for homeowners and municipalities, Brigantine Mayor Vince Sera said. Brigantine officials met Tuesday with Voigt and representatives from the DEP to discuss what could help the island in the long run. We dont have any conclusions to address the problem, but this is the first opportunity all three parties had the chance to meet and talk together, said Voigt. Next thing we do is continue these conversations to see what we can do to help Brigantine in the coming years. In the meantime, Mayor Vince Sera said, many of the homeowners living along the eroding South End beaches have met with contractors to begin the process of building bulkheads as a first line of protection. The city is working on a plan to ease the local municipal permitting process, said Sera. We have also asked Congressman (Jeff) Van Drew and Senator Polistina to request that the NJDEP expedite the state permitting process so that the homeowners can build the bulkheads and protect their homes as fast as possible. If the NJDEP is willing to expedite the process, we will provide direction how to go about this as soon as information becomes available. Until that happens, the Army Corps said the islands best path toward a long-term solution for beach erosion would be to enter the Planning Assistance to States program. The program would allow an Army Corps team to review the erosion concerns and threats to the properties along the inlet to determine possible long-term solutions with the DEP. The cost of any future projects is unknown considering officials have no plans as of yet on how to mitigate the erosion. The Army Corps and city would split costs 50/50 for the Planning Assistance to the States program, or any other project where an initial study phase is involved, Voigt said. But if any of the Army Corps study efforts leads to design and construction, then the cost shared shifts to 65/35 or 75/25 with the larger share being federal, depending on the type of project, he added Thursday. From our conversations with Congressman Van Drews staff, the Army Corps and the NJDEP, I believe that all parties are working in good faith to properly address this situation as fast as possible, said Sera. The city will continue to provide updates and information as soon as its available. Administrators and union leaders at the Black Hawk Area Special Education District are working to quell past tensions and move forward as the 2023-24 school year comes to a close. Last month, the BHASED Governing Board approved a separation agreement with former BHASED Center Principal Amy Skinner, effective on June 30. She will remain on paid administrative leave for medical reasons until then, receiving a $70,568 lump-sum from BHASED. Per the agreement, BHASED is to provide Skinner with a letter of recommendation and remove her 2023-24 performance evaluation from personnel files. All parties agreed to a mutual confidentiality and non-disparagement clause, along with a joint statement regarding Skinners resignation, to pursue other opportunities in education. As previously reported, former staff union president Mark Buyck demanded the resignation of Skinner and BHASED Director Christan Schrader in late December, accusing the pair of creating a "hostile work environment, unsafe for students and staff and practice unfair treatment of staff." However, many union members and other employees pushed against these claims at the BHASED Governing Board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16, where most attendees wore We Support our Admin shirts. "There was a lack of meetings, discourse and democratic process concerning the undertaking of these actions," Alex Mahaffey, a BHASED Center teacher, said at the meeting. "(Buyck) has accused administration of 'tyrannical' behavior, yet has conducted himself in an aggressive, undemocratic manner in a way that is simply unheard of for leadership of any effective union, he added. In wake of the situation, staff union members voted to oust Buyck in early February. Buyck did not respond to requests for comment by Friday's publication deadline. Additionally, Skinner was granted an emergency no-stalking order against Buyck on Jan. 19 due to alleged threatening phone calls. Both parties eventually agreed to a peace bond on March 11, according to Rock Island County Court filings. A peace bond is court order protecting someone who has been threatened by requiring a bond that a person will not break the law. Molly Lund, a physical education teacher at the BHASED Center, was elected interim union president a role shell keep until the unions next regular election in July. So far in my (tenure), the administration and I have prioritized the development of a collaborative, working relationship, she said to the Dispatch-Argus via email. Regardless of sudden leadership changes, Lund said the BHASED staff union will stay dedicated to working with the administration to foster a nurturing learning environment for students and a supportive workplace for all staff. Education is a challenging profession, with many variables, and there will always be a learning curve when a new administration comes into any school, she said. Our mutual commitment is for the care and education of our students. Echoing this mutual focus, Schrader gave kudos to the BHASED Center staff and administrators for stepping up as the district works to hire a new principal. The position has been posted with a start date of August 2024, she told the Dispatch-Argus via email last week. We are working through applications and our team will be interviewing soon. Schrader said the BHASED administration has been working collaboratively with Lund and local Illinois Education Association partners, meeting regularly to plan future staff training and discuss other topics. (We) plan to conduct and gather survey data regarding building and staff climate and use that data to establish goals and a plan for moving our organization forward, she said. Each Iowa legislative session is a mixed bag of wins and losses, depending on your point of view. At the close of this session, wed like to point to some examples of progress we witnessed. One of the biggest steps forward came out of some missteps in our own front yard. Without a public vote, the Davenport City Council approved nearly $2 million in separation agreements in 2023 with three employees, including the city administrator, who said theyd been sexually harassed on the job by elected officials. Tom Warner, corporation counsel at the time, said a public vote wasnt needed and that consent among the council would suffice. Months later the council did ratify the agreements in open session, after being advised by outside counsel to do so. Similarly, the council initially failed to vote in public on agreements for interim city administrator and city attorney. Iowa State Rep. Gary Mohr saw this and proposed a bill with tougher penalties for government officials who dont follow Iowa open meeting laws. Mohrs bill, which increases fines for violations from $500 to $2,500 and up to $12,500 if the person violates the law knowingly passed the House and Senate and is awaiting Gov. Kim Reynolds' signature. The bill also calls for the court to remove a public board member from office if they violate the open meeting law a second time. Sen. Scott Webster, Bettendorf, helped move the bill along in the Senate. Both Mohr and Webster said the bill is a step toward making sure the publics business done in public. We agree. Open enrollment deadline a practical step for schools Another less obvious success is the return of a deadline for open enrollment in Iowa schools. In August of 2023 Quad-City Times Education Reporter Olivia Allen did a series on how open enrollment impacted the Iowa Quad-Cities schools over time. Out of that series, we learned from superintendents that the lack of a deadline made it difficult for them to plan. Reynolds had eliminated the prior March 1 open enrollment deadline in 2022 effectively allowing Iowa families to open enroll their children into any Iowa school district at any time. School districts, however, need to make staffing decisions as early as March, so knowing enrollments sooner helps them serve students better. Again, Mohr read our series, listened to educators and proposed reinstating those March 1 deadlines. Sen. Chris Cournoyer, R-LeClaire who is a former Pleasant Valley school board member introduced the initial bill to reinstate the deadline. Webster was instrumental as well. A clause bringing back the March 1 deadline is included in the educational appropriations bill, which has been approved by the House and Senate. The March 1 deadline for the next school year applies to students entering grades 1-12, while kindergarteners and preschoolers in special-education programs may open enroll up until Sept. 1 of the school year. We appreciate Iowa Quad-Cities lawmakers taking this practical step to help school districts be more effective and efficient in serving students. Regulation a positive step in use of traffic cameras An example of progress is the regulation of traffic cameras. For years, efforts at the statehouse to ban traffic cameras, which automatically ticket motorists for speeding and other violations, have failed. This year a compromise moved the issue forward. Some 25 cities in Iowa use traffic cameras, including Davenport, LeClaire, Muscatine and Buffalo. LeClaire's five traffic cameras brought the city $1.7 million in revenue last year. Davenport's 18 cameras brought in $1.4 million for the city during that span. Under a new bill, local governments wanting to add an automated traffic camera must obtain a permit from the Iowa Department of Transportation. Existing cameras can operate until Oct. 1, at which time cities must apply for a permit to continue to operate them. When applying for a permit, cities and counties would be required to provide data to show why a traffic camera is needed at that location, including traffic and crash figures. Once approved, cameras could only cite drivers who failed to obey traffic signals or were driving more than 10 mph above the posted speed limit. Local authorities also must review the alleged traffic violation captured by a traffic camera before a citation is issued. Lawmakers pushing for a ban see the traffic cameras as a "money grab," and it's obvious money is a factor so that's why it was important for the state to provide some regulatory framework moving forward. The bill passed the Senate 46-1 the House, 85-12. Too often we see legislators serve parties rather than constituents, getting caught up in top-down political issues rather than listening and watching for organic problems that need a solution. Especially at the national level, compromise is seen as weakness. We're encouraged to find these instances of government working as it should. MADRID (AP) Thousands of supporters and party members of Spains Socialist party rallied outside the partys national headquarters in Madrid on Saturday to show their support for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and urge him not to step down. Sanchez stunned Spain on Wednesday when he announced that he was canceling his itinerary while he considers whether or not to resign after what he described as a smear campaign against his wife. He said he would reveal his future plans on Monday. Sanchezs shocking announcement came hours after a Spanish judge opened a preliminary investigation into allegation of corruption made against Sanchezs wife by a group aligned with right-wing interests. The Spanish leader said the allegations were spurious and that they formed the worst attack in what he described as an orchestrated campaign to discredit him by targeting his family. The Madrid regional prosecutor's office recommended the allegations to be thrown out. The crowd packing the downtown street of Madrid on Saturday shouted You are not alone! and waved party flags. Socialist leaders and the leaders of other left-wing parties have urged Sanchez not to resign. Prime minister since 2018, Sanchez has over three years left on his term. The right-of-center opposition Popular Party, however, said Sanchezs behavior was a desperate attempt to draw attention away from his wife and to win support in upcoming regional and European elections. 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. Air Canada to start direct flights into Tulum International this weekend Tulum, Q.R. Air Canada is set to being offering the first direct Canada to Tulum flights via the Tulum International Airport. The direct flights from Toronto and Montreal are scheduled to begin this weekend, making them the first Canadian airline to do so. The first flight to leave bound for Tulum will be from Toronto on May 3. The following day on May 4, Air Canada will start its direct Montreal to Tulum flight. New route alert! Beginning May 3, 2024, youll be able to fly direct to Tulum from Toronto on Fridays and Sundays, and from May 4, 2024, direct from Montreal on Saturdays. Look for the airport: Tulum (TQO) under Flight Details when booking your vacation package, the airline said in a press release. Pristine sand-swept beaches along the shores of an ancient Mayan port city are just some of the things that make Tulum so tempting to travellers. Snorkel among coral reefs and make friends with sea turtles or explore cliffside castles and ruins overlooking the sea. Whether its stepping back to the Mayan age for some cultural immersion, or leaping into a modern-day spa treatment, Tulums got what youre looking for, they added. These new destinations and routes reflect Air Canadas market leadership and network diversification strategy of adding capacity to in-demand leisure destinations such as Tulum and fast-growing, key metropolitan areas in the US, said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada. Air Canada announced the new flights in mid-December of last year. Both flights are scheduled to be offered year round. Criminal gang member met by U.S. marshals for extradition Mexico City, Mexico The Government of Mexico has handed over a man wanted in Washington. The suspect was delivered to U.S. federal agents on an outstanding warrant for drug-related offenses and criminal association. Federal marshals met Juan A at the Mexico City International Airport from where he was returned to U.S. soil. According to the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) of Mexico, he was wanted by the Federal District Court of Columbia. Juan A is a high-ranking member of a drug trafficking organization that was responsible for introducing drugs for distribution into United States territory, the FGR reported. Juan A was held for extradition purposes after being arrested in Zapopan, Jalisco, in 2021. After a request, the Government of Mexico granted the extradition of the defendant to the Government of the United States. Missing person identified as body found on Chetumal road Chetumal, Q.R. The discovery of a dead body on a public Chetumal roadway has initiated the start of an investigation. Early Saturday morning, city joggers came upon the body of an adult male in a bag. Next to the body was a threat message left by those believed responsible for the murder. The message was addressed to another criminal group. The deceased man has been identified as a businessman from the nearby community of Calderitas who was reported missing April 26. The body of 47-year-old Jonathan B was found Saturday morning around 5:00 a.m. on Bahia Boulevard. Six 9 millimeter bullets were collected from the scene. In a statement, the Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) of Quintana Roo said the FGE began an investigation after the report of a lifeless body located this morning on Bahia de Chetumal Boulevard which corresponds to that of a person reported missing on April 26 of this year in this city. The Attorney Generals Office, in coordination with the State security authorities, is working to find the person or persons responsible for this event. The first lines of investigation indicate that this fact could be drug-related, so the test data collected by experts from this autonomous body will be integrated into said folder. Theres a popular saying about the war in Ukraine that goes something like this: If the Russians stop fighting, the war ends. If the Ukrainians stop fighting, Ukraine ends. More than anything else, that simple aphorism highlights the nature of the most damaging conflict in Europe since World War II: Unprovoked military aggression by the authoritarian Russian Federation against a European democracy. Russia started it in 2014 by illegally invading and annexing Crimea, while Russian leaders flatly denied the invasion. NATO members responded with relatively puny sanctions. Then in 2022, Russia went for the rest of Ukraine, after again repeatedly denying its army would invade. But as the Russian Army grabbed new territory in eastern Ukraine, NATO countries responded. Subsequently, theyve sent more than $175 billion worth of defensive weapons, according the United Nations. The lions share of that funding came from NATO members other than the United States. Those weapons remember the Javelins and HIMARS? effectively stalled the Russians advance. But now Ukraine is running low and needs more arms. The Russians are advancing, and the Ukrainians are begging. And that was the subject of an April 20 vote in the House of Representatives to send $60.8 billion more in U.S. weapons. The great news is, the $60.8 billion in additional aid easily passed with a strong bipartisan majority, 311 to 112. But the three-member delegation from Western Virginia didnt exactly shine with that ballot. Two of our congressmen, Reps. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt, and Bob Good, R-Campbell, voted against Ukraine aid. Only Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, voted in favor of additional U.S.-made weapons for Ukraine. At least one of them Cline also tried to stop all U.S. military aid to the beleaguered country, when he also voted for a (failed) amendment offered by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. It wouldve reduced U.S. military aid to Ukraine to zero. With emails sent Thursday to each congressmans office, I sought to better understand why they voted the way they did. But the lawmakers appear exceedingly shy about discussing that. Since the queries, their silence has been deafening. So lets look at their history, and past statements, to see if we can divine anything, eh? Well start with Cline, whos represented the Sixth Congressional District since 2019. On the issue of Ukraine aid, Cline seems to talk a good game, but often votes in the opposite direction. For example, consider what he said in 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion. In advance of a Feb. 24, 2022 speech by President Joe Biden, Cline issued this tweet: I stand with the American people in our solidarity against Russian aggression and we pray for peace in Ukraine. As the President addresses the Nation this afternoon, he must impose all diplomatic and economic pressure on the Kremlin to send a strong and clear message to Russia and our enemies that an attack on a sovereign country will be met with swift and devastating consequences. Immediately following the speech, in an interview with WUSA-9 TV in Washington, D.C., Cline accused Biden of not doing enough for Ukraine. At the time, he wore a Ukrainian-flag lapel sticker. Europe is leading the way and Biden is playing catch up. You know, we have sanctions, but they have enormous holes in them, Cline said. Later in the interview Cline said: We need to go further and be aggressive in order to tell Putin he has to stop and reverse course with Ukraine. But later that year, on Dec. 24, 2022, Cline voted against $45 billion in military aid for Ukraine (it passed, as part of a $1.7 trillion budget bill). And he bragged about that vote on his congressional website. Cline also telegraphed his more recent April 20 vote against $60.8 billion for Ukraine when he appeared on the podcast Real Americas Voice with John Solomon in February. We have an administration that doesnt know what success is, cant define success in Ukraine, and wants to send more taxpayer dollars into this black hole of a proxy war, Cline said. Basically, Clines playing the same game on Ukraine that the gun lobby plays after the latest U.S. firearms massacre. He offers thoughts and prayers but little action thats concrete to stanch the conflict. It comes across as woefully insincere. The other No-to-Ukraine-aid vote came from Rep. Bob Good, representative in the Fifth Congressional District since 2021. Hes currently locked in a GOP primary battle for the Republican nomination with state Sen. John McGuire, a pro-Trump lawmaker who proudly attended the Jan. 6 Stop the Steal rally in Washington, D.C. By this past December, Good was also leader of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republican lawmakers. And he vowed (inaccurately, it turned out) to hosts of the podcast Point Counterpoint that additional American arms to Ukraine was a non-starter. Support for Ukraine is dead on arrival in the House until if and when, uh, the Senate passes our outstanding strong border security bill, Good said on the podcast. Back in September, on an interview with CNN, Good didnt even seem to understand why the Russia-Ukraine conflict was important to America. What is our direct national security interest to lead us to borrow from our kids and grandkids to further exacerbate our spending situation, our debt situation and to further deplete our own military reserves when this administration has depleted and weakened our military since he became president? Good asked. Those words echoed more than a few isolationist American politicians in the late 1930s who vehemently opposed America helping Europe contain Nazi Germany. And thats what led us into World War II. Perhaps Good shouldve been listening more closely to Rep. Morgan Griffith, who voted in favor of the $60.8 billion package for Ukraine weapons. Griffith has represented the 9th Congressional District since 2011. Although he doesnt have a perfect voting record on Ukraine aid, hes been warning Russia about Ukraine going back to the invasion of Crimea in 2014. Back then he did an interview with WCYB-5 in Bristol. We need to be making sure that the Russians understand there will be a price to pay if they continue their aggressive expansionism and if they try to use their military force to overrun the rest of Ukraine or even the areas that have Russian-speaking people in large numbers, Griffith said then. And a little more than a month ago, at Graham High School in Bluefield, the congressman told students this: (Griffith also told the students that the 9th District would benefit from helping Ukraine, because of all the arms manufactured at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.) Griffiths right thats what the conflict boils down to. Obviously, hes a student of modern European history. In the late 1930s, American and European powers allowed Hitler to remilitarize the Rhineland (in violation of the Treaty of Versailles), annex Austria and part of Czechoslovakia, then conquer the rest of Czechoslovakia. All that happened before Germany invaded Poland in 1939 and launched World War II. It wouldve been easier to stop Hitler in 1936 in the Rhineland. The problem was, nobody tried. Heres another way to frame Griffiths statement to the high-schoolers: Its better to spend money on American weapons to help Ukraine now, than far more American money and blood when Putin continues his expansionist aims in Europe later. What a shame that Cline and Good havent learned that lesson. HARTSVILLE, S.C. More than a dozen graduating seniors were presented Kente stoles during a Sankofa Donning of the Kente Ceremony held Friday at Coker Universitys Elizabeth Boatwright Performing Arts Center. The ceremony was sponsored by the Coker Black Alumni Network, Office of Alumni Engagement, and the Center for Diversity Interfaith, and Inclusion Education. Guest speakers for the event were former S.C. Senator Maggie W. Glover and S.C Rep. Pat Henegan. The ceremony is a rite of passage for students of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to move to the next chapter in their lives. The Kente cloth is to be worn with graduation regalia. It is made of fabrics from Ghana, woven together intricately with symbolism. At Coker, this stole represents achievement and perseverance throughout their higher education career. Cokers Spring Commencement is scheduled for Saturday at the universitys DeLoach Center. This is a celebration for seniors who identify as black to understand the purpose of the phrase Sankofa, and the importance of the Kente celebration as well as their history, said Dr. Jean Swindle, an assistant professor of education at East Tennessee State University and the Chairperson of the Kente Committee. During her remarks, Glover told students to never underestimate themselves and to never let anyone else tell them what they are capable of achieving. Look any person in the eyes and tell them what you can do, said Glover. Have confidence in your abilities and set your goals as high as you possibly can and aspire to make a difference in your community. Henegan told students to make an impact. You can never leave a footprint that lasts if youre walking on tiptoes, she said. I dont believe in tiptoes. Tiptoeing means you are letting someone else dictate your power and how far you can go in life. Dont let anyone steal your power and dont let anyone squash or steal your dreams. The ceremony concluded with Swindle bestowing the Kente Stoll on 17 graduating seniors. Receiving stoles were Alexus Davis, Breyon Forest, Shannon Freeman, Darrell Gardner, Jerimil German, Tyanna Givens, April Harris, Brianna Lewis, Shericka Myers, Kennedi Price, Nathaniel Riley, Jade Roberts, Catherine Robinson, Samyra Stewart, Shamia Strange, Nelson Swann, and Adriana Velez. During the ceremony two awards were presented. Mahari Greene was honored with the CBAN Founders Award and Hartsville native Barbara Carraway was given the CBAN Community Service Award. A special tribute was held for the late Gloria Bell, a CBAN member and advisor who was not only a Coker alumnus but also served on the Coker Board of Trustees. NEW YORK Catch and kill. Checkbook journalism. Secret deals. Friends helping friends. Even by National Enquirer standards, testimony by its former publisher David Pecker at Donald Trump's hush money trial this past week has revealed an astonishing level of corruption at America's best-known tabloid and may one day be seen as the moment it effectively died. It just has zero credibility, said Lachlan Cartwright, executive editor of the Enquirer from 2014 to 2017. Whatever sort of credibility it had was totally damaged by what happened in court this week. Pecker testified about the arrangement he made to boost Trump's presidential candidacy in 2016, tear down his rivals and silence any revelations that may have damaged him. However its stories danced on the edge of credulity, the Enquirer was a cultural fixture, in large part because of genius marketing. As many Americans moved to the suburbs in the 1960s, the tabloid staked its place on racks at supermarket checkout lines, where people could see headlines about UFO abductions or medical miracles while waiting for their milk and bread to be bagged. Celebrity news was a staple, and the Enquirer paid sources around Hollywood to learn what the stars' publicists wouldn't say. It may have been true. It may have had just a whiff of truth. It was rarely boring. When the tabloid paid a mourner to secretly snap a picture of Elvis Presley in his coffin for its front cover, that week's issue sold 6.9 million copies, according to the 2020 documentary, Scandalous: The Untold Story of the National Enquirer. For all the ridicule the tabloid received from serious journalists, Enquirer reporters hustled and broke some genuine news. A memorable picture of the married Sen. Gary Hart enjoying a tropical holiday alongside a woman he was involved with destroyed a presidential candidacy and brought politicians into the Enquirer's celebrity world. The tab was considered for a Pulitzer Prize after revealing a sex scandal involving U.S. Sen. John Edwards in the early 2000s. During his celebrity days in the 1990s, Trump was a fixture in its pages, and often a source for news. When Pecker bought the Enquirer in 1999, one of his first calls was from Trump, who said, Congratulations you bought a great magazine, the former executive testified this week. As the Scandalous documentary illustrated, some of Pecker's unsavory practices predated his deal with Trump. The Enquirer paid for the story of Gigi Goyette, an actress who claimed she had an affair with Arnold Schwarzenegger, dangling the prospect of a potential book and movie. Then it kept silent as Schwarzenegger, who denied the affair, ran for California governor. The arrangement became known as catch and kill. Pecker said that in a summer 2015 meeting with Trump and lawyer Michael Cohen, he outlined how he would help the presidential candidate, a deal that included notifying the campaign of women seeking to sell stories about relationships with Trump. Pecker later testified he balked at having the Enquirer pay a catch and kill fee for Stormy Daniels that was allegedly paid by Cohen. They weren't put into writing, Pecker testified about his promises to Trump. It was just an agreement among friends. National Enquirer headlines made no secret who the tabloid was backing: Donald Trump: The Man Behind the Legend, read one. Donald Trump: Healthiest Individual Ever Elected, was another. The Trump-boosting covers baffled Steve Coz, a former top Enquirer editor, when he saw them at his neighborhood supermarket in Florida. That is so foreign to anybody who worked at the National Enquirer, Coz said in the documentary. Cartwright, lured to a job at the Enquirer by his friend, Dylan Howard, with a promise to break stories like the Edwards scandal, instead found that material about one of the most colorful, compromised politicians in recent history was off limits. Meanwhile, Bill and Hillary Clinton were frequent targets of unflattering stories; Pecker called that a double win, since it helped Trump and anti-Clinton stories were popular with Enquirer readers. Even Cartwright said he was surprised to learn in Pecker's testimony about the role Cohen played in helping to manufacture outlandishly false stories about Trump's Republican primary rivals. Ben Carson was described as a bungling surgeon" and brain butcher." Marco Rubio headlines referenced a love child and cocaine connection. Ted Cruz supposedly was having five secret affairs and his father was alleged to have a connection with JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. Cartwright remembers wondering with friends about what was going on, only to be told that you're sounding like a conspiracy theorist. The stories were wild, nothing truthful about them. But thousands of voters saw them, and when the rumors hit the mainstream media, the opponents particularly an angry Cruz were forced to address them. This is the ground zero of fake news, said Cartwright, now a correspondent for The Hollywood Reporter. It has been years since an Enquirer story made an impact. In 2019, the tabloid published texts alleging an extramarital affair by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos also owner of The Washington Post, a thorn in then-President Trump's side. But it backfired when Bezos publicly revealed the Enquirer threatened to publish damning photos if the Post didn't halt an investigation into Pecker's American Media Inc. Pecker lost his job as head of the Enquirer's parent company in 2020, and it was eventually sold. The Enquirer averaged 238,000 newsstand sales each week during the last six months of election year 2016, according to the Alliance for Audited Media. During the last six months of 2023, its sales averaged just under 56,500. It limps along: The lead story on its website Thursday was The Untold Story: Marko Stout's Journey From Obscurity to Art World Phenom. It's really a shadow of its former self, Cartwright said. David Pecker's legacy will be that he totally destroyed that tabloid. Where each Trump case stands Classified documents case Election interference Hush-money scheme Georgia election indictment Arizona election indictment Civil cases SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man was jailed following a fatal shooting early Saturday morning in South Sioux City. At around 4:23 a.m. Saturday, South Sioux City Police and EMS were dispatched to the Flatwater Crossing Apartments, at 2800 Flatwater Dr., for a reported shooting, according to a press release from the South Sioux City Police Department. On arrival, officers found a 24-year-old man dead of an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. A preliminary investigation found that the victim, who has not been identified, was shot by another man while the latter was handling a firearm and unintentionally shot the victim. Alcohol is believed to have played a role in the incident, according the press release. Tobias Guy Thomas, 23, of Sioux City, was arrested and charged with manslaughter and held in the Dakota County Jail. An investigation is ongoing. Friday's tornadoes that hit the Lincoln and Omaha areas were part of a large outbreak in Nebraska and Iowa. The National Weather Service office in Valley issued 42 tornado warnings, which was reportedly the most in one day for one Weather Service office in five years. The tornado that hit northeast Lincoln and Waverly, causing train cars to be pushed off the tracks and the roof to collapse at Garner Industries, caused, "one of the more notable damage tracks," the Weather Service said. That tornado stretched from just northeast of Lincoln, through the Waterloo and Elkhorn areas, and all the way to near Soldier, Iowa, in eastern Monona County, the Weather Service said. In the wake of the tornado that hit areas north and east of Lincoln, many residents spent Saturday cleaning up in the storms aftermath. At 134th Street and Waverly Road, yards were scattered with tree limbs, and power lines that once stood tall along the road now droop down to the ground between the poles that were able to remain standing through the storm. While homeowners were picking up fallen branches and debris around their properties, Lincoln Electric System worked to repair damage to power lines along the side of the road. The tornado damaged homes, knocked down several poles and broke wires in that area. LES crews began untangling and picking up wires after the storm cleared Friday evening. Crew Leader Mike Mullendore and his team resumed working on the fallen lines Saturday morning. LES has teams localized to three areas east of Lincoln, working to fully restore power in all areas. We are very fortunate that the storm didnt hit the center of town, said Mullendore. The amount of destruction that weve seen, it's common for a tornado, but not common for Lincoln. LES is working with teams from Norris Public Power District as the cleanup continues. Mullendore said that it is rare to have so many employees working consecutive days, but all are ready to assist and get the community back on the grid. Our infrastructure feeds into others, such as the Lincoln Water System, so we are doing everything we can to safely and quickly take care of the damage and let everyone get back to work. Mullendore said he was grateful for the community's support and cooperation as he and his team continue to work on the damages. Everyone has been very patient and more than willing to get out of the way and let us do what we need to do here, said Mullendore. In addition to the area near 134th and Waverly Road, the stretch of U.S. 6 between Waverly and Lincoln was the focus of cleanup crews after the destruction at Garner Industries. The stretch of highway reopened at about 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning after being cleared of debris, though some is still scattered along both sides of the road. The tornado that went through the area, causing the roof collapse at Garner that injured three people, was one of five tornado-damaged areas the Weather Service sent teams to investigate Saturday. It will likely be several days before investigators are able to determine the number of tornadoes that hit the area, their size and the scope of the damage, but preliminary reports suggest tornadoes hit several areas of central and eastern Nebraska. In a social media post Saturday, the Weather Service said its teams had found preliminary evidence "consistent with at least EF-3 strength in some areas." An EF-3 rating indicates winds anywhere from 136-165 miles per hour. In addition to the twisters that hit Lincoln and Omaha, there were reports of tornadoes, either from residents or trained spotters, north of Grand Island, north of Columbus, near David City and near Wilber. Photos and videos: Tornadoes sweep across Lincoln and Omaha areas When I saw the incoming call from my pet sitter, my heart sank. The no-attempt-at-a-text-first call when youre out of the country is never anything good. The pet sitter was calling to tell me two things: First, my elderly 11-pound dog Hazel had eaten what I can only describe as a legendary amount of the sitters delta-8 weed gummies. Second, the sitter had taken Hazel to the emergency vetand the vet had lost Hazel. I was standing in the middle of a Toronto sidewalk, a spring snow squall having just passed over. I couldnt make sense of what I was hearing. I know theres a spectrum of ways to feel about a pet, from mildly detached to completely obsessive, and I regret to say that I fall more on the obsessive end of things. From my first sight of her, bedraggled, dirty, and growling atop a bed of newspapers at the Atlanta Humane Society, I have been completely in love. She is a member of my family, but it might be more intense than that, even. We dont do much separately. If I take a shower, shes curled up on the bathmat. When Im cooking dinner, shes underfoot. She flies to New England with me to visit my family. I have had her for six years, andbecause I do have to part from her, sometimesI still get a wave of excited anticipation at seeing her as Im walking up to my front door. If it were easy to fly a dog to another country, she probably wouldve come on that trip to Canada with me. So, in short, I did not take the news of Hazel being missing well. I also learned that the vet clinic that had lost her was part of a private equitybacked network. Private equity has been snapping up vets offices in droves; in the past several years, firms have spent $45 billion on the pet health care industry. The results have not been good for pets. Crouched on the Toronto sidewalk, ugly-crying, I typed the address of the vet into Google Maps to see what kind of terrain an escaped Hazel might now be facing. Worst-case scenario: The vet is located on DeKalb Industrial Way. If that name doesnt evoke images of pastoral suburbs, youre on the right pathits a five-lane highway sitting close to the intersection of a seven-lane highway. Hazel is not a dog who had, in the past, evinced much awareness of the dangers presented by cars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate The Truth About Golden Retrievers Could Change How We Think About Dogs for Good Read More Most of the first 48 hours are a cortisol-filled mush in my memory, but what I do know is I tweeted something desperate about Hazel going missing while I was out of the country, and also texted a lot of my local friends in a state of panic. The mobilization was instant. Within an hour, my friends were at the emergency vet, having a conversation with the manager of the clinic, asking to see video footage and piecing together Hazels last known whereabouts. My ex-husband, who had originally adopted Hazel with me but hadnt seen her in years, left in the middle of a concert at the Atlanta Symphony to drive to Decatur and search the woods. People whom I knew socially but not extremely well texted to tell me they were going to go look for her too. Atlanta Twitterthen, eventually, just kind of all Twitter, which I cannot really come around to calling Xwas all over it. By the time night fell on Sunday, Missing posters blanketed the area around the vet, I was told. Meanwhile, I was still in cold, snowy Toronto, feeling approximately 100,000 miles away from Atlanta. A friend texted me a photo of Hazels little bed, which, at my request, she placed in the wooded area by a Waffle House near where she had escaped. The sight of something I had always associated with Hazels safety and comfort out in the nighttime woods wrecked me. Advertisement Advertisement I obsessively checked the weather, panicking with each dropped degree. I thought about the summers Hazel had spent in a cabin in Maine, shivering kind of pathetically when the temperature dipped under 55. I saw a forecast for inclement weather and thought about how terrified she is of rain, even curled up on my lap inside. I thought about how many thousands of cars traversed the roads near the emergency vet daily. I thought about coyotes, and foxes, and even feral cats. I imagined her curled up, nose tucked under her tail, cold and scared, in a big dark forest. Advertisement My boyfriend and I flew home the next day. (Not without some added drama: Air Canada had overbooked our flight and asked us to volunteer for the next one. Its a good thing he was handling this and I was blissfully unaware as it was unfolding.) We went straight to the vet from the airport, accompanied by a DeKalb Police officer who gave off the vibe that he was never going to think about this ever again after completing the basic duties of responding to my complaint. Despite my best efforts at fact gathering, the people we spoke to at the vet were tight-lipped: I wasnt even allowed to view the video footage of Hazel being lost, yet another wrench thrown into my attempts to describe her current state in the Missing posters. The vet initially told me she was wearing her collar, but when I got home on Monday evening, it was sitting on the front table in its usual place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I live-tweeted my way through the confusion and panic. Anyone with a certain number of followers on any platform can tell you that after a point theres nothing you can say without at least one person absolutely hating youand letting you know they dofor saying it. But Twitter turned into a place of incredible generosity and comfort and real utility that week. People talked about Hazel so much that a local news outlet, Decaturish, reached out to me for a story. The saga, meanwhile, just kept taking dramatic turns: The vets office told me that someone married to an employee had saved a dog that looked like Hazel from the road the Sunday she went missing, handing her off to a stranger on the sidewalk, but refused to give me his contact information. I publicly begged him to reach out to me on Twitter, and he finally did. (We became friends, and he also spent his days searching for Hazel, making his own colorful flyers and translating them into Hindi so the message could reach more people in the neighborhood.) Advertisement Advertisement Once Hazels great escape made the New York Post, I realized it had officially gone viral. Despite the odd prank call (my phone number was on the posters), people were incredibly, achingly kind to me. I could spend this whole piece cataloging the generosity and warmth I was shown. People from around the world who hadnt met me and never would took the time to send the most thoughtful messages. A stranger in Atlanta took the day off work to look for Hazel behind the Waffle House. Many other strangers in the city hung flyers, searched the area, tried to find surveillance footage, and offered the use of drones or tracking dogs. (The clinic had searched for Hazel for four hours on Sunday and put up Missing posters, albeit with incorrect information. When I started to angrily tweet at the vet offices parent company, Thrive Pet Healthcare, someone eventually reached out. On Wednesday, after Hazel had been missing for three days, they told me they had hired a tracker. We are incredibly appreciative of everyone who has volunteered their time to search for Hazel and kept her in their thoughts during this difficult time, Thrive representatives have said in statements to the media, adding that they were glad to partner with me in searching for her. Lets just say I did not feel the full warmth and sense of action from them that that statement implies.) Advertisement Advertisement But at every turn, it was clear that there were people in my community looking for Hazel. When I called the car wash on the corner of DeKalb Industrial and Lawrenceville Highway to see if they had surveillance footage of Hazel in the road, the guy on the phone wearily let me know that someone had already called to ask the same thing 10 minutes earlier. After my friend drove me, at 10 p.m. Tuesday, to a house in Decatur where someone had spotted a brown-and-white dog in their yard, the homeowner came out to say that it was a different dogthe owner had already come to pick it upand when I tried to give him a Hazel flyer, I learned he already had one. Robin Allgood, a professional dog tracker, helped for free, refusing any money or gifts. My Atlanta community cried with me and brought over food and made posters and spreadsheets and looked for Hazel themselves. Friends started a GoFundMe to pay for billboards. It reached its goal within eight hours, and we bought the billboard space on Thursday, Day 5 of the search. Advertisement Advertisement As for what Hazel was up to this whole time, heres what I have very roughly pieced together: Around 10:30 a.m. at the vet, she was taken outside, without a leash, to an unfenced area. Despite beingand I quote the vethigh as a kite, she apparently shot off as soon as her paws touched grass, and headed east. (True to her Georgia roots, she seemingly made a beeline to the Waffle House. We were right to focus our search efforts on that area.) Advertisement Advertisement But at some point, Hazel did hop into traffic: The man who eventually saved her from the road saw a streak of brown-and-white fur tear through DeKalb Industrial. He stopped his car in the middle of traffic, and a nearby fire engine, realizing what was happening, swung parallel to help block traffic. Despite not being entirely sober, Hazel gave him a run for his money. Once he was finally able to tackle her, literally, he saw a woman and a teenager standing on the sidewalk near Waffle House, wildly waving their handsconcerned for Hazel, I thinkand, in a state of heightened adrenaline and well aware that his car was still in the middle of a five-lane highway, Hazels rescuer assumed that these were her owners and handed Hazel off. Now, my witnesses at Waffle House had also told me they saw a little white dog escape from a woman outside the restaurant, so we can all guess at what happened next. Advertisement After running from her second kind rescuer, Hazel went dark for five days; I have no direct eyewitness accounts. (If you believe the pet psychic in Oregon whom I contacted in a state of true panic in the wee hours of Wednesday, Hazel was hanging out in the woods and stealing food from a feral cat colony.) All I know is that early Friday morning, a woman in nearby Medlock Parkabout one and a half miles from the vetopened her front door and Hazel was sitting expectantly on the porch. The woman attempted to shoo her away, assuming she was a neighbors dog, but Hazel decided to invite herself in. Thanks to the Decaturish story being posted in some local Facebook groups, Hazels picture was basically everywhere. The woman remembered reading that Hazel had escaped with a catheter in her leg and, sure enough, part of her front right leg was shaved. Who knows when Hazel decided to de-catheterize herself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman texted me photos of a happy-looking Hazel at about 6:45 a.m. on Friday, Day 6. Within 40 minutes, my dog was back in my arms, skinny with bloodied paws and a scabbed-up belly, fur dyed a little orange on her flanks from what I assume was the result of sleeping in wet red dirt, but tail wagging and clearly still herself. She spent the next week sleeping most of the days on my lap, waking up only to eat gargantuan meals. She was sore and unable to walk comfortably or jump for the first week or so, but otherwise, she was remarkably unscathed. Theres really no way to write about this kind of experience without lapsing into some truly saccharine cliches, so thats what Im going to do. Theres a Mister Rogers quote that used to circulate on Twitter in the aftermath of something horriblea mass shooting; a natural disasterthat reminds us to look for the helpers in dark moments. (When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping. ) Peoples love for the quote was panned in what I think was a fairly curmudgeonly piece in the Atlantic (the URL contains the phrase is-bad-for-adults) because, I think, the writer misunderstands the utility of a statement like that. Its not a way to absolve anyone of their responsibility to act (in the instance of shootings, by, say, passing laws) while designated helpers take care of everything; its just a reminder that, for the most part, people are wired to do good, cooperative things. I think part of the soul rot of the internet lies in how easy it is to constantly witness awful things that you have very, very little ability to affect. It doesnt have to be much deeper than this: This experience was, at least for me, an important reminder that when people see something bad or upsetting happening to someone, their impulse is to help in whatever way they can, small or large. When we give people the opportunity to be generous in a realistic way, they take it. How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Stoya and Rich here. Its anonymous! Dear How to Do It, My husband and I have been together for almost 20 years. For the past 10, we have been dealing with trying to have the family weve both wanted. After many miscarriages at varying stages of pregnancy and rounds of IVF, we now have two beautiful children. He is the most amazing and supportive partner. However, during this time, our sex life has either been focused on conceiving, or entirely non-existent. Recently, Ive developed a crush on a dad in the baby swimming class we go to. Its not even wild fantasies Im having about himits more silly teenage things like him brushing my hair back and looking soulfully in my eyes. I realize this is me searching for the feeling of someone being attracted to me, rather than actively looking for a sexual partner. The feelings of my body not being my own throughout IVF treatment, pregnancy, and breastfeeding are probably not helping. My husband always tells me Im beautiful and that he fancies me, but I feel like he does it out of habit. We tried doing a date where we pretended he was picking me up at a bar, but we both fell about laughing at how silly we felt. Do you have any suggestions to get us out of this rut? No Longer Horny Teenagers Dear No Longer Horny Teenagers, Advertisement Anecdotally, IVF can do a number on a sex life. Theres some data to back this up as wellone study reported that a sense of surveillance, as well as the loss of spontaneity and relaxation around sex during the IVF process, can negatively impact sexuality. Another found that compared with a nonclinical sample, women undergoing IVF scored significantly lower in sexual interest, desire, orgasm, satisfaction, sexual activity, and overall sexual function. One can imagine that both potential outcomes of the process take their toll, as wellif you conceive, you have at least one kid to take care of and divert your attention away from sex. If you dont, the potential depression and frustration that could ensue might further erode your libido. Either way, effort is required in a lot of cases to bounce back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your fantasies of the hot swim dad are telling. Things like him brushing your hair back and looking soulfully in your eyes tell me that youre hungry for intimacy. Is your husband providing anything along those lines? Do you make time for nonsexual touching? Cuddling? Hugging? Caressing? If his proclamations that youre beautiful and that hes into you arent landing, is it because hes not selling them or youre not buying them? It might be a little bit of both. You must, then, ask yourself why. Perhaps the scene-study type of exercise you did with your husband was a little too complicated, and what you crave is something a little more basic: his unfettered and sincere loving attention, without the pressure to escalate into sex. Start by pursuing that. Identify what it is that you want and are lacking and talk to him about him providing it. Open the floor for him to make similar requests. That hes put in the effort is a good signyou just have to find the right method to put the effort into. Advertisement Get more How to Do It in our Advice newsletter The latest sex, parenting, and money advice from our columnists delivered to your inbox twice a week. Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again, or manage all your newsletter subscriptions here Please enable javascript to sign up for newsletters. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Dear How to Do It, My partner and I have been together for 12 years. About five years ago, I came out to him as bisexual. Wed been monogamous prior to this, but after talking with him, he was comfortable (and encouraging!) with me exploring my sexuality with women, so we opened up the relationship on my side only, and only with women. The issue is that Im finding it difficult to actually act on our non-monogamy. We are married, and when people that Im interested in see a ring on my finger, they assume Im not interested in them. I am, I just have no idea how to tell them. Please help. In Need of Another Lady Dear In Need of Another Lady, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How do you know these people are assuming youre not interested in them? The only answer that makes sense and doesnt involve reading peoples minds is: Because they tell me that. But if they were telling you that, then youd have the ability to correct them: I am interestedIm in an open relationship. That may be off-putting to some, but surely there are people who understand the realities of non-monogamy in this day and age. Its the 90s! Women who are into women have been talking about this stuff foreverIve found reports of various presentations on the pros and cons of non-monogamy dating back to the early 80s, and that was when people finally got around to committing it to paper. Dont worry about scaring people off. Think of it instead as giving them the opportunity to filter themselves out. Advertisement Obviously, you have the option to remove your ring in inconvenient situations, though I guess that depends on how sacred you find wearing it to be. It might be easier to break the ice unshackled. You could also fish for potential partners via apps like Feeld, which is particularly non-monogamy friendly, and is full of married women looking for the same thing you are. Youll be less likely to be rejected in an environment like that. You might also look into local play parties too, if semi-public sex is something you think you could get into (its not for everyone). That crowd is likely to be similarly non-judgmental, and even if you dont end up hooking up there, you might meet some more open-minded people who realize that your being married isnt an obstacle. In other words, put yourself in as many polyamorous/non-monogamous spaces as possible, both in person and online. Youre very likely to find people who understand your arrangement there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How to Get Advice From How to Do It Submit your questions anonymously here. (Questions may be edited for publication.) Dear How to Do It, I love reading, so when I want to learn something, I tend to read a book about it. However, I cannot seem to find any books that treat seduction or flirting in a fun manner that is suitable for a queer audience. The seduction/flirting literature seems to consist of either straight alpha male douchebros trying to dominate, trick, or brainwash women into providing sex, straight ladies writing for straight ladies, or general advice that is so straightforward it is more obvious than edifying. Are there any books out there on this subject that cater to queer women? Eager to Read Dear Eager to Read, Advertisement Before I read your letter, I hadnt really thought about the market dearth of books on these topics specifically for queer people. Going out on a limb, Im going to posit that we dont have these books because they are often full of gendered rules and we, as a people, are beyond that. Queerness is at odds with boilerplate methods for ensnaring conventional relationships. Thats not to say that there arent queer people on the heteronormative side who would respond to (maybe even benefit from) advice designed for straight people (just as there are straight people to whom The Rules absolutely dont apply). Advertisement I have a big issue with the very notion of seductioneven Robert Greene, who wrote The Art of Seduction (a book that you may want to check out, though please dont take this as a straightforward endorsement), is quoted as having said that seduction is about power and manipulation as much as it is about romance, about how to make someone fall under your spell. Call me an idealist, but Id rather have people fall in love with me on their own accord, and not because I manipulated them into it. That strikes me as cheating? And setting up such a power schism so early practically guarantees the relationship will be marked by it throughout, which could lead to really annoying problems down the line, especially when the charm has worn off and the manipulator/manipulated dynamic is laid bare. Advertisement Advertisement I think when it comes to appealing to people, be yourself is probably pat advice. You should be the best version of yourselfavoid the negative, show your generosity, be engaged but dont try too hard. And then strive to always be the best version of yourself with that person, should you successfully make a connection. Its far from always the case, but oftentimes it just takes one persons pronounced interest to arouse the others. Confidence and effort (thats solidly palpable without being overbearing) are extremely important, as is a refusal to let rejection devastate you. Advertisement Advertisement Flirting is another matterits completely reasonable to want tips there, though, again, its really hard to be monolithic here because different people respond to different stimuli. Because top-down resources on this matter catering to queer women are few and far between, why dont you try crowd-sourced tips like those on queer-women-focused subreddits (such as r/LesbianActually and r/actuallesbians). Here are some relevant threads. Youll see a lot of the same advice in them (eye contact, casual touching, compliments, engagement, etc.), and a lot of it isnt really queer-specific, but some is. I liked this one in particular: Advertisement The problem is everyone is trying to be subtle or coy. Dont be mad at missed signals. You need to be honest and bold for your intentions to be conveyed. Ambiguous gay flirting is a result of heteronormalcy. If you say, I love your hair! It makes you super cute! It comes off as a friendly compliment because of heteronormalcy. Follow up with, oh, I meant that as a gay flirt. With a light smile and wink. And proceed from there. Youll figure out intentions on how its received. Your miscommunication is your own fault. Fix it. If the situation is reversed, ask. thank you. Is that a straight compliment or a gay flirt? If theres a noticeable pause, follow up with, that pause is all I needed. Heres my number. Ambiguous, subtle or coy flirts are useless. Especially for gays. Advertisement Advertisement Dear How to Do It, Im a bisexual male and Im confused why my gay partner wants my feet to be stinky for him when we fuck. Its pretty embarrassing for me when my feet smell, and more broadly, I just dont get the appeal. Its pretty gross. I love this guy, but Im struggling to better understand where his desires are coming from and how I could mentally get in the zone for it. Girls Ive been with have never been into feet and some quick Google searches seem to suggest its more a guy thing? Ive asked my partner about it, and he just says he loves smelly feet (supposedly, he even got off once just from a dude letting him sniff them). I dont know what to think about that but I do want to please him sexually. Advertisement How do I go about this? As turned on as he seems to be by this, Im just turned off. Do I just tell him, sorry Im not into that? Is there a compromise or some way for me to be into this more? I Guess Fresh Isnt Best? Dear I Guess Fresh Isnt Best, Advertisement Advertisement Why? can be a really dicey question when applied to fetishes. Some people know exactly why theyre into what theyre into (maybe its a specific event or individual that sparked their initial interest). Others have no idea whythey just like what they like. I wouldnt dwell too much on that point. Instead, accept that your partner is like thatand that you arentand youll be well on your way to making peace with it. Advertisement You really dont have to participate in this kink at all, and youre allowed to have boundaries around it if its making you feel weird or embarrassed. Also, if youre uncomfortable during sex, its likely to be less pleasurable for youall the more reason for you to put your proverbial foot down if this really turns you off. Advertisement But if youre looking for compromise and feel ok doing so, a happy medium could look something like this: Youre not going to put effort into building such a funk that its going to be noticeable to others beyond your partner, but you wont wash your feet a few hours before you and your guy have sex. Or maybe you have a pair of socks that you wear only around the house and keep them unwashed so that you can slip them on before sex and give your partner the desired effect. Or maybe none of that. You really have the ultimate say here. Its good that you and your partner are talking about it, though, instead of letting a potential rift calcify into awkwardness. Keep at it. Let him know that youre not really into the idea, but you do want to please him. Maybe hell let you know the least you can do and still turn him on. Advertisement Since you seem somewhat interested in the bigger picture of kinks and fetishes, lets go into foot ones briefly. Unfortunately,, theres generally scant data on this. As your research suggested, it does seem like men are more commonly foot fetishists, but plenty of women are into feet as well (Slate recently published a whole article about women with foot fetishes). In a 2017 study from the Journal of Sexual Medicine, 17 percent of 459 male respondents and 4 percent of 565 female respondents to a digital survey were interested in feet. Justin Lehmiller, in his research on fantasies that would make up his 2018 book Tell Me What You Want, found that 5 percent of heterosexual women, 18 percent of heterosexual men, 11 percent of lesbian and bisexual women, and 21 percent of gay and bisexual men who completed his survey had fantasized about feet. Wikipedia tells me that a 1994 study found that nearly half of foot fetishists surveyed were into smelly socks/feet. Incidentally, Wikipedia also tells me that smelly socks have their own entry. Its fairly extensive. Had no idea it existed before your question. The more you know! Rich More Advice From Slate Im a gay man who dramatically prefers to bottom for anal. Its my favorite part of sex. My internal organs disagree. I have frequent diarrheanot so unpredictable that Id cause a mess during sex, but definitely enough that I dont feel clean enough for anal most of the time. I know sometimes poop happens, but I am sufficiently turned off by it that I need to be clean. Im really missing my preferred penetration. What would help? Ten years ago, archaeologist Eric Clines book 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed became a surprise critical and commercial hit and a nominee for the Pulitzer Prize.* Its since been translated into 16 languages (and, recently, into a graphic-novel-like format) and keeps finding new readers. I read it in the summer of 2017 while honeymooning in Crete, a place whose Minoan civilization figures prominently in Clines narrative. My wife and I were struggling to think and plan hopefully for the future at a time when our own nation back home seemed to be tottering. There was something strangely grounding in reading about the more or less sudden evaporation of a handful of Late Bronze Age societies, likely caused by some combination of climate change, famine, political upheaval, and mass migration. The book was frightening in its contemporary implicationsnot least in showing how the deep interconnectedness of that lost world went, almost overnight, from being a strength to a vulnerability. Once things started going haywire, nations toppled like dominoes. But I also found Clines book somehow reassuring. Empires rise and fall, always haveso what? Life goes on. We had our first child the following year. After 1177 B.C.: The Survival of Civilizations, out this month, picks up where Clines earlier volume left off. Much of the eastern Mediterranean is in ruinsthough not completely. Reconsidering his views after criticism from other scholars, Cline has come to see the mass civilizational die-off as less total than he previously believed. While still convinced something devastating occurred, he now depicts the transition more as the fraying of networks between societies, leaving each civilizationthe Hittites in southern Anatolia, New Kingdom Egypt, Assyria and Babylonia, Phoenicia, Cyprus, mainland Greeceto pick up the pieces and start anew. The world changed as they knew it, Cline said when I reached him recently by phone. But in doing all the research, it became clear it was both a collapse and a transformation. It depends on where you look and at whom you are looking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where the first book offered an almost relentlessly grim depiction of decline and fall, the new one gives us a more granular, detailed look at how different societies coped with the transformations of the Late Bronze Age collapse in contrasting ways. Clines perfectly chosen epigraph comes from Julian Barnes beautiful 2011 novel, The Sense of an Ending: Someone once said that his favorite times in history were when things were collapsing, because that meant something new was being born. Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement Cline was stunned by the runaway success of 1177, he told me. Though he hoped to interest nonacademic readers, he never expected more than a handful of colleagues to care about the topic. Writing the sequel, he aimed to appeal to both a general audience and ancient-history specialists alike. Its a difficult balance. Nonspecialist readers could easily get lost in the plethora of strange namesa five-page dramatis personae helps, though its not necessary to know the identity of any particular Assyrian royal in order to grasp the larger pointswhile he fears fellow academics might take issue with a scholar straying beyond his area of expertise and synthesizing the research of hundreds of colleagues. Advertisement Its a messier story this time around, Cline notes, precisely because of the geographical unevenness of the civilizations recoveries. The Babylonians did fairly welleven if the population fell by 75 percent for a few centuries. Egypt endured a period of instability and civil war. The Hittites never recovered. Advertisement In Greece, the collapse was especially devastating, at least for some. The impressive, palace-based Mycenaean civilizationthey of Trojan War famealmost entirely disappeared. Writing itself became a lost art for a few hundred years. Architecture became less ambitious. Yet Cline suggests some ordinary Greeks may have rejoiced at the fall of their rigidly hierarchical society, whose leaders had imposed onerous taxes and demanded laborers build huge monuments to the elite. The demise of the palaces may have actually freed these people from a tremendous burden, Cline writes, such that some rural areas may have actually experienced a brief moment of prosperity in the decades immediately after the Collapse. Any contemporary implications of this hypothesis Cline leaves for the reader to imagine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Phoenicians of the northern Levanttodays Lebanon and northern Israeldid fairly well, Borrowing a term from the scholar and popular public intellectual Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Cline calls the Phoenicians anti-fragilethey not only endured the disorder of the Late Bronze Age but thrived under the stress. They somehow managed, as another historian whom Cline quotes rather charmingly puts it, to have a positive collapse. Well-traveled merchants who invented the alphabet, already used to operating in decentralized frameworks and alliances, the Phoenicians seem to have actively taken advantage of the chaos, Cline notes, by springing into the vacuum left by the fall of their larger neighbors, like Egypt, to develop new trade routes and connections with far-flung societies. Cline suggests there are lessons in the resilience of the Phoenicians about having decentralized and redundant systems and being innovative and self-sufficientqualities that could help societies endure systemic shocks today. Advertisement Advertisement What happened in the Late Bronze Age confirms for Cline that seemingly stable societies are sometimes a lot closer to collapse than they appear. Superficially calm and orderly, the foundations are actually rotted and weak, so that the smallest gust of wind or stress is enough to begin the process of collapse. Cline told me that he believes theres about a 90 percent chance of a global systems collapse in the next centurywhether caused by climate change, nuclear war, another pandemic, artificial intelligence, or, as in the Late Bronze Age, some combination of factors. Again, weve got that globalized, connected network, Cline notes, and if that crashes were pretty much sunk, at least in the short term. Well go back to square one, probably back before the age of steam. We might find ourselves living back in the Middle Ages. Advertisement Advertisement Reading the 1177 sequel in another moment of paralyzing global uncertainty, I again find his work curiously reassuring. Its going to happenit would be hubristic to think its not, Cline told me. Every society in the course of human history has either collapsed completely or enough that it transforms so you wouldnt recognize what came afterward. In the book, he portrays collapse as a disruptive but also potentially creative force that can seed revolutions and renaissancesperhaps even necessary for civilizations to advance in a cyclical pattern of integration and fragmentation over centuries and millennia. The main takeaway from all of this, Cline writes near the end of the new book, is that clearly such a collapse is survivable, provided that we are resilient enough and able to cope, adapt, or transform as necessary. Societal collapse doesnt always take everyone with it, and often cultures continue, even if at a simpler level or perhaps in a new iteration. Advertisement Advertisement Cline gets emails all the time from readers who lump him in with others who in recent years have peddled far less respectable just-so tales about the long-distant past. A documentary series Cline appeared in last year, Ancient Armageddon, which was distributed by the streamer Max, often gets confused for the pseudo-archaeologist Graham Hancocks unhinged and irresponsible Netflix series, Ancient Apocalypse, about a supposed preIce Age civilization that seeded precious legacies like monumental architecture to those societies that sprung up once the glaciers melteda civilization whose existence mainstream scholars have covered up, according to Hancock, for unnamed but presumably nefarious purposes. Cline keeps a separate file in his email labeled cranks: a growing number of messages have offered unsolicited opinions about how aliens constructed the pyramids. A lot of people have interesting ideas, lets put it that way, Cline told me. Others I wouldnt want to meet on a dark night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its somewhat surprising that another breed of self-declared visionaries doesnt yet seem to have found its way to his work: the disruption-obsessed tech crowd. Cline is not an ideological writerhe is not trying to justify a burn-it-down mentality with regard to the present. On the contrary, he mildly affirms that the worst that lies ahead could likely be avoided if our society were to take some common-sense measures. We have every chance to stop it, he says, but if you keep having people bring snowballs onto the floor of the Senate were going to collapse in a decade or two. There is a risk, however, that his serious, scholarly interpretation of what came after the Bronze Age collapse gets misread as a kind of doom-soothinga suggestion not only that a civilizational collapse can be endured but that it should be. Rather than a dark age, Cline concludes, this period was the start of something new, a set of ideas and cultures that ultimately resulted in the world to which we now belong. While undoubtedly true in the very long run, endorsing the sentiment at this moment risks playing into the hands of those accelerationists who would like to bring a collapse on because they think something better might be built among the ruins. But history, ancient or modern, may be only so helpful a guide if what we are facing is the kind of collapse from which there can be no recovery. We get asked by friends and family where to buy coffee a lot. Its a tough question! Its easy to lose track of just how many incredible, fresh, vibrant coffees are out there. Every week, we ask our advertising roasting partners for coffee recommendations theyre most excited about. Heres this weeks collection of some of the most interesting whole bean coffee offerings available from talented roasters across the globe. Amavida Coffee Roasters CXFFEEBLACK Equator Coffees Greater Goods Coffee Co. Joe Coffee Company Madcap Coffee Company Monogram Coffee Night Swim Coffee Olympia Coffee Roasters Onyx Coffee Lab Partners Coffee PERC Coffee Portland Coffee Roasters Stumptown Coffee Roasters Verve Coffee Roasters Our coffee newsletter subscribers get this list each week, a few days before anyone elsecheck it out over at Substack. Amavida Coffee Roasters : Honey Comsa This medium roast Honduran coffee from COMSA Cooperative has a mild, berry-like acidity and a full body. It features pronounced dried fruit notes in the aroma followed by prominent flavors of raisin, fig, and molasses. Certified Organic & Fair Trade Coffee. Cxffeeblack : Fatherland Kenya, Lions Hill Farm, Tinderet Nandi County, Solai Coffee Junt, Washed Peaberry. My fathers first connection to coffee, my first connection to coffee. When my dad went to Africa while in college, Kenya changed his life. Years later, he introduced Kenyan coffee to our household. I didnt know it then, but this was the first clue that coffee, like me, was black. This cxffee is our latest from the all black supply chain, sourced by the Kuria family. They are a multi-generational African-owned Kenyan importing company bringing over coffee from their families and neighbors farms. We met the Kuria family at the second inaugural Color of Coffee Collective, and were so excited to be able to share the the first of our collaborative offerings with you. Equator Coffees Equator Coffees: Burundi Women of TurihamweThis single origin coffee from Burundi is a returning favorite among our coffee team: delivering a cup thats juicy, spicy, and floral with flavors of elderberry, cardamom, and black tea. Turihamwe, which means together we can in Kirundi, is Burundis first washing station built and owned by women farmers and is located in the Ngozi Province of Burundi, near the northern border with Rwanda, which is an area that is known for producing some of the best coffee in the country. Back to top. Greater Goods Coffee Co. Greater Goods Roasting: Santa Gema Last year, we had the privilege of visiting some incredible farms in Nicaragua, including Santa Gema. At Santa Gema, Mario Vilchez produces a remarkable maracaturra coffee with flavor notes of cherry cordial, tea rose, and tamarind. Were proud to say that this coffee qualified for Nationals at the US Brewers Cup competition, a testament to its exceptional quality. Back to top. Joe Coffee Company Joe Coffee: The Village Currently, The Village comes from the Rubi sisters farm Finca Ruland 2, in Las Vegas, Honduras. Andrea and her sisters skill and diligence shine through this lot of washed and natural coffees. Expect a complex balance of layered acidity and structured sweetness. Beginning with notes of deep citrus and stone fruit, flavors arc towards ripe cherry as the coffee cools, leaving us with a final, soft note of spice and caramel. The Village is a celebration of women in coffee, composed of seasonally-rotating selections from valued relationships with female producers and cooperatives, aimed at highlighting and addressing this gender gap. According to strong research, investing in women increases the sustainability of coffee everywherewomen are more likely to reinvest their income back into their families, their coffee businesses, and their communities. And when access to decision-making and the global marketplace improves for women farmers, quality improves too. Back to top. Madcap Coffee Company Madcap Coffee: Miguel OrtizMiguel Ortiz is a native of Santa Barbara and a lifetime coffee farmer operating his farm, La Guinellera, alongside his wife and children. Miguel is viewed as the patriarch of Las Flores and drives the quality in the area. His coffee showcases what makes this region so unique. The climate is cool so the harvest is one of the later ones in Central America. During harvest, a team of 10-15 people mostly family harvest the cherry. After harvest, the coffee is dry fermented for 16 hours. The coffee then moves to a parabolic dryer, a specialized tool that utilizes solar power for drying agricultural products, for roughly 7 days. In this years harvest, expect a balanced body with notes of clementine, cherry, and cinnamon. Monogram Coffee Monogram Coffee: Elida Estate Catuai Lamastus Family Panama is now world famous for the gesha variety, producing some of the most delicious (and expensive) geshas in the world. Geshas popularity had a huge impact on speciality coffee by emphasizing the importance and impact of coffee variety. At the same time that there is an intense interest in variety, there is also a move to understand how processing can elucidate unique varietal characteristics in coffee varieties. Elida Estate is world famous for their gesha coffees, but they have not rested on their success and they are trying to improve every coffee they offerincluding coffees that are not gesha. They grow a large amount of Catuai on the farm and they have developed a process that brings the best out of the variety. They ferment the coffee cherry in oxygen-free tanks for 5 days and then dry it very slowly for up to 30 days, with the last part of the drying finished in a covered tent. This process reveals the power and structure of Catuai, with big aromas, intense fruit, and a heavy body. Back to top. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/chinese-premier-calls-teslas-development-successful-example-of-china-us-cooperation-1118164455.html Chinese Premier Calls Tesla's Development Successful Example of China-US Cooperation Chinese Premier Calls Tesla's Development Successful Example of China-US Cooperation Sputnik International The development of US billionaire Elon Musk's electric carmaker Tesla is a successful example of trade and economic cooperation between China and the United States, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday. 2024-04-28T16:33+0000 2024-04-28T16:33+0000 2024-04-28T16:33+0000 world elon musk china beijing tesla https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107127/99/1071279929_0:120:3500:2089_1920x0_80_0_0_4ed9efc8bc7b4e675edfc9ffaf398320.jpg "The development of Tesla in China can be called a successful example of trade and economic cooperation between China and the US," the China Central Television (CCTV) broadcaster quoted Li as saying during his meeting with Musk in Beijing. Equal cooperation and mutual benefit correspond to the fundamental interests of the two nations, the Chinese premier added. "China is true to its word and will keep working hard to expand market access, strengthen services and guarantees, create better business conditions and increase comprehensive support for businesses financed from abroad, so that enterprises from all over the world can invest in China easily and carelessly," Li said. Musk, for his part, said during the meeting that the Gigafactory in Shanghai had become Tesla's best performing plant thanks to the "hard work and wisdom of the Chinese team." Tesla is willing to further deepen its cooperation with China and achieve more win-win results, he added. Tesla's Gigafactory in Shanghai is the company's largest plant in terms of electric vehicle production, while the Chinese market is the automaker's largest after the United States. In April 2023, Tesla also announced its plans to build a large factory for the production of Megapack batteries in Shanghai. The agreement to acquire land for the project was signed in Shanghai in December 2023. The company is expected to launch the plant's construction in May 2024, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the company. Tesla Motors was founded in 2003 as a developer and manufacturer of electric cars and adjacent technologies. The firm is headquartered in the city of Palo Alto, California. Besides cars, Tesla also manufactures batteries for electric vehicles, which are later sold to other car producers, including Toyota Daimler. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220504/tesla-planning-to-build-2nd-production-plant-in-chinas-shanghai-reports-say-1095256270.html china beijing 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, elon musk, elon musk in china, electic cars, e-cars, tesla as example of us-china cooperation, elon musk meets li qiang, tesla's gigafactory in shanghai https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/germany-opposes-seizure-of-russian-assets---report-1118161304.html Germany Opposes Seizure of Russian Assets - Report Germany Opposes Seizure of Russian Assets - Report Sputnik International Germany opposes the seizure of frozen Russian assets, fearing it could set a precedent and lead to new lawsuits against Berlin for World War II crimes, The Wall Street Journal writes. 2024-04-28T13:41+0000 2024-04-28T13:41+0000 2024-04-28T13:41+0000 world russia germany european union (eu) berlin assets foreign assets frozen assets https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105736/28/1057362814_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e5d2372f2c77a6d1744d5517934156aa.jpg Germany opposes the seizure of frozen Russian assets, fearing it could set a precedent and lead to new lawsuits against Berlin for World War II crimes, The Wall Street Journal writes.Berlin said international law prohibits individuals from suing states in foreign courts and that state assets are protected from confiscation. German officials noted that violating this principle in the case of Russia could undermine Germany's longstanding legal position, the newspaper said.Since the start of the special operation in Ukraine, G7 countries and the EU have frozen almost half of Russia's foreign currency reserves, worth about 300 billion euros. Western countries are actively looking for a way to seize these assets and hand them over to Kiev. On April 23, the European People's Party, the largest political group in the European Parliament, has called on the bloc to confiscate all frozen Russian assets to finance reparations for Ukraine. This comes after the US House of Representatives passed a draft law on April 20 to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.The Kremlin said that such decisions "would be another step in disregarding all rules and norms of international law." The Russian Foreign Ministry called the freezing of Russian assets theft, noting that these steps target not only the funds of private individuals, but also Moscow's state assets. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/russia-warns-seizure-of-its-asset-would-deal-a-blow-western-economic-system-1118155847.html russia germany berlin 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 russian assets, seizure of russian assets, germany opposes https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/israel-reportedly-concerned-biden-may-throw-netanyahu-under-the-bus-at-icc-1118161639.html Israel Reportedly Concerned Biden May Throw Netanyahu Under the Bus at ICC Israel Reportedly Concerned Biden May Throw Netanyahu Under the Bus at ICC Sputnik International Most of Americas overseas allies are signatories to the International Criminal Courts Rome Statute. The US itself quit the Court in 2002 before launching its war of aggression in Iraq. Israel is not a party to the ICC, but is concerned about the dangerous precedent that could be set by threats to drag its leaders before the Court. 2024-04-28T14:04+0000 2024-04-28T14:04+0000 2024-04-28T14:04+0000 world joe biden benjamin netanyahu middle east israel international criminal court (icc) israel defense forces (idf) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/14/1118027832_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_6301241b0c5d83acf05a5eb2b5d2bd0c.jpg Israeli officials are concerned the Biden administration may abandon the Netanyahu government if the ICC issued arrest warrants against the Israeli prime minister and senior members of his cabinet.The sources comments follow reports in Israeli media this week citing senior ICC sources that the Hague could not consider arrest warrants against Israeli leaders without Washingtons informal consent.The Jewish News Syndicate pointed to ICC chief prosecutor Karim A. A. Khans alleged tendency to take marching orders from the US, pointing to Washingtons support for his election in 2021, and to his controversial decision to close out two ICC cases which greatly troubled the Americans related to suspected US war crimes in Afghanistan.Separately on Sunday, Israels Walla news site reported that Netanyahu had spearheaded a nonstop push over the telephone focused on calls to the White House, to prevent ICC arrest warrants from being issued.Netanyahu warned Friday that Israel would never stop defending ourselves, and that while decisions of the court in the Hague will not affect Israels actions, they would be a dangerous precedent threatening the soldiers and officials of any democracy fighting criminal terrorism and aggression.Senior Israeli cabinet officials have held several emergency meetings to discuss the possible arrest warrants, which according to reports could target Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, over the way Israel has pursued its war in Gaza, which has resulted in the maiming and killing of over five percent of the Strips prewar population.It remains unclear when or under what circumstances the arrest warrants could be issued. However, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc called on the ICC prosecutor to expedite deliberations Saturday. Israeli officials who have committed war crimes, aggression, murdered children, and committed genocide, including Netanyahu, must be brought before the Court, Tunc said at an inter-parliamentary conference.Turkiyes possible role in any deliberations is not clear. Ankara itself is not a state party to the Court, nor a signatory to the Rome Statute, and has faced legal problems of its own with the highly-politicized Court in the recent past.Dr. Jekyll and Mr. BidenIf media reports on the USs greenlighting of a possible ICC investigation into Israeli officials are substantiated, they would constitute a continuation of Washingtons Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde approach to Israel in the past weeks. Last week, Israeli and US media reported on possible plans by Washington to sanction a radical Zionist IDF unit. The proposed sanctions were accompanied by President Bidens signature of an aid bill providing Israel with $17 billion in new US military assistance. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/israel-rejects-calls-for-independent-investigation-into-mass-graves-1118150731.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240422/sponsor-of-tiktok-ban--iran-palestine-sanctions-gets-1400-bump-in-aipac-donations-1118047522.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240425/us-pays-lip-service-to-palestinians-plight-while-arming-israel-1118112838.html israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov will netanyahu be taken to the icc, is the icc politicized, who recognizes the icc, does us recognize icc, does israel recognize icc, jurisdiction https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/many-people-to-question-zelenskys-legitimacy-soon---kremlin-1118160863.html Many People to Question Zelensky's Legitimacy Soon - Kremlin Many People to Question Zelensky's Legitimacy Soon - Kremlin Sputnik International Many people, including in Ukraine, will question the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky soon, and he will "have to justify himself," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. 2024-04-28T13:09+0000 2024-04-28T13:09+0000 2024-04-28T13:16+0000 world dmitry peskov volodymyr zelensky ukraine russia kremlin https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/06/1116613951_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_45fdede607cf0a3ee24f5f28219cac8c.jpg "Very soon, the moment will come when many people, including in Ukraine, will question his [Zelensky's] legitimacy. In any case, even from the legal point of view, it will have to be done. And he will have to justify himself somehow," Peskov told Rossiya 1 reporter Pavel Zarubin. When asked to comment on the remarks of the Ukrainian president, who assessed the new weapons supply to Kiev as a good deal enabling Ukrainians to fight for themselves, the Kremlin spokesman called Zelensky the "specific president of the specific regime." He also expressed the belief that Russia would achieve victory in the special military operation, as the dynamics of the situation on the front were showing that the "outcome is predetermined." Ukraine was due to hold a presidential election on March 31, but it was called off due to martial law and general mobilization. Zelensky, who was sworn into office in May 2019, said it was "not the right time" for elections. Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, in response to calls by the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics. Moscow said the operation, which targets Ukrainian military infrastructure, aims to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine and completely liberate Donbass. Western nations have imposed numerous sanctions on Russia and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240331/free-and-transparent-election-in-ukraine-would-have-been-disaster-for-zelensky-1117674979.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 ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky, kremlin spokesman dmitry peskov, zelensky's legitimacy https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/over-10-people-injured-in-israeli-airstrike-in-southern-lebanon---source-1118152142.html Over 10 People Injured in Israeli Airstrike in Southern Lebanon - Source Over 10 People Injured in Israeli Airstrike in Southern Lebanon - Source Sputnik International The Lebanese Foreign Ministry has said some 100,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in southern Lebanon because of Israel's shelling. 2024-04-28T03:35+0000 2024-04-28T03:35+0000 2024-04-28T05:31+0000 world lebanon middle east israel hezbollah gaza strip hamas palestine-israel conflict israel-gaza conflict humanitarian crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/1c/1118152409_0:8:3076:1738_1920x0_80_0_0_b1644d41723e72b726bcb1cad2a912a2.jpg In turn, Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah said it had attacked three Israeli military targets near Lebanon's southern border. Hezbollah has been exchanging airstrikes with Israel since October 2023, as the situation in the region deteriorated dramatically after Israel announced a military operation against Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry has said some 100,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in southern Lebanon because of Israel's shelling. Israel has also said that about 80,000 residents of northern Israel have found themselves in a similar situation. lebanon israel gaza strip 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 lebanon, lebanese foreign ministry, israel, israel defense forces, hezbollah, hamas, gaza strip, israel, sarbin https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/russia-studies-mysterious-ghost-particle-that-affects-whole-universe-1118163914.html Russia Studies Mysterious 'Ghost' Particle That Affects Whole Universe Russia Studies Mysterious 'Ghost' Particle That Affects Whole Universe Sputnik International Russian scientists are studying one of the most mysterious particles in nature: the neutrino. The research could give them a deeper knowledge about the standard model of particle physics, the nature of black holes and evn lift the veil of secrecy over the Big Bang. 2024-04-28T18:13+0000 2024-04-28T18:13+0000 2024-04-28T18:13+0000 beyond politics science & tech russia baikal lake baikal russian academy of sciences (ras) institute for nuclear research baikal-gvd antarctica opinion https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/14/1116884201_0:38:1281:758_1920x0_80_0_0_2d1b310187eefdad9573c8a8640fcf95.jpg The first results of Russian experiments conducted with the help of the Baikal deep-sea neutrino telescope Baikal-GVD were published in Physical Review D (PRD), a leading journal in elementary particle physics, last February.Russian scientists confirmed the presence of a neutrino flux of astrophysical nature previously discovered at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica."In the last decade we have observed a transition to multichannel astronomy when it becomes possible to study an object or phenomenon using different forms of astronomy. This includes the search for neutrino radiation."What is a Neutrino?Neutrinos are tiny subatomic particles very similar to electrons, but they have no electrical charge and their mass is very small. Even though neutrinos are the most common particles in the universe it's incredibly difficult to detect them because they do not interact very often with other particles. Sometimes they are referred to as "ghost particles."At the same time neutrinos are the most penetrating subatomic particles in the world: they are capable of passing through literally everything without causing any reaction or inflicting any harm. In fact, trillions of neutrinos are passing through one's body every second.Back in 1930, quantum physicist Wolfgang Pauli predicted the existence of the "neutrino" while solving the problem of the apparent loss of energy in the process of radioactive beta decay. While the law of conservation of energy says that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant, it appeared at the time that beta-decay went contrary to that principle. Pauli suggested the existence of a non-interacting particle with no electric charge which could solve the riddle and re-validate the conservation law.In 1955, Pauli's theory was confirmed: physicists Clyde Cowan and Frederick Reines of the Los Alamos National Laboratory managed to detect neutrinos from beta decay inside a nuclear reactor at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.The Neutrino is Part of EverythingEven though it appears that neutrinos barely interact with other particles, they have had a considerable impact on various elements in the Universe.In 1975 Domogatsky and his colleague Dmitry Nadezhin introduced a concept of a "neutrino nucleosynthesis"."Lithium consists of 93 percent of lithium-7, followed by lithium-6," he explained. "The chemical composition of these light elements without neutrinos would be completely different."Russia's Neutrino ResearchAs of 2019, there were three experiments conducted in Russia in order to detect so-called "sterile neutrinos", according to the Rosatom State Atomi Energy Corporation that participated in the projects.The first experiment, DANSS, is taking place at the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). One nuclear reactor at the plant is used as a source of neutrinos. A detector at the station registers antineutrinos coming from a nuclear reactor.The second experiment is Neutrino-4. which is being carried out in Dimitrovgrad at the SM-3 research reactor at RIAR. The third, BEST, is being conducted in Kabardino-Balkaria, at the Baksan Neutrino Observatory of the Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences.The forth project employing the Baikal Neutrino Telescope was launched in March 2021."By and large, some impressive scientific results have started to emerge only recently. The first articles have begun to be published in reputable journals, and there is an active discussion of these results, too. So far, a small number of events have been registered, but things are moving forward. We register astrophysical neutrinos those that were born not in the Earths atmosphere, but far beyond its borders."The scientist noted that he and his colleagues have been collaborating with their foreign peers for many years.When asked what the size of the neutrino telescope Baikal-GVD is, Domogatsky responded:"The concept of size in such a system is quite arbitrary. Even the concept of 'effective volume', which works when solving a scientific problem, is not entirely accurate. It is necessary to determine exactly for what purpose it is used. If the task is to register cascade events from high-energy neutrinos, then we have significantly exceeded 0.5 cubic kilometers. In the next two or three expeditions, we will get close to a cubic kilometer."The scientist highlighted that Russia is now moving faster in its neutrino research, expressing hope that new breakthroughs are around the corner. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/russia-creates-1st-space-surveillance-system-over-arctic---roscosmos-1118150198.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231116/supernovas-cosmic-blast-temporarily-depleted-earths-ozone-shield-last-year-1114991487.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240422/why-russias-approach-to-artificial-intelligence-may-save-civilization-1118060439.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240412/why-angara-a5s-launch-ushers-in-new-era-for-russias-space-exploration-1117899968.html russia baikal lake baikal 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 russia, lake baikal, neutrino telescope baikal-gvd, neutrino research, icecube, grigory domogatsky, nuclear reaction, neutrino experiments, russian scientists, space exploration, supernova, big bang theory https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/russia-warns-seizure-of-its-asset-would-deal-a-blow-western-economic-system-1118155847.html Russia Warns Seizure of Its Assets Would Deal a Blow to Western Economic System Russia Warns Seizure of Its Assets Would Deal a Blow to Western Economic System Sputnik International Confiscating Russian assets would be a nail in the coffin of the entire Western economic system, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 2024-04-28T10:03+0000 2024-04-28T10:03+0000 2024-04-28T10:20+0000 dmitry peskov economy vladimir putin russia kremlin us congress us frozen assets https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/15/1115733621_0:135:3094:1875_1920x0_80_0_0_f9f87c0a8ce77bbf71f38277e1805ddc.jpg "If this happens, if such a dangerous precedent is created, it will be such a solid nail in the future coffin of the entire Western economic system of coordinates," Peskov said in an interview with Pavel Zarubin, a journalist from the program 'Moscow. Kremlin. Putin' on Rossiya 1 TV channel.Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary, also stated that foreign investors and countries around the globe will reconsider investing their money in the West if it goes ahead with the asset seizure sanctioned by the US Congress this week.He said it was to soon to talk about Russia's response in the event of the West seizing Russian assets, but noted that there was also Western property in Russia."It is premature to talk about this," Peskov said. "Of course, there is Western money here. We have Western money of various structures. Now is not the time to specify."However, he stressed that in the event of the seizure of frozen Russian assets in the West, Russia would take legal action and other steps."Of course, such decisions will have very broad judicial perspectives. And, of course, Russia will use these judicial perspectives and will endlessly defend its interests in this field," Peskov said."Panic Rising in Kiev"Turning to the Ukraine conflict, Peskov said that panic was growing in Kiev as Russian forces continued to advance."There is a growing panic in Ukraine on the fronts," the spokesman said, adding that it is important for Russia not to halt the special military operation.Friends and relatives of those fighting in the operation share news about the low morale of the Ukrainian army, he added."This is first-hand information. Panic is growing on the other side. It is now very important for us to maintain this momentum. It is very important not to stop and to keep on the path of implementation," Peskov said.At the same time, the "enemies" will definitely test Russia "for weakness" and what matters the most is to never show it, Peskov added.Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the goal of the operation was to protect people who had been subjected to Kiev's regime "mockery and genocide" for eight years, adding that Moscow was left with no other choice but to respond to the security risks created. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240424/stealing-russian-assets-spells-end-of-us-as-bastion-for-rule-of-law-1118098163.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240421/us-confiscation-of-russian-assets-will-supercharge-de-dollarization-1118035188.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/ukraine-rejected-2022-peace-deal-over-russian-language-status--banning-nazism-terms---welt-1118153431.html 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 dmitry peskov, russian assets, frozen russian assets, confication of frozen russian assets, us want to confiscate russian frozen assets https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/russian-troops-take-control-over-dpr-village-of-novobakhmutovka---mod-1118159026.html Russian Troops Take Control Over DPR Village of Novobakhmutovka - MoD Russian Troops Take Control Over DPR Village of Novobakhmutovka - MoD Sputnik International Russian forces took control over the village of Novobakhmutovka in the Donetsk People's Republic in the past 24 hours, eliminating up to 380 Ukrainian servicepeople and one tank in the area, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. 2024-04-28T11:52+0000 2024-04-28T11:52+0000 2024-04-28T12:12+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russian defense ministry ukraine russia russian armed forces kiev https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/15/1116900007_0:19:3573:2029_1920x0_80_0_0_315e75294672b7c41d4f73a2a39310e8.jpg "As a result of active operations, units of the Tsentr Battlegroup of forces liberated the village of Novobakhmutovka in the Donetsk People's Republic and defeated units of the 142nd infantry, 24th mechanized and 68th ranger brigades of the Ukrainian armed forces in the areas of [the villages of] Leninskoye, Keramik and Semenovka in the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said. The Russian army repelled 10 attacks by the Ukrainian military in the areas of the villages of Novgorodskoye, Ocheretino, Novobakhmutovka, Netailovo and Berdychi, the ministry added. Meanwhile, the Yug Battlegroup of Russian forces inflicted fire damage on the Ukrainian troops in the areas of the villages of Kleshcheyevka, Andreyevka and Krasnogorovka in the Donetsk People's Republic in the past 24 hours, eliminating up to 360 Ukrainian servicepeople and two ammunition depots in the area, the ministry said. The Yug combat group of the Russian armed forces also repelled four attacks by the Ukrainian army in the area of the city of Chasov Yar, destroying two armored fighting vehicles and 17 vehicles, the ministry added. During the counter-battery fight, Kiev lost two D-20 howitzers, two D-30 howitzers and a 100-millimeter MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun, the ministry said. Two Enclave-N electronic warfare stations and a field ammunition depot were also destroyed, the ministry said. Meanwhile, the Zapad Battlegroup of Russian forces repelled three counterattacks by units of the 77th airmobile brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces in the area of the village of Novoselovskoe in the Lugansk People's Republic and eliminated up to 270 Ukrainian servicepeople in the direction in the past 24 hours, the ministry said. Ukraine lost an armored personnel carrier, eight vehicles and a US-made M198 howitzer, as well as a Msta-B howitzer, a D-20 howitzer and a Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, as well as a M-46 howitzer, the ministry said. Moreover, the Russian military destroyed Ukrainian hangars with attack drones at the Kamenka airfield in the Dnepropetrovsk region in the past 24 hours, the ministry added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240410/ukraine-loses-nearly-400-soldiers-around-avdeyevka-in-past-day---mod-1117846009.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 russian troops, dpr village of novobakhmutovka, russian defense ministry AFTER PUNISHING HEAT, CHIZ WANTS GOV'T TO PREPARE FOR LA NINA Sen. Chiz Escudero has issued a strong call for the government to take proactive measures in anticipation of the La Nina weather phenomenon to safeguard vulnerable communities and mitigate potential risks. Escudero's pronouncement comes as the country's weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), raises an "increasing probability" of La Nina developing later this year. The senator said that the impending shift to La Nina, characterized by cooler sea surface temperatures and above-normal rainfall, demands comprehensive programs and early interventions to protect vulnerable sectors and ensure climate resilience. "By acting now, we can better navigate the challenges posed by changing climate patterns and protect vulnerable communities and sectors, especially our farmers and fisherfolk," Escudero said in an interview over the weekend. PAGASA earlier issued La Nina Watch to raise public awareness on the forthcoming weather phenomenon. To date, the weather bureau said La Nina has a 55-percent chance of developing in the next six months. The last La Nina in the country lasted for three straight years, from September 2020 until early 2023, according to PAGASA. Escudero also emphasized the need for responsible allocation of Calamity Funds as the nation grapples currently with El Nino and preparing for the impending La Nina weather phenomenon. "Ayon sa pag-aaral ng PAGASA, kung El Nino tayo ngayon, ay La Nina naman tayo next year. Maaari ba 'wag nating ubusin lahat ng paghahanda natin para sa El Nino lamang dahil next year kabaliktaran 'yong dapat nating paghandaan. Ngayon ang tamang panahon para maghanda tayo para sa parating na La Nino," the senator pointed out. "Dahil legal na pwedeng gastusin ang Calamity Funds para sa paghahanda sa isang kalamidad at hindi lamang sa aktwal na kalamidad kapag nand'yan na 'yan, atin nang paghandaan ang La Nina. Bukod diyan, tatamaan pa rin tayo ng ilan pang bagyo na tinataya ng PAGASA na nasa lima hanggang 10 bagyo pa sa loob ng taon," he added. As the country braves itself for La Nina, the veteran lawmaker said the Department of Agriculture (DA) should ensure the provision of aid to farmers and fisherfolk whose livelihood had been affected by the El Nino disturbance. "Sa ngayon ayuda na lamang ang pwedeng maibigay sa mga magkakasakit, sa nawalan ng hanap-buhay na mga magsasaka o mangingisda dahil dito sa El Nino. Ayuda na lamang 'yan para sa kanila pero hindi talaga para pigilan ang anumang masamang epekto ng El Nino dahil nangyayari na," Escudero said. The intense heat caused by the El Nino phenomenon has inflicted a considerable damage on the country's agricultural sector, amounting to a staggering P4.39 billion, the DA said. The dry spell has also adversely affected a total of 85,232 farmers and fisherfolk across 11 regions. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/spains-old-patriot-missiles-and-other-arms-are-drop-in-ocean-for-ukraine-1118160674.html Spain's Old Patriot Missiles and Other Arms are Drop in Ocean for Ukraine Spain's Old Patriot Missiles and Other Arms are Drop in Ocean for Ukraine Sputnik International Spain won't provide new air defense batteries to the Kiev regime, but will send a limited number of Patriot missiles, munitions, and other military equipment. How could the Spanish weapons batch affect the situation on the battlefield? 2024-04-28T13:35+0000 2024-04-28T13:35+0000 2024-04-28T13:35+0000 ukraine military volodymyr zelensky spain russia nato patriot opinion nato expansion us https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/0a/1117241728_0:0:3065:1725_1920x0_80_0_0_1cbfb798575283b7d74f2b871a8f372b.jpg Madrid will supply a limited set of long-range Patriot anti-aircraft interceptor missiles, Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated on April 26 at a meeting of the Ramstein group. She added that interceptor missiles will arrive at the NATO logistics hub in Poland "in four days."Nonetheless, Ukraine's hopes to get new Patriot launchers from Spain or Greece have been dashed, according to Politico. Earlier Volodymyr Zelensky urged NATO to provide Ukraine with at least seven high-grade air defense system batteries. Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on Friday that Madrid won't provide one of its three Patriots to Ukraine.Juan A. Aguilar, the director of the Spanish Institute of Geopolitics, denounced the decision to donate this type of weapon to Ukraine as utterly nonsensical. According to Aguilar, the Spanish government has demonstrated irresponsibility by sending air defenses to Ukraine which Spain needs for itself.Spain only has three Patriot missile batteries. "They are all second-hand and purchased from Germany starting in 2004," Aguilar explained, adding that around 50 missiles were purchased along with the launchers.The Western mainstream press earlier clarified that Spain had made the decision to hand over its Patriot missiles to Kiev under the pressure from the US and other NATO countries.Robles also pledged to provide a new batch of large-caliber artillery ammunition to Ukraine, as well as additional 155 mm and 120 mm shells in the coming months. She asserted to the Kiev authorities that machine guns, armored infantry fighting vehicles, anti-tank weapons, howitzers, anti-drone systems, and Leopard tanks will be delivered to Ukraine within the next two months.Sputnik's interlocutors emphasized that the provision of a limited number of Patriot missiles and other military equipment by Spain will not have a significant impact on the status quo on the ground. They believe that Washington pressed Madrid to supply the missiles in order to postpone Ukraine's defeat until after the 2024 presidential election.They also noted that the hefty $61 billion aid bill passed by the US Congress could not improve the Kiev regime's deplorable state of affairs, given that most of the funds will remain in the United States to replenish the nation's stockpiles of arms and ammo depleted in the course of Washington's proxy war in Ukraine.The question arises whether Spain is stepping up the risk of NATO's confrontation with Russia by increasing arms supplies to Ukraine. Against the backdrop of Germany's admission that NATO troops have been assisting the Ukrainian military on the ground and France's calls for putting the alliance's boots on the ground in Ukraine, Spain's move is unlikely to exacerbate the situation further as per Moragon.The expert foresees a turning point in the conflict associated with NATO's existential problem. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/new-us-6bln-aid-for-ukraine-includes-munitions-for-nasams-patriot-himars-1118131121.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/nato-troops-dont-want-to-die-poland-and-lithuania-to-repatriate-ukrainian-draft-dodgers-1118128005.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240425/scott-ritter-hefty-us-military-aid-for-ukraine-wont-hamper-russias-strategic-advantage-1118110905.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/ukraines-deep-manpower-shortage-overshadows-arms-deliveries-1118136925.html ukraine spain russia 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 spain will provide patriot missiles to ukraine, patriot air defense systems, ukraine war, biden's ukraine aid package, nato troops on the ground in ukraine, deliveries of spanish patriot missiles won't stop russia's advance, spain will provide leopard tanks to ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/syrian-troops-strike-at-militant-hardware-outside-aleppo-idlib-latakia-1118165306.html Syrian Troops Strike at Militant Hardware Outside Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia Syrian Troops Strike at Militant Hardware Outside Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia Sputnik International Syrian forces destroyed armored vehicles and transport belonging to Islamist extremists in the Aleppo, Idlib and Latakia countryside in northwestern Syria, the Defense Ministry said on Sunday. 2024-04-28T17:33+0000 2024-04-28T17:33+0000 2024-04-28T17:33+0000 military syria latakia middle east aleppo idlib islamist militants https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/1c/1118165104_0:126:3197:1924_1920x0_80_0_0_a82c8b8b3f585ae253342541c3f8ab09.jpg "In response to continuing terrorist attacks, Syrian armed forces operating in the suburbs of Aleppo and Idlib together with friendly Russian forces used drones to target several transport vehicles and armored vehicles destroying them and killing and wounding terrorists inside," it said. Another Syrian army unit operating near the northwestern city of Latakia shot down several drones that militants used in attacks on villages and towns in the province, the Syrian ministry said in the statement. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240307/russian-military-destroys-2-militant-bases-20-terrorists-in-syrias-idlib-province-1117196884.html syria latakia aleppo idlib 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 syria, syrian armed forces, syrian armed forces eliminate islamists, aleppo, latakia, idlib https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/ukraine-rejected-2022-peace-deal-over-russian-language-status--banning-nazism-terms---welt-1118153431.html Ukraine Rejected 2022 Peace Deal Over Russian Language Status & 'Banning Nazism' Terms - Welt Ukraine Rejected 2022 Peace Deal Over Russian Language Status & 'Banning Nazism' Terms - Welt Sputnik International Ukraine rejected 2022 peace deal with Russia over terms regarding status of the Russian language, and demand to officially ban Nazism and aggressive nationalism, according to draft obtained by Welt. 2024-04-28T07:57+0000 2024-04-28T07:57+0000 2024-04-28T07:57+0000 world russia ukraine peace talks volodymyr zelensky ukrainian armed forces nato boris johnson nazism https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0b/1b/1115229071_0:151:1600:1051_1920x0_80_0_0_d776d621f6cd38984887e15d69501968.jpg Russia and Ukraine were closer than ever to concluding a peace treaty in April 2022, but the Kiev regime rejected several of Moscows demands outright, German newspaper Welt Am Sonntag revealed.Specifically, terms regarding the status of the Russian language, and Kievs official rejection of Nazism were seen as unpalatable by the regime led by Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the 17-page draft peace treaty between the sides obtained by Welt.It follows from the draft, agreed during negotiations in Turkiye on April 15, 2022, that Moscow and Kiev reached an agreement on the basic conditions for ending the conflict, but there were some unresolved issues that were to be discussed personally by President Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky in the same month. That summit was never to take place.Countless lives could have been spared if this advantageous deal had been concluded, the outlet stated.Since the beginning of Russias special military operation, Ukraines military has lost almost 500,000 people, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated on April 23. Welt cited a member of the former Ukrainian negotiating team as calling it, in hindsight, the best deal we could have had."NATO Off the TableFirst of all, in line with Article 1 of the draft treaty, Ukraine committed itself to "permanent neutrality." Thus, Kiev was to abandon ambitions of membership in a military alliance, including NATO. The ensuing 13 sub-points of the first article outline the extensive definition of neutrality.Ukraine agreed never to "receive, produce, or acquire nuclear weapons," not to allow foreign weapons or troops on its soil, and not to provide its military infrastructure, including airports and seaports, to any other country.Furthermore, in line with the draft, Kiev renounced holding military exercises with foreign participation and partaking in any military conflicts. However, EU membership for Kiev was explicitly not hindered, according to Article 3 of the document.Security GuaranteesArticle 5 of the draft treaty had outlined comprehensive security guarantees that the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, UK, France, China, and Russia - could provide for Ukraine. In the event of a conflict, the guarantor states would commit to supporting Kievs self-defense within a maximum of three days, as enshrined in the UN Charter. This assistance could take the form of "joint action" by all or individual guarantor powers. According to Article 15, this treaty was supposed to be ratified in each signatory state to ensure legal validity. The article notes that one of the difficulties regarding this issue was the requirement for the consent of all guarantor states, which meant Russia could resort to a veto. At the same time, a number of Western states, including the US, UK, and France, promised support to Kiev, but refused to guarantee it.Territorial IssuesRegarding territorial issues, parts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Donbass would remain under Russian control, the Welt-cited draft treaty stated, and Ukraines "security guarantees" would not extend to Crimea and the port of Sevastopol.The future size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces remained unresolved, too. According to Appendix 1, Moscow ostensibly wanted Kiev to slash the size of its army to 85,000 people, while Ukraine insisted on retaining a strength of 250,000 . There were also disagreements over the amount of military equipment that should remain in the arsenal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.The publication noted that from Article 18 of the draft agreement it followed that the parties expected the presidents of the two countries to sign the deal in April 2022.However, after a "promising" summit in Istanbul, Moscow put forward subsequent demands, which Kiev did not agree to, the outlet said, adding that they were "marked in italics in the document." Russia demanded that Russian be made the second official language in Ukraine, that mutual sanctions be lifted, and lawsuits in international courts be stopped. Kiev was also to officially ban "fascism, Nazism and aggressive nationalism, the newspaper writes.West Torpedoed NegotiationsIt is no secret that the West sabotaged any possible peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine. Last year, senior Ukrainian lawmaker David Arakhamia, the former chief negotiator with Russia, claimed in an interview with a Ukrainian TV channel that then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was the one who convinced Kiev in 2022 not to negotiate with Moscow and carry on fighting instead.The lawmaker also claimed that Ukraine rejected the ceasefire deal due to it contradicting the countrys constitution's clause on Kievs Euro-Atlantic aspirations.Efforts to achieve a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine were thwarted by Johnson at the behest of the United States, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin said in February, adding:"He [Johnson] blocked the peace efforts with Washington's blessing, obviously, because he could not do it on his own accord. He arrived there, and the document, which had already been initialed by the head of the Ukrainian delegation, [David] Arakhamia, was thrown into the wastebasket, and Ukraine started fighting. These are the consequences of what the [former] prime minister of the United Kingdom did," Kelin said in an interview with Turkish broadcaster TRT World.In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson that negotiations with Ukraine in 2022 were nearly finalized. However, after Russian troops withdrew from Kiev, the Ukrainian side disregarded all agreements and Zelensky went as far as prohibiting negotiations with Russia through a legislative decree.Putin has emphasized on numerous occasions that Moscow has never rejected negotiations, while also voicing uncertainty regarding whether the West wants a peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240301/russia-ukraine-peace-settlement-attempt-sabotaged-in-march-2022---erdogan-1117081326.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/uks-boris-johnson-sabotaged-russia-ukraine-peace-deal-on-us-orders-1116927933.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko ukraine rejected 2022 peace deal with russia, draft peace agreement between russia and ukraine in 2022, ukraine conflict, ukraine crisis, russia ukraine military conflict, russian military operation in ukraine, why are russia and ukraine fighting, russia ukraine confrontation, russia ukraine peace talks, peace agreements between russia and ukraine, why did russia ukraine peace negotiations fail The streak of Shark Week is over. Almost a year to the day of his last defeat a sixth-place finish on April 29, 2023 and after 17 straight victories, Shark Week was knocked off by Bonus Round in the $25,000 Preferred Pace on Saturday, April 27 at Century Downs. As expected, Shark Week was sent off as the 1-9 choice in the field of six. And as expected, Shark Week was sent off the car for the front by driver Mike Hennessy. Flashing that typical early speed, Shark Week did clear to the top but was pressed a bit by inner leaver Samba Beat (Phil Giesbrecht) to get there. After a spicy :26.1 opening quarter, Hennessy turned down the heat and stole a 30-second breather in that second quarter for a :56.1 half. The first horse to come calling was Carro B Bunsen (Logan Gillis) with last week's Preferred winner Bonus Round (David Kelly) spotted second over as the third station flashed up in 1:24.3. Hennessy started to look a bit antsy in the driver's seat as the pressure mounted behind him. For the first time in a year, Shark Week looked vulnerable at the head of stretch. And Kelly had Bonus Round in the perfect position to take down Alberta's apex predator. Kelly flipped the switch with Bonus Round and tipped off the cover of Carro B Bunsen to start a three-wide attack around the far turn. Through a :28.1 final quarter, Bonus Round cleared the favourite down the stretch and prevailed in the 1:53.1 mile by just over a length. Samba Beat squeezed up the inside to edge out Shark Week for second. Bonus Round (Santanna Blue Chip - Bouncing Hanover) is trained by David Kelly for owners Pick 6 Stable of Strathmore, Alta. The six-year-old scored his second win of the year and 15th lifetime to lift his lifetime earnings up to $148,510. As the 12-1 second choice, he returned $26.80 to win. The eliminations for the Ed Tracey Memorial Pace were closer to form, with a pair of 1-2 favourites delivering wins for their connections and supporters. The first $7,500 elimination went in the very next race, and was also captured by a David Kelly-trained and -driven competitor. Yru So Sirius looped to the lead after Smokn Joe (Giesbrecht) got there just before him in the opening turn and there was never a tense moment after that. After fractions of :28, :59.1 and 1:27.2, Yru So Sirius needed just a :28.4 kicker to win by more than four in a time of 1:56.1. Opulent Dragon (Nathan Sobey) was next best, with Smokn Joe and Record High (Gillis) also advancing to next week's $30,000 final. Paying $2.80 to win, Yru So Sirius (Captive Audience - Outlaw Star Bright) picked up his sixth lifetime victory for owners Kelly, Mike Dicks of Parkland County and Richard McPhee of Edmonton, Alta. This win provided Kelly with his third training tally of the card. The tactics for 1-2 choice Up Yer Kilt in the second Tracey elim were different, but the result was the same: a win by a comfortable margin. Here, Mike Hennessy allowed Panda Beer (Kelly) to front the field through opening fractions of :28 and :59 while sitting midpack in fourth. Giesbrecht attempted to flush Hennessy by advancing with Captain Van Gogh, but Hennessy didn't bite and stayed on the pylons to force Captain Van Gogh into an uncovered grind. With no one following Giesbrecht, Hennessy tipped Up Yer Kilt into the outer flow as Panda Beer and Captain Van Gogh traded blows up front down the backside. Hennessy moved Up Yer Kilt into the three-wide path through a 1:26.1 third panel and swooped around those rivals with relative ease. A :29.4 final quarter was more than adequate for a 1:56 victory. Panda Beer stayed for second, followed by Jus Ched (Gillis) and Captain Van Gogh. Trained by Rod Hennessy and co-owned by Rod & Diane Hennessy of Strathmore, Alta., Up Yer Kilt (Mystician - Dont Stare) picked up his third win of the year and eighth lifetime. He paid $3.00 to win. Named in honour of the 2024 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee, the Ed Tracey Memorial is for four-year-old pacing horses and geldings that are non winners of $30,000 as of December 1, 2023. The final is set for next Saturday, May 4. To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Alberta, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs. (Standardbred Canada) Woodbine Mohawk Park hosted the Ontario Sired Spring Series finals for three-year-old pacers and trotters on Saturday, April 27. The Ontario Sired Spring Series was open to Ontario-sired sophomore trotters and pacers that were non-winners of $30,000 in 2023. Kindder Hotblood kicked off the card full of action in the $43,900 final for trotting fillies. James MacDonald and the Matt Bax student got away fourth through panels in :27 and :57.2 before tipping to the outside on a first-over journey towards the leading Lexus Angel (Trevor Henry). The pair duelled it out in the final turn before Kinnder Hotblood turned on the afterburners and sizzled to a 2-3/4-length score in 1:54.3. Lexus Angel had to settle for second and Hallie Intheclouds (Jody Jamieson) completed the triactor. "Very easy, nice trip, came strong at the end, you can't complain about that," said Bax. Kinnder Hotblood (Kadabra-Her Name Is Lola) is owned by Bax Stable, David Hudson, Gaelic Stable 2 and The Cavalier Stable. She earned her second win of the year and third career victory from nine starts, yielding $48,063 in earnings. Sylvain Filion doubled up in series finale victories and kicked off the triumphs with undefeated Robert McIntosh-trained Convoy Hall in race three, the final for sophomore trotting boys worth $43,600. Convoy Hall got away second through the opening panel in :28.1 before taking command and setting two more panels in :57.2 and 1:27.3. Uncontested to the wire, Convoy Hall continued on to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:55.2 over Captain Wania (Trevor Henry) and The Canam Banker (Tyler Borth). "He doesn't have many faults. He scares you a bit in post parade when he paces, but once he gets going, he's just perfect to drive," said Filion. Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., Douglas John McIntosh, Randy Liepa and Beverley Snobelen co-own the Muscle Mass-Constance Hall gelding, who made his career record a perfect six-for-six with $65,800 banked. Convoy Hall paid $2.10 as the heavily backed favourite. Lightning Lizzie was just that in her series final for the three-year-old fillies, worth $49,000. Sylvain Filion put the perfect Murray Brethour student on the front and they never looked back, clicking out panels in :26.2, :54.1 and 1:23.1 before opening up to win by eight lengths in a career best 1:52. Right Match (Tyler Jones) was second with Catch My Breath (James MacDonald) taking the show spot. "I was trying to let Trevor go before the quarter, but my mare hooked on so hard I had no choice to take him," said Filion. "She proved tonight she was much the best because they went at her pretty hard and she won by a few lengths." Lightning Lizzie (Betterthancheddar-Lilli Maid) extended her win streak to three-for-three in her young career, banking $42,000 for owners Murray Brethour, Glenn Tarver, Bruce Northover and Jason Churchill. She paid $2.70 to win. Warraweeforlaura completed the series action with a win in the highest price class, the $52,600 final for the sophomore pacing males. A full field of 10 went to the gate with Warraweeforlaura settling into post seven with Tyler Borth at the lines for Frank Baker. Warraweeforlaura never found the rail through the opening panel in :26.4 as he continued in second from the outside. After that split, he found temporary place along the pylons in third at the half in :54.4 before popping back out en route to the three-quarters in 1:23. In the final turn, Warraweeforlaura achieved the lead and he never looked back as he went on to win by two lengths in 1:51.4. Chalk Hanover (James MacDonald) and Price Control (Louis-Philippe Roy) each rallied from the back of the pack for second and third, respectively. "We got lucky and we got him in a good spot tonight," said Borth. Frank Baker Jr., Tyler Borth and William Stevenson co-own the sophomore All Bets Off-Allegory gelding. Moving his career sum to $60,910 from 10 starts, the win was his fourth seasonal and career victory in a new lifetime mark. Warraweeforlaura returned $10.50 to win. Whatchulookin At scored in the $25,000 third leg of the Canadian Sired Graduate Series for four-year-old pacers with James MacDonald at the command for David Menary. MacDonald and Whatchulookin At sat the mile in fourth through panels in :27.1, :55.4 and 1:23.2. Making his move in the stretch, Whatchulookin At sprinted home in :25.3 to win by a head in 1:50.1 over No Control (Sylvain Filion) and Write Me A Rose (Doug McNair). Pollack Racing LLC owns the four-year-old Hes Watching-Oriane Blue Chip gelding, who recorded his first win of the year and seventh career tally in 28 starts. He moved his lifetime bankroll to $318,482. As the upset victor at 7-1 odds in the field of six, Whatchulookin At returned $16.60 to win. On the undercard, Emmetts Buddy took the $32,000 Preferred 2 Pace with Tyler Borth holding the lines for Michael Kwietniowski. Borth and Emmetts Buddy got away fifth through the opening panel in :26.3 and half in :54.4 before moving first over. Emmetts Buddy was caught on the outside in fourth through the three-quarters in 1:23 before sprinting down the stretch to a 1-1/2-length victory in 1:50.3. Saulsbrook Victor (Brett MacDonald) finished second with Dupree Hanover (Doug McNair) third. Emmetts Buddy (In The Irons-Logicallyinclined) is owned by breeder Arthur Rey and earned his second win in three starts this year and his 21st career victory from 55 starts. He moved his career sum to $317,719. As the bettors' choice, the five-year-old gelding returned $3.50 to win. Sweet Deisel extended his win streak to seven in a row on Saturday's card with James MacDonald piloting the eight-year-old Sweet Lou-Gentlemens Delight gelding to a 1:53 triumph by a neck for trainer Herbert Holland. To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park. (Standardbred Canada) Off of a banner year in 2023, driver Kyle Wilfong broke through yet again in 2024, earning his 2,000th career driving victory on Saturday, April 27 at Harrahs Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Entering the Saturday card just one shy of the milestone, Wilfong steered Late Nite Hawk to victory for his father, Brett Wilfong. Leaving from post three, Wilfong was on a mission from the outset, hustling Late Nite Hawk to the lead in the field of Open 2/Open 3 trotters through a first quarter of :28.3. Late Nite Hawk had things his way to the halfway point in :57 before Wilfong looked for separation entering the far turn. Southwind Cherry and Tyler Smith were the first to engage Late Nite Hawk, reaching the leaders wheel at three-quarters in 1:25.2 as Late Nite Hawk looked to counter and quicken under Wilfong urging. In the stretch, Southwind Cherry made a menacing move, however, Late Nite Hawk would not be denied, rebuffing the pressure with a :27.4 final quarter to secure the victory in 1:53.1. The 33-year-old Illinois native had a career year in 2023, wracking up $3.5 million in earnings while steering 197 horses to victory. His 2023 season was highlighted by winning the $310,000 Dan Patch Stakes aboard Ponda Warrior for trainer Jay Hochstetler in 1:48.1. The Wilfong/Hochstetler proved to be a potent duo for much of the 2023 season, as Wilfong also piloted Ponda Title for the entirety of a season in which she banked $483,420 capped off by a victory in the Indiana Sire Stakes Super Final. Wilfong completed the 2023 racing season at Harrahs Hoosier Park third in the driver standings behind only Trace Tetrick and John De Long. For his career, Wilfong has racked up more than $18.5 million in career earnings in 16,218 career drives. Wilfong carried the momentum of 2023 into 2024 where he currently finds himself atop the drivers standings at Harrahs Hoosier Park. Wilfong has driven 32 winners through the young racing season, 22-year-old Marvin Luna is in second with 30, with John De Long rounding out the podium with 26. Live harness racing will resume at Harrahs Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, May 1 with a 14-race card set to get underway at 6:15 p.m. Hoosier Park will also have an early post time on Saturday, May 4 on Kentucky Derby day, with a 12-race card kicking off at 4 p.m. to go along with a host of derby festivities and promotions. (Hoosier Park) One week after explaining after a win in a post-race interview that Maximus Miki loves to race first-over, driver Andy McCarthy changed tactics nonetheless on Saturday night (April 27) at The Meadowlands. And the result was unchanged, as the five-year-old gelded son of Always B Miki-Beach Gal took the featured $37,671 Winners Over Pace for a second consecutive week. After getting away third around the first turn, McCarthy moved Miki quickly and secured the lead down the backstretch, taking the point away from Southwind Gendry soon after the quarter, which was timed in :27. With the 1-2 favourite setting up shop on the lead in a six-horse field, Maximus Miki raced unpressured, reached the half in :55 and three-quarters in 1:23, setting up a sprint to the wire that saw the Tom Cancelliere trainee prevail by a 1-1/4 lengths over American Dealer N. Southwind Gendry finished third. He was super, said McCarthy. Tommys been doing a great job with him. Its the first time I put him on the front but he got it done. He really enjoys having a target. When you put him up there [on the lead], you have to keep after him a bit. Maximus Mikis clocking of 1:49.1 was a lifetime best and equalled the fastest mile of the year at The Big M. Red Right Hand was the first to go that fast on March 30. Maximus Miki returned $3 to his backers after winning for the 16th time from just 32 lifetime starts, good for earnings of $217,725 for owner John Cancelliere. Huntinthelastdolar went wire-to-wire from the rail to take the $43,151 Four-Year-Old Open in 1:50. The gelded son of Huntsville-Eighthunrdolarbill sprinted his final quarter in :25.1 to win for ninth time from 25 lifetime starts, lifting his earnings past the $530,000 mark. The Per Engblom trainee had plenty of gas left in the tank after a rated middle half of :57.1. I had the fractions on my side, said winning driver Yannick Gingras. The horse is really nice. He can go fast. There were four $41,096 New Jersey Breeders Maturity finals for four-year-olds contested during the night, with the first three conducted as non-betting events before the pari-mutuel card. In the mares trot, Tactical Mounds (Tactical Landing-Mounds) won a walkover (a one-horse race) in 1:55.2 for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Megan Scran. Bestfriend Volo (Walner-Bank Of Newport) took the horse and gelding trot in 1:51.3 for Dexter Dunn and Nancy Takter before Lisa Lane (Lazarus N-Special Kay Deo) hit the winners circle in the mare pace in 1:51.1 for Patrick Ryder and Chris Ryder. On the betting card, 2023 New Jersey Classic winner Voukefalas (Lazarus N-Inittowinafortune) emerged victorious as the 2-5 favourite in the horse and gelding pace, gunning down leader Handlelikeaporsche at the wire in 1:50.4 after an explosive final quarter of :25 for Jordan Stratton and Michael Russo. Dunn, Dave Miller, Gingras and McCarthy tied for the top of the nightly driver leaderboard with two winners apiece. Engblom led the trainers with a pair of victories. It was a big night for followers of Dave Little, as the veteran member of the Big Ms TV crew selected eight winners on top, including his best bet and value play. In addition, Little pegged the Late Pick-4 and had the winning payout of $80.95 five times to cash in for $404.75. On race later, Littles Late Double rolled in, paying $85.40, but Little played a $6 ticket, creating a return of $256.20. All-source handle totalled $3,012,800 USD on the 14-race card, marking the 27th time from 33 programs that wagering has gone past the $3 million USD mark this year. Racing resumes on Friday, May 3 at 6:20 p.m. (Meadowlands Racetrack) Accused of pointing a gun at his wife and pulling the trigger last October, a former correctional officer and military policeman will now stand trial in Wythe County Circuit Court. James Howard Gee, 56, of Max Meadows was indicted Monday on charges of attempted murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony stemming from the Oct. 17, 2023, incident at his Grouse Ridge Road residence. Police said Gee, who smelled strongly of alcohol when deputies arrived, pointed a pistol at his wife during an altercation. The gun, though, didnt fire. In 2010, Gee was charged with assault and battery of a family member, but the charge was dropped. According to court documents, Gee worked for the West Virginia Department of Corrections from 1995-1997. Before that, he served in the U.S. Army. After his most recent arrest, Gee was evaluated by a psychologist and found competent to stand trial. Hes being held without bond in the New River Valley Regional Jail. No trial date has been set. In other cases heard on Monday: Dallas A. Adams-Dunford, 41, of Max Meadows was indicted on a drug possession charge. Matthew Dwayne Akers, 37, of Rural Retreat was indicted on a drug possession charge. Santanna Renay Allison, 23, of Max Meadows was indicted on an automobile larceny charge. Russell Bedford, 43, of Wytheville was indicted on a drug possession charge. Diane Renee Bowers, 38, of Wytheville was indicted on a drug possession charge. Mitchell Louis Brown, 52, of Roanoke was indicted on charges of possessing a firearm on school property and being a violent felon in possession of a firearm. Cindy Laurel Cobb, 23, of Donalds, South Carolina, was indicted on a charge of threatening to burn a public building. Brandon Lee Crigger, 33, of Max Meadows was indicted on an automobile larceny charge. Crystal Michele Dye, 24, of Wytheville was indicted on a felony child endangerment charge. Norman Allen Emler, 52, of Ivanhoe was indicted on charges of threatening to kill or do bodily injury and felony destruction of property. Gilmer Wyatt Eversole, 22, of Wytheville was indicted on unlawful wounding and reckless handing of a firearm with serious injury charges. Brenda Marie Fleisher, 36, of Blue Grass was indicted on a drug possession charge. Matthew Ishmael Fowler, 24, of Wytheville was indicted on a felony child endangerment charge. Austin William Lee Greer, 20, of Bandy was indicted on a felony eluding police charge. Aaron Douglas Grubb, 36, of Crockett was indicted on a drug possession charge. John Thomas Grubb, 39, of Marion was indicted on charges of drug possession, forgery, credit larceny and felony eluding police. Jerry Wayne Haga Jr., 42, of Wytheville was indicted on a charge of being a violent felon in possession of a firearm. George Edward Harris, 46, of Wytheville was indicted on a grand larceny charge. John William Helmondollar, 24, of Blacksburg was indicted on charges of larceny with the intent to sell and grand larceny. Jacob Brandon Henley, 32, of Wytheville was indicted on a drug possession charge. Michael Hensley, 25, of Wytheville was indicted on charges of drug possession and being a non-violent felon in possession of a gun. Michael Jerome Johnson, 40, of Ivanhoe was indicted on charges of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine (two counts) and possession of a firearm while in possession of drugs. Jesse Lawrence Jones, 43, of Rural Retreat was indicted on a drug possession charge. Michael Tyler Jones, 32, of Wytheville was indicted on a drug possession charge. Devon Sean Koger, 39, of Kenbridge was indicted on a felony destruction of property charge. Robert Eli Scott Lawson, 38, of Fancy Gap was indicted on a drug possession charge. James Harold Lester, 60, of Wytheville was indicted on two counts of animal cruelty causing death or injury. Cesan Demarius Mack, 35, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was indicted on a charge of attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer. Amy Cassandra McGraw, 42, of Wytheville was indicted on a drug possession charge. Allen Ray Melton Jr., 22, of Max Meadows was indicted on a felony eluding police charge. Danyell Mosier, 47, of Christiansburg was indicted on a drug possession charge. Haneka Marie Payton, 47, of Wytheville was indicted on charges of drug possession and methamphetamine distribution. Jennifer Leigh Peters, 51, of Pulaski was indicted on charges of forgery (two counts) and uttering (two counts). Sheila Ann Phillips, 39, of Wytheville was indicted on a felony child endangerment charge. Rusty Lee Randolph, 39, of Rural Retreat was indicted on a drug possession charge. Susan Lynn Russo, 59, of Wytheville was indicted on a drug possession charge. Allan Blake Simpson, 31, of Wytheville was indicted on three drug possession charges. Amanda Lee Thomas, 42, of Wytheville was indicted on charges of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to manufacture/etc. drugs. Jackie Lee Trivitt, 81, of Rural Retreat was indicted on a charge of assault on a law enforcement officer. Kennith Elroy Varney II, 35, of Wytheville was indicted on a drug possession charge. John Shane Viar, 51, of Ivanhoe was indicted on a malicious wounding charge. Mary Nicole Viars, 33, of Max Meadows was indicted on a drug possession charge. Jazmir Tyheem Young, 22, of Beckley, West Virginia, was indicted on charges of felony eluding police and drug possession. Kevin Stephen Zambacca, 27, of Roanoke was indicted on a charge of possessing a firearm on school property. Several direct indictments were handed down on Monday, but those were sealed by court until the suspects are arrested. Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov has met with the Managing Director of the World Economic Forum Mirek Dusek in Saudi Arabia, Azernews reports via the Azerbaijani minister's post on X. Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikail Jabbarov has met with Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Azernews reports via the minister's post on X. "As part of our visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we had a meeting with HRH Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, the Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, we exchanged views on our countrys economic development goals, joint activities in the field of energy, as well as prospects for the common initiatives," the Azerbaijani minister said. Earlier, Jabbarov discussed possibilities for joint activities in the energy sector with President and CEO of Saudi Aramco Amin H. Nasser. Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov has discussed prospects of cooperation in the energy sector with President and CEO of Saudi Aramco Amin H. Nasser, Azernews reports via the minister's post on X. When someone lashes out at you because they are seeking revenge, it can be very scary. Resentment and anger can turn some people into evildoers who think they are completely in the right. They do not think about the damage they are doing to people on the sidelines, sometimes including their own children. When vengeful people want to get back at an ex or someone they believe has mistreated them, all reason goes out the window and they may become blind with rage. If this is something you are dealing with, please be careful. This type of anger can be very dangerous for both you and your loved ones. You may get abused, threatened, stalked or terrorized, and you may think there is nothing you can do about it. You need to know that help is out there. Talk with a lawyer and the police, and dont be afraid to make a report. Also dont be afraid to say that you are afraid. If you dont take this seriously, the authorities wont either. The actions I mentioned above are all crimes, and you deserve and can receive protection. Unfortunately, sometimes people do their best to make another persons life miserable they even try to destroy it and never stop to think that they are committing a crime. One of the worst parts of going through something like this is the anxiety and depression it can cause. It can be very difficult to shake off, and you may find yourself ruminating on how your life has taken such a bad turn or on what else could go wrong. This is when you need to get support, and you need to remember to eat well and drink plenty of fluids. Finding ways to relax and center yourself, if only for a few moments, can be very helpful. If you are dwelling on whats going on, its important to take breaks throughout the day from thinking about it. It helps to remember the positives in your life. Deep breathing is another helpful tool. To make it more effective, when you inhale, hold your breath for three seconds before exhaling. Pausing for deep breathing throughout the day will give you some relief. Talking out your feelings is also very important. If you sit on a bunch of emotional distress, hoping to lessen the impact on your loved ones, it wont work. Your loved ones will be affected by your situation. To minimize the fallout, I advise talking with someone other than your mate, because your mate is also dealing with the same issues but just at a different level. Instead, I strongly urge seeking a licensed professional who has some experience helping people cope with the kind of difficulties you are going through. The old saying This too shall pass is an important one to remember as you fight this battle. Trust that you have done nothing wrong and focus on the good that is going on around you. In time, your life will be normal again. Vietnam startup funding down 17% to $529 mln in 2023, 3rd in Southeast Asia By Hai Yen Sun, April 28, 2024 | 10:04 am GMT+7 Vietnamese startups secured $529 million in total funding in 2023, a 17% decline from the previous year, according to the 2024 Vietnam innovation and tech investment report released Friday. The number of deals also went down 9% year-on-year to 122 last year, 59 in H1/2023 and 53 in H2/2023, according to the report compiled by the National Innovation Center (NIC) and local early-stage venture capital firm Do Ventures. However, due to smaller deal sizes, the total H2 value was $219 million, lower than H1s $310 million. Vietnamese startups landed $529 million in funding through 122 deals in 2023. Photo courtesy of Genesis Fund Management. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam maintained its third position in both deal count and value, following Singapore and Indonesia. Deal volume and value secured by Vietnamese startup in 2013-2023. Source: Vietnam innovation and tech investment 2024 report by NIC and Do Ventures. The distribution of late-stage deals and mid-to-early deals remained relatively consistent compared to the trends observed in 2022. Deals valued at $10 million and beyond logged a total value $366 million in 2023, accounting for 69% of the total investment. Healthcare was the most funded sector, receiving a record-high $184 million, a remarkable growth of 391% over the previous year. Education also saw a record-breaking $67 million investment, up 107% year over year. Nearly 100 investors backed Vietnamese startups last year. Singapore was the most active investor in Vietnams tech sector, with 22 deals, followed by Vietnam with 21. There were fluctuations in activity and capital in Vietnams IPO market from 2016 to 2023. The IPO market was robust in 2016, with 38 IPOs raising $195 million; and peaked in 2018, with a record $4.67 billion million raised through 33 deals. This was followed by a steep drop in both IPO volume and value. In 2023, the market saw just three IPOs that raised a modest $7 million and a combined market capitalization of $37 million. Last year, Vietnam was 46th among 132 economies featured in the 2023 Global Innovation Index (GII), moving up two notches from the previous year, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Feature: Columbia University encampment holds on as negotiation in progress 09:15, April 28, 2024 By Liu Yanan ( Xinhua People participate in a pro-Palestinian demonstration as police officers stand guard outside Columbia University in New York, the United States, on April 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Rui) The Columbia University encampment against Israeli military action in Gaza continues to be the focus of attention, as the negotiation between students and the university administration yielded some progress. 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. People participate in a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), California, the United States, on April 25, 2024. (Xinhua) 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) By Azernews Elnur Enveroglu Although the collapse of the Soviet Empire was considered the beginning of a new era for Armenia, it also meant a period of progress towards the restoration of geographical reality. Starting from the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 90s, Armenia, taking advantage of the gap in the Soviet Union, started the policy of ethnic cleansing in the territories of Azerbaijan, and could not imagine that one day the current situation would become real. Finally, the long-awaited moment happened; Armenia decided not only to return the historical territories of Azerbaijan it occupied, but also to delimit and demarcate the geographical division between the two states. Nevertheless, a big question remains in heads: What were the reasons that prevented Armenia from taking this step until now? It is true that Armenia wanted to have a whole part of Azerbaijan's territories by conducting an aggressive policy. The first Garabagh War was the real reason that vividly reflected the Armenian occupation and ethnic cleansing policy. After mass expulsion of Azerbaijanis from historical territories, Armenia started the policy of ethnic cleansing in the liberated Garabagh. This was simply to insure itself more by penetrating deep into the territories of Armenia and creating so-called autonomy in the territories it occupied from time to time. However, the strengthening policy of Azerbaijan overturned all these plans in a short period. After the 44-day war, Armenia had to take a step back and finally agreed to sign peace with Azerbaijan and officially delimit the territories. Despite all this, the insistence of official Yerevan against internal protests remains unanswered. Of course, it is not an easy process to accustom a society nurtured and brought up under the occupation policy for many years to the truth. Armenia once tried to convince the people with the claims of "great Armenia" and intended to build big dreams on the territories of Azerbaijan. The people believed in this, and therefore it is difficult for them to leave the territories of Azerbaijan today. Unfortunately, the religious leaders in the country also played enormous role in the wrong thinking of the people. For example, despite the repeated acknowledgments of the Armenian leadership to recognize the territories of Azerbaijan, revanchist religious leaders protested against it and even called the local community to revolt. As the processes deepen and tensions within Armenia increase, today the scenarios of those revanchists are beginning to change in accordance with the process. The laying of the first 20 border posts started to irritate those revanchist forces in Armenia even more. In an attempt to prevent the return of the Azerbaijani territories still occupied by Armenia, they organize protests, pickets, get into fights with the police, military and, in the usual manner for Armenians, spread all kinds of disinformation. One of them is Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, a revanchist religious leader who misguides the community to the wrong path. He tries to turn his thoughts based on hypotheses, which do not fit into any reason or logic, into a story as truth. In an interview with the Armenian media, the priest suffering from dementia said that last night unknown persons in a car with tinted windows, without license plates, accompanied by the regional governor and other officials, secretly arrived, entered the territories to be surrendered and committed some unknown actions. "The anger and distrust of the people is that who are these people who are in the car with such cover, all possible information is hidden, and there was also a demand that these people come down so that they have the opportunity to ask them questions. If your affairs are honest, clean, transparent, why are you coming under such cover? And when the people rebelled against this lie and falsehood, they made it clear that perhaps they were Azerbaijanis. There were even suspicions that Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and Shahin Mustafayev were in the car, - he said. According to the archbishop, black berets were involved in the fight against the popular uprising. "During the scuffle, a flashbang grenade was suddenly thrown. The head of the Tavush regional police department and the deputy chief of police told me that they did not do this... I came and asked the people if they themselves threw the grenade. They clearly said no. It neither the police nor the people threw it, perhaps it fell from the sky, says Galstanyan, adding that after the incident there were disturbances, two policemen, two women and one girl. A pure hallucinations Galstyan seemed to play a role based on the script of Bollywood heroes. I wonder what else Galstyan has seen? Judging by this statement, this figure of the Armenian Apostolic Church (hereinafter referred to as the AAC - ed.) belongs in the department for the violently insane in a closed psychiatric hospital. AAC figures openly oppose the achievement of a peace agreement and are doing everything possible to pull the people into the streets and overthrow the current government. Apparently, the hierarchs of the AAC, realizing that the opposition from the political parties could not do anything, took on the role of a catalyst for a possible coup d'etat. Such provocative statements by the bishop, in order to excite the Armenian society and disrupt the demarcation process, can lead to such irreversible, difficult processes in Armenia that they can never imagine its worst consequence. Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College will hold three ceremonies honoring its spring 2024 graduates on Thursday, May 2, on campus in the colleges Roquemore Auditorium. The 1 p.m. ceremony will celebrate graduates of Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Technology programs. Business, Computer Technology, Criminal Justice, Education and Health Science graduates will be honored at the 3 p.m. ceremony. The Nursing graduation ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler will speak at the 1 p.m. ceremony. The Atlanta native was elected mayor in 2013 and is currently serving his third term. He is a graduate of Claflin University and received his masters degree in curriculum and instruction from Walden University. Butler is the founder and pastor of Victory Tabernacle Deliverance Temple of the Apostolic Faith Inc., and has served as an education administrator and social worker. Roger Heaton, director of security at MUSC Health-Orangeburg, will be the keynote speaker at the 3 p.m. ceremony. Heaton began his law enforcement career with the Orangeburg Police Department in 1982, and has worked for the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division where he worked his way up to assistant director and 14th Judicial Circuit Solicitors Office as a career criminal investigator. Longtime nurse Cassandra Williams is the speaker for the 5 p.m. ceremony. Williams serves as director of medical-surgical and telemetry services at MUSC Health-Orangeburg. Prior to that, she served as a nursing supervisor, float pool nurse and charge nurse in the progressive care unit at the Regional Medical Center. Williams received an associate degree in Medical Laboratory Technology from OCtech in 1997 and a Practical Nursing diploma in 2000. She has a bachelors degree in Nursing from South University. Shell receive her masters degree in Nursing Leadership from Claflin University on May 4. Graduation tickets are required for admission. The ceremony will be streamed live on the colleges website, octech.edu. Registration is underway for summer and fall terms. Summer classes begin Monday, May 20. For more information and to apply, visit octech.edu or call 803-535-1234. (TBTCO) - Ngay 12/10, Giai Golf Tu thien Thuong nien Vi tre em Viet Nam lan thu 17 Swing for the Kids 2024 a thanh cong tot ep, huy ong uoc hon 2,3 ty ong tu nhung tam long nhan ai e ung ho vao Quy hoc bong Vi tre em Viet Nam. Azerbaijan is a friendly country for us and the relations between our countries are developing successfully, said President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovic as he met with Speaker of Azerbaijans Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova, Azernews reports citing Azertag. Conveying the greetings of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the President of Montenegro, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova presented a letter of invitation regarding the COP29. Emphasizing that Azerbaijan is one of Montenegros key investors, Milatovi? hailed the high-level cooperation, especially in the field of tourism. Congratulating Azerbaijan on hosting the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Climate Change Convention (COP29), President Jakov Milatovic recalled his meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev within COP28 held in Dubai. He conveyed his congratulations on Ilham Aliyevs victory in the presidential election. Sahiba Gafarova briefed the steps France undertakes to increase the tension in the region, adding that this country demonstrates an approach that does not serve peace and intended to flare up a new conflict. She also highlighted the ongoing large-scale restoration and reconstruction process in Azerbaijans Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur regions, as well as Azerbaijans role in Europes energy security as a reliable energy supplier. President Jakov Milatovic expressed hope that a peace agreement would be signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia, adding that this would contribute to the regional development. Speaker of Azerbaijans Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has presented a book titled Karabakh - before and after occupation to President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovic Efes 2024 multinational exercise involving a total of 1567 participants from 49 countries is held in the cities of Istanbul and Izmir of the Republic of Tirkiye, Azernews reports citing Azerbaijan Defense Ministry. A group of Azerbaijani servicemen is involved in the exercise, consisting of computer-assisted command-staff and live-fire stages. Efes - 2024 multinational exercise will run until May 30. The Arizona Bilingual Newspaper hosts the 13th annual Childrens Day Festival at the Children's Museum. The event celebrates and gives back to local children, said Alma Gallardo, executive director of the bilingual newspaper. University of Arizona administration Re: the March 26 article Striving toward excellence at UA. My thanks to Dr. Richard C. Powell for his excellent opinion piece in the Arizona Daily Star. I have appreciated his wisdom and judgment for many years as we have served the University of Arizona in different roles. In regard to his statement that the most obvious problem at the University has been the unnecessary growth of the number of high-level administrative positions (especially vice presidents and associate vice presidents) and their bloated salaries certainly is right on. Perhaps someone can explain why the institution even needs a provost. John Hughes Northeast side Ten Commandments hypocrisy The bill to post the Ten Commandments in our schools is problematic. First, do you use the Catholic or the Protestant numbering? Second, it is unconstitutional. (Supreme Court decision, Stone v. Graham 449 U.S. 39 1980) Most importantly, posting the Ten Commandments in the classroom is done with the expectation that children will follow them. The same people who support this bill also support a person for president who flagrantly violates these commandments. Mr. Trump steals from workers and subcontractors when he declares bankruptcy. He constantly lies in his speeches. He publicly brags about committing adultery and coveting other peoples wives. When parents or grandparents support such a person, they are telling their children that the Ten Commandments are not important and are just words to be ignored. Children follow what they see adults do, not what they say. What are we teaching our children? The Republican bill that passed the Arizona House is the epitome of hypocrisy. Mike Nickerson Northwest side Trump only killed a handful? Re: the April 23 letter Friendship with Biden supporters. In his recent letter, the author maintains that President Biden is more evil because Trump only killed a handful of people compared to Biden, who has killed almost a million Ukrainian and Russian soldiers and has disabled a million more soldiers. Not so. Despite his faulty logic and aside from the fact that the casualties of the Ukraine war are vastly overstated (total dead and wounded on both sides are estimated at around 600,000 by Newsweek), he obviously overlooked the efficiency of Trumps call to his supporters to refuse COVID vaccinations, drink bleach and shine a light inside our body. Remember, as Trump mismanaged the COVID emergency and put his cult followers at risk, a million Americans died. Even Jim Jones, the notorious cult leader commonly regarded as an evil monster, only killed 909 of his followers. Bruce Hilpert North side The Baloney Parade Well, well, here we have a situation where millions of people will vote this November for Donald Trump, who is the most corrupt, dull-witted and mean-spirited pile of nonsense who has ever run for President or run for anything anytime. And he might win! What does this say about America in the 21st century? That we are electing jerks these days? Or maybe we think the other guy puts us to sleep. I dont understand; after spending years calling Trumps bluff about his 2020 election, many voters are suddenly changing to the opposite and becoming his booster in all things, and they still know he is lying. It is kind of a timid decision to finally march in the Baloney Parade. Ron Lancaster North side What I am voting for Re: the April 22 letter What I am voting for. The letter lists a number of issues that the letter writer desires to have in America. His wish list is admirable, but by his own admission, he doesnt care for Trump, so please explain to me how Trump is the person to make these issues happen? Trump has stated that he would be a dictator on Day 1 and that he plans to punish all those who disagree with him. Democracy in this country does not stand a chance with Trump returning to power. How could he possibly have time to govern with all his richly deserved court cases. Why would one want someone so morally corrupt in office? Jean Getek Foothills Better streets and neighborhood streets Re: the April 23 letter Tucson pothole fixes. The letter was not factual. As a member of the Independent Oversight and Accountability Commission, I am aware of how many projects are being planned, designed and constructed. To date, Proposition 101 Better Streets has completed almost $46 million in street repairs covering areas throughout the city, with another $51.7 million scheduled for FY 24 through FY 26. Proposition 411 Neighborhood Streets has issued contracts for $68.1 million for street improvements throughout the city. These projects require coordination with the utility companies Tucson Water, Southwest Gas to ensure the street is not repaired and then the utility company has to excavate to install new pipelines and valves. As of April 2024, almost $18 million has been spent repairing neighborhood streets throughout the city. The first three years have been programmed; planned, designed and constructed. To keep informed on the progress of the two propositions, the city has a website under the title: Tucson Delivers. Paul Smith Midtown Biden is a political genius but gutless In the very long political career of our President he has demonstrated unmatched political acumen. He literally leaves everyone else in the dust. However, he has no backbone. When faced with the need to meet his countrys desire of wanting Israel and Hamas to both swap all prisoners, he sits with his thumbs stuck someplace warm and accepts money from wealthy donors. Joes lack of integrity is showing and frankly, he should step aside. Vincent Allen Northwest side Grocery stores should stop giving free bags A fairly typical buyer at local grocery stores, I am bothered by the amount of plastic bags I receive each time I purchase anything. I typically am awarded lightweight plastic bags placed inside a heavier plastic container when I checkout. I try to minimize the number of unwanted plastics by bringing my own large bag into the facility, but still am loaded down with the unwanted lightweight stuff. Heres my solution to the problem: Grocery stores should stop issuing any bags of any type to shoppers. If we all bring our own containers to the store, wed be helping reduce the flood of plastics threatening our planet. Jerry Helm Northwest side Changing the perception of blindness There are 80,000 individuals of working age, with an unemployment rate of 70%, how many people are not employed? There are several factors that contribute to the high number of unemployed or underemployed people who are blind, but in my opinion, the biggest problem is low expectations, whether self-imposed from family, educators, or employers. These barriers and others have led to more than 50,000 people who are blind standing on the sidelines. True, not everyone who is blind and unemployed wants to work. This may be because they are receiving financial support from family or social benefits or have a fear of being rejected, which keeps them out of the workforce. As people with disabilities, we can demand private sector organizations to create equal access to job openings, but we cant move the needle on the 70% unemployment until others see blindness is just part of who we are, not what we are. David Steinmetz, Public Relations Manager at Arizona Industries for the Blind East side Mainstream media Re: the April 24 letter Berliner reveals liberal bias of NPR. Regarding the letter writers screed about NPR and the mainstream medias perceived liberal bias; what he is missing, is that reporters are human. And, humans are inherently biased. Yes, even the letter writer is biased. Reporters at NPR, ABC NBC, CBS and the rest, are educated, trained journalists. They dig. They source. They confirm details. They have editors. They attempt to remain objective. In other words, they try. Now, compare that to those over at Fox News and other right-wing news outlets. Lots of opinion. Lots of factual errors. A number of lawsuits Example: $787 million dollars paid to Dominion regarding election reporting. While the mainstream media may lean left, alternative right-wing media doesnt even try to be objective. Bill Boaz SaddleBrooke Replacing Steve Kozachik Selecting a replacement for Steve K is a difficult task that just got more difficult! According to the Star, Mayor and Council will select their top four candidates. A forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters was held on April 23, where most of the 12 candidates fielded thoughtful questions from citizens. While very well attended, it seems that the meeting served no real purpose since the transparent citizen participation process stopped there. Supposedly at least one current councilmember prematurely submitted their choice less than 24 hours after the forum was held, although they had until April 26 to hear back from constituents and evaluate their comments. Once again, the citizens of Tucson are shortchanged in their ability to engage in a democratic process and voice their concerns. Our elected officials never fail to minimize citizen input. Their top four candidates, indeed! Tillie Bea Midtown Reelect Laura Conover As a longtime Tucson resident, I want to commend Pima County Attorney Laura Conover for building the foundations of a stronger community. This includes safety in our homes, our schools and our places of work and worship. The goals of the County Attorney are not restricted just to punitive matters, but, as importantly, to creating an atmosphere that leads to a safer and more informed community, which in turn leads to a reduction in crime. One of Pima County Attorney Laura Conovers goals is to increase understanding of the width and depth of the Pima County justice system. To this end, she and her office have focused on community engagement, including neighborhood gatherings, community outreach and providing gun locks to TUSD. Communication is key to this work, including the ability to speak the language of your constituents, whether English or Spanish, which she does fluently. For all of these reasons, I support the reelection of Laura Conover as Pima County Attorney and encourage others to do the same. Bob Cohen East side Womens rights Re: the April 23 letter Lawmakers practice medicine. Thank you for this letter! Spot ON! Im ready for men to take responsibility for spreading their seeds. Enough telling women to put an aspirin between their legs. And what happened to HIPPA? Privacy in the Dr. Office? Thank you again. Lois Bowen Southeast side Slumlords out of South Tucson Re: the April 25 article Councilwoman threatens to picket home of notorious South Tucson slumlord. As a South Tucson business owner, I am disappointed that the Daily Star editors used inflammatory language to demonize and minimize the positive work our community is doing to stop crimes against its citizens. I attended the rally sponsored by Casa Maria that called attention to the blight and human suffering being perpetuated by Brian Bowers. It was a peaceful event with testimonials by local dignitaries, affected businesses and residents, and also community activists who serve in political positions. If the Star reporters had bothered to show up, they might have offered their readership a real story about why this issue has come to such a boiling point. By definition, Mr. Bowers is a slumlord. The fact that he lives in a gated foothills home and is being forced to make basic humanitarian and legal improvements to his properties by a court of law is the real story. The individuals who use peaceful protest and theater to shine light on a dark spot in our society should be celebrated, not vilified. Dwight Metzger South Tucson Kudos Kudos to the City of Tucson for selecting Whelcon Contractors and affiliated companies to improve the street corners and streets in Terra Del Sol. The detailed precision and workmanship the work is being carried out points to smooth roads ahead. Jim Dreis East side Childrens usage of substances I am a senior in a Peoria high school, and drug usage has become an epidemic. My school has taken many precautions like closing bathrooms, installing vape sensors in the bathrooms and placing cameras outside, all to put a stop to kids using substances on school grounds. Nothing has worked. My peers have found ways around all these precautions, and the amount of kids using substances has grown tremendously, and its not just my school. In Arizona, 90.3% of high school students and 87.1% of middle school students have admitted to using flavored e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, according to an article from pima.gov. However, the epidemic has not stopped at just teens. My sister attends a K-8 school and is currently in the third grade. Kids at her school as young as fourth graders have been suspended and expelled for using substances on campus. My sister is 9 and should be playing tag, not getting talks about the importance of saying no to drugs. Gabby Toscano At least four people were killed, 100 injured and a state of emergency issued for 12 Oklahoma counties after a hours-long severe weather outbreak produced at least 17 unconfirmed tornadoes on Saturday. Two people were dead after one of those suspected tornadoes in Hughes County. Another person was killed along Interstate 35 at Marietta, near the Texas border, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. In Sulphur a town with a population of about 5,000 and located about 85 miles south of Oklahoma City downtown buildings were reduced to rubble and roofs were sheared off houses across a 15-block radius. You just cant believe the destruction, Gov. Kevin Stitt said Sunday afternoon while touring Sulphur. It seems like every business downtown has been destroyed. Stitt said about 30 people were injured in Sulphur alone and a fourth fatality was there, a female. A total of 100 people were injured in Saturdays storms, according to area hospitals, the state Department of Emergency Management said Sunday evening. Saturdays severe weather outbreak lasted for at least 12 hours, with the first tornado warning issued shortly after 1 p.m., about 18 miles north of Enid in Garfield County. A multitude of other tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings continued nonstop, as storms moved north and east across the state into Sunday morning. More storms developed Sunday evening in areas south and east of Tulsa, but the tornado threat was deemed less than on Saturday, forecasters said. The governor on Sunday morning issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Carter, Cotton, Garfield, Hughes, Kay, Lincoln, Love, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Payne and Pontotoc counties, according to a release from his office. The executive order noted extensive damage caused by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, hail and flooding that began Saturday. The state of emergency, which lasts for 30 days, temporarily suspends requirements for size and weight permits of oversized vehicles transporting materials and supplies critical to recovery efforts, emergency relief and power restoration. Tornadoes reportedly touched down Saturday night in Sulphur, Holdenville and Morris. The National Weather Service in Norman said on social media at least four tornadoes had been confirmed: At least EF-3 (136-165 mph winds) for both Sulphur and Marietta. Further investigation necessary to determine if rating will go higher or not, it said in separate posts about each. The weather service also said confirmed tornadoes of EF-0 were documented near Stillwater and Newkirk, with maximum winds of 70 and 75 mph, respectively. The Norman weather service office said other surveys are planned over the next several days. Two fatalities one adult and one child were reported from the Holdenville tornado, according to a social media post by the Hughes County EMS. Four injuries were also reported. My prayers are with those who lost loved ones as tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma last night, the governor said in a statement early Sunday. Holdenville, also with a population of about 5,000, is located about 85 miles south of Tulsa and about 75 miles southeast of Oklahoma City. Storm damage was visible Sunday morning in Morris, located about six miles east of Okmulgee in Okmulgee County. Among those surveying the damage there was Timothy Baptist Church pastor Kendall Hamilton. Hamilton said he was awakened about midnight by a dog who wanted outside. After gathering some items, he grabbed the dog and went into a cellar. The wind hit and it was over in just a few minutes, Hamilton said. He didnt realize the parsonage he lives in was damaged until he was back inside and found water running down a hallway. It just came on really quick and was over really quick, he said. According to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, there were 40 preliminary reports of tornadoes in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Missouri on Saturday. In Sulphur, the Murray County Sheriffs Office urged people to stay away from the city to clear the way for first responders following extensive damage, according to a statement posted by the agency on Facebook. Stay home and do not come to look, the sheriffs office said. A hospital was damaged in Marietta, according to the office of emergency management, which also said that Interstate 35 was closed at the border with Texas due to overturned vehicles and powerlines across the highway. The southbound lanes of I-35 have since reopened, with one northbound lane remaining closed, but drivers should be prepared for delays and intermittent lane closures as crews work to clear the area of debris, the department said in an update at 4 p.m. Sunday. As of midday Sunday, OG&E reported about 24,000 customers were without power, with 22,000 other customers with power restored. Public Service Company of Oklahoma, which serves most of the Tulsa metro area, reported a peak of 3,240 customers without power. That number had been reduced to a few hundred by early afternoon. Stitt said he had spoken to the regional director of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). She offered her assistance. I told her to thank the president. Were working on the damage assessment. Well do whatever we can to put the pieces back together, Stitt said. The Oklahoma standard is strong. Stitt, added of Sulphur, Thank goodness it was a downtown (where) there wasnt a lot of people here at 10:30 at night. The Associated Press contributed to this story. The Tulsa World is where your story lives A traveling campus preacher at the University of Central Oklahoma wearing a hate-filled sign and yelling at students. Competing protests about Palestine and Israel at the University of Oklahoma. Hecklers trying to shout down an appearance by State Superintendent Ryan Walters at Oklahoma State University. Those are just a few examples of recent events on Oklahoma college campuses covered by free speech laws. But as social media amplifies political polarization, making sure campuses continue to be centers of robust discussion and peaceful protests without trampling on individual rights remains a tricky balancing act for those in academia. Oklahoma in 2022 established one of the first free speech committees in the nation for its public higher education institutions. The Free Speech Committee, an advisory body under the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, came from House Bill 3543 by Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid. The nine-member committee reviews campus free speech policies, develops training programs and serves as a clearinghouse for free speech complaints. It meets quarterly and held its first training session this month at UCO. About 300 deans, associate deans and department heads from across the state attended. Caldwell said the law left the composition of the committee up to the regents, who themselves are appointed by the governor to nine-year terms. Thats a departure from most legislatively created boards or commissions, which typically have at least some appointees from the House and Senate leaders. Its not a heavy-handed approach, said Caldwell, who is one of two lawmakers appointed by regents to the Free Speech Committee along with Democratic Sen. Kay Floyd of Oklahoma City. Im not interested in being the free speech police. The government and the Legislature should not have that role for obvious reasons. Caldwell said its always a challenge to deal with offensive but protected speech, especially on college campuses. People want free speech when it agrees with their own viewpoint, but with someone of the opposing view, people arent always so quick to support that free speech right, he said in an interview. If youre not willing to stand up and protect the speech of the people you dont agree with, you cant really expect that protection for your own speech, because then it will just depend on who is in charge at that time. Attorney Andy Lester, chairman of the Free Speech Committee and a former regent, said free expression is enshrined in both the U.S. and state constitutions. Encouraging critical thinking is a key component of higher education, he said. Critical thinking comes about not by avoiding challenges or disagreements, but by encouraging free inquiry, free debate and free thought, Lester said at the April 11 training session. Yet many on contemporary college campuses around the country appear to be turning their backs on freedom of expression, which I find to be quite tragic. We can, and we must, make our campuses welcoming places for the civil, respectful discussion of ideas. Lester said colleges and universities retain the power to restrict the time, place and manner of speech on campus to ensure it doesnt interrupt ordinary educational activities. They also can restrict speech that constitutes a genuine threat or harassment or falsely defames a person. To put it plainly, classes must go on, Lester said. But these are narrow exceptions to the general policies of freedom of expression. Regent and former House Speaker Jeff Hickman told attendees the goal of the free speech training was to make sure Oklahoma colleges and universities are making news for the right reasons, not because they botched a response to a free speech issue or a campus protest. When you have 18-year-olds make different judgment calls than we would hope, those things are going to end up in the news, Hickman said. Our hope is the institution is not the news because you are equipped with what you need to follow the law. James Davenport, associate dean for social sciences in the Liberal Arts & Sciences division at Rose State College, said he hasnt seen any efforts on his campus in Midwest City to restrict student or faculty speech. Ive expressed my viewpoints on a lot of stuff, very publicly, and Ive never had administration or other faculty come and say, Hey, we think you shouldnt say that, or try to block me professionally in some way because of it, Davenport said. Davenport, who is a member of the Libertarian Party, said he has seen a broader leftward shift politically among faculty in the past few decades. But he said its impossible to mandate ideological diversity among faculty, an effort being tried in states like Indiana. Any time you develop any type of monoculture, youre leaving out points of view that can better inform students, faculty and the community at large about issues, Davenport said. Its basically a type of groupthink where we all see things the same way and we never ask questions that somebody from another perspective might ask to better inform us. Its really a cultural issue within academia itself. Davenport said junior academics in Oklahoma who havent yet earned tenure are getting hit by both sides in the broader culture wars. Some may be afraid to say anything controversial out of fear of how it might affect their academic career or draw attention from lawmakers or others looking for the next professor to brand as a communist or socialist or terrorist. Its not fair to those folks, and its also not fair to the mission of the university of generating knowledge and the widespread views of multiple perspectives, Davenport said. Its easy to be pro-free speech when the speech being uttered is speech you agree with or the speech being censored is speech you agree with. Its a lot harder to be pro-free speech when the speech is something you absolutely oppose. College campuses have been at the frontlines of free speech debates, protests and activism for decades, from the Civil Rights movement and Vietnam War protests to calls to end apartheid in South Africa in the 1980s and the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. In the past six months, numerous college campuses across the country have been roiled by protests over the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas. Recent controversies in Oklahoma include a video of racist chants by members of an OU fraternity on a bus and two OU students posting blackface videos on social media. Two fraternity members in the bus video withdrew from the university, although multiple reports at the time said they were expelled. The students involved in the blackface video voluntarily withdrew, and the university did not take any punitive action. In 2022, Oklahoma Christian University fired a tenured professor after he hosted a guest speaker in class who used explicit language. The private university said some students complained about the language, which it said went against its policies and values. The professor sued OC, and the case is now before the Oklahoma Supreme Court on a narrow issue of whether his termination for gross misconduct was covered by the arbitration terms of his employment contract. The universitys attorneys said the case is not about academic freedom but is instead an employment dispute. In February, OU campus police responded to a suspicious package and nearby buildings were evacuated for several hours as police investigated. It was later discovered to be a protest sign over the Israel-Hamas war along with a trash bag of rotten meat and other objects. Police said it was an example of protected speech involving protest art and didnt pursue charges against the person who admitted placing it on campus. In Stillwater, Oklahoma State University this month settled a lawsuit over its harassment and computer-use policies, which some students said chilled conservative speech. As part of a settlement in federal court, OSU must also shut its bias-response team. A group called Speech First sued the university in January 2023 over its policies, alleging they constituted vague and overbroad restrictions on constitutionally protected speech. We are excited to announce that OSU will be eliminating their insidious bias reporting system that told students to anonymously report on one another for bias, they will have to rewrite their harassment policy to include important speech protections so that students can no longer be punished for merely expressing their views, and we have secured a change to their computer policy so that it no longer targets the protected political speech of students, Speech First Executive Director Cherise Trump said in a press release. Ensuring civil discourse on campus will help students Caldwell said colleges and universities should not be echo chambers. Ensuring civil discourse on campus will help students navigate the transition between young adulthood and becoming an adult, he said. As a student, you should go to college expecting your ideas to be challenged, Caldwell said. Unfortunately, some in our society, and in higher ed, enforce this idea that words are violence and you have the right never to be offended. An important part of free speech is respecting the viewpoints of others enough to hear them and be heard. Joseph Thai, a constitutional law expert and presidential professor at OUs College of Law, said the law guarantees freedom of speech, but students, faculty, staff and administrators have different rules and levels of protection on campus. The protection varies depending on the context and on the position, said Thai, who was the keynote speaker at the training session at UCO. The First Amendment does not restrain private actors like private universities. But most large private universities have adopted free speech principles. Restrictions on the content or viewpoint of speech would likely fall afoul of the First Amendment, Thai said. But universities can impose reasonable restrictions to safeguard typical campus activities in classrooms or offices if they apply evenly to all groups and are content-neutral. Speech can be curated to make sure it doesnt devolve into chaos, Thai said. But viewpoint-based restrictions, even in classrooms, are typically invalid. Thai said hate speech, including racist speech, is protected by the First Amendment unless it includes incitement, true threats or words that in context would immediately provoke a physical response. Hate speech sometimes is a form of fighting words, a true threat or incitement, and can be disciplined without violating the First Amendment, he said. Racial slurs hurled at someone else in a face-to-face debate would not be protected speech in that context because it would be a fighting word. On the other hand, racial slurs in rap music played at a party or on your iPhone are probably protected speech in most contexts. Hickman said he hopes the Free Speech Committee will be a resource for everyone at Oklahomas public colleges and universities. So far, the committee has not received any complaints. Ultimately, the Free Speech Committee is a pressure-relief valve for the institutions, Hickman said. If someone on your campus doesnt feel like they were heard or got the result they needed through your process, thats why this entity exists. The Tulsa World is where your story lives Laman Ismayilova An International Scientific and Practical Conference has been held in Baku. Co-organized by the Ministry of Health, the National Center of Ophthalmology and Azerbaijan Society of Ophthalmologists of Azerbaijan, the event was timed to the 101st anniversary of the birth of Academician Zarifa Aliyeva, Azernews reports. The conference themed "Modern Aspects of Ophthalmology" discussed topics such as innovations in the field of ophthalmology. At the conference, scientists and ophthalmologists of the National Ophthalmology Center and the republic gave their reports. It was noted that well-known Azerbaijani ophthalmologist-scientist, Academician Zarifa Aliyeva has exceptional services in the development of the science of ophthalmology. She was the author of many high-profile studies on the study, prevention and treatment of trachoma, which was once widespread in Azerbaijan, eye diseases related to professional activity, especially in the chemical and electronic industries, as well as modern problems of ophthalmology. Her monographs included "Age-related changes of the eye and the path of the optic nerve", "Anatomical and physiological features of the hydrodynamic system of the eye", "Iridodiagnostics", "Pathology of the eye during diabetes" and "Actual problems of ophthalmology". In general, Zarifa Aliyeva had up to 200 scientific works, 12 monographs and 12 rationalizing proposals. Z. Aliyeva has devoted a lot of work to training highly qualified healthcare personnel. Director of the National Center of Ophthalmology named after Academician Zarifa Aliyeva, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Society of Ophthalmologists, Professor Elmar Gasimov welcomed the conference participants, among which were doctors from Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Russia. The conference drew attention to such themes as "Principles of orthokeratology: mechanisms of action and clinical results", "Application of retinectomy in vitreoretinal surgery", "A new era in intraocular lenses", "ROP complications and treatment", "Damaging effects of laser devices used in cosmetology on the visual organ", "Use of scleral lenses in cases of ametropia: problems, solutions, perspectives", "Modern risk factors of viral uveitis", etc. Check out the latest news in Vietnam today: Society -- Vietnamese property tycoon Truong My Lan, who was sentenced to death in one of the biggest corruption cases in history with an estimated US$27 billion in damages, on Friday filed an appeal against the entire first-instance verdict. -- The Aviation Security Center at Da Nang International Airport in the namesake central city said on Saturday that they had returned a bag containing over VND300 million ($11,843) in cash to a passenger who left the bag at the airport as he was absorbed in a conversation a day earlier. -- The Hanoi Department of Information and Communications has fined a male TikToker VND5 million ($197.4) for providing inaccurate information on social media. The TikToker had earlier written on Facebook that he was refused at a pho restaurant and received harsh words at another in the city as he was in a wheelchair, a representative of the departments inspectorate told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Saturday. -- The Thu Duc City Infrastructure Development Center in Ho Chi Minh City has greenlit the relocation and felling of 185 trees along Vo Nguyen Giap Street for a project to connect bus routes and the first metro line in the city. -- A magnitude-4 earthquake struck Ham Yen District in the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang on Saturday afternoon, according to the Institute of Geophysics. -- A male long-tailed monkey has been anesthetized and brought to a wildlife rescue station after it continuously annoyed residents in Ho Chi Minh Citys outskirt district of Cu Chi, the Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department announced on Saturday. Education -- All 10 Vietnamese students competing at the 58th International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad held in China between April 20 and 27 won medals, including one gold, five silvers, and four bronzes, although this was the first time Vietnam has sent students to the competition, the Chemical Society of Vietnam announced on Saturday. Lifestyle -- Many international tourists have expressed their excitement about traditional dishes of Thua Thien-Hue Province in central Vietnam while attending the Hue Traditional Cuisine Week 2024 which opened on Saturday evening. World News -- A tornado that struck the city of Guangzhou in southern China killed five people and left 33 injured, Reuters reported, citing state news agency Xinhua said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A British young woman fell into a hole where underground cables were installed on Xuan Dieu Street in Tay Ho District, Hanoi and suffered a broken femur while she was walking on the sidewalk in the early hours on Saturday, the district police informed on Sunday. A team of police officers in Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District detected the woman, who faced the incident at 1:45 am on Saturday. The victim was conscious at the time and made a sign to show that she had a wound on her right leg. Police officers saved the woman from the hole which is some two meters deep and took her to the Hanoi French Hospital for treatment. The woman was later identified to be a British national, born in 1996. Police in Quang An Ward also asked the unit in charge of the underground cable installation to cover holes and erect warning signs to ensure safety of passers-by. A leader of the administration of Tay Ho District told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Sunday that the woman suffered a broken thigh bone. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Aviation Security Center at Da Nang International Airport in the namesake central city said on Saturday that they had returned a bag containing over VND300 million (US$11,843) in cash to a passenger who left the bag at the airport as he was absorbed in a conversation a day earlier. At about 6:30 on Friday, Nguyen Dang Luyen, an employee of taxi firm Mai Linh at Da Nang International Airport, reported to the Aviation Security Center that a leather bag was left on a luggage trolley at an area where taxis pick up passengers at the T1 passenger terminal. Officials of the Aviation Security Center checked the bag and sought its owner. They saw 636 Vietnamese banknotes with a face value of VND500,000 ($19.7) and some papers showing the name of L.D.T. inside the bag. Some ten minutes later, the passenger named L.D.T., a resident in Yen My District, Hung Yen Province, northern Vietnam, reported that he lost a bag. Ater receiving the bag back, he said was happy and had a good impression about Da Nang residents. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Hanoi Department of Information and Communications has fined a male TikToker VND5 million ($197.4) for providing inaccurate information on social media. The fine was reduced as he is handicapped, a representative of the departments inspectorate told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Saturday. The TikToker had earlier written on Facebook that he was refused at a pho restaurant and received harsh words at another in Hanoi as he was in a wheelchair. The representative informed that the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications Inspectorate worked with the TikToker, named V.V.N., the owner of the TikTok account V.M.L., as inspectors found that a pho owner did not say this kind of person as reported by the TikToker. The TikToker has made an apology on his Facebook account, attaching a photo of him arriving at the pho eatery on Nam Ngu Street in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi to make an apology. He wrote that he was acutely aware of his shortcomings and lack of understanding in dealing with the issue. He added that he was grateful to netizens for helping him realize his shortcomings and wished to receive tolerance and forgiveness. In January this year, the TikToker wrote on his Facebook account with nearly 150,000 followers that he and his girlfriend visited a pho restaurant in Hanoi. Being born with a disability that requires him to use a wheelchair, he requested assistance to navigate a three-step staircase, and an employee refused, saying that our restaurant has no staff to carry someone like you, he retold. Upon reaching another pho eatery, also their familiar diner, where space was limited, N. had to squeeze into the owners area. The owner scolded her staff, saying, Who accepts this kind of people? After an employee explained that N. often sat there, the owner, displeased, complained that N.s presence narrowed her working space, N. shared. This post generated mixed opinions on the accuracy of the story. N. also posted a TikTok video captioned Goodbye Hanoi, featuring images of a chicken pho restaurant on Nam Ngu Street. The 60-year-old owner of the pho restaurant later confirmed to Tuoi Tre that N. was a regular customer, often visiting in the evening. She denied refusing the guests and making any derogatory comments. The chicken pho eatery also publicized the CCTV footage of the event, which showed that when N. and his girlfriend entered the diner, the owner and an employee paved the way for the two customers. He then sat behind the owner. After they finished their meal, the eaterys employee helped push his wheelchair outside. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday announced the dismantling of a transnational crime ring, uncovering money laundering operations and illicit cross-border currency transportation, with one gold shop alone involved in transactions totaling approximately VND13 trillion (US$512.9 million). Authorities have launched legal proceedings against and temporarily detained 13 individuals in the case. Of that, seven individuals were arrested for money laundering, including Mai Tra My, Mai Vu Minh, Le Thi Tham, Nguyen Thi Huong, Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Okoye Christinan Ikechukwy, and Eneh Davidson Caleb. Six others were arrested for illegally transporting currency across the border, namely Pham Van Nhan, Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Do Viet Dai, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Duong Dai Nghia, and Duong Thanh Hieu. However, Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, who is pregnant, has been permitted to remain at her residence but is prohibited from leaving it. Stacks of foreign currency cash amounts are seized in the case. Photo: Supplied Previously, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security received reports regarding a Ukraine-based company being exploited by certain individuals, who used an email address resembling that of a South Korean company to exchange contents related to an economic contract. This led to mistaken money transfers to a Vietnamese bank account. Subsequently, the funds were distributed to multiple other accounts and misappropriated. After urgent verification, on April 11, the police investigation agency of the department determined this to be the work of a criminal gang with both foreign and domestic involvement. The investigation identified My, 32, hailing from Dak Lak Province, Minh, 29, also from Dak Lak Province, Tham, 48, from Ho Chi Minh City, Huong, 34, from Nam Dinh Province, Thu Thuy, 35, from Ho Chi Minh City, 39-year-old Nigerian Okoye Christinan Ikechukwy, and 28-year-old Nigerian Eneh Davidson Caleb as key figures in the transnational crime ring. Okoye Christinan Ikechukwy (L, 2nd), a 39-year-old Nigerian, is under arrest in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Supplied They utilized email hacking methods to manipulate economic transactions and contracts. The foreign individuals directed their Vietnamese counterparts to establish more than 250 shell companies and over 700 personal bank accounts, facilitating mistaken money transfers. The group then converted the received funds into U.S. dollars for transfers to Cambodia. They made cash withdrawals at the Kingfood birds nest facility in District 11 and the Duc Long gold shop in Tan Binh District. The former is owned and operated by Thu Thuy, 41, residing in Tan Phu District, and Nhan, 44, residing in District 11. The latter is owned and operated by Dai, 53, residing in Tan Binh District, and Ngan, 47, from Dak Lak Province. Stacks of foreign currency cash amounts are seized in the case. Photo: Supplied The police investigation agency has verified over 100 related personal bank accounts, conducted searches at 12 locations, and detained numerous related items and documents. During the search at the residence of Thanh Thuy and her husband Eneh Davidson Caleb, authorities temporarily confiscated 234 seals belonging to shell companies established for their criminal purposes. Additionally, during searches at the Kingfood birds nest facility and the Duc Long gold shop, authorities temporarily seized more than VND9 billion (US$355,100), over US$1.5 million, and other foreign currencies in cash used by the suspects for illegal money transfers to Cambodia and currency exchange. Stacks of foreign currency cash amounts are seized in the case. Photo: Supplied Initial investigation documents indicate that Duc Long gold shops total illegal transactions amount to about VND13 trillion. Presently, the Ho Chi Minh City police are gathering evidence and expanding the investigation to thoroughly address all involved parties. Seals belonging to shell companies established for criminal purposes. Photo: Supplied Stacks of foreign currency cash amounts are seized in the case. Photo: Supplied Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A male long-tailed monkey has been anesthetized and brought to a wildlife rescue station after it continuously annoyed residents in Ho Chi Minh Citys outskirt district of Cu Chi, the municipal Forest Protection Department announced on Saturday. The department confirmed that it had coordinated with the local authorities to catch the monkey in Tan Phu Trung Commune, Cu Chi District. The monkey whose origin was unknown rampaged a residential area in the commune over the past week, Nguyen Quang Hoang, deputy head of the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station, said, citing local residents. It damaged crops, foraged food in kitchens, made a mess in places it came, ate eggs, and caught chicks. As a result, local residents reported the monkey to the local authorities. Officials in Tan Phu Trung Commune and rangers from the Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department then found the animal in an abandoned house, anesthetized it, and sent it to the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station. The long-tailed macaque weighs some 8.5 kilograms. Its scientific name is Macaca Fascicularis, which is among the wild animals of Group IIB in the list of rare and endangered forest species as per Vietnamese law. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tra Vinh University in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh will receive the support for water purification technology from South Koreas Aquaworks. The university on Saturday welcomed a delegation of the South Korean company and signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in researching and developing water treatment technology. With its experience in water purification and modern technology, the South Korean firm expected to help the university install and operate a water treatment system to save water effectively, protect the environment, and enhance adaptation to climate change, according to Yong-il Shin, a representative of Aquaworks. Under the deal, Aquaworks will supply the university with water purification equipment to facilitate its study on water treatment. The two sides will work together to boost research on water purification in a bid to provide clean water for residents daily activities and production in the province in particular and in the delta in general. Many localities in Vietnams Southwest region are suffering from severe saline intrusion, leading to a dearth of fresh water. Associate Prof. Dr. Diep Thanh Tung, vice-principal of the university, said that the signing acted as a key step to deal with the ongoing serious shortage of clean water. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Many international tourists have expressed their excitement about traditional dishes of Thua Thien-Hue Province in central Vietnam while joining the Hue Traditional Cuisine Week 2024, which kicked off on Saturday evening. The cuisine event, which will run until Wednesday next week, is treating local and international tourists to a wide array of dishes such as banh beo (steamed rice pancakes), banh bot loc (tapioca dumplings) and banh nam (flat steamed rice dumplings) at Thuong Bac Park on Tran Hung Dao street in Dong Ba Ward under Hue City. Holding a plate of various types of traditional Hue dumplings, Yvan from Canada said that he was bewitched by local dishes full of flavors. Specially, dipping sauces make food taste better, he shared. Yvan said that he travels to Vietnam each year, and has attended many food festivals, but the Hue cuisine event has impressed him a lot. Traditional Hue dishes have left me with a strong impression. Among them are bun bo Hue (Hue-style beef noodle soup) and nem lui (grilled pork on lemongrass skewers). Hue cuisine is absolutely wonderful. Yvan expressed his exhilaration of local food. Beatrix (R), a Brazilian, shared that she was impressed by Hue-style dishes. Photo: Bao Phu / Tuoi Tre Hue dishes also beguiled Beatrix, a Brazilian who has been touring Hue for the first time. Beatrix said that the central province not only boasts charming landscapes, but also is well-known for various dishes. I do love banh ep (Hue-style crepe). I savored it and was instructed to make the dish. This was a wonderful experience, she said. Beatrix unveiled that she would return to Hue to try more dishes in the province. Truong Dinh Hanh, vice-chairman of the Hue City Peoples Committee, said that the Hue Traditional Cuisine Week 2024 program was aimed at honoring and preserving the cultural values of Hue cuisine. The Hue Traditional Cuisine Week 2024 in Thua Thien-Hue Province attracts crowds of locals and foreigners. Photo: Le Dinh Hoang The event is expected to contribute to turning Thua Thien - Hue Province into one of big cultural, food and tourism hubs in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Apart from serving visitors with local dishes, the event is also entertaining them with numerous fascinating activities, and the Dem Kinh do Hue Tho, Ao dai va Am thuc space, where 105 sets of ao dai (Vietnam's traditional long gown), 105 Hue dishes and 105 silk pages of calligraphy written about Hue dishes are introduced. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Legendary film critic David Stratton makes a rare return to ABC this week, with a cameo appearance in Creative Types with Virginia Trioli. Trioli profiles First Nations director Warwick Thornton. Going through a box of old photos and memorabilia, Thornton finds the first hand-written draft of Samson and Delilah -his Cannes-acclaimed debut which drew 5 stars from At the Movies hosts Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton. Stratton, now retired from film criticism, features in a rare zoom cameo with Trioli as part of the shows inclusion of other artistic voices adding commentary or talking about collaboration. For every episode, therell be at least two other really well known and celebrated and important Australian creatives who we speak to about our key subject, said Trioli. For (choreographer) Rafel Bonachela theres Kylie Minogue. Not nothin thank you -very proud of that! For Warwick Thornton theres Cate Blanchett who joins us, and David Stratton for Trent Dalton, we have Simon Baker. Really interesting creatives in their own right, who are all incredibly generous in saying yes. I am going to do something with those. Theyre all 15 minute interviews that we did with these people. I dont want to waste them just by having a few grabs. Tuesdays episode also sees Trioli on the claypans of the Ilarpa Claypans outside Alice Springs, explaining how landscape is at the centre of his work. We walked through the dry riverbed where Warwick Thornton used to play as a kid, and where it all began for him in Alice Springs. It was very intimate. They were really trusting of us and they let us in, in a really wonderful way. Creative Types with Virginia Trioli screens 9pm Tuesday on ABC. Alkhabeer Capital, a prominent asset manager specialising in sharia-compliant investments, financial services and brokerage services, today (April 28) announced the launch of the initial public offering (IPO) of the Alkhabeer Diversified Income Traded Fund 2030 units on the Saudi Exchange. The subscription is open to all citizens, residents and qualified individuals of Saudi Arabia, as well as institutions and citizens of the GCC, until May 16. A total of 100 million units are being offered at an initial offering price of SAR10 (before fees and taxes), said the statement from Alkhabeer Capital. The Fund aims to distribute periodic returns of up to 8% annually by investing in various income-generating assets across local, and global markets. Alkhabeer Capital said it has set a target capital of SAR1 billion ($266 million) for the Fund. The subscription for the IPO can be made through the receiving entities - Aljazira Capital, Alkhabeer Tadawul, SNB Capital, Riyad Bank, Arab National Bank, Alrajhi Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, and Alinma Bank. It is also available to clients of other banks through the subscription system on the fund managers website, said the statement from the Jeddah-based company. The minimum subscription for the initial offering of Alkhabeer Diversified Income Traded Fund 2030 has been set at 1,000 Saudi riyals per unit. The Fund invests in major sukuks, trade finance, leasing, senior secured loans, structured income notes, income funds and Murabaha, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Bhat Yasir, Umar Farooq, TwoCircles.net Srinagar: Nestled within the rugged terrain of Jammu and Kashmirs frontier district of Kupwara lies a remote village where a mans commitment to conserve nature is reshaping the landscape. Abdul Ahad Khan, a daily wage earner, has taken it upon himself to plant Chinar trees in an effort to restore the regions natural beauty and biodiversity. Support TwoCircles Belonging to a far-flung village, Nagri of Kupwara district surrounded by paddy fields and forests, Khan has been planting Chinar trees for over a decade. His noble work is turning the Baand Wuder the lush green mountain where Khan plants trees. At a time when deforestation in the name of development has become a norm, Khans relentless effort to plant trees has earned the title of Chinar Man. He has been awarded the title by Forest Department officials. Chinar, a deciduous tree of the Platanaceae family that grows to a height of 30 metres or more, is known for its longevity and spreading crown. In autumn, its deep green leaves may change to blood red, amber and yellow. Known as Buen and Booyn in Kashmiri language, it is the living heritage and a part of the tradition of the Valley. 38-year-old Khan says he once visited Baand Wuder and found it open. There wasnt any spot where people could stay under shadow, he said. Then he decided to plant trees there, firstly I decided to plant walnut trees there but later I changed my plan and started planting chinar trees. Chinar trees, he said, maintain a clean atmosphere and offer fresh oxygen. The birds enjoy resting on these beautiful trees, and it pleases me to the core, he told TwoCircles.net. I plant Chinar in March each year. Once it grows four to five feet after two years, I root it out and plant it at different places, he said. It took Khan many months to understand and experiment the process from rooting branches to growing trees. Initially faced many challenges such as poor survival rates due to insufficient watering, he learned and adopted the best practices to ensure the successful growth of the trees. However, it was not a single challenge that he faced. Opposition of local residents was another major hurdle in the way of his noble passion. Many times, he alleged, the locals destroyed the plants. But now, when Chinars have grown, they are happy and appreciate me, he said, adding, When I see anyone sitting under the shade of the tree, I feel very happy. He said he was often discouraged by his well-wishers who used to suggest to him that he should concentrate on his source of livelihood instead of planting trees, but he did not give up. A small lake called Sar serves him as a source of water for irrigation. His day starts with visiting Baand Wuder every morning and watering Chinar trees. This is his daily routine. Even in the winter season, when heavy snowfall makes lives difficult, he visits the mountain and cleans the trees from snow to save it from getting damaged. Khan belongs to a humble family background and lives in an old wooden house with an aged mother and two other brothers who also work as daily wagers. Numerous challenges and financial constraints failed to shake his determination. His mother Jannat says she feels proud as her son plants chinar trees. We never stopped him, she said, complaining that the fellow villagers never supported him in his selfless work. She has a hope that the government will employ her son in any department where he can continue his work. Khan is planting these trees on forest departments land. He said the officials of the Forest Department never stopped him from doing so. On the contrary, they supported me. This year, I have provided the department over 700 Chinar tree saplings for plantation across the Valley, he claimed. Asked for how long will he continue doing it, he said, I will never stop it I am alive. He has a piece of advice for everyone: grow tress as much as you can to make environment greener and cleaner. Baand Wuder, according to a group of locals who were sitting under the Chinar trees planted by Khan, was an open mountain before the forestation initiative was undertaken. This was an open field. No one found it a resting place because of the direct sunlight, said Jamsheed Ahmad, a local. Dr. Suhaib Ahmad Bandh, assistant professor, environmental science, SP College, Srinagar, said, Chinar trees are culturally significant in regions like Kashmir and are celebrated for their majestic beauty and symbolic value. Ecologically, the tree stabilises soil, provides shade and supports diverse wildlife, he added. Unfortunately, its population is declining as a result of mindless urbanization, deforestation and climate change-induced stressors such erratic rainfall patterns. Bandh further said that urgent conservation measures, including habitat restoration, sustainable forestry and community involvement are essential to safeguard this iconic species and preserve its invaluable ecological, cultural and socio economic contributions for future generations. While the ban on cutting trees aims to protect existing forests and biodiversity, at the same time, it may indirectly hinder individuals from planting more trees on their lands if they perceive regulatory hurdles or lack incentives for tree planting, he said. (Chinar is regarded as one of the heritage trees of Kashmir and its felling and lopping is banned under the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation of Specified Trees Act, 1969. Thats why he says indirectly it hinders people from planting chinar trees because people think they wont be allowed to cut it tomorrow if required.) Research by Sheikh Tajamul Islam, Masood Majaz Ganaie, Vinit Kumar and Sami Ullah Bhat on Chinar trees in Pulwama district highlights that Humans have always been ignorant about the benefits of nature. Owing to turmoil and increase in habitational areas, population growth and building constructions, a significant decline Chinar cover has been noted. The dwindling numbers of the tree poses a threat to the heritage of the Valley and illustrates the ignorance and apathy towards harmonic coexistence with nature. The present study seems that the plantation of the chinar tree has remained a conscious and deliberate social cause as otherwise the tree has no such a big economic importance, neither its wood has remained any product of demand, said the study, suggesting, A Chipkoo type movement should be launched to spread the awareness about the importance of Chinar. The tree, according to the researcher, has been used for doing meditation over several years and is considered sacred. And hence it is planted around places of worship. Other than religious importance, chinar is a good ornamental tree. Its leaves are used as charcoal, the wood in crafts and the huge branches house birds like the kite (Milvus migrans). The decoction of boiled bark of Chinar is used in Greek folk medicine to treat haemorrhage and relieve burns. When it is mixed with potassium carbonate, the compound is used as a traditional dye for silk. Chinar has also an impact on Kashmiri arts and crafts. Weavers Chinar leaf patterns on shawls. Bhat Yasir and Umar Farooq are Kashmir-based freelance journalists TCN Special Correspondent New Delhi: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that it is confident of winning third consecutive national elections, and this time with more than 400 of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament). It appears to have adopted a divide and conquer approach presenting Modi as the protector of majoritarian Hindus and criticising minorities to whip up support. Support TwoCircles If the Opposition led by the Congress party comes to power, it will distribute the countrys wealth among those who have more children. They will snatch the gold and even mangalsutra of mothers and sisters and give it to infiltrators. Should your hard-earned money be given to infiltrators? At a packed rally in Rajasthan on April 21, Prime Minister Modi mentioned people with more children and infiltrators in an apparent reference to Muslims. He drew criticism from a large section of the society, with people asking the Election Commission (EC) of India to act against the alleged hate speech. Instead of issuing a notice directly to the alleged violator of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the poll panel reluctantly asked his party (the BJP) to reply to the allegation. Interestingly, the notice has no mention of PM Modis name. The EC wrote identical letters to the presidents of the BJP and the Congress on April 25, three days after Modi first made the comments at a rally in Rajasthans Banaswara, denouncing the star campaigners violations of the MCC. The letters refer to some of (the partys) star campaigners rather than naming the alleged violators. Even after the bizarre notice, prominent campaigners for the BJP such as party president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh have continued to echo Modis overtly communal remarks. The Congress manifesto does not even talk about redistribution of the countrys wealth. It also does not mention Muslims expressly while discussing employment, reservations, implementing the Sachar Committees report, bringing back triple talaq or legalising cow slaughter. However, star campaigners of the saffron party continue to amplify false allegations claiming it is there in the Congress manifesto. Repeating Modis controversial remarks, Nadda in a video speech on April 26 accused the Congress of attempting to snatch the rights of SC,ST and OBCs and give them to Muslims. The covert goal of the Congress and the INDIA alliance (a coalition of Opposition parties) is to take away the rights of SC, ST and OBC and give them to Muslims. According to the Congress, Muslims have first right over the countrys resources. However, Prime Minister Modi says that the poor of this nation have the primary claim to resources, he said. Like Modi, Nadda made a false reference to a 2006 speech of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Manmohan Singh did deliver the speech by mistake; it was not an error. He did so knowingly and with a purpose. He reiterated his statement in a press conference in 2009, saying that minorities, especially Muslims, should be given precedence. Through the Sachar committee report, false claims were made that Muslims have a worse situation than Dalits. This indicates that the Congress has been laying the foundation for Muslims to be recognized as SCs in order to grant them the reservation that Dalits are entitled to, he said. In addition to Nadda, other prominent campaigners of the BJP, such as Shah and Rajnath, have also been repeating Modis statements since then. Rajnath also mentioned Manmohans address on April 23 at a rally at Uttar Pradeshs. He (Manmohan Singh) stated at a national defense council meeting in 2006 that minorities, particularly Muslims, have first right to the nations resources. It was, not us, who said this. Ever since the prime minister (Narendra Modi) referred to his (Manmohan Singhs) statement, the Opposition has been creating a commotion, he said. Union Home Minister Shah, while addressing a rally on April 26 at Bemetara in Chhattisgarh, openly lied to people by alleging that the Congress had stated in its manifesto that it would impose Muslim personal laws and govern the nation as per Sharia law. Read the Congress partys manifesto carefully; they have promised to reinstate personal laws. Why are they introducing Muslim personal laws? Can Sharia law be imposed in this country? Can you please bring triple talaq back? The Congress party intends to push Muslim Leagues agenda. But Rahul Baba, you wont be elected, nor will you be able to bring triple talaq back. Article 370, the CAA and triple talaq will not be touched, he added. He reiterated the assertion at another rally the same day. Take a look at the Congress party manifesto. Go through it carefully. They have said that they will enforce personal law. They seek to enact personal law for Muslims. Can Sharia law be implemented in this country? Can you please bring triple talaq back? Rahul baba, you are free to satisfy yourself as you like. Personal laws will not be allowed as long as the BJP is in power. The country will run as per the UCC (Uniform Civil Code). We will implement the UCC throughout the country, as promised by PM Modi, as we have brought it in Uttarakhand, Shah said. At a rally in Uttar Pradeshs Etawah on April 27, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party would give reservations to Muslims. They will include Muslims in the 27% reservations for backward castes. Will you accept this? Can there be reservations on the basis of religion in India? Ambedkar had opposed reservations on the basis of religion, and now they want to do this by attempting to divide the country, he said. He continued by saying that the Congress party manifesto says that they would not stop people from eating what they like. This according to him implies slaughtering of cows and that the Congress is playing with peoples faith. The Congress manifesto contains some dangerous promises. After dividing the country in 1947, they now wish to carry out an X-ray and survey of properties owned by Indians and then redistribute them. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party will take control of your ancestral land. It seems they are saying that they will allow minorities to eat whatever they want. Do the majority and minority populations in this country eat different foods? The majority of our country does not eat or butcher cows. Now, they want Muslims to be allowed to butcher cows. Will you accept it? Is it not like playing with your faith? he said. The communal angle in elections is brought with a purpose and political objective. There are a lot of welfare schemes in India where Muslims are a beneficiary. So, at the policy level, there is no discrimination. But at the political level, a very conscious attempt is made to otherize Muslims and seek votes in the name of religion, said veteran journalist and political commentator Rasheed Kidwai. Surveys show the BJP currently has around 40% of the vote share. It is hoping to expand its geographical base beyond the northern and western parts of the country, pushing its Hindu nationalist ideology of Hindutva and brand Modi. Supporters of Modi are happy that he delivered on promises of building a Ram temple in Ayodhya on the site of razed Babri mosque and revoking Kashmirs semi-autonomous status. They also applaud him for proudly wearing his politico-religious identity on his sleeve in a secular country. Muslims who make up 14% of the country particularly fear this polarisation. The most important issue for them is their safety. Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (together will all, development for all) or inclusive development for all had been a key slogan of the Modi government. But the BJP accuses the Congress of minority appeasement and uses language that keeps the sectarian divide open. The Opposition parties have been forced to peddle a kind of soft Hindu nationalism even as their leaders accuse Modi of attacking Indias secular principles. Tourist fined for getting too close to Walrus in Norway A tourist has been fined NOK 12,500 Norwegian Kroner (900) for approaching a walrus in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. The authorities said the man went out onto an ice floe on Wednesday and "disturbed a walrus that was lying on the ice". They said members of the public saw him approach the mammal and reported him to the local governor, and that "parts of the incident were also observed by the governor's employees". There is a law in Svalbard which stipulates people must conduct themselves in a way which does not lead to unnecessary disturbance of wildlife. The tourist was subsequently brought to the governor's office, where he accepted the fine. Read more: Famous Norway walrus put down due to fears for public safety Freya the walrus honoured with life-size sculpture "The governor encourages everyone to keep a good distance from walruses so that they are not disturbed and so that no danger to people occur," his office said in a statement. Walruses were hunted practically to extinction in the Svalbard Archipelago up until they were protected by law in 1952, according to the government's Norwegian Polar Institute. Despite decades of protection, the number of walruses in the region is still low and they remain on the Norwegian National Red List, which identifies species at risk of going extinct in Norway. There will be new rules for motor traffic at sea from next year specifically aimed at protecting walruses, where it will be illegal to knowingly go within 150 metres of them. The speed limit will be five knots for any motor traffic within 300 metres of them. Remembering Allah Baksh on 84th Anniversary of Azad Muslim Conference Within five weeks of the Pakistan Resolution of the Muslim League in Lahore, Indian Muslims organized Muslim Azad Conference between April 27-30, 1940 in Delhi. Allah Baksh, former Premier of Sindh, was the leading light of this conference. Sunday April 28, 2024 8:56 PM , Dr Shamsul Islam The search for the real culprits behind the Partition of India in 1947 seems to be an endless exercise. It is despite the fact that there is no dearth of writings on the Indian Freedom Struggle against the British rule in India and specially partition of the country on the basis of religion. Historians have rightly held the Muslim League, led by Mohammed Ali Jinnah, basically responsible for this unnatural and tragic Partition which became a kind of license for both Hindu and Muslim communal elements to indulge in mass butchery of innocent children, women and men. However, there has always been a school of historiographers under the influence of Hindutva which has been spreading the canard that all Muslims in pre-Partition days supported the Muslim Leagues call for Pakistan. Hindutva tries to cover up the fact that it subscribed to the two-nation theory like Muslim League long before the latter subscribed to it and wanted to have an exclusive Hindu Rashtra on the lines of Islamic State of Muslim League. Unfortunately, this kind of discourse has secured more credibility specially among the Hindu middle class with the recent upsurge of anti-minorityism led by Hindutva fascism. The crucial fact should not be missed here that Hindutva has mainly succeeded in its attempts because facts of significant contributions of those Muslim individuals and organisations that opposed Muslim League with all their resources and might remains buried even today. This criminal silence on the part of the secular state and organisations has only galvanised the Hindu communalists to malign the Muslims of India. Allah Baksh Sumro - One of the Greatest Indian Patriots One such example is of Allah Baksh Sumro (also written as Allah Bux Soomro) who at the grassroots level among Muslims of India organised an effective and massive opposition to the nefarious designs of Muslim League in pre-Partition days. Allah Bakhsh was the Premier of Sind (those days chief minister was known by this designation) during the eventful days of Quit India Movement of 1942 as head of the Ittehad Party (Unity Party) which did not allow Muslim League to have any foothold in the Muslim majority province of Sind. Allah Bakhsh and his party were not part of the Indian National Congress. But when British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made a derogatory reference to the Indian freedom struggle and the Quit India Movement in a speech in the British Parliament, Allah Bakhsh renounced in protest all the titles conferred on him by the British Government. While announcing this renouncement he stated: It is the cumulative result of the feeling that the British Government does not want to part with power. Mr. Churchills speech shattered all hopes. The British administration could not digest this dissent of Allah Baksh Sumro and he was removed from the office by the Governor, Sir Hugh Dow, on October 10, 1942. This great sacrifice of a Muslim leader for the freedom of the country remains unknown even today. The fact that Nathu Ram Godse, closely associated with Hindu Mahasabha, VD Savarkar and the RSS killed MK Gandhi on January 30, 1948 is known by all. But how many of us know that Allah Bakhsh, a great fighter for the independence of a united India and prolific opponent of the idea of Pakistan, was murdered on May 14, 1943, in Sind by professional killers hired by the Muslim League. Allah Bakhsh needed to be liquidated because he was able to muster a massive support of common Muslim masses throughout India against Pakistan. Moreover, Allah Bakhsh as a great secularist with massive support in Sind and opposed to the formation of Pakistan, could prove to be the greatest stumbling block in the physical formation of Pakistan as without Sind, the Islamic State in the west of the country just could not have materialized. It is a well-known fact that dismissal of Allah Bakhsh Government in 1942 and his murder in 1943 paved the way for the entry of Muslim League in Sind. One could see the open ganging up of the British rulers and Muslim League in political and physical liquidation of Allah Bakhsh and his kind of anti-communal politics. It is important to remember that after the assassination of Allah Bakhsh, Hindu Mahasabha led by Savarkar joined the coalition government in Sind led by Muslim League. Sind Muslim League leader, M A Khuhro, was put on trial as the main conspirator in the killing of Allah Bakhsh. He was found not guilty, as the state could not produce an independent witness to prove his involvement. Significantly, it was the same ground on which Savarkar secured acquittal in Gandhijis murder case later. It really needs a serious inquiry why powerful anti-two nation political trend led by Allah Bakhsh among the Indian Muslims got pushed to oblivion. It suited the British masters and both Hindu-Muslim communalists. They saw India as a land of perpetual conflicts among different religions. But the Indian secular state, which has the name of Sind in its National Anthem, became totally unmindful to this legacy which stood for a secular, united and democratic India. Allah Bakhsh spent all his life countering communal politics of Muslim League and its two-nation theory. In fact he laid down his life for this cause. Muslim Azad Conference Within five weeks of the Pakistan Resolution of the Muslim League at Lahore, Indian Muslims organized Muslim Azad Conference in Delhi (Queens Park, Chandni Chowk) between April 27-30, 1940. It was to conclude on April 29 but was extended by one day due to tremendous participation and large number of issues to be deliberated with 1400 delegates from almost all parts of India attending it. Former Premier of Sindh, Allah Bakhsh, was the leading light of this conference and presided over the conclave. The major Muslim organizations represented in this conference were All India Jamiat-ul-Ulema, All India Momin Conference, All India Majlis-e-Ahrar, All-India Shia Political Conference, Khudai Khidmadgars, Bengal Krishak Proja Party, All-India Muslim Parliamentary Board, the Anjuman-e-Watan, Baluchistan, All India Muslim Majlis and Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadis. The Azad Muslim Conference was attended by duly elected delegates from United Province, Bihar, Central Province, Punjab, Sind, NWF Province, Madras, Orissa, Bengal, Malabar, Baluchistan, Delhi, Assam, Rajasthan, Delhi, Kashmir, Hyderabad and many native states thus covering the whole of India. There was no doubt that these delegates represented majority of Indias Muslims". Apart from these organizations, a galaxy of leading intellectuals of Indian Muslims like Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, who was at the forefront of the struggle against the communal politics of Muslim League but died in 1936 before India attained independence), Shaukatullah Ansari, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Syed Abdullah Brelvi, Shaikh Mohammed Abdullah, AM Khwaja and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad were associated with this movement against Pakistan. Jamiat and other Muslim organizations produced a large number of booklets in Urdu against the two-nation theory and in support of co-existence of Hindus and Muslims in India. The Conference resolved that Pakistan scheme was impracticable and harmful to the countrys interest generally, and of Muslims in particular. The conference called upon Muslims of India to own equal responsibilities with other Indians for striving and making sacrifices to achieve the countrys independence. Muslims like Allah Bakhsh, who opposed the Muslim League and challenged its communal politics, had done a thorough home work as will be clear from the contents of presidential address delivered in Urdu by Allah Bakhsh at the Delhi Conference. He advanced historical facts to counter postulations of the Muslim League and invited its leadership to respond to the ideological issues raised. While decrying the concept of a theocratic state itself he stated: It was based on a false understanding that India is inhabited by two nations, Hindu and Muslim. It is much more to the point to say that all Indian Mussalmans are proud to be Indian Nationals and they are equally proud that their spiritual level and creedal realm is Islam. As Indian nationals-Muslims and Hindus and others, inhabit the land and share every inch of the motherland and all its material and cultural treasures alike according to the measure of their just and fair rights and requirements as the proud sons of the soil "It is a vicious fallacy for Hindus, Muslims and other inhabitants of India to arrogate to themselves and exclusively proprietary rights over either the whole or any particular part of India. The country as an indivisible whole and as one federated and composite unit belongs to all the inhabitants of the country alike, and is as much the inalienable and imprescriptible heritage of the Indian Muslims as of other Indians. No segregated or isolated regions, but the whole of India is the Homeland of all the Indian Muslims and no Hindu or Muslim or any other has the right to deprive them of one inch of this Homeland. He made it clear that communalism was the creation of high castes among Muslims and Hindus. According to him: These feelings and ambitions among those who hope to constitute the ruling caste among Hindus or Muslims, as successors of the present Imperial Rulers [the British], revive and invent excuses for popular consumption from historical or other sources, and by securing the support of groups, manoeuver themselves into a position to play the political chess, which promises a possible prospect of success in their aim of becoming the rulers of the masses either integrally of the entire country or of a delimited region. He asked the Muslim Leagures and other flag-bearers of Muslim separatism a question based on Islamic historical experiences: Had the imperialistic structure of society been a guarantee of the prosperity of the Muslim masses and had empires not carried the germs of their own decay in them, then the mighty Omaiyad, Abbasid, Sarasenic, Fatimide, Sassanic, Moghal and Turkish empires would never have crumbled, leaving 1/5th of the human race, who live by Islamic faith in the condition in which they find themselves today-disinterested, and destitute in the bulk. "Similarly those Hindus who entertain similar dreams, and who out of tendentiously written pages of history or out of the stimulating examples of the modern imperialists select ingredients for the nourishment of their imperial dreams, or dreams of exploitation, imposition and domination will be well advised to discard such ideals. He was right in complaining (which also throws light on how Muslim League got prominence) that, Indian Mussalmans have a legitimate cause of complaint against the Congress on the ground that it has not found it possible so far to confer with them [anti-League Muslims of India] for a settlement of the communal issue. Allah Bakhsh in his address defended greatly the composite Indian culture: When they talk of Muslim culture they forget the composite culture which the impact of Hindus and Muslims has been shaping for the last 1000 years or more and in which is born a type of culture and civilisation in India in the production of which Muslims have been proud and active partners. It cannot now merely by creating artificial States be withdrawn to segregated areas. To art and literature, architecture and music, history and philosophy and to the administrative system of India, the Mussalmans have been contributing for a thousand years, their share of coordinated, composite and syncretic culture which occupies a distinctly distinguished place in the types of civilisations which hold a prominent place in the world. It would be a disastrous loss to civilisation if it was proposed to withdraw all this to two corners of India and leave nothing behind the ruins and debris of this contribution. Such a proposal can only emanate from defeatist mentality. No, gentleman, the whole of India is our motherland and in every possible walk of life we are co-sharers with other inhabitants of the country as brothers in the same cause, viz., the freedom of the country, and no false or defeatist sentiment can possibly persuade us to give up our proud position of being the equal sons of this great country. Allah Bakhsh, while calling upon to guard against communalism, declared that the goal of the anti-communal movement must be, to build up a vigorous, healthy, progressive and honoured India enjoying its well-deserved freedom. It is really shocking that we have Savarkars statue in Parliament who was an ideological co-traveller of Muslim League but no place for Allah Bakhsh. It is only a living testimony to the communal political structure which secular India is forced to live today. [The writer, Shamsul Islam is a retired professor of Delhi University (http://du-in.academia.edu/ShamsulIslam). For a detailed study of Azad Muslim Conference read authors book 'Muslims against Partition of India: Revisiting the Legacy of Patriotic Muslims (5th edition published by Pharos Media & Publishing Pvt. Ltd. Delhi with website: www.pharosmedia.com). It is also available in Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Kannada, and Punjabi.] Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Watch: Another Israeli ministers car meets with accident Israeli Education Minister Haim Bitons car met with an accident Saturday leaving those inside the vehicle badly injured. Sunday April 28, 2024 3:51 PM , ummid.com News Network Tel Aviv: Israeli Education Minister Haim Bitons car met with an accident Saturday leaving those inside the vehicle badly injured. Haim Biton was not inside the car at the time of the accident. But, those inside the car included Haim Bitons parents. The vehicle hit a bus in the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem, local police said. While Haim Bitons father is critically injured, his mother sustained minor injuries, the Israeli media said. Both have been rushed to a hospital and are under medical treatment. Bitons car met with the accident a day after his cabinet colleague Ben Gvir suffered injuries in a car crash Friday. Ben Gvirs daughter was also with him when the car crashed. Watch Video BREAKING: Another car accident involving a minister in Netanyahu's government. Israeli minister Haim Biton in a car accident making it the second in 2 days after Ben Gvir's accident pic.twitter.com/QPpehXlN5k Palestine and MENA Info Center (@PALMENA_IC) April 28, 2024 Soon after the reports came in that Haim Bitons car has crashed, it was speculated that the minister was also travelling. The police later confirmed the accident but said it was Haim Bitons parents who were inside the car at the time of the incident and not the minister. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. NEW YORK Ten major tech companies announced Tuesday that they would work together to prevent artificial intelligence from creating and spreading materials depicting child sexual abuse. There are concerns that AI is trained on such materials found online to generate masses of inappropriate images. The companies include Google LLC, Microsoft Corp., Open AI Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Meta Platforms Inc. and Stability AI Ltd. The dataset for training AI will be checked to see if it contains child sexual abuse materials and, if confirmed, will be removed. The companies agreed to assess AI models for their potential to generate such images before hosting them. They will also work on improving technology to detect harmful materials and share information with governments. The spread of generative AI has created a growing concern that the human rights of children could be violated by the generation of large numbers of sexual images that specifically resemble real individuals. In December, Stanford Universitys research team announced that it identified a massive number of images in a dataset that it suspected of being what has been termed child sexual abuse materials. The dataset in question has a filter to exclude illicit images during use, but it has been difficult to completely eliminate illicit images with the current technology. The Japan News/ANN MANILA Record heat in the Philippines this month has forced schools to send children home for online classes, reviving memories of COVID lockdowns and raising fears that more extreme weather in the years to come could deepen educational inequalities. Pupils at 7,000 public schools in the Southeast Asian country were sent home last week because of unusually hot weather in many areas that forecasters have linked to the effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon. Teacher Erlinda Alfonso, who works at a public elementary school in Quezon City near the capital, said she did not know what was worse for her pupilssweltering in an overcrowded classroom or trying to study at home. READ: So hot you cant breathe: Extreme heat hits the Philippines Some students told me they prefer going to school because the heat is worse at home, she said, adding that many of her students live in nearby shantytowns and have no internet connection to take part in online classes. While teachers are providing offline assignments for students without internet access, Alfonso said the arrangement left children with no one to raise questions with. If theres something they could not understand, their parents or siblings are often not at home because they need to earn a living, said the 47-year-old, who also heads the citys association of public school teachers. Inadequate ventilation The Philippines had one of the worlds longest school shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the education gap faced by children from low-income families without computers or sufficient internet access. But with most public schools in the country of 115 million people poorly equipped to deal with soaring temperatures and other extreme weather, online classes have become the safest option during the current heat waves, teachers and unions say. In public schools in Metro Manila, the capital region, a survey of more than 8,000 teachers last month showed 87 percent of students had suffered from heat-related conditions. More than three-quarters of teachers described the heat as unbearable in the survey conducted by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers of the Philippines-National Capital Region (ACT-NCR), a teaching association. Nearly half or 46 percent of teachers said classrooms have only one or two electric fans, highlighting inadequate ventilation measures to deal with rising temperatures. The heat had tremendous impacts on children. Some students even collapsed inside classrooms. Teachers suffered from the heat, too, but often they would prioritize their students health inside classrooms, Ruby Bernardo, spokesperson for ACT-NCR, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Hotter, longer heat waves As climate change fuels the frequency and severity of heat waves, the problems faced by teachers and students in the Philippines look set to play out elsewhere. About 243 million children in Asia and the Pacific are expected to be exposed to hotter and longer heat waves over the coming months, the United Nations childrens agency, Unicef, said last week. Children are particularly susceptible to heatstroke, and Unicef said prolonged exposure to intense heat also impacts their ability to concentrate and learn. Since the start of El Nino, danger category temperatures as high as 44 degrees Celsius have been predicted by the countrys weather agency. Filipino teachers say more measures are needed to deal with extreme heat in schoolsfrom tackling shortages of classrooms and teachers, which lead to overcrowding, to providing free drinking water and having a school nurse or doctor on-site. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers has called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to address such issues. It has also proposed the immediate reversion to the prepandemic school calendar, when the hot months of April and May fell during the long school break. Resign or retire early Asked to comment, a DepEd spokesperson said its policy of letting head teachers decide when to switch to online or offline home classes provides a more immediate and effective response to heat conditions rather than knee-jerk changes that would further compromise learning recovery. Some teachers say the current situation also underlines the need for more education about climate change. Climate change has not been comprehensively taught in our classrooms. But its a pressing issue linked to all the other challenges our education system is facing now, Bernardo said. For many low-paid public sector teachers, working in packed schools with nonexistent or inadequate cooling has been the last straw. The heat makes me want to resign or retire early, said Alfonso. Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN BERLIN A working delegation from the Ministry of Justice led by Deputy Minister Mai Luong Khoi paid a working trip to Germany recently in the framework of Viet Nam Germany legal and judicial cooperation under the joint statement signed in 2008. At a working session with the Federal Ministry of Justice, Khoi and Parliamentary State Secretary at the ministry Benjamin Strasser reviewed the cooperative activities between the legal and judicial partners of Viet Nam and Germany under the cooperative programme during 2022-2025. Regarding the cooperative plan in 2024, the two ministries will join hands to roll out specific and effective activities, including enhancing capacity for legal officials, judicial training and digital transformation in the field. Strasser spoke highly of the achievements that both sides have attained, and said his ministry will continue coordination with the Vietnamese side to fully carry out cooperative activities in 2024, and work with the German Academic Exchange Service to support high-quality human resources training at the German Law Centre established at the Ha Noi University of Law. Meanwhile, General Director of the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ) Alexandra Albert affirmed continued support for the Vietnamese ministry in learning international experience in relevant areas. Deputy Minister Khoi also had a meeting with Minister of Justice of Hessen State Christian Heinz, during which the two sides agreed to continue implementing their Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two ministries in November 2022. At the event, experts from the German side shared experience in building and carrying out the states e-justice programme with the Vietnamese ministry. At a working session with vice chairman of Hessen state parliaments legal commission Frederick Bouffier, Khoi briefed the host on the cooperative results in the legal between Hessen and Viet Nam. Bouffier, for his part, affirmed legal cooperation is important, which contributed to the cooperation between the two countries. President of the World University Service of Germany Kambiz Ghawami suggested both sides organise workshops to share experience of German and Hessen state in law enforcement and digital transformation in legal and judicial fields as the two countries are celebrating their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025. During the trip, the Vietnamese justice ministry delegation also had working session with officials of the German Federal Chamber of Notaries (Bnotk), the Federal association of German, Mitte district court and Wiesbaden district court, the Vietnamese Embassy in Berlin and the General Consulate in Frankfurt. VNS King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has collaborated with NEOM, the developer of Saudi futuristic city, to start working on the first nursery of the KAUST Coral Restoration Initiative (KCRI). The newly built nursery, on the coast of NEOM in northwest Saudi Arabia, will transform coral restoration efforts with a production capacity of 40,000 corals annually. Functioning as a pioneering pilot facility, researchers will leverage it as the blueprint for large-scale coral restoration initiatives. Most importantly, this facility serves as a precursor to a more ambitious project: the world's largest and most advanced land-based coral nursery. This nursery, located at the same site, is an advanced coral nursery that will boast a ten-fold larger capacity to nurture 400,000 corals annually. Set on a 100-hectare site; the initiative will deploy two million coral fragments, marking a significant step in conservation efforts. With construction quickly progressing, the project is anticipated to reach completion by December 2025, it stated. KCRI is the world's largest coral restoration project, aiming to restore reefs worldwide, said the university in its release. The primary nursery is already operational, and a second facility is being developed, both located in the Red Sea. It is funded by KAUST, a world-class graduate research university in Saudi Arabia, which was recently ranked as the number one Arab University by Times Higher Education. Home to 25% of known marine species despite covering less than 1% of the sea floor, coral reefs are the bedrock of numerous marine ecosystems. NEOM's CEO Nadhmi Al Nasr said this initiative demonstrates its dedication to sustainability and finding innovative solutions for global environmental challenges. As a pioneer in sustainable development, NEOM recognizes the importance of reviving coral reefs in partnership with KAUST, he stated. Through their longstanding collaboration, they aim to raise awareness about the significance of coral reefs as crucial marine environmental systems and emphasize the need to preserve them for future generations, he added. KAUST President Prof. Tony Chan said: "Recent events provide a stark reminder of the global crisis that coral reefs face. Our ambition is, therefore, to pioneer a pathway to upscale from the current labour-intensive restoration efforts to industrial-scale processes required to reverse the current rate of coral reef degradation." "As a significant output of KAUST's new strategy, the university is contributing the world-leading expertise of our faculty, who are working on technologies to bring this vision to fruition," he added. Even seven decades after the first Indochina war, the memories of those who contributed to the reconstruction of the former ien Bien Phu battlefield remain deeply etched in the minds of the soldiers. In those days, they toiled together, their hands shaping the future, with the sweat and blood of peasants-turned-soldiers mingling with the fervour of dedicated youth volunteers [who worked voluntarily as supplies transporters or road builders in service of the military], breathing new life into the land once ravaged by bombs and shells. Today, ien Bien Phu City stands as a proud emblem of resilience in the far reaches of our homeland. Just a brief 20-minute journey from the bustling heart of ien Bien Phu lies the site once known as the "Hong Cum battlefield", a witness to fierce fights of the past. Yet now, it is adorned with lush rice paddies, fields of golden maize, and quaint homes crowned with vibrant red roofs, masking the scars of tumultuous history. Tran Van ap, a veteran of the ien Bien Phu battle and a former worker at the State-owned ien Bien Farm, recalled the valour of bygone days. "Hong Cum, alongside Him Lam and Hill A1, stood as an unconquerable outpost of the French army's group of fortresses in ien Bien Phu. On the night of May 7, 1954, our forces overran the last stronghold of the French at Hong Cum, securing a resounding victory for our army and people in ien Bien Phu," ap said. Following the return of peace in northern Viet Nam, ap's army unit received orders to relocate to Thanh Hoa Province for new assignments. Yet, by 1958, they were called back to ien Bien. After enduring days of gruelling marches, the entire unit finally arrived in the former battlefield, pitching camps and focusing on reclaiming land for agriculture while laying the groundwork for a demobbed armymen's plantation. "Hong Cum was little more than a scattering of bamboo houses cloaked in foliage, serving as the humble abodes of the Thai ethnic minority. Life was tough, reliant on hunting and foraging in the forests. The once fortified stronghold of Hong Cum, left deserted after the conflict, was littered with barbed wire, landmines, and discarded weaponry, akin to a desolate wasteland," ap said. Military farm Thanks to the military's efforts in land clearance and guidance in farming techniques for rice, maize and sugarcane, and even flower the first seeds of recovery were sown in the war-torn land. A particularly poignant moment for ap occurred in 1960 when he and his unit bid farewell to military service in an official ceremony, transitioning to become workers at the ien Bien State Farm. Demobbed soldiers from various units were organised into production teams dispersed among villages and hamlets in the ien Bien Phu Valley. ap found himself assigned to Team C2, where they worked in Hong Cum, Thanh Yen Commune. In the initial years, while they cleared land and transformed the rugged battlefield into fertile fields, Team C2 also ventured into planting coffee and food crops, and livestock farming to meet the daily needs of the farm's workers. The establishment of the ien Bien Military Farm on May 8, 1958, marked a significant milestone under the joint auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and the military, comprising 1,954 officers and soldiers from the 176th Battalion. The farm's organisational structure included the headquarters, subsidiary departments, and 23 production units, each designated as a company (referred to as C), tasked with various fields of agriculture production, ranging from crop to livestock farming, product processing, transportation, water management, mechanics, and even construction material production. Soldiers-turn-farm workers The soldiers-turn-farm workers were dispersed among villages across the ien Bien Valley, as well as in the Muong Ang and Tuan Giao regions. On December 22, 1960, the ien Bien Military Farm underwent a transformative shift, evolving into the ien Bien State Farm under the Ministry of Agriculture. Charged with the ongoing mission of land clearance and expanding arable areas for food crops, the farm embraced the cultivation of coffee with a guiding principle: prioritise food crops, utilise short-term crops to nourish long-term ones, foster the growth of perennial trees, and develop other industries. Simultaneously, they advised local ethnic communities to bolster production and remain prepared for any eventuality in times of conflict. In 1963, a young man named o Vu Xo embarked on a remarkable journey at the age of 20. Serving as Deputy Secretary of the Cooperative Youth Union, he volunteered alongside 300 youths from Ha Noi to construct the Nam Rom Irrigation Works in ien Bien. "I can still vividly recall the rallying cry of Hoang Tinh, the chief of the Construction Command, urging us forward: 'For every obstacle we encounter, we must overcome tenfold, with solutions at the ready'," Xo said Guided by the ethos of 'threefold compensation' compensation for rain, illness, and air attacks the youth volunteers dedicated themselves tirelessly, extending their working hours to 10 to 12 hours per day, as if to reaffirm the strength, unity, courage, and unwavering enthusiasm of that remarkable generation of youth volunteers. "The memory of March 13, 1966, will forever be etched in my heart. On that fateful day, our unit was engulfed in sorrow and loss. Five of my comrades made the ultimate sacrifice while diligently carrying out their duties, as American bombs mercilessly rained down, shattering the construction site of the headwaters dam," Xo said. "Some were torn apart by bomb fragments, while others were crushed under the weight of the explosives. But it was the fate of Captain Nong Van Man that truly broke my heart. As the American aircraft swooped in, he stood at the bunker's edge, urging everyone to seek shelter. In the deafening roar of the explosion, his body was torn asunder by the bombs and mingled with the earth. Their absence is a void that can never be filled. Their sacrifice will forever be ingrained in my memory, haunting me for a lifetime." The Nam Rom Irrigation Works, initiated in 1963 and completed in 1969, stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of over 2,000 officers and soldiers, including more than 800 volunteers from the capital and young people from various provinces downstream such as Hung Yen, Thai Binh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Nam inh, Vinh Phuc, and Thanh Hoa, who selflessly answered the call to serve in ien Bien. Their collective mission and noble endeavour to expedite the completion of the Nam Rom Irrigation Works served as a lifeline for ien Bien, alleviating famine and revitalising agricultural production. Bearing fruit Seventy years later, ien Bien Province is revolutionising its agricultural landscape, aiming to modernise traditional small-scale farming into a dynamic, market-oriented sector while fostering sustainable practices. This ambitious restructuring effort is already yielding tangible results, evident in the escalating quality of agricultural goods that cater to diverse consumer demands both locally and beyond. Notably, ien Bien's agricultural produce is swiftly gaining recognition as a hallmark of quality. The province's agricultural overhaul encompasses a wide array of sectors, spanning cultivation, livestock, forestry, and aquaculture, with more than 10 distinct product categories. Among these, cultivation stands out as a beacon of progress. Over the past few years, nearly 3,000 hectares of under-performing rice paddies and crop fields have undergone a transformation, transitioning to more economically viable alternatives like fruit orchards, macadamia groves, medicinal herbs, and timber cultivation. One success story emerges from Tuan Giao District, where macadamia trees have flourished under favourable climatic and soil conditions. Buoyed by this success, the district expanded its macadamia cultivation in 2023. Through the strategic allocation of resources and concerted support from various national programmes, nearly 980 hectares of new macadamia plantations have taken root across several communes, heralding a promising harvest. The meticulous care and protection afforded to these newly established macadamia orchards have borne fruit, quite literally. Exceptional growth rates, with seed germination and shoot development exceeding 98 per cent, underscore the project's success. Presently, nearly 1,000 hectares of macadamia cultivation across the district have been harvested, yielding an estimated 3,000 tonnes of fresh produce in 2023 alone. Meanwhile, the Muong Thanh Valley, spanning 4,100 hectares in ien Bien District, has emerged as a key agricultural hub in the province. In recent years, the district has prioritised agricultural restructuring for sustainable growth. Value-added production Initiatives like the "Large Rice Fields" project aim to produce high-quality rice while bolstering the province's rice brand. Additional efforts include projects focused on adopting advanced scientific techniques in rice cultivation, further enhancing production capacity. To propel agricultural transformation, ien Bien has actively facilitated information dissemination on land planning and investment opportunities, fostering agricultural enterprise. By the close of 2023, four investment projects in agriculture and rural development had received approval, bringing the total tally of such enterprises to 30, concentrating on livestock, forestry, and high-value crops. According to Tran Van Thuong, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province's agricultural structure has steadily shifted toward value-added production. In 2023, the estimated total production value reached nearly VN15 trillion, marking a 7.5 per cent increase from the previous year, with the agricultural, forestry, and aquatic sectors collectively expanding by nearly 3.5 per cent. The One Commune One [Speciality] Product (OCOP) initiative has played a pivotal role, with numerous products evolving into prominent market players. Le Thanh o, chairman of the People's Committee of ien Bien Province [provincial government], reflected on the transformative journey that began in 2015. "Over the span of eight years, the agricultural landscape has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis, transitioning towards a more commercially viable model. This evolution has revitalised rural areas and elevated living standards for farmers," he said. Today, ien Bien's agricultural bounty finds its way onto shelves in supermarkets and retail outlets both within and beyond the province. As of 2023, the province boasts 77 OCOP-certified items, with 48 communes meeting or exceeding new rural standards, reflecting significant progress. This transformation has uplifted both material and spiritual wellbeing, with rural incomes averaging VN26 million annually, and the poverty rate plummeting by nearly 37 per cent. Rural ien Bien is witnessing a renaissance, characterised by vibrancy and prosperity, while signalling a promising future for its agricultural sector. VNS Saudi Arabia's National Housing Company (NHC) has awarded a contract worth SAR1 billion ($266 million) to Urbas Middle East Real Estate Company, a subsidiary of leading Spanish group Urbas, for the construction of 589 residential units within the Al Fursan suburb in the northeast of Riyadh. A major global player, Urbas has a key presence in over 20 countries and boasts a portfolio of more than 30,000 residential units, thus bringing a wealth of experience to this project. With this contract win, the Urbas Middle East aims to further increase its operations in the Saudi Arabian market, thus reflecting the group's commitment to expanding its global footprint. Spanning approximately 150,000 sq m area, the key project promises to set new standards in housing development. The agreement was formalised in a ceremony attended by the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to KSA, Jorge Hevia along with the CEO of NHC, Mohammed bin Saleh Albuty, the President and CEO of Urbas, Juan Antonio Acedo Fernandez, and the Executive Director of Urbas, Adolfo Guerrero. The NHC announcement comes on the back of its successful sale of 1,300 residential units in the first quarter within the Al Fursan development. A mega urban development project in the region, Al Fursan is designed to align with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. It covers an area of 35 million sq m and will feature over 50,000 residential units, accommodating more than 250,000 residents. It is equipped with over 190 vital facilities, including educational, healthcare, and recreational services, all surrounded by more than 6 million sq m of green spaces, said NHC in its statement. This extensive greenery is part of a broader initiative to enhance the living environment and contribute to the Saudi Green Initiative by planting over half a million trees, it added.-TradeArabia News Service The 2024 edition of IMEX Frankfurt that will take place at Messe Frankfurt from May 14-16, will see the participation of more than 4,000 buyers, with the buyer, exhibitor and meeting numbers currently ahead of 2023. Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, said: We know that face-to-face events are where some of the most valuable business conversations take place according to EIC research, as many as 22% of new customers are generated through in-person events. Our show is carefully designed to facilitate this and, from the demand were currently seeing from both buyers and suppliers, the appetite to meet and do business as we head into the second quarter of the year is impressive. An expansive roster of suppliers representing destinations, venues, hotels and technology are ready to do business at the show most regions are larger than last year with marked increases from North America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa. The number of US destinations has doubled over 20 compared to 10 last year. Together with first time exhibitors Savannah, Bloomington, West Hollywood and Beverley Hills, they can all be found in the new Brand USA pavilion. Strong representation from Asia includes Beijing returning, while Ho Chi Minh City the largest city in Vietnam is new to the show. Indonesia and Japan are both increasing their presence, with Tokyo taking its own booth. African destinations also continue to grow, with Senegal and Zambia among the newcomers. Tanzania is returning with its largest ever booth, while Rwanda will celebrate 10 years since its convention bureau was launched and first introduced to the industry at IMEX Frankfurt 2014. Many European countries and cities are furthering their investment too with Italy, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Istanbul among those increasing their booth space. The major hotel groups will all be showcasing their portfolios including Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, Four Seasons, Marriott, Radisson and Wyndham. The area of the show floor devoted to technology will showcase solutions covering payments, virtual events and content management among others TranslateABLE, Swoogo and OUispeak are among the new additions. The shows global reach makes it the perfect platform for major meetings and events industry news announcements. Expect new research and updates from exhibitors including Canada, Cvent, EIC, Gothenberg, ICCA, Los Cabos, Net Zero Carbon Events, PCMA and Thailand. First-timers to IMEX can make the most of a welcome package of activities before and during the show an introductory meet-up on the shows opening day will help newbies to make new friends and get their bearings. Expect support, advice and ideas covering everything from how to plan meetings at the show, how to dig into education or decide what to wear, where to eat and who to meet. TradeArabia News Service CAIRO Hamas said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the monthslong war and stave off a planned Israeli ground offensive into the southern city of Rafah. Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya gave no details of Israel's offer, but said it was in response to a Hamas proposal 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 Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. A separate Hamas statement said leaders from the three main militant groups active in Gaza discussed attempts to end the war. It didn't mention the Israeli proposal. The statements came hours after an Egyptian delegation ended 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. It wasn't immediately clear whether Israel's proposal was directly related to the visit. The discussions between Egyptian and Israeli officials focused on the first stage of a 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. 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 deal to end the war, the official said. Hamas previously said it won't back down from demands for a permanent cease-fire and full withdrawal of Israeli troops. Israel rejected both and said it will continue military operations until Hamas is defeated and that it will retain a security presence in Gaza. There is growing international pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach a cease-fire deal and avert an Israeli attack on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million people have sought refuge. Israel insisted for months it plans a ground offensive into Rafah, on the border with Egypt, where it says many remaining Hamas militants remain, despite calls for restraint including from Israel's staunchest ally, the United States. Egypt cautioned that an offensive into Rafah could have "catastrophic consequences" on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where famine is feared, and on regional peace and security. The Israeli military massed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles in southern Israel close to Rafah and hits the city with near-daily airstrikes. Early Saturday, an airstrike hit a house in Rafah's Tel Sultan neighborhood, killing a man, his wife and their sons, ages 12, 10 and 8, according to records of the Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital's morgue. A neighbor's 4-month-old girl also was killed. Ahmed Omar rushed with other neighbors after the 1:30 a.m. strike to look for survivors, but said they only found remains. "It's a tragedy," he said. An Israeli airstrike later Saturday on a building in Rafah killed seven people, including six members of the Ashour family, according to the morgue. Five people were 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 at a checkpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the military said. It said the men opened fire at troops stationed at Salem checkpoint near the city of Jenin. Violence in the West Bank has flared since the war. The Ramallah-based Health Ministry says 491 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire. Washington has been critical of Israeli policies in the West Bank. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is expected in Israel on Tuesday, recently determined an army unit committed rights abuses there before the war in Gaza. But Blinken said he's postponing a decision on blocking aid to the unit to give Israel more time to right the wrongdoing. Blinken stressed that overall U.S. military support for Israel's defense wouldn't be affected. The U.S. has also been building a pier to deliver aid to Gaza through a new port. Israel's military confirmed Saturday that it would be operational by early May. A three-ship flotilla coming from Turkey and carrying humanitarian aid was prevented from sailing, organizers said. Hamas sparked the war by attacking southern Israel on Oct. 7, with militants killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 250 hostages. Israel says the militants still hold about 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others. Hamas on Saturday released a video showing hostages Keith Siegel and Omri Miran. It wasn't clear when the video was made but both referred to the Jewish holiday of Passover, which began Monday. They called on Israel's government to reach a deal with Hamas. They almost certainly spoke under duress. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, around two-thirds of them children and women. Its count doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. The ministry said Saturday that 32 people killed were brought to local hospitals over the prior 24 hours. Israel blames Hamas for civilian casualties, accusing it of embedding in residential areas. Israel has reported at least 260 soldiers killed since the start of ground operations. Gaza war protests ignite on US college campuses 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. Sierra Nevada Corporation says the U.S. Air Force has awarded them a $13 billion contact to deliver a replacement for the service's E-4B, otherwise known as the 'Doomsday' plane. The contract for the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) is expected to run through July of 2036. The program will replace the Air Forces aging fleet of four E-4B planes, known as Nightwatch or the National Airborne Operations Center, which typically transport the Defense Secretary but can also act as a mobile nuclear command and control outpost. Sierra Nevada Corporation is located in Sparks and is an American aerospace, defense engineering, and manufacturing corporation that specializes in aircraft modification, integration and other space technologies. We have reached out the Sierra Nevada Corporation and the U.S. Air Force for further comment and have yet to hear back. This is a developing story and we will update this story as we learn more. Cutting-edge batteries capable of providing a record-breaking 1000km range, pioneering hydrogen-fueled extended range vehicles are among the array of groundbreaking technologies captivating attendees at the ongoing Auto China international automotive exhibition in Beijing. Themed Driving to smart mobility, the show from April 25 to May 4 will witness 117 global premieres, 41 concept vehicles, and 278 types of NEVs (new energy vehicles) this year. The auto parts zone alone has gathered nearly 500 companies from 13 countries, says a report by Emirates News Agency (Wam). NEVs, unsurprisingly, took the centre stage. Over 60% of the debut cars globally are powered by green energy, amid Chinas rapid, committed transition to greener economy. In the first half of April, over half of passenger vehicles sold in China were NEVs, surpassing conventional fuel vehicles for the first time. The world has been waking up to the fact that not only are the Chinese brands coming, but they are expanding very quickly and getting somewhere where consumers are turning their preference to them, Johan Annell, Partner and General Manager Beijing of advisory firm ARC Group. As per the projection of CMC Auto Import& Export, over 40% of the vehicles exported from China would be NEVs in 2024 with the total auto exports up by 15%-20% to 6 million units. Looking forward, there is a lot left in the US and Europe to increase adoption. In the emerging markets, too, some are leapfrogging, Annell said, adding that Southeast Asia could be the next top destination for auto investment and cooperation. A London-based anonymous auto designer for a China-UK joint venture told CEN that the competence of Chinese brands is making the European markets and the manufacturers wake up and go for higher quality and lower prices. "In recent years, emerging Chinese brands such as Neo, BYD, and XPeng have achieved and, in some cases, exceeded international standards. We must seriously consider raising our own standards," he stated. CATL, a leading battery manufacturer, launched a new battery at the auto show, featuring a world-first innovation that offers a 1,000-km range and supports ultra-fast charging. This breakthrough allows for a 600-km range in just 10 minutes of charging, achieving a recharge rate of "1 kilometer per second", said a Xinhua report. A CATL spokesperson said that while the world is turning climate consensus into action, many obstacles remain. Technological inequality persists, and some countries are slowing the pace of the green energy transition, which creates challenges in advancing a sustainable future for the world. In China, the new energy passenger car retail penetration rate exceeded 50 percent for the first time in the first half of April, indicating that one out of every two cars sold is a new energy vehicle. This milestone is particularly significant, considering China's ambitious goal set in 2020 to exceed a 50 percent NEV penetration rate by 2035, which seemed distant at the time when the penetration rate was only 5.8 percent, the report said. Aion, an EV brand under China's Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC), has become one of the fastest-growing automotive brands globally. This success is attributed to its comprehensive in-house research and development in the domains of EVs and intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs). GAC Aion General Manager Gu Huinan emphasised the company's commitment to bringing high-quality, intelligent and valuable products to the local markets and driving local automotive industry development. In 2022, Aion's smart eco-factory achieved zero carbon emissions and was honored as the Global Lighthouse Network's (GLN) sole NEV manufacturer member in December 2023. The robust tailwinds created by China's NEV industry are not only propelling domestic growth but also turbo-charging innovation and opportunity across the global automotive landscape. David Slump, President and CEO of Marelli, a leading global automotive supplier, highlighted the importance of "China speed" for innovation. "If you look at our order book, about 25 percent of orders are from China," he told Xinhua at the auto show. "That tells me that we'll be growing faster in China than elsewhere, and that's super important. And it's because of the speed and the innovation in China." Walmart employees held a food drive to benefit the Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada on Saturday through the Walmart Heart program. Walmart Heart is an outreach program focusing on community service. The food drive took place at the Walmart Superstore at Damonte Ranch Parkway. Residents were encouraged to donate non-perishable food items, which will be distributed by the St. Vincent's Food Pantry to local families. The St. Vincent's Food Pantry serves about 35,000 people every month by providing pre-packaged food boxes with non-perishable foods. We could not be more grateful to Walmart for their ongoing commitment to supporting our mission, said Marie Baxter, CEO of Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada. As we provide sustenance throughout the year, events like this food drive, held outside of the holiday season, allow us to connect with the community and share our story and mission. Being selected by Walmart Heart for this event holds a special significance for us. Real estate development firms CMC Group and Fort Partners, together with leading luxury hospitality and branded residential company Four Seasons, have announced the launch of Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove in Miami, Florida. Set within one of Miamis most historic neighbourhoods and building on the success of Four Seasons residential portfolio in South Florida and around the globe, this groundbreaking development will be the first Four Seasons standalone offering in the state, delivering legendary service and experiences outside of a hotel or resort. "Four Seasons is the standard-bearer for luxury around the world and has captivated the real estate market with its leading branded residences, says Nadim Ashi, CEO of Fort Partners. We are thrilled to continue our proven relationship with the esteemed brand and forge a new partnership with the highly successful CMC Group on developing this first-of-its-kind offering in the coveted Coconut Grove neighbourhood." A world-class team has been selected to bring the vision to life, with acclaimed Florentine designer Michele Bonan at the helm of the interiors and Miami-based Luis Revuelta crafting the architecture. Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove will offer 70 homes ranging from two- to four-bedrooms and spanning up to 3,980 sqft (370 sqm). Four penthouse residences will range from nearly 6,430 to 9,690 sqft (597 to 900 sqm). The distinctive property will rise 20 storeys, providing future-residents with unobstructed ocean views overlooking Biscayne Bay. Inspired by Coconut Groves beloved landscape, a sanctuary beneath the shade of banyan and mahogany trees, the buildings facade is softly curved to blend into the lands natural rhythm while creating a defining presence within the skyline. "With our growing standalone residential portfolio, Four Seasons is elevating luxury living for discerning buyers by blending personalized service alongside prime real estate in the best locations worldwide, said Bart Carnahan, President, Global Business Development, Portfolio Management, and Residential, Four Seasons. In a competitive branded residential market like Miami, the trust and credibility of our brand will no doubt drive demand for this exceptional project in Coconut Grove. Together with our esteemed partners at Fort and CMC, we look forward to welcoming this spectacular project to our dynamic portfolio of Four Seasons Private Residences across South Florida. Ugo Colombo, CEO of CMC Group, said: "With over 35 years of experience, our luxury condos have set the standard in the South Florida market. Fifteen years ago, CMC Group pioneered luxury living in the Grove with Grovenor House, and now with Four Seasons Coconut Grove, we're raising the bar yet again. By integrating the renowned Four Seasons service, we're not just resetting standards; we're redefining luxury living. Our commitment to quality remains unwavering, ensuring that our buildings continue to be the benchmark for excellence in the industry." The spaces designed by Michele Bonan reflect the renowned architects signature style, with a blend of timeless elegance and contemporary aesthetics. Bonan creates a cohesive connection between the interiors and the natural beauty of Coconut Grove, with design inspired by the verdant tropics, the ocean, and the quintessential charm of Miami. The homes are crafted to be as polished as they are welcoming, exuding a sense of enduring sophistication achieved through classic lines, elegant furnishings, and a palette dominated by neutral tones. The essence of Coconut Grove and the cultural significance of the location's past, including the gorgeous climate, spectacular views and exceptional quality of life, guided each step of the design process, said Michele Bonan. Whether through design elements influenced by the rhythm of the ocean or patterns created in the sand, we maintained fluidity between the surroundings and the interiors to allow residents to relax and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the space. Homes at Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove will feature nearly 11-foot (3.35 metre) ceilings throughout, complementing the spacious, open floor plans. Custom Italian-style kitchens designed by Molteni and Bonan feature top-of-the-line Miele appliances and European finishes, while bathrooms include cabinetry and panelling by Noorth complemented by Margraf marble finishes. Each home will be accessed via private elevator, creating an intimate arrival experience, and will feature the latest in-home automation systems and lighting controls. Designed to provide a luxurious and intimate residential experience, Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove will offer an extensive amenities collection for residents, including a restaurant, library, state-of-the-art gym and yoga room, spa with cold plunge and hammam, childrens area and private event room, as well as an expansive pool deck and bar lounge serviced by Four Seasons. Residents will also enjoy the benefits of legendary Four Seasons service even without a hotel, including a dedicated Director of Residences, concierge, housekeeping and butler services, in-residence dining, valet and wellness programming, among other offerings. Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove will reflect the neighbourhoods refined, serene atmosphere, steeped in culture and connectedness. Residents will be in close proximity to the water and situated among the towns beloved local boutiques, restaurants and some of the nations leading schools, creating a close-knit community and well-rounded walkable lifestyle. The News18 Network is set to broadcast an exclusive interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this Monday, on April 29th at 9 PM. This is the Prime Ministers first interview to a TV news network during the ongoing election campaign. In conversation with Network18s Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, News18 Lokmats Vilas Bade, and News18 Kannada's Hariprasad, the Prime Minister discusses BJP's roadmap to its '400 paar' goal, elaborating on what 'Modi ki Guarantee' really means for the country. The interview also explores the prime ministers views on the congress manifesto, wealth redistribution and inheritance tax, among other issues including BJPs likely performance. It covers a wide range of topics of national importance and Prime Minister Modis personal regime, offering viewers a deeper understanding of the political landscape during the ongoing elections. News18 Network is Indias largest news network, consisting of 20 national and regional news channels under one umbrella. With 15 regional news channels, the network offers unparalleled reach across the country. CNN-News18 has remained the number one English news channel for over 2 years, while News18 India has been the leading Hindi news channel in the primetime hours. The exclusive interview of Prime Minister Narendra Modi airs across the News18 Network, this Monday on April 29 at 9 PM. An advocacy group for Black realtors in Alabama is joining in on an ongoing legal battle over the use of racial quotas in some of the states public licensing boards. The Alabama Association of Real Estate Brokers a trade association and civil rights advocacy organization for Black real estate professionals filed a motion Friday to intervene in a federal lawsuit that alleges discrimination against a white applicant seeking to join a state real estate board, a woman who acknowledged in court records that she does not work in real estate appraisal. The American Alliance for Equal Rights sued Gov. Kay Ivey on Feb. 23 for choosing a person of color instead of a white applicant to serve on the Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board. The group argued that the white applicant was unfairly impacted by a law establishing the boards diversity policy, which requires membership to reflect the states diversity, and states that no less than two of its nine members must belong to a racial minority group. That month, Ivey had appointed three white members and three members of color to join the board. The lawsuit in Alabama is one of at least seven challenges to board composition provisions across the country, including in Louisiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, Montana, Alaska, Arkansas and California. The Alliance, led by conservative activist Edward Blum, has been challenging diversity efforts across the nation since the Supreme Courts repeal of affirmative action last summer. In February, the group took aim at the Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board, which it said was unfairly using racial quotas to determine its membership. Marcus Brown, chair of the state real estate brokers trade group, said they decided to get involved because Black professionals in Alabama need representation on state boards. Having a racially and otherwise diverse board is crucial for fairness both for the industry and for those who are appraisers or seeking to become appraisers, Brown wrote in a statement shared with AL.com. Alabama does not have a state law that requires all public boards to maintain a quota based on members race or sex. However, several professional and licensing boards require that their membership reflect the diversity of the state whether by gender, race, economic status or geography. Some, like the board for real estate brokers, also may require that a portion of members belong to a minority group. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall denied the allegations of discrimination in an answer to the lawsuit filed in court records in March. But Marshall noted that the state does not and will not enforce the boards diversity requirements, which he said were unconstitutional, served no compelling government interest and furthered racial stereotypes. The white complainant was initially anonymous in the suit, but later filings identified her as Laura Clark, a Prattville resident and member of the American Alliance for Equal Rights, the conservative organization thats suing. In a declaration to the court, the applicant said she does not work in the business of real estate appraising. The person chosen to serve on the board according to court documents, held a masters degree, had several years of experience in the field, was an avid volunteer and was involved in numerous professional organizations. The Alliance asked the court in March to require the governor to withdraw all of her recent appointments and eliminate the boards quota system. The judge, R. Austin Huffaker, Jr., quickly denied that motion, but now, advocates say theyre concerned that the boards diversity policies could still be threatened. In a recent filing, the Alliance and the state indicated that they are discussing a settlement. If a settlement is reached, both parties could resolve the matter without agreeing to enforce state public board laws which among other things, request public boards in the state to promote diversity. In Fridays filing, lawyers for the state real estate brokers group said such a resolution could impact the appraisal boards ability to regulate racial bias in the field and ensure equitable outcomes in licensing, investigation and discipline issues. The group is now seeking to intervene in the lawsuit in an effort to protect the boards policies. Given its authority, having racial minorities and other groups, like women and Alabamians from rural areas, included on the Appraisers Board is paramount, lawyers for the brokers wrote. The judge will determine whether the group can move forward in the suit. An update on the proposed settlement is due to the court by May 1. This story was updated to correct an attribution to the AAREB. By Skylar Woodhouse and Kate Queram Bloomberg News (TNS) WASHINGTON U.S. President Joe Biden poked fun at Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night, while seeking to portray his Republican rival as a threat to democracy six months before their rematch. Bidens remarks touched on many of the central themes of his campaign, including that Americas democratic institutions remain fragile and still under threat from Trump and his supporters. Trump promised a bloodbath when he loses again. We have to take this seriously, the president said. Eight years ago you could have written it off as just Trump talk but no longer, not after Jan. 6. The annual correspondents dinner brings together more than 2,600 lawmakers, journalists and other public figures for one of the capitals biggest events of the year. Comedian Colin Jost of Saturday Night Live headlined the dinner, held at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Administration officials from Vice President Kamala Harris to Secretary of State Antony Blinken were in attendance, as well as celebrities such as Josts wife Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm and DaVine Joy Randolph, the winner of this years Academy Award for Supporting Actress. Bidens remarks come as his general election rematch against Trump heats up. The president has been visiting key swing states in recent weeks in a bid to reverse polls that show him trailing the presumptive Republican nominee. That travel blitz has come with his rival largely stuck in Manhattan for a criminal trial involving hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels the first of four indictments the former president is facing. Donalds had a few tough days lately. You might call it stormy weather, Biden said at the dinner, often an opportunity for presidents to showcase their lighter side, poking fun at their rivals and themselves. Biden, 81, the oldest U.S. president in history, regularly jokes about his age in effort to defuse anxiety among voters about his fitness to serve a second term in office. The 2024 election is in full swing and yes, age is an issue, Biden said Saturday. Im a grown man running against a six-year-old. The evenings festivities were clouded by protests over the Israel-Hamas war, with large crowds rallying against the conflict outside the event as Biden and other guests arrived. Posts on social media showed a Palestinian flag unfurled from the Hilton hotel, where the dinner is being held. While the president didnt directly address the conflict or the protests at the event and at college campuses across the country, he paid tribute to reporters who have been killed in the line of duty in Ukraine, the Middle East and elsewhere. He also repeated his call for the release of journalists imprisoned all over the world, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is currently being held in Russia. Journalism is clearly not a crime not here, not there, not anywhere in the world, Biden said. I give you my word as a Biden, were not going to give up until we get them home. All of them home. (Jason Scott contributed to this report.) 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. An all new episode of When Calls the Heart will premiere on the Hallmark Channel Sunday, April 28 at 9/8c. During episode four of the new season, its Easter in Hope Valley, so Elizabeth organizes an egg hunt with help from Nathan. Meanwhile, Angela and Cooper seek to mend a relationship and a visitor from Lucas past gets the town talking. Where can I watch When Calls the Heart season 11? Though airing on the Hallmark Channel, those without a basic cable set up can still watch new episodes of When Calls the Heart on Sundays with either Philo or Fubo. Both streaming services offer free trials for new subscribers who can stream for free before committing to a paid subscription. What is the difference between Philo and Fubo? Philo is considered one of the cheaper live streaming services available as it allows users to stream over 70 live TV channels for just $25 a month. Popular channels offered with Philo include the Hallmark Channel, MTV, AMC, HGTV, History Channel, Discovery Channel, CMT, TLC, BET and more. Meanwhile, Fubo is also an alternative to a regular cable subscription, but with more exclusive channel options that Philo does not offer such as ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, FOX and more. While Fubo considers itself a sports-focused streaming service, its standard streaming package comes with over 100 TV live channels for $79.99 a month after its free trial. What is When Calls the Heart about? The official series description of When Calls the Heart is as follows: Elizabeth Thatcher is a young teacher accustomed to high society, so she experiences culture shock when she gets her first classroom assignment in Coal Valley. Life in the small mining town is filled with challenges. A recent explosion has killed more than a dozen of the towns miners, compelling the widows of those men to work in the mines to earn money. One of them - Abigail Stanton, whose husband was foreman at the site of the tragedy - welcomes Thatcher and tries to help her adjust to frontier customs. Constable Jack Thornton is not as welcoming, though, because he believes Thatchers wealthy father doomed his career by assigning him to Coal Valley so he could protect Elizabeth. Janette Okes books about the Canadian West inspired the program. English News A Serbian fashion designer's day with mobile payment in China Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 25 Avril 2024 Nowadays, an increasing number of hotels in China accept payments from foreign bank cards, and there are also more and more service centers that cater to foreigners' needs. It is believed that more foreigners will be able to embrace a convenient life in China, where they can pay for taxi fares, book hotel rooms, and purchase tickets on their mobile phones. By Li Zong, People's Daily Recently, China issued a document on further optimizing payment services and enhancing payment convenience, with an aim to better meet the diverse payment needs of senior citizens and foreign travelers. How do foreigners in China feel about their current payment experiences ? Let's find the answer with David Van de Kamp, a Serbian fashion designer. 15:00, March 27, Checking in at hotel Van de Kamp came to China this time to attend the third China Chaoshan International Textile and Garment Exhibition held in Shantou, south China's Guangdong province from March 28 to 30. On March 27, he arrived at the hotel in Shantou he had booked. The check-in took him just a few minutes. "I don't speak much Chinese, but the check-in went smoothly. I handed over my passport at the front desk, and the staff handled it very efficiently," Van de Kamp said. According to him, it was convenient to pay with his Mastercard he obtained in Serbia via foreign bank card POS machines at the front desk. "Having installed foreign bank card POS machines last July, the hotel now accepts payments from Mastercard and Visa settled at real-time exchange rates," the hotel manager said. Van de Kamp runs a studio that designs and manufacturers sweaters. He hoped to find higher-quality raw materials at the China Chaoshan International Textile and Garment Exhibition this time. The textile and garment industry has become one of the distinctive and advantageous pillar industries in Shantou. Each year, the city exports over 1.85 billion pieces of products. Within a 40-kilometer radius, there are over 10,000 enterprises engaged in the industry. "I want to hang around to see if I can have some ideas for designing," he said. 19:30, March 27, Taking public transport After having a short rest at the hotel, Van de Kamp went out to the streets. "In Serbia, the main payment methods are bank cards and cash, while using mobile apps is more convenient in China. I only need to bring my phone when going out," he said. The man applied for a Chinese SIM card and signed up for a WeChat account with it. "My WeChat account is linked to my Serbian bank card, so I can pay directly. The card binding was easy - just following the instructions to upload a photo of my passport, and completing verification." Van de Kamp went to a historical and cultural block taking a taxi he hailed on a ride-hailing app. When he got off the taxi, the fare was automatically deducted from the account in the app. "I have enabled password-free payment, so I don't need to manually pay the fare on my phone. The deducted amount is recorded on my Chinese bank card," he said. He had previously used a foreign bank card to withdraw Chinese yuan from an ATM, which incurred service charge. That's why he decided to get a Chinese bank card. "Although it is convenient to withdraw money with a foreign bank card now, I have rarely paid with cash and hardly needed to specifically withdraw money ever since I started using mobile payment," Van de Kamp told People's Daily. 20:00, March 27, Shopping Van de Kamp walked into a clothing store of a shopping mall in Shantou, and started checking out the designs and materials of the garments. "Wherever I go, I always visit local clothing stores first to experience the different dressing styles and preferences. I feel the raw materials used for these clothes are very good, mostly pure wool and other natural fibers. The designs also emphasize practicality," Van de Kamp said. Whenever he saw appetizing food, such as rice noodle rolls, sweet soups, and fried tofu, he would pause and scan to pay with his phone. He even figured out a pattern: "In shops, the vendors usually scan my payment QR code; but when buying from street stalls, I usually scan their receiving QR code. Overall, there are many payment options, making life quite convenient in China." Recently, major banks and payment institutions in China have taken multiple measures to further clear payment obstacles for foreigners in China. On March 14, the People's Bank of China released a payment guide in both Chinese and English, providing foreign travelers to China with instructions on how to access various payment services and the process of using them. Nowadays, an increasing number of hotels in China accept payments from foreign bank cards, and there are also more and more service centers that cater to foreigners' needs. It is believed that more foreigners will be able to embrace a convenient life in China, where they can pay for taxi fares, book hotel rooms, and purchase tickets on their mobile phones. 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) Foreign diplomats commend Chinas grassroots lawmaking process, reject Western model as the only form of democracy 09:36, April 28, 2024 By Cui Fandi ( Global Times Photo: Cui Fandi/GT Dozens of foreign diplomats commended the expertise and efficiency of China's grassroots lawmaking process, while rejecting the notion that the Western model is the only form of democracy, as they visited a local legislative liaison station in Beijing on Friday. On Friday afternoon, ambassadors and diplomats from 36 countries visited a local legislative liaison station in Beijing's Chaoyang District, where they held meetings with grassroots lawmakers and observed a fundamental step of China's whole-process people's democracy. The Nanmofang Township Legislative Liaison Station visited by the foreign envoys is one of the 43 legislative liaison stations in Chaoyang District, and is one of the most grassroots institutions in the Chinese legislative system. Established by the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Chaoyang District, it is where grassroots deputies discuss legislative drafts and collect suggestions from the public. During the visit, the foreign diplomats audited a consultation meeting on the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress and Local People's Congresses, which was attended by grassroots deputies from all walks of life. After the consultation meeting, they took part in a symposium with the deputies and officials from the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Chaoyang District, sharing their views, questions and observations of China's grassroots legislative process. Photo: Cui Fandi/GT The ambassadors interviewed by the Global Times said that it is their first time to observe China's whole-process people's democracy at the grassroots level, and they are impressed by the level of expertise and efficiency, and diversity in participation. "This is the first time that I've had the privilege and the opportunity to observe a lower level of the People's Congress," Michael Campbell, Nicaragua's Ambassador to China, told the Global Times after the event. "We've had the chance to see that the whole-process people's democracy model has been improving, which is very important." Campbell said he was impressed by the diversity in the grassroots legislation in terms of the backgrounds of the participants. "You have professors, you have doctors, you have lawyers Everybody was debating on the same bill that will eventually go to the upper level," he said. "When the bill reaches the national level, it already has the suggestions of all walks of life. So when it's finally approved, everybody is willing to implement it." Campbell, who has also been invited to the national two sessions - the annual legislative and political consultative sessions - in March, believes that China's whole-process people's democracy will continue to strengthen and improve, as everybody has their voice to make China better. Photo: Cui Fandi/GT China has more than 2.77 million lawmakers at five levels of legislative bodies. Among them, there are less than 3,000 national deputies, while county and township-level deputies account for about 95 percent of the total number of lawmakers. The vast majority of these grassroots deputies, or 94.5 percent of the total, are directly elected. Abu Bakarr Karim, the Sierra Leone Ambassador to China, and Anne Lafortune, Seychelles Ambassador to China, both described what they witnessed as "impressive." "You can actually see the level of consultation that takes place at the grassroots level," Karim told the Global Times. "I was impressed by the level of expertise." Karim noted that he would like to communicate with his local parliament back in his country about his observations and discuss whether they can learn more from it. Lafortune said she was always aware of China's whole-process democracy but has never seen it up close as she did during the visit. "I was impressed by the different ways that the grassroots people are able to voice their opinion," she said. "It has shown that China is really committed to making sure its people are actually heard." Lafortune noted that there are many models of effective democracy, and each country can see their own way to approach it. "China is moving forward. This version apparently fits China," she said. Campbell, the Nicaraguan Ambassador, noted that it is obvious that the "Western model of democracy" is not the only definition of democracy. "It is one of the greatest mistakes that the West is making right now - instead of investing in their model, they are busy promoting false narratives related to the democracy of other countries," he told the Global Times. "Each country has to decide what is most appropriate for them." One of the most important things about China is that it respects the democracy model of other countries, he said, while Western democracy is promoting interventionism, warmongering and false narratives. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) The General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia has announced plans to operate direct flights between Dammam on the Eastern region, and the Iraqi city of Al Najaf starting from June 1. This comes following the recent launch of direct flights from Saudi Arabia to Baghdad and Erbil in the Republic of Iraq, said GACA in a statement. The move is in line with its national strategy for the aviation sector in the kingdom, that is aimed at doubling the capacity and achieving a target of more than 330 million passengers annually, it stated. It also has set a target to fly to more than 250 destinations across the globe and, in particular, extending the close relations that link Saudi Arabia with the Republic of Iraq, it added.-TradeArabia News Service English News Artificial intelligence holds key to future education Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 25 Avril 2024 "AI is a discipline involving computer science, mathematics, statistics, cognitive science, and other related areas. When cultivating AI talents at institutions of higher education, we should place a strong emphasis on building a solid foundation of knowledge while also strengthening school-enterprise cooperation and the collaboration among enterprises, universities, and research institutions, thus allowing students to grow through practical experience," said Wei. By Li Zhen, People's Daily Artificial intelligence (AI) education is gaining momentum in China. China's Ministry of Education (MOE) recently announced a list of 184 primary and secondary schools selected as AI education bases, with the aim of better promoting the development of AI education. Six schools in Beijing were on the list, including Beijing Hongzhi Middle School. "Since 2018, we have been gradually exploring the application of AI technology in our classrooms," said Cai Lei, principal of Beijing Hongzhi Middle School. Currently, students are benefiting from the fruits of AI applications in many subjects, Cai added. In English classes, students can use AI products to enhance their speaking skills. Whenever a word is mispronounced, it will be immediately displayed on a screen. After Chinese language classes, teachers will utilize a large language model developed by the Research Center for Language Intelligence of China to grade students' compositions, improving their writing skills in an efficient manner. During physical education classes, AI equipment can automatically record data on each student' performance, such as the number of pull-ups and standing long jump distances. The data is then carefully analyzed to offer tailored guidance to enhance their physical capabilities. Beijing Hongzhi Middle School has also introduced general education curriculums on information technology and established a dedicated club to support students with a keen interest in this subject and help them develop their skills. During the winter break this year, the school launched an AI course specifically for middle school students. "I believe the development of AI technology should allow intelligent machines to assist human life, and even expand human intelligence. I'm sure that this technology has a bright development prospect," said Li Muqi, a sophomore student who joined the course. "The acquisition of knowledge about AI technology is essential for the growth of primary and secondary school students in multiple areas," Cai noted. Offering AI-related courses in primary and secondary schools not only prepares students for the changing world, but also develops their cognitive processes and bolsters their scientific proficiency, laying a foundation for them to better face competition and challenges in the era of intelligence, he said. AI is not only changing the way students learn, but also transforming teaching methods. Wei Yungang, director of the experimental education center at Beijing Normal University's School of Artificial Intelligence, told People's Daily that currently, the main role of AI technology in education is to help with lesson planning and teaching organization. "For instance, with help of computer vision and other AI technologies, teachers can gain better insights into students' learning status, knowledge comprehension and emotional state. This provides new ways for teachers to accurately assess the situation of each student and develop personalized teaching plans to meet their needs," Wei said. Additionally, AI offers more possibilities for instructional design and teaching implementation. "AI technology can make up for limitations of traditional classrooms and assist teachers in creating more novel and engaging curriculum. For instance, big data analysis can help identify the most effective teaching methods and materials; generative AI can be used for knowledge search and classroom scenario simulations; augmented reality technology can make classroom presentations more engaging and effective," Wei explained. Today, Chinese universities are strengthening the development of AI disciplines. As of 2023, 498 universities in the country had offered undergraduate programs in AI. Many Chinese universities are collaborating with major tech companies to provide joint training programs for AI talents, so as to adapt to the rapid iteration of AI technology, the high demand for AI professionals, and the extensive applications of AI. Wuhan University recently announced to establish a robotics department within its School of Computer Science together with tech firm Xiaomi. Focusing on core AI technologies, the robotics department aims to build a collaborative innovation system integrating enterprises, universities, research institutions, and end-users. Huazhong University of Science and Technology has partnered with tech giant Baidu to establish an innovation center for AI education, which will combine teaching scenarios with industrial needs to conduct cutting-edge education and scientific research, thereby supplying the industry with innovative talents in large model applications and development. "AI is a discipline involving computer science, mathematics, statistics, cognitive science, and other related areas. When cultivating AI talents at institutions of higher education, we should place a strong emphasis on building a solid foundation of knowledge while also strengthening school-enterprise cooperation and the collaboration among enterprises, universities, and research institutions, thus allowing students to grow through practical experience," said Wei. Dans la meme rubrique : < > China-Africa cooperation fosters Africa's regional economic integration Progress made in desertification control along Yellow River Basalt rocks made into national flag carried by Chang'e-6 probe Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Farm without farmers: a peek into unmanned farm in E China's Jiangsu province Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 25 Avril 2024 Today, unmanned equipment are employed in the entire rice and wheat production cycle, including plowing, sowing, managing, and harvesting. The cultivators can complete fertilizing, tilling, and sowing operations all at once. The harvesters can monitor harvest quality in real time while reaping, and upload data to relevant platforms. They can even chop and spread the rice straw back into the field or pass it to a baler for organic processing. The harvested rice and wheat is transported by unmanned vehicles to the farm's drying center for automatic drying and storage. By Yin Xiaoyu, People's Daily The spring sowing season has arrived, but in the sprawling wheat fields in Lujia township, Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu province, there wasn't a farmer in sight across the vast expanse. What could be seen was only a drone hovering above the fields. "This is an unmanned farm. It spans 3,840 mu (256 hectares) and primarily grows rice and wheat," said engineer Geng Bojian, who's engaged in the R&D and regular maintenance of the farm. This intelligent farm, which features minimal management and unmanned operations, was established last year through the utilization of big data, artificial intelligence, self-organizing communication networks, and a suite of intelligent equipment such as multi-rotor drones, driverless tractors, unmanned harvesters, and smart irrigation gates, according to Geng, who's also a member of the Yangtze River Delta Academy of Smart Agriculture under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). In recent years, Kunshan has been working to promote the digitalization of agriculture, focusing on smart agricultural machinery and intelligent farming, and striving to build relevant intelligent scenarios. In 2021, Suzhou and the CAAS signed an agreement to jointly establish the East China Agri-Tech Center, and the unmanned farm was exactly one of the projects launched by the center. In the unmanned farm, there is a white building - the intelligent command center, also known as the "smart brain" of the farm. At the center, a young staff member was staring at a big screen displaying live video footage of the wheat fields, with relevant data constantly updating on either side. The young staff member was performing routine field patrol with a drone. This "smart brain" comprises modules for crop monitoring, agricultural machinery management, resource management, drone control, agricultural operations, intelligent irrigation, equipment alerts, and analysis and decision-making. "In the past, a field patrol needed several people riding electric bikes to each plot, with each person inspecting hundreds of mu of land. It would take at least an hour and a half to complete the patrol," Geng said. "Now, a drone can cover the entire area in half an hour while simultaneously collecting crop growth data," he added. Geng said that in every plot there is a soil condition monitor, which is used to record soil temperature, moisture, and real-time water level. "The unmanned farm employs an intelligent irrigation system. Once the monitors detect low soil moisture, the system will be activated," Geng told People's Daily. Besides, a small weather monitoring station is set up in the fields, capable of real-time collection of meteorological data such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and rainfall. In addition, there are also devices like insect monitoring traps and spore catchers. Shen Junjie is an employee of Jiangsu Provincial Agricultural Reclamation and Development Corporation. He works with three colleagues to manage the agricultural operations of this unmanned farm. Their daily work involves collecting field data with monitoring devices and drones. Based on the data they collect, the intelligent command center would analyze crop growth and provide scientific guidance on farming practices. "Through a mobile app, we receive notifications from the command center and can remotely assign tasks to unmanned agricultural machines," Shen told People's Daily. The unmanned agricultural machines Shen mentioned were parked in a storage facility, all large in size, including cultivators, transplanters, crop sprayers, and harvesters - each equipped with the BeiDou satellite navigation system. All the operators needed to do was to set the routes and tasks, and remotely start the machines. "These machines weren't unmanned when they were manufactured. It was our technical team that modified them, and now each one possesses unique skills," Geng said. Today, unmanned equipment are employed in the entire rice and wheat production cycle, including plowing, sowing, managing, and harvesting. The cultivators can complete fertilizing, tilling, and sowing operations all at once. The harvesters can monitor harvest quality in real time while reaping, and upload data to relevant platforms. They can even chop and spread the rice straw back into the field or pass it to a baler for organic processing. The harvested rice and wheat is transported by unmanned vehicles to the farm's drying center for automatic drying and storage. "In another couple of months, it will be the time to harvest the winter wheat. All the agricultural machines will be in full swing, " Geng said. 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) The times are changing. In predominantly Anglican and Protestant parts of the West, where we lead the way in terms of de-Christianization and ideological self-destruction, swearing by political goals such as redistribution of wealth, affirmative action, and reduction of greenhouse gasses, we used to have a rather condescending attitude towards the alleged evils of Catholicism. The story goes that, before the Reformation, we competed to appear pious and bought letters of indulgence so as to escape purgatory. This endeavor struck those of us, who were brought up to distrust the papacy, as ridiculous. Confident in our own judgment, we tended to laugh and shake our heads at the calculation and credulity, respectively, of merchant clerics (pardoners) and purchasers. Honestly, the things people put up with in the Dark Ages! Today, however, we line up to buy carbon dioxide quotas. The hypocrisy is stunning, as the concept is basically the same: Appearance is everything. For the purpose of an overview, it makes sense to operate with three prototypes in the given context of human behaviors: (a) the self-absorbed, immature youth who just wants to be where the action is but is without any deeper allegiance in life, being too lazy to pursue any paranoid hypotheses, (b) the deeply darkened soul, whose personal style has precluded him from closer bonding and cheerful togetherness, leading him to indulge in violent fantasies of revenge on humanity for its rejection of him, and (c) the reticent person, unsure of his own worth, who renounces his natural life expression, severely hampered by his anxiety, but dreams of a caring community, where he may finally dare to let loose and exchange feelings with others. (Some of the type-b people, unable to socialize on normal terms, may gradually turn delusional and imagine that they are in fact better than others and put into the world to accomplish something greater.) As to the present state of morality in our society, it would appear that there is no higher standard than being on the side of the oppressed. According to this line of thought, morality is about the struggle for social justice, applying the principles of socialism (Marxism). The Western college student of our time, though trying to find his own feet in life, refuses to humble himself and consult his god in prayers (or seek the advice of his servants), of course. Infatuated and filled with tenderness, he looks at himself in the mirror (or through the lens of his cell phone) like some Narcissus. Instead of showing courage, reflecting soberly, and taking an independent point of view, however, he gives in to the pressure and surrenders to irrationality. Intoxicated by the revolutionary disinformation presented on social media, which gives him an intense (and much desired) experience of community, he indulges in rehearsed displays of solidarity. When doing so, he avoids exposing himself to immediate danger and may very well feel invulnerable. The group becomes his (temporary) refuge in life. He does not have to think for himself or act on his own. For a moral stance to be acceptable, it must be shared by a perceived majority of those dedicated to the cause of the oppressed. Morality effectively moves from the conscience of the individual to the community. As has been evident in recent protest marches across the West, sharing a revolutionary (anti-Western) group identity, whatever the cause, has completely taken over the place from moral conviction. Far from anybody who condemns the Western way of life, including liberalism and consumerism, is literally a hypocrite. Some people, who are strangers to the political elite, being too uncompromising (or eccentric) to mingle with the real decision makers, and mainly operate on the fringes of society, are willing to take the moral cleansing beyond the symbolic. You cannot make peace with them. Socially maladapted and conceited at the same time, they are driven by an implacable hatred of civilization, orderliness, and legality and a sick ambition to destroy, revenge, and dominate: the spirit of revolution. More often than not, they harbor secret visions of a Western world ravaged and brought down by the oppressed. Determined to make it pay for the colonialist (or racist) sins of the past, they toy with the idea of inflicting upon the rest of us privations unparalleled in history. They are, for the sake of comparison, fanatics rather than hypocrites. As in the case of activists who passionately fight for the environment or animal welfare, to observe the personal transformation from a timid, inhibited dwarf, who does not dare to stand up for himself, to a fearless, roaring giant is a captivating psychological study. In the absence of a loving god who instills serenity and confidence in the world, the political cause, e.g. social justice or climate change (for some, e.g. Greta Thunberg, inextricably linked with each other), becomes the meaning of life, a holy commandment, rallying those who are like moral orphans and rousing them to action. As resurrected from the misery of isolation and loneliness, they realize themselves in the struggle for a higher cause, conditioning the dramatic shift from one to the other form of behavior. Their original desperation is converted into contempt for death. Like mad dogs, they attack the oppressors of this sinful world without hesitation. Expressing as much sympathy for the oppressed (i.e. the designated victims of the world) as antipathy to the oppressors (i.e. the sinners) is of decisive importance for your position in the digital community. If you are keen to cultivate your image as right-minded, i.e. aware of your social responsibility in the never-ending struggle between good and evil, giving due attention to appearances and following the fashion trends in attitudes, you must subscribe to the social media (like practically everybody else) and make sure to align with the trendsetters. This self-centered, ludicrously narcissistic strategy requires a minimum of spiritual effort. As a special style of social adaptation, it exposes a striking lack of personal courage and commitment to truth. Therefore, on the one hand, we may claim to live in the age of the self-righteous. On the other hand, deep down, the people who love to see themselves perform and take up space on social media remain much like the trivial, submissive, and cowardly characters of the past, also those crowding to reach the booth with the indulgences. Any age, it seems, is really an age of the self-righteous. That is part of who we are as humans. As a basic condition in life, we are scared and always have been, make no mistake. Nevertheless, those who are vainly disposed refuse to admit it and live in denial. The affluent society of the West has produced a youth who blames previous generations for the plight of the oppressed, and self-absorbedly he fashions himself as the savior of the world; at the same time, he refuses to give up the luxuries denied to others. Unmoved by the contradiction, he enjoys the privilege of being able to party around the clock and forget all the doomsday prophecies that, in fierce competition with the abusive life conditions under a tyranny, might weigh on the minds of young people elsewhere. As always, in the face of an erratic, unforgiving, and powerful organization, be it a crime syndicate, a political movement, or a recognized state, it is incomparably safer to attack the party from which you have nothing to fear in the way of violent repercussions, than the party associated with a history of indiscriminate violence. Something similar applies at the individual level: If you are a coward at the core of your soul, you prefer to humor the bully and blame his victim rather than the other way around. Self-staging in the ultramodern, theatrical way in order to pretend indignation, concern, or pity when, in fact, they are intimidated by the very object of their chosen group, sympathy must rank as the greatest self-deception of the self-righteous. Thus, the coward lies to himself and the rest of the world. Hypocrisy and cowardice are really two sides of the same coin. Image: Public domain. We are watching the BLM crowd (this time acting under the Hamas banner) gear up again for violence before an election. Its important to understand that this is all staged. One way to understand how Democrat politics operate is to look back at the political corruption surrounding George Floyds death. On July 29, 2021, Peter Cahill, the presiding Minnesota State Court judge trying the four police officers indicted for George Floyds death, ordered the release of the prosecutors report detailing how Dr. Roger Mitchell, the then-medical examiner and Deputy Mayor for D.C., coerced the Hennepin County medical examiner, Dr. Andrew Baker. The memo detailed Mitchells threat to damage Bakers professional career with a critical op-ed in the Washington Post if Baker did not amend the language of his preliminary autopsy report by adding compression of the neck as a cause of death, something Baker had not believed was the case. Doing so would make the death a homicide. Bakers ultimate report, which hed changed in response to Mitchells political pressure, converted a death from natural causes into a justification for indicting four police officers for murder. Floyd was pronounced dead on the evening of May 25, 2020. One day later, Baker conducted a careful autopsy that found no physical evidence that the officers applied excessive force. Instead, Baker suggested that Floyds death was from natural causes, not excess force, strangulation, or asphyxiation. Floyd had severe heart disease that put him at risk for a cardiac arrest under stress and exertion, something medical examiners see frequently. Image: Andrew Baker testifying at Derek Chauvins trial. YouTube screen grab. The matter should have been over then. Three days after they received Bakers initial report, Hennepin County prosecutors issued a complaint against Chauvin reflecting Bakers findings: The autopsy revealed no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation. However, Floyds natural cause of death had no value for Mitchell, who had a political agenda. To understand this agenda, its important to note that the D.C. medical examiner assisted prosecutors in the Aurora, Colorado, case of Elijah McClain and the Tucson, Arizona, case of Carlos Ingram-Lopez. Mitchell was unsuccessful as a prosecution witness against three officers in the 2023 Manuel Ellis trial in Tacoma. In every case, Mitchell was there when the political environment was shaped by a racialist anti-cop mob and media. Mitchell works under the premise that if a person dies resisting arrest, the police are guilty. In a 2022 Meet The Press interview, Mitchell explained his motives for assisting prosecutions against law enforcement when prisoners or arrestees die. According to him, medical excuses are used to cover up the hundreds of murders that American law enforcement commits against arrestees and prisoners. His mission is to expose those miscarriages of justice. In medical science, this approach is called outcome bias. The uncertainties surrounding sudden death give him room to maneuver. Many sudden death cases are easily explained by an autopsy (e.g., big strokes, ruptured blood vessels, major clots). When those causes have been eliminated, the likeliest cause of sudden death is cardiac arrest, which doesnt leave much of an evidence trail. The exception is a type of heart disease that puts people at risk for abnormal rhythms that deteriorate to cardiac arrest and death. To nail Derek Chauvin, as a prelude to bullying Baker into changing his report, Mitchell had to ignore the hard evidence that Baker discovered. Bakers initial, unsullied impression after completing the autopsy of Mr. Floyd was that Chauvin and his fellow officers were not responsible for George Floyds death. This was not a police homicide. Without homicide, the County of Hennepin and the State of Minnesota could not prosecute the officers for murder. Mitchell saw Bakers initial report, called Baker, and insisted that the language had to change to make restraint and neck compression the cause of Floyds death. After several days of local and national rioting, Baker knew that it was not just his career on the line (a point Mitchell made very clear). Mitchell also bullied Baker into believing that Americas survival depended on him. Under duress, Baker added neck compression to the final report and called the death a homicide. This change made it possible for the prosecutors to charge Derek Chauvin, the senior police officer on the scene, with murder, a total miscarriage of justice. As an emergency physician since 1974 and an attorney since 1979, I was appalled by Mitchells interference, and I knew when I read the autopsy that Baker was initially correctdeath from natural causes, no homicide. What follows are excerpts of Mitchells claims as documented in the states exhibit and my commentary on the same. The full text of the original autopsy is here. The link to the memorandum containing Mitchells opinions is here. Mitchell: Autopsy pretty complete but noted Baker did not perform a layered posterior neck dissection Dunn response: Wrong. The autopsy report shows that Baker did a thorough and careful autopsy. It revealed that no life-threatening injuries were identified after a thorough dissection of tissues from the scalp to the waist, with particular attention to the neck, mouth, throat, and airway. Mitchell: The lack of a hemorrhage in the deep tissue doesnt necessarily add value but the presents [sic] of a hemorrhage can be helpful to understand the amount of pressure Dunn response: The fact that there is no sign of injury exonerates the officers but, again, Mitchell dismisses the evidence with a hand wave. Mitchell: Mitchell agrees with Baker that the neck compression is a component of the mechanism of death. Dunn response: Mitchell talks in circles. He cant make up his mind if the death was respiratory or circulatory. He only wants the magic wordsneck compression. Mitchell also ignores the critical information on the brain tissue exam that shows no evidence of lack of oxygen (hypoxia) that would have been present with respiratory or circulatory death. Thus, Bakers autopsy said: Sections of hippocampus, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and midbrain show the expected microscopic architecture, without hypoxic ischemic, reactive, neoplastic, or inflammatory changes. Mitchell: With respect to the term Asphyxia (sic), there are typical indicators of asphyxia that are not present but also believes the neck compression played a significant part in Floyds death. [snip] Bakers lack of use of the term asphyxia is a style issue. Dunn response: Stop the presses! Style issue? No, it isnt a style issue. It has to do with a proper cause of death analysis and conclusions. Baker found no evidence of asphyxiation or strangulation. The autopsy found no crushing or constricting injury of the neck and no hypoxic brain injury Mitchell: Did not die from overdoes (sic) Dunn response: Agreed. This was not a Fentanyl overdose that causes lethargy, stupor, and respiratory failure/arrest. However, Mitchell ignored the cardiac stimulating and irritating effect of exertion, heart disease, agitation, and the stimulating but not lethal 19 nanogram level of methamphetamine. Mitchell: --High blood pressure --Dilated heart --Hypertension --Cardiovascular disease puts Floyd at risk for fatal arrhythmia [Dunn: Cardiac arrhythmia was a risk because of Mr. Floyds bad heart disease] Dunn response: Mitchell makes the case for heart disease and cardiac arrhythmia, so why is he pushing Baker on neck compression? Simple: He had a political anti-police agenda, and he and the prosecutors needed to have a homicide. Baker rolled over for them. In June 2021, I made a demonstration video showing the restraint that Chauvin used for ten minutes on Floyd. As with Chauvin and Floyd, the individual applying the restraint weighed 170 pounds, and the individual playing Floyds role weighed 230 pounds. The individual being restrained suffered no compromise of breathing or oxygen level and certainly no risk to health. In January of 2023, I did a similar video demonstration. This time, though, I used myselfa 160-pound, 77-year-old man who broke his neck in 2020as the person being restrained and had a 220-pound man on top doing the restraining. I continuously monitored my oxygen level and got the same negative findings: no harm and oxygen level normal. In fact, my oxygen level went from 96 to 98% during the restraint period. Lying for justice often occurs in political or ideologically charged matters where the actor is convinced the result is worth the deception. Unfortunately, this is becoming increasingly common among medical professionals, amplifying and promoting the conduct of racialist medical experts like Roger Mitchell. This is because medical science and practice have been poisoned by a prism of racialist, critical race theory ideology. Marxist Socialist Racialist Wokeness, which permeates the Democrat party, corrupts society, and medicine is not immune. In fact, organized medicine, from academia to professional organizations, has embraced the corruption. John Dale Dunn is a 50 year emergency physician, 40 year attorney, 20 plus year corrections physician, medico-legal consultant, academic, writer. Correction: An earlier version misstated Floyds date of death. A recent article published by AT ended with the following ominous sentences: If the USA is unlikely to become once again an overwhelmingly Christian nation (and this seems to be the case), where will we turn for a new morality? Is it possible that we are now entering a century or so of moral anarchy? Moral anarchy? Is this an accurate term, or is it an understatement of the moral decline we are living through? Are terms like moral degeneracy and moral collapse better expressions of what we are facing? Every perversion known to mankind is being embraced and gradually legalized. The idea that morality is created by each individual as he makes decisions throughout each day is a step beyond anarchy. Since Lawrence v. Texas decriminalized homosexuality, we have been in a state of moral anarchy. Crude and licentious parades with many naked or almost naked men celebrating sodomy are considered by many to be positive and invigorating. The abrogation of Roe v. Wade in the recent Dobbs decision does not end abortion, but simply leaves the existence of abortion laws up to each separate state. There are so many different laws now on when it is legitimate to abort a baby. Thus, the people have decided that it is legitimate for citizens to decide when a life is a life. The truth is that a life begins and is a life at conception. That is what the Holy Bible teaches and has been the basis of the sanctity of life announced even in our Declaration of Independence for thousands of years. Additionally, the inefficacy of jailing people for many crimes based on the claim that those crimes are not really serious crimes or, as crimes, can be prevented by patience or therapy is now accepted by many prosecutors, including Chesa Boudin, who was removed from his D.A. position in San Francisco (even the San Fran lefties were turned off by his policies), and by Alvin Bragg and other prosecutors in New York Citys five boroughs. Kim Foxx in Chicago and Larry Krasner, D.A. in Philadelphia, are also notorious catch-and-release D.A.s. They claim that they do not want to waste precious financial resources by jailing people. In NYC, in addition to this policy resulting in an uptick in thefts and assaults, we are back to rampant turnstile-jumping in the subways instead of paying fares. Also, aggressive panhandling has become more common, and looting and pilfering have become epidemic. As further evidence of our moral decline, divorce rates are sky-high, and marriage rates and childbearing are at an all-time low. Academic standards have plummeted, and standards in every area of life have been lowered. SAT reading scores were in the 520s in the early 1970s but had dropped to the 490s by the years 20112016. This writer was in a NYC hospital for major surgery, and neither a resident nor a fully licensed M.D. was in charge of the heart wing. Supervision rested exclusively with nurse practitioners and physician assistants. An M.D. showed up with a P.A. to tell me what day I was to be discharged. And my surgeon showed up briefly to tell me he would not need to saw apart my breastbone, and then immediately left without any additional comments about the surgery or the aftermath. No M.D. or any other personnel ever came to my bedside to ask me how I was sleeping or whether I was experiencing any pain or other discomforts, nor did anyone listen to my heart with a stethoscope. No one explained to me what I could expect on the day of surgery or after surgery in terms of procedures or how I might or might not feel. Despite the rhetoric often spouted these days about treating the whole person, cost efficiency clearly reigned. The pre-eminence of cost efficiencies over professionalism and care is itself a symptom of moral anarchy and disdain for the personhood of the patient. If the balance sheet consistently takes precedence over the purpose of an institution, whether that institution be a hospital, a school, a police department, or any service-oriented company, then morality is under attack. A high school teacher this writer knows in NYC was told that all the history teachers on a certain day would be required to distribute condoms to students. He was convinced that his duty was not to promote teenage fornication and decided to toss the condoms once they were delivered to him. However, on the day intended for distribution, an announcement was made over the public address system in the school that a special office for condoms had been opened and that they would not be distributed in history classes. That happened to that teacher in the 1990s. Moral anarchy had already kicked in. One of the history teachers students a 19-year-old girl in tenth grade introduced him to her boyfriend, whom she identified as the father of the child I aborted two years ago. Moral anarchy might be another way of saying moral collapse. In 1960, only 5% of babies were born out of wedlock. Since 2015, the overall percentage is about 40%, with 69% of African-American babies born outside of wedlock. One may ask the rhetorical question: are these percentages signs of responsible (i.e., moral) behavior, or do the statistics show a collapse of morality? Does our national indebtedness, whereby each individual citizen owes over one hundred thousand dollars of our national debt as of December 2023, suggest a responsible government? Does anyone even ask how one can be irresponsible and moral at the same time? From the Bible tale of the prodigal son, we learn that profligacy creates alienation and despair. A country or a household or individuals who are regularly spending far beyond their means, and are gambling billions in lotteries and casinos, thereby indulging their greed, are, based on that trend alone, in moral free fall. Gambling is a pastime for some people, but it is driven by covetousness, and wherever casinos abound, we see prostitution and drug sales abounding as well. Even in the early 19th century, William Wilberforce, a great English Christian spokesman, saw that morals needed to be reformed and restored based on biblical principles. He was the key player in bringing an end to slavery in the British Empire, but he saw even then how much moral reform still was needed by the Brits and established a Society for the Suppression of Vice to promote that reform. What would Wilberforce think about the rampant crime, licentiousness, greed, violence, and corruption of public morals we are experiencing today? Moral anarchy seems to be an understatement of the moral disintegration we are living through. Image: kolyaeg via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Watching the idiocy on college campuses this week and seeing all the explanations for protests in favor of murderous Hamas, two tweets seem particularly on point. Theres the great David Burge (Iowahawk), who calls these outbursts Hamas slumber parties, and says, This is like staging a pro-Nazi lunch counter sit-in and getting mad that people wont treat you like youre a modern-day Rosa Parks. He attributes protests for the Intifada and slogans reading from the River to the Sea by numbskulls who have admittedly no idea what they are protesting as the result of baby-proofing houses. There is, he says, no better educational experience for a child than finding out what happens when you stick a butter knife into an electrical outlet. I think hes right. Helicopter parents who shield kids from the consequences of their actions have raised a generation of reckless, entitled, ill-educated brats. (Id add to his admonition the habit of so many parents to spend evenings helping their kids with their homework. My view is they either do it or dont and, if they dont, they can learn the consequences.) Elon Musk, another of those whose sage observations I endorse, says: The axiomatic error undermining much of Western Civilization is weak makes right. If someone accepts, explicitly or implicitly, that the oppressed are always the good guys, then the natural conclusion is that the strong are the bad guys. So Hamas engaged in the most brutal attack on a much stronger neighbor, and even before Israel's perfectly predictable response in defense of its own people, Hamas became worthy of sympathy and protection. The Israeli counterattack is falsely described as genocide, self-rule in Gaza is misnamed occupation; indigenous Jews are labeled colonialists and occupiers, while Arabs are mischaracterized as native to Gaza. Add to the mix of explanations for what otherwise is inexplicable immoral conduct the mind-boggling ignorance of the protestors. Everywhere we see signs that "Gazan liberation is queer liberation." Its a topsy-turvy world on American campuses. Homosexuality is illegal in Syria, Egypt, Gaza, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Kuwait, and the West Bank. Its not illegal in Israel, and homosexual Gazans have sought and received refuge there. @hahussain Queer are shamed and thrown out of the majority of Palestinian families. In a Palestinian state, theyd likely be thrown from the top of buildings. Even the most Westernized of Arab countries, Lebanon, saw its majority bash 10 lawmakers for presenting a legislation decriminalizing homosexuality (only decriminalizing, not even giving them any rights). U.S. college students have no idea what theyre talking about. Just as absurd are the feminists and transgenders for Hamas. The protests and encampments have spread to a number of colleges, but the worst is Columbia University, and a close examination shows that it is a result of a horrible choice of president and a history of ignoring Jew hatred, of which the latest demonstration is a perfectly predictable outcome. Theres no reason except the anti-merit DEI impetus for Nemat Shafik to have been named president of Columbia: Shafik only has 1 well-cited publication in her life, in Oxford Econ Papers 1994. This paper is lifted almost entirely from a 1992 report coauthored with a consultant not credited in the publication. This is wholesale intellectual theft, not subtle plagiarism. Khymani Jones, one leader of the Columbia encampment who was extensively quoted as saying, Zionists dont deserve to live and talked about killing Jews, was finally banned from campus, although it remains unclear whether he was expelled or suspended. But in a disciplinary hearing in January, the university was aware of these statements and did not act. Before he was shown the door, Ilhan Omar went to the Columbia campus and shook hands with him; her daughter hugged him. The only reason he was finally kicked out was because his threats became more widely publicized. When he was finally at least suspended, he claimed it was because he is black and queer. Dont blame the police -- Columbia has prevented them from removing the encampment. The NYPD Chief of Patrol responded: The pure hate, antisemitism, and overall vile language I have witnessed recently is simply disgusting. I could not begin to even know how this makes a person feel, a family or a friend. Hate has no place in our society from anyone! It should be condemned by all immediately. The NYPD is committed to protecting everyone from hate, especially our Jewish brothers and sisters. Trust me, if we could throw handcuffs on anyone who peddled in this -- we would do this all day every day. End of story! We understand the frustration, we stand with you and the NYPD is always ready. We demonstrated this last week when our Mayor and PC ordered swift action for the removal of school protesters. Unfortunately there are certain things we cant control, thus its incumbent for the effected institutions to take a stand and enforce their rules! Actions have consequences! No more suspensions lets try expulsion of these entitled hateful students. Pack your belongings and get out! Lets remove faculty and staff who have replaced their educational licenses for a license of hate -- Your fired! Your frustration and despair should not be directed toward the City of New York. We did not shut down your identification and deny your entry. We dont govern private property nor school rules while being bound by free speech. The Mayor, Police Commissioner and the NYPD will never relent in the pursuit of public safety and, here and now, protecting our Jewish community. By contrast, in Washington D.C., George Washington University asked the local police to remove the protestors. They were prepared to do so, but Mayor Muriel Bowser, a huge fan of BLM and believer in the George Floyd fable, ordered the force to stand down. Are these protests organic and spontaneous? Of course not -- they are being funded by George Soros and a variety of foundations and various NGOs which in a lawful world would have long ago lost their tax breaks. The occupation of college campuses across the U.S. is a well-organized and funded operation led by Soros-backed groups, including Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR). The Soros-backed NGOs pay outside agitators $7800 and campus activists $3600 each, according to a report. Half of the violent protestors who have been arrested nationally are not students but NGO-affiliated agitators. Hamas is an internationally recognized terror group, and with the help of these NGOs, it is recruiting and radicalizing thousands of students across the country. The current students -- drawn from organizations such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), Within Our Lifetime (WOL), and others -- have been filmed calling for not only the killing of Israelis and Jews but also the dissolution of the US government and acts of terror on American soil. These organizations have maintained both influential and radical friends, NGO Monitor explained in its new report released on Thursday, noting that JVP -- a fringe anti-Israel group that has often joined forces to coordinate events with SJP -- has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Other donors to JVP include the Open Society Policy Center and the Kaphan Foundation, among others. As for SJP, one of its founders, Hatem Bazian, is also a co-founder of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), an advocacy group that, according to a landmark report last year by the National Association of Scholars (NAS), retains ties to terrorist groups operating in the Palestinian Territories. AMP is a growing power player in the US Democratic Party and has led several legislative initiatives aimed at eroding Democratic support for Israel. NGO Monitor also named in its report Within Our Lifetime, a New York City-based group headed by a former City University of New York (CUNY) student who once threatened to set a Jewish students Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sweater on fire while he wore it. Since Oct. 7, WOL has openly cheered Hamas atrocities as the right to resist zionist [sic] settle violence and Resistance in all its forms. By any means necessary an apparent endorsement of Hamas abductions and sexual violence against Israeli women Another group named in the new report, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), supports a network of allied groups, including AMP, JVP, and WESPAC. USCPR has received immense financial support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, which has awarded it at least $355,000 since 2018 According to NASs findings, JVP as of last year had received $480,000 from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Tides Research Fund, a sponsor of Black Lives Matter, has given the group at least $75,000 since 2019... Additionally, Palestine Legal, a lawfare group founded in 2012 to support campus BDS groups like SJP, is the beneficiary of generous funding from Tides Foundation Theres anecdotal evidence that, aside from the reputational costs to institutions that have abetted or tolerated this behavior, they are losing donors and applicants. (Not only are applications for new students down, but Brandeis and Yeshiva University have extended the deadline for transfer applications for students who wish to leave these cesspools.) Hedge Fund CEO Bill Ackman predicts substantial litigation and financial loss for schools that indulge in this behavior by faculties and students: Recent events at @Harvard, @MIT, @Columbia et al couldnt provide more prima facie supporting evidence for the various Title VI and class action lawsuits against the universities. The complaints just need to be updated to include the new facts. The plaintiffs are going to have a field day in court. The universities unwillingness to follow their own stated rules has emboldened the protesters to amplify their anti-Israel, antisemitic, and anti-American messaging and actions. Its remarkable that even the likely severe economic costs of the litigation doesnt motivate the administrations and governing boards to address the situation. Thats likely because there are no shareholders and it is therefore other peoples money. Yet another failure of the non-profit model. I am surprised the state attorneys general have not gotten involved as they are supposed to be important regulators of non-profits. While it doesnt happen often, board members of nonprofits can be held personally liable for their failures as fiduciaries. I would not be surprised to see that happen here. In a better world, the White House, Department of Justice, and FBI wouldnt leave it to private litigants to redress actions targeting students and faculties for their religious beliefs and endorsing anti-American mayhem. In the interim, we can ridicule the hypocrisy of institutions that just recently punished students for misgendering others or for wearing sombreros to Halloween parties. A grand jury hands down indictments that kick off a criminal trial. From findlaw.com: A grand jury helps the prosecutor decide whether to file criminal charges against a suspect. While the grand jury system may vary by jurisdiction, it is most often used in federal and state felony cases. Federal grand juries typically consist of 16 to 23 people. Grand jury members may have jury duty for months at a time. Sometimes, the district attorney will choose to proceed with a preliminary hearing rather than a grand jury. Both determine whether there is enough evidence to indict someone. A grand jury is private [i.e. secret, as opposed to a public preliminary hearing]. Besides the jurors, only the prosecutor may attend to present evidence to the jurors. The prosecutor decides what the grand jury investigates, the evidence to present, and what documents to subpoena. A grand jury does not have to be unanimous to issue an indictment. Depending on the jurisdiction, two-thirds or three-quarters of the individual grand jurors must agree. Prosecutors use grand jury proceedings as test runs for trials. But if the prosecutor strongly disagrees with a grand jury, they may ignore the decision. The article also states that grand juries will work closely with the prosecutor, who will explain the law to the jurors. The jurors then have the power to view almost any evidence they wish and question anyone they like. Since prosecutors decide what evidence gets investigated, subpoenaed, and disclosed to the jurors, are they then required to disclose exculpatory evidence? Its not a trial, after all the prosecutors job is to present evidence to convince the jurors of guilt. In some states and in federal court, they dont have to present any evidence suggesting that the target is innocent. The rationale is that the defendant will have the opportunity to present this evidence at trial. ... In most states, prosecutors cant present half-truths to grand juries. If prosecutors have strong, credible evidence that points to innocence, they must divulge it. That doesnt mean, however, that they have to offer every piece of evidence thats helpful to the accused or that might be used at trial by the defense. In practice, however, the enforcement of this must divulge rule is left to the prosecutors conscience. Can a witness who is subpoenaed before a grand jury invoke the 5th Amendment? Thats up to the prosecutor, but if the prosecution and the grand jury insist on the appearance, the Fifth Amendment privilege must be asserted on a question-by-question basis. ... [B]efore a claim of privilege can be sustained, the witness should be put under oath and the party calling him be permitted to begin his interrogation. Then, the witness may invoke his privilege with regard to the specific question and the court is in a position to make the decision as to whether the answer might tend to incriminate the witness. People v. Harris (1979) 93 Cal.App.3d 103, 117; see Celaya , 855 F.2d at 863. During Robert Muellers special prosecution investigation of President Trump, a grand jury was used to compel witnesses to turn over documents as part of the evidence-gathering. A separate grand jury was formed just to investigate General Michael Flynn. Its clear that prosecutors have a good deal of discretionary power to direct the outcome of a grand jury proceeding, and the defense is left in the dark. Proponents of grand juries argue that the legally mandated secrecy protects the reputation of the innocently accused, but that secrecy is what makes grand juries attractive to prosecutors. It should come as no surprise that grand juries almost always return indictments: According to a U.S. Department of Justice study, Grand juries are notorious for being rubberstamps for the prosecutor for virtually all routine criminal matters. (McDonald, William F., Plea Bargaining: Critical Issues and Common Practices [1985].) Its also suggested that grand juries rubber stamp prosecutors charges because grand jurors are not adept at evaluating evidence like judges are making it easier to convince a grand jury than a judge that the defendant should stand for trial. Is it not reasonable to presume that district attorneys and assistant prosecutors are well educated and trained in criminal law, especially the laws of evidence? They ought to be well qualified to decide if a case should go to trial or not. Can the driving force behind convening a grand jury sometimes be to cover the keister of a politically ambitious D.A.? If he were to blow a high-profile criminal trial, it could then be said, Hey, it not my fault, we vetted the case through a grand jury! Prosecutors have plenty of laws, statutes, and tactics at their disposal. They should not need the lopsided power of grand juries to do their jobs effectively. Image via Picryl. The plan was sort of like this. First, we call Trump every name in the book, from racist to fascist. Second, warn everyone that a dictatorship is around the corner if the bad guy is back in the White House. Third, and not least, tie up Trump in the courts and destroy his candidacy. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to the courtroom. Trump is rising, and Biden is talking about cannibals having his uncle for lunch. According to news reports, former President Trump is making money sitting in the court. Here is the story: During an appearance on Fox News Americas Newsroom, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Michael Whatley discussed Trumps campaign strategy in New York and elsewhere and said that every day that President Trump has been in court, hes been getting a million dollars or more in small-dollar donations that are coming in online. There you go. Be careful what you wish for, because the other guy may get all the money. I see a couple of things going on here. First, Trumps presidency looks better and better, especially in comparison to the Biden record. Did you hear about the GDP slowing down? Second, I think more and more Americans are saying, No banana republic for me. In other words, if you hate Trump, then vote against him, but dont destroy the country in the process. My guess is that this is true of people who came here from other countries and saw this kind of political vengeance destroy their countries. I think my parents would say that if they were alive. Am I the only one thinking that some Democrats are having second thoughts about lawfare? It aint working, babe! PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. While people have been focusing on Columbia University because of its Ivy creds, a state-run college in far northern California has succumbed to anarchy. Whats happened there (although with calls for a socialist takeover and highly charged anti-white rhetoric) should help people understand that, as always, Jews are the canary in the coal mine. The same people who come for the Jews will always come go after Western civilization as a whole. Cal Poly Humboldt (HSU, because of its old name of Humboldt State University) is in the northernmost quarter of Californias length. On the one hand, its farm country. On the other hand, its serious hippy country and was, for decades, the heart of the illegal marijuana crop in California before the state, violating federal law, legalized marijuana. As with much of California, because Arcata is on the coast, its Democrat-controlled, even as the inland area is conservative. (And note that the linked map appropriately shows Democrats as red, highlighting their communist takeover.) Beginning in the 1960s, HSU abandoned its technical roots and became as far left as any other campus in America. Although its student body is mostly white (44%), Hispanics are quickly catching up at 34%. HSU has a minute black population (4%) and a very small Asian one (3%, mostly because Asians aim for more prestigious colleges). Its roughly divided between affluent and low-income students, with the latter having a slight edge at 52% of the student body. Significantly, as is the case for all colleges, but for the military academics, women significantly outnumber men on the HSU campus (56% to 44%). I wont repeat my controversial ideas about the increased feminization of the American political scene, something that comes from the left, but you can read them here. Its equally significant that HSU is one of the most pro-LGBTQ+ campuses in America. While homosexuality is a constant in human behavior and doesnt actually have an ideology attached to its practice, the radical LGBTQ+ movement is different. Its another manifestation of the way cultural Marxism has taken over the progressive Democrat party. With all this leftism, you wont be surprised to learn that the degrees the HSU offers, in addition to the old-fashioned things like Biochemistry and Engineering, also included Cannabis Studies, Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Dance Studies, and Environmental Studies. The long intro is to help you understand the under-reported protest that began at HSU not long after the protests in the Ivies hit the headlines. Heres what things looked like on April 22-23 (and do note the prominence of women and people of nonspecific gender): A new CHAZ is in the making at California State Polytechnic University. pic.twitter.com/X7rIgGYOEy Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 23, 2024 Pro-Palestine activists have just taken over a building at State Polytechnic University in Arcata, California. Police are locked out and now in riot gear trying to break in. This standoff will only escalate and eventually end poorly for the activists. pic.twitter.com/mWGjPptrtA Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) April 23, 2024 lmao Cal Poly Humboldt students don't PLAY! pic.twitter.com/2Ib5wqRSXT Joni (@poetryc0mmunity) April 23, 2024 At a violent far-left direct action at Cal Poly Humboldt @humboldtcalpoly for Gaza where militants occupied part of a campus building on April 22, responding police were assaulted and battered. pic.twitter.com/whgax34wgT Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) April 23, 2024 Faced with an onslaught of attacks by women and it people wielding empty plastic bottles, the police retreated, and the students proudly took over several buildings on campus, including the administrative building, which theyve christened Intifada Hall. Naturally, this involved trashing the building, something that makes them quite proud. BREAKING: California Polytechnic University (Humboldt) closes its campus until autumn Anti-Israel students seized several buildings 5 days ago & hold them Theres graffiti all over the walls & a building was renamed Intifada Hall Via @thestustustudio pic.twitter.com/rNQDaNzwvU Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) April 27, 2024 Some reports about pro-Palestinian students at Cal Poly Humboldt are understating the damage. They TRASHED the university. It'll cost serious money to restore these buildings. Campus is closed until the fall. Can the idiots supporting this explain why the university and its pic.twitter.com/SQtm7Yo3ot Sia Kordestani (@SiaKordestani) April 28, 2024 (See also this video of the college presidents office, a video that was made non-embeddable.) The HSU administration is trying to regain control. After first begging students to leave by promising no repercussions, someone with a spine issued to order to close the campus completely and announced that any unauthorized people on campus would be cited or arrested. It remains to be seen whether those same people will then be expelled or prosecuted. Dont let all the graffiti about Gaza and Free Palestine fool you. This is 2020s Antifa riots, version 2.0. Its the same people, only this time, the protests ride on the back of antisemitism, not anti-white racism. Take Lissie, for example: Lissie is an anarchist student who is part of the group that has taken over Cal Poly Humboldt. In this video, she plants sacred olives" outside "Intifada Hall Later, she was attacked by other students for planting non-native species on occupied land pic.twitter.com/aixeVdCPZj Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) April 28, 2024 Or this it person: Non-binary student with shaved hair BURNS her diploma to show solidarity with Palestine. The Cal Poly Humboldt Graduate said What the university is doing right now is absolutely disgusting and they need to stand down now. @thestustustudio pic.twitter.com/iw7eUtWqTw Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 28, 2024 Also, check out Luz, whos burning his degree in Critical Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies as a sign of solidarity with Hamas. Its the same actors as in 2020, only theyre driven by antisemitic fury this time aroundand anti-white hatred, along with pure socialism: Youre just a white person, says a racist pro-Gaza protester at @ucla. We dont like white people. pic.twitter.com/6JeIPb5KAa Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) April 27, 2024 At a far-left rally for Gaza at George Washington U @GWtweets, an extremist on the microphone says: Theres only one solution, intifada revolution. We must have a revolution so we can have a socialist reconstruction of the United States of America. pic.twitter.com/RGJ5J1EKE5 Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) April 27, 2024 If you want one more example of the uber-hard-left Maoism driving these protests, look at this charming young lady pointing out the peoples paradise that is Stanford University. At a far-left rally for Gaza at George Washington U @GWtweets, an extremist on the microphone says: Theres only one solution, intifada revolution. We must have a revolution so we can have a socialist reconstruction of the United States of America. pic.twitter.com/RGJ5J1EKE5 Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) April 27, 2024 The key line is The students in the camp are agents of their own learning. That is exactly what happened in China during the Cultural Revolution when students took over the campuses. They would be the agents of their own learning, overthrowing the faculty which consisted of the revolutions Old Guard. Countless Chinese people died (Hundreds of thousands? Millions?) because of the collapse of any vestiges of civilization thanks to these young revolutionaries. Trump should have sent out the National Guard in 2020, but he didnt, probably because it went against his decidedly non-authoritarian instincts and because it would lend credence in an election year to the lefts lie that he was authoritarian. With Biden, its different and much worse. He wont send out the guard because the values of the modern progressive Democrat party are aligned with these protestors. Democrat pooh-bahs believe this violent energy will deliver to them the White House and Congress. It's up to you to make sure that doesnt happen. Vote! And dont vote Third Party. You may as well just throw a third-party vote in the garbage for all the good it will do to stop Biden. Image: X screen grab. James OKeefe recently released an undercover video in which Jason Beck, a Department of Defense employee, asserts that firearms owners should have their guns confiscated. By force. By the National Guard. Constitution? What Constitution? Individual rights? Pshaw! The DoD employee casually noted that he would like to do some work on the states monopoly on violence. When asked what states monopoly on violence meant he replied, Its the idea that the state, meaning the country, uh, is the only sort of legitimate purveyor of violence Anyone else feel a chill? Speaking of that pesky Second Amendments protection of firearm ownership, Beck stated: I think we should repeal it and take them all away. You have to take them. He then implied that the National Guard would need to be employed, and that those in it would have to follow lawfully given orders. Except that the order to ignore the Second Amendment and forcefully take private property from law-abiding citizens could not be a lawfully given order. Oh, and our military is supposed to protect us, not take our possessions and leave us defenseless. Beck also spoke of another favorite Democrat idea, packing the Supreme Court, saying We need the majority on the Court so that they cant stop any potential legislation to disarm the American populace. This is anything but trivial. This hits at the heart of society and whether the people need fear the government or vice versa. Disarming the citizenry is the hallmark of totalitarian rule. It is one of the first steps in enslaving a people. It goes hand-in-hand with one party rule, censorship, and re-education camps. If the people put up with this, they deserve to be treated like livestock. The state is the only legitimate purveyor of violence? Yeah, like the Third Reich, the Soviet Union, Imperial Japan, Pol Pots Cambodia, and mullah-led Iran? Image: Screen shot from Liberty Doll video, via YouTube Even before 2015, Europe, including the UK, has opened its doors to Turkey, North Africa, and the Middle East. Part of it was leftist guilt about colonialism, and part of it was the need for labor to make up for a Western population that had stopped having children. Then, in 2015, Angela Merkel opened the floodgates to the only people who hate Jews, Christians, and Western Civ more than Hitler and his Nazis did. Now, Europe and the UK are reaping what they sowed, as the Muslims nearing critical mass in those nations push for a caliphate. Their confidence in making this demand is reasonable, given their rising population and the Wests strong support for Hamas. From 1683, when Europeans stopped the Ottoman Turks at the Gates of Vienna, until the era after WWII, Islam was a marginal faith, at best, in Europe and the UK. Then, that potent combination of post-colonial guilt and a desperate need for laborers changed Europes and the UKs immigration policies. According to a Pew estimate, in 2016, just one year into Angela Merkels attempt to atone for the Nazis by inviting in the only people who hated Jews more than the Nazis did, things had changed. Muslims were almost 5% of Western and Northern Europes population, with France having a high of 8.8%, followed by Sweden (8.1%), the Netherlands (7.1%), the UK (6.3%), Germany (6.1%), Austria (6.9%), Switzerland (6.1%), Norway (5.7%), Denmark (5.4%), Italy (4.8%), and Spain (2.6%). Image: X screen grab. In the eight years since the Pew analysis, the percentage of Muslims in these populations has presumably edged upwards. However, without doing a deep, deep diveand I lack the time and the resourcesits impossible to tell what the real numbers are. If I were paranoid, I would suspect that theres a concerted effort to hide or downplay that information. What we do know, though, is that Muslims are younger and have more children than their European and British counterparts. Every study, including the Pew estimate above, assumes a massive growth in the Muslim population relative to the European and British populations by 2050. And indeed, there is evidence that, in France, the percentage has already edged up from 8.8% to 10%. The same is probably true across Europe. While the European countries and the UK probably still have overall Muslim populations that are less than 10% and even hover closer to 5%, its important to note that Muslims are disproportionately represented in the capital cities. For example, while Englands overall Muslim population is around 6.5%, the percentage of Muslims in London is 15%. In Paris, about 10-15% of its population identifies as Muslim. Berlins Muslim population is 11.4%, while Hamburg, even before 2015, had so many Afghan immigrants that it was known as Little Kabul. Its now estimated that Muslims are about 8% of the Hamburg population. My obsession with the percentage of Muslims relative to the overall population is because small changes in those numbers make a very big difference. Dr. Peter Hammonds famous analysis of patterns in Muslim immigration shows that Muslims disproportionately throw their weight around even when they are a relatively small percentage of the overall population. At 2-5%, theyre recruiting and proselytizing; at 5-10%, they are pushing for cultural accommodation (halal food, hijabs on drivers licenses); at 10-20%, they begin to use low-level violence to force the dominant population to accede to their demands; from 20-40%, they become violent on a much larger scale; from 40-60%, they actively wage war on the non-Muslims in their country; and after that, its Islam all over. With these facts in mind, contemplate the following three items, one from England and two from Germany: In England, two Muslims feel comfortable speaking about the three different ways to establish a Muslim caliphate. In this regard, its important to note that all Muslims are required to work towards a worldwide Islamic caliphate: Islamists from @5PillarsUK are openly talking about how to overthrow the British gov. & establish a Caliphate The plan is either to infiltrate the Army & convert its top generals to pave the way for a military coup or just a regular jihadist civil war pic.twitter.com/VwIhEXft7o Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) April 28, 2024 In Hamburg, more than 1,000 people took to the streets to demand that Germany become part of the Islamic caliphate: NEW - Islamists march in Hamburg for a caliphate in Germany.pic.twitter.com/A6AYTLyOBV Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) April 27, 2024 Sreams of Allahu Akbar Echo Throughout Germany! Hordes of Muslims March Through Hamburg, Demanding a Caliphate in Germany and Media to Abide by Sharia Mobilizing the Umma (the global Muslim community) to establish their Islamic Civilization is their admitted goal. Today in pic.twitter.com/B07C7LqIjz Amy Mek (@AmyMek) April 27, 2024 In Germany, children are converting to Islam in record numbers because they fear social ostracism and have come to believe that Sharia law is the best form of government. Indeed, the converts buy into all aspects of the faith, including the justification of violence and the perceived threat from the West. Notably, in some Berlin schools, Muslim children are more than 80% of the student body. You cannot blame the Muslims for doing this. Like the scorpion, it is their nature. Their current sense of ascendency is helped by the anti-Israel, pro-Hamas marches that have rocked the Western world, including in America. These are signals that the caliphates time has come. Unless the West pushes back, these Muslims may well be right. Here in America, the man at the helm has never hidden his hatred for Israel and Bibi Netanyahu, and he will do anything to get the Dearborn vote. If Islam is not your preferred future, you must vote for Trump. There will be cheating in the election, so the turnout for Trump must be so overwhelming that it cannot be cheated away. And dont wimp out with a third-party vote. A third-party candidate wont win so thats just throwing your vote away. It was in his 2024 State of the Disunion teleprompter slurring that President Biden shouted the threat to democracy must be defended. It went downhill from there, as when he announced he is going to build a pier in Gaza to ensure Hamas can get all the supplieslike weaponsthey need. He assured us there would be no boots on the ground, an assertion I addressed then: Graphic: X screenshot So our troops building that port are going to walk on water? They have jet packs that will keep their boots off the ground? Were going to supply Israelsand supposedly ourenemies with even more money and goods? America is doing so well financially, we can afford to spend billions on infrastructure for our deadly enemies? Its impossible to sufficiently emphasize how stupid this is militarily. Its going to put our troops directly in the line of fire of every Islamist, Iran proxy jihadist in the region, and every ship we send is going to be a huge target, and all this while Hamas is still holding American hostages?! Not only are Joe Biden, and every D/S/C not serious people, they dont give a damn about America, Americans, our allies and our military. Graphic: X screenshot But other than that, building a pier in a war zone filled with Islamist madmen who really, really want to kill every Jew and American is a grand idea. Legal Insurrection tells us just how grand: The i24NEWS reported: Gazan terrorists fired mortar shells on Wednesday towards the construction work on the humanitarian pier being built off the coast of Gaza. i24NEWS has learned that several pieces of American engineering equipment were damaged in the attack. In addition, one person was slightly injured while running to a protected area. Neither that article, nor any other Ive found indicates whether American servicemen were present when the mortar attack took place. Further investigation reveals the terrorists were shooting at a UN delegation visiting the site, and Israelis had to hustle them to cover. This is grimly hilarious in that the UN is a known terrorist ally of Hamas and every other Islamist in the region. UNRWA employees helped Hamas attack Israel on October 7, including with such glorious revolutionary chores as kidnapping hostages. Its well-known Hamas and other Jihadists have long used UN headquarters, medical facilities and schools for their purposes. Perhaps the Islamists arent really sober, civilized partners for a two-state solution after all? Perhaps they arent the most trustworthy types? Actually, neither is the UN. And perhaps our military really isnt building that pier at the moment? Its increasingly clear how small and poorly maintained our Navy is, and how inadequate our shipbuilding and repair capabilities have been allowed to become. Heres a revealing example: Graphic: X screenshot And thats not all: Its hard to tell just how many ships havent made it to Gazaif any havebut it would seem Hamas might have to content itself with mortaring its UN allies for the time being. In the meantime, Bidens handlers promise of no boots on the ground might seem to have not yet reached its inevitable expiration date. Oh well, at least Hamas isnt actively shooting at our troopsyet and that we know of. 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. It was a surprise to many that Jew-hatred is big on campuses these days. Explanations are few and far between about where the ugly idea comes from. Is it about a belief that Jews have all the money and political power like the lunatic fringe, the Klan, and LaRouchies claim? Not that anyone but a weirdo (and Rep. Ilhan Omar) would embrace that. Those are the views of freaks. The antisemitism now seen is of a more slippery variety, the kind that claims that Zionism is racism, Israelis are the 'real' Nazis, or Apartheid practitioners, and every bad act of other characters in recent history. Suddenly, and however improbable, it's now pinned on the Jews. Corollary to this are the claims among the campus elite that they don't hate Jews, only Zionists, a distinction without a difference, and a self-justification that falls apart increasingly frequently. So what's happening? One thing is the basic jealousy factor which is often directed at Jews, whose Israel has made the desert bloom and is constantly a source of innovation and advances, as George Gilder and Eric Hoffer have noted in their previous work. But John Dilulio at City Journal found something else: As the old saying goes, an explanation is the place where the mind comes to rest. But if we dig deeper, might we find an inverse relationship between religious commitments and anti-Semitism, such that a decline in religion begets a rise in anti-Semitism? A suggestive study released last year might lead one to consider that possibility. In From the Death of God to the Rise of Hitler, published in the Journal of Economic Literature, economists Sasha O. Becker and Hans-Joachim Voth subjected diverse datasets to cutting-edge statistical analyses to test whether Germans who lived in robustly Christian communities were more or less likely than otherwise comparable Germans to join the Nazi Party. As Becker and Voth interpreted them, the results favored what they styled the Shallow Christianity theory: in places in which the Christian Church only had shallow roots, the Nazis received higher electoral support and saw more party entry. The results, they concluded, suggest that Nazi support and Hitlers startling appeal received an important boost from the spiritual emptiness of large parts of the German population. He points out that it may seem a bit wrong, given that antisemitism has in the past been perfectly present in the Catholic Church, and certainly some Protestant churches. Martin Luther was pretty antisemitic, actually. Even Jews who converted to Christianity were exposed to untold abuse and cast out for it in earlier centuries, Dilulio noted. In recent times, there was that bad priest who broadcast hate-Jew sentiment on the radio ahead of World War II. I won't bother looking him up, may his name be forgotten, but he wasn't ancient history. But the study of who turned Nazi cited above did make sense. Recall that Pope Benedict XIV, who demonstrated his contempt for Nazis by deserting forced conscription in their army as a teenager, was from Bavaria, the most devoutly Catholic part of Germany, and the least friendly state to Hitler. A devout community like that could easily nurture many kids in its Catholic values which would have to preclude antisemitism, since those who read the Bible are distinctly aware that they are reading about Jews, and what's more, they would know that that same Bible says that God Himself says he will never abandon the Jews, so that's the Christian faith, too. Recall that Hitler, waving his fist in a propaganda poster insisted that "you are either a Nazi or a Christian, you can't be both." As Cardinal Dolan wrote in his Easter essay that appeared in the Wall Street Journal, people are attracted to Christianity by coming to church on Easter, because they long for community. A corollary must be that without community, with miserable, deracinated youth of weak family ties and no social capital, antisemitism fills some kind of rage-filled void. We have certainly seen it in Middle Eastern communities where social capital is low and modernity is mystifying. Dilulio also notes: As Paul Johnson wrote in his History of the Jews (1988), it is to the Jews that we owe the idea of equality before the law, both divine and human; of the sanctity of life and the dignity of the human person . . . of collective conscience and so of social responsibility . . . of peace as an abstract ideal . . . and many other items which constitute the basic moral furniture of the human mind. Anyone who's been deprived of community isn't going to value those things much except as a parody. Perhaps that is what we are seeing on campuses now in the post-COVID isolated generation, too, a cellphone- and videogame- and social media reality that isn't much of a community. Combine it with lockdowns and the effect is disastrous because Jews are the center of all that is civilized in our world today, the values that make civilization possible. And if that is a clue, then maybe the solution to this crisis of youth spewing antisemitism is to get them into churches of some kind. The Christian heritage is inseparable from the Jewish heritage and any fool who wants to argue with God about it is, well, a idiot. I always wonder what the fools spewing antisemitism are going to tell God with the Prophets at his side on Judgment Day. For them, there is no judgment day, of course, because they are unchurched. More and more, the lack of churching out there looks like a seedbed for a rebellion, not just against the Jewish faithgivers but against God Himself. That won't end well. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License I listen to an untold number of videos relating to Congressional and Senate hearings, Investigations of witnesses, etc. In each instance, and maybe more in the ones taking place in the Senate, I find them to be a lot of blowhard but overly courteous discussions where nothing truly is accomplished. Sometimes, I am sure, legislation results from the information gleaned but it seems to me, that while the world is burning, they are more engaged in drinking water than hosing out fires. Frankly, the British are, in my opinion, far more eloquent and humorous, though Sen. John Kennedy, from Louisiana, (who incidentally was educated at Oxford where British parliamentarians learn their skills) is a hoot. He is our equivalent of the great humorist from Oklahoma, Will Rogers. The second thing I notice is when agency heads are called upon to tell why information requests are constantly ignored, withheld, or blacklined, the answer usually given is due to an ongoing investigation we cannot comment on. FBI Director Christopher Wray is particularly evasive in these ways. The consequences are mostly dispiriting and continue to validate the comment 'you don't want to see how sausage and laws are made.' The critical issue is how do we get trustworthy candidates for Congress; people who care deeply about the nation, who put the nation's interest first, and who are willing to take the slings and arrows public service subjects one to in today's highly politicized environment? It takes a great deal of money to campaign and the last thing we need or want is to be governed by elite oligarchs like Mark Zuckerberg, or Bill Gates or those who engage in public life for the purpose of self-enrichment, such as Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters, Bob Menendez, or, worse still, those who crave power to bring about our nation's transformation like Obama or those of their ilk. Politics historically attracts some interesting and equally dangerous characters. I have always believed anyone running for a significant political position should be given a Rorschach Test and/or undergo a mental evaluation that is publicly disclosed. The public needs to be informed, particularly since we no longer can rely upon the mass media's objectivity. As for limited terms, time and again I know how popular it is, but unless the bureaucracy can be fired or their own service limited, they present the highest of all risks. Christopher Rufo's book: "America's Cultural Revolution," devotes a significant amount of discussion to how those who work in government, at all levels, " ... fortify power and privilege while waging grievous harm which eventually becomes the pretext for domination." The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which Sen. Elizabeth "Pocahontas" Warren shoved down America's throat, expanded its demands and power far beyond the benign intent upon its claimed initial language. It went from a legislative squeak to an omnipotent roar. And what of the IRS, the FBI, the Department of Education, etc? I could go on and on as every one of these benign well-intended agencies have morphed into abusive ones, which at times, have threatened our freedoms and even our Bill of Rights. If you do not believe me, ask FISA judges how they were exploited by the FBI. No, if you're here from the government, you are not here to help me. Lamentably, you are not to be trusted. You can be terribly harmful and often are. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License Memorial Day is approaching. The Memorial Day weekend will feature a painful ritual known as the Murph: To honor the fallen, run 1 mile, do 100 pullups, 200 pushups, and 300 squats, in body armor, if you have it. I teared up (no actually, I cried) watching a video of Tulsi Gabbard completing last years Murph. Why is this beautiful woman so sad? Of course, I know why. But I contemplated her path through life for days, and how her approach to remembering the fallen helps make her an effective leader and a role model for women seeking to lead in the military context. You see, after the attacks of 9/11, Tulsi was a newly elected Hawaii Congressional representative, a Democrat, who had focused on protecting the environment. She felt dutys call in the run-up to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and she enlisted in a Hawaii National Guard medical unit which soon deployed to Iraq, just northeast of Baghdad in 2004. In that first deployment, she was campaigning for legislative re-election, and her commander gave her the choice to stay home. She chose to go with her unit to Iraq. That year that she arrived in Iraq was one of the worst of the war. The American offensive had toppled Saddams government, and now a thousand Saddams had risen in his place, creating a kaleidoscope of civil war, terror, and anti-American resistance that would create almost unfathomable human suffering and years of pain. One of Tulsis jobs was to scan the list of names, the names of those hurt every day, and to make sure those in the unit who had been hurt were getting the care they needed. Being in a medical unit serving in the hardest hit areas at that time meant that she was well aware of the horrific cost of war. It only takes truly understanding one shattered life to forever understand the abyss of grief in a list of names. My first deployments were also at that time, and my nights were filled with the sounds of burning convoys, calls for help, roadside bomb attacks and ambushes, and the call for MEDEVAC. Soon, Tulsi went through officer training, and led soldiers in further deployments and so progressed through her reserve career so that she commanded a battalion of warrior-diplomat civil affairs soldiers. What I notice about Tulsis leadership style is her combination of what I call compassionate competence. The compassion and care for the soldiers she serves is right at the surface. For example, in 2019, while she was campaigning for president, she made sure to take time to be there as her old unit left again to deploy to Afghanistan. Her prominent anti-war positions are because she cares greatly that we not waste our lives and treasure without great reason. As for competence, she has over and over accomplished important things, winning numerous elections, serving the people in those elected positions, and achieving national prominence as a political candidate. You also see her competence in the way she shows effortless grace in warrior disciplines such as Tactical Shooting and Rucking. By integrating her compassion and competence, Tulsi is a warrrior-healer-mother figure as a leader -- she is good at her job, because she wants her soldiers to return home. Her soldiers know this and perform highly, even perhaps sacrificially because of the family atmosphere that this leadership style creates. At some level, they must understand the deep personal sacrifice that she is making: as one of the most articulate and prominent foreign policy critics in the nation, she understands fully why she distrusts and disagrees with our governments decisions, but she still leads her soldiers in the knowledge that she may be able to save their lives. Her deeply thought-through spiritual practice allows her to exercise her compassion without burning out, as she understands what she needs to maintain emotional and spiritual balance. Jack Hoban, one of the founders of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, said once that through all religions and cultures, the way of the ethical warrior is to protect lives. Tulsi has centered herself on the protection of what is good, and in doing so retains her balance in troubled times. She also is often in the ocean, which cleanses a person of lifes stresses. Like her, each of us should consider what we must do to maintain balance and purpose. Quite simply, as a military leader, Tulsi Gabbard is an excellent role model. This Memorial Day, consider following her example, and do the Murph in memory of all those who have given so much for our great nation. Image: Screen shot from a live television broadcast taken with a camera. First, conquer the organs of propaganda, wrote Karl Marx, who was a genius mob agitator and nothing else. Mob agitators were already a kind of specialty in Prussia, Poland, Russia, and Eastern Europe, but Marx wrote the instruction manual, just as Saul Alinsky did in his Rules for Radicals, which became Barack Obamas manual for political agitators. Fast-forward half a century, and the U.S. media, which used to have a sane liberal and a sane conservative wing, collapsed into a Uniparty propaganda machine, just like Pravda (Truth) and Izvestiya (News) in Moscow, of which the Russians used to joke, There is no truth in Pravda and there is no news in Izvestiya, because they both came from the Kremlin. Today we wonder why Hamas child-killers always sound far from sanity, and why the North Koreans seem to live in an even more different universe. The answer is simple: if you enforce total uniformity on any group, it turns into a cult. They listen to only one voice. Thats how you make mob cults, exactly how the Columbia faculty created a new Hitlerjugend screaming slogans with no consequences, because all the authorities have surrendered. Make everybody march to the beat of the same drum, and youve got a mass cult. That's why they all yell the same words from the same book at the same mass demonstrations in the same locations. Normal people don't march in lockstep, but today's hateful mobs do, because they have one group mind. You dont need A.I. to turn people into robots. Those kids at Columbia have been cultified using Soros millions, and they honestly cant figure out why anybody could disagree with their internalized lies. This happens over and over again in history, and its how you change normal teenagers into mobsters. How did the American media, which used to be run by normal people, turn into a Stalinist machine? Forty years after the Soviet Union collapsed? Its not as if anybody in 1989 was rationally convinced that race or sex Marxism was the wave of the future. Talk to Poles or even Russians today, and you dont find many Hamas fans. Theyve been there and done that, and they dont even like George Soros. So what happened? Some good historian (if there are any left) has to look into this twist of history. When Nazi Germany fell after WWII, the world did not decide to follow the Hitler model. And yet, two generations after the Cold War, a new racist, genderist, and sex-obsessed faith has spread through the West, with women acting oppressed, gays and lesbians also becoming victims, and even children, the most vulnerable among us, getting recruited into the new faith of sexualized victimhoood for all, no matter how young or clueless. About ten years ago, Tucker Carlson helped to expose a radical propaganda internet list called JournoList, a secret Google group of media influencers who made up the headlines for the next days news, in places like the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the U.K. Guardian. Wikipedia tells us, JournoList (sometimes referred to as the J-List) was a private Google Groups forum for discussing politics and the news media with 400 left-leaning journalists, academics and others. Ezra Klein created the online forum in February 2007 while blogging at The American Prospect and shut it down on June 25, 2010 amid wider public exposure. Journalists later pointed out various off-color statements made by members of the list denigrating conservatives. That was an actual conspiracy to centralize the U.S. media. Chances are that it is still living in some secret Google group today, because the mainstream media are still singing from the same hymnal. But how does the Biden Gang control the propaganda gang? Our friends at The Conservative Treehouse propose an answer. TCT reports that Biden has a small cult called the beach group running lawfare campaigns around the country to undermine everything Americans believe in. Maybe ordinary Americans can pull a little lawfare on these thugs? If Trump wins, I want him to start revengefare the opposite of lawfare, and well deserved. Image via Pixnio. The Alba Party MSP whose vote could be crucial to Humza Yousafs future says it is time to build relationships but the price of her support will be higher as the First Minister dithers. Ash Regan has not yet confirmed how she will vote in the looming motions of no confidence at Holyrood, expected to take place in the coming week. The SNP leader has written to the other parties in an attempt to build bridges and establish how they can work with his minority government, inviting the other leaders to meetings at his official residence. Mr Yousaf terminated the powersharing deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens on Thursday, leading the smaller pro-independence party to announce they would back the motion of no confidence in his leadership. Humza Yousaf faces votes of no confidence (Andrew Milligan/PA) The tight parliamentary arithmetic at the Scottish Parliament, where the SNP have 63 out of 128 voting MSPs, means Ms Regans support may be needed to get Mr Yousaf over the line. Mr Yousafs spokesperson has dismissed as fantasy the idea the First Minister would agree an electoral pact with the Alba Party to gain its support ahead of the no-confidence votes. Ms Regan, who defected from the SNP to Alex Salmonds Alba Party last year, wrote a column in the Sunday Mail saying it is time to build relationships. She said: I could be holding the vote that decides his future but I will only use it in the way that will be best for Scotland. Many would like to see an end to Humzas chaotic leadership and doubts remain whether he has the political skills required to run a minority government. The Green Partys malign influence over these last three years damaged confidence and I welcome their consignment to the back benches. But, if Humza is ousted, he may be replaced by a less able leader who will go back into power with the Greens. As Humza dithers and the demands for him to go become deafening, the higher my price will be to support him. She added: His rhetoric of fighting is not required just now; it is a time for building relationships and negotiating what is best for Scotland. Ash Regan defected from the SNP to Alba (Jane Barlow/PA) Whatever my decision, I take this responsibility seriously. Mr Yousaf also wrote a column for the Sunday Mail, saying he expected his party would continue to work with the Greens on an issue-by-issue basis. He said: But there is now a challenge to all parties to be more constructive. The priorities and commitments I set out when I became First Minister are unchanged. What has changed is the way in which I believe I can best ensure those commitments can be realised. The SNP have a vision for a better Scotland and we will work with whoever is willing to help us achieve it. Scotlands former first minister Alex Salmond said a top 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. Alex Salmond suggested an electoral pact (Paul Campbell/PA) A spokesperson for Mr Yousaf dismissed the idea, saying: This is fantasy. There is no possibility of the First Minister agreeing any deal like this with Alex Salmond. The First Minister 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. 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: 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. The Scottish Greens said they would respond formally to the First Minister in due course, but otherwise their position is unchanged. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is confident in-form striker Alexander Isak is an even better player now than the one he signed. Eyebrows were raised when the Magpies paid a club record 63million for the then 22-year-old Sweden international to Real Sociedad, for whom he had scored just six league goals in his final season, in August 2022. Isak, now 24, took his tally for the current campaign to 23, 19 of them in the Premier League, with a double in Saturdays 5-1 victory over Sheffield United as he scored in a seventh successive game at St James Park to leave Howe purring over money well spent. Asked if the former AIK Solna and Borussia Dortmund frontman had improved since his arrival on Tyneside, the head coach said: Without a doubt. For me, Alex is now a much better player. Newcastles Alexander Isak (left) celebrates scoring his first goal against Sheffield United (Owen Humphreys/PA) We signed a very, very good player, an outstanding individual, but I think just naturally from playing in the Premier League, you improve a lot. The league is so demanding. Physically, its tough and I think Alex would openly admit that. The league is tough for a striker youve got to lead the line and especially with how we play and what we ask our players to do, its not easy. You can see the effort he has to put in week in, week out. But I have to say that his all-round game has developed lots of different facets that he didnt have. The biggest thing, though, is that I think hes confident in front of goal. Youve got to remember he came from us having scored six goals in LaLiga. That confidence needed to come and it gradually did as he started scoring regularly. Now hes probably in the best moment of his career, that would be my assessment. He looks in a really good place and Im enjoying watching him play. Isaks contribution against the Blades, who were relegated as a result of their defeat, was key as Newcastle recovered from a shambolic start in which they fell behind to Anel Ahmedhodzics fifth-minute header and were fortunate not to slip further adrift as Cameron Archer and Ben Brereton Diaz made life intensely uncomfortable. In the event, the Swedes expert run and finish from Jacob Murphys perfectly-weighted pass ensured they were level at the break, after which it was a different story as Bruno Guimaraes, Isak from the spot and substitute Callum Wilson who went joint-second in the clubs Premier League scoring stakes on 46 with Peter Beardsley as a result struck either side of Ben Osborns own goal to seal victory. Newcastle are braced for interest in their star striker this summer, but in the meantime, Howe wants more of the same to aid an ongoing push for Europe. He said: I think weve set a good foundation for him. But of course the challenge never stops for him. Now its to continue to score goals. We need him to keep doing it, which at this level is very difficult. Irish premier Simon Harris has said Ireland will not provide a loophole for anybody elses migration challenges, while the UK Government rejected the Republics bid to return asylum seekers in a deepening of the diplomatic spat. Mr Harris was speaking after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said claims that the UKs Rwanda plan is causing an increase in migration to Ireland shows its deterrent effect is working. The Irish Government has said there has been a shift in migration patterns into Ireland in recent months and the number of migrants crossing from Northern Ireland is now higher than 80%. Legislation is to be introduced next week in response to an Irish High Court ruling that Irelands designation of the UK as a safe third country for returning asylum seekers, in the context of the Rwanda plan, is contrary to EU law. The UKs Rwanda plan aims to send asylum seekers to the east African nation to deter others from crossing the English Channel on small boats. Labours shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said new data indicates Mr Sunaks plan is not working. Newly released Home Office figures show more than 7,000 people arrived by small boats before the end of April. This is the blunt reality behind all of Rishi Sunaks empty boasts; more people have arrived by small boats so far this year than ever before and more people are having to be rescued, Mr Kinnock said. What will it take for Rishi Sunak to wake up and realise that his plan is not working? Justice Minister Helen McEntee will meet James Cleverly to discuss migration on Monday (Liam McBurney/PA) Asked on Sunday whether the increase in asylum seekers travelling from the UK to Ireland suggested the Rwanda policy was working, Mr Harris said: Im not going to comment on whether the British migration policy is working, thats a matter for him (Mr Sunak) to put to the British people. Every country is entitled to have its own migration policy, but I certainly dont intend to allow anybody elses migration policy to affect the integrity of our own one. This country will not in any way, shape or form provide a loophole for anybody elses migration challenges. Thats very clear. Other countries can decide how they wish to advance migration. From an Irish perspective, we intend to have a firm rules-based system where rules are in place, where rules are in force, where rules are seen to be enforced. It is a statement of fact that there was a returns agreement in place between Ireland and Britain, and there was a High Court decision in the month of March in relation to that. My colleague, the Minister for Justice, will now bring forward legislative proposals to Cabinet on Tuesday that will seek to put in place a new returns policy. Were going to await the full details of that but its one which will effectively allow, again, people to be returned to the United Kingdom. And I think thats quite appropriate. It was always the intention. But the UK Government rejected any bid by Ireland to return asylum seekers unless France agrees to do the same. A Government source said: We wont accept any asylum returns from the EU via Ireland until the EU accepts that we can send them back to France. We are fully focused on operationalising our Rwanda scheme and will continue working with the French to stop the boats from crossing the Channel. Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee had been due to meet Home Secretary James Cleverly on Monday, but a note was sent out late on Sunday to say the meeting had been postponed. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill called for a thought-out response between the British and Irish governments. The Sinn Fein vice president said Mr Harris, Ms McEntee and Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin had not been in contact with her about planned legislation on asylum seekers arriving in Ireland from the UK. I am the First Minister in the north and I have yet to hear from the Taoiseach or the Tanaiste or the Justice Minister, she said in Dublin on Sunday morning. To me, that highlights, maybe even underlines, how disorganised they are in dealing with this issue. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (Niall Carson/PA) Policy responsibility for migration and immigration sits with the British Government. Im aware that Helen McEntee is to meet James Cleverly over the course of the next 24 to 36 hours. Theres also a British-Irish intergovernmental conference this week this is the forum in which these issues need to be addressed. This is the forum in which there should be a solution coming out the other end, but a thought-out solution, an actually considered solution, a human rights-compliant solution, and we look forward to (that) over the next couple of days. Ms ONeill was speaking at a launch of the partys local, European and Limerick mayoral election campaign in Dublin. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who was also at the event, said cross-border migration means Ireland should reject a newly revealed overhaul of EU laws on migration and asylum. I think the turn of events and the specific set of circumstances that we have to deal with on the island of Ireland actually argue against signing up to the EU migration pact lock, stock and barrel. Unlike other European jurisdictions, we have to deal with our next-door neighbour of Britain and we have to have the flexibility and the capacity to manage that. Blinken is due to arrive in Riyadh on Monday. Photograph: Tatan Syuflana/AP Antony Blinken will travel to Saudi Arabia to try to restart fraught ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, as a delegation from Hamas, expected in Cairo in parallel to the US secretary of states visit, said they would provide a response to an Israeli proposal focused on an initial hostage release. Pressure on international mediators has mounted to secure a swift deal, amid fears of a looming Israeli ground invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza, where over a million people are now believed to be sheltering. The move risks sounding the death knell on talks to free hostages or find a diplomatic solution to end the conflict. Joe Biden spoke again with Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday and reiterated his clear position opposing an Israeli invasion of Rafah, the White House said. Meanwhile, the food aid organisation World Central Kitchen (WCK) said it would resume operations in Gaza less than a month after an Israeli attack killed seven of its workers, saying it was keen to get as much food into Gaza, including northern Gaza, as possible. WCK said 276 trucks were waiting to enter via the Rafah crossing, adding it was exploring using a maritime corridor to deliver aid amid reports that the US military had begun construction of a floating pier off the coast of the territory. Blinken is due to arrive in Riyadh on Monday for diplomatic talks on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, to discuss ceasefire negotiations and humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Egyptian officials have stepped up their own efforts to mediate talks between Hamas and Israel, after a new proposal that would initially see a small number of hostages held in Gaza released in exchange for Palestinians in the territory to be able to return to their homes. An Egyptian official told Associated Press that mediators were working on a compromise solution to answer both parties main concerns, intended to set the stage for further negotiations to end the war entirely. The US news site Axios said Israeli officials were open to discussing the return of Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from a central corridor that divides the territory. Discussions around a sustainable ceasefire could take place in a second phase of negotiations, after an initial hostage release, it added. Hamas took 250 people hostage on 7 October, when the group attacked towns and kibbutzim around Gaza in an unprecedented attack that killed 1,136. In the months since, Israeli bombardments of Gaza have killed an estimated 34,000 people and levelled most urban centres. Intense negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt led to the release of 105 hostages in an initial deal last November. In the months since, Hamas said it was unwilling to compromise on the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire. As Egypt stepped up mediation efforts, Majed al-Ansari, the Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson and adviser to the prime minister, gave a rare interview to the Israeli media outlet Haaretz discussing Dohas continuing frustrations with the negotiations, indicating the chance of a swift deal could be remote. We were hoping to see more commitment and more seriousness on both sides, he said. We are, with the help of our international partners, hoping that we can pressure both sides to an agreement, but right now we are seeing from both sides a lot of lack of commitment to the process itself and to the mediation. In Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, chaired a meeting with his counterparts from Jordan and Egypt as well as diplomats from Qatar, the UAE and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza and efforts to achieve an independent Palestinian state. The president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, warned in an address at the World Economic Forum that ground troops entering Rafah could cause mass displacement and the biggest catastrophe in the Palestinian peoples history. We call on the United States of America to ask Israel to not carry on the Rafah attack, he said. America is the only country able to prevent Israel from committing this crime. Related: Is there about to be a breakthrough in the Gaza ceasefire talks? The Israel Defense Forces said its chief of staff, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, had approved plans for the continuation of the war in a meeting with the head of the IDFs southern command, while Israeli ministers issued competing demands of the prime minister, Netanyahu, over a potential ceasefire deal. Benny Gantz, a leading official in Netanyahus war cabinet, said the government will have no right to continue to exist and lead the campaign if it did not agree to a deal that could see the return of the hostages. He added that the deal should be responsible and supported by the Israeli security services, but should not involve ending the war. Israels far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, issued a counter message to Netanyahu, calling the potential Egyptian ceasefire deal humiliating surrender. Smotrich warned Netanyahu that declining to attack Rafah risked his withdrawal from the governing coalition, and the collapse of the government. If you decide to raise a white flag and cancel the order to occupy Rafah immediately the government headed by you will have no right to exist, he said. Associated Press contributed to this report Republican Mark Robinson (left) and Democrat Josh Stein are running for governor of North Carolina. Composite: Getty/Reuters In front of a conservative talkshow host two weeks ago, Mark Robinson, North Carolinas Republican candidate for governor, was grousing a bit about being snubbed by the states Democratic governor on a matter of race. He talks a lot about diversity, equity and inclusion, but apparently the line for diversity, equity and inclusion stops at the Republican party, Robinson told Lockwood Phillips. Roy Cooper has had several chances to congratulate me on the accomplishment of being the first Black lieutenant governor, and he has never taken it. Related: A physician, a lawyer, a CEO: the 84 fake electors who allegedly tried to steal the 2020 election Phillips, who is white, chuckled, then re-introduced Robinson to the audience, who by the way is African American, Black, whatever. But, frankly, you dont wear that. You really do not wear that in our entire conversation. For a conservative speaking to a Black candidate, this is a compliment. For others, it is a jarring illustration of Robinsons comfort with accommodating the racial anxieties of white Republicans and with the problematic and at times inflammatory rhetoric of the far right. But sitting for interviews and being perceived at all as a Black candidate is a different universe compared to the relative obscurity of Robinsons life six years ago, before a viral video created his fateful star turn into the conservative cosmos. The former factory worker is now a national name, and drawing national attention, for his flame-throwing slurs against the LGBTQ+ community, antisemitic remarks and derision of other Black people. The same people who support Robinson are the people who support Trump, said Shelly Willingham, a Black state legislator from Rocky Mount. Its a cult. Its not necessarily citizens supporting a candidate but following a cult leader. *** Robinsons political career began in an inspired four-minute flash in 2018 in front of the Greensboro city council, as he argued against the citys effort to cancel a gun show in the wake of the Stoneman Douglas high school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Ive heard a whole lot of people in here talking tonight about this group, that group, domestic violence, Blacks, these minorities, that minority. What I want to know is, when are you going to start standing up for the majority? Heres who the majority is. Im the majority. Im a law-abiding citizen and Ive never shot anybody, he said. Robinson, now 55, invoked images of gang members terrorizing people who have given up their weapons under gun-control laws. He said he was there to raise hell just like these loonies on the left do. Im here to raise hell just like these loonies on the left do Mark Robinson The speech became a social media hit after being shared by Mark Walker, the former North Carolina representative. Robinson drew the attention of the NRA, which was under fire for its callous response to the Parkland shooting and looking for champions. Born into poverty and working in a furniture factory while attending college, Robinson quit his job and dropped out of school to begin speaking at conservative events. (Robinson, if he wins, would be the first North Carolina governor without a college degree elected since 1937.) Robinson beat a host of competitors for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 2020, winning about a third of the primary vote. He faced the state representative Yvonne Holley, an African American Democrat from Raleigh. Holleys campaign focused on North Carolinas urban territory while largely ignoring rural areas of the state, while Robinson barnstormed through each of the states 100 counties. He won narrowly but outperformed Trumps margin over Biden by about 100,000 votes. At a rally in Greensboro in March before the states primary election this year, Trump endorsed Robinson, referring to Robinson as Martin Luther King on steroids. But try to imagine King saying something like: Racism is a tool used by the evil, to build up the ignorant, to try and tear down the strong, as Robinson wrote in 2017. That sentiment helps explain his initial appeal to white conservatives in a political moment in which rolling back racial justice initiatives has become central to the Republican brand. The right had found the face of a man who could not be easily accused of bigotry, at least not until people began to pay attention to what he said. He should not be governor of North Carolina or any other place, said Shirl Mason, who was attending a Black fraternity invocation and scholarship ceremony by Omega Psi Phi for her grandson in Rocky Mount. Her nose wrinkled and her posture shifted at the thought, as she fought for composure in a way people conversant in the manners of church folks would recognize. He really should not be a politician. Anybody who can say that race did not play a part in the political arena, they should not be in politics at all, Mason said. Like Trump, Robinson has a litany of provocative outrages in speeches and on social media that have been resurfacing, from referring to school shooting survivors advocating for gun control reforms as prosti-tots and spoiled little bastards, to describing gay and transgender people as filth. Robinson has shared conspiracist comments about the moon landing and 9/11. He has attacked the idea of women in positions of leadership. His swipes at Black culture and public figures are talk-radio fodder, describing Barack Obama as a worthless anti-American atheist and suggesting Michelle Obama is a man. Half of black Democrats dont realize they are slaves and dont know who their masters are. The other half dont care, he wrote in one Facebook post. He described the movie Black Panther in another as the product of an agnostic Jew and put to film by satanic marxist, and wrote: How can this trash, that was only created to pull the shekels out of your schvartze pockets, invoke any pride?, using a derogatory Yiddish word to refer to Black people. The antisemitism of that comment is not singular. He has repeated common antisemitic tropes about Jewish banking, posted Hitler quotes on Facebook and suggested the Holocaust was a hoax. There is a REASON the liberal media fills the airwaves with programs about the NAZI and the 6 million Jews they murdered, wrote Robinson, with scare quotes around the figure. Robinsons campaign has pushed back on accusations of antisemitism, citing his support for Israel and criticism of protests against the war in Gaza. But his past comments are likely to be revisited throughout the campaign in no small part because his opponent, Josh Stein, could be the first Jewish governor of North Carolina. The two present a sharp contrast in policy, temperament and experience. After graduating from both Harvard Law and the Harvard Kennedy school of government, Stein managed John Edwards successful Senate campaign. Stein then served in the statehouse before winning the attorney generals race in 2016, becoming the first Jewish person elected to statewide office in North Carolina. Stein, 57, is running as a conventional center-left Democrat. At a stump speech in pastoral Scotland county near the South Carolina line, Stein focused on fighting the opioid-addiction epidemic, the states backlog of untested rape kits, clean drinking water and early childhood education. But he had some words about Robinsons rhetoric. The voters of North Carolina have an unbelievably stark choice before them this November, between two competing visions, Stein said in an interview. Mine is forward and its inclusive. Its about tapping the potential of every person so that they have a chance to succeed where we have a thriving economy, safe neighborhoods, strong schools. My opponents vision is divisive and hateful, and would be job-killing. I mean, he mocks school-shooting survivors. He questions the Holocaust. He wants to defund public education. He wants to completely ban abortion. And he speaks in a way that, frankly, is unfitting of any person, let alone a statewide elected leader. Is Robinson an antisemite? There are certainly people who are Jewish who feel that he does not like them, Stein replied. He says vile things. He agreed that Jews were one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Its unfathomable to me that someone would hold those beliefs and then feel comfortable saying them out loud. *** North Carolina has a relationship with bilious conservatives; this is the state that produced Jesse Helms and Madison Cawthorn. But voters here have a temperamentally moderate streak and a long history of split-ticket voting that also produces the occasional John Edwards or Roy Cooper. In six of the last eight general elections, voters here chose a Democratic governor and a Republican president. Though every lieutenant governor in the last 60 years has run for governor, only three of 11 have won, each a Democrat. The last two attorneys general of North Carolina also have subsequently been elected governor, also both Democrats. But the margins are always maddeningly close. Stein won his first race for attorney general in 2016 a Trump year by about 25,000 votes. He won re-election four years later by about half that margin. He mocks school-shooting survivors. He questions the Holocaust. He wants to completely ban abortion Josh Stein, on Mark Robinson Cooper, a Democratic moderate, has been a political fixture in North Carolina politics for a generation, and has been able to fend off some of the more radical impulses of Republicans over the years with a combination of veto power and moral suasion. But while Democrats hold the North Carolina governors mansion today, Republicans achieved a veto-proof majority in both legislative chambers in 2022 after Tricia Cotham, the newly elected state representative, switched parties shortly after winning an otherwise safely Democratic seat. Since that political shock, Coopers vetoes have been routinely overcome by a Republican supermajority. North Carolinas political maps are also notoriously gerrymandered manipulated in favor of Republicans but winning two-thirds of house seats in the legislature is an open question in a year where abortion rights are emerging as a driving political issue. As of 1 May, North Carolina will be the only southern state remaining where an abortion can be obtained after six weeks of pregnancy. Given the stakes, Steins campaign hopes to avoid the pratfall of tradecraft that led to Robinsons victory in the lieutenant governors race four years ago. For the moment, the tables have turned on the campaign trail in their favor. In one of Robinsons three bankruptcy filings, reporters discovered that he had failed to file income taxes between 1998 and 2002. Questions have been raised about personal expenses charged to campaign funds from the 2020 race. His wife shuttered a nutrition non-profit after a conservative blogger began to raise questions about the Robinson familys financial dependence on government contracts. Reporters later learned that the North Carolina department of health and human services is investigating the firm for questionable accounting. In the hothouse of abortion politics this year, video also surfaced of Robinson at a rally in February calling for an eventual ban on abortion. We got to do it the same way they rolled it forward, Robinson said. We got to do it the same way with rolling it back. Weve got it down to 12 weeks. The next goal is to get it down to six, and then just keep moving from there. His campaign spokesperson later re-characterized those remarks as support for a ban beyond the six-week heartbeat stage of a pregnancy. Robinson acknowledged in 2022 paying for an abortion for his wife 33 years earlier. The question is whether Robinsons full-throated anti-abortion stance hinders not just his own candidacy but that of Trump. Planned Parenthood plans to double its spending in North Carolina, to $10m, with an eye on defending the governorship and ending a veto-proof Republican legislative majority. Trump, meanwhile, has backed away from publicly endorsing the most extreme abortion bans. *** Down in the polls, Robinson has until this week apparently kept a light campaign schedule and stayed away from places where a reporter might pick up yet another unscripted comment. With the exception of an appearance at the Carteret County Speedway on 3 April and the radio interview on 9 April, there is scant evidence that Robinson has been campaigning at all since the March primary. A request to his campaign for a list of his recent campaign stops went unanswered, as did requests for an interview or comment for this story. Mark Robinson should not be governor of North Carolina or any other place Shirl Mason, North Carolina resident Stein, meanwhile, has been averaging a campaign stop every two days 22 events since the March primary showing up in small towns and rural counties across the state. Steins father founded North Carolinas first integrated law firm, and he spent many years in consumer protection and racial equity roles as a lawyer, a point he raises in rural Black communities. I think his coming here alone says that he understands that he needs rural communities in order to be successful, said Darrel BJ Gibson, vice-chair of the board of commissioners in Scotland county. And I say it because so many times we get left out of these gatherings, and state candidates dont understand that. The question for both Stein and Robinson is whether the bombast of Robinsons life as a self-described social media influencer will overshadow substantive policy discussions. When Phillips, the conservative talkshow host, asked Robinson in April about how his approach has changed over time, he described Robinson as more Trumpian than Trump. My message has not changed, Robinson replied. Now, I can tell you clearly that my methods have, because Ive switched buckets. Ive gone from social media influencer to advocate, to now elected official. But my heart is still in the same place. The philosopher Nick Bostrom, founder of the Future of Humanity Institute in Oxford. Photograph: Edo Brugue Two weeks ago it was quietly announced that the Future of Humanity Institute, the renowned multidisciplinary research centre in Oxford, no longer had a future. It shut down without warning on 16 April. Initially there was just a brief statement on its website stating it had closed and that its research may continue elsewhere within and outside the university. The institute, which was dedicated to studying existential risks to humanity, was founded in 2005 by the Swedish-born philosopher Nick Bostrom and quickly made a name for itself beyond academic circles particularly in Silicon Valley, where a number of tech billionaires sang its praises and provided financial support. Bostrom is perhaps best known for his bestselling 2014 book Superintelligence, which warned of the existential dangers of artificial intelligence, but he also gained widespread recognition for his 2003 academic paper Are You Living in a Computer Simulation?. The paper argued that over time humans were likely to develop the ability to make simulations that were indistinguishable from reality, and if this was the case, it was possible that it had already happened and that we are the simulations. I interviewed Bostrom more than a decade ago, and he possessed one of those elusive, rather abstract personalities that perhaps lend credence to the simulation theory. With his pale complexion and reputation for working through the night, he looked like the kind of guy who didnt get out much. The institute seems to have recognised this social shortcoming in its final report, a long epitaph written by FHI research fellow Anders Sandberg, which stated: We did not invest enough in university politics and sociality to form a long-term stable relationship with our faculty When epistemic and communicative practices diverge too much, misunderstandings proliferate. Like Sandberg, Bostrom has advocated transhumanism, the belief in using advanced technologies to enhance longevity and cognition, and is said to have signed up for cryogenic preservation. Although proudly provocative on the page, he was wary and defensive in person, as if he were privy to an earth-shattering truth that required vigilant protection. His office, located in a medieval backstreet, was a typically cramped Oxford affair, and it would have been easy to dismiss the institute as a whimsical undertaking, an eccentric, if laudable, field of study for those, like Bostrom, with a penchant for science fiction. But even a decade ago, when I paid my visit, the FHI was already on its way to becoming the billionaire tech bros favourite research group. In 2018 it received 13.3m from the Open Philanthropy Project, a non-profit organisation backed by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz. And Elon Musk has also been a benefactor. Bostroms warnings on AI were taken seriously by big tech. But as competition has heated up in the race to create a general artificial intelligence, ethics have tended to take a back-seat. Among the other ideas and movements that have emerged from the FHI are longtermism the notion that humanity should prioritise the needs of the distant future because it theoretically contains hugely more lives than the present and effective altruism (EA), a utilitarian approach to maximising global good. These philosophies, which have intermarried, inspired something of a cult-like following, which may have alienated many in the wider philosophy community in Oxford, and indeed among the universitys administrators. According to the FHI itself, its closure was a result of growing administrative tensions with Oxfords faculty of philosophy. Starting in 2020, the Faculty imposed a freeze on fundraising and hiring. In late 2023, the Faculty of Philosophy decided that the contracts of the remaining FHI staff would not be renewed, the final report stated. Torres has come to believe the work of the FHI and its offshoots amounts to a noxious ideology and eugenics on steroids But both Bostrom and the institute, which brought together philosophers, computer scientists, mathematicians and economists, have been subject to a number of controversies in recent years. Fifteen months ago Bostrom was forced to issue an apology for comments hed made in a group email back in 1996, when he was a 23-year-old postgraduate student at the London School of Economics. In the retrieved message Bostrom used the N-word and argued that white people were more intelligent than black people. The apology did little to placate Bostroms critics, not least because he conspicuously failed to withdraw his central contention regarding race and intelligence, and seemed to make a partial defence of eugenics. Although, after an investigation, Oxford University did accept that Bostrom was not a racist, the whole episode left a stain on the institutes reputation at a time when issues of anti-racism and decolonisation have become critically important to many university departments. It was Emile Torres, a former adherent of longtermism who has become its most outspoken critic, who unearthed the 1996 email. Torres says that its their understanding that it was the last straw for the Oxford philosophy department. Torres has come to believe that the work of the FHI and its offshoots amounts to what they call a noxious ideology and eugenics on steroids. They refuse to see Bostroms 1996 comments as poorly worded juvenilia, but indicative of a brutal utilitarian view of humanity. Torres notes that six years after the email thread, Bostrom wrote a paper on existential risk that helped launch the longtermist movement, in which he discusses dysgenic pressures dysgenic is the opposite of eugenic. Bostrom wrote: Currently it seems that there is a negative correlation in some places between intellectual achievement and fertility. If such selection were to operate over a long period of time, we might evolve into a less brainy but more fertile species, homo philoprogenitus (lover of many offspring). Bankman-Frieds downfall has done little for the moral arguments put forward by the FHI and its associate groups Bostrom now says that he doesnt have any particular interest in the race question, and hes happy to leave it to others with more relevant knowledge. But the 28-year-old email is not the only issue that Oxford has had to consider. As Torres says, the effective altruism/longtermist movement has suffered a number of scandals since late 2022. Related: What if everybody decided not to have children? The philosopher questioning humanitys future Just a month before Bostroms incendiary comments came to light, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was extradited from the Bahamas to face charges in the US relating to a multibillion-dollar fraud. Bankman-Fried was a vocal and financial supporter of effective altruism and a close friend of William MacAskill, an academic who has strong links to the FHI and who set up the Centre for Effective Altruism, where Bankman-Fried worked briefly. It was MacAskill who was said to have persuaded Bankman-Fried a decade ago to seek to earn as much money as possible so that he could give it away. The entrepreneur seemed to follow the first part of that injunction, but then went on to spend $300m in fraudulently earned money on Bahamian real estate. His downfall and subsequent 25-year prison sentence have done little for the moral arguments put forward by the FHI and its associate groups. If that wasnt enough, the coup last November that briefly dislodged Sam Altman as the CEO of Open AI, the company behind ChatGPT, was attributed to company board members who were supporters of EA. Altmans speedy return was seen as a defeat for the EA community, and, says Torres, has seriously undermined the influence of EA/longtermism within Silicon Valley. All of this, of course, seems a long way from the not insubstantial matter of preserving humanity, which is the cause for which the FHI was ostensibly set up. No doubt that noble endeavour will find other academic avenues to explore, but perhaps without the cultish ideological framework that left the institute with a bright future behind it. Caitlyn Scott-Lee was found dead at her boarding school in April last year, a three-day inquest commences on Monday The father of a private school pupil who took her own life has said he is praying for forgiveness for all those involved on the eve of an inquest into her death. Jonathan Scott-Lees 16-year-old daughter Caitlyn, was found in the grounds of Wycombe Abbey, a 44,000-a-year boarding school in Buckinghamshire a year ago. Caitlyn, who was suffering from anxiety and depression and had autism, had been due to have a two-hour headmistresss detention, her first-ever punishment. A three-day inquest into her death will begin at Beaconsfield Coroners Court on Monday. Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Scott-Lee said: As Caitlyns inquest begins, my thoughts remain with Caitlyn, the Coroner, and the witnesses who will provide evidence over the next three days. This Sunday, I have been particularly praying for grace, forgiveness, and wisdom for all involved. Caitlyn had sought medical help before her death but the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre at the Oxford NHS Trust assessed her to be at low risk of suicide and offered an appointment in May. She died in April. Jonathan Scott-Lee wears a ring designed as a tribute to his daughter - CHLOE ELLINGSON Mr Scott-Lee, a banking technology executive at HSBC, has previously said that she had become hyper-fixated on the detention, imposed after vodka and a tattoo kit were found in her music locker just before the Easter holidays. Writing in The Sunday Times earlier this month, Mr Scott-Lee said it never occurred to him that Caitlyn was at risk of committing suicide at boarding school. He said it had become painfully clear that Caitlyn was truly literal, and she had confided in a friend, who alerted the school: I would rather kill myself than go to detention! Mr Scott-Lee has said he told Wycombe Abbey that he does not blame the school for his daughters death, but that it would be prudent to explore improvements. Responding to Caitlyns death, Wycombe Abbey said the school was deeply shocked at the loss of a bright and talented young woman with enormous promise who will never be forgotten here. The school offers access to in-house counsellors, a wellbeing centre and learning support staff to aid pupils. Last summer, Mr Scott-Lee opened Caitlyns GCSE results to learn she had achieved 10 GCSEs of grade 7 and above, including some top marks of 9. After opening the results, he said: I was grateful that Wycombe Abbey shared the concept of posthumous awards and, in time, her achievements will be a positive memory to cherish. For now, I would much rather be holding Caitlyn than a piece of paper with grades. Sadly, she isnt here to celebrate with us or her friends. She, herself, wanted to achieve the very best and did so. Im very proud of Caitlyn but, actually, nothing that she could ever do would make me love her any more nor less. Officials plan to hold refugees who turn up for routine meetings at immigration service offices. They will be transferred to detention centres. Photograph: Benjamin John/Alamy The Home Office will launch a major operation to detain asylum seekers across the UK on Monday, weeks earlier than expected, in preparation for their deportation to Rwanda, the Guardian can reveal. Officials plan to hold refugees who turn up for routine meetings at immigration service offices or bail appointments and will also pick people up nationwide in a surprise two-week exercise. Lawyers and campaigners said the detentions risked provoking protracted legal battles, community protests and clashes with police with officers in Scotland put on high alert. Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: The government is determined to recklessly pursue its inhumane Rwanda plan despite the cost, chaos and human misery it will unleash. We know it is likely to cause a catastrophic system meltdown. Detainees will be immediately transferred to detention centres, which have already been prepared for the operation, and held until they are put on planes to Rwanda. Some will be put on the first flight due to take off this summer. The Home Office said ratification of the prime ministers Safety of Rwanda Act meant the government is entering the final phase of operationalising this landmark policy to tackle illegal migration and stop the boats. Related: Interviews, a history lesson and football: what awaits people sent to Rwanda by UK? It added: At some stage inevitably this will include detaining people in preparation for the first flight, which is set to take off to Rwanda in 10 to 12 weeks. It would be inappropriate to comment further on operational activity. The start of the Home Offices detention operation, which had not been anticipated for weeks, coincides with Thursdays local council elections in England where the Tories face losing up to half the seats they currently hold. Rishi Sunak said on Sunday that cracking down on illegal migration was central to the Tory campaign. Police in Scotland have been put on alert because of the high risk of street protests and attempts by pro-refugee campaigners to stop detentions. Officers will not take part in the detentions but will take charge of crowd control and public order. A Police Scotland spokesperson referred the Guardian to the Home Office. Local communities in Scotland have twice prevented deportations by staging mass protests, on Kenmure Street in Glasgow in May 2021, and in Nicolson Square, Edinburgh, in June 2022. On both occasions, hundreds of people surrounded immigration enforcement vehicles to prevent asylum seekers being removed. During an interview in which he mentioned Rwanda and illegal migration 13 times, the prime minister said on Sunday that he was focused on stopping the boats, as well as his pledges on the economy. He told Sky Newss Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips of his determination to get that Rwanda scheme going. However, the latest official data, released on Sunday, showed the number of people arriving by small boats in the first four months of 2024 was the highest ever for that period, at 7,167 people, compared with 5,745 for the same period last year. The previous record for those four months was 6,691. Speaking on Monday before the Lords and Commons sat through the night to pass the safety of Rwanda (asylum and immigration) bill, Sunak said: To detain people while we prepare to remove them, weve increased detention spaces to 2,200. To quickly process claims, weve got 200 trained, dedicated caseworkers ready and waiting. To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary have made available 25 courtrooms and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days. Aamer Anwar, a Glasgow-based human rights lawyer who was directly involved in the Kenmure Street protests, said Police Scotland and the Scottish government had to be certain they believed this was lawful. He revealed he had been inundated with calls from activists after the Guardian first reported the Home Office move on Sunday morning. People are extremely angry and upset, and ready to mobilise, Anwar said, adding it would be extremely dangerous for Police Scotland to put itself in the middle of a deportation protest if people felt they were acting to protect deportation operations. I suspect in the coming days we will see an explosion of the spirit of Kenmure Street across the UK, opposing a policy that will lead to misery, self-harm and death, driving so many more into the arms of people smugglers, Anwar said. The fundamental question for the Scottish government as well as Police Scotland is whether they are willing to engage in this barbaric abuse of power against a desperate people. Solomon said the detention and removal operations were likely to persuade other refugees already in the UK to disappear, for fear of being deported. Even if a few thousand people are removed to Rwanda this year, there will be tens of thousands of refugees who have fled from countries like Afghanistan, Sudan and Syria, stranded in permanent limbo in the UK, likely to fall out of contact with services and face the risk of exploitation and abuse. This could be avoided if the government opted instead to operate a fair, effective and humane asylum system. The Labour MP Kim Johnson, who sits on the home affairs committee, said: Rishi Sunak and his government are determined to prove this scheme will work, when everyone apart from the Tories know it is an abject failure. Detaining desperate people who have been languishing in a state of uncertainty for far too long, and using them for political point-scoring, is amoral. It sums up this government, and thats why we need a general election ASAP, to get rid once and for all. This government is determined to kick the most vulnerable communities on the way out of the door in a desperate attempt to rebuild its credibility with the electorate. The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson, Alistair Carmichael, said the cruel political gimmick was the sound of the bottom of the barrel being scraped. He added: This is a grubby attempt by the Conservatives to distract from their appalling record a few days out from the local elections. The Rwanda scheme is immoral, unworkable and expensive for taxpayers. Sonya Sceats, the chief executive of Freedom from Torture, a charity that supports torture survivors, said the detentions and deportations would add to the trauma refugees had already experienced. News of this crackdown is sure to trigger mental health collapse in many men, women and children in the care of our therapists. Compassionate people up and down the country will be sickened by this performative cruelty designed to generate headlines and stoke fear among people fleeing torture and persecution. This is not who we are as a country. A Scottish government spokesperson said: We have been absolutely clear in our opposition to the Rwanda bill since it was introduced. The UK should be upholding the 1951 UN refugee convention and supporting people in need of protection, not undermining international protection. The UK government should focus on improving the UK asylum system, so that people are treated fairly and with dignity and respect throughout the process. UK government asylum policy and legislation has a significant impact on people living in our communities as well as on local authorities who play a critical role in supporting asylum seekers and refugees. Zoe Wanamaker, the schools vice-president, supports dropping the audition fees. Photograph: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images A key obstacle in the path of poorer aspiring actors is to be removed at one of the UKs leading drama schools, the Observer can reveal. The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, one of the countrys top drama schools, where Dame Judi Dench, Andrew Garfield, Riz Ahmed, Jason Isaacs, Cush Jumbo and Martin Freeman all learned their craft, is to scrap audition fees for prospective students in an effort to broaden its intake. None of us want drama schools to be the preserve of the well off. Ideally, they are places where people from all backgrounds can come together and learn from each other, said Freeman, a Central graduate and star of The Responder, Sherlock and The Office. Without my grant from Richmond council many years ago, I would never have been able to enjoy my three years at Central. That seems to have become harder and harder in recent years; who knows how many young actors are lost to us, due to lack of funds. I hope this inspires others to follow suit in trying to make attending drama school fairer for all. Centrals decision to get rid of all charges comes after many actors, including Dench, have bemoaned the prohibitive costs of attending multiple auditions and the lack of support for hopeful actors from working-class backgrounds. Each year, thousands of people apply for around 50 places on the acting course. Single audition fees were 40, although reductions were available. The principal of the school, Josette Bushell-Mingo, hopes to send a clear message that applicants from all backgrounds are welcome, she said this weekend. We must push back against a creeping narrative that says the arts are elitist, that they are only for a select few. It has never been more important to stand together, united, and say that everyone is welcome in our sector and in our institutions that the arts are vital and that they are for all of us. Actor Zoe Wanamaker CBE, vice-president at the school, adds that she believes it will pave the way for a more diverse industry: In these difficult times we must all unite to support and empower the next generation of theatre-makers and artists, she said. The drama school has also established a 20,000 travel grant to encourage prospective applicants to come to open days, and two other grants, totalling 30,000, towards travel costs for attending the final round of undergraduate acting auditions and other campus events. Central claims it wants to help shift the dial and change the landscape of arts accessibility. The moves come after a controversy four years ago when Centrals former principal, Prof Gavin Henderson, resigned after he had dismissed the idea of diversity quotas, saying: Quotas would reduce the quality of our student intake. While Central is the most prestigious drama school to drop audition fees, it is not the first. Five years ago Liverpool Theatre School scrapped its fee, while the Bristol Old Vic and Centrals London rival Rada now offer full fee waivers for some students. In 2018, the Labour party challenged all drama schools to end high audition fees. Time for something nice to eat: inside at the Medlock Canteen, Manchester. Photograph: Shaw & Shaw/The Observer Medlock Canteen, 5 Owen Street, Manchester M15 4YB (0161 723 3394). Starters 4-13, mains 10-45, desserts 8-12, wines (500ml) from 18 Towards the bottom of the main course options at Medlock Canteen in Manchester is a dish that reads staff dinner (limited availability). It costs 10. I ask our waiter what it is. Exactly what it sounds like, Tom says, cheerily. The staff food is so much better here than Im used to. Usually, its chicken nuggets. Not here. Today it was a pea risotto. Weve had leek and bacon pie, and a cottage pie. Its great. They just happen to make enough to sell a few portions to the punters, too, though today theyve already run out. No worries. There are other things worth ordering. There is something thoroughly come-one-come-all about the Medlocks morning-noon-night proposition It is a quiet and sweet way by which to make a statement. A lot of restaurants have abused the language of egalitarianism over the years, to signpost that they are democratising the whole socially stratified business of eating out, when their gilded ambitions and appetites are very much elsewhere. Marco Pierre Whites second restaurant was a place called the Canteen, when it was nothing of the sort. It opened in the 90s and was co-owned by Michael Caine, because the god of British film stars wanted somewhere to eat. It won a Michelin star for a humble menu of oysters with champagne sabayon and escalope of seabass with a parsley crust. Likewise, the equally starred River Cafe is many delightful things, but a caff it is not. The Medlock Canteen, named after the river overlooked by the Deansgate Square development of which it is a part, is also not a greasy spoon. But there really is something thoroughly come-one-come-all about its morning-noon-night proposition. Its there in the tea towels for napkins and the wipe-clean tables, the concrete shell of a room with its midcentury modern wood cladding and the furniture. The room has a smart, utilitarian look, aided by the light green floor, the colour of chocolate lime sweets, which hints gently at the institutional. The oxblood leather banquettes remind me of the cherished 12-hole DMs I wore when I was a flat-footed youth. Mostly, though, it lies in the menu. You can come here for beans on toast and a bottomless batch brew first thing. You can stay for a steak sandwich or something bigger from the rotisserie. What you will not get are gimmicks or spins or, God help us, twists. Nothing is twisted. Nothing is spun. Theres nothing intrinsically special about the offering at the Medlock Canteen and thats what makes it so special. What you read on the menu is exactly what you get: a set of appealing, familiar dishes that are the best versions of themselves. Its a departure for chef Sam Grainger. At Belzan and Madre in Liverpool, he offers complexity and whizz-bangery. His team in the kitchen here worked previously at Manteca in London, doing bold and radical things to Roman classics. Now they are proving that, while restless flights of imagination can be great, simple, good taste and technique can be better. We have perfectly made duck rillettes with a heap of pickled vegetables heavy with tarragon, alongside a well-oiled slab of sourdough toast. There are fat, salty anchovies to be coiled on to bread and potato croquettes, at 3 each, perched on a dollop of truffled mayo, showered with nutty Alpine cheese and sprinkled with chives. We move on to half a rotisserie chicken for 14 and it is everything those words promise and dont always deliver. No special rubs or sauces. Just roast chicken, rested long enough for the meat to start shrugging itself off the bones. The skin is crisp and salty. But what makes it is what they call chicken jus and what Im going to call gravy, what with this being Manchester and all. It is dark and sticky and deeply savoury. It is tip-the-platter-and-spoon-it-away good. It is sipping gravy, which is the best kind of gravy. Even if you dont order any chicken, order that and pour it over everything. Pour it over a friend. Theres a charcoal-grilled fish of the day, which this evening is a whole lemon sole for 24. Its a seriously skilled piece of fish grilling. The lightly gelatinous skin on the darker side, where the thicker fillets are, has been gently grilled so the pearlescent flesh comes away easily. The white side has been given a spanking from the flames and is dark and blistered. We have a pot of salsa verde to go with it, which is salty and sharp and the perfect foil to the fish. Alongside, there is a pillow of mash flavoured with beurre noisette, and carrots glazed with honey and grain mustard, a burst of Christmas amid the whisper of spring. The sides also include fried eggs served all day. For all your fried egg needs. A rhubarb pie arrives hot from the deep fryer, crusted with rhubarb-flavoured sugar. It floats in the middle of a thick, frothy marsh of custard. It is a school dinner pudding, raised to a place of glory and wonder. You could easily get yourself through double maths thinking it. Theres a pistachio frangipane tart, deep-filled and with a crisp surface that gives way to squidgy depths. On the side is a dollop of granny smith puree. Across the top is a white quilt of creme fraiche. It is balanced and very satisfying. Medlock describes itself as a cross between a French bistro and an American diner. The references are smart. Take a seat at the counter and, in the falling light of a Manchester dusk, you could easily form a tableau that the painter Edward Hopper, the chronicler of the diner, would recognise. Or head to the entirely French wine list, with a strong offering by the 500ml carafe, and you could act out the Parisian part with a glass of sauvignon from Bordeaux. Manchester has been in the grip of a building boom for a while now, which has divided local opinion. The way the priapic tower blocks pierce the cloud-quilted skies encourages questions about what exactly these property moguls are compensating for. Sharp, modern complexes like this arent exactly warm and inviting. The space occupied by Medlock Canteen is so over-engineered that, unless you put your back into it, you might find pulling open the huge glass door tricky. Often staff scuttled forwards to finish the job for baffled customers. Rest assured, even if the area doesnt feel finished, even if it lacks anything approaching human scale, there is at least the thoroughly humane embrace of the Medlock Canteen. News bites Birmingham-based chef Brad Carter, who closed his flagship restaurant Carters of Moseley last year with plans to relocate into central Birmingham, has announced a new project. This summer he is opening Undercroft, a restaurant in the crypt of Saint Georges, a church in Londons Mayfair. Dishes will include wild garlic chicken toast to start, followed by Tamworth pork with creamed snails and BBQ aged duck. Meanwhile, the rest of his team are running a venture inside 103 Colmore Row, a private members club in Birmingham. It has become a tradition that this column announces the start each year of the Streetsmart campaign which, in the run-up to Christmas, raises funds to tackle homelessness across the UK by putting a voluntary 1 levy on the bill of every table at hundreds of participating restaurants. Its delightful to report that for the first time in its 25-year history the most recent campaign raised more than 1m. It is, of course, also depressing that such a campaign is needed at all. Visit streetsmart.org.uk. Early tickets have gone on sale for the Dorset Seafood Festival, which takes place this year across the weekend of 7 and 8 September on the Weymouth Peninsula. The event will raise funds for the Fishermens Mission and will include a mixture of food stalls, chefs demos and hands-on cooking workshops. At dorsetseafood.co.uk. Email Jay at jay.rayner@observer.co.uk or follow him on X @jayrayner1 A man is surrounded by tornado damage after severe storms moved through the night before in Sulphur, Oklahoma, on 28 April 2024. Photograph: Bryan Terry/AP At least four people, including a baby, were killed after a series of tornadoes struck Oklahoma on Saturday, amid a weekend of extreme weather that left dozens injured and a trail of destruction across the midwest. Local authorities confirmed that a four-month-old infant was among the two people dead in Holdenville one of the hardest hit towns in Oklahoma, located 80 miles south-east of Oklahoma City where about 20 tornadoes hit late Saturday, leveling buildings and ripping off roofs. The victims have not been named, but at least four others were injured as the tornado left a path of devastation through the town of around 6,000 people. A third death occurred near Marietta on Interstate 35 (I-35) which was closed on Sunday at the border with Texas due to overturned vehicles and power lines across the highway, according to the Oklahoma office of emergency management. The body of a woman, the fourth known victim, was recovered from the debris near a bar in downtown Sulphur, said governor Kevin Stitt, who has issued a state of emergency for 12 Oklahoma counties. Search and rescue efforts continued through Sunday as emergency services responded to extensive damage caused by the hail, high winds and flooding. Meteroligists consider tornadoes among the most violent and destructive phenomena of all atmospheric storms, resulting in billions of dollars of damage each year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground. Wind is invisible, making it hard to see a tornado unless water droplets, dust and debris form a condensation funnel. By Sunday afternoon, around 25,000 Oklahoma customers (residential and commercial) and almost 30,000 in Texas were without electricity, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks electric utility outages More than 100 tornadoes are reported to have struck since Friday. The weekend flurry started in Lincoln, Nebraska, where hundreds of homes and structures were destroyed and damaged by tornados close to Omaha, which was followed by heavy rain and winds on Saturday. Several dozen people required hospital treatment for mild to moderate injuries but no deaths were reported, according to Omaha health officials. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a tornado warning for several counties in Texas on Sunday, and said there was an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms through Sunday evening across parts of east Texas, north-west Louisiana and south-west Arkansas. 11:27am CDT #SPC Day1 Outlook Enhanced Risk: this afternoon and evening across parts of east Texas, northwest Louisiana, and southwest Arkansas. https://t.co/TgJgC6cQZw pic.twitter.com/vjKjeYDpLY NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) April 28, 2024 Flood and storm alerts also remain in effect for millions of people across parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Texas. Peak tornado season depends on the region beginning on the Gulf coast in the cooler spring months, before shifting toward the southern and central plains in May and June, and the northern plains and midwest during early summer, according to Noaa. However, tornadoes have been reported in all fifty states and can happen at any time of the year. Most tornadoes occur between 4 and 9pm. About 1,200 tornadoes hit the US each year, but changes in records and reporting make long-term changes in trends hard to track. The climate increase may be impacting the location of tornadoes. Studies have shown an increase in tornadoes in parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky the Dixie valley and a slight decline in the Great Plains, known by some as tornado valley. Special police officers walk past destroyed buildings and debris during the evacuation of local residents from the village of Ocheretyne on 15 April. Photograph: Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty Images Russia has consolidated recent battlefield gains in the east of Ukraine, and is attempting to break through Ukrainian defensive lines before a long-awaited package of US military assistance arrives at the frontline. On Sunday Russian troops advanced near the city of Avdiivka. They seized two villages and expanded a narrow corridor around the rural settlement of Ocheretyne, which the Russians entered a week ago. Ukrainian security officials described the situation in the Donbas region where Russia is attacking on multiple fronts as very difficult. It was not critical or catastrophic, they added. The fighting in Ocheretyne followed a surprise Russian attack. The manoeuvre enabled Russian combat units to bypass a network of Ukrainian trenches and to establish a salient. They have since overrun neighbouring hamlets Solovyove and Novokalynove and are attempting to push farther west. Ukraines eastern command said its forces controlled two-thirds of Ocheretyne, where there was fierce fighting. Russia seized Avdiivka in February after Ukrainian troops withdrew. Moscows forces have been advancing ever since. North-west of Avdiivka, Russian brigades have come within about 18 miles (30km) of the city of Pokrovsk, a Ukrainian military hub. Farther north, they are assaulting the town of Chasiv Yar, near Bakhmut, using airdropped glide bombs to pound Ukrainian positions. Right now things are not critical or catastrophic. But its very difficult, one senior security official in Kyiv said on Sunday. The person said it would take one to two months before $61bn of US military aid reached frontline troops and allowed them to counter Russian attacks. Some weapons such as 155mm artillery ammunition would arrive sooner, officials suggested. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Kremlin is seeking to exploit a window of opportunity before US assistance is delivered. Moscow has been bringing in reinforcements and has a threefold advantage in some sectors. Its recent tactical gains suggest an ambitious plan to encircle the Ukrainian garrison cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in a summer offensive. Whether it will succeed is unclear. Russia is unlikely to overwhelm Ukrainian defences, the ISW said last week. It observed: The arrival of US aid at the front in the coming weeks will allow the Ukrainian forces to address their current materiel constraints and blunt ongoing Russian offensive operations. Russian forces appear to be intensifying efforts to destabilise Ukrainian defences and gain ground. Security officials believe Vladimir Putins original war aims are unchanged, more than two years after his full-scale invasion. They include seizing the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa and occupying Ukraines southern Black Sea coast. They assess that Russia will not be able to storm Kharkiv, a city of more than 1 million people close to the Russian border but will continue to bomb and to threaten it. The officials suggest the next few months will be critical. Ukrainian service personnel complain that they are completely outgunned. Russia is able to fire at least six shells for every salvo sent by Ukraine in return. Stocks of Soviet-era anti-aircraft missiles ran out long ago, with Russian warplanes able to operate freely close to the frontline. Ukraine has fewer tanks and armoured vehicles. In recent months Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian infrastructure. A missile attack on Saturday hammered power facilities in central and western Ukraine. DTEK, the countrys largest private electricity company, said four of its six thermal power plants were damaged. Rescuers put out fires at energy facilities in the western regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, the company said. Early on Sunday, Russian drones hit a hotel in the southern port city of Mykolaiv, said Vitaliy Kim, the regions governor. A heat-generating plant was also damaged, he added. Russia claimed it was targeting English-speaking mercenaries. It used the same formula to describe ballistic missile strikes earlier this year on hotels in Kharkiv, where several foreign journalists and local staff were injured. Russia said it shot down 17 enemy drones above its territory. There were unconfirmed reports that the Ukrainian military had struck a Russian air defence unit at Cape Tarkhankut, on the western coast of occupied Crimea. Long-range Atacms missiles supplied this month by the US were used, Telegram channels said. Explosions were reported in the northern Crimean town of Dzhankoye, after a previous attack there on an airfield and Russian missile launcher system. Ukraines armed forces frequently carry out strikes on Crimea and have used sea drones to drive out Russians Black Sea fleet from the port of Sevastopol. Intelligence officials indicate they intend to blow up the road and rail bridge connecting the occupied peninsula with Russia. On Sunday, Lithuanias former foreign minister Linas Linkevicius joked that the bridge would soon vanish, posting on X: If someone hasnt had time to take a photo on the Kerch Bridge, there is still time, with photos of a rocket and Putin scratching his head. Moscow was furious. Dmitry Polyansky, Russias representative to the UN, called Linkevicius an obedient Baltic slave of the USA. The Russian diplomat said the former minister now Lithuanias ambassador to Sweden would regret his words on judgment day. Tim Loughton leaving Hargeisa in Somaliland for Djibouti, where he was detained and deported A former minister sanctioned by China was detained and deported by an East African country with close ties to the Chinese state, The Telegraph can reveal. Tim Loughton, a senior member of the Commons home affairs committee, believes his unprecedented and intimidating detention and expulsion by the Djibouti authorities was a direct consequence of his criticism of the Chinese regime. It is understood the Foreign Office is seeking an explanation from the Djiboutis over his treatment. Mr Loughton has raised the affair with Andrew Mitchell, the deputy Foreign Secretary, and written to the Djibouti ambassador via the Foreign Office to protest about the outrageous behaviour. Mr Loughton arrived in Djibouti on April 8 for a 24-hour visit including meeting the British ambassador, but was detained for more than seven hours at the airport, barred entry to the country and told he was being removed on the next available flight. Mr Loughton is one of seven parliamentarians sanctioned by the Chinese more than three years ago for speaking out against the industrial scale of human rights abuses by China against the Uighurs, Tibetans and Hong Kongers. Djibouti, Africas smallest nation, has received billions of dollars of investment from China, including a new stadium, hospital and $1 billion (791 million) space port. China has built a naval base in the country, stationed 2,000 troops there and holds more than $1.4 billion of Djiboutis debt, 45 per cent of its GDP. Tim Loughton waiting in the airport's departure lounge after deportation from Djibouti In an exclusive article on his ordeal for The Telegraph, Mr Loughton said it was just the latest example of intimidation that the seven sanctioned parliamentarians have suffered over the last three years. It comes just weeks after it emerged that Mr Loughton was among three MPs and a peer whose parliamentary emails were hacked by the Chinese. On Friday two men were charged with spying for China, including one former researcher in Parliament. Mr Loughton warned his treatment in Djibouti could set a precedent for other states backed by the Chinese unless the West woke up to the malign and all encompassing tentacles of the Chinese regime at home and abroad. It is the first time such action has been taken by the Djiboutis against a British citizen. He was the first off the plane when he arrived in Djibouti at midday from Somaliland and, like other travellers, was preparing to collect his visa as is the normal practice. As soon as I revealed I was a British MP, and my passport was checked, things turned decidedly frosty, he said. Former minister Tim Loughton's air ticket for Air Djibouti He was held for an hour without any explanation in the arrivals hall after all the other travellers had sailed through border control. An immigration officer then ushered him to a holding room where he was locked in and detained alone for three hours. A delegation of three officers including the head of the border immigration service appeared and told him that he would not be allowed into Djibouti. Instead, they said he would be put on the next plane out of the country. He was escorted across the airport tarmac to wait in the spartan departure lounge for a 7.15pm flight to Dubai. They gave me no reason. I kept saying: Why? and they could not tell me, said Mr Loughton. In short, it was a highly intimidating and very lonely experience in a very strange country. Appeals by the deputy ambassador, who came to the airport after the MP finally managed to get a Wi-Fi connection to call the embassy, were rejected without any explanation. A Chinese embassy spokesman claimed the allegations about China were purely baseless and branded them fabricated and slanderous rhetoric that attempts to smear China and poison China-UK relations. A Foreign Office spokesman said: We provided consular support to a British man in Djibouti. Apart from Mr Loughton, the seven parliamentarians sanctioned by China are Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former Tory leader, former Tory ministers Nus Ghani and Neil OBrien, and Lords David Alton and Helena Kennedy QC. The Djibouti embassy in Paris has been contacted for comment. Im one of seven parliamentarians sanctioned by China - and Ive been booted out of Djibouti by Tim Loughton MP According to a whizzy app on my mobile device I have visited 86 countries around the world. Last week I was due to notch up my 87th with a brief stopover in the tiny East African state of Djibouti on my way back from a delegation to the neighbouring breakaway Republic of Somaliland. In the circumstances I failed to make it beyond the immigration desk and airport tarmac from which I was abruptly deported without explanation after over seven hours in rather frightening detention. According to Djibouti government advice and our own Foreign Office website, you can purchase a visa to enter Djibouti on arrival. All you need is a ticket for an onward flight and proof of your itinerary and accommodation. Except it would appear, if you are a British MP on a hit list of parliamentarians sanctioned by China, as I have been with four other Conservative MPs for the last three years. I politely explained that I would be in the country for barely 24 hours, was being picked up at the airport by a tour guide for a visit to Africas lowest point, Lake Assal, before checking into one of the countrys most overpriced hotels where I was meeting the British ambassador for a debrief to boot. But as soon as I revealed I was a British MP, and my passport was checked, things turned decidedly frosty. Despite showing every piece of paperwork I had about my 24-hour stop-over in Africas smallest country, a particularly surly border official was having none of it. I was ushered to sit in the naughty corner whilst everyone else who had spilled off my flight behind me was welcomed into the country like long-lost friends. After an hour of no progress and being assured that there was no problem, and that they were just following procedures, I was ushered into another room with a flight of stairs leading nowhere. I should have twigged when the guard doing the ushering quickly turned tail and locked the door behind him. Another hour passed without any explanation, no provisions as it was still Ramadan and crucially, no Wi-Fi connection. Three hours into my ordeal a delegation of three immigration officials came to inform me that there was a problem but they wouldnt tell me what; that I would not be allowed to enter the country and that I would be put on the next plane out, four hours later. And that with access to duty free and a cafe (closed for Ramadan) I had everything I needed for the long wait ahead. Except, of course, I had no way of knowing whether there was a seat on the next plane out or how I secured a ticket, let alone what had happened to my luggage. In short, it was a highly intimidating and very lonely experience in a very strange country. The only crumb of comfort came when I was eventually able to log on to the airport Wi-Fi and contacted the British embassy. Beyond the call of duty but very welcome all the same, the deputy ambassador hotfooted it to the airport stopping only to stock up on crisps, biscuits and drinks. Yet even he was unable to get the Djiboutian commissars to release me and I was duly escorted to the flight home 24 hours ahead of schedule. It is now clear this was no accident but instead a direct consequence of being one of the seven British parliamentarians sanctioned by China now over three years ago, for speaking out against the industrial scale human rights abuses by the Chinese Communist government against the Uighurs, Tibetans and now increasingly those from Hong Kong. During our visit to plucky Somaliland the threat from China was regularly raised. Whilst African regimes have seen the mouths of their leaders stuffed with gold by the munificent Chinese, Somaliland has steadfastly resisted the curse of Croesus. Indeed, Somaliland has almost uniquely recognised Chinas nemesis Taiwan as a sovereign state and accorded each other mutual diplomatic status. China has now built 100 ports around Africa since 2000 as part of its trillion dollar belt and road initiative. In common with many African nations, Djibouti has benefitted from Chinas apparent munificence. They have financed a new stadium, the Peoples Palace, a foreign affairs ministry, an $8.2 million hospital and now a $1 billion project to build Africas first space port. In 2016 they started construction of a Chinese naval base paying rent on a long lease. 2,000 Chinese troops are now permanently stationed there, and they have built a pier big enough to accommodate Chinese aircraft carriers. Not far away two Iranian military vessels are moored reportedly feeding intelligence to their Houthi friends across the Red Sea. But all this comes at a price. Djibouti is one of the most indebted countries in Africa. And who is their largest creditor? You guessed it China. China is holding more than $1.4 billion in debt the equivalent of about 45 per cent of the countrys gross domestic product, according to the International Monetary Fund. Djibouti is among 22 African countries considered to be in financial distress, according to the World Bank. Systematically snuffing out freedoms And of course, money buys influence. Whilst in 2019 we were denouncing Chinas genocide in Xinjiang, ambassadors from 50 countries to the United Nations, including Djibouti and many African nations signed a letter to the president of the UN Human Rights Council to voice their support for Chinas position on issues related to its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The following year Djibouti was one of 53 countries that backed Chinas National Security Law which has been systematically snuffing out freedoms and the rule of law in Hong Kong. In 2018 the Djibouti government booted out the Emirates-owned DP World from running the main port which dominates the country and two years later awarded a 23.5 per cent stake to the Chinese, an arrangement which is the subject of ongoing international legal action. Fired up by more than a modest feeling of being shafted, DP World now runs the rapidly expanding port of Berbera in Somaliland with the potential to become the most important port on the Gulf of Aden, transforming the countrys economy and threatening the dominance of Djibouti. An impressive new highway funded by Dubai and the UK links Berbera to the capital Hargeisa and on to the Ethiopian border, with the highway onward to Addis Ababa well under construction. Ethiopia is one of the emerging economic powers in Northern Africa and key to its success is a link to the sea which previously had been focussed on Djibouti. But now a memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland threatens to change all that. In return for a long-term access agreement to Berbera, Ethiopia has offered to recognise the state of Somaliland officially, which would bring that breakaway state into the international fold. It would pave the way for western countries to recognise this oasis of stability and relative safety in a turbulent region since this democracy of 6.2 million people declared independence from the anarchy that is Somalia back in 1991. Somalilanders cannot understand why the UK and other western nations have not exactly rushed to recognise Somaliland, based on its historic boundaries as a former British Protectorate. The country is an investable fledgling democracy which actually likes its former colonial power and is pro-West. Pirates, terrorists and authoritarian Left-wing regimes dominate the coastline to the south and north, whilst across the Red Sea pro-Iranian Houthis fire missiles at Western shipping. Surely Western powers should be biting the arm off the Somaliland government to acknowledge their legitimacy, establish closer relations, investment opportunities and a strategic military foothold? So for China, Somaliland represents a threat. A threat to its economic investments in this part of Africa; a threat to its military ambitions across the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa; and a threat to the influence it has bought in international assemblies through its many African client states for want of a better arrangement. What China wants, Djibouti wants too. And when an annoying yet insignificant British MP turns up in the neighbourhood having spouted support for the integrity of Somaliland and casting aspersions about Chinas real intentions in the region then of course Djibouti wants to stick it to him and impress its largest creditor. This is just the latest example of the intimidation that the seven sanctioned British parliamentarians have suffered over the last three years. It comes hard on the heels of course of the recent revelation that three years ago our parliamentary email accounts were hacked and Westminsters security compromised by the malign Chinese state. It pales into insignificance of course compared with the violence, torture and murder suffered over many decades by millions of Tibetans, Uighurs, Hong Kongers and others we stand up for in our Western democratic institutions. So I wont be notching up the Djibouti arrivals desk as my 87th country visited. Instead, it will head a new list of countries from which I have been deported, a list which threatens to grow unless the West wakes up and takes seriously the malign and all-encompassing tentacles of the Chinese regime at home and abroad. Rishi Sunaks personal satisfaction rating among the public is the lowest of any prime minister for 30 years. Photograph: dts News Agency Germany/Rex/Shutterstock Rishi Sunak is braced for a bruising week as Tory rebels flaunted plans for a 100-day policy blitz to secure quick wins if the local election results prove disastrous for the party. The prime minister said on Sunday that he was not distracted by his personal ratings lingering at record lows. He refused to rule out calling a July general election amid mounting rumours that unruly MPs will attempt to oust him if the West Midlands mayor, Andy Street, and the Tees Valley mayor, Ben Houchen, are defeated on Thursday. The defection of the former Conservative health minister Dr Dan Poulter to Labour on Saturday and the potential loss of half the partys councillors later this week could ignite rebellious Tories to defy Sunaks authority and go over the line with letters of no confidence. Related: Red walls and green dreams: what are the key battlegrounds in Englands local elections? On Saturday night Poulter dramatically quit the Conservative party because the party is failing the NHS and the party has become a nationalist party of the right. The part-time mental health doctor in an NHS hospital told the Observer he could no longer look my NHS colleagues in the eye as a Conservative, noting the only cure [for the struggling NHS] is a Labour government. Conservative rebels say its time to put an end to broken pledges, distant plans for change and bans they never asked for and instead use 100 days to prove the government is taking action and cares about what matters to the British people. Their five-point plan to end the reign of tinkering, dithering and managerialism includes: An attempt to end the junior doctors pay dispute with a 10-12% offer. Further cuts to legal migration numbers, with a curb on the number of foreign students staying in the UK. Vow to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2027. Introduce measures to jail prolific offenders and build rapid detention cells to increase prison capacity. Cut the benefits bill, with a target to reduce payments for depression and anxiety. A Tory source said: These are policies that can be introduced in a few months and then go to the country for people to make a decision. Weve got to be clear and bold in our plan, and with the right messenger, to have any chance of winning otherwise it could be two or three terms of Labour. An Ipsos poll on Thursday revealed Sunaks personal satisfaction rating had fallen to -59, matching a record low for a prime minister set by Sir John Major in 1994. Only 16% of people said they were satisfied with the prime ministers performance and 75% said they were dissatisfied. Penny Mordaunt, who has been perceived as preparing for a leadership contest, also trailed behind Starmer on personal ratings by 17 points the Labour leaders own ratings have fallen from 29% to 25% since February. Mordaunts allies have denied she is vying for Sunaks position and said she is getting on with the job. Sunak appeared irritable in an interview broadcast on Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, insisting he would not say anything more than Ive already said about the time of an election and his working assumption remained it will be in the second half of the year. Starmer will welcome Poulter, the Conservative defector, to the fold on Monday and vow to inject resource and reform into mental health services. Starmer last night said its fantastic Poulter had joined Labour to help get the NHS back on its feet, and promised his government would overhaul the way mental health is approached. Labour will use the moment to recommit to improving the Mental Health Act and providing 8,500 specially trained mental health staff, support in every school and open access early intervention hub in every community, paid for by closing tax loopholes. Starmer said: I will not sit on my hands while tens of thousands of people have their lives on hold and ambition curtailed while they languish on mental health waiting lists. We are mission focused on rebuilding public services and its fantastic that Dr Dan Poulter MP has joined us. Its time to end the chaos, turn the page, and get Britains future back. Health minister Maria Caulfield said: Keir Starmers own shadow mental health minister resigned over Labours failing to take mental health seriously. Whats more, where Labour are in power in Wales, they are failing patients with more people left waiting longer for the care they need. Labour would take us back to square one. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (centre) and army commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky (right), who says Russia has 'a significant advantage in forces and means' - AFP via Getty Images Ukraines army leader admitted on Sunday that Kyivs position on the battlefield has worsened after Russian forces captured another village in the east, pressing their advantage in manpower and ammunition. Russias troops are advancing in the eastern Donetsk region as Kyiv awaits the arrival of much-needed US weapons that it hopes will stabilise the fragile front lines. The situation at the front has worsened, Oleksandr Syrsky, the Ukrainian commander-in-chief, said in a Facebook post. Ukrainian troops had retreated westwards to new defensive lines in a section of the front that runs past the city of Donetsk, controlled by pro-Russian forces since 2014. Russia has a significant advantage in forces and means and had been able to notch up advances amid heavy fighting, General Syrsky said. In some sectors the enemy had tactical success, and in some areas our troops managed to improve the tactical position, he added. Small handmade multiple launch rocket systems being prepared for firing toward Russian troops near a front line in Zaporizhzhia - Reuters Russias defence ministry earlier on Sunday claimed its troops had captured the village of Novobakhmutivka in the eastern Donetsk region - around 10 kilometres (six miles) north of Avdiivka, which they seized in February. The stark assessment of the picture facing Ukrainian troops comes at the end of a week of ups and downs for Kyiv. The United States finally approved a $61 billion package of financial aid after months of political wrangling, unlocking much-needed arms for Ukraines stretched troops. But on the battlefield Russia chalked up more successes. Its troops managed to make rapid advances in a narrow column to the northwest of Avdiivka. In the village of Vozdvyzhenka, some eight kilometres (five miles) from the fighting in Ocherytne, AFP reporters saw civilians loading a small truck with furniture and belongings on Sunday. Were going a long way from here... I dont have time to talk because of the shelling, one of them told AFP, before climbing into the vehicle and speeding out of the village. Soldiers on the side of a road in the woods said they had originally been sent to build defensive lines. But the situation has changed. We were told not to take the shovels but to stay and wait for orders. The Russians are attacking and advancing, one said speaking on condition of anonymity. Ukrainian soldiers on an armoured personnel carrier near Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region on Saturday - GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images Ukrainian artillery soldiers in Kherson relax while waiting for a combat mission - Vlada Liberova/Libkos/Getty Images) General Syrsky confirmed on Sunday that Russia had made some tactical progress in that part of the front, but said Moscow had not yet achieved what he called an operational advantage. He also said additional units were being deployed to replace those that had sustained heavy losses. The recent setbacks have prompted rare criticism from Ukraines military bloggers. The (Russian) breakthrough near Ocheretyne revealed a number of problems, the Deep State Telegram channel, with close links to the Ukrainian army, said in a post on Wednesday. It said leaders of the 115th mechanised brigade, which is fighting in the area, were responsible for the collapse of the defence in the entire sector, allowing significant losses. Kyivs forces are outnumbered across the battlefield, with the country struggling to recruit enough soldiers to replace those who have been killed, wounded or exhausted by the war, now in its third year. Leaders in Kyiv have warned the military outlook could worsen in the next few weeks, while shipments of US weapons are making their way to the front lines. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraines head of intelligence at the ministry of defence, said this month that the battlefield situation would likely be at its most difficult in mid-May to early June. Ukrainians disassembling a shell for a launch rocket system to be used for firing towards Russian troops - STRINGER/REUTERS A Ukraine defeat by Russia would cost the West trillions in a new Cold War, warned James Heappey, the former Armed Forces minister. The US Congress has passed a $61 billion (around 48 billion) aid package to help Ukraine fend off advancing Russian forces. Rishi Sunak, the prime minister announced on Tuesday, an additional 500 million in military funding for Ukraine. Writing for The House Magazine, Mr Heappey said that more aid packages like the ones unveiled this week will be needed for Ukraine to win the battle for security across the whole European-Atlantic region. He added: A stalemate or heaven forbid, a Ukrainian defeat, promises a new cold war that will last for decades and cost trillions of dollars more. Mr Heappey, a former soldier, resigned from his government position last month after calling for a higher share of GDP to be spent on defence amid concerns about the strength of the British military. Mr Sunak has since committed to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030. James Heappey does not believe Ukraine will win against the Russia at least till 2025, despite inflow of support - JEFF GILBERT/JEFF GILBERT Joe Biden, the US president, has promised significant support, including more air defences for Kyiv, where supplies of vital ammunition have diminished. The aid package was passed after a vote which ended a deadlock between the White House and Republicans on Capitol Hill, who opposed additional spending on the war and argued it should be spent on domestic programmes. The legislation passed in the Democrat-controlled Senate with 79 votes in favour to 18 against. The additional 500 million funding announced by Mr Sunak brings the UKs spending on military aid in Ukraine to 3 billion this financial year, which will include air defence missiles to thwart Russias bombardment of power stations. The Prime Minister has also pledged to donate hundreds of armoured vehicles, 60 boats and four million rounds of small-arms ammunition. Mr Sunak's new pledge brings the UK's spending on military aid in Ukraine to 3 billion this financial year - SERGEI ILNITSKY/SHUTTERSTOCK Mr Heappey said the latest aid package would not immediately tip the balance, allowing the Ukrainians to go on to a final offensive that brings a quick and complete victory. He added: My expectation is that with this huge inflow of Western support, well see the frontlines stabilise and, while the fighting will be fierce, I dont expect to see significant amounts of territory traded this year. He said Ukrainian brigades need to be trained in a complicated manoeuvre that synchronises their movement with artillery fire, air support and everything else that can be thrown at the Russians. He does not believe the Ukrainian defenders will be ready to defeat the Russians until 2025 or even 2026. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, has said he is grateful to the US Senate. He added: Ukraines long-range capabilities, artillery, and air defence are critical tools for restoring just peace sooner. Australian actress Nicole Kidman has described a ceremony where she received the American Film Institute (AFI) life achievement award as a little overwhelming but reiterated her gratitude for the honour. Hollywood stars including Morgan Freeman, Naomi Watts and Reese Witherspoon appeared on the red carpet ahead of the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The Oscar-winning actress, who became the 49th recipient of the award the highest honour for a career in film at the AFI arrived in a glittering golden dress. Nicole Kidman arrives at the 49th AFI life achievement award (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/PA) The Moulin Rouge star was the first Australian actor to receive the accolade and joins a star-studded roster of previous recipients including Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro. Kidman, who said she has an introverted personality, told the PA news agency on the carpet: Its a little overwhelming. I want to be able to appreciate it and show that I love it, and that I am so grateful, but Im a little awkward, thats just my personality, Im sometimes shy. Kidman described it as everything short-circuits in me. The 56-year-old continued: As an actor thats what we do, we act as actors, were given scripts, we have direction, we collaborate. So, the idea of being by yourself but Ill always rise to the occasion and Im so grateful to be on this list. Nicole Kidman is helped down the stairs after being introduced to the audience during the tribute gala (Chris Pizzello/AP) Kidman added that she wanted everyone to know she is incredibly grateful and appreciative. The actress was scheduled to be presented with the award on June 10 last year but the ceremony was postponed indefinitely due to the writers strike, which was resolved in September after 146 days on the picket line. Kidman has been nominated for five Academy Awards, winning the best actress Oscar in 2003 for her performance in The Hours alongside three-time Oscar winner Streep. During her career, she has also won a Bafta, two Emmys, and six Golden Globe awards. 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 The shock defection of a Tory MP to Labour in anger over the NHS crisis has heaped pressure on Rishi Sunak ahead of what is already expected to be a tough week for the Prime Minister. Dr Dan Poulter, a former health minister and working medic, on Saturday quit the Tory Party saying it is failing the health service and that he could no longer look my NHS colleagues in the eye as a Conservative. He will take the Labour whip until the general election but will not be running again as the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, he wrote in the Observer. Dr Poulters move is likely to spook already restive Tory MPs and fuel doubts over Mr Sunaks premiership. There is already speculation that a disastrous set of local elections results for the Tories in a few days time could galvanise unhappy backbenchers into moving against him. Mr Sunak has insisted that he intends to call a general election in the second half of the year, but the fallout from the local elections could force his hand, either by leading to a challenge to his leadership or by persuading him that an earlier polling day could be a better solution than limping on with a divided party. Dr Poulter urged Mr Sunak to call a general election as soon as possible as he ditched the governing party. Dr Poulter told the newspaper the Conservative Party feels like it has become a nationalist party of the right. The health service has ceased to be an area of priority for the Conservative Party, and that is now showing in the strain on the front line and the deterioration of care for patients, he said. He added that he had come to the conclusion that the only cure is a Labour government, and he would support Sir Keir Starmer and shadow health secretary Wes Streeting on NHS policy. The Conservative Party hit back that he was wrong to say only the Opposition could improve the health service. Speaking to the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg, Dr Poulter said: I found it increasingly difficult to look my NHS colleagues in the eye and my patients in the eye and my constituents in the eye with good conscience. And I feel that the NHS deserves better than it has at the moment in terms of how its run and governed. He added that the Tory Partys focus is not on delivering or supporting high-quality public services. Its fantastic to welcome Dr Dan Poulter MP to todays changed Labour Party. 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. pic.twitter.com/dAD3uAuh2S Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 27, 2024 Labour leader Sir Keir said it was fantastic to welcome Dr Dan Poulter to todays changed Labour Party and that it was time to end the Conservative chaos. Mr Streeting said he looked forward to working with the frontline clinician, especially on mental health reform. It is the first time a Conservative MP has crossed the floor to Labour since Christian Wakeford did so in 2022. Dr Poulters move is the second defection under Mr Sunak, after former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson left the party for Reform earlier this year. The Telegraph reported that a group of Tory rebels have devised a plan to oust the Prime Minister and unite around Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, though a source close to the Cabinet minister said its total hogwash. Weve heard these rumours time and time again. Always lacking substance. Idle speculation is not helpful to anybody but those wishing to cause chaos, the source said. Penny Mordaunt distanced herself from reports of plotting, with a source close to her saying it was hogwash (Danny Lawson/PA) Dr Poulter was first elected to Parliament in 2010. He held his Central Suffolk and North Ipswich seat at the 2019 election with a majority of 23,391. A Tory Party spokesperson said: For the people of Central Suffolk and North Ipswich this will be disappointing news. What Dan says is wrong as Sir Keir Starmer has no plan for our NHS. Under the Conservatives we are raising NHS funding to a record 165 billion a year, helping it recover from the effects of the pandemic and driving forward its first ever long-term workforce plan so that we train the doctors and nurses we need for the future in our country. WASHINGTON (AP) The war in Gaza spurred large protests outside a glitzy roast with President Joe Biden, journalists, politicians and celebrities Saturday but went all but unmentioned by participants inside, with Biden instead using the annual White House correspondents dinner to make both jokes and grim warnings about Republican rival Donald Trumps fight to reclaim the U.S. presidency. An evening normally devoted to presidents, journalists and comedians taking outrageous pokes at political scandals and each other often seemed this year to illustrate the difficulty of putting aside the coming presidential election and the troubles in the Middle East and elsewhere. Biden opened his roast with a direct but joking focus on Trump, calling him sleepy Don, in reference to a nickname Trump had given the president previously. Despite being similar in age, Biden said, the two presidential hopefuls have little else in common. My vice president actually endorses me, Biden said. Former Trump Vice President Mike Pence has refused to endorse Trumps reelection bid. But the president quickly segued to a grim speech about what he believes is at stake this election, saying that another Trump administration would be even more harmful to America than his first term. We have to take this serious eight years ago we could have written it off as Trump talk but not after January 6, Biden told the audience, referring to the supporters of Trump who stormed the Capitol after Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 election. Trump did not attend Saturday's dinner and never attended the annual banquet as president. In 2011, he sat in the audience, and glowered through a roasting by then-President Barack Obama of Trump's reality-television celebrity status. Obama's sarcasm then was so scalding that many political watchers linked it to Trump's subsequent decision to run for president in 2016. Bidens speech, which lasted around 10 minutes, made no mention of the ongoing war or the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. One of the few mentions came from Kelly ODonnell, president of the correspondents association, who briefly noted some 100 journalists killed in Israel's 6-month-old war against Hamas in Gaza. In an evening dedicated in large part to journalism, ODonnell cited journalists who have been detained across the world, including Americans Evan Gershkovich in Russia and Austin Tice, who is believed to be held in Syria. Families of both men were in attendance as they have been at previous dinners. To get inside Saturday's dinner, some guests had to hurry through hundreds of protesters outraged over the mounting humanitarian disaster for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. They condemned Biden for his support of Israel's military campaign and Western news outlets for what they said was undercoverage and misrepresentation of the conflict. Shame on you! protesters draped in the traditional Palestinian keffiyeh cloth shouted, running after men in tuxedos and suits and women in long dresses holding clutch purses as guests hurried inside for the dinner. Western media we see you, and all the horrors that you hide, crowds chanted at one point. Other protesters lay sprawled motionless on the pavement, next to mock-ups of flak vests with press insignia. Ralliers cried Free, free Palestine." They cheered when at one point someone inside the Washington Hilton where the dinner has been held for decades unfurled a Palestinian flag from a top-floor hotel window. Criticism of the Biden administration's support for Israel's military offensive in Gaza has spread through American college campuses, with students pitching encampments and withstanding police sweeps in an effort to force their universities to divest from Israel. Counterprotests back Israel's offensive and complain of antisemitism. Bidens motorcade Saturday took an alternate route from the White House to the Washington Hilton than in previous years, largely avoiding the crowds of demonstrators. Saturday's event drew nearly 3,000 people. Celebrities included Academy Award winner DaVine Joy Randolph, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm and Chris Pine. Both the president and comedian Colin Jost, who spoke after Biden, made jabs at the age of both the candidates for president. Im not saying both candidates are old. But you know Jimmy Carter is out there thinking, maybe I can win this thing, Jost said. Hes only 99. Law enforcement, including the Secret Service, instituted extra street closures and other measures to ensure what Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said would be the highest levels of safety and security for attendees. Protest organizers said they aimed to bring attention to the high numbers of Palestinian and other Arab journalists killed by Israel's military since the war began in October. More than two dozen journalists in Gaza wrote a letter last week calling on their colleagues in Washington to boycott the dinner altogether. The toll exacted on us for merely fulfilling our journalistic duties is staggering," the letter stated. We are subjected to detentions, interrogations, and torture by the Israeli military, all for the crime of journalistic integrity. One organizer complained that the White House Correspondents' Association which represents the hundreds of journalists who cover the president largely has been silent since the first weeks of the war about the killings of Palestinian journalists. WHCA did not respond to a request for comment. According to a preliminary investigation released Friday by the Committee to Protect Journalists, nearly 100 journalists have been killed covering the war in Gaza. Israel has defended its actions, saying it has been targeting militants. Since the Israel-Gaza war began, journalists have been paying the highest price their lives to defend our right to the truth. Each time a journalist dies or is injured, we lose a fragment of that truth, CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna said in a statement. Sandra Tamari, executive director of Adalah Justice Project, a U.S.-based Palestinian advocacy group that helped organize the letter from journalists in Gaza, said it is shameful for the media to dine and laugh with President Biden while he enables the Israeli devastation and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza." In addition, Adalah Justice Project started an email campaign targeting 12 media executives at various news outlets including The Associated Press expected to attend the dinner who previously signed onto a letter calling for the protection of journalists in Gaza. How can you still go when your colleagues in Gaza asked you not to?" a demonstrator asked guests heading in. "You are complicit. ___ Associated Press writers Mike Balsamo, Aamer Madhani, Fatima Hussein and Tom Strong contributed to this report. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia this week to meet with regional partners as talks between Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked, the State Department announced over the weekend. The Secretary 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, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement Saturday announcing Blinkens plans to visit Saudi Arabia. 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. Despite months of talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt, Hamas and Israel have failed to reach an agreement on a deal aimed at releasing hostages and implementing a ceasefire in Gaza. The State Department announced Sunday that the top American diplomat will also travel to Israel and Jordan. He will discuss the recent increase in humanitarian assistance being delivered to Gaza and underscore the importance of ensuring that increase is sustained, Miller said in an updated trip announcement. A senior State Department official told reporters traveling with Blinken on Sunday that he will meet with Saudi officials and foreign ministers from the region regarding the future of Gaza. When he heads to Jordan and Israel, Blinkens focus will be on humanitarian assistance, the official said. President Joe Bidens top diplomat will meet with aid organizations and Jordanian government officials to get an update, which he will take to Israeli officials. Blinkens trip, set for Monday through Wednesday, comes after he met with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last month in Jeddah to discuss efforts to release the hostages held by Hamas. While in Riyadh, Blinken will also hold bilateral meetings regarding Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel, according to the State Department official. Blinken told CNN on Friday that it could be possible to roll out a framework for the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia along with a two-state solution proposal for Israel and the Palestinians before a ceasefire is in place. Ceasefire or not, well continue to make these possibilities known. But in order to actually realize this, theres going to have to be an end of the conflict in Gaza, he said in an interview with CNNs Kylie Atwood. And as I said, theres also going to have to be a resolution to the Palestinian question, or at least an agreement on how to resolve it. This story and headline have been updated with additional developments. CNNs Simone McCarthy contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com An ambulance responds to the scene of an emergency. A 41-year-old man died after being mauled by his pit bull inside his Bronx apartment on Friday, authorities say. Officers from the New York Police Department arrived at an apartment around 3:09 a.m. on Friday after receiving a call about a dog biting its owner, police told USA TODAY in a statement Sunday. The police department did not identify the victim. The statement from police said that EMS took the victim to Saint Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officers at the scene, who fatally shot the dog after the attack, were transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The investigation is ongoing, police say. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bronx dog owner mauled to death by his pit bull 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 "104 years ago, probably a group of radical community members decided they wanted to build a high school in the middle of a field." That's how Superintendent Jeff Elstad began his announcement to the press and members at an unveiling event for Minnesota's Owatonna Public Schools. Suspense lingered in the air as he prepared to tell them that a time capsule over a century old was just found on school property. It was a "historic event" for the community, and one you don't hear about all that often. A Boston Dynamics Atlas robot Science and Tech Douglas Jones Company retires humanoid robot for model with real-world capabilities Atlanta's Oglethorpe University listed some of the most wanted time capsules in history, with many lost because of secrecy, thievery, or just bad planning, the university said. Historians say that at each unveiling of a time capsule, community members are educated more on pieces of their local history. "For a lot of us, first of all it was the idea that it was well preserved, and the fact that it got to tell a story," Principal Cory Kath said. Bob Olson, the school's director of facilities, halted a demolition operation when he spotted what he instinctively knew was something special buried under the ground. Owatonna Public Schools said an old school building was being torn down. Olson saw a 1920s-era cornerstone and said he told a machine operator to stop immediately so he could rescue any artifacts at the site. Inside a cornerstone, he said, was a box that staff members drilled a hole in to begin opening it, realizing it was a time capsule left for them from the past. Tiger Woods receiving his Masters green jacket from champion Vijay Singh. Sports Kathleen St. John The history of the famous Masters green jacket As the press took photographs, the 100-year-old box was opened to reveal the contents to nervous laughter. Principal Kath pulled out an Army roster from 1905, a newspaper, an official finance committee report from 1920, a book with a constitution and bylaws, another newspaper and lots of dust as he announced each item to the people in the room. One letter inside the box of dated items said they were put at the location they would rest at for decades "by Grand Lodge Minnesota A.F. A.M. on Sept. 30, A.D. 1920," according to a document read aloud by Kath. The press was told thatin the paperwork was a roster of all of the items in the box, which contained financial statements and coins, among other items. A name written on a note indicated the items were buried by a Freemasons group. Mary Larson, a resident of Owatonna who graduated from the school in the 1950s was there to witness "a part of history," she told KEYC. "Today we have over 1,500 students at Owatonna High School," Elstad said commenting on how many more students have been enrolled into the public school district since the day of one of the roster's burials. The city of Owatonna has a population of just over 26,470 people according to census data. In 1920, the population of the city was only 7,252, a census document shows. The actress posed for photos with her 'Diplomat' costar Rufus Sewell at the April 27 event Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock Keri Russell attends the 2024 White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 27, 2024 Keri Russell knows how to keep it classically glam. The actress hit the red carpet at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, April 27, in a gorgeous and understated look perfect for the occasion. The Diplomatstar, 48, wore a black strapless floor-length gown with a matching scarf detail around her neck. The actress, also known for her iconic '90s curls, styled her hair in a classic bun and accessorized the outfit with a striking statement ring. She posed for photos both solo and with her Diplomat costar Rufus Sewell, who wore a dapper all-black tux with a velvet jacket. Paul Morigi/Getty Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell at the 2024 White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 27, 2024 The White House Correspondents' Dinner is the most important event of the year for the White House Correspondents' Association. Typically attended by the president and the first lady, the dinner often takes the form of a roast of the current administration. This year, Saturday Night Live's Colin Jost will host the dinner. Related: The Funniest Moments from President Joe Biden's 2023 White House Correspondents' Dinner Speech Russell stars in Netflix's The Diplomat alongside Rufus Sewell. The pair play husband-and-wife American diplomats in London, following along as they attempt to prevent another world war from breaking out. Alex Bailey/Netflix Keri Russell as Kate Wyler and Ato Essandoh as Stuart Heyford in 'The Diplomat'. Russell was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her role as U.S. ambassador to the U.K. Kate Wyler on season 1 of the show. After being released on April 20, 2023, the show was renewed no less than 10 days later for its second season. Production for season 2 of The Diplomat was delayed by the writers' and actors' strikes last year but was able to resume in December 2023. Netflix has not yet set a release date for the show's second season. Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan/Getty Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell attend Metropolitan Opera Opening Night Gala Premiere of 'Tristan und Isolde' on September 26, 2016 in New York City. Russell is no stranger to high-stakes political roles. From 2013 to 2018, the actress starred in FX's The Americans as an undercover KGB spy alongside her partner, Matthew Rhys. Set during the Cold War in the wake of Ronald Regan's inauguration, the show follows Elizabeth (Russell) and Phillip Jennings (Rhys) as they carry out their secret mission on the ground in the U.S. and attempt to keep their identities hidden from their American-born children. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo pressed House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Sunday about the lack of headway in House Republicans investigations into President Biden and other political figures. Bartiromo and Jordan were discussing the Judiciary Committees latest report that alleges the New York County District Attorneys Offices (DANY) hush money probe into former President Trump is political prosecution. Well, look, I mean, at this point, American citizens are asking, What can you do about it? I mean, look, with all due respect, people are sick and tired of congressional investigations that go nowhere. People are sick and tired of letters being written and sent to the people who we know are bad in the first place, Bartiromo said Sunday on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures. Jordan lamented his frustrations about the former presidents other legal battles in Washington, D.C., for his federal election interference case, and in Georgia, where hes accused of participating in a scheme to overturn the states 2020 election results. They want you to do something about it. Youre an elected official. What can you do to right these wrongs? Bartiromo added later. Well, we have passed legislation out of the committee that would help remedy this situation, particularly the one in New York, but the president or vice president can move a case to federal to federal court from when you do these state prosecutors who are going after someone for a political reason, Jordan responded. So, were were a legislative branch. We cant put anyone in jail. And I dont think the Biden administration, their [Department of Justice] is going to go after the people who need to go after. Youre just not going to get that from [U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland], he continued. House Republicans on the Judiciary and Oversight committees have struggled in recent weeks to close their impeachment probe into Biden and are facing rising doubts from their own party about whether investigators discovered any wrongdoing. The House GOPs formal impeachment inquiry was intended to add legal weight to their claims, which center on allegations Biden was involved with his son, Hunter Bidens, foreign business deals. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) took aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again on Sunday, saying that Israels actions in Gaza are ethnic cleansing. Sanders reiterated his familiar call on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday to hold Netanyahu responsible for Israels actions in Gaza, pointing to the staggering death toll and the displacement of Palestinians in the region. He was asked to respond to the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests that have broken out on college campuses across the country and to Rep. Ilhan Omars (D-Minn.) remarks last week when visiting Columbia University. What I think the essential point that Ilhan made is that we do not want to see antisemitism in this country. And I think the word genocide is something that is being determined by the International Court of Justice, he said. But just as what I will say: I dont think theres any doubt that what Netanyahu is doing now displacing 80 percent of the population in Gaza is ethnic cleansing. Thats what it is. Pushing out huge numbers of people, he added. Omar visited Columbias campus last week, where the national spotlight has focused on the hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered there. CNN played a clip of her comments Sunday on the ongoing protests on State of the Union. I think it is really unfortunate that people dont care about the fact that all Jewish kids should be kept safe and that we should not have to tolerate antisemitism or bigotry for all Jewish students, whether they are pro-genocide or anti-genocide, she said. Sanders has repeatedly criticized Netanyahu for the ongoing war in Gaza and has opposed more U.S. funding to Israel. He also reiterated his calls for an end to U.S. funding to Israels actions in Gaza. And now were looking at the possibility of an attack on Rafah, where people have gone to as a so-called safety zone. So, whats going on there, again, to my mind, is outrageous. And as youve indicated, I strongly oppose U.S. funding for Netanyahus war machine, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Utah couple were purr-plexed when one day their shy cat, Galena, suddenly disappeared. And then she was found in an Amazon warehouse all the way in California. Galena mysteriously went missing on April 10, but her owners couldn't figure out how the indoor cat could disappear without a trace, Carrie Clark told NBC affiliate KSL. A week later, the couple got a notification that Galena's microchip had been scanned and they were soon on a call with a veterinarian in Los Angeles. Galena survived for six days without food or water after she was accidentally shipped out with an Amazon return. I ran to tell my husband that Galena was found and we broke down upon realizing that she must have jumped into an oversized box that we shipped out the previous Wednesday, Clark said. The indoor cat has a penchant for playing in boxes, according to Clark, and is particularly skilled at hiding. Clark told KSL she was able to speak with the Amazon warehouse worker, Brandy, who found Galena. The Amazon employee told Clark over the phone that she took care of the feline friend before taking her to the vet the next day. Upon getting the call, Clark and her husband booked a flight to California to reunite with their cat. Carrie Clark holds her cat Galena (KSL) Galena is a huge emotional support to me and has helped me get through many health challenges over the past six years, Clark said. The anxiety and stress of not knowing what happened to her was excruciating. The couple updated a Facebook post on the Utah County Lost & Found PETS group that Clark made when Galena first went missing, explaining the story and describing the cat's survival as a tender mercy. Her bloodwork was completely normal!! the post said. Despite being much skinnier she is completely unharmed! Were in awe of all the tender mercies that have taken place. In this brave new world where everyone is being politically correct, it is something of a conundrum to find that the prize that most authors vie for may also have a dark history. So can we still call the Booker Prize by its name despite the fact that the Booker brothers family, which had originally supported it, had a history of enslavement? Though this has been known for a few years the debate came up again after a radio host Richie Brave pointed out last week that the online information on the Booker website stated that the brothers Josias and George Booker had managed around 200 enslaved people. This, he said, was sanitisation of history, as his family had been enslaved by the Bookers, and not been managed. And his original surname was Booker. While the information on the Booker website was duly corrected and of course the prize is now being managed by Crankstart, a charitable foundation the links of the name to slavery continue to raise questions. In fact it was eight years after the abolition of the slave trade, in 1815, that Josias Booker, from Liverpool, landed in Demerara and enslaved people in a cotton plantation in what was British Guiana. Sugar then became the primary crop in a number of other plantations leading the original Booker Prize sponsors to be known as the sugar daddies. Now we know where the term comes from and it isnt a pleasant connection! However, the organisers of the Prize website have said that they will get a Guyanese historian to recapitulate what was the actual history of the Booker brothers who were also recompensed for their losses after slavery was abolished in 1834. Much of this makes one wonder if the Booker should have changed its name? But then so many universities and other institutions have links to founders with dubious pasts that the process would be endless. Perhaps the best would be to do what the Booker organisers are doing leave the name alone but give more information about the original founders. Will this make the authors who have won the prize happy to have received it by simply saying that it was in the distant past? Or does it mean the name make them uncomfortable? The jury is out on that. Well books can definitely change the perception the world has about you, even if you dont win prizes for them! The shortest serving British Prime Minister we all know of Liz Truss has just written a bestseller, Ten Years to Save the West. She may have lasted only 50 odd days as Prime Minister, crashed the economy, spooked the markets and the Conservative Party but she is unrepentant and resilient. No sooner were the first 1,500 copies released that the book was sold out. The lettuce has flowered. What next? Surely not Prime Minister once more or maybe like Boris Johnson she will become a super successful columnist and author earning millions of pounds! To be fair the reviews of the book which is partly memoir and partly a call to action (seriously?) has been called both unintentionally hilarious and insightful depending on which side of the political spectrum the critics come from. And she will definitely be on the book festival circuit if not at the hustings. This time it seems my diary is all about books, and authors. A most lovely story has surfaced by chance about an iconic British creative personality, Agatha Christie, who became famous as a writer of detective fiction with her Hercule Poirot character as well as plays like The Mousetrap which is still running after decades. During the First World War, like many women from respectable families, she volunteered to work in a hospital set up at the Town Hall in Torquay, Devon. Now aspects of this experience have been found in a handmade magazine she and her fellow nurses put together. The magazine was called What We Did In The Great War and covers her attempts at being an agony aunt, signing off as your loving aunt Agatha while she gave light hearted advice to her colleagues. She also worked in the medicines section where she is said to have learnt so much about chemicals and poisons. To keep her group amused she became an agony aunt and developed her writing talent while serving the nation. But it was during the war that she finished and submitted her first piece of work which launched her on her life long career The Mysterious Affair of Styles this would finally be published three years later after being rejected by six publishers. Quite by accident the magazine was found inside the papers of Sylvia Payne, a British psychoanalyst who was also at Torquay at the time. It will now be displayed at the Royal College of Nursing in London. 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. During the historic visit to the city on the lagoon, the pontiff met with 80 inmates at the Giudecca Women's Prison, a harsh reality, but a place of moral and material rebirth. At the Holy See's pavillion for the 2024 Biennale With My Eyes, Francis addressed the artists, stressing the contribution of women. He also said: There is joy and suffering that come together in a unique form in women. Venice (AsiaNews) The world needs artists, said Pope Francis this morning on the island of Giudecca, the first stop in his historic visit to the city of Venice. The pontiff met with artists in the Chiesa della Maddalena (Church of the Magdalene), the chapel of the Venice-Giudecca Women's Prison, which hosts the Holy See Pavilion at the 2024 Biennale titled Con i miei occhi (With my eyes), where he also met with 80 inmates. Art has the status of a place of refuge, a city that disobeys the regime of violence and discrimination to create forms of human belonging, Francis said. Artistic practices work together to rid the world of senseless antinomies that impose themselves through racism, xenophobia, inequality, and aporophobia. I must admit to you that I do not feel like a stranger next to you: I feel at home," the Argentine pope said, addressing the artists. To counter antinomies, behind which "there is always the rejection of the other", he urged them to Imagine cities that don't yet exist on the map, cities where no human being is considered an outsider." Starting from this, the Holy Father began reflecting upon the main theme of the pavilion, namely the need of all individuals to "be looked at and to dare to look at ourselves. Jesus is the Master of this gaze. "He looks at everyone with the intensity of the kind of love that does not judge," he explained. Art educates us to this kind of gaze. For Pope Francis, this way of looking is contemplative. Artists are in the world, but are called to go beyond," he noted, warning the creators of art against the risk of confusing the latter with the market. The danger is that the market will vampirise creativity, steal innocence, and, finally, coldly instruct what to do," despite its recognised role of promoting and canonising. Francis spoke about the symbolic significance of the place that houses the pavilion With my eyes, the Venice Womens Prison, one of Italys four detention facilities for women. He arrived this morning around 8 am in a helicopter after taking off from the Vatican heliport at 6:32 am. He was welcomed by, among others, the Patriarch of Venice, Mgr Francesco Moraglia. There is joy and suffering that come together in a unique form in women, that we have to listen to, because they have something important to teach us," he said, citing some famous women artists like Frida Khalo, Corita Kent, and Louise Bourgeois. This can provide hope that contemporary art will help, by broadening the gaze, to "adequately enhance the contribution of women, as co-protagonists of the human adventure. Finally, the pontiff called on artists to keep in their hearts a question that "pushes towards the future", i.e. What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? (Mt 11:7-8). Earlier, Pope Francis spoke to 80 inmates in the Giudecca Prison. You have a special place in my heart, he said, hoping that the meeting would allow them to give each other time, prayer, closeness and fraternal affection rather than be experienced as an official visit. Prison is a harsh reality, but it can also become a place of moral and material rebirth, he explained. On other occasions, the pontiff spoke about the problem of overcrowding and violence in prisons. According to Francis, time spent in a prison can prove precious, especially because it can be the start of something new through the rediscovery of unsuspected beauties in ourselves and in others. This is visible in the artistic exhibit hosted in the prison. Staying here "can become like a site for reconstruction, to look at and evaluate one's own life with courage." The Bishop of Rome also issued an appeal that "the prison system offer prisoners tools and room for human, spiritual, cultural, and professional growth, so that works in favour of prisoners may contribute not to "isolating ones dignity", but to give one new possibilities. After the meetings on the island of Giudecca, the Holy Father went to the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute (Saint Mary of Health) to meet 1,600 young people from northeastern Italy. This was followed by a drive across a pontoon bridge over the Grand Canal to St Mark's Square, where he led Holy Mass at 11 am, followed by the recitation of the Regina Coeli in front of the Basilica. Champion local news. Join our community of readers who value daily beat reporting and in-depth stories alike. Your membership allows us to continue the legacy of local, independent journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley. With your support, we can remain a free and accessible source of news for everyone, always without paywalls or corporate influence. Together, we can ensure that vital local stories are told. 28 April 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Although the collapse of the Soviet Empire was considered the beginning of a new era for Armenia, it also meant a period of progress towards the restoration of geographical reality. Starting from the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 90s, Armenia, taking advantage of the gap in the Soviet Union, started the policy of ethnic cleansing in the territories of Azerbaijan, and could not imagine that one day the current situation would become real. Finally, the long-awaited moment happened; Armenia decided not only to return the historical territories of Azerbaijan it occupied, but also to delimit and demarcate the geographical division between the two states. Nevertheless, a big question remains in heads: What were the reasons that prevented Armenia from taking this step until now? It is true that Armenia wanted to have a whole part of Azerbaijan's territories by conducting an aggressive policy. The first Garabagh War was the real reason that vividly reflected the Armenian occupation and ethnic cleansing policy. After mass expulsion of Azerbaijanis from historical territories, Armenia started the policy of ethnic cleansing in the liberated Garabagh. This was simply to insure itself more by penetrating deep into the territories of Armenia and creating so-called autonomy in the territories it occupied from time to time. However, the strengthening policy of Azerbaijan overturned all these plans in a short period. After the 44-day war, Armenia had to take a step back and finally agreed to sign peace with Azerbaijan and officially delimit the territories. Despite all this, the insistence of official Yerevan against internal protests remains unanswered. Of course, it is not an easy process to accustom a society nurtured and brought up under the occupation policy for many years to the truth. Armenia once tried to convince the people with the claims of "great Armenia" and intended to build big dreams on the territories of Azerbaijan. The people believed in this, and therefore it is difficult for them to leave the territories of Azerbaijan today. Unfortunately, the religious leaders in the country also played enormous role in the wrong thinking of the people. For example, despite the repeated acknowledgments of the Armenian leadership to recognize the territories of Azerbaijan, revanchist religious leaders protested against it and even called the local community to revolt. As the processes deepen and tensions within Armenia increase, today the scenarios of those revanchists are beginning to change in accordance with the process. The laying of the first 20 border posts started to irritate those revanchist forces in Armenia even more. In an attempt to prevent the return of the Azerbaijani territories still occupied by Armenia, they organize protests, pickets, get into fights with the police, military and, in the usual manner for Armenians, spread all kinds of disinformation. One of them is Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, a revanchist religious leader who misguides the community to the wrong path. He tries to turn his thoughts based on hypotheses, which do not fit into any reason or logic, into a story as truth. In an interview with the Armenian media, the priest suffering from dementia said that last night unknown persons in a car with tinted windows, without license plates, accompanied by the regional governor and other officials, secretly arrived, entered the territories to be surrendered and committed some unknown actions. "The anger and distrust of the people is that who are these people who are in the car with such cover, all possible information is hidden, and there was also a demand that these people come down so that they have the opportunity to ask them questions. If your affairs are honest, clean, transparent, why are you coming under such cover? And when the people rebelled against this lie and falsehood, they made it clear that perhaps they were Azerbaijanis. There were even suspicions that Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and Shahin Mustafayev were in the car, - he said. According to the archbishop, black berets were involved in the fight against the popular uprising. "During the scuffle, a flashbang grenade was suddenly thrown. The head of the Tavush regional police department and the deputy chief of police told me that they did not do this... I came and asked the people if they themselves threw the grenade. They clearly said no. It neither the police nor the people threw it, perhaps it fell from the sky, says Galstanyan, adding that after the incident there were disturbances, two policemen, two women and one girl. A pure hallucinations Galstyan seemed to play a role based on the script of Bollywood heroes. I wonder what else Galstyan has seen? Judging by this statement, this figure of the Armenian Apostolic Church (hereinafter referred to as the AAC - ed.) belongs in the department for the violently insane in a closed psychiatric hospital. AAC figures openly oppose the achievement of a peace agreement and are doing everything possible to pull the people into the streets and overthrow the current government. Apparently, the hierarchs of the AAC, realizing that the opposition from the political parties could not do anything, took on the role of a catalyst for a possible coup d'etat. Such provocative statements by the bishop, in order to excite the Armenian society and disrupt the demarcation process, can lead to such irreversible, difficult processes in Armenia that they can never imagine its worst consequence. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews Deputy Editor-in-Chief; follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A Republican meeting has been organized in Yevlakh district within Green World Solidarity Year, Azernews reports. The event was co-organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Economic Zones Development Agency, Azershekar LLC, Gilan Pivot LLC under the theme "Demonstration of new land and resource protection technologies adapting to climate change". Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sarvan Jafarov, First Deputy Head of Yevlakh Executive Power Khalig Aliyev, representatives of relevant state institutions, heads of companies operating in the field of agriculture attended the event. A total of 500 guests participated in the conference focused on the wide application of moisture protection technologies and innovative innovations that adapt to climate change in terms of reducing the negative effects of global warming on agriculture in the world. The conference also aimed at protecting the environment, and operating in regions suffering from drought, increasing the knowledge and skills of farmers, as well as sharing the experiences gained in this field by large farms and agro parks. In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sarvan Jafarov said that as a result of the high state attention paid to the non-oil and gas sector in Azerbaijan in recent years, a fundamental ground has been created for the transition to a qualitatively new stage of development in the agricultural sector, which is one of the leading sectors of the economy, and important steps have been taken in the process of reliably ensuring the country's food security. . He noted the the Decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on increasing the efficiency of production of agricultural products, providing state support to product producers and the tasks given by him have expanded the possibilities of applying innovative technologies by stimulating the continuous improvement of production indicators in this sector. S. Jafarov said that COP29 will play an important role in adapting agricultural and environmental policies in Azerbaijan to advanced international practices, technological exchange and innovations: "In this direction, the use of innovative approaches and tools will not only protect the environment, but also contribute to the sustainability of agriculture, providing ecologically clean food, it will also contribute to the increase of welfare in rural areas. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azershekar LLC Anar Mehdiyev briefed the conference participants about the advantages of Mzuri technology He said that the advantage of Mzuri technology is that it performs 4 processes (deep softening, deep fertilizer processing, precise sowing of different types of seeds and burying of seeds with fixing wheels) at the same time. The main purpose of using this technique is saving water and fuel, preserving the fertile layer of the soil and eliminating the effects of toxic gases released into the air. Director General of Gilan Pivot LLC Ruslan Alaskarov stressed the importance of applying Dragon-Line technology in the field of agriculture. It was noted that "Dragon-Line" is a hybrid irrigation system of the new generation, which is a synthesis of pivot and drip irrigation systems. The use of this irrigation system saves water and electricity by 20-50 percent, reduces soil drying, compaction and surface water flows, and prevents plant shock during sudden temperature changes. Innovative technologies, techniques, modern irrigation systems, organic fertilizers and biopreparations applied in the field of agriculture were demonstrated at the meeting, and the questions of the participants of the event were answered. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Yusuf Maulana Firdaus (Front R), an international student from Jakarta, Indonesia, poses for photos with his teacher Huang Yanbing (Front L) among fashion models in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, June 17, 2023. (Xinhua) At a graduation show in Guangxi Arts University in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, students stop in their tracks, enthralled by the beauty of five blue and white patchwork outfits that blend Indonesian batik patterns with traditional Chinese Peking Opera elements. The collection was created by Yusuf Maulana Firdaus, an international student from Jakarta, Indonesia. Yusuf says he dreams of a future in fashion and makeup artistry, but in reality, this life is already well within reach. Since he was a child, he has lived and breathed fashion, and his work has won many awards in Indonesia. Yusuf's journey in China began in 2020, when he started studying character design as an undergraduate student at Guangxi Arts University. In recent years, Guangxi has been actively engaged in educational cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, making it one of the provincial level regions with the highest number of ASEAN students studying in China. "I prefer designing unique or exaggerated costumes for stage performances. All designs will be handmade by myself," said Yusuf over the hum of his sewing machine. While Yusuf initially learned costume design on his own in Indonesia, studying in China exposed him to new and exciting subjects and approaches, from makeup to clothing. In his spare time, Yusuf can be found in his studio, deep in the creative process. With an ardent passion for creation, he has invested nearly all his scholarships and competition winnings into materials and cosmetics. With his deft makeup skills and keen fashion sense, he quickly won admiration from his classmates. In various artistic performances and professional activities, he is often invited to help in the makeup or costume departments. Combining Chinese and Indonesian culture, his unique fashion and makeup styles have made him famous in just a few years, and his activities have also moved from campus to the international stage, participating in many cultural exchange activities between China and the ASEAN. "During my study abroad, many teachers helped me professionally, teaching me how to create good designs, match colors, and select materials. I have gained a lot from this experience," said Yusuf, expressing his deep gratitude for the enriching experience of studying in China. "In my 30 years of teaching, this is the first time I have had in-depth contact with international students from different cultural backgrounds. Yusuf's diligence, eagerness to learn, and talent make me cherish this teacher-student relationship," said Huang Yanbing, his teacher. Apart from professional studies, his passion for Chinese culture also solidified his determination to study in China. "Coming to China for schooling, learning about fashion design and makeup-related professional knowledge, can greatly help me fulfill my dreams," Yusuf revealed. Yusuf hopes that after graduation, he will be accepted on a master's program in character design in China. In the future, he will work hard to further his studies and create more excellent works. Reflecting on what is yet to come, Yusuf gazed out the window, and said with determination, "I also want to use my actions to promote exchanges between China and Indonesia, and between China and ASEAN countries. I want to bring Indonesian culture to China, and when I return to Indonesia with achievements, I also want to bring more Chinese culture to Indonesia." Yusuf Maulana Firdaus, an international student from Jakarta, Indonesia, works on his graduation projects in a studio in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua) 28 April 2024 17:50 (UTC+04:00) Made in Azerbaijan has presented its products in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Azernews reports. More than 20 products known under the "Made in Azerbaijan" brand were presented at the event organized by the trade representation of Azerbaijan in Russia. Deputy trade representative of Azerbaijan in Russia Asiman Hashimli told reporters that the representative office launched the project "Made in Azerbaijan in the regions of Russia" in Nizhny Novgorod. "Azerbaijan's trade representation in Russia has already implemented projects aimed at promoting our products in this country. Our current project is being implemented as a continuation of those works. The goal is to promote the export of Azerbaijani products to the regions of Russia," said Asiman Hashimli. Tea, juices, jams, vegetable oils, wines and canned products produced in Azerbaijan were presented and tasted at the event. Azerbaijani products distinguished by their high quality and taste were welcomed by the residents of Nizhny Novgorod. Event participant Mariya Uchayeva said that Azerbaijani products are appreciated in Nizhny Novgorod. "Products imported from Azerbaijan are distinguished by their taste, quality and, I would say, color. "Personally, I love Azerbaijani jam and I would like this product to be presented in a wide variety in our stores," she said. Vladimir Tsapelik, a well-known Russian Somali, presented his wines produced in Azerbaijan and exported to Russian markets. Within the framework of the event, the importance of expanding the export possibilities of the products presented under the "Made in Azerbaijan" brand and ensuring the access of our products to the Russian market was discussed. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan is a friendly country for us and the relations between our countries are developing successfully, said President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovic as he met with Speaker of Azerbaijans Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova, Azernews reports citing Azertag. Conveying the greetings of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the President of Montenegro, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova presented a letter of invitation regarding the COP29. Emphasizing that Azerbaijan is one of Montenegros key investors, Milatovic hailed the high-level cooperation, especially in the field of tourism. Congratulating Azerbaijan on hosting the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Climate Change Convention (COP29), President Jakov Milatovic recalled his meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev within COP28 held in Dubai. He conveyed his congratulations on Ilham Aliyevs victory in the presidential election. Sahiba Gafarova briefed the steps France undertakes to increase the tension in the region, adding that this country demonstrates an approach that does not serve peace and intended to flare up a new conflict. She also highlighted the ongoing large-scale restoration and reconstruction process in Azerbaijans Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur regions, as well as Azerbaijans role in Europes energy security as a reliable energy supplier. President Jakov Milatovic expressed hope that a peace agreement would be signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia, adding that this would contribute to the regional development. Speaker of Azerbaijans Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has presented a book titled Karabakh - before and after occupation to President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovic. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2024 11:15 (UTC+04:00) The leadership of the Military Academy of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and a group of listeners visited the National Defense University of the Ministry of Defense, Azernews reports citing Defense Ministry. After delivering a speech on the glorious victory in the 44-day Patriotic War, the guests were informed about technological innovations, the reforms in military education implemented in accordance with the directives of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr. Ilham Aliyev. The Pakistani delegation was briefed on the history of the National Defense University, its educational system and teaching process, scientific activities, and then their questions were answered. During the meeting, views were exchanged on a number of issues of mutual interest related to military education. At the end, the sides exchanged gifts. ---- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2024 18:00 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more An International Scientific and Practical Conference has been held in Baku. Co-organized by the Ministry of Health, the National Center of Ophthalmology and Azerbaijan Society of Ophthalmologists of Azerbaijan, the event was timed to the 101st anniversary of the birth of Academician Zarifa Aliyeva, Azernews reports. The conference themed "Modern Aspects of Ophthalmology" discussed topics such as innovations in the field of ophthalmology. At the conference, scientists and ophthalmologists of the National Ophthalmology Center and the republic gave their reports. It was noted that well-known Azerbaijani ophthalmologist-scientist, Academician Zarifa Aliyeva has exceptional services in the development of the science of ophthalmology. She was the author of many high-profile studies on the study, prevention and treatment of trachoma, which was once widespread in Azerbaijan, eye diseases related to professional activity, especially in the chemical and electronic industries, as well as modern problems of ophthalmology. Her monographs included "Age-related changes of the eye and the path of the optic nerve", "Anatomical and physiological features of the hydrodynamic system of the eye", "Iridodiagnostics", "Pathology of the eye during diabetes" and "Actual problems of ophthalmology". In general, Zarifa Aliyeva had up to 200 scientific works, 12 monographs and 12 rationalizing proposals. Z. Aliyeva has devoted a lot of work to training highly qualified healthcare personnel. Director of the National Center of Ophthalmology named after Academician Zarifa Aliyeva, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Society of Ophthalmologists, Professor Elmar Gasimov welcomed the conference participants, among which were doctors from Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Russia. The conference drew attention to such themes as "Principles of orthokeratology: mechanisms of action and clinical results", "Application of retinectomy in vitreoretinal surgery", "A new era in intraocular lenses", "ROP complications and treatment", "Damaging effects of laser devices used in cosmetology on the visual organ", "Use of scleral lenses in cases of ametropia: problems, solutions, perspectives", "Modern risk factors of viral uveitis", etc. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2024 23:29 (UTC+04:00) On April 28, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports. Antony Blinken first conveyed his congratulations on the agreement reached regarding the border delimitation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and emphasized that the United States commends it. The Secretary of State expressed the United States' readiness to continue supporting the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the advancement of the peace agenda. The head of state noted that the agreement reached by the delimitation commission of the two countries was the result of the discussions held on a bilateral basis in the spirit of dialogue and mutual understanding. President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the commencement of demarcation works on the border of the two countries following the delimitation process was a positive step. The head of state mentioned that the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia would soon meet in Almaty, as per the suggestion of the Kazakh side, to continue negotiations on the peace treaty. Recalling that it was the Republic of Azerbaijan, who was the initiator of the peace treaty and its underlying five principles, and stressed that Azerbaijan would continue to spare no efforts to advance the peace agenda and that Azerbaijan had a strong political will in this regard. President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan supports the establishment of an integrated South Caucasus regional cooperation model without any dividing lines. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his countrys intention to strengthen bilateral relations between the U.S. and Azerbaijan, noting cooperation in the fields of energy, climate, transport, and COP29. President Ilham Aliyev also emphasized Azerbaijans interest in developing bilateral relations with the U.S. During the telephone conversation, the sides hailed the cooperation between the Azerbaijani and U.S. delegations within COP29. Antony Blinken positively assessed the recent steps taken in Azerbaijan in the field of human rights, expressing his desire for their continuity. President Ilham Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijans commitment to its human rights obligations and the continuation of democratic reforms in the country. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Thousands of Israelis on Saturday held a protest in the capital Tel Aviv, demanding the release of hostages held in Gaza and calling for early elections, an Israeli media outlet reported, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu agency. The Israeli broadcasting authority reported that the protesters gathered at Kaplan Square, calling for a hostage swap deal with Palestinian factions in Gaza and for early elections. Families of hostages held in Gaza also participated in the protests, delivering speeches in front of the demonstrators, according to the authority. Demonstrations in Israel have intensified following a video which Al-Qassam Brigades released showing two Israeli hostages demanding their release, stating that they are living under difficult conditions amid Israeli bombardment. In response to the video, families of the hostages said in a statement: Israel must choose between (invading) Rafah or a deal (with Hamas), the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported. The families urged government members to release the hostages held in Gaza, even if it means ending the war. Tel Aviv believes 134 Israelis are being held in Gaza, while Israel is holding some 9,000 Palestinians in its jails. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Johnathan Turley, writing at the New York Post reviews the complexity of presidential immunity: Writer Ray Bradbury once said, Living at risk is jumping off the cliff and building your wings on the way down. In Thursdays case before the Supreme Court on the immunity of former President Donald Trump, nine justices appear to be feverishly working with feathers and glue on a plunge into a constitutional abyss. It has been almost 50 years since the high court ruled presidents have absolute immunity from civil lawsuits in Nixon v. Fitzgerald. The court held ex-President Richard Nixon had such immunity for acts taken within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility. Yet in 1974s United States v. Nixon, the court ruled a president is not immune from a criminal subpoena. Nixon was forced to comply with a subpoena from special counsel Leon Jaworski for his White House tapes in the Watergate scandal. Since then, the court has avoided any significant ruling on the extension of immunity to a criminal case until now. There are cliffs on both sides of this case. If the court were to embrace special counsel Jack Smiths arguments, a president would have no immunity from criminal charges, even for official acts taken in his presidency. It would leave a president without protection from endless charges from politically motivated prosecutors. If the court were to embrace Trump counsels arguments, a president would have complete immunity. It would leave a president largely unaccountable under the criminal code for any criminal acts. The first cliff is made obvious by the lower-court opinion. While the media have largely focused on extreme examples of president-ordered assassinations and coups, the justices are clearly as concerned with the sweeping implications of the DC Circuit opinion. Chief Justice John Roberts noted the DC Circuit failed to make any focused analysis of the underlying acts, instead offering little more than a judicial shrug. Roberts read its statement that a former president can be prosecuted for his official acts because the fact of the prosecution means that the former president has acted in defiance of the laws and noted it sounds like a former president can be prosecuted because he is being prosecuted. The other cliff is more than obvious from the other proceedings occurring as these arguments were made. Trumps best attorney proved to be Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. If the justices want insight into the implications of denying any immunity, they just need to look north to New York City. The ongoing prosecution of Trump is legally absurd but has resulted in the leading presidential candidate not only being gagged but prevented from campaigning. Alvin Bragg is the very personification of the danger immunity is meant to avoid. With cliffs to the left and the right, the justices are looking at a free-fall dive into the scope of constitutional and criminal law as they apply to presidential conduct. They may be looking not for a foothold as much as a shorter drop. Some of the justices are likely to be seeking a third option where a president has some immunity under a more limited and less tautological standard than the one the DC Circuit offered. The problem for the court is presidential privilege and immunity decisions are meant to give presidents breathing room by laying out bright lines within which they can operate. Ambiguity defeats the purpose of such immunity. So does a test that turns on the motivation of an official act. The special counsel insists, for example, that Trump was acting in his personal interest in challenging certification and raising electoral fraud, since he was the other candidate. But what if he wasnt on the ballot would it have been an official function to raise such concerns for other candidates? When pressed on the line between official and nonofficial conduct, the special counsel just dismissed such concerns and said Trump was clearly acting as an office-seeker, not an officeholder. Likewise, the special counsel that argued the protection for presidents must rest with the good motivations and judgment of prosecutors. It was effectively a Trust us, were the government assurance. Justice Samuel Alito and others questioned whether such reliance is well placed after decades of prosecutors proven abuses. Finally, if there is no immunity, could President Barack Obama be prosecuted for ordering the killing of a citizen by drone attack and then killing his son in a second drone attack? The government insisted there is an exception for such acts from the murder statute. In the end, neither party offers a particularly inviting path. No immunity or complete immunity each holds obvious dangers. I have long opposed sweeping arguments of immunity from criminal charges for presidents. The devil is in the details, and many justices are struggling with how to define official versus nonofficial conduct. The line-drawing proved maddening for the justices in the oral argument. The most they could say is similar to the story of the man who jumped off a building. As he passes an office window halfway down, another man calls out to ask how hes doing. The jumper responds, So far so good. As the justices work on a new set of legal wings, anything is possible as the nation waits for the court to hit ground zero in the middle of the 2024 presidential election. Observer Commentary Our opinion is that these people are making this a much more complex issue than necessary or practical. We think the wiser position rests not in the Judicial branch but with the Legislative branch. That is why the Founders included impeachment as a check and balance on presidential abuse of power. Judicial review of specific presidential actions is obviously a minefield that should be avoided. Alvin Bragg amply illustrates that danger. Trump is wrong in contending essentially that presidents have absolute immunity for criminal acts committed by a President. But the check and balance of impeachment eliminates most of the arguments that no president should be omnipotent. Impeachment prevents this, and thus prevents a president from becoming an omnipotent king. George Washington understood this in 1789 and it is still as true today as then. Once you accept that a president is not omnipotent, then impeachment becomes the proper venue to adjudicate the issue(s), and not the judicial process, which can obviously take much longer to settle. And it would not be appropriate to have double jeopardy of both impeachment and judicial sanctions. The multitude of criminal cases that have been thrown at Trump is reason enough to restrict oversight and review to the impeachment process and the courts should get out of the swamp and ultimately allow the People to decide through their elected representatives. Now that Kamala Harris has been coronated the Democratic Socialist designee for nomination as their candidate for President of these United States, after that political party's contrived primary process "democratically" elected Joseph R. Biden: What are your feelings about this party's progressive posture within their self-styled exercise of "Saving Democracy for America," and how truly critical the outcome of this presidential election will be? 8.7% I am ecstatic that this "Democracy's" First partially Black, First partially Indian, First female Co-Parent, and this nation's primary necessity is to her elect our First woman president.26.09% I really do not care about all these "Firsts." I will continue to pray, and work for this Representative Republic to elect someone competent, and brilliantly patriotic to be our next president.65.22% I will never vote for any politician that "first" does not have the core values to understand how dire this Constitutional Republic's situation has become. As totalitarian "hate speech" laws expand around Europe, goosestepping on freedom of speech, the European Union's own parliament has proven it is not immune from ideological censorship. A Spanish populist right lawmaker was not allowed to address parliament criticizing the EU's Green Deal and had his microphone cut off. Parliament had scheduled debate on the topic "The attack on climate and nature - far right and conservative attempts to destroy the Green Deal and prevent investment in our future", a topic that was itself politically charged from the beginning. Spanish MEP (lawmaker) Jorge Buxade of the Spanish populist nationalist anti-immigration Vox Party took the floor to address the topic, declaring that the populist nationalist block in the EU parliament intended to repeal the Green Deal and to fight the UN's "diabolical Agenda 2030". After Buxade proceeded to describe the EU Green Deal and the UN Agenda 2030 as "nothing but a plan of mass layoffs against European workers, the middle class, and European companies," EU parliament vice chairman Oetjen, a German liberal who was presiding over the session, stated "that is not the way we proceed here", cut off Buxade's microphone, and demanded he sit down. Buxade, however, continued his speech until its conclusion without the aid of a microphone. https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/right-wing-mep-censored-in-eu-parliament-for-criticizing-green-policies/ So free speech is not even allowed in the EU parliament by elected members of that parliament these days if one fails to adhere to the globalist agenda? Is the EU fast becoming the EUSSR or perhaps the Fourth Reich? You are here: Business A woman walks past an art installation at the Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) Annual Conference, in Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2024. [Photo/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. Thomas Phippen, writing at Fox News.com, reports: 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." "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. 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." 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. 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. "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. 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. The Moulin Rouge star will be the first Australian actor to receive the accolade (Ian West/PA) Australian actress Nicole Kidman has described a ceremony where she will receive the American Film Institute (AFI) Life Achievement Award as a little overwhelming but reiterated her gratitude for the honour. Hollywood stars including Morgan Freeman, Naomi Watts and Reese Witherspoon appeared on the red carpet ahead of the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to celebrate Kidman. The Oscar-winning actress, who will become the 49th recipient of the award the highest honour for a career in film at the AFI arrived in a glittering golden dress. The Moulin Rouge star will be the first Australian actor to receive the accolade, and joins a star-studded roster of previous recipients, including Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro. Kidman, who said she has an introverted personality, told the PA news agency on the carpet: Its a little overwhelming. I want to be able to appreciate it and show that I love it and that I am so grateful, but Im a little awkward, thats just my personality, Im sometimes shy. Kidman described it as everything short circuits in me. The 56-year-old continued: As an actor thats what we do, we act as actors, were given scripts, we have direction, we collaborate. So the idea of being by yourself but Ill always rise to the occasion and Im so grateful to be on this list. Kidman added that she wanted everyone to know she is incredibly grateful and appreciative. The actress was scheduled to be presented with the award on June 10 last year, but the ceremony was postponed indefinitely due to the writers strike, which was resolved in September after 146 days on the picket line. Kidman has been nominated for five Academy Awards, winning the best actress Oscar in 2003 for her performance in The Hours alongside three-time Oscar winner Streep. During her career, she has also won a Bafta, two Emmys, and six Golden Globe awards. Police have said they are increasingly concerned about a mother and her two children who are missing from the west Belfast area. Leah Lindsay, 27, and her children Jayden, seven, and Keelan, three, were last seen in north Belfast at around 11pm on Saturday. Ms Lindsay is described as 5ft 4in tall, of slim build, with blue eyes and brown hair worn in a ponytail. Police said she was last seen wearing a black coat with black and silver patches, leggings with socks pulled up and white trainers. Jayden was wearing a grey tracksuit and trainers, and Keelan had a navy coat and grey bottoms. Police appealed to anyone with information on their whereabouts to contact police on 101 quoting reference 690 28/04/24. Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the whereabouts of three people missing from the West Belfast area. Leah Lindsay (27) and her two children, seven-year-old Jayden Lindsay and three-year-old Keelan Lindsay, were last seen at around 11pm on Saturday 27 April in the North Belfast area. Leah is described as being 5 foot 4 inches in height, of slim build, with brown hair worn as a ponytail and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a black coat with black and silver patches, leggings with socks pulled up and white trainers. Jayden was last seen wearing a grey tracksuit with trainers and Keelan is described as wearing a navy coat and grey bottoms. If you have seen Leah, Jayden or Keelan or have any information on their whereabouts please contact police on 101 quoting reference 690 28/04/24. Undated handout photo of a gold pocket watch recovered from the body of the richest man on the Titanic, John Jacob Astor, which could fetch 150,000 at auction at auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, on Saturday. Photo credit should read: Henry Aldridge & Son/PA Wire The record sale of a violin which is on display at Titanic Belfast has been surpassed by a gold pocket watch recovered from the body of the richest man on the vessel. It has sold for a record-breaking 1.175 million. The watch was sold on Saturday to a private collector in the US at Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, for the highest amount ever for Titanic memorabilia, the auctioneers said. The original owner of the watch, businessman John Jacob Astor, 47, went down with the ship in 1912 after seeing new wife Madeleine onto a lifeboat. The previous highest amount paid for Titanic artefacts was 1.1 million for a violin that was played as the ship sank - which sold at the same auction house in 2013, according to the auctioneers. The case for the violin was sold at the same auction as the pocket watch at Henry Aldridge & Son on Saturday for 360,000. The world-famous violin belonging to Titanics hero musician, Wallace Hartley, a gift from his fiancee Maria Robinson. The violin is German, circa 1880, with a tail plate bearing a silver hallmark Chester, 1910, engraved with the words: For Wallace on the occasion of our engagement from Maria. As one of the rarest and most iconic objects of the 20th century, this violin bears testimony to the courage and spirit of the bandsmen who brought hope and comfort until the very end. Also on display are two personal letters to Hartley, one written by his parents the day before Titanics departure and the other a two-page letter from Wallace Hartleys friend, a fellow musician. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge told the PA news agency that the prices fetched by the Titanic memorabilia at the sale were "absolutely incredible". He said: "They reflect not only the importance of the artefacts themselves and their rarity but they also show the enduring appeal and fascination with the Titanic story. "112 years later, we are still talking about the ship and the passengers and the crew. "The thing with the Titanic story, it's effectively a large ship hits an iceberg with a tragic loss of life, but more importantly is 2,200 stories. "2,200 subplots, every man woman and child had a story to tell and then the memorabilia tells those stories today." Rather than try his luck with another safety vessel, impeccably dressed Astor, who was a prominent member of the wealthy Astor family, was last seen smoking a cigarette and chatting with a fellow passenger. His body was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean seven days later and his exquisite 14-carat gold Waltham pocket watch, engraved JJA, was found. Mr Aldridge said: "Astor is well known as the richest passenger aboard the RMS Titanic and was thought to be among the richest people in the world at that time, with a net worth of roughly 87 million US dollars - equivalent to several billion dollars today. "At 11.40pm on April 14 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg and started to take on water. "At first, Astor did not believe the ship was in any serious danger, but later it was apparent she was sinking and the captain had started an evacuation after midnight, so he helped his wife into lifeboat 4." Mrs Astor survived, and her husband's body was recovered on April 22 not far from the sinking. The watch was passed by Mr Astor's son Vincent to the son of his father's executive secretary, William Dobbyn. Union leader urges health service overspend in order to save lives in NI Industrial battle also being prepared to tackle cuts to education Patrick Mulholland from Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (Nipsa) (Liam McBurney/PA) Amy Cochrane Sun 28 Apr 2024 at 13:45 Nipsas general secretary has urged party leaders to back a budget that overspends in order to meet the needs of the people. The number of claims in accidents caused by uninsured vehicles grew by 11% in 2023, according to new figures (Niall Carson/PA) The number of claims in accidents caused by uninsured vehicles grew by 11% in 2023, according to figures from the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI). The MIBI was established in 1955 to compensate victims of road accidents caused by uninsured and unidentified vehicles. It said the average motorist will have contributed 30-35 euro at their most recent insurance renewal to cover the claims paid out by the MIBI in the last year. It said that in 2023, it received a total of 1,927 claims, up 187 on 2022. The largest number of claims it received were from Dublin (822), followed by Cork (141), Limerick (112), Kildare (102) and Galway (91). The number of claims relating to uninsured drivers grew in 14 of the 26 counties, with the largest percentage increases occurring in Mayo (up 80%), Meath (up 55%) and Kildare (up 42%). Nine counties recorded a drop in the number of claims, with the largest percentage decreases coming in Leitrim (down 55%), Offaly (down 29%) and Sligo (down 21%). It comes as the Gardai and Government clamp down on road policing in response to an increase on road fatalities; 69 people have been killed on Irish roads so far this year, compared to 51 people in the same period last year. Chief executive of the MIBI David Fitzgerald said: This jump of almost 200 claims due to accidents caused by uninsured vehicles should be a cause of concern for every law abiding motorist in the country. It is illegal to drive without valid motor insurance, yet as these figures show there are still a significant number of people who are willingly flouting the law. Every one of the uninsured motorists behind these claims is effectively putting their hands in the pockets of law abiding motorists and taking their money. The MIBI provides An Garda Siochana with the insurance details for three million vehicles on Irish roads, meaning gardai can instantly check whether a vehicle is insured by scanning its registration plate. Mr Fitzgerald said: Were on record saying our expectation is that this will be a gamechanger for law enforcement in dealing with the scourge of uninsured driving. We hope that as this new weapon begins to bite, it wont be long before the number of uninsured claims we receive also begins to fall. Michelle ONeill said she has yet to hear from the Taoiseach or the Tanaiste on the issue (Niall Carson/PA) Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill has called for a thought-out response to people who seek asylum in Ireland after travelling from the UK. The Irish Government claimed there has been a shift in migration patterns into Ireland in recent months and that the number of migrants crossing from Northern Ireland was higher than 80%. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said claims the UKs Rwanda plan is causing an influx of migrants into Ireland show its deterrent effect is working. Ministers want 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 Irish Government is to introduce legislation in response to an Irish High Court ruling last month that Irelands designation of the UK as a safe third country for returning asylum seekers, in the context of the Rwanda plan, is contrary to EU law. Sinn Fein vice president Ms ONeill said neither Irish premier Simon Harris, Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin nor Justice Minister Helen McEntee had yet been in contact with her about planned legislation on asylum seekers arriving in Ireland from the UK. I am the First Minister in the north and I have yet to hear from the Taoiseach or the Tanaiste or the Justice Minister, she said in Dublin on Sunday. To me, that highlights, maybe even underlines, how disorganised they are in dealing with this issue. Policy responsibility for migration and immigration sits with the British government, Im aware that Helen McEntee is to meet (Home Secretary) James Cleverly over the course of the next 24-36 hours. Theres also a British-Irish intergovernmental conference this week, this is the forum in which these issues need to be addressed. This is the forum in which there should be a solution coming out the other end, but a thought-out solution, an actually considered solution, a human rights compliant solution, and we look forward to (that) over the next couple of days. Ms ONeill was speaking at a launch of the partys local, European and Limerick mayoral election campaign in Dublin. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said any proposal has to be properly resourced (Niall Carson/PA) Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who was also at the event, argued that cross-border migration means Ireland should reject a newly-revealed overhaul of EU laws on migration and asylum. We now hear that the Government has plans to address the issue of those who have claimed asylum in Britain and who then move on to the island of Ireland, Ms McDonald said on Sunday. We want to see what those plans are. Clearly, there has to be an efficient way of managing all of this. By the way, life has to continue on the island people have to come and go to work, business and commerce has to flow. I dearly wish that we didnt have a border on the island. Sadly, for now anyway, we do. So, ordinary life has to go on as normal. And then we need a plan that is resourced and delivered to deal with this issue. I hear that they are saying that they will now have accelerated procedures for people who are making a claim. I think that would be very welcome but Im conscious also weve heard commitments like this before and they havent been delivered on. Asked about plans to overhaul the EUs migration system, Ms McDonald said: I think the turn of events and the specific set of circumstances that we have to deal with on the island of Ireland actually argue against signing up to the EU migration pact lock, stop and barrel. Unlike other European jurisdictions, we have to deal with our next-door neighbour of Britain and we have to have the flexibility and the capacity to manage that. People visit the 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Shunyi District, Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] The 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, an A-list event continuing through May 4, is showcasing an unprecedented number of new energy vehicles (NEVs), with 278 distinct NEV models on display, reflecting the growing dominance of NEVs in the auto industry. CATL, a leading battery manufacturer, launched a new battery at the prestigious auto show, featuring a world-first innovation that offers a 1,000-km range and supports ultra-fast charging. This breakthrough allows for a 600-km range in just 10 minutes of charging, achieving a recharge rate of "1 kilometer per second." A CATL spokesperson said that while the world is turning climate consensus into action, many obstacles remain. Technological inequality persists, and some countries are slowing the pace of the green energy transition, which creates challenges in advancing a sustainable future for the world. "Today, we need to unite as never before to tackle these pressing challenges, and I believe an open approach to innovation is the solution," the spokesperson told Xinhua. In China, the new energy passenger car retail penetration rate exceeded 50 percent for the first time in the first half of April, indicating that one out of every two cars sold is a new energy vehicle. This milestone is particularly significant, considering China's ambitious goal set in 2020 to exceed a 50 percent NEV penetration rate by 2035, which seemed distant at the time when the penetration rate was only 5.8 percent. As sustainable development deepens, the global demand for new energy products, services, and technologies has grown significantly, according to a new KPMG report on Chinese new energy enterprises "going global." China plays a crucial role in promoting global green and low-carbon development. Its new energy industry has not only achieved remarkable success in the domestic market but is also actively expanding into the international market, enhancing the energy industry's level of internationalization, as noted in the report. "This contributes Chinese wisdom and solutions to the realization of global green development goals." Riding China's tailwinds Timur Gul, chief energy technology officer of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said carbon dioxide emissions from the transportation sector account for over one-fifth of the global total emissions and are a major source of pollution in urban areas. The good news is that even under the current policy environment, oil consumption in the transportation sector will reach its peak within this decade, and the key driver of this transition is the electrification of road transport, according to Gul. He stated that the robust growth of the electric vehicle (EV) market is pivotal for reaching global climate objectives. He highlighted that for governments worldwide, the EV market presents escalating opportunities. These extend beyond climate improvement and air pollution reduction to encompass economic growth and the fulfillment of industrial targets. Aion, an EV brand under China's Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC), has become one of the fastest-growing automotive brands globally. This success is attributed to its comprehensive in-house research and development in the domains of EVs and intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs). GAC Aion General Manager Gu Huinan emphasized the company's commitment to bringing high-quality, intelligent and valuable products to the local markets and driving local automotive industry development. In 2022, Aion's smart eco-factory achieved zero carbon emissions and was honored as the Global Lighthouse Network's (GLN) sole NEV manufacturer member in December 2023. The GLN was formed when the World Economic Forum (WEF) teamed up with McKinsey & Company in 2018 to identify the most innovative leaders in manufacturing. The WEF introduces the GLN as a globally recognized community transforming factory and value chain operations with Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, with each member indisputably a leader in its respective industry. Gu told Xinhua that Aion's global leadership in intelligence and digitalization can serve as a model for local manufacturing. The robust tailwinds created by China's NEV industry are not only propelling domestic growth but also turbo-charging innovation and opportunity across the global automotive landscape. David Slump, President and CEO of Marelli, a leading global automotive supplier, highlighted the importance of "China speed" for innovation. "If you look at our order book, about 25 percent of orders are from China," he told Xinhua at the auto show. "That tells me that we'll be growing faster in China than elsewhere, and that's super important. And it's because of the speed and the innovation in China." With 5,000 employees in China, including 800 engineers, Marelli looks forward to expanding its R&D presence in this competitive market. "What are we focused on? Speed. China speed. That's super important for innovation," Slump confirmed Marelli's long-term commitment to China. "We asked ourselves, what's the 'next China'? And the answer is China." Simon Harris said people in Ireland should be able to disagree without violence ensuing (Niall Carson/PA) Taoiseach Simon Harris has criticised protests outside peoples homes as downright thuggery at an event commemorating a murdered politician. Mr Harris said that too often politicians have been targeted at their homes by angry mobs, have been attacked and abused, and have been in fear of what might happen to their families. He said: We know how this story ends. We have had too many warnings and we need to take them seriously before the unthinkable happens. Mr Harris was speaking at an event in Co Monaghan to mark 50 years since the death of former Fine Gael TD and senator Billy Fox. The 35-year-old senator was shot dead by members of the Provisional IRA in March 1974. On Sunday, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Billy Fox Memorial Park in Derrygoony in his memory. During a speech at the ceremony, Mr Harris highlighted a Dail debate in December 1971 where Mr Fox produced a plastic bullet and a tear gas cannister as evidence about what was being fired across the border. He said a portrait in his memory would be unveiled later this year. Billy Fox was hated by some because he was seen as too Republican, he said. He was hated by others because he was a Protestant and he wasnt seen as Republican enough. Mr Harris said the event provided an opportunity to reflect on a very significant coarsening around political debate in Ireland. A recent protest outside the home of Minister for Equality and Integration Roderic OGorman has been criticised across the political spectrum. He said Ireland should be a place where people can disagree with each other without people gathering outside somebodys home in balaclavas. He added: Thats not protest. Its downright thuggery. I do think occasions like this should always provide us with a moment to reflect on where were at in our own political discourse. Mr Harris said he is satisfied that the Gardai do not need new laws to deal with public order incidents and said he would support gardai in enforcing those laws through measures such as the introduction of Garda bodycams. We do need to also say this: No matter how challenging situations are, the laws of the land apply in this country. Its very important that laws are enforced and that rules are enforced without fear or favour. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (centre left) and Stormont First Minister Michelle ONeill launch the partys elections campaign (Niall Carson/PA) Speaking in Dublin on Sunday, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was a matter of common decency not to protest outside a persons home. We all know in a democratic society everybody enjoys the right to protest, and I am very keen that we respect that and we protect it, she said at the launch of her partys local and European election campaign. But its a different matter entirely if people are attacking members of the Garda, if people are attacking or interfering with other citizens going about their business. All of us enjoy the right to protest, but we have to be clear that it has to be within the boundaries of the law. As for events outside ministers homes, I just think its a matter of common decency to recognise that a persons home is where their family is. A persons home is their refuge and their shelter. Yes, people have been outside my home many times over the last number of years, I dont like it, but look, it is what it is. She added that this was the exception and the outlier and that most people, including those who disagree with politicians, are decent and civil. UK and Irish ministers are due to meet in London amid an escalating row over migrants travelling from the UK to Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) UK and Irish ministers are due to meet in London amid an escalating row over migrants travelling from the UK to Ireland. Irelands deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin is to co-chair a meeting of the British Irish Inter-Governmental Conference (BIIGC) in London on Monday with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris. Home Secretary James Cleverly and Justice Minister Helen McEntee had been due to meet on Monday to discuss strengthening the Common Travel Area, but the meeting was postponed late on Sunday night. (PA Graphics) It comes as Channel crossings continue and Home Office figures show more than 7,000 migrants have arrived in the UK so far this year after making the journey reaching a new record high for the first four months of a calendar year. It was confirmed on Monday that Ms McEntee will not attend the BIIGC and will instead meet senior officials in Dublin. The minister looks forward to her meeting with the Home Secretary being rescheduled soon, a statement said. Ms McEntee has claimed that the number of asylum seekers crossing from Northern Ireland is now higher than 80% due to a shift in migration patterns in recent months. Irish premier Simon Harris said Ireland will not provide a loophole for other countries migration challenges (Brian Lawless/PA) After Mr Martin said the increase could be driven by migrants in fear of being deported to Rwanda, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that shows the UKs Rwanda plans effect. The plan aims to send asylum seekers to the east African nation to deter others from crossing the English Channel. Irish premier Simon Harris said on Sunday that Ireland will not provide a loophole for other countries migration challenges and said Ireland will draft legislation for a new returns policy. Mr Harris also said that close collaboration and co-operation between the British and Irish Governments is not just desirable, but absolutely essential. In response, the UK Government rejected any bid by Ireland to return asylum seekers unless France agrees to do the same with boats crossing the Channel. We wont accept any asylum returns from the EU via Ireland until the EU accepts that we can send them back to France, a Government source said. Mel Stride, the UK Work and Pensions Secretary, said on Monday that the claimed increase in people seeking asylum in Ireland who have crossed the border are early signs of the Rwanda plans effectiveness. Asked whether the UK would accept asylum seekers being sent back across the border into Northern Ireland, Mr Stride told LBC: We are not in the business of having more illegal migrants in the UK. What you are seeing now are the early signs of the deterrent effect works. Thats exactly why we are now having this conversation, because we have now passed that legislation. The meeting between James Cleverly and Helen McEntee was cancelled (Victoria Jones/PA) The Prime Minister has made it very clear in 10-12 weeks time we are going to be seeing people going on to planes, we are geared up for it, its going to happen, and my view is its going to work. Labours David Lammy said it is way too premature to say that the Rwanda plan is working. I suspect, actually, as the weather warms up we will see this scheme, Im afraid, has not deterred many, many people from crossing the Channel, the shadow foreign secretary told LBC. I think its way too premature to say now that weve seen a few people go to Dublin somehow this has been achieved. Thats just not going to be the case. Mr Lammy also called for a co-ordinated agreement with European countries, rather than a whack-a-mole situation where compromises are made with individual states as they raise complaints. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Stormont First Minister Michelle ONeill in Dublin on Sunday (PA) On Sunday, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill urged a thought-out and considered response from both the British and Irish Governments. Irish ministers are expected to discuss on Tuesday emergency legislation that would see asylum seekers returned to the UK. The legislation is being drafted in response to an Irish High Court ruling which found that Ireland designating the UK as a safe third country for returning asylum seekers, in the context of the Rwanda plan, is contrary to EU law. Ms McEntee said in a statement: I will seek Government approval for the legislation to be rapidly drafted so that the UK can again be designated as a safe country for returns. My department has been working on this as a priority since last months High Court judgment and I intend that returns to the UK will recommence once the law is enacted. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, by a Border Force vessel (Gareth Fuller/PA) Mr Martin said: I am pleased to be in London for another important meeting of the BIIGC, the first such meeting since the restoration of the Strand I and Strand II institutions. As ever, there are numerous areas of mutual interest for the Governments to discuss and I look forward to another productive conference. Some 500 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK on Friday and Saturday alone, taking the provisional total for 2024 to date to 7,167. This exceeds the previous record high figure of 6,691 for January to April 2022 and has already surpassed the 5,946 arrivals in the first four months of last year. It means arrivals are 24% higher than this time last year and 7% higher than at this point in 2022. No crossings were recorded on Sunday. Demonstrators have protested in central London against a death sentence given to a popular rapper in Iran. Members of the Iranian community wore masks depicting the face of Toomaj Salehi and erected a mock gallows outside Downing Street on Sunday. The 33-year-old was sentenced to death by an Iranian court earlier this week for his support of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, which developed after protests in Iran in 2022. Protesters wore masks of Salehi and waved Iranian flags (Jeff Moore/PA) The protests broke out after Mahsa Amini, 22, died in the custody of the countrys morality police after being detained for wearing her hijab too loosely. Salehi is known for using his lyrics to criticise the Islamic Republic of Iran, highlighting corruption, poverty, state executions and the killing of protesters. Placards and flags, including one reading Free Toomaj Salehi Death sentence for rapping, were carried with Iranian flags by the protesters. Other protests for Salehi have taken place around the world over the weekend, including in Spain, the US and Australia. Award-winning NI pizzeria charged over mouse problem Love Pizza, which got four out of five on the scores on the doors, faces three charges A pizza from Love Pizza Christopher Woodhouse Sun 28 Apr 2024 at 08:00 A pizzeria which once won a 100,000 restaurant of the year award has been charged to court over an alleged mouse problem. Sport Ulster boss Richie Murphy: We lost our way, but showed character to come back and finish it off Doug Beattie backs Tim Collins despite his criticism of Colonels famous Iraq war speech Col Collins delivered what would become a renowned speech, but Beattie recalled how it had left the men somewhere they shouldnt have been Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins in 2003 John Toner Sun 28 Apr 2024 at 08:00 Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie was so underwhelmed by Colonel Tim Collins famous eve-of-battle speech in Iraq he had to b*****k his men. Iconic play on the menopause returns to Grand Opera House for 25th anniversary: People werent sure if they should be laughing Playwright tells of her pride Women On The Verge of HRT helped people come to terms with condition Katie Tumelty, Ciaran O'Brien and Jo Donnelly John Toner Sun 28 Apr 2024 at 08:00 Acclaimed playwright Marie Jones has spoken of her joy at helping generations of women come to terms with the menopause. The Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit of 2024 will take place in Beijing on May 13, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) said on Sunday. Some 34 countries and regions and 159 overseas institutions have signed up for the summit, Zhao Ping, spokesperson of the CCPIT, told a press conference. These people include heads of international organizations and economic institutions, such as Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank, heads of chambers of commerce, business associations and trade promotion facilities, as well as high-level representatives from Tesla, Walmart, and other Fortune Global 500 companies, according to Zhao. This year's summit will boost discussions by business leaders around the globe on smoothening supply chains, promote exchanges between entrepreneurs from the United States and China on turning the "San Francisco Vision" into reality, among other issues, Zhao added. 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. House Democrats on Friday defeated a Republican bid to restrict migrants' access to the state's overflowing emergency family shelter system, a day after the Legislature shipped a supplemental budget to Gov. Maura Healey that would impose a new nine-month limit on shelter stays. With House Speaker Ron Mariano at the rostrum, lawmakers rejected amendments from Rep. Paul Frost that aimed to install a three-month residency requirement for family shelter and to prioritize Massachusetts residents on the shelter waitlist. Lawmakers rejected Amendment 1393, emergency housing assistance requirements, on a 30-127 roll call vote, and they rejected Amendment 1394, prioritizing Massachusetts residents on the waitlist for emergency housing assistance, on a 27-131 roll call vote. "I ask that the members consider this amendment so that a family that does need to get emergency shelter can get it, which would not have been a problem a year or so ago, especially those who've been here for a long period of time," Frost, an Auburn Republican, said. "We should give priority to those who have been here longer and longtime residents of Massachusetts, versus a family that just arrived and has been here for an hour. And I think that's a fair and reasonable thing to do." Assistant Majority Leader Alice Peisch argued Frost's proposals could result in court challenges. "I would also just like to underscore, as I did a moment ago, that no families whether they are longtime Massachusetts residents or families that are new to the state are being put out on the street," Peisch said. "We do have these overflow shelters. I don't want anyone to be operating under the assumption that we have Massachusetts residents who are being left out on the street, so once again, I ask you please for the fourth time to reject the residency requirement." Anti-homelessness advocates have said that families on the shelter waitlist continue to sleep at Logan Airport, an outcome that lawmakers have tried to avoid as they have injected more and more money into the system and supported new overflow sites. Democrats also thwarted an amendment from House Minority Leader Bradley Jones to prioritize shelter access for homeless veterans. Amendment 698, homeless veterans prioritization for shelter assistance, was rejected on a 27-129 roll call vote. Rep. Gerard Cassidy, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, previewed a veterans bill being readied for May that will address programs and benefits extensions. "This is not a veterans' bill. This is basically a political ploy to bring the veterans in," Cassidy said of Jones' proposal. "This bill that will be coming out is more in tune to what we're doing." As the third day of budget deliberations unfolded, the House unanimously adopted Consolidated Amendment F on a roll call vote, which added more than $8.2 million in housing and energy and environmental affairs investments. The consolidated amendment also removed from the budget proposal a $175 million withdrawal from the Transitional Escrow Fund to be put towards the shelter crisis in fiscal 2025. Legislative Democrats instead authorized that withdrawal in the supplemental budget they passed Thursday. The amendment includes a bevy of local spending items, including $250,000 to help the City of Quincy manage ferry service at Squantum Point Park, $50,000 for a statue of Sarah Bradlee Fulton in Medford, $62,000 for kitchen equipment at Sudbury's emergency shelter, and $50,000 to grow the tree canopy in East Boston. Some of the policy provisions impose fines on people who intentionally release helium balloons and establish a deer population control commission. China, U.S. reach five-point consensus at Beijing meeting Xinhua) 09:42, April 28, 2024 BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday in Beijing, with the two sides reaching a five-point consensus based on a comprehensive exchange of views. First, both sides agreed to continue to work hard to stabilize and develop China-U.S. relations in accordance with the guidance of the two heads of state. The two sides affirmed the positive progress made in dialogue and cooperation between China and the United States in various fields since the meeting in San Francisco, and agreed to speed up the implementation of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state in San Francisco. Second, both sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and contacts at all levels. They will continue to allow the restored and newly established consultation mechanisms to play their role in the fields of diplomacy, economy, finance and commerce, continue to carry out exchanges between the two militaries, and further promote China-U.S. cooperation on drug control, climate change and artificial intelligence. Third, the two sides announced that they would hold the first meeting of the China-U.S. intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence, continue to advance consultations on the principles guiding China-U.S. relations, hold a new round of China-U.S. consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs and China-U.S. maritime affairs, and continue consular consultations. The anti-drug working group of the two countries will hold a senior officials meeting. The United States welcomes China's special envoy for climate change Liu Zhenmin to visit the United States. Fourth, the two sides will take measures to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, welcome students from each other's countries and work together for the success of the 14th China-U.S. Tourism Leadership Summit to be held in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, in May. Fifth, the two sides will maintain consultations on international and regional hotspot issues and strengthen communication between the special envoys of the two sides. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) 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. BOSTON The Massachusetts House voted 153-4 late Friday to pass a $58 billion fiscal 2025 budget that invests in K-12 education, child care and public transit, 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 budget does not call for tax increases, seeks to push overall state spending up by about 3.3 percent, or $2 billion, and aims to drive up the state rainy day fund balance to nearly $9 billion. 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. At least publicly, there was little in the way of passionate debate over tough choices like how to best spend taxpayer dollars and whether to raise or cut taxes. After session, House Ways and Means Committee Chair Aaron Michlewitz defended the mostly behind-closed-doors approach, saying there are "many different processes," including one-on-one meetings and off-floor discussions, that representatives go through to advocate for their priorities during the budget's development. "They have the opportunity to pull their amendments on the floor and debate if they choose to," Michlewitz said. In the vast majority of cases, representatives opt against putting their amendments up for debates and separate votes. Representatives tacked on less spending via amendments than they did to last year's budget, and a shade less than the $108.5 million average between fiscal years 2022 and 2024 as calculated by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. "We want to be cautious, but also want to be able to do the local investments as well that we have done in the past as much as we possibly could," Michlewitz told reporters after the vote. "I think we landed on a good number to do both." In recent years, the Legislature has worked with Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Democrat Gov. Maura Healey to oversee a major surge in state spending, but sluggish tax collections and new spending demands have changed the tenor of discussion. "I think all in all, we've preached a pretty conservative message," said Speaker Ron Mariano. "I think that took hold, and I think the members were respectful of concerns about where we were going to end up." Overly optimistic revenue estimates are partly to blame for uprooting the budget that House and Senate Democrats drew up for fiscal 2024, causing Healey in January to reach for spending cuts and new revenues as part of a major mid-year budget-balancing act. Since then, the governor has imposed hiring controls as an added effort to control spending. The Department of Revenue next week is scheduled to release tax collection data for April, a critical month for receipts, and Michlewitz said those numbers will be a "big determining factor in how we handle the remainder of the fiscal year." After Friday's vote, Mariano mentioned efforts by top House Democrats to hold new spending down next fiscal year. "We've taken extraordinary measures to diminish some of the expectations that members had about what the tax revenues were going to be," he said. The Republican leadership in the House voted for the fiscal 2025 budget, and the four minority party votes against the budget were cast by Reps. Nicholas Boldyga, David DeCoste, Marc Lombardo and Alyson Sullivan-Almeida. With only a bit more than three months left for major business this term, Mariano said health care and housing legislation are close to the top of his near-term agenda. "And whatever else comes up along the way, but those are a couple of the things that I know are gonna take my time next week," Mariano said. The Senate usually debates its annual budget bill the week before Memorial Day weekend. Taoiseach Simon Harris has said Ireland will not provide a loophole for anybody elses migration challenges. He was speaking after UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said claims that the UK governments Rwanda plan is causing an increase in migration to the Republic shows its deterrent effect is working. Advertisement The Government has said there has been a shift in migration patterns into the Republic in recent months and that the number of migrants crossing the Border from the North was now higher than 80 per cent. Advertisement Legislation is to be introduced next week in response to a High Court ruling that the States designation of the UK as a safe third country for returning asylum seekers, in the context of the Rwanda plan, is contrary to EU law. The UKs Rwanda plan aims to send asylum seekers to the east African nation to deter others from crossing the Channel on small boats. Asked on Sunday whether the increase in asylum seekers travelling from the UK to the Republic suggested the Rwanda policy was working, Mr Harris said: Im not going to comment on whether the British migration policy is working, thats a matter for him (Rishi Sunak) to put to the British people. He said: Every country is entitled to have its own migration policy, but I certainly dont intend to allow anybody elses migration policy to affect the integrity of our own one. Advertisement This country will not in any way, shape or form provide a loophole for anybody elses migration challenges. Thats very clear. Other countries can decide how they wish to advance migration. From an Irish perspective, we intend to have a firm rules-based system where rules are in place, where rules are in force, where rules are seen to be enforced. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee will meet with the UKs home secretary James Cleverly to discuss migration on Monday (Liam McBurney/PA) Advertisement It is a statement of fact that there was a returns agreement in place between Ireland and Britain, and there was a High Court decision in the month of March in relation to that. My colleague, the Minister for Justice, will now bring forward legislative proposals to Cabinet on Tuesday that will seek to put in place a new returns policy. Were going to await the full details of that, but its one which will effectively allow, again, people to be returned to the United Kingdom. And I think thats quite appropriate. It was always the intention. Asked whether checks would be carried out along the border as a result of the migration increase, Mr Harris said: It is, again, a statement of fact that the PSNI and the Gardai already collaborate and work together, I do certainly think theres going to need to be much more of that in terms of collaboration. He said Minister for Justice Helen McEntee would meet with UK home secretary James Cleverly on Monday. Advertisement Meanwhile, Northern Irelands First Minister Michelle ONeill has called for a thought-out response between the Irish and UK governments. Sinn Fein vice president Ms ONeill said neither Mr Harris, Ms McEntee nor Tanaiste Micheal Martin had yet been in contact with her about planned legislation on asylum seekers arriving in the Republic from the UK. I am the First Minister in the North, and I have yet to hear from the Taoiseach or the Tanaiste or the Justice Minister, she said in Dublin on Sunday morning. To me, that highlights, maybe even underlines, how disorganised they are in dealing with this issue. Policy responsibility for migration and immigration sits with the British government, Im aware that Helen McEntee is to meet James Cleverly over the course of the next 24 to 36 hours. Theres also a British-Irish intergovernmental conference this week. This is the forum in which these issues need to be addressed. This is the forum in which there should be a solution coming out the other end, but a thought-out solution, an actually considered solution, a human rights compliant solution, and we look forward to (that) over the next couple of days. Ms ONeill was speaking at a launch of the partys local, European and Limerick mayoral election campaign in Dublin. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said any plans on migration needed to be resourced and delivered to deal with this issue (Niall Carson/PA) Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who was also at the event, argued that cross-border migration means Ireland should reject a newly-revealed overhaul of EU laws on migration and asylum. We now hear that the Government has plans to address the issue of those who have claimed asylum in Britain and who then move on to the island of Ireland, Ms McDonald said on Sunday. We want to see what those plans are. Clearly, there has to be an efficient way of managing all of this. By the way, life has to continue on the island people have to come and go to work, business and commerce has to flow. I dearly wish that we didnt have a border on the island. Sadly, for now anyway, we do. So, ordinary life has to go on as normal. And then we need a plan that is resourced and delivered to deal with this issue. Ireland Asylum seekers going to Ireland shows Rwanda plan'... Read More I hear that they are saying that they will now have accelerated procedures for people who are making a claim. I think that would be very welcome, but Im conscious also weve heard commitments like this before and they havent been delivered on. Asked about plans to overhaul the EUs migration system, Ms McDonald said: I think the turn of events and the specific set of circumstances that we have to deal with on the island of Ireland actually argue against signing up to the EU migration pact lock, stop and barrel. Unlike other European jurisdictions, we have to deal with our next-door neighbour of Britain and we have to have the flexibility and the capacity to manage that. Taoiseach Simon Harris has criticised protests outside peoples homes as downright thuggery at an event commemorating a murdered politician. Mr Harris said that too often politicians have been targeted at their homes by angry mobs, have been attacked and abused, and have been in fear of what might happen to their families. Advertisement He said: We know how this story ends. We have had too many warnings, and we need to take them seriously before the unthinkable happens. Mr Harris was speaking at an event in Co Monaghan to mark 50 years since the death of former Fine Gael TD and senator Billy Fox. The 35-year-old senator was shot dead by members of the Provisional IRA in March 1974. On Sunday, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Billy Fox Memorial Park in Derrygoony in his memory. Advertisement During a speech at the ceremony, Mr Harris highlighted a Dail debate in December 1971 where Mr Fox produced a plastic bullet and a tear gas cannister as evidence about what was being fired across the Border. Advertisement He said a portrait in his memory would be unveiled later this year. Billy Fox was hated by some because he was seen as too Republican, he said. He was hated by others because he was a Protestant and he wasnt seen as Republican enough. Mr Harris said the event provided an opportunity to reflect on a very significant coarsening around political debate in Ireland. Advertisement A recent protest outside the home of Minister for Integration Roderic OGorman has been criticised across the political spectrum. He said Ireland should be a place where people can disagree with each other without people gathering outside somebodys home in balaclavas. He added: Thats not protest. Its downright thuggery. Ireland Threats will undermine democracy, says OGorman, a... Read More I do think occasions like this should always provide us with a moment to reflect on where were at in our own political discourse. Advertisement Mr Harris said he is satisfied that the Gardai do not need new laws to deal with public order incidents and said he would support gardai in enforcing those laws through measures such as the introduction of Garda bodycams. We do need to also say this: No matter how challenging situations are, the laws of the land apply in this country. Its very important that laws are enforced and that rules are enforced without fear or favour. The White House said US president Joe Biden has spoken with Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu again as pressure builds on Israel and Hamas to reach a deal that would free some Israeli hostages and bring about a ceasefire after nearly seven months of war in Gaza. Mr Biden reiterated his clear position as Israel plans to invade Gazas southernmost city of Rafah, despite global concern for more than one million Palestinians sheltering there, officials said. Advertisement The US opposes the invasion on humanitarian grounds, straining relations between the allies. The US secretary of state Antony Blinken is returning to the Middle East on Monday. Mr Biden has held discussions with the Israeli prime minister (AP) Advertisement Mr Biden also stressed that progress in delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza should be sustained and enhanced, according to the statement. It was less stark than their previous call this month in which Mr Biden warned that future American support for Israel in the war depends on swift implementation of new steps to protect civilians and aid workers. There was no comment from Mr Netanyahus office on the latest call. A senior official from key intermediary Qatar, meanwhile, urged Israel and Hamas to show more commitment and more seriousness in negotiations. Qatar, which hosts Hamas headquarters in Doha, was instrumental along with the US and Egypt in helping negotiate a brief halt to the fighting in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages. But in a sign of frustration, Qatar this month said that it was reassessing its role. Advertisement An Israeli delegation is expected in Egypt in the coming days to discuss the latest proposals in negotiations, and senior Hamas official Basem Naim said in a message to The Associated Press that a delegation from the militant group will also head to Cairo. Egypts state-owned al-Qahera TV said the delegation would arrive on Monday. US secretary of state Antony Blinken is returning to the Middle East for a fresh attempt at a diplomatic solution (AP) The comments by Qatars foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari in interviews with the liberal daily Haaretz and Israeli public broadcaster Kan were published and aired Saturday evening. Advertisement Mr al-Ansari expressed disappointment with Hamas and Israel, saying each side has made decisions based on political interests and not with civilians welfare in mind. He did not reveal details on the talks other than to say they have effectively stopped, with both sides entrenched in their positions. His remarks came after an Egyptian delegation discussed with Israeli officials a new vision for a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, according to an Egyptian official. Activists and a delegation of American and Israeli rabbis from Rabbis for Ceasefire rally near the Erez crossing to the Gaza Strip (AP) Advertisement This official said that Israeli officials are open to discussing establishing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza as part of the second phase of a deal. Israel has refused to end the war until it defeats Hamas. The second phase would start after the release of civilian and sick hostages, and would include negotiating the release of soldiers, the official added. Senior Palestinian prisoners would be released and a reconstruction process launched. Negotiations earlier this month centred on a six-week ceasefire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages held by Hamas in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. A letter written by Mr Biden and 17 other world leaders urged Hamas to release the hostages immediately. Hamas in recent days has released new videos of three hostages, an apparent push for Israel to make concessions. The growing pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach a ceasefire deal is also meant to avert an Israeli attack on Rafah, the city on the border with Egypt where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million population is seeking shelter. Fresh protests against Mr Netanyahus government took place in Tel Aviv (AP) Israel has massed dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles. The planned incursion has raised global alarm. Only a small strike is all it takes to force everyone to leave Palestine, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asserted to the opening session of the World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia, adding that he believed an invasion would happen within days. But White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told ABC that Israel assured us they wont go into Rafah until weve had a chance to really share our perspectives and concerns with them. So, well see where that goes. The Israeli troop build-up may also be a pressure tactic on Hamas in talks. Israel sees Rafah as Hamas last major stronghold. It vows to destroy the groups military and governing capabilities. Aid groups have warned that an invasion of Rafah would worsen the already desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza, where hunger is widespread. About 400 tonnes of aid arrived on Sunday at the Israeli port of Ashdod the largest shipment yet by sea via Cyprus according to the United Arab Emirates. Also on Sunday, World Central Kitchen said that it would resume operations in Gaza on Monday, ending a four-week suspension after Israeli military drones killed seven of its aid workers. Saif played critical roles that made our operation possible, translating and serving as a trusted and protective driver. As WCK grieves the loss of our 7 heroes, we are taking the time to remember & honor their incredible lives. Read Saifs tribute here: https://t.co/7mCqqQ5K1u pic.twitter.com/hURokPdneb World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) April 11, 2024 The organisation has 276 trucks ready to enter through the Rafah crossing and will also send trucks into Gaza from Jordan, a statement said. It is also examining if the Ashdod port can be used to offload supplies. The war was sparked by Hamas attack on October 7th into southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities, who say another 250 people were taken hostage. Hamas and other groups are holding about 130 people, including the remains of about 30, Israeli authorities say. Israels retaliatory assault on Hamas has killed more than 34,000 people, most of them women and children, according to health authorities in Gaza, who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their tally. The Israeli military blames Hamas for civilian casualties, accusing it of embedding in residential and public areas. It claims it has killed at least 12,000 militants. A senior Qatari official has urged both Israel and Hamas to show more commitment and more seriousness in ceasefire negotiations, as pressure builds on both sides to move towards a deal that would set Israeli hostages free and bring potential respite after almost seven months of war in Gaza. It came as Israel still promises to invade Gazas southern city of Rafah despite global concern for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sheltering there, and as the sides are exchanging proposals surrounding a ceasefire deal. Advertisement Qatar, which hosts Hamas headquarters in Doha, has been a key intermediary throughout the Israel-Hamas war. Along with the US and Egypt, Qatar was instrumental in helping negotiate a brief halt to the fighting in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages. The sides have held numerous rounds of negotiations since, none of which produced an additional truce. In a sign of its frustration, Qatar earlier this month said it was reassessing its role as mediator. Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu is coming under intense pressure including from Israeli civilians (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Advertisement In interviews with Israeli media over the weekend, Qatars foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari expressed disappointment in both Hamas and Israel, saying each side has made its decisions based on political interests and not with the good of civilians in mind. We were hoping to see more commitment and more seriousness on both sides, he told Haaretz. He did not reveal details of the current state of the talks, other than to say they have effectively stopped, with both sides entrenched in their positions. But he added: If there is a renewed sense of commitment on both sides, Im sure we can reach a deal. Advertisement The Israeli journalists conducted the interviews in Qatar, which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel. Relations between Qatar and Israel have been strained throughout the war, as some politicians in Israel, including Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, have criticised Qatar for not putting enough pressure on Hamas. Israeli legislators have also cleared the way for the country to expel Al Jazeera, the Qatar-owned broadcaster. Advertisement Rows of tents have been built near Rafah as displaced Palestinians have flocked there (Maxar Technologies/AP) Mr al-Ansaris remarks came after an Egyptian delegation had discussed with Israeli officials a new vision for a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, according to an Egyptian official. But the progress seemed minimal. The Egyptian official said Israeli officials are open to discussing establishing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza as part of the second phase of a deal. They showed willingness to do so but not commitment, the official said. Israel has refused to end the war until it defeats Hamas. Advertisement The second phase would start after the release of civilian and sick hostages, and would include negotiating the release of soldiers, he added. Senior Palestinian prisoners would be released and a reconstruction process launched. Hamas, meanwhile, said on Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire, which came in response to a Hamas proposal from two weeks ago. There is growing international pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach a ceasefire deal and avert an Israeli attack on Rafah. A letter penned by US president Joe Biden along with 17 other world leaders urged Hamas to release the hostages immediately. Hamas has in recent days released new videos of three hostages it holds, which appeared to be meant to push Israel to make concessions. Israel meanwhile has massed dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles ahead of an expected offensive in Rafah, where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million population is seeking shelter. The planned incursion has raised global alarm because of concerns over potential harm to civilians. The troop build-up may also be a pressure tactic on Hamas in the truce talks. Ukraines troops have been forced to make a tactical retreat from three villages in the embattled east, the countrys army chief has said. Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi warned of a worsening battlefield situation as Ukrainian forces wait for much-needed arms from a huge US aid package to reach combat zones. Advertisement He reported that Russian forces continue to attack along the entire front line of more than 620 miles, with pitched battles raging west of Avdiivka, the eastern city they took in February after a gruelling, months-long fight. The most difficult situation is in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions, where fierce battles continue, Col Gen Syrskyis said in an update posted to the Telegram messaging app, referencing two Ukrainian-held cities in the war-torn Donetsk region, once a hub of industry. We are preparing for the first, inaugural Peace Summit in June. Our team works with the teams of our key partners to ensure that the Summit is truly global. We can certainly say that countries from all continents will be represented, from various parts of the world and with pic.twitter.com/PQrLvUr4dc Advertisement Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) April 28, 2024 He added: The enemy has engaged up to four brigades in these directions, is trying to develop an offensive west of Avdiivka and Marinka, making its way to Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. Advertisement Units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine, preserving the lives and health of our defenders, moved to new frontiers west of Berdychi, Semenivka and Novomykhailivka. Two of these front-line villages lie less than 31 miles east of Pokrovsk, while the third is located around 20 miles by road from Kurakhove. A Washington-based think tank predicted late on Saturday that Russian forces will likely make significant tactical gains in the coming weeks as acute ammunition shortages continue to hobble Ukraines defence efforts. In its latest operational assessment, the Institute for the Study of War said that Moscows forces have opportunities to push forward around Avdiivka, and also threaten nearby Chasiv Yar. Advertisement The Ukrainian war effort is facing some setbacks on the front line (AP) Its capture would give Russia control of a hilltop from which it can attack other key cities forming the backbone of Ukraines eastern defences. Despite this, the think tank assessed that neither of these efforts by Moscow are likely to cause Kyivs defensive lines to collapse in the near term. Advertisement The Russian defence ministry has confirmed that Moscows troops had taken a village about 10 miles north of Avdiivka, days after the war institute reported on its likely capture early on Thursday. That days assessment described Moscows gains as relatively quick but still relatively marginal, adding that Russian troops had advanced by no more than three miles over the previous week. US president Joe Biden promised on Wednesday that American weapons shipments would begin making their way into Ukraine within hours, as he signed into law a $95 billion measure $61 billion of which was allocated for Ukraine that also included assistance for Israel, Taiwan and other global hot spots. The announcement marked an end to the long, painful battle with Republicans in US congress over urgently needed assistance for Ukraine. Elsewhere, Russian drones struck the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Mykolaiv early on Sunday, setting a hotel ablaze and damaging infrastructure, according to local officials. People wave a Ukrainian flag during a demonstration in support of the Estonian military strategic plan for Ukraine in Prague (AP) Vitaliy Kim, the governor of Ukraines southern Mykolaiv province, said that the drones seriously damaged a hotel in its namesake capital, sparking a fire that was later extinguished. Mr Kim also reported that the strike damaged heat-generating infrastructure in the city. He added that there were no casualties. Russian state agency RIA reported that the strike on Mykolaiv targeted a shipyard where naval drones are assembled, as well as a hotel housing English-speaking mercenaries who have fought for Kyiv. The RIA report cited Sergei Lebedev, described as a coordinator of local pro-Moscow guerrillas. Also on Sunday morning, the Russian defence ministry said that 17 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight over four regions in the countrys southwest. Three drones were intercepted near an oil depot in Lyudinovo, an industrial town about 140 miles north of the Ukrainian border, governor Vladislav Shapsha said. One of the Ukrainian drones damaged communications infrastructure in Russias southern Belgorod province, which borders Ukraine, governor Vyachaslav Gladkov said later on Sunday. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Russian defence ministry claimed on Sunday that its forces had destroyed ammunition depots and military equipment housed at three airports across Ukraine, including assault drones stored at Kamyanka Airfield in the countrys east. The ministrys online update said the attacks took place over the last 24 hours. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv. Russian shelling on Saturday and overnight wounded at least seven civilians across Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials. A 36-year-old woman was pulled alive from the rubble after Russian shells on Sunday morning destroyed her home in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, the local administration reported. Her 52-year-old neighbour was also rushed to a hospital with a stomach wound, the administration said. 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. Russian drones have struck the Black Sea city of Mykolaiv, setting a hotel on fire and damaging energy infrastructure, the local Ukrainian governor has said. Vitaliy Kim said Russian drones seriously damaged the hotel and affected heat-generating infrastructure in the city. He added that there were no casualties. Advertisement Russian state agency RIA carried claims that the strike on Mykolaiv targeted a shipyard where naval drones are assembled, as well as a hotel housing English-speaking mercenaries who have fought for Kyiv. The RIA report cited Sergei Lebedev, described as a co-ordinator of local pro-Moscow guerrillas. His claim could not be independently verified. Also on Sunday morning, the Russian defence ministry said 17 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight over four regions in the countrys south-west. Three drones were intercepted near an oil depot in Lyudinovo. There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage. Advertisement A man walks past a building partially destroyed in Russian attacks in Borodyanka, north of Kyiv (Francisco Seco/AP) One of the drones damaged communications infrastructure in Russias Belgorod province, which borders Ukraine, governor Vyachaslav Gladkov said. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Russian Defence Ministry, meanwhile, claimed its forces had destroyed ammunition depots and military equipment housed at three airports across Ukraine, including assault drones stored at Kamyanka Airfield in the countrys east. The ministrys online update on Sunday said the attacks took place over the last 24 hours. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv. Russian shelling on Saturday and overnight wounded at least seven civilians across Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials. Advertisement The Donetsk and Kharkiv regions have seen fierce clashes in recent weeks as Russian forces seek to grind out gains along the 620-mile front line, while ammunition shortages have increasingly hamstrung Ukraines defences. Russian troops will likely make significant gains in the coming weeks while Kyiv awaits much-needed arms from a huge US aid package to reach the front, a Washington-based think tank said. In its latest operational assessment, the Institute for the Study of War said Moscows forces have opportunities to push forward around Avdiivka, the eastern city they took in late February after a gruelling, months-long fight, and threaten nearby Chasiv Yar. Its capture would give Russia control of a hilltop from which it can attack other key cities forming the backbone of Ukraines eastern defences. Advertisement Despite this, the institute assessed that neither of these efforts by Moscow are likely to cause Kyivs defensive lines to collapse. The war in Gaza spurred large protests outside a glitzy event with US president Joe Biden, journalists, politicians and celebrities, but it went all but unmentioned by participants inside. Mr Biden instead used the annual White House correspondents dinner to make both jokes and grim warnings about Republican rival Donald Trumps fight to reclaim the US presidency. Advertisement An evening normally devoted to presidents, journalists and comedians taking outrageous pokes at political scandals and each other this year often seemed to illustrate the difficulty of putting aside the coming presidential election and the troubles in the Middle East and elsewhere. Mr Biden opened his roast with a direct but joking focus on Mr Trump, calling him sleepy Don in reference to a nickname the Republican had given the president previously. A demonstrator with red paint on their hand and face is seen behind a police barricade during a pro-Palestinian protest outside the event (Terrance Williams/AP) Advertisement Despite being similar in age, Mr Biden said the two presidential hopefuls have little else in common. My vice-president actually endorses me, Mr Biden said, highlighting that former Trump vice-president Mike Pence has refused to endorse Mr Trumps re-election bid. But the president quickly segued to a grim speech about what he believes is at stake in the election, saying another Trump administration would be even more harmful to America than his first term. We have to take this serious eight years ago we could have written it off as Trump talk but not after January 6th, Mr Biden told the audience, referring to the supporters of the Republican who stormed the Capitol after he was dumped from office in 2020. Advertisement US president Joe Biden introduces host Colin Jost at the correspondents dinner (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) Mr Trump did not attend Saturdays dinner and never attended the annual banquet as president. In 2011, he sat in the audience and glowered through a roasting by then-president Barack Obama of his reality television celebrity status. Mr Obamas sarcasm then was so scalding that many political watchers linked it to Mr Trumps subsequent decision to run for president in 2016. Advertisement Mr Bidens speech, which lasted around 10 minutes, made no mention of the ongoing war or the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. One of the few mentions came from Kelly ODonnell, president of the correspondents association, who briefly noted some 100 journalists killed in Israels six-month war against Hamas in Gaza. In an evening dedicated in large part to journalism, Ms ODonnell cited journalists who have been detained across the world, including Americans Evan Gershkovich in Russia and Austin Tice, who is believed to be held in Syria. The families of both men were in attendance, as they have been at previous dinners. Advertisement Dinner guests had to face the protesters as they entered the venue (Kevin Wolf/AP) To get inside Saturdays dinner, some guests had to hurry through hundreds of protesters outraged over the mounting humanitarian disaster for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. They condemned Mr Biden for his support of Israels military campaign and Western news outlets for what they said was undercoverage and misrepresentation of the conflict. Many protesters shouted Shame on you as the guests hurried inside for the dinner, and at one point the crowd chanted: Western media we see you, and all the horrors that you hide. Other protesters lay sprawled motionless on the pavement, next to mock-ups of flak vests with press insignia. Mr Bidens motorcade took an alternative route from the White House to the Washington Hilton than in previous years, largely avoiding the crowds of demonstrators. The event itself drew nearly 3,000 people, with celebrities including DaVine Joy Randolph, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm and Chris Pine. Both the president and comedian Colin Jost, who spoke after him, made jabs at the age of both the candidates for president. Jost joked: Im not saying both candidates are old. But you know Jimmy Carter is out there thinking, maybe I can win this thing. Hes only 99. The Pope has urged prisoners to view their time behind bars as a chance for moral and material rebirth, as he viewed an art show in a womens jail in Venice. Francis travelled to the lagoon city to visit the Holy Sees pavilion at the Biennale contemporary art show and meet with the people who created it. Advertisement Because the Vatican decided to mount its exhibit in the womens prison, and invited inmates to collaborate with the artists, the whole project took on a far more complex meaning touching on Franciss belief in the power of art to uplift and unify, and of the need to give hope and solidarity to societys most marginalised. Francis hit on both messages during his visit, which began in the courtyard of Giudecca prison where he met with the women inmates one by one. Pope Francis delivered an address in front of the Church of the Salute in Venice (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) Advertisement As some of them wept, Francis told them: Paradoxically, a stay in prison can mark the beginning of something new, through the rediscovery of the unsuspected beauty in us and in others, as symbolised by the artistic event you are hosting and the project to which you actively contribute. Francis then met with Biennale artists in the prison chapel, decorated with an installation by Brazilian visual artist Sonia Gomes of objects dangling from the ceiling, meant to draw the viewers gaze upwards. He urged the artists to embrace the Biennales theme this year of Strangers Everywhere, to show solidarity with all those on the margins. Advertisement Francis travelled in a popemobile to meet well-wishers outside the Church of the Salute (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) Art has the status of a city of refuge, a city that disobeys the regime of violence and discrimination in order to create forms of human belonging capable of recognising, including, protecting and embracing everyone, Francis said. The Vatican exhibit has turned the Giudecca prison, a former convent for reformed prostitutes, into one of the must-see attractions of this years Biennale, even though to see it visitors must reserve in advance and go through a security check. It has become an unusual art world darling that greets visitors at the entrance with Maurizio Cattelans wall mural of two giant filthy feet, a work that recalls Caravaggios dirty feet or the feet that Francis washes each year in a Holy Thursday ritual that he routinely performs on prisoners. Advertisement St Marks Square was packed as the Pope, bottom left, arrived for Mass (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) Franciss Sunday morning visit represented an increasingly rare outing for the 87-year-old, who has been endured health and mobility problems that have ruled out any foreign trips so far this year. But it was also unusual because it came as Venice, sinking under rising sea levels and weighed down by the impact of over-tourism, is in the opening days of an experiment to try to limit the sort of day trips that Francis undertook on Sunday. Advertisement Venetian authorities last week launched a pilot programme to charge day-trippers 5 euro (4.20) apiece on peak travel days. The aim is to encourage them to stay longer or come at off-peak times to cut down on crowds and make the city more liveable for its dwindling number of residents. For Venices Catholic patriarch, Archbishop Francesco Moraglia, the new tax programme is a worthwhile experiment, a potential necessary evil to try to preserve Venice as a liveable city for visitors and residents alike. A Russian man has been arrested after two Ukrainian men were stabbed to death in southern Germany. The two Ukrainians, who were 23 and 36-years-old and lived in the southern German county of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, were killed at a shopping centre in the village of Murnau in Upper Bavaria. Advertisement Shortly after the killings on Saturday evening, the police arrested a 57-year-old Russian on suspicion of murder, German news agency dpa reported. The names of the victims and the suspect were not released in line with German privacy rules. It is not clear if the three men knew each other. More than one million Ukrainian refugees have gone to Germany since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Germany is also home to a significant Russian immigrant community and 2.5 million Russians of German ancestry who mostly moved to the country after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. Britain's Prince and Princess of Wales celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary on Monday. Kate, who is undergoing chemotherapy for an undisclosed cancer, married William in 2011 after eight years of dating. Advertisement The pair are facing their most difficult challenge so far amid the princesss diagnosis, with Kate appealing for time, space and privacy as she continues her treatment. Kate recorded a message announcing her cancer diagnosis (BBC Studios/PA) She praised her husband for his support during an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family in an emotional message to the nation last month announcing her health news. Advertisement Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, she said. Kate (42) told how her diagnosis had come as a huge shock and that she and William have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. The Waleses with their children George, Charlotte and Louis attend a carol service (Aaron Chown/PA) Advertisement The prince returned to work following the Easter holidays when the Waleses spent quality time with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Louis celebrated his sixth birthday on Tuesday and Charlotte turns nine on May 2nd. William and Kate released an unedited new photo of Louis straight to social media to mark the youngsters big day to thank well-wishers and avoid the uproar over the princesss digitally altered Mothers Day photo. Advertisement Life partners for more than 20 years, William and Kate met at the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, and became friends first before embarking on a romance. William said in their engagement interview: Obviously we both have a very fun time together, both have a very good sense of humour about things. Advertisement William and Kate visited the 1st Battalion Irish Guards in 2023 (Chris Jackson/PA) Kate called him a loving boyfriend who was very supportive of me through the good times and also through the bad times. They wed in a grand ceremony in London's Westminster Abbey on April 29th, 2011, with the aisle of the gothic church lined with trees. William and Kate welcomed their first child, George, in 2013, followed by Charlotte in 2015 and Louis in 2018. They have shared ups and downs, from the arrival of their children and the celebration of jubilees to the late Queen Elizabeths death and more recently King Charless cancer diagnosis, and kept their counsel amid accusations levelled at them in the wake of Harry and Meghans split from the British royal family. The controversy over the State Library Victorias decision to cancel workshops run by authors who expressed pro-Palestinian views has escalated with some of the nations most respected authors launching a boycott of the 170-year-old institution. Double Miles Franklin award winner Michelle de Kretser, Patrick White award winner Tony Birch and Victorian Prize for Literature winner Grace Yee have refused to work with State Library Victoria, citing concerns over its decision to cancel events hosted by writers Omar Sakr, Jinghua Qian, Alison Evans and Ariel Ries. Double Miles Franklin award winner Michelle de Kretser. Credit: Joy Lai The writers, who were to lead the librarys Teen Bootcamp workshops, were told in March that their services were terminated, with State Library management claiming concerns over child and cultural safety. All four had spoken publicly about their support for Palestine and criticised Israels invasion of Gaza following Hamas attacks on Israel last year. The library has continued to run other programs for children since then. Birch, who is also a professor of Australian literature at Melbourne University, has declined any further work with the library, de Kretser has declined a significant writing commission from the library, and Yee withdrew from an artists-and-writers-in-residence program over the issue. Nicole Kidman has been awarded the 49th American Film Institute Life Achievement Award, one of the most prestigious prizes in Hollywood. Kidman is the first Australian actor to receive the honour. Its emotional for me because the idea of looking back at things, really, its unusual for me, Kidman said on the red carpet. And then people say breathe and enjoy it and feel it and thats what Im trying to do, even though its not necessarily my instinct to do that. Nicole Kidman is introduced to the audience during the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute Gala. Credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello My instinct is not to accept too many compliments and always downplay, and so Im trying not to be awkward, and my mums always like, just relax, youre so much better when you just relax, she said. Its the introvert versus this extroverted life. The award was presented to Kidman at a gala ceremony at Hollywoods Dolby Theatre, the same venue as the Oscars. The guest list included stars Meryl Streep and Reese Witherspoon, and high-profile Australians such as actor Naomi Watts, director John Polson and Kidmans husband, singer Keith Urban, who all came to pay tribute. 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 article is part of a series on the impact of toxic forever chemicals produced as part of the documentary How To Poison a Planet. See all 11 stories . Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the names of people who are deceased. Skye Sturgeon was told to call off her 21st birthday celebrations when her tumour returned. Instead, she spent the milestone learning to walk, talk and eat again after surgeons carved away the growth wrapped in nerves on her brain stem. At first, Sturgeon was inconsolable. The gruelling recovery from her first brain surgery when she was 18 had wrecked her. But she steeled herself for what lay ahead. I would rather it happen to me than to anyone else because I knew that I could do it, she recalled. Skye and Jade Sturgeon. Skye and her younger sister, Jade, had spent an idyllic childhood playing together on the pearly white sands of Jervis Bay, their home town and a NSW tourist mecca. They were oblivious to something sinister lurking beneath its picture-perfect facade. During high school, Jade began complaining of symptoms that were eerily similar to Skyes migraines, muffled hearing, a loss of balance that led to her keeling over in the supermarket aisle. Advertisement I was like, Do I have a brain tumour? And the doctors were like, No, thats impossible, Jade recalled. Because of what your sister went through, maybe youre just scared that the same things going to happen to you, but its impossible. The odds of Skye developing the type of tumour she did at her age were roughly 1.5 in a million. The chances two sisters with no family history of brain cancer would both fall on the wrong side of those statistics were infinitesimally small. But Jades condition deteriorated dramatically over the next few years before she was sent for an MRI scan in 2022 at the age of 23. Lightning had struck not once, but twice. Jade had the same type of tumour as Skye, but on both sides of her brain. Skye and Jade Sturgeon spent nearly every day in the water as children. I think that broke my heart the most, Skye said. Everyone was in shock when they found out about Jade. Some of them thought it was me again, and I was like No, no, no, its my sister. Now, the shellshocked Aboriginal sisters find themselves at the forefront of an international chemical contamination scandal. Advertisement They now know the creeks and waterways that were their safe haven as youngsters were poisoned with invisible forever chemicals pollution. They are among an unlucky cohort of young people on opposite sides of the globe who have grown up within contamination plumes and have the same burning question: did forever chemicals cause my tumour? A new Stan documentary, How to Poison a Planet, documents the heartache of those families after forever chemicals in firefighting foam contaminated thousands of communities worldwide, from the secluded Aboriginal village of Wreck Bay to the town of Oakdale, Minnesota, in Americas Midwest. In 2018, this masthead uncovered 21 cancer cases from an Oakdale high school where the drinking water was contaminated with high levels of forever chemicals, including six cases of brain tumours. A researcher found children who died in Oakdale were 171 per cent more likely to have had a cancer diagnosis than children who died in areas unaffected by the contamination. Forever chemicals per- and poly-fluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) are also found at low levels in hundreds of everyday household products and in the blood of 98 per cent of the worlds population. Advertisement Last year, this masthead revealed that in the early 2000s the average Australian adult had one of the most notorious forever chemicals in their blood at 20 times the safe level secretly calculated by a scientist working for one of the manufacturers. The toxic tide For generations, the tides of soapy white suds that would drift down the creeks in Wreck Bay were welcome playthings to children like Skye and Jade Sturgeon. Skye and Jade share a close bond. Kids, bubbles, foam, it was exciting. And obviously, it wasnt good, Skye said. The pair would also hunt for pippies along the shoreline and bask in clay holes, rich ochre hiding a terrible secret. The Aboriginal community in Jervis Bay, 200 kilometres south of Sydney near the internationally recognised sands of Hyams Beach, was slowly being poisoned. Advertisement Forever chemicals in firefighting foam were leaching off a neighbouring naval base and into the communitys food and water supply. By the time they reached young adulthood, Skye and Jade Sturgeon would both be diagnosed with a benign type of tumour called a meningioma, which form in the layers of tissue surrounding the brain. The tumours are rarely seen in children and most commonly strike people between 40 and 70 years old. Doctors have been searching for a hereditary link that could explain the sisters misfortune, but genetic testing has so far drawn a blank. We were in shock and theyre looking at us in shock, said their mother, Eileen McLeod, recalling the moment doctors discovered both sisters had the same type of tumour. They said you hear of it in generations, but not with two sisters. I asked how and why did this happen? In your profession, you should know. They shook their head and said we are dumbfounded, McLeod recalled. Advertisement Police have arrested a 26-year-old man and charged him with murder after a fatal stabbing in Sydneys north-west on Friday night. Emergency services were called to a home in Quakers Hill about 8.25pm on Friday and found a 28-year-old man with a stab wound to the chest. He was treated by paramedics and rushed to hospital in a critical condition but died before he arrived. Police believe he was stabbed while visiting a home on Narcissus Avenue just before 8.30pm. We believe that the man went to the address willingly and something has occurred inside the premises, Detective Superintendent Scott Bingham told reporters on Saturday. This aerial photo taken on Dec. 15, 2023 shows the entrance of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in south China. [Photo/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. Police cautiously photographed a Brisbane City Council bus taking an inner-city street corner on Sunday morning as they investigate the crash where 18-year-old Tia Cameron was killed on March 8. Cameron died when she was struck by an out-of-control Brisbane City Council bus as she left an Edward Street beauty salon in the Anzac Square Building about 5pm that Friday. On Edward Street, a brightly-coloured sign now reads Forever 18, Tia Angel and a candle burns in the small nearby window. Police forensic crash unit experts photograph a Brisbane City Council bus as it travels from Ann Street into Edward Street as part of the investigation into the death of 18-year-old Tia Cameron. Credit: Tony Moore A detailed investigation by the Queensland Police Forensic Crash Unit is examining aspects of the crash where the bus turned left from the left-hand lane in Ann Street, crossed into Edward Street and then mounted the downhill, left-hand footpath, pinning Cameron against the wall. Walkers pounding out their steps along the Brighton foreshore will be surprised to learn that the massive concrete home dominating the skyline is actually downsizing in action. Rich lister, philanthropist and Brighton fixture Patricia Ilhans knockdown rebuild of her early 2000s family home is impossible to miss, facing the dog beach and Middle Brighton Pier. Patricia Ilhan among the scaffolding of her new home in Brighton. Credit: Simon Schulter I know the house is large, she told The Age during a recent blustery day. Theres only four bedrooms we are downsizing from six. It is not a key home you raise children in any more this is more about entertaining. I would love to have all the kids and grandchildren come over with us as they grow. Warning: this report contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous man, with his familys permission. A 35-year-old Indigenous man who died of unknown causes in Perth in February has still not been laid to rest as his daughter and new wife argue over whether he should be cremated or buried. Details of the feud are laid bare in court documents after a Supreme Court judge was left to decide the outcome when the mans daughter brought legal proceedings against his wife. James Woods, left. James Woods died on February 28. 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. We are impressed by Capify's seasoned management team and their enduring presence in the market, Saggu said. Since its inception in 2008, Capify has been at the forefront of online SME lending in both the UK and Australia, consistently demonstrating its commitment to the sector. Officials said the army made two helicopter sorties to drop para-commandos deep inside the dense forest to eliminate the terrorists. (PTI Photo) A Village Defence Guard (VDG) member was killed in a gunfight with recently infiltrated terrorists in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district early Sunday, a senior police officer said. Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Anand Jain, who rushed to the area to supervise the anti-terrorist operation, said a massive search operation is on to track down and neutralize the terrorists who have infiltrated from Pakistan. The ADGP said two groups of terrorists are believed to be present in the area after they recently infiltrated from across the border. Jain led the wreath laying ceremony of slain VDG member Mohd Sharief at Basantgarh police station this evening and saluted his supreme sacrifice for the nation. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi range, Rayees Mohd Bhat and other officers from police and CRPF also paid floral tributes to the martyr. We got information about the presence of terrorists (in Panara village of Basantgarh) late Saturday night and activated police and VDG members. Because the information was not pin-pointed and we have a vast jungle area, the area domination patrols were launched, Jain told reporters after the Sharief's body was dispatched to his home at village Khaned for last rites. He said one of the parties came under fire while moving towards Chochru Gala heights around 7:45 am and in the ensuing encounter, the VDG member laid down his life. Reinforcements from police, CRPF and Army were rushed and the whole area was cordoned off to track down the terrorists and neutralize them, the officer said. Officials said the army made two helicopter sorties to drop para-commandos deep inside the dense forest to eliminate the terrorists. The ADGP said two groups of terrorists are believed to be present in the area after they recently infiltrated from across the border. Where from the terrorists have infiltrated is a matter of investigation which is going on but it is certain that this group is a freshly infiltrated one, he said when asked about possible infiltration of the terrorists through the International Border from adjoining Kathua district. He said the strength of the two groups, as per preliminary investigation, is between four and six but their affiliation is not known immediately. We are working on various inputs and the area is being sanitized to hunt them down with deployment of additional forces. Earlier, official sources said there was information about movement of two separate groups of terrorists, who infiltrated recently, from Kathua to Basantgarh. One of the groups with five members was confronted, while there was no trace of the other group, which has four members and whose movement was last reported in the Machedi top area bordering Kathua, they said. The sources said the terrorists are believed to have infiltrated through the International Border from Kathua district and are heading to Kashmir via Chenab valley, taking advantage of the thick forest. Meanwhile, Pawan Kumar, a VDG member, demanded equipping them with automatic weapons to take on the terrorists effectively. We are ready and will not allow them to settle down, he said. This was after a long time that an encounter took place in Basantgarh, once a hub of terror activities, before it was cleared of terrorism by the security forces about two decades ago. A nationwide anti-bullying campaign will be launched in China, among wider efforts to ensure the safety of students across primary, middle schools and kindergartens, according to authorities. A comprehensive investigation focusing on bullying cases will be conducted in all primary and middle schools, according to a joint meeting of the education and public security ministries, as well as fire and rescue administration. The meeting stressed the significance of educating teachers, students and parents on the rule of law, alongside efforts to improve the accountability system. The meeting also highlighted the need to improve mental health monitoring among students, calling for solid action to alleviate the excessive burden of homework and off-campus tutoring on students in compulsory education. Efforts will be made to improve security measures, particularly in rural and boarding schools, with actions taken to ensure the safety of school buildings, fire prevention and food safety, according to the meeting. It added that a special drowning prevention campaign will also be launched, with a focus on the management of water areas and providing swimming lessons, as well as training for self-rescue and mutual rescue. Members of the city of Dayton Council along with dignitaries from Blue Cross Blue Shield and many of the children from Dayton cut the ribbon to the new Pendergrass Park Previous Next Representatives from the city of Dayton and the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation recently gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the BlueCross Healthy Place at Pendergrass Park. The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation provided $4 million for the project build and an additional $800,000 for a maintenance fund, bringing the total investment in the space to $4.8 million. Pendergrass Park is a municipal park located off Main Street in Dayton. The city applied for BlueCross Healthy Place funding in the hopes of bringing additional amenities to the space and making it a gathering place for residents. Construction began during the summer of 2023. Pendergrass Park, named after former teacher Juanita Pendergrass, has been part of downtown Dayton for decades. Ms. Pendergrass was a a teacher in Rhea County for over 20 years. She was a graduate of Bryan College in Dayton and of the University of Tennessee. Members of the City of Dayton Council and a group local leaders led the charge for a rebirth of the playground at 107 Main Street. BlueCross Healthy Places are designed to strengthen communities across Tennessee by providing neighbors with places for connection and healthy activity. They are developed to be accessible for visitors of all ages and abilities. The City of Dayton wants to thank the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation for choosing us to receive BlueCross Healthy Place funding, said Dayton Mayor Hurley Marsh. Without their generosity, we would not have been able to make so many improvements to our park. We are excited to share the revitalized park with community members, and we know our families and their children will enjoy this all-inclusive and accessible facility for years to come. Keith King, manager of the BlueCross Healthy Place program, added, Weve enjoyed partnering with the City of Dayton on the revitalization of Pendergrass Park, and were excited to celebrate the re-opening of this popular space. We hope the new amenities will make the park more accessible for everyone and enhance Daytons strong community spirit. Features in the new space include: Ramped, accessible play areas for ages 2-5 and 5-12 Splash pad Fitness area Pavilions Benches Restrooms The play area is constructed with accessible poured-in-place surfacing for visitors using mobility devices. To date, the BlueCross Foundation has invested $59 million in BlueCross Healthy Place projects across the state. There are 21 projects open statewide with more on the way. The BlueCross Foundation will accept proposals for 2024 BlueCross Healthy Place funding throughout the month of August. 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 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 News March for the Martyrs: Christians gather to 'rise up as one voice for the persecuted Church' WASHINGTON Hundreds of religious freedom advocates marched in solidarity with persecuted Christians worldwide Saturday as part of a movement to rise up as one voice for the persecuted Church. The second annual March for the Martyrs event, spearheaded by Gia Chacon, the founder of the nonprofit organization For the Martyrs, was attended by 500 to 1,000 Christians from across the United States who gathered at the kick-off rally on the National Mall where they listened to speeches, worshiped together and marched to the White House where they collectively prayed before attending the Night for the Martyrs evening event held at the JW Marriott hotel. I think now more than ever, its important that Christians across all denominations gather together as one unified voice, said Chacon in an interview with The Christian Post. Its so important that were standing up now, as brothers and sisters in Christ in the United States, being a voice for our persecuted brothers and sisters. 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 While she praised President Joe Biden for becoming the first United States president to recognize the Armenian genocide, Chacon expressed a desire to see more action taken for Christian minorities in other countries to protect them from religious persecution that's happening now. This is the first time March for the Martyrs will be in the nations capital and we think especially with whats going on in Afghanistan and as we continue to see Christian persecution increase, its so important to send a strong message not just to the Body of Christ, but also to this administration that we would like to see Christians protected, and Im excited to see everyone rise up as one voice for the persecuted church. Chacon said it was Open Doors USAs findings of a 30% increase in religious persecution last year that motivated her to bring the March for the Martyrs to Washington. Her desire, she said, is to make the March for the Martyrs an annual event in the nation's capital. The first March for the Martyrs took place in Long Beach, California, in September 2020. The religious freedom advocate explained that she held the first March for the Martyrs last year in response to the worship restrictions imposed on churches during the coronavirus pandemic. Recalling that Christianity and religious freedom here in the United States during that time was being threatened, Chacon noted that her group wanted to make the connection for Christians here in the United States. For the first time in the United States in 2020, Christians were feeling what it would be like if we had worship restricted if we were to face persecution for our faith and experience the inability to worship freely. And so it helped them empathize with their brothers and sisters around the world who face serious persecution and encouraged them to be bold in their faith here in the United States. When Chacon took to the stage after the band Radiant Worship greeted attendees with praise worship music, she highlighted the purpose of the event, saying: Were marching for the over 340 million Christians around the world who suffer for the name of Jesus. Were marching for the people who lay down their lives every single day to go to church, to own a Bible. To even say that they believe in Jesus, in some countries, is illegal. Chacon shared with the crowd another statistic from Open Doors USA's findings, noting that last year, there was a 60% increase in the number of Christians killed for their faith. If Christians continue to be persecuted for their faith, why does this issue have so much silence around it? she asked. Why does the world remain silent as Christians are targeted and executed for their faith in Christ? Chacon vowed that were going to remember every single Christian who laid down their life for the sake of the Gospel and were going to bring attention to every Christian who is suffering under radical governments, under extremist groups. She further expressed gratitude for the brave pastors in these countries that are holding underground church services where they dont know if theyre going to be arrested after and for the Christians that continue to gather and speak the name of Jesus regardless of the consequences." If Christians in other countries can lay down their life for the Gospel, we should be encouraged to stand strong in our faith here in the United States, she added. Social media personality Jacob Coyne, who was among the event's speakers, has a passion for bringing attention to the plight of Christians worldwide. He's the founder of Stay Here, an organization that Chacon described as a Christ-centered suicide prevention ministry with a vision that Gen Z will be suicide-free. In his remarks, Coyne shared a real-world example of the impact martyrdom has had on converting people to Christianity. I heard a story of a teenager who was at a youth camp in Indonesia and this teenager was on fire for Jesus Christ, he recalled. There were about 80 youth that were worshiping the Lord and then suddenly, a radical Islamist group of extremists came and terrorized this youth group. One of the men grabbed this boy by the hand, they put him in front of the crowd and they said: Deny Christ and accept Allah or die. The boy repeatedly refused to deny Christ, calling himself a soldier in the army of our Lord. He died after the radicals cut off his arms. Following mass hysteria, the remaining Christians in the youth group escaped unharmed, which Coyne attributed to a miracle. Coyne detailed how after hearing about what the radicals did to the Christian boy, the Indonesian government decided to shut down all water supply, food supply and trade from the Muslim village where the Christian boy was killed. The young Christians, however, maintained that they were not going to let them (the Muslim villagers) die, and went door-to-door in the village to express their forgiveness. What God did in that moment was so powerful. The majority of those radicals ended up converting to Christianity, he added. Why? Because those people chose forgiveness, as Jesus did. Coyne concluded his speech with a plea to align our hearts with the martyrs by practicing forgiveness." Allie Beth Stuckey, host of the Relatable podcast, also spoke at the event where she urged those gathered to be thankful for this privilege, for this right that we have. That not only the majority of the world does not have, but for most of the history of the Church, this idea of free speech, of the freedom of expression, of religious liberty, it just didnt exist." While we still have them, even if we do feel like theyre under attack, we have to take advantage of them," she added. "We have to use them to the glory of God, we have to use them boldly and courageously to speak up for people who dont even know what the concept of a right is. Stuckey told the crowd to think of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world whenever we are tempted to hold our tongue or to hold back in sharing the Gospel or speaking what is now considered political, what is considered supposedly controversial here in the United States. She then shared a Bible passage from 2 Timothy 3:12, reminding attendees that All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. The political activist clarified that Christians will face varying degrees of persecution during their time on Earth, from censorship and bullying in the U.S. and other Western countries to imprisonment and death in other countries. She implored the crowd to pray for those who are persecuted and pray for those who are imprisoned. She stressed that thats not a cop-out, thats not an easy way out, the Bible tells us that our prayers have great power. The crowd at the March for the Martyrs consisted of individuals from an array of denominations, ages and regions of the country. Several attendees at the event spoke with CP about their reasons for attending the event and shared their thoughts about the dire state of religious freedom worldwide. Mario from Chicago, Illinois, told CP that he attended the March for the Martyrs to walk with the persecuted Church, adding that Its something that I believe in. While most of the people who attended the March for Martyrs had planned on participating in the event ahead of time, Rachel Hartley and Meg Jones, both residents of the District of Columbia, stumbled upon the rally by accident. We actually were just out for a walk, didnt know about this, Hartley told CP. Were Christians, we go to church on Capitol Hill and were excited to see what was going on. Our church every week has been praying for the persecuted Church across the world. So we just jumped at this opportunity to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ and join in the march, she added. Hartley said the uncertainty facing her brothers and sisters in Christ in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S. troops there has really given me a certain gratitude and humility just to be living in a country where we have the freedom to proclaim the name of Jesus and to worship him freely. Ellie McFarland who hails from Maryland said she had martyrs in my family and I really care about this cause. She lamented that nobody sees it as relevant; nobody thinks that Christians are persecuted because they think America is the only country that exists. As she marched, McFarland carried a flag of Mount Athos, the international symbol of Orthodox Christianity. Samantha from California attended the first March for the Martyrs in Long Beach last year. She returned for the second march this year in support of all Christians everywhere who are persecuted, who risk their lives every day to practice their faith. A practicing Catholic, Samantha held up a sign with a direct message to Pope Francis, proclaiming: Our Church is in peril not because of vax passports but because Christians are bombed, beheaded, stoned, kidnapped, raped, dehumanized!" She elaborated on her concerns in an interview with CP: "I dont agree with his green passport to go to the Vatican City when Christians all over the world are being beheaded, bombed, killed, exterminated. As a Christian, our priorities need to be in order. If we all just turn to the source of truth and light, which is Jesus Christ, then our world would be much better, and a lot of our problems would be solved just simply by becoming stronger in our faith, she added. Michael Bellacicco, a Connecticut native who's attending the Catholic University of America, saw attending the march as a way to be there in solidarity with the Christians being persecuted all around the world. He emphasized the need to pray for our political leaders that they see Christ because its always a process with our government regarding religious freedom advocacy. Bellacicco concluded his interview with CP by rejoicing that were in the United States and were able to do this. Brian Klotz of Virginia attended the rally with his children. Im here to march for the persecuted Church and those that have died and especially those that are facing persecution in Nigeria specifically, he said. Klotz added that he believes religious persecution is going to get worse following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. But he also praised the Biden administration for nominating an international religious freedom ambassador and expressed hope that the U.S. Senate would take up his nomination in the near future. Home News March for the Martyrs urges American Christians to 'follow Jesus no matter the cost' WASHINGTON Religious freedom activists are encouraging Americans to learn from Christians who live in countries where they face persecution or death for their faith and develop a willingness to follow Jesus no matter the cost. The fourth annual March for the Martyrs was held in the nations capital on Saturday. The event, which drew dozens of people to the National Mall, seeks to raise awareness of the plight of persecuted Christians worldwide. Following a rally featuring worship music and speeches from religious freedom activists, participants marched through the streets to the Museum of the Bible. What were really excited about is how many Christians from all denominations come together, For the Martyrs founder Gia Chacon said in an interview with The Christian Post shortly before the event kicked off. This is not just an event for Evangelicals or Baptists; this is an event for everyone who professes Jesus Christ as Lord, and thats what were most excited about. 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 Christian persecution is a human rights issue, so not only are we coming together in prayer as the Body of Christ, but we hope to bring this crisis to the forefront of the fight for human rights and demand action from the United States government in protecting Christians all over the world, she added. The spiritual component of the March for the Martyrs should not be underestimated. It is so powerful when Christians come together as one voice in prayer and to uplift human dignity and advocate for human rights. Chacon said March for the Martyrs is one way to advocate for religious freedom and the protection of our brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith in Christ. During remarks delivered on stage, she elaborated on the hostile atmosphere Christians face in other parts of the world: In places throughout the Middle East, Christians are suffering every day for their faith. Laying down their life is something thats normal, not a rare occurrence. Christian persecution has increased by 100 million people since the first March for the Martyrs took place in 2020, Chacon lamented. There are now over 365 million Christians around the world who are facing persecution because of their faith in Christ. During her speech, Chacon recalled a conversation she had with Egyptian Christians who lost loved ones as a result of Christian persecution: They said, Were so proud of them, were so proud of them that Jesus meant everything to them. We need that witness here in the United States, Chacon asserted. We need the courage to lay down our life, to follow Jesus no matter the cost. Other speakers at the event echoed Chacons call for the American Christians to embrace a stronger Christian witness. Simone Rizkallah, the director of education for the Philos Project, quoted a response from an Eastern Catholic religious leader to a Westerner who asked, what can we do to help Christians in Iraq, Syria and other countries who found themselves under attack by the Islamic State terrorist group. The patriarch replied, be happy. What he meant by saying be happy is to so much embody the glory of God, to so much embody and reflect and witness to Christian joy that our sacrifices in the East dont feel like theyre sacrificed in vain when it comes to the Body of Christ, Rizkallah said, suggesting throughout her remarks that Christians in the U.S. lack that kind of zeal. Rizkallah agreed with the conclusion reached by Mother Teresa that the poorest country was the U.S. because of the poverty of loneliness. The religious freedom activist suggested that the loneliness noticed by the late spiritual leader stems from the fact that the United States has forgotten God, it has forgotten Jesus, it has forgotten its roots. As the granddaughter of Armenians who escaped to Egypt amid the Armenian Genocide, Rizkallah said her parents came to the United States before she was born. While she expressed gratitude for the economic prosperity and the religious freedom that this country provides, she lamented that something spiritually was lost when we became Americans. Rizkallah said she was disgusted by the fact that her classmates at the Catholic high school she attended didnt care about the faith. I thought to myself, isnt it interesting that youre finally free to practice your faith and when youre finally free, you dont care anymore, she added. Another speaker, Christian speaker and media personality Christian Trimino, elaborated on how visiting the dictatorship of Cuba in 2016 changed his perspective on life: You have these people who have so much joy. You have beautiful architecture, classic cars, amazing food and despite what their living conditions were, when you talk to these people, theyre all so full of joy and theyre all so happy. When you look at Western culture, we live in a world right now where were contrasting the United States with a lot of these other countries and one word that comes to mind is comfortability, he contended. Trimino contrasted what he viewed as the prevailing mindset in the U.S., where people don't want to do anything thats against their immediate comfort with the philosophy of Christians in Cuba and other hotbeds of religious persecution. You have people who are literally being killed just for saying that they believe in Jesus. You have people that are being forced out of their homes. You have people that are being forced out of their countries. You have people who are being tortured, being separated from families all because they dont want to go against Jesus. Trimino suggested that Americans can learn a lesson from our brothers and sisters who are persecuted around the world who have such a real relationship with Jesus. He detailed how these people have adopted a philosophy that you can take my home, you can take my business, you can take my reputation, you can take my money, you can take my wife, you can take my husband, you can take my kids, Ill even give you my life, but the one thing that you cannot take from me is my Jesus. He further insisted that Americans have an obligation to take the freedom that we have in the United States and to be grateful for it and to steward it well, to use our freedom to come to events like this, to start organizations like Gia started, and to actually make positive change and to stand for and to fight and to say, Thank you, Jesus, that we have the opportunity that you have placed us in this time and in this place to make global change around the world. Home News This week in Christian history: Thomas Coke dies, first Christian school in Montreal, Father Coughlin silenced Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance. Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths. Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while others might be unknown to many people. 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 following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. They include the founding of the first Christian school in Montreal, Father Coughlin being ordered to stop his political activities, and the death of Thomas Coke. Home Opinion 10 hindrances to a national awakening Christians everywhere hope for a national awakening that will preserve and revive their nation. However, an awakening does not merely come because people hope and pray for it. Certain preconditions must take place before a nation experiences a spiritual awakening. (By awakening, I am referring to masses of people in a community, city, or nation turning to Christ, resulting in human flourishing and societal reform.) The following are 10 hindrances to a national awakening: 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 1. There is a lack of true oneness in the church Jesus gave the precondition for the world to be awakened to the truth of the Gospel when He prayed, "... that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (John 17:20-23). Hence, fragmentation and disunity amongst Gospel preaching churches must be healed in a community for the gospel witness to awaken sinners effectively. 2. Corporate prayer meetings are based on a cause and not seeking God. Prayer must be earnest and focused on seeking God's face. Too many corporate prayer gatherings I have seen in the past several years were more focused on winning political elections rather than seeking Gods face. This is contrary to the clear precondition for healing the land, as found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. For an awakening, believers need to be focused on seeking Gods face rather than solely His hand. 3. There is a lack of holy desperation A deep, pervasive sense of the need for God often precedes awakening. The book of Joel speaks about the urgency for corporate fasting and prayer so great that the bride, bridegroom, and mothers nursing their infants were commanded to assemble to seek the Lord so the land would be healed (Joel 1-2). Jesus also made it clear that those He would fill had to have the precondition of holy hunger (Matthew 5:6). A complacent attitude in the Church can stifle spiritual awakening. 4. There are many compromising church models Faithfulness to God's Word is crucial for true spiritual success. Jesus rebuked churches that tolerate sin, have left their first love, and are neither hot nor cold. He even called out a church that had a reputation for being alive but were truly dead. (Revelation 2-3). Unfortunately, too many contemporary churches are built merely to attract crowds that do not make disciples. These churches often quench the Spirit of God and fail to provoke passion for God, resulting in maintaining the (cultural) status quo rather than igniting the flames of revival and awakening. 5. There is a lack of sorrow for national sin The prophet Amos rebuked those in Israel who lived complacent lives despite their societys moral decadence and looming doom (Amos 6:4-6). The prophet Ezekiel spoke about God expecting His people to wail and groan for the sins of their nation (Ezekial 9:4). When the preponderance of Christians in a nation are not burdened by the lukewarm state of the Church and spiritual decline of their nation, they cannot expect a national awakening. 6. There is a lack of the fear of the Lord Reverence for God is foundational to wisdom and spiritual awakening. For a nation to return to God, it needs a spirit of wisdom and fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10). The Gospel spread in the city of Ephesus because both the church and the city experienced the reality of the fear of the Lord (Acts 19:10-17). Many contemporary churches emphasize an informal, seeker-sensitive atmosphere in which they have lost the fear of the Lord. (I have heard of churches that hit beach balls during the worship service so that it can be a fun experience. In other churches, many talk, joke, and drink coffee during the service.) Consequently, a diminished fear of the Lord leads to moral and spiritual laxity and will not catalyze a spiritual awakening. 7. The Gospel of self-fulfillment is predominant The Gospel calls for self-denial and Christ-centered living. Many in the church fail to live the cross-shaped life and have recalibrated the gospel to meet their fleshly needs and desires. Much preaching is based upon the false trinitarian Gospel (I, Me, My) instead of on the Lordship of Christ. This is despite the fact that the prerequisite to overcoming demonic forces has to do with offering our life as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). As the Scripture says, "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death" (Revelation 12:11). Consequently, churches that focus primarily on appealing to the desire for self-fulfillment rather than the cross, distort the Gospel, weaken its power, and will never result in a spiritual awakening. 8. Many churches neglect their community The biblical mission of the church extends beyond its walls (Acts 1:8-9). Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). Congregations that are only self-focused hinder broader community impact, gospel outreach, and fail to awaken the surrounding community. 9. Many prophetic voices have been compromised One of the preconditions for a national awakening is prophetic preaching that proclaims Gods heart to turn people to righteousness. When a nations primary prophetic voices appeal primarily to its political, cultural, or financial base, that nation will fail to experience a national awakening. Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry Peace when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths (Micah 3:5). 10. There is much national division When a nation is divided against itself, its ideological divisions and moral drift can preclude the ability to experience a national awakening. Jesus said, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25). May God raise wise, uncompromising bridge builders who bring the message of reconciliation so that a national awakening can break out (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Home Opinion Rwanda genocide: 3 lessons for American Christians on division and faith Known as the heart of Africa and the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda is a country of astonishing beauty. It's home to some of the world's best coffee and a population known for their friendliness and hospitality. Yet tragically, most Americans know Rwanda from the news headlines or the Hollywood film about the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. In a roughly 100-day period between April and July of that year, neighbor turned against neighbor, leaving as many as 1 million people dead. Rwandan society was shattered. Nearly every citizen had been a victim of the genocide, a perpetrator, or an eyewitness to the bloodshed. With that history, the transformation I saw when I visited recently left me inspired and awe-struck. People have found reconciliation and a path forward from the unthinkable. And the country has made incredible progress in areas like education and access to basic services. 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 What the people of Rwanda have achieved in the last 30 years is much more than a feel-good story. Its a master class for us as American Christians offering both warnings and inspiration about division, unity, and the role of faith. Lesson 1: Our words matter During my trip, I visited the genocide memorial and museum and took from it a stark warning of how easy it is for our word choices to sow disunity and division. Today people in Rwanda no longer even refer to each other as Hutu or Tutsi; everyone is simply Rwandan. But years prior to the genocide, the Hutu began referring to the Tutsi as cockroaches a first step in painting them not as neighbors or friends, but as the other. This sort of shift may happen little by little, but the outcome can be atrocious. In the age of social media, it is increasingly common to see ugly, hurtful words exchanged online. The temptation is to categorize people as either part of us or them. For me, Rwanda offers a warning and a reminder that words are a powerful tool for either healing or hurting. How are we using ours? Lesson 2: Faith is a critical ingredient for healing and unity During the genocide, some churches normally considered a safe haven became places of slaughter. People including women and children sought sanctuary in church buildings, but instead they were corralled there and killed in greater numbers. It was difficult to look at the photos of these scenes at the memorial and listen to video accounts from survivors. But I was encouraged by how faith has helped bring reconciliation in Rwanda. Today, after all the violence and trauma, Rwandans have been able to forgive their neighbors and live together in a country the size of Maryland, but with more than twice as many people. And faith played a critical role. Thirty years ago, during the horror of the genocide, a woman named Alice lost her baby, and her right hand, when a crowd of Hutus descended on her with machetes and clubs covered in nails. In the violence, she recognized one man, Emmanuel, because they had gone to the same school growing up. On that day he was wielding a machete. Because of reconciliation efforts initiated across the country by World Vision through church partners including the church Emmanuel attended he decided to confront his past and ask Alice for forgiveness. Eventually, she was able to forgive him. Today they consider themselves friends. They visit each others houses and their kids enjoy spending time with each other. The way people have forgiven such atrocities is a testament to the miraculous power of God. There is no earthly way most of us could live next to, attend church with, or work side by side with someone who had attacked us or killed members of our family. I believe this is Holy Spirit work. And in it, you can feel Gods presence in the midst of unimaginable pain. Today, World Vision continues to partner with churches and communities throughout Rwanda to equip children and families to thrive through sustainable access to clean water, improved livelihoods, spiritual nurture, and more. Learning 3: Real progress is possible, even in the most challenging circumstances It is tempting to label some places in our world lost causes. Every day, news headlines are filled with examples of crisis, conflict, and extreme poverty. Providing help can feel like trying to stop a tsunami by pouring a few extra grains of sand onto the beach hopeless. Not even worth the effort. But the progress Ive witnessed in Rwanda counters that mindset. Last year I was there to mark World Visions accomplishment, in partnership with the Rwandan government and people, of establishing clean water access for more than 1 million people in just five years everyone, everywhere we worked in the country at the time we set this goal in 2018! And its not just progress in access to clean water. Rwanda aspires to be a middle-income country by 2035 and reach high-income status by 2050, as defined by the World Bank. The government is working toward universal access to electricity for its citizens its a future that would have been hard to imagine from the state of the country 30 years ago. And they have made significant progress. Today, as we remember the horrors of this genocide, I hope we look back with an eye to what we can learn, but also with inspiration and awe for what is possible through cooperation and faith. Why are the books of the New Testament ordered the way they are? The New Testament consists of 27 books. The story of how we got the order we have today is very interesting, and it affects how we engage with it. This is the story ... Order of the Bible We are used to the order of the books of the Bible, which range from Genesis to Revelation. The Bible is not a single book as such, but more of a compendium of constituent books - or a library. Their traditional order is not strictly chronological, nor are they ordered according to importance. The Bible can, and has been, ordered in many ways. The standardisation of the order came about when the earliest books, called codices, were created. When the books of the Hebrew Scriptures were each kept on a separate scroll in the synagogue there was no real official order for all of them. An order had to be decided once they were placed consecutively in a codex. Alphabetical order If you access a Bible via the popular YouVersion app, you can choose to sort the books of your Bible by 'Traditional' or 'Alphabetical' order. When the books of the Bible are sorted alphabetically, they go from Acts to Zephaniah, and the New Testament goes from Acts to Titus. The alphabetical order will vary from language to language, and it is not very useful theologically, but can be very useful if you are not used to the traditional order of the books. Some Bibles come with a contents page at the front, with the books listed alphabetically and a page number for the first page of each book. An alphabetical list can be very helpful if you really don't know where to find Job, Nahum or Titus. The reality is that the order that the books of the New Testament are put in is down to historical tradition. History of the order The Bible starts with the creation narratives and the origin stories of Israel, followed by the historical books of the kings and chronicles. The Old Testament is in roughly chronological order but in many of the books the timelines overlap. In a similar way, the New Testament starts with the stories of Jesus followed by the Acts of the Apostles. The Old Testament then has the stories of the prophets, and likewise the New Testament has the writings of the apostles. Placing the core story with the first five books Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts at the start, echoed the placing of the five Books of Moses also called the Pentateuch, at the start of the Jewish Scriptures. After the first five books of the New Testament, the rest of the books are not really books at all, but letters known traditionally as epistles. These are usually grouped as the letters by St Paul and then the letters by other apostles. St Paul's letters The letters traditionally ascribed to St Paul, are also called the Pauline Epistles (not because they were written by a woman called Pauline, but because Pauline is the adjectival form of the name Paul). These are clustered into two groups: the letters to the churches and then the pastoral letters. Epistles to the churches The first group of letters from Paul were written to church congregations around the eastern Mediterranean. So there is the letter to the churches in Rome, in Corinth, in the province of Galatia, in Ephesus, in Philippi, in Colossae, and in Thessaloniki. Sometimes books and commentaries claim that the letters to the churches were ordered in size with the longest, Romans, first to the shortest, 2 Thessalonians last, but this is only partly true because Galatians is actually shorter than Ephesians which follows it. Pastoral epistles The letters to the churches are followed by letters to individuals, known as the Pastoral Epistles. There are two letters to Timothy, a letter to Titus and one to Philemon, and then one to the Jewish Christians known as Hebrews, which today we might call Messianic Jews. General Epistles The letters written by other apostles are traditionally called the 'Catholic Epistles'. The term 'Catholic' Epistles does not mean Roman Catholic, but rather catholic in the sense of general, and so they are also sometimes called the 'General Epistles'. These are traditionally ascribed to the apostles James, Peter, John and Jude. Traditional order The order of the New Testament which is found in modern published Bibles is called the 'canonical' order, or if you use YouVersion the 'traditional' order. The problem with calling it the canonical or traditional order is that it is misleading. There is in fact no one single set tradition or canonical order, although those people only used to one tradition may not realise this. Eastern and Western orders In the Orthodox or Eastern tradition the New Testament is ordered by placing the General Epistles before St Paul's letters, so that the Epistle of St James follows Acts. However, in the Catholic or Western tradition the letters of St Paul are placed after Acts and before the General Epistles, so that the Epistle to the Romans comes after Acts. Why the order of the epistles in the eastern and western traditions differ is debated. One idea is that for the Eastern Churches the writings of James, Peter, John and Jude took precedence over the writings of St Paul, who was admitted as an apostle later. James, Peter and John were considered the pillars of the Early Church (Galatians 2:9), with James and Jude being considered actual half-brothers of Jesus. St Peter wrote "Some of the things which Paul writes are difficult to understand" (2 Peter 3:15 NIV). The order with the General Epistles before the Pauline Epistles is an ancient order found in the fourth century Codex Vaticanus and the fifth century Codex Alexandrinus. The Western book order goes back to the Latin Vulgate. Some people think that the Roman Church favoured the writings of St Paul over the writings of the other apostles, and so placed his letters first. However, this is also an ancient order, which is nearly the same as found in the fourth century Codex Sinaiticus. English language Bibles English Bibles follow the Western traditional order. The Protestant tradition came out of the Catholic tradition and has the same book order, so English Bibles (whether Catholic or Protestant) have the same book order for the New Testament. Whilst this is only a tradition and a convention, few publishers and mission agencies are willing to change the order. Does the order matter? On one level the order of the books does not really matter because it is just a convention and standard. It is useful to have a set order to help to find books when you get used to where they are. If you are in one of the major historic traditions of the Church, which access the Bible by a lectionary then the verses which are read each day, or each Sunday, are not selected according to the printed order of the Bible anyway. Why the order does matter However, on another level the order does matter. People who read through the New Testament tend to start at the beginning and read through to the end, so the printed order is the order in which they read. The order gives the idea of a progression of events from Jesus in the Gospels, to the start of the Early Church in Acts, to the development of the life and practice of the Early Church in the letters. By placing the letters of St Paul first we get the distorted view that they are more important than those of James, Peter, John and Jude, whereas actually St Paul deferred to James, Peter and John. So by placing the letter to the Romans after Acts it makes it seems to Catholics and Protestants that Romans is the most important letter. While it is an important letter, its location as the first epistle has misled people through the ages into thinking it is in that location because it is the most important. To those from the Orthodox tradition the letter of James is the first letter after Acts, and so this seems to give it more significance in the Eastern Church. Actually, there was no idea of ranking by importance in the Early Church. This idea came later with Martin Luther. Luther's order During the Reformation the Catholic traditional order of the New Testament found in the Latin Vulgate was kept. However, Martin Luther had a low opinion of the Epistle of James, which he regarded as an "epistle of straw", and was suspicious of Hebrews, Jude and Revelation too. In his first German New Testament published in 1522, Luther recognised 23 books as the authoritative books of the New Testament, which he numbered in the contents, but then he placed the books of Hebrews, James, Jude and Revelation at the end, which were not numbered in the contents. Traditional Lutheran Bibles still follow this order. Tyndale's order William Tyndale was the first Englishman to translate the New Testament from Greek into English. He probably completed it in 1525, and the New Testament was being brought into England from 1526. Tyndale knew German and was familiar with Luther's work, so his 1526 New Testament followed Luther's order. Thus, the first printed New Testament into English did not follow the traditional order of New Testaments which we use today. Other orders The New Testament is not ordered chronologically, but rather books are grouped together by author and type in sections. This echoes the Old Testament which for Jews was ordered by Torah, Prophets and Writings, and so the New Testament has the History, Epistles and Revelation. Some people have attempted to order the New Testament chronologically. This can be done two ways. Even then it can be ordered chronologically by the dates in which the texts were written, sometimes known as the compositional order, or it can be ordered chronologically by the dates in which the events happened in sequential order. The problem is we cannot be exactly sure of either, but there is some consensus on general order. Compositional order Attempts to put the New Testament in composition order tend to put the epistles before the Gospel accounts. We can't be sure of the exact dates of composition of the original books. They did not come with dates, but scholars can find clues in the text. Most scholars think that most of Paul's letters were written first, and the letters of John were written last. Most scholars also think that the Gospels were written later, and that Mark was the first which was also used by Matthew and Luke. An attempt at compositional order was produced by the publisher Biblica, who produce the New International Version. Biblica produced an edition of the New Testament called "The Books of the Bible" which unusually re-orders the New Testament in some kind of rough compositional order, while also clustering books by author. It starts with Luke-Acts, then has St Paul's epistles, then Matthew, Hebrews, James, Mark, 1 and 2 Peter, Jude, John, 1-3 John and Revelation. The publisher claims that "the books of the Bible are arranged in an order that helps you see the unfolding drama more easily". Reading the New Testament in chronological compositional order is perhaps not as helpful as reading it in chronological sequential order. Chronological order Reading the Bible in chronological order of the events is difficult to do because the time frames of many books overlap. Ever since the Early Church there have been attempts to make a harmony of the Gospels, putting all the events in order of sequence. The earliest known Gospel harmony is the Diatessaron of the second century. Modern attempts have been made to ordering the whole Bible chronologically. This has been done by re-ordering the books, or more extremely by cutting and splicing sections and verses so that for example the psalms related to certain stories actually follow them, and the prophets are placed with the context of the relevant kings. Today a number of publishers produce Chronological Bibles which follow different theories of chronology, or different models of splicing. Reese's Chronological Bible The earliest published Chronological Bible was produced by Dr Edward Reese (1928-2015) who was professor of Bible and History at Hyles-Anderson College, Hammond, Indiana in the USA. This can be bought today as Reese's Chronological Bible, which is produced with the Authorized (King James) Version of the Bible. Daily Bible in Chronological Order The most popular chronological version has been produced by LaGard Smith. His version also presents the laws of Moses as a unified legal code, arranged by subject. In the New Testament the four Gospels are harmonised, and Paul's epistles are spliced with Acts to relate the letters in the contexts of events and Paul's travels. The Bible is then split into 365 sections, to enable the reader to go through the whole Bible in a year with a sense of its order. The Daily Bible in Chronological Order is available in English with some different versions of the Bible such as the New International Version (NIV) and New Living Translation (NLT), and the concept has also been adopted in other languages as well. Lectionary Order Many Christians do not engage with the Bible by reading it in order. Instead Christians in liturgical traditions such as the Orthodox, Catholic and Anglican communities engage with the Bible especially on Sundays, using a lectionary, using the ecclesiastical calendar to guide the readings. The lectionary orders passages and places according to their relevance for the Church calendar. Almost all major lectionaries are based on the three-year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary, which takes people through much of the Bible in the context of the traditional cycle of church festivals. It can make more sense to use a lectionary and for example to read about the crucifixion and resurrection at Easter, and the birth narratives at Christmas, rather than use a seemingly-random Verse of the Day from a digital app. Engaging with the text Any belief in the inspiration of Scripture should not extend to a belief in the divine inspiration of the order of those books, which is down to tradition. Most people don't really think about the book order, but as we read the New Testament we should be aware that the book order can influence and shape how we engage with the text. For example there is the danger that we give undue prominence to the early books and less emphasis to the latter books. We should be aware that the way in which we perceive and engage with the New Testament can be affected by the order we use to access those texts. Each order has its merits, and using a Bible organised in a different way, or using a reading plan or lectionary, can provide a helpful and fresh way of engaging with the New Testament. Flash 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. Flash A girl stands among the rubble of a destroyed house in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on April 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip from ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 34,388, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Saturday. In a press statement, the ministry said 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. The ministry added that there were still many victims trapped under the rubble as the destruction of infrastructure hindered rescue teams from reaching them. Israel launched 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. Flash A total of 69 protesters attending a pro-Palestine protest on Arizona State University's Tempe campus, the main campus of the public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area, were arrested on Saturday for "violating university policy." The protesters were arrested early on Saturday "for trespassing after they set up an unauthorized encampment, in violation of university policy," said a statement released by the university. Demonstrations against Israeli military action in Gaza are spreading on major university campuses across United States with hundreds arrested, as the protracted conflict in Gaza has become a humanitarian catastrophe. On Saturday, at least 22 Palestinians were killed and several others injured due to Israeli airstrikes on central and southern Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. US President Joe Biden speaks during the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, DC, US on Saturday, April 27, 2024. "Move past the horse race numbers and the 'gotcha' moments and the distractions and the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics, and focus on what's actually at stake," Biden said. "I think in your hearts, you know what's at stake." The president urged the press to "rise up to the seriousness of the moment." But Biden's speech took a serious turn when he discussed the stakes of November's presidential election, echoing themes of his campaign speeches as he highlighted what he called Trump's "attack on our democracy." The president said later that age was the only thing he and Trump had in common, adding, "My vice president actually endorses me," a reference to former Vice President Mike Pence's refusal to say he'll back his former running mate in 2024. Biden cracked jokes at his political rival's expense and tackled age head-on, saying that he was "a grown man running against a six-year-old." President Joe Biden on Saturday used his White House correspondents' dinner speech to swipe at former President Donald Trump , taking shots at the presumptive GOP nominee while highlighting the stakes of the election. US President Joe Biden speaks during the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner at the Washington Hilton, in Washington, DC, on April 27, 2024. Biden also highlighted the detention of The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned in Russia for more than a year on espionage charges that he and his employer deny. His case has been classified as a wrongful detention by the U.S. The president called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to release Gershkovich immediately, adding that the White House was also doing everything it could to bring home freelance journalist Austin Tice and businessman Paul Whelan. Gershkovich's parents and Tice's mother were among the approximately 2,600 guests at the dinner, an estimate provided by NBC News political correspondent Steve Kornacki in a video that played at the event. "I give you my word as a Biden: We're not going to give up until we get them home," Biden said. "All of them." Biden also highlighted the wrongful detention of Americans abroad, including Gershkovich, at last year's dinner. The president emphasized during last year's remarks that "journalism is not a crime," noting that a free press is a "pillar" of a "free society." Celebrities who went to Saturday's event included Scarlett Johansson, who is married to Jost; Rachel Brosnahan and Quavo. High-profile politicians and administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn, attended as well. First lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff also attended the event, which took place at the Washington Hilton. NBC News Senior White House Correspondent Kelly O'Donnell is serving as the White House Correspondents Association's 2023-24 president and presided over the dinner. "Saturday Night Live" cast member Colin Jost was the dinner's featured entertainer. He co-anchors the NBC show's "Weekend Update" segment. Like Biden, Jost cracked several jokes at the former president's expense, including Trump's criminal trial, starting his remarks by saying "how refreshing it is to see a president of the United States at an event that doesn't begin with a bailiff saying, 'All rise.'" Jost also targeted Biden at times, comparing the economy with the president ascending Air Force One's steps: "It feels like it's stumbling, but there's somehow upward progress." The comedian also told the president that his now-deceased grandfather voted for Biden in the last election because he thought Biden was "a decent man." While the dinner, a tradition dating back 100 years, played out inside the ballroom, hundreds of protesters mobilized outside the venue to call for a cease-fire and criticize Biden's response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The protesters chanted, "Shame on you!" as attendees passed them to enter the hotel. They also yelled criticism of the media and a large sign read, "Stop media complicity in genocide." Hussain Sajwani, the chairman of Damac Properties, one of the United Arab Emirate's largest private real estate developers, sought to downplay the severity of flooding in the country earlier this month, saying there were only "pockets of problems." On April 16, the normally dry desert country in the Gulf was pummeled with roughly a year's worth of rain in less than a day, more than it has ever seen in a single storm since records for the UAE began in 1949. Flash floods that formed led to water engulfing cars, in some areas fully submerging them, leading hundreds of drivers to abandon their vehicles on roads to escape the rising water levels. The deluge also closed schools and businesses, grounded hundreds of flights, and destroyed cars, businesses and other property. It threw daily life into chaos as many residents lost power and running water or were trapped either inside their homes or in airports, or wherever they happened to be when the storm hit. Damac's Sajwani conceded there was chaos at the airport, but said the UAE had recovered much faster than other nations would have. "I think the subject was overexaggerated, honestly," he told CNBC's Dan Murphy on Sunday, speaking at the World Economic Forum's "Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. "Fine, we get some, in one of the malls, some damage. But if the mall is 3 million square feet ... and if a 100 meter leakage or whatever happens it's not the end of the world and it was fixed the next day." He explained that he arrived in Dubai from London just a few hours after the rains had stopped, and visited all the major properties that belong to his company. BEIJING Local Chinese authorities have removed restrictions on Tesla cars after the company's China-made vehicles passed the country's data security requirements, the automaker said Sunday. The breakthrough came as Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrived in Beijing for an unexpected meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, amid the first major auto show in the city in four years. Although Tesla's electric cars are some of the most popular vehicles in China, they have reportedly been banned from some government-related properties due to concerns about what data the U.S.-based automaker can collect. Tesla's press release did not specify which local authorities had removed restrictions on the cars. The Biden administration earlier this year announced a probe into whether imported cars from China pose national security risks due to their ability to potentially collect data about the U.S. and send it back to China. Tesla's vehicles were not the only ones that passed the data security rules. In addition to Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y, several new energy vehicles from BYD , Lotus , Nezha, Li Auto and Nio passed China's data security requirements, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers and the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center of China said Sunday. There's a vast and complicated industry around planning for life in retirement, but if you're thinking about how you can call it quits earlier or live more luxuriously when you do retire, the calculus can be remarkably simple. "The big knob you can turn is cost of living," says Tommy Sikes, a certified financial planner and founder of Traveltirement, where he highlights affordable homes in France and Italy through a newsletter and social media channels. "It might cost you $70,000 a year to have a middle-class retirement in the United States," Sikes says. "If you have that money in southern Italy, you can live like a king, including renting or purchasing a property." If you're hoping to retire in style while keeping costs low, a European retirement may be right for you. But as you begin searching for chateaus, keep these three tips in mind. 1. Think outside of popular spots If you were looking for an exciting but cost-effective retirement destination in the U.S., you'd likely scratch New York and Los Angeles off your list right off the bat. The same goes in Europe, says Sikes. "Paris, Rome and Milan are still going to be expensive," he says. That's true for luxury vacation hotspots such as Lake Como and Saint-Tropez, though you may not find what you're looking for in those places anyway. "The heart of these countries is when you get further into the countryside," Sikes says. "We're not talking about living in the middle of nowhere. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of small towns and villages that still have infrastructure. They still have high-speed internet and medical offices. It's just that people may not see them as glitzy or glamorous," he adds. Nevertheless, life can feel glamorous if you can spend less on basic living expenses and more on doing the things that make you happy. "A couple I know lives in southern Italy in a coastal town. So they have beaches, a walkable town, restaurants, bars, trains they live on the main line," Sikes says. "He tells me he lives on $1,500 a month." 2. Know the residency rules Before you start your search, you'll have to figure out what the rules are when it comes to owning or leasing property and generally residing in the country you plan to retire to. Part of the reasoning behind Sikes' focus on France and Italy is that the countries' rules are favorable to Americans looking to buy property there. "There are zero restrictions on Americans buying property in Italy or France," Sikes tells CNBC Make It. "You don't have to be a citizen. You don't even have to be a resident. You can literally buy something remotely." Once you sort out whether you're able to buy or rent in another country, residing is another question. For many would-be continental retirees, a half-and-half solution is a good first step. Valid U.S. passport holders can reside anywhere in the Schengen area, which includes all of the European Union except Ireland and Cyprus, for up to 90 days during any 180-day period. "You could go from January to March, then leave for 90 days, then go back for July, August, September," Sikes says. For full-time residency, you'll have to explore whether citizenship or visa rules make sense for your retirement plan. 3. Work with professionals Demonstrators try to break through the blockade created by police officers to enter the city at Piazzale Roma, opposing the charge for tourists to enter the city on April 25, 2024 in Venice, Italy. Today Venice authorities launched a pilot program charging visitors a 5-euro entry fee in the hope that it will discourage at peak time, making the city more livable for its residents. Stefano Mazzola | Getty Images News | Getty Images Venice isn't only sinking, it's shrinking. In the 1970s, there were about 175,000 residents in Centro Storico, the main island and historic center of Venice. As of last year, that number was below 50,000. What has been growing steadily is tourism, which due to economic and quality-of-life pressure, has been pushing out residents. In fact, there are now more tourist beds in Venice than there are residents. Last year, 20 million people visited, winding their way through its two square miles. Last week, Venice took action on overtourism, introducing a 5 fee to day trippers who want to access the city. The aim, Venice's Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said in a press conference, "is not to close the city, but not let it explode." The program, officially launched on April 25 a historically significant day, as it is both Italy's Liberation Day and the feast day of the city's patron saint, St. Mark took the mayor's words in a direction he hadn't intended, with roughly a thousand protestors gathered in Piazzale Roma to oppose the measure, ultimately clashing with police in riot gear. Residents voiced a range of concerns despite the measure being designed in part to help make their city more livable. They objected to the idea of living in a closed city. Some argued that selling tickets reduces their city to an amusement park Veniceland. There's also a central irony, critics say, in a government that at the same time is considering multiple ways to increase tourism, from weighing the idea of cruise ships returning to the lagoon to relaxation of limits on Airbnbs. A once-in-a-lifetime destination for many travelers from around the world, the most important criticism may be that the cost is unlikely to deter anyone from visiting the city. "Almost the entire city is against it," Matteo Secchi, leader of a residents' activist group, told the Guardian. "You can't impose an entrance fee to a city; all they're doing is transforming it into a theme park. I mean, are we joking?" On the first day of its implementation, according to data from the mayor's office, 113,000 people registered, and of those 16,000 paid the fee others were exempt for various reasons, including hotel stays, being a commuter, a student, or visiting family or friends. Tourists stand in front of Santa Lucia train station in Venice as they wait to pass controls and buy the five-euro ticket to enter the historic city center on April 25, 2024. Marco Bertorello | Afp | Getty Images Despite its many detractors, the day fee is a significant move on the part of Venice's government to confront the challenge of overtourism, which has become a significant global problem since the pandemic. "This administration is the first one after 30 years of chit-chat on putting a brake to tourism growth that has actually done something," said Antonio Paolo Russo, who was born in Venice and is a professor of urban geography at Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona, Spain. But Russo, offering a view representative of many experts, said the measure seems likely to fall short in terms of effectiveness, and smacks of political gestures, as well as obscure profit motives. "5 won't make any difference with such a large demand. ... the tourist destiny of the city is scripted in the way it is regulated," he said. The program is in its experimental phase and has been in its planning stages since 2019. Covid and travel restrictions associated with the pandemic first paused the action, and then accelerated it once travel resumed. "Covid made us realize that what was an everyday occurrence before Covid isn't acceptable anymore the mentality has changed, as has the sensitivity [towards crowds]," Simone Venturini, the city councilor for tourism, told CNN in 2023. "Aware of the urgency to find a new balance between the rights of those who live, work and study in Venice, and those who visit the city, we are setting ourselves up as global frontrunners," he said. Although plans initially included different fee structures from higher fees, to sliding scales, to fees charged on more days and the possibility of raising funds to help offset the cost of spikes in visitors, the current plan will serve only to cover the administrative costs of the program. Venice is the first location to require a ticket to enter a city to make the city itself the attraction and legal challenges could still be ahead, in national or EU courts, under laws covering freedom of movement in public places. Other popular tourist destinations have similar programs, but limited to locales and attractions within a city, such as Barcelona's Park Guell. Charging tourists to enter popular destinations has worked around the world, but only when there is a clear indication of where the money will go, such as environmental preservation, and when the revenue is kept separate from the general government ledger. Belize's Protected Area Conservation Trust was a pioneering movement 25 years ago which met these criteria, and programs of this type are on the rise. Bali recently introduced a tourist tax to protect the destination's environment, nature and culture. Barcelona just increased its tourist tax, while Amsterdam recently raised its tourist tax to the highest rate in Europe. The various taxation schemes being applied to tourists are likely to continue to grow around the world. watch now Earnings season is giving analysts plenty to chew on as they learn more about the impact of macro challenges on companies. Though Wall Street is watching short-term stock moves spurred by quarterly results, the top analysts have their eyes on companies' long-term prospects. Bearing that in mind, here are three stocks favored by the Street's top pros, according to TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance. Netflix Netflix (NFLX) is this week's first pick. The streaming giant reported better-than-expected results for the first quarter of 2024. However, investors were disappointed with the company's decision to stop reporting quarterly subscriber numbers. The company said that it is more focused on the revenue and operation margin metrics. Following the first-quarter print, BMO Capital analyst Brian Pitz reaffirmed a buy rating on NFLX stock with a price target of $713. The analyst highlighted the company's addition of 9.3 million subscribers, which handily exceeded BMO's estimate of 6.2 million and the Street's expectation of 4.8 million. Pitz added that Netflix has again proved that it can grow in the U.S., with 2.5 million net additions reported in the first quarter in the U.S. and Canada. He expects continued growth in membership, driven by the ongoing paid sharing efforts and content innovation. Explaining his bullish thesis, Pitz said, "$17 billion of content investments for 2024 positions Netflix well for ongoing wallet share gains as linear TV viewership declines." Despite Netflix's growth investments, the analyst expects an improvement in operating margin this year and beyond. He also anticipates that the company will benefit from its focus on advertising, given that $20 billion of linear TV ad dollars are expected to shift to connected TV (CTV)/online globally over the next three years, including $8 billion in the U.S. Pitz ranks No. 155 among more than 8,700 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 75% of the time, with each delivering an average return of 18.4%. (See Netflix Ownership Structure on TipRanks) General Motors Next up is automaker General Motors (GM), which announced impressive first-quarter results and raised its full-year guidance, backed by strong performance in North America. In reaction to the solid results and outlook, Goldman Sachs analyst Mark Delaney reaffirmed a buy rating on the stock and increased the price target to $52 from $50. The analyst raised his EPS estimates for 2024, 2025 and 2026 to reflect improved margin expectations. "We believe that margins can remain resilient, driven both by cost/efficiencies (including executing on the balance of its $2 bn net cost reduction program this year) and relatively firm pricing," said Delaney. The analyst considers General Motors' progress on electric vehicle profitability to be favorable. It is worth noting that GM continues to expect its EV business' variable profit to be positive in the second half of this year and generate a mid-single-digit earnings before interest and taxes margin in 2025. Delaney further added that GM's optimism is based on its current expectations for EV demand and production growth, with the company projecting increasing gains from the battery production tax credit and fixed cost leverage. Finally, the analyst thinks that GM's capital allocation will continue to be a tailwind. He anticipates that the company will return higher levels of capital to shareholders beyond 2024, given its aggressive buyback plan with a goal to reduce its outstanding share count to below 1 billion. Delaney holds the 256th position among more than 8,700 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 61% of the time, with each delivering an average return of 17.5%. (See General Motors Stock Buybacks on TipRanks) Wingstop Finally, there is the restaurant chain Wingstop (WING), which operates and franchises in over 2,200 locations worldwide. Following a recent analysis on the U.S. total addressable market, Baird analyst David Tarantino said that there is upside to the company's long-term target for the domestic market. WING sees the potential to scale its presence to more than 7,000 global locations over the long term, including over 4,000 restaurants in the U.S. However, Tarantino stated that Baird's analysis indicates an upside to the company's domestic target, with room for at least 5,000 U.S. locations. Further, BMO's analysis indicates that there is potential for the estimated TAM to move higher over time, given the company's continued growth in its most penetrated markets in recent years. "All in, a sizable domestic runway along with a relatively open-ended opportunity in international markets (only 288 locations after 2023) seems likely to support double-digit unit growth for many years to come," said Tarantino while reiterating a buy rating on WING stock with a price target of $390. The analyst estimates that Wingstop's unit-level cash-on-cash returns are already about 70% for U.S. franchised locations and appear well-positioned to increase further this year, driven by higher average unit sales volumes. Tarantino contends that WING deserves a significant valuation premium due to its solid near-term operating momentum and attractive long-term growth profile. Looking ahead, the analyst is positive about the company's ability to maintain annual revenue growth in the mid-teens, along with a very capital-efficient growth model. Tarantino ranks No. 264 among more than 8,700 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 65% of the time, with each delivering an average return of 11.5%. (See Wingstop Stock Charts on TipRanks) MDH, a leading spice brand in India, said on Saturday that its products are entirely safe, dismissing allegations of pesticide presence by food regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore. Earlier this month, Hong Kong's Center for Food Safety (CFS) reported finding pesticide ethylene oxide in samples of pre-packaged spice-mix products from two Indian brands, MDH and Everest.The CFS advised against buying and selling MDH's Madras Curry Powder, Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder, and MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder. MDH clarified that it had not received any official communication from food safety regulators in Hong Kong or Singapore.Addressing the alleged presence of ethylene oxide (ETO), MDH stated, "these claims are untrue and lack any substantiating evidence." The company emphasized that neither the Spice Board of India nor the food regulator FSSAI had received any correspondence or test reports from authorities in Hong Kong or Singapore.MDH reiterated its commitment to the safety and quality of its products, assuring consumers that ethylene oxide is not used at any stage of storing, processing, or packing their spices.The company reaffired its compliance with health and safety standards both domestically and internationally, highlighting its tagline, 'Asli Masale Sach Sach, MDH MDH' ('Real Spices of India'), as a reflection of its dedication to providing authentic, high-quality spices.Following Hong Kong's directive, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) also ordered a recall of imported Everest Fish Curry Masala. India remains the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of spices globally, with exports valued at nearly Rs 32,000 crore in 2022-23. Major exports include chilli, cumin, spice oil and oleoresins, turmeric, curry powder, and cardamom.Also read: Indian spice companies may face an export ban if presence of toxins is confirmed The Spice Board, operating under the Ministry of Commerce, is engaged in discussions with exporters regarding the matter. The development comes after the discovery of Ethylene Oxide (ETO) residue in popular spice brands such as MDH and Everest. Consequently, both Hong Kong and Singapore have halted imports of these spices. Rocket launch fuels youth space exploration dreams Xinhua) 10:19, April 28, 2024 LANZHOU, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Ma Yingbo, 12, had been a space enthusiast for several years, before finally achieving something rare among his peers -- attending a real rocket launch on-site. Ma is a sixth-grade primary school student from Jishishan, a county in northwest China's Gansu Province, which was struck by a 6.2-magnitude earthquake last December. Observing the launch of the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship on Thursday night was part of a space-themed scientific education excursion at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, which was organized by the National Work Committee of the Chinese Young Pioneers. Pupils from Gansu, Sichuan, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi and Beijing attending the five-day event also got to participate in space science courses, and had the opportunity to communicate face-to-face with taikonauts. Ma traveled by both bus and train and his journey had lasted more than 24 hours before he finally arrived at the launch center. Once there, he actively participated in space science courses. Ma offered Xinhua a glimpse of his learning journal, in which he wrote down his feelings about rockets and the rocket launch. He sees rockets as bridges connecting Earth and space, thereby making ancient myths more accessible and tangible. On the day of the rocket launch, Ma and his peers watched from a safe distance a few kilometers from the rocket. Their awe was evident as the rocket lifted off the launch pad and soared into the sky. "When I grow up, I want to be a taikonaut, too. I will explore the vast universe just like them," Ma wrote in his diary. The new achievements of China's space missions have ignited enthusiasm among Chinese youth, encouraging them to pursue their scientific dreams. Xie Zhuohang, a fifth-grader from Sichuan's Mianyang, said he was happy to be part of the trip to the Jiuquan launch site and that he had learned a lot about space missions during this excursion. Two years previously, Xie had participated in a local programming competition and made a model of a Long March series carrier rocket. "Making a simple rocket model took me one week, so just imagine the effort needed to build a real one," he said. Now, having watched astronauts embarking on a space mission on-site, his dream of flying higher and further has been greatly boosted. "This launch base is exactly as I had imagined, surrounded by the vast Gobi Desert and dry air. Working here is such a cool thing," he said. Most of the primary school students who participated in this activity became interested in aerospace by watching science experiments that were live-streamed from China's space station. "I remember the lecture given by Wang Yaping on TV, through which I learned about laws of physics and the weightless condition," said Zhang Zinuo, a 10-year-old girl from Shaanxi. She revealed that she now felt more connected and impressed by the passion the taikonauts have for their dreams and the space cause. "The spaceship and the taikonauts used to be so far away from me, but now they are only several miles away," she said. Zhang is already planning on joining the science club at her school. Science education has always been one of the important goals of China's space missions. According to the National Work Committee of the Chinese Young Pioneers, more than 700 young students and teachers have been invited to either the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region or the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province since 2023, giving them the opportunity to participate in space-themed programs. Lei Jia, a staff member of the branch of the Chinese Young Pioneers of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said that this new experience will help children to develop a taste for science education and promote their scientific spirit. "Perhaps, future aerospace industry stars are already among them," she said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Flash People participate in a pro-Palestinian demonstration as police officers stand guard outside Columbia University in New York, the United States, on April 24, 2024. [Photo/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. People participate in a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), California, the United States, on April 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] 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. ARIZONA Plumbing problem at dam threatens Colorado River system ATLANTA Plumbing problems at the dam holding back the second-largest reservoir in the U.S. are spurring concerns about future water delivery issues to Southwestern states supplied by the Colorado River. Federal officials recently reported damage to four tubes known as "river outlet works" at Glen Canyon Dam on the Utah-Arizona border. The dam is responsible for generating hydropower and releasing water stored in Lake Powell downstream to California, Arizona, Nevada and eventually Mexico. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the major dams in the Colorado River system, is evaluating issues related to Glen Canyon Dam when Lake Powell reaches low levels. Those issues include problems with the four tubes such as sedimentation and cavitation when tiny air bubbles develop while water passes through plumbing. Cavitation can cause tears in metal and other mechanical damage. The Colorado River provides water to seven U.S. states, nearly 30 Native American tribes and two states in Mexico. Years of overuse by farms and cities, and stubborn drought worsened by climate change has meant that much less water flows today through the 1,450-mile river than in previous decades. The structural problems at Glen Canyon Dam, first reported by the Arizona Daily Star, could complicate how federal officials manage the river in years to come when hydrologists and others predict Lake Powell will fall below current levels. The damaged tubes sit below much larger ones known as penstocks that normally carry the reservoir's water. The smaller tubes that make up the "river outlet works" allow water releases at lower reservoir levels. Lake Powell currently sits at about 32% capacity. NEBRASKA Bill restores voting rights to newly released felons OMAHA Nebraska lawmakers passed a bill on April 11 to restore the voting rights of those convicted of felonies upon the completion of their sentences, including prison and parole time. The bill, introduced for years by term-limited Omaha state Sen. Justin Wayne, passed by a wide margin. Currently, a person who has been convicted of a felony must wait two years after completing all the terms of their conviction before regaining voting rights. Wayne's measure eliminates that waiting period, established in 2005 by the Legislature. Prior to the waiting period, a person convicted of a felony lost their right to vote indefinitely. The passage of the bill "means everything for the thousands of people who have not been full participants in society," said TJ King, a Nebraska-based outreach specialist with the advocacy group Black and Pink who was unable to vote in the 2022 general election after coming off probation for drug and theft convictions three months earlier. For years, Wayne's effort to restore voting rights for felons faced opposition from several Republicans in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska legislature. Opponents maintained that a two-year waiting period is reasonable and served as a deterrent to committing crime in the first place. Wayne prevailed by appealing to the practical sensibilities of law-and-order lawmakers, citing studies that show recidivism drops when people are allowed to engage in their community upon being released. Republican Gov. Jim Pillen's office did not immediately respond to messages by The Associated Press asking whether he would sign the bill into law. NEW MEXICO Electric vehicle mandates stay as dealers fight rules ALBUQUERQUE Mandates for auto dealers to provide an increasing number of electric vehicles for sale across New Mexico will remain in place as state regulators on April 5 denied an effort to derail implementation of the new rules pending a legal challenge. Members of the state Environmental Improvement Board voted 4-1 after deliberating behind closed doors, marking a setback to the New Mexico Automotive Dealers Association as it pursues its challenge before the state Court of Appeals. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has been pushing for more electric vehicles in the state, saying doing so will curb emissions and help address climate change. The state has adopted more stringent standards for vehicle emissions and established the mandates for inventories of zero-emission vehicles, winning praise from environmentalists. But local auto dealers and others, including Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, are concerned that the mandates will have negative effects particularly for rural communities that lack electric vehicle charging infrastructure. They also have argued that affordability is an issue for consumers on the Navajo Nation and across New Mexico. Republicans in the legislative minority also have criticized the governor's plans as impractical, citing the range that many people have to drive in New Mexico which is the fifth largest state in the U.S., although sparsely populated. Starting in 2026, 43% of all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks shipped to New Mexico auto dealerships by national auto manufacturers must be zero-emission vehicles. The rules also call for 15% of all new commercial heavy-duty trucks to be zero-emission vehicles. WYOMING Endangered ferrets cloned from critter frozen in 1980s CHEYENNE Two more black-footed ferrets have been cloned from the genes used for the first clone of an endangered species in the U.S., bringing to three the number of slinky predators genetically identical to one of the last such animals found in the wild, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on April 17. Efforts to breed the first clone, a female named Elizabeth Ann born in 2021, have failed, but the recent births of two more cloned females, named Noreen and Antonia, in combination with a captive breeding program launched in the 1980s, is boosting hopes of diversifying the endangered species. Genetic diversity can improve a species' ability to adapt and survive despite disease outbreaks and changing environmental conditions. A nocturnal type of weasel, black-footed ferrets are now a conservation success story after being all but wiped out in the wild, thousands of them have been bred in captivity and reintroduced at dozens of sites in the western U.S., Canada and Mexico since the 1990s. They were thought to be extinct, until a ranch dog named Shep brought a dead one home in western Wyoming in 1981. Conservationists then managed to capture seven more, and establish a breeding program. Noreen and Antonia, like Elizabeth Ann, are genetically identical to Willa, one of the original seven. Willa's remains -- frozen back in the 1980s -- could help conservation efforts because her genes contain roughly three times more unique variations than are currently found among black-footed ferrets, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Biologists plan to try to breed Noreen and Antonia after they reach maturity later this year. To clone these three ferrets, the Fish and Wildlife Service worked with zoo and conservation organizations and ViaGen Pets & Equine, a Texas business that clones horses for $85,000 and pet dogs for $50,000. OKLAHOMA 9-year-old boy's pet octopus a social-media sensation The one thing 9-year-old Cal Clifford wanted more than anything since he was a toddler was a pet octopus. The boy's family in rural Edmond, Oklahoma, humored him with toy versions of an eight-legged mollusk, but as Cal got older it became clear that only the real thing would do. The child's father, 36-year-old dentist Cameron Clifford, researched the possibility with a local aquarium store and before long Terrance the California two-spot octopus, also known as a bimac, was living in a watery enclosure at the family home southwest of Oklahoma City. A popular TikTok saga was launched with the father narrating the tale of Terrance the cephalopod, using a faux British accent generated by the social media app. Eventually, hundreds of thousands of people were following. Within weeks, the tale took an surprise twist when it was learned Terrance was actually a female as it laid some 50 eggs that the family initially assumed were unfertilized. Several weeks after that, teeny near-transparent octopus babies began hatching and were given names like Rocket Larry, Squid Cudi, Swim Shady, Jay-Sea and Sea-Yonce While female octopuses usually die soon after laying their eggs, Clifford said Terrance remains alive four months later. "Aside from the physical, financial and emotional requirements of owning a species such as a bimac, you will learn a lot about yourself in the process," the Arizona-born Clifford told TikTok followers in his app-generated accent. A conversation with Dave Goelz, the man who for nearly 50 years has served as the voice and puppeteer of Gonzo the pain-loving, dare-deviling, chicken-dating, Charles Dickens-impersonating, furry blue star of the Muppets When Jim Henson unexpectedly passed away on May 16, 1990, the members of his repertory company had to figure out how to carry on the legacy of his characters without their visionary leader. Some of them, like Rowlf the Dog, were temporarily retired, while others, like Kermit the Frog, were reassigned to other performers. It also led to a new star turn that of Gonzo, the beloved furry blue whatever, who stepped into the lead role of the first three Muppet theatrical films after Hensons death. First, there was The Muppet Christmas Carol, where Gonzo narrated as Charles Dickens. Then there was Muppet Treasure Island, where he and Rizzo the Rat were the sidekicks to the human lead. And finally, in 1999, there was Muppets from Space, which centered around Gonzo finding out he was an alien. And although Gonzo has since returned to being a whatever as well as more of a supporting player to Kermit, he was unquestionably the Muppet for the Moment in that time of transition and obviously an indelible part of Muppet history overall. Don't Miss While a lot has changed over the course of that history, the man behind Gonzo puppeteer Dave Goelz has not. In fact, hes going on half a century of playing the blue whatever. I recently caught up with Goelz to talk about his very gonzo life from the early insecurities that plagued him, to the soulfulness of the character, to why the Muppets are like religious icons to him. Lets start at the very beginning: When did you first meet Jim Henson? I started watching Sesame Street in 1972. I quickly became obsessed with what the Muppets were doing with characters. I got curious, really curious, and because of all that I started building my own Ernie it was a compulsion, I wasnt in control of it. Once I had my own Ernie which wasnt great, but it was close enough where people could recognize it I started getting invited to kindergarten classes that friends of mine taught. I realized that this was a magic trick it was like being a magician. You can sit there with a character on your hand, right next to your face and talk with your mouth moving and people see the character. Kids just absolutely bought in. Advertisement Then, one day I happened to buy a newspaper which was only a semi-annual event for me back in those days and I found that Frank Oz was going to be appearing at Oakland College. So, I took a day of vacation, went to see him and arranged with him to visit Sesame Street if I ever got to New York, which I had no plans to do. Eventually, though, I got a business trip there, and I hung out for the whole week at Sesame Street. Caroll Spinney was really nice to me he did Big Bird and Oscar and he sent me over to see (puppet designer) Bonnie Erickson because I had some puppets with me that I had made and Bonnie said, These are really good. I think Jim should meet you, but hes in France. I ended up going back home, not expecting anything further to happen. But not long after, the phone rang, and it was Jim. He wanted to meet with me. I flew down to meet him, and we talked about me making some videos on my own because I was interested in performing, but he felt I could be useful in the workshop as a designer/builder. Advertisement A few weeks later, he came back to my town in California, and I showed him the videos Id made. Then he showed me this project he was working on for a Broadway stage play. He asked if Id like to come work on it in the shop as a designer/builder. I said, I have a job. Let me see if I can get a leave of absence as a trial for six months. Which I did and that went really, really well. We never did the Broadway play, though. What was Jim like when you were first getting to know him? When I met him in Los Angeles, his mother had died. We were supposed to have breakfast at the Beverly Wilshire. He wasnt there, but Jerry Nelson, one of the other puppeteers, came in his place and explained the situation. I said, Ill just go back to San Francisco; Jim and I can meet some other time. But Jerry said, No, he wants to meet you. Hes coming back tomorrow. I thought, How can your mother die, and you have a business meeting the next day? Advertisement But that was how little I knew Jim at that point. He looked so gentle and frail, and he was very thin. But he was the strongest person I ever met. Advertisement Anyway, we did meet the next day, and we had a lovely time. He put on a couple of my puppets, and we ad-libbed together. At every stage, I was thinking, Ill never forget this. This is the greatest day of my life. I wasnt thinking about anything else happening; I just thought, Jim put on my puppet, and we ad-libbed. We played. What were you doing with the Muppets before you began performing Gonzo on The Muppet Show? Advertisement The first six months I was there, I was working on a special called The Muppets Valentine Show. I built characters for that and got to perform three characters in the show. I did Crumpet, Brewster who was an old man with a white beard that I also built and something else. I cant quite remember who. How did Gonzo get assigned to you for The Muppet Show? I have no idea. (Muppets writer) Jerry Juhl thought of a character who would be a pathetic loser who did stupid acts and thought they were high art. For some reason, Jim thought of me, and he pulled out this old Muppet who had been in a special called The Santa Claus Switch. It was one of the Frackles who lived in a cigar box. So that was what I used, and I did the first season with that puppet. Was Gonzo intended to be a core cast member, or just one of the many secondary Muppets? Advertisement Advertisement I dont know. A lot of the Muppets get to appear a little bit. If they work, they stay, and if they work really well, they become major characters. I wasnt even really thinking about that then, though. That was before we had Fozzie and Piggy before we knew there were groups of characters. All I knew was that I had to do this thing, and I didnt have a voice for it. Then, the day of the first recording, I was shaving in my hotel at the Swiss Cottage in Marble Arch (England) and thinking, Ive really got to think of a voice now. Because of his long nose, I thought Gonzo should be nasally. And, because he was so scruffy-looking, I thought he should be a little bit raspy, too. In the beginning, his voice was a little bit like baby-talk, youll see that for the whole first season. But as I got more confidence, it evolved into a more natural delivery because it was easier to do the acting that way. It wasnt so contrived. Compared to other Muppets youve played, like Zoot or Bunsen Honeydew, did anything feel special about Gonzo? Advertisement I treasured all the Muppets. They were religious icons to me, so you could hand me any Muppet major or minor or unknown and I would have treasured it. What I did notice about Gonzo was, in the first season, they kept wanting me to project more energy from him and having him get more excited from his stupid acts. I was partly inhibited by being so new in show business, but it was also because his eyes were set in this sad expression. So, after the first season, I asked Jim if I could build a new Gonzo, and he said, Sure, go ahead. Gonzos look changed a fair amount after that, but the biggest change was adding the eye mechanism, which I copied from Big Bird. Is it fair to say that this is when the character came alive? Advertisement Advertisement It was really my fault. I had to start feeling secure. For the whole first season, I was very aware that the crew really loved when Frank (Oz) and Jim performed. Theyd be paying attention and laughing because there was a lot of ad-libbing in between shots. When I came out, I could hear all the newspapers going up. It was so boring, and I was so inhibited. I got one laugh the first season from the crew anyway. I had to say No! as in, Youre kidding! But I was choking on it, and I was inhibited. Jim said, Just go ahead and let it out. Make it bigger. I tried, but I couldnt do it. Then Frank came over and said, Dave, your job is to be a fool, just do it. Just let it really be big. So I did it really big, and the crew started laughing. That was a good sound after the newspapers, this was good. The next season, I got another laugh out of the crew. It was getting so that I was getting one laugh a year out of the crew I was on a roll! You couldnt stop me now. Advertisement By the time The Muppet Movie rolled around in 1979, Gonzo was a core character. What can you tell me about the song, Im Going to Go Back There Someday, which was Gonzos big moment in the movie? It wasnt in the script, and it wasnt in the list of songs Paul Williams was asked to write. Then, just before we started shooting, Jim had the puppeteers over to his place in L.A. He had just come from meeting Paul, and he said, Dave, youre not going to believe this, Paul wrote an amazing song for Gonzo. He played it, and it was this mystical thing. Jim said, Were going to write it in; were going to make a place for it. Its an inspired song, and it certainly fit him. Its just specific enough that it says something, but its also non-specific enough so that you can make it your own. In art, thats a really hard place to get to. Advertisement Why do you think that was the song for Gonzo? Advertisement Advertisement Ill tell you what Paul says. He identified with Gonzo as a flightless bird, and because of Pauls stature, he said he always felt like that. He identified with that sort of predicament in life. So the song just came to him, he wrote it and gave it to Jim along with the others. For the next decade, Gonzo remained probably fourth-billed in the Muppets lineup, but when Jim passed away, Gonzo was thrust to the forefront for three movies in a row. Why do you think that was? Well, after Jim died, Steve Whitmire came in and did an unbelievable Kermit in a way that you wouldnt have thought possible. But it was because hed worked beside Jim for 13 years or something like that. He heard Jims real voice. He saw the expressions on his face when he performed Kermit. He saw the body language. Steve took all that on. It was a much bigger acting job than just performing a puppet. He sort of had to become a Jim clone to do that. It was extraordinary. But we didnt have a Fozzie at that point because Frank wasnt available all the time he was directing films. So thats what moved Gonzo to be a sidekick to Kermit during those years. Advertisement So it was kind of by default? Oh yeah. Its not based on merit. (Laughs) The Gonzo and Rizzo friendship was also a lot of fun during that period. Advertisement Advertisement That started with The Christmas Carol. It was Jerry Juhl who wrote it. He had this idea because the narrative prose in the book was hugely powerful, yet a narrator in a movie is an intrusion, so he thought of having Gonzo playing Charles Dickens which, on its face, is silly and stupid. But what I saw in it was a chance to do really heartfelt dialogue. It was profound stuff, to get to say Dickens words. That was the third phase of Gonzo. The first phase was insecurity. The second phase was, I got more confident, and Bill Prady came along in the 1980s and started writing Gonzo, saying, Thats so cool! So Gonzos exuberance came forward in that second phase. The third phase came with Christmas Carol, which is where Gonzo became more soulful. That gives us a palette to choose from with Gonzo. He can be any of those three things. Theyre like the rings in a tree, theyre all still there. Talking about these different sides to Gonzo, is there a place youre most comfortable with? Advertisement I like it all. I dont use much of the insecure part anymore. Thats just his backstory. But I definitely use exuberance and I definitely use the soulfulness. Do you have a favorite sketch or stunt from The Muppet Show that Gonzo performed? Its funny, I dont think in those terms much because those were just bits that he did. What I do remember about The Muppet Show was the episode where they wrote him quitting. He was going to leave and go to Bombay and become a movie star. He sang My Way just before he left. It was intended to be a real emotional moment a real genuine, authentic one and I was petrified of doing that because Id gotten into puppeteering to hide. The idea of doing a real emotion was too scary to me. I didnt want to reveal anything about myself. Funnily enough, after it was done, we found out that people were crying while watching that episode when he sang that song and then Kermit took Gonzo back because he didnt really want to go. It was another little milestone for me where I thought, That was amazing. I didnt want to do it, but it was powerful. Advertisement Advertisement Maybe that was the first hint of soulful Gonzo. It was foisted on me. Jerry Juhl and Jim insisted, so I did it. I didnt want to do it at the time, but youre right, that was the beginning of the soulfulness. Ukraine now has powerful new American missiles which can travel almost 200 miles. Funnily enough, neither Washington nor Kiev were too keen to make this fact public. But at least two have already been used against targets in Crimea. A year ago, the Americans refused to send exactly the same missiles to Ukraine, on the excuse that they hadnt any to spare, though the real reason was that they were afraid of how they might be used. This is also why Germany (for now) is not giving its 300-mile-range Taurus rockets to President Zelensky. Look back to the months after Russias invasion, two years ago, and you will find that Nato powers have steadily relaxed their original limits on what they would give Ukraine. US President Joe Biden has given Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky a $60billion aid package If Vladimir Putin is to fall, writes Peter Hitchens, I would not count on him being replaced by anyone nicer Now, with the release of the USAs $60billion aid package, we can expect a river of weapons and ammunition to flow into the dismal battlefields of the Don Basin. I think we can also be sure that there will be more strikes into Russian territory, even if Ukraine says it wont do this. Russia will carry on responding by smashing up what is left of Ukraines economy and electricity grid. Three outcomes are possible. The first is that, a year hence, things are much as they are now, but many more men on both sides are dead or horribly maimed, and more homes destroyed. The second is that the front line has moved slightly one way or the other, plus the deaths and the destruction already mentioned. And the third, which cannot be ruled out just because experts say it is unlikely, is that Ukraines greatly increased firepower will cause a Russian collapse and defeat. This would lead to the fall of Vladimir Putin. If this happens, I would not count on him being replaced by anyone nicer. Rather the reverse. In which case Europe will be more unstable than it has been for nearly a century. Who wants this? What are our war aims? What would be a good outcome? If you listen to the BBC, you would think that a negotiated peace would be a horrible thing. The Corporations coverage on this lacks any attempt at balance or reflection. Dissent has been wiped from the airwaves. For liberal Left-wing people in the West have, in the past two decades, become keen warmongers. Why? Despite their general sandal-wearing, vegetarian outward appearance, Leftists have sound reasons for liking wars. War increases state power and centralisation, imposes regimentation and censorship and in the past century has made Europe far more socialist than it would ever otherwise have been. Leftists are also Utopian idealists, ready to kill and destroy for a glowing distant goal. Utopia can only be approached across a sea of blood, and you never arrive. The mystery is why political conservatives these days are so keen on war, their enemy. The proper conservative (and adult) view of war is that it is a regrettable necessity, costly and destructive, and to be ended by compromise as soon as possible. All we have learned from the Ukraine conflict is what the simplest citizen knows in his personal life that deliberately annoying a powerful neighbour will get you into trouble, and that shabby compromise is cheaper and safer than a fight to the finish. The war in Ukraine results from the desires of a small American foreign policy faction. They are the same lot who got us into the Iraq war in 2003, who turned Libya into an anarchic cauldron, and who applauded the disastrous Arab Spring, which ended up with the West condoning a ghastly massacre in Cairo, and supporting the military junta there. They also entirely wrecked Syria, so obsessed with overthrowing its despot that they allied with Al Qaeda to do so. They think they can remake the world. All they manage to do over and over again is break it. They seem to have got their idea of how the world works out of comic books, not history books. But still they sit there. Others in Washington said, Do not expand Nato and advised against the years of bear-baiting which ended with Putins invasion of Ukraine. They were brushed aside by these geniuses. And here we are, stuck in a stinking trench-warfare brawl which has already lasted half as long as the First World War. Wise people (conservatives, as it happened) sought to end that war with a deal, too. But politicians and many in the media of the day were too proud and high-minded to do so. And so we got more killing, and Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini and the Second World War as a result. The same bloody fools are in charge again. What is Labour keeping secret this time? My brilliant Daily Mail colleague Alex Brummer disclosed last week how Labours great thumping fist, Gordon Brown, suppressed Alexs scoop on Labours secret 1997 plan to raid and wreck this countrys once-superb private pension sector. At that time, Alex recalled, he was working for the pro-Labour Guardian newspaper. When Brown learned that the paper intended to publish, he put intense pressure on the publication to hold fire or face dire consequences when New Labour came to power. To its everlasting shame, the Guardian pulled the story. About the same time, a Labour election broadcast of April 1997 stated, without any sort of qualification, that, if the Conservatives won the General Election the following month, they would abolish the state pension. This lie is still unpunished. Why wouldnt they try it again? These people lie and conceal and deceive. They could never win elections if they did not. Would so many middle class people have voted New Labour if they had known what Alex tried and failed to print? What do you now not know about Labours undoubted secret plans to tax the middle class? And which Left-wing media do know about this, and are suppressing it? Honestys not always rewarded Leonie Benesch plays a teacher battling dishonesty in a school in The Teachers Lounge Id like to see a British film made in one of our supposedly modern outstanding state schools, honestly showing what theyre really like. In the meantime, you and I can make do with an enthralling German movie called The Teachers Lounge, in which Leonie Benesch plays an idealistic, honourable teacher who discovers and tries to fight dishonesty in a German grammar school (yes, they still have them in most places). I do advise you to see how she gets on. The film is hard to find in this country but its worth persisting. What is it about the BBC? Its veteran eco-warrior Chris Packham was challenged on Laura Kuenssberg's BBC1 show last week to prove his claim that extreme weather events such as the flooding in Dubai were caused by carbon emissions. But instead Packham launched an attack on Toby Young, editor of the Daily Sceptic blog which casts doubt on the Springwatch presenter's arguments. Packham told the programme: '[The evidence] doesn't come from Toby Young's Daily "Septic" [sic] which is put together by a bunch of professionals with close affiliations to the fossil industry.' Young swiftly issued a statement defending The Daily Sceptic: 'Neither I nor any of the other people who put it together have any affiliations to the fossil fuel industry.' What is it about the BBC? Its veteran eco-warrior Chris Packham (pictured) was challenged on Laura Kuenssberg's BBC1 show last week to prove his claim that extreme weather events such as the flooding in Dubai were caused by carbon emissions, writes Andrew Pierce But instead Packham launched an attack on Toby Young (pictured), editor of the Daily Sceptic blog which casts doubt on the Springwatch presenter's arguments Not only did Kuenssberg (pictured) fail to challenge Packham, she later tweeted a video of his baseless claim, which garnered almost 850,000 views Not only did Kuenssberg fail to challenge Packham, she later tweeted a video of his baseless claim, which garnered almost 850,000 views. Auntie was then forced into deleting the programme from iPlayer after Young complained. Starmer the Charmer On Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast, Sir Keir Starmer recalls as a lawyer being demanding about the documents supporting a case he was prosecuting. Starmer insisted on being informed who put them together. When told it was a lawyer called Victoria Alexander, he said: 'Get her on the phone.' 'These files, are they accurate?' he asked. To which she said: 'Yes.' On Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast, Sir Keir Starmer (pictured, on Friday) recalls as a lawyer being demanding about the documents supporting a case he was prosecuting Starmer insisted on being informed who put them together. When told it was a lawyer called Victoria Alexander, he said: 'Get her on the phone' (pictured: Starmer and Ms Alexander on their wedding day in 2007, along with Starmer's parents Rodney and Josephine) Then she put down the phone and said to colleagues: 'Who the f*** does he think he is?' It was the start of a beautiful relationship. Victoria is now his wife. In literature for his bid to be re-elected for a third term as London Mayor, Sadiq Khan mentions party leader Sir Keir Starmer twice. That's two times more than mayor Andy Burnham seeking a third term in Greater Manchester whose bumf omits Starmer altogether. The Green Party complained bitterly about the Rwanda Bill but for the final votes last week only one of its two peers bothered to show up. 'We made a choice to have one representative,' said humourless Green peer Natalie Bennett. So why did her colleague Jenny Jones stay away? Word in the Lords is the two women can't stand the sight of each other. The Green Party complained bitterly about the Rwanda Bill but for the final votes last week only one of its two peers bothered to show up. 'We made a choice to have one representative,' said humourless Green peer Natalie Bennett (pictured) Despite being savaged by critics of every political hue, Liz Truss's book has entered the bestseller charts at a respectable No 3. So who's buying it? My spies among the Tory grassroots tell me party activists are snapping it up for one reason: 'To wind up Rishi Sunak they want to give the PM a punch on the nose.' Not all American voters are enamoured with President Joe Biden or his support for transgender issues. A large sign displayed on the fence of a house in Tennessee states: 'This house identifies as non-Bidenary.' Not all American voters are enamoured with President Joe Biden (pictured, at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday) or his support for transgender issues Sturgeon's free preach A glowing review in the New Statesman of Salman Rushdie's new book Knife from former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, whose husband Peter Murrell has been charged with the embezzlement of SNP funds. A glowing review in the New Statesman of Salman Rushdie's new book Knife from former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon (pictured), whose husband Peter Murrell has been charged with the embezzlement of SNP funds Sturgeon applauds Rushdie's (pictured) 'defence of free speech with every word that he writes'. This is the same Sturgeon whose government introduced hate crime laws which could shut down comics at the Edinburgh Festival Sturgeon applauds Rushdie's 'defence of free speech with every word that he writes'. This is the same Sturgeon whose government introduced hate crime laws which could shut down comics at the Edinburgh Festival. And withdrew from a BBC event because an adviser to Trump was on the platform. Free speech but only when it suits her. Tragedies have occurred in British and Irish Scouting trips in the last 30 years As Matt Hyde, chief executive of Scouting England, prepares to step down from his post in September 2024 to take a role at Lloyds Bank Foundation, his resignation is little comfort to parents of children who sent their children on scouting weekends and never saw them again. Since 1995, 17 children have died on scouting expeditions in the UK, The Times reports, with further tragedies also occurring in Ireland. Now, the parents of some of these UK children have teamed up and have launched a petition to ensure such tragedies never occur again. Jackie Leonard, mother of 16-year-old Ben, said: 'It's the effect it has on the rest of the family the ripple effect if you like,' she said. The impact it's had on his brother, on me and his dad, it's just heartbreaking. The petition, which calls for the Government to launch a public inquiry, has so far received 1,890 signatures and requires 100,000 for the topic to be debated in Parliament. Meanwhile, a family in Dublin, Ireland have settled with Scouting Ireland over the death of their 14-year-old daughter for a sum of approximately 54,000 after the association accepted liability for her death. As their parents fight for justice, FEMAIL looks into the stories of some of the children who went off on scouting expeditions and never came home... Ben Leonard Ben Leonard, 16, from Stockport, Manchester, died of a serious head injury after falling 200ft off the Great Orme in Llandudno, Wales, while on a three-day expedition with the Reddish Explorer Scouts on August 26 2018 after being left 'unsupervised' Ben Leonard was 16 years old when he set off from his home in Stockport for a three-day expedition to Llandudno, Wales, in August 2018. Having sent her older son Thomas off on Scouting trips in the past, Ben's mother Jackie Leonard didn't think her son's safety would be a concern during the expedition. But on the second day of Ben's trip, Jackie received a phone call from the Scout leader which changed her life forever. Ben had fallen 200ft off Great Orme and sustained a serious head injury in the fall. A jury inquest concluded that Ben had been 'unlawfully killed' by the Explorer Scouts leader and assistant leader in February 2024 and found that neglect of the Scouts Association was a contributing factor Jackie Leonard, 54, said her son's death had a 'devastating impact' on her family and that the organisation needs to be regulated by an external body to be 'made safe' and prevent more children from dying (Pictured: Jackie and her husband Dave) She recalled: 'He rang me and said Ben had a fall, and at first I just thought ''Oh, he's twisted his ankle'' or done something like that you know. 'Then he said the ambulance is there and they are working on him. And straight away, those words were just like, 'Oh my god'. 'For about an hour we didn't know what was happening and we couldn't leave because we'd been told they might be taking him somewhere by air ambulance. Then about an hour later the police knocked on the door.' A jury inquest concluded that Ben had been 'unlawfully killed' by the Explorer Scouts leader and assistant leader in February 2024 and found that neglect of the Scouts Association was a contributing factor. Reflecting on Ben's death nearly six years on, Jackie said the impact on the family has been 'devastating'. L-R Ben's brother Tom, 26, with his mother, Jackie, 54, and father, Dave, 57, alongside Ben She added that the Explorer Scouts's chief executive Matt Hyde, who will step down in September to take a role at Lloyds Banking Group, had 'failed' in keeping children safe. Speaking about the association, Jackie said: 'I do think that in their 100-plus-year history, this is their darkest time.' A jury inquest into Ben's death was launched in February 2020 but was cancelled after it became apparent the 'Court had been misled', according to the coroner's prevention of future deaths report. A second jury inquest was set for November 2022 but again had to be aborted after material non-disclosure to the court. It would take more than a year for a third jury inquest to rule that Ben's death was due to 'Unlawful killing by the Explorer Scout Leader and Assistant Explorer Scout Leader contributed to by the neglect of the Scouts Association'. 'We were just so, so relieved,' said Jackie. 'I couldn't believe it when he said unlawful killing. We were not pleased of course, but we feel it was the right conclusion to reach.' Ben had been left 'unsupervised' with two other Scouts on the grassy tops of the Great Orme, a 679ft (207m) headland on the north coast of Wales, according to the coroner's report. Thinking he could see a quicker way down, Ben began his descent when he suddenly slipped and fell off the cliff. He was pronounced dead at 2.45pm after paramedics carried out medical interventions and CPR in vain. 'In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken,' David Pojur, assistant coroner for North Wales, concluded in his report. Aoife Winterlich Aoife Winterlich from Dublin was 14 years old when she went on a scouting trip to Co. Wexford in 2015 and never came home Aoife's mother Anne (right) revealed that her husband and Aoife's father Martin (left) died 'of a broken heart' a few weeks after the teen's tragic death Anne Winterlich describes her daughter Aoife as 'kind, caring and full of life'. Her smile and her infectious laugh 'brought joy to those around her'. Other deaths linked to UK scouts group 1993 Adult Venture scout Andrew Hindley, 23, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, fell 2,000ft down Jungfrau, Switzerland. Inquest verdict: Unknown 1995 Lee Craddock, 11, fell 360ft while at Britain's deepest pothole, Gaping Ghyll in North Yorkshire. His parents later sued the Scouts Association. 1997 Jack Sudds, eight, drowned in a swimming pool at a Scout camp in Crowborough, East Sussex. Inquest verdict: Misadventure. 1999 Jonathan Attwell, 10, fell 600ft to his death on his first outdoor Scout trip to Snowdon, North Wales. Inquest verdict: Accidental. 2000 Jamie Chambers, 15, died after being hit by boulders on Little Tryfan, a spur of Snowdon. Inquest verdict: Misadventure. 2010 Scout leader Stephen Young, 18, died when he fell through a snow shelf on Creag Meagaidh in the Scottish Highlands. Inquest verdict: Unknown. 2014 Elliot Peacock, 14, died during a gorge scrambling expedition with the Scouts in Italy. Inquest verdict: Unknown. Advertisement Speaking outside the Four Courts in Dublin this month, Anne said: 'She was an incredible daughter, a wonderful sister, and an amazing friend. Someone who could make you smile no matter what.' In December 2015, 14-year-old Aoife Winterlich went on a scouting trip to Co. Wexford, Ireland. As her mother Anne sent her off on the trip, it was likely a welcome respite, as her father Martin was terminally ill at home. The teen, from Walkinstown, Dublin, was away with a Scouting Ireland group which was staying at a hostel in Waterford and the trip had come to an end when the group decided to make a stop on the way home. As they travelled back to Dublin, the group visited Hook Head Lighthouse. However, the trip came amid stormy weather conditions. During the visit, Aoife was pulled into the sea by a strong current. She was rescued, but died in hospital four days later. This month, nearly a decade after Aoife's death, Aoife's family settled with Scouting Ireland who accepted liability for the teen's death. The Irish Times reports Judge Christopher Callan described her death as 'a ghastly tragedy' and said Scouting Ireland 'fell short' because it did not accept liability sooner. He added the family's pain had been compounded by the death of Aoife's father 'of a broken heart' just weeks after the tragedy. Anne told the Irish Independent: 'It broke his heart. A month after Aoife died, Martin joined her.' Speaking outside court after the settlement, Anne said: 'I gave consent for Aoife to travel with her scout group to a hostel in Waterford. On the way back the scout leaders made an unscheduled stop at Hook Head in Wexford, without parental consent. 'This was during Storm Desmond, which brought severe gales and gusts of 80mph. 'The children were left unsupervised for a significant period leading to my precious daughter being swept into the sea by the turbulent waves. Hook Head is not a place to leave a group of 14-year-olds unattended during a storm. 'When such negligence was involved, we find it unacceptable that no mantadory investigation (took place) into the events leading up to Aoife being swept into the water.' Roy Thornton Roy Thornton, 15, slipped down the side of a mountain and into a stream-bed in 1999 Another young boy who died while on a Scout trip was Roy Thornton, which was also ruled as accidental by a coroner. The 15-year-old boy from Wembley, London, died in the Alps in 1999 after he slipped and fell. His mother, Janet Hollands, told The Sunday Times that Ben's case made her realise she should have taken legal advice when her son died, instead of 'blindly' trusting that the Scout organisation 'wanted to change'. Roy had gone on a trip with the 3rd Kenton Scouts Explorers group to the Austrian Alps. Ms Hollands, now 65, had been a Scout leader on the trip at the time, in charge of looking after the younger Cubs. The group was climbing a section of the 7000ft mountain Jochelspitze in the Lechtal Valley when she decided the path wasn't suitable for the Cubs. The assistant leader Paul Beardmore, who was leading the older group, had never led a group of Scouts before. As the conditions became windier, he told the children to leave the path and slide down a hilly section. His mother told The Sunday Times that the boy, a 'natural leader', had been first to go but he 'went over the edge'. The other boys watched in horror and managed the dig in their heels and stop, 'literally right by the edge'. The Austrian Police investigated his death, and Beardmore was found guilty of culpable homicide and given a two-month suspended sentence. But the assistant leader said he had been failed by more senior Scouts. Scott Fanning Scott Fanning was just 11 years old when he fell 60ft down a ravine at Ashworth Valley on a scouting trip in 1998 As Ben Leonard's family sat through a devastating inquest, they had support from another mother who had gone through the same tragedy years earlier, Sharon Collins. Her eldest son Scott, aged 11, fell 60ft down a ravine at Ashworth Valley near Rochdale, during a Scout camp in 1998. He was taken to hospital but died the same day from a brain injury. The Chadderton St Herbert's troop from Oldham had organised for 50 Scouts to spend the weekend at the camp. But just after 7am on the second day, Scott's mother was woken up by the phone call which would tell her he had fallen. Untrained helper Peter McPhillips told the inquest at the time that the boy had missed a turning as he led a group of eleven boys onto a path on the side of the ravine. McPhillips had been at the back of the group, which was a size too big for him to manage by himself. He couldn't see that the path had become increasingly narrow when he told Scott to keep walking, shortly before he fell. Although the coroner ruled that his death was accidental, he called on the Scout Association for more training for their leaders. Scott's father, Alan, never recovered from the tragic loss. He took his own life two years later. Alan Lock Another child who died while on a Scout trip was Alan Lock, a six-year-old boy Alan Lock was just six-years-old when he fell into a river and drowned on a scouting trip in 2009. The schoolboy, who was afraid of water, suffered from an undiagnosed heart condition myocarditis - a condition which can cause symptoms similar to a heart attack. Alan was on a guided walk along the River Stour near Sudbury, Suffolk, when he went missing from a group consisting of 18 Beavers and four adults. A Scout leader standing on a bridge spotted his shoes poking out of the fast-flowing water and managed to pull him out of the river onto the bank. But despite the group's desperate efforts to resuscitate Alan he died around four hours later in hospital. A post-mortem examination revealed that Alan died of drowning, while his myocarditis, which causes an inflammation of the heart muscle, was also cited as a contributory factor in his death. Pathologist Nat Carey told the inquest that the undiagnosed condition could have caused Alan to faint and fall into the water. Detective chief inspector Nicholas Bennett revealed how police spent seven hours interviewing the 17 children who had been on the trip with Alan with four adults. He said: 'In its entirety it was difficult to create a coherent picture of what happened that night. As they crossed the bridge for the second time one of the leaders noticed a pair of shoes poking out of the water. He rushed down to the water's edge and pulled Alan from the water.' The trip was only Alan's third with the Beaver Scouts and just days before it happened he had pulled out of a day out to the seaside due to his fear of water. It was heard that a bang which could have been caused by Alan's fall was heard as the group stood on a bridge over the river. But his body wasn't found until 40 minutes later, and - recording an open verdict - Coroner Dr Peter Dean said lessons should be learned from the death. Scout Association District Commissioner Stephen Dodd told the BBC at the time that the tragedy had led to 'significant reflection' and that the frequency of 'good group management' procedures such as head counts weren't as 'sufficient as they should have been'. When BBC presenter Anita Rani recently shared a post about Eldest Daughter Syndrome earlier this month, it resonated hard with plenty of those reading it. The Woman's Hour presenter, 46, who split from her husband Bhupi Rehal last year and has spoken about currently undergoing an 'awakening', was sharing Instagram content by psychologist Dr Nicole LePera. The US doctor, also known as The Holistic Psychologist, who has 8.3million followers, has regularly discussed the impact of being the firstborn daughter in a family - and the repercussions birth order might have on a woman later in life. US psychologist Dr Nicole LePera recently posted a series of slides on her Instagram account about Eldest Daughter Syndrome, including how women who are firstborn often feel like they have to be 'little adults' Dr LePera describes how the oldest daughter often becomes the 'protector of the family', and can grow up feeling like a 'little adult'. Years later, those feelings, she explains, can manifest as being a grown-up who 'thinks it is your responsibility to fix everyone and everything around you.' Although a term that's been around for decades, Eldest Daughter Syndrome seems to be increasingly recognised as people are more aware of their mental health. On Rani's re-post, the term certainly struck a chord. One woman wrote: 'I felt every word of that. The heavy, heavy lifting done as the oldest girl is unfair. Especially if your other siblings are brothers.' Another added: 'I wish they taught this stuff in schools in order to break these cycles at an earlier age!' BBC Radio 2's Woman's Hour presenter Anita Rani shared Dr LaPera's posts, saying she knows it will 'resonate with loads of my brown crew' Rani herself wrote: 'I had to repost for my South Asian sisters (and of course everyone else) but I know this will resonate with loads of my brown crewespecially the eldest daughters.' One who saw it agreed, saying: 'So true. It's only now as an adult that I am learning to just appreciate my life and myself. It's difficult to get out of that mindset.' On TikTok, a raft of memes, some dubbed 'eldest daughter core', also discuss the issue, with some firstborn women saying they chose not to have children of their own because they'd helped raise siblings and 'were done parenting'. TikToker @Melissallgall shared a montage of the roles that eldest daughters feel like they have to take on, including helping younger siblings with homework, being a nurse, maid, server and discipliner. TikToker Melissa Gallagher posted a montage on what it's like to be the oldest daughter in the family, saying roles included being a 'nurse, maid, server and homework helper' Many firstborn daughters have reported not wanting children in adult life because they spent time parenting younger siblings The trend has sparked thousands of comments on the impact Eldest Daughter Syndrome has on people's lives. One person wrote: 'First gen, eldest daughter, w/ a strict upbringing, about to turn 27 next week and I cant even IMAGINE another human depending on me rn'. Another woman added: 'Yep, eldest daughter. I carried a lot as a child and I just do not have the energy to parent another human.' So, is anyone actually at fault? In 2009, the Netmums Birth Order Report surveyed almost 10,000 mothers and found that they had much higher expectations of their oldest children when it came to academic and career success, saying they had lessening expectations with each new subsequent sibling. Such high parental expectations made the eldest children more susceptible to anxiety or depression later in life, researchers said at the time. FEMAIL asked Chartered Psychologist Dr Mark Rackley to explain more: WHAT IS ELDEST DAUGHTER SYNDROME? Dr Mark says that while Eldest Daughter Syndrome is not an officially recognized psychological diagnosis, it is 'a term that is used to describe a set of behavioral and emotional patterns that are often attributed to the eldest daughter in the family, think of it as the cousin of 'middle child syndrome.' He says: 'It is used to describe the common experiences of eldest daughters in the family. These common experiences include a heightened sense of responsibility, in some case being a second mother to the younger siblings. Excessive pressure to succeed, to bring positive attention to the family and set a good example for the younger siblings. 'It can be hard to set healthy boundaries with the parents, as the eldest daughter is parented differently to the other siblings. Finally, it can create a lack of autonomy and independence, as the eldest daughter feels she has to comply with her parents wishes, sacrificing her own.' WHY ISN'T THERE AN ELDEST SON SYNDROME? For men, it seems 'Sons fall into the more generic 'eldest child syndrome ' category, rather than this being gender specific', says Dr Mark. 'With Eldest Daughter Syndrome, it is gender specific due to the cultural and gender expectations placed on girls and then this getting played out in the family and then how the girl is treated. 'In some cultures having a boy is still seen as superior to having a girl, so the expectations placed on the girl can be greater to deal with the disappointment the parents have about having a daughter and not a son.' Dr Mark Rackley WHAT PROBLEMS CAN ELDEST DAUGHTER SYNDROME CAUSE? 'This can create challenges for the eldest daughter. Sibling rivalry can come about as the eldest daughter feels a sense of injustice regarding the parental expectations on her and this being vastly different to the other siblings,' says Dr Mark 'It can also lead to resentment towards the parents as the eldest daughter struggles under the weight of their expectation. This can cause tension, arguments and a toxic relationship - between both parties. It can also lead to mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression as the daughter struggles to cope in an oppressive relationship.' CAN YOU OVERCOME EDS IF YOU FEEL YOUR CHILDHOOD WAS SHAPED BY IT? Dr Mark says although it's challenging to change the impact of your formative years, it is possible... 'When we are children, we have limited power and autonomy. We are very much as the mercy of the family and environment we grow up in. When we become adults, we have independence, maturity and the power of our own voice at our disposal. We also have choice around what we think, do and who we want to be. 'We are all shaped by our childhoods, as we know scientifically that our environments and culture shape and influence our personality. However, just because we are shaped by it, does not dictate that we are stuck with it.' DR MARK'S ADVICE FOR NOT LETTING YOUR PAST DEFINE YOUR PRESENT 'If you feel that the demands, expectations and challenges placed on you as the eldest daughter are making you unwell or no longer serve any purpose in your life, it's time to shed them. 'This can mean steeping out of a role that you did not choose and no longer want. Setting healthy boundaries around relationships tells others what they can and cannot expect from you. However, you are the one deciding this not your parents. 'You may also need to go to therapy to help you find your voice and act on positive changes that you want to make, as obviously some parents will not want or respect the new changes in the relationship.' For more on Dr Mark Rackley's work, visit drmarkrackley.com She revealed everything luxurious thing she did during her pregnancy A rich Dubai housewife has revealed every controversial thing she did during her pregnancy - from her husband buying her presents every day to keep their marriage alive, to travelling to the Maldives because the baby 'wanted to'. Linda Andrade, 24, who's originally from the US, is known online for being the 'original Dubai housewife'. Posting under her TikTok handle @lionlindaa, the glamorous mother-of-one offers viewers a glimpse into her luxury lifestyle, including all the designer clothes she has in her wardrobe and expensive date nights she enjoys. In a recent clip, the housewife looked back at her pregnancy and listed all of the things she did while she was expecting, with viewers joking: 'She just called us poor in 500 ways'. Posing with her bump, she exclaimed: 'This is what I did during my pregnancy as a millionaire's wife. My pregnancy was probably the most exciting one you'll ever see, so you're welcome.' A rich Dubai housewife has revealed everything she did during her pregnancy - from travelling to the Maldives because the baby 'wanted to,' to diamond shopping every day Jordanian-born and California-raised Linda is married to a super rich, Dubai-based Forex and Crypto trader, named Ricky Andrade, who she married when she was 19, according to the Baltimore Post Examiner. Ricky, 27, claims to make more than $150,000 (120,694) each month working as a real estate investor, alongside his investments in stocks and cryptocurrency, with Linda regularly flaunting the couple's impressive wealth online. A lot of expectant mothers choose to take prenatal vitamins - supplements that offer extra vitamins and minerals before and as a pregnancy starts. However, Linda wasn't a fan and instead opted to dine out at top restaurants to satisfy her pregnancy cravings. She told viewers: 'I didn't take any prenatal, all I did was go to five-star restaurants and I highly recommend it, it's way better than prenatal. 'And it's fun, so it's good for your mood. You don't want a depressed, sad baby - duh.' Next, she revealed that 'the baby wanted to travel a lot' and 'that's why she was kicking'. Linda recalled: 'So we went to like Dubai and the Maldives. The baby was craving diamonds so I went shopping for diamonds like all the time. 'But it was for her, trust me, it wasn't for me. It was all for her, she asked for it.' And when it comes to maintaining her own beauty, the mother decided to get her hair done every day as she was struggling to wash her own hair while pregnant. The millionaire's wife joked that when her husband bought her daily gifts she only fought with him twice a day, rather than the usual 'ten times a day' Linda Andrade, 23, from Dubai, regularly shares photos and videos depicting her glamorous lifestyle with her husband Ricky Andrade She explained: 'So I went to the salon every day and I had to walk like 20,000 steps a day because I needed to make sure I didn't gain any weight at all. 'The Dubai Mall is perfect for that and my husband chose not to ruin our marriage so he got me gifts like every day or at least every week.' The millionaire's wife joked that when he did this she only fought with him twice a day, rather than the usual 'ten times a day'. She added: 'Because a happy wife equals happy life - I live by that and so does he'. Lastly, the luxury lover admitted that she did 'every beauty treatment you can think of' to make sure she 'stayed pretty' during her pregnancy. The glamorous mother previously broke down all the cash she splashed on her newborn baby once the child was born, including a glitzy gold pacifier, costing 3,000 dirham, which is almost 700. She also spent more than 6,000 on a Tiffany jewellery collection and 5,600 on a navy blue Dior monogrammed stroller. Fans of the couple flocked to the comments section of the most recent video, penning that they 'want to be like her'. The glamorous mother previously broke down all the cash she splashed on her newborn baby once the child was born, including a glitzy gold pacifier, costing 3,000 dirham, which is almost 700 Fans of the couple flocked to the comments section of the most recent video, penning that they 'want to be like her' It comes after last year, Linda took to TikTok to reveal what a normal week in her life looks like alongside 27-year-old beau Ricky - boasting about how much money she has at her disposal One viewer quipped: 'Please how did you manifest becoming a millionaires wife. I want to be one but sigh I dont know or see how thats gonna happen for me'. 'THAT is whats financially stable to have a baby,' joked someone else, with another adding: 'How I expect it to be when I'm pregnant'. Another fan wrote: 'I really love to see a woman living my dream! You go girl! Look so pretty'. Meanwhile, others remarked: 'I aspire to be like you,' 'Can you adopt me?' and 'This baby will live like a princess!' It comes after last year, Linda took to TikTok to reveal what a normal week in her life looks like alongside 27-year-old beau Ricky - boasting about how much money she has at her disposal. In a clip, which amassed over 433,000 views, Linda left followers stunned as she shared that she spent $1 million on diamonds, gold, chocolates, and 'fun.' Linda, who captioned the video 'Wells Fargo loves me,' began by posing in front of the camera alongside overlaid text that read: 'How much I made this week as a millionaire's wife.' While showing off sparkling diamonds, Linda revealed that she received a deposit of $1,411,008. She then listed out all the ways she had splashed the cash from the lump sum. The big spender splurged $356,214 while shopping at luxurious stores, including the purchase of two Chanel purses - she went on to show off everything else she was gifted in just one day. Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Princess Rajwa tied the knot last year Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan has shared a sweet photograph of his wife, Crown Princess Rajwa Alsaif, to mark her 30th birthday today. Taking to Instagram, the future King of Jordan shared a gushing post to his five million followers, showing Rajwa beaming in formal attire. Hussein, 29, praised his wife - whom he wed in a prestigious ceremony last year at Zahran Palace and wrote: 'May God continue to bless and nurture the bond between us. Happy Birthday Rajwa!' Rajwa looked typically stylish in the image, donning a shirred crimson red shirt dress. The Princess added lavish accessories to the outfit - including a pair of gold 'jhumpka' earrings and a matching clutch bag. Allowing the spotlight to be on his wife, Hussein appeared in the background of the image, grinning in casual attire, including a low-key blue shirt and grey chinos. Crown Prince Hussein marked Princess Rajwa's 30th birthday today with a tribute post on Instagram (pictured) Ahead of Rajwa turning 30, Jordan News Agency released an official portrait on Saturday to usher in the celebrations. The royal appeared in high spirits as she beamed towards the camera in the photograph, shared by a royal blog account on X, formerly Twitter, @CoutureRoyals. Once again proving her style prowess, Rajwa looked effortlessly elegant in a 460 navy ruched velvet top from Rabbane, which featured a bateau neckline. To complete the outfit, the royal donned the matching embellished skirt from Rabbane, priced at 840. It comes after Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and his wife Princess Rajwa announced that they are expecting their first baby this summer. The couple - who got married in a prestigious wedding last June - will soon be parents, the royal household has revealed. The happy occasion is also set make Queen Rania, 53, a grandmother and King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, 62, a grandfather, for the first time. 'The Royal Hashemite Court is pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, Crown Prince, and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein, are expecting, with Gods help and grace, their first child, in the summer of this year,' a statement on the website read. Princess Rajwa stunned in blue in the first official portrait released by Jordan News Agency to mark her 30th birthday Taking to Instagram, Prince Hussein wished his wife a happy birthday, adding: 'May God continue to bless and nurture the bond between us' Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and his wife Princess Rajwa are expecting a baby this summer. Pictured at their wedding in June 'And the Royal Hashemite Court, congratulating His Majesty King Abdullah II, son of Al Hussein, and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, on this occasion, to wish Their Royal Highnesses the good offspring a good health.' The joyous announcement comes after Rajwa's tragic loss of her father in February - just months after she married into the Jordanian royal family. Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif died at the age of 71. In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Prince Hussein shared a picture of him embracing Khaled, who became his 'beloved' father-in-law after marrying Princess Rajwa last June. 'With profound sadness and sorrow, we bid farewell to my beloved father-in-law. We will always remember his kindness, generosity, and integrity. May God bestow mercy upon him and grant us patience and strength,' he wrote. Hussein, 29, and high-flying architect Rajwa, 29, were married in June last year at Zahran Palace in Amman. Following a short service, Abdullah II and Rania hosted a lavish reception at the Al Husseiniya Palace, which was attended by more than 1,700 guests - including the Prince and Princess of Wales. Rajwa dazzled in a white gown by Lebanese designer Elie Saab, which featured a lengthy train embroidered with flowers, and a sparkling diamond tiara. Abdullah II and Rania proudly watched as their son was wed during an Islamic ceremony known as a 'katb ktab' held in a gazebo and conducted by the Royal Hashemite Court Imam Dr Ahmed Al Khalaileh. The happy occasion is also set make Queen Rania , 53, (pictured) a grandmother and King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, 62, a grandfather, for the first time The couple - who got married in a prestigious wedding last June - will soon be parents, the royal household has revealed Kate Middleton, who lived in Jordan for a short period during her childhood, led the glamorous guests at the event in a blush pink lace dress also by Elie Saab. Princess Beatrice wore a silver sequined gown from British label Needle & Thread for the occasion. Rajwa was educated in Saudi Arabia before then moving to the US for university. While living in New York, she studied Architecture at Syracuse University - obtaining her Bachelor of Arts. During her undergraduate degree, Rajwa flew to Dubai with her class to study the city's sustainable developments. Following her graduation, she then went on to study Visual Communications at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles - where reality star Lauren Conrad and fashion designer Monique Lhuillier also studied. Pictured: Abdullah II (right) and Rania (left) stand with Hussein during his engagement to Rajwa She then went on to work at an architecture firm in Los Angeles and was employed by Designlab Experience design studio in Riyadh last year. Along with her passion for horseback riding, Rajwa also has a creative streak - and is said to enjoy drawing and making art in her spare time. Despite Hussein's public profile, the couple largely kept their relationship out of the spotlight to begin with. The Crown Prince announced his engagement to Rajwa in August 2022 - after the heir to the throne proposed at his future wife's home in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The future King of Jordan picked a show-stopping pear-shaped diamond set on a pave band to propose with. At the time, Hussein confirmed that both his and Rajwa's families were present for the special moment. A mother has hit back at trolls who called her 'selfish' for having a daughter who was born without any arms or legs. Kiara Duprey, 24, and her husband Javier Floreniani, 21, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were told their baby's limbs weren't developing at the 12 week scan - and think that 'she's beautiful no matter what'. Eight-month-old Arianna can already hold a bottle and sit up by herself. Now, she is waiting to see when she'll be able to have prosthetics. 'As long as she's happy I am,' stay-at-home mother Kiara added. She revealed that cruel comments left by strangers online were difficult to stomach initially. A mother has hit back at trolls who called her 'selfish' for having a daughter who was born without any arms or legs 'It was hard at first,' she revealed. 'I was bullied and I have all my limbs. 'I'm trying to teach her that not everybody in this world is cruel.' Kiara added that she thinks many trolls have the misconception that her daughter is paralysed, whereas 'she can move'. 'She does everything a normal kid does,' the mother added. Kiara and Javier, a maintenance man, were excited when they found out they were expecting in November 2022. But a few months in, Kiara was told her baby hadn't developed limbs. 'They were trying to pressure me to get an abortion,' she explained. 'Right away I was asked if I wanted to terminate. 'But God did this for a reason. This is the way God decided to bring her to us. Just because she's coming a little different doesn't mean I should abort her.' Kiara Duprey, 24, and her husband Javier Floreniani, 21, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were told their baby's limbs weren't developing at the 12 week scan - and think that 'she's beautiful no matter what' Eight-month-old Arianna can already hold a bottle and sit up by herself. Now, she is waiting to see when she'll be able to have prosthetics Kiara and Javier, a maintenance man, were excited when they found out they were expecting in November 2022. But a few months in, Kiara was told her baby hadn't developed limbs Doctors originally thought Arianna had Roberts syndrome - a genetic disorder characterised by limb and facial abnonormalities - and thought she would likely not make it to full term But miracle Arianna arrived via a scheduled c-section on July 28, 2023, at 9.40am weighing exactly 5lbs - and Kiara admitted the moment was both 'exciting' and a 'relief' Doctors originally thought Arianna had Roberts syndrome - a genetic disorder characterised by limb and facial abnnormalities - and thought she would likely not make it to full term. 'They thought she would mostly likely die and be stillborn,' Kiara said. But miracle Arianna arrived via a scheduled c-section on July 28, 2023, at 9.40am weighing exactly 5lbs - and Kiara admitted the moment was both 'exciting' and a 'relief'. She was diagnosed with transverse limb deficiency and stayed in hospital for a week - being monitored for a heart murmur - before coming home. 'Right now she is trying to lift her head up when lying down,' the mother gushed. 'She's doing really great. 'She's very determined. When her pacifier falls out she tries to put it back in her mouth.' Not having children means that, unlike some of my poor friends, my summer holiday is not dictated by school term times. While they pay through the nose in August, I can jet off somewhere in June or September instead. So that must mean that my freedom to travel whenever I want will net me an absolute bargainright? Wrong. It would do if I was coupled up, but as Im single I can expect to be treated entirely differently because I dont have a ring on my finger. The dreaded single supplement a penalty for holidaying alone is still used widely throughout the travel industry despite repeated calls to ban such an outdated practice. Last week, as I started to plan my summer hols, I had a look at the First Choice website and a week-long break in Santorini, Greece. A flight and room only deal staying at the simple but stunning Mathios Village resort was going to cost me 976 if I travelled at the beginning of June. Then I found out that if I was part of a couple, then the exact same holiday would only cost me 747. 'Why does it cost me 2,699 for a 14-day cruise around the Med with MSC in July, when a couple only pay 1,799 each?' asks Claudia Connell At least they were prepared to offer me a room, albeit at a mark up. I should be pathetically grateful for that I suppose, because so many holidays that were available for couples were strangely unavailable for single travellers. I decided to look at all inclusive deals instead, where the news was even worse! On the Tui website, a week at the Domes Autograph Collection in Zante would set me back 2,846, including flight. For that I would get three meals a day, unlimited snacks and alcoholic drinks. For a couple the price suddenly dropped to 1,799 per person. How does that make any sense? Two people are going to eat and drink way more than one. My fury grew when I looked at cruises. Why does it cost me 2,699 for a 14-day cruise around the Med with MSC in July, when a couple only pay 1,799 each? I can pile my plate high and knock back the pina coladas with the best of them, but Id have to go some to consume 900 more worth of food and cocktails. Do they think us singles are such saddos that well be drowning our sorrows in sauvignon blanc and hogging at the buffet on a super human scale? Im so angry that were still having to put up with this in 2024 that Im seriously considering booking a holiday for me and my made up husband and then, once on the holiday, claiming hed left me the week before. Sneaky, but worth a shot if it will save a grand. These penalties or single tax are not limited to travel. In 2018 it was estimated that it cost a single person 2,049 more to live than a couple. Today, according to research by financial planners Hargreave Lansdown, that figure is an eye-watering 10,320. Next month the term on my current mortgage comes to an end. My broker is working her socks off to find me the best possible deal, but its looking like Ill be paying an extra 500 a month. Imagine how much more bearable that would be if I could split that with someone else. And thats before we get to the 7,000 a year Im forking out for utilities and insurance. The stingy 25 per cent discount I get on my council tax barely makes an impact. If I could bag myself a husband between now and next month, when my car insurance is up for renewal, I could save myself a few quid. Yes, unmarried drivers pay more for insurance than married ones. Aviva will insure me as a singleton for 403 but as a married theyll put it down to 377. M&S will insure me for 807 but will give me 13 off the price if Im a Mrs. Insurers consider married people to be more stable and less likely to take risks. Oh yes, thats me, forever performing handbrake turns in disused carparks at midnight. The truth is I have a pitifully low mileage and mostly use my little Mini Cooper to nip to Sainsburys and drive to friends houses. What a reckless risk taker! In 2012 it was made illegal for insurers to penalise customers based on gender alone. It seems penalising over marital status is just fine though. Lately it feels like I am constantly biting my tongue when couples especially those with children complain about the cost of living. Nobody is denying that it can be expensive to have children but there is help available to assist with those expenses. Married couples get tax breaks and a couple, on my wages, with two kids would get 2,213 a year in child benefit plus up to 30 hours free childcare if the kids are not of school age. Never was the unfairness of it all made plainer than when the Government was dishing out Covid grants to the self-employed in 2020. Nobody earning more than 50,000 per year was entitled to a bean quite right too, thats not exactly a pittance. Yet a co-habiting couple earning 49,999 each were eligible to apply for free dosh theyd never have to repay. When it comes to the cost of living, food bills are where many have noticed the sharpest dents in their wallets. And youll never guess who bears the biggest brunt of thatstep forward single folk, paying up to 25 per cent more just to feed ourselves. Despite single households being the biggest growing demographic in the world there are 8.3million in the UK alone most food is packaged with two or four people in mind. Claudia Connell bemoans the fact that single folk pay up to 25 per cent more just to feed themselves Sainsburys Taste the Difference lasagne for two is 6.50. A portion for one is 4.25. Over at Ocado a 500g container of its lean mince is 3.49 but at 2.20 half the size (250g) certainly isnt half the price. Size up to serves four portions and the prices get even lower, leaving those that live alone with two choices: make savings but find yourself eating the same thing all week, or buy for one and suck up the extra cost. Even eating out can be a miserable experience as youre offered a seat at the bar or the table by the door that nobody else wants. Open the menu and you might even find yourself banned from ordering certain dishes. Paella? Beef Wellington? Salmon en croute? Not unless theres someone with you to share it. It isnt just people whove never married who are being clobbered, its the widowed and divorced too. Gyms, rail companies, the National Trust and countless others all seem to want to rip off single folk rather than throw us a bone. Its why Id welcome the chance to buy Belgian politician Carla Dejonghe a drink if I ever got the opportunity. Aware that single people are paying over the odds for just about everything she has spent a decade campaigning for fairer treatment. In her municipality, just outside Brussels, shes helped push through a new charter that encourages hospitality venues to be more inclusive of single people, that recommends new housing includes communal areas for socialising and asks workplaces to stop overly relying on single people to take on overtime. As Dejonghe said, society has evolved but policies have not. We are all feeling the pinch but if you are a dual-income household then, believe me, your pinch is far less painful than the one currently bruising single people all over the country. Q: I have half-circle troughs under my eyes that make me look permanently tired. What can I do? A: Do see a cosmetic doctor whos also an eye surgeon; this area requires specialised treatment, and surgery may be the only realistic option. That said, theres a treatment called PolarEyes by the London eye surgeon duo behind Face Restoration (facerestoration.com) that combines synergistic technologies to tackle crepiness, dark circles and puffiness, possibly minimising mild hollows as well. Microneedling treatments can help to tackle crepiness, dark circles and puffiness The eye area is microneedled (it stings a bit) to make small channels in the skin. Then a cocktail of exosomes and niacinamide (they rejuvenate skin cells for plumper, brighter skin) and diluted Botox (minimising crepey lines) is pushed into the skin using compressed, ice-cold CO2, which dampens inflammation. Eyes look lifted, brighter and fresher immediately and will improve over ten months. The result is supercharged if you follow this with three sessions, two weeks apart, of polynucleotides injected under the eyes. Each session is 500, so the course costs 2,000 in total. Yet another record close for the FTSE 100 share index on Friday at 8,140, so not a bad week at all. It is exactly the sort of reassessment of the value the London market offers that I have expected, coupled with decent results from the big banks, especially NatWest. But let's not get too excited. The Footsie is still up only 5 per cent this year, and shockingly up only 10 per cent on five years ago. By contrast the S&P 500 index is up 7 per cent this year and 73 per cent over five years. The equivalent numbers for the German Dax index are 8 per cent and 47 per cent. The London market remains fundamentally undervalued by world standards. Record breaker: We need to build on this incipient recovery in UK equity prices so that more people get a share of the action So what's next? Well, I expect the value that London offers to be increasingly recognised, and feel more comfortable about my own target of the index hitting 8,500. In terms of total equity markets, however, the world will continue to be dominated by the US. Microsoft, its most valuable firm, is worth $3 trillion (2.5 trillion), and that is more than all the companies on the Footsie put together. It reported good earnings this week, thanks to its investment in artificial intelligence, which seems to be coming off. But we still need the 'old' industries, the banks, energy firms, pharmaceuticals, miners and so on, and they are represented heavily on the London market. Still, there are huge problems. One, at last being recognised, is that UK pension funds don't put money into UK-quoted companies they have been net disinvestors of equities for a quarter century. It is an issue we have highlighted in this newspaper and, while there is little hard evidence yet, I suspect that they will gradually rebuild their equity portfolios over the next few years. Besides, it's a virtuous circle. The more the Footsie climbs, the greater the pressure on the institutions to put money into the market. But that is only the start. Much more needs to be done. We have to work out why sophisticated investors put their money into private equity rather than public markets. What should the best investment opportunities be for the insiders, rather than the general saver? What is wrong with our governance system that it encourages firms to stay private? Maybe we should require the regulators to take the wider public interest into account, rather than focusing on their own narrow, box-ticking procedures. Take the Bank of England. In the second half of the last century one of its unstated functions was to promote the business of the City. It helped, for example, to found the Committee on Invisible Exports, which has now become TheCityUK, and that does support the financial services sector. However, we need the authority of the Bank to push the best interests of the City, for it can talk to the Government in a way no trade body can. I wonder why the interests of the City were not sufficiently represented in Brexit negotiations. Or the Financial Conduct Authority. Look at the regulator's website. It goes on about how it protects people with its warning list of unauthorised firms, people's rights, scams and so on. But while there is nothing wrong with that, the tone is mostly negative. I wonder whether the FCA should be given an explicit requirement to promote access to financial services, so that people who could benefit are encouraged to do so. It talks about increasing competition in financial services, but one of the effects of its regulations on wealth managers has been to encourage consolidation of the industry because of the additional costs it imposes. I suggest that the FCA should follow the Hippocratic Oath, in simplified form, namely 'first, do no harm', when considering everything it does. The big point here is that we need to build on this incipient recovery in UK equity prices so that more people get a share of the action. The heady pace of the past few days may well fade. But it demonstrates the fundamental truth that steady investment in global equities will over a long period build real wealth. 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. Phenomenal: Since Warren Buffett started in 1965, he has delivered returns of 4,384,749 per cent to savers in Berkshire Hathaway Warren Buffett is the Goliath of the investing world. Since he started in 1965, he has delivered returns of 4,384,749 per cent to savers in his investment vehicle Berkshire Hathaway. That means someone who put in $100 at the beginning would now be sitting on a knockout $4.3 million (3.4 million). It is no wonder the 93-year-old is feted worldwide and his annual shareholder meeting to be held this Saturday in Buffett's home town of Omaha, Nebraska is more like a festival than a typical, subdued AGM. Surely no one beats this? Well, not exactly. Wealth has teamed up with investment platform AJ Bell to identify the funds and investment trusts that have beaten Berkshire Hathaway's returns over the past 20 years. So few funds have been around since 1965 that it is hard to find any that have beaten him over that period. However, over 20 years, 41 out of 973 funds and investment trusts available to UK investors have beaten Buffett, according to AJ Bell (see table above). Berkshire Hathaway posted an impressive dollar return of 555 per cent over 20 years. This means an 855 per cent return for UK investors as the pound's value has weakened over the period. If a UK investor put 1,000 into Berkshire Hathaway 20 years ago, it would be worth 9,549 today. The strategy is impressively simple. Berkshire Hathaway has built up a portfolio of more than 40 blue-chip companies such as Apple, Bank of America, American Express and Chevron. Buffett concerns himself with finding great firms at a good price, rather than worrying too much over the outlook for economies and financial markets. Then he holds for the long term. However, if you had put 1,000 into FSSA Indian Subcontinent, which is the top performing fund, you would have gained far more an impressive 25,081. Ben Yearsley, director of Fairview Investing, says there are very good reasons for the fund's 'astonishing' performance. 'India is the world's biggest democracy and one of the most dynamic economies, which has been turbo-charged by Prime Minister Modi,' he says. However, he cautions that as India is one of the best-performing markets, it is also now one of the most expensive. This reduces the chance that such a fund could produce such spectacular performance over the next 20 years. Jason Hollands, managing director of investment platform Bestinvest by Evelyn Partners, points out that of the top-ten outperformers, five are technology funds: AXA Framlington Global Technology, Polar Capital Technology, Fidelity Global Technology, Janus Henderson Global Tech Leaders and Allianz Technology Trust. He says it's unsurprising such funds have delivered high returns as technology firms have experienced phenomenal growth. 'Tech stocks, and tech-enabled businesses like Amazon and Facebook owner Meta, have been the standout part of global stock markets over the last 20 years,' he says. 'Twenty years ago, tech was left battered and bruised from the bursting of the dotcom bubble, but it has since surged to become 30 per cent of the US stock market. It has now benefited from mania about artificial intelligence.' He adds that the trusts and funds that have beaten Berkshire Hathaway are specialist funds and have a much narrower portfolio. These outperforming funds and trusts may be winners now, but there is no guarantee they will produce similarly magnificent returns in the next 20 years. Their fund managers can of course claim some credit, but a good portion of their success is due to the fact they benefited from rising markets in the area they invested in. By contrast, Berkshire Hathaway has achieved great returns not from growth from a particular sector, but by investing broadly in several. It has outperformed in all market conditions. So, what can investors take from this? Arguably the trick is to glean the insights of the so-called Sage of Omaha, rather than trying to beat him. He has dropped many pearls of wisdom over the years. First of these is to be long term. One of Buffett's most famous quotes is: 'Our favourite holding period is for ever'. Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio bears this out. It has held shares in Coca-Cola for more than 34 years, American Express for 29 and credit ratings agency Moody's for 22. But holding for the long term doesn't mean holding indefinitely, or cutting your losses when an investment isn't working out. Meddling with your portfolio often increases the risk of buying and selling at the wrong time and incurring trading fees. Another Buffett strategy is to use tracker or index funds. In 2016, he wrote in his Berkshire Hathaway report that 'both large and small investors should stick with low-cost index funds.' These are funds in which holdings are not hand picked and curated by an active fund manager, but just follow an index such as the FTSE 100 or the S&P 500. As these funds follow the market, they do not outperform. But they are often cheaper as investors do not pay for a manager. Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at AJ Bell, says this doesn't seem to make sense 'for a man who's made a fortune by active money management'. However, look at the numbers and you see the logic. Less than a third of actively-managed equity funds in the UK have outperformed passive alternatives in the past decade, according to AJ Bell. Investors do not have to choose between active and passive funds, but can build a core of low-cost passive funds and then use actively-managed options where they believe these can add value. A third Buffett rule is never to invest in what you don't understand. He says: 'Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.' It is for this reason that he avoids things like cryptocurrency and instead invests in household brands with easy to understand business models. Khalaf says this advice can prevent you losing money and feeling buyer's remorse. However, savers often put off investing, feeling they don't know enough but sometimes the best way to learn is by starting. City grandee Stuart Chambers is under fire as yet another British business he leads is at risk of being sold off to a foreign predator. Mining giant Anglo American was this weekend forced to defend the record of Chambers, its chairman, after it received a 31 billion bid from rival BHP. Chambers who has presided over the sale of a string of blue chip companies rejected BHP's all-share offer to create the world's biggest copper miner. Driving force: Stuart Chambers has presided over the sale of a string of blue chip companies He said the bid was 'opportunistic' and significantly undervalued the London-listed company. But critics point out that Chambers, 67, has a track record of selling other household name companies when he was at the helm. He also has close ties with Sir Nigel Rudd, who was nicknamed Sir Sell Off after presiding over the sale of a seires of flagship British firms. City experts say Anglo, which also owns the De Beers diamond group and the Woodsmith mine in north Yorkshire, is firmly 'in play' as other rivals could also swoop with a bid. Most controversially, Chambers oversaw the 26 billion sale of home-grown chip designer Arm Holdings to Japanese investment company Softbank in 2016. Arm went on to snub London for a listing on the New York stock exchange where it is now valued at over 80 billion. Chambers was chairman of FTSE 100 drinks can-maker Rexam when it was bought by US rival Ball Corporation in 2015. He was also chief executive of glass manufacturer Pilkington, one of Britain's most emblematic companies, when it was bought in 2005 by Japan's Nippon Sheet Glass. He went on to run that company. Chambers's chairman at Pilkington was Rudd, who oversaw the disposal of companies including retailer Boots, defence giant Meggitt and engineer Invensys to foreign owners. A senior City advisor told the Mail on Sunday that Chambers still deeply regrets the Arm sale, which highlighted the London stock market's growing inability to attract and retain top companies. However, an Anglo insider insisted Chambers 'wasn't remotely embarrassed' by the Arm sale and claimed his critics were driving 'in the rear view mirror'. 'The chair doesn't single-handedly make these decisions, it's for the board and then shareholders to decide,' the source said. 'It's just not reality that one individual controls events.' Analysts say Sydney-based BHP will have to come back with a higher offer to win over Anglo's shareholders. Under City takeover rules BHP has until May 22 to make a firm offer for Anglo or walk away. The rush of British firms to the exit has accelerated this year with Darktrace on Friday agreeing a 4.2 billion sale to a US suitor in the latest blow to London. Jeremy Hunt will hold a summit next month at the Chancellor's weekend residence, Dorneywood, aimed at stemming the exodus. Taxpayers could be on the hook for a multi-million-pound bill to help Royal Mail deliver post. The 500-year-old postal service, which this month became a takeover target, has urged the Government to contribute to the cost of distributing letters. It has long argued for a change to rules saying it must deliver letters UK-wide for the same price six days a week. Struggle: Insiders say the Universal Service Obligation has made its parent company International Distributions Services vulnerable to a takeover Insiders say the Universal Service Obligation (USO), which costs Royal Mail up to 675 million a year, has made its parent company International Distributions Services vulnerable to a takeover, with the board ten days ago rejecting a bid 3.2 billion bid from Daniel Kretinsky. Last week IDS urged regulator Ofcom to move faster on reform amid reports the Czech billionaire who co-owns West Ham Utd and has a stake in Sainsburys was working on a fresh offer. Royal Mail argues the system is outdated as letter volumes have fallen from 20 billion two decades ago to 7 billion. They are likely to fall to 4 billion in five years. Royal Mail, which was privatised in 2013, is hoping to cut second class deliveries to reduce costs. In the meantime, it has asked Ministers to contribute financially until the rules are reformed, though it would not reveal how much taxpayer funding it was seeking. Ofcom puts the cost of the obligation at 325 million to 675 million a year. Royal Mail reported a loss of 319 million in the first half of its financial year, following losses of 419 million in 2022/23. We call for Government to consider a temporary contribution, Royal Mail said. The case is even more imperative if Ofcom delay urgently needed regulatory reform until after a General Election, which as Ofcom acknowledges, could lead to consumers paying higher prices than necessary. Even then, it warned the USO may become unsustainable again as letter numbers continue to decline. At that point the Government may need to pay subsidies on a permanent basis, it said. Royal Mail also wants Ofcom to assess the costs of the USO every two years allowing for a fair debate about how these costs are rightly met. That could make it easier for Royal Mail to cut back services. In plans submitted to Ofcom this month, Royal Mail proposed delivering second class letters every other working day. First class post would still be delivered Monday to Saturday but would cost more, with parcels still dropped off seven days a week. Royal Mail would also slow delivery of standard bulk business mail, such as bills and statements, to arrive in three weekdays instead of two, saving up to 300 million but costing up to 1,000 jobs. The postal service said changes must be approved by April next year lest customers face further and significant price increases. The Department for Business said: We have no plan to change the USO and any change to Royal Mails operation must take into account the impact on businesses and vulnerable consumers. Coventry Building Society has said it is swimming with 'sharks' as it refuses to reveal why its 780 million bid for Co-op Bank won't go to a member vote. The mutual is under growing pressure to give members a say in the takeover, which would make it Britain's seventh largest lender with 89 billion of assets. Coventry's larger rival Nationwide Building Society is also holding out against calls to allow its 16 million members a role in deciding if it should buy Virgin Money in a deal that would create the biggest savings and loans group after Lloyds Bank. Black hole: The Co-op Bank has returned to profit after a near-death experience nearly 11 years ago Both mutuals have cited the Building Societies Act for not giving members a vote. The Act says a member poll is required if the deal price is more than 15 per cent of a society's funds a measure of financial strength and if interest and fees from home loans are less than half the income of the bank being bought. Coventry, which is more than twice the size of its target in terms of assets, declined to say if both measures were met. Co-op Bank said it did not provide an income breakdown. At its annual meeting last week Coventry members questioned why Co-op Bank's American hedge fund owners, who rescued the lender from collapse in 2013, were selling now. In response to a question as to whether Coventry was diving into shark-infested waters, deputy chair Jo Kenrick referred to the bank's owners as 'sharks' and Coventry as 'nice folk getting in with them'. But she insisted the society had done its due diligence and the bank was no longer 'as broken as it was'. The Co-op Bank has returned to profit after a near-death experience nearly 11 years ago when a 1.5 billion black hole opened up in its accounts and its chairman was filmed buying Class A drugs. Coventry members pushed back at the board's suggestion that the Co-op deal was too complicated for some of them to understand. 'People are not fools,' said one, adding that they have 'enough intelligence' to vote on the matter. PHNOM PENH, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's anti-drug police have arrested a gang of two local men for allegedly trafficking and possessing illicit drugs, seizing nearly 28 kg of narcotics, the country's Anti-Drug Department (ADP) said in a news release on Sunday. The suspects, aged 28 and 42 years old, were apprehended on Thursday afternoon during a raid at a coffee parlor in Phnom Penh's Daun Penh district after a thorough probe for months. "A total of 27.9 kg of heroin and ketamine was seized from the suspects' possession during the crackdown," the ADP said. The Southeast Asian country has no death sentence for a drug trafficker. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 g of illicit drugs could be jailed for life. According to the ADP, Cambodia nabbed 5,489 drug-related suspects, including more than 100 foreigners, during the January-March period this year, confiscating a total of 3.65 tons of narcotics. Most of the seized drugs were ketamine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine tablets, heroin, ecstasy, and cocaine. A man who commutes from Germany to London for work has revealed why he does not want to live in the UK. Seb, who regularly shares his work journey from Germany to the UK on TikTok, has left people stunned by his five-hour international commute. The content creator often documents his journey which includes one flight and four trains - and often attempts to beat his quickest time getting home. Many of his followers have been left confused as to why he doesn't live in London full-time and save himself not only five hours but money on plane tickets. But Seb has revealed that his reasons are not just financial. Seb,(pictured) who spends most of his time in Hamburg, regularly documents his journey from Canary Wharf to Hamburg attempting to beat his record commute time of four hours and 57 minutes When queried by several curious social media users, the super-commuter was willing to make the lengthy journey for love. From his comments, it is understood that Seb lives in Hamburg to be with his partner. Detailing his journey from the office at 5pm, Seb elaborated that he kicks off his journey from Canary Wharf with two trains and makes it to Heathrow an hour later. Arriving just over an hour before his plane was set to jet-off, Seb quipped: 'Let's hope [I] get through security, get some food and get on my flight all in time.' With a meal from Pret to hand, the super commuter was happy to discover he had bagged an aisle seat when he boarded his flight to Hamburg in his latest video. 'Back on European soil in Deutschland,' he proudly said as he arrived in Hamburg. However, the commute wasn't entirely smooth sailing as Seb had to quickly dash between his third and fourth train so he could make it home. Arriving home at 11.04pm, the Hamburg resident boasted his five hour and three minute commute time for that day - only a few minutes shy of his record of four hours and 57 minutes. Luckily for Seb, he doesn't have to travel a round trip of ten hours daily, five times a week. According to the content creator, he stays in London once a month for a period of four days - from Monday until Thursday. But several viewers were still left baffled by his lengthy travel to work, with one even describing it as a 'pilgrimage'. 'Sir pls save yourself this hassle and just move into London omg!?,' said one shocked viewer. A second penned: 'Not even London city airport? Heathrow?' The man who works in Canary Wharf responded to a comment saying he doesn't do the super commute because it is cheaper but because of love After watching his most recent video documenting his international journey, many were baffled as to why Seb didn't live in London full-time 'Is your work place funding your travel coz[sic] I dont understand,' quipped a third confused onlooker. 'What do you do when the Elizabeth Line is part suspended.' a user queried. Another joked: 'Listen.. you can stay at mine in Canary Wharf next time.' A user questioned: 'Isnt it quicker to get Eurostar?' One commented: 'Your passport must be filling up, I commute from UK to de on a regular basis and its many stamps!' Some were in awe of Seb's commute with some comparing their own travel time to work. One woman wrote: 'That's amazing it only took you five hours to fly internationally! It takes me six to get from Norwich to Edinburgh every week for my commute.' 'I commuted from Germany to London for work the past 2 years cuz it was more affordable than living there,' a viewer added. 'I'd be looking for at least 250k a year to do that,' chimed another. St. Louis downtown has become a ghost town - with buildings boarded up and skyscrapers plummeting in value. Major cities like San Francisco have hit headlines amid concerns their urban districts are in the grip of a doom loop - but a new report by the Wall Street Journal revealed that St. Louis' decaying downtown is facing an even worse crisis. Take, St Louis's largest office building - its 44-story AT&T tower - for example. In 2006 this prime real estate sold for $205 million. But that same now vacant skyscraper recently sold for around $3.5 million - a shocking 98 percent drop in value in less than two decades, the outlet reported. The Railway Exchange Building, once the crown jewel of downtown St. Louis with its Famous Barr department store and sprawling offices, is also now an empty relic with peeling paint. St. Louis downtown has become a ghost town - with buildings boarded up and skyscrapers plummeting in value One AT&T Center (the taller building on the right) is a 44-story building in downtown St. Louis, Missouri at 909 Chestnut Street on the Gateway Mall The Railway Exchange Building, once the crown jewel of downtown St. Louis with its Famous Barr department store and sprawling offices, is also now an empty relic with peeling paint The staggering decline is almost hard to believe for a metropolitan area that was the fourth largest in the United States between 1861 to 1903 Since 2012 a collection of the region's largest office buildings have dropped nearly 24 percent in appraised value, according to a 2022 analysis by The St. Louis Business Journal. Local media have dubbed the trend in the midwestern city a 'real estate apocalypse' after 18 of the 25 largest office buildings shed $150 million. The staggering decline is almost hard to believe for a metropolitan area that was the fourth largest in the United States between 1861 to 1903. But modern-day St. Louis was hit hard by the pandemic, with its population sinking to below 300,000 for the first time since the 1800s, according to the New York Times. This compares to nearly 400,000 people living in St. Louis back in 1990. In fact, St. Louis has seen the worst recovery in foot traffic to its downtown area of all other major US cities since just before the pandemic broke out in 2019. The University of Toronto's School of Cities released data in October 2023 comparing the number of visits to major North American cities during a four-month period in 2019 to the same timeframe in 2023. St. Louis was ranked last out of 66 cities observed, while Las Vegas was the only city to actually increase its visits since 2019. Downtown St Louis from the vantage point of the Gateway Arch St. Louis has seen the harshest COVID-19 clear out of its downtown area out of 66 North American cities A person sits on a door stoop near downtown St. Louis on Thursday, May 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Now that office buildings are emptying out in St. Louis, the streets too are desolate and uninviting for visitors. Plus, empty streets end up attracting speeding drivers, making them more unsafe for the people who do visit. This scenario played out in 2023, when 17-year-old volleyball star Janae Edmondson was struck by a speeding vehicle while crossing an intersection. Edmondson lost both of her legs after the car that hit her slammed into another vehicle, leaving her pinned between. But the downtown decay is not an entirely new phenomenon - with the trend beginning with the closure of Macy's in the Railway Exchange Building in 2013 as online shopping took off and a rash of department store shut across the US. Shortly after Macy's left, the rest of the office space in the Railway Exchange emptied. That has had the downstream effect of fewer customers for restaurants and shops in the downtown area, leading to droves of them closing. The businesses that do stay have to deal with frequent break-ins and vandalism, according to the Wall Street Journal. 'Its a classic chicken and egg kind of deal,' Washington University economics professor Glenn MacDonald told outlet. 'People dont go there because theres nothing to do. Theres nothing to do because people dont go there.' So far, efforts from local officials and non-government organizations to revitalize the city have proven unsuccessful, despite the low rents in St. Louis. The city reportedly wants to convert office space into residential apartments, but those projects end up costing developers a lot of money. The New York Times reported in December 2022 that conversions like these could cost up to $500 per usable square foot. For example, the Railway Exchange's owners in 2017 - four years after the Macy's there closed - announced a plan to redevelop the historic building into apartments and retail space. The plan failed and the owners defaulted on the mortgage, the Wall Street Journal reported. An Arizona police chief has defended his department's handling of teen violence amid claims that his inaction could have led to the killing of 16-year-old Preston Lord. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, embattled Gilbert Police department chief Michael Soelberg denied that his community has an issue with teen violence. Gilbert, a wealthy Phoenix suburb once billed as the country's second-safest city, has been in national news over teen delinquents who call themselves the 'Gilbert Goons' and have allegedly terrorized the community since as far back as 2022. But Soelberg says the videos of teen attacks and claims made by alleged victims about their reign of terror were not shared with police until after the fatal beating of Lord 16, at a Halloween party in October in nearby Queen Creek. Seven teens and young men, including several Goons suspects, have been charged with his murder, sparking accusations from some in the community who believe the alleged killers should have been removed from the streets long ago. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Gilbert Police department chief Michael Soelberg denied that his community has an issue with teen violence The Goons' reign of terror: DailyMail.com can reveal how the gang of youngsters ran amok in the Arizona town before Preston Lord's death in October One father, Rick Kuehner, claims he had been trying to get Gilbert police and school officials to protect his son from the Goons since last summer, when his child was first threatened and then brutally beaten up at an In-N-Out parking lot which was a go-to spot for the teen delinquents. In a lawsuit against Goon suspects, their parents and Arizona officials, Kuehner argues that authorities failed to protect his son, and then also failed to punish the Goons. He and other members of the community have told DailyMail.com they believe Soelberg is one of the officials who should resign over their alleged negligence. But chief Soelberg claims his department has properly investigated and appropriately closed the alleged killers' previous charges. He told DailyMail.com: 'It was never documented that this was the term that they were doing before Preston was killed. That was all information that came up after Preston Lord was killed. 'We looked at all of our cases involving those seven subjects involved in that case, and we had properly investigated all cases that we had with them prior to Lord's murder. We had no pending cases.' Soelberg added that once the community started sharing videos and information, his department was able to act. The chief added that his department currently has eight open teen violence cases, but they are not all related to the alleged Goons. Rick Kuehner told DailyMail.com he had been fighting school and police regarding Goon's violence officials for months after his son was brutally assaulted The seven suspects of Preston Lord's death, from top left to bottom right: Jacob Meisner, Talan Renner, Taylor Sherman, Treston Billey, Talyn Vigil, Dominic Turner, William Owen 'All these videos that you've seen online that have been shared by the community... that information was not provided to the police department or even shared publicly before. 'And once we received that information, we actively investigated the cases, and since January of this year, we made 29 arrests on cases involving group violence.' Soelberg also responded to claims by Kuehner, who previously told DailyMail.com he asked for a detective to look into his son's attackers but was not assigned one until after Lord was killed. The chief admitted that Kuehner was not informed when his son's case was made inactive - and was only contacted by police when it was reopened following Lord's death in October. Soelberg said: 'I'm confident we've properly investigated all of the cases that were reported by [Kuehner] and his son. The case was never closed, it was re-activated in October. 'After Preston Lord was killed, we looked at all of our teen violence cases, not just his, and at that time, we reactivated the case, and that detective reached out to him. We never denied any service to him or denied providing a detective. We were actively investigating. '[Kuehner] is correct in the fact that he was not notified that it was inactivated but we did notify him once we reactivated the case and each step along the way since then.' Soelberg added that his department has not yet designated the Goons as a street gang, but is currently investigating the group to determine if they should be classified as such. 'With the Gilbert Goons, that investigation is still ongoing as to whether they are or are not a gang based on Arizona law,' Soelberg said. 'We have not classified any of these individuals that the gang at this point, we are investigating.' Goons suspects Treston Billie and Jacob Meisner are named in Kuehner's lawsuit after several assault arrests in Gilbert. They are both also accused with Lord's murder Kuehner's lawsuit claims official's inaction on teen violence led to the murder of Lord. A memorial for teen is seen on the street where he was found unconscious Multiple agencies, including the Mesa police department, are investigating whether the group should be classified as a criminal street gang. The East Valley Fusion Center, a group of police departments meant to share information, has previously called out Gilbert police for not sharing information about the Goons. An email from the center, obtained by ABC15 in March, read: 'Outside of Mesa and Salt River, most agencies still tend to work within silos and dont universally share intelligence freely. For example, extremely high-profile cases such as Gilbert Goons have occurred, however Fusion was not sent a single bulletin by any impacted agency. We cant assist if we dont know its occurring.' Despite national news about teen violence in Gilbert, Soelberg denied the issue is particularly bad in the area. He said: 'Overall, Gilbert is a safe community, but we're not immune to the problems that we've seen throughout the country, so we're no different than anybody else. 'We're a large community with nearly 300,000 people, and within our community we have 80,000 teenagers and younger. And so when you have that many kids, you're bound to have some conflict amongst teens and that's what we see nationwide. 'To put it in perspective, we average about 16,000 calls for service per month in Gilbert. And out of those calls over the last couple of years, we have averaged less than one call a month and related to group teen violence.' Soelberg also sent a message to the public, claiming some of the information that's circulated about the Goons is not accurate. 'Keep in mind also that some of that information is inaccurate. It's been posted on social media,' the chief said. 'That term, Gilbert Goon, has been associated with nearly all of the teen violence cases. I'm telling you that not all of our teen violent cases are related to the same group of individuals.' After Lord's brutal beating and subsequent alleged attempted cover ups were detailed by The Arizona Republic, authorities reopened multiple cases believed to have been conducted by a larger group of assailants. Victims and residents in the area have described the group as mostly white, upper-middle-class teenagers from multiple East Valley high schools. The attackers allegedly include the sons of a mayoral candidate and an elementary school principal. Their assaults appeared unmotivated and were often recorded and shared by the attackers themselves. Arizona businessman Travis Renner has been accused of trying to help his teen son cover up the murder Travis Renner's other son Kyler has been charged in connection with two gang attacks at a parking garage and a house party in 2022 'The conspiracy culminated in the murder of 16-year-old Preston Lord by certain members of the Goons,' the lawsuit states, as reported by the Arizona Republic. 'Preston's killers should have been in juvie,' said lawyer Richard Lyons. 'Why weren't they arresting and charging these kids?' Several lawsuits have been filed claiming that law enforcement and school officials allowed the Goons to continue unleashing their violence since as least 2022. Activists held vigils and marched to protest growing gang violence in Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler and other Phoenix suburbs following Lord's killing. At least three of the murder suspects in the case, Jacob Meisner, Dominic Turner and William Himes, were previously charged in connection to Gilbert Goons attacks. Talan Renner, 17, is one of the young men accused. His brother Kyler is also believed to be a member of the Goons. Their father Travis Renner, meanwhile has been accused of trying to cover up Talan's involvement in Lord's alleged murder. A California mayor is suing her own city for $7.5million and is still running for re-election. Deborah Robertson, 73, has been mayor of Rialto, a city of a little over 100,000 people east of Los Angeles, since 2012. City documents show she filed three separate claims last year alleging age and racial discrimination, invasion of privacy and improper handling of her retirement fund, with a total liability she estimated at $7,482,000. She has now taken her own administration to court in two lawsuits after it reviewed and denied her claims internally. The extraordinary move has sparked outrage from residents and her fellow council members, who called it 'self-serving' and 'shocking'. Deborah Robertson, 73, has been mayor of Rialto, California - a small a city of just over 100,000 people - since 2012 DailyMail.com can reveal she filed three separate claims against the city last year alleging age and racial discrimination, invasion of privacy and more Councilman Rafael Trujillo, who is also running for Mayor, told DailyMail.com: 'It's shocking, because if you're not the fiduciarily responsible representative, then who is there for the taxpayer? 'She's so embroiled in all these lawsuits, she's lost sight of the direction of the city.' Robertson's claim is equal to 3.3% of the entire city budget for the year, or about $75 per Rialto resident. The claims she leveled against the city include: Her colleagues discriminated against her by not giving her ergonomic furniture after she was injured in a 2019 one-car accident The city discriminated against her by not giving her a special security door in case of an active shooter, while giving another councilor one, because she is black Police looked her up on a law enforcement database without a good crime-fighting reason The city owes her compensation for giving her the wrong kind of retirement fund Fellow Rialto councilman, Ed Scott, told DailyMail.com he worked closely with the mayor for years and is perplexed by her claims. Fellow Rialto councilman, Ed Scott, told DailyMail.com he worked closely with the mayor for years and is perplexed by her claims He said the city did offer Robertson and all other leaders ergonomic furniture, and they also eventually installed a security door in her office, but were delayed in part because of the pandemic and her plans to move office. He said the councilman she called 'Caucasian' who got a security door first, was in fact Trujillo, a Latino. 'I don't think it was a fair analogy on her part that she was being singled out,' Scott said. 'I just think a lot of nothing was made of it. 'To my knowledge, she's always been accommodated when she's had an issue. They've changed her furniture in her office a number of times. So I'm not quite sure what that's all about.' Scott, a Republican, said he himself had been a victim of police snooping, after pro-union officers allegedly searched his and his dead son's details on their database to dig up dirt against his re-election bid. He won a $500,000 settlement from the city in November 2021 over it. But he said the mayor's near-identical claim with an eye-watering $6million demand didn't make sense, because she is a pro-union Democrat, with no reason to be smeared. 'I'm amazed by it. I've known her for a very long time, so I'm very surprised by it,' Scott said. Trujillo said the city audited police records following Scott's claim, and found no similar improper searches against Robertson or other councilors. 'They checked everybody,' he said. 'There were explanations attached to every one of them. Everything cleared out for everybody.' Robertson is pictured with California Governor Gavin Newsom. She claims the city discriminated against her by not giving her a special security door in case of an active shooter, while giving another councilor one, because she is black Robertson is pictured receiving $2million for the Lake Rialto Project last year. She now claims the city owes her compensation for giving her the wrong kind of retirement fund Robertson (pictured in 2010) claims her colleagues discriminated against her by not giving her ergonomic furniture after she was injured in a 2019 one-car accident In one filing, Robertson seeks $1million from the city for 'impermissibly accessing and running Mrs. Robertson's personal information through the State of California's CLETS system' In another claim, Robertson seeks $5million for being 'indifferent and discriminatory regarding my personal safety after a domestic terrorism reporter' Trujillo said the mayor's lawsuits have left the city administration in disarray, without a trusted leader. 'There's a sense that she's just looking around for the next lawsuit,' he said. 'Is her time really being spent leading the city or is it being spent finding another opportunity to bring another lawsuit? 'She's lost sight of the direction of the city. People see it. She's been very erratic last year,' he added. 'People are seeing that she's not even attending some of her meetings. 'You start to question what her intentions are: being a steward of our taxpayer dollars? Or is it to have personal gains from the taxpayers?' The mayor previously sparked controversy over her role in city grants to her daughter's charity. Councilman Rafael Trujillo, who is also running for Mayor, told DailyMail.com: 'It's shocking, because if you're not the fiduciarily responsible representative, then who is there for the taxpayer?' A 2020 legal investigation determined that she violated local, state and federal conflict-of-interest laws by voting to approve $200,654 in grants from the city's federal funding to the Bethune Center, a nonprofit of which her daughter Milele is the president, since 2012. Milele served as treasurer of her mother's campaign committee during the same period. Robertson denied any conflict, until the legal review organized by the city council forced her to recuse herself from funding decisions involving the charity. 'It seems difficult to argue the president, including an unpaid president, of a nonprofit organization would not have any 'tangible personal benefit' from a funding agreement that apparently provides 50% of the organization's annual funding,' attorney Randall Keen said in his June 2020 report. Tax filings obtained by DailyMail.com show Robertson also received $145,000 in government funds to her own charity, the Deborah Robertson Foundation. The organization received 501(c)(3) charitable status from the IRS in 2020. The nonprofit is registered at her five-bed, $650,000 Rialto home, and is run by her 2020 mayoral campaign assistant Perry Brents, who retired as the city's director of community services the same year. 'We provide a community and learning center,' Brents, 64, said in a short video posted on YouTube in November 2022. 'Our mission is quite simple, you know. Provide strategic pathways and awareness of opportunities. We assist, and we need assistance with help in accomplishing our mission to provide awareness of the opportunities in local business that exist. Simple as that.' The charity's latest 2022 accounts say it received a total $152,742 of contributions and grants that year and spent over a third, $51,661, on salaries and other 'employee benefits', as well as $35,500 in 'benefits paid to or for members'. It says Brents's salary as treasurer was $25,000 for 30 hours a week. Robertson did not list any compensation for her five hours a week as 'CEO'. Other costs cutting into the organization's charitable activity included $9,600 on 'occupancy', $3,655 on 'storage' and $8,138 on 'advertising and promotion'. The IRS filing did not disclose who those sums were paid to. A newsletter Robertson published until 2022 said her charity gave a scholarship to 13-year-old student Allanah Mouton to help her attend college early, and provided 'free Covid-19 testing sites' in October 2022. The newsletter also carried adverts for Robertson's 2024 mayoral campaign. A complication in Robertson's fundraising came in November 2023, when city contractor Burrtec Waste Industries held an 'Appreciation Fundraiser for Mayor Deborah Robertson and to celebrate the accomplishments of the City of Rialto' at their Fontana offices Trujillo said he was concerned that Brents's double duty as a 'campaign manager' and charity treasurer, as well as an alleged dual use of the charity's 'community center' as a political campaign office, left Robertson's organizations open to further conflict of interest claims. 'She called it the Mayor Deborah Robertson Community Learning Center. It was her campaign office,' Trujillo said. 'Perry was able to help her with her campaign, and there's questions of whether he was a paid consultant or campaign manager. He's been really involved on the political side with her. Despite suing for $7,482,000 and taking her own administration to court in two lawsuits, Robertson is still running for re-election 'There's questions whether that's a conflict there between her foundation and her campaign. 'The conflicts are just mounting on top of each other.' Another complication in Robertson's fundraising came in November 2023, when city contractor Burrtec Waste Industries held an 'Appreciation Fundraiser for Mayor Deborah Robertson and to celebrate the accomplishments of the City of Rialto' at their Fontana offices. Burrtec holds a lucrative contract with Rialto worth several million dollars, signed off periodically by the mayor and councilors, for all residents' waste disposal. It is unclear whether the funds raised went to her charitable foundation, or her mayoral campaign. The IRS filing says Robertson's foundation provided 'Covid 19 testing and advertising, community service, and outreach' in 2022. A 2021 report in the Redland Community News said the Foundation was one of 216 nonprofits to receive $3.4 million in CARES Act funding via San Bernardino County. The Deborah Robertson Foundation was listed as receiving the maximum grant of $20,000. Mayor Robertson sits on some county government boards, including with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA). Rialto councilman Scott said he had 'no idea' Robertson was receiving county funds to her charity. 'That's all news to me. I knew she had some kind of a foundation,' he said. 'But I had no idea she was getting Covid grants. That's extremely interesting.' Gang bosses are infiltrating jails by paying people with no criminal record to become prison officers and act as 'sleeper' agents for their drug smuggling operations, the chief inspector of prisons has warned. Charlie Taylor said 'very sophisticated organised crime groups' were employing so-called clean skins to take roles inside jails - where drugs are three times more expensive than on the streets. Former prison guards told MailOnline that a crisis in recruitment and retention is being exploited by organised criminals as a chance to plant their own associates inside jails or corrupt existing officers. Linda Sage, a criminal psychologist with 40 years' experience inside prisons, said offenders were 'skillful' at exploiting social links with employees' families and friends while also deploying threats and bribery. Mr Taylor said he has become 'increasingly concerned' about the amount of drugs that are finding their way into prisons. In a recent inspection of HMP Hindley, near Wigan, more than half of inmates tested positive for illicit substances. Mental health nursing assistant Amy Hatfield 'flooded' HMP Lindholme in South Yorkshire with drugs after being recruited by her prisoner lover Joseph Whittingham A recent inspection of HMP Hindley near Wigan found more than half of inmates tested positive for illicit substances. Pictured are inmates 'partying' at the prison published in 2018 He described in a blog how gangs were 'effectively putting a sleeper into a prison someone who has no criminal record, has no direct connections, and applies for a job as a prison officer'. These officers would then 'become established and be able to begin to bring drugs into the jail having worked out where the weaknesses are in any security systems in place'. There have been a series of recent prosecutions of prison staff for smuggling drugs into prisons, although no evidence has been presented to show they were recruited by gangs before taking their jobs. Last year saw the prosecution of the UK's biggest prison drug-smuggling gang at HMP Lindholme in South Yorkshire, which mental health nurse Amy Hatfield 'flooded' with more than 1million worth of narcotics after being recruited by her inmate lover Joseph Whittingham. In November, prison officer Martin Mills admitted sneaking drugs inside boxes of cereal into HMP Hewell in Worcestershire - working as part of a conspiracy alongside at least eight other people. And in December, prison employability tutor Jason Taylor was jailed for 32 months after bringing sheets of paper infused with spice into HMP Berwyn in Wrexham - where no less than 18 female staff have had affairs with inmates. Vanessa Frake, former Head of Security at Wormwood Scrubs and author of best-selling book, The Governor, said 'poor recruitment techniques' were partly to blame for the surge of drug use behind bars. She told MailOnline: 'The problem is exacerbated by poor recruitment techniques, fewer people wanting to join a crumbling service, overcrowding, staff shortages and gangs taking advantage of all this. 'When I worked at Scrubs we believed people would get themselves into prison on short sentences with drugs concealed inside them to deal. 'But then, recruitment techniques were much better and so the likelihood of staff being specifically recruited were much less likely.' One former prison officer said the need to recruit staff to a failing service had made the admissions criteria more lax. Hatfield smuggled spice into HMP Lindholme hidden inside these bottles of lemon Ribena The corrupt prison staffer caught on CCTV arriving at the jail with drugs worth around 1million This clip - which emerged last year - shows inmates appearing to smoke cannabis at HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire Speaking to MailOnline on condition of anonymity, he said: 'When I joined you had to sit an entrance exam and go through an interview, followed by three weeks being shadowed staff taking notes and nine weeks at a residential Prison Service College. 'I had to wait four years before I was eligible to sit the promotion exam and afterwards there was a simulation exercise dealing with incidents involving prisoners and staff. 'If you got through that you were then able to apply for available posts, followed by another interview and hopefully the offer of a job. 'Now staff are applying straight from school online and sometimes being promoted within months. Austerity cuts across the public sector have decimated the Prison Service and morale within most establishments is at rock bottom.' A second retired officer, who spent years on the wings of HMP Manchester, said the profession was becoming increasingly stressful and dangerous. He told MailOnline: 'When I was at Strangways I discovered my home address and family details were on easily accessible website. I heard of officers who had to enter witness protection after upsetting the wrong person. Prison officer Martin Mills admitted smuggling drugs and items such as phones into HMP Hewell 'Within the Cat A system there are people who can turn your life upside down. They can and will send people to your front door. All the Cat A officers know this and are careful. The odd one slips ups and pays the price. 'There are individuals within the Cat A system that you literally can't look at. Even prison governors feel the fear and pressure.' He suggested the government had to commit building a US style supermax prison system where dangerous offenders were totally isolated, adding: 'Some of these people too dangerous for any contact with prison officers or anyone else.' Linda Sage is a criminal psychologist who worked in Category A prisons for more than 40 years. She said younger, less experienced officers were far more vulnerable to 'very skilled manipulation' at the hands of inmates. 'Working inside a prison is like no other environment, information is currency and once one inmate gleans any personal information or data on an officer, they can be vulnerable,' she told MailOnline. 'If they drive an older car, then maybe a bribe is possible, if they have children, threats are easy from contacts on the outside. 'Local recruitment has made many new officers vulnerable because, many of the prisoners can be local too, they can have social links with the officer's family or friends. 'With such a large number of new officers with less than three years experience, it leaves them open to the very skilled manipulation of prison inmates. Many career criminals make more money when they are behind bars than when they are released.' The Prison Officers' Association said the prospect of gangs recruiting associates to become prison officers was 'a real concern and a conceivable problem'. A cell inside HMP Bedford. A recent inspection revealed the prison was rife with illegal drugs Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, said he has become 'increasingly concerned' about the amount of drugs that are finding their way into prisons But Mark Fairhurst, its national chair, said he was 'not aware of any prosecutions that back up these claims'. As MailOnline revealed this week, prisons are carrying out so few drugs tests that officials have stopped publishing data on the number coming back positive. Every year jails are rated according to how well they are performing on a series of measures, including how many mandatory drugs tests come back positive. But the latest statistical bulletin for the year 2022/23 has redacted the figures because there are so few tests being carried out. Ian Acheson, a former prison governor, suggested a lack of prison officers to carry out the tests could be to blame. 'I have my strong suspicion this is because in many prisons, crippled by staff shortages, officers deployed to test for drugs were instead used to maintain safe unlocking ratios on the landings,' he said. 'But what it means is that we have no visibility on the national scale of the problem, which is likely to be hellish and therefore convenient to ministers and officials alike.' A Prison Service spokesperson said: 'The overwhelming majority of our prison staff are hardworking and honest but thanks to our action including bolstering our Counter-Corruption Unit we are rooting out more of the small minority who are not. 'This is on top of robust vetting procedures including criminal record checks, while our 100m investment into tough security measures such as X ray body scanners is helping cut the supply of drugs entering jails.' Do you work inside Britain's prison service or have information about prison failings? Contact rory.tingle@mailonline.co.uk Just over a decade ago, a well-educated Russian historian was captured by authorities when they stumbled upon his grisly collection of hand-made human dolls scattered throughout his apartment. Once a respected figure in his field, horrific truths began surfacing in 2011 about Anatoly Moskvin, 57, that revealed he was digging up dead females and turning them into dolls. It was believed that by the end of his two-decade-long span of graverobbing, he had desecrated around 150 in total. Dumped among the mounds of clutter within the home of Moskvin, from Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, were 26 mummified bodies of girls and women aged between three and 29. The scholar-turned-bodysnatcher had unearthed the dead girls and lived with their corpses in his house of horrors after turning them into ghoulish playthings and adorning them with lipstick, makeup, and knee-length boots. He dug up the bodies of the girls before dragging them back to his home, where he would turn them into showpieces that resembled antique dolls with red lips, blushed cheeks, and brightly coloured, frilly dresses. Chilling images of his sickening collection show bodies and skeletons in stockings and costumes, with one even dressed to resemble a child's teddy bear. Footage later released by cops showed the dead children placed around his house in bizarre outfits, poking out from behind curtains and shoved into gaps in his walls. They were also seen seated on shelves and sofas, surrounded by clutter. Anatoly Moskvin, 57, from Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, was arrested in 2011 after 26 mummified bodies of girls and women aged between three and 29 were found in his apartment The depraved historian would dig up graves and bring the bodies home, before dressing them up, naming them, and placing them around his apartment One body was found dressed up as a teddy bear. He would also insert buttons or toy eyes into the girls' eye sockets so that they could 'watch cartoons' with him Moskvin left his dolls scattered around his home, before cops found them peering out from behind clutter and hidden in walls Moskvin attributed his macabre obsession to a 1979 incident, that took place when the sick historian was just 13. He claimed he was forced to kiss a corpse, which sparked his obsession with the dead Dressed up skeletons and bodies were uncovered in Moskvin's apartment. Pictured: The body contained in one of his dolls Some were found with their faces wrapped in fabric which Moskvin had applied makeup over, and others had their hands concealed in sheets of fabric. A terrifying image of one of Moskvin's victims showed a skull covered in a thick layer of wax as the teeth protruded from the dead girls mouth. He admitted he would stuff the decayed corpses with rags before wrapping their faces with nylon tights, or attach fashion doll's faces on top of the human ones. Moskvin would also insert buttons or toy eyes into the girls' eye sockets so that they could 'watch cartoons' with him. The self-proclaimed 'necropolyst' - an expert on cemeteries- had collected photographs and plaques taken off the gravestones, doll-making manuals, and maps of local cemeteries, as well as the original clothes worn by the dead girls from when they were buried. When police eventually caught Moskvin, they found music boxes and toys wedged into the bodies, so that the dolls could produce sounds for the perverted man when he touched them. There were also personal belongings and clothing buried inside some of the mummies, and one even had part of her tombstone with her name scrawled on it stuffed inside her body. It was revealed that the highly-trained bodysnatcher marked the birthday of each of his dead victims in his bedroom in chilling rituals, as well as named them and organised parties for his 'toys'. Dubbed 'Lord of the Mummy' by local Russian media, he had preserved the girls using salt and baking soda as they had all died many years earlier. It was unclear if each doll contained a full set of human remains. Moskvin's parents had reportedly seen the haunting dolls scattered around their home which Moskvin lived in - but alleged they had no idea that they contained the bodies of several deceased girls. His mother Elvira, 84, said: 'We saw these dolls but we did not suspect there were dead bodies inside. 'We thought it was his hobby to make such big dolls and did not see anything wrong with it.' She claimed after a 2020 decision against releasing him that the court was biased against her son who was 'not able to be in society, work, or get married'. Though 26 bodies were found in his home at the time of his arrest, it is believed Moskvin had dug up an astonishing 150 graves before he was finally apprehended The dolls were found wearing bright colours, while some wore knee-high boots and makeup. Others were found with their faces wrapped in fabric Background During the Soviet years, Moskvin worked as a translator in the Red Army, but his warped love for the dead had been brewing deep inside him for many years prior. Moskvin attributed his macabre obsession to a 1979 incident, that took place when the sick historian was just 13. The 'cemetery expert' shared the story in Necrologies, a weekly Russian publication dedicated to cemeteries and obituaries, to which he was a committed contributor. In Moskvin's final article for the publication, dated October 26, 2011, he told how a group of men donning black suits had allegedly stopped him on his way home from school. They had been en-route to the funeral of 11-year-old Natasha Petrova before dragging Moskvin to her coffin where they forced him to kiss her corpse. Moskvin wrote: 'An adult pushed my face down to the waxy forehead of the girl in an embroidered cap, and there was nothing I could do but kiss her as ordered. 'I kissed her once, then again, then again.' The girl's grieving mother then allegedly put a wedding ring on young Moskvin's finger and a wedding ring on her dead daughter's finger. 'My strange marriage with Natasha Petrova was useful,' Moskvin said in the article. He claimed it was this experience that led him down the path to a wild belief in magic, and a grisly fascination with the dead. The schoolboy then began to wander through cemeteries, with his morbid interests leading him down a path to eventually earn a degree in Celtic studies - a culture whose mythology often blurs the lines between life and death. He began exploring burial rituals, death, and the occult, and kept a large personal library of over 60,000 books and documents on the topics. Moskvin admitted he would stuff the decayed corpses with rags before wrapping their faces with nylon tights, or attach fashion doll's faces on top of the human ones Pictured: A head of one of the corpses covered in wax Footage released by police following his arrest showed multiple dolls around his house. Some were also seen seated on shelves and sofas, surrounded by clutter The historian also mastered 13 languages and was published as a scholar on multiple occasions, with fellow academics describing him as both a genius, and eccentric. But while he appeared as an academic genius to those on the outside world, he buried within him a haunting side as he continued roaming from cemetery to cemetery. From 2005 to 2007, Moskvin claimed to have paid a visit to some 752 graveyards in Nizhny Novgorod. He would take detailed notes on each one and immerse himself in the history of the bodies that had been laid to rest there. The disturbed scholar claimed to have walked up to 20miles per day, sometimes sleeping on hay bales and being forced to drink rainwater from puddles. He also claimed to have once slept inside a coffin readied for a funeral. In 2009, however, his interests took a physical turn as locals began to discover the graves of their loved ones had been tampered with, and sometimes completely dug up. Russian Interior Ministry spokesman General Valery Gribakin told CNN at the time: 'Our leading theory was that it was done by some extremist organizations. 'We decided to beef up our police units and set up groups composed of our most experienced detectives who specialize in extremist crimes.' But for almost two years, authorities' leads led nowhere. Graves continued being desecrated, and no one had any idea why. A turning point finally came in 2011 following a terrorist attack at Domodedovo airport in Moscow. Officers learned that Muslim graves were being disturbed in Nizhny Novgorod and were led to a cemetery where they found the culprit painting over the pictures of dead Muslims. But that is not all they would discover. Moskvin was finally caught while desecrating a grave in the same cemetery, and eight police officers the stormed his apartment as they hunted for evidence. What they found shook the world. Parents of the victims In 2022, fears were sparked among the parents of the victims after it was reported that the grave robber could be freed from jail after a psychiatrist backed his release. Courts had repeatedly refused to release him, but psychiatric medics came forward to shockingly suggest that there was no medical reason to keep Moskvin in secure accommodation. Parents of the dead children pleaded to keep him behind bars for the rest of his life, fearing he would quickly return to his sick habits if released. Mother of murder victim Olga Chardymov - who was one of the 26 Moskvin dug up - Natalia Chardymova, pictured, did not realise that on her regular visits to her daughter's graveside, the coffin was empty because Moskvin had stolen Olga's corpse for his sick collection The bodies were often dressed in girly clothes, as it was revealed Moskvin had always wanted a daughter. He had tried to adopt a young girl but his application was rejected due to his low income. Pictured: One of the human dolls found in the Russian's apartment Beige fabric was used to wrap around some of Moskvin's dolls' faces. He would usually apply makeup over the material to give them faces The corpse of murder victim Olga Chardymova, aged ten, was one of the 26 Moskvin dug up and turned into mummified dolls. Her mother Natalia Chardymova did not realise that on her regular visits to her daughter's graveside, the coffin was empty because Moskvin had stolen Olga's corpse for his sick collection. 'This latest news about releasing him is certainly not good,' said Natalia at the time. 'I am also very afraid that he will go back to his old ways. I have no faith in his recovery. He's a fanatic. 'And it will be very hard for us, God forbid, to go through those events one more time - exhumation and reburial - if he again finds the place she was reburied'. The distraught mother consistently opposed his release and said 'this creature brought fear, terror and panic into my life' with his 'grotesque' abuse of the dead children. 'I would be happy to know he will spend his life in the hospital,' she said. In 2020, Moskvin had consistently refused to apologise to the families of his victims. Earlier, Moskvin told the parents: 'You abandoned your girls in the cold - and I brought them home and warmed them up. 'These girls are girls,' he added, there are no parents in my view. 'I don't know any of them. 'Besides, they buried their daughters, and this is where I believe their rights over them finished 'So no, I would not apologise.' Arrest and motive Moskvin was charged under Article 244 of the Criminal Code for the desecration of graves and dead bodies, a charge which carried up to five years in prison. Moskvin has told the authorities he wants to marry his girlfriends and work as a foreign languages tutor. Pictured left, Moskvin in court in 2013 Moskvin consistently refused to apologise to the parents of his victims. Pictured: One of Moskvin's dolls caught on police footage He admitted he would stuff the decayed corpses with rags before wrapping their faces with nylon tights, or attach fashion doll's faces on top of the human ones. He would also insert buttons or toy eyes into the girls' eye sockets so that they could 'watch cartoons' with him The depraved historian explored burial rituals, death, and the occult, and kept a large personal library of over 60,000 books and documents on the topics But after undergoing psychiatric evaluation, it was determined that the bodysnatcher had a form of paranoid schizophrenia. In a hearing on May 25, 2012, the Leninsky District Court of Nizhny Novgorod deemed Moskvin unfit to stand trial, releasing him from criminal liability. He was instead sentenced to 'coercive medical measures' and moved to a psychiatric clinic. In 2014, a spokesman said: 'After three years of monitoring him in a psychiatric clinic, it is absolutely clear that Moskvin is not mentally fit for trial...He will therefore be kept for psychiatric treatment at the clinic'. Following his arrest, Moskvin was interviewed by Russian media where he revealed the twisted 'motives' behind his spate of horror crimes. He stated he felt great sympathy for the dead girls and thought they could be brought back to live by science or black magic. As an expert on Celtic culture, he learned that the ancient Druids slept on graves to grow closer to the spirits of the dead and communicate with them. He began searching for obituaries of deceased local children, and when he found one that 'spoke to him' he would sleep on the child's grave to determine whether the deceased wanted to be brought back to life. He admitted he had been doing this for around 20 years, but never dug up the body of a child without their permission. As he grew older, he said it started becoming painful to sleep on the graves, which is when he began bringing them home. He was also allegedly motivated by his own desire to have children, specifically a daughter. Moskvin once attempted to adopt a young girl but his application was rejected due to his low income. He denied any sexual attraction toward the dolls and claimed he instead considered them his children as he spoke with them, sang songs to them, and watched cartoons with them. However, Moskvin told authorities in 2020 that he wanted to marry his 'girlfriends' and work as a language tutor. The sound of a baby crying is the last thing new parents (and anyone sitting next to them) wants to hear. But at a 400-year-old Japanese festival that is exactly what the aim is. The Nakizumo Crying Baby Festival is as bizarre as it sounds - it celebrates the belief that babies crying will bring the youngsters good health and fortune in the future, as well as warding off any evil spirits or demons. For one day each year, bawling babies compete against each other, held in the arms of sumo wrestlers. The winner is usually the first baby who wails in the 'crying sumo' ring. Donning their tiny sumo belts and aprons, more than 100 little ones will square off in a ring where hulking sumo wrestlers hold them and do their best to try to make them burst into tears. The Nakizumo Crying Baby Festival is as bizarre as its name sounds - it celebrates the belief that babies crying will bring the youngsters good health and fortune in the future, as well as warding off any evil spirits or demons For one day each year, bawling babies compete against each other, held in the arms of sumo wrestlers. The winner is usually the first baby who wails in the 'crying sumo' ring Their parents head down to various dohyo's in Japan and the babies compete against each other, two at a time. The babies are held up by the sumo wrestlers who attempt to get them to shed a tear by taunting them. They gently attempt to get a reaction from the babies, using a range of amusing techniques including growling. However, sometimes the youngsters aren't fazed, or often even burst into laughter. If they fail to cry within a few seconds, the referee, dressed in a handsome robe, intervenes. The referee has to take things up a notch to attempt to scare the young babies by wearing traditional scary masks or making faces and loud noises, getting them to cry. The festival is held across Japan, with the rules varying from region to region as in some regions, the baby who cries first is considered the loser - in others, it's all about which baby cries the loudest, with the quieter one losing. It may seem cruel to outsiders, but the ceremony is said to keep the infants safe from evil forces as well as bring them luck. A saying which is associated with the festival is 'naku ko wa sodatsu,' which means 'crying babies will grow up fast'. Donning their tiny sumo belts and aprons, more than 100 little ones will square off in a ring where hulking sumo wrestlers hold them and do their best to try to make them burst into tears The sumo wrestlers gently attempt to get a reaction from the babies, using a range of amusing techniques including growling A saying which is associated with the festival is 'naku ko wa sodatsu,' which means 'crying babies will grow up fast' However, sometimes the youngsters aren't fazed, or often even burst into laughter. If they fail to cry within a few seconds, the referee, dressed in a handsome robe, intervenes The festival is held across Japan, with the rules varying from region to region as in some regions, the baby who cries first is considered the loser - in others, it's all about which baby cries the loudest, with the quieter one losing While the biggest event is held at Asakusas Sensoji, it also takes place in various other spots across Japan It may seem cruel to outsiders, but the ceremony is said to keep the infants safe from evil forces as well as bring them luck Japanese legend states that the loud cry of a baby will ward off bad spirits and ensure the child grows up to be healthy and strong. While the biggest event is held at Asakusas Sensoji, it also takes place in various other spots across Japan. The Asakusa event is so popular that a lottery system is used for paretns to secure one of the 100 coveted spots. Getting the chance for your baby to compete is a privilege due to the tears encouraging good health. The babies are held aloft so that their cries are closer to heaven and uring the 400-year-old competition, their parents pray for the good health of their children. This year's event is taking place this weekend on April 28 and the venue will be filled with parents, babies, relatives, Japanese spectators and tourists from the world who turn up to observe the event. Entry is free to the popular festival and two rounds will be held, the first at 11.10am and the second at 2.20pm, behind the main building of Sensoji. A local entrepreneur had it built it in '91 as a late engagement present to his wife A house fit for a king! A la 'Game of Thrones', a literal castle has hit the market in the US - though instead of King's Landing, it can be found nestled in suburban Michigan. Located just north of Detroit, the home is anything but modest - custom-built by a lifetime Michiganite for his wife a decade before his death. It has since changed hands only once, after a retired mechanical contractor took an interest in 2015. Noticing the old owner was struggling to make payments, he offered to loan him $900,000 as a favor - on the condition he be repaid in monthly installments. The ex-owner agreed, but quickly defaulted on those payments before passing away in 2022. Now for sale for some $2.3million, the 26-room abode harks back to a lost age, and comes complete with a moat, drawbridge, hidden passageways, and a dungeon (with a hot tub) - as well as bragging rights over your peasant pals. Scroll down for video: Like something out of ' Game of Thrones ', a castle has hit the market - and instead of King's Landing, it can be found a few miles Detroit. It costs roughly $2.3million The 26-room, five-story fortress can be found hidden in the woodlands of Rochester, Michigan, in a ritzy gated community Brent Gatecliff, the current lord of the manor, revealed to DailyMail.com this week how he came to own the property. When jokingly asked if he was the lord of the manor, the 66-year-old who is eager to make a sale quipped: 'I am, but hopefully not for too long.' Before explaining how he accepted the Medieval-style manse as collateral for a loan back in 2015, he revealed how he got more than he bargained for after taking on the property once the agreement fell through. 'What was I thinking, right?' he joked, recalling how when the old homeowner, 72-year-old James Carter LeBlanc, failed to make a single repayment, he had to step in. 'I was house flipping at the time, and a realtor put me onto the home, which at the time he was looking to sell,' he said over the phone. He went on to recall how LeBlanc - an entrepreneur with several successful businesses to his name in his day - built it in 1991 as an engagement present to his wife, 22 years after he promised her a castle when he couldn't afford a ring. The ensuing undertaking took a total of six years, during which LeBlanc spared no expense to get it done. He brought in experts from all over the world, and fitted the place with hidden halls, fireplaces, and other authentic amenities that cost more than $10million - some of which Gatecliff said are still being uncovered today. 'He lived there for about 30 years before dying in May 2022 at 72,' Gatecliff said. Estate agents have been listing the opulent property on and off since about three years ago, but they have yet to find the 'king or queen of the castle' The structure features turrets, a moat, portcullis, a drawbridge, and a massive 763 lbs. front door Photos also show elaborately done rooms plus at least one suit of armor inside, guarding the home It even boasts a carefully curated hall of mirrors - presumably to confuse the future liege lord's enemies Brent Gatecliff, the current master of the manor, revealed to DailyMail.com this week how he came to own the property, and how he was forced to take possession That left the costly creation behind, and Gatecliff to pick up the pieces. Finishing the necessary renovations that LeBlanc did not, Gatecliff quickly spent an additional $200,000 getting the property up to snuff, he said. He's asking for $2.299million to guarantee a sale - less than a quarter of the money LeBlanc put forth to get it off the ground. Despite a steady stream of interest seen since, he has yet to finalize a deal, he admitted. 'Its a great house,' he told DailyMail.com days after almost closing a deal for the desired amount. 'But its a specific house that only a specific buyer is going to be interested in.' For the first six months, he recalled: 'I kept finding hidden passageways and secret doors' - one which led to a de facto dungeon'. However, this subterranean cell comes Equipped with a Tudor-style pub, faux stalagmites and a hot tub - a bit more ritzy than the underground rooms from which it was inspired. That said, LeBlanc did leave behind a prop to make the underground room more 'authentic', Gatecliff revealed, telling DailyMail.com: 'He hung up a pair of shackles on the wall.' He added of the previously unseen room, which has a full bathroom: 'If we're talking kings and castles, it's a good place to hide from your captors,' 'Nobody would know where you were,' he added, laughing off the discovery. When jokingly asked if he was the castle's king, the 66-year-old - eager to make a sale - quipped: 'I am, but hopefully not for too long' Despite the lack of a sale, the home is one of the most talked about homes to hit the market, and emanates a unique opulence any lover of history would appreciate Before explaining how he accepted the Medieval-style manse as collateral for a loan in 2015, he revealed how he got more than he bargained for after taking on the property once the agreement fell through Finishing the necessary renovations, Gatecliff spent an additional $200,000 getting the property up to snuff, he said - installing heaters, air conditioners, a new boiler, and more to ensure a successful sale Now out more than $1million, he's asking for $2.299million to guarantee a sale - less than a quarter of the money LeBlanc put forth to get it off the ground 'Its a great house,' he told DailyMail.com days after almost closing a deal for the desired amount. 'But its a specific house that only a specific buyer is going to be interested in.' Aside from more conspicuous amenities like a drawbridge, moat, and fully functional portcullis, other secret passages are abound - including a bookshelf that rotates to expose a secret reading escape room. In a children's bedroom, an escape hatch opens up to a hidden playroom in the floor below, he said. Other drawers and compartments continue to make themselves known years later, in the home that looks like something straight out of 15th century Scotland. To accomplish this, Gatecliff said LeBlanc took several trips to Europe to study up on the subject, while also pouring through countless books. But the costs of building - and maintaining - such estates can become a sort of runaway train, he pointed out; hence why a monied man like LeBlanc ultimately could not afford to stay. That's also why is has such a pronounced price tag, he said - before disclaiming that virtually almost all of the work previously needed on the home is done. 'It's ready to be lived in. It just needs some paint and stucco and Dryvit.' His girlfriend, he added, doesn't like to sleep there - unsettled by the suits of armor and gothic art that adorn the halls. On Thursday, he recalled how he has listed the property on and off since April 2021 in an effort to recoup his lost funds, and is still bombarded with offers to this day, including one in September 2022 for $2.5million. However, none have fully developed, making him eager to finally close the sale. Aside from more conspicuous amenities, secret passages and rooms in the home are abound - including a bookshelf that rotates to expose a secret reading room In a kid's bedroom, an escape hatch opens up to a hidden playroom in the floor below On Thursday, the homeowner recalled how he has listed the property on and off since April 2021 in an effort to recoup his lost funds, and is still bombarded with offers to this day, including one in September 2022 for $2.5million But all have fell through - likely due to the costs it would take to maintain such an estate, on top of its initial price tag The costs of building - and maintaining - such estates can become a sort of runaway train, he pointed out; hence why the previous homeowner could not afford to stay 'What was I thinking, right?' he joked, recalling how when the old homeowner, 72-year-old James Carter LeBlanc, failed to make a single repayment, he had to step in. Pictured, a stairwell to the home's wine cellar, on a floor below the dungeon Any other renovations would would cost 'no more than $60,000,' he disclaimed, a sum that has seemingly scared off some buyers Further delaying matters, Gatecliff said, are the lulls created when people show interest before suddenly backing down - drawing out the now essentially complete renovation process. Such work, he added, required 'special materials or the work of specialty contractors.' 'I've gotten multiple offers since taking over, but almost all have backed out last minute.' Asked if he would ever live at the property, he said he's happier at his current home - which is 30 minutes away and overlooks a lake. 'The castle aspect isn't stopping me,' he said. 'It's more the location.' That said, the house is only a short drive from the state's biggest city and is double gated - meaning it has not only a gate protecting the property, but is set in a gated community which itself is closed off to outsiders. If that doesn't stop intruders, the moat, portcullis, a drawbridge, and a massive 763 lbs. front door will, Gatecliff joked - as those who make it onto the property will likely feel as if they stepped through a portal in time. The fortress sits on a six acres in a gated community, offering even more protection from intruders Hidden within the walls of the property is a 50-foot-tall spiral staircase that leads to the de fact dungeon (not pictured) Sitting on over six acres, it's surrounded by a wrought iron fence and two watch towers - also gated - and is being sold as is, meaning all the carefully curated furniture and equipment come included. 'The home is beautiful,' he said. 'It's just a lot to afford. 'The inlay wood, the antique chandeliers, and the oak carpenter ceilings,' he added. 'It's really something to behold.' Estate agents have also yet to find the 'king or queen of the castle,' despite repeated viewing requests. Images show the 60-ton steel structure topped by medieval stone-walled turrets, and drawbridge to protect its grand entrance. Many of the 26 rooms are lined with oak walls and linked by wide staircases from the vast entrance hall, while the master bedroom appears fit for royalty with a four-poster bed and balcony. Hidden within the walls of the property is a 50-foot-tall spiral staircase, Gatecliff added, revealing that's how prospective tenants would access the secret wine cellar. Photos also show elaborately done bedrooms - plus at least one suit of armor like something out of Scooby-Doo, apparently also guarding the home. Speaking to DailyMail.com back when the house first went up for sale in 2021, realtor Mike Kuligowski said he believes the fortress, which has seven bathrooms, is perfect for an 'eccentric' buyer who dreamed of living in a castle as a child. Kuligowski specializes in selling unique homes, and admits even he was blown away after thinking the most recent owner was exaggerating when he said he's 'selling a castle.' 'It's the perfect opportunity to live like a king or queen. It's for someone who just has to have a castle because they dreamed of it as a kid,' he said. 'It's pretty over-the-top. It feels very much like a castle when you're in it. It's a very elaborate and custom-style home. The master bedroom is incredible,' he went on. 'When I drove up and saw the working portcullis and the 763 lbs. front door, I realized he wasn't joking and it really was a castle. It's the sort of thing you dream of as a kid. 'This is perfect for someone eccentric like the original owner and someone who likes to show off.' Kuligowski continued: 'It's designed and built to host people. So its for someone who likes the experience of having people over and wanting to give them an experience. Many of the 26 rooms are lined with oak walls and linked by wide staircases from the vast entrance hall, while the master bedroom appears fit for royalty with a four-poster bed and balcony The stunning home was designed by James LeBlanc and completed in 1991 as an engagement present to his then-wife, Vera LeBlanc He promised to build her one 22 years earlier because he couldn't afford a ring LeBlanc sold the house on 2015 for $900,000, but paid rent to live there until he moved into assisted living in 2019 Realtor Mike Kuligowski said the fortress, which has seven bathrooms, is perfect for an 'eccentric' buyer who dreamed of living in a castle as a child 'It's the perfect opportunity to live like a king or queen. It's for someone who just has to have a castle because they dreamed of it as a kid,' Kuligowski said 'I was blown away by it. When my client told me he had a castle to sell, I thought, "Yeah, right,' because a lot of people talk like they've got a castle,' he said Pictured, the secret dungeon-like cave where a Tudor-style bar and wine cellar can be found. Not pictured, the home's actual dungeon, which can be found in a secret door in the barroom 'This is perfect for someone eccentric like the original owner and someone who likes to show off,' realtors said 'It's designed and built to host people. So its for someone who likes the experience of having people over and wanting to give them an experience' The property also features a heated garage opposite the castle, fitted with a toilet and seat from one of the Concorde jets that the owner, a former US military engineer, helped design There are also five fireplaces, which come on top of the newly installed heaters and furnaces The property was built for Michigan resident Vera (pictured) by her husband, who promised her a castle when they got engaged all because he was unable to buy a ring 'I've worked on some unique properties but not one as unique as this,' he added. The six-acre plot is situated at the rear of a gated community, so the homeowner and their guests reach the castle through a winding forest littered with trinkets such as an iron-sculpted dragon. The property also features a heated garage opposite the castle, fitted with a toilet and seat from one of the Concorde jets that the owner, a former US military engineer, helped design. Nicholas Asplund at Lux Partners Global adds that the home has had 'a laundry list of upgrades' since being first put on the market, including six new high efficiency furnaces/air conditioners, new humidifiers, a new boiler, a new hot water storage tank, and an elevator serviced and certified in 2022. The owner also spent was some $100,000 on window and door upgrades, and $20,000 on electrical updates. 'This is "Game of Thrones" Season 9,' he told MLive Monday, adding 'the [home's] build quality and cost is unmatched. '[It] couldnt be done today for under $25,000,000,' he said. 'The surprises are endless,' he added, as he Gatecliff both said they continue to see interest in the picturesque property. 'It must truly be seen to be believed.' One thing's for sure - the home is deeply entrenched in romanticism. DailyMail.com has reached out to Lux Partners for comment. A California bartender has been accused of scamming dozens of bereaved pet owners by charging them huge sums for bespoke cremations before dumping the animals in a freezer amid a macabre crime wave across the US. Victims claim Nejyredth Velasquez, 38, and her partner Anthony Nunez, 35, of Oxnard, California, lied about having their own 'state of the art' crematorium to dupe them out of hundreds of dollars for services that included providing paw prints and other keepsakes. In reality, they had no such thing and in some cases owners were forced to retrieve the rotting remains of their beloved companions in a bin bag after they got wind of the scheme. It comes amid a disturbing trend in which animal remains have been found in deserts, trucks and mass graves, DailyMail.com can reveal. In one shocking case, a woman was arrested after allegedly dumping 25 bags of animal carcasses in the Utah desert. California bartender Nejyredth Velasquez is accused of scamming dozens of bereaved pet owners out of hundreds of dollars by promising bespoke cremations that were never delivered One of Velasquez's clients, Robert Balog, 44, (left) said he had to retrieve the frozen remains of his cat Stewie (right) at a parking lot weeks after his ashes should have been returned Jaqueline Alonso, 36, with her dog Spot, and Gabrielle Real, 23, and her cat Hela, are also among up to 80 of the alleged victims of Velasquez's 'scam' Meanwhile, a Kentucky businessman has been charged after the rotting remains of half a dozen pets were found in the back of his truck. Police claim the twisted crook lied about having a crematorium and handed back concrete mix and cat litter in urns to owners instead of ashes. And in Colorado, two veterinarians have accused a crematorium of burying pets in mass graves and dumping bodies at landfill sites. It is thought hundreds of victims may have fallen prey to unscrupulous operators who are taking advantage of a largely unregulated industry across America. Donna Shugart-Bethune, executive director at the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAOPCC), based in Atlanta, Georgia, said 'egregious stories' were rife throughout the industry. 'These people are taking advantage of grief,' she told DailyMail.com. The tales range from negligent business practices to outright scams and cruelty. It is thought that there are around 700 pet aftercare facilities in the US, of which less than half are accredited by the IAOPCC. It means pet owners are often caught out by fly-by-night operators who charge hundreds of dollars for bespoke cremation services that are never delivered. Dozens of pet owners claim they were fleeced by We Care Pet Cremations, the firm run by Velasquez and Nunez. The company's website promised 'true private cremations in a state of the art new machine', alongside paw prints and other bespoke offerings. It also promised communication throughout the entire process, which included collection of the pet and the return of their ashes in an urn to the owner. But Robert Balog, 44, ended up having to go to a Best Buy parking lot to pick up the remains of his beloved tabby cat Stewie, who had been stuffed into a bin bag after We Care failed to carry out the $560 cremation. Robert said We Care were quick to respond to his query and collected Stewie from his house in Van Nuys on the same day. But as soon as they had taken payment, We Care became uncontactable, Robert claims. Jacob Jetton was arrested after after the remains of half a dozen pets were found in the back of his truck. Police claim he gave concrete mix and cat litter in urns to owners instead of ashes His friend, Tory Duchene, who had helped look after Stewie, then started to badger the company when they were left without news for weeks. Her calls would go to voicemail until she was eventually blocked. It was only when Tory started posting online about the shoddy service that We Care got in touch, agreeing to meet in the Best Buy parking lot. Stewie had not been cremated when Robert picked him up, despite We Care's previous assertions that he had. He remembers winding down the windows of his car as the putrid smell of Stewie's three-week old carcass filled the air on the hour-long journey home. 'It was such a shady scenario,' Robert said. 'They take advantage of you when you are in an emotional state and don't take the time to do the proper due diligence.' Tory was subsequently contacted by dozens of pet owners who had lost trace of their pets after hiring We Care. Victims claim that the firm, instead of cremating the pets themselves, had dumped between 50 to 80 dead pets at another crematorium, Furrever Friends, with no contact information for the owners. Other bodies were simply stuffed in a freezer for weeks on end, it is alleged. Gabrielle Real, 23, from Hollywood, said she had to retrieve her dead cat Hela from Furrever Friends more than a month after she hired We Care, who had also blocked her. She never received the urn or necklace that was part of the $309 service she had paid for. Similarly, Jacqueline Alonso, 36, from Huntingdon Park, paid $227 for a package that was supposed to include a paw print mold of her chihuahua, Spot, but was forced to collect the ashes from Furrever Friends six weeks after hiring We Care. 'This is not about laziness, it's a total scam,' she said. 'They're taking advantage of people who have just lost their dog or cat. 'You're pretty vulnerable at that moment, your head is everywhere. 'It's not just a dog or cat, it's part of your family. It's the same grief you would have for a family member.' Tory said some pet owners she had spoken to had paid as much as $1,600 for a bespoke service but it took a year for them to get their ashes. Others had never managed to trace their pets, while one had been given the ashes of another, she claimed. 'They're lying to people,' Tory said. 'They claim that they are performing the cremations and that they work with all these local veterinary hospitals, but they don't. 'They're not even performing the cremation. They're just outsourcing and abandoning the pets.' We Care has since ceased operating, but Tory now fears the business has restarted under a new name, Honorable Animal Aftercare, after she received an invoice under that name. DailyMail.com has contacted We Care for a response. Deputy Lindsey Miller of McCracken County Sheriff's Office in Kentucky investigated Jetton Deputy Lindsey Miller, an animal cruelty specialist at McCracken County Sheriff's Office in Kentucky, was called into action in March last year following reports of a bad smell in a strip mall in the city of Paducah. One of the store owners was concerned that a man called Jacob Jetton, who owned a music store in the mall, was also running a 'weird' pet crematorium. When investigators arrived at the scene, they found half a dozen dead animals rotting in the back of Jetton's truck. Miller told DailyMail.com the remains had been there for up to three weeks after they were meant to have been cremated. To complete the twisted scheme, Jetton had been returning concrete mix and cat litter in the guise of ashes to the bereaved owners, Miller said. 'They are pets, but to most of these people, they are their babies, and it was heartbreaking,' she added. Police found no sign that Jetton possessed any cremation facilities when they searched the property where he claimed he had been carrying them out. Instead, they found only a disused barn, abandoned cars and a trailer. It is thought Jetton ensnared around 14 victims in total. He has been charged with multiple offenses including theft by deception and disorderly conduct. Perhaps most distressing of all was the discovery of 25 bags of animal remains in the desert near St George, Utah. The bodies were in such an advanced state of decomposition that it was difficult to distinguish between dogs and cats. But investigations revealed that many belonged to clients of First Call Pet Cremation in Las Vegas, owned by Rick Senninger. Washington County has filed charges against McKenzie Frei, who is alleged to have been hired by Senninger to cremate the animals, but instead dumped them on the side of a road. There are no charges pending against Senninger - Washington police said he had not carried out activities in their county. Senninger said that he stopped accepting new customers and assisted law enforcement once he became aware of Frei's actions. Meanwhile, two Colorado veterinarians have sued a pet crematorium claiming it buried pets in mass graves instead of providing the bespoke cremations they charged for. Edwards Veterinary Care and Western Skies claim that Precious Memories Pet Cemetery & Crematory disposed of animal carcasses at a landfill and in mass graves when the vets had asked for the bodies to be cremated, according to a lawsuit filed in Larimer County in January. Samantha Staggs, the director of Precious Memories, said in a statement that the firm was 'shocked' to learn of the allegations and maintained that it was in 'full compliance with all laws and regulations'. Shugart-Bethune, of the IAOPCC, said it was vital pet owners did their due diligence before selecting an aftercare provider. She said IAOPCC accredited operators guaranteed 'full disclosure of the pet identification and tracking process'. A son whose arthritic mother was found dead in a home after the central heating stopped working claims 'nobody gives a damn.' Eleanor Maver, 74, was found slumped in her North London home by a family member on January 5. The central heating in her house on Moselle Avenue, Woodgreen, stopped working on December 15 and was not repaired until January 2. Her son Derek Rollins claims this contributed directly to her death. Mr Rollins said that his mum was riddled with arthritis and spent her final days alive sleeping in a bath chair. He claims he made repeated calls for a care package to be put in place to help his mum, but nothing materialised. Mr Rollins shared a video with MailOnline which appeared to show disturbing conditions inside his mum's house, which he said was riddled with damp and infested with rats. The central heating in her house on Moselle Avenue, Woodgreen, stopped working on December 15 and was not repaired until January 2. Mr Rollins claims this contributed directly to her death Eleanor Maver, 74, was found slumped in her North London home by a family member on January 5 Derek Rollins, her son, said that his mum was riddled with arthritis and spent her final days alive sleeping in a bath chair Her son claimed he made repeated calls for a care package to be put in place to help his mum, but nothing materialised Haringey Council have now launched a Safeguarding Adults Review into the circumstances surrounding Ms Mavers death. Council bosses will be working with Clarion Housing Group, who managed the house where Ms Mavers died. Mr Rollins said: 'The central heating stopped working on December 15. My mum reported it straight away to Clarion. 'They sent an engineer out straight away, who said that he had to source a part to fix the boiler. 'My mum was told the boiler would be repaired on the 22nd, and Clarion offered to provide blow heaters while she waited. 'On the 22nd my mum received a call to say that the engineer had a family emergency, but that he would be back on the 27th. 'I phoned the office and expressed my concerns, but I was told that nothing could be done until the 27th. 'On the 27th an engineer called to the house but after mum let him in she became concerned as he had no ID or toolbox so she asked him where his toolbox was he responded saying it was in his van. 'She then asked him where the part for the boiler was and he said he didn't have it, then my mum got distressed. I think she might have swore at him out of frustration. 'The engineer then said he was not dealing with this and walked out of the flat.' Haringey Council have now launched a Safeguarding Adults Review into the circumstances surrounding Ms Mavers death Council bosses will be working with Clarion Housing Group, who managed the house where Ms Mavers died, to get to the bottom of this tragedy Her son said that a heating engineer was meant to come to her house on the 22 December but had cancelled last minute because of a family emergency and it could not be rearranged again until 27 December Image shared with the MailOnline show the house had mould growing up the doors, with broken windows and mess everywhere that Mrs Rollins had been unable to handle because of her illness Derek explained that he complained to the housing association but they insisted the boiler could not repaired until January 5. He said Clarion managed to send an engineer on January 2, who fixed the central heating system. Derek said that during this period of time he was also concerned that a care package was not in place to support his mum, who suffered from restricted mobility because of severe arthritis. Derek said that he told the local authority that his mum had to sleep in the bath chair. He said: 'My mum was struggling to get herself out of the sofa bed in the mornings because of her arthritis. It was a major concern so in the end she just started sleeping in the bath chair at night. 'The bed upstairs was untouched. My mum had not been up there in 12 years because of her arthritis. 'I spent so much time on the phone to the adult care team at the council but they did not seem to care. I could never get through to the right person and there was always a problem. 'I am so angry that my mum had to end her life in such grotty circumstances. She deserved more than that. 'I am furious with the council and the housing association and want to take this further. 'My mum's death has left me devastated. There is now a huge whole in the the family. She was my mum and now she is gone forever. 'The truth is nobody gives a damn.' Mr Rollins said: 'My mum was struggling to get herself out of the sofa bed in the mornings because of her arthritis. It was a major concern so in the end she just started sleeping in the bath chair at night' Her son added: 'The bed upstairs was untouched. My mum had not been up there in 12 years because of her arthritis. I spent so much time on the phone to the adult care team at the council but they did not seem to care' A Clarion spokesperson: 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of our resident and our sympathies are with her family. 'We provided extensive support to Ms Maver. Our gas contractor attended the same day the heating issue was reported and identified a part needed for a permanent fix to her central heating. 'In the interim, we provided temporary fan heaters to heat the home. Our operatives visited her home three times in December and ensured the fan heaters remained in working order. 'We constantly review our services and will be reviewing this case to see if there are any lessons we can learn for the future.' A Haringey Council spokesperson said: 'Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Eleanor Maver. 'We have asked for an independent Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) to work with the family, Clarion Housing Group and other stakeholders to address the issues that have been raised. 'The SAR review will ensure all agencies participate and any outcomes and lessons learned will be implemented.' Orthodox priests attend a religious service at the Patriarchal Cathedral after the Palm Sunday procession in Bucharest, Romania, April 27, 2024. Hundreds of Orthodox priests and believers walked through Romania's capital to celebrate the upcoming Orthodox Palm Sunday. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) An Orthodox believer attends a religious service at the Patriarchal Cathedral after the Palm Sunday procession in Bucharest, Romania, April 27, 2024. Hundreds of Orthodox priests and believers walked through Romania's capital to celebrate the upcoming Orthodox Palm Sunday. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) An Orthodox priest carries a palm branch during the Palm Sunday procession in Bucharest, Romania, April 27, 2024. Hundreds of Orthodox priests and believers walked through Romania's capital to celebrate the upcoming Orthodox Palm Sunday. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) Across Britain, the number of banks has fallen from almost 15,000 in 1986 to less than 6,000 today. Building societies have also faced a similar decline, falling from almost 7,000 to 1,900. The pace of closure has not abated. Since 2022, 1,400 high street banks closed. In almost 400 cases, the branch was the last full-time financial institution in town. In Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria, locals have first-hand knowledge of the situation. The quaint town, just off the A66, is a popular stop-off point for tourists travelling to the Lake District or the Yorkshire Dales, but residents fear for its future as amenities are slowly disappearing one by one. There has been a bank welcoming locals on Market Street continually since 1863, but Barclays' decision to axe their branch brings that piece of the town's history to an abrupt end. Your browser does not support iframes. Kirkby Stephen is a bustling market town in Cumbria, famed for its historic buildings, cobbled yards and interesting shops Earlier this month, the town's last remaining bank closed, leaving residents and businesses facing a 21-mile trip to the nearest branch in Barnard Castle - which itself is set to close in the New Year Cathie Tinn, pictured, works at the town's tourist centre. She said the closure of the last remaining bank was a blow to the area Your browser does not support iframes. Customers must now travel to Barnard Castle, County Durham, to do their transactions, a 21 mile journey which takes 55 minutes by bus - however they won't even have that facility for long. Early next year Barclays plans to close that branch too, one of six earmarked for closure in 2025 after a cull of 68 branches this year. A notice posted by the bank confirms it will shut its doors for the last time at 12pm on January 17th. However it seeks to assure customers: 'We'll continue to be part of your community in Barnard Castle. We're just finalising the arrangements of where and when we'll be available to support you, and as soon as they are confirmed we'll share the details.' By the end of next year Barclays will have closed 83 per cent of its branches in the space of 10 years, leaving only 244 operational across the country. In Kirkby Stephen it was the last one standing after the HSBC branch just up the road became a Costa coffee shop six years ago. Hardware store owner Mick Mack, 50, says the closure is symptomatic of the fate of the town's main street. He said: 'Since Covid the high street in Kirkby Stephen has been dead, it feels like business is dying off and this is just another blow. 'It's sad to see the town like this because it used to be so much busier, even in recent years, and people liked to be able to go into their bank and do business in person, that's just the way some prefer it. 'I think it's sad, especially for older people who have been used to speaking to someone they know and trust. 'Towns like this need a thriving high street. At our end of it there was a hub in the old church which had a post office, a cafe and artisan food, but it closed after the pandemic and took much of the footfall with it.' It is a problem that is regularly being raised in parliament. In January, a report published by the House of Lords investigated the impact such closures are having on the elderly, those living in rural areas and people with disabilities. The Federation of Small Businesses has also raised the issue, claiming the the lack of accesses to a branch network adversely affects their members. Instead of bricks and mortar, banking facilities are now provided by a van which visits the town once a week on Wednesdays Despite the lack of access to cash, some firms in the town insist on cash payments to avoid paying bank charges The area is popular with tourists who are looking for a Lake District experience without the crowds It has a population of approximately 1,800 people The historic centre of the town has changed very little over the past 150 years Hardware store owner Mick Mack, 50, says the closure is symptomatic of the fate of the town's main street. He said: 'Since Covid the high street in Kirkby Stephen has been dead, it feels like business is dying off and this is just another blow When questioned in 2021, a senior executive at Barclays bank told parliament: 'Profound technological changes, and the ease with which customers can access their accounts digitally means that our physical branch network is experiencing a sustained fall in demand. In fact, the majority of our customers (74 per cent) now choose to interact with us via telephone, online, or mobile banking.' Sandy Lancaster, 55, a town councillor and owner of Sandy's Ice Cream and Party Shop, says the elderly have been worst affected. She said: 'Older people deal more in cash than younger people so it has hit them hardest. 'Sometimes they just want to talk to someone face to face and they don't trust doing business online, which is hardly surprising as scams are so regular and can now be very convincing. 'So to be able to walk into your local branch and meet a friendly face who you know and trust was a really valuable service which is now missing. 'The staff at the branch were very well liked and trusted people, so it's also sad that they are no longer there for the community. Your browser does not support iframes. 'The loss of the cash machine is probably the worst aspect of the closure for most people. 'It means that we only have one now and it is at the garage at the end of town so not very convenient and because it's so busy it often runs out of cash. 'That's proved problematic for some food businesses which operate in cash. One of the takeaways was asking people queuing for food to do bank transfers one evening recently because cash wasn't available.' It is hoped that a post office will be established in the former Barclays building and that an ATM machine will be reinstalled at some point in the coming months. Darren MacKinnion of Bryson's Bakery said: 'I am starting to ask myself "what is the point of human beings?" when everything is being driven online. We lose yet another service in the town, one that is particularly valued by older people, but we just have to accept that actually speaking to someone is somehow going out of fashion' Sandy Lancaster, 55, a town councillor and owner of Sandy's Ice Cream and Party Shop, says the elderly have been worst affected. She said when the bank closed the cash machine was removed, which was a further blow to the community Retired farmer Bernard Stanley said he enjoyed seeing a friendly face when he had banking business in town. He said: 'I'm a cash person and I think a lot of farmers prefer to deal that way. You would go in every week and chat to somebody you knew and do whatever business needed doing' Current government policy says that nobody should be more than three miles from a free-to-access cash machine. In areas where there are no financial institutions, community banking hubs can be established in post offices. According to the Cash Access UK, the not for profit company tasked with rolling out a network of Hubs. It said: 'A Banking Hub is a shared banking space on the high street. Hubs offer a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions, Monday to Friday. 'The Hubs also offer a Community Banker service where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated banking issues. 'The Community Bankers work on rotation, with a different banking provider available on each day of the week. Community Bankers are usually provided by the banks or building society with the most customers in the local area. ' Your browser does not support iframes. To be eligible for a community banking hub, a town needs a population of at least 7,000 people. But Sandy added: 'Even though there is a hole in the wall for a machine to go into, it will still have to go through the planning process, which will take a bit of time.' Cathie Tinn, manager of the town's visitor centre which looks out onto the now vacant Barclays building, said: 'Many businesses prefer to deal in cash to avoid commission charges for cards, which can run from between 0.5 per cent and 3 per cent depending which service you use. 'We also have an elderly population who liked their bank. They can travel by bus to one of the neighbouring towns of Penrith, Kendal and Barnard Castle but the services are irregular and take a long time. When the Barclays bank closed earlier this month, the ATM machine was also removed Archeologists have discovered Stone Age artifacts in the area and the Romans had a fort nearby 'They shouldn't have to travel anywhere for basic services that we used to have in Kirkby Stephen. 'The other part of our community affected most by the closures are the farmers who often like to deal in cash.' Her thoughts were confirmed by Bernard Staley, 85, a retired hill farmer who spent his working life managing sheep high up on the dales which surround the town. He said: 'I'm a cash person and I think a lot of farmers prefer to deal that way. You would go in every week and chat to somebody you knew and do whatever business needed doing. 'When I started farming I went in to talk to the bank manager about my business, it's the way things were done back then and that personal contact was useful. 'Of course it's not the way things are done now and times have changed, but I liked it the way it was.' The site at 33 Market Street, just off the cobbled square in the town centre, was first occupied in 1863 by Messrs Wakefield and Credson, otherwise known as The Kendal Bank. It was taken over in June 1893 by the Bank of Liverpool, becoming a partnership with Martins Bank in 1918 after the start of World War One. Martins went on to assume sole ownership 10 years later in 1928 and the bank remained a mainstay of Kirkby Stephen's daily life for 41 years until the bank became part of Barclays. It opened with its new Barclays blue and white facia on December 15, 1969 and closed its doors for the last time at 12 noon on April 12, this year. The empty building is a sight that saddens retired teacher and farmer Catherine Coulthard, 83. She said: 'I was born in Kirkby Stephen and for as long as I could remember there was a bank on that site, it's very sad to see it go. 'I can do things online, my daughters made sure I knew how to do that because you have to keep up with the times, but it's no substitute for dealing face to face. 'It was useful to have the branch. It was staffed by local people and the managers were well known and were right at the heart of the local community. 'I remember as a child going into the bank to ask for advice if there was something troubling. If you went into a bank you knew there was someone there who was listening. 'I even miss the days of those little books we all used to have that kept you up to date with your account. Things were just a bit simpler.' The town was welcoming its own version of mobile banking when MailOnline visited. Once a week a Natwest van sets out from Carlisle for the outlying towns and villages and is greeted by a string of customers with nowhere else to go. For half an hour the cashiers took on transactions from customers, including Mike Walker, in his late 70s, who runs the local theatre club. Mike said: 'I need to come to a bank to deposit the taking, you can't do that online can you? 'I'm part of Kirkby Stephen Community Arts group and we run a monthly cinema which we set up in the social club. 'It's great - we had Oppenheimer on last week - and we normally get 25 to 40 people, often a bit older and paying in cash. 'So I end up with 150 to 200 which needs to be paid into the bank and this mobile van is the only way I can do that so I'm glad it comes around. 'This is why banks matter and why it's sad to see the last branch close down. 'You will never eliminate cash. There's something nice about putting 10 in a child's birthday card and seeing their face as they open it. I don't think it has the same effect if you include a string of numbers for a cash transfer.' Former economic secretary to the treasury Andrew Griffith in a statement on the government's policy on access to cash in August 2023 wrote: 'People shouldn't have to trek for hours to withdraw a tenner to put in someone's birthday cardnor should businesses have to travel large distances to deposit cash takings. These are measures which benefit everyone who uses cash but particularly those living in rural areas, the elderly and those with disabilities.' Sitting between the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, it prospered due to the popularity of walking tours through the Eden Valley and being on the route of Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast walk A branch of Costa Coffee has opened on the sight of the former HSBC bank Despite the closures Kirkby Stephen - current population around 1,800 - has remained largely untouched by time. The town was built around farming and still hosts a busy livestock market every Tuesday, but tourism has become increasingly important to businesses. Sitting between the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, it prospered due to the popularity of walking tours through the Eden Valley and being on the route of Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast walk. The sight of a handful of tourists milling around outside artisan bakery Brysons of Keswick is little consolation to manager Darren McKinnon, 44. He said: 'I am starting to ask myself "what is the point of human beings?" when everything is being driven online. 'We lose yet another service in the town, one that is particularly valued by older people, but we just have to accept that actually speaking to someone is somehow going out of fashion.' After months of heated debate over the app's safety, President Joe Biden has signed a bill banning TikTok in an effort to force a sale - but who are the mega-wealthy suitors who want to buy the addictive app boasting a coveted 170 million users in the US? Under the new legislation, Chinese parent company ByteDance has a year to sell its stake in the app in order for it to continue operating in the US. It's important to note that China's Commerce Ministry would have to approve ByteDance's divestiture from TikTok, and the Chinese government has indicated its strong opposition to the sale. In the event a sale is approved, it appears Kevin O'Leary of Shark Tank fame may be mounting an Elon Musk-style purchase of TikTok. O'Leary is reportedly assembling a group of investors to buy the app, according to CNBC. His opening bid would be $20 billion to $30 billion, which is a 90% cut from that company's 2023 valuation of $220 billion. TikTok CEO Shou Chew has said the bill would ban the app, indicating that ByteDance has no intentions to divest from the popular video-sharing platform O'Leary's (pictured) bid to buy TikTok is in question after the New York Post reported he may not have sufficient resources Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, who helms the company behind the Call of Duty franchise, reportedly wants to partner with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to buy TikTok if it is sold The reason O'Leary said he will only put up a fraction of the app's current worth is because he and others think the Chinese government and/or ByteDance won't be willing to sell the rabidly successful algorithms that have made TikTok one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. That means anyone who buys the app, including Mr. Wonderful, will have to engineer new algorithms that aren't guaranteed to be as good. And O'Leary may not even have the resources to buy TikTok, the New York Post reported. However, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick - who helped broker the $69 billion sale of his company to Microsoft last year - may have the resources to buy the Chinese app and the technological know how in order to create a new algorithm for it. Kotick floated the idea of buying TikTok in March to numerous people at a dinner, the Wall Street Journal reported, with one of them being OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Steve Mnuchin (pictured) is uniquely positioned as an anti-TikTok government official during the Trump years who now wants to buy the app and make it his own Although efforts to ban TikTok began under former President Trump, President Joe Biden is the one who ultimately signed TikTok's potential banishment from the US Former President Trump (pictured April 25 before hush money trial kicked off for the day) has flip-flopped on the TikTok ban, once supporting it as commander-in-chief but now railing against Biden for being 'responsible for banning TikTok' Jeffrey Yass, founder of Susquehanna International Group, is a sleeper pick to buy TikTok Beyond Altman's $2 billion net worth, he is an attractive partner in the bid to acquire TikTok because he could give the eventual US version of the app a head start in training its AI models. Former President Trump's Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin surprised many when he also joined the growing fray of interested buyers last month. Mnuchin, an investment banker at Goldman Sachs for 17 years before his pivot to politics, is in the throes of building up an investor group to buy TikTok through his fund Liberty Strategic Capital. Mnuchin is in the unique position of having been a key player in the Trump Administration's effort to ban TikTok years ago, who now wants to corner the market of endless, mindless scrolling. A sleeper pick to buy TikTok has to include billionaire Susquehanna founder Jeffrey Yass, who already owns 15% of ByteDance and is reportedly flush with cash. The headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of video sharing app TikTok, is seen in Beijing on September 16, 2020 TikTok's offices at The Sorting Office at the Docklands in Dublin Google, which likely has the resources and incentive to buy out TikTok to eliminate them as a competitor, its that very incentive that makes it less likely the search engine company will be a serious contender, experts say Meta is embroiled in an antitrust lawsuit from the FTC over its supposed illegal purchase of Instagram and WhatsApp, making CEO Mark Zuckerberg another unlikely contender to buy out TikTok Plus, Susquehanna's huge advantage is that it may have access to an early version of the precious TikTok algorithm, the New York Post reported. As of now, there appears to be a budding four-way war among the super rich to acquire TikTok, but there are other players who aren't likely to participate in a possible sale. A former Justice Department official told CNN that the Biden Administration's harsh stance on monopolies could preclude companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google or Meta from stepping in to buy one of their biggest competitors: if just to avoid the headache of government lawsuits. 'If you were to say, like, an Intel, or a Cisco, maybe Oracle, I don't know. If you were to tell me it's Verizon, or AT&T, maybe it's not as big of a problem,' the official said. Still, a sale is far from a certainty, given that TikTok will issue a court challenge to the law threatening its existence in the US, a company spokesperson told DailyMail.com. TikTok CEO Shou Chew also confirmed that the company will be suing in a video he posted on the social media platform, confidently claiming 'Rest assured, we aren't going anywhere.' Napa Valley's prestigious wineries have launched a revolt against 'abusive' county officials, accusing bureaucrats of killing the region's famous vineyards with absurd and excessive red tape. Wealthy vintners say they are being 'crushed' by 'gross regulatory overreach', which has included penalizing wineries for planting trees, making jam and conducting wine tastings on their own land. One vineyard was even fined $1million for making too much wine. There are fears that officials are cowing to 'eco-mob extremists', who view unfettered growth as a threat to their rural idyll. But the grape growers behind Napa's multibillion dollar industry are now fighting back, with a raft of lawsuits now pending against the county. Lindsay Hoopes of Hoopes Vineyards has countersued the county after it told her she was not allowed to hold wine tastings at the winery she bought in 2017 Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards was fined $1m by the county for making too much wine Jayson Woodbridge of Hundred Acre wines has filed three lawsuits against the county, accusing bureaucrats of various forms of regulatory overreach Jayson Woodbridge, who has launched three lawsuits accusing bureaucrats of various forms of unlawful obstruction, told DailyMail.com there was a 'rising tide of anger' about the way hard-working businesses were being treated. The owner of Hundred Acre wines says he's taking a stand he'd watched 'so many people get crushed by the county'. Winemaking is the lifeblood of Napa Valley, with its contribution to the region thought to be significantly larger than the $13billion estimate when the last comprehensive analysis was conducted in 2012. It has established itself as one of the most famous wine growing regions in the world, attracting 3.8 million tourists a year. But veteran vintners who have helped furnish Napa's reputation for excellence warn officials are now in danger of killing the goose that laid the golden egg. The county already has the strictest environmental checks for vineyards in California - and that is in a state notorious for heavy regulation. It is the only wine-growing region in the world that does not allow weddings, while vineyards are restricted in their ability to profit from food sales or sell products other than wine. The industry faces other headwinds, including drought and declining demand among younger generations. Not to mention the FBI probe that rocked the community in December, when investigators requested records relating to as many 40 high-profile vintners and their wineries, including a former co-owner of the Dallas Cowboys and an ex-US ambassador. So it is no surprise that vintners say they have enough on their plates without county officials ramping up enforcement actions against them. 'The climate has become terrible for business, particularly if you're small,' says Lindsay Hoopes. Her winery, Hoopes Vineyard, is modest by Napa standards. Guests sip wine underneath a string of lights as pen of rescue animals squawk beside them. But even this is too much for officials. The county sued Hoopes in 2022, alleging she had created a 'public nuisance' by offering yoga classes, wine tastings, selling greeting cards and hand sanitiser, and not getting a permit for her 120 square feet chicken coop. A lawyer representing the county said the rules are in place to keep Napa Valley from becoming 'Disneyland', a statement Hoopes believes is preposterous. Hoopes Vineyard has been holding wine tastings among its modest surroundings, but the county has said it did not obtain the permit required to do so Hoopes has countersued and has been joined in her legal action against the county by two other vintners, including Stu Smith of Smith-Madrone Vineyard (above) Dave Phinney, the entrepreneur who created the wine brand Prisoner, was issued with code violations in 2019 over the selling of art, jellies, jams and other food services The case hinges on whether small wineries established before 1990, when new regulations were introduced, have a right to offer tastings without a permit. Hoopes, who is also a lawyer, bought her vineyard in 2017, but its previous owners had been hosting tastings for years before the new rules came in. Vintners operating under these circumstances believe their right to hold tastings is grandfathered in. But the county disagrees. Enforcement has been inconsistent. Hoopes believes part of the problem is that officials don't know even what the regulations mean. In a June deposition, former county enforcement officer Kelli Cahill admitted that officials aren't formally trained in evaluating codes, such as the small winery exemption. 'There's rampant recklessness and negligence in how the regulations are being interpreted,' Hoopes adds. 'They are being interpreted in line with the political climate, instead of faithfulness to their purpose.' This climate, wineries say, is being dictated by eco-zealots who argue the continued expansion of vineyards is a threat to ecological diversity. But winegrowers have accused the woke 'mob' of intimidating local officials into blocking projects over spurious environmental concerns - pointing out that Napa Valley wineries have long been hailed for their green credentials. This festering sense of injustice prompted Hoopes to countersue the county - an action she was joined in by two other wineries - Smith-Madrone and Summit Lake Vineyards - in September last year. The county's request for a permanent injunction against Hoopes' winery was denied by a judge, who ruled that officials did not provide evidence that violations had occurred. The ruling went on to say that the county was unlikely to win the case should it go to trial, but officials pushed on regardless, costing the taxpayer half a million dollars in legal fees. The trial began in February. David and Kathleen DiCesaris of Castiel Estate winery spent $2m on clearing environmental checks for a new vineyard only for it to be scotched following a backlash by environmentalists In a similar case in 2019, the county issued code violations to the winery behind the popular Prisoner vintage, created by entrepreneur Dave Phinney, over the selling of art, jellies, jams and other food services officials said were comparable to those found at a restaurant or cafe. Not only do these onerous rules restrict revenue, they also carry prohibitive costs, wine growers say. A winery use permit can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and approval can take years. In one particularly egregious example, David and Kathleen DiCesaris of Castiel Estate winery spent several years and $2million on clearing a stringent environmental check, known as an erosion control plan (ECP), to build a new 30-acre vineyard in Howell Mountain. Napa County approved the development in March last year, but the decision was overturned following an appeal by local environmentalists. Under these conditions, small, innovative vintners fear being forced out altogether. 'As a small winery, you have two options,' Hoopes says. 'You can sell your property to someone who wants to turn it into a luxury home, or you can figure out how to make money from the selling of wine.' The struggle is now more than a decade old. In 2013, Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards, paid $1million to Napa County to settle a dispute over excessive production. Officials said the winery bottled 20 times more booze at its facility than permitted, but Wagner argued that much of it was actually produced across his various vineyards before being bottled at Caymus. Ultimately, he decided that settling with the county would be less costly than a protracted legal battle. Now, however, vintners have decided enough is enough. Woodbridge, a former Canadian infantryman, filed his first lawsuit against the county in December 2022, accusing it of creating 'mountainous red tape and endless bureaucratic obstacles'. It came after he was threatened with penalties after planting new trees in his vineyard following the catastrophic Glass Fire of 2020, which burned nearly 70,000 acres across Northern California. The county demanded he cease immediately and replant the trees that had been burned down, adding that he had not applied for a permit or carried out an environmental review. His two other suits are over water rights. The county refused to issue permits for water wells unless Woodbridge agreed to strict limits on use, a restriction that does not apply to existing wells. Former Canadian infantryman turned Napa Valley vintner Jayson Woodbridge is suing the county for 'administrative overreach' amid growing frustration among winegrowers over the amount of red tape the industry faces 'Elected leaders and regulators should be working with the farmers and vintners that have made Napa one of the most honored regions in the world with some of the sought-after wines and agricultural harvests on this planet to ensure continued access to water,' Woodbridge told DailyMail.com. 'Instead, some bureaucrats have engaged in decades of gross regulatory overreach and obstruction that have harmed property owners by failing to consider and ignoring the consequences of these regulatory actions. 'Many of us are done with their abusive behavior and arbitrary decision-making process that works at cross-purposes with promoting efficient beneficial use and are suing to protect our rights and the future of Napa Valley agriculture and viticulture. 'We have every right to clean up the land after an apocalypse like the Glass Fire. And, we have every right to efficiently use water under our rights that are vested with the properties we own or purchase.' Napa County has said it does not comment on ongoing cases. Some of its wineries have already upped sticks and moved to more business friendly climes, such as Fredericksburg, Texas, the second-most visited wine region in the US. Hoopes says she may soon be forced to do the same. 'We'll have to move if the county doesn't start to support us again.' On a Saturday three weeks ago, although no-one knew it at the time, the fate of young mother-of-one Molly Ticehurst allegedly hung in the balance. It was at a weekend hearing at Dubbo Local Court, one of three courts in the NSW central west which processes alleged offenders from Molly's hometown of Forbes, 375km west of Sydney. But on this particular Saturday, there was no magistrate sitting to oversee bail hearings. Instead, court registrar Linda Cusack was presiding and 29-year-old Daniel Billings was asking for bail despite facing a raft of very serious charges. He was accused of three counts of rape, four counts of stalking and intimidation, two counts of destroying property, including smashing car windows, and one count of animal cruelty. All the charges related to Molly Ticehurst, her home, her vehicle with its distinctive 'MO11Y T' registration plates, and an alleged attack on her 12-week-old dachshund puppy. Billings was represented by a Legal Aid lawyer - Bridget Byrnes - who successfully argued for his release despite the alleged reign of terror against his ex-partner. It had allegedly begun months earlier in January and culminated in Billings arrest on April 5 and a night in the Forbes police cells. Molly allegedly had a final brief reunion last December with drillworker Billings after their 18-month relationship had ended last July. Molly Ticehurst's ex-boyfriend allegedly had 'an inability to let go' of their relationship but a court registrar granted him bail at Dubbo on April 6 (top), no-one applied to revoke it on April 18 and by April 22 Molly was dead FREE TO GO On the first Saturday of Molly's last month alive, Registrar Cusack was rostered on to hear cases because magistrates do not work on weekends in some country courts. Though less qualified than magistrates, who require law degrees, it is a long-term practice for registrars to handle bail applications by a defendant charged with indictable offences. Police prosecutor Sergeant Edward Knight argued that Billings posed a risk to Ticehurst and had made threats against the childcare worker and mother of a young boy. This included an extensive argument against the accuseds release application to the registrar, citing 'specific threats [allegedly] in relation to coming back, knowing where she lives, coming in the window'. Sgt Knight said Billings could not 'let go of the relationship', felt 'possessiveness and jealousness over' Molly, and there was a real risk of 'interfering with a witness endangering her safety'. Billings' lawyer counter-argued that Billings had 'no criminal history, denies the allegations... [and will] not enter or go within 25km of [Forbes]'. The police prosecutor asked Daniel Billings (above) be kept in custody because he allegedly had threatened to come through Molly's window, but Registrar Cusack freed him on bail Prosecutor Sgt Edward Knight argued before Registrar Cusack at Dubbo court (above) on April 6 that Billings was 'possessive and jealous' , but his lawyer Bridget Byrnes said he'd stay 25km away from his ex She persuaded registrar Cusack that Billings could be allowed back into the community while on remand, kept in check with an Apprehended Violence Order including conditions not to approach Molly, nor enter the town of Forbes. It is not suggested the registrar acted in any way other than in accordance with the applicable law in granting bail, or that any other officer of the court did not act accordingly. The estranged couple had previously lived together at her home in Young Street, Forbes, after Billings moved to NSW from Queensland where he had lived with his family. Since their split, Billings had been sharing a rental with tradesmen in suburban Parkes, 25km away, where he worked for oil exploration company Resolution Drilling. The registrar imposed a further $5000 surety on Billings and released him which, according to Ticehurst's father Tony, alarmed his daughter enough for her to leave town. 'She went away for the first week of the AVO,' Tony Ticehurst told Nine. 'She said she was wary and nervous and couldn't sleep.' However, Molly figured that if Billings 'was going to do something, it would be within that week'. Ms Byrnes, Billings' Legal Aid lawyer, was 'off work today', Dubbo Legal Aid Commission told Daily Mail Australia on Friday. Molly Ticehurst above with her dad, Tony 'Spider' Ticehurst, who said that after Billings was granted bail, his daughter 'was wary and nervous and couldnt sleep' FOUR DAYS TO LIVE At some point, Molly Ticehurst returned to her house in Young Street to try to resume her normal life. After his release from custody, Billings is believed to have returned to Parkes and his job at the drilling company, whose website has a White Ribbon Australia donation button to 'build a nation where women are free from men's violence and abuse'. Twelve days after his release on bail, Billings' charges against his ex-partner were listed in Parkes Local Court before Magistrate Brett Thomas, with Billings this time represented by solicitor Helen Stanbury. The police prosecutor, Sgt Donna Rayner, reportedly did not raise the topic of Billings' ongoing release on bail. Parkes and Forbes courts are smaller circuit courts - which don't sit every day - and part of one of the the larger hub of courts, based out of Orange. It is not clear what written submissions may have been before Magistrate Thomas on Billings' court file, but the conditions of Molly Ticehurst's interim AVO against him and her son were clear. Billings was not to approach mother or son, nor contact them, nor assault, threaten, stalk, harass, intimidate them, nor 'try to find' them and 'must not go within 100m' of them. He was also prohibited from damaging any of their property or harming their pet animals. Police did not ask the magistrate to return Billings to custody, and later said this would not have been 'applicable in this situation'. A spokesman added: 'The prosecution does not make a detention application after the grant of court bail, unless there has been a breach, or fresh evidence comes to light that wasnt known at the time'. Among the charges Daniel Billings faced before he allegedly murdered Molly, were rape, stalking, smashing in car windows and assaulting her dachshund puppy. Above, Molly's distinctive vehicle Parkes Court was the last chance for a court to revoke Daniel Billings' bail, but when his case came up for mention four days before Molly's alleged murder no action was taken because there' had been no breaches' END GAME How Molly Ticehurst spent her final weekend in Forbes is unclear. Her father, known as 'Spider' Ticehurst, is a motorbike enthusiast who had been riding bikes with Molly's son doubling on the front and appeared to enjoy a warm relationship with the boy. Sometime between midnight and 1.50am on Monday, neighbours heard a commotion coming from her property and called police, who entered the house and found Molly's body in what officers described as 'a disturbing scene'. Police looked for Billings in Parkes but he had allegedly decamped to an old worksite where he sometimes slept in a swag at Fifield, a tiny town with a population of just 126, about 80km northwest of Forbes. Police arrested Billings and took him to Parkes police station and charged him with murder, before he appeared Magistrate David Day at Orange Local Court on Tuesday. Billings was due to appear via AVL, but chose not to enter the video booth. Since that brief hearing, questions have emerged about the viability of the protection of women via AVOs, and lawyers have called for an urgent review of the practice of registrars handling bail applications. An outcry over Molly Ticehurst's (above) death has given rise to calls for law changes and the supervision of men in domestic violence cases to wear tracking anklets Instead of allowing defendants to apply for bail on weekends or in courts where magistrates are not sitting, the accused could be required to remain in custody until more experienced and properly legally-trained court officers are available. While NSW Premier Chris Minns has commissioned a review of the circumstances of the Billings bail decision and has asked for advice on bail laws in relation to domestic violence cases. Seasoned barrister Geoffrey Watson SC called for more urgent action, saying the premier's announcement of 'yet another inquiry ... is pointless and wastes valuable time'. Writing in Nine Newspapers, Mr Watson said that 'Mollys death tells us it is time to stop the bad things and take drastic action. And it is urgent. 'The police, with some supervision by the courts, need to be given the power to control the men accused of these offences. 'Reporting conditions and personal trackers are common means of controlling the location and conduct of suspects (and) are applied to drug dealers why not apply them to men who place women at physical risk?' Helen Stanbury's law firm Allwright Bourke Lawyers told Daily Mail Australia on Friday that 'we do not act for Mr Billings'. But when asked if they had previously acted for the defendant, they said: 'We don't have anything further to say.' Billings will next appear in Orange Local Court on June 20. A deaf man has blasted a NHS hospitals trust after doctors almost removed his testicle when he complained of a benign cyst without an interpreter present. Staff at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital had wrongly believed that Andrew Wiley, 47, was begging to have testicle surgery during his consultation where he relied on lip reading and written responses to communicate. Mr Wiley wasn't aware of the potential risks of the operation until he saw a surgeon this month with an interpreter present. The NHS has a legal responsibility to ensure those with disabilities are catered for during appointments and procedures. KentOnline reports hospital bosses have said they are 'deeply sorry' for the distress they caused and have admitted standards were not met. Staff at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital had wrongly believed that Andrew Wiley, 47, was begging to have testicle surgery (Pictured with wife Amanda) Hospital bosses have said they are 'deeply sorry' for the distress they caused and have admitted standards were not met Mr Wiley's first appointment to discuss a painful but benign cyst on his testicle occured in February and his wife Amanda, 50, had requested an interpreter be made available. However during the consultation there was no interpreter present. Mr Wiley told KentOnline: 'There were two doctors in the room. I was trying to lip-read, but it was really difficult as he had an accent. 'I was trying to explain to him how much pain I was in. It was difficult and I felt rushed.' Mr Wiley asked the doctor if removing the testicle would be easiest course of action. Replying in the affirmative, the doctor then put Mr Wiley down for the procedure without going into any further details. Mr Wiley continued: 'Did he explain to me the risks or complications like bleeding and so on? No, he did not. 'He didn't give me choices either, or even if he did, he didn't explain it properly for me to understand. 'I felt fobbed off. It seemed like he wanted me to leave.' The painful cyst resulted in Mr Wiley missing out on work as a freelance support worker for other deaf people. The painful cyst resulted in Mr Wiley missing out on work as a freelance support worker for other deaf people (Pictured with wife Amanda) When Mr Wiley returned to the hospital for the procedure, he was finally informed of the risks of the procedure and was stunned. He said: 'It was just lack of communication, him saying I was begging for testicle removal and not explaining to me about the risks and the complications. 'He knew talking to me would be pointless. 'It makes me very angry. I've been let down,' he said. 'My issues would have been sorted out sooner if I was not deaf. 'I would have been understood and treated quicker.' Sarah Hayes, the chief nursing officer at East Kent Hospitals said: 'We are deeply sorry that Mr Wiley faced such difficulty at his appointment and for the distress this caused. 'We are committed to ensuring effective communication with our patients and Mr Wiley's experience fell below the standard we would expect.' It was a heist that seemed straight out of Hollywood movie script - but experts said the team of burglars who broke in a GardaWolrd facility on Easter Sunday and stole $30 million could soon 'crack' and 'turn on one another.' While the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department have remained tight-lipped on details regarding the break-in at the cash storage facility on Roxford Street in Sylmar, Calif., multiple law enforcement experts who spoke to DailyMail.com said the incident points to an inside job made possible by a 'systemwide failure.' 'There is so much money involved here that there is going to be some sort of internal conflict,' said former LAPD investigator Moses Castillo. 'At some point, someone in this group is going to want more money and say, 'Hey, you didn't give me the portion I was promised.' He continued: 'It will only be a matter of time before they start rolling on each other. They are bound to turn on each other because someone will crack.' Moses said in order to bypass sophisticated alarms usually found in money storage facilities like GardaWorld, someone with inside access or deep knowledge of the security system had to have been involved. 'This was so planned out and sophisticated that they might've even monitored radio calls to police to see if they were on their way,' the former detective said. Law enforcement experts said the burglars had an intricate plan to be able to pull off the city's largest heist in history Law enforcement experts said it will be 'a matter of time' before the mysterious group of burglars will 'roll on each other' and their plans fall apart Former FBI investigator Charles Stephenson, who is an expert on security and crime scene recreation, said while businesses like GardaWorld are expected to have high levels of security, many don't regularly test their own systems. 'What amazes me is you would think the sensors inside the building would be enough to set off alarms for police to respond, which tells me someone was able to disarm that entire surveillance system in the building,' Stephenson said. 'That would be an inside engineering issue and someone could blow up and defeat that system, but that definitely takes a lot of access to insider data and intelligence.' Records obtained by DailyMail.com showed LAPD responded to a total of 21 calls service at the Sylmar facility from January 2020 to March 31, 2024, but 80 percent of the false alarm calls were made within in the past two years. Records also show GardaWorld's alarm went off at 11:30 p.m. the night before Easter Sunday, but was logged as a false alarm. On Easter Sunday - the day of the heist - there were a total of three alarm calls at the Sylmar building, including one at 4:46 a.m. The alarm was reported to GardaWorld supervisors, but it is unclear if police who responded to the call found anything. There was a second alarm call on Easter Sunday at 7:22 a.m. and cops responded 45 minutes later but deemed the call as a 'valid alarm.' A large patch of the wall at the south end of the GardaWorld facility was blown out. Stephenson said the number of false alarms could mean the perpetrators were testing the security system. The former FBI investigator said the number of false alarms in a span of a few months should have alerted GardaWorld supervisors. 'If I was the supervisor of that building, I would make sure to check the entire system because getting several false alarms every few months is concerning,' Stephenson said. 'I would take a better look at the security procedures they have in place and reeducate the staff. 'The fact that they've had so many issues over the past few years tells me that there was definitely a systemwide failure even before the break-in.' Issa Alhosry, 22, co-owner of the nearby Kwik Market Deli, told DailyMail.com their WiFi, phones, and servers were down for hours that Sunday morning and into the evening. 'We couldn't get or make calls, not even on my cell phone,' Alhosry recalled. However, Alhosry said he never heard any alarms go off at the GardaWorld facility that day. The GardaWorld alarm went off again a third time at 3:51 p.m. on Easter Sunday, but the incident was logged as a false alarm by police who responded to the call, according to LAPD call logs. It is believed the team of burglars got into the facility through a roof hatch. The group somehow then blasted a portion of the south end of the building where the vaults are located. A woman who lives at the nearby Tahitian Mobile Home Park told DailyMail.com she was in the shower when she heard a distinct loud 'boom' at about 8:30 p.m. that Sunday. FBI and LAPD officials have remained tight-lipped on details of the investigation GardaWorld has not responded to questions for comment from DailyMail.com 'I was taking a shower when all of a sudden I heard an explosion,' said the woman, who wanted to remain anonymous. 'It was so loud that it echoed. I got out of the shower and asked my husband, "What was that noise?"' The couple dismissed the loud bang since 'random explosions' happens often on the block, which is largely an industrial area next to a train track. 'Things just explode around here and then you also have the train that comes by and also shakes our homes,' she said. Residents at the mobile home park who live directly across the south end of the GardaWorld building said they didn't heard any alarms coming from the facility, but many of them were not home since it was Easter Sunday. Stephenson said the group of burglars more than likely targeted the GardaWorld facility specifically during a weekend holiday when most companies would have less people on staff and surrounding businesses also would be closed. Officials with the FBI told DailyMail.com on Friday that their investigation is ongoing, but refused to comment any further. Stephenson said it would be difficult to 'sit on' $30 million, which could cause a rift with this group of expert burglars. 'Time is working against them, and time will eventually get them,' Stephenson said. 'You can only maintain that discipline of having that amount of cash when some issue like a jealous wife, or jealous friend will say, 'Hey, this guy was a part of that.' 'Their downfall will be some combination of surveillance police work or informants who have an ax to grind. The longer it goes, the more identifiable they also become as they start becoming more comfortable and start spending large sums of that money. It's human nature.' Something about the woman on her television screen made Laura Wray feel uneasy. The lawyer, and widow of a Labour MP, was relaxing at home, captivated by the opening minutes of the Netflix sensation Baby Reindeer, particularly by the character Martha who stalks a struggling comedian. What was it about Martha that seemed so familiar? Maybe the raucous laugh that seemed to last just a bit too long, or the way she clutched her handbag to her side when timidly entering a pub. Whatever it was about this curly-haired Scot, she reminded Laura of someone from her past. The realisation came like an electric jolt, and Laura slumped back on her sofa, open-mouthed. For she knew Martha only too well, or rather the real Martha, who, more than a quarter of a century earlier, upended Laura's happy life with a relentless five-year harassment campaign. It was so fierce at one stage that Laura was forced to issue staff at her Glasgow law firm with panic alarms. After watching Netflix's Baby Reindeer lawyer Laura Wray said: 'I know Martha by her real name, but my jaw dropped watching the series' In one scene from the drama Martha flips from exuberance to screaming rage in an instant. 'That put it beyond doubt I've seen her do that,' says Laura. Baby Reindeer, which has been watched by 13 million viewers in just two weeks, topping the Netflix charts in 30 countries, is based on the real-life experience of its creator, Richard Gadd, who plays a version of himself, an aspiring comic. One day, Martha walks into the pub where he works and boasts of being a hotshot lawyer though, inexplicably, a broke one. Taking pity, he makes her a cup of tea. So begins the start of a terrifying obsession. Soon she is emailing Gadd hundreds of times a day, turning up outside his house and harassing his family and friends. Over a period of four-and-a-half years, Gadd says he received 41,071 emails, 744 tweets, letters totalling 106 pages and 350 hours of voicemail messages. The series also hints at Martha's previous history of stalking. Gadd's character Donny is seen googling her and finding a newspaper article fictionalised for the show with the headline: 'Sick stalker targets barrister's deaf child.' Gadd has insisted the character of Martha was so well disguised in his script that the real-life person she was based on 'would not recognise herself'. But for Laura the 'barrister' referred to in those fake headlines the shocking recognition of the woman who had terrorised her family, including her severely disabled son Frankie, was almost instant. Nor did it take long for internet sleuths to uncover the real Martha and target her with abuse online. Speaking to The Mail on Sunday yesterday, the woman whose identity we have chosen not to disclose claimed the Netflix show amounted to 'bullying an older woman on television for fame and fortune' and that she had received 'death threats' from Gadd's supporters. The comedian, she said, was 'using Baby Reindeer to stalk me now'. But while 'Martha' may be keen to paint herself as a victim, for Laura that is a tad ironic. If anything, Laura's nightmare eclipsed that of Gadd. At one stage 'Martha' made a death threat against her husband, Jimmy Wray, then MP for Glasgow Baillieston. But the final straw came in 2002 when the woman falsely accused the couple of assaulting Frankie, then nearly four years old, who was born with a rare chromosomal disorder. 'I know Martha by her real name, but my jaw dropped watching the series,' said Laura, speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday for the first time about her ordeal 'It brought so many things back to me that I'd forgotten. She did the same to me, made my life a nightmare. He [Gadd] has got her spot-on. His reaction was exactly the same as mine. I felt sorry for her. Everybody she's come across and pestered the life out of has felt the same, it seems.' The real 'Martha', now 58, is from a middle-class family who lived in a village near Stirling. She was a law graduate and first came into Laura's orbit in October 1997, when Laura was persuaded to give her a two-week trial at her company. 'She told me a real hard-luck story about how she had no family support and how she got her law degree and was looking for a traineeship, but nobody would give her one,' says Laura. 'I had my reservations. She was terribly upfront, telling me all this very personal stuff. Before we even met, she sent me a postcard congratulating me on my engagement to Jimmy. But basically, I felt sorry for her. 'Once she started with us she was rude to everyone. Once she threw a book across the room and hit a member of staff on the head. One day, she manned a phone line and we discovered she was recommending rival solicitors. Jessica Gunning who plays Martha on Baby Reindeer, which follows the character as she stalks a struggling comedian 'She also shouted at Karen, one of my secretaries, and demanded she drop everything else she was doing for me and instead do something for her immediately. 'Then she began threatening people and screaming, like in Baby Reindeer when she goes from being quite pleasant to shouting, 'Don't speak to me like that!' 'She did the same [in my office] and I told her, 'We're a business I can't have that kind of behaviour.' I fired her after a week. She was furious and threatened that she'd do this, that and the other to me. 'She then ran from my room screaming that she was not going to leave and that she was calling the Law Society. She was saying that everyone in the legal world disliked me and that my staff were useless. Then she started shouting, 'Jimmy Wray will rue the day'. 'Some of the girls in the office were shaking and upset and thought she was going to attack me or some of the other staff. Eventually she was escorted out, still calling me vile names, and was later spotted circling the office in her car.' Soon she was bombarding Laura with threatening phone calls saying 'I'll get you', and disparaging her to other solicitors, her family, friends and political associates of her husband, among them Donald Dewar, Scotland's inaugural First Minister. In September 2001, the woman even left a message on her MP's answering machine, threatening to kill Jimmy. Feeling 'genuinely sorry' for her, Laura tried to ignore it. She says: 'Back then there wasn't legislation about stalking or harassing. 'There was no obvious right of recourse for me. The only thing I could have done was sued for defamation but there was no point, she had no money and the only other option was using civil procedure which wasn't really designed for that kind of thing.' Yet her reserves of compassion would soon run dry. Things escalated when Laura started a course at the University of Strathclyde the following month to get some additional qualifications. On the first day, she bumped into her stalker staring at her across a room, her gaze like a harpoon. 'She kept turning up now and again at lectures I went to. She was just suddenly there. 'Quite a few times she came and stood beside me as students waited for the lecture room doors to open. I have recollections of her right next to me almost breathing over me. It was very unnerving, and I was frightened. I had to get some of the other students to walk me to my car. 'I went to see a professor and explained everything and he looked up the list and said she's not actually registered as a student. But the university ignored me and did nothing.' The university later apologised, admitting that the woman had, in fact, been a student but had been permanently excluded for her behaviour towards other students and staff. But it was in April 2002 that her behaviour finally crossed a line for Laura. She arrived home with Frankie, then nearly four, to find two social workers at her door. '[The woman] had claimed we hit our son and I was forced to explain all the background,' Laura says. 'The social workers thankfully believed me but it was just dreadful, and I was absolutely furious. 'This is a child who couldn't walk or speak, couldn't do anything for himself. To think that someone could suggest we would do this [harm him] is vicious and cruel. 'It was all well and good to write someone off as mentally ill and just ignore the harassment. But the final thing was Frankie, and I wasn't having that.' Laura applied to the courts for a restraining order, which was granted the following day. Gadd has insisted the character of Martha was so well disguised in his script that the real-life person she was based on 'would not recognise herself' For Laura and her family, it gave them long-awaited peace. But over the years she would occasionally find herself wondering what happened to her stalker. Did she target others? Did she get the help she needed? And then came Baby Reindeer. 'I feel sad that she managed to slip through the cracks for so long when she's clearly unwell,' Laura says. She's dismayed, too, that the woman has now been identified on social media as a result of the Netflix show despite Gadd's insistence that he had obscured her identity. 'He's had an Edinburgh Fringe show that featured this story and now he's got this hit series on Netflix and absolutely good luck to him, but it must have occurred to him that people were bound to speculate on who Martha is and whether she's done this to anyone else,' says Laura. 'They could have changed things without diluting the content, but they've made it so realistic. 'They have portrayed her absolutely spot on, it is so obviously the woman who stalked me. It is so uncanny.' Additional reporting: Daisy Graham-Brown An outraged evangelical pastor has railed against Donald Trump's MAGA bible as 'disgusting' and 'blasphemous' in a furious rant. Loran Livingston devoted several minutes of his sermon at Central Church of North Carolina, in Charlotte, to trashing the ex-president's merchandise. The God Bless the USA Bible, which costs $60 - four times a normal one - to fund Trump's escalating legal bills, was launched last month. His bible includes copies of the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as a handwritten chorus of the famous Greenwood song God Bless the USA. These extras, and the American flag on the leather cover, incensed pastor Livingston, and he accused anyone buying it of not knowing God's word. Loran Livingston devoted several minutes of his sermon at Central Church of North Carolina , in Charlotte, to trashing Donald Trump's MAGA bible as 'disgusting' and 'blasphemous' 'When you don't read and pray, you say, "Wow, there's a Bible out now that includes the Constitution and the Bill of rights! Isn't that wonderful?" he began. 'No, no. It's disgusting! It's blasphemous! It's a ploy! Are you kidding me? 'Some of you are so encouraged by that. Let me tell you something. The gospel is not an American gospel! It is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!' Livingston, who is a hardline conservative who moments earlier railed against 'the whole LGBTQ thing' and called abortion murder, mocked Christians who were 'encouraged' by the Trump bible including the US Constitution. 'A document that says, "We are of the people, by the people and for the people". The people, the people, the people!' he said, beating his palm with his fist. 'And you have put it right beside the word of God, which is eternal, unchanging, which says of him, by him, through him, to him, from him are all things. 'And you're going to put those together and be happy about it? God forbid!' Livingston said he didn't care if his words made those listening mad, and if they glorified Trump's bible they were ignorant of God's will. 'If you glory in that kind of thing, you don't have a prayer life. If you glory in that kind of mess, political mess, you do not know what the word of God says,' he said. Trump launched the God Bless the USA Bible, which costs $60 - four times a normal one - to fund his escalating legal bills, last month Livingston also attacked worshippers who 'brought politics into the church' and viewed voting as a spiritual duty. 'No, your duty is to serve the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, body, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself,' he bellowed. 'Don't be talking to me about my "spiritual responsibility" to vote. I don't have a spiritual responsibility, I have a civic privilege. 'Don't be telling me that voting is spiritual.' Livingston never mentioned Trump's bible by name, but it was clear he was infuriated with the book blurring the lines of church and state. His break with Trump was only on that issue, however, as his sermon was about how Christians would be 'confused about everything' if they didn't study the Bible. Thinking the God Bless the USA Bible was something they should buy was just one example, alongside classic conservative Christian ideology. Livingston is a hardline conservative who moments earlier in the same sermon railed against 'the whole LGBTQ thing' and called abortion 'premeditated murder' 'People who dont read the Bible, who dont pray, who call themselves Christians, get confused about the whole LGBTQ thing,' he said. 'Because instead of looking at what the word says, they look look at how people feel and how they feel and whats doing to people. 'People who dont read the Bible and pray and call themselves Christians will be confused about abortion. Is it a womans right? On and on. 'It is murder! Yes. Its the premeditated termination of innocent human life! Thats called murder!' The website selling the God Bless the USA Bible touts it as 'the only Bible endorsed by President Trump!' The Bible is described as 'easy-to-read' with 'large print' and a 'slim design' that 'invites you to explore God's Word anywhere, any time'. The cover of the King James version Bible contains the words 'Holy Bible' and 'God Bless the USA' and a design based on the US flag. The website says the Bible is not funding Trump's presidential campaign, noting it's 'not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign'. Instead it's one of Trump's latest money-making ventures along with his Trump-branded sneakers and NFTs that show him in cartoon-like images, including as an astronaut, a cowboy and a superhero. 'Religion and Christianity are the biggest things missing from this country,' Trump says in his Bible pitch. 'And I truly believe that we need to bring them back and we have to bring them back fast. I think it's one of the biggest problems we have. That's why our country is going haywire. We've lost religion in our country.' He goes on to say: 'We love God and we have to protect anything that is pro God.' He concludes with a twist on his campaign slogan, saying: 'We must make America pray again.' Net migration should be capped at the 'tens of thousands', senior Tory MPs have told Rishi Sunak. A report will this week urge the Government to use its Brexit freedoms to significantly reduce legal migration numbers. It argues that an annual migration budget should be presented to the House of Commons, setting out all the trade-offs to be considered when it comes to migration, such as how many extra hospital beds or new homes will be needed for every 10,000 migrants. Caps on both overall migration numbers and migration via individual routes would then be agreed by votes in Parliament. Senior Tory MPs have told Rishi Sunak that net migration should be capped at the 'tens of thousands' Migrants crossing the Channel. A report will this week urge the Government to use its Brexit freedoms to significantly reduce legal migration numbers (stock image) In the year to June 2023, net migration hit 672,000. Former immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, who co-authored the report, said: 'For nearly 30 years politicians have promised to control and reduce legal migration, only for numbers to spiral. This has been corrosive to the trust voters have in our democracy. It must end. Now we have left the EU this can finally be rectified.' The 100-page report, titled Taking Back Control, will be published by the Centre for Policy Studies think tank after Thursday's local elections. It will highlight the lack of accurate data and how migrants impact the economy differently depending on where they come from. Tory MP Neil O'Brien, who co-authored the report, said: 'We need to make the system more selective. The current system is allowing too many people to come here who will either not work, or will do minimum-wage work [which is untaxed] in the grey economy.' Embattled Angela Rayner dallied with the Liberal Democrats in her early career yet later declared that the Labour movement 'has been a family to me throughout my life'. Labour Deputy Leader Ms Rayner, 44, who is under police investigation over revelations in The Mail on Sunday about her two-homes living arrangements, had a flirtation with the Lib Dems who were the dominant power on Stockport Council in her local area. They nominated her for two council-appointed school governorships in 2004 and 2005. Documents unearthed by this newspaper show the nominations were in her maiden name Angela Bowen and linked to her address at Vicarage Road the former council house she says was her principal home until 2015, despite neighbours saying she moved out in 2009. Ms Rayner, who says she welcomes the police probe and denies wrongdoing, rose quickly in Labour after becoming MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. In her 2021 party conference speech, she declared: 'Our movement has been a family to me throughout my life.' Labour Deputy Leader Ms Rayner (pictured at of Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday), 44, who is under police investigation over revelations in The Mail on Sunday about her two-homes living arrangements, had a flirtation with the Lib Dems who were the dominant power on Stockport Council in her local area Last night Ms Rayner denied ever belonging to the Lib Dems. Pictured: Ms Rayner in her constituency office in 2016 Police are investigating whether she was living at her husband's home on Lowndes Lane (pictured) between 2009 and 2015 and was therefore liable for capital gains tax on the 2015 sale of the Vicarage Road house Last night Ms Rayner denied ever belonging to the Lib Dems. Detectives quiz key witness again in two homes probe A neighbour who was a legal witness to Angela Rayner selling her house was interviewed by police last week, after The Mail on Sunday revealed she signed a key mortgage document for Labours Deputy Leader. Sylvia Hampson, 83, who once called Ms Rayner a f***ing liar for insisting she lived apart from her husband, was interviewed a second time by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) on Monday. The police visit came a day after the MoS revealed that Ms Rayner asked Mrs Hampson to sign a Land Registry document known as Transfer of Whole Registered Title (TR1), which passed the ownership of her property in Stockport to a new buyer in March 2015. Two detectives, clutching a copy of the TR1 form, spoke with Mrs Hampson who confirmed to them it was her signature and address on the document. She told the MoS: They asked if I could recall signing it. I told them it was my signature. GMP declined to comment. A Labour Party spokesman said: Ms Rayner will cooperate with any investigation and she is confident she followed the rules at all times. Advertisement Police are investigating whether she was living at her husband's home on Lowndes Lane between 2009 and 2015 and was therefore liable for capital gains tax on the 2015 sale of the Vicarage Road house. They are also examining whether she could have committed an offence by putting an incorrect address on the electoral roll. Last week her brother Darren Bowen refused to answer questions over the Vicarage Road home as he was pictured for the first time since our story broke. He had 'no comment' to make when asked about claims that he lived in Vicarage Road from 2010 to 2015 and had referred to his sister as his 'landlady'. Labour sources have suggested that if it is concluded that Vicarage Road was not her principal residence, and so she is liable for tax on its sale, she could offset the bill of up to 3,500 because she made improvements to the property including enlarging her kitchen, installing a new fireplace and replacing windows. Experts calculated that Ms Rayner would need to have spent about 23,000 if she moved into her husband's house in 2009, or 15,000 if she moved in 2010, in order to offset the tax. A Labour source said Ms Rayner was 'nominated by local Lib Dem councillors for council-appointed school governorships, which are not elected offices, nearly two decades ago when she was not a member of any political party', adding that 'there were fewer Labour councillors and they would have had fewer nominations; they may for example not have had a seat on a particular school body. 'It is common practice for political groups on councils to nominate community figures to governing bodies rather than just themselves or their party activists.' The source added: 'One councillor may propose a name for a body and that is adopted by the group as their nomination. 'Angela is not, and never has been, a Lib Dem.' 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. An RAF stealth fighter came within just 300ft of smashing into a drone being flown illegally over Norfolk, an official report has revealed. The incident, which occurred at 14,460ft, is believed to have been at the highest altitude ever recorded for a near miss between an RAF aircraft and a drone. The F-35 Lightning jet was travelling at nearly 290mph when the device loomed into view just 'off the left nose'. The pilot, who was being followed by an instructor in a second single-seater F-35, later rated the chances of a collision as 'high'. The drone was being flown at more than 36 times the legal height for the devices. An RAF stealth fighter came within just 300ft of smashing into a drone being flown illegally over Norfolk, an official report has revealed (Stock Photo) The drone was being flown at more than 36 times the legal height for the devices (Stock Photo) It is thought the operator was never traced, but if caught and convicted of endangering an aircraft they could have been jailed for five years. The close call happened about eight miles east of Norwich just before 1pm on February 14, according to the UK Airprox Board (UKAB), which assesses near misses. The pilot from RAF Marham, Norfolk, at first assumed the drone was another aircraft in the 'far distance' but it 'soon became apparent' it was a drone and they were on 'rapidly closing flightpaths'. The UKAB report said the F-35 had 'little time to manoeuvre meaningfully' while the drone was in view for up to five seconds before it passed to the left side of the aircraft. The drone was undetected by radar, meaning there was only 'very late visual acquisition' of it, the UKAB report confirmed. The pilot of the second F-35, which was nearly two miles behind, also 'gained visual contact' with the drone. A review of onboard video from helmet-mounted cameras suggested the device was a quadcopter-style drone, the report said. It had a 'similar silhouette' to a Phantom drone manufactured by Chinese company DJI. The RAF pilot saw the drone while flying on a first 'live sortie' to learn how to operate the F-35. Aviation experts have long warned of the dangers posed by drones being sucked into a jet engine or smashing into a cockpit. Modern drones available for sale to the public have software limiting their height to the legal maximum of 400ft, but this can be overridden by software patches purchased over the internet. Operators can also load on extra batteries so they can achieve greater heights. The pilot from RAF Marham, Norfolk, (pictured) at first assumed the drone was another aircraft in the 'far distance' but it 'soon became apparent' it was a drone and they were on 'rapidly closing flightpaths' An RAF spokesman said: 'The RAF regularly conducts essential flying training across the whole of the UK. Drones operating in the vicinity of our aircraft can offer a significant threat to their safety and can be extremely challenging for our aircrew to spot and take avoiding action. 'We continue to encourage users to fly their assets responsibly and legally.' Artem Kariakin was only 16 when he started working for the resistance in the eastern city of Kadiivka, overrun by the Russians in the spring of 2014. In a small city that's home to plenty of pro-Russians (from before and after the invasion), Artem could trust no one. So he operated alone, risking his life to spy for the Ukrainian army and intelligence services, using secret social media accounts to provide details of enemy troop movements and weapon depots. As early as January 2015 he saved the lives of his friends in Ukrainian-controlled Debaltseve by tipping them off about an imminent attack and giving them time to shelter before the sky began to rain Russian rockets. Despite life under occupation being 'grey and empty', Artem told me he stayed 'because I could see how useful it would be to Ukraine if I continued to pass on intelligence'. Artem Kariakin (pictured) was only 16 when he started working for the resistance in the eastern city of Kadiivka, overrun by the Russians in the spring of 2014 In a small city that's home to plenty of pro-Russians (from before and after the invasion), Artem could trust no one As early as January 2015 he saved the lives of his friends in Ukrainian-controlled Debaltseve by tipping them off about an imminent attack and giving them time to shelter before the sky began to rain Russian rockets (pictured: Kariakin's medals) After seven years of resistance, and following the death of his parents within a year of each other, Artem left in December 2021. 'There was a danger I would have been recruited into the Russian army, so it was time to leave,' he said. His arrival in Kyiv proved incredibly useful as Russian tanks were gathering on the border. The intelligence he passed on to the Ukrainian army was used for many of the early missile strikes on Russian positions. Three days after the invasion, and having never carried a gun before, he enrolled into the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Force. He has been fighting for Ukraine, including in the Army's Special Forces, ever since and he is in contact with friends behind enemy lines who are still smuggling out vital information. His message to the West is simple: 'We desperately need more weapons and more ammunition, as fast as possible, to fight our enemy.' At 26, Artem is regarded as a traitor in Kadiivka his parents' graves have been draped in Russian flags. However, he is defiant. After seven years of resistance, and following the death of his parents within a year of each other, Artem left in December 2021 Three days after the invasion, and having never carried a gun before, he enrolled into the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Force (pictured: Kariakin's medals) 'My greatest desire is to liberate my home city from Russia,' says the soldier, who has been decorated three times for bravery. 'This is not a dream it is my goal and this will happen. I want revenge against all those who betrayed Ukraine and those who have stolen a big part of my life.' The pocket watch of the richest man on the Titanic recovered when his body was fished out of the Atlantic seven days after the tragedy was sold a record-breaking 1.175 million yesterday. The timepiece belonged to John Jacob Astor IV, a US business magnate who was among more than 1,500 people who died when the ship struck an iceberg in the early hours of April 15, 1912. His 14-carat gold Waltham watch was sold at Henry Aldridge & Son auction house in Wiltshire for a record-breaking 1.175 million, six times the guide price, matching the record paid for a Titanic artifact the violin played by bandmaster Wallace Hartley. Mr Astor, a hotelier who was worth 55 million about 7 billion today went down with the ship after helping his pregnant wife Madeleine into a lifeboat. He was last seen smoking a cigarette on the starboard wing of the bridge while chatting to a fellow first-class passenger. Astor's body was recovered from the north Atlantic seven days later dressed in a blue suit and brown flannel shirt. He was later identified by the initials JJA engraved on the watch and sewn on to his jacket. Business magnate John Jacob Astor's 14 carat gold Waltham pocket watch was sold at Henry Aldridge & Son auction house in Wiltshire for a record-breaking 1.175 million, six times the guide price The Titanic leaving Southampton on her ill-fated maiden voyage on April 10, 1912 John Jacob Astor IV and his new wife Madeleine, from an image taken shortly before they traveled on the RMS Titanic Astor's body was recovered from the north Atlantic seven days later dressed in a blue suit and brown flannel shirt John Jacob Astor IV left $69million of his $85million estate, equivalent to approximately $2.6billion in 2022, to his eldest son William Vincent Astor (right) who became the richest man in America How a lieutenant colonel whose ancestors made a fortune from the bloody fur trade became the most famous victim of the Titanic John Jacob Astor IV was born into one of America's most prominent and richest families and was the wealthiest passenger to die on board the Titanic. A noted investor, hotelier and inventor, Astor served as a lieutenant colonel in the Spanish-American war of 1898. He was one of the 1,541 people who died the night of 15 April 1912 after making sure that his eight-month pregnant wife had made it on board a life-boat and escaped. Astor was reportedly last seen smoking a cigar on the deck of the doomed luxury liner and later recovered from the freezing Atlantic Ocean on April 22. He was wearing a blue serge suit, brown boots with red rubber soles and a brown flannel shirt when he perished. Astor was fished out of the sea still with his gold watch, gold and diamond cuff-links, 225 in Pounds Sterling, $2,440 in American Dollars and 5 in gold. He was worth $150 million in 1912. The Astor family began with John Jacob Astor, an immigrant from Germany. He exploited the beaver fur trade to become America's first multi-millionaire in the late 1700s. He used his fortune to purchase 70 acres of prime Manhattan real estate including the areas surrounding Times Square and along the Hudson River. By the time he died aged 84 in 1848, he was worth $30million which is equivalent to over $1billion today. John Jacob Astor IV made his money on slums built on the family's land with buildings that had little ventilation. His family helped build the famous Waldorf-Astoria hotel on Park Avenue in New York. He left $69million of his $85million estate, equivalent to approximately $2.6billion in 2022, to his eldest son William Vincent Astor. But William was not happy with how his family had generated the wealth and decided to give much of it away by putting it in a foundation named after himself. Advertisement Also on sale was the violin case belonging to Mr Hartley, which was snapped up for 290,000. John Jacob Astor IV was famously depicted in the 1997 James Cameron film Titanic and was played by actor Eric Braeden. 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. Vincent Astor had the watch restored and repaired and wore it until 1935 when he gifted it to his godson, William Dobbyn. Dobbyn's father, also called William, had been Astor's executive secretary and was also close to Vincent. The Dobbyn family sold it to a collector in the 1990s. Since then it has been displayed at various museums including the National Geographic Exhibition in Washington DC and Titanic Museum 'The World's Largest Titanic Attraction' in Missouri, US. It was accompanied by a signed affidavit from William Dobbyn Snr's daughter-in-law confirming it has been a gift to her husband from Vincent. It adds that Vincent informed him the watch was carried by his father when he perished in the sinking of the Titanic. The impeccably-dressed businessman was last seen smoking a cigarette on the starboard wing of the bridge wing chatting to a fellow first class passenger before he died. Along with the watch there is a pair of gold cufflinks owned by Astor and his plan of the Titanic's first class accommodation. The foldable 30ins by 40ins document was used by William Dobbyn in Paris to plan the Astors' trip and confirm the staterooms they were in. The suites C74 and C76 are circled in pencil with the notation $1225.00 Apr 10 From Cherbourg. Other handwritten notes on it include 'Paris office hold these rooms for Col A.' It is valued at 30,000. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: 'The watch is one of the most remarkable items of Titanic memorabilia we have come across. 'It is an exquisite timepiece that is in superb condition which is unsurprising considering who its original owner was. 'Yet it spent seven days in the freezing water of the Atlantic in the aftermath of the disaster and would almost certainly have stopped working and suffered all sorts of damage. 'It was obviously of great sentimental value to Vincent Astor who had it restored and wore it for the next 23 years. 'It is a unique part of the Titanic story and one of the most important pieces of horological history relating to the most famous ship in the world.' Astor's marriage to 18-year-old Madeleine had created controversy in New York, coming soon after he divorced his wife, Ava, the mother of his two sons. John Jacob Astor's descendants grew their wealth for generations, buying much of the land New York City is built on Astor's 14 carat Waltham watch that has his initials engraved on it was left to his son Vincent Astor - along with his fortune Along with the watch there is a pair of gold cufflinks owned by Astor and his plan of first class accommodation on Titanic (pictured) The grandest ship: RMS Titanic departing Southampton on April 10, 1912. She would never return from this maiden voyage. Her remains now lie on the seafloor about 350 nautical miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada To get away from the scandal and gossip the newlyweds they took an extended honeymoon to Europe and Africa. After the Titanic struck an iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912, Astor did not think he or his family were in any immediate danger. He was warned about the seriousness of the situation personally by Edward Smith, the captain of Titanic, and saw Madeleine into lifeboat four. Astor asked if he could join her because she was in 'a delicate condition' but he was told no men were allowed to board until all women and children had been loaded. As well as Astor, fellow millionaire passengers Isador Strauss and Benjamin Guggenheim were unable to get a place on the lifeboats despite their wealth and died. Madeleine Astor was five months pregnant at the time. She gave birth to a son on August 14, 1912, and called him John Jacob Astor V in memory of her husband and the boy's father. The sale takes place on Saturday. Trans women will be banned from women-only wards and women patients will be able to ask for a female doctor under plans put forward by ministers. A new version of the NHS Constitution has been drafted to ensure women-only spaces are protected, sources said. The proposals would also give patients more powers to request a doctor of the same biological sex as them in matters of 'intimate care', while trans patients would have their own private spaces where hospitals can provide them. Ex-Health Secretary Steve Barclay had announced plans for the changes at the Tory Party's conference last year. He said: 'If we do not get this right now, the long-term consequences could be very serious for the protection of women and future generations.' A new version of the NHS Constitution has been drafted to ensure women-only spaces are protected, sources said The proposals would also give patients more powers to request a doctor of the same biological sex as them in matters of 'intimate care', while trans patients would have their own private spaces where hospitals can provide them Ex-Health Secretary Steve Barclay had announced plans for the changes at the Tory Party's conference last year The proposals come after The Daily Mail exposed 'shocking' NHS rules that mean patients who only occasionally identify as women can share female-only wards. This is regardless of whether or not they have had surgery or legally changed sex. The constitution is updated every ten years, most recently in 2015. The new text will face an eight-week consultation. A Government source said: 'The Government has been clear that biological sex matters, and women and girls are entitled to receive the protection and privacy they need in all healthcare settings. 'Our proposed updates will give patients the right to request same-sex intimate care and accommodation to protect their safety, privacy and dignity.' The Governments policy of sending illegal migrants to Rwanda has now received a deeply important endorsement. It is one that really ought to change a lot of minds. The European Peoples Party, the main centre-right formation in the EU, has adopted a scheme so similar that it is hard to tell apart from Rishi Sunaks plan to stop the boats. In its platform for the approaching European elections, scheduled for early June, the EPP has stated that it seeks a fundamental change in European asylum law. It argues that the EU and its member states must have the right to decide to whom and where asylum is granted. It proposes deals with safe third countries, where those applying for asylum can be put through the process. Mr Sunak is understandably pleased, and writes in The Mail on Sunday today: 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. MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: The European People's Party has adopted a scheme so similar to Rishi Sunak's plan to stop the boats it's impossible to tell them apart There are many ways in which this is welcome. First, it is a recognition by leading, responsible politicians in major, civilised European states that there is a problem of mass migration on a scale not previously seen. READ MORE: European Convention on Human Rights must be changed if it is used to block Rwanda flights, centrist Tories warn Advertisement This affects almost all the continents countries. It is also an acknowledgement that existing laws and measures simply do not deal adequately with this crisis. If these migrants seek asylum, then surely they should be ready to accept it in any safe country. The idea that you are in such straits that you need to flee from your home and claim asylum, but can then pick and choose which country you live in, has always been contradictory. Refugees flee from persecution. They do not travel to better their economic conditions. For millions of British people, the problem has been clear for many years. They are puzzled as to why those who have reached France, one of the safest and most civilised nations in the world, should then have some sort of right to press on, often in circumstances of grave danger, to Britain. The EPP decision ought to stimulate thought among all the self-congratulatory and self-righteous campaigners against the Rwanda policy. Active in politics, the law, the charity sector and the media, most of them believe that UK membership of the EU was a higher form of government than national independence. Millions of British people are puzzled by the seemingly contradictory idea that people who need to flee their home can then pick and choose which country to live in They revere the EUs laws and institutions and sneer at the supposed insularity, bigotry, narrow-mindedness and backwardness of Leave voters. Yet here are major parties in that same EU, who cannot be accused of being Little Englanders, adopting what is in essence a British policy. And they are doing so because they recognise that the current arrangements cannot be sustained. All serious nations must have the power to decide who they let in and who they refuse, and who shall have the right to live within their borders. This interesting and important development ought to deflate the opponents of the Rwanda scheme, though many are so convinced of their own virtue that this may be a vain hope. What it certainly does is place a great deal of moral and political force in the hands of Rishi Sunak. With every day that passes, it becomes clearer that there is genuine distance between the Tories and Keir Starmers Labour, smooth on the outside but still seething with radicalism on the inside. There is still everything to fight for. A century-old time capsule was discovered during the demolition of a Minnesota high school, and its perfectly preserved contents were revealed for the first time this week. The capsule was recovered as construction workers tore down the front pillars and doors of the former Owatonna High School, which was built in 1920. Bob Olson, the director of facilities, infrastructure and security, had instructed workers to carefully remove a cornerstone, as the district was planning to preserve it in their office or in the new high school. But inside that cornerstone, which was laid more than a century ago, the workers found a surprise - a 104-year-old time capsule. The contents of the tattered white box were laid out during a press conference on Monday. A 104-year-old time capsule was uncovered during the demolition of the old Owatonna High School in Minnesota, and its contents were revealed for the first time on Monday The capsule was tucked away inside a cornerstone that had been laid in 1920, when the old high school was erected Director of Facilities Bob Olson (left) instructed demolition workers to carefully remove the cornerstone, as the district planned to preserve it Principal Cory Kath was one of several administrators who spoke before the unveiling. 'I think what's really important is that Owatonna High School has a rich history, and that history has spanned multiple buildings, multiple spaces of learning, many different faces, and so tonight I think it's going to be really exciting to see some of those faces emerge, he said. Olson donned a pair of latex gloves before carefully pulling out the items and announcing each one to the crowd. The capsule was stacked with papers containing historical information about the high school and local community. Among the items were one of the earliest editions of the OHS Magnet, the schools student-run newspaper, and a district finance committee report. There were also copies of three local newspapers - The Daily People's Press, The Blooming Prairie Time and Owatonna Journal-Chronicle. Only the Peoples Press has continued printing to this day. There was also information about the city itself, including a list of mayors and city reporters and a written history of Owatonna. The most surprising finds were several items belonging to the Minnesota Freemasons and a booklet written entirely in Czech. The tattered white box was full of documents detailing the school's history Olson sported a pair of latex gloves at Monday's press conference, where he pulled out the items and described each one to the crowd Among the items were copies of three local newspapers, including two that have ceased printing The most surprising discoveries included items belonging to the Minnesota Freemasons and a booklet written in Czech The district plans to display some items on school property, while others will go to the Steele County Historical Society Some documents contained information about OHS back in the day, including a roster of the 1920-21 Board of Education and school staff. Papers containing enrollment information revealed a striking contrast. In 1920, there were just 327 students at the school, a fraction of its current study body of 1,500. The items will go under curation, with the hopes that some of them will be able to be displayed on school property. The OHS Museum Committee is working with the Steele County Historical Society to determine which items are directly tied to the district. The historical society plans to adopt some items for preservation and display. So what should a girl do to enjoy herself nowadays? Every week a new survey points out the toll taken on our bodies by alcohol and tobacco, the terrible twins that have been my pleasurable mainstays for around 50 years. Last week another survey revealed that not only are middle- aged women like myself world-leading when it comes to binge-drinking, but now in the UK even our children aged between ten and 13 are leading the pack on substance abuse. Whatever way you slice the argument, there is no good news when it comes to either drink or smokes, other than the fact that they are so enjoyable. The other morning I woke, having overdone it the night before, berating myself with my usual cry of, 'Why do I do it?' But of course at the time it was fun. The second glass of white wine slipped down a treat before dinner, as we opened a new bottle at the table and kept topping up our glasses. Later that evening I treated myself to the pre-bedtime cigarette I find hard to give up, even though I can quite easily get through the whole of the rest of the day without them. It was all a pleasant buzzy blur lots of laughs and all that. Rishi Sunak's plan to outlaw smoking for the next generation will never work, writes ALEXANDRA SHULMAN According to a survey last week, it's not just middle-aged women such as myself who are heavy binge-drinkers, but children aged 10 to 13 in the UK are some of the worst offenders of substance abuse It's not hard to see why teenagers binge on six-packs and vapes if they can't buy cigarettes - prohibiting fun will never be easy to pull off At no point did I think about how I might feel the next day. At no point did I conjure up that horrible nauseous feeling that comes with the first cup of strong coffee and which, as you get older, magnifies as the hours pass. I didn't, not for a moment, consider the likely sorry leaden state of my brain when I woke. So no wonder that our children are tempted by these drugs and why outlawing, as Rishi Sunak wants to do with teenagers and tobacco, will never work. If a grown woman like me makes the stupid choice of overindulging while being well aware of the consequences, it's not difficult to see why teenagers binge on bottles of cheap vodka and six-packs, and sucking on vapes if they can't buy cigarettes. It's because it seems like great fun to them and a prohibition of fun is never going to be an easy one to pull off. I'd rather have a card over an app There I was the other day in John Lewis, buying saucepans, as you do. At the next till was a customer who had lost her John Lewis card and wanted to know how to get a replacement. There are no longer cards, she was told you need to get to your account by downloading the app. Is there no one I can call, she persisted? No, replied an implacably unhelpful jobsworth. They'll just tell you to download the app. It's hardly surprising John Lewis is in the doldrums when it's scoring own goals such as scrapping physical loyalty cards and forcing customers to access them on an app instead Looking around the shop floor, I saw that the median age of customers was over 50. While we all know how to download apps, we don't necessarily want our smartphones filled with so many that we can't find them on the screen. We like a nice chargecard. John Lewis is in the doldrums, but with own goals like this it's hardly surprising. Will the quiet guru beat the loudmouth? Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat range is going to be available on Amazon Fresh. You will no longer have to beat the traffic queue to his Cotswold farm shop to scoop up the beef jerky, rapeseed oil and salted crisps he produces. At the same time, Yotam Ottolenghi, the successful Israeli cook we have to thank for introducing us to pomegranate molasses and rose petals in the store cupboard, is headed to the Waitrose shelves. His jars of Ottolenghi-branded miso pesto, and rose and preserved lemon harissa, will be available in the next aisle to Persil. When we buy into personality brands, it's not only the food that we are buying it's the name on the tin. Petrolhead, millionaire loudmouth or North London's quieter culinary guru who will be the winner? Yotam Ottolenghi's self-branded miso pesto and rose and preserved lemon harissa is heading to Waitrose stores How a trauma put an end to anxiety We had a young Ukrainian woman living with us from April 2022 until late last year. She has done brilliantly at making a life for herself in the UK, but she has felt intense anxiety much of the time. It's no wonder, being in a strange country with no friends and family to support her and worrying about family back home. A few weeks ago, she briefly returned for the first time to visit her home town of Dnipro. It was a depressing sight after so many months of the war and the threat of attack was omnipresent and frightening. She's now back in the UK and says the general anxiety she previously felt has all but disappeared. Going home and living under a real threat seemed to act as a mental recalibrator that liberated her from the unspecific but generalised anxiety she had been experiencing. It backs up the theory that in times of trauma such as war, there's no space for the many free-floating mental health issues a relatively stable society seems to suffer. A smart new take on the fashion front As I showed a new piece of clothing to a friend the other day, she pronounced it 'Just Smart Enough'. Love that. It's much better than Smart Casual. Just Smart Enough means it's ideal when you want to look dressed up but not over the top, because it has a little something in this case a fringed hem that elevates it from the everyday. Just Smart Enough, though, is not like so many smart things that hang reproachfully in the wardrobe, so smart that you hardly ever find an occasion to wear them. Revenge of the Aussie crocodiles Crocodiles have gone from being so scarce in Australia that they needed protection in the 1970s, to being so numerous that they are going to need to be culled On the beware of your wishes front, consider Australia's crocodile situation. Once regarded as an endangered species after they were hunted so much for their skin, there were only a few thousand of them by the time protective measures were put into place in the 1970s. Now there are so many saltwater crocodiles around, injuring and killing people, that they are going to have to be culled. And we thought we had it tough with rampaging cows. The incident has one side of the family feuding with the other as his dad calls for charges to be laid, and says gun safety could have prevented the tragedy Braxton Dykstra, 5, was shot dead by his cousin in Garfield Township, Michigan A five-year-old boy was shot dead by his cousin, aged six, who found his grandfather's shotgun he used to kill critters. Braxton Marvin Scott Dykstra was at his maternal grandparents' home in Garfield Township, Michigan, on April 1, watching TV with his sister when the gun went off. His heartbroken family have since celebrated his life with a memorial which included the victim's face printed on cupcakes. The six-year-old relative had found the pump-action 12 gauge Remington shotgun their grandpa used to kill critters. Braxton's sister got up to tell an adult, but 'didn't make it out the door,' before it was was fired. Five-year-old Braxton Dykstra (pictured) was shot dead by his cousin in Garfield Township, Michigan Cupcakes adorned with tiny cut-outs of Braxton's face were served at the memorial where heartbroken family members gathered to celebrate the young boy's life Police were called to the Newaygo County home in Michigan about 3:25pm on April 1 Police were called to the home near West 68th Street and Bingham Avenue in Newaygo County about 3:25pm, according to a report. A girl who was interviewed at the scene told police: '[Name redacted] had a gun and I told him to put it down. He accidentally pulled the trigger on [name redacted].' She claimed the child had been making jokes about shooting the child, but accidentally discharged the shotgun as he was putting it down. According to court documents, a man at the scene, whose name was not released, said the gun was not loaded and other guns in the home were locked away. He told a trooper: 'I didn't even know where he got that bullet from.' Cops were advised the gun was last used two months ago to shoot a raccoon on the property which required just one shell. He believed it had been used and then the gun was returned to the corner with the safety on. Domynic Dykstra, Braxton's devastated father, is now demanding justice for his young son - and expects charges to be filled, with the incident turning one side of the family against the other. He wants not only the grandparents to be held accountable, but the six-year-old's mother. 'It's obviously a parent's worst nightmare', he told 13 On Your Side. 'I'm hoping that we can actually get justice for my son.' Braxton was known to enjoy making other people laugh, including his sister who is only just beginning to understand he won't be coming back to play Braxton's dad is now sharing a message about gun safety, encouraging anyone with a firearm to ensure it is locked away in a safe to avoid the pain his family is facing He believes the tragedy could have been avoided if proper gun safety protocol was being followed. 'As of right now, it only sounds like grandpa and grandma are gonna get [charged],' he told the outlet. He says his son was 'a little jokester' who enjoyed running around making people laugh, including his two sisters and a baby brother. 'My daughter, it just hit her last night that my son will never be back,' he said. 'She understood, he would never be back, but last night, I held her tight because she told me she couldn't sleep without her "bubby".' Domynic is now on a mission to share Braxton's story and encourage gun owners to ensure their weapons are locked away to avoid the same heartache the family are now enduring. 'If you have a safe, obviously, that's the ideal thing, throw it in a safe and call it a day,' he said. 'My main goal right now is to obviously stop this from happening again. 'I have gone through so much pain that I don't want anybody else to go through.' Gun owners in Michigan are required to keep guns in a locked box should minors be expected on a property, according to the safe storage law which came into effect on February 13 Braxton leaves behind two sisters and a baby brother, as well as doting parents Domynic and Paige With Braxton now in his heart, Domynic says he wants to get his instructor license to teach youth about gun safety Domynic is expecting the Newaygo County Prosecutor's Office to press charges as soon as next week. Under the safe storage law implemented in the state on February 13, gun owners are required to store weapons in a locked box if there is any expectation a minor will be on the property. A celebration of life saw a motorcade travel through the town and a luncheon held at Newyago High School, with much of the community in attendance. The Newaygo County Prosecutor's Office says the case is still under review. Humza Yousaf has written humiliating 'begging' letters to opposition leaders in a bid to avoid being ousted as First Minister. The 'lame duck' SNP leader has asked the parties to meet him this week to find 'common ground' after the fallout from his decision to dump the Scottish Greens and run a minority administration. Mr Yousaf faces two votes of no-confidence at Holyrood this week one against himself put forward by the Tories and one against his government proposed by Labour. His grovelling letters were sent yesterday to leaders of the Conservatives, Labour, the Greens, Lib Dems and Alex Salmond's Alba Party. He is desperate to persuade ex-SNP MSP Ash Regan, now the Alba leader at Holyrood, to back him on the no-confidence poll. Humza Yousaf has written humiliating 'begging' letters to opposition leaders in a bid to avoid being ousted as First Minister Yousaf is desperate to persuade ex-SNP MSP Ash Regan , now the Alba leader at Holyrood, to back him on the no-confidence poll His fate could lie in her hands as Ms Regan who Mr Yousaf once said was 'no great loss to the SNP' could have the casting vote. She has already submitted a list of demands, including over independence and gender, to the First Minister before she decides whether to lend her support. Allies have confirmed she has received his letter and that there is an emergency Alba National Executive Committee meeting today to discuss what her red lines will be. They say she will likely call on Mr Yousaf to strengthen his independence plans, move away from identity politics, accept the findings of the Cass gender treatment review and invest properly in key public services. Holyrood arithmetic dictates Mr Yousaf would need at least 64 of the 129 MSPs to back him in order to win the no-confidence vote in him as First Minister. The SNP has 63 MSPs, leaving him one short. It is possible Mr Yousaf could win over one or two Green MSPs, but it seems highly unlikely. Other opposition parties appeared to be unmoved by his impassioned plea for support, with the dumped Greens, the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems yet to confirm if they will meet with the SNP leader. Last night, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, who has written back to Mr Yousaf but not said if he will accept his invitation to Bute House, 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... does nothing to undo the immense damage it has caused. 'Our NHS, schools, police and public services have all been profoundly hit by the spectacular mismanagement of the SNP-Green government under his leadership. 'Humza Yousaf now talks about delivering 'substantial benefits for people, communities and businesses', and only wants to discuss 'concerns and priorities' now that his job is on the line.' Calling for Mr Yousaf to resign, Mr Ross added: 'His future as First Minister rests on a vote that is currently so finely balanced his credibility as a leader will be utterly destroyed, whatever the result.' Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said Yousaf's future as First Minister 'rests on a vote that is currently so finely balanced his credibility as a leader will be utterly destroyed, whatever the result' Writing to the leaders, Mr Yousaf said each group 'must contribute constructively... building consensus for the common good'. Speaking outside his home in Dundee yesterday, he seemed open to working with Ms Regan. He said: 'She has written to me and believes there are areas where we will be able to co-operate on.' British troops may be deployed on the ground in Gaza to help deliver aid. UK soldiers are already helping US colleagues build an offshore pier, designed to increase the amount of aid getting in via sea routes, and it is understood the plan is for them to drive trucks along a pontoon bridge to the shore. Yesterday, a Ministry of Defence source said that no decision had yet been made on the use of British troops. President Joe Biden has ruled out sending American forces into Gaza because of fears for their safety. And the prospect of deploying British soldiers to deliver aid to a secure 67-acre distribution area currently under construction by the Israelis, has raised concerns that they could become a target for terrorists and jihadis. British troops in Afghanistan. British troops may be deployed on the ground in Gaza to help deliver aid A crowd of Gazans waiting for food. UK soldiers are already helping US colleagues build an offshore pier, designed to increase the amount of aid getting in via sea routes Gaza city in ruin. UK soldiers are already helping US colleagues build an offshore pier, designed to increase the amount of aid getting in via sea routes, and it is understood the plan is for them to drive trucks along a pontoon bridge to the shore (stock image) On top of this, construction of a temporary pier and causeway at sea has begun, after President Joe Biden announced the project in March with the aim of expanding the flow of life-saving humanitarian assistance into Gaza from early May. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps on Friday 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 multi-national 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.' Last night, an MoD source said: 'The Americans don't want to get involved because they obviously think it is too dangerous. You could argue it would make logistical sense to use British personnel but the dangers are very significant.' The Royal Navy ship RFA Cardigan Bay is sailing from the British base in Cyprus to provide accommodation to hundreds of US troops building the offshore pier. The MoD has refused to confirm the deployment of British troops to Gaza, where the six-month war between Israel and Hamas has claimed more than 33,000 lives. It is understood that nothing has been decided and the proposal has not yet reached Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The Korean World Missionary Fellowship (KWMF)s mission conference on the theme of "Next Generation Mission Leadership" kicked off at the Korea Theological Seminary in Cheonan this past week, as reported by Christian Daily Korea. Held from April 24 to 27, the KMWF seeks to address one of the major challenges facing the Korean church: the issue of "revival of the next generation" and "faith succession." As the number of young people in churches decreases, mobilizing them as missionary resources to ensure the continuity of Korean missions has become an increasingly urgent issue. This has also become a significant issue in the field of overseas missions, according to the KMWF. The crisis of population decline due to low birth rates in Korea is not an exception in the missionary field. Nevertheless, the commandment of the Lord for the commission of mission must continue, making the establishment of next-generation missionary leadership a very important task for the Korean church, the KMWF stated in the lead up to the mission conference. The evening meeting of the mission conference on the first day concluded with a sermon by Pastor Kim Nam-soo, followed by comments from other pastors and a prayer meeting. Rev. Kim, who serves as Senior Pastor of Promise Church in New York, NY, U.S. and mission strategist of the 4/14 Movement, preached a sermon titled Turn Your Community into an Aircraft Carrier - Let's Go to the Waiting World! Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up I have experienced many distortions of the Gospel. It has become distorted as it has become acculturated, he said. As a result, the Gospel that started in Jerusalem became a culture as it went to Turkey and Europe. From there, Christian culture emerged and became institutionalized, and this became commercialized as it crossed over to the United States. And this Gospel came to Korea and turned into a blessing, he added. So, the question is whether the Gospel we need to convey to the world is the Gospel that the Apostle Paul received from Jesus Christ and the Gospel in the Gospel books, he continued, and emphasized, We need to analyze this again. He mentioned that one theologian analyzed the American Christian faith and said it is based on covenant theology. The theology that God makes a covenant with humans, and human life and blessing are determined by the mutual compliance of obligations. The theology merged with the pragmatic culture of the United States, singing the hymn that if one accepts the word of God contractually like the word of Deuteronomy and obeys, one will receive blessings, and if one disobeys, one will receive curses. he said. He pointed out, however, that "there is a flaw in that it lacks the unilateral grace of God, in that the issue of life and blessing of believers depends on themselves. [...] In other words, it does not stand on the foundation of the theology of God's grace, which God has unilaterally decided to give to believers regardless of their conditions. God already knew that humans always break the covenant with Him through the figures mentioned in the Bible. Therefore, God decided to unilaterally give grace to believers through the covenant He gave to Jacob and Isaac, which was later fulfilled through Jesus Christ, the descendant of David, Kim said. I hope that missionaries reject the gospel polluted by culture and convey the gospel as stated in the Bible. The reason why the power has not manifested itself despite this great gospel is because it has been conveyed incorrectly, he said. The sermon was followed by a time of prayer focused on reaching the next generation with the gospel. KWMF expressed its hope that this conference would be a starting point for the next generation to take on the challenge and pride of becoming missionaries, stating, Although the environment may not be favorable, there have always been and will continue to be those who respond to God's calling. We hope that many next-generation missionary leaders with a passion for the gospel and wisdom of the Word will emerge through this missionary conference. A grieving mum has been forced to return to work just two weeks after giving birth to a stillborn because of an 'unfair' rule preventing her from receiving financial aid. Patty van Duijn, 29, was just more than 19 weeks pregnant with her son Mason when she 'had no choice' but to terminate the pregnancy due to complications. The Adelaide woman applied for Centrelink's stillborn baby payment to help cover her bills and rent while she grieves, only to find out she isn't eligible because of a 'disgusting' rule. According to Services Australia, parents may be able to receive a one-off lump sum payment of $4,059.17 for a stillbirth which meets the government ageny's definition. Patty van Duijn, 29, was just over 19 weeks pregnant with her son Mason when she 'had no choice' but to terminate the pregnancy due to complications According to Services Australia, you may be able to receive a one-off lump sum payment of $4,059.17 for a stillbirth which meets their definition To be considered stillborn, a baby must have had a gestation period of at least 20 weeks or weighed at least 400 grams at birth, according to the Services Australia website. Mason weighed just 230 grams when he was born at 19 weeks and one day. '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,' Ms van Duijn told Yahoo. '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.' It is understood that Ms van Duijn and her partner Lee Simpson experienced the same complication during another pregnancy last year but did not believe 'something like that would happen twice'. Due to her long history of inflammatory bowel disease, Ms van Duijn was losing blood and water from the amniotic sac holding her baby, meaning Mason was unable to survive. While she is thankful for Mr Simpson's support, she said they can't survive off his chef's salary alone. The pair have set up a GoFundMe so they can grieve without too much financial stress in the short term The pair have set up a GoFundMe so they can grieve without too much financial stress in the short term. 'Me and my partner have lost our little miracle baby at 19 weeks, without a doubt the hardest thing we had to do,' she said. 'We now need time to grieve without having to worry about money, but paying rent bills and life we can't cope at this time. 'Centrelink won't help us because the baby was only 19 weeks and they will only help you if the baby was at 20 weeks which we think is absolutely disgusting! 'A loss is a loss no matter how old the baby is.' Ms van Duijn is now calling for the rule to change so other mums in her situation won't have to go through what she has, saying 'it's so wrong'. Services Australia told Daily Mail Australia that the 'stillborn' policy is set by the Department of Social Services and that they are unable to grant leniency based on individual circumstances. The matter has been referred to the Department of Social Services, which 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,' a departmental spokesperson said. 'Depending on an individual's circumstances and employment, they may also be entitled to paid or unpaid leave following a miscarriage. For example, the Fair Work Acts National Employment Standards provides all employees, including casuals, with an entitlement to compassionate leave.' A teen migrant has tried '100 times' to get into Britain by crossing the Channel on a small boat from France and has declared he will 'never give up'. Abdul Usman, who claims to be a 17-year-old from Sudan, has been living in a tent 'jungle' for seven months at Loon-Plage, near Dunkirk. He insisted that nothing would deter him from reaching Britain, where he said his mother is currently living as 'that's my route to freedom. I'll try every day. I don't care if the police keep trying to stop us and if the bad men attack me for not having money to pay them.' 'I want to leave France because there's no life here. They don't care about us,' he told the Sun. Abdul Usman (right), who claims to be a 17-year-old from Sudan, has been living in a tent 'jungle' for seven months at Loon-Plage, near Dunkirk. Pictured yesterday after French police slashed his dinghy He insisted that nothing would deter him from reaching Britain, where he said his mother is currently living as 'that's my route to freedom' French police were pictured in a dramatic escalation of force slashing at inflatable dinghy's and deploying tear gas to try and disperse migrants trying to leave the continent yesterday. Usman can be seen climbing off the boat It now appears that Usman got his wish, as the Sun has reported that he was on a boat which managed to evade police and take off from the beach yesterday. French police were pictured in a dramatic escalation of force slashing at inflatable dinghy's and deploying tear gas to try and disperse migrants trying to leave the continent yesterday. However, they ultimately failed, when new dinghy arrived just 15 minutes later, which the migrants including Usman, hopped into and managed to push off to sea before cops could stop them. Even when warned that the Rwanda Bill had become law this week, meaning 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, Usman still could not be dissuaded. 'Nothing will stop me. I will get to England. I don't want to be sent to Rwanda but I don't fear going there. 'Nothing can be worse than here.' Now in a shock reveal 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'. However, police ultimately failed, when new dinghy arrived just 15 minutes later, which the migrants including Usman, hopped into and managed to push off to sea before cops could stop them Even when warned that the Rwanda Bill had become law this week, meaning that Home Office officials can now start detaining migrants for deportation, Usman still could not be dissuaded. Pictured police tear gassing migrants yesterday trying to leave for the UK French National Police officers confiscate a boat after preventing migrants from boarding a smuggler's boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel 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.' Photographs of an operation on Dunkirk beach show officers dressed in body-armour wading into the surf to foil an attempted crossing. One officer is seen wielding a knife as he prepares to deflate a dinghy overloaded with dozens of migrant. Other policemen are seen dragging away the boat's motor. Distraught migrants are seen collapsing onto the beach as they are prevented from making the dangerous journey, which some had paid up to 1000 each to attempt. The dramatic change in tactics is understood to be a direct response to the tragedy that unfolded on Tuesday near the town of Wimereux in the early hours of Tuesday. Three men, a woman and a seven-year-old girl died during the chaos after their dinghy, laden with 112 people, was stormed by a rival group of migrants as it prepared to set off. An expert has warned Australian women who live in regional Australia have 'nowhere to hide' amid the country's domestic violence epidemic. Domestic Violence NSW senior policy officer Doctor Bridget Mottram said victims who live in regional areas have limited options and are 'completely vulnerable' when trying to escape domestic violence. Her comment comes as tens of thousands of Australians marched around the country over the weekend calling for an end to violence against women. Twenty-six women were allegedly killed in Australia at the hands of their partners or former partners so far this year - 12 more than during the same period in 2023. This month alone there has been a wave of women killed allegedly at the hands of men including Molly Ticehurst, 28, Emma Bates, 49, Erica Hays, 30, and the appalling Bondi Junction stabbing attack which claimed the lives of five women. More than a dozen 'No More: National Rally Against Gender Based Violence'demonstrations were held across Australia on Saturday and Sunday. The rallies, organised by advocacy group, 'What Were You Wearing', are calling on the government to take action against domestic violence. Molly Ticehurst, 28, (pictured) was allegedly killed by her ex-boyfriend Daniel Billings, 29, inside her home in Forbes, 370km west of SydneyPolice will allege Billings traveled to Forbes with the intent to kill Ms Ticehurst despite being the subject of an AVO Two in five women in Australia, or about 40 per cent, have experienced violence since the age of 15, according to Domestic Violence NSW data. Men are more likely to be the perpetrators of abuse and violence, with women suffering higher chances of being hospitalised compared to when a woman is the offender. Experts claim women who live in regional NSW are 'sitting ducks' and face significantly more barriers when trying to escape an abusive partner than those who live in the city. Domestic Violence NSW senior policy officer Doctor Bridget Mottram said the death of Ms Ticehurst highlighted the risks women face while living in regional areas. Dr Mottram said emergency accommodaiton was 'grossly lacking' in regional Australia. 'It's that inability to hide in regional, rural, and remote areas, to get away, to get help, get out of danger to have time to think,' she told the Daily Telegraph. 'In country towns, there is often one bus out of town a day, and everyone knows who gets on and who gets off.' Dr Mottram added emergency accomodation, which is at the core of a victim's safety, must be taken into consideration when a court rules on bail conditions. About 21 per cent of women living outside of a capital city experiences domestic violence compare Women who live outside of capital cities are at a 21 per cent higher risk of domestic violence compared to 15 per cent of women living in the city, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey. Women who live in rural and regional areas are geographically isolated which means they are also affected during natural disasters and are often unable to access appropriate resources. In comparison, there are a vast number of support services that are widely available to women who live in Sydney. A 35-year-old man has been charged with the murder of mother-of-four Erica Hays (pictured) after her body was found in a house fire in Warnbro, Perth Emma Bates, 49, was found in her home at Cobram on the Victorian-NSW border. Her next-door neighbour John Torney faced court facing assault charges over her death Women in Sydney who are experiencing domestic violence can easily access the support in a safe manner while planning their escape. Another barrier facing women who live in remote or rural areas is the access to police. In small towns the nearest police station could potentially be hundreds of kilometres away. Dr Mottram added long term and affordable housing in NSW regional communities was at a crisis point, as social housing and safe dwellings for victims was limited. In 2021, 9,000 women were homeless as a result of domestic and family violence. According to the equity economics report, 7600 women and their children returned to live with the perpetrator because they had to choose between being homeless or an abuse partner. Dr Mottram said regional domestic violence workers have 'cried out for support and funding' but have gone unanswered. She added urgent government funding is needed to tackle the lack of infrastructure for domestic violence victims in regional areas. READ MORE: Four things that could change RIGHT NOW to save the lives of Aussie women from violence - as a famous Australian suggests a controversial new name for DV offenders Former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty (pictured) called for stronger language for domestic violence offences Advertisement 'We are in a national emergency, and we need to respond as such. We need significant and sustained investment if we are going to shift the dial and save lives,' Dr Mottram said. Domestic Violence NSW has more than 150 member organisations across the state specialised in domestic and family violence services. The peak body has called on the state government to increase its funding by $852,000 per year. It has also lobbied for a 20 per cent rise to domestic and family violence services nationwide and a state government commitment of $40million for prevention. Domestic violence is estimated to cost the Australian economy $25billion. The mother of 21-year old Mackenzie Anderson who was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend claimed women in regional areas are often 'ostracised' for reporting domestic violence. Ms Anderson was allegedly stabbed more than 80 times, had her head stomped on and was left to die on the lawn at her unit on Crebert Street in Mayfield, Newcastle, at 10.40pm on March 25, 2022. Her two-year-old son was found nearby, unharmed but covered in his mother's blood. Her ex-boyfriend Tyrone Thompson was arrested for assault just one day after he was released from jail following a domestic violence offences against Ms Anderson. Thompson was granted bail. Two weeks later, police allege he murdered Ms Anderson. Ms Anderson's mum Tabitha Acret said women in rural towns are ostracised if they speak out against their attackers. 'Women are often faced with coming forward and hearing: 'Oh, he seems really nice' and then they retreat,' Ms Acret said. 'It's magnified in regional and rural towns where there is an even bigger stigma and often these people hurting their partners are well known in the community and the woman in need of help risks being ostracised if they are brave enough to speak out against someone popular.' Domestic Violence NSW senior policy officer Doctor Bridget Mottram women in regional areas are more 'completely vulnerable', more at risk and have limited options and are 'completely vulnerable' when trying to escape domestic violence The wave of women killed at the hands of their current and former partners has prompted a total of 15 anti violence against women protest across the country Tens of thousands gathered to march in 'No More: National Rally Against Gender Based Violence' across Australia's capital cities and regional towns Thompson pleaded not guilty to murdering his ex-girlfriend and will face trial next year. The body of teaching assistant Molly Ticehurst, 28, was found inside a home in Forbes, 370km west of Sydney, just before 2am on April 22. Daniel Billings, 29, was charged with her murder with court documents revealing he was on bail at the time for stalking, sexual assault and harassment charges. Billings was given conditional release after he was arrested on April 5, just 15 days before allegedly murdering Ms Ticehurst. Police will allege Billings traveled to Forbes with the intent to kill Ms Ticehurst despite being the subject of an AVO and forbidden to visit the area. Just 36 hours later, the body of Emma Bates, 49, was found in her home at Cobram on the Victorian-NSW border. Her next-door neighbour John Torney fronted court on Friday and faces assault charges over her death. A 35-year-old man was also charged with murder after the body of a mother-of-four was discovered in a house fire in Warnbro, Perth, on Friday. The body of Erica Hay, 30, was discovered in a rear bedroom of the home on Currie Street. Police allege the 35-year-old man assaulted Ms Hay prior to 1am at the home where they both lived, before setting the house alight and fleeing the scene. If you or someone you know has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) for 24 hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line. Mensline Australia 1300 789 978 Supports men and boys who are dealing with family and relationship difficulties. 24/7 telephone and online support an information service for Australian men. Call 1300 789 978 for help. If this article has raised any issues for you, contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 for confidential support 24/7. 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 International Festival and Fringe amid an accommodation crisis sparked by the SNP's 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 Edinburgh's 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. 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. The cruise ship MS Ambition (pictured) is making an unlikely return to Scotland to host tourists and performers at the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe amid an accommodation crisis sparked by the SNP's new rental licences 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 Critics said the impending arrival of the ship is another example of the negative impact of the SNP's licences on Scotland's lucrative tourism sector. It's understood council officials are even assessing whether the ship may require one of the STL licences while berthed in Leith. READ MORE: Gail Porter hits out at Edinburgh Fringe Festival bosses as she claims she can't perform this year after venue and accommodation prices skyrocket Advertisement 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 Scotland's 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, there's 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. 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 Scotland's 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 SNP's 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. We told last week how Edinburgh's 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 (pictured: a street entertainer at the festival in 2023) Stars such as TV presenter Gail Porter (pictured) have recently hit out at the eye-watering cost of staying in Edinburgh during the Festivals as a result of the reduced supply 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 Scotland's 32 local authorities. Edinburgh City Council planning convener James Dalgleish said: 'It's 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.' This video is no longer available This video is no longer available An Australian man is facing almost three years in an Indonesian jail after a video allegedly showing him assaulting a local driver was sent to police. Maika James Folauhola, a 24-year-old from Mildura in north-west Victoria, was arrested by Kuta Police while preparing to board a flight home at Ngurah Rai International Airport on Friday. Kuta Police allege Mr Folauhola attacked a driver shortly after 10pm last Sunday. 'According to the victim's statement, the perpetrator hit the victim five times on the victim's head, shoulders, neck and back until the victim suffered injuries,' Kuta Police Chief Commissioner I Ketut Agus Pasek Sudina told local news outlets. The allegation was reported to police on Tuesday with the Investigation Unit Opsnal Team arresting Mr Folauhola with the help of airport security staff. Maika James Folauhola (pictured) was arrested at a Bali airport on Friday after allegedly assaulting a driver Mr Folauhola (pictured left with his friends and police) was preparing to board a flight home to Australia when he was arrested Footage of the incident shows a man, alleged to be Mr Folauhola, standing in front of the driver's car before lashing out and hitting the driver against their window. Police claim Mr Folauhola told officers the car had almost hit him and that he had been drinking before the alleged attack. 'The perpetrator suddenly hit the side window of the victim's car until finally the victim got out of the car intending to ask the perpetrator who hit the window,' Commissioner Sudina said. 'But the victim was actually assaulted by the perpetrator.' Mr Folauhola could face up to two years and eight months behind bars if found guilty for the alleged assault. A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is 'providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Bali'. An Oklahoma man beat up his girlfriend while she was pregnant - then murdered their baby son 10 months after he was born, prosecutors allege. Hunter Smiley, 25, had already been arrested by police in January 2023 for beating up the infant's mother, who DailyMail.com is not naming, while still pregnant with their unborn son. At the time, Smiley was charged with domestic assault and battery against a pregnant woman. He pled guilty to hitting the mother using pieces of a door he had broken while in a fight following a night drinking. But Smiley is since said to have murdered the child - an adorable boy named Briggs - just 10 months after the infant was born. Oklahoma man, Hunter Smiley, 25, faces murder charges for killing his nine-month-old baby Briggs was found non-responsive and hospitalized with brain bleeding and eye hemorrhaging The baby died from his injuries two days after being hospitalized Newcastle Police Department were summoned to the home on April 10 after receiving a call about the baby who was non-responsive at the time. Briggs was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Doctors found the infant had internal bleeding of the brain and hemorrhaging behind the eyes. The baby subsequently died from his injuries just two days later, on April 12. Smiley was at the home when officers with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation showed up. Officers also found a gun on Smiley when they arrived. Smiley was arrested booked into the McClain County Jail on a first-degree murder charge on April 15. Smiley, arrested with a gun, now faces a first degree murder charge and a $5m bond, a 'no contact order; with his next court date set for May 22 The boy's mother was beaten by Smiley while she was still pregnant with their son in January 2023 Court documents reveal how a 'no contact' protective order had been filed against Smiley but the mother later requested the order be lifted The baby's mother asked for the 'no contact' order to be lifted so Smiley could 'be involved in the birth of his child' Police were brought to the family home after baby Briggs was found to be non-responsive Court documents reveal how a 'no contact' protective order had been filed against Smiley but the mother later requested the order be lifted so Smiley could 'be involved in the birth of his child.' Smiley had been undergoing counseling following the January 2023 incident. 'It is tragic when a life is taken so early,' said District Attorney Greg Mashburn to KFOR. 'We will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law to be the voice of this victim who is unable to speak for himself. Thank you to the Newcastle Police Department and the OSBI for your hard work on this case so we may seek justice for B.S.' Smiley has been arraigned but remains in custody with bond was set at $5 million. He has been ordered to have no contact with the victim's family. Officials say Smiley's next court date will be at a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 22. A man has been charged with murder after he allegedly assaulted a woman and set their Perth home alight before fleeing. Firefighters were called to the Warnbro home in Perth's southern suburbs at about 1am on Friday following reports of a house fire. The body of Erica Hay, 30, was discovered in a rear bedroom of the home on Currie Street. Luke Hanif Sekkouah, 35, and a three-year-old girl escaped from the house and were taken to Rockingham Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Police allege Sekkouah had assaulted the mother-of-four sometime prior to 1am at the home where they both lived. A 35-year-old man has been charged with the murder of mother-of-four Erica Hay (pictured) Firefighters discovered the 30-year-old's body in the rear bedroom of a home on Currie Street, in Perth's southern suburb of Warnbro (pictured). Police allege the man assaulted Ms Hay and set the house on fire before fleeing the scene He set the house alight, fleeing the property with the woman's three-year-old child and leaving the victim inside, police allege. Sekkouah, who was allegedly known to Ms Hay, was assisting police with their investigation before being charged with murder and criminal damage by fire. Police Acting Detective Superintendent Dave Gorton said Ms Hay's death was 'very confronting' for first responders. 'There is no risk to the public, but the scene at the home was very confronting for the paramedics and police who attended the fire,' Mr Gorton said. 'I think for the first responders and the other emergency services, it was a very confronting scene for them.' Authorities are yet to determine Ms Hay's cause of death. 'We've been in contact with the forensic pathologists, and we're still awaiting the information in relation to the cause of death,' Mr Gorton said. Paramedics took the the toddler to Rockingham Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and remains in a stable condition. The home sustained minimal damage in the blaze. The man was discharged from hospital and is set to face Perth Magistrates Court on Sunday. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 President Joe Biden delivered an election year roast at the White House correspondents' dinner on Saturday making fun of his age and firing barbs at Donald Trump. 'It's been a year since I delivered the speech and my wife, Jill told me she was worried how I'd do,' Biden began. 'I told her, "Don't worry. It's just like riding the bike" She said that's what I'm worried about,' Biden joked, in a reference to him falling off his bike two years ago during a summer vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Biden, 81, wasted no time in getting to this November's election which sees the two oldest candidates running in American history. Trump will be 78 by the time election day rolls around. 'Course the 2024 elections in full swing and yes age is an issue,' Biden said. 'I'm a grown man and I'm running against a six-year-old!' President Joe Biden delivered an election year roast at the White House correspondents' dinner on Saturday making fun of his age and firing barbs at Donald Trump U.S. President Joe Biden reacts as host Colin Jost speaks to him The president spoke as millions will tuned in to see whether Biden was able to get through his White House Correspondents' Association dinner speech gaffe free. At the century-old event, often referred to as Washington's 'nerd prom,' hundreds of journalists, politicians and celebrities will rub elbows in a massive hotel banquet hall at the Washington Hilton Hotel. It often features friendly jabs from the president in a closing speech that takes aim at reporters and other guests in the audience. This year it will be hosted by Saturday Night Live's Colin Jost. President Joe Biden, left, and Kelly O'Donnell, WHCA president and Senior White House correspondent for NBC News, attend the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner President Biden will be speaking on Saturday night as millions will tune in to see whether he is able to get through his White House Correspondents' Association dinner speech gaffe free People demonstrate in support of Palestinians in Gaza, during a protest outside the annual White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington A growing movement against the war in Gaza has dogged Biden this year including at a $250-per-ticket March fundraiser at New York's Radio City Music Hall, where protesters disrupted the event for the U.S. handling of the crisis in Gaza. Recently, that movement has expanded to college campuses in the U.S., signifying a growing revolt inside the Democratic base that Biden needs to defeat Republican frontrunner and former President Donald Trump. Demonstrators holding banners chanted about journalist deaths in Gaza outside the Washington Hilton, the site of the annual gathering. Hundreds of protesters encouraged journalists to boycott the event and shouted down administration officials as they entered. Biden avoided the large protests at the front of the hotel by arriving through a back entrance, where he was greeted by smaller groups of protesters calling for a ceasefire. Kelly O'Donnell, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, declined to comment on security measures for the dinner. 'The safety and security of our protectees is the U.S. Secret Service's top priority,' said U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Alexi Worley, who declined to comment further. Scarlett Johansson, right, waves as Lorne Michaels, 'Saturday Night Live' creator and producer, looks on at the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton ice President Kamala Harris looks on during the White House Correspondents Dinner This year it will be hosted by Saturday Night Live's Colin Jost, left. Pictured, the president and Senior White House correspondent for NBC News, listen as the Star Spangled Banner is played Israel's six-month old war against Hamas in Gaza, in response to the Oct. 7 attack by the militant group in southern Israel, has killed more than 34,000 people, Palestinian health authorities say, and caused a humanitarian disaster for the enclave's more than 2 million inhabitants. The Hamas attack killed 1,200 people in Israel, and led to 253 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. The White House Correspondents Association was founded in 1914 and has held a dinner nearly every year since 1921 to celebrate the reporters who cover the presidency and raise money for scholarships. The mental health of a veteran SAS hero collapsed after he was threatened with jail for refusing to appear at an inquest for an IRA death squad, it emerged last night. The ex-soldier, who can only be identified as Soldier F, was found in contempt of court after saying he was too ill to be cross-examined about the shooting of the three IRA men in an SAS ambush in 1991. He was initially ordered to spend six months behind bars but last week following a public outcry his jail sentence was quashed. Judges instead imposed a 5,000 fine. His lawyer Philip Barden last night told the MoS that the legal battle had taken its toll. His poor health, the result of his post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], has significantly deteriorated as a consequence of this legal process, he said. Three gunmen were en route to murder a member of the security forces when SAS soldiers opened fire in the village of Coagh. Pictured: Scene of the SAS shooting of three IRA men in Coagh Co Tyrone Soldier F, who has battled PTSD since 2002, was called to give his account of an SAS operation in Co Tyrone in June 1991 to a coroner in Belfast. Pictured: File photo of British special forces Soldier F, who has battled PTSD since 2002, was called to give his account of an SAS operation in Co Tyrone in June 1991 to a coroner in Belfast. Three gunmen were en route to murder a member of the security forces when SAS soldiers opened fire in the village of Coagh. He provided a witness statement for the inquest into the dead men, who included Tony Doris, 21, a cousin of Northern Irelands First Minister Michelle ONeill, and agreed to answer written questions but declined to give oral evidence because of his poor health. Two leading psychiatrists agreed he was not fit to give evidence in person. Telecoms giant BT has been accused of cutting off a lifeline to the elderly after it quietly shut down its free online directory weeks after axing its free phone book. Bosses ditched the physical catalogue at the start of this month (1/4) after 144 years, leaving the website as the only place to get numbers without paying. But now the Mail on Sunday has learnt that the internet service is set to close on Tuesday (30/4). It means customers seeking numbers will be forced to dial 118 500, which costs 1.55 per minute on top of a 77p call charge. Requesting a printed phonebook now costs around 13 - and BT warned it will significantly increase the price next year despite printing it for just 50p a copy. The Mail on Sunday has learnt that the internet service is set to close on Tuesday. Pictured: BT's website homepage Bosses ditched the physical catalogue at the start of this month (1/4) after 144 years, leaving the website as the only place to get numbers without paying It means customers seeking numbers will be forced to dial 118 500, which costs 1.55 per minute on top of a 77p call charge. Pictured: File image READ MORE: End of an era: The phone book goes the way of the fax machine as it drops through doors for the very last time after almost 150 years Advertisement Consumer expert Sarah Coles of analysts Hargreaves Lansdown said: BT could be cutting off a lifeline here. People need to fully understand that calling the 118 number is so expensive. The risk is that older people are stuck at home and not knowing the number they want to call, nor how to find that number anymore. Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, added: Most older people who weve asked say the phone book should be available for free. Its a very useful resource. The move comes in stark contrast to the Yellow Pages which has kept a free website, yelp.com, after it stopped printing the legendary phone book in 2019. BT admitted that over a fifth (21 per cent) of users of its online services are over 65 as it cut the service. It is understood the communications firm will save 9 million by not printing the usual 18 million books. Instead, customers are urged to download a PDF version from its website or pay 10 plus postage to get their hands on a physical copy - with prices going up next year. Eamonn Donaghy, chief executive of the National Federation of Occupational Pensioners, said: The removal of the free phonebook website for looking up numbers could impact a lot of older people on fixed low incomes. Consumer expert Sarah Coles of analysts Hargreaves Lansdown (pictured) said: BT could be cutting off a lifeline here. People need to fully understand that calling the 118 number is so expensive' Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, (pictured) added: Most older people who weve asked say the phone book should be available for free. Its a very useful resource Many older people are reliant on the phonebook, so having to pay puts them at a disadvantage. Social contact is very important for older people and a lot of it is done via the phone. BT argues that searches on phonebook.com have been steadily declining with most information available on search engines. It announced it was no longer sending out its printed directory for free as part of its moves to become net zero by 2030. The company claimed cutting the phone book will save around 6,000 tonnes of paper each year - equivalent to 72,000 trees. A BT spokesperson said BT printed 18million copies of the phone book every year. But, as paper-based advertising has plummeted, the number of households using the directory had also dropped. The broadband and telephone provider first launched its paper phone book in 1880. It has since been printed every year, apart from a brief break between 1913 and 1920. In its last ever printed phone book, the firm said: We have loved being your local directory online. Online services will also finish. Cindy Cruz of the San Antonio Public Library helps Hectoer Guerra during a digital literacy class at the San Antonio Food Bank in December 2021. Two initiatives one funded by the city of San Antonio and AT&T and one by Bexar County and Spectrum are working to bring internet access to thousands of households in underserved areas. Robin Jerstad Aldo Castillo of the San Antonio Food Bank helps Wanda Guilmenot as Estella Cano looks over her page during a digital literacy class at the San Antonio Food Bank in December 2021. Two initiatives one funded by the city of San Antonio and AT&T and one by Bexar County and Spectrum are working to bring internet access to thousands of households in underserved areas. Robin Jerstad /Contributor Efforts to ensure that San Antonio-area residents have reliable internet access are making progress, but much work remains before a federal internet subsidy for thousands of residents expires. Separate public-private initiatives involving the city and Bexar County to help about 35,000 homes get connected are underway, according to the latest update from SA Digital Connects, a city-county partnership that was created in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the reality that more than 130,000 households in the area lacked broadband access. We leveraged over $66 million to provide (internet) access to over 35,000 households by the end of 2026, said Rhia Pape, executive director of SA Digital Connects, whos led the partnership since October. We have been supporting those projects along the way. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Two contracts one between the city and AT&T and one between Bexar County and Spectrum call for installing broadband infrastructure in parts of the city and county that arent yet connected. The city and AT&T contributed $8.8 million and $24.7 million, respectively, to help 20,000 customers in the next two years. According to SA Digital Connects March update, 661 locations have been connected so far and an additional 4,240 are under construction. Similarly, Bexar County and Spectrum committed $11.8 million and roughly $30.8 million, respectively, to connect more than 10,500 households in unincorporated areas and suburban cities. They have not started putting shovels in the ground yet, Pape said of the county project. But they are on their way to doing that very soon. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The three As According to Pape, infrastructure is only one part of getting people online. She thinks about three As: access, adoption and affordability. Infrastructure provides access, but people often need a device to connect, and they need to be able to pay for the service. Adoption, she said, involves helping community members obtain access to the devices that are relevant to their needs and ensuring that they have the digital skills to use those devices. For instance, job applications, research and schoolwork, such as writing papers, can be difficult on smartphones. A better device for such tasks might be a tablet or laptop. Advertisement Article continues below this ad SA Digital Connects works with 200 local organizations to help people get online. On Thursday, the agency got a new partner when Compudopt, a national nonprofit working to close the digital divide, in collaboration with Methodist Healthcare Ministries, launched in San Antonio at an event at the Frost Bank Center, where it gave free laptop computers to 300 families. Compudopt plans to hand out 5,000 devices, connect 2,500 households to free or low-cost internet, provide digital skill training to more than 18,000 and provide workforce-aligned technology education programs to more than 300 local youth. Investment in digital inclusion, investment in broadband internet and supporting folks in ensuring that they can afford and they have devices and that theyre comfortable using those devices, theyve got computer skills training those things have long-term impacts, especially in the area of economic development, Pape said. When you start talking about the workforce and career pathways, its a digital world. Advertisement Article continues below this ad End of federal subsidy While such local efforts ramp up, a federal program to help offset internet costs for low-income families is going away. The Federal Communications Commissions Affordable Connectivity Program, which has helped 23 million households across the country stay connected, is winding down as its funding runs out. Its heartbreaking to see something that has been so effective, potentially, just disappear right out from underneath us, Pape said. In Bexar County, we have over 160,000 households that are registered and utilizing the program. And more people are likely eligible but havent signed up, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad With the Affordable Connectivity Programs funding nearly depleted and no new deal from Congress in sight, this is the last month that people enrolled will receive the full $30 monthly stipend than enabled many to get internet service for free. AT&T, Spectrum and Google Fiber were all providing a $30 option, Pape said. With that subsidy, they were paying zero dollars for internet, so if that goes away, we could potentially see a significant number of households no longer have service. A $7 billion stopgap measure to fund the program through the end of the year was introduced in Congress in January. A woman is missing after her car broke down on a rural road in Victoria. Samantha, whose last name has not been disclosed, was travelling on the Princes Highway when her grey Kia Sportage broke down in Tamboon at 8.15am on Friday. It is believed a passer-by stopped to assist the 33-year-old woman from Point Cook, and she has not been seen since. There are serious concerns for Samanthas welfare due to a medical condition. Samantha, whose last name has not been disclosed, was travelling on the Princes Highway when her grey Kia Sportage broke down in Tamboon at 8.15am on Friday She was last seen wearing blue/grey fleece top, jeans and runners. Investigators believe Samantha was attempting to travel to Melbourne and may have been hitchhiking along the Princes Highway. Victoria Police confirmed on Sunday that a search is currently underway in Tamboon with help from the SES. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact police. President Joe Biden gave an energetic performance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner - with the 81 year-old making fun of his age, an infamous fall from a bike - and Donald Trump's ongoing hush money trial. Addressing a crowd of 2,600 journalists at the Washington Hilton Hotel, Biden quipped that First Lady Jill had been nervous about him giving a speech. He said: 'I told her, don't worry, it's just like riding a bike. 'She said, "that's what I'm worried about".' Addressing concerns over his advancing years, Biden, who is the oldest president in history, added: 'Yes, age is an issue. I'm a grown man, I'm running against a six year old.' The president then had a laugh at the expense of the presumed 2024 GOP nominee Donald Trump, currently on trial in New York for paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels to cover-up an alleged affair. Biden said: 'I've had a great stretch since the State of the Union. Donald has had a tough few days lately you might call it stormy weather.' President Joe Biden delivered an election year roast at the White House correspondents' dinner on Saturday making fun of his age and firing barbs at Donald Trump The president had a laugh at the expense of the presumed 2024 GOP nominee Donald Trump, currently on trial in New York for paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels to cover-up an alleged affair He added: 'He's gotten so desperate he's reading those Bibles he's selling, then he got to the first commandment, 'You should have no other God before me.' That's when he put it down and said this book's not for me,' the president quipped. Trump recently began selling special $69.99 Bibles to raise campaign funds, a move that has been mocked by liberals but also angered some evangelical Christians. Addressing his reluctance to do interviews - reportedly over fears he's not fit for journalists' questions, Biden said: 'Some of you complain that I don't take enough of your questions...no comment.' And he also turned criticism from the New York Times into a gag, after the paper accused him of 'actively and effectively' avoiding the press. Biden said: 'Hey, if that's what it takes to get the New York times to say I'm active and effective.' Saturday Night Live comedian Colin Jost was chosen to roast the president - and delivered some soft blows about his age, while saving most of his invective for Donald Trump. At one point, Jost - whose actress wife Scarlett Johansson was in the audience - glowingly likened Biden to his late grandpa, a former Staten Island firefighter. President Joe Biden delivered an election year roast at the White House correspondents' dinner on Saturday quickly followed by SNL comedian Colin Jost, left SNL comedian Colin Jost's timing appeared to be slightly off while reading his jokes rather than using a teleprompter on Saturday night's White House dinner President Joe Biden speaks with Comedian Colin Jost during the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC on Saturday night Biden was able to poke fun at himself and his bike accident when he fell off while riding in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware in June 2022 Moments earlier, Biden appeared on stage delivering his a roast of his own in which he appeared energetic and able to make jokes at his own expense - particularly when it came to his age. 'It's been a year since I delivered the speech and my wife, Jill told me she was worried how I'd do,' Biden began. 'I told her, 'Don't worry. It's just like riding the bike' She said that's what I'm worried about,' Biden joked, in a reference to him falling off his bike two years ago during a summer vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Biden, 81, wasted no time in getting to this November's election which sees the two oldest candidates running in American history. Trump will be 78 by the time election day rolls around. 'Course the 2024 elections in full swing and yes age is an issue,' Biden said. 'I'm a grown man and I'm running against a six-year-old!' 'I feel great, I really feel great,' he assured the crowd. 'I'm campaigning all over the country. Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina I've always done well in the original 13 colonies.' 'Trump's speech was so embarrassing that the statue of Robert E Lee surrendered again,' Biden went on. 'Age is the only thing we only have in common,' he said about himself and Trump, who is 77. 'My vice president actually endorses me,' he joked referring to Trump not receiving the endorsement of his former vice president Mike Pence. President Joe Biden laughs as host Colin Jost speaks at the dinner Colin Jost appeared to tear up and grow emotional as he recalled the life of his grandfather Biden appeared to enjoy Jost's roast during the dinner on Saturday night President Biden shakes hands with Colin Jost following his standup routine on Saturday night Scarlett Johansson and comedian Colin Jost pose for photographers as they arrive Biden appeared be enjoying himself throughout the evening Biden appeared to take any joked aimed at him with good humor Biden's comic speech then turned serious morphing into a campaign speech as he discussed the stakes of November's presidential election calling Trump's 'attack on our democracy.' The said what he believes is at stake this election, saying that another Trump administration would be even more harmful to America than his first term. 'We have to take this serious - eight years ago we could have written it off as `Trump talk but not after January 6,' Biden told the audience, referring to the supporters of Trump who stormed the Capitol after Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 election. "I'm sincerely not asking you to take sides. I'm asking you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment. Move past the horse race numbers and the gotcha moments, and the distractions, the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics and focus on what's actually at stake," the president urged. 'Move past the horse race numbers and the 'gotcha' moments and the distractions and the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics, and focus on what's actually at stake,' Biden said. 'I think in your hearts, you know what's at stake.' Biden's speech was relatively short leaving the way for Jost to take to the podium. But Jost was rarely political during his set and began his standup set with a joke aimed at Vice President Kamala Harris' husband Doug Emhoff. 'Doug as you can tell from all the comments about my wife [Scarlett Johansson], I'm also used to being the second gentleman,' Jost said. 'I am excited to be up on stage mostly to see where Obama was pulling the strings from', he continued. 'I have to admit it's not easy following Biden. It's not easy following what he's saying,' Jost joked in reference to the president's tendency to mumble when speaking. Jost quickly turned his focus on Trump. Jost left long pauses in between his one liners with very few barbs aimed at Biden Colin Jost joked that he was known as the 'Second gentleman' in his house with his popular, beautiful wife, Scarlett Johansson, extremely piopular Senator John Fetterman wore a tuxedo hoodie and pair of shorts for the black tie diner 'Can we just acknowledge how refreshing it is to see the POTUS at an event which doesn't begin with a bailiff saying all rise?' Jost said, poking fun a Trump's current New York criminal trial. 'I would like to point out that it's after 10pm, and Sleepy Joe is still awake while Donald Trump has been falling asleep in court every morning.' Jost made a joke about cocaine being found at the White House last year, suggesting Biden had taken it to give him his upbeat performance during this year's State of the Union address. 'I love being in Washington the last time I was in DC, I left my cocaine at the White House,' Jost said. 'Luckily the president was able to put it to good use for his State of the Union. 'Of course, the president doesn't call it cocaine. He calls a high-speed rail by the way,' Jost joked. 'Can you blame the guy for turning to cocaine? He must be exhausted orchestrating for four separate trials against his rival, rigging the super bowl and gearing up to steal a second election,' the SNL star said. Jost then used some of Donald Trump's attacks on Biden to fuel the next part of his set. 'I love that Trumps two attacks on Biden are that he's a senile old man and a criminal mastermind. I think you've got to pick one,' Jost suggested. 'I mean, it's not like Trump is sharp and young. Personally i don't think criminal masterminds bike to get ice cream. 'So let me see if I can summarize where this race stands at this moment. The Republican candidate owes half a billion dollars for bank fraud and spends his days farting himself awake at a porn star hush money trial and the race is tied. Nothing makes sense anymore,' Jost said in humor typical of his usual SNL skits. 'Nothing makes sense anymore!' he added. U.S. President Joe Biden reacts as host Colin Jost speaks to him 'Their pastels and their desire to make trump look as bad as possible every sketch of trump looks like The Grinch had sex with the Lorax,' Jost joked 'The guy trying to give you your abortion rights back is an 80-year-old Catholic, nothing makes sense. By a lot of measures Biden is having a very successful first term, the vibes are bad but the economy is strong..kind of like you on the steps of Air Force One. 'It feels like it's stumbling but theres strong upward progress,' Jost joked. 'I do think that you can do more on the economy, sir. I really do. For example, have you considered eliminating the national debt by shorting Trump's stock?' Jost continued his attack on Trump as he spoke about the current court case. 'For everyone though this may be the worst time in history to be a print journalist. It is the best time in history to be a courtroom sketch artist my God, the most famous man on Earth is on trial and there's no cameras allowed, just the artists. 'Their pastels and their desire to make trump look as bad as possible every sketch of trump looks like The Grinch had sex with the Lorax,' Jost joked. 'I would really like to take a moment to recognize all the print journalists in this room. Your words speak truth to power your words bring light to the darkness and most importantly, your words train the AI programs that will soon replace you.'. Jost ended his set with a touching tribute to his late grandfather as he told how the 95-year-old Staten Island firefighter was a Democrat and had voted for Biden. 'He voted for you, and the reason he voted for you is because you're a decent man. My grandpa voted for decency and decency is why we're all here tonight. Decency is why we are all able to be here tonight. Decency is how we're able to make jokes about each other and one of us doesn't go to prison after. ' Jax Taylor briefly filmed Brittany while she adjusted her dress, prompting her to gently admonish him: 'Wait 'til I'm ready!' Jax Taylor (left) and Brittany Cartwright (right) reunited at the star-studded White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday as honored guests of DailyMail.com Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright also reunited at the star-studded event - just two months after announcing their separation. In an Insta Story picture taken from his dinner table, Jax, 44. revealed that he and Brittany, 35, had been seated next to each other - indicating their cordiality as they co-parent their three-year-old son Cruz. At the century-old event, often referred to as Washington's 'nerd prom,' hundreds of journalists, politicians and celebrities will rub elbows in a massive hotel banquet hall at the Washington Hilton Hotel. It often features friendly jabs from the president in a closing speech that takes aim at reporters and other guests in the audience. Biden's appearance at the banquet is in keeping with longstanding tradition for the event, in which the president and the national media gather for a roast of the US leader - an annual gala that was interrupted during the Trump administration. President Joe Biden, left, and Kelly O'Donnell, WHCA president and Senior White House correspondent for NBC News, attend the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner President Biden will be speaking on Saturday night as millions will tune in to see whether he is able to get through his White House Correspondents' Association dinner speech gaffe free People demonstrate in support of Palestinians in Gaza, during a protest outside the annual White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington A growing movement against the war in Gaza has dogged Biden this year including at a $250-per-ticket March fundraiser at New York's Radio City Music Hall, where protesters disrupted the event for the U.S. handling of the crisis in Gaza. Recently, that movement has expanded to college campuses in the U.S., signifying a growing revolt inside the Democratic base that Biden needs to defeat Republican frontrunner and former President Donald Trump. Demonstrators holding banners chanted about journalist deaths in Gaza outside the Washington Hilton, the site of the annual gathering. Hundreds of protesters encouraged journalists to boycott the event and shouted down administration officials as they entered. ice President Kamala Harris looks on during the White House Correspondents Dinner This year it will be hosted by Saturday Night Live's Colin Jost, left. Pictured, the president and Senior White House correspondent for NBC News, listen as the Star Spangled Banner is played Biden avoided the large protests at the front of the hotel by arriving through a back entrance, where he was greeted by smaller groups of protesters calling for a ceasefire. Kelly O'Donnell, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, declined to comment on security measures for the dinner. 'The safety and security of our protectees is the U.S. Secret Service's top priority,' said U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Alexi Worley, who declined to comment further. The White House Correspondents Association was founded in 1914 and has held a dinner nearly every year since 1921 to celebrate the reporters who cover the presidency and raise money for scholarships. Comes as 26 women killed so far this year Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon joined tens of thousands of protesters to call for an end to violence against women. A total of 15 'No More: National Rally Against Gender Based Violence' protests were planned for major cities across Australia's capital cities and regional towns on Saturday and Sunday. The protests kicked off in Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide on Saturday afternoon before continuing on Sunday in Melbourne and Brisbane. This month alone there has been a wave of women killed allegedly at the hands of men including Molly Ticehurst, 28, Emma Bates, 49, Erica Hay, 30, and the appalling Bondi Junction stabbing attack which claimed the lives of five women. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon joined tens of thousands of protesters to call for an end to violence against women Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon were present at the rally in Canberra - one of several locations that set the stage for the demonstrations around the country on Sunday People gather at the State Library of Victoria to rally against women's violence Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (pictured at the Melbourne rally) said Australian women 'had enough of being angry' Pictured, woman seen holding a sign 'how many of us have to die? during Sydney's rally on Saturday Protesters marching in Melbourne's rally Large crowds of protesters gathered outside the State Library of Victoria on Sunday morning before marching to Federation Square. In a confronting scene, one woman marched with a red hand print painted across her mouth while holding a sign that read: 'real men don't commit acts of violence'. Other protesters were seen holding signs that read: 'The system has failed us' and 'be careful, text me when you get home'. The series of national rallies, organised by non-profit group 'What Were You Wearing', are calling for boosted funding for family and sexual violence services. The protests are also demanding Anthony Albanese declare gender-based violence a national emergency. It comes as 26 Australian women have been killed by a current or former partner - a rate of one every four days - so far this year, according to data from advocacy group Destroy the Joint's project Counting Dead Women. Australians around the country turned out in large numbers to call for an end to gender-based violence, following a series of recent attacks on women The series of national rallies were organised by non-profit group 'What Were You Wearing' The large crowd of protesters gathered outside the State Library of Victoria and marched to Federation Square Pictured, protesters marching in solidarity during the 'No More!' National Rally Against Violence in Melbourne Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan thanked protesters who attended the marches across Australia in a press conference after Melbourne's rally. Ms Allan said women had 'enough of being angry' and deserved the right to feel safe in their lives. 'Women deserve the right to be safe in every space and we are seeing, continuously, too many women are losing their lives,' Ms Allan said. 'There were women at the march today, like me, we've been marching on this issue for decades and decades and decades. 'We've had enough of being angry and outraged and sad and grieving for women who've lost their lives, for women who have been seriously injured, for women who are too traumatised to participate in the workplace, to participate as members of our community.' It comes as Federal Attorney General Mark Dreyfus rejected the idea of holding a royal commission into domestic violence. Queensland Premier Steve Miles (right) joined thousands at King George Square at 11am and marched through Brisbane's city centre The protests come after 26 women were killed by their current or former partner so far this year One protester was seen holding a sign that read: 'I don't want to go to my friend's funeral because a man can't say no!' Protesters called on the government to take action and provide more funding for domestic violence services Mr Dreyfus, who was in attendance at the Melbourne rally, said domestic violence should be dealt with via cooperation between the federal and state and territory governments. 'I think we've 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,' Mr Dreyfus said. '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.' Queensland Premier Steve Miles joined thousands at King George Square at 11am and marched through Brisbane's city centre. Mr Miles stood in support of the protesters and was pictured next to a woman holding a sign that read: 'Stop killing women'. Another young woman, who was holding back tears, was seen marching with a sign: 'I don't want to go to my friend's funeral because a man can't take a no!'. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is due to attend the rally in Canberra, along with the Minister for Women Katy Gallagher and the Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth. Mr Wanless was flying Ms Callingham for her father's memorial A man and a woman killed in a light plane crash were on their way to scatter the ashes of a loved one when they died. Pilot Greig Wanless, 67, and respected arts identity Kate Callingham, 39, died after their light plane crashed at Mount Beauty Airport, in Victoria's east, on Saturday. Mr Wanless' wife said the pair were flying to scatter the ashes of Max Cunningham - Ms Callingham's father and Mr Wanless' best mate. 'He did a beautiful memorial before he went up,' Karen Wanless told the Herald Sun. 'He died doing the two things he loved, flying and helping people.' Pilot Greig Wanless (pictured) and respected arts identity Kate Callingham died after their light plane crashed on Saturday Mr Wanless' wife said the pair were flying to scatter the ashes of Max Cunningham - Ms Callingham's (pictured) father and Mr Wanless' best mate Ms Wanless described her husband as an 'amazing' builder, CFA firefighter, gliding instructor, teacher, father, husband and friend right to the end'. Mr Wanless had 40 years of flight experience and was an active member of the Yarrambat community, in Melbourne's north. He was a former teacher at Ivanhoe Grammar School and ran a scholarship program for students interested in becoming pilots. Mr Wanless leaves behind 'three beautiful kids' who are 'absolutely devastated' by his sudden death. Ms Callingham was the mother of a five-and-a-half month old baby and worked for the City of Casey and the City of Melbourne in arts management. In a statement on Saturday, her grieving family described her as a 'beloved mother, daughter and friend, and a keen-minded leader in the arts and cultural life in Melbourne'. '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.' Ms Callingham formerly worked as a board member at The Lifted Brow literary journal, consultant for The Stella Prize literary awards and co-chief executive of the Emerging Writers' Festival. Victoria Police believe the light aircraft was flying over Embankment Dr when it crashed at 1.45pm. Victoria Police believe the light aircraft was flying over Embankment Dr when it crashed at 1.45pm (pictured, emergency services at the scene) Witnesses reported seeing the plane seemingly struggle to land before it smashed into a paddock, just in front of the runway (pictured, police at the scene) Witnesses reported seeing the plane seemingly struggle to land before it smashed into a paddock, just in front of the runway. Emergency services worked to save the pair but both died at the scene. Police will prepare a report for the coroner. A New York district attorney who was caught on bodycam calling a police officer an 'a**hole' over a speeding ticket now faces a state inquiry into her behavior. The Rochester City Council sent a letter to Attorney General Letitia James on Saturday, beseeching her to investigate Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley's conduct. 'Recent body camera footage, shared by the Webster Police Department, has raised significant concerns regarding Ms. Doorley's behavior during a traffic stop in Webster, New York,' the letter read. 'This incident has led us to question her fitness to serve as District Attorney, and we believe an investigation by your office is warranted.' The document was signed by all nine city council members, who believe Doorely violated the standards of 'ethics, accountability and respect for the law' that her title necessitates. Locals have said Doorley's behavior makes a mockery of the law and could lead to criminals saying they'd ignored laws because they felt like it - the same excuse used by the woman paid to prosecute them. Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley faces an inquiry into her behavior after she was caught on bodycam swearing at a police officer The disagreement stemmed from a traffic stop performed when Doorley exceeded the posted speed limit by 20 mph When the officer explains the reason for the stop, she responds, 'I don't really care' before phoning the Webster chief of police The heated altercation stemmed from an incident on April 22, when an officer followed Doorley to her home after she was flagged for driving 20 miles over the speed limit in her hulking GMC Yukon SUV. Doorley only admitted that she was driving 55 mph in a 35 mph zone after the humiliating bodycam video surfaced. The footage opens with Doorley telling an officer, 'I'm sorry. I'm the D.A. I was going 55 coming from work.' When the officer tells Doorley the reason for the traffic stop, she responds, 'I don't really care.' The officer then instructs her to step outside her garage, but she refuses. As things continue to escalate, the district attorney dials Webster Chief of Police Dennis Kohlmeier on her cellphone and asks: 'Can you please tell them to leave me alone?' As the officer tells her that she made the situation a bigger deal than it had to be by refusing to pull over, Doorley responds: 'Just write me the traffic ticket.' She passes the phone to the officer, telling him 'leave me alone, this is ridiculous' and 'just go away'. The Rochester City Council sent a letter to Attorney General Letitia James on Saturday, asking her to investigate Doorley's behavior The councilmembers believe Doorley violated the standards of 'ethics, accountability and respect for the law' that a district attorney should be held to Doorley released a statement on Thursday admitting that she exceeded the speed limit and reaffirming her 'commitment to the public' She can be heard calling the officer an 'a**hole' as she fetches her badge from her car As the camera keeps rolling, Doorley tells the officer that she knows the law better than him and at one point calls him an 'a**hole'. 'What is it you're so against me? I'm doing my job. You say you're a DA?' the cop asks. 'I am the DA,' she retorts, uttering the profanity as she retrieves her badge from her car. She later moans that she had a bad day 'dealing with murders in the city'. Doorley released a statement on Thursday, admitting that she exceeded the speed limit, but was 'less than half a mile away' from her neighborhood. Once she realized the officer intended to pull her over, Doorley claimed, 'I called the Webster Police Chief to inform him that I was not a threat and that I would speak to the Officer at my house down the street'. She pleaded guilty to a traffic violation in municipal court '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. Anybody who knows me understands without a doubt that I have dedicated my entire 33-year career to the safety of this community,' Doorley continued. '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.' Rishi Sunak has again refused to rule out a July general election despite being hit with the defection of a Tory MP to Labour and warnings it would be 'suicide'. The PM dodged as he was grilled on the timing of a national ballot, insisting he would not go any further than that it will be in the second half of the year. Frenzied rumours have been circulating at Westminster that Mr Sunak is about to pull the trigger on a contest, even though polls show Labour with a massive advantage. Tories fear they are on track for a drubbing in local elections on Thursday, with hundreds of council seats on the line and key mayoral jobs. In a fresh blow, Dan Poulter announced last night that he was quitting the party, which the part-time doctor complained was not prioritising the NHS. Senior Conservatives have warned that it would be 'suicidal' to go to the polls this summer, with most anticipating a date in the Autumn. Rishi Sunak dodged as he was grilled on the timing of a national ballot, insisting he would not go any further than that it will be in the second half of the year In a fresh blow, Dan Poulter announced last night that he was quitting the party, which the part-time doctor complained was not prioritising the NHS Mr Sunak was asked on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, before news of the defection broke, whether the latter half of 2024 could mean July. The premier replied: 'I'm not going to say anything more than I've already said, I've been very clear about that.' Pressed repeatedly whether he was ruling out July, he said: 'I'm not going to do that. 'You're going to try and draw whatever conclusion you want from what I say. I'm going to always try and say the same thing. You should just listen to what I said, same thing I've said all year.' When presenter Sir Trevor said he wanted to know when to book his summer holidays, the Prime Minister replied: 'Actually, Trevor, it's more important than your holiday or anyone's holiday. I've got a job to do which is delivering for the country. 'And as we've been talking about, we are delivering when it comes to tackling illegal migration. We're delivering when it comes to investing in our defence.' Tories are expected to lose about half of their 900 council seats up for election, while their two most high-profile regional mayors face difficult contests. Defeat for West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen could spark a fresh coup bid against the PM. There were wild rumours swirling last week that Mr Sunak could fire the starting gun on an election campaign as soon as tomorrow in a bid to thwart a possible challenge from restive MPs, though Downing Street brushed them off. The latest possible date he could hold the election is January 28 2025. Frenzied rumours have been circulating at Westminster that Mr Sunak is about to pull the trigger on a contest, even though polls show Labour with a massive advantage Mr Sunak sought to bolster his premiership this week with a flurry of announcements, including the passing of Rwanda asylum legislation and a pledge to spend 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product on defence by 2030. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps urged colleagues considering ousting Mr Sunak before the general election to 'let him get on with the job'. 'Now is not the time or place' to try to put in place yet another Conservative leader, he told The Times. But a BMG survey for the i paper suggested that voters who backed the Conservatives in 2019, but have since deserted the party, would be more likely to vote Tory under a different leader. Humza Yousaf has been warned the price of his survival is getting 'higher' the more he 'dithers' ahead of a confidence vote. The Scottish First Minister is frantically trying to bolster his support after triggering meltdown by summarily ditching his Green coalition partners. They have now pledged to back a confidence motion this week, leaving the result on a knife edge. Although Mr Yousaf has been pleading with the Greens to prop him up, his fate could rest on the position of Ash Regan, the sole MSP in Alex Salmond's Alba Party. Ms Regan has put independence and gender ID policy at the top of her list of demands, and said she will meet Mr Yousaf in the coming days. 'As Humza dithers and the demands for him to go become deafening, the higher my price will be to support him,' she wrote in a newspaper column. Mr Salmond, a former First Minister, has called for a deal with the SNP that would see one pro-independence candidate stand in each Scottish constituency. However, that has been dismissed as 'fantasy' by Mr Yousaf's spokesman, and the SNP leader suggested they were 'ready' for an early election. Humza Yousaf is frantically trying to bolster his support after triggering meltdown by summarily ditching his Green coalition partners Alba MSP Ash Regan is yet to decide how she will vote this week Alex Salmond, a former First Minister, has called for a deal with the SNP that would see one pro-independence candidate stand in each Scottish constituency If a majority of MSPs back the vote Mr Yousaf would be under intense pressure to resign Ms Regan, a former SNP leadership rival to Mr Yousaf, has written to him with a list of priorities, including 'defending the rights of women and children'. That is thought to mean accepting the results of the Cass review, which criticised gender therapies, in full. Ms Regan is also pushing for a commitment to invest in the Grangemouth oil refinery, and unilateral moves towards an independence referendum. JK Rowling has waded into the row, saying it is 'karma' that the First Minister is now reliant on Ms Regan, who defected to Alba in protest at the SNP's gender ID stance. Writing a column in the Sunday Mail today, Ms Regan said it is time to 'build relationships'. She said: 'I could be holding the vote that decides his future but I will only use it in the way that will be best for Scotland. 'Many would like to see an end to Humza's chaotic leadership and doubts remain whether he has the political skills required to run a minority government. 'The Green Party's malign influence over these last three years damaged confidence and I welcome their consignment to the back benches. 'But, if Humza is ousted, he may be replaced by a less able leader who will go back into power with the Greens. 'As Humza dithers and the demands for him to go become deafening, the higher my price will be to support him.' She added: 'His rhetoric of 'fighting' is not required just now; it is a time for building relationships and negotiating what is best for Scotland. 'Whatever my decision, I take this responsibility seriously.' Speaking on Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr Salmond said: 'What Ash Regan will do in the meetings she's been invited to by Humza Yousaf, the First Minister, is make a set of reasonable proposals to help him out of a very tight corner and put Scotland back on a sensible governmental road. 'Stressing the priority of independence for Scotland, the protection of women and girls in Scottish society and a return of the Government to the things that matter to the people education, health, housing and, above all, the economy and jobs.' Mr Salmond has effectively laid out his demands, saying a 'top 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 it's a menu of independence options.' But a spokesman for Mr Yousaf dismissed the idea, saying: 'This is fantasy. There is no possibility of the First Minister agreeing any deal like this with Alex Salmond.' Tensions had been rising between the SNP and Greens over trans and Net Zero policies, but Mr Yousaf's decision to scrap the so-called Bute House agreement was still a bombshell. He rubbed salt in the wound by making his newly-sacked ex-colleagues do a walk of shame in full view of cameras. With other parties ranged against him, that leaves Mr Yousaf at risk of defeat. Excluding the presiding officer there are 128 MSPs in total, and the SNP only has 63. Ms Regan holds the balance, as if she supports the First Minister he would have 64 votes. In the event of a tie the presiding officer is meant to back the status quo, so he would be able to hold on. The Scottish First Minister is frantically trying to bolster his support after triggering meltdown by summarily ditching his Green coalition partners Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater (pictured) The confidence vote, expected Wednesday or Thursday next week, has been tabled against Mr Yousaf personally rather than the government. As a result, he would not technically be obliged to quit if he loses. However, in reality it would be almost impossible for him to stay on. There would then be 28 days to appoint a new First Minister who can command a majority before new Holyrood elections are triggered. Mr Yousaf said he was still determined to win the confidence vote. 'I'm intending to win the vote of no confidence, but I wouldn't rule out a Holyrood election,' he said. 'We're on an election footing we're prepared if that's required.' Britain's flagship tourism agency has told workers they can't use words such as 'blindspot' or 'man hours' anymore as the language is not inclusive. Instead of man hours, travel agency VisitBritain told firms hosting guests from overseas to say 'person hours' as to not to offend anyone. According to its 50-page language guide, the word 'blacklist' should be replaced by 'deny list' and 'blindspot' by 'missed opportunity'. The company gave out the 18-point inclusive term sheet to foster a 'culture of belonging', but it has been slammed as being 'out of touch', according to The Sun. VisitBritain - which is funded by the government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport - also warned not to use the term 'guru' as it is said to have been appropriated from Hindu culture. Instead, the 54million-a-year taxpayer funded agency said to use the term 'expert'. Tourism agency VisitBritain issued a 50-page guide on what to say and what not to for partners Sir John Hayes CBE (left), who is the chairman of the Common Sense Group of Tory MPs which focusses on 'authentic conservatism', slammed the document for being 'out of touch' Last year, VisitBritain issued an 'accessible and inclusive' toolkit for those in the tourism business. In the 2023 information pack, the section of 'inclusive language' encouraged using positive language when asking about disabilities. It warned people against using negative language such as 'suffers from', 'is a victim of', 'handicapped', 'invalid', 'crippled by' or 'wheelchair bound'. But the new guidance goes a step further, giving business partners a list of words they can and cannot say. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE - Woke new NHS guidance stating that 'not everyone who experiences menopause is a woman' sparks outrage: Critics accuse health chiefs Advertisement To avoid offending people with disabilities, the word 'lame' should not be used in a derogatory manner, with the agency suggesting 'uncool' or 'cheesy' as an alternative. In the place of using 'sanity check', VisitBritain advised saying 'confidence check', and instead of saying 'man up', telling people to 'be brave'. Similarly, it advises workers to say 'everyone' or 'team' instead of using the term 'guys' to describe a group, despite it being commonly used in an all encompassing manner for all genders. The inclusivity sheet was sent to the agency's partners to 'help shape the future' of the events hosted. The same information pack tell event organisers to cater for those who don't drink alcohol and to set up 'low sensory' rooms, according to The Sun. It tells partners that: 'Words and phrases used for generations are no longer acceptable'. But Sir John Hayes CBE, who is the chairman of the Common Sense Group of Tory MPs which focusses on 'authentic conservatism', slammed the document. He told The Sun that those who made the inclusivity sheet are 'out of touch' and should be 'backlisted and blackballed' - using one of the words VisitBritain asked business partners to avoid. The travel agency's role is to grow Britain's visitor economy and encourage tourists to explore the country. It also advises the Government on tourism, providing research and insights into the industry. MP Penny Mordaunt told Whitehall chiefs to stop using woke language in official documents A spokesperson for VisitBritain told the newspaper that the guide was developed with 'input from our business events industry partners'. The move comes one month after MP Penny Mordaunt told Whitehall chiefs to stop using woke language in official documents. In a letter to permanent secretaries, the Commons leader said official bodies should avoid using 'gender neutral language' in contexts where traditional words like mother and father would be more accurate. The Commons authorities had just issued new guidance on the drafting of legislation, which says gender neutral language should not be used when drawing up laws in areas that are 'concerned only or mainly with people of one sex', such as pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. In her letter to Whitehall chiefs, a copy of which has been seen by the Mail, Ms Mordaunt said the same rules should apply to all official documents, including those produced by Whitehall departments and arms-length bodies like Ofsted, the Office for National Statistics and the Environment Agency. Ms Mordaunt said that the 'huge progress' made on gender equality means it is right to avoid using language that assumes only a man or a woman could perform a particular role. But she added: 'However, there are a great many contexts in which a person's biological sex is highly relevant and, in these circumstances, gender neutral language should be avoided.' She pointed out that the guidance 'states that, for example, in the context of pregnancy or women's health, departments should avoid replacing a term like 'woman' with gender neutral terms such as 'person'. In contexts such as these, sex-specific language should take precedence'. One ally said she was 'basically telling them not to be so woke'. Ms Mordaunt's intervention followed growing complaints from Tory MPs about the use of woke language by public bodies. Sir John has also called for action to tackle 'pernicious political correctness' in public life. The chairman of the Common Sense Group of Tory MPs criticised the Environment Agency for removing terms like 'mother' and 'father' from its documents. 'It sounds like nonsense, but it is actually much more sinister. Free speech is at stake,' he said previously. MailOnline has contacted VisitBritain for further comment. This is the adorable moment a clever elephant returned a toddler's tiny shoe after it was dropped into a zoo enclosure. In the cute clip, the huge creature can be seen gently scooping up the tiny blue and yellow shoe using its enormous foot and lengthy trunk. Slowly grasping the minuscule footwear, the friendly giant delicately returned the shoe dropping it back into the young visitor's hand. The smart creature named Shanmai - which means 'Mountains' - lives at the Shendiaoshan Wild Animal Nature Reserve in Weihai, China. At first glance Shanmai initially believed the shoe was food but upon picking it up soon realised it wasn't a bite to eat, according to a staff member. Adorable footage has emerged from a nature reserve in China, showing a kind elephant returning a toddler's show after it had fallen into a zoo enclosure (pictured) The clever giant named Shanmai, initially believed the footwear was food but soon realised it wasn't upon scooping it up (pictured: the elephant returning the shoe) But the kind elephant's good deed didn't go unnoticed as a zookeeper later rewarded Shanmai a watermelon for their kind gesture. This comes shortly after tourists in South Africa had a terrifying encounter with a furious bull elephant whilst on a safari tour. READ MORE: Adorable moment girl, 2, grabs her brother for a cuddle just hours after he's born Advertisement The horrifying clip showed the enraged elephant lifting the bus of helpless tourists into the air with its tusks before dramatically slamming them back down to the ground not once - but twice. Cowering passengers could be heard crying as the driver loudly screamed at the huge beast at Pilanesberg National Park near Johannesburg, South Africa to back away from the vehicle. Despite the tour guide loudly yelling at the animal to 'move, move' whilst smacking the side of his open-sided truck - the elephant was not deterred, stamping its feet at the tourists hoping to embark on their safari tour. Going in for a second round, the 11-foot creature let out a loud trumpet before he positioned his huge tusks underneath the vehicle nearly toppling it as he pulled it sky-high. In the clip that emerged online on March 19, the disgruntled elephant backed away from the bus, whilst flapping its wide ears vigorously. Angry elephants are known to have widened eyes, as well as spread ears when approaching a perceived threat according to Asilia Africa. A furious elephant (pictured) nearly toppled an open-sided tour bus in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa not once - but twice In the terrifying footage the driver could be heard yelling at the beast to 'move' before the elephant went in for a second round - nearly toppling the truckload of tourist (pictured) The terrified driver attempted to reverse away from the disgruntled tusker who appeared to be heading for a third battle with the truckload of tourists. But as the animal approached for round three, the driver clasped his palms together and pleaded: 'No. Enough, enough, enough, enough.' As he attempted to make a quick getaway, the furious animal kept his eyes locked on the vehicle until the end of the footage. No one aboard the vehicle was injured as a result of the incident, according to local media. Wildlife officials have previously warned drivers and tour operators to always give way to animals and to be especially careful around breeding herds. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was booed while delivering a fiery speech at a rally in Canberra protesting violence against women. Organiser Sarah Williamns later slammed Mr Albanese on social media, accusing him of entitlement in a scathing post. 'Albanese abusing his power by aggressively stating when I asked the crowd if we should let him speak, "I'm the prime minister of this country, I run this country" demonstrated his entitlement,' she wrote. Video of the event shows Ms Williams telling Mr Albanese 'that's a lie, that's a flat-out lie' after he claimed he had earlier requested to speak. 'For him to not only demand he speak because he was being heckled, but lie was disgraceful,' she wrote later. 'He demonstrated today what entitlement looks like. A man with power trying to diminish a vulnerable young woman.' In his speech Mr Albanese demanded widespread change to all levels of Australian society and asked protesters to hold him 'accountable' for his government's actions. At times with jeers and interruptions, Mr Albanese said Australia needed to change its 'culture', 'attitudes' and 'legal system' to end the scourge of violence against women that has already allegedly claimed the lives of 26 women this year. 'We're here today to demand that governments of all levels, must do better, including my own, and every state and territory government,' he told the large crowd. Anthony Albanese delivered a fiery speech at a rally in Canberra (pictured), on Sunday and said Australia needed to change its culture and attitudes to end violence against women Crowds gathered at Parliament House (pictured) to take part in the rally as the Prime Minister described violence against women as a 'national crisis' EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Inside the lavish wedding of Molly Ticehurst's accused murderer as the family of his ex-wife break their silence The distressed ex-wife (pictured left) of accused killer Daniel Billings (right) is 'coping as best as she can' after he was charged with murdering his former girlfriend Molly Ticehurst Advertisement 'We're here as well to say that society, and Australia, must do better. 'We need to change the culture, we need to change attitudes, we need to change the legal system. 'We need to change the approach by all governments because it is not enough to support victims, we need to focus on the perpetrators and focus on prevention.' Mr Albanese suggested he had asked the rally organisers for permission to speak but had been knocked back. 'We did ask to speak, myself and (Finance minister) Katy (Gallagher) and we were told that's not possible,' he said. 'And that's fine, we respect the organisers' right to do that.' Ms Williams interjected: 'That's a lie'. Earlier, the rally organiser commenced the demonstration by sharing her own experiences of family and domestic violence, as well as homelessness. In an awkward and tense exchange, Ms Williams then demanded the politicians present commit to the organisation's demands, and declare that the recent spate of murders of women by men was a national emergency. However, the Labor ministers appeared non-responsive and confused, initially refusing to front the rally, a move which brought boos and heckling from the audience. 'Why are you even here?' one protester yelled from the crowd. 'Shame on you,' shouted another. Mr Albanese was booed and heckled by some of the crowd during his speech The Prime Minister acknowledged that all levels of government need to address domestic violence differently The message was loud and clear at rallies across Australia over the weekend. Pictured is the Canberra rally on Sunday Mr Albanese spoke about some of the actions his government had taken to address the problem, including the introduction of domestic violence payments. A protester interrupted, saying 'it's not enough'. The prime minister replied, 'I agree it's not enough. I said that. We need to do more.' Even as his words were punctuated with booing and jeering from the crowd, Mr Albanese soldiered on through his address, committing that the government he led would redouble its efforts to counter gender-based violence. Mr Albanese said he would convene a meeting of the national cabinet on Wednesday to discuss the issue of domestic and family violence with state and territory first ministers. Mr Albanese finished his speech by calling the problem a 'national crisis' and said one or two months of funding would not be enough to solve it. 'It's up to men to change men's behaviour as well,' he said. 'Yes, people do need to be made accountable and I'll be accountable for what my government does.' The Prime Minister then made his way to his waiting motorcade, subsequently departing Capital Hill and the 5000-strong crowd assembled on the front lawn. 'It's up to men to change men's behaviour as well,' The Prime Minister told the crowd Earlier, protesters travelled from Commonwealth Park, on the northern shores of Lake Burley Griffin to the front lawns of Commonwealth Parliament House, several thousand protesters chanted slogans and brandished signs that read '26 women killed this year' and 'Enough is enough'. The protest was coordinated by What Were You Wearing, a community organisation advocating against gender-based violence, calling for increased funding for domestic and sexual violence services. The not-for-profit is additionally demanding enhanced reporting options for those experiencing family violence and new rules that prevent media from publishing images of women killed by men for 48 hours following the murder. State and federal governments are facing renewed pressure to take further action to end domestic violence after 26 women were allegedly killed by men the first 115 days of the year. Alongside the protest in the nation's capital, rallies have also been held in Melbourne, Brisbane and several regional centres. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (pictured) was among several state and federal politicians who attended a violence against women protest in Melbourne Thousands of protestors marched and took part in rallies (pictured) across Australia over the weekend to demand an end to violence against women Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and her deputy Ben Carroll, as well as federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, joined the Melbourne rally. An estimated 15,000 people turned out in Melbourne. 'Today we're marching for all the victims and for us and our futures,' one organiser said. 'This is a very moving and stressful event.' Queensland Premier Steven Miles and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli both attended the Brisbane event. 'Today it's fantastic to see so many Queenslanders out in force supporting those Queenslanders, sending a message that that kind of behaviour is just not acceptable in our state or in our society,' Mr Miles said. 'I think men need to be advocates too. We need to support the women of our state, we need to send a signal that we don't accept violence, and we need to tell other men that that kind of behaviour as well as coercive control, it's just not acceptable.' 'No More: National Rally Against Gender Based Violence' rallies took place in Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide on Saturday afternoon. Queensland Premier Steven Miles (pictured) praised the people of his state for turning out to rallies held in Brisbane to support the cause Molly Ticehurst (pictured) was allegedly murdered by her ex boyfriend Daniel Billings in the NSW central west town of Forbes on Monday Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and wife Lucy, as well as NSW Premier Chris Minns and MP Rose Jackson were all in attendance. Three women died over the past week, including 28-year-old mother Molly Ticehurst in Forbes, in regional NSW and 49-year-old Emma Bates in Cobram, near the border of NSW and Victoria. A third woman, 30-year-old mother-of-four Erica Hay was found dead after a house fire in Warnbro, in Perth's south at 1am on Friday. Five women were stabbed to death in the Westfield Bondi Junction attack by a man three weeks ago. A male security guard was also killed. 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 Combram on Sunday. 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. A group of teens accused of planning a terror attack in the days following the Wakeley church stabbing, allegedly called themselves 'soldiers of Allah' and were willing to 'die and kill', according to police. Four boys aged were arrested in anti-terror raids last Wednesday in western Sydney. They included a 15-year-old, a 16-year-old and two aged 17, The arrests were made eight days after Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at a Wakeley church in the city's south-west, which sparked street riots on April 15. According to a police fact sheet tendered to court, the four teens were planning a terrorist attack after the Wakeley street riots, The Daily Telegraph reported. The alleged terror plot involved talking about obtaining guns, including a 'shotty' (shotgun) and looking for empty homes to be used as stash houses. Police arrested seven young people from south-west Sydney during alleged counter-terrorism raids on Wednesday A group of four males had their communications intercepted, revealing a terror attack plot READ MORE: Seven alleged members of a 'youth terror cell' are arrested in sweeping raids across Sydney A counter-terrorism team arrested seven youths across south-west Sydney after determining they allegedly 'posed an unacceptable risk to the people of New South Wales' Advertisement Police also alleged the teens had communicated they were willing to die in the name of religious martyrdom. On April 20- five days after the alleged Wakeley stabbing and riots, one of the 17-year-olds wrote in the app Signal: 'I wanna die and I wanna kill ... I'm just excited.' His 16-year-old co-accused replied: 'We're gonna kill dw ... but we need patience.' The 17-year-old responded: 'Is your plan to get caught or die or escape?' The 16-year-old answered: 'We're gonna be planning for a while we prefer to escape, but whatever happens it's the qadr (power) of Allah.' Police alleged in the court documents that this conversation showed there was an agreement to plan a terror attack as part of an ideological cause. On another day, the 16-year-old allegedly wrote online that the teens were the 'soldiers of Allah'. On April 19 , both the 17-year-old and 16-year-old boys allegedly communicated about the sourcing guns, including a 'shotty' and buying two to three 'dirty guns' for $2,000-$4,000. The boys also allegedly discussed who their targets were in the messages intercepted by police. The 15-year-old was allegedly part of a Signal chat group called 'Plans' on April 19, in which the teens allegedly discussed the planning of a terrorist act. One of the teens called the alleged stabber of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel his 'mate' The 15-year-old allegedly wrote: 'I really want to target the yahood (Jewish people) we will plan it'. The teen also allegedly wrote: 'I wanna do Jihad now' and 'Where do youse want to do the bayah'. Bayah is an oath or pledge of allegiance to a leader in Islamic terminology. The police fact sheet also includes alleged discussions the teens had about the riots in Wakeley following the alleged church stabbing. The teens called themselves 'soldiers of Allah' with one saying he wanted to target Jewish people The 15-year-old posted an Instagram story praising the boy who allegedly stabbed Bishop Emmanuel, police allege. The teen allegedly wrote to an associate: 'I know the bloke who done it he's my mate.' When discussing the riots, the 15-year-old allegedly wrote: 'It's gonna be Cronulla riots all over again.' The police fact sheet also states that two days before the April 24 raids, the 15-year-old and one of the 17-year-olds were arrested over an unrelated alleged assault in Lurnea. It was then the 16-year-old wrote to the other 17-year-old, who had not been arrested. 'Did you forget we have planning on (his) phone?' he wrote. 'Oh s**t,' the 17-year-old wrote. The 16-year-old then allegedly said: 'We were planning big stuff bro. It's conspiracy for conspiracy for a terror attack I think . If their phone gets searched then we are all gone yeah we're gone cuz. For planning attacks and this and that we're gone bro.' Police searched the phone of the 17-year-old after the alleged Lurnea assault and allegedly found a note on his phone discussing the terror plot. 'There is much to plan brothers think of yourselves as soldiers now you are not children, you are ions of the khilafah and there is a correct way to prepare these things,' he wrote. All four teens were arrested in the raids last Wednesday. None are yet to enter pleas and remain before the courts. Two other juveniles were arrested but not charged. The raids were carried out in response to the attack on the Bishop in Wakeley NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb told Sky News on Sunday that the four teens charged were allegedly planning further attacks Officers are working 'around the clock' to establish the nature of those attacks in what is 'very much still a live investigation'. Police initially believed the boy charged over the alleged was a 'lone wolf' attack before further investigations shed more light. 'Ongoing investigations has revealed connections to that person and as has been identified we've arrested five young men. They are associated with him but not necessarily connected to the church incident,' Commissioner Webb said. She also explained the connections between the youths. 'Well certainly there's some similarities in terms of their school, not exclusively... they live nearby to each other and they're connected in other ways,' she said. 'That's what we will allege before the court... we have alleged in the facts there was a group planning a future event.' The commissioner revealed that some of the teens attended the same school in western Sydney and allegedly had images of beheadings on their phones. 'Those images have been circulating for years now unfortunately but it does concern us greatly where we've got young people with those images on their phone,' Commissioner Webb said. Elon Musk has promised that his long-awaited driverless cars will make their debut on the streets of China as he made a surprise visit to Beijing on Sunday. The Tesla boss sat down with Chinese premier Li Qiang just a week after canceling a meeting with India's PM Narendra Modi, citing 'very heavy Tesla obligations'. The company has lost nearly a third of its value since the start of the year with investors growing tired of repeated delays to its roll-out of cars with full self-driving software (FSD). But Li praised Tesla as a successful example of US China economic cooperation as analysts hailed 'a major moment for Tesla'. 'While the long term valuation story at Tesla hinges on FSD and autonomous, a key missing piece in that puzzle is Tesla making FSD available in China which now appears on the doorstep,' said equity firm Wedbush. Elon Musk said he was 'honored' to meet Chinese premier Li Qiang on his surprise visit The Tesla boss jetted in just a week after canceling a meeting with India's PM Narendra Modi Tesla's Shanghai plant is its biggest and has helped deliver 1.7m vehicles to the Chinese market Musk opened his first Chinese gigafactory in Shanghai six years ago and it is now Tesla's biggest in the world. Earlier this month Musk tweeted that a Chinese roll-out of his FSD would happen 'very soon', with Li seemingly relaxed about using his country's crowded streets as the testbed for the pioneering technology. But Musk was also keen to win his permission to take home data collected in the China to train algorithms for Tesla's autonomous driving technologies in the US, sources told Reuters. Tesla has since 2021 stored all data collected by its Chinese fleet in Shanghai as required by Chinese regulators and has not transferred any back to the United States. 'Honored to meet with Premier Li Qiang. We have known each other now for many years, since early Shanghai days,' Musk posted on his social media platform X, as he appeared in a picture with the premier. Musk's visit to China was not flagged publicly and Tesla did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV in its report about Musk's meeting with Li did not say whether the two had discussed FSD or data. But state radio said Qiang had visited the ongoing Beijing auto show and had commented about how China's smart new energy vehicle sector had gained a leading position in the market and that the country had to work hard and maintain its advantages. 'It is good to see electric vehicles making progress in China. All cars will be electric in the future,' Musk said in a video. The company has lost nearly a third of its value since the start of the year Tesla has sold more than 1.7 million cars in China since it entered the market a decade ago, but earlier this month warned it would lay off 10 percent of its global workforce as it grapples with falling sales and an intensifying price war for EVs led by Chinese brands. Musk said last week that Tesla would introduce new cheaper models using its current EV platforms and production lines and would offer a new 'robotaxi' with self-driving technology by August 8. Late on Sunday, a top Chinese auto association published a list of 76 car models it said it had tested and found to be compliant with China's data security requirements, among them being Tesla's Model Y and 3 cars. But it came just two days after US regulators announced an investigation into whether Tesla's recall of more than 2 million vehicles in the United States announced in December to install new Autopilot safeguards was adequate following a series of crashes. A severely ill British man is being 'wrongly' detained in a 'hellhole' Serbian jail accused of war crimes after being held during a mass arrest at a border crossing, his family claim. Sadik Duraku, 53, originally from the Kosovan village of Demjan, was held while driving over the border from Croatia at Batrovci to visit family last week. He was hauled before the High Court for War Crimes in Belgrade and accused of membership of the Kosovan Liberation Army (KLA) and committing outrages during the 1999 war in Kosovo. His family say that is impossible because he was in Britain applying for asylum by 1998 and did not leave the country again until 2004. Critics have accused authoritarian Serbian president Aleksander Vucic of a political stunt amid rising tensions between his nationalist government and the autonomous region of Kosovo. Sadik Duraku, 53, originally from the Kosovan village of Demjan, was held while driving over the border from Croatia at Batrovci to visit family last week His daughter Suzana wrote in a petition online: 'He is being held for another 30 days before going to court, I fear what will come after this' In a petition posted online, his daughter Suzana wrote: 'One day after Kosovo took a step closer to becoming a member of the Council of Europe, Serbia detained hundreds of Kosovans and Albanians at the crossing of the Serbian border. 'One of those victims was my father, Sadik Duraku, a British Citizen living in Brighton. 'Whilst others have been released, my Father remains in custody. 'He is being held on false claims that he was part of the Kosovo Liberation Army, UCK, in 1999, their claims state that he has committed War crimes during the alleged time in 1999'. She added that this would be an 'impossible feat' as her father, along with her and her family, had been seeking asylum in the UK in 1998. 'The asylum process means we could not possibly leave the UK until 2004,' she said. 'At this critical juncture, Sadik and our family require tangible evidence to refute these baseless allegations and need support with securing an observer in Serbia to ensure fair procedures and his safety. 'Therefore, the documentation of our asylum applications and movements within the UK from 1998 to 1999 is vital. 'The British Home Office should have this information and, together with the British Embassy, should be able to arrange an observer. A Kosovo Liberation Army Soldier sits on a pile of rubble with a destroyed house in the background on patrol in the village of Rezala some 45km west of Pristina (file photo) 'What we also need is pressure from the UK to release my father. 'He is sick with a heart condition. He had a heart attack in 2021 and suffered a cardiac arrest. 'To this day, he suffers from this heart attack and has a leaky valve and high blood pressure. We worry that the stress and conditions will aggravate his condition.' She added: 'He is being held for another 30 days before going to court, I fear what will come after this.' Hundreds of people were detained for more than 15 hours during the incident on April 17, with several others, including police officials reportedly charged. Vucic has been accused of seeking to emulate ally Vladimir Putin by stoking tensions with Kosovo. Duraku, director of a car wash company based in Brighton, is set to remain in detention until he appears in court again next month. READ HERE: Kosovo PM says Britain should send more troops to protect country as he claims Serbian military bases are positioned to attack Advertisement A source said: 'It's a very serious situation. It's a hellhole custody centre.' There have been several reports of war crimes committed by the Kosovan Liberation Army, directed at Serbians, ethnic Albanians accused of collaborating with Serb authorities, and other ethnic minorities - primarily the Roma. The KLA was a militant group of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, set up in the early 1990s. From 1996, its members carried out attacks on Serbian police stations and other targets. Serbian forces responded by cracking down on Kosovo's ethnic Albanian population, raiding villages and dragging people from their homes. According to a 2001 report by Human Rights Watch the KLA 'was responsible for serious abuses... including abductions and murders of Serbs and ethnic Albanians considered collaborators with the state. 'Elements of the KLA are also responsible for post-conflict attacks on Serbs, Roma, and other non-Albanians, as well as ethnic Albanian political rivals,' it added. The report also alleged the KLA were responsible for the 'widespread and systematic burning and looting of homes belonging to Serbs, Roma, and other minorities and the destruction of Orthodox churches and monasteries... combined with harassment and intimidation designed to force people from their homes and communities... elements of the KLA are clearly responsible for many of these crimes'. Policing minister Chris Philp wriggled today over his toe-curling Question Time blunder when he asked whether Rwanda and Congo are different countries. The MP insisted he was being 'rhetorical' as he was challenged over the awkward response given while being quizzed about details of the government's policy. On Thursday night an audience member pointed out there has been a long history of violent conflict between the neighbouring countries. He asked Mr Philp: 'Had my family members come from Goma (a city on the country's border) on a crossing right now, would they then be sent back to the country they are supposedly warring Rwanda? 'Does that make any sense to you?' Policing minister Chris Philp wriggled today over his toe-curling Question Time blunder when he asked whether Rwanda and Congo are different countries Speaking on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme this morning, Mr Philp insisted he had been posing a rhetorical question The minister shocked the audience - who gasped and laughed as he blundered in front of the camera Mr Philp replied: 'No, I think there's an exclusion on people from Rwanda being sent to Rwanda.' After the audience member objected that his parents were 'not from Rwanda', the Conservative MP appeared to ask: 'Well, I mean, Rwanda is a different country to Congo isn't it? 'It's a different country?' The question sparked laughter from the audience, as Labour shadow health secretary Wes Streeting peered at Mr Philp in in disbelief. However, speaking on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg this morning, Mr Philp insisted he had been posing a rhetorical question. 'I was struggling a little bit to hear the question,' he said. 'When I put that point to him I was asking that as a clearly rhetorical question rather than a substantive question, as I think any fair-minded listener would conclude.' Mr Streeting, appearing alongside Mr Philp again, said he was 'quite dumbstruck by the whole moment'. The question sparked laughter from the audience, as Labour shadow health secretary Wes Streeting peered at Mr Philp in in disbelief 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 implementing the plan, the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act, has finally joined the statute book after clearing Parliament last week. Disturbing footage has captured the moment a Sydney Swans supporter clashed with a group of pro-Palestine protesters after a rally. The violent scuffle broke out between the man and the group near a pub in Melbourne on Sunday. A Free Palestine Rally was held around midday, where the protesters marched from the State Library to the Victorian Parliament House. Dramatic footage shared to TikTok by a bystander showed the AFL fan, who was wearing a Sydney Swans scarf around his neck, squaring off against a bearded protester. The two men came face-to-face before the bearded man who was wearing a black t-shirt asked the Swans supporter 'what are you going to do?' The Swans supporter who was wearing a white T-shirt and blue denim shorts was heard telling the man to 'f**k off'. Moments later a group of protesters who were standing nearby rushed at the man, who had been pushed in the chest by another just seconds earlier. The Swans supporter backed away as the group of protesters appeared to attempt to continue the altercation. A man wearing a black shirt and dark coloured jeans who appeared to be a staffer at the nearby pub intervened and tried to restrain one of the protesters who had a Palestine flag draped around him. The group of men continued to lunge towards the Swans supporter as he was held back by fellow AFL fans, including women. The AFL supporter who was wearing a Sydney Swans scarf (pictured) was seen squaring off with a bearded protestor Some protesters could be heard saying 'stop' repeatedly as bystanders and staffers attempted to diffuse the situation while tensions boiled over. The footage ended with the Swans fan rushing into the venue to escape as staffers stopped the pro-Palestine demonstrators from following him. The footage has since gone viral on Twitter and TikTok, leaving viewers divided. 'Please show us the full scenario,' one wrote. The female pro-Palestine supporter who filmed the incident and originally shared it online has since taken down the footage or made it private. The altercation unfolded ahead of the Swans' clash against Hawthorn at the MCG. A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that officers weren't called to the incident nor has it been reported. There was understandable relief when Princess Beatrices year-long romance with American playboy Paolo Liuzzo finally broke apart in 2006. Beatrice was just 17 at the time. Liuzzo, a polo-playing socialite, was seven years her senior and devoted to the sort of hard-partying lifestyle guaranteed to cause significant embarrassment to the royals. At one point he'd been charged with manslaughter and possession of cocaine. Another time, he was convicted of affray. Even Beatrice's perpetually sunny mother, Sarah Ferguson, saw the downside of Paolo, noting of her eldest daughter that, 'We all have our own journeys and have to learn our way.' The Princess was said to have been heartbroken when this, her first serious romance, collapsed. And some of that sorrow returned, say friends, when Beatrice learned of Liuzzo's sad death at the age of 41. The man she'd once loved had been found in Miami hotel room, killed by a suspected overdose of drugs. Princess Beatrice with her then boyfriend Dave Clark, who was taking part in Sir Richard Branson's attempts to kitesurf across the English Channel in 2010 As Beatrice remembers Paolo in the coming weeks, however, she might be forgiven if she takes a moment to reflect on another past relationship one that lasted rather longer and seemed to guarantee wedding bells, in fact. But one which left Prince Andrew's daughter anguished, vulnerable and depressed when, after a decade of waiting, it finally ran into the sand. In Dave Clark, a clean-cut, tech-savvy entrepreneur, Beatrice thought she had found true love and, for many years, they seemed inseparable. If Liuzzo was never a contender, there was much to recommend his replacement. For a start, Beatrice had been introduced to him by her cousin, Prince William. Moving in the same wealthy circles, the two men had met each other when they studied in Scotland Clark, now 38, at Edinburgh University and William, 41, at St Andrews. Known as 'Dashing Dave', Clark combined good looks, easy charm and a transatlantic accent, the result of growing up in a family that lived between London and New York. He had friends in common with the Yorks, including Sam Branson, son of multimillionaire entrepreneur, Sir Richard, and spent time on Necker, the Bransons' private Caribbean island. Even Clark's chosen career was modishly forward-looking. Starting off with taxi-hailing firm Uber, he would later spend time working for Sir Richard's space programme, at one point describing himself as a 'future astronaut'. The Duke and Duchess of York seemed pleased that their little girl had found someone so appropriate. 'I love Dave. He's cool,' Sarah Ferguson cooed in a 2008 magazine interview, two years into her daughter's new relationship. 'I call him Mr Smiley because he smiles and he's happy.' Princess Beatrice with her ex boyfriend Dave Clark at London Fashion Week in 2010 To many of their friends and certainly to Beatrice herself this felt like the real deal. Rarely apart, the couple graced an endless if predictable round of yacht parties, ski chalets and upmarket social gatherings although they were not together, it should be said, at more formal royal occasions. Ever loyal, Beatrice followed Dave to both coasts of America as he pursued his tech career. At one point she enrolled in a finance course in San Francisco, before following him to Manhattan and taking a job there in investment banking. A royal wedding was widely expected for a while at least. Yet as the years passed, so the doubts began to form among Beatrice's friends and family. There was growing distrust in royal circles, in particular, including a suspicion that Beatrice's connections impressed Clark a little more than they should have done. Prince William shared the unease. Though he was the one who'd first introduced Clark to his flame-haired cousin, it is said that the Prince struggled to warm to the slick Anglo-American and that, whatever friendship there had initially been, had cooled. Some, taking a more generous view, feel that Clark might well have realised the writing was on the wall for the relationship, but lacked the heart to tell Beatrice. Things came to a head in 2011 when there was no room for him at William and Kate's wedding. Beatrice arrived at Westminster Abbey with her little sister, Princess Eugenie, instead. Perhaps mindful of his cousin's past entanglement with Paolo, William is said to have been protective of Beatrice and told friends he didn't feel Clark was right for her. It's also been suggested that William judged Clark too 'indiscreet' to invite to the wedding which is to say that he was concerned, rightly or wrongly, that private information about the ceremony would end up in the media. In any event, there would be no meeting at the altar for 'Dashing Dave' and Beatrice. The decade-long relationship came crashing to an end when, in 2016, Beatrice offered Cark an 'ultimatum', insisting that they marry. She was rebuffed. Not only did Clark fail to give her the response she needed, he promptly turned his attentions elsewhere specifically to a leggy blonde advertising executive from the States named Lynn Anderson. They married in 2018. Dave Clark with his wife Lynn Anderson in 2017, whom he married after rebuffing Princess Beatrice's ultimatum The shock of rejection was overwhelming for Beatrice, who sank into a malaise that lasted for almost two years until, in 2018, she started dating Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, now her husband. Her mother, too, is said to have been hugely disappointed at the collapse of the relationship, feeling as though she had lost a son when Dave exited the York family. Why did Beatrice wait so long before pressing the point? Friends point out that the birth of Princess Charlotte the previous year had bumped the Princess down the line of succession from sixth to seventh meaning that, for the first time, she no longer required the permission of the monarch to get married. Did that change of circumstance help concentrate her mind? 'It's very sad about Paolo Liuzzo,' said a friend of the family, 'but the man who really shattered Bea was Dave Clark. 'It's safe to say he is no longer in royal circles. Everyone was surprised by how quickly he moved on. Some were appalled. 'Lynn was willowy and elegant, stylish, well-connected and wealthy: it's every jilted woman's worst nightmare.' If the break-up was hard for Beatrice, there are plenty who feel her vulnerability had been growing throughout the relationship. 'Beatrice was very timid and insecure at that time. In hindsight, perhaps Dave didn't bring out the best in her towards the end,' says the friend. 'She was being put down at the time by fashion commentators for having dreadful fashion sense, for being a little frumpy and, of course, it all came to a head with "Pretzel-gate".' That's a reference to the flamboyant Philip Treacy headpiece worn by Beatrice for William and Kate's wedding. Featuring an outsized loop and cascading ribbon motifs on either side, the hat was compared to both a toilet seat and a German pastry. There was a great deal of mockery which Beatrice will have found hard. Friends report that, during her decade with Clark, the Princess was sensitive to the point of being thin-skinned, yet sweet to the point of naivety. As if she didn't have enough to cope with, Beatrice was now obliged to steer her own passage forward as a non-working royal a princess but without formal duties or official income. 'For a time, Beatrice was somewhat adrift,' says the friend. 'She was stripped of her social dignity and her royal protection officers,' continues the friend. 'Bea was still discovering her own style, and still finding her own place in the world. The whole episode was actually worse than the polo-player era in a way.' She also found herself teased about the number of holidays she was taking around this time 17 trips in one year alone. Beatrice eventually settled into an easy-going, Ibiza-loving crowd, including James Blunt and his wife Sofia Wellesley. She re-established a career, becoming vice-president of partnerships and strategy at start-up firm Afiniti, a data and software company, which saw her jet between New York and London as a high-flying businesswoman. Fate would eventually bring Beatrice together with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. He was rather more suitable than Paolo Liuzzo and more committed than Dave Clark. Fun-loving but serious, like Beatrice, Edo was stylish and handsome. He was well-connected, too, combining a good county family with Italian nobility. Edo proposed in 2019 and one year later they had a quiet wedding at All Saints Chapel, Windsor. It helped that the late Queen approved. She lent Beatrice one of her own gowns for the wedding day and posed for pictures outside the church with Prince Philip. Today, say friends, the Princess is a different woman: happier, self-assured and more stylish, too. 'Clothes look great on her,' says a friend. 'Her figure is to die for. It must be Edo's influence on so many levels. When she was with Dave she was more frumpy and shy.' There's a baby daughter, Sienna, aged two, and an eight-year-old stepson, Wolfie, from Edo's previous relationship. Princess Beatrice with Dave Clark at a charity polo match at Coworth Park in 2010 Beatrice is chatelaine of her own country house on the edge of the Blenheim Palace estate, which she frequently visits to see her friend George Blandford heir to the estate and his wife. Her emergence as a tenacious woman of the world is complete. The 'new' Beatrice was on display this week in London at a Soho book launch hosted by Prince Harry's nutritionist Gabriela Peacock. She seemed chatty and relaxed as she posed for pictures with Edo and her best friend Astrid Harbord. And what of Dave Clark? A friend said: 'The truth is they met too young. Beatrice was 28 when she issued her ultimatum. She'd been with him since she was a teenager. 'Those relationships often reach a "make or break" point. For Kate and William it was "make". For Bea and Dave it was "break". He relished that and never looked back.' Today, Clark is a partner at Expa, a tech firm supporting start-ups. He's now back living in the UK. It is understood that Beatrice avoids Clark where possible, although her attitude today is quite different from a time, not so very long ago, when she felt too weak to face him. They came close to bumping into each other at 5 Hertford Street, an exclusive Mayfair club, last year. The moment was captured on camera in March 2023 and was gleefully described as a 'narrow miss' for Beatrice. Looking back, she'd doubtless agree about the 'narrow miss'. Or a bullet dodged, perhaps. Trafficking gangs have been revealed to be hiding migrants in abandoned Nazi bunkers before risking their lives on overcrowded dinghies crossing the Channel. Dozens of desperate Kurds are sheltering within concrete enclaves built by Adolf Hitler's forces during Germany's Second World War occupation of France. The dune hideouts are less than a mile from the northern French coast between Calais and Dunkirk where migrants camp out ahead of attempts to reach the UK. The revelations come after would-be asylum seekers insisted they would not be deterred by Rishi Sunak's 'stop the boats' plan finally passed by Parliament last week. The Prime Minister hopes to start deportation flights to Rwanda by this July in a multi-million-pound scheme he insists will put people off entering Britain illegally. Dozens of desperate Kurds are sheltering within concrete enclaves built by Adolf Hitler's forces during Germany 's Second World War occupation of France Trafficking gangs are hiding migrants in abandoned Nazi bunkers before risking their lives on overcrowded dinghies crossing the Channel Yet people-smuggling gangs appear to remain rampant across the Channel and have turned to the former Nazi bunkers built as part of Hitler's supposed 'Atlantic Wall'. The constructions formed part of his regime's attempts to prevent the Allies including Britain from invading German-held France ahead of D-Day, which has its 80th anniversary this June. Many now remain on the outskirts of 5,000-population town Grand-Fort-Philippe and include barracks, weapon storerooms and a former anti-tank gun garage. A local told the Mirror: 'The gangs are using the bunkers as a final staging post for the migrants to rest and prepare for the final stage of their journey. 'Large numbers of them arrive each day and stay huddled together inside them out of sight through the night before leaving early to get on dinghies. 'Police are aware of what's happening but there isn't much they can do.' Reports told how more than 70 men, mostly from the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, were taken from a bus and into the bunkers on Thursday evening - ahead of small boat crossing attempts in the early hours the next morning. Almost 7,000 people have travelled to the UK on small boats so far this year, a 20 per cent increase compared to the equivalent point in 2023. Border Force staff are seen dealing with migrants coming ashore in Dover, Kent, this month A large group of migrants was seen sprinting across a beach before climbing on to a small dinghy as they prepared to head towards the UK in front of UK-funded French police A boat of migrants is seen being picked up by Border Force officials in the English Channel pm April 14 Yet across the whole of last year there were 29,437 arrivals - down by 36 per cent from the record of 45,774 set in 2022. Among the latest making such journeys is Danayet Abrha, 25, from Eritrea, who told of wanting to train as a nurse in London. She said: 'I've been here two weeks. Two of my friends died after drowning on a boat from Libya to Italy and some have been imprisoned in Libya. 'I'm not scared of being here or of the boat journey to England. I've already been through much worse. We've been on a hard road and we aren't going to stop now.' Sheltering in a forest near Dunkirk was Maryam Shinwari, 24, along with her husband and three children after they fled the Taliban regime in Afghanistan after threats.. She said: 'It is very hard - the weather is very cold. I am scared about the journey across the water.' The attempted crossings continue despite five people including a child dying when a dinghy capsized off the coast of northern France last Tuesday. Three men, a woman and a seven-year-old girl died during the chaos after their dinghy, laden with 112 people, was stormed by a rival group of migrants as it prepared to set off. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Rwanda's president Paul Kagame, seen meeting at Downing Street in London on April 9, have agreed a deal for deportation flights to the African country The Hope Hostel (pictured) in Rwanda's capital Kigali has been lined up to house migrants after they have been deported from the UK An 18-year-old survivor, named only as Heivin, has told how dozens of people were trampled as migrants armed with sticks and knives piled into the vessel. The Iraqi teenager told Sky News: 'It was because of them that people died. 'If they hadn't come and started fighting, none of this would have happened.. People were fighting, people were getting stepped on, they were dying and being thrown off.' The new Rwanda law aims to clear the way to send asylum seekers who cross the Channel in small boats on a one-way flight to Kigali. Rwanda's government has negotiated a multi-million-pound deal to process asylum applications by people found to have illegally tried to enter the UK. Last year, there were 67,337 asylum applications to the UK and, of those, 29,437 came from people who arrived in small boats. The Rwanda scheme's capacity is 200 people per year, meaning if the scheme had been running last year just 0.7 per cent of small boat migrants would be deported. Migrants camping in Dunkirk on the northern French coast have been declaring they will still try to cross to UK - and keep coming back even if deported. Ministers had been hoping to see the first deportations take off before May 2 local elections Dozens of migrants were seen here crossing the Channel on a small boat on March 6 this year Last year, there were 67,337 asylum applications to the UK. Of those, 29,437 came from people who arrived in small boats. The Government claims the Rwanda scheme will act as a deterrent, however it only has the capacity to send 200 people a year to the East African country And an Iranian man who claimed asylum in Greece first before crossing the Channel in a small boat and settling in Britain forecast the threat of deportations to Rwanda would not stop migrants from coming here. Nima Moradi told BBC2's Newsnight programme last Wednesday: 'You see how many people are trying to cross the Channel last night. 'People have access to information, they already know the law has passed but still they will try to do it because they will say, 'Its not going to apply to me".' Britain's neighbours are increasingly drawing up copycat schemes, it has emerged. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen's centre-right European People's Party manifesto for June's EU elections proposes a UK-style asylum plan. It stipulates that 'anyone applying for asylum in the EU could also be transferred to a safe third country and undergo the asylum process there'. Mr Sunak wrote in today's Mail On Sunday that Britain was leading the world in being tough on migrants. He 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.' More than 100 illegal migrants have already been earmarked for the first wave of Rwanda deportations (File Image) People at a migrant camp in Dunkirk, northern France, have insisted the threat of being put on flights to Rwanda to have their asylum applications processed would not put them off One would-be asylum seeker at a camp in Dunkirk, northern France, insisted Rwanda was not a safe country for migrants More than 400 people crossed the Channel in small boats on Tuesday including these migrants brought to shore in Kent by the RNLI Dover lifeboat Meanwhile, his government has dismissed the prospect of Britain taking back migrants who cross into Ireland to avoid being deported to Rwanda. Dublin is looking at legal avenues to force asylum seekers coming to the Republic to return to Northern Ireland, after raising concerns that 80 per cent of recent arrivals had taken that route. Ireland's deputy PM Micheal Martin has pointed the finger at the Rwanda policy, saying that migrants were leaving the UK because they were 'fearful' of being sent to the African state. Talks with Home Secretary James Cleverly to ease tensions are expected tomorrow. But Mr Sunak told Sky News the comments from Ireland demonstrated that 'the deterrent is already having an impact'. He added: 'If they know they won't be able to stay they are much less likely to come.' He told the channel's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: '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. Rishi Sunak announced 'nothing will stand in our way' as he vowed to get flights to Rwanda started ahead of his 'stop the boats' plan finally being approved by Parliament last Monday People camping in Dunkirk, northern France, hoping to try crossing the Channel have described the government's Rwanda flight plans as 'inhumane' Another, left, insisted he would 'keep on' trying to get to Britain even if flown to Rwanda One migrant at a camp in Dunkirk has told BBC Breakfast it is 'no matter' to him whether he is deported to Rwanda and how he sees it as 'important' to go to the UK '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.' And ministers shrugged off the idea Dublin could try to return individuals who cross the border, which is not subject to checks under the Common Travel Area rules. A spokesman for Irish premier Simon Harris said he was 'very clear about the importance of protecting the integrity' of Ireland's migration system. The spokesman added: '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.' An Assyrian Christian Bishop who was allegedly stabbed in a terror attack inside his Sydney church has made an emotional return to his pulpit. Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel received a standing ovation from parishioners on Sunday before delivering a fiery sermon defending free speech and slamming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He was allegedly attacked by a 16-year-old boy during a livestream of his sermon at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley in Sydney's south-west on April 15 in horrifying scenes that shocked Australia and the world. Less than a fortnight later he returned to the altar for Palm Sunday, which is part of Orthodox Easter. Sporting a white eyepatch over his right eye and carrying a gold cross, Bishop Emmanuel stood in the same place where he was allegedly stabbed and began his service in Arabic. Several days after he called for the footage of his alleged attack to remain online when the government ordered it removed from social media, the bishop called out Mr Albanese in an impassioned defence of freedom of speech and religion. Bishop Emmanuel said that he cannot 'fathom' how freedom of speech could not be possible in a democratic country like Australia. Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel (pictured on Sunday night) has made an emotional return to Christ The Good Shepherd Church, less than a fortnight after he was rushed to hospital On April 15, Bishop Emmanuel was allegedly stabbed by a 16-year-old. The attack triggered riots in the streets surrounding the church READ MORE: Seven alleged members of a 'youth terror cell' are arrested in sweeping raids across Sydney More than 400 members of a joint counter-terrorism team from the state and federal police forces began raiding 13 homes in Sydney's south-west on Wednesday Advertisement 'I say to our beloved, the Australian government, and our beloved Prime Minister, the honourable Mr Albanese, I believe in one thing and that is the integrity and the identity of the human being,' he said. 'This human identity, this human integrity, is a God-given gift, no one else. 'Every human being has the right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion... I should not worry for my life to be exposed to threat or to be taken away.' He pointed out that Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Atheists had the right to express their beliefs. 'Also the Christians have the right to express their beliefs, and for us to say, that free speech is dangerous, that free speech cannot be possible in a democratic country, I'm yet to fathom this,' he continued. 'We should be able as civilised human beings, as intellectuals, we should be able to criticise, to speak, and maybe, at some certain times, we may sound, or we may come across offensive to some degree, but we should be able to say, "I should not worry for my life to be exposed to threat or to be taken away". 'A non Christian can criticise my faith, can attack my faith. I will say one thing, "may God forgive you, and may God bless you". 'This is a civilised way, an intellectual way, to approaching such events. 'For us to say because of this freedom of speech, it is causing dramas and dilemmas therefore everything should be censored, where is democracy, where is humanity, where is integrity?' Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel (pictured centre) gave the sermon for Orthodox Palm Sunday on Sunday evening, wearing an eye-patch over his right eye. he's pictured during a standing ovation Bishop Emmanuel had a message for his alleged attacker on Sunday night, having previously forgiven him. 'I love you and I will always pray for you,' he said. Bishop Emmanuel became emotional as he thanked the many people who sent letters or flowers, including the multi-faith leaders from Sydney and overseas, as well as thanking local council members, local organisations and the Abdallah family. He appeared to wipe tears away as he read through his long list of well wishers. 'I am indebted to them for the rest of my life, forever,' he said. Church priest Father Isaac Royel was also injured in the incident, which was later declared a terrorist attack. Earlier in the day, Father Royel also returned to work when he joined the congregation for the Palm Sunday morning service. Father Isaac Royel (pictured right after being released from hospital two days after the attack) also returned to the church for Sunday morning's service Secretary to the Bishop Daniel Kochou said although Father Royel is back, he wasn't sure if he will return full-time, The Daily Telegraph reported. 'People are a little shaken but the other thing is most of our people are Iraqi or Syrian born so they're used to conflict. Their faith is strong,' he said. The church released an 11-minute video of Bishop Emmanuel on Thursday calling for the footage of his attack to remain online. This was after Australia's eSafety commissioner Julie Inman-Grant told X and Meta to take down the footage. 'I do acknowledge the Australian government's desire to have the videos removed because of their graphic nature,' Bishop Emmanuel said. 'It would be of great concern if people used the attack on me to serve their own political interest to control free speech.' Ireland and the UK clashed over migration today as Dublin warned it must not be a 'loophole' for people who do not want to be deported to Rwanda. The Republic is looking at legal avenues to force asylum seekers to return to Northern Ireland, after raising concerns that 80 per cent of recent arrivals had crossed the border. Taoiseach Simon Harris raised alarm that the 'integrity' of the Irish migration system is being affected, and wants to overturn a recent ruling that Britain cannot be classed as a 'safe' country to send people. His deputy, Micheal Martin, has pointed the finger at the Rwanda policy, saying that migrants were leaving the UK because they were 'fearful' of being sent to the African state. Talks with Home Secretary James Cleverly are expected to happen tomorrow in an effort to ease tensions. However, Rishi Sunak said the comments from Ireland showed that 'the deterrent is already having an impact'. 'If they know they won't be able to stay they are much less likely to come,' the premier told Sky News. Tories have shrugged off the suggestion that Dublin could try to return individuals who cross the border, which is not subject to checks under the Common Travel Area rules. Former Cabinet minister David Jones told MailOnline that even if migrants were delivered back to Belfast, they could simply make the journey again. 'They may start to understand why we think Rwanda is a good idea,' he said. Another MP said that the 'dilemma' Ireland found itself in, having condemned the Rwanda policy, was 'delectable'. A senior source argued there was no legal way of forcing the UK to accept migrants back, pointing out that returns agreements were usually with the 'home country' of migrants. They suggested that Irish ministers were trying to placate domestic concerns about migration, instead of actually getting concessions from the UK. The Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris (right) wants to send migrants who are sneaking into the country from Northern Ireland back to the UK. Rishi Sunak (left) said the comments from Ireland showed that 'the deterrent is already having an impact' Migrants boarding a boat bound for England on the French coast on Friday The Irish Government is to introduce legislation in response to an Irish High Court ruling last month that Ireland's designation of the UK as a 'safe third country' for returning asylum seekers, in the context of the Rwanda plan, is contrary to EU law. Previously there was a returns agreement in place for individuals with refugee status. Rwanda deportations came a step closer last week when legislation facilitating the proposals finally cleared Westminster. The government is now pushing for the first flights to take off in July. Detentions of individuals who could be on the first flights are expected to start shortly, reportedly as soon as tomorrow. Mr Harris said he will not allow Ireland to be 'a loophole for anybody else's migration challenges'. 'Every country is entitled to have its own migration policy, but I certainly don't intend to allow anybody else's migration policy to affect the integrity of our own one,' he said in Co Monaghan on Sunday. 'This country will not in any way, shape or form provide a loophole for anybody else's migration challenges. That's very clear. Other countries can decide how they wish to advance migration. 'From an Irish perspective, we intend to have a firm rules-based system where rules are in place, where rules are in force, where rules are seen to be enforced. 'It is a statement of fact that there was a returns agreement in place between Ireland and Britain, and there was a High Court decision in the month of March in relation to that. 'My colleague, the Minister for Justice, will now bring forward legislative proposals to Cabinet on Tuesday that will seek to put in place a new returns policy. We're going to await the full details of that but it's one which will effectively allow, again, people to be returned to the United Kingdom. And I think that's quite appropriate. It was always the intention. 'It's very important in migration and in the challenge that migration poses in so many countries, that you can be agile and respond to things quickly as they arise.' 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.' Downing Street said last week that it was 'too early to jump to specific conclusions' about whether the Rwanda policy was driving up asylum claims in Ireland. However, asked in an interview on Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips whether the UK was 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.' 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 Leyen's centre-right European People's Party manifesto for June's 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 acknowledged last week that 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 Mr Harris said he is 'very clear about the importance of protecting the integrity' of Ireland's 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.' The Lord Speaker confirmed the Rwanda Act had gained Royal Assent on Thursday, drawing a line under months of bitter wrangling 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 per cent' 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, it's 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. 'That's why I'm introducing fast processing. That's why I'll have emergency legislation at Cabinet this week to make sure that we can effectively return people to the UK.' Allies of longshot, third-party presidential candidate RFK Jr. have slammed the activist politician's famous family for 'slandering' him as they come out forcefully in support of Joe Biden's campaign. In mid-April, a group of more than a dozen strong Kennedys delivered a high-profile public endorsement to incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden at a rally in Pennsylvania - explicitly rejecting RFK Jr.'s White House bid. A source close to RFK Jr.'s family conveyed to the New York Post the unacceptable nature of the Kennedy clan's actions. 'This is not a dinner party discussion at home among siblings. These people are slandering him,' they said. 'With a family like this, who needs enemies?' In mid-April, a group of more than a dozen strong Kennedys delivered a high-profile public endorsement to incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden at a rally in Pennsylvania - explicitly rejecting RFK Jr.'s White House bid The uniform endorsement had been anticipated since the month prior, when an even bigger version of the Kennedy clan stopped by the White House for a publicly documented St. Patrick's Day celebration. Following the April endorsement event, during which Kerry Kennedy - the ex-wife of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and RFK Jr.'s younger sister - gave a rousing speech about her family's support for the current president, Joe Kennedy II 71, said he hopes his brother drops out of the race. 'We cannot do anything that in any way, strips even one vote from President Biden. You put the name Kennedy on the ballot and Democrats are going to feel torn. 'We are trying to make them understand that this is an issue that they do not have to feel torn about,' said Joe, who served in the US House of Representatives for more than a decade. In late 2023, four of RFK 'Bobby' Jr.'s siblings, including Kerry and Joe, called his campaign 'dangerous to our country' insofar as it could endanger Biden's ability to win a second term. At the time, the siblings released a statement saying: 'Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment.' 'We denounce his candidacy.' The family's increasingly public rebuke of Bobby's political aspirations have prompted some in his inner circle to begin speaking out against the often scandalous group. 'RFK Jr. is a corruption fighter just like his father and uncle. The family members who have stood against him when instructed to do so show their lack of integrity, backbone and honor,' said Tony Lyons, a close confidante of Kennedy and president of conservative publishing company Skyhorse Publishing. 'They are part of the corruption that RFK Jr. has been fighting with all his heart for the past 40 years.' Kerry Kennedy delivered her family's endorsement of President Joe Biden in April, describing him as a man who 'runs into flames,' cementing the clan's break with her older brother RFK Jr. President Joe Biden has welcomed the endorsement of the Kennedy clan as he competes in swing states that a third party bid could badly upset Many Kennedy family members have disavowed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his skepticism about vaccines and promotion of fringe political beliefs Various members of the family have also taken a strong oppositional stance to Bobby's intense vaccine skepticism, an issue that has caused further division among the famously troubled family. In a 2019 Politico article, several family members wrote that RFK Jr. is 'tragically wrong about vaccines.' Other issues that deepen the ongoing rift include Bobby's marginal theories about his father's convicted killer, Sirhan Sirhan, who was paroled several years ago to the objection of nearly all members of the family. RFK Jr. has said that he does not believe Sirhan acted alone in assassinating his father, Robert F. Kennedy Sr.,' who was killed on the presidential campaign trail in 1968. The environmental attorney-turned presidential candidate broke with his mother's wishes to condemn Sirhan's parole, though any rift that decision caused did not seem apparent during a recent family gathering at the Kennedy compound to celebrate the matriarch's 96th birthday. Despite public political differences, RFK Jr. said, following the Pennsylvania rally, that he is pleased his family is remaining politically active - as is the family tradition. He added that the family is 'divided in our opinions but united in our love for each other.' More of President Joe Biden's 2020 voters have shifted their support to independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. than those who supported former President Donald Trump four years ago the March DailyMail.com/J.L. Partners national survey found In the last several weeks, the DNC has launched a team designed to quash third party candidates - specifically Kennedy's - by hurling legal challenges and opposition research at their operations The major question disturbing the once-great American family is whether RFJ Jr.'s candidacy will effectively spoil Biden's White House bid, thereby handing a second term to former President Donald Trump. Following Kennedy's selection of his BP last month, Nicole Shanahan - a Silicon Valley attorney and ex-wife to Google co-found Sergey Brin - top Biden supporters inside the Democratic party began pressing the panic button over the RFK threat. Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis said that the party is 'doing everything in our power to get President Biden and Vice President Harris reelected.' But, 'it's critical that we take seriously every possible obstacle to that goal. And let me be clear, that's exactly what Robert F. Kennedy is in this election. He's a spoiler.' Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrrow reflected last month on the potentially 'horrifying' impact Kennedy's campaign could have on Biden's chances in her state - a swing state carried by Trump in 2016 and Biden in 2020. Spinning his own version of an election conspiracy theory, California Congressman Robert Garcia said: 'I think he's (RFK Jr.) likely interested in trying to get Donald Trump elected. Maybe that's what this is about. And many of us are not sure, but he is someone that should not be taken seriously as a serious person.' In the last several weeks, the DNC has launched a team designed to quash third party candidates by hurling legal challenges and opposition research at their operations. Recent rounds of polling suggest that Kennedy, as well as third party candidates Dr. Jill Stein and Dr. Cornel West, would poach needed votes from both major party candidates - but Biden would be at risk of losing more support. The most recent RealClearPolitics poll average shows that in a three-way contest, Kennedy could receive 15 percent of the vote. In that case, the poll shows Trump leading Biden by four points. In a five-way race that includes West and Stein, Kennedy clocks in with 11 percent of the vote, leaving Trump with a 2 point lead over Biden. ITV is facing fresh scrutiny over its duty of care to news anchor Rageh Omaar after it was suggested he already appeared ill the night before he struggled to speak during a bulletin broadcast. Viewers were left concerned for the 10 o'clock news presenter as he suffered evident difficulties towards the end of the programme on Friday - and now a channel veteran has said there were warning signs beforehand. Nicholas Owen, a former ITV News presenter, sent a message of sympathy to Mr Omaar, 56, who has himself thanked the public for their support. The Mail On Sunday revealed that ITV news bosses did try to get Mr Omaar to hand over his bulletin to a stand-in anchor after he became unwell live on air. But there are new questions over whether more should have been done to protect him. ITV News presenter Rageh Omaar was seen struggling to speak on last Friday's News At Ten Veteran presenter Nicholas Owen, who worked for ITV for decades, has today suggested Mr Omaar had been unwell the previous night Mr Owen, speaking on GB News today, said: 'Of course I can identify with what happened - I know Rageh very well and he is a very distinguished correspondent and great presenter. 'You just want to finish the job if you sit in that chair where millions of people and more are watching you and listening to you. 'I can remember going in the studio once or twice thinking, "Well, I don't feel particularly 100 per cent today" but usually Dr Studio, if that's the right term, kicks in - Dr Studio takes over and you get through.' Mr Owen added: 'Apparently he wasn't terribly well the previous night - so perhaps my dear colleagues, and I worked at ITV for many years very, very happily, perhaps they might have stepped in and just insisted he step back? I don't really know, maybe they did - its just very hard, especially if he's done all of the preparation with all of the scripts. We just wish him well, that's the most important thing.' Mr Omaar has reportedly 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. Nicholas Owen (left) told GB News presenter Camilla Tominey (right) that he understood why Rageh Omaar might have wanted to continue presenting Owen said: 'You just want to finish the job if you sit in that chair where millions of people and more are watching you and listening to you' 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 '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.' 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. Fiona Clark, a staff nurse, claimed she had called ITV at 10.10pm and told them 'as an ICU nurse that Rageh Omaar required an emergency ambulance'. Rageh Omaar, pictured here on the Mount of Olives with Jerusalem in the background, is ITV's international affairs editor as well as a presenter of news bulletins Nicholas Owen, pictured on GB News today, worked for ITV for in the 1990s and 2000s 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 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. 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.' MailOnline has approached ITV and ITN for further comment today, while Ofcom said it could not confirm whether it had been contacted by viewers. Rageh Omaar has said in a statement: 'At the time, I was determined to finish presenting the programme. I am grateful for all the support I've been given' There have been calls on social media for television regulator Ofcom to investigate ITV's treatment of Rageh Omaar after he was taken to hospital 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. A young family have begun house hunting amid fears for their safety after their home was mistakenly targeted in a drive-by shooting for the second time within a fortnight. Hardeep Kaur was watching television with her husband and their two children when several gun shots were fired into their Virginia Street home in Blacktown, in Sydney's west, around 9pm on Saturday. Ms Kaur described the 'horrible' moment the family of four were forced to duck for cover as bullets pierced through the front window. One bullet missed her five-year-old son's head by a few centimetres. Hardeep Kaur (pictured) said one of the gun shots narrowly missed her son's head as the shooters opened fire on her Blacktown home, in Sydney's west on Saturday night READ MORE: Late night drive-by shooting rocks a lavish Brisbane home as a woman and children slept inside Seven shots were fired into this Robertson home (pictured) on Brisbane's outskirts on March last year Advertisement 'I just told him to bend down, it could [have been] just one second, ' Ms Kaur told Nine News. She grabbed her phone and called police as the gunman fled the scene. Chilling CCTV footage from a nearby home showed a white ute travelling down the street moments before the drive-by shooting. Ms Kaur and her terrified family are now searching for a new place to live. 'We can't hide behind the doors, we can't hide our children,' she said. 'It's not us, we are not doing anything.' The family doesn't want to move but the fear of another ambush has left them with no choice. The home was previously targeted on April, 13 when nine bullets were fired into the couple's bedroom window Bullets grazed the bedroom door and the nearby bathroom. The Kaurs were not home at the time. Police seized a Ford Ranger ute abandoned in nearby Eastern Creek hours later on Sunday morning. Officers believe the ute is linked to Saturday night's drive-by shooting. 'This family is innocent and we believe this is a mistaken identity,' Inspector Kelly Evans told reporters. The bullets were fired into the front window of the home (pictured) while the young family and Ms Kaur's cousin were watching TV Britain's towns and villages are being terrorised by sling-shot wielding children who are filming themselves abusing animals to post on social media. Residents say they are seeing 'more and more' anti-social behaviour recently and some believe it is due to a new social media trend. Locals in Kent believe the rise in catapult-related incidents are related to a trend of young people filming themselves firing ball bearings at animals and posting it online. Pensioners say they are too scared to go for walks alone, and animals ranging from cats to swans have been brutally injured. In Maidstone, a family was left devastated after their pet peacock was shot more than 20 times with slingshots and catapults and brutally killed. But this is only the latest in an alarming rise of catapult-related attacks by young people across the UK. GRAPHIC WARNING: This article contains images which may be upsetting CANTERBURY: This tiny cat called Angel had her face shattered with a ball bearing in 2018 Children use catapults to kill and torture animals before sharing the 'sick' images on WhatsApp Two ball bearings removed from a swan struck by two catapult-wielding teenagers WINCHESTER: Children as young as 10 are 'frequently' seen firing at swans and ducks on the River Itchen close to Winchester College, according to locals in March 2024 A squirrel is seen with blood on its face next to one of the hand-held catapults used by children GODSTONE: An X-Ray of two ball bearings embedded in a swan after an attack in February In 2018, a total of 80 offences involving the weapon were recorded in Kent - double the amount in 2017. And according to data FOI'd by KentOnline, there were 12 recorded incidents of catapult offences in the Tunbridge Wells vicinity in 2022, and five last year. In Maidstone, a family was left devastated after their pet peacock was shot more than 20 times with slingshots and catapults. The bird - named River - was brutally killed, and the youths responsible then went a step further to warn the family 'you are going to be next'. River's owner, Alison Carter, 57, posted the footage from a neighbour's CCTV camera of the suspects on Facebook, showing five boys and one girl firing at the peacock who was perched in a tree. One member of the twisted group messaged her daughter Macey, 23, threatening: 'Your peacock is 6ft under and you are going to be next'. In the sickening footage, three of the boys are seen pelting River more than 20 times from the road before climbing over the fence onto the roof of a private property to carry on their assault on the innocent bird. A petrified and injured River, who Alison says would have 'trusted' the group of strangers, is seen falling out of the tree, flapping around in distress and cowering in a corner. The gang continue to aim at him from the rooftop before two dash forward, grab River by his wings and hold him up as a trophy, before one rips out his feathers. They flee after trying to hide his blood-soaked body in the corner behind some wood. Ms Carter said: 'I was devastated, and I still am. He was part of the family, he played and walked around with our dog Ziggy. MAIDSTONE: Petrified and injured River the peacock was brutally killed by a gang of youths wielding slingshots and catapults in April 2024 MAIDSTONE: Owner Alison Carter (left), 57, said her peacock (right) was 'part of the family', behaved 'like a dog' and would have even 'trusted' the group of strangers who killed him MAIDSTONE: A group of yobs who were caught shooting at River the peacock with catapults WINCHESTER: A duck floats backwards on the water after being attacked in March 2024 SHEPPTERTON: An injured swan recovering after losing his eye when shot with a catapult In a shocking video, a deer lies on the ground after being shot with a catapult by a child 'He was like a dog - he would follow you around, he would come into the kitchen, he would have trusted them.' They rescued River nearly six years ago after he had been kept in a small box without sunlight and was found 'featherless and frightened'. The family have stopped their five other peacocks from roaming around freely because they are worried the offenders will return. Ms Carter said that the day after River was killed, someone fired a catapult at one of her dogs, leaving a wound which drew blood. The village of Kemsley - a 20-minute drive away from Maidstone - was shaken last year when a teenage girl was shot with a catapult. READ MORE - Who is killing Britain's swans? Catapult wielding gang hunted after seven of the majestic birds are shot dead in this year alone in Surrey and Hampshire Advertisement Ruby Gasson, who was 13 at the time, suffered severe bruising to her leg. Earlier this month, MailOnline reported that villagers in rural Surrey have been terrorised by slingshot-wielders who have smashed up windows, attacked a funeral and blinded wild animals. The peaceful village of Godstone has been plagued by the catapult fiends, who have been seen prowling the area at random times of the day to intimidate residents, vandalise homes and hurt the wildlife. An 82-year-old widow, who we are not naming to protect her identity, said: 'People are terrified. It's atrocious. Catapults firing ball bearings and suchlike are hugely dangerous. They've damaged the church stained glass windows, targeted mourners at a funeral and blinded a swan. That could easily have been a young child. It doesn't bear thinking about.' Catapult attacks have plagued the village randomly since 2018 with perpetrators targeting houses and cars. But in the last year the rate of attacks has soared and many residents say police inaction is emboldening the criminals. 'It's turning into a nightmare,' said one woman. 'We're doing our best to help police but they don't seem to be listening.' SHEPPERTON: Birds in The Swan Sanctuary are seen with bloodied necks after youths attacked a pair of swans - with only one surviving - in January 2024 RUNNYMEDE: Children have been posting images to their social media accounts which show them with dead animals (left) and animals with catapults around their necks (right) in 2020 RUNNYMEDE: Weapons that were seized by Surrey Police are pictured above after the force took the weapons from a school in 2020 An innocent rabbit is seen after being brutally attacked using a hand-held catapult In the small town of Paddock Wood, there has been an increase in the reports of catapults - and adults said children are easily able to buy them cheaply online with little restrictions. Speaking to KentOnline, Paul Keeble said his car windscreen was smashed by a slingshot device on April 14. The 57-year-old said it is 'sad' to see, especially as he's lived there almost all of his life. Jonathan Lawrence, 52, told the news site that he found his window smashed with a ball bearing lying on his patio. He added that he's 'lost faith' in the police for low level crime. One resident, Debbie Golding, 66, told the site: 'Older people are afraid to go out at night or go unaccompanied anywhere because you just never know who you are going to bump into.' She added that it makes her 'afraid' for her grandchildren.' 'It starts with catapults and marbles through windows and at pigeons, but where is it going to end?' she continued. A 90-year-old resident, Shirley Lengkeith, said she's scared to go for walks on her own now. Greg Clark, the MP for Tunbridge Wells, slammed the situation as 'unacceptable' and called for more policing and CCTV. And Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Scott told KentOnline he is taking action to tackle the 'appalling behaviour'. A spokesperson for the council confirmed that catapults were taken off three people in Paddock Wood last weekend. DATCHET: Two 'evil' teenage thugs armed with catapults killed four swans and injured at least a dozen in a savage attack at a rescue sanctuary. Pictured: A cygnet killed in the attack in 2022 DATCHET: One boy, 13, was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals at Maidenhead youth court. Pictured: A swan whose beak was shattered in the catapult attack GODSTONE: An injured swan recovers after being shot with a catapult in February 2024 GODSTONE: Police posted a picture of three men they wanted to speak to in connection with the attacks on swans in March 2024 MailOnline reported last month how primary school children are filming themselves killing and torturing wild animals and sharing the grisly videos on WhatsApp. Around 500 youths across 11 groups have shared graphic photos and videos of wounded and dead animals killed using a hand-held catapult. Swans, deer, pigeons, foxes, squirrels, pheasants, rabbits, geese and duck are among the wildlife pictured and filmed in the disturbing attacks. In one shocking video, a deer lies twitching on the ground having been shot with a catapult by a child. The youth then kicks the deer on the floor while wielding the hand-held weapon for viewers to see, Sky News reported. In another heartbreaking video, two teenagers boast of shooting a fox, with one heard saying: 'Okay boys... steel shot in the head.' Geoff Edmond, the RSPCA's lead wildlife officer, said the catapult killings were an 'emerging trend' and that children were 'deliberately and intentionally targeting' animals 'for sport'. WINCHESTER: Pictured is an injured duck which was shot by youths earlier this year CANTERBURY: Pictured is an X-Ray of a ball bearing embedded in Angel the cat's face CANTERBURY: Angel was shot 'point blank' and had to undergo surgery after being found He told Sky News: 'We're seeing more and more injured animals being reported to us that are being hit by catapults.' More than 350 pictures and videos of injured and killed animals have been shared across the groups, reports said. This sick 'trend' has sparked calls to change the law to classify catapults as an illegal weapon. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 lists weapons a person must not use to kill an animal, but catapults are not on the list. Extraordinary CCTV has captured the dramatic moment parents chased and confronted a trio accused of abducting their young son at a skate park. The 10-year-old boy was allegedly 'forcibly' kidnapped by two men armed with machetes and a woman at Adventure Park, in Woodridge, south of Brisbane, on Saturday afternoon. One man allegedly forced the boy into the back seat of his Jeep and drove off after the child threw a rock at the vehicle. The boy's shocked parents jumped into their cars and followed the accused kidnapper's car. Two vehicles were captured on CCTV pulling into a street to block the Jeep's exit before a violent confrontation erupted. The boy's father ran up to the Jeep and confronted the alleged kidnappers in dramatic scenes The occupants of the Jeep were allegedly brandishing machetes and fought with the 10-year-old's parents Screams could be heard as the boy's father raced up to the Jeep and tried to open the door. The 10-year-old's mother repeatedly yelled 'that's my son!' The three occupants of the Jeep then jumped out allegedly armed with machetes and a fight broke out between the boy's parents and his alleged kidnappers. The mother was heard yelling: 'Someone help, help. They stole my kid'. The boy's 35-year-old father was knocked unconscious while his mother's leg was run over, Nine News reported. The altercation lasted just under five minutes. The boy was retrieved from the back seat and reunited with his parents as the Jeep sped away. The alleged kidnappers were arrested nearby a short time later. Tauvela Soe, 27, of Woodridge, was charged with kidnapping and assault occasioning bodily harm. He will reappear in court on June 10. Another Woodridge man, 22, and a Kingston woman, 29, were also charged with kidnapping and assault occasioning bodily harm and will appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on May 16. The boy wasn't injured in the incident. Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Chris Stream said: 'There will be a number of allegations which police will allege occurred involving interactions between those three persons, a 10-year-old child and also persons (who) were related to that 10-year-old child.' 'Currently theyre allegations but obviously, really scary for a child to be involved in that type of (alleged) incident as you would appreciate also very scary for parents involved, having a child allegedly abducted.' The key piece of evidence in the trial of the Massachusetts professor accused of murdering her cop boyfriend is being kept hidden because of the states arcane state secrecy laws, experts have warned. Karen Read, 44, is charged with running over John OKeefe and leaving him to die in the snow after dropping him off at a friends house party on a bitterly cold night in January 2022. His death certificate gave the cause of death as blunt impact injuries of head and hypothermia, but Read claims she has been framed by his police colleagues inside the house who beat him to death. Supporters have pointed to wounds on his arms which they claim were caused by the house owners dog and signs of beating around the eyes, but Massachusetts refuses to release the autopsy report. Massachusetts has a reputation for being one of the most secretive states in the country for open records law, local attorney Jeffrey Pyle told the Boston Globe. Courts are making decisions based on documents that the public cant see. Prosecutors allege that Read hit O'Keefe with her car after an argument, while she contends that she was framed by party attendees and members of the Boston Police Department Read (seen in court) claims she has been framed by his police colleagues inside the house who beat him to death O'Keefe was found in the snow outside this home in Canton, around 12 miles from Boston, in the early hours of January 29, 2022 The case has sparked a media storm with Read attracting crowds of supporters to the courthouse in Norfolk County and the reputation of the Massachusetts State Police on the line. Read, meanwhile, has sparked a backlash after winking at cameras outside court and come under scrutiny for a perceived flippant attitude during the ongoing trial, including snacking in court and flashing smiles at her supporters. 'Happiest murder defendant in history!' said one critic on X. 'The Chick thinks she is Miss America.' 'Its a murder trial not a traffic ticket shes fighting. Bad look for the jury,' another tweeted. The financial analyst and college professor had spent the evening of January 29, 2022, drinking with O'Keefe and a group of friends at the Waterfall Bar and Grill in Canton, around 14 miles south of Boston, and were invited to his friend Brian Albert's home for an afterparty. Read, who prosecutors say drank several alcoholic drinks beforehand, decided to drop O'Keefe at the afterparty before she went to O'Keefe's home - that he shared with his orphaned niece and nephew - to sleep at around 1am. Court documents revealed that the couple had been bitterly arguing for weeks beforehand, and on the night O'Keefe died, Read left him a voicemail calling him a 'f****** loser', and 'John, I f****** hate you.' The couple had been dating for two years at the time of O'Keefe's death. He had been serving on the Boston Police Department for 16 years. As the party went on inside Albert's home, who was a retired Boston police officer, Read said she woke up around 4am to find that he was not at home, and told O'Keefe's niece that she was 'distraught.' Video courtesy of NewsNation and Dan Abrams Live Read looked on at a preliminary hearing as her defense team showed pictures of wounds to O'Keefe's arms that they claim were caused by a dog in the house as he was beaten to death by his Massachusetts police colleagues at a house party John O'Keefe had been serving with the Boston Police Department for 16 years at the time of his death, which was ruled to have been caused by blunt impact injuries and hypothermia Read has come under scrutiny for a perceived flippant attitude in court, including winking at cameras and snacking during proceedings As her trial began last week, Read received a slew of support from true crime fans and locals who have been camped outside the courthouse with signs reading 'Free Karen Read' Last week, a judge issued an order barring Read's supporters from coming within 200 feet of the courthouse Read, a financial analyst and college professor, is facing charges of second-degree murder Read sparked backlash on Tuesday after being filmed winking at a camera, with one critic slamming her for 'thinking she is Miss America' Attendees at the party, including some law enforcement, claimed O'Keefe, 46, never arrived at the party or entered the home. Read then searched for O'Keefe with a friend, and prosecutors allege that during the search she speculated: 'What if he's dead? What if a plow hit him? I don't remember anything from last night, we drank so much I don't remember anything.' At 6am, Read found O'Keefe laying in the snow outside Albert's home, and a first responder on the scene reportedly claimed Read repeatedly cried out, 'I hit him, I hit him', reports CBS News. But Read's defense attorneys argue that O'Keefe was involved in a fight inside Albert's home and insisted to the judge that the claims of framing were 'not just fishing.' 'We've got a fish on the hook, we just need the court to help us reel it in,' attorney Alan Jackson said. 'Certainly the Massachusetts State Police is involved. There are people that were in that house that are involved,' Jackson claimed at a pre-trial hearing. 'Brian Albert is involved. Jennifer McCabe is involved. The rest of the folks that were in that house, there's some level of involvement by every one of them. 'Every single one of them. We're not going to rest until we get to the bottom of exactly who's behind this coverup. Not only Karen Read deserves this. John O'Keefe deserves this, and has deserved this from moment one. And that's why they're not going to rest.' The trial resumes on Monday with Reads supporters banned from wearing pink inside the courthouse after they adopted the color as a show of support. Some have held up signs referring to the dog, reading Wheres Chloe?, while another wrote: If the arm was bit, you must acquit!!! Autopsy reports are routinely released by states including Alabama, Colorado, California, and Florida, but states in the North-East have historically kept them secret from the public. Any time you have questions about how those in government are acting and whether they might be involved in an individuals death, the public interest in getting more information about their death increases significantly, said Justin Silverman of the New England First Amendment Coalition. These autopsy reports might provide answers to these types of questions. Read spoke to reporters on the steps of the courthouse at a pre-trial hearing in May 2023, where she claimed that she and her attorneys 'know who did it.' 'We know. And we know who spearheaded this coverup. You all know,' she said. 'I tried to save his life. I tried to save his life at 6 in the morning, I was covered in his blood. I was the only one trying to save his life.' Prior to jury selection on the first day of trial, the judge ruled that she would not stop Reads legal team from mounting a 'third party culprit defense. 'I'm going to give you a chance to develop it through relevant, competent, admissible evidence... but you cannot open with it,' she added. Read and O'Keefe had been out drinking on the night of his death, before she drove him to an afterparty while she went home to sleep. He was found dead on the lawn of the afterparty's home hours later She has compiled a team of blockbuster attorneys, including Alan Jackson (center), famed for representing actor Kevin Spacey when he was cleared of sexual assault charges in 2019 The couple had been dating for two years at the time of O'Keefe's death The trial is expected to last up to eight weeks and a spokesman for the Norfolk County DAs office insisted that all relevant information would be revealed in court. The examination and cross examination of the medical examiner will be where you get your answers, he added. But critics warned that the states archaic laws risk compounding claims of a cover-up and threaten the principle that justice must be seen to be done. If the public cannot see the documents that judges rely on in the course of making decisions, the public cannot make decisions on whether the judges decisions are correct, Pyle said. Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a father-of-seven was stabbed to death in Cardiff. Colin Richards, 48, from Grangetown, died early this month in the Ely area of the city from a fatal stab wound. Two men, aged 26 and 18 and both from Cardiff, have been arrested in the Stoke area. They are currently in police custody, South Wales Police said. Mr Richards was found unconscious in Snowdon Road, Ely, following reports of a disturbance shortly before 11.30pm on April 7. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, the father-of-seven sadly died from a wound to his leg. Colin Richards, 48, (pictured) from Grangetown, died early this month in the Ely area of the city from a fatal stab wound A post-mortem examination concluded that he died from a 'stab wound to his right thigh' The police previously offered 10,000 rewards for information given exclusively to the charity Crimestoppers that led to to arrests. A statement from South Wales Police said: 'Two men have been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Colin Richards, in Ely, Cardiff. 'The men aged 26 and 18, both from Cardiff, were arrested in the Stoke area and are in police custody. 'Colin Richards' family has been updated and continue to be supported by specially trained family liaison officers. 'Mr Richards, 48, was found unconscious in Snowdon Road, Ely, following a report of a disturbance in the Heol-Y-Berllan and Heol Trelai area of Caerau shortly before 11.30pm on Sunday, April 7. 'Despite the best efforts of emergency services, the father-of-seven died from a fatal stab wound.' Police said the three women, a 28-year-old from Ely, a 43-year-old from Caerau and a 43-year-old from Worcestershire were also questioned and later released over the attack. An inquest heard the grandfather was sitting in a car on Snowdon Road, Ely, Cardiff, waiting for his friend when he suffered the fatal wound. Mr Richards, 48, was found unconscious in Snowdon Road, Ely, following a report of a disturbance (Google Street View of Snowdon Road) Police and paramedics attempted to treat him, but they could not save him and he was pronounced dead just after midnight. A post-mortem examination concluded that he died from a 'stab wound to his right thigh'. Coroner Rachel Knight opened an inquest in Pontypridd saying she had reason to suspect that Mr Richards died 'due to violence'. The inquest was suspended due to a 'pending criminal investigation'. In a tribute, Mr Richards' family said: 'Colin was a much-loved father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and an all-round family man. He leaves behind seven children who will miss him greatly as he was very active in their lives. 'Though the loss is deep, the power of love and friendship will always stay alive. He will always be in our minds and forever in our hearts.' Dozens of men in Italy were seen presenting a fascist salute to honour Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on the 79th anniversary of his execution. Dressed in black, several neo-fascist supporters gathered in Dongo and in Giulino di Mezzegra to shout fascist chants during ceremonies on Sunday. The men marched through the northern Italian towns where Mussolini was arrested and executed at the end of World War II, and also in Predappio - the notorious dictator's birthplace and final resting place. The despot was stopped by anti-fascist partisans in Dongo, near Lake Como, on April 27, 1945, as he attempted to escape to Switzerland with his mistress, Clara Petacci, following the Allied liberation of Italy. On April 28, Mussolini, aged 62, and Petacci were executed and their bodies were taken to Meezzegra-Giulino to be hung in the city's central square - just two days before Hitler's suicide. Dozens of men raise their arms in the fascist salute and shout the fascist chant 'present' in Dongo, northern Italy during ceremonies to honor Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on the 79th anniversary of his execution Dressed in black, the neo-fascist supporters marched through northern Italian towns where Mussolini was arrested and executed at the end of World War II The estimated 100 men reportedly sang the famous Bella Ciao song during the ceremony Today, a swarm of neo-fascists stormed through the Dongo and placed 15 roses in the lake in memory of the ministers and officials from the Mussolini government who were killed there, according to footage of the event. Following a rendition of Taps, the leader of the celebrations shouted 'Comrad Benito Mussolini' and the crowd raised their hand to perform a fascist salute while chanting 'present'. Images snapped from Sunday's event show police vehicles dotted around the areas where demonstrators were present in an apparent bid to break up the large groups. The estimated 100 men reportedly sang the famous Bella Ciao song during the ceremony. The fascist dictator had ruled for two decades in Italy before he attempted to flee the country disguised as a German soldier with his lover - when the communists of Garibaldi's Brigade recognised him and captured him. With the execution of Mussolini, the partisans took revenge for two decades of fascist tyranny and five years of world war that would continue for several months. The bloody confrontations claimed the lives of more than 400,000 Italian civilians, as well as those who were killed and mutilated by the Italians in their imperial campaigns in Libya and Ethiopia, as well as in the Spanish Civil War. The anniversary of the tyrant's execution fell on the same day that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melloni was leading her far-right Brothers of Italy party in an election rally in the city of Pescara. Benito Mussolini (left) and Adolf Hitler (right) in Berlin, undated. Mussolini raises his arm in a Nazi salute A swarm of neo-fascists stormed through the Dongo and placed 15 roses in the lake in memory of the ministers and officials from the Mussolini government who were killed there Police were spotted around the areas where demonstrators were present in an apparent bid to break up the large groups Dressed in black, several neo-fascist supporters gathered in Dongo and in Giulino di Mezzegra to shout fascist chants during ceremonies on Sunday The party's roots can be traced back to the Italian Social Movement (MSI) which was founded by a chief of staff in Mussolini's government in 1946. The MSI then slowly drew fascist sympathisers and officials into its ranks following Mussolini's demise. Meloni first joined the MSI's youth branch as a teenager but has since tried to distance party from its neo-fascist roots. The Premier has condemned fascism's stronghold on democracy and insisted that Italy's right has overpowered the left for decades. On Sunday, Meloni claimed the left of being more of a totalitarian threat to the country today. She noted that Communist Party members had made a formal complaint about the tent structures built on the Pescara beachfront to host the Brothers of Italy rally, during which Meloni announced she would head the partys campaign ahead of European Parliament elections in June. 'I note that the Communist Party still exists, and I say so to show where the nostalgics for totalitarianism are in Italy today,' she said. In October 2022, similar scenes from what was seen in the streets of Italy on Sunday took place as the country marked 100 years since the beginning of Mussolini's dictatorship. As many as 4,000 sympathisers marched to the despot's crypt and raised their hands in a salute to commemorate the anniversary. With shouts of 'Duce, Duce, Duce' Mussolini's honorific the crowd descended on the dictator's birthplace with fascist flags and black shirts. Addressing the crowd, Mussolini's great-granddaughter Orsola said at the time: 'After 100 years, we are still here to pay homage to the man this state wanted and whom we will never stop admiring.' The six-month countdown is on until the 2024 presidential election in November Donald Trump is maintaining a slight edge over Joe Biden in polls for the 2024 election with the latest showing the former president increasing his lead to 6 percent. With just over six months until the November general elections, Trump is ahead with 49 percent to Biden's 43 percent, according to a new CNN/SSRS poll conducted April 18-23 and released on Sunday. This is a steadily widening gap from head-to-head results of the same survey conducted in the last year. The latest polling also shows that with more time passed from Trump's White House days, more voters are viewing his time in office positively. CNN/SSRS polling shows Donald Trump widening his lead with President Joe Biden with a 6 percent split heading into the six-month countdown to Election Day Meanwhile, a new Gallup poll released on Friday shows that compared to other presidents at this point in his term, Biden, 81, is the least popular commander-in-chief in the last seven decades. Ranking below even Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter who were wildly unpopular when rounding out their fourth year in office, Biden ranks at 38.7 percent job approval through the first quarter of 2024. Trump in contrast had a 46.8 percent approval rating at this point in his presidency. Nixon and Carter had higher ratings than Biden at this point in their respective presidencies, with 53.7 percent and 47.7 percent approval. The CNN/SSRS poll released on Sunday shows that among 1,212 Americans surveyed, 60 percent disapprove of Biden's job as president. In results from two other polls conducted in January 2024 and October 2023 surveys through CNN/SSRS, Trump maintained his support among registered voters at 49 percent compared to the president's 45 percent. The hypothetical general election matchup in August 2023 more than a year before November's Election Day showed Trump and Biden separated by just 1 percentage point (47 percent to 46 percent). A separate poll from Gallup shows that compared to other presidents at this point in his term, Biden, 81, is the least popular commander-in-chief in the last seven decades. Pictured: Biden speaking to a room of journalists at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday Trump and Biden both already earned the number of delegates needed by their respective parties to earn the nomination in 2024. This means the U.S. is on track for a rematch of 2020 that most voters said they did not want, according to multiple polls. After the conventions over the summer, the two will solidify their nominations for president and head into a heated race for a seat behind the Resolute Desk. In all of Gallup's polling history, there has never been a president that has returned to the White House for a second term with approval ratings as low as Biden's. His ranking falls within the button 12 percent of presidential quarters spanning back to 1945. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein was arrested Saturday at Washington University in St. Louis as campus chaos related to the Israel-Hamas war spreads across the country. Stein, 73, and members of her campaign staff joined pro-Palestinian protests at the college in St. Louis, Missouri when the 2024 candidate got into a scuffle with law enforcement. Students at WashU are among those engaging in nationwide campus protests over their college's ties to the war in Gaza. Stein also joined protesters at Columbia University on Friday, where anti-Israel demonstrators have taken over campus with an encampment that they refuse to breakdown despite threats from the college. At Harvard, students were seen taking down a US flag and replacing it with a Palestinian flag. Their actions mirror those of students at other elite universities, like Harvard, where the American flag that flies on the main campus has been replaced by a Palestinian flag. Jill Stein (center) and her campaign staff were arrested at anti-Israel protest on Washington University's campus in St. Louis, Missouri on Saturday The Ameican flag at Harvard University had been replaced with a Palestinian flag. Video via @sfmcguire79pic.twitter.com/qHxgRn5gqq Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 28, 2024 Stein tussles with law enforcement who were pushing back protesters with a bike The anti-Israel encampments have spread from New York City to Los Angeles As the Passover holiday continues, the encampments ramp up their intensity Stein, a presidential longshot, claims Columbia is writing a 'blank check' to fund the war in Gaza because its endowment includes investment in Microsoft, which sells computers to the Israeli Defense Force. Several videos posted to X over the weekend show Stein joining the demonstration. One clip shows the politician physically pushing back against police using a bike to push the protesters into a contained area. Along with Stein, the others arrested with her team include campaign manager Jason Call and deputy campaign manager Kelly Merrill-Cayer. Squad-member Cori Bush also voiced her support for protestors in her home-state on Saturday evening. 'Solidarity with anti-war student activists at WashU,' she wrote followed by a black fist and the Palestinian flag. 'As students exercise their right to protest, I urge university & local authorities to allow these courageous students & community members to continue their practice of non-violent civil disobedience.' Bush, who is facing a fierce inter-party challenge ahead of July 25th primary, has spent the last several months battling a DOJ investigation into her alleged financial corruption. Several colleges across the country are experiencing massive anti-Israel protests amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Specifically, the pro-Palestinian students are protesting their universities' ties with Israel. The most extreme protests are taking place at Columbia University in New York City, where hundreds set up an encampment on campus and forced suspension of in-person classes. Columbia's endowment includes investment in Microsoft and Amazon, which both conduct business with Israel. Counter protestors take on the pro-Palestinian activists at UCLA Pro Palestine and pro Israel groups are expected to continue clashing at the ceasefire encampment on UCLA's campus Stein (left) links arms with Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier (second from right) and Aldermanic President Megan Green (right) as she engages in pro-Palestinian protest at WashU in St. Louis, Missouri on Saturday Activists confront two counter protesters wearing an Israeli flag as students and activists continue protest near an encampment at University Yard at George Washington University, where there has been an especially charged wave of anti-Semitism Activists and students protest near an encampment at University Yard at George Washington University, as student activists have joined campuses across the United States that have started encampments to call on their universities An activist uses a megaphone during a protest near an encampment at University Yard at George Washington University Washington University (St. Louis) - man spotted wearing a Hamas headband while waiving an ISIS flag. This is who radical Congresswoman @CoriBush supports. June 25th is her primary - VOTE.HER.OUT. pic.twitter.com/A0pPR6PDA5 StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) April 28, 2024 Before being cuffed, Stein took a video describing her actions. 'We're standing here with the students at WashU standing up for our constitutional rights, standing up for the American people who want an end to this genocide now,' she said in a selfie-style video. 'Police are gathered here,' she added, panning to an image of a full-force of law enforcement, 'and we're going to stand here in line with the students.' In the background of the video, the college students are heard chanting, 'Hold the line.' 'Jill and others were attempting to deescalate with police before they began arresting people,' a post from Stein's X account claims:. Holding a megaphone in her hands but speaking without it, Stein said to law enforcement: 'We can avoid the embarrassment and the humiliation that will come down on this administration if it attacks peaceful demonstrators who are simply calling for peace and human rights and the end to a genocide that the American people abhor.' This is the shocking moment four men appeared to try and force a Jewish pedestrian into the boot of their car in North London. Police have launched a probe into an alleged anti-Semitic hate crime after footage posted online showed the man appearing to be targeted by the group in Stamford Hill. The men are seen parking and getting out their car before allegedly demanding their victim gets into the boot. The Jewish man backs away from the men in the street while on the phone before one appears to jump towards him in a threatening manner. Only when the Jewish man threatens to call the police do the men get back in their car and start driving away. North London neighbourhood watch group Shomrim, which monitors areas with large Jewish communities, issued an alert about what they called an 'attempted kidnap' this afternoon. The incident comes amid mounting concerns about anti-Semitic abuse in Britain, fuelled by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict following the militant group's terror attacks last October 7. DO YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION? EMAIL MEGAN.HOWE@MAILONLINE.CO.UK A young Jewish man was threatened by a group who stopped their car to approach him Footage of the incident in Stamford Hill, north London, has been shared online Neighbourhood watch group Shomrim appealed for information about the 'attempted kidnap' The clip was shared on X, accompanied by the words: 'Jewish male threatened by 4 males who demanded he gets into the boot of their car.' Shomrim said they and the Metropolitan Police were appealing for any information on and sightings of the car involved, a black VW T Cross with the licence plate number EA24 VXF. The incident happened in Moundfield Road in Stamford Hill, near Tottenham in north London, an area with a significant Orthodox Jewish community. Shromrim's online post told the 'incident ended when the victim said he was calling police and other vehicles approached'. They appealed for anyone who can help to contact Hackney Police, using the crime reference CAD 3224 28/04/24. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'An investigation is underway after a reported kidnapping attempt of a male in Stamford Hill. 'At around 17:24hrs on Friday, 26 April, the victim a Jewish male was walking on Moundfield Road, N16 when a car pulled up beside him and two males got out of the vehicle. 'The victim was approached by one of the males and allegedly told the victim to get into the boot of the car, shortly before driving off. 'The incident was reported to the police and an investigation was launched by officers based in Hackney. 'We are aware of a video being shared online and this will form part of our enquiries. We are in contact with the Shomrim and our enquiries are ongoing. No arrest have been made at this time. 'Anyone with information should call 101, giving the reference CAD 5836/26APR. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.' Horrified viewers responded online, with one saying: 'That is absolutely terrifying.' Another wrote: 'He's just a boy. How dare they treat people like that.' Shomrim was also told: 'That's surely a crime but it looks more like idiots behaving like such more than a genuine attempted kidnap.' Footage of the alleged kidnap attempt was shared by Shomrim on X, formerly Twitter 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 Mail On Sunday reported today how a Holocaust memorial was covered up in London's Hyde Park for fear it could be targeted by vandals in a pro-Palestine demo. Officials in Hyde Park yesterday hid Britain's first public memorial to the 6million 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 protest against the war in Gaza. Holocaust survivor Noemi Ebenstein, 82, urged the world 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.' 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?' 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' The outrage comes after Gideon Falter, who leads the Campaign Against Antisemitism, 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'. 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. 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.' There have been regular marches in the capital condemning Israel's attacks on Gaza in its response for the October 7 massacre by Hamas militants which killed 1,200 civilians with a further 235 taken hostage from southern Israel. DO YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION? EMAIL MEGAN.HOWE@MAILONLINE.CO.UK